Israel Fulfils Bible Prophecy First Principles Bible Talk

Israel and the Purpose of God “Israel, in spite of themselves are at the centre of God’s revelation of Himself and His purpose in His Word. Israel have been the writers of it, the transmitters of it, the custodians of it and the fulfillers of many of its prophecies and unwitting witnesses to its truth.” “It is noteworthy that no other people have been separated for so long from their homeland and yet have been able to return to it.” John V Collyer; Israel: Land and People of Destiny (1988) It is evident therefore that Israel and their Land occupy a unique place in the history and geography of the World.

Ye are my Witnesses…that I am God Isaiah 43: Vs 1) I have called thee by thy Name; Vs 8) Blind people that have eyes and deaf that have ears Vs 10) Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen; Vs 12) ……therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.

Structure of the talk Examine two events in the history of Israel and compare to prophecy Destruction of Judah’s commonwealth in AD 70 Return of the Jews to their Homeland in 1948 Implications Conclusions

Destruction of Judah’s commonwealth in AD 70 Two Prophecies: Deuteronomy Ch 28 – the Blessings and the Cursings Daniel 9 – the 70 Week Prophecy

The Blessings and the Cursings Solemn warning from Moses not to break the covenant God would bless if they were obedient – Deut 28 : 1 – 14 Set on high above all nations The city and field - blessed Fruit of their body, ground and cattle - blessed Their enemies - smitten The Lord would open unto them His good treasure – the rain unto the land in his season Israel would be the head and not the tail

The Blessings and the Cursings If disobedient God would curse them – Deut 28: 15 – 68. These would be for a sign and for a wonder and upon thy seed forever (vs 46). Cursed shalt be the city and the field and the store, their herds and their cattle (vs16 – 19) Smitten before their enemies (vs 25) And plucked from off the Land (vs 63); And scattered among all people (vs 64) Oppressed and spoiled (vs 29) And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee (vs 66)

The Blessings and the Cursings …continued Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb and a byword, among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee (vs 37). The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand. (Eagle is associated with Rome) (vs 49) He shall besiege thee (vs 52) ….and thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body (vs 53)

Daniel’s 70 week prophecy Scripture Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Summary of meaning One year for each day 70 Weeks = 490 Days = 490 Years Objectives to be accomplished: Complete the transgression of Judah (Dan 8:23) Cause an end of Sin Offering Covering of iniquity Bring in a righteousness of Ages Seal the Vision Anoint the Holy One of Holy Ones

Daniel’s 70 week prophecy – Dan 9: Scripture Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Summary of meaning 69 Weeks = 483 Days = 483 Years 483 years to the coming of Messiah Circa 456 BC Artaxerxes decreed the building of the Broad Wall + Setting up of the Gates (Neh 2:1 + Ezra 7:21) BC years = AD c 27 Approximate Year Messiah revealed to Israel was AD 27

Daniel’s 70 week prophecy – Dan 9: Scripture Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 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. Summary of meaning Some time after 62 Weeks the Messiah was to be “cut off” “cut off” has the idea of being cut asunder and of the cutting of the covenant The people of the Prince – ie the Roman Armies commanded by God would: Destroy the City Destroy the Temple

Daniel’s 70 week prophecy – Dan 9: Scripture Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Summary of meaning The “cutting off” of Messiah was for a purpose. To Establish a new Covenant with the people of God. This would occur in the last week i.e. 483 – 490 years or AD 27 to AD 34. This is when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem. Sacrifice and oblation under the old Covenant was no longer required – this is the end of the Mosaic economy Overspreading of abominations – the Gentile powers were to pollute the Holy City of Jerusalem until the consummation of God’s purpose. This is the position as at today, even though Israel have returned to the land.

The Cursings spoken of in Deut 28 – A historical fact Historical evidence: The three Roman – Jewish wars of 66AD – 135AD resulted in a Holocaust for Israel This has been follows by the Holocausts of 20 th Century: Hitler’s Germany; Stalin’s Russia Despite these persecutions a remnant were saved as promised by Jeremiah the prophet: Without the Temple the Mosaic economy could not function and therefore that order of things came to a conclusion in 70 AD as predicted by Daniel’s prophecy

….But Israel would not be destroyed Jer 30:11 For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

Return of the Jews to their Homeland in 1948 The Israeli Declaration of Independence was made on 14 May 1948, the British Mandate terminating soon afterwards at midnight Palestine time. David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organisation and the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine declared the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel. The event is celebrated annually in Israel with a national holiday Yom Ha’atzmaut. We now have approximately 50% of the Jews in dispersion and the other 50% back in the Land of Israel.

Return of Judah to the Land in 1948 Two Prophecies: Ezekiel 38: Isaiah 11:

The return of the Jews to the land of Palestine Scripture confirms that the re-gathering prior to Christ’s return would be in two stages: First the tents of Judah would be brought back to the land prior to the great battle of Armageddon Then the tents of Ephraim immediately after the battle of Armageddon Ezekiel 38: Isaiah 11: 1 – 3 the establishment of the Kingdom of God in Zion Isaiah 11:

Implications Evidence that the God of the Bible exists as demonstrated by His Word and the history of His people Israel; The God of the Bible “rules in the Kingdom of men” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God, consequently His Word and His Commandments need to be greatly respected; The New Covenant provides access to the “Ages of Righteousness” which have been secured by the Messiah – Jesus Christ. The blessings of God are available to us today through faith in the Gospel of Christ and an acceptance of Him as King and Saviour demonstrated by baptism and an ongoing commitment to develop a Christ-like character.

Conclusions Rom 11: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?