ISRAEL AND THE END TIMES

SERIES: THE SCHOOL OF PROPHECY. 

TEXT: GENESIS 12:1-3. 

What should every believer in Christ know about Israel and the events surrounding the end times? Tonight we are going extensively talk about Israel and her role in the last days. Today there is a war going on in Israel. This war started in October last year (2023). Palestinian terrorists attacked, killed and took captives Israel children, women, elderly Israelites. This war is not about land or culture. This war is spiritual battle and it is directly connected with end times, events and Biblical prophecy. 

As believers in Christ we need to identify and support Israel. God uses war to accomplish His purposes and to awaken those who are apostate. The enemy of God and the enemy of God’s people is at war with God and anyone who follows after him-Eph. 83:3-4. 

As the church of Jesus Christ we must support Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem for we are closely tied to Israel as children of God. 

Palestinian people in Gaza are used as human shield by Hamas and Ishibollah in Lebanon. We need to pray for their safety in the midst of this war. 

Just as there were Germans who opposed Hitler during the WW2 (Second World War) there are also Palestinian people who are caught up in this war faultless. As for you and me as part of the church of Jesus Christ we are part of God’s covenant plan for the redemption of mankind. 

The Bible is a book about Israel, the Bible is about God made an eternal covenant with the nation of his choosing bringing about the means of salvation to all mankind. 

Jesus Christ our master and Savior, the Messiah was promised to Israel. Jesus was born in Israel as a Jew, was raised up a Jew, He became a Jewish Rabbi, Jesus died in Israel, Jesus rose up from the dead-in Israel. When Jesus comes a second time, He will set His feet in Israel. He will come back to Israel in a Jewish Jerusalem. Israel will play a central role in Jesus’ return-Rev. 12:1-4. 

Tonight let us answer several questions concerning God’s covenant with Israel. Allow God so speak to your hear through His word:- 

WHAT IS GOD’S COVENANT WITH ISRAEL?-Gen. 12:1-3. 

• God is eternal and His covenants are also eternal.
• A covenant is an agreement, a testament between 2 people.
• There are 2 kinds of covenants

1. Conditional.
2. Unconditional.

• A conditional or bilateral covenant is an agreement binding both parties for its fulfilment.
• Both parties agree to fulfill certain conditions.

• If either party fails to fulfill or meet their responsibilities, the covenant is broken.
• An unconditional or unilateral covenant is an agreement between two parties, but only one of the two parties has to do something.
• Nothing is required of the other party.
• God established through Abraham an eternal and unconditional covenant with Him to bring about a nation.
• That nation is Israel as a special people for Himself and through that nation, He would bless all people and draw those people to Himself (the church)-Eph. 2:11-22; Genesis 12:1-3.
• In addition to a people, the covenant included the promise of land.
• The boundaries of that promised land is specified in Genesis 15:18-21; Deuteronomy 30:1-10.
• When Abraham started to doubt God’s plan and timing, he took matters into his own hands through Hagar-Gen. 16:1-6.
• When Ishmael was born, God did not extend His blessings through the line of Ishmael.
• The descendants of Ishmael would be continually at war with Isaac (Israel).
• The Ishmaelites are the people we call Arabs today.
• Ishmael was prophesied in Gen. 16:11-12.

WHO WERE THE PHILISTINES? 

• The philistines were an aggressive, warlike people who occupied the land in what is called today “Southern Israel” including GAZA.
• The Philistines were barbaric and infamous for their production of iron-1st Sam. 12:1-7 weapons.
• They were also known for their heavy consumption of alcohol-Judges 14:10.
• They worshipped the gods of Ashtoreth, Dagon and Baal-zerub-Judges 16:23; 1st Sam 31:10; 2nd Kings 1:1-3.
• The Israelites constantly referred to the Philistines as “uncircumcised”-Judges 15:18; 1st Sam. 14:6; 2nd Sam. 1:20.
• The Philistines were not included in God’s covenant and Israel was to have nothing to do with them.

1. WHAT WAS THE LAND PROMISED TO ISRAEL BY GOD?-Gen. 15:18-21.

• The land promised Israel by God is over 500,000 sq. km (300,000sq. miles).
• This land currently includes Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Jordan.
• This land extends from River Nile to the Euphrates-Exodus 23:31.
• This land was occupied by pagan nations including Canaanites, Ammonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites-Exodus 33:2.
• The promised land belonging to the children of Israel is permanent.
• Israel has been evicted from this land twice in history-Deut. 30:4-5; 29:1-30:10.
• Every time God has restored the land to Israel-Amos 9:14-15; Joel 3:1-3.

HOW DID THE LAND BECOME KNOWN AS PALESTINE? 

• So how did the land given by God to Israel become known as Palestine?
• First, there has never been a nation on earth called Palestine.
• The term Palestine is a generic term for the area that includes Israel.
• Palestine is a name of a region.
• After the Jews were scattered during the siege of Israel by the Romans in A.D 70, the Roman emperor Hadrian ordered that Jews be driven out of the land in A.D 139. He then renamed the land with the Latin name for Philistine’s “Palestina” as a slur for Jewish people.
• Since then the land has been sieged by various empires. The Greek, Romans, Ottoman, Turks and finally by the British.
• The British through the Balfour declaration determined that the land rightfully belongs to the Jews.
• The secretary of state and former Prime minister of Britain sir Winston Churchill have it to Israel and the land of East of the Jordan River was given to the Hussein family and it was called the Trans Jordan or what is called Jordan today.
• In 1947, the United Nations recognized what God had given to Israel. On 5th May 1948, Israel was established as a nation again.
• Up to that point one living in that land was known as Palestinian, both Arab and Jew.

WHY IS ISRAEL BECOMING A NATION SIGNIFICANT PROPHETICALLY? 

• Since God called Israel a nation, satan has worked to get the Jews out.

• Whether it was the Egyptian, Amalekites, Midianites, Moabites, ammonites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Greek, Israel has always been persecuted by its neighbors.
• Today the war in Israel is demonically driven.
• Anti-semitism (Anti-Jews) is always a demonic move to kill and exterminate the children of Israel.
• Haman, Hitler or Rouhant of Iran or Hamas all have sought to eliminate the Jewish people.
• Israel is God’s vehicle for redemption. They carried our Messiah Jesus Christ.
• The second coming of Jesus Christ on Mt. Olives will defeat satan and not his forces.
• Jesus Christ will assume the throne of His father David.
• Satan thinks he can stop God’s plan-Jeremiah 30:7.

WHAT ARE THE KEY END-TIME EVENTS THAT WILL SURROUND ISRAEL THAT WE ARE WITNESSING TODAY? 

First there is a massive return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel-Eze. 34:11-13; Isa. 43:6; Deut. 30:3. 

We will continue to see an increase in persecution and hatred of the Jews throughout the world-Luke 21:24. 

We will see a major war of nations against Israel, known as Gog and Magog. 

• The battle of Gog and Magog will involve Iran and Russia-Ezekiel 38:1-23; 39:1-29.
• Turkey, Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya, Ukraine, Syria, Spain.

After the rapture of the church, we will see the real Anti-Christ. The spirit of the Anti-Christ is already on earth-1st John 2:18; 1st John 4:3; 2nd Kings 2:3-4. 

We will see the restoration of worship in a temple on the temple Mount in Jerusalem-Rev. 11:1; Matt. 24:5; Daniel 9:27. 

So, what should be our response today? 

• Let us preach the gospel like never before-Rom. 1:16.
• Let us get our lives right with God today-spend and be spend in the gospel.
• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem-Psalm 122:6.

• What is God saying to you tonight?

CONCLUSION: Amen-come Lord Jesus Christ.