“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh...”
(Philippians 3:3, NKJV).
I saw this title on a YouTube video this week. I don’t know the video maker’s answer; I did not listen to it. There are many exotic and exciting theologies that exist regarding “end times,” both premillennial and postmillennial. And it seems like every time war breaks out, here come the prognosticators declaring that some prophetic end-times clock has started. It was not long ago that the Russian/Ukraine was started in earnest that similar things began to
be said. The beginning of the end, and so on.
I want to be as straightforward as I can. The answer to the question in the title is this: NOTHING. There is no end-times clock or calendar that we can trace the start of. The events of the past weeks are NOT prophesied specifically in the Scriptures, nor are they signs that signal the return of Christ is near, or that a rapture is near, or that the battle of Armageddon is soon to occur.
I want to also be as straightforward as I can about this: the ethnic race of people called the Jews does not have any special covenant or divine protection or promised rule in the future. The current nation that calls itself Israel has no relationship or bearing on anything written or prophesied in the Scriptures. At one time, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were God’s covenant people, set apart for a specific purpose with a unique covenant that was reserved for them. That time is no more; the Mosaic covenant is over, ended, fulfilled,
and taken away. A new covenant in Christ Jesus is now in place by heaven’s decree, and
anyone who seeks salvation must do so “in Christ” where “There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus” (Galatians 3:28, NKJV). Paul declared to the Philippians that “we are the circumcision” —those in Christ, both Jew and Gentile according to the flesh.
In the adult Bible Class upstairs, we are currently making our way through Hebrews; this is one of the messages of that book. The old covenant is gone, and a new covenant is in place. The new is superior to the old in every way; the letter goes into great detail here. The old is a shadow, and the new is the reality. The new has a better priesthood, better promises, better sacrifice, better prophet, better law, and brings a greater salvation. No one can return to the old covenant, Jew or not. To do so is to depart from the living God in unbelief (Hebrews 3:12).
All of this does not mean that the world will not be plunged into war as a consequence of what is happening today. I am no prophet; it certainly could be. Evil is alive and well, and men’s pride and greed are alive and well. It does not mean that the USA should not be allied with the nation of Israel. Who the USA allies with is not a matter of Biblical prophecy or doctrine.
But we should understand clearly that the present nation called Israel is not the Israel of old, the chosen people of God. There is no divine protection or specific Scriptural mandate to protect it. It is simply another nation among many in the world as far as the Scriptures are concerned.
You and I should not be shaken by the events of the past weeks. They are horrific; they demonstrate evil is alive and well, and it will mean a tremendous loss of life...much of that
life innocent in regards to the conflict. We can and should pray for peace everywhere, for people everywhere. You may be moved to give of your means to help the victims, and God
bless you if you do—regardless of their race.
This shining truth also reminds me that there is one answer to the world’s problems. It is not a program, a government, a philosophy, or a ruler. It is the person, Jesus Christ the Righteous. May the world lay down their hatred, strife, greed, covetousness, and pride
and find life in Him. There is no life anywhere else to be found.
Post-script: I have made a lot of assertions here in this article, and usually, I try to substantiate each assertion, but there is little room in a bulletin article. At least you can understand the assertions. If you would like more study or discussion, please let someone know.
—John Ostic
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