The Samson Option

Q

I have recently come across mention of “The Samson Option”. Would such action even be possible in light of prophecy? I can’t imagine it would, given that the inevitable outcome appears to be the complete destruction of both Israel and whomever she would attack in such an operation.

A

You’re right. The Samson Option is a reference to Samson, who after he was captured by the Philistines, caused an arena to collapse on Him and them, killing everyone including himself. (Judges 16:23-30) Modern Israel developed this option with the idea that never again would they allow themselves to be forced into the situation they faced at Masada in 70 AD where suicide was the only alternative to slavery. Instead they would launch weapons that would kill everyone including themselves.

Before God will allow the Israelis to exercise this option, He will intervene and save them. (One example of this will be the coming Battle of Ezekiel 38.) He’ll do this because He promised that after the 2nd re-gathering, they would never again be uprooted from the Land (Isaiah 11:11, Amos 9:14-15). The first re-gathering took place after the Babylonian captivity, and the 2nd officially began in 1948.