Signs: The Nation of Israel
In 1948, the world witnessed one of the most remarkable fulfillments of Biblical prophecy in the modern age; a prophecy foretold by the prophets Jeremiah, Amos, and Isaiah thousands of years ago.
This is part 2 in the series “Signs In Our Times?” in which we look at ancient Biblical prophecies that are being fulfilled before our eyes. In this article, we will look at one of the most incredible fulfilled prophecies to happen this century and show how this is a major indicator that the return of Christ may be very close.
Israel Becomes a Nation
The tiny country that we now know as Israel, along with a much larger surrounding territory, was promised to the offspring of Abraham (the Jews) around 2000 BC (Genesis 13:14-17) They entered this promised land around 1400 BC (Exodus 19:5-6).
Although God promised them everlasting ownership of the land, their ability to live and thrive there depended on their faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:38-42). If they remained faithful to him, they would be blessed beyond measure, but if they became hostile toward him, they would be scattered and their once fruitful land left desolate.
“I will make your cities desolate and destroy your places of pagan worship. I will take no pleasure in your offerings that should be a pleasing aroma to me. Yes, I myself will devastate your land, and your enemies who come to occupy it will be appalled at what they see. I will scatter you among the nations and bring out my sword against you. Your land will become desolate, and your cities will lie in ruins.”
Leviticus 26:31-33 (NLT)
Unfortunately, the Jews did not remain faithful to God, and as a result, they were exiled to foreign lands starting around 720 BC when the northern tribes were taken to Assyria and 586 BC when the first wave of captives from the southern tribes were taken to Babylon. Although there were remnants who returned over time and temples that were rebuilt in Jerusalem, Israel never became a unified nation again, and when the final temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the Jews were completely scattered. The land that had been Israel became a barren wasteland. Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) described it like this when he visited in 1867:
“A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds. A silent mournful expanse. We never saw a human being on the whole route. 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.”
Samuel Clemens, 1867
But the Bible told us that Israel would someday become a nation again and that it would happen very suddenly.
“For the time is coming when I will restore the fortunes of my people of Israel and Judah. I will bring them home to this land that I gave to their ancestors, and they will possess it again. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 30:3 (NLT)
“I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.
Amos 9:14-15 (NLT)
“Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born.”
Isaiah 66:8 (NLT)
This is exactly what happened. Following WWII and Hitler’s attempted extermination of the Jews, the General Assembly of the United Nations partitioned out a land for Israel, and on May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation once more. Then in 1967, Israel regained the city of Jerusalem during the Six Day War. Since that time, almost seven million Jews have returned to Israel, and the land has flourished.
But the Bible also predicted that there would be a great deal of controversy and warfare surrounding Israel. Yet God promised to protect the nation.
“Behold, I [God] am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling (staggering) to all the surrounding peoples; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. 3 And in that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will come and be gathered against it.”
Zechariah 12:2-3 (AMP)
Just one day after becoming a nation, five Arab armies attacked Israel expecting a quick victory, yet Israel prevailed. This has been the case over and over again. Today, this tiny nation, only slightly bigger than the state of New Jersey, is a focus of international attention and condemnation.
“The United Nations, Israel and Anti-Semitism”
“Why the United Nations is stuck on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”
“PICTURES: Palestinians Celebrate, Hand out Candy After Terror Attack that Killed 5 in Tel Aviv”
“Gun permits, armed citizens spotlighted for role in breaking terrorism wave”
“Clashes erupt overnight between Palestinians, Israeli security forces”
In Matthew 24, Jesus gives the disciples many indicators of what would happen in the final days before the tribulation. Just before telling them that no one could know the exact day or hour (Matthew 24:36-42), he gave them an important clue as to the time period.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its young shoots become tender and it puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near; so you, too, when you see all these things [taking place], know for certain that He is near, right at the door.I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place.”
Matthew 13:32-34 (AMP)
Throughout the Bible, the fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel’s national privileges. (See the Clarence Larkin article below for deeper description of this.) In this parable, Jesus is telling us that when we see Israel regather (regain her national privileges) and begin to blossom again (grow in strength and prosper), we are close to his return. All of this suggests that the generation that witnessed Israel becoming a nation again will not completely perish before Christ returns.
This is only one of many prophecies that we are seeing literally fulfilled in our lifetime. Next week, we will continue to look at Israel and explore how their relationship to Russia plays into end times prophecy.
Resources
“Historical Timeline for the Nation of Israel and the Jewish People”
“The Trees to Which Israel Is compared In Scriptures” by Clarence Larkin
“Regathering of Israel” with Pastor Brett Meador
Songs of Victory
The links and articles referenced in this piece are for reference only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of this writer or the Song of Victory website.
Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV®Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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