“…say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: IT IS NOT FOR YOUR SAKE, people of Israel (God says this because Israel has rejected Him), that I am going to do these things, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY HOLY NAME, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I WILL SHOW THE HOLINESS OF MY GREAT NAME, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I AM THE LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I AM PROVED HOLY THROUGH YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES. “‘For I will TAKE YOU OUT OF the nations…” (Ezekiel 36:22-23)
For about 2600 years Israel has not occupied their own land. Nebuchadnezzar took the Jews out of Israel to Babylon for 70 years and when Cyrus released the Jews only 10% of them returned. Then in 70 AD when Titus destroyed the Temple and most of Israel he killed over 1 MILLION JEWS and sent the rest of them all over the world. Then God said, “I WILL GATHER YOU FROM ALL THE COUNTRIES AND BRING YOU BACK INTO YOUR OWN LAND.” (Ezekiel 36:24) May 14th, 1948, Israel came back and amazingly rebuilt their country, but still to this day when THEY ARE AT WAR ONCE AGAIN they as a Nation are still rejecting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
We can see in Ezekiel the 37th chapter HOW GOD SEES ISRAEL, “The hand of the LORD was on me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; IT WAS FULL OF BONES.” (Ezekiel 37:1) Because Israel has refused to accept Jesus, they are like dead bones…
IT’S ABOUT THIS TIME THAT WE ARE “RAPTURED” AWAY!!!!
Because of God’s covenant with Abraham, He is helping Israel. Something has to happen to get Israel to turn back to God! So, let’s see what God has in store for them!
“ON THAT DAY, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against Israel, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. ON THAT DAY I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the LORD. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.” (Zechariah 12:3-5)
Then God declares this, “In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two–thirds (of Israel) will be struck down and perish; yet one–third will be left in it.” (Zechariah 13:8) Israel will sign a peace treaty with the anti-christ and receive him as their Savior, all things will be restored for 3.5 years then he turns against Israel, and they are given a place by the Lord to FLEE AND HIDE. THEN THEY FINALLY TURN TO THE LORD. “Then the woman (Israel) 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 (the last half of the tribulation).” (Revelation 12:6)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham