“The faithful man has perished from the earth, And there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; Every man hunts his brother with a net.” Micah 7:2 NKJV
The Fast of Tisha B Av has begun in Israel along with another conflict between them and their enemies in the Gaza Strip. Not surprising, while choosing to defend themselves from an imminent attack of which they had actionable intelligence, Israel has been labeled as the aggressor. Many bible scholars have taught over the years of all that has occurred on this particular date in Jewish history, and the fact that it certainly seems obvious that the pattern will continue into the future. This post is one I have shared before but in light of what is happening right now in Israel seemed appropriate to share with you again.
There is a saying popular with many teachers of the Bible today which I find not only very true, but also extremely helpful in understanding both the Old and New Testaments. You are probably familiar with it but even so I will repeat it here; “the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed”. I am continually amazed as I study the scriptures to find how much of the New Testament is actually hidden in plain sight in the Old Testament, and this passage from Micah is a perfect example.
The Hebrew word translated “perished” in the NKJV means “to vanish”. From the teachings of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, it becomes obvious that what Micah is describing is the rapture of the Church, and the state of the earth after all believers have been taken. What this world will be like during this time of tribulation should literally scare any rational person to the point of salvation, yet we know this is not the case. The time, however, to which Micah is referring is the tribulation period and his words are a prophecy directed to the nation of Israel.
As such, it certainly appears to be a logical conclusion that Micah is telling Israel that there will be a “vanishing” before their time of trouble. Of course, taking into account what Paul taught many years later, we as believers now know that this is most certainly a reference to the rapture. The fact that this occurs before the tribulation begins, begs the question of how important is it to be watching for the signs of the coming tribulation? Jesus made it perfectly clear in His teaching that the body of Christ, His Church, has a responsibility to be watching for these signs as the day approaches.
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping."And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
Mark 13:28-37 NKJV
I have personally always wondered if Jesus’ reference to “summer” is a clue as to the season the Church might vanish to be with Him forever. As I have studied over the years it has become apparent that many others have shared this same feeling for a variety of different reasons. It should have become apparent to you if you have followed my thoughts for any length of time that I am most certainly not a “date setter”. I firmly believe in the doctrine of imminence, which is the belief that Jesus could return for His Church at any time, but that does not exclude the possibility that He could choose a certain season, month, or day to do just that. That fact is why I share occasionally my thoughts and feelings about certain days that the Bible makes clear are special to God.
The term “dog days of summer” is familiar to most, yet many are probably not aware of what it means or of its origin. Actually, the answer to that question is hazy and debatable, while some believe it may date back as far as the Roman Empire. As to what it might mean, let me make a suggestion based solely on my own observations and educational experiences. Like many people, at one time I had a dog who was as friendly as the day was long. I also, though, live in a part of the country which experiences summers which tend to occasionally receive triple digit heat late in the season. I found it interesting that just like people, my dog got just a little testy during these days of excessive heat, exhibiting a marked lack of patience and a tendency to growl and lash out when disturbed.
As I considered that, I also was reminded of something I realized back in the day when I was a history major in college. Do you know the vast majority of conflicts in the history of the world have started during the summer months? What is my point? I can’t help but wonder if the conflict that God reveals in His Word concerning the future of Israel and the world, taken along with His command to watch with a reference to the season of summer, should be a major clue to those of us who choose to obey the command to watch? Could it be that summer is the season that all the events we are told to watch for will converge and produce the conflict we are told so much about?
We have just begun the month of Av on the Jewish calendar and if you are at all familiar with the history of the nation of Israel you are aware of how important that month has proven to be in the past. Many are familiar with the seven feast days appointed by God for the children of Israel to observe, but not all are aware that He also created four days of fasting to commemorate tragedies that occurred during Israel’s' history.
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'The fast of the fourth [month], The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.' Zecharaiah 8:19 NKJV
Zechariah goes on to say that when the Messiah comes, these fast days will become days of celebration and feasting, but for now they are still days of mourning.
The fast of the fourth remembers the day that Moses came down from the mountain to find the children of Israel worshiping the golden calf and then broke the tablets God had given him. The seventh commemorates the assassination of the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar to govern the Jews left behind in Israel after the destruction of the temple. The tenth recalls the day that Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the city of Jerusalem. But it is the fifth fast, which occurs on the ninth of Av on the Jewish calendar that I would like to explore today.
Called Tisha B' Av, this day of mourning and fasting reminds Israel of the day that the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Jews taken back to Babylon in captivity. This day has become, however, one of the most significant days in Israel's history due to the astonishing "coincidence" of numerous national disasters occurring on this exact day since its inception. These are:
1312 BC Spies return from 40 days in Israel with evil reports of the Land of Israel. Jewish people cry in despair, give up hope of entering the Land of Israel.
587 BC Destruction of First Temple by the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezar. About 100000 Jews killed during invasion. Exile of remaining tribes in southern kingdom to Babylon and Persia.
70AD Destruction of Second Temple by Romans, under Titus. Over 2,500,000 Jews die as a result of war, famine and disease. Over 1,000,000 Jews exiled to all parts of the Roman Empire. Over 100,000 Jews sold as slaves by Romans. Jews killed and tortured in gladiatorial "games" and pagan celebrations.
71AD Turnus Rufus plows site of Temple. Romans build pagan city of Aelia Capitolina on site of Jerusalem.
135AD Bar Kochba revolt crushed. Betar destroyed - over 100,000 killed.
1095AD First Crusade declared by Pope Urban II. 10,000 Jews killed in first month of Crusade. Crusades bring death and destruction to thousands of Jews, totally obliterate many communities in Rhineland and France.
1290AD Expulsion of Jews from England, accompanied by pogroms and confiscation of books and property.
1492AD Inquisition in Spain and Portugal culminates in the expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tisha B'Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil. Families separated, many die by drowning, massive loss of property. With funds provided by Ferdinand, Christopher Columbus, a Messianic Jew, sets sail to locate the land which will become a Jewish refuge.
1914AD Britain and Russia declare war on Germany. First World War begins. First World War issues unresolved, ultimately causing Second World War and Holocaust. 75% of all Jews in war zones. Jews in armies of all sides - 120,000 Jewish casualties in armies. Over 400 pogroms immediately following war in Hungary, Ukraine, Poland and Russia.
1942AD Deportations from Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp begin.
1989AD Iraq walks out of talks with Kuwait.
1994AD The deadly bombing the building of the AMIA (the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina) which killed 86 people and wounded some 300 others.
1990AD The First Gulf War begins in and as a result Saddam Hussein launches missiles
into Israel
The Bible makes it clear that the time will come when all of Israel's enemies will unite to attack them. The past day has seen most of them make statements condemning Israel and threatening to take action to punish them. Will this prove to be the time that the Word of God has warned us about? The next few days will certainly show us whether or not this will prove to be the case, but the fact that all these things are happening now on Tisha B Av cannot simply be a coincidence.
Obviously more than just coincidence, one can't help but wonder what, if anything, the future holds for Israel on this date? While thinking about our call to watch for signs as believers in Christ, I can’t help but wonder if God intends for the rapture of the Church to be a sign to Israel that their time of judgment is near? The sudden mass disappearance of millions of people would certainly not escape notice and it would, for the world as a whole and Israel in particular, certainly fulfill what Micah describes as the faithful vanishing. However, the most important question you can ask yourself today is this; will you vanish or be left behind?
If you have never taken the step of asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart and save you from eternity without Him, I encourage you to do that right now. Simply tell Him you are sorry for your sin, ask Him to forgive you, and accept the sacrifice He made to die for your sin, and He has promised not only to forgive you but to make you one of His own and come into your life and provide all the help you need to begin to live for Him. I am convinced His return is much closer than we may think.
Keep watching.
