The power sharing agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz after Israel’s last election has ended. Likud and Blue and White have failed to agree on a budget, and a bill to delay the budget was just voted down in the Knesset, 49 to 47 (ref. 1).
As a consequence, Israel’s government has dissolved and a new general election will be held. On the 23 March 2021, Israel will go to the ballot box again to elect a new Knesset for the 4th time in 2 years (ref. 2). This is most unusual. To my mind, it is supernatural.
… For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1
You see, the polls say, Gantz and his Blue and White party would lose the most if Israel were to have a new election (ref. 3). Yet, Gantz stood his ground, confident that he could delay the budget and force Netanyahu’s hand. At the last minute, 4 members of the Knesset unexpectedly crossed the floor to stop the delay: 3 Blue and White MKs and 1 Likud MK (ref. 2).
For his part, Netanyahu was also confident that a new general election would keep him in the position of prime minister, and so he stood his ground against Gantz. Perhaps, Netanyahu thought if he were to remain prime minister, he could stave off the legal proceedings against him – the charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust (ref. 4).
However, the polls say, the political landscape of Israel has changed since the last election, because of the government’s mishandling of Covid-19. In May, Netanyahu lifted too soon a partial lockdown that had flattened the curve. That mistake caused a surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths (ref. 5). A month ago, Donald Trump could not win his re-election because he had mishandled America’s Covid-19 pandemic response. Trump even publicly dismissed the danger of Covid-19 while many Americans suffered and died.
A few days ago, Gideon Sa’ar quit Likud and started his own right wing party called New Hope to challenge Likud (ref. 6). I noticed the “Tikva”, lit. Hope, of the party’s name is the same word as in Hatikvah, lit. The Hope, the title of the national anthem of Israel. I have said Hatikvah speaks to the Messiah: the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ after “the great tribulation” (ref. Matthew 24:21) to establish the kingdom of God.
The latest polls indicate that Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope will take several seats from Likud, thereby making it the 2nd largest party in the Knesset (ref. 6).
Another Israeli politician on the rise according to the polls is Naftali Bennett of Yamina (ref. 7), which is to the right of Likud. Bennett has not ruled out or in serving another coalition with Likud. It might be that Yamina will enter into a coalition with Sa’ar’s New Hope and also Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, and even others, to topple Netanyahu.
Quite possibly, after 23 March 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu will not be prime minister.
Also, my guess is, it will not be Benny Gantz of Blue and White or Amir Peretz of the Israeli Labor Party who will be prime minister, because to be left wing in modern Israeli politics is to be particularly secular and to have sympathy for a Palestinian state. Neither of these things is correct for Israel in these last days!
Granted, in the early days of Israel, the leaders of Israel, notably David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir, were quite left wing. In those days, Israel even had Kibbutz’s, which were literally farming communes, as in communism!
But now, in these last days, Israel must be led by a right wing government. From the standpoint of Bible prophecy, Israel must now become more Jewish, not less.
Indeed, the main reason why Netanyahu cannot remain as prime minister for much longer is that he refuses to change the status quo of the Temple Mount (ref. 8). Though Netanyahu is in a coalition with right wing Jewish religious parties, he is essentially a secular politician who believes in diplomacy and alliances. He insists on the status quo because he thinks Israel is best served by achieving good relations with the neighbours, including Jordan and more recently Saudi Arabia, both centres of Islamic authority.
In my opinion, Netanyahu is also far too pro-America, having lived in America. Believe it or not, prophetically in time to come America will betray Israel (ref. Jeremiah 51:35).
The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitants of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.
Jeremiah 51:35
To my detractors, you can continue to challenge me all you want and deny the truth, but God has purposed Israel to become his kingdom and so a remnant of Israel must survive the coming war of the Antichrist (ref. Zechariah 13:9). Therefore, Israel must be prepared to fight alone and survive the forthcoming onslaught (ref. Nahum 2:1) rather than place all faith in the goodwill and geopolitical power of America (ref. Isaiah 47:6).
He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
Nahum 2:1
Anyway, that is another point.
Above all, what Israel needs now is a government that is inclined to obey the instructions of the 2 witnesses when they arrive. For those who do not know, the 2 witnesses of Bible prophecy are Elijah (ref. Malachi 4:5) and John (ref. Revelation 10).
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Malachi 4:5-6
It will be the 2 witnesses and the Holy Spirit who will instruct Israel to erect a temple of God on the Temple Mount and to set up the oblation to God (ref. Malachi 3:1-4, Revelation 11:1-3).
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts… And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Malachi 3:1-4
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:1-3
I imagine, the temple will be more a tabernacle or Sukkot like that of Exodus 36 (ref. Amos 9:11), rather than a house like that of Ezekiel 40-48. The house of God prophesied in Ezekiel will be built during the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ himself being “the corner stone”.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Psalms 118:22-23
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:6
Needless to say, a temple of hewn stone would take years to complete rather than days or weeks. Nowadays, the mere suggestion of Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount tends to spark rage among the Palestinians and the wider Muslim world. Logically, a temple of hewn stone would never be completed before the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ.
At the appointed time, there must be a temple of God on the Temple Mount for such is the will of God. Israel must do this, no matter what the Muslim world thinks or even what America thinks (ref. 9).
Prophetically, the forces of the Antichrist will stop the oblation to God, which is a daily sacrifice, and they will place the abomination of desolation (ref. Daniel 11:31, Matthew 24:15). This means there must be a temple of God and an oblation to God beforehand.
Prophetically, the Antichrist will also enter the temple of God and show himself that he is God (ref. 2 Thessalonians 2:4). Again, this means there must be a temple of God beforehand.
Furthermore, prophetically, it will be Jesus Christ who will triumph over the Antichrist and raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen (ref. Amos 9:11).
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old
Amos 9:11
The point is, in due time there must be a temple of God, even if it leads to war.
On war, the Bible is clear. There is a time for peace and a time for war (ref. Ecclesiastes 3:8).
Never forget, the Son of God was manifested so that he might “destroy the works of the devil” (ref. 1 John 3:8).
During his ministry, Jesus Christ dwelt in Nazareth and was called a Nazarene (ref. Matthew 2:23). Nazareth is near Megiddo, or Armageddon, for a reason.
This war, which will be worldwide, will culminate in Armageddon, in the valley of Jehoshaphat (ref. Joel 3:2) which is the valley of Jezreel.
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates… Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a loud voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Revelation 16:12-17
This war will result in the end of the devil’s world, and the beginning of the kingdom of God. Thus it is said, these are the last days!
Now, 4 elections in 2 years are enough to make any voter tire of politics and democracy.
On the day of Christ, Israel will transform from a democracy into a kingdom (ref. Genesis 49:10).
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Genesis 49:10
Remember, when Jesus Christ first came to Israel, Herod was king (ref. Matthew 2:1). After Herod, by decree of Rome there was no more king, and then at some point, Israel was scattered. Thus, the sceptre did depart, as prophesied.
Since 1948, Israel has been governed by a Westminster system of parliament known as the Knesset, bequeathed by the British Empire. Thus, today, Israel is governed by legislators or lawgivers, as prophesied.
At the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Israel will no longer be governed by the Knesset. At that time, Israel will become a kingdom with a king. This is the gospel of the kingdom of God.
References:
1. Raoul Wootliff (22 December 2020), “Knesset rejects bill to delay budget deadline, sending Israel to elections”, timesofisrael.com
2. Gil Hoffman and Cody Levine (22 December 2020), “Election prevention bill fails, Israel headed to elections on March 23”, jpost.com
3. Anshel Pffefer (22 December 2020), “Gantz’s Political Party Was Last Year’s Largest. Now It’s the Walking Dead”, haretz.com
4. Raoul Wootliff (28 January 2020), “Netanyahu indicted for corruption in three cases, in first for a sitting PM”, timesofisrael.com
5. Reuters (9 August 2020), “‘Your time is up’: Thousands protest against Netanyahu over COVID-19 and alleged corruption”, reuters.com
6. Raoul Wootliff (8 December 2020), “Gideon Sa’ar quits Likud, ‘a tool for Netanyahu’s interests,’ to lead ‘New Hope’”, timesofisrael.com
7. Times of Israel (22 December 2020), “Bennett: Goal ‘to replace Netanyahu,’ won’t back bill to let PM avoid legal woes”, timesofisrael.com
8. Times of Israel (25 October 2015), “Netanyahu pledges to prevent Jewish prayer on Temple Mount”, timesofisrael.com
9. Ron Kampeas (5 January 2018), “Trump officials advised Israel to expand Jewish prayer at Western Wall, prevent it at Temple Mount”, jta.org