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It was the most alarming and depressing article I have read in years. A professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Ben Gurion University, Dr. Benny Morris, authored a piece entitled This Holocaust Will Be Different. This Jerusalem Post article was not written to warn Israel and the West of a possible scenario, rather it was presented as something that will happen; as inevitable.
Iran as Israel's Greatest Danger
The center of Dr. Morris' concern is Iran. He is quite certain that no one will act to stop Iran from getting the bomb. As appeasement is part of the human condition, it seems that the West has this disease in its last stages. He believes that the present economic sanctions on Iran from the U.N. are limited. The U.N. Security Council will not approve serious economic sanctions - China, Russia and possibly France would veto any truly onerous measures. Further, Dr. Morris anticipates military action is a non starter; the U.N. or N.A.T.O would never approve this option. Only the United States seems to have some resistance to appeasement but after the Iraq debacle, the U.S. will not stop Iran through military action. So, Iran will get the bomb.
Additionally, according to Dr. Morris, when Iran has sufficient bombing capacity; multiple warheads with missile delivery systems and the decoys to assure missile penetration, it will bomb both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Yet because Israel would receive total rejection from the rest of the world, she will not act before it's too late with a pre-emptive strike against Iran. The loss of life in Iran would be far too great for Israel to embrace such a strike. Dr. Morris states that after Israel is devastated, she will not retaliate against Iran because there would be no purpose; there will be no future for Israel or any other population in this land. Why kill millions of Iranians for no reason? The United States and N.A.T.O. will not retaliate for the same reason.
Dr. Morris then believes that the United Nations will undertake sea and air rescue for the few survivors. Some will be maimed and dying from radiation poisoning; others will be rescued who will have a greater potential for survival.
Some would ask, "How could Iran do this, since millions of Moslem Arabs would die?" One of the leading Ayatollahs from Iran has already spoken concerning this issue. I list the points of his response:
What About the Holy Sites?
Someone might say that Iran would not bomb Jerusalem and destroy the holy sites. However, the holy sites of Jerusalem on the Temple Mount were built by hated Sunni leaders; and Jerusalem does not have the same level of meaning for Shiites. So again, this is an acceptable price.
The Devastation of a Nuclear Attack
Of course a major nuclear attack against Israel would actually be more devastating than the author describes. The radioactive fallout would reach across to Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and beyond. Again it is said that those who would be martyred in such an attack will have great reward. It is worth it. The ideology and hatred of the radical Shiite Moslems is so strong that these doomsday scenarios are not unthinkable. The ideology of a nuclear empowered communism was not nearly as dangerous. In an interview in the Jerusalem Post, Professor Bernard Lewis of Princeton wrote that mutual assured destruction is not a deterrent to radical Iranian leaders but a motivation.
A Messianic Jewish Response
I am very saddened by this article because it will cause many who read it to lose heart. It is our task as the Messianic Jewish community to respond in hope and discern that this is a great opportunity for the Gospel of Yeshua. The Bible makes it clear that the present return to the land of Israel does not smoothly lead to a wonderful time of peace and prosperity. Rather, the Bible describes a time of trial, climaxed by a devastating multi-national invasion in the last chapters of Zechariah. The details of the invasion indicate that Israelis will be given supernatural ability to fight the invaders. Zechariah 12:8 tells us that, "The feeblest among them will be like David." This invasion ultimately fails when Yeshua himself intervenes, and Israelis are anointed to fight with supernatural anointing. (Zech. 12:14)
We only find one description which could speculatively be taken as a nuclear bomb. In Zechariah 14 we read that flesh melts on the bodies of Israel's enemies.
God will ultimately protect Israel, and Israel will ultimately confess Yeshua. His feet will stand on the Mt. of Olives. (Zech. 14:3) This refers to the Messiah. After their deliverance, they will look upon Him "whom they have pierced, and mourn for Him." (Zech. 12:10) Those of us living in Israel must be part of a word of hope and comfort for our people; a light that will bring many to Yeshua. We should note that the descriptions in these passages have never happened before. The situation in our day fits the possibility of their fulfillment.
The present situation in Israel, the perception of the loss of the war in Lebanon, the concern about Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, has produced great hopelessness. Many ask if Israel can survive. We have a great opportunity to extend hope and to proclaim that our ultimate deliverance is in Yeshua.
| Let us know what you think - why not comment to this article. The authors of these articles are often involved in intense ministry and are thus unable to respond to most comments. As is normal with print and online magazines, Tikkun reserves the right to publish only those comments we feel are edifying in tone and content. | |
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Also in this issue of the newsletter:
| Moshe Morrison: What Was, Is: Passover Reflections |
| Martin Shoub: A Tale Of Two Pools |
| Eddie and Jackie Santoro: View From Jerusalem |
| Asher Intrater: David's Greater Son |