Ezekiel was given this prophecy FROM GOD around 580 BC, 2,780 years ago. Remember when Jesus returns to earth He is going to Jerusalem. ‘Light’ will go out to the nations from Jerusalem, through Christ, and the name of the city will be “THE LORD IS THERE” (Ezekiel 48.35).
“…prophesy to the hills and mountains, the ravines and valleys of Israel. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am furious that you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations. Therefore…I have taken a solemn oath that those nations will soon have their own shame to endure. “But the mountains of Israel will produce HEAVY CROPS of fruit for my people—for they will be coming home again soon! See, I CARE ABOUT YOU, and I will pay attention to you. Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted. I will GREATLY INCREASE THE POPULATION OF ISRAEL, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and filled with people. I will increase not only the people, but also your animals. O mountains of Israel, I will bring people to live on you once again. I will make you even more prosperous than you were before. Then you will know that I AM THE LORD.” (Eze. 36:6-11) In 1948, Israel had only 806,000 people, but experienced a 10-fold population increase by 2013, today there are 9.217 million in Israel. Once again the Hebrew language, which didn’t exist before 1948, is now their official language.
According to Israeli government statistics, though only 20% of Israel’s land is suitable for farming, since the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948 they have more than TRIPLED THE AMOUNT OF LAND used for farming and production has increased SIXTEEN TIMES. What used to be an agricultural wasteland is now a MODEL FOR THE WORLD, and Israel produces 95% of its own food requirements and has a large AGRICULTURAL EXPORT INDUSTRY $105.0 billion is received each year from their exports. We can regard these impressive developments as a mere beginning of the much greater fruitfulness promised in the fullness of GOD’S PLAN FOR ISRAEL and her land.
God will soon punish the nations, especially those who come against Israel. It is becoming more apparent in these days that the nations of the world are coming against Israel. Even the United States, a long-time friend and ally, is making significant, unfavorable changes to its policies towards Israel. “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted His own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when THEY FINALLY ACCEPT IT…I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have…since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will BE EVEN MORE WONDERFUL. It will be life for those who were dead!” (Rom. 11:11-15)
-Bill Stockham