On Apr. 17, 2024, Iran’s president said Iran would completely destroy Israel if Israel proceeds with even the tiniest invasion of Iran.
A few hours later, Germany’s Foreign Minister tried to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran for attacking Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles.
Netanyahu said,
- Israel will do whatever it needs to defend itself.
- I appreciate the advice, but I want to be clear: Our decisions we will make ourselves.
I admire Netanyahu for what he has done and said, but according to Bible prophecy, Israel will not do the most important thing it needs to do (accept Jesus as their Messiah) for at least 7 more years.
Here is a short list of Bible prophecies about Israel.
- Israel had to become a nation in one day before she travailed (before the Tribulation Period; Isa. 66:5-9).
- Israel cannot be destroyed again (Israel’s enemies need to pay attention: Amos 9:15).
- Israel must complete 490 years (70 weeks of years, including the 7-year Tribulation Period) before the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah (Dan. 9:24-27).
- The 7-year (2,520 days on the Jewish calendar) Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a covenant with many for one week of years (Dan. 9:27).
- God will make Jerusalem a problem for the entire world during the Tribulation Period (Zech. 12:2-3). He will defend Jerusalem and destroy every nation that attacks her (Zech. 12:6-9; 14:12).
- God will pour out His Spirit on Israel at the end of the 7-year Tribulation Period, Israel will accept Jesus as their Messiah (Jer. 23:5-8; Ezek. 36:24-28; Zech 12:10-14), He will come back, and all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26).
Israel needs to understand that she cannot defend herself, but God can, and Israel’s troubles will continue until the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah (and they will).
Here are some events that appear to indicate that we are close to the end of the age.
One, concerning God’s protection of Israel and Iran’s attack on Israel: Rabbi Meir Lau (Rabbi of Tel Aviv) said, “God did us a great favor that 99% of all the UAVs were destroyed without harming us. There was only some damage to places and no harm to people. This whole story was a great miracle, but we still have not appreciated its magnitude. We experienced God’s true protection and this connection with the superpowers and our neighbors, as well as other details that are confidential, all I can say is that this was a great divine miracle.”
(More: Prophecy expert Amir Tsarfati said, “Prayer was the most successful air defense system.)
(More: Robert Gottselig, Director of The Friends of Israel, said, “We know that when God’s people pray, and especially when they have been and still are interceding for Israel and the Jewish people, God hears their prayers.”)
Two, on Apr. 22, 2024 (Passover day in Israel), two armed terrorists drove a car into pedestrians in Jerusalem (slightly wounding 3); they emerged from their vehicle trying to fire makeshift submachine guns at their victims and others, but their weapons failed, and they ran to escape. They were spotted by a police helicopter and arrested.
Officials called the minor injuries and failed guns a “Passover Miracle.”
Three, concerning the Israel-Hamas war: on Apr. 17, 2024, Israel said, “IAF planes conducted airstrikes against terrorists and terror infrastructure (in northern Gaza), hitting more than 40 targets over the past day, including underground launching posts, booby-trapped structures, military structures where armed terrorists operated, observation posts, underground terrorist infrastructure, and additional terrorist infrastructure.”
Israel also struck several targets in Rafah.
Four, concerning inflation, the decline of America, and the emptying of America’s strategic oil reserves: on Apr. 19, 2024, the Department of the Interior announced that it will prohibit any new oil drilling project in the U.S. Arctic Ocean as well as on 11 million acres of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve and nearly 3 million acres of Alaska’s coastal waters.
Five, concerning a borderless world and illegal immigration: on Apr. 19, 2024, it was reported that illegal immigrants in New York complained that the amount of (free) food they get, their housing, (free) services, and other benefits they are getting are not enough and that this is unacceptable.
Six, concerning corruption in Washington and the belief by many that we can no longer trust the elections: I cannot count the times I have heard someone say that they do not believe the globalists will let Trump win the next election even if it becomes necessary to assassinate him.
I hope it is not true, but on Apr. 19, 2024, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives proposed legislation to strip Pres. Trump of his Secret Service protection if he is convicted and sentenced for a felony.
Seven, concerning Biden’s efforts to force Netanyahu and Israel to obey him: on Apr. 21, 2024, it was reported that U.S. officials have confirmed that Biden intends to impose sanctions on an Israeli military unit on the West Bank of Israel (Judea and Samaria) for violating the rights of Palestinians.
Netanyahu said, “At a time when our soldiers are fighting terrorist monsters, the intention to sanction a unit in the IDF is the height of absurdity and a moral low.”
(My opinion: Biden is daring God to curse America.)
Eight, concerning America’s unstainable national debt and the economic collapse of the U.S.: on Apr. 3, 2024, it was reported that the White House intends to use funds appropriated to advance America’s national interest (democracy, freedom of speech, free market values, etc.) to train at least 200 LGBTQ+ activists to spread transgenderism in India.
Nine, concerning an increase in wars and rumors of wars at the end of the age: on Apr. 22, 2024, a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said military spending is soaring across the globe and it reached an all-time high in 2023.
Ten, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Apr. 23, 2024, Iran vowed to annihilate Israel if it launches a major attack on Iranian territory.
Iran’s Pres. Raisi said there will be nothing left of the Zionist regime (Israel).
Eleven, concerning hatred for Israel at the end of the age: on Apr. 22, 2024, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton asked Pres. Biden to mobilize the National Guard to protect Jewish students on college campuses.
Hawley sent a letter to Biden that said:
- “On college campuses across the United States, Jewish Americans are at risk. … In your statement on Passover, you stated that “in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous — and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country.’ Now you must take action to match those words.”
(More: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian students have been arrested at Columbia University, New York University, and Yale University.)
(More: On Apr. 23, 2024, it was reported that 25 Republican Senators sent colleges a warning to shut down the Jew-hating mobs on campus or risk losing their public funding.)
Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.
Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2024 (Day 194): The one hundred-thirty-ninth day of the resumed war.
- Iran and its proxies (Hezbollah, etc.) have gone on high alert in anticipation of Israel’s retaliation for Iran’s recent drone attack on Israel.
Thursday, Apr. 18, 2024 (Day 195): The one-hundred-fortieth day of the resumed war.
- It is being rumored that the U.S. will impose severe sanctions on Iran for attacking Israel, approve Israel’s actions on Rafah in the south and Hezbollah in the north, and transfer financial aid to Israel, if Israel will not retaliate against Iran.
- The U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would open the door for Palestine to become a state in the UN.
- Israel used missiles to launch a limited strike near an airport and a major military base next to Iran’s nuclear reactor. There were simultaneous explosions in Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
- Israel killed a senior Hamas intelligence official.
- Israel captured several terrorists that were hiding in a school in Gaza.
Friday, Apr. 19, 2024 (Day 196): The one hundred-forty-first day of the resumed war.
- Iran played down Israel’s strike on the previous day and signaled that it will not retaliate.
- Israel’s strike on Iran accomplished what Israel set out to do – destroy the Russian anti-aircraft system that was installed to defend Iran’s nearby nuclear facility.
- S. officials confirmed that Israel attacked a terrorist base in Iraq (base destroyed, one terrorist killed, 8 terrorists injured).
Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024 (Day 197): The one hundred-forty-second day of the resumed war.
- Turkey’s Pres. Erdogan urged Palestinian Arabs to unite against Israel.
Sunday, Apr. 21, 2024 (Day 198): The one hundred-forty-third day of the resumed war.
- Israel indicted the sister of Hamas’ top leader Ishmail Haniyeh on charges of inciting Muslims to kill Jews.
- Netanyahu said he will fight sanctions the U.S. imposes on the Israeli military unit on the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).
- Netanyahu said Israel will inflict painful blows on Hamas in the coming days to free the remaining hostages. He compared Hamas to Pharaoh, “It hardens its heart and refuses to let our people go; therefore, we will bring it more painful blows—and it will happen soon.”
Monday, Apr. 22, 2024 (Day 199): The one hundred-forty-fourth day of the resumed war.
- Israel struck 3 villages in Lebanon, and Hezbollah fired about 35 rockets into Israel.
- An independent Palestinian news anchor reported that Hamas deliberately killed numerous aid workers and stole shipments of food sent to Palestinians because Hamas wanted to be the only entity in Gaza in control of the warehousing and distribution of food.
Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024 (Day 200): The one hundred-forty-fifth day of the resumed war.
- Israeli intelligence learned that Hamas was loading several launchers in Gaza to fire rockets into Israel. Israeli jets struck the launchers before the rockets were fired.
- Hamas urged Israel’s enemies to attack Israel on all fronts.
Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2024 (Day 201): The one hundred-forty-sixth day of the resumed war.
- Per Biden’s demands to protect Palestinians, Israel will evacuate about 1.4 million civilians from Rafah in preparation for an attack starting about 3 weeks from now (Israel estimates that it will take about 3 weeks to eliminate Hamas in Rafah).
FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).
Finally, are you Rapture Ready?
If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.