Episode 45: What's Israel's Role in the End Times?

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 45

Gary answers a very often-asked question these days about Israel’s role in the biblical “end times.”

Does Isaiah 11:11-12 refer to a distant return of Israel back to their land, or did it have a past fulfillment in view? No Jew reading Isaiah 11 in Isaiah’s day, during the time of the exile, and the return under the decree of Cyrus (2 Chron. 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4), would ever have considered such an interpretation given that the chapter mentions Assyria, Shinar, the Philistines, Edom, Moab, “and the sons of Ammon” (vv. 11, 14). These people groups existed at the time when the prophecy was given, and the fulfillment was expected when those people groups would still exist. This prophecy was fulfilled when the people of Israel returned to their land, rebuilt the temple, and reestablished the priesthood and the sacrificial system after their 70-year exile.

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:2-3; cp. Ezek. 38:13).

Why do commentators skip over this history and claim that the prophecies regarding Israel’s return to the land were only fulfilled in the 20th century, specifically in 1948? Israel became a nation again after Isaiah’s prophecy when the Jews returned to the land as God had promised they would after 70 years (Dan. 9:1-2; 2 Chron. 36:21-22; Ezra 1:1-4; Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Zech. 7:5).

Note what Isaiah 11:1 states: “Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people….” If what was revealed to Isaiah was to be the “second time,” then when was the first time?

Prophecy Wars: The Biblical Battle Over the End Times

If you’re willing to take the Bible at its word, the study of prophecy can strengthen your faith, but if your trust is in man’s speculations, you will be disappointed every time. And that is why Bible prophecy is such a crucial area for apologetics. Skeptics of all stripes have condemned the Bible as inaccurate merely because various well-meaning Christians have been in error about the End Times.

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Gary answers a very often-asked question these days about Israel’s role in the biblical “end times.” It will come as no surprise to any regular listener, but Gary explains why modern-day Israel does not have any prophetic significance, including their current “wars and rumors of wars.”

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