I would just like to say that as a Canadian, I abhor violence of all types. I do not believe in people carrying guns, because it promotes violence. I like to point to Japan as an example of what prohibiting guns can do. 2 murders with guns in 2012, for example.
A Land Without Guns: How Japan Has Virtually Eliminated Shooting Deaths - Max Fisher - The Atlantic
That being said, I do understand there is such a thing as a "just" war. World Wars I and II being examples of that. When a dictator is given or seizes control of a country, and that country begins to eliminate its own citizens, or commit to conquering other lands, I do believe that other countries have the right to intervene.
I feel for both sides in this conflict. Many Palestinians are being daily killed. Whether by the Israelis or their own misfired rockets, I do not know! Israelis are also being killed.
My biggest objection to the objections to this post, is simply that is modern day Israel REALLY the fulfillment of Bible prophecy? It is actually a secular state. And many of the citizens of Israel are in fact, Jewish atheists. I have read sources that say between 19% to 37% self identify with atheism.
So is modern day Israel a land established by God, or a land of sanctuary for European Jews, who were escaping persecution after World War II and also from states like Russia, which treated them shamefully?
I personally don't know. I do know, they don't call themselves "Israelites." They call themselves "Israelis" to distinguish between the Bible Jews and the modern day state. A small difference, perhaps, but one that does give one pause to think. Because the Israelis themselves are doing something new.
Of course, there are many legitimate Jewish believers in Israel, who are the descendants of the Pharisees. You remember, the ones who rejected Jesus. The Pharisees were the only survivors after the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and the Jews dispersed. And one of the things they did after that was write the Talmud, a list of even more rules and regulations than the 613 in the Old Testament. So basically, the Jewish religion and temple worship was destroyed by Titus in 70 AD. And why? Because Jesus fulfilled the law, and the rituals weren't required any more.
"If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? [SUP]12 [/SUP]For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. [SUP]13 [/SUP]He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. [SUP]15 [/SUP]And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, [SUP]16 [/SUP]one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life" Hebrews 7:11-16.
So ancestry, according to Hebrews, means nothing since Jesus died on the cross, and rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. There is no NEED for a temple, sacrifices or the Old Covenant, which the religious modern day Jews represent.
"But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises." Hebrews 8:6
However, this does not mean I do not have any sympathies for the Israelis, and the terrorist war which is being conducted by Hamas. In fact, I have seen pictures of the underground tunnels found by the Egyptians, used to bring in war materials, and to enter Israel in the future. Something in the area of over 1600 of them. The modern day Jews were horribly persecuted, and my memory of history is that neither Canada nor the US allowed them to dock their leaky boats when they escaped Europe and the Holocaust. So whether they are the fulfillment of Scripture, I doubt, but they do need a country of their own. So I do support the concept of Israel in the Middle East, since no one else was willing to give them a country.
So where does that leave the Palestinians? Well, some are Christians, which many seem to forget. I had a friend who was a Christian Palestinian Israeli, and she was persecuted. She finally immigrated to Australia, where her mother and father had long ago left for. But I will say, she was totally ignorant of the Bible, and I was able to share with her what being a Christian was really about. It was NOT about whether the Catholic or the Eastern Orthodox church was the "true" church, but rather that Jesus died for her sins.
And the Muslim Palestinians, what about them? Well, I do believe, if I read history correctly, that many left their houses and lands, when told by the other Arab countries they would get back their homes after the Arab/Muslim countries destroyed Israel right after Partition. And they were never let back in, or they didn't want back in till the Jews were gone. Not sure about that. Finding good sources is part of my issue.
I do know that the Palestinians, despite propaganda, were given homes, schools and hospitals. They were given land back by the Israelis. But they never have acknowledged it. Instead, they have been used as pawns by the terrorists organizations, to further their own agenda of destroying Israel.
So I am really on the fence, seeing two very real sides to this story. But right now, the thing that bothers me most, as a Canadian, is seeing the defense of Hamas in the media, and the way Obama has totally sided with the Muslims, including such things as huge arms sales to Saudi Arabia, where the militant Wahhabis are stationed. So how much of those arms end up in the hands of Hamas? Even Egypt has turned on Hamas, which was supposedly a spin off of the Muslim Brotherhood.
A very complex situation in the Middle East today, which I find very scary, in terms of the killings going on, the future of these areas for both Israel and the Palestinians.
Personally, I do favour a two state concept for the Middle East. But sadly, as many have pointed out, Hamas and many of the Arab countries do not. So the war is going to continue. And how long? Given that this war has gone on since Israel was created in 1948, 66 years ago, I do not see it ending soon. I also remember reading some of Hal Lindsay's prophecies as a young Christian, and that it would be one generation after 1948 till Jesus returned. Since a generation was 40 years, it seems like we are well past that point.
Anyway, I don't usually speak about American politics, it has gotten me in a lot of trouble on FB. But it does seem to me like Obama is part of the cause of this session of war in the Middle East, because he has not taken a strong stand on this issue, unlike Prime Minister Harper, (Canadian Prime Minister!) who actually called on Obama to stand with Israel, our traditional ally. Obama never answered Harper.
And no, not the whole cause, for sure! Anyway, just my two cents of straddling the Canadian fence for peace. There are arguments on both sides, and no doubt too many people have been killed already. And I am offering no solutions, except for the traditional Canadian one that we have tried to always take as peace keepers, to settle without war, if possible.
PS. Please don't jump on me and tell me that the "other" side does not want peace. So far, from everything I have read, it seems like the Hamas side is the less likely side with peace. And I do not identify all Palestinians with Hamas, for sure!
