November 17, 2024 Preaching | Ptr Peter Tanchi
LIVING IN THE END TIMES is our new Sunday message series on biblical prophecies. God declares Himself to be the first and the last, that there is no one like Him, and that He is in control of world events. Why study prophecies? It validates many things: who God is, the Bible as God’s Word, the reliability of the Bible, etc. It allows us to grow in our faith and prepare us for eternity. Why study prophecies about Israel? Israel is the centerpiece of God’s timetable! Jerusalem (representing Israel) will always be news headlines (Zechariah 12:2-3). When God says something, He will do it, it will happen, and it will surely come to pass. Let’s look at ISRAEL’s importance in God’s plan, and prophecies connected to it.
1) GOD’S GRACE (Israel becoming a nation)
God made a unilateral covenant with Abram (Abraham), Israel’s forefather (Genesis 12:1-3). God did not have to create Israel, but out of grace, He made a covenant to bless those who bless them and curse those who curse them. God’s purpose is to bless the entire world through Israel. God promised that the Messiah would come through Abraham’s seed; the entire world would be blessed through the Jewish people. They are less than .03% of the entire world population, yet over 22% of Nobel Prize winners are Jewish! Google, Waze, pacemakers, polio and cholera vaccines, USB sticks – all these are Jewish inventions. They have indeed become a blessing to the world!
Israel was not chosen by God because of their number – but because God chose to love them unconditionally (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). This is GRACE granted to them – not for any other reason but the choice of God to extend love towards them. This great benefit reaches us also in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-7). We were made part of His family in His great kindness and love – in Jesus, we have redemption and forgiveness. When we look at the Jewish people, we see God’s grace for them and us as well.
God also promised the Jewish people a piece of land. In Genesis 15:7-8, God promised to give land to Abraham. During those times, the land was occupied by various groups of people. God declared that Abraham’s descendants would be slaves in a foreign land for 400 years (Egypt), and they would get out with many possessions (Genesis 15:13-14). The Amorites were a people group that would be displaced when God’s people entered the Promised Land (Genesis 15:15-16). God gave them 400 years to repent while Israel was in Egypt! Leviticus 18:20-24 and Deuteronomy 18:9-11 list the sins of the Amorites and other nations (idolatry, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality, bestiality, witchcraft, etc). That land was given to Israel by God’s grace alone – from the Nile River to the Euphrates River (Genesis 15:18).
When we say that God is FAITHFUL, it means that HE KEEPS HIS WORD. God said that if Israel copied the ungodly behavior of other nations and decided not to follow His commandments, God would scatter them (Deuteronomy 4:25-27). God is faithful, and He keeps His promises. He stands by His word, even if it means disciplining us. Discipline is always painful, but it is redemptive as well (Hebrews 12:5-6). God disciplined His people so that they would learn about the value of living within the bounds of God’s law. tells God’s intention was for the world to know the Lord, even in the scattering and defeat of Israel (Ezekiel 12:15-16). He promised to scatter and discipline Israel, but He also promised that through Israel, the whole world would know Him, and promised that after they have been disgraced, He will “gather” them back to their land (Ezekiel 36:22-24)! History shows that God’s faithfulness kept the Jews despite the many events that attempted its destruction:
- 2000 BC – GOD calls Abraham to go to enter the Land
- 1240 BC – JOSHUA led Israelites to the Promised Land
- 1040 BC – ISRAEL under kingship of Saul, David, Solomon
- 990 BC – The Kingdom is divided
- 722 BC – Northern Kingdom falls to Assyria – scattered
- 586 BC – Southern Kingdom falls to Babylon – scattered
- 70 AD – Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans after Jewish rebellion.
- 135 AD – Romans rename Judea “Palestina” after the remaining Jews revolted. These were exiled and forbidden to live in Jerusalem.
For 2,000 years, Israel lost its power and control as various empires took over the land – Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman, Muslim, Ottoman, and British empires. But the Lord kept His promise of preservation and restoration of Israel. How could a country that lost its land reappear? What God says, because He is faithful, He will do! On May 14, 1948 Israel was recognized as a nation. As prophesied, the desolate land of Israel was eventually cultivated and fruitful (Ezekiel 36:34-35). Israel now exports fruits and vegetables to Europe and the world despite how farming is not ideal in the Middle East!
3) GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (Israel attacked and saved)
The sovereignty of God means that His ultimate control will prevail – even if Israel is threatened. God also warns Israel’s neighbors against going against His people (Ezekiel 38:1-6). Iraq and Egypt are countries prophesied that will not attack Israel (Isaiah 19:24-25). The first Arab country with a peace treaty with Israel was Egypt! In the last days, Israel, “the center of the world,” will be attacked to “capture spoil and seize plunder” (Ezekiel 38:12). God shall intervene in His anger against Israel’s enemy (Ezekiel 38:18,22-23). The entire nation of Israel will look to Jesus on that fateful day, and He will defend them (Zechariah 12:8-10, 14:12). 2 Peter 3:10-13 describes a destruction from God because of a war. As we wait for the end, we must be holy in conduct and godliness. God does not wish for anyone to perish, but FOR ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE (2 Peter 3:9). Receive His love and grace and obey what He says!