“…This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them…I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.” Ezekiel 34:11-13

The Sovereign LORD has spoken. That is the key to understanding how all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the nation of Israel, have been, either literally fulfilled, or will be.  We may well say, “The Bible says”, or “The prophet said”, but know this: The Old Testament is the written record of what the Lord said through the mouth of His prophets. When the Creator said, “Let there be light”, light appeared before there was a sun.

“I will place over [My flock] one shepherd, My servant David, and he will tend them…I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.” Ezekiel 34:23-24

Some scholars say He is speaking of Christ here, and He might very well be, but know this: if the LORD plans on bringing David back on the scene, He is well able to do it.

Sometime after 70 AD, the LORD scattered Israel among the nations and they remained there for almost 1800 years. Over that period, some notable Bible scholars arose and began to teach that God had rejected the Jews forever, because they rejected and crucified Christ; there are some mainline denominations that still hold to that. But if that were true, how then can they explain the conversion of 3000 Jews on the day of Pentecost, the very ones who called for Jesus’ crucifixion?

Has God rejected Israel forever?

“Hear the word of the LORD, you nations; proclaim it in the distant coastlands: He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over His flock like a shepherd…This is what the LORD says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundation of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 31:10-37

The regathering of Israel to their land. The LORD gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley full of very dry bones. The LORD identified the bones as the whole house of Israel. (No missing tribes, no divided kingdoms) Here’s what the Sovereign LORD said to Israel: “My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, My people, will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:12

Around 1810, the first Aliyah took place. (Jews en masse returning to Israel) Over the next roughly 130 years there would be four more. Then, on May 14, 1948, Israel officially became a nation. The Sovereign Lord spoke it!

The nation of Israel presently is roughly 10% orthodox Jews and 90% secular and just as worldly and unbelieving as every other nation in the world. That leads us to a sure word of the LORD yet to come. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel…” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33

The day is coming when Israel will be reborn spiritually. They will come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, just like every other sinner that has been born again. The Holy Spirit will move on them corporately in a time of great distress for them, and so all Israel shall be saved.

A word from the Lord about Israel’s future enemies and their final invasion: The agenda of Israel’s enemies is to annihilate them; to wipe them off the face of the earth. That is nothing new; we find that agenda revealed in Scripture 3000 years ago.

“…Your enemies ( an enemy to Israel makes them an enemy to God) plot against those You cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” Psalm 83

Here is the sure word of the LORD to Israel’s enemies: “In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel…all of them live safely.” You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people…you will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you…”

Hear the word of the LORD to Israel’s enemies: “On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.” Ezekiel 38-39

Whether the current war raging with Hamas fits into a particular prophecy, I don’t know. But this I do know: the actions of the world heads, both political and religious are leading the world straight into the final events of this age.

Jesus Christ is coming: Be sober, alert and vigilant for His return!

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

Part I

          The world is looking at the barbaric invasion of the nation of Israel by the Hamas terrorists. Many countries are condemning Hamas, but unbelievably, there are a number of people, and a few countries, celebrating their ungodly massacre. However, many Christian folks want to know how and if this fits into Bible prophecy.  I’m just a Bible student who is going to try to give some clarity to Israel and prophecy. In order to understand and appreciate the promises God has given Israel, some history and context is necessary.

Some very specific prophecies and visions were given to the prophet Ezekiel around 600 years before Christ, concerning Israel and the endtimes. Prior to this time, the kingdom of Israel had been divided into northern and southern kingdoms.

The northern kingdom, which was made up of ten tribes of Israel was named Israel. It was invaded and the Israelites were taken captive by the Assyrians, and scattered from their land: it was punishment by God for their idolatry.

The capital city of the northern kingdom was Samaria. It was later taken over by another king. It’s unclear as to how many actual Israelites returned to their land. Some claimed the ten tribes were lost, never to be found again. Others insist that many did return and intermarried with the Gentiles. At the time of Christ, they were called Samaritans, were considered half-breeds, and the Jews were forbidden to have any contact with them. As you will see, The Lord addresses this issue in His prophecy.

Some years after Ezekiel’s prophecies, the Babylonians invaded the southern kingdom, named Judah, took the people, called Jews, captive to Babylon; it was a punishment by God for their idolatry also. After 70 years, the Jews were allowed to return back to their land from Babylon. And partially rebuild the temple and part of Jerusalem which the Babylonians had destroyed. Approximately 530 years elapsed between their return and Christ’s coming.

During those years, Rome became the world power and the whole land of Israel became subject to its rule. Israel, and the Jews in particular, were under the rule of the Roman empire when Jesus was born. Jesus was born a Jew. The virgin Mary was His mother, Jehovah God was His Father. Mary was of the tribe of Judah and the house of David. The family house he was born into was Joseph’s, who was also of the tribe of Judah and the house of David.

Jesus was the Messiah that God had promised to the nation of Israel. He was a Jew and He was born to be their King from the line of David, just as the Lord had promised David. But the leaders of the Jews, acting on behalf of the Jews as a nation, rejected Jesus and took Him to the Roman governor and demanded he be crucified. And so Jesus Christ was rejected and murdered by His own people who He loved and came to save.

If the judgment of God was severe on Israel and Judah for their idolatry, how much more was their judgment to come for crucifying God’s only begotten, beloved Son? The Bible records Jesus weeping over Jerusalem as He thought on the future judgment that would fall on them. He foretold how that Jerusalem would be invaded and the temple would be leveled to the ground.

That day came in 70 AD. Israel was invaded, and over one million Jews were slaughtered. Many were enslaved, and those who escaped were scattered all over the known world. For almost 1800 years the land of Israel lay barren and desolate.

In the late 1800’s, Mark Twain, traveling through the land of Israel, wrote this about it: “…The further we went the hotter the sun got, and the more rocky and bare, repulsive and dreary the landscape  became…There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.” –Mark Twain

This is Israel’s past; next week, the Lord willing, we’ll begin to look at the amazing prophecies concerning Israel’s future.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net