The Rage and Recompense of the Nations
Unmistakably, the tide of intolerance toward the nation of Israel has increased in recent times. The Anti-Defamation League reports that in the US during 2024 more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents were reported, up one third from the previous year, the most incidents recorded in a 12-month period by the organisation since it began tracking in 1979. Similar statistics are recorded in the UK, with the BBC reporting that antisemitic incidents were at a record high during 2024. Stemming from wicked Cain (Gen 4:17), and with Nimrod cementing the foundation stones in Genesis 10:10, Babylon has ever sought to oppose the great kingdom program of our God. Sadly, its influence on the nations has been profound, and since the days of Abraham there has been a persistent onslaught on the people whom God chose for Himself.
At times, God sovereignly chose to use various nations to punish His own people. We well know that the 12 tribes were taken captive by the Assyrians and Babylonians, and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and many other prophets make it abundantly clear that God will again use the kingdom of Babylon to sift His people in tribulation days. Incredibly, between now (2025) and the final 7-year period of “Jacob’s trouble,” God will somehow allow Israel to find favour with the world. It will be when they are living in “unwalled villages” and “are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,” “when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (Eze 38:11; 1Th 5:3).1 In His omniscient wisdom, the Lord will equally use this opportunity to finally recompense the evils of these nations, culminating with the great and final judgment of the actual kingdom of Babylon itself. That “mother of all harlots” will be forever crushed (Isa 13-14; Jer 50-51; Rev 14-18). “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15). Well may the Psalmist lament, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” (Psa 2:1).
The Repentance and Reconciliation of the Nations
The present population of the world is recorded at a little over 8.2 billion. Approximately 2.5 billion identify as “Christian,” but the Rapture of the Church will prove that number to be significantly lower, meaning there will be billions left among the nations to face tribulation days. References such as Zechariah 13:8, Revelation 6:8 and Revelation 9:15 declare plainly that vast numbers of Jews and Gentiles shall die in these days, leaving but a fraction of earth’s population alive at the second coming of Christ.
Following the battle of Armageddon and the triumphant fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9, our Lord will sit upon the throne of His glory and administer righteous judgment upon the nations (Mat 25:31-46).
Although we are clear that certain nations shall pass out of existence, it’s evident that as a result of tribulation judgment, true repentance shall occur, and numerous nations shall retain their identity (Zec 12-14; Mat 10:32-42; 25:34-46). In amazing grace, God shall extend mercy to them, Isaiah confirming that “in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (11:10).
Isaiah 60 reminds us that Gentile nations such as Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar, Nabaioth, who sprung from both Hagar and Keturah, will receive the glorious welcome, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mat 25:34). “Tarshish” in the west, “Pul and Lud” in the south, “Tubal and Javan” in the north and “the isles afar off” (Isa 66:19) shall be included in that glorious day. And who would have thought that Egypt with all its oppression of the Jewish people would inherit the inestimable blessing of joining that millennial throng (Zec 14:18)? And the next time you read of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, be reminded that the salvation of this one man was not the only thing on God’s mind; He foresaw that the nation of Ethiopia itself would also be spared to share in Christ’s millennial glory (Psa 68:31). Many others will also. Even the fact that the mighty nation of “Magog” will again rise against Christ at the end of the Millennium proves it retained its place (Rev 20:8).
The Restoration and Reverence of the Nations
Recently while viewing a news video, I watched aghast as Arab children in a refugee camp made gestures of beheading towards their Israeli guards. As we observe such palpable hatred for the Jewish people, let’s stand in awe that our God will not only retain the identity of nations that presently despise the Jews, but will see to it that the hearts of such people are truly converted! In His rule of perfect peace, Christ shall bring justice to the nations and enlighten the hearts of millions (Isa 42:1; 60:3).
Many of the references already quoted prove that the Gentile nations, including the very offspring of these Arab children which presently desire the destruction of Israel, will lavish upon the Jewish people and upon their Lord extravagant gifts brought from their own lands. Incredibly, “it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (Zec 14:16). “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” (Zec 8:23). Habakkuk teaches us that following the final obliteration of the Chaldeans (Babylon), “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab 2:14). The Lord Himself reminds us through the prophet Malachi that “from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts” (Mal 1:11).
What can we say, except “Amazing grace how sweet the sound”!
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
