by Mike James

Luke 21:20 says this: “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh (KJV).” I have run into a couple “church people” over the past few weeks who have been concerned by the recent fighting in and around Jerusalem. They are concerned if this could be significant in regard to biblical prophecy. My opinion at the moment is, no. 

Over the past few weeks 232 Palestinians and 12 Israelis died due to rocket and precision bombing. A cease-fire was reached on May 20 between Israel and Hamas militants after 11 days of violence. But let’s not forget about the violence between Palestinians and Israelis in 2014. During that conflict, which lasted weeks, thousands died. Prior to that, there were many more days of deadly violence between these two peoples.

The recent violence was precipitated by running clashes between Palestinian protesters, Israeli police, and far-right Israelis around the Old City of Jerusalem. Tensions had been brewing due to a court effort by a Jewish settler group to evict six Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, a mostly Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Almost daily protests have increased in the neighborhood as Israel’s Supreme Court prepares to rule on the decades-long property dispute. 

Most of the recent violence before the rocket attacks by Palestinians and precision bombing (using war planes and drones) by Israel occurred at and around the holy site known as the Temple Mount by Jews and the Noble Sanctuary by Muslims. Many Palestinians wanted to pray there during Ramadan, the fasting month of Muslims that ended in mid-May. The large crowds around Ramadan intensified the clashes between the Jews and Palestinians leading to the larger violence.

Despite recent normalization of relations with other Arab countries (Sudan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco), Israel has not found a way to live in peace with the Palestinians. Perhaps when there is peace between Israel and the Palestinians we may need to be much more watchful of what is happening (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Jerusalem was certainly surrounded by Roman armies right before it’s destruction in A.D. 70. Many believe Luke 21:20 tells us this will happen again before the return of Christ. But if we look at the military situation in and around Israel today, this does not appear to be possible in the near term. 

Israel has become the superpower of the Middle East. Israel has a larger defense budget than that of Iran and it has more and better war planes than Iran. Israel also has the only nuclear weapons in the region. Estimates are that it possesses 100 nuclear warheads. The Israeli Iron Dome air-defense system is not invulnerable, but after the recent violence only 12 Israelis died when over 4,000 rockets were launched into Israel.

What would have to happen for Israel to be surrounded by armies? The Arab countries around Israel would have to become much more powerful militarily than they are right now. But even if they did, the United States remains a solid ally of Israel and would not allow Israel to become vulnerable to a land attack.

Other possible scenarios include a reduction in the power of the United States or Israel. I don’t see that in the short term, but anything is possible in the long term. With nuclear weapons, Israel can stand up to anyone, but what if Iran develops a nuclear weapon? The carnage of a limited exchange between Iran and Israel could lead the world to step in and declare a nuclear free zone. Could armies surround Jerusalem to enforce peace? Whose armies? 

All of these ideas are highly speculative. But we must be watchful (Matthew 25:13) of what is happening in the land of Israel because Scripture tells us it will be at the center of things in the crisis at the close of this age. Don’t forget to also be more watchful of yourself and how you operate in the world. That is more important than the exact day and hour of our Lord’s return.

Sources:

“Violent Clashes, Rocket Fire Shake Jerusalem,” by Steve Hendrix and Shira Rubin, The Washington Post, May 11, 2011.

“Israel, Gaza Exchange Mounting Fire,” by Steve Hendrix and Shira Rubin, The Washington Post, May 12, 2011.

“Israel’s Retaliatory Strikes on Gaza Cause Widespread Damage, Disruptions,” by Hazem Balousha, The Washington Post, May 12, 2011.

“The Only Way to Solve the Israeli-Palestinian Problem,” by Fareed Zakaria, The Washington Post, May 21, 2021.

“Cease-Fire Begins Between Israel, Hamas,” by Steve Hendrix, Loveday Morris, Shira Rubin, and Hazem Balousha, The Washington Post, May 21, 2021.

“How Hamas Amassed Thousands of Rockets to Strike at Israel,” by Isabel Debre, Associated Press, in the Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2021.

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