You know, a lot of people gloss over the end times judgement of apostate Jerusalem, preferring to think that the current state of Israel is simply a glorious fulfillment of prophecy. Yet, the Bible is clear that the true restoration of Israel doesn’t happen until Christ returns, and that those who occupy the land before then will have to face some rough times:
“7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. 8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us. 9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the Lord, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
10 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul. 11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, 12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them. 13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.” Jeremiah 4:7-13
Great points! I love the Jewish people and have many friends in Israel. My prayer for Israel and the Jewish people is Zechariah 12...that they look upon Him whom they have pierced (like all of us) and believe in the Messiah of Israel (Yeshua)!