"The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.” (Prov. 21:18)

Yeshua came the first time to pay our debt for sin (the righteous Yeshua sacrificed for wicked mankind). He will come again not for sins, but for salvation (Hebrews 9:28) to redeem us physically from the enemies of G-d who desire to rule over the world and all the people in it. This physical redemption will bring about a similar deliverance such as occurred when G-d led the Israelites out of Egypt by the hand of Moses: The Egyptians were drowned in the sea and the Israelites were set free.

“For I am the L-rd your G-d, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, *Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. (Isaiah 43:3 NASB)

* Cush was the eldest son of Ham and Seba was his son, both of whom settled in Arabia and the Upper Nile area known as Cush.

The ‘Substitute Sacrifice’ religious ritual was established by G-d, and culminated in Yeshua’s death, the righteous Lamb being sacrificed for unrighteous mankind. But the reverse will be true when the L-rd returns: the unrighteous [Israel’s enemies] will be sacrificed for the righteous [Israel being kept ‘righteous’ by its relationship to G-d]. Two major examples pointed to this end-time principle: Both Egypt (Isaiah 43:3) and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:44-46) were ‘sacrificed’ for Israel. Egypt is a ‘type’ of the world where Israel is held ‘captive’ by wealth, comfort, or just ‘exile’. Goliath represents the size of Israel’s enemies in comparing Israel’s enemies to the tiny nation in the Middle East.

The surrounding Muslim nations tried to prevent the re-establishment of Israel in 1948 but to no avail, since it was G-d who declared it (Isaiah 66:8). The enemy (Satan) knows with this turn of events, his time is short. He, therefore, influences people in the world, especially Muslims to oppose Israel, seeking to destroy as many Jews as possible since G-d’s Word says He will use the Jews to destroy His enemies. 

“He [G-d] says, ‘You are My war-club, My weapon of war; And with you I shatter nations; And with you I destroy kingdoms.’” (Jeremiah 51:20)

“For the L-rd of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like His majestic horse in battle…They will be as mighty men, treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; And they will fight, for the L-rd will be with them; And the riders on horses will be put to shame. (Zechariah 10:3b, 5)

The Koran (the Muslim’s holy book) says that before the Muslims can triumph, all Jews must be gathered to Israel. And when they do, Muslims will assemble from all over the world to crush Israel. So, the Muslims are waiting for all the Jews to be settled in Israel while at the same time trying to annihilate them before they can get there.

Not coincidentally, the Word of G-d says that Yeshua is waiting in Heaven for the day when His enemies will be gathered at His footstool (Acts 3:21). The Bible says that the Temple of G-d is His footstool (1 Chron. 28:2; Lam. 2:1; Psalm 99:5, 132:7; Acts 2:35, Heb. 1:13). The writer of the Book of Hebrews in quoting Psalm 110:1 says that G-d will make His enemies His footstool. In other words, G-d will draw His enemies to Israel, to the Temple Mount in order to destroy them. The prophets Micah and Ezekiel record that Day.

“And now many nations have been assembled against you … But they do not know the thoughts of the L-rd, and they do not understand His purpose; For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. ‘Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for your horn I will make iron and your hoofs I will make bronze, that you may pulverize many peoples…’” (from Micah 4:11-13)

 “…Thus says the L-rd G-d, ‘On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? You [G-d’s enemies] will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you… a mighty army; and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.” (Ezekiel 38:14-16, and all Ezekiel chapter 38)

G-d told the prophets Obadiah and Joel that for those who are violent towards “Jacob”, He promises a day of retribution.

“For the day of the L-rd draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.” (Obadiah 15)

“I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the *Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.” (Joel 3:2)

*The valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives

G-d will bring the armies of the world [Gog] to Israel, to His footstool in order to pour out judgment upon them.

“I will turn you [Gog] about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army…in the latter years you will come into the land …whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. … [Y]ou will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.” (from Ezekiel 38:4-9)

Today, many nations are taking a stand against G-d’s people. Jews are being persecuted around the world and the Nation of Israel is being threatened with annihilation. 

“O G-d, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O G-d, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar and those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant.” (Psalm 83:1-5)

However, as believers in the Word of G-d, we have a prophetic word made more sure (2 Peter 1:19) which is our lamp shining in a dark place….

“The L-rd brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the L-rd stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:10-11)

As we see the rise of anti-Semitism and hatred for Christians around the world, pray fervently that the L-rd will make Jerusalem the praise of all the earth (Isaiah 62:7) because He is about to resume the Sacrificial System, Israel’s enemies for the Nation of Israel.

Kee Va Mo'ed!  (The Appointed Time Has Come)