Immigrants to Israel - 1949.           

Photo credit: Flickr - Jewish Agency   for Israel

Haifa, Israel - 2008. Photo credit: Flickr – David King

Orchards in Israel - 2012. Photo credit: Flickr – Saffa Photography

The Lord said to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  Genesis 12:3

Have you considered why every major nation in the world is involved with the political and social status of Israel?  It all began when God blessed Abraham and told him to leave the land of his father and go to a land He would give him and his descendents, “And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘Unto your children will I give this land…’” Genesis 12:7.  God led Abraham and his descendents to the land of Canaan and gave it to them, which is the land of Israel today, also known as “Zion.”  They possessed this land, until they were held captive in Egypt for 400 years due to their sin and rebellion (Genesis 15:13).  God graciously delivered them out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses.  They were taken into captivity again by Babylon because of sin and rebellion (Leviticus 26:18) - is God trying to tell us something? Nevertheless, God graciously promised to deliver them again: “Then the LORD your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and I will gather you from all the nations, where the LORD your God has scattered you” Deuteronomy 30:3.  After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, the people of Israel remained scattered among many nations, until May 14, 1948, when the prophecy of Deuteronomy 30:3 was fulfilled.  Isaiah the prophet also foretold that Israel would again become a nation in one day, “Who has heard such a thing?  Who has seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?  Shall a nation be born at once?  As soon as Zion (Israel) travailed, she brought forth her children” Isaiah 66:8.  And bring forth her children she did!  “Operation Magic Carpet” (1949-1950) returned 47,000 Yemeni Jews to Israel; plus 2,000 Aden, Djiboutian and Eritrean Jews were airlifted to Israel.  “Operation Moses” (1984) returned 8,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.  “Operation Joshua” (1985) brought an additional 800 Ethiopian Jews back to Israel.  During “Operation Solomon” (1991), Israel transported 14,325 more Ethiopian Jews back to Israel during 36 hours of nonstop flights of 34 Israeli aircraft.  Since the dissolution of the USSR, over one million Soviet Jews have returned to Israel!

Most of the Yemenite Jews had never seen an aircraft before, but they believed in the Biblical prophecy: according to the Book of Isaiah (40:31), God promised to return the Children of Israel to Zion "on wings of eagles".

Before Israel became a nation again, it was a virtual wasteland with hardly any vegetation or production.  Since 1948, prophecies concerning Israel’s growth and prosperity have also been fulfilled, as promised:  “He will cause them that come out of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit” Isaiah 27:6.  Today, Israel exports some of the finest and largest fruits in the world to many nations.  God promised to restore Israel, for he is the Lord’s firstborn:  “…Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn” Exodus 4:22.  Do you have children?  Do you have a firstborn?  The Word of God says that, “Many are called, but few are chosen” Matthew 22:14.  God gave His only begotten Son to redeem the sins of the whole world (John 3:16).  God loves us all, but Israel is His chosen.

The most exciting thing yet is that once these prophecies are fulfilled in Israel, the Word of God tells us that the end of the age and the return of Christ is near!  Psalms 102:16 says, “When the LORD builds up Zion (Israel), He will appear in His glory.”  Wow, do you think this is quite a bit of Bible prophecy being fulfilled during our lifetime?  Well, there’s a lot more to report in upcoming newsletters.  I encourage you to keep your eyes on Israel and the Middle East, because a lot is happening there prophetically.  We are truly living in the very last days, which points to the return of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, according to the scriptures!  The Word of God also tells us, “Therefore be also ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of man returns!”  Matthew 24:44