There is a prophetic wind swirling around Israel as we witness the ancient words of holy scripture playing out in historic fashion. Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 is the Torah portion called Va’etchanan and it is read following the fast of Tishah B’Av, which began August 12th this year at sundown and continued until an hour after sundown on August 13th. Tishah B’Av is the saddest day of the Jewish year because it was on that date that the Sin of the Spies occurred, and both Temples were destroyed–among other national tragedies. Currently, Israel faces terrorist wars from Hamas, Hezbollah and others sponsored and/or supported by prophetic end-times nations Iran (Persia) and Turkey.
Moses warns the people not to fall into idolatry, for as Deuteronomy 4:24 says, “ADONAI God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” This is repeated in Hebrews 12:29. Moses predicted that the people would serve other gods and enter into exile, but that the LORD would have compassion on them when they repent. Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 4:30-31, “In your distress, when all these things have come upon you, in the acharit-hayamim (end of days), you will return to ADONAI your God and listen to what he says; for ADONAI your God is a merciful God.” Notice that Moses says that the mercy of God will restore Israel in the latter days when they are in distress—tribulation.
Tribulation for Israel in the end times is also prophesied by the prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, and Zechariah. Daniel 9:26 says, “…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” “Zechariah 14:2-3 says, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations.” Jeremiah 30:7: “…it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”
This all aligns with the Matthew 24:21 prophecy of Jesus concerning Israel’s troubles in the latter days: “For there will be trouble then worse than there has ever been from the beginning of the world until now, and there will be nothing like it again.” But that is not the end for there is hope. Jesus says of Israel in Luke 13:35, “See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Jesus was quoting Psalm 118:26. It was the way people of that day were taught to welcome the Messiah. And when that time comes, the people of Israel will cry out to their Messiah, and He will deliver them. Prophecy is often fulfilled in layers and we may be witnessing the very events leading to the end of days.
