Rising Darkness - Part 3 - The Isolation of Israel

Why does one small nation, about the size of New Jersey, stay at the center of world affairs, and why is hatred of the Jewish people rising in nearly every country? It is not merely a political issue; it is a prophetic one. Zechariah foretold a day when Jerusalem would become a burden to all the nations of the earth. In Part 3 of our Rising Darkness series, we look at another global sign of the last days: the isolation of Israel.

Key Verse: "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." - Zechariah 12:3 (KJV)

From Zechariah 12:1-3, Pastor Marc Williamson traces Israel's story in four movements. Israel's roots: a nation established by God's unconditional covenant with Abraham and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob. Israel's ruin: a nation disciplined by God's judgment after rejecting its Messiah, scattered in A.D. 70, yet preserved through centuries of persecution just as Jeremiah 31 promised. Israel's regathering: a nation resurrected by God's power in 1948, the first stage of the restoration Ezekiel 36 and 37 describe, with a spiritual renewal still to come. And Israel's rejection: a nation increasingly opposed by the world, moving toward the day Joel 3 describes, when all nations gather against it.

Stand on God's promises, support God's people, stay in God's Word, and sing of God's faithfulness. If God keeps His covenant with Israel, He will keep His covenant with all who are in Christ.