Israel today – is Bible prophecy being fulfilled?

Independence since WW2Algeria - 5 July 1962 (from France)Bahrain - 15 August 1971 (from UK)Cambodia - 9 November 1953 (from France)Dominica - 3 November 1978 (from UK)Equatorial Guinea - 12 October 1968 (from Spain)Fiji - 10 October 1970 (from UK)Ghana - 6 March 1957 (from UK)India - 15 August 1947 (from UK)Israel - 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate

under British administration) Etc, etc….. Down to Zimbabwe

All nations which have been there for

centuries

Ruled over by colonial powers

Re-asserting their desire for self-rule

Except for Israel

What’s different about Israel?Ancient people – trace ancestry to Abraham, Isaac

and Jacob (Israel) c2000BCNation lived in Palestine from c1400BC up to AD70Scattered world-wide by Romans following AD70

revoltRemained scattered yet distinct until 1948 when they

returned in 1000s to their ancient homelandRe-established modern state of Israel 1948

A resurrected nation – unheard of anywhere elseDescribed as a modern miracle

Israel – evidence for GodIsrael’s remarkable history – scattering and re-

establishment – all foretold in the BibleExplained as being part of God’s relationship

with the nation of Israel

Scattering:Deuteronomy 28 v 64-67

ScatteringLuke 21:20 (ESV) “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.…..v 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Scattering - Jeremiah 16 v 11-13

…and re-gatheringJeremiah 16 v 14-16

Re-gatheringJeremiah 30:3 (ESV) For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it." v10-11“Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with you to save you, declares the Lord; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

Israel TodayRe-established against the

oddsBible prophecy fulfilledEvidence that there is a GodA God who clearly has a plan

for this nation

Why has God done this?Israel today: secular, not a

godly nationThe nation doesn’t

acknowledge God’s hand in their re-establishment and successes

Israel’s survival continues to be a struggle

There’s no lasting peace for Israel – will there ever be?

Israel – still fulfilling prophecyIsaiah 43 v8-11 - God tells the world that Israel

are his witnesses“Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and

the deaf that have ears.”ie. people who should be able to see God’s hand

in their existence, but fail toYet their very existence still witnesses to GodEven their blindness to God is a fulfilment of

Bible prophecy

Israel – back in the land because of God

Ezekiel 36 v 17-24God speaks of his scattering of Israel because of their

disobedience to himHe tells them he will re-gather them tooNot because they have turned back to GodBecause of His name – to vindicate Himself and show

that there is a GodSo that men and women everywhere will see and

acknowledge that there must be a God

What next?Ezekiel 36 v 25-32Israel cleansed (spiritually)Nation becomes genuinely responsive to GodBlessed with plenty in their land – not just because of

clever irrigationv36 – surrounding nations acknowledge God’s hand

tooFulfilled yet? No!

What will bring about the change in Israel?

A change in their circumstances – for the worse

Zechariah 12 – warfare in Israelv 1-2Israel and Jerusalem will be

attacked and besieged by their enemies

Jerusalem is the centre of the conflict, and of the problem

v3The fight for Jerusalem will

only cause more trouble for those involved

Tragedy for IsraelZechariah 14 v 1-2‘The Day of the Lord’ – part of God’s plan Jerusalem will be attacked by all nationsThe city will be overrun and atrocities will take placeHalf the city deported as prisoners of war – which

half?

Tragedy for IsraelZechariah 13 v 8-92 thirds of the inhabitants

of Israel will dieThose who are left are

refined by God – they turn back to him again

And God responds…….

God respondsZechariah 14 v 3-4‘His feet’ on the Mount of Olives is the return of JesusActs 1:11 (ESV) – Jesus ascends from the Mount of Olives"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Israel’s full restorationIsrael back in their land – but in unbeliefGod brings them back to the brink of calamityThe nation responds and turns to GodGod sends Jesus back to deliver themThen the nation will be fully re-established, given

prosperity and true peace – for ever!

Israel’s full restorationEzekiel 37:25-28 (ESV) They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant (Jesus) shall be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."

What does this have to do with

you and me?How are Israel’s

current and future circumstances

connected to your life?

Israel are God’s witnessesThe very existence of Israel today, in their ancient

homeland is testimony to God’s existencePast prophecy has been fulfilled – we can be

confident that future prophecy will be fulfilled tooEvents in Israel point to the time when God will

intervene by sending Jesus back to the earth

How we fit into the pictureWhen Jesus returns he will set up God’s kingdom on

earth for everThis is the Christian hope taught in the Bible – to be a

part of that kingdom, living for ever (raised from death)

To share that hope we need to believe in Jesus Christ and be baptised – become a disciple

Mark 16:16 - “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”

Time is running out

How long before Israel is plunged into a war it can’t win?

How long before God intervenes by sending Jesus back to the earth?

We need to be ready….."But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake - for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning - lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.” Mark 13 v 32-36