Israel, the Apple of God's Eye

Deuteronomy 32:10, speaking of Jacob, states, "He found him in a desert place, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." And,

Zechariah 2:8, speaks of Jerusalem in this same manner when it states, "For thus saith the Lord of Hosts, after the glory which he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye."

It is clear from reading Scripture that the nation of Israel has a special place in the mind and heart of God. Ever since Genesis 11, when he called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees to forsake idolatry and follow the true and living; and God led him to a land that would be his own, God has had a special relationship with them. When God says in Zechariah that anyone that toucheth Israel (Jerusalem in particular) toucheth the apple of his eye, He is literally saying that touching Israel is like poking Him in the eye. That's enough to irritate anyone friends!

Since the beginning Satan has sought to destroy the nation of Israel. He has done it in many different ways and for at least 2 specific reasons. He tried to corrupt their seed, which would bring the Messiah who would crush his head. He stirred up Haman in the book of Esther to try and destroy them in captivity, and he stirs up Sanballat and Tobiah to try and keep the wall from being rebuilt in Nehemiah. He turned their heads to idolatry in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, yet God continued to reserve a remnant whether in the land or in captivity to serve Him, and as Paul put it, "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son!"

After the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and His ascension, Satan again has turned his attention to the nation of Israel. You might ask, "Why would he bother, since they have rejected Jesus?" The reason is that Hosea makes it clear, and then Peter says it plainly that the nation of Israel holds the key to the return of Christ to set up His earthly Kingdom.

Hosea 5:15 states, "I will go and return unto my place, until they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early." And

Acts 3:19-21 state: "Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which was before preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive [literally hold back] until the time of the restitution of all things, which hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."

Peter was reiterating what Hosea had said. If Israel will acknowledge their offence and ask for Jesus to return, HE WILL! Zechariah 11-12 talk about the process that Israel will go through in order to prepare them to call on Jesus.

• They will be turned over to an idol shepherd/Antichrist.
• The Antichrist will break his covenant and persecute them. And
• Jerusalem will become a cup of trembling and all nations will come against her.
  

Look at this map. Those nations in black are the one's presently seeking the destruction of Israel. Jerusalem is already surrounded!

Satan knows all of this and he is trying to destroy Israel before she is revived and calls on Jesus to ask for His return!

He will be very specific, according to Scripture in his attempt to destroy her.

• He will enter into a false covenant through the Antichrist.
• He will givepower to the Antichrist to persecute Israel and the Tribulation Saints. Revelation 12-13
• He will bring Armies to Armageddon for the final conflict in an attempt to wipe out Israel before Christ returns. Revelation 16-18.

This a map showing the attack

But God, who is faithful to keep His promises has a very specific plan that He will execute in order to protect Israel during this time!!!

First, He has a specific place to protect her. Revelation 12:6 says that she will flee into the wilderness and be protected for 3.5 yrs. Mark 13:14 and Luke 21:21 say that she can flee to the mountains for protection from the invading armies. And Daniel 11:41 tells us that Edom, Moab and Ammon (modern Jordan) will not fall under the rule of Antichrist. From these verses, many believe that the believing remnant during the Tribulation will be able to flee to Petra in ancient Edom and be protected from the Antichrist for the last 3.5 yrs. of the Tribulation.

Second, the Lord has a specific plan that he will carry out in order to protect her.

• He makes Jerusalem a burdensome stone and cup of trembling [drunkenness] to arouse the nations to fight against it. Zechariah 12:3-4
• He will put the hooks in the jaws of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel 38-39
• He will draw the armies to Jerusalem to be destroyed. Joel 3:12-14; Revelation 16:6
• The Lord Jesus comes and smites them with a sharp sword. Revelation 19:15

At this point, Israel will look upon Him whom they have pierced and weep and mourn [Zechariah 12:10-13:6], and He will purge the land of idolatry. The nation will be converted in a day; and for the first time in human history, Jerusalem will finally be at rest, with Jesus the Messiah on the throne [Zechariah 14:16-21]!

So, when I see headlines like these:

• Muslim Brotherhood Prepares for War with Israel: Jerusalem Post 2/1/11
• Hezbollah Leader warns of Border Conflict: Fox News 2/16/11
• Egypt agees to let 2 Iranian Ships through the Suez Canal: Fox News 2/18/11 And
• Egypt says Iranian Warships can use the Suez Canal: Reuters 2/19/11
  

When I see headlines like these, I get excited! I know that Zechariah 12 is about to be fulfilled. And shortly thereafter, Zechariah 13 and 14 will be fulfilled also! Friends, the hoof beats of Armageddon are getting louder and clearer with each passing day! If you aren't prepared to meet Jesus, PREPARE TODAY! Repent of you sins and turn to Jesus as Messiah before it's too late! MARANATHA!!!