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Gog, Magog, Israel and Islam

 
 
 

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Gog, Magog, Israel and Israel 

Introduction to Gog and Magog and Israel 

             The link between Islam and Israel is illustrated not only in the history the Jewish and Arab peoples who both can claim a link to Abraham, but in their future.  The creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 was an event foretold by the Jewish prophets, including Moses, Jeremiah,Isaiah and Ezekiel among others. The creation of Israel however has created a dilemma for the other ancestors of Abraham who have occupied the land in their absence.             

      These two groups of Abraham’s descendents, the Jews and the Arabs, both groups have their own unique view from not only a political, but also a religious perspective.    In the absence of the Jewish nation, peoples came to occupy the lands of Israel, after their dispersion from the land by the Romans in A.D. 70 under Titus, and A.D 135 under Hadrian.  Therefore, when Jacob’s descendents came back to the land, as a nation, rather then a subject people, of the Muslim nations, they faced both ethnic and religious opposition. On May 14, 1948, the day state of Israel into existence, they were attacked by five Arab armies who refused to allow a Jewish state to exist. Israel won the war and established Jerusalem as their capital city.  Opposition to their existence continued, as Muslim nations waged a series of wars, they lost more territory to Israel.

      This was not the first time a resettled Jewish population faced a gauntlet of opposition.  Twenty-five-hundred years ago, the Jews faced similar opposition following the Babylonian captivity (605-539 B.C).  Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who defeated the Babylonians allowed the Jewish captives to return to the land (Ezra 1:1-3).   As the Jews migrated back to the land, the people who had occupied Jerusalem and the surrounding lands in their absence did not welcome their arrival.  A struggle ensued, with nearly entire Jewish population being destroyed during the time of Xerxes, (486-465 B.C.) (Esther 3;13).  The story of Ester details how they were saved, from Haman’s holocaust. The same struggle continued during the time of Xerxes’ son, who allowed Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and city of Jerusalem.

      In the Book of Nehemiah, the Old Testament records the threats and opposition the Jews received from the occupants of Jerusalem, and the outlying areas. In Nehemiah, we are told how the  builders carried a sword and half the men stood guard as the walls were built. Over 2400-years ago, Nehemiah records a similar opposition to the Jews, which we see today.

 

7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs,the Ammonites (Jordan) and the Ashdodites (Palestinians) heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,

8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.  Nehemiah 4:7-8

 

Though this scripture was written 2500 years ago, we see the same nations and peoples involved in today’s conflict,being both Arab and Muslim. 

      Ezekiel over 2500 years ago, actually prophesied about today’s nation of Israel, how the people  gathered from the nations, settled back in the land, following a period of desolations, they would be opposed by the surrounding nations. Israel would face a massive invasion by a group of allied nations, including Persia (Iran), Libya (Put), Ethiopia (Cush) and a group of nations from the north, which many see as Russia.

      Israel compared to the days of Nehemiah, faces even greater odds, on all sides and even within its own borders, Israel is surrounded by enemy nations.  These enemy nations, Muslim nations, see Israel and the Jews, from the view of the Quran and Islamic tradition. In addition to Islamic opposition from its neighbors, distant nations, such as Iran have threaten to annihilate the Jewish State, once they have nuclear capability.  

      Another problem faced by Israel, is its lack of friends in the world, even in Europe, anti-Semitism is growing, and there is little compassion for the nation of Israel.  For a couple of reasons;

·        European countries have large Muslim populations, these populations vote against Israel.

·        European populations are oil dependent, and they need the oil supplied by Arab/Muslim nations.

·         Europe has a long built in history of animosity towards the Jews, passed down from generations.

·        Europe has adopted a humanist philosophy which is anti-biblical, the Jews being the focus of the Bible brings with it Europe’s distain.

 

      For anybody viewing the situation from the surface the outlook for Israel looks bleak, with so much opposition, how could such a small nation of 5-million Jews expect to survive, when surrounded by such hostility, numbering in the hundreds of millions. Just as in the days of Esther and Nehemiah, the days seems bleak as well, however, for those who understood Bible Prophecy, the mere creation of the nation of Israel was a prophetic event waiting to happen.  However, not only was the nation’s creation foretold, but the coming opposition was also foretold, thousands of years ago, even listing the nations which would come against Israel in the last days. 

      The prophet Ezekiel covers this period of Israel’s existence in detail in Chapters 36-43.  In these chapters, Ezekiel records the three phases of Israel during the last days.

 

·        The creation of the nation of Israel gathered from the nations. Ezekiel 36-37

·        The battle of Gog and Magog, following its creation Ezekiel 38-39

·        The building of the Temple, following the defeat of Gog and Magog Ezekiel 40-43

 

The Nation of Israel and the Temple

 

      The Bible clearly demonstrates in Bible prophecy, the nation of Israel will come into existence in the last days, and the Thrid Jewish Temple will replace, the third most holy site to the Muslims, the Dome of the Rock or Noble Sanctuary.   We know this because the Abomination of Desolation, requires a Third temple, and the only place a Third temple can be is located on the same location of the Dome of the Rock. 

      Prior to the building of the Third Temple, Islam as a force against Israel needs to be removed, in order for theTemple to be built.    The Muslim world has threatened world war if the Dome of the Rock is harmed in any way.   While, the Muslims threaten war over the Third Temple, preparations are under way to put the Third Temple in place.  Among these preparations is the establishment of a Sanhedrin, a ruling body of 71 Jews who will oversee the establishment of the Third Temple.  Quoting the Jewish publication Arutz Sheva

 

The recently re-established Sanhedrin - ideally, Judaism's top legal assembly - of 71 rabbis and scholars also moved to solidify logistical aspects of the body.

The Sanhedrin heard expert testimony on the various opinions as to the exact part of the Temple Mount upon which the Holy Temple stood. The fact that there has never been an archaeological expedition or dig on the Temple Mount, coupled with continuous Muslim efforts to destroy historical evidence of the Holy Temple at the site, have made determining the exact location difficult.

Identifying the spot on which the Temple stood is a matter of controversy among scholars, and has serious ramifications for those wishing to visit the Temple Mount. It is also critical for the renewal of the Passover sacrifice, and ultimately for the building of the third and final Holy Temple.[1]

 

      Also established in Israel is the Temple Institute with the purpose of planning and preparing for the establishment of the Third Temple.  Quoting from the Temple Institute’s website,

 

The Institute's work touches upon the history of the Holy Temple's past, an understanding of the present day, and the Divine promise of Israel's future. The scope of these activities includes education, research, and development. The Temple Institute's ultimate goal is to see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, in accord with the Biblical commandments.[2]

 

 

 

      All the excitement and plans by Jewish groups, for the Third Temple has not escaped the notice of Muslims either.  The recent announcement by Israeli Knesset Member Uri Ariel (NRP), on plans to build a synagogue on a vacant section of the Temple Mount received this rebuke and warning from a leading Muslim Sheik in Jerusalem. Quoting the publication Arutz Sheva,

 

Sheikh Raad Salah - head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, a Hamas supporter, and an outspoken enemy of Israel - warns that Israeli plans to build a synagogue on the Temple Mount could lead to violence and bloodshed. "The day will never come when a Moslem or an Arab will have the right to cede even one foot of the Al-Aqsa Mosque or of Jerusalem," the Sheikh's Al-Aqsa movement announced............................ "We remind the Israeli establishment, which stands behind these plans, that the problem of Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem is not just a Palestinian problem, but a Palestinian, Arab and Islamic problem. The day the Al-Aqsa Mosque is harmed, Heaven forbid, all the Arab and Islamic nations will call to prevent this damage. Watch out! Beware of merely the thought of hurting or desecrating the mosque."[3]

 

This is only a small sampling of the incredible amount of pressure boiling between Orthodox Jewish groups and Islamic fundamentalist groups regarding the Temple Mount.  Regardless what we wish happens, scripture is clear a Third Temple is coming, and the rest or the world will hear about it.  God through the nation of Israel will make an appeal to all nations, through Israel came the Messiah, who Israel rejected. Moreover, in the end of days, Israel will again be presented with the Messiah, this time however they will accept Him.  

Israel’s existence and rebirth is essential part of both the Old and New Testaments.  Jesus himself declared, He would not be seen again until Israel acknowledged Him as their Messiah.

 

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  38 "See! Your house is left to you desolate;

39 "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!' " Matthew 23:37-39

 

The restoration of Israel as a nation

 

Islam plays a central role in the End-times as they oppose the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of scripture, which clearly shows a restored Israel, the descendents of Jacob, back in the land of Israel.  Ezekiel clearly proclaims a restored Israel in the last-days; however, Ezekiel is not alone in this prophecy. Both Old and New Testament prophets declare a restored Israel in the last days.

Israel as a nation needs to be restored for several reasons:

 

·        God had made covenant promises to Abraham regarding the land of Israel and his descendents through Isaac and Jacob.

·        God redemptive plan includes a restored Israel, which accepts Messiah in the last days.

·        God uses Israel to judge the nations

·        Scripture requires a Third Jewish Temple to be in place at the Second Coming, we can only have a Jewish Temple if there are Jewish people and priests in the land of Israel.

·        God word places the nations gathering against the land of Israel and the Jews in the last Days.

 

Scripture Quote about Israel’s restoration

1For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the LORD; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors.Isaiah 14:1-2

22Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, And set up My standard for the peoples; They shall bring your sons in their arms, And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders;23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, And lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.”24 hall the prey be taken from the mighty, Or the captives £of the righteous be delivered?25But thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered;For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your childrenIsaiah 49:22-24

6   “I will strengthen the house of   Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph.I will bring them back, Because I have mercy on them.They shall be as though I had not cast them aside;For I am the LORD their God, And I will hear them. Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; Their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. 8   I will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall increase as they once increased. 9   “I will sow them among the peoples, Andthey shall remember Me in far countries;They shall live, together with their children, And they shall return. 10 I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room is found for them. 11 He shall pass through the sea with affliction, And strike the waves of the sea: All the depths of the £River shall dry up. Then the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, And the scepter of Egypt shall depart. 12 “So I will strengthen them in the LORD, And they shall walk up and down in His name,” Says the LORD.  Zechariah 10:6-12                 

7“Thus says the LORD of hosts:‘ Behold,I will save My people from the land of the east  And from the land of the west;8   I will bring them back, Andthey shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.’     Zechariah 8:7-8

6“Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the LORD; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the LORD. 7“Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”8For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.Zechariah 2:6-9

0 “Yet the number ofthe children of Israel Shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are £not My people,’ There it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’11Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel  Shall be gathered together, And appoint for themselves one head; Andthey shall come up out of the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel  Hosea 1:10-11

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2“Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. 3For behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘AndI will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’”11      For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations whereI have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’18“Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, And the palace shall remain according to its own plan. Jeremiah 30:1-3, 11,18

8   Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth,Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there.9             They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel,  And Ephraim is My firstborn.10       “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’ Jeremiah 31:8-10

For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim.5Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.Hosea 3:4

 

2 "and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul,  3 "that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, andgather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you.

4 "If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. 5 "Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. Deuteronomy 30:2-5

 

1  “For behold, in those daysand at that timeWhen I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,2  I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.            Joel 3:1-2

11    It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea.12He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, Andgather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.    Isaiah 11:11-12

 

 

Today, many groups who condemn Israel’s claim to the land, reject the Bible as a reference to validate that claim.  Thisis understandable, because they don’t believe the Bible.  There is however no excuse for Christian leaders, who reject Israel’s claim to the land.    People such as Hank Hanegraaff[4], Stephen Sizer[5] reject the Bible in its literal form.  Instead, they try to reinterpret the Bible, claiming God did not really mean what he said, when God spoke through the prophets.  There is really no excuse for such a rejection of scripture.  Scripture rejects their view, so its very sad to insist on their non-literal reinterpretation of scripture, which in many ways is anti-Semitic.

This rejection of scripture is what leads many churches to endorse Homosexual marriage and abortion. God did really mean to speak against these acts, non-literalists will say.  Those who reject scripture and yet to claim to leaders in evangelical Christianity need to be challenged, on what Bible they are reading.

         In addition to these quotes, Ezekiel declares the nation of Israel would come back into existence in the last days, and its existence would be preceding the Messiah’s rule on earth.  We need to keep in mind, when Ezekiel wrote these words, there was no Islam, and therefore we see the footprints of Islam, not the image of Islam in these prophecies. 

         Ezekiel wrote during the Babylonian captivity about 592 B.C., he himself was a captive in Babylon.  On a short-term basis, some have applied these prophecies to the Babylonian captivity; however, they have a greater fulfillment following the Roman exile, which lasted 1900-years verses the 70-years of Babylon.

         Ezekiel description actually is fulfilled in the current era, as opposed to the Babylonian and Persian era.

 

Israel’s enemies surround them

 

Ezekiel 36

1 "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord!

2 'Thus says the Lord God: "Because the enemy has said of you, 'Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,' " '

3 "therefore prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Because they made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you are taken up by the lips of talkers and slandered by the people"-

4 'therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes, and the cities that have been forsaken, which became plunder and mockery to the rest of the nations all around-

5 'therefore thus says the Lord God: "Surely I have spoken in My burning jealousy against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who gave My land to themselves as a possession, with whole-hearted joy and spiteful minds, in order to plunder its open country." ' Ezekiel 36:1-5

 

                Ezekiel paints the picture of Israel, verses the nations, specifically the nations, which surround Israel.  Verse 2, quoting the nations refers to the ancient heights, which is pictured by fight over the ancient lands and mountains of Israel, which were not so ancient in his day.

 

The land is physical Israel

 

6 "Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations."

7 'Therefore thus says the Lord God: "I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. Ezekiel 36:6-7

 

God, through Ezekiel wants the reader to understand, he is not talking in metaphor, this prophecy regards the actual  “Land of Israel” including the mountains, hills and rivers.  Now God specifically  contrasts Israel to the “Nations...around you”.  They will bear their own shame.  The nations surrounding Israel are the Muslim nations, which threaten to destroy and wipe the nation out of existence.

 

God’s promise to Israel

 

8 "But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come.

9 "For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.

10 "I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.

11 "I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

12 "Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My people Israel; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their inheritance; no more shall you bereave them of children."  Ezekiel 36:8-12

 

Ezekiel contrasts Israel to the nations, which surround them as enemies.  The Lord proclaims the return of “My people” in the physical land of Israel.  Not only will the people return, they will prosper and surpass their former condition.  To further illustrate this, in verse 12, we are told that Israel shall know  “I am Lord” and they shall “No more” be bereaved of children.  Ezekiel is looking toward Israel’s redemption in the days of Messiah.  God is referring to literal Israel, not a metaphor as non-literalists try to infer.

The promises to Israel, when applied to the current nation, can only be applied to the current nation.  In verse 12, no more, means time when the nation will no longer threatened by its enemies.  Here Ezekiel is looking forward to a time, when Israel will blessed in the days of Messiah, when the nation will be victorious over its enemies, when they come to know the Messiah.    

Why was Israel cast out of the land?

 

 

17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity.

18 "Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it.

19 "So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.

20 "When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name-when they said of them, 'These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.' Ezekiel 36:17-20

 

Israel’s occupation of the land is contingent on their obedience, according to the Book of Deuteronomy, if Israel transgressed, they would be scattered amongst the nations.   Only two times has Israel been scattered as a nation, once in 605-586 B.C., during the Babylonian captivity.  The second time was during the Roman exile in A.D. 70.

Israel was scattered the first time for idol worship and disobedience, see Ezekiel 8, Jeremiah 7:30-34.  The second time in A.D. 70, was for the rejection of Messiah, when Messiah the Prince (Daniel 9:25-26) was cut off and killed (Isaiah 53).  Daniel links the Messiah’s (death) “cut off” with the Temple and Jerusalem’s destruction. 

 

Why is Israel gathered?

 

21 "But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.

22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.

23 "And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord," says the Lord God, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.  Ezekiel 36:21-23

 

Israel was gathered so the Lord would receive the glory, not Israel.  In fact, among the Gentile nations Israel caused God’s name to be profaned.  God purpose for restoring Israel is so the nations (Gentiles) might know the Lord is restoring Israel.  God wants the world to know Him; therefore, God through Israel will identify Himself to a lost world.  God in the Old and New Testaments has identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Israel is the offspring of this family line.

 

Israel is to receive the Spirit of God

 

The evidence, which clearly places this prophecy in the last days and prior to the return of Christ, is the following section.  Here in verses 24 to 38, God makes a promise to Israel, yes physical and literal Israel, he says I will “Take you from among the nations” (The world) and “bring you into your own land” (Palestine/Israel)(vs.24).   This restoration of “physical” Israel, then is followed by the promise of the nation receiving a “new heart” and “new spirit”, which is linked to the Messianic era.

 

24 “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.

25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

28 “Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

29 “I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you.  Ezekiel 36:24-29

The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31), which the Church has been grafted (Romans 11:22-26), was promised to Israel, is the focus of Ezekiel vs. 27.  Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, caused Jerusalem and the Temple to be destroyed (Daniel 9:26), followed by the nation being scattered amongst the gentiles (nations), fulfilling the words of Moses. They have yet to receive the promises made here, when the Lord puts His “Spirit” in the people of Israel, so this future prophecy is yet to be fulfilled,

 

63 "And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. 64 "Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known-wood and stone. Deuteronomy 28:63-64

 

So we can see how Islam plays a role here in the end times, God has made the promises of redemption to His people, Israel. Their redemption is also linked to the restoration of the nation back in the physical land of Israel.  So Islam, as an opponent to restoration, is actually at war with God’s plan.  We must remember this battle is ultimately spiritual, not physical, we see the physical realities of the spiritual conflict.

 

“On the day”!

 

33 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day thatI cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt.

34 “The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by.

35 “So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’

36 “Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”

 

God clearly links the “Time” of Israel’s restoration back in the land of Israel as the time of the nations redemption, so in other words God qualifies the time, by linking it with the physical restoration in the land of Israel.  Its important to understand, the Muslim world looks on the day Israel was founded, May 14th 1948, as “The Great Catastrophe”, it is a day of mourning in the Muslim world. 

Following the promises of the 36th Chapter, where the restoration of Israel is linked with redemption, Ezekiel is then taken to a valley of dry bones in chapter 37.  Here Israel as a nation is literally, resurrected in the site of the nations.  God refers to this restored nation as “a great army”. 

 

Israel resurrected

 

Ezekiel’s vision is taking place in the “In the Spirit”, the Lord take Ezekiel in the spirit, into a valley of dry bones.

 

Ezekiel 37

1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

5 'Thus says the Lord God to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

6 "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord." ' "

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." ' "

10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet,an exceedingly great army.   Ezekiel 37:1-10

 

The apostle Paul in Romans links the spiritual restoration of Israel with the resurrection itself.  The spiritual restoration, follows the physical, at the spiritual restoration of Israel, the resurrection occurs (Romans 11:12).

The spiritual condition of Israel

 

11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!'

12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13 "Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.

14 "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it," says the Lord.' "

 

Israel’s physical restoration (vs.12) is followed by their spiritual restoration (vs. 14), when the people of Israel shall know “the Lord”.

 

 

One nation, a united people

 

Israel will no longer be a divided people with a northern kingdom Israel and a southern kingdom Judah.  They will be one people, eventually united under the Messiah, Jesus Christ who will rule over the nations, along with His saints[6].

 

15 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

16 "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.'

17 "Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.

18 "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?'-

19 "say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand." '

20 "And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.

21 "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;

22 "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.

 

 

Israel united under King Messiah

 

During this period the resurrection is clearly in mind because, David is referred to as a prince, over the nation, since David has died 3000-years ago; 400 –years before Ezekiel himself. Therefore, Ezekiel is referring to the coming age, the Messianic age when the dead are resurrected (Daniel 12:2-3). 

 

23 "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

24 "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.

25 "Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.

26 "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.

27 "My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

28 "The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore." ' "

 

The timing here is important, when we try to understand the role Islam plays, they are part of the transition of the world, from the kingdom of men, to the kingdom of God, when the resurrection occurs.


 

[1] http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=76624

[2] http://www.templeinstitute.org/main.htm

[3] http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=114927

[4] Hank Hanegraaff , Equip.org calls himself the Bible Answer Man, but rejects a literal Bible, he advocates Replacement Theology.  For him and others like him God really did not mean Israel, he meant the Gentile Church. 

[5] Stephen Sizer Author of Christian Zionism: Road-Map to Armageddon?, is the vicar of Christ Church,  rejects the literal Bible readings, creating the Church as the New Israel.

[6] In the Millennium, Jesus Christ will be King over the Earth, (Zechariah 14:9) And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be-"The Lord is one," And His name one.