The cry of Jihad (holy war against all infidels) is setting the world at high alert! Truly, radical Islamic fundamentalism is a new and ominous foe, creating chaos and fear. Why? Religious fanaticism fueled by hatred and religious bigotry can be irrational and brutal. And, second, terrorism is the primary implement of war used by these religious fanatics.

This worldwide terrorism is one of the signs of the end of the age: "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again," and "...men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world..." Matthew 24:3, 21, 22; Luke 21:26 NIV.　

                                                                A GENERATION OF TERRORISM

Terrorism is an effective weapon in the hands of those who desire to coerce and intimidate. It is cheap and illusive - the poor man’s military strategy. Unlike guerrilla warfare against military targets, terrorism is aimed at civilians and is designed to instill fear in as many people as possible with the least amount of effort.

The advent of world terrorism was launched in 1970 with the bombing of a Swiss Air Flight en route to Tel Aviv, murdering 47 passengers and crew. Just eight months later, four planes bound from Europe to the United States were hijacked. Three of the planes were taken to Jordan to be part of an overthrow attempt by Yasser Arafat which ultimately caused the death of over 2,000 people. In 1972, at the Munich Summer Olympic Games, nine Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed. The common thread of these terrorist activities? Hatred for the Jews.

Although Israel has confronted the threat of terrorism every day for decades, a worldwide war on terrorism was not declared until it reached the soil of the United States. Since 9/11, billions have been invested to stop the terror. But, much to the amazement of allied world leaders, terrorism has not stopped. On the contrary, it has escalated.

Israel, either directly or indirectly, is the central target of the majority of terrorist attacks, and anyone who supports Israel is drawn into the target. Since the beginning of the Oslo Peace Process in 1993, over 1,200 Israelis have died at the hand of Arab Palestinian terrorism, and there have been over 8,000 Israeli casualties, not to mention the mental toll it has placed upon all the people of the region.

After Oslo, a new form of terrorism became increasingly common - bus bombings. These attacks were especially vicious. Noting the effectiveness of terror, suicide bombings spread rapidly to all areas where civilians congregate: restaurants, weddings, shopping malls, and holiday celebrations. There is no question that terror has greatly burdened the daily lives of the Israelis.

The greatest escalation of terrorism in history came after the historic peace talks of Camp David in 2000, when Israel offered a generous plan that would have relinquished to the Palestinians virtually the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip plus shared control over Jerusalem. Instead of accepting this incredible offer of land for peace, the Palestinian response was to launch a second Intifada so bloody that suicide bombings occurred nearly every day. Under severe provocation, Israel had to take drastic measures and reenter the Palestinian cities that had been granted autonomy under Oslo.

Israel’s generous withdrawal from her land has never brought peace with the Arab terrorists who live within her borders, only a louder cry of Jihad, more hatred, and a renewed fervor to declare their desire for all of Israel. Sadly, the Palestinian response to the Oslo Peace Process has been a tragedy for Israel.

Yet another enemy of Israel looms upon the horizon. Imminently threatening is Iran. It is estimated that Iran has produced enough enriched uranium to manufacture a nuclear arsenal. Such volatile weaponry in the hands of unstable regimes and radical religious factions is global disaster waiting to happen.

Many fear that Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Shi’a Islamic fundamentalist, actually relishes a clash with the West in the conviction that it would rekindle the spirit of the Islamic revolution and speed up the arrival of Islam’s expected messianic-like figure who will bring cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed to the infidels.

On June 6, 2008, a Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Shaul Mofaz, warned, "If Iran continues its nuclear weapons program, we will attack it. Other options are disappearing…The sanctions are not effective. There will be no alternative but to attack Iran in order to stop the Iranian nuclear program." Iran's Defense Minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, replied on June 10, 2008, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is a well established, stable, and strong political system and our armed forces are at the peak of strength, and as a result, if anyone would venture to make such a foolish thing, Iran's reaction would be very painful."

We don’t know specifically what will develop between Israel and other Middle East governments. But, as Christians, what we can learn from Bible prophecy is that God’s promises are sure to Israel. God chose Israel out of all other nations to be a channel of His blessings to the world. God calls Israel the apple of His eye, His Firstborn, His Inheritance. Zechariah 2:8; Exodus 4:22; Isaiah 19:25

Yes, God has not abandoned His oathbound covenant to Israel through their father Abraham. "...blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes…" Romans 11:25-28

Israel is fulfilling Bible prophecy! Her regathering as a nation was one of the signs of Christ’s return to establish his everlasting Kingdom. (Matthew 24:32) "...I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David... that the residue of men might seek after the Lord..." (Acts 15:14-18) God’s Kingdom, with Christ as His honored agent, will be one of righteousness, unselfishness and peace beginning in Jerusalem and then spreading to the entire world.

Though Israel is now the center of trouble and terrorism in the world today, God’s peace plan will make her a praise in all the earth. (Isaiah 62:7)

Jerusalem will become the capital of the world and the center for lasting world peace, not only for the Jews, but for all who humble themselves and learn to love the righteous Laws of God. "Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem… In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Zechariah 8:22, 23