August 1, 2006

Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East - A 2004 Message from David Piper

Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East

Here is an excellent exposition (written in 2004) of the spiritual dimension of the fight raging now and in the past in the Middle East regarding Israel's claim to land. It is based on the Scriptures including both Old and New Testament from a Christian perspective. The author's key point, that the divine inheritance promised to the true followers of God in Christ is fulfilled in the Second Coming of Christ, is more fully explained below.

'Finally, this inheritance of Christ's people will happen at the second coming of Christ to establish his kingdom, not before; and till then, we Christians must not take up arms to claim our inheritance; but rather lay down our lives to share our inheritance with as many as we can.

You recall that all-important word that Jesus spoke to Pilate in John 18:36: Â?My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.Â? Christians do not take up the sword to advance the kingdom of Christ. We wait for a king from heaven who will deliver us by his mighty power. And in that great day Jew and Gentile who have treasured Christ will receive what was promised. There will be a great reversal: the last will be first, and the meekÂ?in fellowship with the Lamb of GodÂ?will inherit the Land.'

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