Israel...The Super-sign
When it comes to bible prophecy, Israel is the Super-sign. Here are 3 reasons why.
First of all, Israel becoming a nation again was impossible. No nation in the world has ever been dispossessed all over the earth for hundreds of years and then experienced a rebirth.
For centuries theologians and bible scholars looked at the prophecies regarding Israel's rebirth and wondered with great perplexity, How can this be?! This is impossible! These prophesies must be some type of allegory. These prophetic scriptures can't mean what they literally say. It just cannot happen! However, in spite of the impossibility, God's Word has proven to be true.
Secondly, Israel is the Super-sign because every prophecy hinges upon Israel becoming a nation again. There were hundreds of last day prophecies that could not be fulfilled until the rebirth of the nation of Israel.
Thirdly, because Israel is God's prophetic time clock. If we want to know how close we are to the coming of the Lord, all we have to do is see what is happening in Israel. For example, I am reminded of Zechariah 12:3 And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people." Israel has indeed become a unique burden for all nations. The eyes of the world are on Israel because of the trepidation her existence has brought to the Middle East. The current Middle East crisis centers around who owns the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. It has reached the point where much of the Muslim world insists that Israel be destroyed as a nation, but Israel is determined to maintain her existence and her present boundaries. So, how close are we to the coming of the Lord? Well, how close are we to seeing an invasion for Israel's annihilation? Pretty darn close! Right now, Hezbollah alone has 150,000 rockets aimed at the tiny nation of Israel. All Iran has to do is give its proxy "the green light." Of course we know this invasion for Israel's annihilation will ultimately play out in the Gog, Magog war. However, my point is, everything is in place for this invasion to happen.
Seeing that Israel is the Super-sign, in this segment I would like to share on the nation of Israel in regards to bible prophecy. Then I would like to share what it means to the New Covenant church today.
Prophecies Past
Before the Israelites ever became a nation, God prophesied what would happen when she rebelled against God.
Deuteronomy 28:64 Then the Lord will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other...Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.
The Lord is telling His people, Israel, when you rebel against me and I send catastrophes like pestilence and famine to turn you back to myself, yet, you do not return, then I am going to drive you from your land. Eviction from the land will be my greatest judgment against you.
God then tells His people, not only will you be driven to other lands, but these lands will persecute you. You will have no rest because of the fear and anxiety in your heart.
Though I am sure it caused Him grief, God remained faithful to His Word. Under Rehoboam, the nation of Israel split into two nations, the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel lasted about 200 years and did not have one righteous King. In 722 BC the Assyrians conquered Israel and scattered the Israelites all over Asia.
In 586 BC the Babylonians invaded the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroying Jerusalem and the temple. Many of the Israelites were taken into Babylonian captivity.
However, God in His mercy allowed them to come back to their land 70 years later.
Yet, the people continued to rebel against the Lord. When they rejected Jesus as their Messiah, that was the final straw. God allowed the Romans to come in and destroy Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. It was then the Jews were dispersed all over the world. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were Jews on every continent in the earth.
The Jews were persecuted everywhere they went. The wandering Jew became the persecuted Jew, the climax being the holocaust where 6 million Jews were murdered.
God not only warned the Israelites that they would be persecuted, He told them their land would become desolate. God made the land so unlovely, no one wanted it. He preserved it for 2000 years so the Jews could one day return.
Deuteronomy 29:23-25 The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur-nothing planted, nothing growing, nothing sprouting on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. All the nations will ask, "Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?" And the answer will be, "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the Lord..."
By the beginning of the 20th century, Israel was an ugly, barren, desiccated land.
Yet, the story ends in hope! Over and over again, God promised to preserve His people and their nation! Jeremiah 31:35, 36 This is what the Lord says, "He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the seas so that its waves roar-the Lord Almighty is his name: only if these decrees vanish from my sight, declares the Lord, will Israel ever cease being a nation before me."
Possibly the greatest miracle God has ever performed is the preservation of Israel. No people have been violently uprooted from their homeland to then return to that same land and re-establish their national sovereignty. A absolute miracle of God!
Prophecies Present
The rebirth of the State of Israel: Isaiah 66:7, 8 Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such a thing? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.
And yet this is exactly what happened! To make a long story short, in 1948 Great Britain ruled over Palestine. May 14, 1948 Great Britain withdrew its right to reign, and immediately Israel declared itself to be a sovereign state. In one day, Israel was reborn. And then immediately after, the birth pangs began. May 15, 1948 Israel was immediately attacked by five invading Arab armies. Israel prevailed!
The regeneration of the land: Ezekiel 36:34, 35 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, "This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.
Prophecies Future
Israel's prophetic future can be divided in half: a terrible prophecy and a glorious prophecy.
Speaking about the terrible prophecy, please know as I write this, it is with sadness. God has His reasons for the way He chooses to work and I do not question His wisdom, just understand it doesn't bring me any joy in writing this part of Israel's prophetic future.
The terrible prophecy is that a second holocaust is coming to the Jewish people.
Zechariah 13:8 And it shall come to pass in all the lands, says the Lord, that two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer them. I will say, 'this is my people,' and each one will say, 'this is my God.'
Here the Lord is speaking about "the Great Tribulation." The first holocaust under the Nazis resulted in one-forth of the Jews being exterminated. This second holocaust under the Antichrist will claim the lives of one-third of the Jewish people.
God reveals that one of the primary reasons for the Great Tribulation is so that the Jewish people will truly come to the end of themselves. When this happens they will turn from their prideful religion of works, unto God, receiving His Messiah. The result will be the salvation of a great Jewish remnant.
Zechariah 13:1 In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness. The blood of Jesus is this fountain so graciously given to the Jewish people who see the return of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.
So let's talk about the glorious prophecy.
The glorious prophecy is that Christ will elevate Israel over all the nations of the earth.
Zechariah 8:22, 23 Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, in those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard God is with you.'
This is talking about the glorious Millennial Kingdom. This is the thousand years where Christ will rule the earth in majesty and power, bringing peace to the world. What a glorious time on earth it will be!
During this reign, all the world will realize the Jews are the blessed people of God. They will realize all the blessings of God are flowing out of Israel and to all the nations of the earth.
When a Jew walks by, he and she will be treated with respect and honor.
The gentiles will humbly ask, "Can we walk with you, for we know God is with you."
Praise be to God!
I want to conclude with this question: Why is all this so important? Why is understanding Israel's prophetic role so vital for New Covenant Christians to understand?
There are a variety of answers we can list, but I want to share 3.
First of all, it reminds us again that God is in control. It reveals to us that as evil as our world is, God is leading the wickedness of mankind to the triumph of Christ. Everything that is happening in our world today, God is either orchestrating it or allowing it in order to lead us to His ultimate purpose, the return of Christ and the salvation of the Jews.
Secondly, God loves the Jewish people and has a wonderful future for them. Regardless of the belief of so many, the church has not replaced the State of Israel. They are still his chosen people with a glorious future ahead.
Thirdly, it reveals to us again that God is faithful to His promises!
God has made a lot of promises to His church, and because we see and continue to see God keeping His promises to the Jews, we know God is going to keep His promises to us!
What are these promises? Thinking about the return of Christ, here are a few that come to mind. He has promised to return and meet His people in the air. Then while the Tribulation is happening on the earth below, He has promised to sit in a heavenly place with His people at a great feast called "the Marriage Supper of the Lamb." Here we will celebrate our precious and glorious union with the Lord.
When the Tribulation is drawing to a close, it is then He will stand up and say, "Let's go!" We will then mount up on our horses and in our glorified bodies, ride with Him to the Kidron Valley. We will listen as He speaks His supernatural Word, destroying the Antichrist and his forces in one breath.
Christ is then going to ride to the Eastern Gate, which will blow open and declare, "Come in, King of Glory! Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."
It is then we will see Him coronated "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." He will then reign in glory and majesty over the earth for a thousand years. Christ has promised that His Saints will reign with Him.
What incredible promises we have from the Word of God! We can rest assured that God will be faithful to these promises because we have the testimony of His unfailing faithfulness to keep His promises to Israel.
Praise the Lord!
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