If you’re gracious or curious enough to read this column regularly, you may be weary of another article about the rise of the Antichrist and future headlines. I get it. I’m itching to write about something different, but I will continue for a few more weeks because I want you to see the overwhelming evidence and in-depth picture we’re given in Scripture. It’s remarkable. I’m thankful the Lord sent me down a path to reevaluate Bible prophecy — to realize I’d only been rehashing what I’d heard people say and not dove in for myself. And when I did study Bible prophecy, I read in my preconceived views rather than letting Scripture dictate my view.
This series is on prophecies that tell us future headlines. These are events that will happen, well, except for this event. This isn’t a future headline — but it was. Let me say that again. Isn’t this incredible? The headline of “Jews Return to the Land of Israel” is no longer a future headline. Many of you might not know this was ever a headline, but it was.
Before 1917, and especially 1948, this was a future headline. This is a prophecy that has been fulfilled right before our eyes. A quote taken from a Charles H. Spurgeon sermon in 1855 expresses this being a future headline:
“The hour is approaching, when the tribes shall go up to their own country; when Judea, so long a howling wilderness, shall once more blossom like the rose… I think we do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough about it. But certainly, if there is anything promised in the Bible it is this. I imagine that you cannot read the Bible without seeing clearly that there is to be an actual restoration of the Children of Israel”(Charles H. Spurgeon, 1855).
He talked about this future time of Jews returning to the land occurring. Also note the importance and Scriptural prevalence Spurgeon pointed to about the nation of Israel. Spurgeon also shared that there would be a future headline of Jews returning to the land, but there would also be a Jewish-governed state:
“There will be a native government again; there will again be the form of a body politic; a state shall be incorporated, and a king shall reign. Israel has now become alienated from her own land. Her sons, though they can never forget the sacred dust of Palestine, yet die at a hopeless distance from her consecrated shores. But it shall not be so forever, for her sons shall again rejoice in her: her land shall be called Beulah, for as a young man marrieth a virgin so shall her sons marry her. I will place you in your own land, is God’s promise to them… They are to have a national prosperity which shall make them famous; nay, so glorious shall they be that Egypt, Tyre, Greece and Rome shall all forget their glory in the greater splendour of the throne of David… If there be anything clear and plain, the literal sense and meaning of this passage (Ezek. 37:1-10) a meaning not to be spirited or spiritualized away must be evident that both the two and the ten tribes of Israel are to be restored to their own land, and that a king is to rule over them”(Charles H. Spurgeon, 1864).
This now historical headline was prophesied throughout Scripture. Here’s one such place in Jeremiah: “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number” (Jer. 23:3 NIV).
The Old Testament prophets said that beyond the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, there would be an ultimate scattering and gathering of the Jewish people. Then one day they would be brought back and restored to God through Christ. Though this present-day return is part of the fulfillment, the ultimate fulfillment will come at the return of Christ following the time of Jacob’s trouble. Yet, what has happened so far is mind-blowing. It’s proof the Word is true. It’s proof we can trust Scripture for future headlines.
In 70 A.D., the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, dispersing Jews around the world. Following World War I, through the Balfour Declaration, Jews were allowed to return to the land of Israel. For the most part, from 70 A.D. to 1917 the land was void of Jews. The aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust accelerated Jews returning to the land. In 1948, Israel became a Jewish-governed state.
Events have continued to occur fulfilling prophecy. In 1967 through the Six-Day War, Israel gained control of Jerusalem. In 2007, for the first time since 70 A.D., there were more Jews in the land of Israel than any other one place in the world.
These events are still occurring, but what was once future headlines are now history.
Jake is available for revivals and preaching learn more at standfirmministries.com.
