1878 LONG YEARS

We’re exploring the miraculous survival of the Jews. Will their exile ever end?

 

This prophecy business is all very well but how does it stack up against what has actually happened in history?                                                  

Fair enough…let’s go back to the archangel Gabriel telling Daniel:

“And after three-score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…”

Do you mean to say that the exact date the crucifixion would take place was predicted 500 or so years before?

Absolutely!...some say even to the day, 62 times 7 or 434 years after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah. Gabriel went on to say:

“…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”   Daniel 9

The temple burns in AD 70

Mmm…ongoing desolation hey?  I suppose that was after the Roman Army under Titus sacked Jerusalem in AD 70. The temple was completely destroyed, the people were killed or taken captive…

Yes, just as Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:

“See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”




So did Jesus warn what would happen to the Jewish people?

After a sleepless night, beaten and flogged so badly He can’t even carry His own cross, Jesus finds the breath to address the grieving women:        


“For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”   Luke 23

What’s this dry tree He’s talking about?

He’s referring to the nation of Israel as a fig tree that is not only fruitless towards God but is now cursed and dried up. On His way into the city a few days earlier….                                      

“…And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever…”    Matthew 21

So I suppose you’re going to tell me Moses accurately warned Israel of this, more than a thousand years before?

Would you believe?...the historian Flavius Josephus tells us that the Romans sent Jews back to Egypt just as Deuteronomy 28 verses 63 thru 68 warned:

 “And the Lord will bring thee into Egypt again with ships…..and there ye shall be sold…”

Back to Egypt as slaves again!?  Well this sounds grim, especially when Jesus said ‘for ever’ – a hopeless future for the Jews.

Nearly hopeless but not quite: the dispersion or diaspora is not forever.     
Later, on that remarkable day after the Jewish leaders had rejected His authority He hinted that the fruitless fig tree is one day going to put out some new leaves.

What did the prophets foretell about the return of Jews to Palestine?

Ezekiel detailed it in chapter 36 where you will find:

“…I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. A new heart also I will give you, and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart….”

Ah! The return of the Jews to Palestine and the revival of the State of Israel is not just a political struggle after all – God is behind it!...get them home first......................then work on them!

NEXT….Liberation!
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/liberationsort-of.html

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PAUL SAID??

We’re still exploring the miraculous survival of the Jews and what that 'traitor' Paul said:

We’ve looked at what everybody else had to say about Israel…so what about Paul?...he was a devout Jew too, wasn’t he?

Yes, he was given the special task of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to us Gentiles too - the mystery of the Church that had been hidden until then.

So had Paul given up on Israel? It sure seems like it from Acts 13:

“…seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Certainly not! He had the same outlook as the other apostles:

“…the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.”           Acts 26

“But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it (Israel) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.”           2 Corinthians 3

In fact he makes it abundantly clear that there are three classes of people, even now:

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God…”                1 Corinthians 10

Jews, Gentiles and the Church??  So there you have it!
The Church doesn’t replace the Jews after all!

He really spells it out in his letter to the Church in Rome, chapters 9 thru 11:                                       

“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew….”…and  later on…                               

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins…as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”   Romans 11                                                                          

But somewhere doesn’t Paul call the Church: the ‘Israel of God’?

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”           Galatians 6

…no, he’s just wishing peace and mercy on those in the Church where Jew or Gentile is not recognised, and also on godly Israelites.

Alright then, I’ll give you some curly ones – see if you can fit these in:

Philippians 3:3         “…we are the circumcision…”
Galatians 3:29         “…then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise…”
Romans 2:29            “…a Jew who is one inwardly…”

If you read those scriptures in context you will find that we as Christians – albeit Gentiles – have been included by God’s grace into the household of faith….and who showed us faith in God’s promises?  Abraham.

These Jewish Christians sure had high hopes for Israel in the future.                 

In the meantime……….1878 years of exile: NEXT
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/1878-years-of-exile.html

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WHAT ABOUT PROPHETS?

We’re still exploring the miraculous survival of the Jews...but what did their prophets have to say?

The apostles seemed to like quoting the Old Testament; what did the prophets actually say about Israel’s fate in the end?

What didn’t they say!...and they weren’t addressing the Church either!                    

Let’s start with Hosea again – after he said they would “abide many days without king and without a prince and without a sacrifice…” he went on to say:

“…afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.”…which of course will be miraculous because even by this time king David has already been dead for centuries and most of Israel is about to be wiped off the map. 

Okay but who backs up Hosea on that?...Israel’s return in the end times.

All 15 of them!...one way or another, plus Moses, Nehemiah, the psalmists… It might seem a bit boring to study the prophets but this is where we find out what’s really going to happen. We only have room for some snapshots:

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand a second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left…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

“For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land…”     Isaiah 14                                                    

“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The Lord 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.”                              Jeremiah 16

“And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.”……and later on……                                                  
“And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”     Ezekiel 37

“So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward…neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.”                                       Ezekiel 39

 “…But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.”     Nehemiah 1                                                      

“And 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.”    Zechariah 10                                                             

If you ask me...it's rather weird for predictions to come true today, that were made by obscure prophets thousands of years ago.   Humanly speaking it all sounds so ridiculously impossible, although I suppose with God, nothing is impossible.               

So what did the apostle Paul have to say?…….NEXT
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/and-paul-said.html

JESUS SAID...?

We’re exploring the miraculous survival of the Jews and what the most famous Jew said:

 So what did Jesus have to say about Israel when He was here?

He told the Samaritan woman at the well: “Salvation is of the Jews”.                  
…and don’t forget the prophecy that said the promised ‘Ruler in Israel’ would be born in Bethlehem:

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”    Micah 5

Ah!…but later he said in Matthew 21: 

“The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”        

…there you are!...gotcha!!  God has taken the kingdom from Israel and given it to the Church, described by the apostle Peter as a ‘holy nation’.

Does Jesus say forever?

Urr, no…not exactly…in fact no - not at all.

Far from Israel being scrapped, it will feature prominently in a future ‘regeneration’:

“…ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”  Matthew 19 & Luke 22 .

The god-fearing remnant of Israel will get to rule the world after all!                       
No wonder the disciples stayed very Jewish in their outlook; even as apostles in the Church they obviously knew God would never give up on Israel.
At the inaugural Lord’s Supper they heard and saw Jesus symbolize the New Covenant - with Israel and Judah, as announced by Jeremiah the prophet. 

In fact, the very last thing they asked Jesus was:

“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

…but He ordered them to get out there in the meantime and witness to the ends of the earth, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Peter was so sure he went on to publicly announce:

“And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”              

Didn’t the Lord’s brother James become an elder of the church in Jerusalem?

Yes, some people claim that his letter proves that the Church has replaced Israel when he addresses ‘the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad…’ but they ignore what he quoted from the prophets to the Church in Acts 15:

“After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up…”

NEXT: What about those prophets?

Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/what-about-those-prophets.html



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WHY ISRAEL?

We're exploring the miraculous survival of  the Jews...but why them of all people?


We found that God saw Israel as the ‘apple of His eye’.

More than that… if the sun, moon and stars would fail, if the mountains would all disappear, in fact if we could measure the universe or explore the earth’s core - then He would give up on Israel. Impossible, hey??

I suppose this all began with those promises to father Abraham?

Actually long before that.  Moses said that God divided up the people at Babel into nations according to the number of the children of Israel – Jacob’s family of 70 who went to live in Egypt hundreds of years later.

This is astounding! Don’t tell me God planned for Israel to finally rule the world!?

The name Israel says it all – ‘rule with God’...and here’s Psalm 47:

“For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.”                         

Incredible!  I can understand now why some Christians mistakenly forget their heavenly destiny with Christ and think their hope lies with Israel.  What I want to know is – WHY ISRAEL?....what’s so special about that family?

Surrounded by a world given over to idolatry, Abraham believed in the one true God and obeyed Him – it’s as simple as that.

But why choose one weird family over all other families on earth? 
I mean, Jacob had not just one but four wives who produced a family of lying scoundrels that sold off their younger brother for 20 lousy bucks then kept their dad grieving in ignorance for over 20 years!

Good question! Let’s start with the real ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’:

• “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye 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 shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”            Isaiah 43 & 44                                                           
• to show the world the blessing in serving God -                             

     “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”        Psalm 144                                                     

• to transmit the Word of God -                                             

     “…Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”           Deuteronomy 4                             

• as a lesson book, for Christians especially-                                              

     “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”  1 Cor 10                                                                                          

• and last but not least…to produce the Saviour of mankind -                     

     “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace…”        Isaiah 9

Don’t forget….God made promises to grandfather Abraham and He cannot fail to keep them, no matter how disappointing the family turns out, even begging the Romans to kill their Messiah. 

So what did the Saviour Jesus have to say about Israel?.............NEXT!
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/and-jesus-said.html

 

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PROMISES, PROMISES....

We're exploring the miraculous survival of the Jews who were once promised so much:

 

What did God actually promise Abraham?

“I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”     
…and later on:                                          
“Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”                                                       

Okay, but how do we know that wasn’t just Abraham’s ambition to found a nation to own all that land?  Did God confirm His promise?

Abraham ambitious??  Why travel all the way from Mesopotamia via Egypt just to buy a cemetery? Yes, God's unconditional promise was also confirmed with Isaac and Jacob. 

But Israel has never had complete sovereignty over all that land of Palestine has it?...from Egypt to the Euphrates River?                                             

Either God is a liar or He’s mighty slow to deliver. Perhaps it’s no better than a musical comedy – Promises, Promises!                                          

 Abraham’s family did become the great nation of Israel that brought blessing on the world through Jesus Christ. As for God coming good on the whole deal, the apostle Paul assures us: “it was impossible for God to lie” and he told the Christians in Rome:

“…they (Israel) are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

God cannot go back on His word. It’s absolutely impossible.

Did God make any other promises that were unconditional?

Yes, this is what he said to king David:

“…thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.”

So was that promise confirmed too?

Yes, when Daniel revealed king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream:

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
….and earlier in Daniel 2: “…the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”                                                  

Oh, an earthly kingdom!...although the King must be in exile. That must be why we say: “Thy kingdom come…” in the Lord’s Prayer.

Of course!...and finally, when Mary was told of her miraculous pregnancy the angel Gabriel said:                                                   

“…and the Lord God shall give unto him (Jesus) the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Wasn’t there some sort of covenant made with Israel about the Promised Land?...a Palestinian Covenant or something…?

Sure. You’ll find it in the section Deuteronomy 28 to 30 where Moses maps out their whole future for thousands of years so accurately it’s breathtaking. Even though it’s a covenant conditional on their obedience it concludes: 

“…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…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….that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Okay, but what I want to know is…

Why Israel?......NEXT 
 Click on:  http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/why-israel.html

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