Signs of the Times: Israel

He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the sings of the times (Matthew 16:2-3).

The prophet Ezekiel prophesied that in the end times God would restore the Jews to the land He promised them through Abraham. For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valley and in all the inhabited places of the country (Ezekiel 34:11-13).

On May 14, 1948, Israel became an established, independent, sovereign state in the land they now occupy with the Palestinians. This was not the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy, but it was the beginning of its fulfillment. Careful reading of Ezekiel 34:11-31 reveals that the Jews will inhabit all of the land promised to them in God’s covenant with Abraham, and they will inhabit that land in peace and prosperity. That certainly has not happened up to this point.

In Ezekiel 38 the prophet wrote about hostile powers mobilizing from the north to attack Israel. This northern nation is not named with a name we recognize today, but scholars identify that power as Russia because of its military power, geography, godlessness, and hatred for the Jews. Again, that has not happened yet, but it will, in the latter days of this age, and especially in the time of the Great Tribulation.

Israel has always been a flash point in world affairs. It is remarkable that such a small nation of people living on a small piece of real estate could have such a profound influence and impact on world affairs - but it does. While there have been issues and conflicts and wars in the Middle East involving Israel, the conflicts will increase and intensify as we move closer to the end of this age. Jesus predicted it, as did other prophets and apostles. This is yet another sign Jesus told us to watch for.

“Thank You, Lord, for revealing to us those things that must take place before Your return. May we continue to be aware of the important role Israel has in Your end-time plan for this age. May we do all we can to reach out to our Jewish friends and neighbors and continue to rally support for the nation of Israel during these troubled times. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor