Israel In The Last Days; Israel and Her Prophetic Destiny

Intro

Text - Romans 11.25-27

Romans 11:25–27 NKJV

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Title - Israel in The Last Days

Background

The current news of Middle East happenings

Israel and Hamas engaged in their 4th war since 2007 when Hamas took control of the gaza Strip

Why the current status quo?

Israel is fighting for its right to the land as their ancestral inheritance

Israel is fighting for their right to the city of Jerusalem as their capital city

the Arab nations are of different views -

some are fighting for the destruction of the Jewish people

some are fighting for their right to live in the same land, which they call Palestine

some are trying to co-exist with Israel

the nations are also divided in their views -

some are pro-Israel

some accuse Israel of “occupation” and “apartheid”

many do not recognize Israel’s rights to the land

What must the world learn about Israel?

Israel has a prophetic destiny

Israel’s existence and world peace are inter-connected

Israel’s peace is connected to the church’s mercy

Israel’s prophetic destiny

What must the world learn about Israel’s history?

Israel was a chosen nation

Deuteronomy 7:8 NKJV

8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Exodus 19:5–6 NKJV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Israel has a unique relationship with God

a nation who has covenant with God

a nation to whom God has given the land of Canaan / Israel / Palestine / Israel

a nation governed and ruled by God’s law

Israel is to be God’s habitation on earth

Zechariah 8:1–3 NKJV

1 Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.’ 3 “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’

Zechariah 2:10–11 NKJV

10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

Zechariah 2:12–13 NKJV

12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

Israel and the Nations

Israel’s nationhood was brought about by global events

the First World War - Great Britain gave up Palestine and allowed Jews to settle the area

the Second World War - Nazism and the holocaust stirred the destire of the Jews to return to the Land and rebuild their nation.

the League of Nations (U.N) paved the way for Israel’s statehood

Isaiah 66:5–8 NKJV

5 Hear the word of the Lord, You who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, That we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.” 6 The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, Who fully repays His enemies! 7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.

Israel’s existence part of her prophetic destiny

in preparation for the Lord’s return

in preparation for her deliverance

Nations who deny, ignore, and resist Israel’s existence are bound to suffer in the hand of God

Zechariah 12:1–2 NKJV

1 The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

“cup of drunkeness” - cup of wrath,

Zechariah 12:3 NKJV

3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

very heavy stone (burdensome stone)

the nations who will attempt to remove Israel will suffer at the hand of God

Zechariah 12:4 NKJV

4 In that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

horse - power

government leaders will be confused

Zechariah 12:5–6 NKJV

5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God.’ 6 In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem.

firepan int he woodpile - pans used to carry coals of fire

Zechariah 12:6–9 NKJV

6 In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem. 7 “The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. 8 In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. 9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Israel’s peace (peaceful existence in the Middle East) is the key to world peace

there is no world peace as long as Jerusalem is under threat by her enemies

hence, the antichrist will attempt to broker a “false peace” for 7 seven years

lasting peace will come only when Jesus Christ returns, destroys the powers of the nations, and rules the world from Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:1–5 NKJV

1 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. 5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You.

Zechariah 14:9 NKJV

9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be “The Lord is one,” And His name one.

Israel and the Church

Israel’s “blindness” paved the way for the salvation of the Gentiles

Romans 11:11 NKJV

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

The riches of the Gentiles is bound to Israel’s existence

Romans 11:12–15 NKJV

12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Note - Why the Jews do not believe in Jesus

Jewish thoughts - the Talmud contains false stories about Jesus

Mary had a relatioinship with a Roman soldier

Jesus was an idol worshiper and received power from the devil

a rabbi/medium’s false claim - he called on the Jesus’ soul and ask him where he was…

false Christian teachings

replacement theology - RCC, and many others, believed that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan

Replacement theology teaches that the church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the Bible are fulfilled in the Christian church, not in Israel. The prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land are spiritualized or allegorized into promises of God’s blessing for the church.

Replacement Theology: ErrorCatholic Faith: KosherDual-Covenant Theology: Error

God’s covenant with Israel has been abolished.

The only role left for the Jews is to accept Christ, convert, be baptized, and be joined to the Church.

The evangelization of Jews is necessary, and they should just become Catholics like any other Catholic.

dual covenant - Jews are saved without the need of the gospel

God’s covenant with Israel is irrevocable and permanent.

Since this covenant is still valid, it is also salvific for them.

It is not necessary that Jews believe in Jesus, be baptized, or join the Church.

Jews can be saved by observing the Mosaic Law.

The evangelization of Jews is unnecessary and is better avoided

Israel will come to recognize her messiah and be saved

Zechariah 12:10 NKJV

10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Ezekiel 39:25–29 NKJV

25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name— 26 after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, 28 then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. 29 And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God.”

Conclusion

The nations will continue with their indifference against israel, for 2 things -

the false prince will rise up (antichrist)

the wrath of God will be aroused against the nations

But the Church has special role towards Israel

returning the mercy of God shown to them when Israel fell into disobedience

Pray for Israel’s salvation

Romans 11:26–31 NKJV

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

Israel needs her Messiah and Savior - the Lord Jesus Christ

Israel will obtain mercy (receive her Deliverance) through the church

SONG