Israel’s Promised Land
Genesis 15:18-21
& Joshua 1:4
https://bibletopicexpo.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/chronology-abraham-to-the-exodus/
Interesting summary of the City of Jerusalem from THE ARMSTRONG INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY’S magazine called LET THE STONES SPEAK...Exhibit edition named “DAVID AND SOLOMON’S MONUMENTAL KINGDOM”.
The history of Jerusalem, and the region in general, is one of ruin and destruction. The city has been conquered and rebuilt over and again by all manner of peoples. In the words of historian Eric Cline:
- There have been at least 118 separate conflicts in and for Jerusalem during the past four millennia.
- Jerusalem has been destroyed completely at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked an additional 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.
- It has been the scene of 20 revolts and innumerable riots, has had at least five separate periods of violent terrorist attacks during the past century, and has only changed hands completely twice in the past 4,000 times (Jerusalem Besieged).
Repeated bouts of demolition aren’t exactly good for the safe- keeping of ancient history and archaeology. Add to this the significant challenges associated with researching and excavating land that sits beneath the most politically and religiously volatile city and territory on Earth, and it is undeniable...this history is difficult to uncover and understand.
We will begin Part 2 examining the actual land and boundaries, that God promised Abraham would belong to his descendants. The graphic images below, show how much land God included in His promise and why the Arab/Muslim world does not want Israel to have it.
Knowing the time when Biblical events occurred and the chronology of Bible characters helps us see the word of God in its historical context. Also we learn the time frame of His ancient people in their generations. The Bible chronology from Abraham to the exodus of ancient Israel from Egypt is so interesting and applicable to today’s Israeli – Arab conflicts.
The respected bishop and church historian Eusébius (265–340 AD) recorded in Chronicle [30] that “505 years transpired from Abraham until Moses and the exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
Here is the way that breaks down.
When Abraham was 75 years of age, God appeared to him and said that He would give the promised land to his descendants. For it is written that in Genesis 12:4-5: Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Harran.
The ancient city of Harran in modern day Turkey from https://www.britannica.com/place/Harran:
Harran, ancient city of strategic importance, now a village, in southeastern Turkey. It lies along the Balīkh River, 24 miles (38 km) southeast of Urfa. The town was located on the road that ran from Nineveh to Carchemish and was regarded as of considerable importance by the Assyrian kings. Its chief cult in Assyrian times was that of the moon god. It is frequently mentioned in the Bible; Abraham’s family settled there when they left Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31–32).
In the same passage, further on in Genesis 12:7 it states: Then the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.
Thus, there were 75 years of Abraham...plus 430 years [from God’s promise] until the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. The Apostle Paul confirms this Galatians 3:17-18: The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
Then he adds: God gave it to Abraham by a promise. When Abraham was 100 years of age his son Isaac was born, 25 years after God’s promise.
405 years transpired from that event until the exodus from Egypt. Consequently, from the promise [until the exodus] 430 years elapsed....75 + 430 = 505 years...placing the birth of Abram in 2117 BC {505 years later is 1612 BC for the exodus from Egypt}. [See this resource for further details:
https://bibletopicexpo.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/chronology-abraham-to-the-exodus/]
https://forums.crosswalk.com/t/looking-maps-of-israel/4611/2
So...what does all of this mean to you right now?
So, what does all of this middle-eastern geography and history mean to you and me right now? It means a lot!!! When God told Abraham to begin his pilgrimage about 4,000 years ago, our Sovereign God was beginning the steps of our Messiah...Jesus Christ...and merging what non-believers have seen in secular history with what believers have seen in biblical history, that will soon be culminating with the world wide rapture, 7 year tribulation period, and the 1,000 year millennial kingdom of the Messiah...JESUS CHRIST.
Therefore, if we can grasp the significance of what is going on in the middle east, centered around Israel...our hope, faith, and joy will take giant leaps forward.
To bring all of this history into perspective, I would like to summarize these things in a short list.
- The Israel-Iran Conflict and Bible Prophecy are setting the stage for what the Scriptures call “The End Times”.
Image Credit: Achisatha Khamsuwan/iStock via Getty Images
*Iran has the fourth-largest oil reserves and the second-largest natural gas reserves in the world.
- About 4,000 years ago, God promised Abram (whose name God later changed to Abraham) a son by his wife Sarah (Genesis 15:1-4; 17:5; 18:10). But before that son was born, Abram had a son, named Ishmael, through his wife’s maidservant Hagar from Egypt.
- When Ishmael and Isaac were both on the scene, animosity soon began to develop between the two children.
- Sarah told Abraham to force Ishmael and his Arab (Egyptian) mother Hagar to leave permanently and his descendants became the Arab peoples and nations of today.
- Years later, Isaac’s other son Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, married a daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 28:9). Their descendants also live in the Middle East.
- Since the Jews are the chosen descendants of Jacob, and since the birthright promises went through Isaac and Jacob instead of Ishmael and Esau, the resentment and even hatred between these descendants continues to this day. What else could you call Iran and the Palestinians desire to wipe Israel off the face of the map?
- Muhammad came on the scene in the late 6th century and wanted a religion (faith) that he could claim came from Abraham too and was really the only true religion (as opposed to the Jewish Faith)...which became Islam. Muhammad declared he was the true final prophet.
- He hoped to unify the Arab peoples and these people became known as Muslims, who practiced the false faith or religion called Islam.
- After Muhammad’s death, an inner-faith conflict surfaced over who would become his legitimate successor. This ended in two distinct groups of Muslims—the Sunnis and the Shias.
- More than 90 percent of the world’s Muslims are Sunni.
- So it was natural that conflicts occurred between these two sects and both groups have their conflicts with Israel.
- How interesting is it, that the Muslims in Iran are predominantly Shia? They call their official government a “Shia Theocracy”.
- When the Iranian Revolution took place, it led to the fall of the Shah of Persia (modern day Iran).
- The Shah of Persia, specifically referring to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was the last monarch of Iran, ruling from 1941 until the Iranian Revolution in 1979, which led to the abolition of the monarchy.
- His reign brought significant modernization efforts known as the White Revolution, but great opposition and unrest rose up, ultimately resulting in his exile.
- Iran is predominantly made up of Persians, not Arabs. Therefore, these two factors help us understand the historic divisions and lack of friendship, between Iran and other Sunni-led Muslim nations.
- Iranians today are a minority in the Muslim world, but their great natural resources, have empowered them to maintain their influence.
- Iran’s oil gas production has allowed them to build the 3rd largest military power across the Middle East and as a part of this structure, they have financed the proxy groups that have been a major part of the “war news” in recent months...but their nuclear goals and progress has been the greatest concern in nations around the world, especially Israel.
- The proxy groups include Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Through revenue generated from oil and gas exports, Iran has invested heavily in the development of its missile program. Image Credit: AL-Travelpicture/iStock via Getty Images
- What are people asking now? Will Iran’s unpreparedness and their revealed weaknesses (due to Israel & the US) result in a shift in the balance of power across the Middle East and will the rest of the world begin to see Israel as an aggressor, rather than victor?
- Either or both outcomes could play into Bible prophecy.
- Everyone has seen on the news how Egypt and other Sunni-majority nations have publicly expressed disapproval of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, but they dare not declare their visible condemnation, because they hope to preserve the regional stability in the Middle East...that Iran’s weakened position might provide.
- All of this fits in with those Bible prophecies, that seem to indicate how the Sunni nations, rather than the Shia nations...will be the dominant forces for some years to come.
- Daniel 11 describes a future power it calls the king of the South that will fight the king of the North. (North and south in this context are generally in relation to Jerusalem.)
- These prophecies have both a historical and end-time fulfillment. (For a detailed explanation of Daniel 11, read the article “Daniel 11: The Most Detailed Prophecy in the Bible.”)
- The end-time fulfillment will occur just before the return of Jesus Christ.
- Today, Egypt is one of the most prominent nations south of Jerusalem and has significant military strength.
- With Iran’s regional influence now visibly weakened, we may witness Sunni nations, particularly Egypt, asserting greater influence in the Middle East in the near future.
- Egypt will likely lead a group of nations that could include Saudi Arabia and other North African and Middle Eastern countries.
- Just before the return of Christ, these nations will form a confederacy to fight against Israel (Psalm 83:4-5).
- According to Ezekiel 35:5-6, anti-Semitism (hostility against the Jewish people) is prophesied to intensify in the last days. This “ancient hatred”, rooted in the enmity between Ishmael and Isaac, will culminate in a confederacy of Arab nations seeking the destruction of Israel.
- We have already seen how Israel is surrounded by hostile neighbors. Even though Israel has one of the most powerful military in the Middle East, its greatest asset lies in its close relationship with the United States. The US provides Israel with advanced weaponry far superior to that of Iran and other Muslim nations.
Since its founding as a nation in 1948, Israel has avoided military defeat largely thanks to U.S. support.
Praise God!
But just as Benjamin Netanyahu said, "these recent events will affect the Middle East and “change history.”
- Prophecy also reveals that another superpower—referred to as the “king of the North”—will rise up in Europe.
- According to Daniel 11:40-43, when Muslim nations unify into the “king of the South”, they will “attack” this European power, provoking a fierce response. Europe will retaliate with overwhelming force, crushing the “king of the South.”
- Israel will be caught in the cross fire. As prophesied in Zechariah 14:1-2, half the city will be taken into captivity, and the state of Israel will fall.
- Yet this tragic sequence of events is not the end. Shortly afterward, Jesus Christ will return—not only to deliver the Jewish people, but to rescue all the descendants of Jacob, including modern-day nations such as the United States and Britain, who will seem to have also have fallen to this future European power {Unless there is a nation-wide revival across America, which results in a majority of Americans being raptured, leaving the US as kind of an empty/weakened non-power.}
...To study more about the world scene in the end time, read “World News and End-Time Prophecy: The Nations”.
...Another source you can take advantage of is a free download of “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST?” Just click on this link:
https://info.lifehopeandtruth.com/middle-east-in-prophecy?hsCtaAttrib=191352204970
WHAT TO BE LOOKING FOR...
The events we are witnessing in the news will ultimately result in a power shift in the Middle East. Iran’s noteable regional influence is being broken.
- A new and more powerful influence is prophesied to come on the scene, both in the Middle East and in Europe.
- Israel, historically seen as a nation seeking peace, is increasingly perceived as an aggressor, which results in the world turning against Israel, which is God’s way of gathering them to gather to where He wants them.
Joel 3:2: I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Zechariah 14:2: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle and the city shall be taken and the houses rifled and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go forth into captivity and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Psalm 83:4: 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”.
Jeremiah 30:11: For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save you... though I make a full end of all nations, where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you. Never-the-less...I will correct you in measure and will not leave you altogether unpunished.
Ezekiel 38:18: And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog (a coalition of nations led by Gog – Ezekiel 38 & 39) shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face”.
Micah 4:11: Now also...many nations are gathered against you, that say, Let her (Israel) be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
Revelation 12:17: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
- Although Israel still enjoys support from the United States, prophecy seems to point to this relationship, rooted in our shared heritage as “brother nations” (and Christians supporting Israel), will eventually be broken.
- Those who believe this, teach that Zechariah 11:14 foretells that the bond between these two nations will be severed...”Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel”.
As we watch what is unfolding before our eyes, we are seeing the preparation for a progression of global events that Jesus warned in Matthew 24:22, will escalate to the point of threatening human survival itself...“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened”.
Ezekiel 38-39 describe a future invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by Gog. This is crucial to understanding when nations turn against Israel, because it provides insight into the prophesied events and how they occur in the end times.
Psalm 83 describes the conspiracy of nations that will seek to destroy Israel. It is relevant, because it shows the ongoing threats and opposition that Israel faces from surrounding nations.
BUT, we know there is hope!
When the nations turn against Israel in the Bible, it is revealing the spiritual significance of God’s ultimate sovereignty over the nations of the world, as Isaiah 40:15 states...”Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket. They are regarded as dust on the scales. The Lord God weighs the islands, as though they were fine dust”.
Therefore, this is a supreme reminder of the importance of standing with Israel, no matter what. In doing this, we recognize Israel’s unique role in God’s plan for redemption and restoration...which includes you and me.
We know in an absolute way, that God will intervene by sending Jesus Christ...to rescue humanity, establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and bring lasting peace to all nations...i.e...the 1,000 year millennial reign of the Messiah...the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So, as you continue to watch these incredible world events, especially in the Middle East, do as the Apostle John did in Revelation 22:20. When the Lord Jesus told John, “Surely I come quickly...Amen”, John said (prayed)...“Even so, come, Lord Jesus”.
https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/the-israel-iran-conflict-and-bible-prophecy/
To sum it all up, God Almighty has given you and me the privilege of seeing these end-times promises and prophecies open up right before us. Believers throughout history have longed to see these days that we have the pleasure of watching in living color. Peter addresses how blessed we are right now in 1 Peter 1:10-12:
As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
On one occasion Jesus told His disciples that...“Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matt. 13:17).
If you are alive right now in the 21st century, you are seeing what all of those prophets and righteous believers in history longed to see, but did not get to. BUT...you and I are seeing it, which makes us accountable.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:11 how...These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.
If Paul said he and his generation were living during the culmination of the ages, we have to be living in the end of the culmination of the ages.
The writer of Hebrews 1:1-2 said...In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
If the writer of Hebrews said they were living in the last days, then we have to be living in the culmination of the last days.
Daniel 12:9: Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
We in the 21st century are seeing those words that were sealed up, now opened up and revealed.
Therefore, if we are living in the culmination of the last days or the last period of the last days, should we not rejoice and then make sure we are ready to meet the Lord...either through our own death or through the rapture...resulting in the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period?
If one dies before the rapture, his/her spirit and soul will either join the Lord Jesus in the 3rd heaven (if he/she is a believer) or he/she will find themself in a place the Bible calls “Hades”, which is a temporary place of torment, where he/she will remain until he/she is resurrected to stand before Jesus Christ, at the Great White Throne Judgement described in Revelation 20. After each unbeliever is judged by Jesus Christ, he/she will be cast permanently into the eternal lake of fire.
Please prepare yourself, as the things we hear and see in the news each day grows worse and worse, until the rapture happens. You do not want to miss it and live during those years of tribulation (Hell on earth).
God is bringing the fulness of His covenant with Abraham to fulfillment. Remember when God told Abraham to begin his pilgrimage about 4,000 years ago, his Sovereign God, who is our Sovereign God, was beginning the steps of his/our Messiah...the Lord Jesus Christ.
God has sovereignly guided history through ever phase needed for Jesus Christ to accomplish our salvation, and bring His church through 2,000 years of ministry, while bringing untold millions into a personal and eternal relationship with Himself.
By the day the rapture happens, some person or people will have that unique identity of being the last one or ones, saved through the manifold ministries of Christ...through His church...before the 7 years of tribulation. These people will also be a part of those uncountable multitudes God promised would be a part of Abraham’s descendants. WHAT A BLESSING!
The following images come from this site:
https://bibleverseslife.com/verses-topic/top-30-bible-verses-about-praying-for-jesus-return/
What else can be said? The Lord Jesus has invited you to receive the free gift of His Water of Life...which represents salvation and eternal life. Will you ask Him for it?
Thank you again for your time.
Gene
PS: Jews around the world are mourning today. We’re mourning tragedies that go back centuries—the destruction of two massive Temples, pogroms, Crusades, the Inquisition, the Shoah, Oct. 7, among other tragedies.
How can we mourn all this in one day?
We can’t. We can’t focus on only one target of grief—there are too many.
So I imagine many of us are commiserating over a kind of “package deal” of darkness. It’s all loosely flowing in our heads and hearts as one big, overwhelming idea—the suffering of the Jewish people through the ages.
This year, I found a hidden blessing in this package of grief. Because the package is so big and overwhelming, I was looking for a consolation that was equally big and overwhelming.
I found it the other night when I heard my friend Rabbi Shlomo Seidenfeld say a few words at a friend’s birthday party. I don’t remember his exact words, but the gist was that the enormous grief we feel at Tisha B’av offers a unique opportunity to reflect on something equally enormous—the pride we should feel that we have overcome so many disasters and are still as vibrant and alive as ever.
Yes, the Temples got destroyed, and Rabbinic Judaism came along to take our tradition on the road. Out of the Inquisition came the flourishing of the Sephardic tradition of which I’m a part. We were almost exterminated in the Shoah, and a few years later, we returned home to Zion after waiting and yearning for 1900 years.
Those disasters and tragedies were all too real, but so was the resilience and the faith that enabled us to prevail and keep the Jewish flame alive.
This doesn’t negate the crucial message of Tisha B’av: Let’s make sure those disasters don’t happen again, if we can help it.
But at a time when we’re reminded that so much of the animosity against Jews is not about what we do but who we are, it’s good to know that who we are has taken us this far.
David Suissa
Do you have some thoughts, feelings, or questions about what you read today in this specific devotional/commentary?
If you will submit those using the form below, Gene can read them, study them, and reply to them just as soon as possible.
Thank you so much, Gene. Much to think about. To look forward to. To pray about. Thank You, Jesus, for Your amazing gifts to Gene – gifts that he shares with all of us.
Also – I wrote an email a while ago to Karissa.
Love to you – Margaret Ann +