Israel’s Christian Enemies

In a way, I wish I lived in a time when I didn’t have to write or even think about enemies of the Jewish people in the Church.

Maybe 1890 would have been good?

But we live today, in 2022. And Israel has many enemies among “God’s people.”

I read this morning on Facebook a remarkable post by Randy White, one of the best Bible teachers alive. Formerly pastor of a large Southern Baptist Church, Randy left a few years ago to pastor a small church in New Mexico. I admire his courage more than I can articulate. He is one of those rare people that can coolly assess a situation and make difficult decisions.

He believes, as I do, that sometimes a situation cannot be saved. Some believe it’s a copout to “give up,” but I say it is realistic and sane to recognize when enough is enough. How long does one try to “save” a denomination that has been fatally infected with liberalism? I know some that have fought long and hard to save denominations like the apostate United Methodist Church.

I think it’s much better to prioritize your efforts and be independent, teaching God’s Word simply. This is what Randy is doing (with quite an effective teaching ministry).

Here is what he posted this morning:

“Evangelicals say they believe the Bible, and then they regularly pervert it by twisting it to say exactly the opposite of what it says. Need one example? James 1:1 says it is written to the 12 tribes. Pick up a commentary and see what it says. For example, the United Bible Society’s Handbook on the Letter from James says, ‘…the phrase obviously refers to Christians, not to Jews… James is saying that the Lord’s followers are like the tribes of Israel that were scattered everywhere by their enemies.’ Need another example? The Southern Baptist (‘people of the Book’) New American Commentary says, ‘The use of the term here, however, has been extended to apply to all the people of God in Christ.’

“How can you claim that the Word of God is inspired and then simply twist its meaning to make it fit your preconceived assumptions?

“My remedy: take the Word of God literally. Always. It will literally tell you when it is figurative. If it doesn’t literally tell you it’s figurative, then take it literal.

“My warning: when you do this, you’ll almost never be able to find a church home again.”

He doesn’t promise you a rose garden, but he does offer being able to live with yourself. I would not want to stay with a group, no matter how prestigious, that said such things as above about the Word of God.

Can you imagine?

James 1:1 is crystal clear. Yet Jew-hating scholars within evangelicalism thirst to snatch God’s promises to the Jews. They want them for themselves. It is classic Replacement Theology, which has plagued the Church for centuries.

Read Randy’s post again. This attempt at theological theft I say is diabolical. It is evil.

It has contributed to many, many in the Church overall being indifferent or hostile to the Jewish people. Imagine reading the plain sense Scripture and believing something it does not claim. The 12 Tribes are obviously about the Jews, the Israelites.

And this is the Baptists! Not the Presbyterians, or the Episcopal Church. The very heart of the evangelical world is infected with Replacement Theology, which isolates Israel even more, even politically. Our policymakers in Washington do not believe the biblical promises to the Jews; the Bible doesn’t even impact their everyday lives, particularly frauds like Joe Biden.

Thus, in the very place Israel should be able to count on friends—the Church—there are enemies. Theological enemies.

Events are converging. The political and religious worlds are now conspiring against Israel. Anti-Semitism worldwide is not only not opposed, it is championed.

It is now that many end-times prophecies make sense, when they didn’t before. A confederation against Israel? Against Jerusalem? It didn’t make sense before.

It does now.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com

A Devastating War

Israel recently conducted war exercises, aimed at simulating actions within Israel and outside the country. The exercises were more wide-ranging than any conducted before.

For prophecy students, the war games can’t help but run parallel to certain prophetic events of the end-times.

Operating from within its own borders, but also staging areas in Cyprus (to mimic action deep inside Lebanon, against Hezbollah), Israel sought to assess the damage to the country from attacks on all sides, including thousands of rockets from the north.

Israel’s top brass believe in such a scenario, the country would absorb 1,500 rockets per day, for the duration of the war. We know that wars in the Middle East are usually not prolonged affairs, but even a one-month war would see 50,000 rockets pounding the Jewish state.

Such an astounding number would “wreck” the country according to estimates. While Israel would incur damage, so would cities like Beirut and Gaza City.

As usual, Israel is always mindful of civilian casualties—something terrorists depend on—because Lebanon’s terrorist infrastructure is so closely linked with civilian infrastructure. However, Israel has warned that a significant war would take the gloves off and would bring “unbelievable” damage to their northern neighbor.

Between Hamas and Hezbollah, the terror groups have as many as 180,000 missiles and rockets(!). Israel has not carried out an expansive war game since 2014. In Operation Chariots of Fire, Israel simulated war with new techniques and technologies, while emphasizing aspects that have always served the IDF well: speed, surprise, and overwhelming power.

Because Israel’s enemies are relentless, the IDF has also practiced controlling Arab rioting in cities, along with cyberwarfare.

This report from the Jerusalem Post gives us an idea of just how sophisticated Israel’s entire operation is:

“The IDF is in the midst of a digital transformation as part of Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi’s Momentum Plan. The ability of all corps to speak the same language on a shared platform, using the military’s internal internet, in terms of target acquirement and striking, was a major aspect of the drill in Cyprus.

“The newly established Sufa teams, placed within every combat infantry brigade, joined the ground forces on the battlefield to provide fire support and coordination during the drill.

“The five-person team includes a commander, an Artillery Corps officer responsible for ground fire, a Sufa officer who manages air fire, and three additional soldiers from the brigade. The Sufa officer acts as the man on the ground who provides air support in an accurate and effective manner, while the Artillery Corps officer provides accurate firepower from the ground forces.”

There are credible reports that Israel is finally considering serious strikes against Iran, regardless of how negotiations transpire between the terror state and the West, ie, the Iran Nuclear Deal.

All this could have prophetic significance and, I think, these scenarios fit well with the book of Zechariah, especially the latter chapters, when an international coalition comes against Jerusalem. We know of course that God Himself intervenes, but He also says that Israeli forces will participate:

“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.” (Zechariah 12:6)

That firepot is the IDF, and if the escalating war exercises are any indication, that time is drawing ever nearer.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com