O Little Town Of Bethlehem

It’s Christmas day in America and we all like seeing the baby in the manger with the star shining above it as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It makes for a good scene, a calm, peaceful scene. But the reality was far from serene. Rome ruled the day with an iron fist and King Herod was not better as he was power hungry and paranoid. The religious world in Israel was splintered and they weren’t even looking for the prophesied messiah that night. Of course, we have to take into account the young couple who were forced to travel on little to no finances when Mary was 9 months pregnant riding on a donkey. When they got there, they couldn’t even find a decent place to stay. It was a hectic night and one that we’d hardly call peaceful. Still, Heaven was rejoicing and even jubilant because they knew exactly what was happening. Angels put on quite a show to unexpecting shepherds and announced the birth of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. When you add it all up, the little town of Bethlehem would be seen as a glorious place that night, a moment in world history that actually changed our calendars. But in the short term it was a hectic time for all involved. Politics played a large part in it; there were physical hardships as well as relational ones. No one had it easy then and the whole area was ripe for tension. In short there was hardly peace on earth and certainly no good will towards men. And that’s just like things are today.

Over Two Years Of War

On October 7th of 2023 Israel was attacked from the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists who were thought to be only staging war games. Instead, they killed 1,200 Israelis in the most horrific ways and took 251 hostages who were treated terribly, some for 738 days. Listening to their stories makes you both sad and angry. These terrorists who to this day say they are on the side of good will are angling to survive without paying the full penalty for their actions. And that little town of Bethlehem is controlled by the terrorist organization, the Palestinian Authority (PA), who supports and agrees with Hamas. So here we are again celebrating the birth of our Savior while His birthplace is being run by people who hate those who love Him the most. Messianic Jews and Christians alike are still looking for the time when Jesus can be worshipped freely in the country He was born in and the city where He was born. While I’d like to say the day is on the horizon, I can’t. Hamas is stalling to complete phase one of the current Trump deal and publicly saying they won’t disarm and leave. The PA isn’t willing to leave or give up control of their areas, land given to Israel by none other than God Himself. The antisemitism that spurred the Hamas attacks is now growing like the evil cancer it is and is now seen in the United States conservative caucus and even Christian circles who have a Bible to warn them against its dangers. Being a Jew and supporting them as God’s chosen children is hardly seen as the virtue God intended. People are even trying to make the case that Jesus wasn’t a Jew. They are even saying that He was a Palestinian. If that’s not a strong delusion, I don’t know what is. Will we ever see peace in the Middle East?

Prophecy Points To It

US President Donald Trump is certainly doing his best to bring peace and stability to Israel almost to the point of helping Hamas survive if it keeps the Arab world on his side for future business deals. To be certain, I see Trump as the strongest supporter of Israel than anyone in my lifetime and he’s done more for them then all the presidents in my lifetime by far, but on this point, I disagree with him. However, the point I’m trying to make is that the only time of true peace is down the road a ways. No US president or world leader will bring a lasting time of peace for Israel until Jesus Himself does it in the Millennium. I want Trump to succeed so it ends this war, but diplomacy won’t work with Hamas and all the terrorist proxies of Iran. And any attacks on Iran won’t take them out of the picture. They will only serve to slow them down and seek help from others as seen in the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38. All of the current world powers will not only continue to see Israel in a bad light, but will even see them as trouble for them as we read in Zechariah 12:2-3:

I will make Jerusalem and Judah like a cup of poison to all the nearby nations that send their armies to surround Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem will be a heavy stone burdening the world. And though all the nations of the earth unite in an attempt to move her, they will all be crushed. (TLB)

This hatred of Israel will extend all the way through the seven-year Tribulation culminating with the battle of Armageddon. Only when Jesus returns and His foot lands on the Mount of Olives will this ancient and Satanic push to destroy Israel end. Then the nations will actually come to Jerusalem and acknowledge Jesus as the righteous ruler He always was. Any nation that refuses to do that will be punished (see Zech 14:16-19). No more wars will exist. The age of peace on earth and goodwill to all men won’t come from the Trump peace deal. And that’s not an insult or condemnation of his efforts. It’s just the Bible truth. So, while we enjoy personal peace and goodwill today, we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray this current war ends with Israel having some peace and safety if only for a time. And then continue to witness to others who need to take steps to rule and reign with Jesus forever and ever. Helping to do that for them will be the best Christmas gift we can ever give them.