Why the Jewish People?
-One of the most important questions is, “Why are the Jewish people the ones to return to Israel?” Israel is known as the “Holy Land.” This is the land in which the disciples roamed and spread God’s messages. One difference though is the Jewish people believe that Jesus was not the Messiah. They just looked at him as a follower and teacher of God. The Christians on the other hand believe that Jesus was God’s son and the Massiah of the people. In either case, the place of interest was the land of Israel where Jesus walked the earth and spread his message. This is why Israel is called the “Holy Land” and why it is important for the Jewish people to migrate back to Israel to fulfill one of the signs of the end times.
The 1948 Significance
-The most important sign of the Jewish people returning to Israel is when Israel became a nation in 1948. Now today, Israel has a population of around 5 million people. That is a huge number for a country that is not large in size. “I call the regathering of 5 million Jews back to the Holy Land and their becoming a nation in our generation “the infallible sign” of the approach of the end times.”(LaHaye,47) Prophecy teachers believe that this was the most important signal that the world was coming to an end. This migration back to Israel made many people wonder if these prophecies of the end times were true. Even when the Jewish people were exiled out of Israel centuries before, they still kept that Jewish heritage and eventually returned back to their homeland. It was estimated that there was less than 25,000 Jewish people in Israel in 1917. By 1945 there were approximately 430,000, and now today that number has reached 5 million and is on the rise.
What the Bible Says
-“Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.”(Deuteronomy 30:1,NIV) This verse from the Bible says that all the people, refering to the Jewish people, of all nations, will be gathered and be brought back to Israel. Israel is the chosen land by God and this is the reason that a return of Jewish people will be a sure sign of the end times. “There are so many promises in the scripture that God would eventually regather the children of Israel back into their land.”(LaHaye,48) The Bible prophecies many times that the Jewish people will be returning to Israel and to be ready because this will be one of many things that will happen the last days here on earth. “ I will say up to the north ‘Give them up! and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back! Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”(Isaiah 43:6, NIV) When the time comes, God’s chosen people will be called and they will travel from far to unite in the Holy Place of Israel. “But you, o mountains, of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for many people Israel, for they will soon come home.”(Ezekial 36:6,NIV) This verse is saying that the Jewish people will be called home. The Bible clearly prophecies many times to wait and be conscience of the signs of the last hours.
-In conclusion, we can see that there is evidence that this mass movement of the Jewish people back to the Holy Land of Israel is a sure sign that this world is most definately in the end times. Not only do scholars believe that this is true, but the Bible backs up all indications that this prophecy of the last days are here. It clearly shows that the Jewish people, being persecuted and exiled from Israel centuries ago, have the determination and desire to return to the land that they were called to. This country might be small but it is sure God’s protected land and one day this sign of mass migration back to Israel will show to have been a true indicator of end times on earth.
-By Keith Van Pelt