Understanding Israel’s End Time Crisis
I. GOD’S PLAN TO RESTORE ISRAEL
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.
(Zec. 1:14)
A. God has great zeal for His covenant people. They are His choice - the apple of His eye (Zech 2:8) – the center
of His agenda. He loves them because He chose them for His purposes and is absolutely committed to bright
righteousness going forth from Jerusalem. He will achieve this by fulfilling all His covenant promises to Israel as a
nation. He is committed for the sake of His own glory in the earth.
22"Therefore say to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel,
but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23And I will sanctify
My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the
nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
(Ezekiel 36:22-23)
B. The key to the nations bowing the knee to God is God fulfilling His promises to Israel. Thus, everything God does
this side of the Millennium is for the sake of bringing righteousness to Jerusalem and through her to the whole earth
during the Millennial Reign of Jesus on the Earth.
1 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as
brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. 2The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.
(Is. 62:1-2)
C. God’s “dilemma” is that Israel is a wayward people who rejected their Messiah at His first coming. Scripture is very
clear that God will not and cannot fulfill His covenant promises to Israel, unless and until they return to their God and
enter into covenant with Him through Jesus. More specifically, Jesus himself declared that He would not return to
Jerusalem until He is accepted as the Messiah of Israel by the leadership of that nation.
38See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, "Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the LORD!"' (Matt.23:38-39)
D. Furthermore, the enemy is committed to stopping the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and, thus, His own
destruction. If he can destroy the nation of Israel then God cannot fulfill His unconditional covenant promises to Abraham
and the earth cannot be restored.
E. God’s will cannot be frustrated, however and God has a two-fold plan to bring Israel to repentance and restoration:
1) He will not be silent; and 2) He will not rest (Is.62:1). God will cause Israel to hear His voice through the testimony of
the end-time prophetic church, and God will act on behalf of Israel in both judgment and mercy to bring them to a place
of repentance.
F. The purpose of God’s end-time activity on behalf of Israel is to produce the following responses:
1. They will confess their sin and acknowledge that they have not lived in obedience to God or fulfilled God’s purposes
for them as a nation.
2. They will acknowledge that God was the author of all their suffering because of their disobedience
40"But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful
to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, 41and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought
them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt-- 42then I will
remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will
remember the land. (Lev.26:40-42)
3. They will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel (Matt.23:39)
II. THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE (JER.30:7)
7Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
(Jer 30:7)
A. The Bible speaks many times of a great end-time tribulation for the whole earth, but with specific focus on the
nation of Israel. According to the prophets Jeremiah and Daniel, and Jesus himself, this time of trouble will have no
precedent in history, either before or since, yet it is through this time of great trouble that God will prepare Israel
(and the whole earth) for His glory at the return of Jesus.
B. Through the end-time tribulation, God will use global antisemitism; Satan’s rage and His own judgments to bring Israel
to the end of herself and turn her back to Himself.
III. UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PURPOSE IN ISRAEL’S SUFFERING
A. Before we can adequately understand the activity of God in judgment, we must understand the Great Judge of the
Earth and His character. God delights in mercy (Micah 7:8-20) and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked
(Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11). God’s goal in judgment is that He might ultimately show mercy.
63And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over
you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.
(Deut 28:63)
B. God’s judgment is His mercy strategy to save the nation of Israel and cause them to fulfill their destiny. His only
other alternative is to destroy the nation completely. He rejoices in judgment because He knows it is producing life and
that ultimately, Israel will be saved and God’s glory will fill the earth.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
(1 Cor.11:32)
The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (Is.10:22)
C. Because of their high calling as a kingdom of priests called to make God known to the nations of the earth
(see Deut 4; Lam 1:9), God promised that Israel would be severely punished if they turned away from Him.
D. God will remove unrighteousness (hardness of heart towards God) from Israel through a process of divine
discipline. He has promised He will not rest until Israel shines with His glory and will use the least amount of suffering to
bring forth the greatest number at the deepest level of love.
E. The end goal of God’s punishment of Israel is her salvation not her destruction. The punishment may be severe but
it will not end in destruction nor will it violate the freewill of His people.
11For I am with you,' says the LORD, "to save you; (GOD’S PURPOSE) though I make a full end of all nations where I
have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, (GOD’S MEANS) and will
not let you go altogether unpunished.' (Jer 30:11)
I will not make a complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave you wholly unpunished.
(Jer. 46:28)
F. The punishment prophesied will be severe but will be absolutely proportional to the offense. God is the perfect
Father and His discipline will be absolutely perfect.
G. Even during the times of Israel’s most terrible suffering we must acknowledge that God is not absent but is
orchestrating events to fulfill His glorious plan. When we address questions such as, “Why does God allow suffering?”
or “Where was God in the Holocaust?” the precise answer is not always clear but we have confidence that He is the
God who is there in the midst of His people.
4Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep (Ps.121:4)
IV. ASPECTS OF GOD’S JUDGMENTS IN THE END TIMES
A. Most severe time of trouble in Israel’s history
21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor
ever shall be22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will
be shortened. (Matt.24:21-22)
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there
shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. (Dan 12:1)
B. The main focus of the tribulation will be the land of Israel (Psalm 102;Zec.12)
C. It will be more severe than three of the greatest periods of suffering in the history of the nation: 1) Siege of
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (c.586 B.C) 2) Siege of Jerusalem by Titus (c.70 A.D.); 3) Nazi Holocaust (1939-45).
During the Nazi holocaust 1/3 of the Jewish population died. In the last days it is possible that up to 2/3 of the nation
will be killed or “cut off”.
8And it shall come to pass in all the land," says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third
shall be left in it: 9I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is
tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, "This is My people'; and each one will say, "The
LORD is my God."' (Zec.13:8-9)
D. Only a small remnant of the nation will survive the destruction (Is.1:7-9; 11:11; 37:31). The promise of a remnant
emphasizes the fact that God is in control of these horrific events. The tribulation will be so severe that it will seem that
the nation will not survive it. However, although most of the nation will perish God has promised that a remnant will
survive. He will not allow complete destruction of the nation.
And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will
never again depend on him who defeated them , But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth 21The
remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. 22For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the
sea, a remnant of them will return (Is.10:20-22)
E. God will bring the nation to the end of itself through this time of suffering.
36"For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their power is
gone (Deut 32:36)
…when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered all these things shall be finished (Dan.12:7)
F. Salvation of the nation is certain. God has promised that those who survive the tribulation will all be saved. The
nation will not perish but will be saved as a result of going through the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jer:30:7, 31:2, Joel 2:32,
Rom.11:26).
7Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it (referring to the incomparable severity of this time); and it is the
time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. (Jer 30:7) (purpose of time of Jacob’s trouble is salvation)
G. Israel’s end-time tribulation is a combination of God’s direct action in judgment, the full wrath of Satan and the
fullness of man’s wickedness. This is an important distinction to make, though, in practice the distinction is not always obvious
1. God’s activity
5I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and fury and great
wrath (Jer.21:5)
Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations
to battle against Jerusalem (Zech. 14:1-2)
2. Satan’s Rage
Satan’s fury will be unleashed in its greatest ever level against the nation of Israel.
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male
Child….the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried
away by the flood…17And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her
offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev 12: 1-17)
3. Man’s Wickedness
a. Global anti-Semitism will exist on a level as never before. Every nation will be involved in the persecution of the
Jewish people (See Zech 14:1-2; Psalm 2, 83 Etc.) The wickedness of the nations will be demonstrated to its fullest
extent as human beings are fully given over to evil in the last days.
Those who hate You have taken crafty counsel against Your people and consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
They have said, “Come let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
For they have consulted together with one consent. (Psalm 83:3-5)
b. This will be most profoundly demonstrated as the nations gather against Israel in rage against God. Every nation
in the world is going to oppose Jerusalem and seek to destroy her before the return of Jesus.
For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem (Zech 14:2)
c. God will ultimately use these events to judge the nations. Scripture tells us that God will use the “battle for
Jerusalem” to expose the wickedness of men’s hearts and will judge them.
2I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them
there on account of My people, My heritage Israel (Joel 2:3)
H. It is important for us to recognize that though God accomplishes His purposes through Satan’s schemes
(e.g. Job 1) and man’s wickedness, (e.g. Psalm 2:2; 102:22; Joel 3:11) we, as believers, are always called to resist
evil and cry out for deliverance for Israel. We acknowledge God’s hand of discipline but we always resist evil.
I. There is a divine boundary line and God will demonstrate that He is in control of the tribulation events.
23For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a determined end in the midst of all the land. (Is.10:23)
21"I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22until
the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for
the saints to possess the kingdom. (Dan 7:21-22)
22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be
shortened.(Matt 24:22)
J. God will prepare beforehand pockets of mercy for supernatural protection of His people. This has two aspects:
1. Geographic areas of safety (cities of refuge) (like the land of Goshen in the days of Moses (Ex.8:22-23))
6Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one
thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Rev 12:6)
2. Believers who God has prepared to hide Jews during the tribulation. Many Jews will encounter the God of Abraham
through the lives of believers in the last days.
14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is
nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Rev 12:14)
K. God will intervene on Israel’s behalf when she has been brought to the end of her own strength (Deut. 32:36;
Dan 12:7)
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.6The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice,
the earth melted (Ps.46:5-6)
L. The final tribulation will produce the repentance necessary for salvation. It will produce in Israel the acknowledgement
before God that they have sinned and then their hearts will earnestly seek God (Deut.30:1-2; Is.59:20 ; Jer 29:12-13;
31:9; 50:4-5; Zeph 3:18; Zech.12:10; Lev.26; Deut 29-30; Ezek.6:9.)
15I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they
will earnestly seek Me. (Hosea 5:15)
Then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve
for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at
Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12And the land shall mourn, every family by itself… (Zec.12:10-12)
M. God brings Israel to the place of repentance and salvation through the following means:
1. The shattering of her own strength by the judgments of God (Deut. 32:36; Dan.12:7).
2. The witness of the apostolic church of the end times, provoking her to jealousy. (Rom 11:11;25)
3. The prayers of the saints worldwide that the Lord would save the nation of Israel.
N. The end result is the deliverance of Jerusalem from her enemies, the salvation of all Israel (Rom 11:26) and
the full establishment of God’s Kingdom on the earth.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness
from Jacob; For this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:26 –27)
And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls (Joel 2:32)