http://www.cmy.on.ca/newletters/april2003.htm CMY NEWSLETTER
Congregation Melech Yisrael, Toronto, Canada
Vol. 8 No. 7 April 2003/Adar II - Nisan 5763
By Rabbi Jack (Yaacob) Farber
Is there anyone who believes in Mashiach Yeshua (Messiah Yeshua) who does not want Him to return and restore peace on earth? I think that every believer is looking forward to the soon coming of Mashiach. Even the traditional Jewish community wants Mashiach now. We see their slogan "We Want Mashiach Now" on bumper stickers and in their printed materials. So both believers (Jewish and non-Jewish) as well as the unbelieving Jewish community want Mashiach now; or do we?
Scripture tells us that before Mashiach returns there would be a time of great trouble. In fact the L-rd gave the period prior to the coming of Mashiach the name "Ya'acov's (Jacob's) Trouble":
Yermiyahu (Jeremiah) {30:5}For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. {30:6} Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? {30:7} Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. {30:8} For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the L-RD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: {30:9} But they shall serve the L-RD their G-d, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
From this Scripture alone we can see that the coming of Mashiach is preceded by a time of great trouble. Ezekiel also tells us about a time of great trouble before the world totally turns to G-d:
Yechezkel / Ezekiel {38:22} And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. {38:23} Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the L-RD.
The book of Daniel chapters 7-12 also describes a time of great tribulation on the face of the earth prior to the coming of the Mashiach. Then of course we have the words of Mashiach Himself:
Mark {13:7} And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. {13:8} For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. {13:24} But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, {13:25} And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. {13:26} And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
So it should be obvious to any diligent student of the Bible (believer) that prior to the coming of Mashiach there will be war and much tribulation. Considering that we know a time of war and tribulation will precede the coming of Mashiach, what should our attitude be toward current events in the world and more specifically in the Middle East?
No one wants war and I am sure you will not find anyone, other then perhaps a psychopath, who wants to see innocent people; men, woman and children needlessly killed. However the Bible clearly states that wars will take place prior to Mashiach's return. War involves death and that unfortunately includes the death of civilians as well.
We do not understand the ways of G-d. In fact He tells us that His ways are not our ways.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) {55:9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
If not a sparrow falls from the sky without G-d's knowledge, then He is certainly aware of who should die and who will live. Add to that fact that for the redeemed that die, death is a beginning and not an end and then of course there is the resurrection. All who die in Mashiach Yeshua will not die but live eternally with G-d. Therefore if it is necessary for war and tribulation to take place prior to the coming of Mashiach, should we be praying against war, against trouble and tribulation? Should we be protesting against war? Or should we rather be praying, "L-rd we do not want war, we do not want to see innocent people killed, but not our will, Your will be done."
As cruel and self-serving as the African slave trade was, it resulted in the Caribbean Islands being populated by a beautiful race of people, which may have never been there otherwise. As horrendous and diabolical the holocaust was, the State of Israel was reborn out of it. Man may have his own purpose and priorities for war, but its results and outcome and ultimate priority, like everything else is determined by the L-rd.
If then you really want Mashiach now, then according to the Word of G-d you need to be prepared for war, killing, pain, loss, trials, persecution and tribulation because you will not get the former without the latter.
WE REALLY WANT MASHIACH NOW!
