With great anticipation and a tiny bit of trepidation, I tuned into news sources yesterday to follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official state visit to the White House. The tinge of trepidation, triggered by what seemed to be less than the strongest commitment to Israel in previous comments from President Trump, quickly dissipated when I got my first glimpse of Netanyahu’s motorcade arriving at the White House. The streets were lined with color guards, typically reserved only for very special guests. After hearing opening comments filled with expressions of friendship and support between the two, I was convinced it would be a good day!

But I had no idea just how good…or prophetic…it would be!

From the pre-meeting briefing to the closing press conference, President Trump dropped news bomb after news bomb proving the “common sense” approach Trump has based his presidency upon. Some of those news bombs included:

• Hamas will not be allowed to remain in power in the Gaza Strip.
• Gaza must be FULLY evacuated. New cities will be established in other countries to accommodate displaced Palestinians.
• America will take over Gaza and, with the help of wealthy Arabs nations, will rebuild Gaza into an international city Trump envisions to be “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Gaza is on a stunningly beautiful coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. (Careful here! If the US possesses Gaza, are we then dividing the land? The land belongs to Israel and, with or without US help in restoring it, Israel must “hold the title deed!”)
• Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and Trump is reinstating “maximum sanctions” to crush Iran’s ability to pursue nuclear weapons and support terrorism.
• The US will continue releasing huge stockpiles of munitions such as 1,000-lb bombs, JDAM kits (turning “dumb bombs into smart bombs”), and lots of equipment that Israel has purchased over the past 4 years, but was withheld by the Biden administration.

PM Netanyahu was beaming, and he and Trump acted as long-lost friends renewing a partnership to work together for the good of each other. (Keep in mind, there was a significant dust up between Trump and Netanyahu following Trump’s last presidential term. That seems to be patched up!)

Netanyahu knows he once again has a trusted ally in the White House and Trump is anxious to make his mark in the Middle East by thinking outside the box that has entrapped administrations since Israel’s rebirth. Namely, a two-state solution. Trump’s response was, “Those ideas have been tried for decades. They didn’t work, and they will never work!” I think it is safe to assume the two-state solution is a dead idea!

What do we see if we look at the situation through the lens of God’s Word?

First, the US is taking a step back from God’s prophetic warning not to divide up the homeland of the Jews.

I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.
~Joel 3:2

Instead, Trump seems intent on blessing Israel, which brings blessing upon our nation! That’s prophetic indeed, and we’ll take that!

Secondly, throughout history, God has given commands to His uniquely called people (the Jews) to drive out the enemy and occupy the land. In pursuit of peace, Israel has repeatedly failed to do so. Driving Hamas out of Gaza and other Iranian proxies out of commission fulfills Bible prophecy as well. In doing so, Israel will have the unusual opportunity for true peace and prosperity, if only for a season. Which brings us to the third item…

We all know the Ezekiel 38 invasion looms. Prophetically speaking, verses 11 and 14 signal that Israel will be living in safety and security when the attack occurs. The players (Russia, Iran, Turkey and others) are in place and the situation seems ripe, except for the fact Israel has not lived in safety or security in the age of Hamas and Hezbollah! Will the Trump plan, including additional peace deals in the Middle East, prove prophetic by providing that safety and security that must be present when Israel’s enemies attack?

Personally, in light of that, the next few years will be the absolute best time to visit Israel, as peace will exist for a time and the country will be alive like never before! I hope you will consider joining us on a tour soon!

Fourthly, just as God chose to use “less-than-spiritual” leaders such as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Persian King Cyrus to bless His people, so I believe God has and will use President Trump for His purposes. In US history, there have been 3 presidents who were especially used by God to sustain Israel:

1. President Harry S Truman, who was in office when Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948. Against the advice of his cabinet, Truman affirmed Israel’s rebirth within 8 minutes of the signing and announcement. Truman’s mother had taught him to always stand with Israel, and he was a great friend to the newborn nation.
2. President Richard Nixon, also exhorted by a prayerful mother to bless Israel. In the opening stages of Israel’s 1967 Six-Day War, Israel’s back was against the wall. They were about to be defeated when Prime Minister Golda Meir picked up the phone and called Nixon in the middle of the night, announcing that if the US does not send immediate help, Israel will cease to exist. Again, remembering his mother’s exhortation, and going against the wishes of his advisors, Nixon immediately launched the largest shipment of military equipment and ammunition ever. It turned the tide, and in 6 quick days, Israel miraculously won the war.
3. President Donald Trump, in his first term as president, stepped in to fulfill the law that no president before him did: he moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, Israel’s eternal capital! In addition, he withdrew from the horrific Iranian nuclear deal that threatened Israel’s existence, he declared Israel’s settlements in Judea and Samaria as legal, and he affirmed Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Each was a gigantic show of support for Israel.

It is God who puts rulers in place, and He who removes them. For this time and season, God has appointed Donald Trump as President of the United States. May he forever remain committed to appropriately stand with Israel in every way!