As I write this in early November 2023, the Hamas-Israeli conflict is entering its second month. As most of our readers know, the conflict was initiated by a sudden but well-planned attack on Israel by Hamas, an extremist Muslim group based in the city of Gaza. On October 7, 2023, a well-armed force of about 3,000 Hamas soldiers managed to break through the security wall around Gaza and enter Israel’s territory. They then proceeded to go on a murderous rampage, killing over 1400 Israelis and taking about 200 hostages. Most of this carnage was directed against civilians, including women and children, and was accompanied by various atrocities and the mutilation of dead bodies.
Despite its excellent intelligence system, it seems that Israel was taken totally by surprise. Their predictable response was to use their powerful military to undertake an extensive bombing of the city of Gaza, and, as I write, they are sending ground troops across into the Gaza strip. All this has had widespread effects and threatens to involve the great powers in the world, as each decides which side to favor. Another effect of the war has been to derail a U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. In fact, fears of an Israeli-Saudi rapprochement may have been one of the key drivers of Hamas’ October 7 attack.
International Support
On a smaller but perhaps equally important scale, the war has brought to the surface a significant divide in the thinking of numerous people in many countries, including Western Europe and North America. Elected officials in government have largely voiced support for Israel, while not necessarily agreeing with all that they are doing. To support their view, governments have cited the example of an unprovoked attack by a terrorist group on a sovereign nation, accompanied by the wanton killing of civilian citizens, compounded by atrocities. A significant number agree with them and are trying to look logically at the whole scenario.
On the other hand, an unexpectedly large group of people have voiced strong support for the Palestinians and even Hamas, calling them “freedom fighters” rather than a terrorist group. Huge protests and marches supporting them have erupted around the world in many countries, as they see the mounting casualties in Gaza, while the relentless bombing deprives much of the population of shelter, food, water, electricity and communication. Israel for its part alleges that Hamas deliberately hides its war machine around homes, apartments, hospitals, and other civilian facilities, and then uses the resultant casualties as propaganda against Israel.
The Palestinian Side
Two aspects of all this are of some note. First of all, it is evident that some take the Palestinian side, not because they necessarily agree with all of Hamas’ aims or their ways and means of doing things, but rather because they view the Palestinians as being the oppressed and Israel their oppressors. A recent article in a prominent Canadian newspaper made the following observation:
“Leftists in English-speaking nations tend to see Palestinians (including Hamas) as an oppressed, brown victim class, whose freedom-fighting “resistance” against their oppressive, white, U.S.-backed colonizers in Israel is a righteous cause with which to stand in solidarity. ... There is no way to interpret this outlook and the surrounding leftist fervour except as a signal of support not merely for Palestine, but specifically for Hamas, a jihadist movement with the explicit aim of eradicating the State of Israel. It’s imperative to understand that Hamas, as detailed in its 1988 Covenant, is propelled by a fundamentalist Islamist ideology whose goal is not only to eliminate all Jews but to conquer the world — just like ISIS. ... The vicarious thrill of romanticized revolution leads some to go far beyond simply advocating for the Palestinian people to expressing solidarity with Hamas, ignoring the jihadist ideology at the core of that organization.”
The Rise of Anti-Semitism
Coupled with this view, and no doubt contributing to it, is what appears to be a surge of anti-Semitism. Authorities in the U.S. have reported more than a 400% rise in anti-Semitic incidents since October 7. On October 17, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke of a “scary rise” in anti-Semitism in Canada. Britain reports a 14-fold rise in incidents of anti-Semitism since October 7. Similar reports are coming from many other countries in Europe and South America, as well as Russia. A wave of global hatred seems to be directed against the Jews.
In view of all these developments, we may well ask, What does all this mean for believers — those who are part of the church?
While we cannot properly interpret prophecy in the light of current events, we are entitled to “see the day approaching” — the day of judgment (Heb. 10:25). We can certainly learn something from what we see around us, while waiting for our Lord to come.
The Coming Day of Judgment
First of all, the war in Gaza and the general reactions to it are indeed a harbinger of the Lord’s coming. The day of judgment is decidedly getting closer, and the Lord’s coming for us must come before that. Our hearts can look up and say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Second, the rise in violence and corruption in the world tells us that moral depravity is reaching its zenith. We may wonder why God does not judge this world now, but it is a principle with God that he does not judge iniquity until it is fully ripe. When God promised Abraham that his seed would “come hither again,” that is, back into the land of Canaan, He reminded him that “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Gen. 15:16). This world may get morally worse yet, but it is fast reaching that final point.
Dependence on Western Powers
Third, we know from prophecy that despite all of Israel’s military strength, they will still be dependent upon Western powers to survive, after the Lord’s coming for us. For this reason, they make a covenant with the Roman beast, but then the beast breaks that covenant in the middle of the last prophetic week. This leaves Israel without support, opening the way for the King of the North to come down. He will likely be a coalition of Arab nations, backed by Russia, and he will devastate Israel in a way that was never seen before. While we do not wish to speculate, it seems highly possible that some of these extremist Islamic groups (such as Hamas, Hezbollah and ISIS) will be involved. Unconsciously, they are now getting ready for that time. (See Dan. 9:27; Isa. 28:14-19).
Prophetic Events
The rise in anti-Semitism may well continue and fuel an attitude that eventually causes the Western powers (under the Roman beast) to break their covenant with Israel and to forsake them. This allows the King of the North to be able to overrun the country, but it will be God’s way of destroying the ungodly and the apostates in the land (Zech. 13:7-9). It will also be God’s judgment on that nation for the awful crime of crucifying their Messiah. The godly ones will know from Matthew 24:15-22 to flee when they see the Antichrist stand in the holy place, and many of them will be spared.
We are truly living in the “perilous times” of 2 Timothy 3, yet they are very blessed times too. We are right on the verge of our Lord’s return for us, and then a series of events will begin to unfold, eventually resulting in untold blessing for this world. Most important of all, our blessed Savior will have His rightful place and be honored and glorified in the world that cast Him out. May we be among those who not only look for His return for us, but also “love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).
W. J. Prost