I was sitting in a hotel restaurant in Dallas where the pre-Trib Study Group founded by Dr. Tim LaHaye had its annual meetings during the 1990s. We were awaiting delivery of our breakfasts, when I watched a friend—a well known Christian-Jewish ministry television host—approach our table.
He sounded chagrined, his face, according to another friend sitting beside me, not the usual smiling countenance we all were accustomed to witnessing. He shook my hand and I said, using his name, “What’s wrong? You have a bad flight?”
He had just returned from Israel, where he had conducted services and did television programming.
He began by saying in a disgusted tone, “I just don’t know why God made Arabs.”
My reaction was, “Well (his name)…”
Before I could say anything else other than express my being unable to say anything, he said in even a more disgusted tone and with greater fervor, “Well d*** it, Terry, I mean it…”
I was both amused and somewhat amazed to hear such foul language from my great friend.
He went on to explain how one Arab Muslim contingent or the other had physically attacked in an act of terrorism while he and his crew were near the Temple Mount, as I recall. This evil activity, of course, wasn’t unusual, and continues to this day, decades later, and even increases in ferocity, as we’ve recently seen with Hamas’ brutal slaughter of Jews and others on October 7 of the year just past.
Without any doubt, my friend, now gone to be with the Lord, knew better than just about anyone on the planet the story of Abraham going to Sarah’s handmaiden Hagar, how his wife told Abraham to produce a child with Hagar because it was obvious to her that at her age she would have no more children.
My famous friend knew Abraham and Sarah got ahead of God’s great plan to bring Isaac into the world through that couple’s union. The birth indeed happened by the time Abraham’s son by Hagar, Ishmael, became a teenager.
So that, of course, was, to answer my friend’s angrily posed question, why Arabs were eventually “made,” as my friend put it. But his demeanor exemplifies to this day the Jewish-Arab raging differences that seem to have no end in sight.
An article somewhat frames the never-ending things involved in that ever more violent and expansive conflict.
[Regarding the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 and its aftermath, the article states:] But the depth and scope of this crisis require a comprehensive cultural and spiritual rethinking of how we perceive ourselves and the enemy, focusing on the question of why the enemy fights and what we are fighting for.
Hamas and Hezbollah fight out of religious belief. By contrast, we are not clear on our reasons for uniting to fight wars beyond our desire to safeguard our existence and survival.
A.B. Yehoshua once posed an existential question: “Nation of Israel, for what purpose do you live?” Later, he clarified: “Survival is considered the most prominent aspect of the Jewish people…but it is not survival that is the prominent aspect, but rather how it is done, what its agenda is, what values it holds, and primarily, what its cost is.” (A. B. Yehoshua, Haaretz Books Supplement, 20.2.2013)
This question must be applied to clarify the central inquiry: Nation of Israel, for what purpose do you fight, and how do you fight? (“A Clear Post-War National Vision Means Returning to the Roots of Zionism,”Gershon Hacohen, Opinion Algemeiner, Rapture Ready News, January 11, 2024 )
The above piece demonstrates Israel’s blindness to what’s going on with regard to the evil perpetrated incessantly against the Jewish race—against Israel the nation. They can’t get a grasp on all the things that are driving and tugging His chosen people and nation back toward the God who loves them with all of His majestic being.
“Why the Arab versus the Jew?” is a monumental and seemingly insurmountable question, to be sure. Some believe it is the holdup to even world peace, not to mention Mideast regional peace. In fact, to those of us who believe God’s Word is absolutely true in every respect, this is the case. The Jewish/Arab problem will eventually involve the whole world and will ultimately bring all the nations into the killing field called Armageddon.
Zechariah the prophet foretells that Israel will become a “burdensome stone and a cup of trembling” to the entire world. Paul the apostle foretold that there will be a great “cry of peace and safety” that will cause “sudden destruction.”
It is obvious that the great conflict between these antagonists–the Jews and the Arabs—is what is now causing the most profound angst within the world’s diplomatic sphere.
These would-be world masters–the globalist ringmasters—constantly try to force a two-state solution to the great conflict they believe more than any other on the planet threatens the ignition of nuclear war and the end of humankind.
And it is this very matter–the tearing apart of God’s land granted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—by the powers and principalities of the global cabal that will fulfill prophecy that brings everything to a head.
Again, Joel tells of this in the starkest of terms.
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. (Joel 3:1–2)
Many believe the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, could be a primary catalyst for bringing Zechariah and Joel’s prophecies to fruition. Regardless, our witness of Israel now at the center of hatred practically everywhere on earth–especially hatred by the young in universities across the world—lends credence to the likelihood that pressures to force Israel to make peace from many directions could bring God’s great hand of judgment.
That judgment will begin with His calling all believers in His Son, Jesus Christ, out of this world of rebels, to safe harbor in the Rapture. Here is how to be within that safe harbor, while wrath and judgment ravage the planet.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Though the conflict started with Arab vrs. Jew, we have long seen a case of Gentile vrs. Jew throughout history. I think this latter situation is about to go full-bore, based on what is happening across the world. This, of course, is exactly what must come to pass, culminating in the great battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation.
I have always thought it is a case of Satan’s plan to “Kill the Messenger.” Having failed to prevent the birth of the Messiah by having Israel’s enemies of the past destroy her, he wants to stop the course of history in which he is defeated by killing them all off now. This would make Israel’s acceptance of Jesus and subsequent grand destiny in the Millennium impossible. That would mean that God was fallible as far as his omniscience and if this is so, it would make him vulnerable to being displaced.
Of course, the devil’s plan is doomed to fail, but it will not stop him from trying to pull it off, the grim results of which are only intensifying with each passing day.
It gets old hearing Christians blame everything on to Arabs when theyare blind to the atrocities that the Jews have been perpetrating for decadeson the people of Gaza – just because you think that Israel is the chosen people it doesn’t mean God condones their atrocious conduct and will notpour His wrath on them like they deserve at this time. And there are many Christians that do not believe in Dispensationalism andthe Zionist movement which looks manmade to me just like what happenedto Sarah and Abraham when they took it on themselves to bring a child intothe world instead of waiting on God’s timing……….Where is your compassion for the innocent people of Gaza – I am a Christianbut pro-humanitarian not pro Israel or pro Palestine but the more I am seeing how Israel is acting the more I am on Palestine’s side when I was not beforebut God has opened my eyes to see the truth that has been hidden for so longbut October 7th has shone light on the dire circumstances of the way Israel has been treating their neighbors in Gaza and the West Bank.
From the Declaration of the Establishment of Israel:
“THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
From the Hamas Charter:
“Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors.”
“The other Arab and Islamic states are required, at the very least, to facilitate the movement of the Jihad fighters from and to them. We cannot fail to remind every Muslim that when the Jews occupied Holy Jerusalem in 1967 and stood at the doorstep of the Blessed Aqsa Mosque, they shouted with joy: ‘Muhammad is dead, he left daughters behind.’
Israel, by virtue of its being Jewish and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam and the Muslims. Let the eyes of the cowards not fall asleep.”
I doubt that this will change your mind, Elaine, but I’m posting this so anyone who comes to this site can figure out for themselves what the truth really is.
Anyone who has ever seen the accounts and videos of the training programs and camps of the terrorists who indoctrinate their children, from nursery school forward, understands the demonic agenda of those who hate Israel. Their agenda is heartbreaking, and anti-Christ.They hate their own children, and have utterly reprobate minds.
It goes both ways – Israel does the same with their children by indoctrinating them to hate
the Arabs. And the IDF are trained the same and don’t think twice to use Palestinians as target
practice from afar. Both sides are guilty of evil but right now Israel is acting out genocide on
the people of Gaza where half of the population are innocent children.
Do you have proof of your claims about Israel, Elaine? Do you have videos, or other unbiased evidence to support your claims that Israel, as a nation, indoctrinates their young children, en masse, in their schools and training camps, to glorify the murder of Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran?
Does Hamas warn Israel when they are planning to bomb civilians?! Does Hamas back down from its blood-backed agenda, which is openly written into its charter, to destroy Israel, and Christians too? They openly brag about their intentions! Do you realize that the Muslim religion believes they will bring back their Mahdi (savior) only when they implement The Final War? Please study Islam before you defend it. (You can not defend Islam and Jesus, it is not possible.) BTW it is curious that Hamas’ flag is in the same colors as the Four Horsemen of the Book of Revelation.
Now, I ask you, does Hamas build and hide 400+ miles of terrorist tunnels in Gaza so they can easily kill and destroy? Does Hamas (and Hezbollah) fire thousands upon thousands of rockets at Israel continually, to provoke the attacks which generate global sympathy in the ignorant, and billions of $$$ in cash and aid to continue their agenda?! All the while doing this without any regard for their own people! Additionally, Hamas protects its soldiers and munitions inside hospitals, schools, and other “neutral” public places, which is fundamentally against the Geneva Convention. And they don’t care. They laugh at us.
I shake my head at your defense of them. Your position directly conflicts with God’s unending, unconditional promise to Israel in Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This applies to people and to nations.
No one is saying Israel is perfect, but God is watching them. They are in the palm of His hand. He will deal with them according to His plans. Those are all His words, not mine.
Absolutely right, Robin.
Theirs is such a twisted mindset that those of us raised in Judeo-Christian founded societies just can’t wrap our heads around it. As such, too many people just can’t believe it exists and therein lies the peril!
As I said when I posted the documents above, my purpose wasn’t to change your mind, Elaine, and I see it clearly didn’t. History and current events shows that your assertions are incorrect. Jews are not in the habit of teaching hatred of anyone as a matter of course (see Exodus 22:21), which Hamas and its spiritual kindred certainly does.
Robin, your fact-based response was excellent. God chose the Jews, imperfect though they (and the rest of us) may be, to bring the knowledge of himself, and most importantly, the Messiah to the world. Though too people find them objectionable, it does not change the truth of the matter.
elaine3dogs is simply spewing talking points she has heard a thousand times from liberal, Democrat talking heads. Nothing to back up what she claims. She sounds a lot like all these pro-Palestinian activists who do the same thing without really knowing what they are talking about. There are many of these so-called “Christians” out there who vote Democrat, endorse their liberal policies, and keep them in office all the while believing themselves to be good followers of Christ. Just the other day I had one tell me he thought Barack Obama was a “good Christian.” Just wow! These are truly gullible people who will believe what others tell them instead of delving into Scripture for themselves to see what God has to say about it. All anyone need do is go back to the OT to see where God specifically told Israel to wipe these people out. If they had, we might not be dealing with this today. See this paragraph from the following link. “3. To prevent future problems. God knows the future. God knew what the results would be if Israel did not completely eradicate their enemies. The Amalekites were not Canaanites, but they attacked Israel several times and forged alliances with the Canaanites (Exodus 17:8–13; Numbers 14:45; Judges 3:13; 6:3), so they also fell under God’s judgment. King Saul was given the responsibility to exterminate the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:2–3). Saul shirked his duty and lied about it (1 Samuel 15:20). The results were dire—just a couple of decades later, there were enough Amalekites to take David and his men’s families captive (1 Samuel 30:1–2). Several hundred years after that, a descendant of the Amalekites, Haman, tried to have the entire Jewish people exterminated (see the book of Esther). So, Saul’s incomplete obedience almost resulted in Israel’s destruction. If Saul had obeyed the voice of the Lord, it would have saved David’s men and the Jews of Esther’s day a lot of trouble.” I pray God will open this woman’s eyes to the real truth and not the truth she so gullibly hangs onto and thinks she knows. https://www.gotquestions.org/Canaanites-extermination.html
I was married to a so-called Palestinian in my mid-20s to mid-30s. Was an incredibly physically abusive relationship and he was everything bad rolled into one person…an adulterer, a wife beater, a thief, a liar, a cheater (in all ways), and always told me never to make me choose between him or his blood relatives. He got a green card and eventually a US citizenship from our marriage and everyone from my family told me that was all he was in it for. But the marriage did not break up immediately upon him receiving that…lasted a few years beyond. He cheated on me and eventually left and set up house with his alcoholic assistant and immediately began living a debauched lifestyle with her that he would never have been able to live with me. It was then I became born again and I am eternally grateful that God chose to pick me up and comfort me after all those abuse-filled years. Happily single till now in my early 60s and wouldn’t trade that for anything. That relationship formed my opinion about all Arabs and Muslims and so I understand perfectly the sentiment your friend voiced all those years ago at about the very same time I was going thru the above. It was in the early 90s that this all happened to me. God will rescue His as He eventually did me, so I pray the Jews can hang on till He rescues them.
Thank you, jodyel, for your first-hand account of your awful experience. I suspect yours in not at all an isolated instance. Fundamentalist Muslims consider non-Muslims “infidels,” and women, essentially, as personal property. It is a manner of thinking very alien to those of us in the Western World and, as such, we fail to realize just how seriously they take such beliefs.
Thanks for the reply, Ed.
And thank you and robin for trying to get elaine to see sense. I was dismayed when I read her comment. She has apparently not read, or ignored if she has, the OT instructions where God specifically told Israel to completely eliminate these people. If they had, we might not be dealing with this today. Some people just prefer their blinders to truth, and scriptural truth at that.
Jodyel, dismayed is a good description of how I felt as well. It still disturbs me. Terry did an excellent job of intuiting what is likely behind this kind of thinking in his message “An Open Letter to Those Who Have Been Taught That the Church Has Replaced Israel”. How else can one explain the delusion of those who claim faith in Jesus but reject His people and, knowingly or not, instead support the satanic agenda of Islam?
Muslims willingly, and joyfully, sacrifice their women and children. They know how uninformed people will react, crying out against Israel as if they are at fault. They don’t have to defend themselves, the ignorant and anti-semites will do it for them…while the money pours in!
Like you, I have considered God’s command to destroy ALL of the pagans in the land in Canaan, not only for Israel’s protection 3300 years ago, but precisely to prevent what we see today. The Bible proves in every way that God knows what is best. I cling to Romans 8:28 in these dark days.
Women and children have little value to Islam when they wage jihad; they are nothing but cannon fodder. The so-called ‘religion of peace’ is anything but. The Quran teaches they will bring their Mahdi here, along with the end of the present world (and BTW the death of Jesus) through vast bloodshed and war. They then believe they will spend their eternities in a ‘Paradise’ of vice and wanton sex, being allowed to freely indulge in the sins (72 virgins and rivers of alcohol among other things) they claim to have denied themselves on earth.
Pure Christianity is the opposite. We love our families, we don’t sacrifice them through violence and for political agendas. We are called to love our enemies and pray for peace. We don’t look forward to an eternity filled with sin, we long for glorification where we will be like our Savior, spotless and without any of the lusts of the flesh or the pride of life. Christianity = our Triune God, Islam/Hinduism/New Age, and all the rest=Satan.
What do Belial and Jesus have in common? Nothing! And there are times we simply must speak out against any attempt to co-mingle them. It makes me weary, going to battle against the lies and deception that swirl among people who proclaim faith. Yet it must be done. Terry did a beautiful job of clearly defining why NAR and Replacement Theology are so destructive.
If people would prayerfully and diligently study their Bibles, far fewer would be led astray.
Yes, agreed in all with you, robin.
Thank you and Ed also for defending the truth.
God bless you both.
You’re welcome, jodyel.
All we can do is to put the facts out there and hope they will strike a responsive chord, if not to the person we specifically addressed, then to those who might also encounter them. I am glad to be able to contribute toward that end in some small way, at least.
I personally don’t see how anyone who calls him or herself a Christian can be antisemitic, because this means they don’t accept the authority of Scripture. Yes, it is true there are some matters over which we can have legitimate differences of opinion, e.g. old Earth, young Earth;, when someone should be water baptized, what became of Jesus’ foster father Joseph, etc., but not when we have unambiguous statements like those of Genesis 12:1-3; 26:1-4; 28:1-4 regarding God’s blessing upon the Jews. The same principle is certainly true regarding salvation: Jesus and him alone (John 3:16-18; 14:5-6. Acts 4:10-12)- who just happens to be a Jew as well as God in the flesh!
On such matters, there are no valid grounds for argument.
Robin is absolutely right. Hamas’ actions prove that they take what they have expressed in their charter seriously. Based on the accounts of some of the released hostages, it is likely that their are likely few “innocent civilians,” either. Remember that the Gazans freely elected their Hamas leaders to represent them.
We are called to have compassion for the exploited and mistreated. I pray for all the people of the Arab nations, particularly those who are trapped in war-torn environments. But I won’t put their lies and agenda over the truth of what their “leaders” are doing, to them and to Israel. No level of empathy will outweigh what I know is happening.
People’s emotions are exploited and manipulated through wicked rulers and the corrupted media with their complicit lies about what is underway in Israel. I have been to Israel, I have been to the West Bank and I’ve seen first-hand how the people are willingly exploited and yet scream for the world’s compassion when their own terrorist leaders oppress and kill them. This organized exploitation has been going on since 1964 (and Yassir Arafat) if not before. And WE, the USA, are paying for it too, financially.
Amen Robin. The entire world has been paying since Mohammed first began his rampage and it won’t end until Jesus returns.
Maranatha
Great comment, Robin. I feel badly for the kids being poisoned by the environment of hate they are exposed to by outfits like Hamas. I am much less sympathetic toward the adults who are accountable for their own actions.
If anyone thinks the leaders of these organizations care about the people they are supposed to be leading, the fact that they are used as suicide bombers and human shields ought to demonstrate that they don’t!
We know God has a plan, and a reason for everything that happens, and especially to His beloved Israel. It just seems to me this is the reason for the Arabs to exist:
Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
The closer we get to Armageddon, the clearer the words that were sealed become. Abraham unknowingly started the people who would one day be the instrument of punishment for Israel and a catalyst for the wars of the end times, and the reason for Israel to finally recognize their Messiah, Jesus. It seems like that is starting now, with the war in Gaza. Israel will win, but at a cost.
And more of their enemies will see their weakened condition as an opening. Their land will eventually be ravaged by the wars, and so many of their people killed they will be forced to once again leave their land and find a sanctuary. Some among the Jews, messianic believers, know the New Testament, and the prophecies of Revelation. They will see those prophecies unfolding exactly as foretold and will surely speak out to their terrified families and neighbors to reassure them. That punishment, those wars, those exact prophecies being fulfilled, will be the realization for Israel to finally cry out to their Messiah, Jesus, to save them.
Satan is using the Arabs, causing them to start a world-wide cataclysm which the Arabs believe will bring their long awaited and watched for Mahdi, but in doing so they will cause so much pain they will force Israel to acknowledge Jesus and bring His return to earth.
You are right, Bonnie.
You gave a very good summary of what is coming and how it will turn out.
Zechariah 13:8-9 tells us only 1/3 of Israel survives, very likely most of the population having taken refuge and being given divine protection at Petra (Sela – Isaiah 16:1-4). While this is happening, I believe that there will still be defenders left in Jerusalem, probably the IDF, when the forces of the Antichrist attack during the Armageddon conflict. It will be a losing battle and half the city will fall. But in the midst of this Jesus will return to put a stop to it (Zechariah 14:1-21).
The mahdi and Antichrist may very well be the same person. The former is supposed to be hiding out in a well and comes forth from there. The latter ascends out of the pit. Both exploit a time of chaos and both make messianic claims. Whether they are or not, it is clear they are empowered for Satan himself.
Yes, Ed, it’s eerie that the two entities, Mahdi and the antichrist, have so many similarities in their prophecies. It’s also very telling that the Muslims are obviously not being guided by God.
I, and I’m certain all His children, am/are so very thankful to our Father that he will have removed us from those end-times horrors so we will not be subjected to the punishment that the sinful, unbelieving world will be forced to endure. What an amazing God we have. So merciful and forgiving. He is far beyond our feeble human abilities to able to express our thankfulness and gratitude.
Personally, I do love this earth he gave us for our earthly home. Such indescribable beauty all around us. Vast fields of flowers and incredible sunrises and mountains…and the heavens he created for us to marvel at! Nevertheless, I wait anxiously to be called Home. Please Lord, soon.
If there can still be awe-inspiring beauty here in this sin-damaged universe, imagine what heaven must be like!
I can’t wrap my around the fact that God came down here to live among us and then suffered the kind of humiliating and ghastly death that he endured to save people who could, even on their best day, ever deserve it.
Incredible!