The world has been watching with bated breath as the fate of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza unfolds. Families sit in anguish, unsure if their loved ones are dead or alive. Every day is a waiting game — Will another deal be struck? Will more be released? Or will their loved ones remain in the shadows of captivity? The uncertainty is unbearable.
A year ago, when I was in Israel touring the sites of the 10/7 Attacks and I stood in hostage square in Tel Aviv, the nation was mourning. I can’t imagine how families and the nation have been over this past year.
During that 10/7 attacks, 240 hostages were taken, and since then, the world has witnessed heartbreaking scenes of families reunited while others still wait in desperation. Last week, in a ceasefire agreement, three Israeli hostages — Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher — were released after 471 days in captivity. The footage of hostages returning home, embraced by weeping families, has captivated the world. Yet more than 130 remain in captivity, their fate uncertain, as war will likely end up continuing. I had the chance to step into the home from which Emily was taken.
This is more than just another tragic chapter in the Middle East’s long history of conflict. I believe it is a prophetic foreshadowing — a warning from God. The captivity of Israel is not just a historical reality, nor is it merely another piece of modern warfare. It is a massive theme in biblical prophecy that is rarely discussed but is critical to understanding the end of the age.
Throughout history, Israel has faced captivity and exile, not just because of war but as a prophetic marker. The Babylonian exile in 586 BC, the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and even the Holocaust are all shadows of what Scripture says will happen in the final days. Zechariah 14 warns that in the last days, Jerusalem will fall again, and half of the city will be taken into captivity. That isn’t speculation. It is written. Luke 21 echoes the same reality — Jesus Himself said Israel would be surrounded by armies, leading to devastation and captivity. Ezekiel 39 ties this captivity directly to Israel’s redemption, saying the nations will see that God has been working through His people even in their suffering.
If that Zechariah event were to happen today, half of the city would be 500,000 people. We see the tragedy of 240 being taken hostage, but can you imagine half a million being taken? Interestingly, Jerusalem is also considered a very young city. Over 30% of the city is under the age of 14.
I’ve never heard this aspect of the end of the age talked about, but it’s staggering to realize how often it appears. But even more staggering is the fact that we are watching a preview of it unfold before our very eyes. Throughout Israel’s history, captivity tends to lead to redemption.
Another similar theme is found in the prophecies concerning the Messiah and those in the Gospel about Jesus. That theme is that many would be released when the Messiah came, and Jesus came to free captives. When Jesus stood in the synagogue in Luke 4, He quoted Isaiah 61, declaring that He had come to proclaim liberty to the captives. His mission has always been about rescuing, redeeming and restoring. That’s why Zechariah 9 promises that He will set prisoners free because of His covenant. That’s why Matthew 24 describes His return as a rescue operation, gathering His people from the ends of the earth.
What we are seeing now is a glimpse of that coming reality. The families reunited with their loved ones, the tears of relief and joy after unthinkable pain — it’s a shadow of the day when Jesus Himself will gather the captives of Israel and bring them home. The question is, do we see it?
God seems to repeat themes throughout history. He gives warnings. Ultimately, this warning is for the nation of Israel, but Jesus brings Gentile followers of His — us — into the narrative in Matt. 25:31-46. In this conclusion of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus tells of a judgment at the end of the age. The prophet Joel talked about how this judgment was based on how the nations dealt with Israel. Interestingly, Joel mentions captivity: “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes they sold girls for wine to drink” (Joel 3:1-3 NIV).
As you can see, this isn’t just about watching what happens in the news. Since Jesus was likely alluding to this passage in Joel, He made it clear in Matthew 25 that there would be a judgment on how the nations treated His brethren — the Jewish people. Multiple times in the sheep and goats judgment passage, Jesus refers to those in “prison.” A deeper dive into the Greek word behind “prison” doesn’t necessarily have to refer to jail. It just means a place where someone is being kept or guarded.
The crisis unfolding before us is more than geopolitical turmoil. It is a warning and foreshadowing. We’re being shown a sample size of what will happen one day. Are we watching? Are we taking notes? Ultimately, the warning is for Israel, but it is a warning to which side we will stand upon.
Will we stand with Israel? Will we care for the Jewish people? Or will we turn a blind eye?
How are we responding now, and when the time comes, will we be counted among those who cared for His brethren?
