Israel - Modern Day Miracle
by Bill Rudge
Another strong prophetic indicator is the nation of Israel. Throughout history numerous tyrannical rulers and hostile nations have persecuted and tried to annihilate the Jews, but God has miraculously preserved them.
For 2,500 years (since the Babylonian captivity), there had been no independent nation of Israel. The ten tribes of Israel, the northern kingdom, had been exiled to Assyria, 722 B.C.; they never returned as a nation. The remaining two tribes, the southern kingdom of Judah, went into Babylonian captivity in 586 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. A small percentage of the captives returned to the land following a decree by Cyrus (536 B.C.) in fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy and rebuilt the Temple, but they were under Persian rule, and were later under the control of various other foreign nations.
A major scattering of Jews took place with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the defeat at Masada in 73 A.D. Many Jews fled Jerusalem at that time and also later in 135 A.D., when another Jewish revolt was crushed by the Romans. This is all part of the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 23;37,38 ––
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.
A small percentage of the Jewish people remained in the land under various foreign rulers, but most of the Jews had been scattered throughout the world. Yet the prophetic Scriptures promised a regathering and restoration of the Jewish people, and the prophets foretold that many events in the last days would focus in and around the tiny nation of Israel.
After nearly 1,900 years of worldwide dispersion, Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. Modern day Israel is a miracle.
Amazing Survival
During a 1995 trip to Israel, I spent time on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. One of the Moslem leaders told me that the Moslem world is going to unite and eradicate Israel, and push her into the sea. I asked, "When will that happen?" He said, "Very soon. When the time is right, we will unite. Israel will be forced to give us back Jerusalem, and we will get all of the West Bank and the Golan Heights." I have been on the Golan Heights. It overlooks the Galilee area. With Syria in control of the Golan Heights, Israel can be easily victimized, and without the West Bank, Israel would be hemmed in.
The nation's survival since May 14, 1948, has been truly amazing. On May 15, 1948, armies from neighboring Arab nations fought against Israeli defense forces. Israel, only one day old at the time, repelled the attack, and captured Arab territory. Jordan, however, still controlled East Jerusalem.
During the Six-Day War of June 5-10, 1967, the greatly outnumbered Jews gained possession of the city of Jerusalem. The Jews were threatened with extermination by a combination of the surrounding Arab nations. In the ensuing conflict, Israel acquired both Sinai and East Jerusalem, as well as West Jordan.
I have been to Israel several times and have had opportunities to talk to various leaders and other people. They told of some of the miraculous occurrences which had enabled them to survive when the odds were heavily against them. Some said, "We don't believe in Jesus as the Messiah. We don't even know if we believe in God, but what's happening over here –– the way we have won battles and been protected –– is almost like Bible days with David against Goliath." And they're right. God has an end-times purpose for events taking place there.
Rebuilding of the Temple
Before 1948 there was no nation of Israel. Today there is. Although the Temple has not yet been rebuilt in Jerusalem, I am convinced it will be –– and sooner than many think.
Even as far back as 1984 when I was first in Israel, I discovered there were definite plans –– kept relatively secret because they didn't want to cause a conflict with the Arab nations –– to rebuild the Temple. Having been there several times since, I have seen these plans come to the forefront.
In 1995 I spent time in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem. While there I attended a lecture and saw a presentation concerning plans to rebuild the Temple. I saw displays of artifacts and utensils –– supposedly exact replicas of the originals –– which are ready to be used in the future Temple. Once the Temple is rebuilt, the Jews can once again resume animal sacrifices and priestly offerings.
An orthodox Jewish rabbi told me that he was not sure when the Temple would be rebuilt, but felt it would be in the not-too-distant future. I asked him, "What will you do with the Dome of the Rock?" His position was this: "When the time is right, the Moslems will let us dismantle the Dome of the Rock."
Another view that is held regarding the rebuilding of the Temple is that the Dome of the Rock is not located on the site of the former Temple. Many believe the Jewish Temple and the Dome of the Rock could coexist on the Temple Mount, with Jerusalem being the religious capital of the world.
However it occurs, I definitely believe that the Temple will be rebuilt and that the Antichrist is going to desecrate it.
Archaeological excavations have been carried on by the Department of Antiquities of Hebrew University for some years. Archaeological explorations have been done beneath the Temple Mount. Measurements have also been made on the Temple Mount, with the view to rebuilding the Temple.
I have been back to Jerusalem several times since 1995 –– spending many days in the Jewish quarter attending lectures, researching, and interacting with rabbis and other leaders. I have noticed an increasing desire and progression toward the eventual rebuilding of the Temple as prophesied in Scripture.
There is a growing desire for rebuilding the Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and restoring the ritual sacrifices. More and more Jews are longing for the Messiah to rebuild the Temple and restore the Davidic kingdom to its former power and glory. They await the Messiah to come and usher in the Messianic kingdom wherein: the dead will be resurrected, death and disease will be eradicated, the millennial Temple will be rebuilt, Judah and Israel will be reunited, there will be universal peace and prosperity (even the animals will live in peace and harmony), the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord and the Torah, and the commandments will be obeyed.
Desecration of the Temple
Scripture indicates that in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation period the Antichrist will desecrate the Temple, proclaiming himself to be God. He will place an image of himself in the Temple and command individuals to worship it. This is the "abomination that causes desolation" spoken of in Daniel 9:27, and which Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15. Paul also mentions in II Thessalonians 2:4 that the Antichrist "sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." John, in Revelation 13:14,15, reveals that an image set up in honor of the Antichrist will be given breath so that it can speak and that all who refuse to worship the image will be killed.
Many Jews will be deceived into believing that the Antichrist is their Messiah. However, when he desecrates the Temple and demands worship, they will then know he is an imposter. Then the Antichrist will initiate the worst persecution of the Jews in the history of the world. Matthew 24:15-22 warns ––
So when you see standing in the holy place "the abomination that causes desolation," spoken of through the prophet Daniel –– let the reader understand –– then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant woman and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now –– and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Jews Rejected the True Messiah
The Jews rejected their true Messiah, but the Bible says they will temporarily accept a counterfeit. Jesus states in John 5:43 ––
I have come in My Father's name, and you do not accept Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
The Jews will initially believe the Antichrist is the Messiah, and what they think to be the Millennium will turn out to be their Great Tribulation.
Daniel 12:1-3 states ––
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people –– everyone whose name is found written in the book –– will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
We get a glimpse of how great this deception will be when we look at Malachi 4:5,6, which states ––
See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.
When we look back at I Kings 18:38, we see that the fire of the Lord fell and consumed Elijah's sacrifice. We also discover in the first chapter of II Kings that on two occasions Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume a captain and his company of 50 men. Fire also came out from the presence of the Lord to consume the burnt offering as Moses and Aaron stood before the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 9:23,24). How easy it will be for the Jews to be deceived into thinking the False Prophet, who will cause "fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men" (Revelation 13:13), is Elijah who is expected to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
This potential for deception gets even greater. There are many Jewish views of the nature and mission of the Messiah. One of these views, I feel, adds significance to our study.
Some rabbinical scholars believe that two Messiahs will appear — one after the other. One will be named Messiah ben (son of) Joseph and the other Messiah ben (son of) David. Messiah ben Joseph dies leading wars against Gog and Magog and his body is left on the streets of Jerusalem for forty days. Jewish legend then relates that Messiah ben David appears and resuscitates Messiah ben Joseph. This Messiah ben David will go on to have victory over the armies of Gog and Magog.*
Let's consider this particular Jewish perspective on the Messiah in light of Biblical prophecy. Think about what is going to happen when the Antichrist appears. Revelation 13:3 talks about a deadly wound and the world's astonishment at the miraculous recovery of the Antichrist from this fatal wound. Revelation 13:11 brings the False Prophet onto the scene performing great and miraculous signs and pointing the worship of all people to the Antichrist. The Bible indicates that the Temple in Jerusalem is to be rebuilt and the Antichrist is sure to win the acceptance of the Jews by having a part in this. He will usher in a seven-year peace treaty allowing Jerusalem to become his world capital of religion. This is the scenario developing on the world scene. Many Jewish people will be deceived and accept this Antichrist as their Messiah partly because what is happening fits in with Messianic views already in place in Jewish writings.
Through counterfeit miracles and strong delusion, the Antichrist will be temporarily honored as the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. Revelation 11:8 refers to Jerusalem as "Sodom and Egypt" since it will be filled with immorality and sorcery due to the Antichrist's regime.
Although Israel as a nation has rejected Jesus as the Messiah, a remnant has always known Him. Revelation 7 indicates that during the Tribulation 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel will be redeemed. It appears from the context that these Jewish believers will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world during the Tribulation and bear much fruit for His glory.
Multi-National Force
When I spoke to the U.S. military officers and enlisted men on a military base in Germany in 1990, I asked, "When in the history of the world has a multi-national force ever surrounded a country which was not being aggressive toward them?" They responded, "Never." I said, "What we are witnessing with Iraq is a steppingstone to the fulfillment of prophecies by Zechariah."
Just as many nations of the world gathered their military forces around Iraq to enforce an economic embargo, it was prophesied in Scripture thousands of years ago that all the nations of the world would be gathered against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:3).
One day a multi-national force representing a global society is going to fight against Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:2 states ––
I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
The Deliverer Will Come
Just when it appears that all is lost, the Deliverer, the Messiah of Israel, will return from heaven with the saints of God and overthrow the enemies of Israel. He will establish His Kingdom and rule the world in righteousness.
When Yeshua (Jesus) returns, the Jews will mourn because they will realize that they had rejected their true Messiah. Consider the following Scriptures:
Zechariah 12:10 ––
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Matthew 24:30 ––
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Revelation 1:7 ––
Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
The final question Jesus answers before His ascension as recorded in Acts 1:6-8 implies that at some future date He will restore the kingdom to Israel ––
So when they met together, they asked Him, "Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Peter speaks to the Jews in Acts 3:17-21 ––
Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you –– even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.
In Romans 11:25-27, Paul states ––
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins."
There will be a scattering of the Jewish people in the middle of the Tribulation period when the Antichrist desecrates the Temple. The final gathering will be when Messiah Yeshua returns to establish His Kingdom. Mark 13:26,27 tells us ––
At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 23:39 will be fulfilled ––
For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
Millennial Promises Fulfilled
During the Millennium, the prophecies and promises concerning possession of the land will be fulfilled, the Temple of Ezekiel's prophetic vision will be built. The presence of the Lord, which in Ezekiel's vision progressively departed from the Temple in Jerusalem because of Israel's sins (Ezekiel chapters 8-11), fills the millennial Temple and the earth (Ezekiel 43:1-5). The nations will have a knowledge of the Lord as He rules and reigns from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 37:11-28; Zechariah 14:11,16; Isaiah 2:2-5; Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 60:1-20; Isaiah 65:19-25; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Micah 4:5-8; Zechariah 8:23)
The preceding is excerpted from Bill Rudge's The Last Days book which is available from Bill Rudge's Bookstore.
Copyright © 1999 by Bill Rudge
