How do Christians react to what is happening in Israel?
For the Christian, the believer, the Bible is the lens that helps us see the world. The Bible, also known as the Word of God, allows us to see the world from God’s perspective and purpose.
First of all, the attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, 2023, does not fulfill any Biblical prophecy. Neither Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel nor another prophetic book in the Bible speak of this particular event.
Second, this horrific event manifests precisely what Jesus said would happen before He comes back again. Right after Jesus foretells the temple’s destruction, His disciples were curious about how those things would happen. Jesus begins to share the signs of the end of the age or signs before His second coming. Matthew says, “6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains (24:6 ESV).”
These rumors of wars and wars are more evidence that we live in a violent, fractured, and broken world that one day will come to its end when Christ comes to restore all things. Only then will Jesus restore humankind, and again, we will behold God face-to-face and live in His immediate presence forever.
Sin, death, and the devil will end when Christ comes again. All manifestations of evil will end when Christ comes again.
What shall the Christians do as we see evil and hear of rumors of war? How does the Christian react to what is happening in Israel?
- The Christian prays. We pray for peace. We beg for the bloodshed to stop. We pray that God will change the hearts of leaders to promote peace. The Christian prays to God, the creator of heaven and earth.
- The Christian trusts in the Lord. We know that Christ is in control. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (12:2 ESV).” And as Jesus lived, died, rose again, and went back to heaven, He reigns from there over all creation, and we are safe in his hands.
How do Christians react to what is happening in Israel? We pray and trust in the Lord. And we yearn for that day when every evil, everything sad will come untrue when Christ comes again in glory.
Come, Lord Jesus!