Kingdom Ready

Introduction

A number of passages in Scripture indicate that during the “end time” – i.e., the period of time which immediately precedes the end of this age – Israel will be completely alone.

In other words, at that time, no other nations will be willing to assist Israel at all. The following two passages appear to indicate that rather explicitly:

Zechariah 12:1-5 (ESV):

¹ The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: ²“Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. ³ On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. ⁴ On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. ⁵Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’

Isaiah 63:1-5 (HCSB):

¹ Who is this coming from Edom
in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah—
this One who is splendid in His apparel,
rising up proudly in His great might?
It is I, proclaiming vindication,
powerful to save.

² Why is Your clothing red,
and Your garments like one who treads a winepress?

³ I trampled the winepress alone,
and no one from the nations was with Me.
I trampled them in My anger
and ground them underfoot in My fury;
their blood spattered My garments,
and all My clothes were stained.

⁴ For I planned the day of vengeance,
and the year of My redemption came.

⁵ I looked, but there was no one to help,
and I was amazed that no one assisted;
so My arm accomplished victory for Me,
and My wrath assisted Me.

The modern state of Israel was created in 1948. Many people point to that re-establishment of the Jewish homeland as a sign that we are closing in on the end time.

Since 1948, most nations of the world have been relatively opposed to Israel. However, there is (at least) one nation which has been a consistent ally of the Jewish state.

That one nation is, of course, the United States of America.

Since Scripture states that Israel will be all alone during the end time, that implies that the USA will not assist Israel at that time. So, assuming that the end time will occur in the relatively near future, that begs the question – why will the USA not assist Israel at that time?

Needless to say, predictions about the future are extremely speculative. Nevertheless, here are four potential reasons why the United States might not assist Israel in the end time.

1. Economic Collapse

Over the past four years, the US economy has been extremely weak. There was an official recession between 2007 and 2009; and the subsequent “recovery” has not produced any significant number of jobs. (The latest “official” unemployment rate was 9.1%).

Not only that, but the US government is extraordinarily deep in debt. The US currently owes over 14 trillion dollars to its creditors – and an additional 1.5 trillion or so is estimated to be added to the debt this year.

Finally, inflation has been a continuous problem over the last several years. The “official” inflation rate – i.e., the rate reported by the government – has been quite low. However, this is primarily because the official figures purposely exclude food and energy prices. Needless to say, people actually have to buy food and energy – and the costs of those products have skyrocketed.

As a result, it is certainly possible that the US economy will completely collapse – to such an extent that the US simply does not have the money to assist Israel at all. In other words, an economic catastrophe could prevent the US from coming to Israel’s aid, in the end time.

2. Resurgent Isolationism

Over the past several years, Americans in general have become rather “fed up” with foreign wars. For example, just in the last few months, Americans have turned against the war in Afghanistan in significant numbers – so that now, for the first time, a majority of Americans want to completely pull out of Afghanistan – no matter what the consequences would be.

In addition, there are a number of politicians who are actively promoting an “isolationist” policy for the United States. Of course, the term “isolationism” refers to the policy that the US does not get involved – at all – in any foreign country’s conflict. (At the very least, that policy states to not get involved in wars outside of the western hemisphere.)

As it turns out, isolationism was the standard policy of the US, for most of its history; that policy did not change until World War 2.

It is interesting to note that there are isolationist politicians on both sides of the “political aisle”. In other words, some isolationist politicians have more “liberal” views; while some others have much more “conservative” views.

In any case, if enough political figures with “isolationist” policies get elected, then it is certainly possible that the US would not assist Israel in the end times – simply because the government would be unwilling to get engaged – at all -  in any foreign conflicts.

In other words, in this scenario, the US would not help – or harm – Israel, in the event of a conflict there.

3. Natural Disasters / Foreign Attack

Another factor to consider is the possibility of natural disasters. For example, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused massive damage in states that bordered the Gulf of Mexico – most notably in New Orleans, Louisiana; where the hurricane caused many levees to break.

Over the past six months or so, there have been many other significant natural disasters that have affected the United States. Here are some examples:

– Wildfires – first in Texas, and then in Arizona;

– Flooding – especially in Missouri, Tennessee and now North Dakota;

– Tornadoes – particularly in St. Louis and Joplin, Missouri.

Of course, many people may say that the above items are “normal”. However, the question to ask is: what’s next? Will there be another volcanic eruption, like the one at Mount St. Helens in Washington, in 1980? Or, will California finally encounter “the big one” – a gigantic earthquake that destroys a large part of the state?

In a similar vein, nuclear technology has become much more widespread over the last few years. Pakistan and North Korea have already obtained nuclear weapons, and Iran may obtain them within a few years (or months). Once Iran does obtain nuclear weapons, that may trigger a nuclear “arms race” in the wider Middle East – since many Arab countries already fear Persian Iran.

Needless to say, if nuclear weapons fall into the hands of countries that are openly hostile to the US – and which directly support terrorism – then the US will face a very uncertain future.

It is very unlikely that any country would directly attack the US with nuclear weapons, as that would provoke an overwhelming response from the US. However, there are a number of other, indirect attacks that could be made. For example, a nuclear weapon could be placed on a cargo ship, and then detonated right next to a coastal US city. Also, some nuclear weapons have been dramatically miniaturized, so that they can be carried by a single person (these are the so-called “suitcase nukes”). Imagine a group of suicide bombers detonating small nuclear bombs around the US.

In either case – severe natural disasters or foreign attacks – the Unites States’ ability to operate effectively could be severely crippled. That, in turn, could prevent the US from coming to the aid of Israel, during the end time.

4. Governmental Anti-Semitism

As noted above, the United States has historically been a staunch ally of Israel. Also, to this day, the majority of the American people view Israel quite favorably.

However, over the last several years, the political landscape in the US has changed dramatically. Part of that change has involved some political figures being elected, who are (at best) “neutral” – if not overtly hostile – towards the Jewish state.

So, it is possible to envision a situation in which Israel is attacked, but the US government chooses not to do anything to assist Israel. In fact, in a worst-case scenario, the US may even assist Israel’s enemies!

As mentioned, a clear majority of the American people still favor Israel – and would presumably want the US to help Israel. However, that does not necessarily mean that the government will respect the wishes of its people.

For example, an extremely large, expensive set of health care legislation was passed by the US government in 2009 – despite the fact that the majority of the American people did not want that legislation to be passed. Also, since March of 2011, the US has been involved in a military action against Libya – even though less than half of Americans approve of that action.

The idea that the United States government would ever turn against Israel would have been unthinkable, up until a few years ago. Now, however, it appears to be within the realm of possibility.

Conclusion

Of course, there are undoubtedly other possible reasons why the US would not help Israel in the end time; the above list just contains the most commonly-discussed reasons.

Also, it is certainly possible that the US could be affected by multiple items on the above list. For example, economic difficulties could cause isolationism to become much more prevalent in US politics.

In any case, the main point of providing this information is to encourage all of us to be “sober and alert” – i.e., to watch out for evil around us – as the apostle Peter tells us. This is particularly true about the increase in antisemitism which has been occurring in recent years – not only in the US government, but around the world. Consider this statement that God made to Abraham:

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV):

¹Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

In addition, the apostle Paul made these statements about the Israelites – specifically, about Jews who have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah:

Romans 11:28-29 (ESV):

²⁸As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

In other words, even though most Jews have not accepted Jesus, they are still beloved by God, because of the promises that God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

So, it certainly appears to me that the nation of Israel is still the “apple of God’s eye” – as Zechariah 2:8 states. As a result, any nation that attacks Israel in the end time will presumably bring divine judgment upon itself.

Here is one last item that is “food for thought”. Take a look at one of the titles that Jesus is given, in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 5:5 (ESV):

5And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

In the above passage, Jesus is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah”. Of course, the “tribe of Judah” refers to the people who are descended from the man named Judah – i.e., the Jews.

As a result, from what I can see, it is extremely unwise to oppose the Jewish state…