In this series we have defended Israel's right to nationhood and sought to counter unwarranted bias against her from the world. We have also argued from the Bible for Israel's ongoing place in God's covenant. In this, the final article in the series, we will look ahead in a positive way to God's purposes for Israel in the 'end times'. There are many passages in the Bible that are relevant to this topic - we will take a small selection to support our point of view.
Israel: A Prophetic Sign
The re-gathering of Israel to their ancient Land is a signpost to the end times. Luke quoted the following words of Jesus, referring to the fig tree as an end times parable:
Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. (Luke 21:29-31)
The budding of a fig tree would have had meaning to those to whom Jesus was speaking. They would have known that it referred to Israel and would have foreseen a strengthening of the nation at some future time, after the 'times of the Gentiles' (Jesus had also said that Jerusalem would be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24)).
Therefore, one of God's central purposes in re-gathering Israel is as a sign that times are shortening for the Gospel to go out into the entire world – the central aspect of God's times of the Gentiles.
Jerusalem: Centre of Global Attention
The reclaiming of Jerusalem is part of God's promised purpose for Israel in preparation for the return of Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach, the King of the Jews) (see Luke 21:24, also Isaiah 2:1-3).
This sign will accompany the great shaking of the nations foretold by Jesus and the Prophets (for example, Haggai 2:21-23) – another aspect of the times of the Gentiles that will increase in severity with time.
God's Eternal Covenant with Israel
All this should be no surprise because God emphasised his unbreakable eternal purposes for Israel when the New Covenant was announced to Jeremiah:
This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be my people. (Jer 31:33)
Jeremiah's prophecy was given in the context of judgment on Israel and exile from their land, but there was also the certainty of their return in New Covenant days (e.g. Jer 31:37). A major sign in Israel is the increase of numbers of Messianic believers, both in the Land of Israel and around the world, since 1948.
Sign of God's Faithfulness
Israel's future under the hand of God is ultimately dependent on his faithfulness. Israel's very existence in our day is a sign of God's faithfulness and reminds us that he is uncompromising - both in his promises and in his warnings.
Jesus made these things clear in relation to the entire fulfilment of end time prophecy, when he said that "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Luke 21:33).
Israel Beloved by God
Israel, then, is a sign of the times. But God is not unfeeling, simply to use them as a sign and no more – he cares about the nation that he called through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and put at the centre of his covenant purposes.
Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands... (Is 49:15-16).
God will ensure that his love for Israel will be made manifest in a remnant who will be saved in the last days. The nail-pierced hands of Jesus are a sign and seal of his great love and sure salvation. We wait for the final fulfilment of this promise for Israel above all other things we see in these troubled times in the Middle East.
From Tribulation to Glory
Though he has been rejected by many of his own people over the centuries, the truth remains that Jesus (Yeshua) died for the sins of his people, to whom he came first. As the Apostle Paul said, both judgment and glory were "first to the Jew" (Rom 2:9-10). Surely then, the greatest expectation for re-gathered Israel is fulfilment of the New Covenant promise of salvation through faith in Jesus.
We know that this will involve great tribulation. The Prophet Daniel foresaw this (Dan 12:1-3). Jesus did not compromise the prophecy of a time of tribulation coming upon the entire world, out of which salvation would come to Israel. It would be this pressure that will bring about repentance and herald the return of Jesus. This is implied by the statement:
For I say to you, you shall see me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'. (Matt 23:39)
This reference is from Psalm 118:26, a Messianic psalm which points to the One who brings salvation to Israel. After days of trouble (sadly these will be needed to turn people's hearts), Jesus will be accepted as the true Messiah by many in Israel. God will not give up - whatever it takes - to bring to completion the covenant promise to Abraham, fulfilled in Jesus.
The Fig Tree Budding – a Sign of Authority to Interpret Torah
The parable of the budding fig tree is in one sense a sign of Israel coming to fruitfulness - but it is also a parable relating to the authority of Israel to interpret the Torah.
An illustration of this is in John 1:48. When Jesus called Nathaniel to be a disciple he said that he saw him under a fig tree. Fig trees are broad-leaved and afforded shade for Bible students – those serious about seeking true interpretation - to meditate on Scripture or discuss what they had been taught by their rabbinical school. 'Under the fig tree' can be metaphorical for standing under the authority of the Scriptures.
Thus, the budding fig tree in Jesus' parable could also be a metaphor of Israel re-gaining authority to accurately interpret Scripture. We see this in the growing contribution of some Messianic Jews who are equipped to help Christians from the Gentile world reclaim their ancient heritage in the Torah.
One New Man
In the end times, God will be working on more than one front. God's purpose for Christians in the Gentile world is restoration to the deeper roots of their faith. The re-gathering of Israel affords an opportunity for Christians to fulfil their mandate to stand with Israel (Is 40:1-3) and, through the help of Messianic Jews in particular, to return to these deeper roots.
The vision of the One New Man (Eph 2:15, Rom 11) will be fulfilled as the end times proceed, Jew and Gentile becoming one in the faith. A picture of Christians' dependency on Jews for strengthening in these days is given in Zechariah 8:23:
In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you'.
Continued Bible Study Needed
Many of the prophecies pointing to Israel's role in the end times are mystical and subject to interpretation as they are fulfilled, especially those in the Book of Revelation.
For example, we can understand the central promise of 144,000 from the Tribes of Israel (Rev 7:1-8, 14:1-5) as being a confirmation of the promise that Israel will have a special place in the end times, as an identifiable nation, with a remnant saved through faith in Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach). However, some aspects of what is meant by the 144,000 from all the Tribes of Israel – who they are and how God will use them - remain a mystery that will unfold in the future.
This requires us to watch and pray as the days go by. These are troubled times, but we must look beyond politics to find God's end time purposes for Israel. The troubles in the Middle East will be seen to have purpose beyond physical struggle for survival. Israel will have a prominent position in God's end time purposes, no less than heralding the return of Messiah, and being part of the final preparation of the world for that great day.
