Friday, May 26, 2017
Having great prophetic end-time significance, this month the reborn land of Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary. On God’s calendar and timeline 70 is the number of fullness and completion.
The “land” of Israel is important to God, and if you’re a Christian it should be important to you. Here’s why: God gave the land of Israel “as an everlasting possession” (Gen. 17:8) to Abraham and his descendants. Now, Abraham’s descendants are not national Jews, but Christians, for, “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29).
“Because of unbelief they [national Jews] were broken off” (Rom. 11:20) from the Vine of Christ and God’s promise to Abraham, and then “blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom. 11:25). But of national Jews, “if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again” (Rom. 11:23).
There’s a remnant, however, of national Jews being saved by faith in Christ even now. And that remnant will continue until “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:4–6), “at the last day” (John 6:40), “at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51–52). National Jews who become born again are true Jews in the sight of God, as are Gentiles, who, together as “one body” (Eph. 4:4), are God’s true Jews.
Let’s examine the truth of who is a true Jew in the sight of God: is it the genealogical or national Jew? No. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Rom. 2:28–29).
Especially during this last generation “the Lord will be zealous for His land” (Joel 2:18). And God said of the land of Israel, “he who touches you touches the apple of His eye” (Zech.2:8).
The date of Israel’s rebirth is fixed at May 14, 1948. Therefore, in the eyes of the world, May 14, 2017 marks Israel’s 69th anniversary. Of course, this is based on the Gregorian calendar having “365.2425 days per year…decreed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII…” (Wikipedia)
But God’s prophetic times and decrees of the end of this age are not based on the Julian calendar of 365.25 days per year, or the Gregorian calendar, but on God’s Hebrew calendar of 360 days per year. Scripture demonstrates this truth. For example, for the first half of the tribulation the Gentiles “will tread the holy city [Jerusalem] underfoot for forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2).
At the beginning of the tribulation God said “I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Rev. 11:3). The math is simple: 1,260 days / 360 days per the Hebrew calendar year equals 3 1/2 years, or forty-two months.
Then at the middle of the tribulation “the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up” (Dan. 12:11 and Matt. 24:15). Then the last 42 months of “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21) begins when “the dragon was enraged with the woman, [the saints] and he went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17). At this juncture there’s good news for those prepared, otherwise not so much.
For, “the woman [the Gal. 4:21–31 “free woman”, “counted worthy to escape all these things” (Luke 21:36)] fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Rev. 12:6). This is the second set of 1,260 days which brings the tribulation to its close. And based on Daniel 12:11–12, Christ will gather His elect saints on one of the following 75 days after the tribulation, but that day itself is unknown to Christ, and to the angels, and to man, but is known only by God the Father.
From Israel’s rebirth of May 14, 1948 to May 14, 2017 is 69 Gregorian calendar years of 25,185 days. But according to God’s 360 days per year calendar, this is 69.958 years, 15 days short of 70 years. So by adding 15 days to May 14, 2017, is Monday, May 29, 2017 which will actually mark the 70th anniversary of reborn Israel, 25,200 days after its rebirth.
The 70th anniversary of Israel’s rebirth is significant because it’s God’s number of fullness and completion. It’s time for the peace “covenant with many” (Dan. 9:27). U.S. President Donald Trump made a historic Middle East trip this week and met with leaders of three of the world’s major religions: Islam, Judaism and Roman Catholicism’s apostate version of Christianity.
President Trump said to all those religious leaders that further delay of peace is unacceptable, and that the time has arrived for these religions of the world to unite that there might be a lasting Middle East peace. I believe the fall of 2017 will likely see the fruition of that peace agreement.
Note these relevant headlines.
From The Jerusalem Post, 05/03/2017, “Abbas has decided to sign peace deal with Israel”. The article continued, “Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has crossed the Rubicon and voiced “unprecedented” readiness to reach a peace deal with Israel, sources close to the efforts to renew talks between Israel and the Palestinians have told the Jerusalem Post”.
From The Times of Israel, 05/11/2017, “Abbas, in meeting with Putin, says Moscow must be part of peace process”. Putin said, “The peaceful coexistence of the two states – Palestine and Israel – is an indispensable condition to ensure genuine security and stability in this region.”
From Breaking Israel News, 05/15/2017, “Trump Must Pray On Temple Mount For God’s Help In Bringing Messiah: Sanhedrin”. (But the messiah they expect will be Antichrist.) Rabbi Weiss said, “Trump is standing at a historic cusp, when the world can fall into an abyss of conflict. Whether it begins in North Korea or Syria or Europe, the seeds of war are already sown.”
From Fox News, 05/16/2017, “Gulf states warm to Israel, see possibility of Palestinian peace deal”. The article stated, “The plan, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is outlined in a draft document circulated by the gulf states, the mostly Sunni Muslim countries that line the Persian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, among others”. This numerous group of nations corresponds with Antichrist’s “covenant with many” (Dan. 9:27).
Study Jesus’ parable of “the fig tree” (Matt. 24:32–35) for it concerns the generation that sees Israel’s rebirth. Jesus said “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matt. 24:34). A generation is simply the normal or average life span of man. “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years” (Psa. 90:10). Ours is the last generation of this present age, but few believe.
Empowering truths you must know and put in place now.
First, believe by faith “the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:9) for the times of the end, and then apply action to that belief. True faith is active and responds positively to God’s Word.
Second, confess and repent to Jesus Christ of any and all known sin in your life. Live a holy life “without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Fear God and His Christ, but not man.
Third, do not misappropriate events of the tribulation and account them to others less fortunate. Deeply personalize “the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:9) for it will absolutely impact you.
Fourth, put far away from yourself any and all traditions and doctrines of the church that do not accord with “the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:9) because those lies will utterly fail you.
Fifth, men and husbands, teach your wives, your children and loved ones and whoever will listen “the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:9) for the end-times, saving both yourself and them.
Sixth, do not be deterred from your teaching obligation of end-time truth though driven from the church and mocked. Be counted faithful to teaching “the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:9).
Seventh, search out the truth of “the free woman” (Gal. 4:21–31), and know that God has a Rev. 12:6, 14 place of safety and provision for prepared saints during the last 3 1/2 years of this age.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24–25).
Marlin J. Yoder
