Bible Prophecy: Hamas, Gaza Strip, West Bank, ISIS Israel Palestinian Conflict

Chapter 11: Hamas and the Palestinians

Article 11 of the Hamas Covenant states: “Palestine is an Islamic Waqf land consecrated for Moslem generations until Judgement Day”. Hamas and radical Islam therefore see the Islamic domination of the land of Israel as required in order that the last day can come. Article 13 continues: “As in said in the honourable Hadith: "The people of Syria are Allah's lash in His land. He wreaks His vengeance through them””. The Palestinians are therefore open to help from the latter day Syrians- the Islamic State, who are clearly empowering Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Hebrew word 'khamas' is the equivalent for the Arabic 'hamas'; it means strength, violence. And we find that this was the word used to characterize the situation in the earth / land at the time of Noah. God intervened because the earth / land promised to Abraham was filled with suchhamas. We know from New Testament allusion that the situation at the time of Noah is typical of the last days before Christ's coming; the call is to take refuge in the ark of Christ by baptism into Him. The Hebrew word hamas is quite common in Scripture, and the usages speak of how God is provoked by hamas to bring judgment upon the enemies of His people (Gen. 6:11-13; Mic. 6:12; Zeph. 1:9) and also to intervene in order to save His people (Ps. 18:49; Ps. 72:14). How amazingly appropriate that an organization actually called hamas has arisen in these last days to do violence to Israel! If Biblical history means anything to us, clearly enough God's intervention in appropriate judgment and salvation cannot be far off. Note how Hagar's persecution of Sarah- typical of the Arab-Jew conflict- is described as her hamas (Gen. 16:5).

The military arm of Hamas is the Qassam Brigades; kassam in Arabic means ‘divider’, another allusion to the feet part of iron and part of clay, when the Kingdom of Israel’s oppressors shall be “divided” (Dan. 2:41). Hamas means ‘strong’, and the Gaza strip / Hamas controlled area will be part of the final strong / weak, iron / clay entity that briefly dominates the land according to Daniel 2.

Not only does hamas mean ‘strong’. Gaza, their effective capital for the moment, is the Arabic form of the Hebrew word az, ‘strong’, and again connects with the idea of some elements of the latter day entity of Daniel 2 being ‘strong’ and others weak. It is the same Hebrew word used to describe how Israel’s latter day enemy will be “a nation of fierce [az] face” (Dt. 28:50), led by “a king of fierce [az] face” (Dan. 8:23); the fierce nation will be epitomized and embodied in their fierce king, just as the dominating entity of Daniel 2 is embodied in the form of an individual man. The nation with the face of Gaza is forming itself for the final showdown- before our eyes. The Philistines appear to have had their centre of operations in Gaza, at least at the time of Samson (Jud. 16). And the Palestinians likewise. It’s clear that the Palestinian Hamas movement based in Gaza is the equivalent of the Old Testament Philistines who were based in the same city. Jer. 25:20 continues the relevance of Gaza to the feet of iron and clay, partly strong and partly weak, mixed together in the final system which dominates the land; for we read there that Gaza is inhabited by “the mingled [Heb. ereb , cp. ‘Arab’] people”.

The ‘Palestinians’ were historically destroyed not by Israel but by the king of the north: “Howl, gate! Cry, city! You are melted away, Philistia, all of you; for smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks” (Is. 14:31). Historically, God seems to prefer to provoke division and confusion amongst Israel’s enemies so that they turn on themselves and self-destruct. The horns hate the whore riding the beast, and there are many other hints at such a scenario in the last days. The King of the North, a re-formed Babylon, or Assyria redivivus, will likely end up conflicting with Hamas, or the final rulers of Gaza, and likewise destroying them.

The prophecy of Zeph. 2:4-13 must be given due weight:

"Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, with meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks. The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them and restore their fortunes. I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. Therefore, as I live, declares the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them. This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts. The LORD will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations. You also, O Cushites, shall be slain by my sword. And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert".

The "seacoasts" are a very small geographical area. This prophecy has never had such a fulfilment- but God's word will come true. The final victory in the area, however, will be by a "remnant" of Israel, suggesting the majority perish in the last days, just as required in Zech. 14. The fate of Gaza is connected with that of Ashkelon, which is currently in Israeli hands. It would appear that this city must briefly be taken by the Palestinians / Philistines. We note too that the Palestinians / Philistines in Gaza are connected with the people of Cush [North African Moslems, many of whom are fighting for the Islamic State at this time], Moab and Ammon [Jordan / Kurdistan], and a latter day Assyria [which is reforming in the form of the Islamic State / ISIS]. The connection between these groups and Hamas in Gaza is clearly established. The destruction of the 'coastlands', the Gaza Strip, is prophesied as being due to a direct Divine 'intervention'; and that surely speaks of the return of Christ to save the remnant of Israel. The 'remnant' is a term used in Bible prophecy not merely with reference to a numerical minority within Israel, but specifically to the righteous, repentant remnant. The picture seems to be of Israel being crushed militarily until a remnant remain, who repent and turn to Christ. And then He appears for their salvation and the final destruction of their enemies. It's not good news for secular Israel, whatever short term military victories they may achieve in their own strength.

Bible Prophecy Jerusalem: A Cup of Trembling, ...and a Burdensome Stone!

Jerusalem is once again the scene of riots and violence, and it appears that the Government of Israel is either unwilling or else unable to take the necessary action to stop it. There certainly is an unwillingness on the part of Israel to act with sufficient determination, and the reason for their weakness is not difficult to identify as leading world powers issue the usual calls for "restraint" and "justice" etc. The pope, who calls himself "Francis," visited the city just a few weeks ago, but now has fallen silent; he did not condemn the murder of three Israeli teenagers near Hebron and he has not called upon the Palestinian rioters to behave themselves in a more civilized and decent way. They claim that the death of a Palestinian teenager was a revenge attack by right-wing religious Jews, but there is no proof of that - but the case was a handy means of pushing back the sympathy for the three murdered Israeli teens.

Jerusalem has erupted with Arab protests and violence.

We all have access to the news reports and can make our own judgments about the prejudices and bias that is projected. But for the Bible believer there is guidance as to what lies behind the news stories. Of particular relevance is the fact that the Creator of all things is involved in bringing about His own purpose through these events. In the prophecy of Zechariah chapter 12 we read this:

"The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 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. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (verse 1-3).

At a time - and in such an age when the world does not recognize the reality of the Creator, this is telling us that the Creator has revealed his purpose and has spoken -  this is his "burden" (the word literally means "oracle" or utterance). Gesenius' lexicon tells us that the word is meant in a good sense, and the Companion Bible says that the passage is "concerning Israel's affliction and final deliverance."

But what is this "utterance" telling us?

"BEHOLD," Look! Take Note! Here is something to arrest our attention. The Creator tells us that He will "make" Jerusalem a cup of trembling!

Now just check out that word "trembling" - it is Strong number 7478, and has the idea of intoxication, drunkenness (reeling). Many have translated this as "a cup of poison" (e.g. the Hebrew Tanach).

Arabs violent protest.

So the Creator says that He will make Jerusalem an issue that makes the people round about irrational, mad, drunk with hatred! In other words people's minds are poisoned! And it is "the people round abut" (neighbours) who are drunk with hatred. This is "when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem."

What is this "siege"? The word carries the idea of distress, says Gesenius. This is "a period of threatening" says the Companion Bible. This describes the situation today. Look at a map which includes Israel's neighbours - How many friends does Israel have? She is surrounded - besieged - by enemies.

But in Zechariah 12:2 and 3, we can see two stages featured. First, Jerusalem is an issue poisoning all the peoples round about. Secondly Jerusalem becomes "a burdensome stone for all people. The word for "people" in verse 3 is Goy, that is Gentiles who are "gathered together against it." 

This prophecy is parallel to the one in Joel 3:1-2,

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land."

Judah and Jerusalem are at the centre of the controversy; a controversy sparked by the return of the Jews to their ancient land - this is what the troubles in the promised Land are all about. So the Creator says:

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

This expression "a burdensome stone" is interesting. Jerusalem is to be a STONE OF BURDEN that will "cut" or "break" in pieces the people of the earth that are gathered together against it.

This is the "stone" that we read of in Daniel 2:34.

This "stone" is in process of development - of being cut out without hands - it is "the stone of Israel" (Genesis 49:24); "the shepherd and stone of Israel." It is this stone - the Jerusalem stone - which is called the city of the Truth which will smite the enemies of Israel: As we read again:

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain" (Zechariah 8:2-3).

Thus the stone will become a great mountain and fill the whole earth (Daniel 2:35). So it is that while violence and rioting fills the streets of Jerusalem today, the day is coming when the City of the truth, as a stone of burden, will smite the nations, and become the centre of the kingdom of God upon earth under the reign of the shepherd King, Jesus the Messiah.

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