Heaven Bound

Benjamin Netanyahu and Benjamin (Benny) Gantz

If you have been following the strange tale of Israeli elections this year you know that what is happening is anything but ordinary; in fact, it is unprecedented. In the 70 year history of the nation this has never happened and the way things are looking it’s anyone’s guess how this may go. With a second election behind them and the looming possibility of a third it is fair to say that no one is happy as the two men cannot come to an agreement and neither can achieve the numbers they need to form a government.

I find it interesting that at the heart of this debacle is two men both named Benjamin. A name that is replete with scriptural implication and brings to mind of course the most famous Benjamin of the Bible, the youngest son of Jacob born to his second wife Rachel. As you will remember, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin who was her second son and the last of the sons born to Jacob. With his older brother Joseph presumed dead by his father (but in reality sold in to slavery in Egypt by his brothers) Jacob doted on his youngest son the only remaining son of the wife he loved.

Indulge me in some speculation, if you will. I’m not a theologian but I think there might be some parallels by which we can draw a picture. And if any part of it is right we may be able to get a glimpse as to where things are headed and just how close we are to Jesus (of whom Joseph is a type) revealing himself to his brothers.

The first place I would like to start is with the premise that Benjamin is a type of Israel in the latter days. We know that Joseph is typically viewed to be a type of Christ. And just as Joseph forgave his brothers who had sold him in to slavery so will Christ forgive his brethren who rejected him. For it says in Zechariah chapter 12: 10 –

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves  for a first born son.”

It occurred to me as I thought about the strangeness of this election that Benjamin whose name means “Son of my right hand” or “Son of my old age” could be referring to Israel in the latter days – son of my old age. And when you think that it was through the death of Rachel that Benjamin was born it bolsters further the idea that one had to give way before the other could come. The death of Rachel was no accident and is surely a type in and of itself. Consider this:

Rachel died on Chesvan 11. Chesvan 11 is also the day Methuselah died. To me this indicates something of a transitional nature. Methuselah was the grandfather of Noah, the oldest man who ever lived who died just prior to the flood. Because Rachel died on that same day (Chesvan 11) – the same day Benjamin was born – I am led to believe that there is something beyond the original story itself.  And because there is no such thing as coincidence where the Bible is concerned, I think it bears further looking in to.

Now there was one person between Methuselah and Noah and that was Noah’s father  Lamech. So I see Lamech as a type of interim or interval between the death of Methuselah and the onset of the flood. It is somewhat unclear what the name Lamech means but it is generally translated as “made low” and yet it is also sometimes translated as “mighty”. Could it be possible that Lamech is a type and shadow of the interval that Israel would experience while dispersed among the nations – in other words when they were “made low”.  Yet since their rebirth in 1948 the nation has become one of the mightiest in the world in both armies and economy.

Looking at the current political situation it might be worthwhile to see what we can find. If you remember, it was Benjamin who was accused of stealing a silver cup from Joseph. And while Joseph had planted it there in order to test his brothers before revealing himself to them, I can’t help but think that there may be a testing of sorts going on between these two Benjamins. A testing that will somehow conclude with Jesus making himself known to his brothers. Not necessarily today or tomorrow but rather what I would call a part of the process that will bring about that conclusion.

We know that the details of the Deal of the Century – the so-called “Peace Plan” was to be revealed following the election. But due to the current political situation that has been put on hold. When can we expect it? I really don’t know but obviously the time is not right as of now. But with Bible prophecy moving at what I would call warp speed that could change at any time.

It is interesting that these two Benjamins alike in name but differing in their view of the future for Israel have reached a stalemate. Benny Gantz has the support of the Arab Israeli population and while he has not yet publicly come out in favor of the two-state solution, he certainly may. And Netanyahu who I believe is against it is embroiled in his own messy affairs with the possibility of being indicted on charges of bribery. As I understand it, he was hoping to deflect these charges by winning the election but of course that has not happened. And while I have no idea if he is guilty or not it still may be the equivalent of the silver cup in his pack. Silver in the Bible representing not only money but mourning, repentance and destruction. And now this morning, Benny Gantz in trouble as well facing accusations of war crimes by a Dutch court.  So both Benjamins are facing incredible personal struggles in addition to the political debacle they find themselves in.

Shifting gears just a little – how about the prediction by now deceased Rabbi Kaduri who left the dubious note to be read one year after his death regarding the identity of the Messiah whom he identified as Yeshua. I say dubious because the note also said (if I remember right) that the Messiah was presently hidden and living in obscurity in Israel  – now it’s entirely possible that those words were added by those who disliked what he had written (naming Yeshua as Messiah) in an effort to cast doubt on the authenticity of his note. I’m really not sure but I bring this up because Rabbi Kaduri also reportedly predicted a time when there would be no government after an election … an impasse as he called it that would result in what he referred to as a “heavenly battle” – a battle that would open the door (according to his prediction) to the coming of Messiah. Now again, I cannot vouch for these things and cannot tell you with any certainty whether he is talking about Yeshua or who we would refer to as the Anti-Messiah or Anti-Christ. What I do find fascinating is the similarity once again to a situation in the Bible.

I was discussing this latest prediction with my daughter who I often refer to as Seven Stars and found her take on the situation to be quite fascinating. She likened the situation (the potential dividing of the land) to the incident where two women both claimed a baby to be theirs. With incredible wisdom King Solomon heard their case and determined that the child should be split in two. Of course, the real mother spoke up and was willing to give the other woman the child rather than seeing it divided … while the other woman, the impostor was perfectly fine with splitting the child.

Now if we look at this child as Israel, we see two men both named Benjamin with two different views regarding the future of the state. One is most likely in favor of dividing it while the other is not. But this is a little different than the situation with King Solomon. In this case, both parties are men, not women.  Now as we all know men cannot give birth to anyone or anything and certainly did not give birth to the state of Israel (although men were involved in making it happen). But it was the Lord who brought her forth in birth.  And it will be the Lord who will battle for her existence. It will not be won by men.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven….And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child”. Revelation 12: 7, 8 & 13.

The enemies of God boast of the destruction of Israel but there is nothing they can do to bring about her demise. The real battle is being fought in the heavenly realms and as mentioned before it will be God who fights the battle and God who will win on her behalf. And while the two Benjamins cannot agree as to the future of Israel this much is certain. Things are moving along right on schedule and her future could not be more bright. Therefore, we watch and wait.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy