Did you know that 106 years ago this year, Great Britain proclaimed the Balfour Doctrine which said, “His Majesty’s Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”? Today, May 14, 2023, Jews and Christians alike celebrate the 75th birthday of the actual founding of the modern-day state of Israel. Jews celebrate because of the foretold Promise God made to Abraham:
“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram (Abraham), saying ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.”
Genesis 15:18
“I will give to you and your descendants after you, the land of your sojourning’s, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”.
Genesis 17:8
Christians celebrate this day because of the long-awaited, coming fulfillment of the prophecies Christ made regarding the creation of the new Israel in the Last Days:
“Now learn the parable from the fig tree (Israel): When its branch has already become tender and put forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”.
Matthew 24:32-34
Think about this for a moment! Jesus Himself said THE GENERATION THAT SAW THESE THINGS WILL NOT PASS AWAY before He Returns! Amen!
Between 2,000 to 3,000 years ago while the Jews were still in Israel, there were many prophecies regarding them being dispersed and then “…in the last days” to be ultimately brought back to their God Promised land. For almost 2,000 years it was viewed by most secularists for the Jews to return to Israel would be an impossible feat. After all, they had been scattered throughout the world for many, many centuries They were and still are the most persecuted group of people in the history of the world and yet through the Grace of God were still able to hold together as a single people with a common faith and language. In fact, when King Louis XIV asked Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal to prove the existence of God, Pascal’s simple answer was “The Jew”. Even though dynasties and tyrants throughout history have tried to eradicate the Jews as part of Satan’s attempt to disprove God’s covenant with Abraham, they have been unable to finalize Satan’s wishes:
“They have said, ‘Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
Psalm 83:4
For many centuries many Christian leaders doubted the 100% accuracy of God’s prophecies and instead created what became known as “replacement theology” where they believed since it to be impossible for the Jews to ultimately fulfill the prophecies God intended for them to return to Israel because of their lengthy dispersion and their sins against Jesus Christ, they instead believed the Promise God made to the Jews was actually to apply to Christians who now had “replaced” the Jews as His chosen people. Of course, as always, God’s Word was Final and Everlasting. As promised, the Jews returned to the land of Israel and recreated their promised land.
Most of us were not alive when the events led up their return. World War II and the decision by Adolf Hitler to eradicate the Jews as part of his Final Solution killed 6 million Jews in the Nazi death camps. Remember at the same time, Jews were being massacred in many other places like Russia, China, the Mideast, etc. It is estimated that approximately one third of all Jews in the entire world were killed in the early to mid-1940s. And yet, a relatively small group of them were still able to return to Israel by way of the United Nations and the British Mandate; and were able to reestablish the country of Israel only THREE years after their mass killings ceased. Can you imagine that? After one third of their worldwide population were viciously murdered, they were still able to come together from all around the world and form a nation IN ONE DAY!
“Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once?”
Isaiah 66:8
It easily can happen when God has your back! Not only were the Jews able to recreate the Nation of Israel but within days they were able to then fend off vicious invasions by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, et.al. who had over 100 million people (compared to only 2.8 million Jews AND Arabs in Israel) and who had much stronger militaries. But the Jews had God! Guess who won that one? Since that time, not only have the Jews ALWAYS defeated the enemy nations that despise her, but in doing so have also fulfilled other prophecies (e.g., regaining the land promised to Abraham by God, including entire city of Jerusalem in the 1967 war). When all these things are taken together, it surely proves the 100% accuracy of the Bible and Gods Promises to the Jews as well as the fulfillment of prophecies regarding the Last Days that we Christians have been anxiously waiting for. Interestingly, in June 2023 Israel will celebrate the 56th anniversary of the 6 Day War (6/5-10/67) and their recapturing of the City of Jerusalem.
We are in a unique time period! 106 years ago, Great Britain proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to have their own country in Palestine. 75 years ago, the nation of Israel was born. 56 years ago, the Jews recaptured the city of Jerusalem. One thing we do know about is how we should treat Israel…
“And I will bless those who bless you, and the one that curses you I will curse.”
Genesis 12:3
On December 6, 2017, former President Trump visited Israel, his first international travel since assuming the Presidency. He also visited Saudi Arabia and the Vatican before going to the G-7 meeting. What makes this so significant is that he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Even though Congress had approved this under Clinton, Bush and Obama but were afraid of potential repercussions and war if they moved forward in recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Only President Trump made it happen! This was potentially another prophetic milestone that will encourage the Jews to rebuild their 3rd Holy Temple, something they cannot yet do since the Palestinian Authority has been given control over the Temple Mount. While no one is allowed to give exact dates of prophecies being fulfilled, we are all warned by Jesus to be on the lookout for these prophecies and their coming fulfillment. By knowing the accuracy of all of God’s prophecies and also being witness to their unbelievable complete fulfillment in our lifetimes with God’s Promise that the generation who witnessed these things would not pass until ALL these things have happened, that to me is very comforting! And I hope we can all continue to “…comfort one another with these words.”
Please continue to pray for Israel and her people. May God continue to Bless you and the people of Israel!