Who is Israel?

Submitted by Kepha (United States), Sep 6, 2021 at 07:40

Much as I respect modern Israel as a US ally, gladly recognize Jewish contributions to civilization, and would see the destruction of the current state of Israel as a disaster, I do not see Mideast events as fulfillment of biblical prophecy. As a Christian, I see the prophecies of the Old Testament as yea and amen in Jesus the Messiah, and the Israel of God as that worldwide fellowship, Jew or Gentile, gathered about him--not in a corner of Middle Eastern real estate. If a third temple is rebuilt, it would have no significance, for the final atonement and bearing of our sins was made by Jesus Christ when he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the triumph is when he rose on the Third Day.

The Afghan intervention was a debacle for a large number of reasons. Ever since accepting Islam, Afghanistan has been pacified only by the likes of Hulegu and Timur, who raised piles of skulls outside the cities that resisted, sold myriads of women and children into slavery, and ensured that many descendants of the survivors would look like their troops for the next 900 years (think the Hazara, Aimaq, and Mogholi)--tactics that would get US soldiers court-martialed. Afghanistan's default position is division and bloody feuds; its export is jihadis (think Babur Shah's forces). Afghanistan relishes its place as the portal to Hell for its own people and outsiders alike. Further, that the USA had to depend on "allies" like Pakistan is yet another reason the venture was foredoomed. We should've called it quits when OBL was dead.

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