PALESTINIANS: THEIR HISTORY FROM BEGINNING TO END
By Rev. Ted Pike
2 Sep 08
There is probably no group of people for whom evangelical Christians
feel less compassion than the Palestinians. To most evangelicals,
they are suicide bombers who want to drive God's chosen people into
the sea.
Why should Christians care about Palestinians, much less learn
more about their history?
Because failure to do so has the greatest moral consequences.
Most Christians don't understand that, while obedient Jews own the
land, God gave Gentiles permission to dwell in the Promised
Land while Israel remains in unbelief. Misunderstanding Scripture,
Christians support an evil regime in Israel which is not authorized
by God and is not a legitimate, prophesied return.
Finding the truth about strife in the Mideast requires looking
more closely at history and at the book which best explains it, the
Bible. This article will examine the past, present, and prophesied
future of the Palestinian people.
Before Christ
721 B.C. – Since the northern ten tribes of Israel will not
obey God, He exiles and scatters them under the Assyrians. This fulfills
His oft-repeated threat to expel them from the land, allowing Gentiles
to occupy it until Israel obeys. 1 For 44 years, the northern kingdom
is virtually empty. Much of its population has been decimated
by the ruthless Assyrians with only, according to Assyrian records,
27,290 Hebrews deported (probably from the upper classes). 2 Lions
multiply. In 677 B.C. Assyrian king Esarhadon repopulates its
cities with Assyrian immigrants (Cuthaen Semites) who become known
as Samaritans. 3 For more than a century, Samaritans are the dominant
racial group in the northern, and later, southern kingdoms. More
than any other peoples, Samaritans are the founding fathers of the
Palestinians.
586 B.C. -- King Nebuchadnezzar exiles the southern kingdom of
Judah. The land is similarly emptied, although he allows the poorest
of Jews to remain. When Ezra returns from Babylon with a believing
Jewish remnant 70 years later, he finds Samaritans occupying the
southern kingdom. These Samaritans demand to help the Jews rebuild
Jerusalem. The Jews refuse.
The Samaritans become theological competitors to the Jews. They
borrow the Hebrew law and modify it to create a rival religion, centering
on worship at Mt. Gerizim in Samaria. At first, they mix Mosaic
Law with idolatry. But then (like the later Khazars) (See, The
Khazars: Do They Destroy God’s Plan for the Jews?) they
convince themselves that they are children of Abraham, "God's
chosen people." They undoubtedly do contain some Israelite
blood, through contact with the few Israelites among the common people
who survived the Assyrians. 4 Yet the on-the-scene testimony
of the Bible is clear. They are the nations which Esarhadon "brought
over and set in the cities of Samaria." 5 Gradually
they "abandoned
polytheism for a sort of ultra Mosaism." 6 Samaritans
hold to a higher moral standard than most pagan idolaters of the
time, and God allows them to inhabit Palestine through the time of
Jesus 700 years later. They constitute a persistent ethnic presence
in Palestine , "lying in the very midst of the Jews." 7
Even after the Jews are largely driven from the land after the destruction
of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Samaritans remain. Their power and presence
in Palestine is finally broken in 529 A.D. when hundreds of thousands
of Samaritans revolt against the Christian-Byzantine Empire. With
tens of thousands slaughtered, the Samaritans fade from history. In
2007, however, 712 Samaritans still live near Nablus , Israel. 8
In the several centuries before Christ, Jews attempt to militarily
expel Hellenic and Roman forces and influence. But there is no record
of effort to expel the Samaritans. Jews undoubtedly recognize
them as that people with divine sanction to occupy the land, because
Israel failed to obey. Through many precedents, the Old Testament
makes it clear that, if Israel is rebellious, God will authorize
surrounding nations to occupy, oppressing the Hebrews until they
repent. He did that with Assyria , saying: "Oh, Assyrian,
the rod of Mine anger...I will send him against a hypocritical
nation..." 9 similarly, He allowed the
Cuthaen Assyrians (Samaritans) to occupy the land until Israel obeyed. This
illustrates the flip side of God's threat to empty rebellious Hebrews
from Palestine. He doesn't want Palestine to become a "no
man's land." He wants people tending it, just
as long as they are not a nation of rebellious Jews. However,
God never made a land covenant with non-Jews, as He did with Israel. When
Israel finally obeys, there must be no rival claims to ownership
of Palestine.
7th Century AD -- After Muslims conquer Palestine , Arab blood
(Semitic/Hamitic) dominates Palestine. The Samaritans, racially
exclusive, do not encourage intermarriage with "Gentiles." Nevertheless,
for 1200 years the Samaritans are the first modern Palestinians.
They are authorized by God to dwell in Palestine. This is
a right which succeeding Arabs or any other Gentile nation (as long
as it does not become excessively wicked) also may enjoy.
Palestinians have thus never been interlopers in Israel. God
allowed them to settle there in the 8th century B.C. If God’s
law is truly unchanging, they should be allowed to remain until Israel
at last obeys at Christ’s second coming. When that happens,
no Gentile can ever take their land from them.
After Christ
1516 A.D. – The Ottoman Turks conquer Palestine and subject
the Palestinians to centuries of feudal oppression. Palestinian farmers
work the lands of their Samaritan/Arab forefathers as tenant renters.
1914 – With Turkey allied with Germany against the Western
powers in World War I, Palestinians hope that if Turkey is defeated
the Allies might grant them a democratic state. The British agree
that if the Arabs helped help defeat the Turks (with assistance from
Lawrence of Arabia) they can have their nation.
1917 – Turkey is defeated. Yet Britain breaks its promise.
Beginning with the Balfour Declaration, it divides Palestine between
Jews and Arabs. The Palestinians are devastated, disillusioned with
the western powers they trusted and admired.
1936-1939 – Many more Jews flood into Palestine than agreed.
Western Jewish capital purchases extensive Palestinian land. Angry
Palestinians riot over a three-year period, even killing Jews. Britain
agrees to limit Jewish immigration and land purchase.
1947 – The newly formed United Nations decrees that although
the Palestinians outnumber Jews 2 to 1, 56 percent of Palestine will
be put under Jewish rule and 43 percent under Arab in the upcoming
two-state partition of the land. Palestinians are furious. Who gave
an ad hoc world-governing council in San Francisco the right to impose
Jewish rule over more than half of Palestine? No one has ever satisfactorily
answered that question. Palestinians rise in rebellion, determined
to save their dream of an autonomous nation consisting of at least
two-thirds of Palestine , a nation governed by themselves – not
Jews. Jewish paramilitary and terrorist groups fight back in favor
of the UN decree. Conflict rages in Palestine through 1947-8.
April 9, 1948 – Determined not to share any of Palestine
with the Palestinians, Zionist terrorists slaughter 250 innocent
men, women and children in the sleeping Arab village of Deir Yassin. They widely publicize this atrocity to the Palestinians, threatening
a similar fate if they do not flee; 800,000 flee in terror. Zionists
suddenly possess 80 percent of the property in Palestine as well
as sovereignty over virtually the entire nation.
1948 to 1973 – No longer needing to purchase property from
Palestinians, Israel confiscates much remaining Palestinian property
(largely through illegal settlements or outright theft, for “security
purposes"). Tens of thousands of formerly prosperous Palestinian
land owners and their children languish in Zionist concentration
camps, subject to inhuman conditions. Arab anger and righteous indignation
remain at the boiling point, contributing to the 1967 and 1973 wars
of attempted liberation of Palestine. These fail, resulting in even
more Israeli occupation of Palestine , particularly of Gaza and the
West Bank.
2008 – Rapidly expanding illegal Jewish settlements and construction
of a concrete “fence” throughout Israel quickly devour
even more Palestinian territory.
What Prophecy Tells Us
Future – Ezekiel 38 and 39 predict the whole Middle East
and world will come under Jewish control. The prophet sees Israel
dwelling at peace with no one able to oppose her. Yet she is so wicked,
polluting the land, that God hides His face from her! 10 At last,
Revelation indicates, the archetypal harlot Israel , having crucified
her first spiritual Husband, Jesus, marries her false husband Antichrist
and rules the nations with him; she ruthlessly persecutes Christians.
11
Yet Antichrist, “The Beast” (also called Gog), turns
on the harlot Israel. He gathers armies from the nations, including
the Arab world. 12 They invade Israel and slaughter most Jews, attempting
to once and for all end the "Jewish problem" through Jewish
extinction. Jews are thrust into their "great tribulation" or "time
of Jacob's trouble." Christ prophesied this to be “the
time of the Gentiles” when Jerusalem is "trodden under
foot.” 13 Two messengers from God, the "two witnesses," call
down plagues. 14 But the Gentiles' general mood is of triumphant
rejoicing, "marrying and giving in marriage." Optimistically,
they begin a whole new world order, enjoying unrestrained wickedness
as did the world before the flood. 15
Just before Jewish extinction, Christ returns. The nations, including
the Arabs, unite against Him. 16 The Beast attempts to destroy Christ
as He comes in the skies. Instead Christ rains fire on all who oppose
Him. He destroys them in the battle of Armageddon. 17
A remnant of beleaguered Jews repents and trusts their true Messiah.
For the first time in at least two millennia, they give God the obedience
He has always required. He allows them and their posterity to inhabit
the Promised Land for 1000 years. Surviving Palestinians and Arab
peoples worship Christ, obeying His law under the threat of quick
judgment. 18
This is the last we know about the Palestinians. At the end of
the 1000 years of peace, Satan will be released with his demons.
Many people will choose to rebel against Christ. He will send fire
from heaven to destroy them. 19
Will the Palestinians be among that number, perhaps still resentful
God displaced them from their former homeland and returned it to
its lawful inhabitants, His obedient chosen people?
No one knows.
Why do the Palestinians present a moral challenge to Christians?
Why should evangelicals accept the fact that God gives first rights
of occupation to the Palestinians today, just as He did their forefathers,
the Samaritans?
Because, without that understanding, Christians will join with
those who once received the law of God and now trample it and who
oppress the lawful inhabitants of Palestine.
By giving aid and comfort to such wicked Zionists, Scripture says
we "become partakers of their evil deeds." 20
Endnotes:
- Scriptures teaching that God's covenant with Israel is accessed
only by obedience include: Gen. 18:1,9; Ex. 19:5; Deut. 7:9-15,
11:13-15, 15:4-5, 19:8-9, 28:1-68, 30:9-20; Josh. 24:19-20; I Sam.
2:30, 12:14-15, 12:20-25; I Chron. 28:9; II Chron 15:2; I Kings
6:12-13, 9:4-9, 11:38; II Kings 21:8; Is. 58:9-14, 65:11-12; Jer.
17:24-25, 18:7-10, 22:4-5, 26:3-6; Zech 3:7. Scriptures teaching
God’s requirement of obedience for Jews to occupy or reoccupy
Palestine include: Lev. 26, Num. 32:15, Deut. 1:37, 28:21, 25,
37,41, 58-64, 29:28; I Sam. 12:20-25; I Kings 8:46-53; II Kings
18:11,12, 21:8; II Chron. 7:17-22, 30:9; Neh. 1:8-9; Jer. 4:1-4,
7:5-7, 12:16-17, 13:22, 15:19, 22:4-5, 29:13; Hosea 9:15; Amos
4:1-2; Zech. 7:11-14. Also see, Almost Anyone Can Occupy Palestine
- Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911, "Samaritans," pg 209.
- Ezra 4:2, 10
- Wikipedia presents an interesting article, "Samaritan," elevating
the Samaritan claim to Israelite ancestry.
- Ezra 4:10
- Smith's Bible Dictionary, Pyramid Books, NY, 1967, "Samaritans," p.
598.
- Ibid.
- Wikipedia, "Samaritan."
- Isaiah 10:5-6
- Ezekiel 39:23-29
- Rev. 17:1-8
- Ezekiel 38:5
- Luke 21:24
- Rev. 11:6
- Matt. 24:38
- Zech. 14:2
- Rev. 16:16, Rev. 19:19
- Zech. 14:16-18
- Rev. 20:7-9
- II John 1:11
Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watchdog organization.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they
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