Standing with Israel in Great Trouble in the End-Times
I. THE BATTLE FOR JERUSALEM
A. The Battle for Jerusalem is the most significant battlefront in the spirit today. It is central to the Armageddon Campaign
and culminates with Jesus’ Second Coming to reign as King over all the earth. The Church must understand this battle in
order to effectively engage in it.
B. God’s Word insists that the Church stand with His purposes for Israel. This is not optional; it is a litmus test of the
Church’s obedience, especially in the End-Times. The highest issue in serving God’s purpose for Israel is obeying Jesus’
sovereign leadership. We love Him, therefore, we want to do what He does and love what He loves.
C. The Battle for Jerusalem is a key issue in perfecting the End-Time Church in obedience to Jesus. The Church will be
victorious and without spot (compromise) when Jesus returns (Ephesians 5:27).
D. Jesus will rule Israel and the whole earth from Jerusalem only after He is invited by the Jewish leadership to be their
King. Israel’s leaders are the representatives of the nation’s covenant with God and are in position to be heirs of the fullness
of Abraham’s covenant (Matthew 23:37-39).
E. Satan seeks to exploit the Matthew 23:39 prophecy as a “loophole” in God’s End-Time plan by assuring that
the leaders of Israel will not receive Jesus as King. Satan’s plan includes controlling Jerusalem to more effectively:
1). Deceive Israel into taking the mark of the Beast (make an alliance with the Antichrist); 2) Kill the remainder of the
Jewish race; 3). Assure Israel is so offended at Jesus that they will not receive Him as their King. Satan is not cast into
prison until after the battle for Jerusalem is won and under Jesus’ leadership (Revelation 19:11-20:3).
F. Jesus is King of both Jerusalems. Jesus rules in heaven as the Son of God (New Jerusalem) and will rule on earth
as the Son of David (earthly Jerusalem). The government of heaven and earth come together at the Second Coming.
Jesus is the only One with authority to bring both realms together as He calls the New Jerusalem to descend to the Millennial
earth (Revelation 21:2, 10; 3:12).
G. Jesus’ one Throne will be expressed in both Jerusalems. The contact point or place of dynamic convergence
between the heavenly and early realms is the union of the two Jerusalems. Historic Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem are
both called the Holy City (Nehemiah 11:1; 11:18; Isaiah 48:2; 52:1; Daniel 9:24; Matthew 4:5; 27:53; Revelation 11:2;
21:2; 22:19).
H. God defeats and imprisons Satan and releases the New Jerusalem to earth through a Man who is 100% obedient to
God’s authority (thus, fulfilling the OT covenant requirement of total obedience). When Jerusalem is under the government
of the only Man who lived 100% under the Father’s authority, Jesus will sentence Satan to prison without any probation.
This enrages Satan. As Jesus cast Satan out of Israel’s people during His earthly ministry, He will cast Satan (unclean spirit)
out of the land of Israel permanently (Zechariah 13:1-2).
II. ISRAEL’S TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE
A. An angel reveals Israel’s great trouble in the End-Times to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 12).
1 At that time Michael shall stand up (Revelation 12:7-9), the great prince (archangel) who stands watch over
the sons of your people (nation of Israel); there shall be a time of trouble (Great Tribulation), such as never was
since there was a nation, even to that time (Matthew 24:21). At that time your people shall be delivered…7 Then
I heard the man clothed in linen (angel), he…swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times,
and half a time (3½ years); and when the power of the holy people (Israel) has been completely shattered, all
these things shall be finished… 8 I said, "My lord, what shall be the end (purpose or outcome) of these things?"
…10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly… but the wise shall
understand. (Daniel 12:1-10)
B. Jesus quoted part of what the angel told Daniel to the disciples.
21 There will be great tribulation, such as has not been…nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)
C. Zechariah 12-14 provides the clearest overview in Scripture of the key themes related to Israel’s conflict and salvation.
All nations will stand against Israel.
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples (nations), when they lay
siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3…I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would
heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it….9 In that
day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 I will pour on…Jerusalem the
Spirit of grace and supplication; they will look on Me (Jesus) whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him
…13:1A fountain shall be opened for…Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness. (Zechariah 12:2-13:1)
D. Satan's attack on the Jews who resist his regime, and God’s judgment on the rebellious, will result in 2/3 of the Jews
being killed and 1/3 getting saved. Satan wants to exterminate the Jewish people so a believing remnant cannot invite Jesus
to rule them (Revelation 12:13-17).
8 In all the land…2/3...shall be cut off and die...1/3 shall be left (saved) in it (Zechariah 13:8).
E. Half of Jerusalem will be taken into captivity (600,000 Jews currently live in Jerusalem).
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken…half of the city shall go
into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off… (Zechariah 14:2)
F. Israel’s condition just before Jesus’ Coming includes being in prison camps and assaulted by foreign armies
(Isaiah 11:11-16; 27:12-13; 42:6-24; 49:5-25; 61:1-2; Jeremiah 30:3-24; 31:1-23; Ezekiel 20:33–44; 39:25-29;
Hosea 11:10-11; Amos 9:8-15; Joel 3:1-2; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Zechariah 9:10-14).
G. The Church must act in sacrificial love to obey Jesus in standing with Israel in persecution. One key mission
of the Church is to make Israel jealous to have Jesus (Romans 11:11; 10:19). Israel will jealously desire what Gentile believers
possess spiritually. This will happen as we risk our lives to provide refuge for Jewish people in flight; perform miracles like
Elijah (in multiplying food, healing the sick, and prophesying), and being fearless in the face of death.
III. POLITICAL SITUATION: TWO NEW FACTORS THAT INCREASE DANGER
A. The two factors are the sudden emergence of Iran’s terrorist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the unexpected
victory of Hamas’ (terrorist) political party in the Palestinian parliament.
B. In October 2005, Iran elected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (a known terrorist) to be president. He made a radical stand in
one of his first speeches in October, proclaiming the annihilation of Israel. He called for Israel to be “wiped off from the map
of the world.” He continued by proclaimed that with the help of God Almighty, that Islam would soon experience a world
without America and Zionism. He assured them that a world without America and Israel is both possible and feasible.
C. Iran is a central power base for Islamic religion and terror.
1. Iran has recently announced to the world that they are joining the nuclear club. President Ahmadinejad
announced that Iran will share its nuclear power with the Islamic world in order to make Islam a significant military
force.
2. They could be as great a threat to the world peace as Hitler's Nazis and Lenin's Communism.
3. Russia has publicly declared its alliance to help Iran develop their nuclear program. Authorities agree that
Iran could have a nuclear bomb ready by 2007. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya and Egypt are also postured to stand
with Iran.
D. Iran’s president has openly announced that they will use the full degree of violence necessary to reach Islam's
highest goal of winning in their holy war against the United States (big Satan) and Israel (small Satan).
1. Think of the mass destruction of nuclear weapons striking (at the same hour) several cities like Jerusalem,
Washington, DC, New York City, London and Frankfort, etc. In one day, financial crisis would sweep across the
earth shaking the nations.
2. Currently, Iran provides inspiration, finances and leadership to Hamas (in Gaza) and to Hezbollah (in
Lebanon) including having the support of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda terrorist organization.
E. Israel will feel the pressure to make a preemptive strike to stop Iran's nuclear production. A vast multi-national
Islamic army would inevitably attack Israel.
F. This will cause intense international disdain and sanctions against Israel. What will be the response of Islamic nations
if America and Israel bomb Iran's nuclear production sites? Islamic nations will partner with Russia in a military coalition to
attack Israel.
G. The second factor that increases danger to world peace is the sudden emergence of the Hamas party as the
majority party in the Palestinian parliament. The Palestinian Authority leads the civil infrastructure (police, schools,
welfare) for Muslims in Israel and the occupied territories.
H. On January 25, 2006, the radical Islamic party, Hamas, shocked everyone by winning a landslide election for the
seats in the Palestinian parliament. They won 76 out of the 132 seats. This was a sudden reversal for Fatah’s majority in
the parliament (receiving only 43 seats).
I. The two main parties in Palestinian parliament are Fatah (Arafat's secular and nationalistic party) and Hamas
(party of terrorists with “religious” zeal). Hamas and Fatah are both Islamic and want to see Israel destroyed. However,
they have very different approaches. Hamas formally began in 1987.
1. Fatah is heavily criticized among fellow Palestinians for its corruption, greed, and violence. They have shown
themselves as open to working with Israel.
2. Hamas boldly promotes the use of terrorism to destroy Israel. They do not recognize Israel's right to even exist.
Hamas gains its popular support by being more involved in humanitarian aid in giving help to children, schools, the
poor, and the unemployed.
J. Hamas is openly committed to destroy Israel and is under the influence of Iran who gives them inspiration, financial
aid and leadership as it does to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas plans to focus on using the media and education to fill the
land with Muslim propaganda against Israel.
K. Hamas desires to be like Iran in establishing Sharia law (Islamic religious law) as the law of the future state of
Palestine.
1. This would result in making all other religions illegal with the threat of prison as well as enforcing Islam to be
taught in every learning institution from childhood throughout ones university education.
2. Sharia law demands that all women wear Islamic clothing and coverings.
3. In other words, it would be comparable to a complete merger of the Church and the State in the USA.
L. There are about 10 million people in Israel proper plus the occupied territories with Arabs and Jews split about 50/50.
There are about 6.3 million people in Israel proper plus 3.7 million in the occupied territories. Approximately 80% of the
people in Israel proper are Jewish, about 18% are Arabs (1.2 million) and 2% are various.