#4 Patterns of Prophecy-Regathering to the Land

Patterns of Prophecy The Supernatural History of Israel Session 4 The Regathering to the Land Prophecies of the Regathering 1. Lev. 26:40-45 7. Jer. 30:1-24 2. Deut. 4:25-31 8. Jer. 31:1-14 3. Deut. 30:1-10 9. Ezekiel 36:19-24 4. Isaiah 11:11-12 10. Hosea 3:4-5 5. Isaiah 49:13-26 11. Amos 9:14-15 6. Jer. 16:14-16 12. Zech. 14 Emancipation, yet Antisemitism Jewish “emancipation” was the external (and internal) process in various nations in Europe of eliminating laws aimed at limiting the Jews, and even granted recognition of Jews as entitled to equality and citizenship rights. It included efforts within the community to integrate into their societies as citizens. It occurred gradually between the late 18th century and the early 20th century. Jewish emancipation followed the Age of Enlightenment and the concurrent Jewish enlightenment. Yet ironically, Tuchman in her book “Bible and Sword” (chapter 12) speaks of the growing anti-Semitism in Europe, which seemed to thrive in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars. An 1806 French print depicts Napoleon Bonaparte emancipating the Jews Emancipation, yet Antisemitism The movements of nationalism, liberalism, & socialism were all rooted it in the Enlightenment of the 1600s. Jews had an increasing desire to assimilate into their host societies hoping that the enlightenment, the progress, and the brotherhood of man would do away with anti-Semitism, but somehow it didn’t! In fact the very center of the Enlightenment (Paris, France) is where the Dreyfus affair occurred. “The Damascus Incident” of 1840, where several Jews were murdered because of a charge of blood libel and a synagogue was plundered, also illustrated to the Jewish community in Europe that the Enlightenment had not carried the day far enough to eradicate antisemitism. A Jewish prisoner preparing his defense before an Ottoman court on charges of Blood Libel. The Dreyfus Affair Alfred Dreyfus was born to a Jewish family on October 9, 1859, in France. He joined the French military in 1887. On September 27, 1894, a piece of paper with detailed reports of the position of French soldiers and information about artillery was found in a trashcan in the German embassy. The handwriting on this document was compared to a handwriting sample of Dreyfus. Only 3 out of 5 “experts” found the handwriting similar, yet Dreyfus was arrested about a month later. At his arrest, Dreyfus was ceremonially humiliated, yet as he was marched off, the crowd chanted “death to the Jew.” The Dreyfus Affair The Dreyfus Affair brought to light the age-old evils of antisemitism back to a worldwide stage. Some historians even note the abuse of free press in order to use it as a weapon for political purposes began in many ways with the Dreyfus Affair. Jews were left wondering how France, one of the world’s supposedly most modern countries, could still harbor such primitive hatred for the Jews, and tolerance of blatant injustice. Though later exonerated, the Dreyfus affair demonstrated that the Jews were never going to be able to fully integrate into their host countries. The Dreyfus Affair Perhaps most importantly, the Dreyfus Affair had a profound impact on a man named Theodore Herzl. Herzl was a journalist sent by his newspaper in Vienna to cover the Dreyfus Affair. Nearly every major newspaper worldwide had someone covering the Dreyfus trials. Having a first hand perspective of the trial as it unfolded, Herzl became convinced Dreyfus was innocent, and justice was being ignored. Herzl soon realized that only by having their own homeland could Jews receive respect from the other peoples of the world. First Zionist Conference The movement we call “Zionism” began from the roots of the Russian programs, which sent many refugees around Europe, and especially to America in the 1880s. Yet this movement found its spokesman in Theodore Herzl, after the Dreyfus Affair. The First Zionist Congress was held in 1897, which led to a growing awareness of anti-semitism, and a increased desire for a Jewish state. This Congress also led to the establishment of the Jewish National Fund, which was contributed to by wealthy Jews from across the world, especially in America. This fund facilitated the purchase and development of land in Palestine from the Turkish government. The first Zionist Congress put forth it’s declaration of purpose, “to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law.” The Growth of Zionism The idea to immigrate and cultivate Palestine had earlier then proposed by the English as early as the early 1800s, but never really took off. The reluctance of Jews to return to the land of Israel from the prosperity of Europe was akin to the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, when wealthy Jews from prosperous Babylon wanted no part of the difficult life awaiting them in Palestine. Most Jews did not want to come home. It was actually the holocaust that would later motivate most Jews to immigrate out of Europe. With a growing global following, the Zionist movement attempted to court the great European powers to find sponsorship. Finally in 1903 the British offered the Jews territory in East Africa though it was rejected by Herzl, who then died unexpectedly in 1904. The official offer of Palestine to the Jews came in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration. The Grand Achievement of Zionism Tuchman asks the question why the British catered to Zionism? She states that the motives were mixed in different ways with different individuals, and it has been hotly disputed ever since, yet she goes on to describe some key factors. Tuchman finally admits her personal belief regarding the personal motives of both Lloyd George and Lord Balfour [both highly influential in issuing the Balfour Declaration], neither of which would admit it because of the political overtones, nonetheless, she personally believes their motive was a sentimental one, i.e. a biblical one. She describes the love for the Jewish people possessed by both of these men, because of their upbringing, when their mothers read to them the Old Testament. Are you detecting providence? Eastern Stage of WW1 After the assassination of Ferdinand in 1914, World War 1 broke out, but soon developed into a stalemate. Trench warfare and a slow war of attrition on the western front led to a shift in the strategy of the Allies, and the opening of the another theatre of the war in the Middle East. The idea was to conquer the weak Turkish Empire, which had already unsuccessfully attempted to take the Suez canal from Britain. The British strategy was to defeat Turkey, and thereby weaken the Central Powers. General Allenby led the charge. Field Marshal Allenby Field Marshal Allenby was born in 1861, and was educated at Haileybury College. He had no great desire to be a soldier, and even tried to enter the Indian Civil Service, but failed the entry exam. He eventually joined the military and rose in the ranks. He served in the Boer War of 1899, and then again in World War 1. When he received his orders to go to the Middle East in early summer of 1917, and open up an eastern theatre to World War 1, he at first thought it was a joke. Most soldiers believed the war was to be won in the west, but the British mindset shifted during the the year of 1917. The Balfour Declaration The British had a number of early victories in Palestine, however, they continued to look for ways to gain an edge. Then came the Balfour Declaration. On November 2, 1917, Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour wrote a letter to Britain’s most illustrious Jewish citizen, Baron Rothschild expressing British support for a homeland in Palestine. This was a momentous occasion is Jewish history. The motives behind this decision were varied: aside from a genuine belief in the righteousness of the Zionist cause held by many British leaders, the British also hoped that a formal declaration in favor of Zionism would help gain Jewish support for the Allies in neutral countries, especially in the U.S., and Russia, which had just suffered the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. The Balfour Declaration Up to this point, Russia had the majority of Jews serving in their army, but ironically the central powers had more Jews than the Allies. The Balfour declaration, however, did have some of its intended effect. In fact, Jewish brigades were formed and added to British forces under British command. In a stroke of irony, many of these Allied Jewish forces (see esp. the Zion Mule Corps) would gain the experience that would later form the core of Jewish resistance against the British Mandate. Just as fascinating as the Balfour Declaration itself, is its backstory… The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann The Jewish chemist, Chaim Weizmann, was a major influence upon the British towards Zionism. Weizmann was a brilliant and charismatic man who could appeal to the entire British cabinet concerning Zionism. He could appeal to those who were more spiritually minded and had an eye biblical prophecy, while simultaneously persuading imperialists of the strategic nature of a Jewish inhabited Palestine. Weizmann would become a personal friend to Lord Balfour, after their first meeting at the Manchester hotel in 1906. Weizmann The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann Weizmann had a 15 minute meeting to answer Balfour’s question why the Jews rejected the east Africa offer of land, and were so insistent on the land of Palestine. This 15 minute meeting ended up stretching on for hours, while lord Balfour and Chaim Weizmann developed a genuine and long lasting friendship. In fact at the end of his life, when Balfour lay dying, Weizmann was the only friend outside his family circle admitted to see him. Barbara Tuchman describes the Scottish up bringing of lord Balfour, his acquaintance with the Old Testament, and his great interest in the Jewish people. Balfour The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann Balfour truly believed that the Christian religion, and civilization, owed to Judaism an immeasurable debt shamefully repaid. Balfour was very taken with Weizmann and the cause of Zionism, after their meeting in 1906, yet he lost his political office soon after, and thus had no official influence on British policy. However, this political situation was reversed in 1916 just in time before the end of the war. When Balfour regained the post of Foreign Secretary, he was now able to influence the government of Britain to seriously consider a public statement of policy on Palestine, and he opened official talks about the Zionist question. Balfour The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann Though many factors were at play such as the British desire to protect the Suez Canal, to create a buffer zone with the land of Judea, as well as many other considerations, it was Weizmann’s creation of the synthetic acetone formula on behalf of the British government that helped these considerations coalesce. Britain had used up her timber supply from which alcohol is made, from which in turn was derived acetone, an essential element in the manufacture of cordite for use in ammunition. Some method of producing a synthetic acetone had to be invented and fast. Lloyd George, as minister of munitions, “was casting about for a solution,” as he tells it. The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann A friend of his recommended “a very remarkable professor of chemistry at Manchester,” whose name was Weizmann. Though they were unsure of his loyalties to the British government, they were nonetheless convinced that he could be loyal to the Allies, because he was a Zionist, and Zionism had its best hope in an Allied victory. In fact, Weizmann’s strategic position as both a brilliant chemist, and a personal friend of lord Balfour, was also bolstered by the fact that he had become a recognized leader in Zionism, after the death of Herzl in 1904… Can you detect providence??? The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann Tuchman states, “the acetone incident was crucial not so much in eliciting Lloyd George’s promise of a reward for Dr. Weizmann’s services as in bringing Weizmann permanently to London… into contact with the makers of policy.” Field Marshal Allenby some years later in Jerusalem would say, “never in my life have I seen such a man as Dr. Weizmann. He has the ability to convert everyone to Zionism by his infectious enthusiasm.” Lloyd George The Backstory of Balfour & Weizmann In the words Barbara Tuchman she says, “in London in 1916-17 the hour had come, and by some unfathomable law of history [emphasis mine] the hour turns up the man. Weizmann’s acetone work was under the auspices of the admiralty, where Balfour was now first lord. ‘You know,’ Balfour began when they met again as if unconscious of any interruption since the last meeting, ‘I was thinking of that conversation of ours and I believe that when the guns stop firing you may well get your Jerusalem.’” What Tuchman calls an “unfathomable law of history” we call God‘s providence! Back to the War Allenby Takes Jerusalem Allenby was swiftly taking control of Egypt and then Palestine during the year of 1917. This effectiveness was largely aided by the famous “Lawrence of Arabia,” a British officer, who led the Arabs in revolt, and brought havoc to the Turkish supply lines. Within months Allenby was closing on Jerusalem. With the issuing of the Balfour Declaration in November of 1917, Allenby was ordered to offer up the city of Jerusalem as a present to the British government by Christmas time in December. So within a mere few weeks of the Balfour Declaration, Allenby begins his advance toward the sacred city. Lawrence Allenby Takes Jerusalem According to one source I have, Allenby had prayed every day as a young boy that God would restore Jerusalem, & God finally decided to use him to do it! General Allenby was a Bible believing Christian who carried a Bible with him everywhere he went and saw the significance of Jerusalem. The night before the attack against Jerusalem in 1917, Allenby prayed that God would allow him to capture the city without damaging the holy places. That day Allenby sent airplanes over the city of Jerusalem to do a reconnaissance mission. You have to understand that many of the Turkish soldiers at this time had never seen an airplane. They looked to the sky and saw these fascinating inventions, and did not know what they were. They were terrified by them. Allenby Takes Jerusalem Then the Turkish soldiers were told they were going to be opposed by a man named “Allenby,” which means in their language “Man sent from God,” or “prophet of God.” Not daring to fight they fled the city of Jerusalem, and Allenby's forces literally walked into the city on December 9, 1917, capturing it without firing a single shot. When Allenby arrived two days later, he dismounted and entered the city on foot through the Jaffa Gate, together with his officers. This was a deliberate contrast to the perceived arrogance of the Kaiser's entry into Jerusalem on horseback in 1898, which was not well received by the local citizens. Allenby Takes Jerusalem When the Kaiser Wilhelm visited Jerusalem in 1898, he was mounted on a black charger, wearing white ceremonial uniform, his helmet surmounted by a burnished gold eagle.” Legend has it that the Kaiser forced his Turkish host to break a passage in the wall of Jerusalem next to the Jaffa Gate in order to accommodate him, his horse, and his helmet with the eagle on top without requiring him to bow his head to enter through the Jaffa Gate! Yet contrast this with Allenby’s insistence that he and his men enter the city on foot. Upon entering, Allenby also reportedly made the remark, “I come not as a conqueror, but as a pilgrim,” as well as, “only now have the crusades ended.” Allenby Takes Jerusalem The date of Allenby taking Jerusalem is also significant. December 9 on the Christian calendar was the 24 of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which was the beginning of Hanukah that year. So the day Allenby “liberated” Jerusalem was on the anniversary of when the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem over 2,000 years before. This of course, was not lost on the Jewish world, and Allenby was soon compared to the Maccabees themselves. Allenby Takes Jerusalem The 100th anniversary of this entry of Allenby into Jerusalem was celebrated recently. The Israeli museum inside of the Citadel of David commemorates this event, which is still beloved by the Israeli people. The terms of the British marshal law, which Allenby imposed upon Jerusalem, showed incredible deference to the Jewish people, and religious freedom to all. His announcement was published in several languages, one of which was Hebrew. This is believed to be one of the first official government documents written in Hebrew for centuries! Allenby Takes Michmash Because the Turks retreated from Jerusalem, they decided to take their stand further north. One of the most heavily fortified Turkish positions was at the town of Michmash. This location was formidable because it possessed the high ground. General Allenby realized that without taking the city of Michmash, the British effort in Israel would be greatly frustrated. So in February of 1918, he began his march on Michmash. His army camped before the city in the Benjamin Plateau in the same place King Saul’s army had camped centuries before. From there the British planned a full frontal attack upon Michmash the next day. General Allenby Takes Michmash Yet the night before the assault, a British Army officer, Major Vivian Gilbert, recounts how he remembered mention of Michmash in the Bible. He found the passage in 1 Samuel 14 recounting Jonathan and his armor bearer taking the Philistine fortification at Michmash. So Vivian wakes up Allenby. By studying the route taken by Jonathan between the rocks Bozez & Seneh, (according to 1 Sam. 14:4-5), Allenby & Vivian decide to repeated the tactic. On February 18, 1918 General Allenby sent a company of soldiers led by Gilbert, up this same pass by night. General Allenby Takes Michmash The Turkish army was asleep, and completely caught off guard by the company of British soldiers led by Gilbert. The British soldiers overwhelmed the Turks, and caused a panic throughout the Turkish forces, which had lost battle after battle to the British forces. The Turks believed Allenby’s entire force, nearly 100,000 strong, were descending upon them. Nearly the entire Turkish force of Michmash was either killed or captured at this battle. More fascinating battles occurred at Megiddo and elsewhere throughout Palestine before the end of WW1. Dividing up the Land After the final fall of Turkey, the Eagles had gathered, and the Turkish carcass was about to be distributed. Russia, France, and England all had claims. Yet meanwhile two new parties had entered the picture namely the Jews and Arabs, each having ambitions of their own that were being simultaneously encouraged by Britain for various strategic reasons. Everyone was negotiating with someone, nobody held all the strings at any one time. The foreign office was negotiating with France and Russia, while the war office was negotiating with the Arabs. A crisscross of secret treaties, pledges, promises, and understandings were made, which have never since been satisfactorily untangled (Tuchman’s words). Dividing up the Land The hottest and most controversial quarrels of our time have been the result of these endless promises to multiple parties. Endless disputation by opposing groups among the British, Arabs, Zionists, and anti-Zionists, by white papers, by permanent mandates, by some commission of inquiry, hours, even weeks of parliamentary debate, countless books, columns in the press, reports, and last minute legal briefs have all failed to pin down for history exactly what the British intended the future of Palestine to be. The British Mandate The time period of the British Mandate was both a blessing and a curse. Though the British initially supported Jewish immigration via the Balfour Declaration, they soon began to switch sides. The oil producing Arab countries began to influence British foreign policy to favor the Arabs over the Jews. The Arabs began creating social unrest culminating in riots throughout the 1920s and 30s, because of increased Jewish immigration into Palestine. As a result the British began limiting Jewish immigration into the area (via the white papers) and showing overt favoritism toward Arabs in various legal issues. The original land promised to Israel via the Balfour declaration was dramatically reduced. Failure of the British Mandate Barbara Tuchman summarizes it well when she speaks of the failed British mandate. She says the original pledge which Britain soon found was awkward to keep she attempted thereafter to whittle away, to invalidate, and at last, desperately weary of the entanglement, to cancel. At nearly the end of her book Tuchman says “does Israel exist today because of the British or in spite of the British?” She goes on to say that as in the American colonies England had laid the foundations of a state and then resisted the logical development of what she had begun until the original bond frayed out in the bitterness and strife. These events would eventually lead Britain to pass the problem of Palestine to the United Nations, which resulted in Resolution 181, and the so-called Partition Plan. United Nations Partition Plan In 1947 the UN General Assembly enacted Resolution 181, a partition plan that outlined borders for a Jewish Palestine. As has often been the case with treaties and resolutions, the Arabs rejected the plan, and obstructed its passage. The Jews on the other hand, though disappointed by the map, nonetheless were elated at the concept, and so welcomed the plan. The plan passed the U.N. General Assembly with a 33 to 13 vote by the nations of the world. U.N. Voting Map for Resolution 181 United Nations Partition Plan In his book “Triumph of Survival,” Berel Wein makes this notable observation concerning the U.N. vote on Resolution 181. “In February 1947, the British Foreign Office, under increasing pressure at home and abroad, tried a new ploy. It announced that ‘the only course open to us is to submit the problem to the judgement of the United Nations,’ England was confident that the U.N. would not be able to arrive at any solution to the problem and that the ‘Cold War’ competition between Russia and the United States would deadlock any possibility of agreement, thus leaving England in Palestine indefinitely. However Stalin, the cruel antiSemite, coldly changed position and, in his ardor at driving England from the Middle East, cooperated with the United States.” Providence? Wein goes on to state in a footnote, “Stalin’s motive was reminiscent of the Talmudic dictum that, at the time of the Purim miracle [i.e. book of Esther] one of the Persian courtiers spoke up on behalf of Mordecai, not because he loved him but because he hated Haman (Megillah 16a).” Do you see providence in any of this???