Our Hope in Christ

https://odb.org/2023/10/17/our-anchor-2

The longstanding conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, in a nutshell, is basically the former clinging on to a hope of returning to the 1947 borders and land despite the passage of 76 years with more than 7 million Jews already settled in and having developed Israel into one of the most advanced countries in the world. The Muslim world, in particular, countries backing the militants in Gaza and the West Bank and those based in Lebanon, could not accept the status quo mandated by the United Nations in 1948 and thus any peace that emerges once the current Israeli-Hamas war ends, will not last. This chain of events has been predicted in the book of Revelation and will herald the return of Christ, which, like the current expected ground invasion of Gaza, may be imminent, perhaps over the next 20 years or so, or as some predict within the human lifetime of the birth of the nation of Israel.

The Palestinian hope that fuels the uprising and the militant groups is unrealistic and not likely achievable. This is because, as declared by Iran, it involves the total annihilation of the state of Israel.

However, we have a hope that is built upon Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, having already pierced the veil and have become our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek – see Hebrews 6:20. Our hope is real and eternal.

No one except the Father knows when Christ will come again. The events of the past week in Israel, however, suggest that this may not be too far away into the future. He may come and rapture us as believers (together with those who died in Christ before us) in accordance with 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, or we may have to go through the great tribulation prior to the rapture as some believe.

As much as we need to work to continue to live and to plan for our future and old age, don’t ever forget the Lord and be prepared for a change in human history that we all know will come. It may well be within our lifetimes! Place our hope in Jesus Christ, our rock, and our salvation! Our hope is real, genuine, and realistic. Amen!