For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. [Ezek 36:24-26]
Day by day we are seeing prophecy being fulfilled in our time. Need we quote the words of an old hymn, “Nearer and nearer draws the day, a day that will surely be, when the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea”. The Jews started immigrating as soon as Israel was declared a free land with its own government. Prophecy started to be fulfilled even before that. God promised that the Jewish people would eventually be restored to their own promised land, given to Abraham thousands of years before. Through the Jews disobedience they were removed as a punishment. At last by a vote of the United Nations on 14th May 1948, Israel was born. The Bible says: Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labour, she gave birth to her children. [Isa 66:8]. In Ezekiel chapter 37 we see the origination of Israel. In a state of unbelief, and as it were just dry bones, they have gone back to their land God gave them. They are slowly beginning to believe not only in God, but also many of them are becoming Christian’s.
Aliyah which is Hebrew for ascent, and is the immigration of Jews from the diaspora or from the countries where the Jews have been banished to many years ago. Making Aliyah is defined as “the act of going up” that is towards Jerusalem. For much of recent Jewish history the Jewish people have lived in the diaspora, now with a land of their own, Jews are flocking back to the Promised Land in ever increasing numbers. They are coming back from many countries including Iran, Ethiopia, Russia and Post USSR states, Latin America, France, North America, and other European countries. Although some Jews had managed to, over the years, by any means possible, settle in the land. Since 1948 when the State of Israel was established the immigration has increased considerably. Since 1948 more than 3 million Jews have returned. As far as can be ascertained as of 2014, Israel contains about 42.9% of the world’s Jewish population. However the immigrants are coming from three main countries; France, Russia and the Ukraine. Those in the USA and UK are slow to come. The Bible promises that it will be the universal persecution of Jews that we are told will increase, even in Western countries. Then we will find prophecy being fulfilled sooner than that based on the present rate. At the present we have Jewish Bible being distributed to the Israeli Army and a Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who appears to be faithful to God, and prays at the Western or Wailing Wall. He was in the Israeli army during the Yum Kippur War in 1973 in the rank of Captain. He has the experience of being Israeli ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988. He knows the full story and all the enemies’ tricks. Are the bones starting to get sinews on them, are we seeing the beginnings of Israel turning to God? We shall see.
Chapter 37 goes on to say, looking into the future of a rebuilt temple, King Jesus ruling from Jerusalem with David as the Prince. That however appears to be after what happens in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.
Somewhere along the way we see a fragile peace accord with opposing Arab nations coming into play. Maybe there is a reducing of Israel’s military readiness and it says in Ezekiel that Magog, [People from the area of the Caucasus most likely Russia] and its ally Persia [Iran] covetously casting its eyes over Israel with its riches and newly found oil deposits. They decide to occupy and destroy Israel. In the battle described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, Magog and Persia, at present Russia and Iran with other ally’s invade the land of Israel. The other nations listed are Cush which is now Sudan, Put which is the old name for Ethiopia or some people consider it the old name for Libya, with the Gomer and Togarmah people coming from North of the Black Sea or Asia Minor. They generally cover the Nations North of Israel and may well include Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact all the nations that today are totally opposed to the Jews being there at all.
In the Middle East at present we find the nations divided in their allegiance to either West or East with the nations noted as allies of Magog being the ones at present allying themselves with Russia, and Saudi Arabia and the Emirates being the old Dedan and Sheba allying themselves with Europe and the Western nations. Tarshish is another name for Spain and represents Europe. When Russia attacks Israel. Saudi Arabia, Europe and the USA will criticise the invasion whereas the other nations will be with Russia. It is interesting to note that the Middle East divide between East and West is following this nation divide at present. The stage is being set, the nations are preparing just as the Bible Prophecies predict, and the Jews are returning to their homeland of Israel.
I somehow feel that not only is the stage being set, the Actors are taking their places. We do not know when the curtain will go up. Are we ready to meet Jesus, not in judgement but as part of His people who love Him and will be with Him for eternity. As God says “Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord GOD. “This is the day of which I have spoken. [Ezek 39:8NKJV].
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for PWMI in the South Pacific