Israel, a Sign

            Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land." Ezekiel 37:21

             The most convincing sign of Jesus' soon return is the fact that Israel exists as a nation once again after not being a nation for almost 2,000 years. In 70 A.D. the Romans conquered Israel and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish temple.  The Jews that survived were then scattered all over the world. God, through His prophets, had warned Israel that they would be scattered because of their rejection of Him; however, He also promised to one day bring them back to their land.

            Although there are many places in the Old Testament where God makes this promise, there is one passage that is especially interesting.  In Ezekiel 37:1-14, the prophet has a vision of a valley of dried bones that come together and come to life again.  Verse 11 explains that these dried bones are a symbol of the “whole house of Israel.”  God has indeed fulfilled this prophecy and breathed life into the nation of Israel, just as He promised He would do.  “I will place you on your own land.  Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it.” (verse 14)  Wow!  What a miraculous sign for our generation to see! On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation once again.

            So, what is the significance of this event for all of us?  When Jesus’ disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His return and of “the end of the age” in Matthew 24, Jesus gives a long explanation, but part of His answer was a parable about a fig tree.  In the Old Testament, God sometimes refers to the nation of Israel as His fig tree.  (See Joel 1:7 and Hosea 9:10)  In Matthew 24:32-34 Jesus tells His disciples, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree; when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Jesus Himself refers to this as a parable, implying a deeper hidden meaning.  If Israel is previously referred to as God’s fig tree, then the rebirth of the nation of Israel could be compared to the budding of the fig tree, meaning that His return is very near.

            What the world and sometimes even the church fail to realize is that God made an everlasting covenant with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), to give them their land forever. (See Genesis 15:18 and 17:8)  If God says it will happen, then no one can change that fact.  God is not through with Israel.  He is still working to bring about His will in and through them.

 

            What does this mean for us?  Do we want to be on God’s side?  In Genesis 12:3 God promised Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.  And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  He said this because it was through Abraham that Jesus Christ would someday come.  If we, as a nation, want to be blessed, we had better be friends to Israel.  We should also be expecting to see the other end-time prophecies fulfilled very soon.