Israel @ War: Prophecy Fulfilled? Part 01: Psalm 2

The horrifying terrorist attack on Israel was planned with deadly detail and executed with horrifying haste. Even the date of deployment, 7th October 2023, was planned: it was one day after the fiftieth anniversary of another existential surprise military attack on Israel - the Yom Kippur War of 1973. This earlier war nearly brought the world to the brink of a nuclear armageddon.

Make no mistake about it: this is not just a war between Israel and Hamas or Hamas’s allies like the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Iran. It involves the entire world. Consider this: peaceful prosperous Australia was put on an Israeli travel advisory because of the shocking public displays of anti-Semitism in Sydney and Melbourne. 

The ‘fishers’ and ‘hunters’ are loosed (Jeremiah 16:16).

Why did Hamas attack Israel with unprecedented barbarism? Why did major nations, the United Nations, and prominent lobby groups fail to condemn the October 7th attack? Why is anti-Semitism raging worldwide in a latter-day version of Kristallnacht? Why is the Israel-Hamas War different and more dangerous than previous conflicts? Most importantly, are we seeing the fulfilment of Bible prophecy? 

Bible prophecies of the last days speak of Israel at war leading up to the coming of Messiah. Some prominent last-day prophecies include Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38-39, Zechariah 12, 14, and Revelation 19. Let’s not forget Christ’s Olivet discourse found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 - which speaks of ‘wars and rumours of wars.’ While Bible prophecy is a lifetime of study, discussion and reflection, we can start this series with a classic Messianic passage: Psalm 2.

Why the Fuss?

The second psalm rhetorically begins: why do the heathen (nations) rage? Good question.

The answer is both bad news and good news, depending on your spiritual state. For those who live and love this present evil world, it is catastrophically bad news. Yet for those who know and walk with the Lord, it is the best news possible, called the ‘blessed hope’ of the church (Titus 2:13).

The reason for the rage is that the King - the Son of David, Son of God - is coming back to earth (vs. 6-7). Furthermore, the King is coming to Zion.

‘Zion’ is an important but highly misunderstood word. While it is the name associated with Zionism, it can mean ‘Jerusalem,’ ‘Israel,’ or ‘the Jewish people,’ depending on the Biblical context. For our purposes, it means the royal section of Jerusalem the capital. The Lord dwells in Zion (Joel 3:21). Remember that one of Jerusalem’s most famous and honoured titles is ‘City of the Great King’ (Psalm 48:2; Matthew 5:35

In short, the prophetic prospect of Messiah, the Son of David, taking His rightful place on David’s throne in Zion, is causing an international storm. When He comes, the Lord will ask for - and receive - the nations of the world as His inheritance (v. 8). He will rule with a ‘rod of iron’ (v. 9, a phrase repeated three times in Revelation). Messiah will clean up the mess of criminality, corruption, tyranny, and unrighteousness. Complete obedience will be required (v. 11-12). No wonder the rebels of this world are panicking. 

Now, of course, the world powers neither know nor care about ancient prophecies and their fulfilment. Yet, there are spiritual powers that both know and care about these events: Satan and the demons. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the multitudes loved Him but were unclear about his true identity: was he John the Baptist, Elijah, Elisha or one of the other prophets? However, the demons were one hundred per cent clear on His real identity: ‘You are the Son of God,’ they exclaimed repeatedly (Matthew 8:29; Mark 3:11; 5:7; Luke 4:41; 8:28). 

Like Satan, these malevolent spiritual forces know the Bible and tremble at the thought of God’s forever King coming to Zion. It means their time is up and reign over. And they are adept at stirring up the kingdoms of this world to rise up in futility to stop the transition to the kingdom of our Lord and Christ.

After observing the collective global tantrum below, the Lord’s reaction is a derisive laugh (v. 4). The rebels in charge are confused, fearful, and striking back furiously. They probably realise that their resistance cannot stop the inevitable divine takeover but they want to slow it down and trip it up for as long as they can.

Maybe now we can get a greater understanding of why there is a massive outbreak of anti-Semitism and persecution of Christians worldwide. Or why there is the naggingly persistent question of Israel’s right to exist? Or why most of the world, including the Western world, rejects the notion of a united Jerusalem under the sovereignty of Israel. 

Just look at Australia’s track record on this topic: at first, Australia recognised only Tel Aviv as Israel’s capital. Then the Morrison Coalition government recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; after some blowback, they modified that recognition to include only ‘West Jerusalem.’ The government promised to move the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem only when a peace treaty was signed with the Palestinians. Then the Albanese Labor Government came into power and rescinded the recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Australia has gone full circle: from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to West Jerusalem and back to Tel Aviv.

Consider this: a united flourishing capital city, the City of David, the City of the Great King, is the ideal place for the Son of David/Son of God to return. 

As is written in Psalm 102:16: 

When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 

When this happens, then Revelation 11:15 comes to pass:

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

And all the saints said ‘Amen.’