Restoration Of Israel July, 1967
Written by a 2x2 worker, Evertt Blair in Oregon, USA
(Passed away in 1990)
This issue will be mentioned more or less in proving the Divinity of the Bible. Any effort to prove the Bible as being "inspired" is well worth the attempt. You will remember our Lord Jesus Christ, spent 40 days between the Resurrection and the Ascension, proving His Divinity, His Messiah-ship.
50 or more prophecies concerning Christ's "First Advent or Coming" were all literally fulfilled. Note (Luke 24:25-27,44). Christ began at Moses to prove His Messiah ship (Acts 13:29) shows all was fulfilled by Christ, "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher."
The prophecy of the Restoration of Israel convinces me of the Divinity of the Bible also. Alexander the Great, was once asked to prove the Divinity of the Bible in one word. His answer was "Jew". The Jews were a brotherhood of 12 tribes to whom God gave His covenant (the law). They belonged to the Kingdom of Judah, or anyone of the Hebrew race. The Lord said they would be scattered abroad to the ends of the earth if they disobeyed. Deut. 28:64-66. They did disobey and were scattered to the four winds. The Jews have ceased to be a nation for nearly 3,000 years. For centuries the Arabs have been in control of Palestine and Jerusalem, until the recent Restoration of Israel as a nation May 14,1948.
In Christ's day the Jews were looking for a military leader-a King-a Messiah-that would free them from the yoke of Rome. They were not looking for a Savior that would free them from sin and unbelief. When Christ came as a Babe, their Messiah, they rejected Him. When He comes again, He will come as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and they will receive Him - on His Second Advent. Their Rabbis taught these people the wrong prophecy. They got the two comings of Christ mixed up - just in reverse. The Jews are a race of people that are indestructible. Other nations have tried to destroy them for centuries, but they have always staged a comeback. It may not be out of place to go back into history to give a little concerning the Israelites.
The Children of Israel were down in Egypt for 430 years - Exodus 12:40. (Exodus 12 gives the Passover and the liberation, their exodus from bondage). Moses and Aaron were sent by the Lord Almighty God, I AM that I AM to liberate them from Egypt as slaves. They crossed the Red Sea into the land of Promised, Israel. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
This may be spoken of as "The First Restoration." Their Restoration was not complete until the 12 tribes crossed Jordan and entered into their inheritance as Moses had promised them. Moses had died. Eleazer the Priest and Joshua and the heads of each tribe being responsible to carry out Moses' suggestions. We read of this in Joshua 14, 15, 16 and 17.
"The Second Restoration" - There is another restoration mentioned. (Isa. 11:10, 11). We read of the second gathering of the Jews. God is going to gather again from the scattered portions of the world a remnant. Connect this second restoration now with the third or final.
"The Third Restoration" is not mentioned as such, but is mentioned as "Again" showing that there is a third or final restoration - or going back to the homeland. History repeats itself and what took place once, (in the second restoration), will take Place in the final restoration, but it may include more in the final than in the second. In other words, the final re-gathering of Israel will take place similar to the second.
Third Restoration- Let's look into the Final Restoration or rebirth of Israel a little while. The last Question the disciples asked Jesus in (Acts 1:6-7) was "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" And Jesus answered,(7th verse) "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power." The Jews were looking for this restoration before Christ left this world. Christ promised the Jews they would again become a nation but did not say when.
The Jews did not realize their part of prophecy needed to be fulfilled. (Luke 24:21) The disciples were somewhat disappointed - three days after Jesus' resurrection had passed and nothing had happened. "But we trusted that it had been he, which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. " The Lord allowed Israel to remain without a nation or control of Jerusalem for 1,897 years. Yet their own prophecy stated, "And the Lord shall inherit Judah His portion in the Holy Land and shall choose Jerusalem again," (Zech. 2:12).
In (Romans 11:25-28) the Jews are mentioned as "gospel" enemies - "For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is what happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion a Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake."
Today the Jewish nation is remaining an enemy to the gospel, but God in Heaven claims a portion, a Remnant, will be restored "again" and Jerusalem inhabited, as foretold in Zech. 2:12. During this Gentile dispensation we are living in, the Jews will remain enemies. There will be a literal gathering of the remnant, a rebirth. Isaiah 6:11-13. This reference may help us understand how much a remnant is - one tenth.
In Bible days when they harvested their vineyards or olive trees, they were to leave a gleaning for the stranger. It equaled a tenth part. This was likened to the remnant that would return. "Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a tall tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: So the Holy seed shall be the substance thereof."
(Isa. 17:6) "Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the utmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel." (Isa. 24:13) "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."
Now if there are 13 Million Jews in the world, as they claim, about one-tenth of them will return to the homeland, or thereabouts. This is especially true regarding the 2nd Restoration, a few returning to rebuild the Temple and one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, (Neh. 11:1-2). In New Testament days there were a few Jews saved, but they had to reject the old law. (Acts 21:17-21). A remnant was saved then, but the Jews proved themselves unworthy and the ministry turned to the gentiles. (Acts 13:46) "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and 'judge yourselves' unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."
The day is coming when Jew and Gentile will hear the everlasting gospel. (Rev. 14:6) "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." (Rom. 9:1- 4) "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart, for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsman according to the flesh. Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God and the promises."
Paul's prayer for them - the Israelites, (Romans 10:1- 3) "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:12) "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." If they want salvation they can receive it just as well as the Gentile. He is going to bring it about that a remnant will be restored. Palestine will be rebuilt and restored.
(Ps.94:14) "For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will He forsakes his inheritance." The following scriptures will furnish sufficient evidence of this final Restoration or rebirth of Israel in the "latter days." (Amos 9:14-15) "And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof: they shall also plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."
(Jer. 30:3) "For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. (Jer. 29:14) "And I will be found of you, saith the Lord. And I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord: and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive."
(Jer. 31:23) "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, and the God of Israel: As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities whereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; the Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and the mountain of holiness." (Hosea 3:5) "Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
(Ezek. 36:33-38) "Thus saith the Lord God; in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am the Lord."
Palestine, Israel today is becoming like the Garden of Eden, blossoming like a rose. Salt water on the Dead Sea is being purified and used for irrigation the land, a very productive land. What methods will be used to bring the Jews back to Palestine? Two methods used. Some will return willingly, others to be rooted out by cruel treatment. (Ezek. 20:33-34). "As I live saith the Lord God surely with a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you. And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered; with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out."
In 1933 to 1945 Hitler and Stalin used force and cruelty to get the Jews to leave Germany and Russia and return to Jerusalem. Hitler lost the war because he was against the Jews. Zech. 2:3. "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; after the glory hath he sent me unto the nations, which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye." (Jer. 12:14). Any nation that persecutes the Jews will not prosper. Called "evil neighbors." "Thus saith the Lord against all mine evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold I will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them."
What should our attitude be towards the Jew? (Romans 11:17-18) "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. And with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches, But if thou boast, thou barest not the root, but the root thee." (Isa. 66:5-8) speaks of the Jews being hated and a nation being "born at once." "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my Name's sake, said, "Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." 8th verse. "Who hath heard such a thing, who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."
Isaiah an Old Testament prophet, foretold the rebirth of Israel, the final restoration. (Hosea 3:5) also - a return in the "Latter Days" which took place on May 14, 1948 and in June, 1967... Israel has made her final rebirth and her inheritance has been restored. In 1948 Israel's first election took place in an orderly, efficient manner. A new nation born to stay. Her boundaries may not be set or established. The Communists had only 4 seats in the assembly of 120 seats. The greatest fulfillment of prophecy in 2,000 years.
Future history and prophecy about Jesus is contained in the Holy Scriptures. This is astonishing, indisputable evidence of Divine inspiration of the Bible. How can we question the Divinity of the Bible when we see its fulfillment before our very eyes? Zech. 12;13;14; deals with the present and future of Israel. Zech. 1:17 "Cry yet saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts: My cities through prosperity shall yet choose Jerusalem." Zech. 2:12 and the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holyland, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Zech. 12:2 "Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto the people round about, when they shall be in siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." 4th-6th verses.
"In that day saith the Lord I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness; and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah and will smite every horse of the people with blindness." Horse in the scriptures refers to "power".
In the war in Israel (June, 1967), terror gripped the enemy's hearts, they were blind. That is what the Lord said would happen, even in a natural way - the adversary was powerless. It may take more time. Israel may have to fight again to retain her literal inheritance. Zech. 2:12 "And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again." Zech. 12:8 "In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them." when the time is right the Lord will step in and take over. I don't know if all nations believe that, but they had better! For the Lord will have the last word.
We are living in the first nine verses of (Chapter 12:10) - the Second Coming of Christ is not very far off. "The Lord will pour out upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication. And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." The Pope may have exonerated the Jews of all blame, but the Lord has not.
They (The Jews) rejected him, pierced his hands and feet. 10th verse with Rev.1:7 "Behold He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." He is coming as King of Kings to take over this earth, (Rev. 11:15) the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." No wonder there will be great mourning in Jerusalem. They will realize they have missed the mark! Where will Christ return to? (Zech. 14:4) "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives. Which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west. And there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south." (Zech. 12:14) "All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart." It will be and individual thing.
Christ will deal with them as individuals as He has with the Gentiles and not as a nation. Zech. 12:1-2 "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land. And they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land." This is yet to be fulfilled. 3rd verse speaks of False Prophets to be removed, this takes place when "Christ comes back and Satan is chained. Rev. 18 says that "churchianity" or false religion is going to fall and the merchants will weep and mourn - 11th vs. Who are the merchants? Preachers who buy and sell to make gain out of things of God! The day is coming when they will be out of a job because it says Babylon will fall, 21st verse, "with violence."
We read of two world powers existing before the Rightful King returns - which must be overthrown. One Godless Universal Government being set up, a power who speak lies at one table. Already this power has made her boast--she fears not God, man or the Devil. Then one Universal Religion being set up, known as Babylon. the Lord himself foretold the destruction of these two powers.
First, we may say it is Roman Catholicism that is taking the lead in bidding for her "erring" daughters to return to the Mother church. (Jer.51:33) may suggest the daughters of Rome as being the Protestant churches today. (Rev. 17) gives the woman being responsible for children and the blood of saints and martyrs. Rome is built on seven hills, the Vatican. Webster's dictionary and the World Book Encyclopedia states the Scarlet Woman as being Papal Rome or the Roman Catholic Church--a common knowledge for centuries. We also see from (Rev. 18:6) the sins, or departures, are serious and people will suffer doubly in having departed from what Christ lived and taught.
Sabaoth powers are in the making - it is later than you think! Zech. 12:10 on through the rest of the book is yet to come. This foretells Christ's coming again to the Mount of Olives, giving the Jewish people another chance. When He comes, He will bring all His saints with Him, (Zech.14:5, Rev. 20:4). The rightful King will come to reign and set up His Throne on earth for a Thousand Years. Zech. 14 speaks of Christ setting up a spiritual Kingdom in the world, living waters poured out from Jerusalem as the 8th verse states. (I Thess. 3:13) "To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
Jude 14 - "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints." It doesn't say how many - but ten thousands! Dan. 7:18,22,27 "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdoms, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." (22) "Until the Ancient of days come, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High: and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." (27) "And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."
Zech. 14:11 "And man shall dwell in it; and there shall be no more utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." Zech. 14:9 "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one." Ps. 37:11, Matt. 5:5 - "But the meek shall inherit the earth." Meek does not inherit the earth today - far from it. "They shall inherit the earth." When Christ takes over the kingdoms of this world for a thousand years, there will be peace and quiet because Satan will be in the pit. Jew and Gentile will have the same privilege at the Second Coming. The Lord will have to change their natures to bring this about. Zech. 14:16 - Fellowship during Christ's peaceful reign will be a sweet thing in a world of peace and contentment and quietness. If you want to study this out, take Acts 1:6-7 as a starting point, remembering there is a remnant yet to return. The Jewish people are getting ready now for the return of their Messiah.
Everett Blair, Oregon
