http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/70-28_Questions-and-Answers-Part-56
"And there’s another thing to think about, too, and this is a very important one. Israel is still under the divine curse, okay? Israel is still under the divine curse. I was asked, the other day, if I would...if there’s anything I could do to help some Arab pastors? And I was talking with a guy in our church, John Azar who has been in our church for a dozen years and he’s Arabic by descent, but it’s wonderful to spend some time with him. And I said, “Well we’re doing what we can to help them. Books are coming out in Arabic now, the Study Bible will be out in the summer. Give them good tools for their instruction.”
But he said, “Some of the Arab pastors feel that you’re pro-Israel, maybe...maybe it would be good if there was a way to communicate with them.” I said, “Sure, let’s do this. Let’s have an Arab pastor’s lunch here and they can ask me anything they want and I will explain to them this, I am not pro-national Israel, I am pro-prophetic Israel. Do you see a difference there? I understand the future prophetic purpose of God unfolding in Israel during the time of the Tribulation when they look on Him whom they have pierced and they mourn for Him and a fountain of cleansing is opened and Israel is saved. Two thirds of the rebels are judged and one third of Israel, and that’s the remaining nation goes into the Kingdom and receives the promise of the Kingdom given to David and Abraham in the future. That is the Israel of God that is blessed. Up until that, Israel is still under divine judgment.
So, I...I will not go so far as to say that God is going to protect Israel because He has some obligation. They’re not a righteous people. They have not acknowledged their Messiah. They are not obedient to the Word of God. And they are under a divine curse from God. They are set aside. They are cut off. The church is grafted in, Jews and Gentiles who believe make up the church. But as an entity, there could be another disaster happen. There could be another holocaust. There could be another form of judgment that could come from Iran, could come from some other source. We can’t assume that that won’t happen because in the future Antichrist is going to amass his armies against Israel even then. So Israel is in an unprotected position before God until they turn to their Messiah. Then they become completely protected. So I don’t think we want to rush to any assumptions about the current condition of Israel. God will preserve the people, the nation, the human strain to the final conversion. But through those years there may well be more difficulties and more challenges as they suffer much of the same kind of thing they suffered since the Babylonian Captivity when they were hauled off and treated mercilessly. So there is no protection on Israel at this point. Okay? Good."
But he said, “Some of the Arab pastors feel that you’re pro-Israel, maybe...maybe it would be good if there was a way to communicate with them.” I said, “Sure, let’s do this. Let’s have an Arab pastor’s lunch here and they can ask me anything they want and I will explain to them this, I am not pro-national Israel, I am pro-prophetic Israel. Do you see a difference there? I understand the future prophetic purpose of God unfolding in Israel during the time of the Tribulation when they look on Him whom they have pierced and they mourn for Him and a fountain of cleansing is opened and Israel is saved. Two thirds of the rebels are judged and one third of Israel, and that’s the remaining nation goes into the Kingdom and receives the promise of the Kingdom given to David and Abraham in the future. That is the Israel of God that is blessed. Up until that, Israel is still under divine judgment.
So, I...I will not go so far as to say that God is going to protect Israel because He has some obligation. They’re not a righteous people. They have not acknowledged their Messiah. They are not obedient to the Word of God. And they are under a divine curse from God. They are set aside. They are cut off. The church is grafted in, Jews and Gentiles who believe make up the church. But as an entity, there could be another disaster happen. There could be another holocaust. There could be another form of judgment that could come from Iran, could come from some other source. We can’t assume that that won’t happen because in the future Antichrist is going to amass his armies against Israel even then. So Israel is in an unprotected position before God until they turn to their Messiah. Then they become completely protected. So I don’t think we want to rush to any assumptions about the current condition of Israel. God will preserve the people, the nation, the human strain to the final conversion. But through those years there may well be more difficulties and more challenges as they suffer much of the same kind of thing they suffered since the Babylonian Captivity when they were hauled off and treated mercilessly. So there is no protection on Israel at this point. Okay? Good."
