Two end-time prophecies are becoming very relevant, even today. In both cases these literal prophecies will be literally or directly fulfilled towards the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, or just thereafter. But in both cases, it appears that the scene is slowly but surely being set for its fulfilment. In the first instance, the prophecy refers to judgment because of certain actions towards the land of Israel. In the second, it refers to the capital city of Israel, namely Jerusalem.
Joel states the following: For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgement with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.
The above judgment is the same as depicted in the sheep and goat judgment Matthew Shortly after the second coming of Christ, He will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and enter into judgement with them. Why is Satan deceiving the nations cf. Israel is not an end in itself, but the chosen nation will be used to bring glory to God. One purpose of Israel is to be a blessing to the other nations of the world.
As the chosen nation, as a kingdom of priests, Israel is to intercede as priests between the holy God and the wayward nations of the world. The greatest blessing is that God the Son took on human nature by becoming a Jew and, as a Jew, the Messiah is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But there are still many unconditional prophecies regarding Israel and the nations that are yet unfulfilled. Today, during the inter-advent period, Christ is building an international body of believers in Christ โ but the Church is also not an end in itself, but brings glory to God by making disciples out of all the nations.
Israel today is neither perfect nor inhabited by many believers not yet. This has, however, been the case during the past four thousand years. While again stressing that Israel today is not perfect, nations should tailor their foreign policies on the principle of Genesis But instead of blessing Israel, we see the exact opposite today: Satan is deceiving the nations to put pressure on Israel to divide its land and antisemitism more precisely: anti-Jewishness is again increasing.
