Israel – God Intervenes in Modern History
As Israel celebrates the 60th anniversary of its rebirth in 1948—after almost 2000 years of exilic existence—what do you make of the Jewish State? Zionism’s little evil empire carved out on Arab land? And seemingly invincible too because of Western support?
If you buy into this propaganda, be in for the earth-shattering evidence showing God’s hand in the fall, dispersion and restoration of Israel. Everything on schedule!
That Israel has survived and prospered in an unending climate of terror, tension and hostilities—right from 1948 to the present—is a miracle that will not be lost anyone who takes time to study the history of Israel with an open mind. But that it was re-established at all is an even greater miracle proving that the Bible is true and that the Creator, the God of Israel, still wields power over the course of history. (See Dan. 2:20-21).
The Jewish Diaspora is a well-known historical phenomenon. But rather than being an accident of history, it’s an event with firm roots in Bible prophecy: The Lord God of Israel sent the children of Israel into worldwide dispersion due to their violation of the Holy Covenant. However, this would not be a fate permanently sealed and delivered! The Jews would someday return to their homeland; in fact, the God Himself would cause their re-gathering to the land of Israel at His appointed time (Deut. 28:64; 30:1; 2 Chron. 7:19-22; Jer. 23:7-8).
And so it happened. Affirming the Old Testament prophecies about the dispersion of the Jews and eventual restoration to their land, Yeshua, the Messiah, declared:
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).
The “treading down” of Jerusalem began in 70 AD, when the Romans led by Gen. Titus destroyed the city; it did not end until 1948—1878 years later—when Israel became a nation again. (Although the Bible indicates that Jerusalem will yet again come under gentile rule according to Rev. 11:2, this is no surprise to the informed Bible student fully aware that many Biblical prophecies are dual in fulfillment, having a forerunner fulfillment and then a later fulfillment).
So that the rebirth of Israel might not be considered a mere human enterprise, but according to His predetermined design, God detailed not only the mode and scope of the re-gathering project, but also the regeneration of the barren land of Israel down to the form of government that would be installed!
Through the prophet Isaiah, He spoke hope and comfort to the dispersed of Israel:
“Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
“I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isa. 43:5-6).
Today, Israel is perhaps the nation with the richest ‘ethnic mix’—peopled by Jews from all parts from the world, stretching from Ethiopia to India! And they have come by air (about which the prophet Isaiah, for lack of familiarity, asks in wonder: “Who are these that fly as the doves to their windows?”) as well as by sea (Isa. 60:8-9).
What is more, Israel’s desert has now blossomed into fertile farmlands just as God said it would (Isa. 35:1-2; 51:3).
But instead of being ruled by a king or monarch, the Lord indicated in prophecy that the reborn nation of Israel would be a parliamentary democracy in which “their nobles [MPs] shall be of themselves, and their governor [PM] shall proceed from the midst of them” (Jer. 30:21; see also Zech. 12:6)—that is until the Messiah returns and establishes His Kingdom on earth with Jerusalem as His seat of government.
However, before this epochal event ushers in this ‘greater Israel’, the State of Israel must engage in continuing battles with her enemies.
Actually, Israel, in ways similar to days of King David, has never stopped fighting since the day it was reborn ‘in travail,’ as the prophet Isaiah foretold:
“Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isa. 66:8).
If ever there was a nation that was born at the most inopportune time for a country to be born, that’s Israel! In the face of worsening hostilities between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, the British, who had mandate over the region, abruptly withdrew, forcing the Jews to declare independence on May 14, 1948 to an almost instantaneous attack by the combined armies of seven Arab countries (including Egypt, Syria and Lebanon), bent on driving the Jews “into the sea” and completely annihilating them!
Though greatly outnumbered and outgunned by the Arabs, the tiny nation of Israel, with a population of less than two million, emerged victorious. And it was no fluke—it didn’t happen by chance! The July 1978 edition of the Mount Zion Reporter (now defunct) reports that a series of divine miracles and interventions ensured Israel’s victory. These included bees attacking and forcing sections of the Arab armies to beat a retreat, a multitude of angels appearing as men on the battlefield and warning the Arab officers to surrender or face total destruction, an outbreak of sickness among a large number of the Arab soldiers rendering them too weak to fight (“The Nation Israel Born”, pp. 6-9).
The Lord God of Israel was back in charge (see Deut. 7:20; Josh. 24:12), seeing to it that His Word concerning the re-establishment of Israel was accomplished conclusively.
But the end game is not yet! Despite suffering defeat after defeat at the hands of Israel, Israel’s enemies have not learnt any lessons. If it were possible, they would gladly enact another Holocaust and “wipe Israel off the map of the world” (Ps. 83:3-4). But God, the All-knowing God, anticipated their evil motives and implacable hatred of Israel and spoke through the prophet Ezekiel that He would raise, out of the hopeless exilic existence of the Jews (symbolized by the valley of dry bones), a new nation that would not only live, but would also be “an exceeding great army” (Ezekiel 37:1-14).
Today, who does not know that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is one of the most advanced armies in the world with record victories (such as the 1967 Six-day War) its credit?
Geopolitically, however, all is not well with Israel. These days she’s even becoming something of a pariah state—frequently suffering international isolation and criticism, particularly over its policies in the so-called occupied territories. What could this mean for Israel in the years ahead?
Weary of its inability to solve the long-running Israeli-Palestinian problem, it goes without saying that most of the world has become quite fed up with Israel, a feeling easily discernible from the rabid bashing Israel gets in the world media. In the process, Israel has become, to all intents and purposes, become a “burdensome stone for all people” as predicted in Zech. 12:2-3.
Yes, the Israeli-Palestinian problem refuses to go, and in time the ‘international community, will resort to military action (all the world against Jerusalem) to try to force the hand of Israel and enforce UN resolutions.
That will be Israel‘s darkest hour. But that will also be the time when the light of a new and glorious morning will break upon the remnant of Israel and all the true saints of the Most High. With Israel surrounded by hostile armies from the east, north and south, Yeshua, the Messiah, will descend from heaven with His army of angels to defend His people (Zech. 12:4-10; 14:2-5).
God Almighty has re-established Israel for a purpose, to serve as a sign that He’s still in control and, in fact, has a big say—nay the final say—in the affairs of the world. Against all odds, He has planted Israel back in her land, after almost 2000 years of dispersion, and dares anyone to challenge Him, “what doest thou?” (See Dan. 4:25, 32, 34-35).
Historically, the Jews, together with Christ’s true Church have suffered much persecution and hatred, but in the end the victory and glory will be God’s people. Christ will use Israel, the only Sabbath-keeping nation in the world, as a hammer to “break in pieces the nations” in the final war and establish His Kingdom of peace on earth ( Jer. 51:19 -20; Joel 3:9-17; Isa. 65:17-19, 66:22-24).
Believe it or not, Israel (inclusive of all true believers of all nationalities who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua – Rev. 14:12) is the only nation destined to outlive this present age. During the millennial reign of Christ, there will be no America, Africa or Europe, but a universalized Israel (Isa. 26:15) over which the Lord, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, shall be King (Zech. 14:9; 8:23; Isa. 2:2-5; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 5:10; 20:6).
Israel is the centerpiece of major Biblical prophecies that will turn the final page on world history. Keep a close watch on developments there, so you can stay prepared for the soon return of the Saviour.
