Israel In Bible Prophecy
During Operation Desert Storm, America and her allies defeated Saddam Hussein by using the brilliant strategy of diversion. The allies built up their forces just east of Iraq in the Persian Gulf. Saddam assumed an assault was coming from the east. But then the allies attacked from the west. The allies defeated Saddam by fooling him into looking in the wrong direction.
Could a similar tactic be misleading millions today?
The nation of Israel may seem tiny in the midst of many Arab neighbors. But for countless Christians, it looms large. They believe Israel will be the center of action when biblical prophecies are fulfilled. Prophecy-minded pastors contend, “If you want to know where big events will happen before Jesus returns, fix your eyes on Jerusalem and the Jews!”
Numberless books, online videos, websites, conference speakers, seminary professors, and radio/television programs express similar views. Apparently, the ancient Jewish temple will be rebuilt. A mysterious evil person called Antichrist will then defile it. Finally, enraged nations under Antichrist’s sway will engage in a bloody, Middle East battle. This battle, called Armageddon, will be against Jerusalem and the Jewish State.
Does the Bible really teach this?
Abraham’s Descendants
Let's begin to unravel this mystery. First, the Old Testament Scriptures refer to “Israel” as “the seed of Abraham” (Isaiah 41:8, KJV). Israelites were Abraham’s descendants. God also made numerous promises to Abraham’s seed that remain valid today.
Yet in the New Testament, a stunning and inspired twist occurs. “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made,” Paul wrote to the Galatians (3:16). Then, Paul emphasizes the singular word Seed. He writes, “He does not say ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed.’” In other words, “the Seed of Abraham” is not Abraham’s many physical descendants. Instead, “the Seed” is one Primary Descendant—the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul finishes his sentence this way: “one…, who is Christ.”
According to Paul, God’s promises to Israel apply primarily to Jesus. Then at the end of Galatians 3, Paul adds another unexpected twist:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:28-29).
Now, anyone who belongs to Jesus Christ is “Abraham’s seed.” And that makes them an “heir” to the Old Testament promises God made to Israel!
The Book of Revelation
The Biblical book of Revelation is the greatest work on prophecy ever written. John, an elderly Jewish disciple of Jesus, wrote it. As one might expect, John wrote about Jerusalem throughout that book. He also included the holy temple, temple activities, and an end-time battle called Armageddon. But like Paul, John also inserted several unexpected twists. He always focused on the heavenly Jerusalem, not the war-torn city on earth. He described a heavenly temple, not a rebuilt one on earth. Armageddon would be a global battle, not a Middle-East-centered conflict.
See for yourself:
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).
Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail (Revelation 11:19).
Notice that the “ark” is inside the heavenly temple. In the Old Testament, the ark was a golden box that housed the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 10:4-5). Significantly, after the ark is seen in the heavenly temple, a group of “saints” is pinpointed “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
In other words, the focus of Revelation is the New Jerusalem, a heavenly temple, a heavenly ark, the Ten Commandments, and a final group of saints who keep God’s law by His grace. See Revelation 12:17; 14:12; chapters 14-16.
Armageddon
The word Armageddon appears only once in the Bible—in Revelation 16:16. But when we examine its context, there is no mention of Israel, Jerusalem, or Jews. Instead, the context reveals a heavenly temple. It shows a global, cataclysmic showdown between God and “Babylon.” In Revelation 16:14-16, John describes how earth’s leaders gather together at Armageddon. Notice what immediately follows:
Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found (Revelation 16:17-20).
Babylon (see also Revelation 14:8; 17:5; 18:2-4; 18:23) represents various religious organizations. These groups, led by Satan, are now deceiving humanity. On God’s side are His saints. These saints are Abraham’s spiritual descendants composed of Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ. They “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). In these end times, Jesus is acting as our great High Priest in His heavenly temple. He is seeking to prepare His people for Armageddon and for His soon return (see Hebrews 8:1-2; Revelation 11:19; 12:17; 14:12; 15:5; 16:1; 16:15-17). This is the true focus of Bible prophecy and the book of Revelation.
Look to Jesus
In these last days, Satan is using the same strategy that tricked Saddam Hussein. As Biblical signs thicken around us, people everywhere are seeking information about the end times. Satan is deceiving millions by focusing their attention on the Middle East, Jerusalem, and the Jews. In so doing, he is diverting inquiring minds from the New Jerusalem (our heavenly home). He's distracting them from our great High Priest who ministers His blood for us in His heavenly temple. He's redirecting them from the importance of obeying the Ten Commandments in preparation for Christ's soon return. Babylon, which means confusion, is Satan’s agency spearheading this diversion.
As planet Earth rushes toward Armageddon, our focus should be “looking to Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), not the Jews. Jesus is in His heavenly temple. He loves us. His blood dripped from His battered body for each of us when He died for our sins on the cross. Now, in His heavenly temple, He offers us full forgiveness of our sins. He extends His purifying grace to enable us to keep the Ten Commandments now nestled inside the heavenly ark.
Don’t let Lucifer divert you from your loving Savior and from God’s truth. Choose Jesus today!
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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.