An Amazing Sign That Jesus is Soon Returning
THE MIRACULOUS
RETURN OF THE JEWS
“The Christian Spirit Fellowship felt an urgency to invite loved ones and friends to a meeting about Bible Prophecy. We don't pretend to fully understand all the reasons behind this insistence, but we know that the times we are living in are, naturally speaking, more uncertain than ever. We also know that THE RETURN OF THE JEWS to their homeland after being dispersed throughout the world for the better part of two thousand years is a powerfully certain sign that our current era is rapidly winding down. This thing, the return of the Jews to Israel is a certain sign of the end and the return of Christ.”
- The Christian Spirit Magazine 1994
The above is the lead for an article published more than fifteen years ago. Our urgency for the preparation of the return of Christ has only increased with time. The role of the Jews and their place in world history has always been misunderstood by the Gentiles. Even the Jews themselves are not only perplexed but often outraged at the treatment they have received at the hand of their fellow humans. (Genocide attempts in Persia, the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Roman massacres, the horrors of the Holy and Spanish Inquisitions, the creation of Ghettos in Europe, Pogroms in Russia, holocaust in Europe, British betrayal, and sneak attacks from combined Arab nations are just among some of the major persecutions perpetrated by the world upon the Jews during this age of grace.) The key to understanding the position and plight of God's Chosen People - a nation He created to be a living sign, a shining example and an ultimate blessing to the other peoples and nations of the world - is found only in the Bible. Refer to Jews: The Chosen Nation. Other analyses and explanations of "THE JEW" will produce maudlin, humanistic pity on the one hand, or vicious hatred, fanatical prejudice and anti-Semitic persecution on the other.
The modern State of Israel is geographically right in the center of the world. Whether we like it or not, the Jews have, more frequently than not, been right in the center of world controversies, historically, culturally, religiously, economically and socially. Even today much of the world is waiting with bated breath to see if the Palestinian "peace process" succeeds (with hopes of securing world peace) or fails (with fears that we will all be plunged into a fateful, perhaps final, world conflagration). THE RETURN OF THE JEWS is a most important, highly significant and broadly illuminating piece in the overall puzzle of prophetic fulfillment. If it is important to ask ourselves where we personally fit into God's picture; it is also essential to understand where the Jews fit in.
The Jews Miraculously Returned
To Israel after 2,500 Years
Against impossible odds six hundred thousand Jews managed to survive the Holocaust, escape war-torn Europe and make their way to Palestine in the early years following the end of World War II. In 1948, despite British opposition and fierce Arab hostility the State of Israel became a reality. Within the next twenty years two million Jews from 105 different nations emigrated to Palestine in the most amazing exodus and repatriation process since the return from the Babylonian Captivity 2500 years earlier. At the close of the Six Day War in 1967 Jerusalem became the capital of a sovereign Jewish State for the first time since 597 B.C.! When events as stupendous as these began to take place in Palestine 30 - 50 years ago students of Bible prophecy and all Spirit-filled Christians started to sit up and take notice. Why all the fuss about the Jews? For many scriptural reasons; but mainly because of what is referred to as THE FIG TREE SIGN.
Israel Is the Fig Tree
In three of the four Gospels the Lord Jesus gives a teaching on the end times known as THE OLIVET DISCOURSE. In this most important talk to His disciples Jesus told them of the signs that would run the course of the Age and those which would signal the end of the age and happenings that would immediately precede His Second Coming. These "signs of Hid Return", referred to in Matthew, chapter 24; Mark, chapter 13; and Luke, chapter 21 - events like wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, false Christs and false prophets as well as other deceptions - are all indicative of the nearness of a special time of pressure, trouble and tribulation that will come upon the whole world. Toward the close of this tremendous teaching Jesus gives us a parable that is a powerful sign of when these earth-shaking, disastrous judgments, which must precede His personal return, will occur. In Matthew 24:32-36 our Lord says:
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but only my Father."
In the Bible trees are frequently associated with and often symbolize various nations. A classic example is the famed "cedars of Lebanon" which stand for that country. At other times the cedar tree symbolizes any proud and lofty country whose fortunes are currently on the rise. But the FIG TREE represents national Israel. A lively hymn proclaims:
The King is coming, Hallelujah
He's coming in the air.
The Fig Tree is budding
The signs are everywhere!
As the last line of the above parable clearly indicates, these signs were not given to us to pinpoint exact times of the complete return of the Jews, nor should we think that we can accurately predict the time of our Lord's Second Coming. Although many might like to speculate about the timing of these awesome events, true believers know that only false prophets set times and dates and leave no room for people to either receive or exercise FAITH in God's prophetic Word. Let me here LIST just a few of the statements and promises God has made to the Jews and their relationship to Palestine:
Seven Things God Says About His People and the Land
1.) God calls Palestine His land: Hosea 9:3 refers to it as "the Lord's land; II Chronicles 7:20 as "My land; both Jeremiah 2:7 and 16:18 mention those who have "defiled My land".
2.) Numerous times in the Bible God says this land is given to Israel and is to be theirs forever: in Genesis 13:15 God gives the land to Abraham and "to his seed forever"; in 17:8 it is referred to as "an everlasting possession"; Deuteronomy 4:10 says this earth is "given forever"; and Isaiah 60:21 says Israel will "inherit the land forever".
3.) God predicts a final return of the Jews to Palestine: in Deuteronomy 4:27-30 God promises He will not forget His covenant; in Isaiah 11:11-12 He predicts a "recovery of a remnant"; in Jeremiah 24:6 God assures His people that He will "bring them again to this land"; and in Ezekiel 20:37-41 and 37:21-18 He solemnly assures them that He will "bring them into their own land".
4.) God Himself prophesies about certain ‘Arabs’ (called Edom or Mount Seir in the Bible): Genesis 25:27-34 describes the origins of the ongoing enmity between Jacob (whose very name God changed to Israel) and Esau (who represents the Arabs); in Exodus 15:15-16 God promises Israel protection against the Arabs; in Numbers 20:14-21 is recorded one of the many confrontations between Arabs and Jews. Psalm 83 speaks of an Arab confederacy. Ezekiel 35:1-12 goes into detail about the hatred of Mount Seir for Israel. Through the prophet Obadiah the Holy Ghost foretells the ultimate judgment that will come upon the Arabs.
5.) Although the Jews are now back in Palestine a period of great suffering is prophesied before the end: Jeremiah describes it as "the time of Jacob's (Israel"s) trouble". In chapters 38-39 of Ezekiel we have a fascinating description of a future northern invasion of Israel that reads like urgent battle reports from the front lines and goes on to describe the aftermath including the "mopping up" operations!
6.) The Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Antichrist will demand to be worshipped there: Succinct, but awesome, references to "the day of Christ", a great "falling away", the "man of sin" and the "temple of God" in II Thessalonians 2:3-4 give us the "feel" of this horrendous, blasphemous incursion into God's domain.
7.) God's ultimate salvation for the Jewish nation will come to pass: Isaiah 32:18 predicts that they will dwell in "a peaceable habitation". In 33:12-17 the same prophet describes their earthly home and the promise that they will "see the King in His beauty". The beautiful promise to Israel in Isaiah 66:12 is that they will experience and enjoy "peace like a river". In Ezekiel 34:25 and again in 37:26 God promises His people an "everlasting covenant". Zechariah 9:10 speaks of the battle bow being cut off and Israel's King having dominion from "sea to sea." Jerusalem will be established as "the throne of the Lord" according to Jeremiah 3:17 and in chapter 16:19-21 the prophet foresees the Gentiles coming there to pay homage. The prophet Zechariah again sees that coming day when the Jews will at last fulfill their original commission - to teach the other nations about God. Finally, Psalm 122:6-8 exhorts all true believers to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem".
Dispersed but Brought Back
If you look at the biblical record you will see that if the Jews were obedient to God and kept His commands, He promised to live among them, grant them prosperity and make them a blessing to the whole world. If they refused to obey Him, especially if they provoked Him to anger by worshipping false gods, then He would punish them. (see Leviticus 26:14-39). The ultimate sanction for the rebellious nation would be decades or even centuries of exile in foreign lands. Over the centuries God scattered the Jews.
First Dispersion
611 B.C. - Northern Palestinian Jews deported to Assyria.
497 B.C. - Southern Palestinian Jews deported to Babylon.
Returned
426 B.C.- Partial return of the Jews from Babylon.
Second Dispersion
70 A.D. - Jerusalem and Temple Destroyed. The worldwide scattering of the Jews.
Returned
1880's A.D - Zionist Movement - attempts to establish Jewish homeland and relocate Jews to Palestine.
1948 A.D. – The establishment of the modern State of Israel.
1967 A.D. - Israeli forces capture and establish Jerusalem as the capital.
I have also checked the historical record and looking at it one can understand that God's command in Psalm 122 to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" was chiseled into the unbreakable rock of God's revealed Word. Since its capture from the Jebusites by King David about 1000 B.C. to its siege and partial destruction by Herod and Sosius in 37 A.D. Jerusalem has been plundered, sacked, laid siege to, captured or destroyed no less than twenty times. From the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Our Lord Jesus Christ when the city and Temple were destroyed by the Roman general Titus in 70 A.D. to the recapturing of Jerusalem in June, 1967 A.D. God's most special place in all the world has been laid siege to, occupied, captured, bombarded or partially destroyed by Romans, rebellious Jews, Arabs and Muslim rebels, Crusaders, Turks and the British a total of 24 times! It has been ruled by Christians and Muslims during this time but never by Jews. Until 1948, when the prophecies of more than 2,000 years old were miraculously fulfilled.
The Ancient Nations (trees) Are Also Revived
The "signs of the times" are not limited to just what is happening to the Jews; what is going on in Israel or what preparations are being made for the rebuilding of the Temple (and there are many now in progress). In that same parable in the Olivet Discourse, the Lord Jesus said: "Behold the fig tree, and ALL THE TREES" (Luke 21:29). If we are correct in symbolically linking trees with nations, then the emergence of ancient, some long forgotten, nations and cities should be factored into the other elements of prophetic fulfillment. Places like Libya, Ethiopia, Iran (ancient Persia), Iraq (site of infamous Babylon) and, of course, Egypt have recently come to a new prominence on the world stage. A number of prophecies regarding the Jews and some that pertain to the Arabs and other nations of the world still await complete fulfillment. What is most exciting to us it that the prophecies regarding the Church - that blessed company of people who truly live by faith - are right up to date and only await God's perfect timing for their completion. Meanwhile we know for certain that the re-establishment of the Jews in Palestine nearly a half century ago signaled the beginning of a process of prophetic fulfillment that may be briefly extended or quickly accelerated for God's own reasons, but must be brought to completion without delay!
We should not agonize over the precise length of a generation. Nor do we focus all our attention on the Antichrist, who he possibly may be or whether or not we will still be living on this earth when he makes his fateful move. We have a concern about and a vital interest in these and all other prophetic topics. But mainly we keep our eyes on Jesus and encourage one another about the certainty of His soon return. We are eternally grateful to Him for choosing the Jews not only to signal the immanence of His Second Coming, but also to reveal the awful fickleness of the human heart.
A short list of articles and reviews
by this Philadelphian church over the years:
The following book reviews from The Christian Spirit:
"It Has Come To Pass" 7/92 p.15
"Christianity Is Jewish" 6/93 p.16
"The Messianic Hope" 12/93 p.28
"Ben Israel", Odyssey of a modern Jew 5/94 p.24
"Esther", story of Messianic Jews 1/96 p.17
"Road to Holocaust" 7/96 p.14
"Pathways to Armageddon" 8/96 p.16
"Theodore Herzl", father of modern Israel 10/96 p.19
"You Can Know the Future" 2/97 p.19
Titles of other items published in the magazine:
"Jerusalem Our Home" (article) 8/96 p.4
"The Fig Tree Is Budding" (article) 10/93 p.18
"Stop Ignoring Bible Prophecy" (editorial) 2/95 rear cover
"Peace with Jordan: His Return Closer?" 9/94 p.18
"50 Year Old Prophecy" (article) 10/94 p.2
"Greening of Israel" (article) 9/95
"You Can Believe The Bible" (article) 3/95 p.25
"The Late Great Planet Earth" (video) 5/92 p.29
"Ready To Rebuild" (video) 7/92 p.16
One can readily see from the preponderance of items pertaining to Israel and the return of the Jews that we at The Christian Spirit Magazine and ThePhiladelphiafaith.org take the bible prophecies regarding God's chosen people very seriously and by faith encourage others to do the same. The return of the Jews to Israel and Jerusalem once again becoming a capital of a Jewish state after 2,000 years is one of the greatest signs (if not the greatest) of Christ soon return. Get rapture ready, saints!