Today, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are God's chosen people and we, too, need to have an understanding of the times and to know what we ought to do.
One of the chief purposes of writing about what is going on is to stir us up to consider how events work out God's purposes and that many things point to the near return of the Lord Jesus for His people.
Opposition to the United Nations Organization has been growing of late. The support is still large for its peace-keeping and mediation efforts but many are offended by the anti-Semitic rhetoric by which Israel is attacked. As an example at a conference of the U.N. recently about two days of the four were taken up with talking about the West Bank of the Jordan river.
The trouble the little nation of Israel causes to other nations is perhaps symbolic of a coming day that we read about in Zech. 12:33And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3). "In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." In Zech. 2:88For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. (Zechariah 2:8) the Lord says about Zion, 'He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of His eye." Another has said, "The nations appear to be beginning to burden themselves with Jerusalem. They do so without acknowledging the rights of Christ, who is alone the true King of Jerusalem, but God shall make good the claims of Christ."
We do not pretend to judge or endorse the U.N. or any other of man's efforts in governing the world but rather just to notice the facts. What we feel is important is to acknowledge God and to rest in Him who worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will.
The enemies of Judah and Jerusalem were warned in Isa. 8:9, 109Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. 10Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us. (Isaiah 8:9‑10), "Associate yourselves, 0 ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us." Immanuel means God with us. When that is true in the person of Christ the King, in the land that is His, and He takes claim to it, then all confederacies and associations shall indeed be broken in pieces. We, as Christians, do not look for this now but rather for the Lord to come for us and bring us into the Father's house with all its eternal blessings. And when He takes His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords, we will reign with Him.
As belonging to Christ now, we ask: "What ought we to do?" Certainly we ought to obey Him as our Lord. Daily we should pray, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" We will find Him always to be a gracious, loving Master who knows us perfectly and desires our happiness and blessing and communion each day.