God's latter days Promise to Israel

 The book of Deuteronomy finds the Israelite people preparing to enter the promised land. Forty years have passed in the wilderness. The older generation who refused to enter years ago have all died in the wilderness. This is the younger generation, those who God would allow to enter, 

We find Moses, throughout this book, reminding these people of God and His law. He instructs them in the ways of the Lord and warns them of the consequences of turning away from God. In fact, he knows that the time will come when they forsake the Lord their God. 

"So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. When you become the father of children and children's children and have remained long in the land, and acted corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the peoples and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you. There you will serve gods, the work of man's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell (Deut 4:23-28).

Moses warns them that if they forsake their God, if they turn to idols, they will be severely punished. They will be driven off the land they possess, scattered among the nations, and left few in number. And indeed, Moses was right. Years later the Assyrian empire carried off the northern kingdom of Israel for her unfaithfulness, followed by the Babylonian invasion of Judah a little over a century later. Again, we see them banished from Israel by the Romans in 70AD, and only recently, since 1948, have they settled in their land again.

Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, and will still face one more time of tribulation, one more time when they will be scattered among the nations as captives. However they have a promise. Daniel claimed this promise and acted upon it as the days of the Babylonian captivity were drawing to a close (see Daniel 9:1-19). What was this promise?

"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them". (Deut 4:29-31 NASB)

If they would repent in the time of their distress, and seek the Lord with all of their heart, God would be faithful to hear them, and deliver them. He has made a solemn covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to establish their descendants in the land that he would give them forever (Genesis 15:18, 17:19, 22:17-18, 26:3-5, 35:9-12).

It is interesting to note that Moses tells the people that they will return to the Lord in the last days. In His lament over Jerusalem, Jesus says, "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.' " (Matt 23:39) In other words, they would not see Him until they recognize Him as their Messiah. The day is coming when they will be surrounded by their enemies. At their lowest point they will look upon the one whom they pierced and mourn for Him. A fountain of cleansing will be opened for their sin, and it will be removed for the nation in one day (Zech 12:10-13:1, 3:9).

The Apostle Paul quoting Isaiah 59:20-21 says this, "And so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, the deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

Grace in the Wilderness

 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him (Deut 32:9-12 KJV).

Deuteronomy 32 contains what is known as the song of Moses. It was to be a witness against them on the day that they would break their covenant with God and face the evils that would come upon them as a result (Deut 31:19-21). 

In the above passage quoted we read of the very beginning of Israel's relationship with God as a nation. This recounts the desert experience out of Egypt, and God's care and provision for His people, as He led them through the wilderness. It was here that God cared for them for forty years. And they lacked nothing (Deut 2:7). 

Now in the time of their backsliding, God calls them to remember their beginning,

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown, Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 2:1-3 KJV).

The covenant made at Sinai was in effect a marriage between the Lord God, and His people Israel. Now they were unfaithful. They had turned from Him to serve other gods. They had broken the covenant and committed adultery. God asks what iniquity they had found in Him that would cause them to walk after vanity? Why did they not seek Him who had brought them through the wilderness, and into the land of plenty (Jeremiah 2:4-7)?

The immediate context of the book of Jeremiah is that of the Babylonian captivity. Much of the prophecy contained within it pertains to this. However, as with many prophecies found in scripture there is a future application as well. While the Babylonian captivity is often the focus here, the future is in view as well.

Hosea is a book of God's love, and Israels' unfaithfulness. Once again, the concept of marriage is in focus here. We get a glimpse of God's anger, his jealousy for His unfaithful bride. Yet we also see His love and desire to bring her back to Himself. Although God would bring judgement against the nation, His judgement was also intended to bring His wayward bride back in repentance (Hosea 2:1-23). In what is to be a future fulfillment of prophecy we read this,

     Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shall call me no more Baali. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD (Hosea 2:14-20 KJV).

At this point in time Israel is still an unfaithful wife. We have not yet seen the day when they return to the Lord in godly sorrow as a nation. This is yet to come (Zech 12:10-14). First must come the valley of Achor.

Joshua 7 records the sad story of Achan and the trouble he brought upon Israel on account of his sin. As a result of his taking some of the spoil out of Jericho, things that had been devoted to God, and were not to be taken by the people themselves, God's favor was withdrawn from the camp of Israel. When his sin was discovered, he was stoned along with his family and possessions. Only then did God's favor return again to Israel. Before he was stoned Joshua asked him why he had troubled Israel, and then told him that the LORD would trouble him that day. The place where he was put to death was called the valley of Achor, which means trouble (Joshua 7:24-26).

In Hosea we read that the valley of Achor, or trouble, will become a door of Hope. It will be through extreme distress that Israel will reach the point where she returns to her husband (Isaiah 54:5). 

Jesus speaks of a day to come when Israel must flee to the mountains. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all the things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:20-24 KJV).  

In a parallel passage Jesus mentions the abomination of desolation as the signal to flee (Matt 24:15-22). It will be a time of Great tribulation such as the world has never seen. This coincides with the revealing of the man of sin (Antichrist) mentioned in 2 Thess 2:3-9).The city will be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles for 42 months (Rev 11:2).

In Revelation 12:1-17 we read of a sign in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head represents Israel. This woman gives birth to a child who represents the Messiah, Jesus. A dragon with seven heads and ten horns represents Satan who tries to destroy this child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:1-12). We have seen in biblical history how Satan has used various empires to wipe out Israel in an attempt to stop the coming of the Messiah. Think about the slavery in Egypt, and the edict to throw the male babies in the Nile, or Herod's command to destroy the male children under two years of age, an attempt to destroy the child who was to be the king of Israel. 

This child is caught up to the throne of God and Satan turns his attention toward the woman who flees into the wilderness to a place prepared by God, where she is fed for 1,260 days (Rev 12:6). One thousand two hundred sixty days comes out to 3 1/2 years. 

Coinciding with the revealing of the Antichrist, I believe, is the war in heaven where Satan is cast to the earth. It will be a time of unequaled woe in the earth. Satan will pour out his great wrath, as he knows his time is short (Rev 12:7-13). He persecutes the woman (Israel) who is given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent (Rev 12:14).

This also refers to 3 1/2 years (see Daniel 7:23-25, 12:7, Rev 13:5). The final seven-year period on this earth as we know it will be split in half, with the final three- and one-half years known as the great tribulation. This will be the time of Jacob's trouble, yet he will be saved out of it (Jeremiah 30:7). We see here the loving care of God. He knows what it will take to bring His erring people back to Himself. He also knows how to preserve them through this greatest of all trials. Indeed, the valley of Achor will be a door of hope. God will bring His erring people back to their beginning so to speak. He will bring them literally into the wilderness where He will once again speak tenderly to them.

     

The Reunification of Israel in the Last Days

 In the days following the death of king Solomon the kingdom of Israel was divided. This was foretold to a man named Jeroboam, who became king of the ten northern tribes of Israel, while Rehoboam ruled in Judah. (1 Kings 11:29-12:24). Israel has been divided ever since. The Old Testament records the destruction of the "House of Israel" by the Assyrians, who carried them away as captives, dispersing them among the nations. 

The southern Kingdom of Judah (Benjamin also joined Judah) remained loyal to the lineage of David and existed alongside the northern kingdom as enemies until the Assyrian invasion in 722 BC. Judah eventually was carried away as well, by Babylon roughly a century later, although they were allowed to return to the land seventy years later.

Now several thousand years later, and many more dispersions as well, Israel has become a nation once again. People who had been scattered among the nations returned and are still returning. Yet Israel is more of a secular nation, and we have yet to see them live united under the Davidic throne.

The scriptures are filled with prophecies regarding the uniting of the two houses of Israel under one Davidic ruler. These are yet to be fulfilled and will be realized in their fulness at the return of the Messiah, Jesus. Let's look at a few of them.

Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people who remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim (Isaiah 11:11-13 NASB).

Here we see that Jesus will once again recover the scattered remnant of His people. The areas mentioned make up countries existing in the middle east and north Africa. Modern day countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, and Iran exist in the lands mentioned in these verses. These are some of the nations that surround Israel today, and ultimately will be gathered against her prior to the return of Christ (Ezekiel 38:1-9, Zech 12:2-3, Luke 21:20).

We also see the mention of Israel, and Judah. the Lord will gather the dispersed and banished of both Kingdoms and heal the rift between them. Jealousy and harassment will end when Jesus returns.

"For behold, days are coming, " declares the LORD, "when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah." The LORD says, "I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it." (Jeremiah 30:3)

"At that time", declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31:1)

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD (Jeremiah 31:27-28 NASB).

Jeremiah 30 is a chapter foretelling the restoration of Israel, both houses. However, it also foretells the hardship that both houses will go through to bring this deliverance to fruition. This time of "Jacob's distress" (Jeremiah 30:7) is what is also known as the great tribulation, the final 3 1/2 years of this age. The bitterness of the Antichrist's invasion will bring the Hebrew people to recognize their Messiah, and to repentance (Zech 12:10). Jeremiah also foretells of deliverance, salvation from their enemies, and the raising up of their messianic ruler (Jeremiah 30:8-11).

Jeremiah 31:31-34 records for us the coming "New Covenant". It is interesting to note that this covenant is made with "the house of Israel" and "the house of Judah". I think we often look at the new covenant as Gentile believers and forget who this covenant was originally made with. As Gentiles, we too are grafted in and many of us enjoy the blessings of a relationship with God made possible through this covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus. But God's chosen people Israel have not realized the blessings offered them through this covenant. To be sure, there are those who have turned to Jesus as Messiah, but we have yet to see the day when "all Israel will be saved " (Romans 11:26). This will be fulfilled at the return of Christ. God pledges that the offspring of Israel will never cease from being a nation before Him, and He will never cast them off (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the "dry bones" we read about two sticks. One stick represents the house of Judah and one the house of Israel. Ezekiel is told to join the two sticks together making one stick. This prophetically represents the last days reunification of Israel,

     "Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms."'" (Ezekiel 37:21-22). 

The chapter goes on to speak of their cleansing of sin. God declares that they will be His People and He will be their God. Under "David" their king, they will walk in obedience, living in the land promised to their forefathers. God will make an everlasting covenant with them, dwelling in their midst forever (Ezekiel 37:23-28). So much for replacement theology which states that God has ultimately rejected Israel and replaced them with the Church. Under this system of biblical interpretation all of the promises made to Israel are spiritualized and given to the Church instead. This destroys a literal reading of the Old Testament, especially the prophetic books, and leads to a rather confusing understanding of what these books mean. Taken at face value however, it is not very hard to see that although Israel has sinned in their rejection of God, He still loves them, and will ultimately work out their salvation, and be faithful to His promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Hosea is a book devoted primarily to the northern kingdom, the house of Israel. It is a book of judgement, severe judgement at that. It is here we see God casting off His people (the northern kingdom), but yet also yearning for them to return to Him. In a powerful statement we see God reject His people, and then foretell of the day when they would once again be His people (Hosea 1:9-10). Chapter 1 concludes with this promise,

     And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and they will go up from the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel (Hosea 1:11 NASB).

So, we see a consistent testimony in the prophetic books of the Old Testament. By the mouth of two or three witnesses let a matter be established ( 2 Cor 13:1). Once again, we read of the divided kingdoms of Israel uniting. This theme is repeated over and over by the prophets. Hosea tells us that the sons of Israel will live for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice, sacred pillar, ephod or idol. But they will come trembling to the Lord in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5).  In Hosea 5:15 we read that in their affliction they will earnestly seek God. In a famous passage often used at Christmas time we read of the coming of Christ to Bethlehem. However, this entails much more than the birth of Jesus! In this passage we read of the regathering of Israel in the last days, the deliverance from the Assyrian (Antichrist), and the Rule of the Messiah (Micah 5:1-15).

The prophetic ministry of Amos concerned the northern kingdom of Israel. At the end of the book, we read that the day will come when the fallen booth of David is restored. Someday the two nations will once again live under the Davidic rule, with Jesus as their king. In this age the captivity of Israel will be restored. They will never again be uprooted from their land. But first will come a shaking in the land. God will bring judgement to the house of Israel before all of this can come to pass (Amos 9:9-15).

The Apostle Paul leaves us with a good word of advice. He does not want us to be ignorant of what will someday take place, lest we become wise in our own eyes,

     For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation-that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Romans 11:25-27 NASB)

Yes, there is a partial hardening of the Jews at this point. The natural branches have been cut off, and wild branches (Gentile believers) have been grafted in. but God has not cast off His people forever but will someday graft them in once again (Romans 11:17-24).

     

Considering the Poor

 One mark of a healthy Christian is their concern for the poor. As one reads through the Bible God's heart for the poor becomes evident. If we as Christians are filled with the Spirit of God, this same heartbeat should be ours as well. To not feel a sense of care, a care that leads to action, is to leave one wondering if God does in fact live within him or her.

James puts it like this, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things   which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:14-17 KJV).

And John has this to say, But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth (1 John 3:17-18 KJV).

In Matthew 25:31-46 we read of the nations being gathered before Jesus. In this passage a separation occurs between the "sheep and goats." The sheep to eternal life, and the goats to destruction. The basis of this judgement is how we treated the "least of these" in this lifetime. Did we see them hungry and feed them, naked clothe them, visit the sick and those in prison? This is a sobering passage of scripture. Jesus equates our response to the needy around us to our response to Him. 

I am aware that there are those who will say that these scripture examples are speaking of the brethren, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. To be sure, if we fail to care for one another within the body of Christ, we are in a most pitiful situation. But what about the poor in general, who are all around us?

 I have seen Galatians 6:10 misused to focus almost entirely on the household of faith (the church), to the exclusion of the poor who are lost and dying without Christ. Yes, we recognize that we should do good to all men, but the emphasis is on especially the household of faith. Of course, all the effort stays "in house" while the world at large is ignored. 

A certain man wishing to justify himself, once asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Did Jesus tell him that he only needed to care for his immediate family and friends, or only the members of his synagogue, or local church? Do we love only fellow Christians, and spend all of our resources and efforts on them?

The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:27-37) tends to step on toes, destroying our comfort zones in the process. A certain man was on his way to Jericho from Jerusalem. This was a very dangerous road, and he was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Now several men passed by, one a priest, and the other a Levite. They were fellow Jews, and one would think that surely they would show compassion. However, they looked at him, crossed the road, and passed on. Now these were religious men, yet their religion was worthless. They are a good example for those of us who take the name of Christ yet close up our hearts to the needy ones around us! 

Now a Samaritan came along. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews. Ethnically, they were a mix of nationalities living in what had once been the northern kingdom of Israel. We might expect this individual to look upon this helpless man and walk on as well. We might think that he had every right to despise this Israelite. After all, that is what racism tends to do.

Then an amazing thing happens. He stops and helps this man. He gets him to an inn and pays all of his expenses. This hated Samaritan was filled with compassion for his enemy. You see, love crosses all of the barriers we tend to put up in our lives. Racism, social status, religion, all of these tend to keep many of us from loving our neighbor! 

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to do good to them (Matt 5:44, Luke 6:35-36). Our neighbor can be anyone who we come into contact with who has a need that we can meet. Jesus gives us a command that comes right from the Father's heart for the poor, Fear not, little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:32-34 KJV). 

Not only is this a command from Christ to those who would follow Him, but it is also a gauge of our hearts! What motivates us? Are we moved with compassion for others, or driven by our interests only? However, we are not to merely look out for ourselves, but others as well (Phil 2:4).

We read of the emphasis placed on the care of the poor and needy by the fledgling Church. They care of the poor was the one thing that Peter, James, and John urged Paul and Barnabus to remember, and of course Paul was eager to do this (Gal 2:10). Remembering widows and orphans in their distress was considered "Pure and undefiled religion" before God (James 1:27). After the "birth" of the Church on the day of Pentecost the believers practiced the words of Christ, sold their possessions, and took care of the needy among them (Acts 2:44-45, 4:34-35). Notice the selflessness that these new Christians displayed before all those around them! 

So let us examen ourselves to see where we are at spiritually speaking. Are we filled with love and compassion for others? Or do we tend to neglect, or even refuse to help others in need? This is not meant to bring on a guilt trip, but to encourage us to lay down our lives, and begin to love our neighbor as ourselves.