A good question to ask is this: Since Israel is not a theocracy, it is currently a secular nation like all other nations, like every other democratic country, with republic institutions, executive power, legislative power, etc. Then why is there spiritual warfare between Israel and other nations? They are the same? Right? That is an excellent question.
When we say the word theocracy, many immediately think that we refer to Israel in King David’s times. However, actually, theocracy is from the Greek words “Θεός (Theós),” “God,” and “κράτος (krátos),” “power.” In other words, when we speak of theocracy, we see the “government by God.” A theocracy is a country where the elected official leaders consider themselves to be the representatives of God. It is a country where religion controls the government. All the decisions are made not by the elected officials but by the official religion in place; think about Iran, Somalia, etc.
However because an official religion does not officially govern most countries, does that mean they are not a theocracy?
In the biblical worldview, every nation is a theocracy. Everyone has a spiritual master, whether they know it or not. Every nation has a god or God. One of the reasons that God created the nation of Israel is to be a manifestation or a light unto the nations that serve other gods. God chose Israel at a time when it was surrounded by nations that served idols as thief gods. Israel is called, according to Ezechiel, to be an example, to serve God alone, and not to imitate the surrounding nations that serve idols.
So, if we want to dig deeper into the current political sphere, especially what is going on in the Middle East, we need to go back to where it began, – we need to remember, first and foremost, the ongoing conflict between the Sovereign God of Israel against the gods of other nations.
Again, every nation has a god. Whether you talk about France, Cuba, Brazil, or Haiti, every nation has a god. That also means that the leaders of every country in the world are somehow influenced by their respective gods. In Haiti, most political leaders worship the Vodou loas or spirits. That is why it is common to see that the laws, policies, and culture, in general, reflect the belief system of Vodou. In other words, even though a country portrays itself as a republic, as a democratic, or a socialist, this country subscribes to the dynamic of theocracy, directly or indirectly. Directly, if the institutions of the official religion control the government, It is an indirect theocracy if the majority leaders of this country endorse a particular religion.
If you understand that, you will agree with me that before going to the political aspect, it begins with the spiritual cause. Going back to the opening question, “Since Israel is not a theocracy, it is currently a secular nation like all other nations, like every other democratic country, with republic institutions, with the executive power, legislative power, etc, then why is there spiritual warfare between Israel and other nations?
The answer is not complicated, my friend. It is because God chose Israel. As an effect, Israel becomes the epicenter of spiritual warfare. The root of all the aggression against Israel is a spiritual war going on. It is not political or ideological. Every conflict, every war, is, by default, a spiritual war.
Israel is where Jesus’ story began, and it is where the conclusion will take place.
According to the Bible, the nations will conflict with the State of Israel until Christ returns. For instance, Revelation 12 clarifies that the underlying problem is spiritual, not political.
According to the Bible, Israel is God’s chosen witness and servant in the world, and through Israel came the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Isa 43.10, Gen 22.18, Gal 3.16). So Satan hates the witness (Jews) and all who follow Christ, who is blessed through her, i.e., believers in Christ (Christians).
For now, remember this: the last day’s timeline is closely tied to Israel. Why? When we trace a timeline of world events from this time, we find that many issues of the day are closely linked to Israel! We see that Israel is the barometer of the world.
