Horrifying pictures have emerged of Israeli civilians shot dead in the streets. By now, some 250 Israelis have been killed, and 1500 wounded (ref. 1). Never before has there been an attack or an act of terror from Gaza like this.
Apart from the shootings of unarmed civilians, there have been several reports, and even some footage, of Palestinian gunmen kidnapping Israeli soldiers and civilians, especially Jewish women and children, and taking them back to Gaza as hostages (ref. 2, 3, 4).
This thing of abducting and removing Jewish individuals and families from Israel will happen more and more in these last days as the conflict goes on, because the objective of many Islamists is to empty the land of Israel and claim it.
… for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
Nahum 2:2
… for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Joel 3:2
Later on, perhaps when the Assyrian himself, the epitome of evil, gains control of the northern half of Israel (ref. Isaiah 17:3), Islamists will even enslave individual Jews and trade those individuals including children like commodities (ref. Joel 3:3-7). As a result, some might be scattered to places such as Greece.
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink… The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
Joel 3:3-6
So when the Assyrian stands up, it will be a time of unprecedented danger and difficulty. In the Bible, this is described as the time of Jacob’s trouble.
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Jeremiah 30:7
A contingent of some size of the IDF will push at him when he and his armies come towards Israel from the north (ref. Daniel 11:40). However, because of the numbers on the other side, and because of the involvement of demons, the IDF will not be able to gain or hold ground and will instead be forced back.
The great tribulation of Israel begins at the moment of the abomination of desolation, something that I will explain in detail another time.
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:21-22
This is why when the abomination of desolation occurs, Israeli civilians must flee to the mountains and the desert of the Negev. This area is not only more or less the land of Judah but it also happens to be the stronghold of today’s IDF.
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Matthew 24:16-20
This place of refuge is the “wilderness” of Revelation 12, where the woman which brought forth the man child, namely the holy line of Jacob that birth Jesus Christ, can survive for 3.5 years.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 12:6
More likely than not, the wings of a great eagle given to the woman are those of the archangel Michael.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Revelation 12:14
Right now, the archangel Michael is the strongest creature on earth. So, he is the protector of Judah at this time of trouble.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1
… and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come…
Joshua 5:13-14
Having this protection, Judah and also the IDF will survive the siege of the armies of the Assyrian, which will comprise 10 nations.
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:2
Later on, when the siege is lifted by God, who is the LORD of hosts, the IDF with the help of the archangel Michael will be in a position to exact vengeance on the Devil’s armies. This will be a time of glory for the IDF.
The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
Zechariah 12:8
Every nation that besieged Jerusalem is to be destroyed. Israel will be a part of this endeavour.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:9
I should also point out that it is the will of God that ultimately Gaza is to be completely wiped out.
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant… And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah… for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
Zephaniah 2:4-7
Now, another interesting thing is that the Israel Defence Forces codenamed their operation “Swords of Iron”. Iron, as in “the rod of iron”, brings to mind Jesus Christ himself (ref. Psalms 2:9, Revelation 12:5) and also the saints of Jesus Christ (ref. Revelation 2:27).
One of the first things that the saints will do on behalf of God is set free the prisoners of the nation of Israel who have been enslaved by Islamists and scattered from the land of Israel (ref. Isaiah 49:9, Isaiah 42:7, Joel 3:7).
Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them…
Joel 3:7
Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob [Jesus Christ].
Isaiah 49:22-26
So, Jewish saints will be reaped by angels and translated on the day of the LORD. But the rest of the elect who are enslaved and scattered will be rescued by saints and angels some time after that.
Because angels and saints are both servants of God, the hope of Israel, hatikvah, is the Messiah, the Son of man Jesus Christ, who is also essentially God the Father, namely the LORD.
… the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Joel 3:16
References:
1. CBS (7 October 2023), “At least 250 killed in unprecedented Hamas attack in Israel; prime minister says country is at war”, cbsnews.com
2. twitter.com/Israel/status/1710690179558555708
3. twitter.com/indianaftali/status/1710742131499786738
4. twitter.com/AmbMeron/status/1711065374433718407