SIGNS OF THE TIMES/PROPHECY PAGE

April article by Robert Kay

THE WALL AND THE LATTER DAYS

The construction of the Wall in the West Bank continues to be a matter of continual contention between Israel and the Palestinians. The justification according to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is that without the wall Israel will not be able to stop infiltration by Palestinian bombers, or be safe from their influences. On the other hand, the assassination by Israel of leading Palestinians continues. The assassination of Sheikh Yassin of the Palestinian Militant Group Hamas, followed swiftly by Abdel Aziz Rantissi coincides with the declared intention of Sharon to withdraw from settlements in the Gaza with a trade off land-for-peace deal to end the conflict with the Palestinians. The disengagement plan supported by USA President George W Bush places the ‘roadmap’ to peace in a place of uncertainty. Following a visit to the USA, Sharon is now reported in the press as stating he was no longer bound by a promise to President George W Bush not to harm Yasser Arafat the Palestinian leader, confined to his West Bank headquarters for two years.

So the cycle of assassination, bombing, violence and terrorism continues.

The construction of ‘the Wall’ from the prophetic angle is significantly interesting to Bible students looking for the signs of our times relating to the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in the latter days. The purpose of the Lord God Almighty continues to be fulfilled in this small land at the western end of the Mediterranean. The ownership and destiny of Jerusalem continues to perplex world politicians extending far beyond the borders of this small land.

The Hebrew prophets in the Old Testament describe a situation prevailing in the latter days speaking of Israel’s captivity:-

Joel 3:1 “For, behold, in those days and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land”.

Joel’s prophecy describes a state of containment, a captivity of Judah. Based upon their understanding of the prophetic word Christadelphians have been preaching for some 150 years the return to captivity of Israel in the latter days. The wall presents a further fulfillment in detail of these words from Joel. Joel’s comment referring to the parting of my (God’s) land adds another dimension into the controversy. Firstly identifying a partitioned land, and secondly it is my (God’s) land, and therefore is and will be subject to His purpose.

Another Hebrew prophet gives a different perspective on ‘the wall’ in his prophecy. Ezekiel in ch. 38 describes an assault on the land by a great armed company. A confederacy of nations, Gog, Magog, the chief price of Meshech and Tubal (v2), Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya (v5) with them, supported by Gomer and Togamah, being of the north quarters, all his bands with many people (v 6 and 15) described as a great company, a mighty army. The identification is clear; it is primarily a northern army with attachments. Their purpose, to take spoil.

Verse 11 describes their intent. ‘and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go up to them that are at rest (quiet) that dwell safely (securely), all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars or gates to take a spoil and to take a prey, to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

In this prophecy things concerning ‘the wall’ are different. We can see something is going to change, and the change is significant. The land is without walls, bars or gates. Israel is described as a people at rest and quiet, different from today. In verse 16 we are told the great northern army arrives as a cloud, to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes (v16). The Lord God will be known among the nations. This dramatic intervention and the outcome is described between verses 18 to 23, and details the destruction of the great northern army in the land.

In the last verse of this chapter Ezekiel describes the conclusion of these events (v23) Thus will I (the Lord God) magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

What exciting times we live in!