Palm Sunday, we celebrate Messiah’s entry into Jerusalem when He offered Himself as the king of the Jews and His kingdom. Next week, we commemorate the tragic events of His crucifixion and resurrection. As we celebrate, bombs are dropping all over the Middle East. Those who do not know or believe the Scriptures can only wonder what the outcome will be. The Bible, God’s Word, gives ample revelation regarding what will bring the hatred between races and ethnic groups to an end and when this will take place.

On February 28, 2026, bombs began to drop on Iran, formerly a part of the Persian Empire. Four days later, on March 2, 2026, the celebration of Purim began. This celebration, detailed in the book of Esther, marks the time when Queen Esther, a Jewish girl, married to Ahasuerus, a Persian king, saved the Jews from the attempted genocide by Haman. The book of Esther provides the historical and geographical background of what has once again brought the world to the brink of disaster. Present events underscore the authenticity of the biblical record.

Repeatedly, nations have sought to annihilate the Jewish race. The time between the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar and the command by Artaxerxes I, the son of Ahasuerus, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 445 BC, was approximately 141 years. During that time, God, through the prophet Zechariah, comforted His people with the promise that any nation that “touches the apple of His eye,” i.e., the Jews, would be destroyed (Zech 2:8).

Also, during this time, in the year 539 BC or approximately 50 years after the fall of Jerusalem, Daniel prophesied regarding the 69 weeks of years when Messiah the Prince would enter Jerusalem (Dan 9:27). This Prince, we know, was Jesus of Nazareth, who entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

The events celebrated as the Feast of Purim do not represent a fulfillment of Zechariah’s or Daniel’s prophecy because Persia was not destroyed at that time. However, many nations have been destroyed since then. Whatever the outcome of today’s war, we can be sure that God will protect the Jewish race from extinction, no matter how hard nations and potentates try to annihilate them.

The focal point of antisemitism, which is on the rise around the world today, began with Abraham and Hagar and the birth of Ishmael (cf. Gal 4:20-27). As God’s promise to Abraham, the first Hebrew, materialized regarding his becoming “a father of many nations” (Gen 17:4 KJV), so has hatred of Semites increased, joined by nations against Semites, i.e., Jews. Every nation that hates the Jews will eventually be destroyed.

When Messiah the Prince entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He, along with His kingdom, was rejected. He is not offering Himself as King of the Jews today, but to be the Savior of the world. Daniel’s 69 weeks of years were fulfilled on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem. The world awaits the 70th week–seven years of the tribulation.