CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE HOUR

Last Sunday, Mr. Jamie Palmer focused our minds on the land of Israel. The remembrance of the birth of Jesus was again slipping into history for another year, but the conflict between Jews and Palestinians continued to bring violence and death to the land where the Prince of Peace was born.

The speaker opened his Bible to show that both the origin of the troubles - and the solution - were to be found in its pages. All the nations involved had descended from Abraham. The Jews came from Abraham's son Isaac and were promised, by God, the eventual possession of the land of Canaan/ Palestine/Israel (Genesis 24 1-4). The Arab nations also came from Abraham's other descendants, including Ishmael and Esau.

Psalm 83 described the same situation 3,000 years ago with the ancestors of these same nations threatening ancient Israel. Edom, Ishmael, Moab and Ammon etc. had 'consulted together' and said "Come, let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance" (v.1-8) - familiar words!

Frustrated politicians try in vain to find a solution, knowing that war between these ancient nations could spread far beyond the borders of this small land. Well did the prophet describe Jerusalem as a 'cup of trembling unto the people round about' and 'a burdensome stone for all people' (Zechariah 12.2-3). The speaker took us to Zechariah 14 1-4 which prophesied the final attack on Jerusalem being quelled by the power of the Lord - and followed by the time when the Lord's feet would stand on the Mount of Olives. Only then can there be peace in Israel. When "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2.3-4).

Could present troubles be the start of the Middle East war which will precede the second coming of Jesus? "We cannot ignore the signs - or the warning," concluded the speaker.