Last month we asked the question, "Why is there such a fuss about Israel"? Why is this tiny county in the headlines nearly every day? Why do many want it destroyed? Does it matter... should it matter to us? In our March article we listed 6 reasons from the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy why it matters from God's viewpoint, and His viewpoint is the only one that really counts!...(1) Israel manifests the Credibility of God- vs. 1-5...(2)...the Closeness of God- vs. 6-7a...(3)...the Communion of God- v. 7b...(4)...the Commandments of God- v. 8...(5)...the Chastening of God- vs. 23-28...(6)...the Compassion of God- vs. 28-31.

Now let me give you 3 more reasons why Israel is so important; (1) The Scriptures came from Israel...(2) The Seers/Prophets came from Israel...(3) The Savior came from Israel. One cannot overstate how much Israel matters to God and figures in our past, present and future!

Most of the Old Testament records the birthpangs, exodus, wanderings, conquests, glory years, backslidings and decline of Israel. Much of the New Testament records the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Israel's Messiah (Jesus), how they tragically rejected Him, but then how 120 loyal, Spirit-filled followers began the Church Age where the Gospel is being preached to all nations.

Consequently, Israel's rejection of their Messiah earned severe Divine judgment. The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D., the nation disintegrated, and the Jews were scattered all over the world where they have been outcasts, treated with suspicion, and have been victims of antisemitism, leading to the murder of over 6 million Jewish people in the Holocaust of World War II.

But miraculously, out of the ash heap of near extermination, Israel again became a nation on May 14, 1948. No nation as ever made such a comeback after nearly 1900 years of non-existence! Since then, Israel has fought and won several wars from invading neighbors. They have completely resurrected the Hebrew language and have made "the desert to blossom like a rose". Jews continue to regather back in their homeland from around the world, even as antisemitic threats are rising and war clouds are on the horizon.

Scripture teaches that after the Rapture of the Church and 7 years of Tribulation upon the world, Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives, rescue Israel from its enemies, and take His rightful place on the throne in Jerusalem, where He will rule and reign for 1000 years. Yes, Israel still matters very much to God, and should matter greatly to every Bible-believing, born-again Christian. I trust you are one of those!

Recently, Jenni and I returned from our 2-week trip to the Holy Land, and were absolutely thrilled with what we experienced in "God's country"! We look forward to sharing a verbal and pictoral report to our church family very soon.

I will close with the words of a song that I wrote after my first visit to Israel ten years ago. After seeing those sacred sights and the crowds who flocked there from all over the world, it occurred to me that they were there, not to see the country of Israel, but to see the land where Jesus came to be born, live and minister, die and rise again. Yes, it was "All Because of Jesus" that they were there! And for me, that summarizes the underlying reason for everything that is important! I hope and pray that you feel that way too!