The conflict of the ages is, politically, religiously and prophetically, Israel, not Denmark nor the U.S. nor any other super power.  God´s Messianic power will be manifested in Israel at a time, soon to come, when there´s no power, but only hopelessness there.  Israel´s national history, in the past, in the present, and in the future, has already been outlined in the Bible.  No other nation has a similar unique position.  It has not been my privilege to visit Israel, and yet I´m there every day in the Bible.

Again we´re now witnessing another conflict in the Middle East.  History repeats itself.  The hatred that gloats over Israel will not stop, till the Lord puts an end to it all.  I rejoiced this morning when I read the sentence “though the Lord was there”  (Ezek. 35:10) speaking of an enemy called Edom who in an hour of Israel´s distress thought of annexing a desolate Israel (“these two countries shall be mine”) but as always the enemies of Israel “reckon without one´s host”, for the Lord is there!

If the world´s leaders, the neighbors of Israel, my own little country, the deceitful UN and others would have that in mind, things would look different.  But they are blind.  They see no God to be feared, they ignore the Bible and have become their own god or rather they are under the sway of “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4).

“Though the Lord was there!”  He has not been dethroned. “He sits in the heavens”  (Psa. 2:4), and we, His people, are already “enthroned with Him in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 2:6, NEB).  Indeed this is our position in Christ.  This will also be the position of a reborn Israel, saved by Christ through deep humiliation. Of “that day” the word of God has a lot to say.  Zech. 12:10-14.

I remember I once in my youth saw a Christian artist´s picture of a UN counsel gathered.  He also portrayed, almost invisible, the “Prince of Peace” standing there ignored without them taking any notice of Him, “though the Lord was there!”  (but not welcomed).  But one day “every eye will see Him”, and in a restored and redeemed Israel, the glorious refrain will be, “THE LORD IS THERE!”  (Ezek. 48:35).

May His presence also be in our midst and upon our testimony.

Nov. 17, 2012 – jn