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| World Tension Predicted |
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- Our world is full of tensions
- One major source of tension
is the Arab – Jewish conflict
- The picture shows a section
of Israel’s “anti-terror” wall
being built to deter Arab
terrorists
- This Arab – Jewish tension
was predicted in the Bible
- The Bible also predicts the
solution
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The Bible has predicted the past accurately – so we can rely on its
promises about the future.
Give the Bible a chance to speak for itself and you will see that it is relevant
to the 21st century.
Don’t rely on what other people say about the Bible – have a look for yourself. |
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| The Jew - Arab conflict |
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We are all aware of the tension that exists between
the Jews and the Arabs. It dominates world politics.
The problem centres on the Middle East, where much
of the world’s oil is to be found. This means that all the
world takes sides in this situation.
The terrorist problem has its roots in this conflict.
Both Jews and Arabs claim a right to the same land.
The Jews currently occupy the land in the form of the
nation of Israel. The Arabs want a Palestinian state on
the same land. |
An angry political protester raising a fist in
the air in a New York march. A “Justice for
Palestine” sign can be seen in the background. |
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| The tension between Arabs and Jews |
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| Both Jews and Arabs correctly claim the man Abraham as their ancient ancestor. Both
claim that they should have the land promised to Abraham. The Bible shows us how
these tensions started 4,000 years ago. |
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As the family tree on the left shows, Abraham
had two sons called Ishmael and Isaac.
Isaac also had two sons, Esau and Jacob.
Some of the Arab nations are descended
from Ishmael and Esau.
The Jews are descended from Jacob. |
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| So we can see the possible tensions when two groups of people believe they have a
right to the same piece of land. Thousands of years ago, the Bible predicted that this
tension would develop into hatred and cause the international problems that we see
today. |
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As we look at these predictions, we must be careful to keep our own political
views out of these considerations. The Bible criticises the actions of both
Arabs and Jews. We are looking at the fulfilments of the predictions, not the
rights and wrongs of the people or the politics involved. |
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| Before Ishmael was born, his mother was told: |
You shall name him Ishmael … his hand will be against everyone and everyone's
hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.
Genesis 16 v 11 and 12
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4,000 years ago, problems were predicted among
Abraham’s children. There are many verses in the
Bible which talk of the hatred that the descendants
of Ishmael and Esau would have for the Jews, who
are Jacob’s descendants.
The prophet Ezekiel makes a prediction against “Mount Seir”, which is the area where some of
Esau’s descendants settled:
.. set your face against Mount Seir and
prophesy against it, "… you shall be
desolate. Then you shall know that I am the
Lord. Because you have had an ancient
hatred, and have shed the blood of the
children of Israel by the power of the sword
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Ezekiel 35 v 2, 4 and 5
This is another prediction of the hatred of the Arabs for the Jews. |
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The Bible predicted the tension
between Arabs and Jews |
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One of the most amazing comments about this hostility is in Psalm 83. The writer of the
Psalm is pleading for help because the Jews are surrounded by enemies:
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
Psalm 83 v 3 and 4
The Psalm goes on to list these enemies, which include most of the nations which
surround Israel. It would be difficult to give a more accurate prediction of the current
situation – the nation of Israel surrounded by enemies that would like to see Israel
removed from the map. Have look at the “Further Information” section at the end for
more details of this remarkable statement.
The destruction of Israel is central to the aims of Hamas, the Islamic Resistance
Movement. In recent elections for the new Palestinian parliament, it claimed 76 of the
132 seats, giving it a majority in the Palestinian Authority.
The Covenant (or Charter) of Hamas was published in 1988. The preface to the charter
quotes Imam Hassan al-Banna who said:
Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it
obliterated others before it.
Article 13 of the charter says:
There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives,
proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain
endeavours.
On April 1, 2006, Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said:
I dream of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which
does not show Israel on it.
The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, expressed the same sentiments in
October 2005 at a conference in Tehran on the subject, “The World without Zionism”. Quoting one of Iran’s past leaders, he said
Israel must be wiped off the map.
While Iran is not, strictly speaking an Arab country, it does have a significant Arab
population and has strong ties with Arab countries.
It is clear that the Palestinian Authority as well as Iran wants the nation of Israel
destroyed – part of the ongoing fulfilment of predictions made thousands of years ago. |
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| The tension caused by Jerusalem |
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| Another aspect of the tension between Jews and Arabs concerns the city of Jerusalem. |
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The picture shows the city of
Jerusalem, which Israel
confirmed as its capital by
passing a special law in 1980.
The status of the city has
remained a central issue in
the dispute between Israel
and the Palestinian Arabs.
Both sides constantly repeat
that there can be no
negotiation on this issue. |
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Despite the efforts of many world powers, there seems no answer to this problem.
Interestingly, the Bible predicted this situation several thousand years ago:
And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for
all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all
nations of the earth are gathered against it.
Zechariah 12 v 3
This verse makes it clear that
- Jerusalem is going to be a big problem
- There will be problems for those who try to resolve the situation
- The result will be that everybody will be against Jerusalem
We can see evidence of the first two predictions regularly in the media. It is not difficult
to imagine how the third prediction could occur. Later on in the prophecy of Zechariah,
further details are given about the time when all nations are against Israel:
For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity.
Zechariah 14 v 2
It is very unusual for only half a city to be taken in war. But that is what the Bible has
predicted will happen to Jerusalem. The Palestinians repeatedly make it clear that they
want East Jerusalem as their capital, which Israel took from Jordan in 1967. |
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| Whose land is it? |
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| When Abraham was promised the land under dispute, which of his descendants were to
be included? The Bible answer to this question has far-reaching implications. |
The first promise to Abraham says:
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed…
Genesis 12 v 2 and 3
Looking carefully at this, we see that lands are not
mentioned. Abraham was promised that he would be the
father of a large nation, be blessed and protected by God.
But note carefully the last part of the promise – that everyone
could be involved. So all nations, Jews, Arabs and any
people from any other nation, can be included in the good
things promised to Abraham. |
The disputed land |
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Abraham was promised the land on a later occasion. This is what he was told when he
was at a place called Beth-el, a few kilometres north of Jerusalem:
"Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are – northward,
southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you
and your descendants forever.
Genesis 13 v 14 and 15
But Abraham had a problem – he had no child. Naturally speaking, as he grew older it
became highly unlikely that he would have a child. But he continued to have absolute
confidence in the promise.
The New Testament confirms that this was the case:
He [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was …
fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Romans 4 v 20 and 21
The New Testament also tells us that the good things promised will be given to those
who have the same kind of confidence or faith as Abraham. This includes others as well
as Abraham’s descendants. It also tells us that Abraham was promised much more than
the land under dispute – he is called the “heir of the world”:
Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the
world… through the righteousness that comes by faith ... Therefore, the promise
comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all
Abraham's offspring–not only to those who are of the law but also to those who
are of the faith of Abraham.
Romans 4 v 13 and 16
So the land currently being argued about will be given to those who, like Abraham, have
confidence in the promises made by God – not to those who want to take it by political or
military means.
The purpose of “The Evidence – You decide” material is to help you have the same
confidence in God’s Word that Abraham had. |
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- The land of Israel was promised to those who
have confidence in what God says
- This includes anyone from any nation
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| World tension resolved |
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We now need to find out how the good things promised to Abraham will resolve the
present world tension. To understand how this will happen we need to look at another
verse which talks about the promises to Abraham:
Now to Abraham and his Seed [or offspring] were the promises made. He does
not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is
Christ.
Galatians 3 v 16
Here we are told that the promises to Abraham are centred on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before he was born, the Bible promised:
He [Jesus] will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord
God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
Luke 1 v 32 and 33
The Bible is quite clear that Jesus Christ will return to the earth. When he went, his
followers were told: |
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The“anti-terror” wall will not be required
when Jesus Christ has resolved all disputes |
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This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him
go into heaven.
Acts 1 v 11
There are many Bible verses that talk about the just
and fair worldwide government that Jesus Christ will
set up when he returns. We are told that he will
have the wisdom and power to resolve disputes.
We look at some of these verses in the “Further
Information” section at the end. |
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| Summary |
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The Bible correctly predicted:
- Tensions between Arabs and Jews
- Nations surrounding Israel calling for its destruction
- Jerusalem would become an international problem
- Problems for those who try to resolve the situation
- Half of Jerusalem would be in dispute
Based on the Bible’s track record we can trust promises not yet fulfilled:
- Jesus Christ will return to the earth
- He will have the wisdom and power to solve international
problems
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| Further Information |
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| More details of Psalm 83 |
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Verses 6 to 8 of Psalm 83 list the people who are wanting the nation of Israel destroyed.
They are : |
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Edom |
Ammon |
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Ishmaelites |
Amalek |
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Moab |
Philistia |
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Hagrites |
Tyre |
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Gebal |
Assyria |
The areas where most of these
nations lived are known and are
shown opposite superimposed on a
map of Israel’s current borders.
The
Times Atlas of the Bible confirms all
except the Ishmaelites and Hagrites.
It is clear that the Psalm is indicating
Israel surrounded by hostile nations.
This is exactly the situation we see
today. |
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| Predictions about the setting up of the worldwide government of Jesus |
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Abraham is given an indication that giving the blessings to all nations would involve
putting down those who were opposed to the idea:
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the
sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the
cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be
blessed.
Genesis 22 v 17 and 18
One of Abraham’s descendants, David, was told of a special offspring whose reign
would not end:
When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your
offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.… I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be
established forever.
1 Chronicles 17 v 11 and 14
The prophet Daniel talks of an endless kingdom that would replace other world powers:
… the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will
it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an
end, but it will itself endure forever.
Daniel 2 v 44
Before Jesus Christ was born, his mother was told that he was destined to be king of an
endless kingdom:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever; his kingdom will never end.
Luke 1 v 32 and 33
The last book of the Bible talks about a kingdom ruled by Jesus Christ replacing the
existing world powers:
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven,
which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and
of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
Revelation 11 v 15
We can see a consistent message running through the Bible:
- One of Abraham’s offspring would bring blessings on all nations by removing
opposition
- David was told that one of his descendants would have an endless rule
- The prophet Daniel predicted that an endless kingdom would replace other
world powers
- The mother of Jesus was told that he would have an endless rule
- The last book of the Bible predicts that the reign of Jesus Christ will replace all
other world powers
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