WHY ISRAEL ?

Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948 and today has 7.2 million people with a land mass of 12,877 sq. miles, that's 1/16 of 1% of it's Arab neighbours. It's often been a hotbed of contention and viewed as a thorn in the side other nations. Why is that?

Israel's history and significance in the Middle East goes back more than 3000 years and under the leadership of King Solomon was the world's Super Power. It's history is nothing short of amazing! Why is that? 

By all rights Israel should have been non existent after it was conquered by Rome and had their center of worship in Jerusalem destroyed in 70 AD. For over 1900 years the Jews had no nation, no land mass to call home yet today they are back in the same land they occupied when King David and his son Solomon reigned on Israel`s throne. How does that work? 

Apart from supernatural intervention there's no way Israel should be a nation today. Think of it; in WWII Hitler is credited with the murder of some 6 million Jews. Since 1948 Israel has had to defend itself at least 7 times against attacks meant to totally obliterate it.

Israel's existence today is an international phenomena. Interestingly it's one that was predicted in the Bible. No persons or people could have arranged this.

ISRAEL'S COMING KING & MESSIAH

The same Bible that foretold Israel's scattering among the nations and its re-establishment as a nation tells us about the coming of the  Messiah. The history of the Jews is inseparable from God's history among them. Jews and Jehovah are inseparable. 

At the heart of Israel's existence is their religion, one that has been extremely well documented throughout it's 3000 years of existence. In these documents known as the Torah is the prediction of a coming King, a Messiah (anointed one) that would rise from among them to rule on the throne of their former king, David. 

The vast majority and certainly the most most aspects of  Israel's pre-Christian history has been recorded in the Torah or what is commonly known as the Old Testament Scriptures. These records are still with us today. How accurate are they? What credibility do they have today?

THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd boy happen to wander into a cave at the northern end of the Dead Sea. There he discovered an urn containing ancient scrolls dating back over 2000 years. Today these scrolls are commonly known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. These scrolls contained all the books of the Old Testament except for Ester. 

In the years following examination of these scrolls have confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament. It is commonly accepted among Bible scholars that there about 2500 Bible prophesies recorded in the Old Testament of which about 2000 have been accurately fulfilled. It has been determined that the odds for all this to have happened by chance is 1 in 10 to the 2000th power, that's 1 with 2000 zeros after it. It is estimated that it would take 200 billion earth's populated with 4 billion people each to come up with one person who could give 100 prophecies that would be accurately fulfilled in sequence. 

There have already been 2000 Bible prophecies accurately fulfilled. The most significant and historicly significant prophecies are those relating to the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One; the One commonly known today as Jesus.

Jesus Fulfilled Messianic Prophecies

According to the Tanach Israel was promised a Messiah, who would free the nation from bondage and rule with justice.

The Tanach gave the Jews specific things to look for and means whereby they would be able to identify the authentisity of the Messiah. Listed below are some of them.

Virgin Birth: Isaiah 7:14  was written 700 BC - Fulfilled - Lk. 1:26-35 & Mt. 1:18-21

Born In Bethlehem: Mica 5:2  written 600 BC  -  Fulfilled - Lk.2:1-15 &  Mt. 2:1-5

Speaking in Parables: Ps.78:2 written 1000 BC - Fulfilled - Mt. 13:34,35

Rides Into Jerusalem On A Donkey: Zech.9:9  written 520 BC - Fulfilled - Mt. 21:1-9

Betrayed:  Ps. 41:9  written 1000 BC - Fulfilled - Jn. 13:18-30  &  Mt.14:18-21

Betrayed for Money: Zech.11:12-13  written 520 BC - Fulfilled - Mt. 26-14-16 &  Mt. 27:2-8

Whipped, Humiliated, Spit on: Isaiah 50:6  written 700 BC - Fulfilled - Mt 27:28-31; Mt 27:39-44; Mk. 15:12-20;  Lk. 22:63-64

No Broken Bones: Ps. 34:19-20  written 1000 BC - Fulfilled - Jn. 19:31-33

Earth Darkened During Day: Amos 8:9  written 750 BC - Fulfilled - Mk. 15:25-27; Mt. 27:45; Lk. 23:44-45; Mark 15:34 (Nt. hours of the day started at 6am our time; 3rd hr.= 9am; 6th hr. = 12noon). There was darkness from noon to 6pm our time) 

Anointed Ministry of Messiah: Isa.61,2  written 700 BC - Fulfilled - Lk.4:18; Acts 10:38

Healing Ministry: Isa. 35:5,6; Isa. 42:7  written 700 BC - Fulfilled - Mt.11:4; Lk.7:22

Pierced Hands and Feet: Ps. 22:12-18  written 1000 BC - Fulfilled - Jn 19:23-24; Jn 19:34  Note: Zech. 12:10; Jn.19:37; Rev. 1:7

The Sacrificial Lamb: Isa. 53:1-12  written 700 BC - Fulfilled -  Acts 8:32,33

Resurrection: Psalm 16:10  written 1000 BC - Fulfilled - Lk 24:2-8

Messiah Will Return

Exactly the same Scriptures that fortold of the Messiah's first coming also fortell of His return to earth in power and great glory. As Jesus was assending into heaven, after His resurrection from the dead, His disciples were told, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)

It's very interesting to note that we're told in the Bible that people will scoff and mock the message of the Messiah's return. 2Pe 3:3  Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 2P. 3:4-11 - They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." 5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of His command, and He brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. 6 Then He used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. 7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. 8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 

There are various global indicators suggesting that Jesus return is right at the door. What's important is that we are personally ready for it. Why is that?

Since Jesus ascension into heaven God has been building His spiritual Kingdom. It's made of those who though the centuries have embraced God's love expressed through the Lord Jesus Christ and who have turned to God with all their heart, receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

Sin cannot be permitted to rule the human race. It is destroying us. If left to run its own course it would cause humanity to eliminate itself and completely destroy the world. This might seem extreme, however in light of the fact that at present the military powers of the world have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world at least 11 times and knowing human nature its a very possibilities. This will not happen because Jesus will return to establish His eternal Kingdom. Are you ready? Are you sure that you're apart of God's family. Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? You can? click here