Right now everyone is running to prophecy saying the events of Israel are fulfilling this and that and everything else. I’m sure of it is lining up to actually be that. But then again, everyone has their take on how it will be fulfilled.

I think of ancient times. First century even. I’m sure people were arguing and had it all figured out how it was going to work. But it was a mystery.

Was the Messiah from Nazareth? Egypt? Bethlehem? Land of Zebulan and Naphtali? There were so many Scriptures and how was it possible? People didn’t move THAT much in ancient times. I’m sure each location claimed that their place was the place where Messiah would be born and live.

Matthew shows how this complex puzzle all came together. Yes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but was from Nazareth, and through political turmoil was a refugee in Egypt, then on to land of Zebulan and Naphtali when persecution was hot.

In the same way I believe no one has it fully figured out now. We know some things. But there are some things we cannot fully put together until they happen.

But the big picture is this.

When we see these things start to take place. We don’t give in to fear. We don’t go run after YouTube prophets. We “look up for the day of our redemption is near.”

How near? We don’t know. But we do know we are nearer now than 2000 years ago.