Some Christians believe that the conflicts in the Middle East are a sign of the end of the world. Why? Select verses in Bible books such as Ezekiel and Zephaniah are believed to predict a “regathering” of Jews in their homeland that would precede the last days. A popular strand of end-times thinking holds that Israel will regain its homeland (yep), rebuild the Temple (not yet), suffer a series of wars (yep) and eventually be the scene of a final battle, Armageddon.
Do Christians think they need to convert Jews in order for the end to come? Yes, some do. For that reason, some Christian ministries are devoted to evangelizing Jews. But others point to Matt. 24:14, which says “the end shall come” only after the good news of Jesus is preached “unto all nations.” Still others stress that the apostle Paul wrote that “as regards election,” Jews “are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable”—suggesting that God’s covenant with Israel is eternal (Rom. 11:28-29).
At what point in all this does Jesus come back? This is debated ad infinitum. Jesus himself said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36).
So is war in Israel good news for believers? There’s genuine excitement among some people that Jesus’ return might be near. But as Tim LaHaye, coauthor of the best-selling apocalyptic “Left Behind” novels, tells Beliefwatch, “I’m praying that this whole thing will die down and that as many lives as possible will be saved.” Some end-times theorists note that if Israel were to be wiped out, it would be a step in the wrong direction, since the establishment of Israel is a precondition for the Second Coming.
How many people believe that this may be the end of the world? It’s hard to say. Christians are not monolithic in their views, and end-times beliefs are varied, disparate and in flux.
