Are There Consequences When Harming Israel?
 
 

 
Are there consequences to those who come against God's land, Israel? This week Britian's Tony Blair stated, "The international community as a whole must recognize that there is no more important issue for us to resolve than the Israel/Palestinian issue."
Really? Nothing more important? How about the global war on terror? How about sleeper cells in many prominent cities? How about the attempted Islamization of Europe and America? In America, how about our open borders? How about the genocide against Christians in countries like Sudan? How about the troubling culture decline sweeping the globe and evil waxing worse and worse? How about the terrorist/Islamic world attemtping to gain nukes?
Blair has lost touch with reality and likely believes if the Palestinians could have their state and there could be honest peace between Israelis and Palestinians, all the above issues would vanish! The problem is, all Palestinian groups have a "charter" and all call for the total destruction of Israel.
Joel Rosenberg is a New York Times' best-selling author and brilliant commentator. He is a radio guest of mine on occasion and one of my fall "Understanding the Times" conference speakers October 19-20, 2007. He reports that almost 60% of Brits want Blair out of office now. Corruption and crippling scandal may drive him out of office as well as he is being investigated by Scotland Yard. A British newspaper says his premiership "is on the verge of complete paralysis."
If we take Genesis 12:3 as I think we should interpret it, that is, that God blesses those who bless Israel and curses those who curse her, then I believe Blair could be caught in that scenario. The sun literally never set on the worldwide British Empire until she did not allow Holocaust-fleeing Jews to come to Israel but turned them away and back into the ovens of Europe. Since then her power has declined and her current leader thinks a Palestinian state, essentially forbidden in Joel 3, will cure the world's ills. Today world leaders who ignore the Bible have no common sense or real understanding of issues.
Yes, some will call the cause and effect, that is, do ill to Israel and pay the price, to be coincidental. I think since it is speculative I will just report and you decide. But in reading Bill Koenig's book, "Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel," and now a new book by John McTernan, "As America Has Done to Israel," one might have to give this issue serious thought. McTernan will be one radio guest of mine this weekend.
You may wonder why I am also featuring a Lutheran pastor on the issue of end-times. Aren't they all Amillennialists (no literal Millennium) and into Replacement Theology (the church is the new Israel)? Isn't the Second Coming the only future happening? In this case there is a great lesson that could be learned for other pastors and church leaders by my guest, Pastor Bob Cottingham. He has just begun a two to three month series on eschatology including Israel's role. Cottingham pastors one of the largest Lutheran churches in America and could influence other church leaders.
Keep in mind that not even your average Baptist church (yes, there are exceptions) will touch this topic as it is "divisive," not "seeker-oriented," "confusing," and "makes people uncomfortable." The topic is history in most churches. Pastor Cottingham's admonition to Mainline Protestants and Evangelicals who have abandoned the topic is very moving. The kind of eschatology being presented in the series is solid, though on this topic there is always room for friendly debate. He has a burden to help his congregation "understand the times" whether it makes them "feel good" or not. In a denomination that almost exclusively considers the church to be Israel, he takes a stand against that.
If you are in a Lutheran or other Mainline church that has tossed this topic overboard or holds to false theology concerning it, I encourage you to order the CD and give it to your own pastor. Call 952-377-1435, the Olive Tree information line. We ask a $10 donation.
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Many have been moved by Joseph Farah's presentation at our fall conference. One of his messages is now posted here http://www.olivetreeviews.org/radio/mp3/ Note: this is not a radio show but a conference message. One listener called it the best overview of where America is at today.
Awaiting His return, Jan Markell
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