of God that the nation of ISRAEL has been partly regathered to their land in readiness for Jesus’ return
No other nation in history has had such a colourful and remarkable story,
nor has held the attention of the world for so long. The Jewish community was constituted a nation over 3,500 years ago, whilst encamped in a dry, dusty wilderness under the leadership of Moses.
During the years that followed, the nation of Israel has felt the heights of world glory, and experienced the valleys of persecution and oppression. Yet they have continued to exist, when more mighty nations have disappeared. What is the secret of their unique history, and future destiny? It is found in the purpose that God has with this ancient people – a purpose that will continue notwithstanding all the efforts of mankind to avert it.
The remarkable development of the State of Israel since 1948 is the subject of clear Bible prophecy, and is presented as a sign of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel is Unique!
- Israel is one of the oldest countries in the world, and paradoxically, also one of the youngest!
- It is the only country to have been reborn out of antiquity, revived after a struggle as dramatic as any recorded in the Old Testament.
- The Jews are the only people to have been scattered throughout the world, bitterly persecuted by most powers for over 2,000 years, and yet gathered together into a nation once again.
- Israel’s language (Hebrew) is the only language to have been resurrected from a dead language to a living, virile, modern one.
- The nation exists on a strip of land so narrow that on most maps its name must be printed outside its borders. Yet it possesses more historic and religious sites of significance to the world than any other country.
- Israeli people have migrated from more than a hundred different lands.
- Against great odds, Israel has been victorious in wars such as Suez Crises of 1956, Six Day War of 1967, Yom Kippur war of 1973.
Why Israel Exists
God made promises to Abraham the progenitor of the Jewish people, and a man of great faith:
“I will make of thee a great nation.” Genesis 12:2
“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Genesis 13:14-17
These promises have not yet been fulfilled. Israel is not yet a great nation and Abraham does not dwell in the land. Therefore, before the promises can be fulfilled, a change must come in the status of Israel and Abraham must be raised from the dead.
Can we be sure of the fulfillment of these promises?
Absolutely. God has declared of the Jewish people:
“Ye are my witnesses that I am God.” Isaiah 43:12
The nation of Israel is a witness to the truth of God’s Word because their very preservation as a people throughout the ages, and the current revival of the nation in the Holy Land are clearly God-designed and God-directed.
The Reason for Israel’s History of Oppression
The prophet Ezekiel declares:
“Thus saith the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for Mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned, whither ye went. And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the nations…for I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” Ezekiel 36:22-24
It is clearly indicated here that Israel would ignore God’s teachings and ways but that God would honour the promise He made to Abraham by restoring Israel as a nation in their ancient territory. This is positive proof that we can rely on God’s Word.
The New Testament also describes the oppression which the Jewish people would suffer because of their unbelief. When Jesus was telling of the impending overthrow of Jerusalem (fulfilled when the Romans destroyed the Temple in AD70), the scattering of the Jews into all parts of the earth, and their ultimate return to their ancient homeland he said:
“They (the Jews) shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Luke 21:24
Paul wrote confirming what Jesus said:
“I would not that ye should be ignorant of this mystery…that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer (Christ) and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:25-28
Thus we note the Jewish people will be blind to the true identity of Jesus Christ until “the fullness of the Gentiles be come in”, at which time Christ will return, discipline, humble and convert the Jewish people.
Israel’s Future
“Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all.” Ezekiel 37:21, 22
The Bible leaves us under no illusions as to who this King will be. It will be the Lord Jesus Christ about which his mother was told:
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of this father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32-33
At Jesus’ birth, wise men came from the east enquiring:
“Where is he that is born king of the Jews?” Matthew 2:2
And when Jesus died it was because his accusers challenged his teaching, that he was appointed to rule:
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world..” John 18:37
Israel, Jesus Christ and Armageddon
Although Israel will do all in its power to retain its present hold on its land, the Bible foretells that Israel will be subjected to a crisis instigated by Russia that will be beyond its ability to overcome.
The Bible predicted this future event over 2500 years ago!
“And thou (Russia) shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee…a great company and mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, (Russia) before their eyes…And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face…For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel…Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 38:15-23
For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land… Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles, Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up…Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about…The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.” Joel 3:1-17
It is at this stage in Israel’s future, when Divine intervention (Jesus Christ’s return) will save them from complete annihilation. He will return personally and visibly to this earth to set up God’s kingdom, and to reign from Jerusalem over a world at peace. More on the topic of Jesus’ reign on earth during the Millenium in topic 14 of this series.