(This was written in 2001)

Hi guys,

Since the attack on our nation, on September 11th, my e-mail address has been flooded with commentaries, relating to the attack, which attempt to make some sense out of a terrifying, disastrous and, seemingly, senseless situation. Some of the commentary is wise, some of it spiritual, much of it patriotic…but most of it seems to be devoid of a truer and more complete understanding of what has happened to us as a people and what we can anticipate as our destiny.

Fear and anxiety threaten to overwhelm us, as the possibility of World War III, and even Armageddon, looms on the not-so-distant horizon. Emotions such as anger, depression, and confusion abound as we contemplate what this means for us and for our families. The words “be strong” can ring hollow in the face of the most formidable foe we can imagine. So, I’m going to “throw my hat into the ring” along with everyone else by providing an explanation, a reasoned biblical response, for the chaos we see around us. For anyone who knows me, you will realize how difficult it is for me to be brief on this subject. You are welcome to e-mail me with questions or comments and I will do my best to respond.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN TO US?

Unless you’ve had your head in the sand for the last 50 years, you know that the Middle East conflict is nothing new. And you may or may not realize that the U. S. has been an ardent supporter of the state of Israel ever since its restoration as a nation in 1948. Israel, a small country the size of the state of New Jersey, has had to vigilantly defend its borders against many Arab/Muslim enemies which continue to dispute its right to exist. There is much history that could be discussed pertaining to this subject, but my objective is to keep this commentary to a somewhat readable length.

The primary reason that the United States has been targeted for terrorism is because of its friendly alliance with the nation of Israel. The Bible tells us that those who “bless” Israel will be “blessed” themselves. And, indeed, the United States has been greatly blessed for many years. Wouldn’t you agree? We have truly slipped away from our godly moorings, however, and have allowed all kinds of decadence and moral decay to eat away at our foundation, so I am not certain how much longer God can or will continue to bless us.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS CONFLICT?

MUCH of what is happening in the Middle East is prophesied in the Bible. In fact, the Bible is the only book ever written whose Author has recited history to us before it happened. There are hundreds of prophecies, contained in the pages of Scripture, which have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. Here are two examples:

”Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling to all the nations” (Zechariah 12:2, 500 B.C.) And what a cup of trembling it is! The source of all Middle East conflict can be traced to Jerusalem, Israel and the Jews. How interesting that such a (then) obscure city could be such a source of conflict 2500 years after the prophet, Zechariah, penned these words.

And this,

(The Angel of the Lord, speaking to Hagar, an Egyptian) “Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. HE SHALL BE A WILD MAN; HIS HAND SHALL BE AGAINST EVERY MAN AND EVERY MAN’S HAND AGAINST HIM” (Genesis 16:11-12) Relevant today? You bet. Especially since Ishmael is the FATHER OF THE ARAB NATION (Genesis 16:1-16; 21:8-21; Galatians 4:24-27).

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Is this the beginning of the end of the world? Only God knows. Personally, I am not going to start wearing a sandwich board declaring, “the end is near”; however, I will tell you that Jesus said we should be able to “discern the signs of the times”. And what are the signs of the times? Here are just a few:

-Luke 21:9-11 Wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilence (increasing all at once, worldwide, like labor pains)

-Daniel 12:4 Knowledge will increase & running to and fro (technology has exploded in the 20th century)

-Matthew 24:14 The gospel will be preached to all the nations and then the end will come.

-Matthew 24:4-5 Many will come in my name saying, “I am the Christ” (Jones, Koresh, Moon…to name only a few)

-2 Timothy 3:1-5 Men will be lovers of selves and money, proud, disobedient to parents, lacking self-control, unthankful, unholy, unforgiving…

-Deuteronomy 4:27 The Jews will be scattered among the nations. After being scattered to the farthest corners of the earth in 70 A.D., the Jews were re-gathered in 1948, having retained their national identity for almost 2000 years. No other group in history has been able to do that for more than 300 years.

-Ezekiel 37:21-22 Israel will be gathered together again, as a nation. Prophecy fulfilled in 1948, when the Holocaust victims and other scattered Jews were returned to their homeland.

-Deuteronomy 28:37 Speaks of how Israel will be hated and persecuted. (Holocaust only one of many examples.)

-Revelation 13:3-4 Speaks of global community, religious unity, antichrist. Must read within context of book of Revelation.

All prophecy has been fulfilled that needs to be fulfilled and the stage is certainly set.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

We can pray for God’s mercy and grace to be upon us. And please…find out which God you are praying to. Is it the God of the Bible or is it a god of your own understanding? One who conforms to man’s preconceived notions of who He should be, or the true and living God who clearly defines Himself on His own terms, not ours. Even deeply religious people call upon false gods…the Muslim terrorists are a great example.

LASTLY, “the patriotic American versus the radical Muslim extremist” is not the issue we need to be focusing on nearly as much as the issue of “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We may not be Muslim terrorists, but we have a plethora of other sins to repent of. The good news is that Jesus Christ died, in our place, so that sinners like us could spend eternity with a glorious and loving God (John 3:16). HE is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. But we must be willing to BELIEVE that Jesus is who He says He is (Romans 10:9), REPENT of our sin, thereby allowing Christ to radically transform our lives (Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and FOLLOW Him – “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). As much as I respect my government, my faith, during this crisis, is not in it nor in my fellow man. It is in the assurance God gives me of spending eternity with Him, not because of my own good works, but despite my own wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9).

Let me issue you 2 challenges:

1. Don’t be ashamed to pass THIS commentary along to everyone you know.

2. Take the advice laid out above and get those dusty Bibles out of your closets. Your (eternal) life depends on it!

May the perfect love and peace that Jesus offers be yours today.
Stefanie