1) Holy Land, Jerusalem returned to the Jews
There are many prophecies that have been fulfilled in the last 70 years:
There is barely a week that passes that does not feature Israel in the news. Israel is unique as a revived nation. It was destroyed by the Roman Empire in the era 70-136AD. After the defeat of the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1918, which left the Holy Land under British control, Britain failed in its legal obligation under the 1922 Mandate for Palestine. They created an Arab Jordanian state, leaving a Jewish state with less than 20% of the original 1922 Mandate. Despite British opposition, Israel became a nation in 1948. The Jews miraculously won several wars begun by the surrounding Arab nations that desired to destroy the infant nation of Israel and to drive the Jews into the sea. In the Six Day War of 1967 Jerusalem and the Mountains of Judea and Samaria was returned to the Jews, after almost two thousand years of invasions of Israel by the Romans, the Muslims, the Crusaders of France and Britain, and the Turks.
Luke recorded the prophecy of Y’shua (Jesus) related to the Jews in the last days. “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)
This was fulfilled in June 1967, when the Six Day War liberated Jerusalem.
These prophetic words are followed with a description of the world today as we begin to see it increasingly fall into political and social anarchy and distress among the people.
There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:24-27)
Most nations today are faced with internal war, political chaos. We are seeing chaos in Britain concerning Brexit, violence and despair in Hong Kong, nuclear threats as perceived in the displays in China and North Korea of military might, upheaval in the Middle East and Iran’s ignoring of restraints placed on its nuclear development. Now we are also seeing the frenzy being created of a troubled youth subject to unproven fears of man’s extinction and climate change. Every day world news is full of fears, violence and immorality.
The Bible has predicted many events that have been fulfilled in the past 2000 years. We might ask if there is any prophecy yet to be fulfilled? Indeed there is. We have seen a land, Israel, that was destroyed by invaders and left a desolation and wasteland but is now a fruitful land in the hands of its ancient owners, long dispersed and now returned to Israel as a revitalised homeland. There are many nations that want to see the Jews destroyed and driven into the sea. However it is affirmed by the prophets that more Jews will yet return to the land of Israel and dwell on the mountains of Israel, namely Judea and Samaria, and do what seems impossible, they will dwell in safety. It is surprising just how many times this is prophesied and by how many of the prophets. The following are just a few examples from the writings of the prophets, which are taken not from just one prophet but from many of the prophets.
Isaiah: After Israel's Restoration
A good place to start is with Isaiah which proclaims the restoration and destiny of Zion as “the city of righteousness” and the mountains of Israel as a safe dwelling place.
I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. (Isaiah 1:26-27)
When? It is in
the Last Days when the rule by man will be replaced by
righteous rule and justice, and a time of peace not attainable by
mankind as shown by history. Despite the knowledge that exists today,
why is it that the nations still are unable to exist amicably and
seemingly unable to achieve a peaceful world?
It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:2-4)
Persecution of the Jews and anti semitism, despite the Holocaust, still exists today and more Jews will have to emigrate to Israel. Thus says Isaiah:
It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11-12)
Note here that it is the second regathering of the Jews into their homeland. The first return of the Jews to Israel was 70 years after the Babylonian captivity and dispersion of the Jews in the 6th century BC. Consider the extent of the countries mentioned and including from the islands of the sea and the four corners of the earth. The Romans created the second dispersion of the Jews from Israel in 70AD.
Jeremiah: Jews in the Holy Land
What does Jeremiah say? The aspects of a regathering of the Jews from the nations is again prophesied and the promise of righteousness is again given.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that it shall no more be said, The Yahweh liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, Yahweh liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Yahweh, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. (Jeremiah 16:14-16)
Again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria Jeremiah (31:5)
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that they shall no more say, Yahweh liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, Yahweh liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. (Jeremiah 23:6-8)
Ezekiel: Jews in Safety on 'West Bank' & War
Ezekiel depicts the Jews dwelling in safety on the mountains of Israel after being gathered into their homeland out of dispersion. Those, the heathen, who have despised the Jews will see this.
Thus saith the Lord Yahweh; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God. (Ezekiel 28:25-26)
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 34:12-15)
The image of Israel dwelling on the mountains of Israel also occurs in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, which detail the invasion of and survival of Israel against the northern armies of a leader titled 'Gog'. This confederacy of nations of the north will be challenged by Sheba, Dedan and the Merchants of Tarshish but will fall and be defeated in Israel.
After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou (Gog) shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
Thus saith the Lord Yahweh; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:8-13)
Hosea: Israel’s revival.
The blessing in the revival of the Jewish nation and the end of Idolatry,
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. (Hosea 2:14-15)
Come, and let us return unto Yahweh: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know Yahweh: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of Yahweh are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:4-9)
Joel: Those dividing the Holy Land
Joel gives details of the salvation of Israel and the blessings to be bestowed on the people
and the judgement to come on the nations that desire to divide up the land of Israel.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. (Joel 2:15-16)
Joel gives the outcome of the invasion that will come upon Israel
Then will Yahweh be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, Yahweh will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for Yahweh will do great things. (Joel 2:18-21)
Joel details the treatment of the Jews and the manner in which the land of Israel was divided. It is to be noted here that the Balfour Declaration was entrusted to the British to create by the Mandate a homeland from a devastated wasteland, for the dispersed Jews, who had for thousands of years been subject to constant persecution wherever they went. Israel gained less than 20% of the allocated land, and the Arabs received almost 80%. Where was the justice in this?
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. (Joel 3:1-3)
Amos: Beautifully sums up the destiny of Israel
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith Yahweh that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith Yahweh thy God. (Amos 9:11-15)
Micah: Jews Blessed & Enemies Destroyed
What does Micah prophesy? The Jews will be blessed and their enemies destroyed, but Yahweh’s mercy will extend to those, Jew and Gentile, who recognise his power and his promises to all mankind through Abraham. A time of peace is to be established.
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. (Micah 2:12)
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of Yahweh shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Micah 4:1-3)
According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of Yahweh our God, and shall fear because of thee.
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. (Micah 7:15-20)
Zephaniah: World War & Judgement
There will be judgement upon all the nations,
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith Yahweh, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Yahweh, to serve him with one consent. (Zephaniah 3:8-9)
Zechariah: Destiny of Israel as God's dwelling place
From the nation’s demise and scattering among the nations for its faithlessness, to its regathering of a faithful remnant. The controversy of Jerusalem will see an invasion of Israel, which will fail and Israel will survive. Then Israel’s Messiah will rule from Mount Zion over a world at peace.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith Yahweh And many nations shall be joined to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Yahweh of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And Yahweh shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before Yahweh: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. (Zechariah 2:10-13)
Thus saith Yahweh; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith Yahweh of hosts. (Zechariah 8:3-6)
I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. (Zechariah 10:6-8)
In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith Yahweh, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. ...In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
Yahweh also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. In that day shall Yahweh defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Yahweh before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:3-9)
Moses: Anti-Semitism & regathering
Moses had warned the children of Israel of what would befall the nation over 3000 years ago. Despite their failure to retain Yahweh in their memory, the people would be dispersed throughout the nations, but a remnant would return to Yahweh and be regathered into their homeland. This process has been ongoing now for over 100 years, and now the Jewish birth rate exceeds much of the world.
That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. (Deuteronomy 30:3-5)
David the Psalmist: The righteous King of the Jews
The following prayer of David the son of Jesse depicts an age not yet attained on this benighted earth and which the faithful will yet see. The son will be the Messiah of Israel, Y’shua. May David’s prayer reverberate around the world by those who seek for this time of peace.
Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be Yahweh Elohim, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. (Psalms 72:1-20)
