The land now occupied by Israel is claimed by the Palestinians and also by the Jordanians. Syria would like to have it as well. To whom does it rightly belong?
It is the Holy Land of the Bible. Judaism and Christianity began in Palestine, but Islam claims it as their sacred place. Today it is about the same size as Kuwait, and likely it soon will be the center of a greater conflict than Kuwait is experiencing at this time.
In promise, the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying, "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." Gen. 15:18. This promise has never been completely fulfilled, but it shall be in Christ. In the second Psalm the Lord emphatically states it as done, as He alone can speak saying, "Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." More is added in Psa. 132:13, 14, "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.”
All this is future and certain, but what about the present state of uneasy possession by Israel of the part they forcibly control? Under David, the Lord gave Israel much of the land of promise. It began in the day of Joshua and reached its peak under Solomon. Israel had to drive out the heathen idolaters and to walk upon all that they possessed. Never were the Philistines fully conquered, nor did Israel gain possession of all the large territory that the Lord promised to Abram.
Instead, the kingdom was divided and the ten tribes soon turned to idolatry themselves. For this they were carried away captive by the Assyrians and their identity is lost.
A little later because of idolatry, the kingly line of David with the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin were taken captive to Babylon. A little remnant was brought back to the land, and about 2000 years ago their Messiah was presented to them. Did they receive Him? No! Nationally, they rejected and crucified Him. Will that nation be punished for their crime? They said, "His blood be on us and on our children." This is why the children have been allowed to come back, in measure, to the site of their crime.
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Man proposes, God disposes. The Gentiles and the Jews were at the cross led by Satan against "the Lord, and against His Christ." Acts 4:26. The present state of affairs in and around Israel surely is a preparation for the judgment of this guilty world which crucified God's Son, sent in grace to be a Savior.
After these judgments which last for 7 years at least, there will be that wonderful 1000-year reign of Christ. He will gather all Israel and they shall be in the land in peace, and the nations all around enjoying that righteous reign of great earthly blessing. (Zech. 14:9-11.)
C. Buchanan
The Shout
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout." 1 Thess. 4:16.
I want to tell you something very interesting about that word "shout." This is the only place in the New Testament where the Greek word here translated "shout" occurs, and it does not mean a shout of terror, a startling shout; it is a word of encouragement. It is the word that was used in olden times to encourage the rowers manning the oars on the galleys. It is the shout of encouragement for the people of God, the word that calls them, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The One who loves us, who has done so much for us, will be there on the threshold of the glory, and will take us in. What a scene that will be!