When Jerusalem Becomes a Burdensome Stone

I am deeply troubled by what I see happening in Israel, Gaza, and throughout the Middle East. This concern is not rooted in hatred for the Jewish people. I do not hold ordinary Jewish men, women, and children responsible for decisions made by Israel’s political and military leaders. Neither do I hold every Palestinian responsible for the actions of Hamas.

My concern is that present events appear to be moving the world toward an end-time confrontation that human governments will be unable to resolve. According to Scripture, it will require the direct intervention of the LORD.

The prophet Zechariah wrote:

“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
—Zechariah 12:3, KJV

Notice that the prophecy says Jerusalem will become a “burdensome stone for all people.” Today, Jerusalem and the nation of Israel stand at the center of an expanding international crisis. Governments argue over Israel. Political parties divide over Israel. Churches separate over Israel. Wars are fought, alliances are changing, and nations are being drawn into an increasingly dangerous confrontation.

I am not setting a date for the fulfillment of prophecy, nor am I claiming that every present event is the final fulfillment of Zechariah. Nevertheless, I believe we are witnessing the development of conditions that could move the nations toward the event the prophet described.

When Hatred Overtakes Compassion

Before nations will unite to destroy a people, those people must first be dehumanized. Compassion must disappear. Individuals must no longer be seen as fathers, mothers, children and neighbors. They become nothing more than members of a hated group.

We are already witnessing this process.

Palestinian civilians are frequently treated as though every one of them is a member of Hamas. Their suffering is dismissed as an unfortunate but necessary consequence of war. At the same time, many people are beginning to treat every Jewish person as though he or she personally supports every action of the Israeli government.

Both forms of collective judgment are wrong.

A Palestinian child is not Hamas. A Jewish child is not the Israeli government. An ordinary Jewish family living in America or Europe has no control over the decisions made by Israel’s prime minister, cabinet or military commanders.

Yet perception often becomes reality in the minds of angry people. When Israeli leaders use dehumanizing language, defend collective punishment or appear indifferent to civilian suffering, the resulting anger is frequently directed against Jewish people everywhere. That transfer of guilt is unjust, but it is also foreseeable.

This is why I cannot understand the continued recklessness of Israel’s leadership. Do they not recognize the danger their actions are creating for Jewish communities throughout the world? Do they not see that every cruel statement and every image of civilian suffering provides additional fuel for those who already hate the Jews?

I cannot prove that Israeli leaders intend to destroy the Jewish people. I do not claim to know their secret motives. However, I believe their present policies are placing Jewish people throughout the world in increasing danger. Political survival, nationalism, territorial ambition and military power appear to have become more important than compassion, justice and long-term security.

Prophecy Does Not Excuse Injustice

Some Christians believe that because Israel occupies an important place in Bible prophecy, they must defend everything its government does. I do not accept that position.

The prophets of Israel repeatedly condemned Israel’s leaders when they practiced injustice, oppressed the weak or shed innocent blood. Biblical Israel was never placed beyond moral accountability. God’s covenant purposes did not give its rulers permission to do evil.

Isaiah declared:

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
—Isaiah 1:17, KJV

Jeremiah warned:

“Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor.”
—Jeremiah 22:3, KJV

If the ancient kings of Israel were accountable to God, the present government of Israel is also accountable. Prophecy does not turn wrongdoing into righteousness.

At the same time, Israel’s sins cannot justify hatred toward all Jews or a campaign to destroy them. The nations will also be judged for their hatred, violence and desire for destruction. One side’s sin does not make the other side innocent.

A Crisis Humanity Cannot Resolve

The Middle East has experienced peace conferences, ceasefires, treaties, negotiations and military interventions. Yet hatred continues to grow. Every act of violence becomes the justification for another. Every bombing produces another generation of wounded, angry and grieving people.

Political leaders promise peace while preparing for war. Nations speak of security while building larger arsenals. Religious groups claim righteousness while losing compassion for human suffering.

Humanity does not possess the wisdom or moral strength to resolve this crisis. The problem is no longer merely political. It is spiritual.

Hatred has blinded the nations. Pride prevents repentance. Fear overrules compassion. Revenge is called justice, and violence is presented as the only path to security. These are signs of a world moving toward judgment.

Zechariah tells us that when the nations gather against Jerusalem, the final answer will not come from the United Nations, the United States, NATO, Russia, China or any other earthly power. The LORD Himself will intervene.

“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”
—Zechariah 14:3, KJV

The same prophecy also points toward mourning, repentance and spiritual recognition:

“And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him.”
—Zechariah 12:10, KJV

The ultimate answer is not military conquest. It is the revelation and reign of Jesus Christ.

The Responsibility of the Church

Christians should not rejoice as the world moves toward destruction. Prophecy was not given so that we might celebrate suffering or cheer for war. It was given so that we might remain awake, faithful and prepared.

Our responsibility is to speak truth without surrendering to hatred. We must condemn the killing of innocent Palestinians without becoming enemies of the Jewish people. We must oppose antisemitism without excusing injustice committed by Israel’s government. We must recognize every person—Jew, Muslim, Christian, Israeli and Palestinian—as a soul for whom Christ died.

Jesus said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
—Matthew 5:9, KJV

The world is moving toward an event that only the LORD can resolve. Jerusalem is becoming a burdensome stone, the nations are increasingly divided, and compassion is being replaced by collective hatred.

This is not a time for the Church to join the shouting of the nations. It is a time to warn, pray, preach the Gospel and demonstrate the compassion of Christ.

Our confidence must not be placed in political leaders, military power or international agreements. Our hope is in the LORD alone.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
—Psalm 122:6, KJV

Let us pray for Jerusalem. Let us pray for the Jewish people. Let us pray for Palestinians, including the suffering Christian communities of the Holy Land. Let us pray for repentance among political and military leaders. Above all, let us pray that souls will turn to Jesus Christ before hatred brings the nations to a conflict from which only the LORD can deliver them.

The Hidden Church of Somalia: Faith Beneath the Sword

 While much of the world watches the wars in the Middle East and Europe, a small and nearly invisible body of believers is suffering in Somalia. These Christians seldom appear on television. We do not know all their names, see their faces or hear their testimonies. Most cannot speak publicly without placing themselves and their families in danger.

Yet the Church of Jesus Christ is present in Somalia.

Somalia is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world to follow Christ. Open Doors ranked it second only to North Korea on its 2026 World Watch List. The exact number of Somali Christians cannot be established because most believers must conceal their faith. Estimates suggest that only hundreds—or perhaps a very small number beyond that—live there.

These believers are not hiding because they are ashamed of Jesus. They are hiding because discovery can mean rejection, imprisonment or death.

Persecuted by Extremists, Families and Clans

Al-Shabaab, an Islamist terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda, openly seeks to eliminate Christianity from Somalia. It regards Muslims who accept Jesus Christ as apostates and has threatened to execute people suspected of converting.

The danger does not come from militants alone. Somalia is a clan-centered society in which family connections provide protection, employment and social standing. When a Somali becomes a Christian, that decision may be treated as betrayal of the family, clan and nation.

A believer may be disowned, driven from home, threatened or assaulted. Some converts have reportedly been betrayed by members of their own families. Without clan protection, a person can be left with nowhere to live and no safe place to turn.

Jesus warned His disciples:

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
—Matthew 10:22, KJV

For Christians in Somalia, these words are not merely part of a Sunday sermon. They describe everyday life.

A Church Without Buildings

There are few, if any, openly functioning Somali Christian congregations where converts can worship safely. Believers cannot freely build churches, preach publicly, distribute Bibles or announce that they have accepted Christ.

They meet secretly in homes or communicate quietly with trusted believers. Some may worship entirely alone because contacting another Christian could expose both of them.

Imagine possessing a Bible that you cannot allow your family to see. Imagine being unable to sing a hymn aloud, tell your neighbor about Jesus or ask publicly for prayer. Imagine wondering whether someone you trust might report you to your family, the authorities or a militant organization.

That is the reality facing many Somali Christians.

Nevertheless, Jesus promised:

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
—Matthew 18:20, KJV

The Church is not defined by a building, a sign or a large congregation. Even when two frightened believers meet quietly behind a closed door, Christ is present.

Almost No Legal Protection

Somalia’s Constitution declares Islam the state religion and prohibits the propagation of another religion. Although the Constitution contains language concerning individual rights, Christians—especially converts from Islam—have little meaningful protection in practice.

The danger exists not only in territory controlled by Al-Shabaab. Christians living in areas governed by federal or regional authorities can still face surveillance, intimidation and intense social pressure. The authorities may be unable or unwilling to protect someone accused of leaving Islam.

In May 2026, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom warned that Al-Shabaab’s expansion was increasing the danger to Christian converts and others who reject its violent ideology.

Somali Christians therefore find themselves surrounded by danger. Extremists threaten them, society rejects them, and the government often cannot protect them.

Hunger Added to Persecution

Somalia is also suffering from armed conflict, severe drought, displacement and widespread hunger. Millions of Somalis face food insecurity, and nearly 1.9 million children were projected to suffer acute malnutrition during 2026.

This suffering affects Muslims and Christians alike. We must care about every hungry child and suffering family, regardless of religion.

However, Christian converts may be especially vulnerable because they can be separated from the family and clan networks upon which Somali people commonly depend for food, shelter and security. A person rejected for accepting Christ may have difficulty obtaining help without exposing his or her faith.

These believers are carrying both the burden of national suffering and the cross of religious persecution.

We Must Not Condemn All Muslims

Al-Shabaab commits its violence in the name of an extreme interpretation of Islam, but Christians must not respond by hating every Muslim. Many Somali Muslims are themselves victims of Al-Shabaab’s violence, forced rule and terrorism.

We must distinguish between terrorists and ordinary people just as we insist that others distinguish between a government’s actions and the people it claims to represent.

The Christian response to persecution is not hatred. It is truth, prayer, courageous witness and love for both the persecuted and the persecutor.

Jesus said:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
—Matthew 5:44, KJV

We condemn persecution without surrendering to hatred. We oppose the spirit of Antichrist while remembering that those deceived by that spirit are souls who need salvation.

Why Is the Western Church Silent?

Churches in America often become consumed with politics, personalities, buildings and programs. Meanwhile, believers in Somalia risk their lives simply to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We argue about inconveniences while they face possible execution. We complain when worship does not suit our preferences while they cannot worship publicly at all. We debate how comfortable the church should be while they ask whether they will live through another day.

Their suffering should bring us to repentance.

Paul wrote:

“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
—Hebrews 13:3, KJV

To remember persecuted believers means more than briefly mentioning them. It means carrying their burden in prayer, telling their story and supporting trustworthy ministries that serve them without needlessly exposing their identities.

The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail

From a human perspective, Christianity should have disappeared from Somalia. Believers possess little political influence, no military protection and almost no public visibility.

Yet the Church remains.

Every secret prayer, hidden Bible and whispered testimony declares that Al-Shabaab has failed. Governments may restrict the Gospel, families may reject converts, and extremists may kill believers, but they cannot destroy the Church of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord promised:

“I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
—Matthew 16:18, KJV

Let us remember the hidden Church of Somalia. Let us pray for protection, courage and fellowship for its believers. Let us pray that those who persecute them will encounter Jesus Christ and be transformed as Saul of Tarsus was transformed.

The world may not know their names, but God knows every one of them. Their tears are not forgotten, their prayers are not unheard, and their faithfulness will not go unrewarded.

A Prayer for Somalia

Our heavenly Father, we come before Thee on behalf of Thy persecuted children in Somalia. Thou knowest every believer who must worship in secret and every convert who fears discovery.

Protect those who are being hunted. Provide shelter for those rejected by their families. Bring isolated believers into safe fellowship with one another. Give pastors, evangelists and Bible teachers wisdom as they minister under dangerous conditions.

Restrain the violence of Al-Shabaab and open the eyes of those who persecute Thy Church. Let Muslims throughout Somalia hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ—not through hatred or force, but through the faithful witness and sacrificial love of Thy people.

Remember the hungry, the displaced, the widows and the suffering children of Somalia. Send food, water, medical assistance and faithful laborers. Preserve Thy Church beneath the shadow of persecution and remind every hidden believer that he or she is never hidden from Thee.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.

Sources consulted: Open Doors, 2026 World Watch List and Somalia country profile; U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, “Religious Freedom in Somalia,” May 2026; U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom reporting on Somalia; United Nations and Associated Press reporting on Somalia’s 2026 humanitarian crisis.

When Christians Learn to Hate Their Enemies

As I read the news each day, I am deeply troubled by the violence and hatred spreading throughout the world. Russia, Poland, Great Britain, Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Syria, and much of the Middle East are living under the shadow of conflict, fear, and war.

Every day brings new reports of destruction. Political leaders accuse one another. Nations threaten retaliation. Commentators speak of war as though it were a sporting event, and ordinary people are encouraged to choose a side and hate everyone on the other side.

However, many people have never taken the time to learn who their supposed enemies really are.

The Enemy Is a Person

The people we have been taught to hate are not as different from us as we may imagine. They have the same problems of life. They struggle to provide for their families, worry about their children, care for aging parents, and grieve when someone they love is suffering.

They experience sickness, disappointment, loneliness, and fear. They laugh at family gatherings and weep beside hospital beds and graves. They want their children to have a future.

If we sat down with some of them and shared a meal, we might discover that we have much in common. Under different circumstances, we might even become friends.

The problem is that hatred prevents us from seeing the person behind the label.

We do not see a father, mother, son, or daughter. We see only a Russian, Ukrainian, Iranian, Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim, Jew, conservative, liberal, immigrant, or foreigner. Once a human being has been reduced to a label, it becomes easier to ignore his suffering and justify his destruction.

That is how dehumanization works. First, people are given a label. Then they are blamed collectively for the actions of governments, armies, or extremist groups. Finally, their suffering is treated as though it does not matter.

What Troubles Me About the Church

What disturbs me most is the number of professing Christians who fail to see an enemy as a soul who needs the LORD.

Some Christians speak eagerly about bombing nations, destroying cities, and killing those they have been taught to fear. They may never have met anyone from those countries. They know nothing about their lives, beliefs, or struggles. Nevertheless, they speak as though millions of people are unworthy of compassion.

Have we forgotten the words of Jesus?

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:43–44, KJV

Jesus did not say that we must approve of evil. He did not command us to ignore injustice or pretend that violence is acceptable. He commanded us to love our enemies.

That love is not sentimental weakness. It is the strength to oppose evil without allowing evil to take possession of our hearts.

Is Hatred the Spirit of Murder?

Jesus taught that sin begins in the heart before it appears through our actions. Murder does not begin when the weapon is raised. It begins when anger is cultivated, contempt is accepted, and another person’s life is treated as worthless.

The apostle John wrote:

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
— 1 John 3:15, KJV

This does not mean that every angry statement is legally equal to taking someone’s life. However, it does mean that hatred and murder come from the same spiritual soil.

Hatred wishes harm upon another person. It celebrates suffering, excuses cruelty, and sometimes rejoices in death. If hatred is allowed to grow, it can eventually produce violence.

Jesus warned us about what comes out of our mouths because our words reveal the condition of our hearts:

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
— Matthew 12:34, KJV

When a Christian speaks words of cruelty, violence, and hatred, we must ask what has been permitted to grow within that heart. The tongue may reveal that political anger has become stronger than Christian love.

How Did We Get Here?

We arrived at this place because fear replaced faith.

Political leaders, media personalities, and even religious voices continually tell us whom we should fear. Fear becomes suspicion. Suspicion becomes anger. Anger becomes hatred, and hatred makes violence appear reasonable.

We arrived here because we accepted collective guilt.

We began blaming entire populations for the decisions of political leaders and military organizations. We forgot that ordinary citizens often have little control over what their governments do. Children cannot be guilty of the decisions made by presidents, prime ministers, generals, or armed groups.

We arrived here because politics began discipling the Church.

Many Christians now interpret the Bible through their political loyalties instead of judging those loyalties by the Word of God. They excuse conduct committed by their preferred nation or party that they would condemn immediately if the opposing side committed it.

We arrived here because nationalism began replacing the Kingdom of God.

A Christian may love his country, but no earthly nation should receive the allegiance that belongs to Jesus Christ. The cross must stand above every flag. The gospel must take priority over every political platform.

We arrived here because we confused loving our enemies with approving their actions.

We can condemn terrorism, invasion, oppression, and the killing of innocent people without hating an entire population. We can demand justice without demanding revenge. We can oppose evil without becoming controlled by the same spirit of hatred we claim to oppose.

Finally, we arrived here because the Church forgot its mission.

The Mission of the Church

Jesus did not commission the Church to decide which nations were worthy of destruction. He commanded us to preach the gospel to every creature.

The person whom the world calls our enemy is still someone for whom Christ died. He is still a soul who needs salvation. She is still someone who can experience the transforming grace of God.

How can we pray for missionaries to reach a nation on Sunday and then call for that nation’s destruction on Monday?

How can we say that God loves the world while speaking as though certain people are beyond His mercy?

How can we celebrate the death of those whom we claim we want to see saved?

The apostle Paul reminds us:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
— Ephesians 6:12, KJV

Our ultimate enemy is not the ordinary person living in another country. There is a spiritual power working through deception, fear, pride, greed, and hatred. Satan is pleased when human beings destroy one another, and he is especially pleased when Christians provide religious justification for doing it.

Look at the Cross

When Jesus was hanging upon the cross, He did not call for the destruction of those who crucified Him. He prayed:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
— Luke 23:34, KJV

Those words leave no room for a Christianity built upon hatred.

If Jesus could pray for those driving nails into His hands, how can we refuse to pray for people we have never met? If Christ died for His enemies, how can His followers rejoice in the death of theirs?

The cross exposes the hatred in every human heart. It also shows us another way—the way of forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and sacrificial love.

We Must Examine Our Hearts

The Church must ask some difficult questions:

Do my words sound like Jesus, or do they sound like the angry spirit of this world?

When I hear that people have been killed, do I grieve over lost lives, or do I celebrate because they belonged to the “wrong” side?

Do I want my enemies to be saved, or do I want them to be destroyed?

Have political loyalties caused me to forget the commandments of Christ?

We must speak against injustice. We must defend the innocent. We must confront evil and tell the truth. But we must never surrender our hearts to hatred.

The enemy is still a human being. The enemy has a family. The enemy knows sorrow and fear. The enemy bears the image of God. Most importantly, the enemy is still a soul who needs the LORD.

We reached this terrible place by forgetting that truth.

The way back begins when Christians remember the words of Jesus:

“Love your enemies.”

That command does not become optional during wartime. It is especially necessary during wartime. When the entire world demands that we hate, followers of Jesus Christ must demonstrate that there is another way.

We must not allow the hatred of this world to take possession of our hearts. The Church must be a light in the darkness, a voice for peace amid calls for destruction, and a witness to the saving mercy of Jesus Christ.

Our enemies do not need our hatred. They need the gospel.

Why Is Israel Ignoring Her Own Prophets?

 The prophets of Israel warned that a day would come when the nations would gather against Jerusalem. These warnings were not spoken by foreign prophets or enemies of Israel. They came through Israel’s own prophets and were preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Yet the modern government of Israel appears to conduct its affairs as though military superiority, nuclear weapons, intelligence operations, and American support will always guarantee its security. Israeli leaders recognize the military dangers around them, but they apparently do not recognize—or do not accept—the prophetic meaning that some Christians see in these developments.

In my opinion, Turkey and Egypt will eventually become involved in a major conflict with Israel. That conflict could unite several countries against Israel and help bring about the gathering of nations foretold by the prophets.

I am not setting a timetable. I am not saying every present event is the final fulfillment of prophecy. I am saying that current events appear to be preparing the political, military, and spiritual conditions for what the prophets warned would come.

The Nations Will Gather Against Jerusalem

The prophet Zechariah wrote:

“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
—Zechariah 12:3, KJV

Zechariah later declared:

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.”
—Zechariah 14:2, KJV

Joel also spoke of a gathering of the nations:

“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat.”
—Joel 3:2, KJV

These passages tell us that a great gathering will occur. They do not give us a modern calendar or name every government that will participate. Therefore, we must be careful not to claim more than Scripture says.

Nevertheless, prophecy gives us a pattern, and current events show that the nations surrounding Israel are moving into new relationships. Countries that have disagreed with one another may eventually discover that hostility toward Israel gives them a common cause.

Turkey Is Becoming a Regional Power

For years, I have believed Turkey will play an important role in the events leading to a great Middle Eastern conflict. Turkey possesses one of the largest and most capable militaries in the region. It is a member of NATO, has an expanding defense industry, and occupies a strategic position between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Turkey’s influence in Syria is growing. The new Syrian government increasingly looks toward Ankara for military assistance, security cooperation, reconstruction, trade, and political support.

Israel clearly sees this growing Turkish presence as a danger. Israel’s attack upon the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria was reportedly intended to prevent Turkey from establishing a military presence or placing air-defense systems there. Turkey denied having personnel at the base, but the reason Israel gave for the attack is significant.

Israel was not merely responding to an Iranian or Hezbollah presence. It was acting because of what Turkey might do.

This demonstrates that Turkey has become part of Israel’s security calculations. Syria may now become the ground upon which Turkish and Israeli interests collide.

Turkey claims that it is cooperating with the Syrian government by invitation. Israel continues to strike Syrian territory in the name of its own security. These opposing positions cannot continue indefinitely without creating the danger of a direct confrontation.

The greatest danger may not be that Turkey or Israel deliberately decides to begin a major war. The danger is that an Israeli strike could kill Turkish military personnel. Turkey might then retaliate to protect its national honor and regional credibility. Israel could answer that retaliation, and the conflict could grow beyond the control of either government.

Wars often begin through escalation and miscalculation rather than through a carefully announced decision to start one.

Egypt Must Not Be Overlooked

Egypt presently has a peace treaty with Israel. It also receives American assistance and has serious economic problems. These considerations restrain Egypt from entering a military confrontation.

However, treaties do not guarantee permanent peace.

Egypt cannot remain untouched by what is happening in Gaza. It is deeply concerned about the possibility that Palestinians might be forced into the Sinai Peninsula. Such displacement would create an enormous humanitarian, political, and security crisis for Egypt.

If Israeli military operations threatened Egyptian territory, pushed large numbers of Palestinians toward Sinai, or produced a confrontation along the border, the Egyptian government could face overwhelming public pressure to take a stronger position.

Egypt might not begin as the leader of a coalition against Israel. It could be drawn into one by events.

We should remember that national relationships can change quickly. Countries that appear restrained today may act differently after a border incident, a change of government, an economic collapse, or a regional war.

A Coalition Could Form Around a Common Enemy

Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria, and Iran do not agree on everything. They have different governments, religious interests, alliances, and national ambitions. At present, they are not one united military coalition against Israel.

However, alliances are not always formed because nations trust one another. Sometimes they are formed because those nations fear or oppose the same enemy.

Israel’s continuing military operations throughout Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and other areas may defeat immediate targets, but they also increase anger throughout the Muslim world. Every new attack may encourage countries with different interests to cooperate against Israel.

Israel believes aggressive military action will preserve its security. In the long term, those same actions may help create the coalition Israel fears.

This is the great danger. Israel may win battle after battle while gradually losing the wider political struggle. Military victories can weaken an enemy temporarily while producing greater hostility for the future.

Why Does Israel Not See What Her Own Prophets Foresaw?

That is the question troubling me: Why does Israel not recognize the danger described by her own prophets?

The first answer is that modern Israel is largely governed as a secular state. Israel identifies itself as a Jewish nation, but its leaders generally make decisions based upon intelligence reports, military strength, national interest, political survival, and foreign alliances.

Many Israeli leaders may honor the Hebrew Scriptures as part of their history without submitting their policies to the spiritual warnings of those Scriptures. Possessing the writings of the prophets is not the same as believing and obeying them.

Ancient Israel did the same thing.

“But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets.”
—2 Chronicles 36:16, KJV

Israel had the prophets, but the people frequently refused to hear them. They accepted promises of blessing while rejecting warnings of judgment. They wanted prophets who would approve their policies rather than call them to repentance.

Human nature has not changed.

Different Interpretations of Prophecy

Jewish religious leaders do not necessarily interpret Ezekiel, Joel, Daniel, and Zechariah in the same way that Christians do. Some understand these passages as referring to ancient enemies. Others see them as symbolic descriptions of suffering and deliverance. Still others place them in a distant Messianic age that cannot yet be connected with present events.

Most importantly, Judaism rejects the Christian confession that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. Therefore, the Jewish prophetic framework is fundamentally different from a Christian interpretation centered upon Christ.

Israel may see Turkey, Iran, Syria, and other countries as military threats without believing that they are part of a prophetic gathering. Its leaders believe those dangers can be managed through airstrikes, intelligence operations, deterrence, nuclear weapons, and American support.

They see a security problem where some Christians see the possible preparation for prophetic fulfillment.

Trusting in Chariots

Modern Israel possesses a powerful military, advanced technology, sophisticated intelligence services, air-defense systems, and nuclear capability. It also receives extensive military and political support from the United States.

These advantages can create a dangerous sense of security. Israel may believe that no coalition can defeat it because its weapons are superior and America will never abandon it.

The Psalmist warned:

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
—Psalm 20:7, KJV

Military strength cannot replace obedience to God. Political alliances cannot cancel prophecy. Nuclear weapons cannot save a nation from a crisis that the Lord has allowed.

Israel’s final deliverance will not come because its military is stronger than the combined forces of its enemies. According to Zechariah, the Lord Himself will intervene:

“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”
—Zechariah 14:3, KJV

The Prophets Also Called for Justice

The prophets did more than predict the movements of nations. They warned Israel about pride, injustice, oppression, violence, and misplaced confidence in military alliances.

It is possible to claim the promises of the prophets while ignoring their calls to repentance. It is possible to rejoice in promises of national deliverance while refusing to hear God’s condemnation of injustice.

The prophet Isaiah declared:

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
—Isaiah 1:17, KJV

The prophets did not teach that national identity excused wrongdoing. They taught that greater spiritual privilege brought greater accountability.

If the modern government of Israel reads only the promises and ignores the warnings, it is repeating the mistake of ancient Israel. But Christians must also be careful. We cannot point at Israel’s blindness while refusing to examine our own.

American Christians may trust in military power, political leaders, and national alliances just as easily. We may study prophecy to identify the sins of other nations while refusing to repent of hatred, partiality, and indifference in our own hearts.

This Is an Observation, Not a Timetable

Let me state my position carefully.

I am not claiming that the present conflict is the final gathering of the nations. I am not setting a date for the fulfillment of Zechariah, Joel, or Ezekiel. I am not saying that every current leader understands the part he may be playing.

I believe we are witnessing a change in regional power that may prepare the way for later prophetic fulfillment.

Turkey is increasing its influence in Syria. Egypt is under growing pressure because of Gaza and the possibility of Palestinian displacement. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are developing closer relationships with Turkey. Israel is becoming increasingly isolated while continuing military operations throughout the region.

These developments do not prove that the final gathering has arrived, but they show how such a gathering could eventually become possible.

Conditions are changing. Old alliances are weakening. New partnerships are forming. Hatred is increasing. Military confrontations are expanding. Nations that once appeared divided are finding reasons to cooperate.

The pieces are moving, even if we cannot yet see the completed picture.

Israel’s Final Hope

My concern for Israel does not come from hatred of the Jewish people. I do not desire Israel’s destruction, nor do I rejoice in the suffering of Jews, Muslims, Palestinians, or anyone else.

Every human life is precious. Every Jew and every Muslim is a soul for whom Christ died. Christians must never rejoice when civilians are killed, homes are destroyed, or children suffer.

My warning is that Israel cannot bomb its way into permanent peace. It cannot depend forever upon American weapons and political protection. It cannot create security by producing greater hostility in every surrounding country.

If Turkey and Egypt eventually become involved in a great regional conflict, other nations may join them. What begins as a dispute over Gaza or Syria could become the coalition foretold by the prophets.

Israel’s own prophets warned that such a day would come. Yet Israel appears to trust the strength of its army more than the words of those prophets.

The final answer will not be found in Washington, NATO, nuclear weapons, or military superiority. Israel’s hope—like the hope of the Muslim and the Gentile—is found in turning to God.

The present events may not be the final fulfillment, but they are a warning. The road Israel and the surrounding nations are traveling is filled with hatred, pride, retaliation, and bloodshed. Unless there is repentance and a change of direction, that road will lead to a conflict no human government can control.

The prophets foresaw the gathering of the nations. We may now be watching the early development of the conditions that will someday make that gathering possible.

Therefore, the Church must remain watchful, prayerful, and faithful. We must proclaim Christ rather than celebrate war. We must pray for Jews, Muslims, Palestinians, Turks, Egyptians, and all the people of the Middle East.

The signs should not make us hateful. They should make us ready.

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
—Matthew 24:42, KJV

A STORY ABOUT PRIDE

  While living in Wyoming, I had several exciting adventures. Some of them were planned, while others came about because I opened my mouth before giving my brain enough time to consider what I was saying. The Bible warns us:

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
—Proverbs 21:23, KJV

On this particular occasion, I failed to keep either one—and trouble was already standing in a corral waiting for me.

John Preston operated a guide business and owned several horses and pack mules. Most of the animals were well-broken and dependable, but there was one mule that had never been properly broken to ride. That mule had apparently made up his mind that no human being was ever going to sit comfortably upon his back.

One Sunday night after church, John, Ray, Mike, and I were sitting around talking. Somehow, the conversation turned to breaking horses and mules. I had grown up around horses and ponies, so I possessed just enough experience to be confident and just enough pride to be foolish.

Without giving the matter much thought, I announced, “I believe I could ride that mule without getting thrown.”

It was late on a Sunday night, and I never dreamed anyone would expect me to prove it. I thought my boast was safe. After all, surely no one would saddle an unbroken mule after dark merely to see whether a preacher could stay on its back.

I had forgotten an important truth:

“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”
—Proverbs 18:7, KJV

Ray quietly slipped out of the room. About fifteen minutes later, he returned with a grin on his face and announced, “The mule is saddled and ready.”

That was not what I had expected to hear.

To tell the truth, I had not planned to ride that mule that night—or any other night. I had simply been talking. But Mike, who had never ridden a horse, much less an unbroken mule, immediately began challenging me.

“All right, Truitt,” he said. “Let’s see you ride that mule.”

I was not ready, but I was not about to give Mike the satisfaction of watching me back down. Pride will cause a man to climb into some mighty dangerous saddles.

The Bible says:

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
—Proverbs 16:18, KJV

That verse was about to become more than theology. It was about to become a practical demonstration.

We walked out to the corral. There stood the mule, saddled and waiting. There was no bit in his mouth—only a rope tied to his halter. As I walked closer, that mule seemed to grow larger with every step. From a distance, he had looked like an ordinary mule. Standing beside him, he looked about seventeen hands tall and nearly as wide as a barn.

I reached for the saddle horn, and the mule began to tremble. I do not know whether he was more frightened of me than I was of him, but I can tell you that both of us had serious concerns about what was about to happen.

I took my time. I spoke softly to him and rubbed his neck. Finally, I placed my foot in the stirrup and eased myself into the saddle.

I knew that if I could keep his head up, he would have difficulty bucking. I pulled the rope tight enough to prevent him from lowering his head. Then I wrapped the rope around the saddle horn and told Ray to untie him.

The mule turned around and began trotting away as calmly as if we were going out for an evening stroll. For a few seconds, I thought I had been right. Perhaps I really could ride him. Maybe all the warnings had been unnecessary.

That moment of confidence was my second mistake.

Because the mule seemed calm, I relaxed my grip and allowed a little slack into the rope. The moment I did, he dropped his head and exploded.

We went straight up into the air. Then we came down on all four stiff legs with enough force to shake my teeth. Before I could catch my breath, we were back in the air again. The mule was bucking, twisting, and doing everything within his power to separate me from the saddle.

I knew I was in trouble.

As we came down again, the mule turned his head to one side. I recognized what he was about to do. He was not merely trying to throw me—he intended to lie down and roll over on top of me.

I quickly kicked my feet out of the stirrups. Sure enough, he dropped one leg and began falling sideways. As his neck came close to the ground, I swung my leg over his head and stepped away from the saddle before he could roll over and crush me.

I walked away as calmly as I could, pretending that this was exactly how a man was supposed to dismount from a bucking mule.

The mule rolled on the ground, scrambled back to his feet, and took off running across the corral. I brushed myself off and walked back toward the others, trying to preserve what little dignity I had left.

Mike immediately declared, “You cheated! You didn’t ride the mule.”

“I certainly did ride him,” I answered.

John and Ray agreed with me. I had climbed into the saddle, stayed on while the mule bucked, and dismounted without being thrown. It might not have been a long ride, but it was a ride.

That should have been the end of the story.

It was not.

For the next two weeks, Mike became obsessed with riding that mule. He talked about it continually. I repeatedly warned him that the mule was dangerous and that I had been fortunate not to be seriously injured.

Mike would not listen.

The Bible says:

“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”
—Proverbs 14:15, KJV

Mike was determined to do more than look at where he was going. He intended to go there riding a mule.

Finally, we made another trip to John’s place. Ray was there helping John prepare for an upcoming guide trip. When they learned that Mike had come to ride the mule, both of them warned him that he could be seriously hurt.

Mike insisted.

He had not come merely to see the mule. He had come prepared to ride.

And when I say prepared, I mean that he had found a pair of English riding pants at the mission. He had also acquired a Daniel Boone-style coonskin cap, complete with a tail hanging down the back.

I do not know whether Mike believed the riding pants would make him an experienced horseman or whether the coonskin cap would give him the courage of a frontier hero. I can only say that he looked like Daniel Boone had joined the British cavalry.

The sight of him standing beside that mule was worth the trip.

Ray saddled the mule and tied the rope to the halter. Before Mike climbed aboard, I gave him the benefit of my limited experience.

“Wrap that rope around the saddle horn,” I told him, “and whatever you do, don’t let it slip. Keep the mule’s head up.”

Mike climbed into the saddle, pulled the rope tight, wrapped it around the saddle horn, and called out confidently, “Let him go!”

Ray released the mule.

Instead of bucking, the mule turned his hindquarters, squatted low, kicked up a cloud of dust, and took off like a shot out of a cannon.

Mike was holding on for dear life. His English riding pants were not helping him, and the tail on his coonskin cap was flying straight out behind him.

An irrigation ditch ran through the property. It was about twenty feet across and four feet deep, and it was filled with cold water. This happened during the winter. There was no snow on the ground, but the air was bitterly cold.

The mule headed directly toward that ditch.

For a moment, it appeared that he intended to jump it. Mike had no control over the animal and no way to change his direction. John, Ray, and I could do nothing but watch.

Just as the mule reached the edge of the ditch, it seemed as though all four of his feet came together at once. He planted them firmly, stopped suddenly, and turned sharply to one side.

The mule stopped.

Mike did not.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Mike flew out of the saddle, over the mule’s head, through the cold winter air, and landed directly in the middle of that irrigation ditch.

Water shot into the air like a fountain.

The proper Christian response would have been to make sure Mike was not injured. However, John, Ray, and I were laughing so hard that none of us could move.

The Bible says:

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
—Proverbs 17:22, KJV

We received a great deal of medicine that day.

A few moments later, Mike climbed out of the ditch. He was soaking wet, nearly blue from the cold, and shaking all over. He came walking toward us while the three of us were still laughing. His riding pants were drenched, his coonskin cap was dripping water, and that proud tail was hanging limp down his back.

To say that Mike was unhappy would be putting it mildly.

Most men would have admitted defeat, changed into dry clothes, and gone home. Not Mike. He insisted that he was going to ride the mule again.

Ray caught the mule and brought him back. We tried to talk Mike out of it, but there was no changing his mind. He climbed back into the saddle for a second attempt.

I would like to say that his second ride was more successful.

It was not.

Apparently, the mule had learned exactly what to do. He gave a repeat performance. Once again, he ran toward the irrigation ditch, stopped suddenly, and sent Mike sailing through the air and into the cold water.

By that time, all three of us were laughing so hard that if Mike had actually been drowning, I am not sure we could have reached him.

Looking back, I must give Mike credit. He rode that mule longer than I did, and he certainly gave a better performance. I dismounted before the mule could roll over on me. Mike flew through the air and landed in an irrigation ditch—twice.

More than fifty years have passed, but I can still see him wearing those English riding pants and that coonskin cap, holding on while the mule raced toward the water. Every time I remember it, I smile.

Yet there was a lesson in that experience. Pride caused me to boast that I could ride the mule. Pride caused Mike to insist that he could ride it better. Neither one of us had enough wisdom to leave that animal alone.

The Lord protected both of us from serious injury, even though we had placed ourselves in danger. Sometimes God protects us from circumstances beyond our control. At other times, He graciously protects us from our own foolishness.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
—Psalm 37:23–24, KJV

I have learned that the Lord can use almost anything to teach us—even an unbroken Wyoming pack mule. He taught me to be careful about boasting, to respect danger, and to think before allowing pride to place me in a saddle I had no business occupying.

Solomon gave some mighty good advice:

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”
—Proverbs 27:2, KJV

If I had followed that advice on that Sunday night, I would never have climbed aboard that mule. But then again, Mike would not have landed in the irrigation ditch wearing English riding pants and a coonskin cap—and I would not have this wonderful story to tell.

When the Church No Longer Weeps for the Lost

 Satan’s Work of Blinding Hearts to the Light of Christ

There is a burden upon my heart that I cannot easily lay aside. I have written about it many times, yet the indifference appears to grow worse. I am concerned about the number of professing Christians who can hear about the suffering and death of innocent people without showing compassion.

People are being killed, wounded, displaced and deprived of the necessities of life. Children who had nothing to do with the decisions of political leaders are suffering. Mothers are grieving over their sons and daughters. Families are searching through ruins for their loved ones. Yet some Christians speak as though the suffering does not matter because those people have been labeled our enemies.

The Palestinian is called a terrorist. The Iranian is called a threat. The Muslim is called an enemy. Once the label has been attached, some Christians no longer see a soul. They no longer see a man, woman or child created in the image of God. They see only a member of a group they have been taught to fear or hate.

This is how dehumanization begins. Before violence against a people can be accepted, those people must first be stripped of their humanity. They must be described as though they possess no rights, no innocence and no value. Once that happens, their destruction can be presented as necessary, righteous or even pleasing to God.

Recently, Israel’s Sephardi chief rabbi, David Yosef, reportedly declared that the Palestinians are not a people, have never been a people and “have no rights here.” He also spoke of Gaza’s destruction and Jewish return to the land.

As a Christian minister, I cannot remain silent about such words. This is not an attack upon all Jewish people. One rabbi does not speak for every Jewish person. Neither should Jewish people throughout the world be blamed for his statement. Nevertheless, he occupies a prominent religious office, and his words must be confronted.

I am also troubled by the silence of religious institutions that would immediately condemn comparable words if they were spoken against Jewish people. If a Muslim leader said that Jewish people had no rights and called for Jewish cities to be destroyed, Christians would rightly condemn it. We must apply the same moral standard when Palestinians are the objects of such rhetoric.

The silence of Christian leaders is especially disturbing. Have we become so politically committed to the modern State of Israel that we can no longer recognize statements contrary to the doctrine of Christ? Have political alliances become more important than the teachings of Jesus?

Christ Came to Save Lives

When a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus, James and John asked whether they should call fire down from heaven and consume its inhabitants. They believed they were defending the honor of Christ. Jesus told them that they did not understand what spirit was influencing them:

“But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
— Luke 9:55–56, KJV

Those words should cause the Church to tremble.

Some Christians appear eager for the fire to fall. They speak approvingly of bombs, destruction and death. They rejoice when people regarded as enemies are killed. But Jesus said that He did not come to destroy men’s lives. He came to save them.

Our enemies are lost souls who need salvation. I have been questioned by Christians for saying this, but I do not know how anyone reading the New Testament can deny it.

Jesus said:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44, KJV

Jesus did not say that we must approve of our enemies’ conduct. He did not say that governments have no responsibility to restrain violence or protect innocent people. But He plainly commanded His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them.

Why would we pray for an enemy? Because that enemy has a soul. Christ died to make salvation available to that person. The man we want destroyed may be a man whom Jesus wants to redeem.

Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians. He consented to the death of Stephen and made havoc of the Church. Had the believers prayed only for his destruction, they would have been praying against the man whom God intended to make the Apostle Paul.

We do not know whom God may save. That Palestinian child may become a preacher of the gospel. That Iranian soldier may someday bow before Jesus Christ. That Muslim mother may discover that Christ loves her and gave His life for her. How can Christians celebrate the destruction of people whom Christ desires to save?

The God of This World Has Blinded Their Minds

The indifference we are witnessing is more than a political problem. It is evidence of a spiritual battle.

Paul wrote:

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
— II Corinthians 4:3–4, KJV

Satan does not want people to see the light of Christ. He blinds minds, hardens hearts and teaches people to love darkness rather than light.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
— John 3:19, KJV

Satan blinds the lost so they will not receive the gospel, but he also seeks to deceive, distract and harden professing Christians. He wants the Church to exchange the Great Commission for political warfare. He wants us to view millions of people as enemies to be destroyed rather than souls to be reached.

If Satan can persuade Christians to hate the very people they were commanded to evangelize, he has weakened the witness of the Church. If he can make us rejoice in their destruction, he has replaced the missionary spirit with a spirit Jesus rebuked.

There was a time when Christians prayed for missionaries to carry the gospel into Muslim lands. Men and women left their homes, learned difficult languages and risked their lives because they believed Muslims were souls for whom Christ died. Today, some Christians appear more willing to finance bombs than missionaries.

What has happened to us?

Not Every Member of a Group Is Guilty

The principle of individual responsibility is found throughout Scripture:

“The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV

A Palestinian child is not guilty of the crimes of Hamas. An Israeli child is not guilty of the policies of the Israeli government. A Muslim family is not guilty because terrorists claim to act in the name of Islam. A Jewish family must not be blamed for the words of a chief rabbi.

Not every Palestinian is Hamas. Not every Muslim is a terrorist. Not every Jew supports the Israeli government, and not every Christian supports the wars carried out in the name of national security.

We must condemn terrorism, hostage-taking and the murder of Israeli civilians. We must also condemn collective punishment, forced displacement, deprivation and the killing of Palestinian civilians. One crime does not make another crime righteous.

Christians cannot have one moral standard for their friends and another for their enemies.

“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin.”
— James 2:9, KJV

Partiality is sin—even when it is dressed in patriotism, politics or prophetic interpretation.

Silence Has Consequences

Silence does not always prove personal agreement, but institutional silence allows evil ideas to become respectable. When a prominent religious leader declares that another people have no rights and no one within his religious or political circle corrects him, the public naturally interprets that silence as tolerance.

The same is true of the Church. When Christians hear innocent people being dehumanized and say nothing, our silence becomes part of our testimony.

Scripture commands us:

“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.”
— Proverbs 31:8, KJV

“Deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain.”
— Proverbs 24:11, KJV

The Church must speak for those whose humanity has been erased by propaganda. We must speak for the Israeli child murdered by terrorists. We must speak for the Palestinian child buried beneath the ruins. We must speak for every innocent person whose suffering has been dismissed because of race, religion or nationality.

Rejoice Not When Thine Enemy Falleth

The Bible gives us no permission to celebrate the death of an enemy:

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.”
— Proverbs 24:17, KJV

If our hearts are filled with excitement when bombs fall upon a city, something has gone terribly wrong. If we can look upon dead children without compassion because they belonged to the “wrong” people, we need to examine whether the spirit controlling our emotions is the Spirit of Christ.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem even though He knew that Jerusalem would reject Him. He looked upon the multitudes with compassion because they were scattered as sheep having no shepherd. At Calvary, He prayed for those crucifying Him:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
— Luke 23:34, KJV

That is the spirit of Christ.

The Church Must Recover Its Mission

The Church was not commissioned to destroy the nations. It was commissioned to preach the gospel to them.

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
— Mark 16:15, KJV

“Every creature” includes Palestinians, Israelis, Iranians, Arabs, Jews and Muslims. There is no nation beyond the reach of God’s mercy and no people whom the Church has permission to hate.

We must ask ourselves a serious question: If Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us and preach the gospel to every creature, how can Christians support the destruction of people whom Christ came to save?

Christian Zionism, nationalism and party politics must all bow before Jesus Christ. No interpretation of prophecy can cancel the Sermon on the Mount. No political alliance can overrule the command to love our neighbor. No government can require us to silence our conscience.

I will continue to say that our enemies are lost souls in need of salvation. I will continue to oppose the killing of innocent people, whether they are Jewish or Palestinian, Christian or Muslim. I will continue to warn the Church that indifference toward suffering is not the spirit of Christ.

The world may call compassion weakness. Political Christians may call it disloyalty. But Jesus said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— Matthew 5:9, KJV

The greatest danger facing the Church may not be persecution from the world. It may be the gradual hardening of our own hearts. Satan has blinded the minds of those who refuse the light of Christ. Let us make certain that we have not become so accustomed to darkness that we can no longer recognize the light.

When the Church no longer weeps for the lost, it has forgotten why Jesus came.

The Balance of Power Is Shifting: Are These the Beginnings of Sorrows?

 There are moments in history when the balance of power begins to change. Most people do not recognize the change when it first starts. They continue working, buying, selling, marrying, building and planning as though tomorrow will be just like yesterday. Yet beneath the surface, nations are moving, alliances are changing, and the stage is being prepared for events that will affect the entire world.

I am not saying that every headline is the final fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I am not setting dates, naming the day of the Lord’s return or declaring that a particular war is the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus warned us against being deceived by premature claims.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
—Matthew 24:4, KJV

However, refusing to sensationalize current events does not mean we should ignore them. Jesus commanded His disciples to watch. There is a difference between setting dates and observing the direction in which the world is moving.

“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
—Mark 13:37, KJV

I believe we are witnessing the beginning of a major change in the balance of power throughout the Middle East. This may not be the final fulfillment of prophecy, but it could be part of the preparation for what the prophets said would eventually come.

Turkey’s Growing Influence

For many years, students of Bible prophecy focused mainly upon Russia, Iran, Europe and Israel. Turkey was often treated as a secondary nation. That may have been a serious oversight.

Turkey controls most of ancient Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor. It occupies one of the most strategic locations on earth. It sits between Europe and Asia, Russia and the Middle East, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It borders Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Greece and Bulgaria.

Turkey also controls the Turkish Straits, through which Russian ships must pass when traveling between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It possesses one of NATO’s largest armed forces and has developed an increasingly capable defense industry, including drones, missiles and electronic-warfare systems.

Now Turkey is expanding its influence in Syria.

The present Syrian government has requested Turkish assistance in rebuilding and training its armed forces. Turkey and Syria have entered into military-cooperation agreements involving training, consultation, weapons, equipment and logistical assistance.

That point is important. Turkey is not merely forcing its way into Syria. The Syrian government has invited Turkey to help rebuild its national defenses.

Israel, however, considers an expanding Turkish military presence in Syria to be a possible threat. Israel recently attacked a Syrian airbase because it claimed Turkish forces might eventually use that facility. Turkey and Syria disputed Israel’s explanation, and Turkey strongly condemned the attack as a violation of Syrian sovereignty.

This creates a dangerous situation. Israel has repeatedly bombed Syria while claiming that such attacks are necessary for its security. However, if Israel attacks Turkish territory or deliberately kills Turkish troops, it risks a direct confrontation with a powerful NATO member.

Israel may have grown accustomed to striking weakened countries without facing an equal military response. Turkey is different. It has a large army, an advanced defense industry and a formal alliance with the United States and the other NATO countries.

The entrance of Turkey into Syria changes the calculation.

A Coalition From the North

Ezekiel described a future coalition of nations coming against the land of Israel:

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.”
—Ezekiel 38:5–6, KJV

The prophecy does not describe one country acting alone. It describes numerous peoples gathered into a coalition. The expression “many people with thee” shows that several nations will eventually unite around a common purpose.

Turkey occupies territory historically connected by many interpreters with Gomer, Tubal, Meshech and the house of Togarmah. We must be careful about drawing precise lines between ancient peoples and modern countries. Nevertheless, it would be foolish to dismiss Turkey’s geographical importance.

Ezekiel further declared:

“And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee.”
—Ezekiel 38:15, KJV

Daniel also spoke of a northern power becoming active during the time of the end:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind.”
—Daniel 11:40, KJV

I am not claiming that these verses are being completely fulfilled by today’s events. I am saying that we may be watching the early development of a regional arrangement that could eventually help bring several nations together against Israel.

Syria has been weakened. Iran remains involved throughout the region. Turkey is expanding its military, political and economic influence. Israel is fighting or conducting military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Every additional attack creates more anger, fear and opposition.

Nations that disagree on many subjects may eventually unite when they believe they face a common enemy. Israel’s policy of striking countries to prevent possible future threats could produce the very coalition Israel fears.

The Beginnings of Sorrows

Jesus warned that the last days would be marked by conflict, instability and distress:

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
—Matthew 24:6, KJV

Notice carefully what Jesus said: “the end is not yet.” Wars and rumors of wars do not automatically mean that the final moment has arrived. They are warnings that the world is moving toward a time of greater trouble.

Jesus continued:

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
—Matthew 24:7, KJV

Then He said:

“All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
—Matthew 24:8, KJV

The Lord compared these events to birth pains. A woman’s first labor pain does not mean the child has already been born, but it tells her that a process has begun. The pains may be separated at first, but they become stronger and closer together as the time approaches.

I believe the beginnings of sorrows have started. The world is entering a period of increasing conflict, economic uncertainty, political division and spiritual deception. The balance of power is shifting, and arrangements that once seemed permanent are beginning to break apart.

Our response must not be panic. Our response must be spiritual preparation.

Preparing Spiritually for What Is Coming

Some Christians hear about prophecy and immediately begin storing food, water, fuel and supplies. There is nothing wrong with reasonable physical preparation. Proverbs teaches prudence:

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
—Proverbs 22:3, KJV

However, a basement filled with supplies cannot save an unprepared soul. A person may possess food for several years and still be spiritually starving. He may have weapons to protect his house while having no faith to protect his heart from fear.

The greatest preparation is repentance.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
—Acts 3:19, KJV

We must make certain that our relationship with Jesus Christ is real. This is not the hour for a careless, indifferent or halfhearted Christianity. We cannot live for the world six days a week and expect a few minutes in church to prepare us for tribulation.

We need the Word of God.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
—Psalm 119:11, KJV

We need prayer—not merely hurried words spoken before meals, but earnest prayer that brings us into the presence of God.

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
—Luke 21:36, KJV

We need the power of the Holy Spirit. Human determination will not carry us through times of persecution, deception and fear. We need the Spirit to give us wisdom, courage and holiness.

We must also refuse hatred. Prophecy does not give Christians permission to hate Jews, Muslims, Turks, Iranians, Arabs or anyone else. Every soldier and civilian is a soul for whom Christ died. We should never rejoice over the destruction of those who are not prepared to meet God.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
—Ezekiel 33:11, KJV

Watch Without Fear

The world is changing. Turkey’s growing influence in Syria may be one part of a larger regional transformation. Alliances are shifting, old powers are weakening, and new centers of influence are emerging. These developments may eventually contribute to the coalition described by the prophets.

We must watch, but we must not be afraid.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed.”
—Psalm 46:1–2, KJV

The purpose of prophecy is not to satisfy our curiosity. It is to call us to faithfulness. God did not reveal these things so we could argue over maps while neglecting our souls. He gave us warning so that we would be ready.

The beginnings of sorrows are not a call to hide in fear. They are a call to awaken from spiritual sleep, repent of sin, return to prayer, study the Scriptures and faithfully proclaim the gospel.

Jesus is still Lord. Nations may rise and fall, alliances may form and wars may spread, but God has not surrendered His throne.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
—Luke 21:28, KJV

Church, it is time to wake up. It is time to trim our lamps, strengthen our faith and prepare our hearts. We may not know exactly how quickly these events will develop, but we know what Jesus told us to do:

Watch. Pray. Be faithful. And be ready.