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New York World Trade Centre

Throughout the world there is currently the constant fear of terrorists and terrorism.  The world’s view is concentrated on those people who are fanatical in their beliefs and who are ready and willing to kill others and to die for what they believe is right.  We have seen them operating in various groups, from the Basque provinces of France and Spain, in Northern Ireland, and attacking Israel from Syria and Lebanon.  On September 11th 2001, Muslim fanatics managed to destroy the World Trade Centre in New York with the loss of thousands of lives.  Since then, scores of suicide bombers have killed and maimed many hundreds of innocent people.

This sort of thing is not new and we read about terrorists in the Bible as well.  In the time of Jesus, within the Jewish nation, there was a group called Zealots, who fought fanatical guerrilla warfare against the Roman power that occupied Israel.  Among them were extremists who were willing to commit acts of terrorism to achieve their ends.  They had a vision of an Israel freed from the oppressor and one of them called Simon the Zealot actually became a disciple of Jesus. [Luke 6.15]  

We might wonder why a man of this type could be called by Jesus?  The answer is that Jesus came preaching the Gospel or good news of the kingdom of God.  The basis of his message was the restoration of the ancient kingdom of Israel, and people like Simon the Zealot knew that this was the same message taught in the Old Testament Scriptures.  Simon was probably one of the less extreme members of this group but he could see that Jesus was a man possessed with power to perform great miracles.   

The statement made to Jesus by two of his disciples (thinking he was a stranger) shows how they had placed their trust in him.  They told him about 'The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him.  But we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel.'  [Luke 24.19–21 NKJV]  

These disciples and Simon had homed in on only one part of Christ’s preaching.  Their view of things blocked their ears to his teaching about his death as a sacrifice for sin. Then he said to them:

“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?”’  [Luke 24.25,26 NKJV]

Now, they suddenly had another view of things, and they could see and understand the Scriptures.  

Jesus later spent forty days with them, speaking about the kingdom of God, and again they questioned him:

‘“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And he said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in his own authority.”’  [Acts 1.6,7 NKJV]  

Then he ascended to heaven, but two angels then told them that Jesus is coming back to earth again:

'This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.'  [Acts 1.11 NKJV]  

The Kingdom of Israel will be restored, with Christ as its king, and from our viewpoint the day of Christ’s return is very near.  However, for the follower of Christ there is no room for violent fanaticism but a zeal for obeying God’s Word and a patient waiting and looking for Christ’s second coming: 

‘You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.’ [James 5.8 NKJV]

More information
War against terror in the Middle East