Would Israel’s Prophets Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Israel?
Christians
around the world celebrated the 70 years of independence of Israel on April 18,
2018, pointing not only Israel’s survival in the midst of hostile Muslim
nations, but also its economic progress.
If given the divine opportunity to be
risen today, would the old Israel’s prophets celebrate modern Israel’s economic
progress?
They had spiritual eyes and even when the
old Israel was having earthly progress, they pointed that their sins would
bring destruction.
They especially condemned idolatry, which
involved child sacrifice and homosexuality.
These three sins are present in the modern
Israel. There is an idolatry of materialistic ideologies that support abortion
— which is child sacrifice — and homosexuality, which is “sacred” in the
Israeli laws. In fact, Israel is a champion of these two sins in the Middle
East.
The
old prophets often cried out to Israel,
“But
your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and
your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. ”
(Isaiah 59:2 ESV)
“Your
wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your
sins, throughout all your territory.” (Jeremiah 15:13 ESV)
Often
conservative Christians in the United States — the largest Protestant nation in
the world — and Brazil — the largest Catholic nation in the world — condemn
abortion and the homosexual agenda in their own governments and nations. They
also condemn abortion and the homosexual agenda in other nations and in the
United Nations. But they keep silent about the same sins in the Israeli
government. They celebrate Israel constantly, regardless its sins.
If
risen today, would the prophets do what Christians are doing? Would they
celebrate? No. They would do today what they used to do in the old Israel: they
would cry for Israel to repent from its sins. They would proclaim to today’s
Jews that they need to accept the Messiah Jesus.
Many Christians seem to think, “How can I
point the sins of abortion and homosexuality to Israel if there are greater
concerns, especially that Israel is surrounded by Muslim enemies, who want to
destroy it?”
Nothing has changed. When the old prophets
prophesized against Israel’s sins, Israel was also surrounded by enemies who
wanted to destroy it.
Economic and technologic progress is
important, but without salvation in Jesus Christ, there is no real gain after
all. And when abortion, homosexuality, socialism and other sins are advancing
in Israel, is the God of the old prophets celebrating or crying? Is the God of
Israel celebrating or crying?
Jesus
came to Israel not only as a Jew, but especially as their Messiah. Yet, the Jews
did not welcome him. The Bible says,
“He went to his own people, and his
own people didn’t accept him.” (John 1:11 GWV)
Christians should behave as Apostle Paul,
who was a Jew. He said:
“Brothers
and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Jewish people
is that they would be saved.” (Romans 10:1 GWV)
Christians
should engage in constant prayer for Israel’s salvation in Jesus Christ.
Christians can celebrate when Israel prosper
economically.
Christians can celebrate when Israel is
able to defend itself from Muslim terrorists.
We
cannot celebrate the economic prosperity of Israel when abortion, homosexuality
and other destructive sins are advancing in Israel.
We cannot celebrate the Israeli
military strength to defend itself when we know that sins destroy the real
defense of a nation. In fact, homosexuality destroyed Sodom, which was an old
city that is in the land of Israel.
We
cannot celebrate Jerusalem as Israel’s capital when this holy city celebrates
homosexual parades every year and sheds the innocent blood of their children
through legal abortion.
How could we celebrate when Israel is
not saved? How could we celebrate when Israel does not know its Savior Jesus
Christ?
Christians should cry and pray for
Israel’s salvation, because the greatest celebration is salvation. Jesus said,
“Just
so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who
repents.” (Luke 15:10 ESV)
When Israel repents from its sins —
including abortion and homosexuality — and accepts its Messiah, there will be
joy and celebration in heaven and among true Christians on the earth.
Portuguese version of this article: Os
profetas de Israel celebrariam o aniversário de 70 anos do Estado de Israel?
Source:
Last Days Watchman
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