Hi friends!  News out of Israel and the Middle East is often grim and increasingly barbaric.  So, today I want to share news of great treasure found in the coastal waters of Israel!

A group of scuba divers off the Mediterranean coast of Caesarea happened upon a treasure trove of gold coins under only 15 feet of water.  After discovering some coins, the divers immediately notified the diving club manager, who appropriately contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority.  IAA divers accompanied the original divers back to the scene and, using metal detectors, uncovered thousands of coins believed to have been exposed by recent storms.  More coins are expected to be found.

The 1000-year-old coins were so miraculously preserved in the bottom of the sea that no conservation treatment in a lab was necessary!  Indications are that the coins were circulated by Fatimid Caliphate who ruled over much of the Mediterranean coast of Africa and the Middle East between the 10th and 12th centuries.  Current theory is that a vessel carrying either tax money back to Egypt or salary to the guards at Caesarea was shipwrecked near Caesarea.  The earliest coin found was minted in the 9th century, while estimates of the latest coin found was likely around 1036.

For me, Caesarea is already one of Israel’s most intriguing places, but this discovery certainly adds to the intrigue.  King Herod was known to have palaces all over Israel, and one of the most elaborate was at Caesarea.  In addition, Paul was put on trial at Caesarea, and it was at this coastal city that the Gospel first went out to the Gentiles!  Praise God for that!  Click here and here for cool pictures and more info about Caesarea.

The other thing I find interesting is how the Lord God is blessing Israel these days!  In the past few years, huge oil and gas fields have been discovered off the coast of Israel as well.  I am reminded that, according to Ezekiel 38-39, a massive coalition (Russia, Iran, Turkey and others) will attack Israel from the north.  And what will be their motive?  Based on Ezekiel 38:13: to “capture spoil” and “seize plunder.”  In other words, they want what Israel has!  It has only been in recent years that Israel has had natural resources worth seizing!

Further evidence that God may well be preparing the final scene before that Northern Invasion takes place!  Scripture is not totally clear (at least according to what we know today) about the timing of that invasion.  However, it could very possibly be one of several dominoes that will fall leading up to the Tribulation.  One thing I’m confident of: the rapture will happen before the Tribulation.  Thus, might we be seeing signs of the end times?  Might our rapture happen at any time?  Let’s be ready for our Bridegroom to appear!  (Matthew 25:1-13)

Maranatha…Lord come quickly!