May 18, 2024
Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Saturday, May 18, 2024, and this is episode #14 in series 2024. This episode is titled, “Israel: God’s Alarm Clock.”
For the past several months, the eyes of the world have been on the Middle East, and, in particular, Israel. For those of us who follow Jesus Christ and are students of the Bible, this is not a surprise. The Lord predicted that this would be the case shortly before His return to remove His Church from the earth in the soon-to-come, cataclysmic event called the Rapture.
If we do not understand the events transpiring in Israel, we will not understand what God is doing in these last days. As one writer said, “Israel is God’s program for what He is doing in the world.”
For example, in Zechariah 12: 1-9, the Bible says this:
“This message concerning the fate of Israel came from the LORD: ‘This message is from the LORD, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit. I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves.
“On that day,’ says the LORD, ‘I will cause every horse to panic and every rider to lose his nerve. I will watch over the people of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of their enemies. And the clans of Judah will say to themselves, “The people of Jerusalem have found strength in the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, their God.“
“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among sheaves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure.
“The LORD will give victory to the rest of Judah first, before Jerusalem, so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David will not have greater honor than the rest of Judah. On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the LORD who goes before them! For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem.‘”
Jerusalem is still “like an intoxicating drink” in our day, or, as one translation calls her, “a stumbling block.” A move is afoot to divide the city of Jerusalem—and Israel itself—in two in what is commonly called a two-state solution. This is a disastrous move as it is completely contrary to God’s will.
In the Book of Joel, chapter 3, verses 1 and 2, the Lord pronounces this serious warning to the nations of the earth:
“At the time of those events,” says the LORD, “when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land.”
God warns the nations of the earth that if they divide up His land, He will divide up theirs.
This warning has ominous implications for the United States. The current administration is supporting and pushing for a two-state solution. God is not pleased. Have you noticed the serious storms that we have been experiencing since that decision? Have you noticed the many serious catastrophes that have assailed our land, more than usual?
If you want to do a fascinating study, research all the disasters that have occurred in America immediately after our administration—or whatever administration was in office at the time—supported a two-state solution. You will be astonished.
There are increasing swarms of earthquakes now taking place in the area of the New Madrid fault-line that runs down the center of the United States. Could it be that God will divide our land there? Only time will tell. We are already divided ideologically and politically and socially. There is more to come.
My friend, God is not to be mocked. He says what He means, and He means what He says. He will fulfill every word He has spoken.
We are seeing today that the nations of the world are gathering against Israel. Even nations that formerly were among Israel’s greatest supporters, like the United States of America, are now turning their backs on God’s chosen land. About the size of the state of New Jersey, Israel now finds herself virtually alone in her struggle for survival.
Many prophecy scholars believe that what we are witnessing now in Israel is the war prophesied in Psalm 83, and commonly called the Psalm 83 War. Whether this is so will eventually be seen. But the current war in Israel certainly looks like the predicted Psalm 83 War.
Let us take a brief look at the history of Israel in order to understand the reason Israel is God’s alarm clock—the biggest player—in these end times.
Israel began with a man named Abram (Abram; later called Abraham) with whom God formed a covenant. Abraham had two sons: Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac was the son of promise because he was born miraculously to Abraham and Sarah, as the direct result of God’s promise to them when they were physically beyond child-bearing years. Ishmael, however, was born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah’s maid, through a rash decision made by Abraham and Sarah outside of God’s will.
Abraham’s descendants through his son Isaac and and through Isaac’s son Jacob eventually became the Jewish nation, while Abraham’s descendants through Ishmael eventually became the Arab nation. These two nations have been continually at odds with each other ever since. It is a case of constant sibling rivalry that began way back with Isaac and Ishmael and, sad to say, continues to our own day.
In Genesis 32: 28, we learn that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. From that point on, Abraham’s descendants became known as Israelites.
Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, had twelve sons, the fourth of whom was named Judah. Judah’s descendants became known as Judeans. Later, this epithet morphed into the term “Jew”. And that term has stuck to this day.
The Jewish people are a unique people. They are the only nation who, despite being scattered all over the world for nearly 2000 years, have preserved their culture intact. This could happen only by the hand of God. Every other nation, when dispersed, married into the culture of the land to which they went and lost their unique identities. Only Israel has preserved her unique identity for thousands of years despite her dispersion throughout the earth. This is truly phenomenal!
We often hear the Jews referred to as “God’s chosen people.” What does this mean exactly? For what purpose did God choose them?
The phrase “God’s chosen people” refers directly back to the covenant or sacred agreement that God made with Abraham in Genesis 12: 1-3. At the time, Abraham’s name had not yet been changed by God. He was still called Abram (or Abram):
Let’s take a look at that covenant as described in Genesis 12: 1-3:
“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘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.’”
In Deuteronomy 7: 6, God confirms His decision to make Israel His chosen people. In referring to Israel, He says this: “For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”
The reason God chose the Jews to be His special people is that God was planning to send the Messiah to earth through the lineage of the Jewish people. Moreover, God expected the Jews not only to receive the Messiah but also to proclaim Him throughout the earth as the Savior of the world. Jesus had to become a man through some nation, and God chose Israel to be that nation.
But, tragically, the Jews as a nation failed in their commission. They rejected the Messiah and continue to do so to this day.
But God isn’t finished with Israel yet. One of the most significant Bible prophecies that proves we are in the last days before the return of Christ is the formation of Israel into a nation in a single day. This key prophecy is found in Amos 9: 14-15. Let’s take a look:
“‘I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,’ says the Lord your God.“
This monumental event occurred in 1948 when Israel was acknowledged as a nation in her own right. In fact, then President of the United States, Harry Truman was the first world leader to give official recognition to Israel as a legitimate Jewish state.
Another such prophecy about Israel’s becoming a nation is found in Ezekiel 37: 1-14. This is the prophet Ezekiel speaking to dry bones that he saw in a vision. The dry bones represent the nation of Israel at the time:
“The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones become living people again?‘
‘O Sovereign LORD,”’I replied, ‘you alone know the answer to that.‘
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’
So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
Then he said to me, ‘Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.”
So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.
Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, “We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.” Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!’”
Finally, Isaiah 66: 7-8 predicts the formation of Israel as a nation in a single day:
“Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment?”
Yet that is exactly what happened when Israel became a nation in a single day on May 14, 1948.
I could go on and on, my friend. Yet, suffice it to say that these prophecies I shared with you all point to the truth that Israel is God’s land and that anyone who does violence to Israel does violence to himself and to God Himself and will not go unpunished.This is a sobering thought that should arouse fear in the hearts of any who oppose Israel in any way.
Remember this: Bible prophecy is history written in advance. God wants us to know what lies ahead so that we can prepare our hearts for His return. How do we prepare our hearts? By believing that Jesus Christ—Yeshua HaMaschiach—is the Son of God Who died and rose again to save the world, and by receiving Him personally as Savior and Lord.
I invite you to do that now. Please pray this simple prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge my sin before You. As I repent, as I turn away from my sin, I ask You to forgive me. I receive you now into my life as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Make of me what You created me to be. Amen.
If you sincerely prayed this prayer, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the family of God! Write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday and the day on which you received the birthday gift of salvation that Jesus died to give you. Then write to me at [email protected]. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet titled After You’re Born Again to help you grow in your walk with Christ.
Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are and that He will help you to keep on winning with the Word.
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Sources Cited:
https://understandingthesignsofourtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Isreal-Gods-Prophetic-Clock.pdf
This Week’s Featured Book:
The Iron Saint: Preparing the Church for Persecution
by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD
WORD-BASED NOVELS FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE
The Madonna of Pisano
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Copyright 2024 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is an award-winning novelist, certified life and health coach, and a licensed minister. She writes award-winning fiction from a small town in New Jersey where neighbors still stop to chat while walking their dogs, families and friends still gather on wide, wrap-around porches, and the charming downtown still finds kids licking lollipops and old married folks holding hands. A Jersey girl at heart, MaryAnn loves Jersey diners, Jersey tomatoes, and the Jersey shore. You may learn more about her at her two websites:
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