Bible Prophecies Don’t Endorse

Israel’s Behavior

Do the Bible prophecies about Israel and Jerusalem mean that God endorses the government of Israel and its policies?  No!—not at all.

The Bible makes mention of Israel from nearly beginning to end, as a warning example for the rest of mankind:

“Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.  Do not be idolaters, as some of them were . . .  Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did . . .  Nor let us try the LORD, as some of them did . . .  Nor grumble, as some of them did . . .  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

—1 Corinthians 10:6-11 NIV

The ancient nation of Israel was blessed when it obeyed God’s instructions, and it was cursed when it disobeyed. 

“The Israelites quit following the LORD and worshiped Baal and Ashtoreth.  The LORD was angry with the people of Israel, so he handed them over to robbers who took their possessions.  He let their enemies who lived around them defeat them; they could not protect themselves.  When the Israelites went out to fight, they always lost, because the LORD was not with them.  The LORD had sworn to them this would happen. So the Israelites suffered very much.”

—Judges 2:13-15 NCV

Although Israel had a few good leaders over the centuries, the Bible condemns most of the kings of Israel as evil:

“Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem . . . and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

—2 Chronicles 21:5-6 The Holy Scriptures,

Jewish Publication Society of America

“Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem . . . And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

—2 Chronicles 22:2-4 The Holy Scriptures

Jewish Publication Society of America

Similar condemnation is recorded for most of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem, and for most of the Jewish kings who ruled in Samaria over the breakaway northern kingdom of Israel. They followed policies that were displeasing to God, for the most part, and they were condemned for it in the Bible.

So, the fact that Shimon Peres or Ariel Sharon or Ehud Olmert or Benjamin Netanyahu or some other politician might be ruling as prime minister of Israel does not mean that their governmental policies are God’s chosen policies.

Rather, the government of modern Israel is included when the prophecies state that God will replace all human governments:

“. . . the God of heaven will set up another kingdom that will never be destroyed or given to another group of people.  This kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will continue forever.”

—Daniel 2:44 NCV

Messiah’s kingdom will restore justice and fairness to government and will finally bring peace to this planet, in a way that human governments have never been able to do.

“The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon that king.  . . .  This king will be glad to obey the LORD.  He will not judge by the way things look or decide by what he hears.  But he will judge the poor honestly;  he will be fair in his decisions for the poor people of the land.”

—Isaiah 11:2-4 NCV

This king who will rule the earth after the coming war of Armageddon is Jesus of Nazareth, the Jewish Messiah, who rose from the dead and promised to return in power.  (The word Messiah comes from the Hebrew language and means anointed ruler.  The word Christ comes from the Greek language and means the same thing.)  In contrast with the present rulers of Israel—and the leaders of other nations—the Scriptures reveal Jesus to be kind, compassionate and merciful:

“‘Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 

“‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 

“‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’”             —Matthew 11:28-30

Only a minority of Jews in the first century accepted Jesus’ invitation to become his followers.  Their religious and political leaders were jealous of him and handed him over to the occupying forces of the Roman Empire for execution as a criminal.  He died a sacrificial death for the sins of his people and for the sins of the whole world—as foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures.  But God raised him from the dead on the third day, as also foretold.  Jesus then appeared alive to his followers on a number of occasions.

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’”

—Luke 24:45-47 NIV

He also told them what to do while waiting for him to return in power:

“‘All power in heaven and on earth is given to me.  So go and make followers of all people in the world.  Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.’”           —Matthew 28:18-20 NCV

All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus the Messiah.  When he returns, his Kingdom government will replace not only the present government of Israel, but also the governments of all the nations on earth.