Jesus tells his followers to have nothing to do with the physical aspect of fighting for the land of Israel or the conflict between Jews and Muslims.
Matthew 24:14-22 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—
The ‘abomination that causes desolation,’ is referring to the Dome of The Rock Mosque since this is the only building standing where the Temple used to be. This building is the reason why the daily sacrifices have not been reinstated. It is spoken about in Daniel 9:27 & Daniel 11:31
Daniel 9:27 – He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
Daniel 11:31 – His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
Continued Matthew 24:14-22 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
This is spoken of again in the book of Mark:
Mark 13:14-20 – “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
Jesus is not asking us to get involved or stop one side or the other. His instruction to his followers is to flee. I am referring to the physical aspect of the contention between Jews and Muslims. Our spiritual support should always be with the Jewish people. They were once the anointed people of God. Jesus also stated that salvation comes from the Jews:
John 4:22 – You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
It is true that the Jewish people missed their time of salvation and due to this, they no longer have an earthly temple to worship and pray in.
Luke 19:41-44 – And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
The Jewish people have rejected Jesus the Messiah who is the final sacrifice and everlasting Temple. They have missed their hour of visitation.
Acts 7:51-53 – You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.
Acts 2:22-23 – Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
Because the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, the Gentiles have been given an opportunity to receive salvation that comes through Christ.
Romans 9:30-33 – What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.
The Jewish people are trying to gain salvation through their own interpretation of the word of God. This is their own ‘work’. Meanwhile the Gentile believer of Jesus gains salvation through his faith in Jesus’ interpretation of the word of God. Therefore, the Gentile believer gains righteousness and salvation through faith and not works.
In spite of the Jewish people rejecting Jesus, the Lord’s heart’s desire is for them to be saved. Jesus wept at the Jewish people’s fall and Paul states:
Romans 10:1-4 – Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
We must always have sympathy for the Jewish people and not hatred in any form. All it takes for them to be made right with God is for them to accept the teachings and interpretations of Jesus. Just like it is for the Gentile.
Romans 10:11-13 – As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
This requires Christians to teach the Jewish people when we have an opportunity to do so.
Romans 10:14-15 – How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”.
This does not mean that many will accept the truth you are speaking.
Romans 10:16-17 – But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
As always, there are a few remnant people whom God wishes to preserve. It is for these precious few, that God wishes us to preach and teach.
Romans 11:1-5 – I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Paul always maintained his sympathy and compassion for the Jewish people in spite of their stubborness.
Romans 11:13-14 – I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
Whether we as followers of Christ or the Jewish people like it or not, we are connected. And so, we must not quarrel, fight and denounce one another.
Romans 11:16 – If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Whether the Jewish people feel this way about us is not our concern. Nor is it up to us to enforce. That is God’s job and not ours. We must not take a position of superiority towards the Jewish people either.
Romans 11:17-22 – If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
God is able to bring the Jewish people back into the fold at any time. We must not hate the Jewish people or we will be cut off.
Romans 11:23 – And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
The Jewish people are living according to promises that God gave them. They have obtained the gift of the land of Israel which God had promised them.
Romans 11:28-29 – As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
The call that God makes for the Jewish people to return to Him, is a constant one and cannot be canceled. What He has promised to them such as the land of Israel, cannot be revoked.
Romans 11:30-32 – Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
This does not mean that we should be sinning on behalf of the Jews and hating people such as Muslims on their behalf. Nor should we be fighting in wars and killing people for their promised land. God gave the promise and He will uphold it. Israel could not be in safer hands than in the hands of God himself! The Jewish people must have faith in God’s promise of their land. They must look to God for protection and preservation. It is not for Christians to commit sins of hatred and get involved in Jewish matters or on behalf of the state of Israel.
Luke 21:20-24 – When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Jesus is instructing his followers to flee when Jerusalem is surrounded by enemies. Even though there will be great distress and wrath against the Jewish people, and they will fall by the sword, Christians are instructed to leave and not get involved. Killing is a sin and we must not participate in harming others.
God himself will maintain His promise to them which is the land of Israel. The bible mentions countless times in 1 & 2 Chronicles, 1 & 2 Kings and more regarding God’s supernatural protection of the land of Israel.
Muslims are also mentioned in the bible as the’ lawless one’. The one who creates the abomination that causes desolation. The Muslim is also referred to in the New Testament in
Thessalonians 2:8-12 – And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Paul is in no way suggesting that Christians are to get involved and somehow stop this prophecy from taking place.
Revelations 13:1-15 – The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
The Apostle John is calling for us to have patience and endurance. He is not asking us to get involved physically which would only cause us to hate and sin.
Daniel 8:11-13 – Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Daniel 9:26-27 – And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
At no point in the scriptures, are Christians instructed or commanded by God, to get involved in the matters unfolding regarding Israel.
Jesus’ instruction to us is to flee when we see the sign of the ‘abomination which makes desolation’. When we see the Dome of The Rock mosque and fighting between the Muslim and the Jew ensues, we should flee and have nothing to do with it. This is not to say that Jews are defenseless and need help from us when it comes to defending the land of Israel. God himself will defend them due to the promise He made to Abraham and his descendants.
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