War with the Saints

In the book of Daniel there is a classic prophecy that has exercised many expositors over the past couple of centuries. The framework is clearly in a time period where a 4th beast is said to make war against God's holy people. I think that we can stand back a bit and survey the sweep of history since the time of Daniel to our day and get some good hints as to what this whole thing is about.

The historicist school of prophecy rightly points out that the major actor of this prophecy is titled a little horn, it's the energetic part of the 4th beast that sweeps aside all competitors. That it makes war against the "saints" for some time is also recognized since this is said to continue for a time, times and a half. The framework that Daniel describes encompasses the rise of 4 beast empires that are partially identified, it began during Daniel's lifetime, roughly 600 BC. These beast empires then continue until the ancient of days takes his seat and the son of man comes before him to assume rulership and dominion, Daniel recieves the interpretation that the tide will turn for the saints and they will recieve relief from the little horns oppression and attain to God's kingdom. The span of events clearly leaves room to take the viewpoint of history and suggest this covers quite some period of time. We haven't seen the end point of this prophecy yet so we're looking at a period of roughly 2600 years in which to fit the events.

The main actors entail two sides, like all good stories there are the good guys and the bad guys. It appears to me that we can simply identify the two sides, one is spelled out to Daniel as various government empires starting with Babylon. From there we can go to Media Persia and Greece followed by Rome. In good historicist fashion I will suggest that the little horn is an outgrowth from Rome, and in the history books there is only one historic long lasting power, that's the Papal Roman Catholic Church.

On the other side, the saints that are made war against are those of concern to Daniel, his fellow Israelites. They are the only ones who as a group continue from the beginning and to ending of this prophecy. It's the nation of Israel who has indeed been subject to the never ending war, only in the latter times the nature of that war changed. In the era of Babylon the conflict entailed military conquest and deportation, but in general the Israelite culture was left alone. Since the 70-135 AD revolts in Judea the Jewish people were increasingly subjected to more than this awful fate, they were pursued relentlessly in every aspect of life and religion. This comprised the roots of Christian anti-semitism. It has continued unabated until recent times. The historic record is clear that Christianity bears a heavy burden of guilt for centuries of un remitting horrors against God's nation of Israel. Even the confessions concerning anti Semitism of Pope John Paul and Vatican 2 are dim in light of the huge and deep sweep of continual war made against the Jews. Many Christians today retain those prejudices and behaviors. Christian anti-semitism has found an historical partner in the Islamic anti-semitism.

But thank God that there will soon be an end to this, I think we're seeing the events in Israel turning in their favor. It's still going to be a tough time ahead, but the burning of the beast in the fires surrounding the ancient of days are happening today. The major church systems, the biggest being the Roman and orthodox communions are reaping the fruits of so many years of political, religious and social crimes against Israel and the Jewish people. Ironically one of the largest factors against them is their fellow anti semites Muslims who are systematically grinding and burning the structures of Christendom. Bat Yeor's books on the Decline of Eastern Christianity and Eurabia show what's been happening. Israel itself has also by it's growth and recent history shown that God's hand is with them in their land.

The saints or holy ones of Israel soon will take their place in God's kingdom on earth. Watch.

A vision from Zechariah 2

Zechariah 2 contains a very optimistic prophecy concering Israel's near term future.

8For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.
Israel is the at the center of God's attention of earth's affairs.
9"For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.
This tells us about the primitive and unfortunate conditions of violence and economic collapse that afflict the palestinians and their Arab brethren, it's a matter of choice that they can't build a viable civilization, they choose to oppose Israel the only strong economy and civilized country in the region.
10"Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares the LORD.
A more complete deliverance is coming for Israel, those of that nation will be made glad if they aren't already.
11"Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
The UN will disappear, a real union with Israel will occur when the naitons realize their blunders and come to Israel with humility. This will be God's kingdom on earth.
12"The LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is God's possession and he has chosen to give it to the Jewish people.
13"Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused from His holy habitation."
Present day media and political propoganda will be stopped. The truth will be told, it will come from God's coming government to be based in Jerusalem. The city will be Israel's, the international community owns none of it except as they will bow down before God's new theocracy.

Israel take courage

To those of Israel I would like to extend my support and encouragement in their difficult days ahead. A few news items of recent days protend very critical times ahead for God's people.

First and most grave is the Iranian threat of nuclear development. Israel's government has said they would not allow Iran to reach the point of nuclear weapons production. The Iranian government in like fashion responds they won't back down. This has very serious implications for that region of the world.

Second is the continuing campaign by the UN and the EU against Israel's retaining of land captured in 1967. No one gives Israel the slighest credit for making the recent painful evacuation out of Gaza. Israel continues to be called an apartheid state. Israel is now being called on to give up the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria and part of Jerusalem. This is clearly a form of insanity that Israel has no recourse but to resist. The agenda of their opponents is clear, to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. They are using the international community, violence, the media and various economic pressures to push other nations to pressure Israel.

This is so much like the old days of Arab Muslim conquest, harass, raid, infiltrate, find collaborators, armed attack, kill uncooperative leaders. It won't stop with that since the later parts of this formula leads to enslavement, depopulation and total annhilation of conquered regions. This is history of Islam. Israel stands in the breach between the present world resurgence in militant Islam and the rest of the world. It is very sad to say that the only resolution for this will result in a world wide time of trouble and distress. Today's problems will pale next to what is in store for the nations as they escalate their violence against God's people in Israel.

To those of Israel, take courage, God will be with you, believe in HaShem alone. He told Moses that "I will be whatever you need me to be".

Booty and Havoc

I've been reading one of Bat Yeor's books on the history of Islam. I'm struck by the similarity that appears between early Islamic and Arabic agression towards their neighbors and present day agitations of Muslims in many countries today. Their worldview is still the same, it's The Domain of Islam and The Domain of War, so you're either with them or against them. Nobody can be neutral.

The war was conducted by aggresive attacks on outlying communities of Jews, Christians and Zoroastrian communities throughout the middle east, Persia, India, North Africa and Spain. Raids were encouraged by Islamic leaders that focused the worst of human greed against surrounding peoples. That lead to eventual capitulation and conquest of these peoples. Depopulation and slavery often followed, at best there was servitude. Lastly these areas were repopulated by Arab tribes sent into establish more solid demographic hold on conquered areas. The so called religion of peace is historically identifed as a religion of domination and control. That power wasn't broken until the fall of the Ottoman empire in WW1. But recent events suggest that that same spirit is back and more dangerous than ever.

I can't resist making the comparison to modern Israel and it's problems with the "palestinians". The same demographic weapon is being pressed in the so called right of return doctrine of the Palestinian authority. What's worse is that most outside nations have been convinced of the same "rights" of "the oppressed" pals. Israel clearly deserves a right to exist as well, the League of Nations and United Nations recognized a right for a Jewish homeland and nation. It was the hand of God that enabled enough world leaders to do good things in the aftermath of each of the two world wars. I submit that what the pals and the neighboring Muslim countries demand is nothing but an expression of bad will and bad faith towards Israel, nothing more. They are reverting to their old ways in a renewed quest for world domination starting in Israel.

Zech 14 says all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. That's a big mistake, read what will happen after that in the Bible.