Opinion Blog / Guest Columnist
ALL ISRAEL NEWS is committed to fair and balanced coverage and analysis, and honored to publish a wide-range of opinions. That said, views expressed by guest columnists may not necessarily reflect the views of our staff.
biblical teaching

Signs of the times

 
(Photo: Diana Fernandes/ Unsplash)

Jesus Christ is coming again, and we ought to be paying more attention to that in the times that we are living in. I have had many believers say that they never hear this in their churches. Much is talked about concerning the things of this world, but little about the Kingdom coming that is not of this world, but is the Kingdom God/of Messiah-Christ/of the Father when the Son of Man comes. (Lk 21:34-36) All of the Prophets, the Messiah Himself, and His Apostles all looked forward toward this Heaven-and-Earth-shaking event that His first coming and crucifixion and bodily resurrection set the stage for.  I really do believe that this is the message which the Lord has given me since the moment of my salvation, and “woe to me” if I do not speak it out. (Ezek 33:1-6Heb 12:25-29

I have been told many times that I speak about the end-times more than anyone else they know; and, also, asked many times why do I speak so much about this generation as being the last? If I actually believe that the Lord Yeshua/Jesus gave us a time-marker for knowing the approximate time of the end, of all things being fulfilled leading up to His return and the resurrection of the saints to rule and reign with Him on the Earth for 1000 years, then why should I ignore that and teach and preach as if all things are as they always have been, just that we are more aware of it now than those in past generations?!  “Just, be a good Christian citizen, and don’t offend anyone.” What about offending our Father, our Lord, our Savior? This is the generation that has been seeing the fig tree put forth leaves, which Jesus says will see His coming again, as His apostles asked Him about. This should be really good news for all who love Him and want to see Him fully glorified, to the glory of God the Father. The Lord’s Supper/Communion is a continual prophetic reminder as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup of the New Covenant:  we do so until He comes. It is part of the gospel message!  

Messiah/Christ, and those chosen to write for us the NT Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit, strongly warned us about the possibility of being deceived, and that we should not let anyone mislead us. THE antichrist will cunningly cause deceit to prosper…exalting himself in his heart, corrupting and destroying many in their tranquility and prosperity, even standing against the Prince of princes. (Dan 8:25)  Many things are happening right in front of us and all around us that will lead to this false sense of “peace in our time” and of great possibility for security and prosperity. At the same time, most people will be oppressed, with only “the few” foolishly thinking that their lives are “good”; but their day of reckoning will come upon them suddenly, like that rich man who built bigger silos for himself to horde his wealth. 

All this is the spirit of antichrist (of which the Apostle John says that there are many):  arrogantly presuming to bring and make peace and pleasure, opposed to and replacing (replacement theology, anyone?) the truth about the only genuine Messiah/Christ — Yeshua/Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man — God with us in the flesh. HE will bring YHVH God’s righteousness, peace, and joy in the HOLY Spirit when He returns to judge His enemies, and all who oppose Him and His covenanted brothers and sisters. What a day to look forward to, in the meantime preaching the gospel to any and all, making them Yeshua’s/Jesus’ disciples, and sanctifying ourselves in great loving anticipation as the beloved Bride preparing to meet up with her beloved Bridegroom!  

The Jewish people are still reeling here in Israel, and around the world, from the trauma of all that has been exposed connected with the Oct 7, 2023 assault. What evil-doers intend for destruction, the Living God will turn to good and life for all who will turn from their own ways and turn to the true Father God and Savior. Purim is coming with the next full moon, and God is still acting behind the scenes to protect His people from those who want to annihilate them, while also giving them to defend themselves against those mindlessly joining in on the slaughter. (Read the Book/Scroll of Esther to get the full story. Yesterday’s Persia is today’s Iran.) There is nothing new under the sun; and there is a time for every purpose under Heaven.  

Please pray
–what we, as believers individually and collectively as the Body of Messiah/Christ should do, as prophecies and current events increasingly and rapidly converge;
–that more Jewish people living outside of Israel would seriously consider making aliyah/immigrating to Israel; 
–for the turning of more Arabs and of Jews towards the true God and Savior;
–about appropriate Christian responses to antisemitism, and of varying degrees of persecution against the Jewish believers, and other believers, in Israel.

WE know that God is love, holy, and righteous because of Jesus/Yeshua; but for those who do not know that, it is for us, His witnesses, to humbly and convincingly say and do what proves the truth. Hallowed be our Father’s Name; His kingdom come; His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

Howard Bass is the congregation pastor/leader of Nachalat Yeshua (Yeshua's Inheritance) in Beer Sheva, Israel.

Popular Articles
All Israel
Receive latest news & updates
    A message from All Israel News
    Help us educate Christians on a daily basis about what is happening in Israel & the Middle East and why it matters.
    For as little as $10, you can support ALL ISRAEL NEWS, a non-profit media organization that is supported by readers like you.
    Donate to ALL ISRAEL NEWS
    Latest Stories