| As we read and study the prophecies in the bible concerning
the last days, we see that there are a number of signs which taken together strongly
suggest the end of this age is drawing near. Grant R. Jeffrey, in his book, "Prince
of Darkness", lists 38 predictions that have been fulfilled or are in the process of
being fulfilled in our generation. Jeffrey calculates the odds of just six of these
predictions being fulfilled in one generation as 1 in 15.6 billion. The odds of all 38
being fulfilled is virtually beyond comprehension. The single event however, that cements
all these things together and gives credence to the notion that they are indeed end time
events, is the rebirth of Israel. One essential
ingredient for the fulfillment of bible prophecies in the last days that was not present
until May 14th, 1948, is the nation of Israel. Without the existence of Israel, the
presence of the other signs would mean very little. The end time events revolve around
this little country, which seems to be constantly in the news. It is important to
understand that the rebirth of Israel was a prophetic event, predicted in the Bible, and
brought forth by the direct will of God. To see that this is so, we must examine who it
was that scattered the Jewish people and who would bring them back to the Land of Israel.
There are some who might say that the Jewish People have
returned to the Land of Israel under their own power, and that they are not acting in
accordance with God’s will. The Bible clearly tells us this cannot be so. Consider
the following verses, paying special attention to the portions I have underlined for
emphasis.
Ezek 39:27-29 When I have
brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their
enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they
will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the
nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. 29 I will no
longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel,
declares the Sovereign LORD."
Amos 9:13-15 "The days are coming,"
declares the LORD, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter
by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the
hills. 14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined
cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make
gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be
uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.
Jer 30:2 "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Write in a
book all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I
will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land
I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the LORD."
Jer 31:10 "Hear the word
of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel
will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'
Jer 33:7 I will bring
Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.
Ezek 37:21-27 .....I will
take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them
from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one
nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of
them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.
The above are only a few of the verses where the Lord
Himself declares that He is the one who scattered the Jews and it is He who will put them
back in their land. Who can stand against the great I WILL
of God! Could the Jewish people have stayed in the Land of Israel when God declared He
would scatter them? No! Could the Jewish people return to the Land of Israel in exactly
the manner predicted when God had declared that only He would gather them back? No! It is
my firm conviction that Israel exists today only because it is God’s will that it be
so. Israel is truly a modern day miracle. An act of God in fulfillment of His Word. A
definite sign that God has resumed His dealings with His chosen people, to fulfill all the
prophecies relating to them, their total return to the land as one nation, and ultimately
to give them the one king they are waiting for, who I believe will be none other than
Jesus Christ.
There may be some who might say that the above verses and
others like them describe the return from Babylon. But that cannot be correct because only
a small number of people returned to the land from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah and
almost none of the ten tribes of Israel ever returned from the Assyrian captivity. God
makes it clear that all the people of Israel will be returned.
Ezek 39:28 Then they will know
that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will
gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind.
Some believe that because the Jewish people were disobedient
to God and were scattered over the face of the earth that God has forsaken them and that
the church as has taken the place of Israel. Or it may be some other group who make this
claim. If you are inclined to believe this consider these words of Paul.
Rom 11:25 I do not want you to
be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has
experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
If you are going to claim that your group is taking the
place of Israel than you are in trouble, because if you are Israel, then according to the
above scripture, you are experiencing a hardening, which according to Strong means a stupidity or callousness in regards to God,
and some other non-Jewish group known as the Gentiles is being called in to become a part
of God’s Kingdom!
To summarize, Israel is the key to God’s prophetic
calendar. We have been privileged to be present during this time in history. With this key
part of the prophetic puzzle in place, and all the other signs are occurring
simultaneously, we more than any other generation can wait with anticipation for the
fulfillment of all things, and the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mat 5:18 I tell you the truth,
until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen,
will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
"....I can tell you that for the first time
in the history of the Jewish people since the Second Temple period, in the next decade and
a half the majority of the Jewish people will live in the Jewish land. If this is not the
materialization of prophecy, then nothing is."
From a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Feast of the Tabernacles
Conference (International Christian Embassy) October 5, 1998 |
