This Article: (7 Pages)
- 1.
- 2. A Nation as Witness to God's... Existence
- 3. Restoration of Israel: Evidence of... God's Mercy
- 4. New Testament supports the Old... Testament Prophets
- 5. How ought Christians view the... issue of Israel and the Palestinians?
- 6. Jesus On Jerusalem
- 7. How would Christ view dividing... Jerusalem?
2) A Nation as Witness to God's Existence
The Jews' destiny was clearly prophesied, so that the fate of the Jews has verified God's existence. This is the foundation for Christian belief and faith. A remarkably preserved scroll of Isaiah dating back to the days of Christ was found in 1947. God's word to Isaiah was,
Let all the nations be gathered together....: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore you are my witnesses, says the LORD, that I am God. (Isaiah 43: 9-12)
Therefore Jews are still today God's witnesses, a sign to all nations and people.
Very early in Israel's history, Moses (approx. 1500BC) told the people that their attitude would not always reflect the qualities and obedience that God required of his chosen people.
And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the LORD shall lead you. ...
When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the LORD your God, and shall be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD your God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore unto them. (Deuteronomy 4: 26-31)
Note the promise to the fathers of Israel would not be broken. Both the punishment for disobedience and the covenant are kept. Unlike humans who often make promises that they can't keep, God will keep all his promises.
In this Christians can trust and have faith. We can see the evidence of a powerful God in the unfolding of Jewish history over thousands of years. Moses reveals God's prediction of Israel's future.
It shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where the LORD your God has driven you, And shall return unto the LORD thy God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; That then the LORD your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the nations, where the LORD your God has scattered you. (Deuteronomy 30: 1-3)
To redeem God's promise Jews had to keep the law of Moses with their whole heart. To the consternation of the secular world, the religious revival that began in renewed Jewish settlement in Palestine in the late 1800's has in recent years been renewed as the people of Israel are increasingly keeping the law of Moses.
The Living Witnesses
Abraham was promised that his descendants would become a nation in approx. 2000BC. They became a nation approx. 1400BC led by Moses. The following is a brief summary of Israel's past showing the fulfilment of the prophecies in Deuteronomy, recorded by Moses.
Blessing 1000BC Under king David & Solomon the nation reaches its greatest heights as a dominant power of the Middle East.
Curse 722BC The Assyrians invade and destroy the capital, Samaria, of what was the northern state of Israel and the people are slain or dispersed, due to centuries of brazen idolatry.
587BC Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, many are slain or dispersed and many were taken captive to Babylon, where they remained for 70 years due to idolatry and corruption.
Blessing 517BC Revival of Judah/ Judea under Ezra and Nehemiah. Renewed study of the law of Moses and an absence of idolatry.
Curse 70-73AD Romans destroy Jerusalem and scatter the people.
70-1881 Scattering to every nation, Persecution.
The blessing and the curse happened as God foretold. This is the foundation for our faith that God will keep his promise to us.
Show All
We were asked what early documents establish that Rosh of Ezekiel 38 is Russia. The answer is in 2 parts, as we explain the trajectory from fulfilled prophecy in history to prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
The Revelation 12 Sign
There is much written about the sun, moon and planets aligning on in September 2017. We have many reasons for suspecting that 2017 will be a prophetically significant year, and the time of the Jewish feast of Sukkot could be more significant than any other time, but we need to understand the scripture before we consider the stars.
Cyrus the Great encouraged the Jews to rebuild their Temple and return to their homeland.
What the world leaders intend and what God directs may be different things. In this case of the US Administration's action in the UN Security Council the Bible, with an amazing track record, both predicted the situation and indicates the future, which won't be as they hoped. They are on the wrong side of the Maker of history.
