Tim LaHaye - Target Israel: Caught in the Crosshairs of the End Times

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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TARGET ISRAEL

Copyright 2015 Tim LaHaye Ministries and Ed Hindson

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

LaHaye, Tim F.

Target Israel / Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-7369-6449-4 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6450-0 (eBook)

1. BiblePropheciesIsrael. I. Title.

BS649.P3L35 2015

220.15dc23

2014048837

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To my faithful wife of 68 years and best friend, Beverly, and our four children: Linda, Larry, Lee, and Lori, and their spouses Murf, Sharron, and Greg.

Tim

To my incredible wife of 48 years, Donna, and our children: Linda, Christy, and Jon, and their spouses Andy, Jeff, and Amanda.

Ed

We are both thrilled that we have no greater joy than to know that our children are walking in truth (2 John 4).

It shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut to pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Z ECHARIAH 12:3

Contents

T hough we are both Gentiles by birth and followers of Jesus Christ, we have long loved the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Thats how it should be with every believer. Scripture and history offer at least three important reasons for Christians to care for the Jewish people and their land.

First, the founder of our faith, Jesus Christ, was Jewish. He was miraculously conceived in the womb of the Jewish virgin Mary. He was raised the son of a Jewish father named Joseph in the Jewish city of Nazareth. Though betrayed by His own people into the hands of Roman authorities, His death on the cross led to His resurrection on the third day in Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel. The church soon began in this same Jewish capital on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), growing rapidly among Jews before expanding to Gentiles across the world.

Second, the Bibles human authors were almost exclusively Jewish people. From Moses, the author of Genesis, to the apostle John, the author of Revelation, the books of the Bible are the result of Jewish writers who were guided by the Holy Spirit to produce the words that guide our Christian faith today. With the possible exception of Luke, who authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts, every book of the Bible was authored by a Jewish writer. In fact, many scholars believe Luke was Jewish. He was led to faith in Christ by the Jewish apostle Paul.

Third, the Jewish people founded the church in Jerusalem. Without the leadership of the Jewish apostles of Jesus and the courageous early followers of Christ, the church we enjoy today would not be what it is. These early Jewish Christians risked their lives for the gospel and many were martyred for their faith in Christ.

The history of the United States has also been greatly influenced by its relationship with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Many of Americas great leaders have recognized Gods covenant to Abraham in Genesis 12:3: I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. When Israel once again became a nation in 1948, the United States played a major role in supporting its recognition among the international community. Americas efforts in World War II also affirmed its support of the Jewish people, saving many lives from Jewish concentration camps and from the wrath of Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany.

Today, America faces a new and growing crisis with regard to its historic relationship with Israel. The Jewish nation is surrounded by many hostile neighbors who both fail to recognize its existence and vow to wipe it off the map. Further, many of these neighbors are growing an alliance of nations that stand opposed to Israel and its sovereignty. Amidst these rising tensions, Western nations increasingly speak of peace, yet show little action to support Israel. These inactions leave the Jewish people in a vulnerable position that ultimately shows the protection of a loving God who watches over the nations borders.

The tiny nation of Israel and its hostile Muslim neighbors. The Arab nations total more than 5,000,000 square miles, whereas Israel is only 9,000 square miles. Excerpted from Randall Price, Fast Facts on the Middle East Conflict (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2003), p. 82. Used with permision.

In this book, well look at the biblical information that reveals Israel as Gods super sign of the end times. Unfortunately, a growing number of Christians do not interpret the Bible literally with regard to Israel. Instead, Christian leaders and movements popularly advocate the erroneous teachings of what is known as Replacement Theology. The proponents of this view believe that the church has replaced Israel in Gods plan for the future. Instead of looking ahead to Gods future blessings upon Israel, those who hold to Replacement Theology want to claim Gods blessings upon the church. Yet those who hold to this view misunderstand the three God-ordained groups of people the Bible mentions in the context of the end times. Paul mentioned these groups in 1 Corinthians 10:32: Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.

These three groups clearly include Gentiles, Jews, and Christians. What about Jews who have accepted Christ by faith? These individuals are Jewish by birth and Christian by faith. Our friend and colleague Dr. Thomas Ice made this observation in Charting the End Times :

The study of Bible prophecy is divided into three major areas: the nations (Gentiles), Israel, and the church. Of the three, more detail is given concerning Gods future plans for His nation Israel than for the nations or the church. When the church takes these prophecies to Israel literally, as we do, then we see a great prophetic agenda that lies ahead for Israel as a people and nation. When the church spiritualizes these promises, as she has done too often in history, then Israels prophetic uniqueness is subsumed and merged unrealistically into the church. But if we handle Scripture carefully, we can see that God has an amazing and blessed future planned for individual Jews and national Israel. Thats why we believe Israel is Gods super sign of the end times.