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Autumn 2021
This is an excerpt from Tony Pierce article Light of Days.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s record 12 year run as Israel’s prime minister ended on June 13th as parliament approved a new ‘government of change.’ Naftali Bennet is Prime Minister for the next two years, after which Yair Lapid will take over as PM. The new government is made of a number of differing factions. Naftali Bennet is well to the right of Netanyahu politically and has in the past called for Israel to annex parts of Judea and Samaria. Lapid is a centrist liberal, who supports a Palestinian State, but opposes the division of Jerusalem. The coalition is made up of right wing, centre and left wing parties, some of which want Israel to leave the West Bank altogether and an Arab Islamist party which presumably would like to see a Palestinian Arab state replacing Israel. For the first time in Israeli history it does not contain any of the religious parties in Israel. One Israeli commentator likened it to a car with four wheels all pointing in different directions, whose only point of unity is their desire to remove Netanyahu from power.

Netanyahu may have had his faults, but he did manage to create a strong Israel, able to resist the threat from Iran and its allies. He also made peace settlements with a number of Arab countries and increased a positive influence for Israel in much of the developing world, as it exported its phenomenal achievements in agriculture, technology and medicine. He welcomed Christian support of Israel and acknowledged God as the one who had given the Jewish people the land. He stood for the Zionist programme of Israel’s restoration as the Jewish homeland, based on the Bible and history, unlike many of the factions that make up the present coalition. His ouster will encourage anti-Zionist elements inside and outside of Israel.

Regarding the present coalition, Naftali Bennett has made a public commitment to the Bible (see our section ‘Bible binds Israel to America). On the other hand one of Yair Lapid’s first acts as Foreign Minister was to hoist the Gay Rights rainbow flag on the flagpole outside the Foreign Ministry. Where will he take Israel, when (if) he takes over as Prime Minister in two years’ time.

There is a prophecy in the Bible of an end time government of Israel which will be made up of ‘scornful men’ who will make a ‘covenant with death’ to save themselves from an ‘overflowing scourge’ (danger of invasion):

‘Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol / hell we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” Isaiah 28.14-15.

This prophecy indicates that at the time of the end there will be a government in Israel that will scorn God’s word and covenant and will agree to a ‘covenant with death’. This covenant will not stand and will lead to ‘the overflowing scourge passing through’ (an enemy assault). At this time it will be ‘a terror just to understand the report’ – in other words the news will be terrible.’ (Isaiah 28.18-19). Time will tell whether this government will move Israel in this direction, but we do see factions within it which reject the Bible and biblical moral values.

Isaiah’s prophecy indicates that there will be a group of people who will make the right decision at this time and believe in the Lord and His Messiah:

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily. Also I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet.” Isaiah 28.16-17.

These ones will not act hastily or rashly but with faith as they believe in the Lord. The reference to the ‘precious cornerstone, the sure foundation’ is significant because this speaks of the Messiah:

‘I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation (my Yeshua / Jesus). The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.’ Psalm 118.21-23.

This verse is quoted or alluded to six times in the New Testament, pointing to its fulfilment in Jesus (Matthew 21.42, Mark 12.10, Luke 20.17, Acts 4.11, Ephesians 2.19-20, 1 Peter 2.6).

‘Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2.6.

The Messiah will bring real peace and safety to Israel at His return. Scripture indicates that before this happens a temporary peace may come through the covenant spoken of in Isaiah 28 and in Daniel 9.27. This will be a false peace mediated by one, who offers peace and safety, but brings the exact opposite:

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5.3