What is Israel’s role in the end times?

Answer

Every time a conflict arises in or around Israel, many interpret it as a sign of the rapidly approaching end times. The concern with this perspective is that we might become desensitized to the ongoing conflicts in Israel, to the extent that we fail to discern truly significant prophetic events. It’s important to note that conflict in Israel does not necessarily indicate the end times.

Conflict in Israel has been a constant reality throughout its existence as a nation. Whether facing opposition from the Egyptians, Amalekites, Midianites, Moabites, Ammonites, Amorites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, or Romans, Israel has consistently been persecuted by its neighboring nations. Why does this persist? According to the Bible, it is because God has a unique plan for the nation of Israel, and Satan seeks to thwart that plan. Hatred towards Israel, influenced by satanic forces—particularly towards Israel’s God—is the driving force behind the desire of Israel’s neighbors to see its destruction. Whether it was Sennacherib, the Assyrian king; Haman, a Persian official; Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany; or Rouhani, the President of Iran, all attempts to annihilate Israel have ultimately failed. While the persecutors of Israel may change, the persecution will endure until the second coming of Christ. Consequently, conflict in Israel cannot be solely relied upon as an indicator of the imminent arrival of the end times.

Nevertheless, the Bible does predict severe conflict in Israel during the end times. This period is referred to as the Tribulation, the Great Tribulation, and the “time of Jacob’s trouble” «Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. », (Jeremiah 30:7). Here is what the Bible says about Israel in the end times:

There will be a significant return of Jews to the land of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:3; Isaiah 43:6; Ezekiel 34:11-13; 36:24; 37:1-14).

The Antichrist will establish a 7-year covenant of “peace” with Israel (Isaiah 28:18; Daniel 9:27).

The temple will be reconstructed in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 11:1).

The Antichrist will violate his covenant with Israel, leading to global persecution of Israel (Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:1, 11; Zechariah 11:16; Matthew 24:15, 21; Revelation 12:13). Israel will face invasion (Ezekiel chapters 38-39).

Israel will ultimately acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah «And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. », (Zechariah 12:10). Israel will be renewed, restored, and regathered (Jeremiah 33:8; Ezekiel 11:17; Romans 11:26).

There is much unrest in Israel today. Israel faces persecution and is surrounded by adversaries—Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Hamas, IsIslamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc. However, this animosity and oppression towards Israel are just a glimpse of what will occur in the end times (Matthew 24:15-21). The recent wave of persecution started when Israel was established as a nation in 1948. Many scholars of Bible prophecy thought that the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967 marked the “beginning of the end.” Could the current events in Israel suggest that the end is approaching? Yes. Does it definitively signify that the end is near? No. Jesus Himself expressed it most clearly, “Watch out that no one deceives you. . . . You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:4-6).