ISRAEL, ANOTHER “KEY” TOWARD OUR UNDERSTANDING
It was Bishop Ryle who rightly states that in Israel we have both History and Prophecy. He reminds us of Jeremiah’s prophecy in Jeremiah 31;10 “He that scatters Israel (History) will also gather Israel (Prophecy)” in between History and Prophecy in the Bible we have instruction and illustration of God’s intent and dealing with Mankind.
In Israel we have insights into the Love, the Long Suffering and Patience of God … the first five books of the Bible focus on the Birth, the Deliverance and Preservation of the Nation, plus the chastening and disciplining of the Nation in its time of rebellion.
The Nation of Israel is a continuing focal point for us all … Jesus said “behold the fig tree and all the trees” meaning that the fig tree (Israel) and the other trees (Nations) will certainly be pointers toward the return of Jesus Christ to earth. This is a Day, an Era when the tiny sliver of land named Israel is becoming more and more prominent among the Nations of the World, and is becoming a “burdensome stone” to those Nations.
Why is this? Well, put in simple terms, what God loves and elects to be his instrumentality, fulfilling His Divine purpose will be hated, despised and opposed by God’s principal Enemy, Satan. This we see in Revelation 12 when the Dragon stands to oppose actively and ruthlessly the Woman with 12 stars upon her head, Israel (not the Church). This too, is both Historic and Prophetic … we have seen the active working of Satan to taint, undermine, oppose and destroy Israel because she bears the Covenants, the Revelation of God Romans 9;1-5 and is the means of the coming of The Redeemer.
Without a clear, biblical understanding of Israel as defined in the Scriptures we have a very limited understanding of the Mind, The Purpose and the Redemptive Plan of God.
Deuteronomy 28 is a clear Declaration of God with both Promises and “Threats” to Israel to obey Him, reflect His Will and fulfill their designated purpose or face severe judgments, clearly History declares both their disobedience and the consequential judgments that have come to Israel.
God has neither stopped loving Israel, or forsaken her … He has a continuing plan for His Covenant People culminating in her Redemption according to Zechariah’s prophecies. There will be revelatory repentance and deep hearted remorse … for their Role in rejecting their Messiah.
Deuteronomy chapter 30 talks of the tremendous Days when even in “the uttermost parts of the earth” Israel will hear the yearning of God within and return to the Land … the great Aliyah on now and the fulfilling of it all, is graphically depicted in Psalm 102 … “when The Lord builds up Zion He shall suddenly come to His temple …”
There is no more challenging study than The Return of Jesus coupled with The Return of Israel to the Land … It’s all happening before our eyes.