Israel – Living Prophecy!
Israel is the land of the Bible and the birthplace of God’s people. Unfortunately, it is surrounded by enemies who wish to destroy this tiny nation ordained by God as the place where He chose to put His name: 2 Cor. 6:6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there
What the world sees and hears about Israel is all negative… but the Word of God says otherwise…
Why are the Jewish people in Israel today?
Aliyah – Aliyah is a Hebrew word that means to “go up.”
— While originally it referred to ascending to Jerusalem to celebrate God’s appointed days, today it has come to mean the return of the Jews to the Land of Israel.
— Aliyah, simply stated, is the in-gathering of the exiles from the four corners of the earth — it is the immigration of Jews back to their ancestral homeland. Aliyah “is rooted in the Jewish people’s fervent hope to rebuild their national life in the country from which they were exiled nearly 2,000 years ago.”
— One of the most prophesied events – there are over 64 “Aliyah” Scriptures in the Bible!
Historical Facts of the Jewish People:
— Promises to Israel – Abrahamic Covenant in Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
— Only Ancient People alive today – Assyrian, Babylonians, Jebusites, Canaanites, all others are gone…
— Only nation punished for disobedience and scattered from homeland to be alive today.
Scattered people should be gone – no common culture, no common language, no more people… Deut. 28:64 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
How and why did the Jewish people stay “Jewish”?
— Few in number: Deut. 4:27 And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you.
14 million people is equal to the statistical anomaly of the Chinese people of 1.3 Billion + or -
— Persecuted: Lev. 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.,
How?… The pogroms, crusades, inquisition, Arab hatred – hated whether poor or rich.
Not only survived but thrived as a current nation to ultimately fulfill their eternal destiny to be a light to nations and priests (Isa. 49:6 & Ex. 19:6)
Whatever country they have been in they have thrived, but the nations got fearful and removed them… Egypt, Rome, Germany etc.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you…
— Land was barren, full of rocks, and malaria in the late 1800’s
Lev. 26:32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. )
— All ancient pathways crossed through Israel:
It is the geographic and spiritual center of the world and trade. Many fought to gain control, but none could maintain control (Babylonians, Persians, Meeds, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, British)… All of these empires, with all of their wealth and resources tried and failed to conquer the land the people…
As the Jews return (first physical & then spiritual) 1 Cor. 15:46 “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual…”
— The land will blossom:
Isa. 51:3 “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”
Ezek. 36:8 “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.”
Ezek. 36:35 “And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.”
Modern Miracle of the state of Israel –
— Stirring of the bones
1948 became a state only 3 years after the holocaust – what Satan tried to destroy he actually built -- out of ashes came life – life from the dead is a common theme among the Jewish people and will be the culmination of God’s gracious dealings with the Jewish people Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
— Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic:
The Hebrew language has been brought back from the dead unlike Phoenician or Latin --- never before has this happened! Over 8 million people speak a language that just over a hundred years ago was not spoken. (God preserved it through rabbinic writings and prayer services at the synagogues).
— God uses what he even disapproves of to preserve a punished people that he would never make a full end of like other nations
Jer. 46:28 – “They are God’s beloved enemy whom He persecutes and yet preserves.” Rom. 11:28 “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.”
— Israel is only 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East (Israel is roughly half the size of Lake Michigan);
— The Dead Sea in Israel is the lowest point on earth, at 1,315 feet below sea level at its lowest point;
— Israel is the only liberal democracy in the middle east
— From desert waste land to exporter of produce and agricultural technology
— Most High Tech per capita in the world despite constant war, terrorism, economic blockade etc…
— Only country in the world with more trees at the end of the 20 century than it started with.
A moral country living by Judaeo (from which we get Judaeo/Christian) principles and yet it is the most condemned country in the world by the UN and others!
— A precursor to Zac 14:2 “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. when God will gather ALL the nations against Israel.”
— All Arab nations currently call for its destruction.
Jerusalem is oldest Capital city and yet recognized by only a few nations.
— Israel has a population of only 9 million people and yet has been blessed with many who have done much to advance business, finance, technology, medicine, science and many other disciplines. Unfortunately, Israel’s greatest blessing has been their curse - The majority has chosen gold over God.
All of this is unbelievable, in fact it’s supernatural, a living miracle right before our eyes.
— Not because of the Jewish people but rather in spite of them as it’s from God looking to the future. Their current blessing is their current curse…. which will lead them, as a nation, to ultimate spiritual blessing in Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Despite all of the blessings, the ultimate curse of unbelief hangs as a black cloud over the Jewish state and people:
— Only 2/10ths of 1% of the population are claiming believers in Yeshua as the Messiah and that is why we are in Israel!
— There are over 300 prophecies in the Tanakh (Old Testament) about the First Coming of Messiah, but many of these are repetitious. When the repetitious ones are deleted, we are still left with at least 108 specifically different prophecies—all of which were fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Since the time of Messiah – no prophet, priest, or King – if not Yeshua, then who? No Yeshua, than no Messiah Gen. 49:10…
A great future in spite of its current unbelief:
Jer. 30:11 “For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”
Zac 8:23 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
Rom 2:28-29 – (They will not only be Jews by ethnicity but also in heart) – They will be true Jews!
Rom 11:26 “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”
Lastly, please remember, as Psa. 122:6 says, to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” for only then will our Lord’s will be done and His kingdom come and there will be lasting peace on earth.