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Imminent War with Lebanon, the Upcoming Multi-Front War, and the Rise in Antisemitism

There’s A LOT to discuss, and while we won’t be able to cover everything in this article, we’ll try to cover some of the most pressing subjects. What a blessing to have TOO MANY prophetical signs to comment on!

Israel’s Rafah Operation Nears an End

Israel’s operation in Rafah has thus far been successful, and Netanyahu has recently stated that the Hamas war is almost over and will begin to wind down (The Jerusalem Post). As mentioned in previous letters, we wonder whether this relates to the prophecy of Isaiah 11 when Israel would “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west” (Isaiah 11:14). So far, it seems like it could be as Israel has done just that.

One important aspect of that prophecy is that it doesn’t show an isolated war between Israel and the latter-day Philistines (Hamas and the “Palestinians”), but rather shows that this campaign against Gaza marks the beginning of a greater conflict. After taking the land of the Philistines, the prophecy records that “they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” This teaches us that more conflict is to come, specifically against Jordan as they comprise the land of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. While it doesn’t seem that Jordan is the next target for Israel (as of right now), it is clear that more war is to follow:

Imminent War with Lebanon – To Spark the Proximal War?

The terrorist group Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel since the October 7 massacre. Now, as Israel feels more comfortable about their success in Gaza, it seems that they’re ready to address the Hezbollah threat and any others which might come with it. I’ll let the following headlines tell the story:

What’s particularly interesting is that a war between Israel and Hezbollah is unlikely to remain just between them, but will instead pull in other Arab nations just as we expect from prophecy. Arab nations are voicing their intent to join the conflict should Israel attack Hezbollah, and it’s no coincidence that these nations are precisely those which are named in Psalm 83! Assuming a war fully begins with Hezbollah (Gebal and Tyre of Psalm 83), the other nations we expect to join will be Iraq (Assur), Syria (Assur and the Hagarenes), Jordan, (Edom, Ammon, and Moab), Saudi Arabia (the Ishmaelites), and the Bedouins of the Negev (Amalek). This conflict is therefore a multi-front war involving nations which quite literally surround Israel, thus being referred to as “the nations/heathen round about” (Ezekiel 28:24, Zechariah 12:2).

Now, Iran is a big player in the events we’re witnessing, but as we’ve stated many times before, they are Scripturally named as Persia and are not mentioned in any of these prophecies concerning the final Arab-Israeli war. Their involvement is in the latter conflict involving Gog (Russia). Yet many of the Psalm 83 nations are called “Iranian Proxies”, meaning that they carry out Iran’s bidding from afar. They’re like Iran’s puppets. With those things in mind, it’s with incredible excitement that we consider these sobering facts being proclaimed in the news: 

An attack on Hezbollah is therefore being touted as an attack on all of Iran’s proxies and will therefore activate Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” against Israel. In Netanyahu’s mind, Israel is already fighting a seven-front war.

These news agencies do not hold a Biblical world view. They are not aware of the fact that what they’re publishing relates to prophecy – they’re simply broadcasting what’s developing from day to day. Yet we clearly see what prophecy has foretold in their reports! The Scriptures say that these Arab nations will “have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee (Israel)” (Psalm 83:5). Do we not see this progressing as we speak?

Another important aspect of the Psalm 83 conflict is that we find Israel to fight alone, for it is this conflict which humbles them and results in their salvation by Christ and the saints. On this note, we have this recent statement from a General of Israel’s greatest ally, the US:

US support of Israel in this Hamas conflict has been very telling of the US-Israel relationship (something we’ll talk about in another letter), and while America is working to prevent a full-out war with Hezbollah, it seems that they’re unwilling to offer active assistance to Israel.

Another Strike on Iran?

We mentioned this briefly, but we ought to consider it more closely for a moment. We have been expecting Iran itself to be largely absent or uninvolved in the Psalm 83 conflict simply because they are not named there. Even if Iran controls the puppets which attack Israel, prophecy only mentions the attackers themselves, and I believe this explains how Iran can be the chess-mover of the Psalm 83 nations but also not be mentioned: they aren’t the ones carrying out the physical attack. Yet I’ve wondered if Israel would temporarily “knock out” this latter-day Persian, allowing them to recuperate and join Russia when they descend against Israel. The most likely scenario for this seems to have always been an Israeli strike on Iran as Iran continues to mature its nuclear program.

It was recently reported that Iran has defied Biden and the UN by continuing to enrich uranium for its nuclear weapons program (FOX News). As a result, it appears that Israel is prepping for another strike on Iran:

We recall that a successful strike was carried out on Iran’s defensive posts which surround the nuclear sites just a few months ago. This shows that Israel can strike again if they choose to do so. Should this occur, this could not only explain why Iran takes a backseat in this conflict, but also why they would activate their proxies against Israel. With great anticipation, we wait to see.

Resurgence of Antisemitism

What has been difficult to watch is the horrible rise in antisemitism which is permeating so many facets of society. The articles on this subject are far too many to list here, but almost everywhere you look, we find news of stabbings, shootings, and all kinds of atrocious acts carried out against Jews. A more disturbing fact is that this is often going unchecked and uncondemned by the world. A video was published fairly recently of a group of Muslims being led through the streets of London calling for the blood of Jews. In this video from World Israel News, you can clearly hear them saying, “We want the Zionists. We want their blood.” All the while, the police stood by.

What we are witnessing is the same kind of behaviour as was witnessed in the days leading up to World War II and the Holocaust. Many forget that Nazi Germany was not the only one persecuting the Jews. Horrible persecution took place in Poland and similar countries long before Germany invaded. In Russia, pogroms were a common occurrence. Such hatred did not arise overnight, but was the product of continual and gradual demonization of the Jews. Small acts of violence occurred which went largely unchecked and became the new normal – precisely the kind of thing we are seeing today. Not even 10 years ago, it would have been considered anathema to publicly support Hamas (which is a self-acclaimed terrorist organization) over the democratic nation of Israel, but this is now a common theme in universities.

But this is not just a few small groups being boisterous to make headlines. Nations are now taking the side of the Arabs, a fact witnessed by the increasing number of nations who are arbitrarily recognizing a state of Palestine. In our last report, the countries of Spain, Ireland, and Norway had all recognized the state. Since then, Slovenia and Armenia have joined the chorus (The Jerusalem Post).

What does this have to do with prophecy? Quite a great deal, actually. While there may be some prophecies which specifically talk about such an increase in antisemitism in the latter-days, the first thing I think of is how the world will respond to the Jewish Messiah’s Gospel dictate to the nations once the Arabs have been destroyed and the Kingdom established. The fourteenth chapter of Revelation records that a call will be dispersed throughout the earth to “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:6-7). What will the world do? Will they stand in awe of the unspeakably beautiful and lofty opportunity? While we earnestly wish this were the case, the Scriptures show the opposite response, lamenting in

Psalms 2:1-3 – Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  (2)  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,  (3)  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Much of this unfortunate response will be due to human nature, the popular doctrine of humanism, and the Papal deception that this Jewish King is actually the Devil himself. Yet it seems to me that another part of this will be due to the fact that Christ will be called King of the Jews! It seems incredibly fitting that antisemitism would grow in the days leading up to Christ’s advent. This is precisely what we’re witnessing.

Yet this will not last forever, and the antisemitism we’re seeing now is very different than what the world will say of the Jew in the Kingdom Age. Once the veil has been lifted from the eyes of the nations, the following will be the new, everlasting reality:

Zechariah 8:21-23 – And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.  (22)  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.  (23)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

What a wonderful contrast to the present situation, made all the more wonderful by the nearness of its fulfillment!

As a final note, there are some who believe that the world will naturally progress to the conditions of the Kingdom Age. Yet these present events, along with innumerable other points, show the inaccuracy of this notion. The world is getting further from this position on the Jews. Indeed, as the Scriptures say, only the direct intervention of our Lord and Elder Brother will change this planet for the better, and it is for this purpose that he will “appear the second time” (Hebrews 9:28). The world under the rulership of Christ is so different than that of man that it is called a “new heavens and a new earth”, of which wondrous things are spoken:

Isaiah 65:17-19 – For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  (18)  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.  (19)  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Therefore, we who seek the Lord yearn for his return, for “we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). It is in this rejuvenated, righteously-ruled earth which we place our aspirations, and as long as we do our very best to keep our garments pure and white, we shall be part of that glorious multitude who, as the seed of Abraham, will inherit the eternal promises with Abraham and all of the other righteous of old (Galatians 3:29).

As always, there are yet many things we would like to discuss, but we will table them for another time. It is our prayer that these feebly constructed comments serve to exhort and strengthen brethren and sisters all around, even if only to a small degree.

In the Hope of Israel,

Tanner Hawkins

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