The History and Future of the Nation of Israel

Every conquered people throughout history, after being taken over by another culture and thrown into exile, have been assimilated into the nation of their exile, thus disappearing and losing their nationality. But there has been one exception in all of history, that being the Jewish nation of Israel. Though being conquered by other nations, and sent into exile, they have maintained their nationality and heritage throughout the centuries. However, this should be no surprise to the students of the Bible for God has promised in His Word to keep the nation of Israel, and to gather them back into their promised land of Israel. Though God would punish Israel for their sin and rebellion against Him, and allow foreign nations to conquer them as a consequence of their actions, He has always promised to keep their nationality, and to ultimately bring them back into their homeland that He gave to them several thousand years ago. Regarding God’s promise to never forsake Israel, we read in the Scriptures: “’When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.’” (NKJ: Deuteronomy 4:25-31) “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” (NKJ: Romans 11:11) “And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: ‘Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.’” (NKJ: Genesis 13:14-15) “Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (NKJ: Genesis 17:3-8) “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.” (NKJ: I Samuel 12:22) “If they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; it shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah” (NKJ: Psalm 89:31-37) It should be noted in this verse that God acknowledges that He will punish Israel if they break his commandments, but He will not utterly forsake them or break His covenant with them. “For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance.” (NKJ: Psalm 94:14) “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!” (NKJ: Hebrews 11:1) God chose the Jews to be His special people. They are special in that through that nation of people, God would show Himself to the world through miraculous signs and wonders, He would speak to the world through emissaries called prophets, He would give us His written Word through them, and through their lineage would come the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Israel is special because God chose them, not because of anything special in them. As is the same with us, as Christians, in that we are not special because of anything we have done, but because God chose us as His children solely based on our decision to accept His Son as Lord and Savior of our lives. God, in speaking about bringing the Jews back into the land of Israel in the last days, said, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “’ do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.’” (NKJ: Ezekiel 36:22-24) Based on this passage, we can clearly see that first, God still recognizes the Jewish nation of Israel as His chosen people. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, God has made it clear that even though Israel has greatly sinned, He will still honor His covenant with them, not for their sake, but to show His glory to the world through miraculously restoring Israel as a nation. For in the restoration of Israel, none of the glory is given to man, but all to God, “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’” (NKJ: Isaiah 49:3) One misinterpretation of the Bible, in relation to Israel, is a belief that the Jewish nation of Israel has forfeited her relationship with God due to her sinful rebellion, and that the Church is now the “new Israel.” This is sometimes referred to as “Replacement Theology.” Simply put, this belief contradicts all the promises that God unconditionally gave to Israel, and makes Him out to be liar. In addition to God’s unconditional covenants given to Israel, Israel both in the Old Testament and the New Testament has always referred to the Jews, and is separate and distinct from gentiles and the Church. This is made clear from the following verses: - “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.” (NKJ: I Corinthians 10:32) Not only do we have in this verse a distinction between Jews and the Church, but also of the gentiles. In essence, there are three general groups of people-Jews, Gentiles (the Greeks), and the church (Christians during the Church age). - “And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.” (NKJ: Accts 5:21) Clearly here with the gathering of people in the temple, the reference to “the elders of the children of Israel” points directly to the fact that Israel refers to the Jews and not the Church. The Jews have already returned to their land of Israel, and have reestablished it has their nation against impossible odds. Surely God’s hand was guiding their every step. From a biblical standpoint, Israel has and always will represent the nation of the Jews. In our study, let us now go back to the beginning of the nation of Israel and study their history up to the present day, both biblically and from secular history. Then, we will look into the future of Israel as foretold by the Scriptures. Abraham (Called by God ~2100 BC) Genesis chapters 11 thru 25 The nation of Israel began with a man called Abraham. His original name was Abram, but God changed his name to Abraham, which means “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:6). Abraham was a very rich man living in an ancient area known as the Ur of the Chaldees when God came to him and said: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (NKJ: Genesis 12:1-3) Though Abraham lived in an idolatrous culture that worshipped all sorts of false gods, Abraham turned from the false gods of his land and believed in and followed the one true God. His great faith is noted in the book of Hebrews in chapter 11, which contains of list of the great men of faith in the Bible. We read in Hebrews, concerning Abraham: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (NKJ: Hebrews 11:8-10) Abraham followed God’s call, and left his lavishly comfortable lifestyle to live in tents. He trusted God, and God was faithful. God brought Abraham and his family to a land that would later be known as Israel. Once in the land, God began to bless Abraham greatly. Isaac (Born ~2065 BC) Genesis chapters 17 thru 35 Abraham and his wife, Sarah (her name was originally Sarai, but God changed it to Sarah), had not been able to have children. But God came to Abraham when he and his wife were old and promised to give them a son: “But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (NKJ: Genesis 15:2-5) Many years passed since God’s promise, and because Sarah had not yet been able to bear a child, she became anxious and gave one of her servants to Abraham as a surrogate to bear them a child (this was common practice in that culture), which produced a child who was to be called Ishmael. However, God’s plan was to miraculously give Abraham and Sarah (for Sarah was past her years of childbearing-Genesis 18:11) their own child that would carry on the lineage of Abraham, and that child would be the child of promise, that is, this child would carry on the special lineage of Abraham: “Then God said to Abraham, “’As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.’ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’ And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!’ Then God said: ‘No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.’” (NKJ: Genesis 17:15-21) So Sarah then became pregnant and bore a son, and he was named Isaac. Isaac would carry on the lineage of Abraham through which the Jewish nation would come to be. As a lesson that should be learned by all Christians, God is always faithful and His Word is always true. We should always trust God in His Word, and never doubt. We should never attempt to circumvent God’s plan with our own as Sarah did, but we should trust that in God’s timing His Word will always come to pass. Through the lineage of Ishmael, Isaac’s half-brother, would come the Arab nations. God said of Ishmael: “’He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.’” (NKJ: Genesis 14:12) From that day up to present we can see the ongoing struggle between the descendants of Isaac (Israel) and of Ishmael (Arabic nations). Jacob (Born ~2005 BC) Genesis chapters 25 thru 50 When Abraham’s son, Isaac, became a man, he married a woman named Rebekkah, and they had two sons, twins, named Jacob and Esau. God chose Jacob to be the one to carry on the Jewish Lineage began with Abraham. Jacob had twelve sons with his two wives, Rachel and Leah, and their two maidservants, Zilpah and Bilhah: Son Mother Rueben Leah Simeon Leah Levi Leah Judah Leah Dan Bilhah Naphtali Bilhah Gad Zilpah Asher Zilpah Issachar Leah Zebulun Leah Joseph Rachel Benjamin Rachel Through the lineage of these twelve sons, we have the twelve tribes of Israel. Through the lineage of Esau, Jabob’s brother, came the nation of Edom known as the Edomites who were to be a continual thorn in the side of Israel for centuries to come. The Twelve Tribes The twelve tribes of Israel are referred to all throughout the Bible up to and including the book of Revelation. There mention is always analogous to the nation of Israel, that is, when the twelve tribes are mentioned, it is a reference also to the complete nation of Israel. Each time the tribes of Israel are mentioned, twelve tribes are listed. However, there is one note of interest with the separate lists of tribes. In the book of Joshua, after the nation of Israel has conquered the land, God gives each tribe a section of Israel as their own, except for the tribe of Levi, known as the Levites. The Levites are given the position of the priests of Israel, and are to be dispersed throughout the lands of the other tribes to administer the priestly functions. The Levites are not given their own parcel of land as their own (Joshua 18:7). In addition, previously, in the book of Genesis, Jacob gave a double portion to his son Joseph, and recognized Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as heirs equal to Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 48:5,22; Joshua 14:4;Ezekiel 47:13). Therefore, in those times when the names of the twelve tribes are listed, different combinations of names are found to be used depending on how the twelve tribes are being used. For example, there are passages where the tribe of Levi is left out due to their priestly position, and the tribe of Joseph is shown by listing the names of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, thus providing a list of twelve names (e.g. Numbers 1:5-16, Numbers 2:1-33, Numbers 13:3-15). On the other hand, when the twelve tribes are listed in reference to general lineage, the tribe of Levi is included, and tribe of Joseph is listed instead of the names of his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (e.g. Deuteronomy 27:12,I Chronicles 2:1). In addition, there are some circumstances where God specifically leaves out one tribe’s name because of his displeasure with that tribe, and then both the tribe of Levi, and sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, are included in the list to obtain twelve tribal names (e.g. Revelation 7:5-8). Bondage in Egypt (~1875 to 1445 BC) Exodus chapters 1 thru 14 In the book of Genesis, God foretold to Abraham a time when the nation of Israel would be held captive in a foreign country. God told them that during this period of captivity, the nation of Israel would be forced to serve that foreign nation, and that that nation would treat them harshly, “Then He [God]said to Abram: ‘Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.’” (NKJ: Genesis 15:13-16) This came true when Jacob and his family left the land of Israel due to a great famine, and found refuge in Egypt. In Egypt, the Israelites eventually became slaves to the Egyptians. For four hundred years they were used as forced labor and suffered much. However, God raised up a deliverer from among them who’s name was Moses. Through miraculous means, as a baby, Moses was adopted and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, and was heir apparent to Pharoah’s throne. However, God put a love for His people in Moses’ heart, and Moses chose not to live out his life in comfort and luxury as an Egyptian ruler, but to follow God and lead the Israelites out of Egypt and their bondage. God brought ten plagues upon Egypt to force Pharoah to allow the Jewish people to leave Egypt. Through miraculous means, God, through Moses, enabled the nation of Israel to leave Egypt, and to return to their promised land. Forty Years in the Wilderness (~1445 to 1405 BC) Exodus chapters 15 thru 40, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy God’s intent was to have the Israelites, after they had left Egypt, to travel directly back to their promised land of Israel, but due to their lack of faith in God, manifested in their fear of the people inhabiting the land, God chose to have them wander in the desert for forty years until that generation that showed a lack of faith in Him had died (Numbers chapters 13 and 14). As we read in the book of Numbers concerning Israel’s lack of faith in God to enable them to take possession of their promised land: “And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. I the LORD have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’” (NKJ: Numbers 14:26-35) It was the next generation, that is, the children of the Israelites that originally left Egypt, that actually entered back into the promised land of Israel. The Jewish Nation in Their Promised Land (~1405 to 605 BC) Joshua, Judges, I&II Samuel, I&II Kings, I&II Chronicles In the book of Joshua we are told how the Jewish nation returned to their promised land of Israel, and, through God’s strength, they conquered the mighty people inhabiting the land, and took possession of their homeland. The books of Judges, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, and I & II Chronicles take us through this period of history of the nation of Israel when they returned to their land after their captivity, and their greatly grew in number and wealth. Babylonian Captivity (~605 to 535 BC) Daniel After taking possession of their promised land of Israel, the Jewish nation prospered, and, at first, gave proper worship to God. However, as we read in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, as each generation passed away, the succeeding generations drifted farther and farther away from God. This continued until their sinful actions became such that God allowed them to be conquered and taken away by the nation of Babylon into captivity (Jeremiah 25:1-9). Return to Israel (~535 BC to 70 AD) Ezra and Nehemiah The Jewish nation was to be in servitude to Babylon for seventy years, as prophesied by God through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11,29:10). Then, just as God promised, the Jewish people were allowed to again return to their promised land and rebuild. They would stay in their land for centuries, but were continually under the rule of other nations. First, they were under the rule of the Medo-Persia empire. Then, when the nation of Greece conquered Medo-Persia, they were under the rule of Greece. Finally, after the Roman empire conquered Greece, they were under the rule of the Roman empire. Israel’s Prophesied Messiah Comes, But the Nation of Israel Does Not Recognize Him ( 32 AD) Jesus Christ, the prophesied Messiah of the nation of Israel, begins His earthly ministry, which lasted approximately three years, somewhere around 29 AD. Though He fulfilled all the prophesies in the Old Testament relating to His first coming, the Jewish nation did not recognize Him. Instead of worshipping and exalting their Messiah, they had Him beaten and crucified by the hand of the Roman government. Jesus, in talking about Israel’s rejection of Him, said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (NKJ: Matthew 23:37-39) Jesus mourned His rejection by God’s chosen people, and prophesied of their ultimate dispersion from their land due to their rejection of Him, but then shifts way off into the future to a time when Israel will recognize Him as their Savior at His Second Coming. Jerusalem Destroyed and Jews Dispersed (70 AD) The Israelites eventually became tired of being under the controlling rule of Rome, and began to rebel against their rulers. This rebellion culminated in 70 AD when Roman armies completely destroyed Jerusalem, slaughtered many Jews, and then took the remaining Jews that were still alive and dispersed them throughout all the known world. Israel Reclaimed by the Jews (1948) For hundreds of years, the Jewish people remained a people without a country, but still retained their heritage. Then, in 1948, again through the miraculous hand of God, the Jewish people, against overwhelming forces from the Arab nations, regained their homeland of Israel. The Future for the Nation of Israel The Scriptures not only tell us of the history the Jewish nation of Israel, but also give us prophesies regarding their future, up until the time of the return of Jesus Christ to earth. Continued Conflict with the Muslim Nations The Jews will continue to live in their homeland under God’s protection, but will continue to have conflict with the Muslim nations in the Middle East. The Scriptures even tell us that when Israel again becomes a Jewish nation, as it did in 1948, that it will be a burden to all the nations in the world: “’Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.’” (NKJ: Zechariah 12:2-3) Who would have thought that such a tiny country with no natural resources, or even a natural seaport, could become such a burden to all the world. The burden of Israel, and more specifically Jerusalem, on the world does not originate from any specific characteristic of the land or in the Jews, but has its origins in the spiritual world. For Satan’s goal is to try to thwart God’s plan, and God’s plan is greatly involved with the land of Israel and the Jewish people. If Satan were to be able to unite the world in conflict against Israel, and, through such conflict, would be able to destroy the existing Jewish nation in Israel, then Satan would be successful in thwarting God’s prophetic plan for His chosen people. However, praise God, this will never happen. The Antichrist will Negotiate a Peace Treaty Between Israel and the Muslim Nations A political leader will arise and negotiate a peace agreement in the Middle East for a seven-year period—this leader will be the antichrist. The negotiation of this peace treaty will also signal the beginning of the seven-year period known as the Great Tribulation (also referred to as the seventieth week of Daniel). We read of this peace agreement in the book of Daniel: “’Then he [the antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many [Israel] for one week [“week” is referring to a week of years, or seven years]; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.’” (NKJ: Daniel 9:27) It is believed that one of the events that will help to bring the antichrist into power will be his negotiation of this peace treaty in the Middle East. This treaty will not only bring a temporary peace to the Middle East, but will enable the Jews to rebuild their temple. The Antichrist will Break the Treaty with Israel After Three and One-Half Years But, as noted in the above verse from the book of Daniel, the antichrist will honor this treaty for only three and a half of the seven years, and then he will, “bring an end to sacrifice and offering,” which is a reference to the religious ceremonies being performed in the temple. That the Jewish temple will be rebuilt, and that the antichrist ceases the religious ceremonies in the temple is made clear in the following verses “…and the man of sin is revealed [the antichrist], the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (NKJ: II Thessalonians 2:3-4) “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.” (NKJ: Daniel 12:11-12) “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (NKJ: Revelation 13:5-7) As can be seen from the previous verses, the antichrist will not only cease the worshipping of God in the temple, but he will sit in the holy place of the temple and exalt himself as God. The Antichrist will Greatly Persecute the Jews The antichrist will change from a peacemaker for the Jews to the greatest persecutor of the Jews in all of history. Because of this, Jesus Himself warns that when this event occurs, that is, when the antichrist desecrates the temple by ceasing worship of God and exalting himself, those Jews in Israel should immediately flee: “’Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.’” (NKJ: Matthew 24:15-18) When this terrible event occurs, the only appropriate action will be for those Jews in Israel to quickly flee. They should not even take time to return to their homes to gather a few necessities, but should immediately flee. The antichrist will then begin a reign of terror on the Jewish nation, greatly persecuting and killing them: “’And it shall come to pass in all the land,’ says the LORD, ‘That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’’” (NKJ: Zechariah 13:8-9) “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time” (NKJ: Daniel 7:25) “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (NKJ: Revelation 13:5-7) The hatred of the antichrist, and Satan, towards the Jews is not based on any of their own attributes, but rather because they are God’s chosen people and part of His ultimate plan. The antichrist will come against the Jews with such a horrendous persecution that, as we read in the passage from Zechariah above, two-thirds of the Jewish nation will be killed. The prophet Jeremiah prophesies that this will be the worst time for the Jews in all of history: “Now these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah. ’For thus says the LORD: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.’” (NKJ: Jeremiah 30:4-7) God will Protect a Remnant of the Jewish Nation from the Antichrist However, we are also told in the previous prophesy from Jeremiah that God will save the Jewish nation from complete destruction. We are told in the Scriptures that God will save and protect His people by leading them into the wilderness and preserving them there for three and half years: “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child [the nation of Israel]. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle [cf. Exodus 19:4 using figurative language of “eagle’s wings” to refer to Israel’s escape with God’s help and protection], that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent [Satan working through the antichrist]. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman [most probably figurative speech referring to efforts made by Satan to destroy the Jews], that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth [whatever evil efforts Satan makes to destroy the Jews as they flee, God will supernaturally protect them].” (NKJ: Revelation 12:13-16) God will keep His promise to the Jewish nation and preserve a remnant of faithful followers. As noted in this passage, God will preserve them there in the wilderness for three and one-half years, providing for their needs and protecting them from the antichrist. The Jews will Acknowledge Jesus Christ as Their Lord and Savior At the end of this seven-year period known as the Great Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to take possession of the earth. When He returns, we are told by the Scriptures that those Jews still alive will look to Him and finally recognize and receive Him as their true Messiah: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (NKJ: Zechariah 12:10) Upon the second coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish nation (cf. Acts 2:22-23, 3:12-15) will realize their error 2000 years previous when they unknowingly crucified their prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ. Though there will be Jews saved during the seven-year Tribulation period, the end of this seven-year period, when Jesus Christ returns, will be a time of salvation for many Jews. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (NKJ: Revelation 1:7) This is a reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the seven-year tribulation period in which the Jewish nation and the rest of the world will witness the second coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Some will mourn out of repentance for their sins, and will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, thus, receiving the gift of salvation. Others will mourn because of their impending doom due to their rejection of the Messiah. Both believing Jews and Gentiles will embrace their Messiah, and will give Him proper worship. This will mark the end of the seven-year period known as the Great Tribulation. After this point, there will be no difference between believing Jew or Gentile, for all will be one in Christ Jesus, our Lord. FINAL COMMENTS The Jewish nation of Israel began approximately 4000 years ago when God called Abraham out from his land and foreign gods to follow Him as the one true God. Through this chosen people God spoke His Word to the world, and gave us a Savior who died for our sins and provided us the way, the only way, for salvation. The Lord established an everlasting and eternal covenant relationship with the Jews, and promised to preserve them through the end of time, and to never forsake them. Though throughout their history they would receive punishment from God for their sinful behavior, the Lord never completely forsook them, but always was faithful to His covenant with them and His Word. There are those that would try to say that Israel has forfeited her covenant standing with God due to their sin. They would say that the Church has now taken the place of Israel. But this interpretation of Scripture, as we have previously discussed, is completely contrary to God’s Word and covenant with Israel. No, Israel has never lost their covenant relationship with God, and, as we have seen in recent history, God has been faithful to reestablish the Jewish nation in their homeland of Israel. The nation of Israel is God’s chosen people. Chosen to bring forth God’s Word and our Savior. We, as Christians, should embrace the Jewish people, and support them in their struggle for survival as a nation. For as God said to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.” (NKJ: Genesis 12:3) It is believed by various students of the Bible that the United States has received many blessings from God for their support of Israel. It is also believed that if our nation where to turn her back on Israel that God would accordingly withdraw such blessings. The strength of our nation has always been due to its foundation in God, and without this foundation I would fear that our nation would rapidly decline. Such is our support of Israel, in that we, as a Christian nation, have a spiritual bond with Israel. Let us not forget God’s love for these chosen people, and let us continue our support of the nation of Israel both as individuals, and as a nation under God. God Bless