Be sure of this, the time is coming, says the Lord, when the plowman will catch up to the reaper, and the one who stomps the grapes will overtake the planter. Juice will run down the slopes; it will flow down all the hillsides. I will bring back my people, Israel; they will rebuild the cities lying in rubble and settle down. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce; they will grow orchards and eat the fruit they produce. I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God. (Amos 9:13-15 NET)
The passage above is only one of many passages that speak of a time when God would restore the nation of Israel; putting the Jewish people back into the Land that He had promised to them through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the book of Genesis, and confirmed over and over again through the prophets throughout the Old Testament.
Many Bible scholars look to May 14, 1948 as the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise of God to restore His people to the Land. That is the date that the nation of Israel came back into existence after nearly 2,000 years of dispersion over the face of the earth.
That in itself is nothing short of miraculous. As far as I know, the nation of Israel is the only nation that has ever ceased to exist as a nation for more than three or four generations and then came back into existence. Israel, as a nation, had no government of its own, had no land of its own, for 2,000 years. And, yet, beginning again in 1948 it regained its Land and became a sovereign nation. Our God always keeps His promises.
Obviously, the current situation in Israel reveals that God’s promise to restore them and for them to dwell in complete peace have not, and will not be fully realized until the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, returns and establishes His earthly Kingdom. Before that time, the Jewish people will still face many dark days during the time of Tribulation.
Naturally, at a time like this, people are asking, “Is what is happening in Israel now mean that we are in the ‘last days?’” Well, in some sense, we have been in the “last days” since Jesus Christ went back to Heaven. However, certainly events like these terrorist attacks, that grab the attention of the entire world, may well be an indicator that God is preparing to wrap all of this up.
Two things to note; one, the passage above, and others, make it clear that Israel will never again be totally driven from her Land. And, two, we have an obligation to pray for the nation of Israel. Attached to this email is a prayer guide that lists five ways that you and I can pray for the nation and people of Israel. The prayer guide will also be in your bulletin on Sunday.
Remember, follower of Jesus, God is in control, and He will accomplish His purposes in all of this. You and I must remain faithful and not grow weary in the task we have been given to make the name of Jesus known; here, there, and everywhere. Take courage because of the truth of God’s word:
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:27-28)
I love being your Pastor,
PC