Episode #20 - Israel-Hamas War; Is it the Beginning of Sorrows? (Aired 10/12/23); STLDN

On October 7, 2023, a Sabbath day and the date of several Jewish holidays, Hamas-led Palestinian militants launched a coordinated multi-pronged attack on southern Israel from within the Gaza Strip with the goal of provoking Israel to invade Gaza. Hamas stated that its attack was in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza and the Gaza Strip, expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, increased Israeli settler violence, and various other grievances. The surprise assault began in the early morning hours with a barrage of Qassam rockets fired by a Hamas Qassam Brigade located in Lebanon, and nearly 3000 militants breaking through the Gaza-Israel border targeting Israeli military bases and civilian populations centers. The Nova Music Festival located near Re'im was one of the first targets to be attacked. Security and intelligence sources estimate over 800 Israeli civilians and over 200 troops were killed during the attack; and approximately 244 Israeli and foreign citizens were taken captive to be held as hostages by Hamas forces in Gaza Strip.

After pushing back Hamas militants, Israeli forces countered by conducting an extensive bombing campaign dropping 6,000 bombs on Gazan targets over six days and through the imposing of an effective blockade of the Gaza Strip along with a massive ground assault of Gaza.

In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus speaks of the “beginning of sorrows,” a time of trouble far greater than we have ever seen. A time just preceding Tribulation. Is the Israel-Hamas war just another Middle East conflict or is it a sign that we have entered the beginning of sorrows and may be standing on the brink of End Times?