Sunday 26 April 2015

A Summary Of Israel In Prophecy

By Toni Vang


Israel is considered a pivotal nation in global geopolitical issues. It has an interesting history as a nation and as a state. Its significance in politics and Christian theology also makes it a center of attention. However, Israel in prophecy has a futuristic perception and perspective. It is a look at how foreseers viewed the story of this nation and its significance in shaping events global issues.

The attention given to Israeli nation state and its geopolitical existence has a biblical origin. Its people and specifically the city of Jerusalem have a place in both spiritual and historical narratives. The neighboring nations are very hostile and constantly threaten to eliminate Jews from the region. Christians await the rebuilding of the Jewish temple which signifies the reign of Christianity.

Interpretation of prophesies about Israel is the main cause and source of confusion. The tussle is on whether to interpret it directly or indirectly. The salvation that is promised to Israelis will come after the destruction of their enemies. Whether this is to happen physically or spiritually remains the question. It calls for careful consideration of the spiritual and biblical boundaries as understood from the historical context.

The coming of Jesus was misunderstood to mean liberation. The prophesies were interpreted at the moment to mean the setting up of an earthly kingdom. The disappointed that resulted from failure to set up an earthly kingdom seems to have been carried forward to the church today. There is no guarantee that the second coming will deliver the nations or disappoint the masses as the first coming did.

In the Old Testament, Daniel prophesied salvation when Israelis were in captivity. The description of seventy weeks of repentance has been computed such that the day of salvation falls in the current generation. Each week has been interpreted to mean a year when that scripture is read alongside others. The events happening today signify a near fulfillment of the promised salvation.

The first time Jesus appeared gave the Israelis hope that their salvation was finally at hand. The appearance of Jesus coincided with the dates indicated in numerous prophesies. This was also witnessed in events that characterized his work at the time including the voice from the clouds during baptism. However, his death and promise to return left most of them disappointed to the point of giving up.

The Old Testament foretold the coming of Jesus in the exact way the New Testament records. For instance, Jesus enters the synagogue and reads a scripture that applied directly to him. The similarities in his birth, mission and death make the case of prophesies more plausible. However, Israelis are still stranded as they await the coming of their savior who will help them escape misery.

The failures of Israelis to follow the commandments of God seem to have caused abandonment and shift of focus to the larger Christian society. The triumphs of Jesus Christ heralded the creation of a new nation which would take the tag of Israel. This implies that the nation transforms from a geographical entity into a spiritual one. This is a validation of the promises of eternal life to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.




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