Why Christians Must Keep Israel Strong

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The connection between [evangelical support of Israel because of the Abrahamic covenant, and the biblical prophecies] is that my understanding of prophecy is that the Jews are [literally] in the land. Once Israel was established, there were a lot of people who said, "Wait a minute now. Isn't that what the Book of Revelation says?"

People say that because the state of Israel was established, that proves the end-times are coming and that is why keeping the Abrahamic covenant, keeping Israel strong, is so important-because it's a sign of the end-times.

I think it is a sign of the end-times. But that's not the reason to bless Israel. The reason to do it is because God commanded it..Yes, we're one step closer to the end-times than we were before Israel came back into the land, because my understanding of biblical prophecy is that Israel is established in the land at the time that the events of the Second Coming take place. But the Bible tells us no man knows the hour or the day of his coming.

I think the time described in the Book of Revelation were really bad. But that doesn't mean we can't have a Reformation beforehand. After all, there were 19 centuries between the crucifixion and Israel being back in the land. So I don't support Israel because I want to hasten the Lord's return. The Lord is going to return when he's going to come back. It's not my concern to worry about that. My concern is to do what the Bible commands me to do.

What if Israel is destroyed in this latest conflict? What does that mean theologically?

First of all, that's not likely to happen. If all the Arab countries attacked Israel at once, Israel would defeat them. Any competent military official will tell you the Israeli defense forces would defeat them, and rather badly. But if it did happen, then my assumption would be that it means we'll have to wait a while until Israel goes back into the land. That means the Second Coming is coming later than some expected.