In His Light

The horrific terrorist attack on America on September 11th has dramatically changed the world scene. Fear gripped millions of people as they awaited the outcome of the military response by the USA and the coalition.

Our hearts go out to the many who have suffered great loss from this terrible tragedy that has affected all our lives. But in the midst of this it is important that we, as Christians, try to understand what God is saying, to see how all this fits into what Scripture says about these last days before the return of the Messiah. The prophecies of out Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 seem to be entering their fulfilment:

Our Lord is describing how things will look in the time approaching the end of civilisation. These things must take place. Nothing will change this.

"In your light we see light"

But Jesus tells us not to be afraid. We can react very differently to unbelievers in the midst of these terrible events because we can look at them through God's eyes. Psalm 36:9 says, "In your light we see light." Things look totally different when we see them in His light. Jesus encourages us to look upon this situation as "the beginning of birth-pains" (Matthew 24:8). God's eternal plan and purposes will be born through these painful events.

Our proper response when these things begin to happen, says Jesus, is to "lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28). God is allowing the nations to be shaken so that He can bring His redemptive purposes to fulfilment.

Israel at the core of redemption

Jesus exhorts us to learn the parable of the fig tree. If we really want to know where all these troubles are leading to, we need to pay close attention to this parable. Apart from the ultimate purpose of all God's dealings in history, the glorious return of the Messiah, this matter of the fig tree is the only positive sign in the midst of all the terrible things coming upon the earth. Through this dreadful period the fig tree will be brought to blossom (Matthew 24:32-35; Luke 21:29-33). Jesus says clearly that the restoration of the fig tree will be the on physical sign of God's faithfulness to fulfil all His promises.

The fig tree is the national symbol of the nation of Israel, as the Scriptures clearly show. Therefore this tremendous shaking of the world is for the fulfilment of all His promises about the restoration of the Jewish people and the land and nation of Israel.

For all of us who work for the aliyah - the return of the Jewish people to Israel - there is every reason to stand firm in faith and endurance. We know that God has decided to bring back all His ancient people to the Promised Land. We know that He has promised to give them the land of Israel in its full biblical extent and that He will, ultimately, bring the Jewish people to salvation once they have come home.

To natural eyes the terrible terrorist attack on America may look primarily like an assault on that nation. I believe, however, that the real target was the people and nation of Israel. The USA, in my opinion, was punished because its present administration had finally come out in support of Israel's struggle against the very same suicide forces that devastated the heart of New York and the Pentagon.

It is not easy to know how all this will impact Israel's future. Maybe if Islamic terrorism is dealt a major blow, Israel could experience a period of relative peace that would allow completion of the aliyah and further restoration of the land and nation of Israel. We don't know for sure. But what we do know is that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will use the enemy's fury against God's people to prosper His plans and purposes for His chosen people.

In the light of this, Ebenezer needs your support more than ever to help Jewish people reach the Promised Land.

Johannes Facius
International Speaker and Bible Teacher