The dramatic hostilities of last October’s terrorist attack on Israeli citizens, as well as Israel’s retaliation over the months since then up until this moment, have held the attention of the Western world and the Middle East, more so even than recent wars in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Africa. Perhaps this is because there is in the collective consciousness or cultural memory in Western and Middle Eastern societies that Israel and its environs are of the greatest importance to the future history of the world. The living and true God, by choosing Israel as His earthly people in the distant past with a view toward great future blessing, has ordained that it should be thus, and is arranging the scene even now to bring about His own purposes in the exaltation and glory of His Son Jesus Christ. In the not-too-distant future, both those who “received Him not” (the Jews), along with those who “knew Him not” (the world), will own Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel, who has the right to put down all rule and authority as He takes away the sin of the world (John 1:10-11, 29, & 49).

How should the Christian view these sad events, and what should be the Christian’s attitude toward modern Israel, composed primarily of Jews gathered back into the land of promise while yet in unbelief? Surely, and we might say this point is of greatest importance, we ought to echo the apostle Paul in his heart’s desire and prayer for Israel, that they might be saved (Romans 10:1). A remnant is being saved now during this dispensation of the grace of God, and how wonderful that is to behold. But that “great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3) of Israel will be brought about only when the Jews finally receive their Messiah, which the scriptures plainly tell us will take place in due time (Ezekiel 36 & 37; Romans 11). Israel’s national preservation will not be effected by the efforts of well-meaning Christians with a mixture of political leanings and an a la carte dispensationalism. A dispensational understanding of the scriptures is valuable in our day more than ever, perhaps, but Christians ought to be wary of an anemic eschatology that avoids dealing with the difficult questions of how Jehovah will deal with Israel by a prescribed and righteous chastening, employing the ungodly nations around it to bring to pass His purposes of final restoration and glory.

It almost goes without saying that the Christian’s heart should grieve over the violence suffered on all sides of any conflict, and perhaps especially over the suffering of God’s earthly people during their long estrangement from Him. Still, may our thoughts and affections be formed above all by the interests and the glory of Christ, who must finally reign over Israel and over all things in heaven and earth.

For any who might wish to look further into these things concerning Israel’s future and the proper Christian frame of mind toward current events in that region, I suggest listening to the audio file below. It is ministry given by Stephen Stewart at a Bible conference in Englewood, Colorado, in 2019, long before the recent stream of events that are troubling the world. I believe the truth of the teaching in this short address is as pertinent now as ever.

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