Israel, what is its prophetic future?According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1905:
‘The dream of some Zionists for the revival of Hebrew as a living language has even less possibility of being fulfilled than the revival of a Jewish state in Palestine.’
During the last century we saw the State of Israel come into being, Hebrew revived as a living language and the Jewish people returning to the land from the north, south, east and west. Now the State of Israel has celebrated her 65th anniversary.
Are these events the fulfilment of Bible prophecies written in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other Hebrew prophets? Or has the church now replaced Israel? In which case, is the fulfilment of the words of the prophets to be found in the Gentiles coming to believe in Jesus as Messiah?
To answer these relevant questions let’s look at 10 pieces of evidence:
‘The dream of some Zionists for the revival of Hebrew as a living language has even less possibility of being fulfilled than the revival of a Jewish state in Palestine.’
During the last century we saw the State of Israel come into being, Hebrew revived as a living language and the Jewish people returning to the land from the north, south, east and west. Now the State of Israel has celebrated her 65th anniversary.
Are these events the fulfilment of Bible prophecies written in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other Hebrew prophets? Or has the church now replaced Israel? In which case, is the fulfilment of the words of the prophets to be found in the Gentiles coming to believe in Jesus as Messiah?
To answer these relevant questions let’s look at 10 pieces of evidence:
- The Jewish people have been scattered to all nations in fulfilment of Bible prophecy. (Deuteronomy 28:58-68; Luke 21:20-24).
- The reason for the first captivity in Babylon was idolatry and disobedience to the Torah (or righteous pathway). (2 Chronicles 36:12-19). The reason for the much greater worldwide dispersion, which began after the failed Jewish uprisings against the Romans of 70AD and 135 AD, was because of the failure of the majority and particularly the religious leadership to recognise Jesus as Messiah. (Luke 19:41-44).
- While the dispersion of the Jewish people is a sign of God’s judgement, God also judges those nations, organisations (including churches) and people who persecute them; and blesses those who bless them and protect them. (E.g. is Schindler’s list). (Genesis 12:1-3; Zechariah 1:14-15; Romans 11:11-36.)
- God clearly promises that the Jewish people will remain an identifiable people until the end of time. (Jeremiah 31:34-40; Romans 11:25-29.)
- He also promises that He will gather the Jewish people to the land He gave to their fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). The only land which this can be is Israel. (Genesis 15, 17:6-8, 26:1-5, 28:13-15; Isaiah 11:10-12; Jeremiah 30-31; Ezekiel 36-37.). For Jesus prophecy of the signs of his return (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21). to be literally fulfilled, the Jewish people have to be back in the land of Israel.
- Several passages indicate that this regathering will be in unbelief and will precede a time of great trouble for the nation, which would not survive without divine intervention. (Jeremiah 30, Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 12, Zechariah 12-14, Matthew 24:15-31.)
- If Israel is regathering in unbelief it therefore follows that her political and religious leaders and her people will be doing things which are not pleasing to the Lord (Hebrews 11:6). At the same time there will be clear signs that God is behind the restoration (e.g. the doors of former ‘closed’ countries opening for the Jews to go back to Israel, divine protection in wars aimed at eliminating Israel, the land blossoming and ancient cities being rebuilt – Isaiah 43, Jeremiah 16 and Ezekiel 36).
- Our position as Bible believing Christians therefore is that we stand by Israel’s right to exist and defend her against those whose aim is the destruction of Israel. Secondly we call Israel to repentance and faith in the only Messiah God has sent, Yeshua ha Mashiach, Jesus Christ, who came once to fulfil the prophecies of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Daniel 9:25-26) and who is coming back to fulfil the prophecies of the reigning King (Isaiah 2:1-4;Psalm 72;Zechariah 14).
- Our attitude towards the Arabs particularly the Palestinian Arabs is one of love, believing that Jesus is the Messiah who died for them too and wants to break down the wall of hostility between all the peoples of the land (Ephesians 2). At the same time we oppose all programmes, covenants and warlike ambitions which seek the destruction of Israel.
- While we pray for peace, we recognise that true peace can only come to Israel and the Middle East and the whole world when the Messiah Jesus returns in power and glory to take up His rule from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Revelation 19-20).