The future of Israel
Today, 12th September 2011, the middle eastern countries, we have assisted in over throwing their dictators hoping for a democratic Arab middle east as predicted by the Word of God, is fast becoming the collision that God said will happen.
Egypt and Turkey have broken ties with Israel, thrown out their Embassies, and in a few days a vote in the UN to give half of Jerusalem to the Palestinians.
With the signs described in Matthew 24 rapidly increasing, I am certain that this is the decade that End time prophecy will be fulfilled.
Many prophecies in the Old Testament (the Jewish Tanakh) contain details which have not yet come to pass, making it clear that they are yet to be fulfilled.
Psalm 83 is a prophetic psalm written about 2,000 years ago, describing nations in the Middle East coming against Israel. This must certainly signify an event yet to come, as never before in history have the list of nations within this Psalm all joined together to attack Israel. Verse 4 could have come straight from the mouth of the rulers of the Middle East nations of today:
"They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." -- Psalm 83 v 4
The Psalm continues, listing all of the nations that join together with the aim of destroying Israel:
"For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah." -- Psalm 83 v 5-8
The term 'tabernacles' means dwelling places. Those who attack Israel here shall be in the lands possessed by these nations at the time the psalm was written. Maps from this time show that the nations listed here cover the area of the Middle East surrounding Israel, and relate to the following modern-day countries:
Amalek - The north-eastern area of Egypt, just below the Gaza Strip
Ishmaelites and Hagarenes - Northern Saudi Arabia
Philistines - The Gaza Strip
Gebal and Tyre - Lebanon
Moab and Ammon (both also referred to as the children of lot), and Edom - Jordan
Assur - Iraq (the capital of ancient Assyria)
Note: Moab is central Jordan, Ammon is northern Jordan, and Edom is southern Jordan.
Many other prophetic books from the Bible refer to this situation and the outcome of it, accurately predicting the nations and areas that are now hostile towards Israel. When the prophecies are pieced together one can see the exact order in which these events are to occur, and how Israel is to defeat these nations that attack it.
This article makes reference to some of the Bible prophecies concerning Israel in the latter days, but not all. There are so many, all in agreement with each other, and they are very specific in their descriptions. Whether or not one believes the prophecies is irrelevant: it is whether or not they come to pass that matters.
The purpose of this article is not to glorify the destruction of the Middle East nations, or to encourage it. No Christian should desire the destruction and death revealed in the prophecies, but should pray for those who do not know God. The purpose of this article is to determine the future of Israel according to prophecies in the Bible. The following selected prophecies are listed in order of occurrence:
Ezekiel 36
The prophecies of Ezekiel were written around 593 to 571 BC. Part of this prophecy has been fulfilled, and the latter part is still being fulfilled today. It mentions how God scatters the Jews throughout the countries of the world, leaving the land of Israel desolate because of their sins against him. The scattering of the Jews, known as the Jewish Diaspora, started in 79 AD following the Jewish Wars and sack of Jerusalem by Roman Emperor Tiberius:
"And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them." -- v 19
Also mentioned is how God will again bring the Jews back to Israel, and that Israel shall be built up as a prosperous country. Since 1948 Jews have been returning to Israel from all over the world: