The Kingdom of Israel (Part III)

Lesson Content

The Lord had made a covenant with the children of Israel saying that if they obeyed His voice and kept His covenant, they would be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and a peculiar treasure unto Him above all the people of the earth (Exo.19:5,6). But when they proved to be unfaithful to this covenant and turned away from the living God to idols and to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from the land, He allowed them to be taken captive and to be scattered to all parts of the world. However, in fulfilment of the promise which was made several centuries ago, God is now collecting them from all parts of the world and bringing them back to their homeland, Palestine, uniting them as one nation again. We shall now consider some of the propheci es that have been told concerning the children of Israel and their fulfilment in the light of the Word of God. A. Restoration of the Literal Kingdom

1. Israel returning to Palestine: Prophecy: Ezek.11:16,17 Fulfilment: In 1919, the establishment of a national home in Palestine for the Jewish people was promised through the Balfour Declaration. This was the first time since the Roman rule that the Jews were once again recognised as a nation.

2. Israel gathered as an army of the living God Prophecy: Ezek.37:10,11; Zech.12:3 Fulfilment: The Arabs resented the Jewish immigration and attacked Jewish settlements several times between 1920 and 1930 killing many Jews. Later the Jews went through much persecution under the hands of Hitler and millions of l ives were lost. In both instances they formed their own defence organisations. In 1948, it became the Israel Defence Force. In less thana year, it defeated the combined Arab armies and since then until now it continues to be an impregnable army and a burdensome stone to the nations that oppose it. In the Six Day war in 1967 against Arab nations, Israel utterly defeated them. God wrought special miracles for Israel in the war.

3. The seventy weeks foretold by Daniel: Prophecy: Dan.9:24-27 Fulfilment: In Daniel we read of the seventy weeks counted from the “going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince” (Dan.9:25). This commandment in the Scripture authorizing the rebuilding of the city and its walls is recorded in Nehemiah 2:5,6. The seventy weeks period commenced when the commandment proceeded and shall end with the seven year Tribulation period. 69 weeks

followed one after another in succession but the seventieth week commencing with the second coming of Jesus is yet to take place and does not follow immediately after the 69th week. We are now living in the period between the 69th and the 70th week, which is otherwise called the Church period. Obviously Daniel had no revelation of the Church period. In this prophecy one week evidently indicates seven years and not seven days.

(a) Messiah will be cut off — death of Jesus (Dan.9:26; Matt.27:50).

(b) The rebuilt sanctuary will be destroyed by the people of the prince that shall come — Herod’s temple being destroyed in A.D. 70 by Emperor Titus (Dan.9:26). The main events of the seventieth or final week:

(i) A seven year covenant is made by the Antichrist (little horn) (Dan.7:8,9,27). (ii) In the middle of the week there is forcible interruption of the Jewish worship by the Antichrist who introduces abominations that make the sanctuary “desolate”. (iii) He persecutes the Jews (II Thess.2:4). (iv) The end of the seventieth week brings judgment upon the Antichrist and at the same time it brings everlasting righteousness by ushering in the Millennial kingdom (Dan.9:24). The seventieth week has not yet commenced.

4. The twelve tribes made into one nation: Prophecy: Ezek.37:15-22 Fulfilment: It is commonly believed that ten of the scattered tribes were lost. But the tribes which went into Assyrian captivity began to return with the Balfour Declaration along with the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Thus all Jews became one independent Israel. B. Spiritual revival of Israel:

1. Their blindness: Prophecy: Isa.6:9-12; 29:10-14 Fulfilment: (Rom.11:25) — The Jews had known many prophecies mentioned in the Scriptures concerning the coming of the Messiah. Nevertheless when Jesus came in perfect fulfilment of these prophecies, they hated Him and re jected Him because He was not the kind of person they desired or expected and they could not see Him as the Messiah for Whom they were waiting. This blindness of the Jews will continue till the fulness of the Gentiles comes in and then their eyes will be opened to see the One Whom they pierced.

2. The Awakening: Prophecy: Zech.12:10 Fulfilment: (Rev.1:7; Matt.24:29-31) — At the end of the first three and a half years of the seven years' Tribulation, when Jesus appears in the clouds to gather the Tribulation martyrs, the eyes of the Jews will be opened to see the One Whom they have pierced and they will recognise Him to be their Messiah. God will pour upon all the tribes the spirit of grace and supplication and they will mourn for Him.

3. The cleansing of the 144,000 Jews and the Restoration of the Temple during the Millennial Reign: Prophecy: Zech.13:8,9; Ezek.37:22-28 Fulfilment: Through the conviction brought about by the spirit of grace and supplication, and the vision of the One Who m they pierced, the prophetic ministry of the two witnesses, and the fire of the Tribulation, the 144,000 Jews undergo a sanctification, being cleansed from all their filthiness and abominations and are made worthy to be called the people of God. When the Millennial Reign is ushered in, they will have a temple for worship and God will dwell in their midst as their God.

Moral

As God is fulfilling the prophecies regarding Israel, His promises towards us are all yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore be followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises of God.