Many believers today know of the time, called the tribulation, that soon will come upon this world. It is a principle with God that He never judges without warning.
The way that the prophet Isaiah writes about the tribulation in the last chapter of his prophecy is very interesting. "As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children" (Isa. 66:88Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (Isaiah 66:8)). While still future, this time must be very near. What great travail shall come upon that nation before they get the kingdom under their Messiah.
Now notice verse 7, "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child." That was Jesus, born of Israel over 1900 years ago without any pangs to that people. But when the time of the tribulation shall come, such as never was before, it will be especially upon the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin to whom Jesus the Messiah came, and whom they rejected and crucified. At the close of this time, the remnant of Israel will appear.
In Micah 5 it was foretold that Messiah should be born in Bethlehem and that He would be caught up to God; also that He is "from of old, from everlasting." Then God says by the prophet, "Therefore will He give them up [the nation's present condition before God], until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth." After the travail the verse goes on to say, "Then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel." These are the ten tribes who were carried away into Assyria and lost. When these ten tribes arc brought back and see Jesus the Messiah, they will be among those who say, "What are these wounds in Thine hands?" These tribes did not have their Messiah presented to them, and so they are ignorant and not guilty of His rejection. A reply comes in the same verse: "Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.”
These quotations from Isaiah, Micah and Zechariah make the subject quite clear, and all the politics of this world are now tending to that time of the end. Israel's travail (or tribulation) and then the supremacy of Zion over the whole earth will be the end of the Middle Eastern question. Men may forget God in all this, but God will not forget His ancient people Israel. Agreeing with this also are the words of Jesus in Luke 21:20-2720And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:20‑27) with the certainty of His return. He comes then with "power and great glory" to judge those yet living on the earth.
May the Lord lift up the hearts of every believer, for soon we shall be caught up to meet Him in the air. Ed.