The 73rd birthday of Israel did not pass by without historical events on its wings. Both before and after the celebration of its birthdate –May 14, 2021–rockets were flying in the air. These rockets weren’t in celebration, but instead were fired by Israel’s enemies. More than 4,000 rockets hurtled toward the land of Israel, even during the biblical holiday known as Shavuot. In Christian circles, this is referred to as Pentecost, though it’s not always celebrated on the same dates. This appointment on the biblical calendar is observed fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits–which is known as Easter (Resurrection) Sunday among Christians. This year, Shavuot (Pentecost) was observed on May 17-18, 2021–according to the biblical Hebrew calendar. (In Christian churches, it was observed on May 23–keep in mind this date is different because it follows the Gregorian calendar instituted by the early Catholic Church-this calendar is solar, unlike the Hebrew biblical calendar which follows lunar cycles).
Shavuot has great significance because it marks the arrival of the Law (the Torah) at Mt. Sinai, which came from God. The Word (Torah) was considered a marriage contract between God and his people. In Judaism this is why Shavuot (Pentecost) is also referred to as the “wedding anniversary” of the Jewish people to the Creator.
Fast forward to the time of Jesus and on this same appointment date, the Holy Spirit arrived in Jerusalem, as seen in Acts 2. “When the day of Pentecost (Shavuot) came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the house where they were sitting. Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the holy spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” This amazing event happened 50 days after First Fruits (or Jesus’ Resurrection).
It may seem confusing because in Christian tradition, we don’t say Shavuot, but instead use the word Pentecost. It’s important to understand that both of these words mean the same thing– fifty- and they can both be used to refer to the 50 days that passed after Jesus rose from the dead (also known by the biblical name of First Fruits). However, keep in mind that the Jews were celebrating Shavuot (Pentecost) over 1000 years before Jesus’ Resurrection. This feast (appointment) would be a shadow of what would come later–the amazing arrival of the Holy Spirit. At Mt. Sinai the Word would be given to the people to physically dwell with them. But, when the Holy Spirit arrived in Jerusalem, the Word made flesh (Jesus) would spiritually dwell in their hearts! For more information about Pentecost, click on this link. Keep in mind the article is from 2019 so the dates of Pentecost/Shavuot will be different.
Pentecost/Shavuot is known as the birthdate of the Church, and also alludes to the wedding contract between Jesus and his Bride. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we become the bride of Jesus and earn the right to eternally dwell with him. The Word is now on our hearts because the Word (Jesus) has come to live inside us.
Shavuot/Pentecost is a reminder that the Holy Spirit is what gives us knowledge and discernment. We cannot know the heart of God if we do not know the heart of his Son Jesus. It is only through the Word and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that we can understand God’s plans for the nation of Israel and the world.
So, Israel celebrated its birthday as a reborn nation, as well as the birthday of the Word of God (Shavuot). For Jews who know Jesus, they also celebrated their birthday as the Bride of Christ. After all, their betrothal is sealed by the Holy spirit, which arrived on this feast/appointment on God’s calendar.
All this happened under the threat of rocket fire. Not only that, it seemed the whole world turned against Israel at this time, even though they were only defending themselves. And so goes the story of Israel. This tiny nation stands amongst a sea of enemies who would want nothing more than her destruction. Now more than ever, we see how the truth needs to be declared and understood. As the Bride of Christ and the people of God who possess the Holy Spirit, we must understand what is true and what is false when it comes to Israel.
Why is it that the world condemns Israel when it’s so obvious that there are terrorists trying to destroy it? Let’s dive in and see why the nations are so confused. Of course, those of us who know the Word of God understand exactly what’s going on. The Bible tells us that Israel and, particularly Jerusalem, will be a stumbling block for the nations. Zechariah 12:1-6 lays out a prophecy that is crystal clear:
“A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel.
The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: ‘I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God.’ On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a fire pot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.”
The upheaval, fighting and dissension over Jerusalem is no surprise. The nations of the world continue to come against God’s plans for his chosen people and the land. God says, “all who try to move it will injure themselves.” This is what we are seeing right now as terrorists and world leaders try to impose their will on Israel.
Many of these nations do not know or respect the Word of God, so they have no knowledge or interest in what God says. But it’s crazy to me that even some “Christian” nations, and Christians themselves, do not know the truth. They simply turn on the TV and believe the lies of the media. Here are some of the lies you have seen or heard for many years either through the media, or even among church circles: By the way, Amir Tsafati has a great teaching on this called The Deception of the Nations. I highly suggest watching it on this link.
LIES FROM THE ENEMY:
The people of Israel are not God’s people- God is finished with the Jews.
The Land’s real name is Palestine, not Israel.
The Arabs were there first.
The occupation of the land is the problem.
Peace in the Middle East can happen if the Jews give away land.
All of these statements are deceptions that come from the Father of Lies himself- SATAN. First of all, let’s settle the first deception right away. GOD WILL NEVER FORGET HIS PEOPLE, THE JEWS! In fact, he states this clearly in his word.
In Deuteronomy 14, God says to the Jews: “For you are a Holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Did the nation of Israel fall into disobedience at some point in their history? Yes, they did. Then they were scattered to all the nations of the earth. For at least two thousand years the Jewish people did not have a nation and a home to call their own…
But then God did something miraculous.
He brought them back into their biblical land. The prophet Isaiah prophesied this “rebirth” in Isaiah 66:8 which says, “Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.”
On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation once again. The Mandate over Palestine expired, and the land was legally transferred to Israel. It had been several years since the Holocaust. Over six million Jews had perished at the hands of an Antisemitic maniac named Adolf Hitler.
The prophet Ezekiel foretold the rebirth of this dead nation. “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!’ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: ‘I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord,’” Ezekiel 37:4-6.
Hitler tried to annihilate the Jews, but God revived and resurrected them. Their providential rebirth was a testament to God’s faithfulness and his great love for the Jewish people. Anyone who says God has washed his hands of the Jews doesn’t understand the Bible. God providentially and miraculously brought his people back into the land for a reason. HE IS NOT FINISHED WITH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. I have heard pastors say that when the Jews came back to their land it was coincidence, or it was a fluke. They say this because the majority of Jews living in Israel right now do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. They fail to recognize the fact that the prophecies of Ezekiel 37 and Zechariah 12-13 do not say the Jews will be gathered in belief. It says a dead nation will be gathered and brought back. The prophecy goes on to say that LATER they will receive Jesus and his spirit. But, the gathering is done first. Then, the spirit will come. Also, what many people fail to understand is that there is a remnant of Jews in Israel right now who do believe Jesus is the Savior. They are called Messianic Jews. They witness to fellow Jews and they are a strong presence in the land for others to see.
The Bible foretold the regathering of the Jews to their land, and even says that one day a remnant of Jews will recognize and receive Jesus. They will be in their covenant land when this happens.
“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place… And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12: 6,10.
Notice in these verses that the Jews receive a spirit of grace and supplication–they receive the Lord Jesus-the one whom was pierced.
The promise of bringing the Jews back to their land after they were exiled was written in the book of Jeremiah and it is very clear:
“‘But the time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ ‘For I will bring them back to this land that I gave their ancestors.’” Jeremiah 16: 14-15.
This same promise is repeated again in Jeremiah 23, verses 7-8.
DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE REGATHERING OF THE JEWS BACK TO THEIR LAND IS A MIRACLE THAT HAS BEEN WITNESSED IN OUR GENERATION? WHAT A PRIVELEGE IT IS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM LIVING AND THRIVING IN THEIR LAND!!!
Jeremiah 31:35-36 flies in the face on anyone who says God has forgotten his people.
“It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and this is what he says: ‘I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to abolish the laws of nature.’”
This means God will NEVER reject or forget his people. God’s creation stands as a testament to his faithfulness and dedication to Israel.
Not only this, look at what Romans 11, verses 1-2 say:
“I ask then, has God rejected and deserted his people the Jews? Oh no, not at all. Remember that I myself am a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and a member of Benjamin’s family. No, God has not discarded his own people whom he chose from the very beginning.”
Also, keep in mind that God made a covenant with the Jewish people when he chose Abraham to be their seed. This wasn’t just any covenant- it was a BLOOD COVENANT! Those kinds of covenants cannot be broken and as we know, GOD DOES NOT BREAK HIS PROMISES.
God entered into a covenant with Abraham and this is described in Genesis 15.
This covenant was an unconditional, binding, everlasting covenant. The fulfillment depended on GOD, not Abraham. God said this covenant would stand FOREVER!
But notice in the verses below that GOD SWORE by himself to GUARANTEE THE FULFILLMENT of the covenant. See Genesis 22:16 TLB
“I, the Lord, have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. They will conquer their enemies,and your offspring will be a blessing to all the nations.”
Abraham was obedient to God and he went to the land God promised him. So, God told him this in Genesis 13: 14-17 KJV:
“And the Lord said unto Abram…….. 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 see, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”
God gets specific about the breadth of the land in Genesis 15: 5,7 and 18, NKJV
“….. ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them…. so shall your descendants be….I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…..’”
Genesis 17:2, 4-8 speaks of the covenant:
“Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers………..
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
So, we see here that God gives the land to the Jewish people! No matter what the nations say, God has the final word and he says he gives it as an everlasting possession.
Even though large portions of the Jewish people do not recognize Jesus as Messiah, this does not negate God’s covenant. Keep in mind that the fulfillment of the covenant is based on God’s faithfulness, not the faithfulness of the people. The blessings of the covenant are certainly contingent upon obedience to God, but the promises of the covenant remain and God swore by himself to fulfill them. Even though the nation of Israel has been disobedient, as evidenced by the stories of the Old Testament, they have not lost the promises of God. In fact, the Bible is very clear that God has a great plan of restoration for the Jewish nation. I’m not going to talk about all those details in this blog, but understand that one of the reasons God brought the Jewish people back to their land is because he has a plan of redemption for them!
The media obviously doesn’t understand the biblical land covenant so they will continue to harp on the legalities of the land according to man’s standards. Well, I’m here to tell you Israel does legally own the land as well. If you want to learn about all the legalities, I suggest you read JERUSALEM by Jay Sekulow. Another great book is The Jewish People: Rejected or Beloved, by Dr. David Reagan.
Oftentimes, the media will refer to Israel as Palestine, or they will say Israel occupies the land and it belongs to the “Palestinians”. This in itself is a huge deception. The name Palestine actually originated during ancient Roman Times when the Roman Emperor Hadrian became angry with the Jews during the Second Jewish Revolt. The Jews were tied to their land and they fought with great zeal to protect it. In an effort to wipe out all memory of the Jews to the land, Hadrian changed the name of Israel to Palestina-Palestine. He also changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina.
Why did Hadrian change Israel’s name to Palestina? Because it was the name of the Jews arch enemies –the Philistines. He took the name Philistine and Latinized it to Palestine. Actually, the name Philistine means to invade! The Romans were really talking about themselves because they were the invaders. Unfortunately, this name stuck and from then on, the land was called Palestine. Every time the Jews heard this name, they would think of their biblical enemies.
Today, the only invaders are the so-called “Palestinians” who aren’t even really Palestinians! In fact, if anyone has the right to be called Palestinians, it’s the Jews because Palestine is the name the Roman Emperor used to rename Israel. In fact, the Jews were called Palestinians long before the lie became mainstream that the Arabs were “Palestinians.” Up until the 1920’s, the Jews were referred to as Palestinians, not the Arabs, because this is the secular name given to them by the Romans long ago!
Now let’s cut through more of the lies floated by the media and the Arab world. They say the Arabs were there first. Well, we could consult the Bible and see what Nehemiah says about this when God told him to go back to Jerusalem to finish building the walls. The enemies of Israel were mocking and taunting him as he and the rest of the Jews tried to finish the work God asked them to do in Jerusalem. Nehemiah answered his enemies:
“I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’”
The same is true today. The Jews have an historic and biblical right to the land. Their enemies do not.
The land of Israel has passed through the hands of many nations and people groups since the time of Roman occupation. This is no surprise as the Bible says the land of Israel would be trampled on by the Gentiles. In Luke 21:24 Jesus says, “And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.”
The statue of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 reminds us of the kingdoms of Gentiles that will rise and fall before Jesus returns to take full control of the world and sets up his everlasting kingdom. The statue shows the kingdoms of the Babylonians, the Medes/Persians, the Greeks, Romans, and the Revived Roman Empire (also known as the One World Government). But the statue is destroyed by THE ROCK, which represents Jesus Christ and his ever-lasting righteous kingdom. Right now we are witnessing the rise of this One World Government through organizations such as the United Nations, the WHO, the World Economic Forum and the European Union to name a few. These groups condemn Israel for living in the land God gave to them. They are criticized for defending themselves against terrorists. The Times of the Gentiles continue as the land of Israel and its people continue to be “trampled upon” just as the Bible foretold.
Below is a list of these Gentile nations/empires and the years they ruled Jerusalem since the Roman Empire- from the time after the 2nd Temple was destroyed and up through World War 1, before the British Mandate:
Timeline taken from The Jewish Virtual Library:
Roman Empire: 70-324 AD
Byzantine Empire: 324-638 AD
First Muslim Period: 638-1099 AD
Holy Crusades: 1099- 1187 AD
Ayyubid Period: 1187-1259 AD – 1229-1244 the Crusaders briefly recapture Jerusalem two times)
Mamelukes (Mamluks): 1250-1516
Ottoman Turks: 1516-1917
Even through all these occupations of the land of Israel, there was no Arab nation called Palestine at any time in history.
The Ottoman Turks ruled the whole area from 1517-1917. Even during that time there were only provinces within the empire, but no states. After World War 1, the Ottoman Empire was defeated and the British took over the area. In an effort to divide the land, the British and the European powers began deciding on locations for future states such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Also, during this time, the League of Nations set about to create a homeland for the Jewish people. Why? The Jews had already been living in Palestine (Israel) for at least 3700 years and many of them actually lived in Jerusalem. Even though the land of Israel (Palestine) had been taken over by many different nations, there had always been a population of Jews living in the area. Obviously, their populations varied, depending on the year, and depending on the level of persecution taking place at various times in history. But as an ethnic group, the Jews had inhabited the area longer than any other people group, which went back to their biblical roots.
It was well- known the Jews had an historical claim to the area, even though the land had been trampled by the Gentile nations. After World War 1, there were no “Arab Palestinians” as portrayed by the media. The only “Palestinians” were the Jews because they were the ones who were deliberately called that name thousands of years ago by the Romans and their land was renamed Palestine as well. In fact, Arabs were offended if they were called “Palestinians” at this time because this was a term that referred to the Jews, not Arabs! As you will soon see, this term “Palestinians” was never used for Arabs until after 1967, when it became a political tool used to condemn Israel for occupying her own land.
When the Balfour Declaration was signed in 1917 that would eventually create a home for the Jewish people, the land of Israel (Palestine) had a sparse Muslim population. In fact, it is well known that larger populations of Jews had begun to settle the land well before this in the early 1900’s and they had begun to build up the land. Before the Jews came back to the land, however, it had become barren, abandoned and almost lifeless.
Mark Twain is a witness to the fact that there were no flourishing populations of Arabs in Israel during the time the Arab “Palestinians” claim they were on the land. He visited Israel in 1867 and what he saw was not a vibrant population of Arabs, but instead he reports:
“a desolate country… devoid of vegetation and human population.” He saw “a desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds… a silent mournful expanse… a desolation…we never saw a human being on the whole route… hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.”
Twain wrote about this in his book called The Innocents Abroad. The “Palestinian refugees” claim they were on the land before the Jews came back and took it after World War 1. Therefore, the Jews stole the land. Well, where were they when Mark Twain passed through the area in 1867? In fact, where were they when the Jews began coming back to the land in the early 1900’s to build it up? If anything, there were small populations of Arab nomads traveling through the area, but not a nation of “Palestinians.” These nomads came from neighboring Arab lands. They were not descendants of “Palestine” and they did not have a flourishing foothold in the land.
Journalist Joan Peters researched and documented what happened in the land of Israel during the late 19th and early 20thcenturies. In her book, From Time Immemorial, she wrote that prior to the massive immigration of Jews from Europe, the land of Israel was mostly barren and under-populated. The Jews who came to the land at that time brought great prosperity, ingenuity and wealth. After they began building the land up, this attracted many Arabs, who began moving into the area from surrounding nations to share in the success of what the Jews were doing at that time. No one stole any land. These Arabs came there to join the Jews and work together in the land. Unfortunately, this harmonious relationship would not last forever and trouble began to brew as time went on. Just so you know, Joan Peters backs everything up in her book by credible primary source documents, so this is an incredible resource to have and read.
After World War 1 ended in 1918, it was decided that the Jews should be given land in order to create a national home. The Balfour Declaration began the process in 1917 when a document was signed, establishing this intent. The British Mandate of 1922 allowed the British to decide how the land would be divided up amongst both Jews and Arabs who were living in the area. At that time, the British would maintain control and order over the land until it was decided exactly how much of the land would be given to each group. Land was set aside for Arab nations to be formed, as well as a Jewish home. The Arab nations that would be formed would not be part of the land of Israel (Palestine). The Jews were happy with the amount of land that would be allotted to them. But as time passed, the Arabs became angry and made it clear to the British they did not want the Jewish people to have any land. A series of revolts began and in order to appease the Arabs, the British eventually agreed to give some of the land already allotted for a Jewish home to the Arabs. The nation of Israel would be given a tiny chunk of land in comparison to what the Arabs would be given. Nonetheless, the Jews were glad to have some land, even if it was a significantly smaller portion.
The British took 3/4ths of the land portioned out for Israel and gave it to the new nation that would be called TransJordan (now known as Jordan) This left Israel with just 1/4th of what was promised for the Jewish homeland. For the time being, the British continued to maintain control over the land until it they felt both the Arabs and the Jews could live in the land together without conflict. The Arabs were very much opposed to the Jews having a nation of their own, even if the Arabs received three times the amount of land the Jews did! So much for the early days of living and working together in prosperity. Even though it was the Jews that had built up the land, the Arabs wanted to keep all of it.
In the meantime, something happened that changed the history of the world and the Jews. World War 2 began and it brought many nations into worldwide conflict, including the British. By the end of the war in 1945, over six million Jews would be killed in the Holocaust. This furthered the need for a national Jewish home as the world witnessed genocide on the world stage. This was Satan’s attempt to wipe out the Jews before they could ever establish a nation of their own again, and his attempt to wipe them out as a people group. The process of establishing a Jewish nation began in 1917, and was on the cusp of being realized before World War 2 broke out. What Satan didn’t realize is that the prophecy of Ezekiel 37 had played out and now more than ever, the Jewish people would rush to this new homeland. Three years after World War 2 ended, the British Mandate would expire and the land would officially and legally belong to Israel. As Dr. David Reagan points out in his book The Jewish People: Rejected or Beloved, “World War 1 provided the land for the Jewish nation, but it would take World War 2 and the Holocaust to provide the motivation to return to the land….. In 1900 there were only 40,000 Jews in all of Palestine (Israel). By the end of World War 2, that number had ballooned to over 600,000.”
It was decided the British would finally relinquish the land and give it to the Jewish people through the British Mandate. Unfortunately, the Arabs did not want this to happen and protested violently. The British went to the United Nations and they came up with a two-state solution. The land of Israel would be divided once more to create an Arab state. The Jews were now promised even less land than before, but they agreed. The Arabs protested yet again. Nonetheless, it was made official that Israel would receive the home it was promised and on May 14, 1948 at midnight, the British Mandate over the land would end and the state of Israel would come into existence.
The Jewish people were overjoyed that they would finally have their own nation. The Arabs, however, were livid. They did not accept the idea of Israel having their own nation, so they declared war. For their first three months as a new country, Israel had to fight for its very existence. With a limited army and a meager arsenal of weapons, they defended themselves. It was a miracle that they were able to survive! They were heavily outnumbered by much larger nations such as Egypt, TransJordan, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Yemen. But tiny Israel prevailed by the hand of God! This was an absolute miracle considering how they were on their own when it came to defending themselves– of course, we know God does his best work with small numbers. Just think of Gideon and his fight against the Midianites! During the 1948 War of Independence, the tiny nation of Israel was being attacked by the “Midianites”, but God placed “trumpets and jars” into the hands of these determined Israelis, who were able to keep their foothold in the biblical homeland. This is a great video that sums up the history of Israel’s wars if you would like the quick history.
Keep in mind that before this war began, there were Arabs living in the land with the Jews. Hundreds of thousands of these Arabs left the area when the war began, and they decided to side with the large Arab nations against Israel. These Arabs who left were promised by large Arab nations such as Jordan, that the Jews would be annihilated–once the Jews were destroyed, then they could come back to the land and have it all to themselves. So, these Arabs who left Israel CHOSE to leave. In fact, the Jews in the land asked them to stay and fight–they could fight alongside each other. But guess what? Those Arabs left by their own free will because they did not want the nation of Israel to exist!
To the Arabs’ surprise, tiny Israel, who barely had any weapons, won the war! When the new nation of Israel won, the Arabs who had left the land were now without a home or a state. Again, they made their choice. That does not make them refugees! These Arabs believed the Jews would be defeated and killed and they wanted Israel to fail. They were not fleeing from Israel–they were taking up residence with the enemy!!!
Interestingly enough, the very nations like Jordan who told these Arabs to leave Israel and join as allies with them, would not take them in as new citizens after the war. Because of this, they were without a country. Even though nations like Jordan were huge, they would not accept these new Arabs as their own. None of the surrounding Arab nations such as Syria and Lebanon would take these “refugees” in either. They now pointed the finger at Israel. How convenient! All along, Israel was happy to have two states living side by side. But the Arab nations could not accept this, nor many of the Arabs already living and working beside the Jews. Instead, they sided with the enemy and then blamed the Jews who only wanted peace!
No matter what the Arab nations conspired to do, Israel would flourish from this point forward. They would create a land full of rich vegetation and vibrant industries. The desert would bloom like a rose just as the Bible predicted. This made the surrounding Arab nations angry as they looked on with jealousy. Nonetheless, Israel would become more and more prosperous and their economy would boom.
In 1967, the Six Day War would break out and once again the surrounding Arab nations would attempt to remove the Jews from their land. Their goal was to wipe Israel out. To the world’s surprise, the Arabs would not take land, but instead Israel would gain it! Israel took possession of East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. Israel now had control of all of Jerusalem. Before this war, they only had control of West Jerusalem. Now, the entire capital was legally in their hands. An article in First Fruits of Zion says,
“By the end of the war, Israel had crushed enemies to the north, east, and south and tripled her territory. Moreover, Jerusalem was reunited as a free city under the Israeli flag.”
Even though they now had sovereignty over the capital, they still allowed the Muslims to have religious rights to the Temple Mount. They still allowed them to visit their mosque and continue as they had before. Eventually, Israel also decided it would give some land back to the Arabs (even though they won it fair and square) so they could create an Arab “Palestinian” state. Yet the Arabs refused this plan because they believed Israel had no right to exist.
It is around this time that the Arabs began to perpetuate the lie on a grand scale that their people (the Arab “Palestinians”) were the original descendants of the land of Israel. Some even claimed to be the descendants of the Philistines. This in itself was preposterous because the Philistines were not of Middle Eastern descent. They were European peoples from the Adriatic Sea, which is next to Greece.
The Arabs began saying that Israel had stolen the land generations ago and continued to repeat this lie. This was done in an effort to turn the world against Israel. THE BIBLE CALLS THIS THE DECEPTION OF THE NATIONS! This lie continued to be told in the media and continues to this very day! Even Christians believe this lie without checking the real history. Like Adolf Hitler said, “If you repeat a lie enough times, people will eventually believe it.” The Arab nations say the “Palestinians” have the “right of return.” Keep in mind that any “Palestinians” that claim to be “refugees” left the land way back in 1948. And they chose to leave. Their children have also become “refugees,” according to the Arab nations. But the truth is that even those “Palestinians” were originally from the surrounding Arab countries, and not the biblical land of Israel. Remember that Israel was mostly barren for many years in the late 1800’s until large groups of Jews started migrating back in the early 1900’s to develop the land. Then, as the Jews brought prosperity to the area, they were joined by Arabs from all around the surrounding nations– those we now know as Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. They were never descendants of any “Palestinian people.” The Jews were called Palestinians from the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian up through the early 1900’s! Are these Arabs claiming to be descendants of the Jews of Roman Times who were called Palestinians? The Arab narrative doesn’t add up.
Since 1967, more conflicts continued to happen. There was the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israel on the holiest day of the biblical calendar-Yom Kippur. Though unprepared, Israel was still able to capture territory from Syria (within the Golan Heights). Years later, Egypt and Israel entered into peace negotiations, which are in effect to this day. Israel even gave the Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt.
More and more conflicts arise and they always end up with requests that Israel gives away land. In 2000 the Arabs were offered land to create a “Palestinian” state and they refused. Instead, they shot rockets into Israel and committed acts of terror.
In 2005, Israel gave the Gaza Strip and sections of the West Bank to the “Palestinian Arabs.” This was a “land for peace” deal. The peace did not last long because terrorist organizations like Hamas began firing rockets into Israel. They were not interested in living beside Israel peacefully. This is why they build terrorist tunnels instead of taking care of their own people. Their goal is to wipe out the name of Israel.
I could list more conflicts than what I have here, but it would get lengthy and the story wouldn’t change. The “Palestinian Arabs” are ruled by terrorist organizations whose only goal is to destroy Israel.
The Abraham Accords were signed in September 2020 and this meant the nations of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and the Sudan would maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. This was a huge stepping stone towards less hostility in the area and for Israel to gain cooperation with its neighbors. Of course, we know there will be no true “peace” in the Middle East until Jesus comes to Jerusalem to establish it through his reign as King.
Since the Abraham Accords, things seemed to be improving. But here we are in 2021 and we now have over 4,000 rockets that were fired into Israel. The governments of the “Palestinians” have once again attacked for no reason, other than to incite violence and hatred against Jews. They are also spurred on by Iran, whose main goal (like Hadrian) is to wipe out the name of the Jewish people forever!
Many people don’t realize that Hamas stores its rockets under the homes of its citizens! “Palestinian” families literally live above the places where these rockets are stored. There is a network of terrorist tunnels all throughout Gaza and this is where they plot and plan the destruction of Israel. These tunnels are built with the millions of dollars given to them by governments such as the United States. Instead of using the money to help their people, they fund terrorism.
Israel targeted these tunnels in an effort to shut these madmen down. Israel also targeted the towers where these terrorists have offices, bringing the towers tumbling to the ground. In all this, however, Israel warns its enemies when it is going to drop a bomb. In a technique known as “roof knocking” they will drop non-explosive devices on the roofs of targeted buildings and homes. This warns whoever is inside and gives them time to flee. This keeps innocent civilians from being killed. Let me ask you this–do you think Israel gets the same treatment when rockets are fired into their territory? Of course not–rockets from terrorists are fired toward schools, homes and businesses without warning or care. Occupants have seconds to take cover.
Through roof knocking, Israel is even warning the very terrorists who try to kill innocent Israelis by rocket fire. The buildings and homes targeted by the Israeli military however, are those tied to Hamas and their terrorist activities. But even at that, the Israeli military gives a warning first. Wow! All I can say is Wow! Even their enemies are given mercy. Yet, no matter what happens, fingers are always pointed at Israel.
If you want updates on what’s really going on in Israel, check out this link from Behold Israel.
The Biden Administration and the media takes the sides of terrorists instead of Israel! Many nations in Europe have condemned Israel for fighting back when they are being bombarded by rockets that terrorize their citizens. Of course, as I’ve already said, this is the deception of the nations that is spoken of in the Bible!
Israel protects its borders and will not allow terrorists to threaten it. As Israel defended its land from May 10-20, 2021 they named their operation GUARDIAN OF THE WALLS. But, do you know who the real GUARDIAN OF THE WALLS is? GOD OF COURSE! God also appoints his people to be watchmen over the walls and to proclaim his plan for the Jews–as well as his plans for the coming redemption of the land of Israel and the world.
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” Isaiah 62:6-7.
God says he will punish all the nations who try to divide the land that’s been given to Israel.
Joel 3:2-3 says,
“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.”
The Bible clearly states that the Jewish people would be regathered into their land. Then the nations of the world will come against them. Like a golden menorah, they will be hammered out until they come to the end of themselves by repenting and accepting Jesus as the Messiah. This will happen at the end of the Tribulation. Until then, God says we are to bless and pray for the tiny Jewish nation and the people. We are to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, which is the Prince of Peace himself–Jesus.
Zechariah 2:8-9 says:
“For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.’”
Anyone who harms the Jewish people or divides God’s land needs to remember that they have touched the apple of his eye. Keep in mind that the eye is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. I would not want to be the one poking my finger in God’s eye!
Romans 11:1 reminds us God has never forgotten or rejected his people. If he forgets his own people, then why would we expect him to remember us–the Gentiles saved by Christ. God is faithful to ALL his promises and to all his people!
No matter what happens in this world, or in Israel, we must remember that God has promised in Romans 11:26 that “ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED.” This means that God will save a remnant of Jews and they will come to know Jesus as the Savior. Even as of now there are hundreds of thousands of Messianic Jews who know Jesus as their Savior. More and more will be added to the kingdom as time continues.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he was praised by the people, who spread palm branches and threw their garments on the road.
“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’
‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts.”
When they proclaimed, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” they were saying “Welcome my King.” They were welcoming the Messiah-the Holy One of Israel.
Of course, the following week Jesus would be hung on the cross, dying for the sins of the world. Unfortunately, the Jewish authorities would reject him as their Savior, as well as a large portion of the Jewish people. But, not all the Jewish people rejected him. The Jewish disciples would spread the word that Jesus is the Messiah and a remnant of Jews would receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost/Shavuot. Then, this gospel message would be taken to the Gentiles. The Good News would spread from there and throughout the world. It continues to this very day as both Gentiles and Jews receive the truth that Jesus is the Savior.
Jesus himself predicted that one day the nation of Israel (the remnant) would receive him in Matthew 23: 37-39:
“ ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Jeremiah 31 says:
“’But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord. ‘I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives,’ saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ ‘For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,’says the Lord. ‘And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.'”
One day, the Jewish people (as a nation) will recognize Jesus as their Savior. They will welcome him like a bride welcomes a groom. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” is actually a wedding greeting and it is spoken to the groom as he approaches the chuppah (wedding canopy) to be united with his bride. One day, the nation of Israel will unite with Jesus as their Savior. And Jerusalem will be the praise of the earth……….
In addition, let us realize that Jesus deeply cares for the Arab people as well. In fact, we know God promised to bless the Arab people through the line of Ishmael. God wishes to save all people through his son Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for the people of the Arab nations to receive Jesus.
Even though Pentecost/Shavuot has passed, let us continually pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the salvation of the Jewish people. Let’s pray that the spirit of deception is finally lifted from the nations, as more and more people awaken to God’s plan for salvation of Israel and the world.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord- Blessed Yeshua-JESUS!
Revelations About Israel and the United States 
So insightful and well-researched! Thank you Angela for spreading the truth of Israel and their land covenant with God! ;). Kimberly
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