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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
Israel and the Land
Art Sadlier
From Sound the Trumpet, January 2015
God promised the land of Canaan to Israel. Later the Romans would rename it Palestine.
Those who now claim to be Palestinians have no claim to the land of Israel. There never has been, in all of history, a Palestinian people, nation, government, language, culture or economy. This is an indisputable fact. As late as the 1950's the Arabs refused to be called Palestinians.
Those who now claim to be Palestinians claim to be descended from a Palestinian people who lived for thousands of years in a land called Palestine. That claim is a hoax! Yet the world accepts that lie as the basis of a false peace that they have attempted to force on Israel.
The Purpose or effect of it all is to force Israel off the land God promised her.
The Promise “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Genesis 12:7). The land in which the Canaanites once dwelt was given to Israel by God.
The Promise Clarified notice in Genesis 13:14-15 three words “all” the land, “thy seed” the Jews and “for ever” including our own day. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.”
God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:7 & 8. God cannot lie and God cannot break His covenant.
“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
Abraham’s seed identified Gen 26:3 spoken to Isaac, “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;”
Gen 35:12 spoken to Jacob, “And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.”
The seed is not through Ishmael as Islam claims but through Isaac and Jacob.
Loss of Possession of the land and judgment
Deut. 4:25-27 - Warn that disobedience and sin would result in loss of possession of the Promised Land, but that would not negate the ultimate promise.
“When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.”
The Promise of Ultimate Restoration and Blessing
Jeremiah 30:11, “For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”
Jeremiah 31:35-37,
“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 32:37, “Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely.”
There is a struggle going on today over God’s promise to Israel. That struggle is between God and Satan involving the land, Israel and her enemies. That struggle was foretold 2,500 years ago in Ezekiel 36: 2, 5, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession…Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.”
Two Re-gatherings of Israel Were Foretold
One re-gathering, a partial re-gathering, takes place in a period of unbelief. This has taken place in our lifetime and is now nearing completion.
The other re-gathering is a total re-gathering. And it will take place at the time of Israel’s redemption at Christ’s second coming.
The promises to Israel concerning possession of the land are not directly mentioned in the New Testament. Does that nullify the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament? The answer is no! Though they are not directly mentioned in the New Testament they are confirmed there.
In Romans 3:1-3 discover that the promises of God to Israel are still in effect even in the face of Jewish unbelief. “What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith (promises) of God without effect?” The answer is given in verse 4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.”
In Romans 9 Paul is making an impassioned plea for Israel. Verse 4, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.”
Notice the covenants and the promises are in the present tense, “to whom pertaineth.” The promises and the covenants to Israel are still in effect. This does not include the new covenant which is yet to come into effect (Jeremiah 31:31; Zechariah 13:1) it does include the covenant and promises concerning the land.
Romans 11:2a, “God has not cast away His people which He foreknew....”
Romans 11:11, “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”
God has purpose for Israel as found in His promises to Israel. God has a timetable to fulfill His purpose and His promises.
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:25-29).
Simply put, God is not going to change His mind about His purpose and His promises to Israel. After the church is completed, (the fullness of the Gentiles be come in) and taken out of the world, God will fulfill His promises to Israel.
Though the promises to Israel concerning the land are not directly repeated in the New Testament they very clearly confirmed.
Today the world is adamant that Israel cannot possess the land God covenanted to give her. The General Assembly of the UN recently voted 157 to 7 that Israel must give up the Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem and return to the pre-1967 borders. The EU has stated the same proposition. The US administration is demanding that Israel must return to the 1967 borders and give up much of her land to allow for a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. Note - East Jerusalem is actually biblical Jerusalem.
The greatest single issue for the nations today is dividing the land God has promised to Israel.
Every nation in the world today has adopted this position. Some are demanding that the UN should arbitrarily enforce this division. Some are demanding that this division should be arrived at through negotiation and that in the end it must happen.
The World is headed for a showdown with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have the promises of God to Israel on the one side and a rebellious world on the other. This is the greatest single issue in our world today and it will ultimately end in the destruction of the nations.
“For behold, in those days and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and parted my land” (Joel 3: 1, 2).
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has finally come to conclusion that Israel cannot divide the land and survive as a nation. The dividing of the land will be a major issue around which tribulation period will revolve. It will end in the destruction of the nations of the world.
The Scripture indicates that during the first half of the tribulation period Israel will possess the land and the Temple Mount. The third Temple will be constructed and the worship will be re-established.
At the mid-point in the tribulation period antichrist will stand in the Temple and declare himself to be God and demand the world’s worship. Antichrist needs the Temple to be re-built in order to have the world worship him in the very place that Jehovah has been worshipped in the past. “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). In fact the world will be worshipping Satan who indwells antichrist.
Herein we have the motive behind antichrist pretending to befriend Israel during the first half of the tribulation period. At that mid-point of the tribulation period antichrist will turn against Israel and set about to destroy her.
As I study the Scriptures and compare them with what I observe happening in the world and with the situations and scenarios developing all around us, I draw some conclusions.
Though we see through a glass darkly, I believe we are headed for a situation in which the drive to divide the land of Israel will be temporarily set aside for the first three and a half years of the tribulation period. This would allow Israel opportunity to re-build the Temple as stated above.
As I see it from Scripture, the Palestinians and their allies around Israel must be neutralized to allow the situation alluded to above to come about. I see, according to Scripture, the war of Psalm 83 wreaking destruction on the Palestinians and their close allies in and around the land (Psalm 83; Isaiah 17).
Beyond that, the Scriptures indicate a time and a situation will arise in which the world will be in absolute chaos prior to the appearance of antichrist. There are foreshadows now indicating that America is about to suffer the judgment of God. There are a multitude of situations that are now crying out a soon coming cataclysmic end to America as we have known her. (We do not have space here to list them)
In Europe there is a looming economic and political collapse which will set the stage for the European dictator to ride upon
the scene on a white horse to rescue the European Empire and be hailed as a great saviour.
It is also seems likely that this coming economic collapse will trigger chaos, societal breakdown, unrest and multiple major wars around the globe. Russia and China are now feverishly preparing for war with such possible enemies as America, Ukraine, Taiwan or Japan. Pakistan and India are as always potential enemies. The whole Mideast could erupt in flames at any time.
At this moment Russia and China are expanding and improving their nuclear strike capabilities. Iran is racing to develop a nuclear capability and the North Koreans are rapidly developing their nuclear missile potential. Pakistan is also multiplying nuclear weapons which could be sold to the highest bidder. Saudi Arabia has already contracted to purchase Pakistani nukes. All the while America is allowing their nuclear capacity to deteriorate.
We can hardly imagine the potential for the destruction of the world that now exists. We can see the tribulation scenario set to explode. We are reminded that according to the book of Revelation two-thirds of the world’s population will be dead sometime after the mid-tribulation point. A great innumerable host of tribulation saints will die, possibly at the hand of Muslim Jihadists who could well pledge allegiance to antichrist who they are deceived into believing is their Mahdi, the Muslim saviour which they have long awaited.
Paul describes the beginning of the tribulation period in these terms. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
In just such a situation John describes the rise of antichrist, arriving on the scene and rescuing the world from chaos and war. He will arrive with a great peace initiative through which he conquers the world and appears to solve all the world’s problems. He will bring a temporary false and deceptive peace and prosperity for the many. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2).
The context indicates that he conquers without war or force. The bow without an arrow speaks of victory without firing an arrow. The crown and the white horse, speak of a conqueror. He is crowned king of the world because of his amazing transformation of the world. He is crowned King because he brings peace and prosperity to all, at least a temporary prosperity.
Daniel describes the same situation in Daniel 8:25, “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but (ultimately) he shall be broken without hand.”
We are seeing the dark clouds of war and chaos and disaster looming all around us. War, strife, terrorism, plagues, economic collapse, totalitarianism, the growing threat of nuclear attacks, earthquakes, storms and all manner of natural disasters. These threats have been growing exponentially for some time and one suspects that possibly 2015 could be the year when our God says the time has come, Son gather our children home.
In Revelation 1:1 we read, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.”
The word shortly does not mean soon but rather quickly. The implication is that when God’s time comes the events of the last days will unfold very rapidly. The year 2015 seems to reveal a world that is ripe for judgment. All of the scenarios Scripture describes as being required for the wind-up man’s day seem to be in place.
No man knows the day or the hour when the Son of man cometh, we dare not violate that statement of our Lord. However the same Jesus said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).
Matthew 24:33 repeats this warning, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the
doors.”
We do not and cannot know the day or the hour but we do know that the season is upon us.
I have watched for the coming of our Lord since 1948 when I read the headlines in the Toronto Star which said, “Israel Declares Itself a Nation” I said to myself “Jesus is coming.” I have taught that and preached that ever since, 67 years later He has not yet come. Some say that Art Sadlier is an old fool, but I am reminded of Noah who preached a coming flood for 119 years and they mocked him and said Noah you are an old fool. But the year came when it was time for the judgment of God to fall, the sky grew dark and the clouds scudded in. Today we see the sky growing dark and the clouds scudding in. The signs of the times are everywhere.
Jesus is coming and His coming is SOON!
It is time to set lesser things aside. It is time to live every moment of every day to please our coming King. It is time to shout the gospel from the house tops. It is time to warn sinful men to repent and flee from the wrath to come. It is time to walk with Him in white so that we are not among those who will be ashamed before Him at His coming.
We do not know how many days we have left, so it is time to make each day and hour count for Him.
BE LISTENING FOR THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET
I know not in what watch He comes, Or
at what hour He may appear,
whether at midnight or at morn, Or in
what season of the year:
I only know that He is near.
The centuries have gone and come,
Long centuries of darkness drear;
I dare not chide the long delay, nor ask
when I His voice shall hear;
I only know, that He is near.
I do not think it can be long, till in His
glory He appear;
And yet I dare not name the day, Nor fix
the advent year;
I only know that He is near.
Will you meet me in the air, when the reaping day shall come?
Will you greet me over there, in the joyful harvest home?