The Bible clearly teaches that God made an unconditional (no requirements of obedience, etc) covenant to give all (not part) of the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants for an everlasting (forever) possession and to be Israel’s God (Gen. 17:7-8). Later on, He confirmed it with Isaac (Gen. 17:18-21) and Jacob (Gen. 35:10-12).

Concerning the authority of God and the Exodus, Moses told the Jews, “Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him” (Deut. 4:35).

God performed miracles that prove His power and existence. And He alone is God. The psalmist added:

“O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac; and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance” (Psalm 105:6-11).

God is Israel’s God.

Isaiah said Israel would return to the land twice after his time (after the Babylonian Captivity and after the Roman Dispersion; Isa. 11:11:12) and  also Amos; that God said they will never be put off of the land again (following that second return (Amos 9:15).

Furthermore, “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

“God is not a man, that he should lie” (Numbers 23:19).

To be more specific, God “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). This is how things are going to go down.

Concerning the signs of His coming, Jesus told the Jews, “Ye shall be hated by all nations, for my name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9).

Paul asked, “Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. . . God has not cast away His people which He foreknew” (Rom. 11:1-2).

Jews are still God’s people.

Have the Jews been blinded? Yes! But their blinding is temporary: “that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25b). Notice the word “until.”

Will Israel be saved? Yes, “all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:26).

Does God love the Jews today? The Jews have broken God’s heart, but He loves them for “the father’s sake” (because He intends to keep the unconditional promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Rom. 11:28).

Would God take the Promised Land away from Israel? No!

“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29).

He will never change His mind about giving all of the Promised Land to Israel forever.

Having said all of this, a related event happened on Jan. 26, 2016 that touched off a war of words in Israel. UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon addressed the UN Security Council about the PA violence (stabbings, shootings, vehicle attacks, etc.) in Israel and he said, “It is human nature to react to occupation.”

In this writer’s words, Israel has returned to the Promised Land that God gave to them in fulfillment of His promise, and the head of the UN told the UN Security Council that Israel is to blame for her citizens being stabbed, shot and run over.

They say the Palestinians who are doing those things are just venting understandable frustration that is caused by many years of Jewish occupation of “Palestinian” land.

Israel’s Prime Minster Netanyahu quickly and understandably accused Ban Ki-moon of justifying PA terrorism. Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said the comment “gives legitimacy to those murderers to continue attacking.”

And Yesh Atid leader of one of Israel’s political parties said, “No one should provide excuses for it (Palestinian murders and terrorism).”

This writer agrees. But it was the response of the Jewish Sanhedrin that really nailed it. That increasingly important group called upon Israel to withdraw from the UN.

They said Ban Ki-moon’s statement as the head of the UN reflect the hatred of all nations toward Israel (remember what Jesus said). They said Ban Ki-moon’s statement appears to show that the UN doesn’t believe that the Jewish Scriptures are the Word of God.

The UN also shows blatant disbelief in a God who made an everlasting covenant to give all of the Promised Land to Israel. Or that this God can decide to whom the Promised Land belongs.

It is not likely that this UN hatred of Israel and its rejection of God, His covenant and the Scriptures have surprised anyone who is familiar with Bible prophecy. But some are well aware that a global effort to reject God, His covenant and the Scriptures is more dangerous than Pharaoh’s refusal to let the children of Israel leave Egypt.

This global anti-Semitism is paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist; a world government that chooses to worship Satan instead of God and the terrible Tribulation period.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck

First, in early February, it was reported that Russia’s Pres. Vladimir Putin has decided to impose a political settlement on the warring factions in Syria and Pres. Obama has agreed to go along with him. According to the report, Pres. Assad and his entire clan will step down, but no date was set.

Whether or not this happens remains to be seen, but Iran is vehemently opposed to it. This is a dangerous development because in early 2012 Syria’s Pres. Assad said he will start a full-scale regional war with Israel before he will resign from office.

There is little doubt that the war in Syria needs to be stopped. Multitudes are being driven out of their homes, going hungry, dying, etc. But Russian’s move could take the Middle East from one war to another.

Second, God gave Ezekiel a message: In the latter days and latter years, He will drag Russia from her place in the far north to the mountains of Israel (Ezek. 38:4, 8, 16).

In this battle, called the battle of Gog and Magog, Russia will be aligned with Persia (Iran), Cush (perhaps Ethiopia and/or Iraq and/Sudan), Put (Libya), Togarmah of the north quarters (probably Turkey), Gomer (perhaps Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc. or Germany, but unclear) and others (Ezek. 38:5-6).

In various articles that appeared in early February, it was reported that the following nations are in Syria: Russia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, the Islamic State and Turkey. The Islamic State probably has troops from some or all of the other nations.

This is the point: Compare the list of nations that the Bible says will attack Israel in the latter days and latter years with the list of nations that the news says is already in Syria. The lists are very similar.

But there is a problem. Instead of being aligned with each other against Israel like the Bible says, these nations are fighting each other. This means the battle of Gog and Magog won’t take place until these nations agree to temporarily set aside their differences.

The UN and U.S. are already in an ongoing effort to make that happen. How long will it take? We don’t know. The UN and U.S. could have immediate success or it could drag on for awhile.

But their temporary truce won’t last. When these reconciled enemies get to the mountains of Israel, “every man’s sword shall be against his brother” and these troops will kill many of their own troops (Ezek. 38:21).

Third, on Jan. 12, 2016, an Iranian naval unit detained 10 U.S. sailors when two U.S. vessels strayed into Iranian waters. Just recently, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, said “divine forces” delivered the Americans into Iran’s hands.

The book of Daniel mentions an evil spirit called the prince of Persia (or the Prince of Iran) that hindered the answer to one of Daniel’s prayers for 21 days (Dan. 10:13).

Bible scholars believe this prince of Persia is  an evil spirit that rules over Iran. They believe an unseen war is going on in heavenly places behind the scenes between the angels of God and the demons of Satan, the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist.

The Bible also teaches that Iran’s defeat on the mountains of Israel will come at the hands of God’s divine force (Ezek. 38:4; Dan. 12:1). One must wonder if Mr. Khamenei’s divine forces are really the prince of Persia and his minions (Eph. 6:12).

We can  also ponder if all of the turmoil in the Middle East is that of a cosmic struggle in the heavenly realm; and if the recent spread of violence  in the Middle East means the intensity of this spiritual warfare has increased.

It is well to remember that we are dealing with a spiritual world and the Christian’s hope is the return of Jesus for His church. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck