Gleaned from January 18th www.bobrussell.org
An article in USA Today recently reported, “Last week’s terror attacks on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper and a kosher supermarket confirmed Jessica Belhassn’s decision to leave France for the Jewish homeland, an individual journey that’s part of a growing exodus as anti-Semitic incidents have escalated in recent years.”
“I think that we have all been threatened by recent events, but the Jews have an extra threat — that is part of why I’m leaving for Israel soon,” said Belhassn, 24. “I’m leaving because I don’t want to raise my family here.”About 500,000 Jews live in France, and about 7,000 left for Israel last year, more than double those who emigrated in 2013, according to the World Jewish Congress.”
I find the current events very interesting because God’s Word predicted centuries ago that the Jewish people would return to Israel in the last days. “In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth” (Isaiah 11:11-12).
Notice Isaiah predicted there will be a second re-gathering of Israel. The first return was from Babylon under Nehemiah and Ezra. I believe that the second time God gathers a remnant from the four corners of earth refers to the final gathering of the Jews just before Christ returns. Perhaps God is now allowing the increased terror and intensifying anti-Semitism to motivate Jewish people to return to their homeland.
Not long after World War II there were more Jewish people living in New York City than any city in the world. That’s no longer true because of the massive migration of Jews back to Israel. Dr. David Reagan reported that in1900 there were 40,000 Jews in Palestine. By the end of World War II there were 800,000. Today six million Jews inhabit the land and they have come from all over the world. Over half of all the Jewish people alive are now living in Israel. And more are returning each week.
Think about other specific prophecies about Israel that have been fulfilled in our generation. The Jewish people would be preserved as a nation. (Jeremiah 30:11)
“I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord. Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you.”
Israel would be restored to its homeland (Ezekiel 37:1-14) “Then he said to me: ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our hope is gone; we are cut off”. Therefore prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:… I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in our own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.”
Most other nations would be hostile toward the Jews (Zechariah 12:1-4) “This is the word of the Lord concerning Israel… ‘I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”
The Jewish people would return to Israel in unbelief (Ezekiel 20:33-35) “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you”
It appears many Jewish people are not going back to Israel because they are strong believers in God but because they are trained from youth to long for Israel. They celebrate Passover with a toast saying, “Next year in Jerusalem.”
The Holy Land would bloom again as the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 36:33-36) “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”
After 70 A.D. the land of Palestine was laid waste. The trees were cut down, the land was abused and the countryside was desolate. The Jordan Valley became a malaria-infested swamp.
Since 1948 when Israel became a nation, the industrious Jewish people went to work to reclaim the land. They drained the swamps and planted Eucalyptus trees to soak up the moisture like sponges. In the Jordan Valley and the Judean hillsides they have planted millions of trees and flower beds of all kinds. They’ve installed a complex system of irrigation. Israel has become a land flowing with milk and honey again.
Today Israel is one of the few nations exporting food to surrounding countries. It’s becoming the breadbasket of the Middle East. Four years ago I stood on Mount Carmel and looked down through the Jezreel Valley and it was impressive in its beauty. It looks like the Garden of Eden for the abundance of crops and fertility.
Friends, these are dangerous and yet exciting times! This is no time for believers to be passive. This is no time for us to ignore Bible prophecy or scoff at the promise of Jesus’ return. This is a time to live holy and Godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).
Bob Russell is retired Senior Minister of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY.