Last month, Moody Bible Institute had the great privilege of a visit from Joel C. Rosenberg, (www.joelrosenberg.com), New York Times best-selling author of novels and non-fiction books which address current events, Israel and the Middle East, and the threats that our world faces today.
While I have yet to delve into any of his best-selling non-fiction books, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a number of his fiction works. Rosenberg’s novels are not only a thrilling read; they are also incredibly informative and educational looks at real life current events. Sean Hannity said of Rosenberg’s novel The Last Jihad that it “Feels ripped from tomorrow’s headlines.” And I couldn’t agree more. But Rosenberg also offers something that you won’t find in the headlines: a solid biblical perspective on the very bleak picture of our world.
So, it was with eager anticipation that BJ and I listened to Joel C. Rosenberg address our student body, and warn us of three threats to America, Israel & the Church in the Mideast. Citing Ezekiel 33, Joel pointed “some 1,600 future Christian leaders,” to the example of the prophet Ezekiel, whom God raised up to be a watchman over His people Israel, to warn them of impending threats and call them to repent of their sin. With this sobering text as his platform, Joel urged us to take seriously the responsibility we have been given by the privilege of our training here at Moody, and called us to action as watchmen for God’s people – Israel and the Church.
According to his assessment, there are three grave threats of which we, as watchmen, should be aware. They are as follows.
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“America is not simply in decline. We are heading for collapse, for implosion.”
This is a bold statement, and it may startle you. But it is not the unfounded claim of a doomsday radical or crazed date-setting cult leader. It it is the well considered assessment of a Biblical scholar and well informed former aide to Israel’s current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky.
I doubt, however, many would disagree that our nation is in trouble. As Joel pointed out, (and discusses in depth in his book Implosion: Can America Recover From Its Economic & Spiritual Challenges In Time? – purchase here) our nation has committed many grievous sins from which we may never recover. The gravity of the situation is clear, if we consider our ever growing national debt, brokenness of the American family, divorce rates, children born to single parents, increasing violent crime, drug and pornography use, etc. But according to Rosenberg, the greater tragedy is the death of more than 55 million children whom our nation has legally murdered since 1973. In his own words, Joel said, “America faces the implosion because we face divine judgment for murdering so many unborn children.”
Perhaps it is not too late, but there is little time left. There must be national repentance – a third Great Awakening – Joel urged us. Perhaps God will have mercy on our nation, but we must turn back now.
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“What happens if — on top of all our nation’s challenges and sins — America abandons or turns against Israel?”
Before Israel had even been birthed as a nation, God made a promise to Abraham to bless his descendants and those who bless them. Furthermore, He states clearly that those who curse Israel will be cursed, (Genesis 12:3). God’s blessing of Israel is affirmed in Psalm 122:6-9, in the psalmist’s entreaty,
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ‘May peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.”
Our responsibility could not be more clear. We must pray for, love, serve, and advocate for the nation that God has chosen and treasured – His People, Israel. To do so will mean blessing. By failing to do so, we bring a curse upon our nation. Rosenberg laid it out simply,
“Clearly, people all over the world, including in America, need to:
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pray for peace in Jerusalem, Israel and the broader Middle East
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pray for Jews and Arabs in the epicenter
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love Jews and Arabs in the epicenter
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seek the good of Jews and Arabs in the epicenter”
On that persuasive note, I urge you to consider the following.
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“Followers of Jesus Christ who love Israel and understand God’s Biblical plan for Israel must not be blind to the suffering in the Arab, Iranian, and Muslim world, nor deaf to their cries for help, nor dull to the terror and tyranny they face.”
We cannot pray for the peace of Israel without interceding on behalf of her neighbors. And we cannot pray for the Middle East – the Epicenter, as Rosenberg calls it – without being brokenhearted for the suffering our fellow Christians are facing there. The world may be slow to act, or even turn blind eyes to the suffering our Arab brothers and sisters face, but we, the Church, are called to actively love one another, so that all the world can see our love (John 13:35). We cannot stand by and watch as the Body of Christ suffers. Joel said it so well,
“We need to PRAY for peace and healing and stability and calm in the region, and for open doors for the Gospel.
We need to GIVE to ministries that are doing effective work in the region, ministries like The Joshua Fund.
We also need to be willing to GO to the region if God sends us there to serve Him and serve the people in the name of Jesus.
Is this hard? Yes.
Is this dangerous? Sometimes.
But Jesus laid down His life in love to save us. Will you and I lay down our lives in love to serve Him?
When people and nations are in danger, will you and I blow the trumpet and sound the warning?
May the Lord use you as a faithful watchmen on the wall.”
How will you respond to Rosenberg’s challenges? As believers in Jesus, we have been given light – through God’s Word and through the Holy Spirit who illumines it to us. As light-bearers, all believers are called to be watchmen. And we will be held accountable for what we do with the Light we have been given.
Will you sound the alarm?
Let us be your representatives to the nation of Israel by partnering with us through prayer and financial donations to our training and ministry. Check out our website for more information.
*Video of Joel C. Rosenberg’s message at Moody is available here and you can read his notes on his blog here.
**You can learn more about Joel C. Rosenberg and order his books here on his website.(His upcoming novel about ISIS, “The Third Target,” is now available for pre-order.)
