Israel & End-Time Prophecy: A Word of Caution

There's a tendency among Christians of a certain demographic to fall into a state of panic or joyous delirium (or a mixture of the two) every time a major conflict erupts in the Middle East - which, by the way, is all the time - especially one concerning Israel - which, by the way, is all the time. Many believers have a knee-jerk reaction to any developments in this area of the world, citing them as a sign of the beginning of the end-times and the Second Coming of Jesus. 

A word of caution: if you're a Christian, no matter what you believe as it relates to eschatology, or the role Israel as a nation will play in the end times, one thing you must remember: God will never require you to approve of wrongdoing. This includes unprovoked attacks on other countries, the bombing or degrading of civilians and children, or the misuse and exploitation of the faith by political leaders of any country, be they Israeli or American, to justify - and seemingly be drunk on - going to war. 

There are many different views of the end-times within Christianity. Those that involve some role played by, or in, the Biblical holy land must keep in mind that prophecy does not work thusly: Christians have to do something, to take some action - be it politically, militarily or otherwise - to precipitate Jesus' return, or else He won't come back. This is not prophecy, but a strange attempt to force the return of Christ according to our own schedule.

In the meantime, until the heavens roll away like a scroll and Jesus does indeed return, another exhortation to my fellow believers - opposing Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't make you a bad Christian. The meaning of Genesis 12:3 is not "implicitly support the modern-day nation state of Israel." In the days recorded in Scripture, God's prophets fervently rebuked Israel's leaders for their wrongs. Support of a specific political power is not obedience to God: it's an idol. 

You're not disobeying Him by not sharing an I Stand With Israel post.

Until the end does come, focus on showing kindness, mercy, love, and sacrifice to those around you, to show them the love of our Savior.

Cpt. Bud's Devotionals, 7-26-15: "Earthquakes n' Lightnin'"

When it comes to "the end times," many in the Church fall into two unsettling camps: those who shy away from it, and those who have a fixation on it. There are those who focus on a future of hope, but pixelate any of the gut-wrenching sorrow of the Christian life, and those who, in their focus on "fire and brimstone," forget the chance to proclaim the love and invitation of Jesus before He returns.
As with many prophecies in the Bible, sometimes I let my comfort in the sureness of these things turn to apathy. For example, I know from Scripture that our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, or to the entire world, will never work. So, I often forget my responsibility to pray for those in war-torn countries, I forget the need for humanitarian relief, and most of all, the need for people everywhere to know Jesus.
Also, I believe the environmental effects of global warming, climate change, and pollution to be part of the "beginning of sorrows" of which Jesus preached, as well as the first three "trumpets" described in Revelation (destruction and bitterness of vegetation and bodies of water). So, believing that it's an unstoppable part of prophecy, I often forget that I still have a responsibility to do what I can for my environment. Believing these troubles to be part of Jesus' prophecy doesn't relieve me of my personal responsibilities - Jesus also prophesied that "the love of many will grow cold," but that certainly doesn't give me license to abandon love.
As for the end times, I hope not to fall into the latter group who preach only "the end," and as a result,

scare many people away from the Gospel. But, I also don't want to let my belief in these prophecies, and the comfort of that faith, lead me away from reminding people that Christ is coming back soon.
We often say, "It's been two thousand years since He left - even if He came back today, it wouldn't be 'soon'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). But, the unsaved and unbelieving who see His return will feel that His coming indeed came much too soon, and bitter tears will be shed (Revelation 1:7). That breaks my heart. It should break every believer's heart - not to hopelessness, but to motivation, to the desire to see the unsaved know Him who formed them, who died for them, who loves them.
OHMS,
Cpt. Bud Sturguess
"Therefore I will wail and howl,
I will go stripped and naked;
I will make a wailing like the jackals
and a mourning like the ostriches"
-Micah 1:8