On October 6, 1973, the unthinkable happened. On the watch of Prime Minister Golda Meier, Israel’s enemies gathered on her borders and planned to wipe out the very memory of her existence (Psalm 83). They nearly succeeded.

Meier appealed to President Richard Nixon—no friend of the Jews, to be sure. Could America step in and avert the utter destruction of the country? Nixon’s staffers were not in favor of this, but he had the voice of his mother in his ear, who had warned him about a day like this. And when he might encounter it, please come to Israel’s aid.

And so, he did. Big time. God and Nixon saved the beleaguered nation.

No one imagined that the scenario would repeat itself in 2023. Not the exact scenario, but very similar. That was 50 years ago and a different generation. But I have some vague recollection of the Yom Kippur War and am haunted that the ghost of Golda Meier is still around. Here are some thoughts—and questions:

> This is a warning to free Western nations to protect borders because some of humanity is barbaric, and we don’t wish to be invaded. Learn from this. We keep loved ones inside and those who would harm us outside. Good fences make good neighbors, said Robert Frost.

> American politicians—and certainly those on the Left—have more concern for Ukraine than for our number one Mideast ally! Voters should take note.

> The evil on display can only be dealt with through God’s justice, not humanity’s justice. How can many on the Left, starting with “the squad,” side with barbarians? What part of “depravity” do they not get? They are tolerant, but only on behalf of evil.

> How can one of the world’s most sophisticated and high-tech nations have had such a security and intelligence slip-up? Were there not sensors and cameras along the Gaza border? Was there not chatter among the Gaza terrorists in their many months of planning? Couldn’t Israel’s world-class technology have spied on these terrorists more effectively?

> Never underestimate the Iranians who planned it all. Hang-gliders, terror squads with thousands of jihadis, bulldozers, and other war-like weaponry, should have been obvious to Israelis who never let their guard down. Yet the killers had five hours to do their dirty work before Israel could even respond!

> When America lacks a leader, the whole world groans. Earth longs for a leader, a Pied Piper to follow, even if he leads them over a cliff. One is coming who will mesmerize the left-behind world.

> Israel’s enemies don’t want a dialogue! They want her annihilation. They want Psalm 83! When can we stop forcing her to have peace talks with ruthless Islamists?

> When an evil society cries “death to America” and “death to Israel,” believe them. They mean what they say! Iran means it. Iran financed the effort, in part, thanks to a $6 billion gift from Biden and his cronies. What part of “death to Israel” do you not get? Yet the Left has “appeasing Islam” in their veins. When do we bury the perverted slogan that Islam is a religion of peace?

> Many denominations and churches cannot comprehend all that is going on. Because of their theology, Israel is an inconvenience and a thorn. A good Mid-East ally but not special to them. They have made the church the “chosen people.” How many churches this past Sunday ignored this tragedy as they sloshed around in the puddle of Replacement Theology?

> Jews have not been hunted—and slaughtered—like this since the Holocaust. Not since the Holocaust have we seen so many Jews rounded up, beaten, and humiliated in public. And never before has it happened within the borders of modern Israel.

Finally, who can forget Golda Meier’s classic statement, “When peace comes, we will perhaps, in time, be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons. Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

Amir Tsarfati wrote this on Sunday, “Pray for Israel. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones. Pray for the captives and the wounded. They will all have incredible trauma that they will have to process through in the months and years to come.

“Pray for wisdom for Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government as they mete out their response against Hamas and evaluate the steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Most of all, pray that God is glorified somehow through this.”

Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live. But they need a Savior. Be sure to tell them. His Name is Yeshua. Some day soon, they will look upon him whom they pierced and mourn (Zechariah 12:10). Only then will there be the peace in Jerusalem we pray for.

(Go see the film “Golda.” It is a compelling true story of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It is totally family-friendly and a wonderful history lesson for children.)

FINAL THOUGHT: Catch Jan and Amir Tsarfati on this weekend’s radio starting Friday. We will rush the online program to Thursday.

www.olivetreeviews.org

God Is Warning the Unbelieving World

All of us were heartbroken at the images coming out of Maui in early August. Everyone said it was like the end of the world. It was apocalyptic. The scenes remind us of images from WWII when dozens of cities looked like Lahaina, Maui.

But this wasn’t a wartime ordeal. This was a peaceful day in paradise that was interrupted by the unthinkable. A wildfire of suspicious origin violently ended the lives of hundreds, and potentially thousands, of people whose day started like any other and ended in a hellish ordeal. We see why the Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Life can end abruptly and unexpectedly. No one is promised a tomorrow.

The word “apocalyptic” is being used all over the world as the planet groans, awaiting the liberation of Jesus Christ when He will set it free.

Elsewhere in Europe, a month of rain fell on parts of Slovenia in a single day. China experienced devastating floods. Crops throughout the region were completely wiped out, and the property damage that has been done is off the charts. Devastating heat has tormented millions of people around the world. Hail pounded Germany. Fires in Portugal created an “apocalyptic inferno.”

This, and much more, as we are in a run-up to the Rapture—the ultimate apocalyptic event.

And divine judgment must also be considered as we see reprobate activity. “Go Gay Hawaii” welcomes everyone to gay-friendly Maui on a website built for just such promotion.

The website says, “The Maui gay community is substantial and accepting. There are numerous LGBT and gay-friendly businesses on the island, exclusive Maui gay resorts, and plenty to see, do and experience on this magical island. Maui Gay Pride is a staple event taking place each year around the first weekend in October.”

The promotion continues, “In 2011, when Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie signed legislation legalizing gay marriage in Hawaii, he sealed the State’s fate as one of the top gay destinations in the world. We welcome you to plan your Maui gay vacation or wedding today!”

And interestingly enough, about the only structure in Lahaina not destroyed was a church, though it was not a gospel-preaching church.

During the seven-year Tribulation, every city and nation will look like Maui. Can you imagine? I cannot. The city of Lahaina is a preview of things to come. The earth will reel from earthquakes, meteor showers and asteroids, stars falling from heaven, and the moving of mountains. One-third of the trees will burn up.

The sun will go dark, and the moon will turn to blood.

Mankind will hide in caves and rocks and plead, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17).

When things are at their worst, Christ will suddenly appear on planet Earth during His second coming, or “no flesh would be saved.” (Matthew 24:22)

God is warning the unbelieving world about what is coming. Billions perish during that unprecedented time, and modern-day disasters are a pale foretelling of things to come.

If you have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, none of this is of concern. Believers escape the wrath to come in the Tribulation (Rev. 3:10). But all of us have loved ones who know little about God’s plan of the ages. They have never been told about eternal life. They are unaware that God’s wrath is not destined for true believers—unless you tell them. And, unless you outline the plan of salvation to them.

Do so today.

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