Prophetic Israel
WHY ISRAEL?
1 .Chosen
The nation created for a purpose
God chose, first of all, one man who was obedient through faith – Abraham. He created a nation through whom he could reveal Himself, His character and nature, His “goodness and severity” (Rom.11:22) and through whom all nations would come to know Him.
“You are my servant, O’ Israel, in whom I will be glorified …. A light to the gentiles….. My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:3, 6).
“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3) “Through Israel, to make Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds”(1Chronicles 17:21)
2. Covenanted
A covenant never to be broken!
An unbreakable covenant with the people and the land
The people –
“I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them.” (Leviticus 26:44-45)
“He remembers His covenant forever…… the covenant with Abraham and His oath to Isaac….. to Israel as an everlasting covenant.”(Psalm 105:8-10)
The Land -
“All the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:15)
“God has a burning jealousy against the rest of the nations… who gave My land to themselves as a possession.”
(Ezekiel 36:5)
God calls the land His land. “I will gather all nations… judgement with them on account of My people… whom they have scattered... they have also divided up My land.” (Joel 3:2)
3. “Firstborn”
“Israel is My son, My firstborn.” (Exodus 4:22-23)
In Hebrew culture there was responsibility with the privilege of being the firstborn.
Just as there was a double portion inheritance for the first born, so there also was a double portion of judgement if they did not fulfil the responsibility.
Israel, over many generations, tested God with idolatry and disobedience so that, according to His word, “because of unbelief they were broken off.” (Romans 11:20)
“All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (Romans 10:21)
“God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
(Romans 11:8)
“Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”(Romans 11:25)
“Has God cast away his people?”
CERTAINLY NOT!” (Romans 11:11)
“Have they stumbled that they should not fall?”
CERTAINLY NOT, but through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy salvation has come to the Gentiles.” (Romans 11:11)
Israel is a son never to be forgotten or completely forsaken, even though God has for some time allowed them to be scattered over nations.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15,16)
4. A treasured possession
“Chosen you to be a people to Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy.14:2)
“His special people….. High above all nations in praise, name, honour….. a holy people” (Deuteronomy 26:18-19)
Israel was set apart from other nations, “I have separated
you” (Leviticus 20:24-26)
“If you obey my voice and keep My covenant...you will be a special treasure to me above all people, for all the earth is Mine” (Exodus 19:5)
5. The apple of His eye
‘For the Lord’s portion is His people...He kept him as the apple of His eye’ (Deut.32:9-10)
‘He who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.’
(Zech. 2: 2-8)
There are two aspects which could be considered regarding the ‘apple of His eye.’
(a) The ‘apple’ is the pupil, the lens through which God views other nations
(b) There is a strong reaction if something is about to touch the ‘apple’ (pupil) of the eye!
God contends with nations which oppose Israel. (Isaiah 49:25; Micah 4:11, 12; Ps. 105:15)
6. Israel—God’s lost one (hear God’s heart’s cry)
‘How can I hand you over, Israel...My heart churns within me.’ (Hosea 11:8)
God “watches over His word to perform it” therefore, as His word was given, He had to allow Israel to be lost to Him for a time.
But— “He who watches over Israel will never slumber or sleep”(Ps.121)
“He who scattered Israel will watch over His flock like a
Shepherd” (Jer.31:10)
Hosea had to enact the prophetic word God gave Him concerning Israel. He was instructed to marry Gomer, an impure woman, who would be unfaithful to him (God’s portrayal of Israel’s ‘infidelity’)
They would have two daughters who were named according to God’s judgement and restoration of Israel.
God is bringing His covenanted people back to the covenanted land He calls ‘My land,’ in preparation for their Spiritual restoration.
“He will roar like a lion...and His sons shall come trembling” (Hosea 11:10)
First, the physical restoration:
“I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. I will bring them back.” (Ezekiel 36:24; 37:21)
Next, the Spiritual restoration:
“I will sprinkle clean water on you… I will cleanse you.”
(Ezekiel 36:25)
“I do not do this for your sake, O House of Israel, but for My
holy name’s sake.” (Ezekiel 36:22)
God’s dealings and eventual reconciliation with Israel are a ‘mystery,’ but Paul, the apostle, exhorts us, “do not be ignorant of it” (Romans 11:25) “so that you do-not become wise in your own conceit”
7. Our response?
Where do we stand as a nation toward Israel?
Where do you stand as an individual?
We tend to think that we are ‘safe’ if we do not ‘hate’ the Jews and are not outrightly opposed to Israel—at least we are not ‘cursing’ Israel as some do!
Consider Genesis 12:3 in the light of precise translation from the Hebrew:
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will (1) curse him who (2) curses you.”
“Curse” - verb ‘arar’ (Hebrew) - to curse
“Curses” - verb ‘kalal’ (Hebrew) - to be light about/to treat
as a light thing.
So then, those who treat Israel as a light thing God will curse!
We dare not be indifferent about Israel! We must give attention to what God is saying. As He said to Hosea- “My people are destroyed through lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
In these days, God is calling individuals and nations to stand for His word and His purposes. The Body of Christ needs to know His heart.
It’s not about politics or having romantic notions about Israel. It’s not about being anti or pro-Palestinian either. God’s heart is for all people but His purposes must come into place first and then the final ’harvest’ of souls and nations will take place, in preparation for the Lord of the Harvest to return and take His place. All those who believe in Christ, Jew and Gentile from whatever nation, will be “one new man.”
When Cain was challenged by God, who said Abel’s blood was calling out to Him from the ground, Cain arrogantly said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In other words, ‘Am I responsible for my brother?’ God says ‘yes’!
God will hold nations responsible for turning their backs and pretending not to notice. As individuals, we have a responsibility before God to decide what we believe He has told us to do and what we can now do about it.
The world was almost silent when six million Jews were slaughtered (that is as many as now populate Israel today!)
1 million of those were children!
Greater than a past holocaust is coming. Hatred is rising in many nations. Countries are standing back, politically, for fear! What is coming to Israel has been prophesied. As people who have the same ‘root’ in the Father of faith, Abraham, God wants us to stand for His word above any other words, no matter how vehemently they are voiced. He wants our hearts to echo His heart and to call His word to fulfilment.
We cannot remain indifferent. Israel will become a powerful army in God’s hands, leading to a world revival.
(Ezekiel 37: 10-14; Isaiah 41:15: Micah 4:13.) Israel will go through its strongest crisis as a nation, known as the ‘Time of Jacob’s trouble.’ (Jer.30:4-9; Ezek.20:30-49; Zech.12-14)
Ultimately, the fullness of God’s promises and restoration will be realised for Israel and all the world shall acknowledge this.
(Ezek.36:34-38; Isaiah 65-66)
The Lord of the Harvest, Jesus the Messiah (Yashua Ha Massiach), will return to Jerusalem.
Why Jerusalem?
It is “the city of the Great King.”
“Joy of the whole earth” (Ps.48:2; Matt.5:35)
though just now it is fought over and even despised, as it was described in Lamentations 2:15.
God’s throne is in Jerusalem (Jer.3:17)
His name is there (2Chron.6:6)
His furnace is there. (Isaiah 31:9)
It is the place to which he directed Abraham when he was challenged to sacrifice Isaac (Gen.22:2) on Mount Moriah.
Jerusalem was the place of Jesus’ sacrifice and the place of His return, the Mount of Olives (Zech.14:4)
Jerusalem is prophetically named the City of Peace (Yeru-shalem). It is where the kingdom of the Prince of Peace (Sar-Shalom) will be set up.
It was the place appointed to ‘go up’ to celebrate the prophetic Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23), two of which have been fulfilled. The third and final feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, the full Harvest Feast, is yet to be fulfilled.
The Hebrew word ‘mikra’, which we have translated as ‘feast’, is, more precisely, ‘rehearsal’. The whole gospel of John is focused on showing how Jesus fulfilled the ‘rehearsals’ of the 2 Spring Feasts in Jerusalem. Revelation focuses on the final feast, the 7th in the 7th Hebrew ‘month’, when all nations will ‘go up’ to Jerusalem.
“My delight is in her” (Isaiah 62:4) “a holy city” (Isaiah 52:1)
Destined to be “a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord”
(Isaiah 62:3)
We are told by Isaiah to “give Him (God) no rest until he makes Jerusalem a praise in all the earth.”“His word will not return to Him empty.”(Isa. 55:11)
He will “make Jerusalem a praise in all the earth.” (Isaiah 62:7)
God watches over His word to see it fulfilled (Jer.1:12)
We are told to pray for Jerusalem’s ‘Shalom’ (Ps.122:6),
which is not just ‘peace’ in an absence of conflict but means ‘completion,’ ‘wholeness,’ ‘prosperity,’ tranquillity,’ and more!
How? By praying for them to have the ‘veil’ lifted to clearly see and welcome Jesus, Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace.
Watch Israel! Pray for God’s purposes and His Kingdom to come.
Our destiny and purposes in God depend on the ‘root’ (Israel) being in place. He has physically brought the nation into place, “Can a nation be born in a day?” (Isaiah 66:8)
|
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1948 |
a nation born in a day
God brought this nation “to the time of birth”. (Isaiah 66:9) |
1967 |
Jerusalem (His city) reunited after the 6-day war. Egyptian soldiers testify to seeing heavenly beings on Israel’s side. More Gentiles have come to Christ since 1967 than all history put together. |
1998 (1948 – 1998) |
Israel’s Jubilee as a nation. |
Jubilee |
the 50th year, a freedom year; “a Jubilee Year for you; you shall return each person to his ancestral heritage” (Leviticus 25:10-13) debts cancelled, slaves released. |
| |
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Something mighty was released in the nations since Israel’s Jubilee year in 1998.
This article is a condensed version of a 3-session course with power-point presentation ‘PROPHETIC ISRAEL’. If you are interested in running this course in your church or wish to attend one which we have organized, please contact us.
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Israel 60
Year Celebration
TRM
believe that God is calling the nations to prayerfully watch and stand with
Israel in these latter days before the King (Jesus/Yeshua) comes to take up
His throne, and establish His Kingdom. Zech. 8:22 Prophesies, “Many peoples
and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem”.
In May 2008
Israel celebrated her 60th anniversary as a nation re-born.
Many well-known prophetic
people felt called to be in Israel to fast, worship, pray and call on God
for His purposes to be realised. GOD T.V. broadcasted some of the major
gatherings which had been organised for this time.
‘One thing, Jerusalem’
was a 3-day event for Israeli youth (both Arab & Jew) to come together to
worship, pray, and give testimony to the God of their salvation. A gentle
steady rain from a cloudless evening sky fell only on young the Arab
believers as they were prayed for on the stage! It was clearly a sign from
heaven. The 2 leaders were praying “send your water into the driest
places”.
On Sunday 11th May, the
Global Day of Prayer, nations all over the world gathered in solidarity in
various national centres, many of those same nations were represented at
“The Call” in Jerusalem. The call began, “REND YOUR HEARTS” (Joel 2:13) so
that God might “REND THE HEAVENS AND COME DOWN" ( Isa 64:1). It was a
powerful gathering where much repentance and reconciliation was made.
According to God’s Word, “a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but
has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name, and Your mighty
hand… when they come here and pray, then hear from heaven, Your dwelling
place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that
ALL PEOPLES OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW YOUR NAME” (2Chron. 6:32-33)
On Wednesday 14th May,
another kind of meeting took place. In the Knesset, many leaders in world
business and politics met to discuss Israel's role in the modern world.
Before and as they met, believers all over Israel were declaring God’s Word
and purposes from Psalm 2. The prayer was that those leaders would see ‘the
Son’ (verses6-8) of the God of Israel and embrace His ways (“kiss the Son”,
verse12); especially those among leaders who purportedly follow Him.
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Nepal Our associate in Nepal is Dharma Raj Rijal.
See
below a short report on one of his recent projects.
Far south of Kathmandu is a remote village of Makanpur, Rai Gaau. This
village was the first place in Nepal to hear the gospel of Jesus. In May 2008,
170 Nepalese youth gathered there for a seminar.
Dharma described his dangerous and tense journey back to Kathmandu on a
motorbike.
“Suddenly a heavy wind began to blow the rain and sand so that we could not
find the track. We were driving blind, motorbike headlights were just like
small torches. Terrified, we started the shout Jesus’ name. We thought we
would never make it. Praise the Lord for His help”.
* * * * * * *
On November 12-14th 2008, Nepal had a three day Youth Leaders’ Workshop. The goal, decided at that workshop, was to form a National Youth Commission.
A three day youth conference was organised for 1st to 3rd October 2009, supported by NCF Nepal and New Wine Ireland. The theme: Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come” Dharma was a youth representative at that conference in Kathmandu. Among the youth leaders attending, someone was to be chosen as President of the proposed National Youth Commission of Nepal.
Dharma was unanimously voted into that position.
*** Two of our staff have just come back from visiting Dharma. A report will follow shortly.***
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