prophecy

A Sign in our Day

“’Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,’ says the lord” Ezekiel 20:44

It is always wonderfully reassuring to read the Bible and find clusters of the “I will’s” of the lord. They appear frequently in the prophets in regard to the nation Israel. In this chapter there are also two other clusters. One is the phrase, “for My name’s sake.” The third cluster is “Then you shall know …” These three clusters work together to give us a marvellous living image of our God and His desire for His people. It is a most wonderful chapter with regard to the Divine Nature and the Lord’s faithfulness in keeping His word even to wayward children.

The concept that Israel has been put out of the future plan of God because of their disobedience and idolatry is well and truly debunked in the verse above and this chapter. It also debunks the notion God will remove one who has been born of God from His kingdom. Salvation is not based on our works but on Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and God’s faithfulness to His word. God never rejects anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37).

Several times in this passage the Lord says that He will bring Israel back into the land. This is in spite of the continuing disobedience and idolatry noted in this chapter and in many other places in the bible. In fact, it is the Lord bringing Israel back into the land from being spread among the nations, still in disobedience and rebellion, that is a sign to Israel that He is about to bring to ultimate fulfil His covenant promises to Abraham, David and Israel (vs. 37, 41-42)

When this happens Israel will know that it is the Lord who has done it for His name’s sake and not for their sake or because they are righteous.

When Israel is in the land, still in their unbelief, rebellion and corruption, the Lord will cause the nation to “pass under the rod” of correction (v 37). He will also “purge the rebels from among” them (v 38). “Then you will know that I am the Lord (v 38)”. Then will come the day that Paul spoke of in Romans 11:26, “And so all Israel will be saved.”

The time of the “passing under the rod” and the “purging” is still future but is on the ever nearer horizon. It is not difficult to equate these events with the seven year tribulation period that leads up to Jesus’ re-appearing. The description here matches the description of that time.

The Lord has no pleasure in the many who will die now or at that time (Ezekiel 18:23, 32). What He desires is Israel’s repentance and that is the purpose for the nation “passing under the rod” (18:30-31).

In our life time we are seeing the nation Israel being brought back into the land promised to Abraham even though, as a nation, they are in unbelief and still in rebellion against the Lord. That the Lord is doing this is a sign to Israel, and to the world, that we are approaching the day of Israel’s national reconciliation with the Lord and fulfilment of all that the “I will’s” of the lord promise.

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers” (v 42).

The Wisdom of Believing

“It (Babylon) shall be inhabited no more forever, nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation” Jeremiah 50:39

Many of the prophecies in the Old Testament have an immediate fulfillment and a long term fulfillment. Jeremiah has recorded what the Lord revealed to him concerning Babylon’s destruction in this and the next chapter. After he made a copy he sent it to Babylon with Seraiah (51:59-64) commanding him to read it out after the events recorded took place. Israel would then know that the Lord would fulfill the other parts where He specifically promised to bring Israel back to the land He had given them. “I will bring back Israel to his home” says the Lord (50:19). This statement is made in various ways frequently in Jeremiah and other prophets.

The Lord was specific as to which nation would destroy Babylon. Twice the Medes are mentioned as the destroyers (51:11, 28) and history bears this out.

When the Lord gives a short term fulfillment it is to affirm to His people that He will also fulfill the long term aspects of the prophecy. In earlier chapters of Jeremiah’s prophecy he warned Israel that in order to live they would have to defect to Nebuchadnezzar. Those who defected lived. Of the others only a few survived. The Lord told those few survivors that if they went to Egypt they would perish with the Egyptians. From their earlier experience you would expect that they would heed the words of the Lord through Jeremiah but they didn’t. They went to Egypt for protection and again the majority perished. The Lord graciously saved a few who had at last believed His word.

The destruction of the physical city of Babylonian and the empire is but the immediate fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy. Political, cultural, economic and spiritual Babylon still exists to this day but the New Testament has a word from the Lord on this matter. Daniel chapters two and seven also speak to this prophecy.

In Revelation chapters 17 and 18 we read Jesus’ own words concerning the ultimate fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy. God’s view of the world’s system can be seen in the words written on the forehead of the woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, “Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (17:5). Another angel will announce the final destruction of all that was Babylon, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen …” “… her plagues will come in one day – death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the lord God who judges her” (18:2, 8). The kings of the earth will lament its destruction (v 10) but without repentance.

Jeremiah records the reason for Babylon’s destruction this way, “I will bring judgment on the carved images of Babylon” (Jeremiah 51:47, 52). The Lord says it twice in the same context so that we may get it. The reason any nation is destroyed by the Lord is because they have created imaginary gods and rejected God’s word. The ten plagues of Egypt were judgments against the imaginary gods of Egypt. Only the Creator is God and He alone is able to answer our call and prayer. Idols only keep people from knowing the one true God. He does not want people to remain living futile lives when they could be enjoying His fellowship.

The example is there as witness to our generation. We have a choice whether to believe the word of the Lord or believe the imaginations of people. The consequences are spelled out for us in the Bible either way.

Faithful or Fickle?

“Thus says the Lord, ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant.’” Jeremiah 33:20-21

The Lord has just promised Israel that “David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel” (v 17). This relates to the covenant the Lord made with King David recorded in 2 Samuel 7:16. The Lord links the fulfilment of His covenant with His sovereign power over day and night. Only the Creator and Sustainer of all creation could have such authority and ability.

He also states that He would cast off Israel if anyone can measure the heaven above (31:37). For man, that is impossible. Only the Creator can number all the heavenly bodies. Men and computers may be able to make calculated guesses but since they do not know the unseen boundaries they could be out by many factors.

If the Lord is not able to fulfil His covenant with Israel why would He make such statements? Only foolish people make promises they have no hope or no intention of keeping. If any person suggests that the Lord cannot or will not fulfil His word they reveal that their god is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is Creator of all that exists and He sustains it in every detail. It would be totally absurd or deceitful for Him to make this, and all the other similar statements, if He could not perform as He says. This would result in both He and His word being totally discredited. That may be the motivation behind the belief that God has now forever rejected Israel. Some people do not want to believe all that the Bible and Jesus have said. We must be careful that we do not treat the Bible like a cafeteria where we pick and choose what we will believe.

Our God is absolutely faithful to His covenants and promises. Perhaps another reason some people want to believe otherwise is so that they don’t feel so bad or guilty about their broken promises and unfaithfulness to covenants such as marriage. If a person believes that God has turned away from His covenant with Israel then it may ease his conscience when he turns away from his contracts, vows or other commitments and promises.

This would seem to be in conflict with the name given to Messiah when He returns to earth as recorded in Revelation 19:11, “And He who sat on him (a white horse) was called Faithful and True.”

The objection that Israel has so sinned that the nation cannot be reconciled not only contradicts huge portions of the Bible but also disparages the character and nature of our God. Because of Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection God is able to forgive all sin. That is the essence of the Good News, the Gospel.

Whenever the Lord speaks through His prophets concerning Israel’s return and restoration He always acknowledges the nation’s sinfulness. Let us not make nonsense of God’s New Covenant with Israel recorded in Jeremiah 31:31-34 which concludes with these words, “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” but rather rejoice in the faithfulness of our God. “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

Lasting Peace

“When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

The “they” and “them” in this verse is Israel but it also has application to the unbelieving world. The apostle Paul is writing concerning “The Day of the Lord.” It is a day that will most certainly come. It is the time culminating in Jesus returning in all His glory. Paul looked forward to this day with great anticipation and joy.

Who of us can remember an American president who did not try to bring peace in the Middle East? Ever since Israel declared nationhood in 1948 there has been no lasting peace. At best there has been a cessation of hostilities for brief periods. The current attempts to bring peace in the Middle East will not bring lasting peace. We who are “sons of light and sons of day” (v 5) know that there will come a day when peace will be declared between Israel and the surrounding nations. However, it will not last.

Daniel prophecies, “Then he [the Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [of years; i.e. 7 years]; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (Daniel 9:27). In Revelation six John records Jesus’ prophecies concerning this same period. In verse two the Antichrist conquers by the threat of war (bow, no arrows) but later (verse 4) he conquers with violence.

Will the current talks bring peace to Israel? At best we can expect a reduction or lull in hostilities. Will these talks lead to the commencement of “the Day of the Lord?” Only hindsight will reveal that.

The Bible says that Israel will have a peace declared by world leaders but that it will be broken after a short while. Only when the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, appears will there be lasting peace in Israel and the world. We do not look for presidents to bring peace on earth because they are unable to change the hearts of men. Only Jesus can bring peace to a person’s heart and only then to nations.

There is a time coming, perhaps very soon, when in the false belief that it is safe and secure Israel will neglect its defences and then sudden destruction will come. But it will not be complete because Jesus Christ will not permit that. He will come again.