The State of Israel is about to celebrate her 60th independence anniversary. It wasn’t too many months ago that there was much ‘confusion of faces’ in Israel over just how to celebrate such an historic event at a time when the country has clearly lost its vision of why it exists at all. The nation is really in bondage for not being dependent upon YHVH her God. Sixty years is a long time.
The Israel of God has not yet been born in a day! I believe that will occur after still more days than I care to count, until the full remnant of all the tribes (of Israel) sees Him whom they pierced and mourn for Him as for an only begotten son. In the meantime, YHVH God is keeping His covenant promises by GRACE to take away all unrighteousness from JACOB, so that all ISRAEL will be saved. This, too, is prophesied to take place only after the fullness of the GENTILES comes into the BODY OF MESSIAH, or the CHURCH. Yeshua Himself says that unless He returns, no one will be left alive on the Earth. Just as in Egypt prior to the world-renowned Passover and Exodus, it will be a FELT desperation which will bring out the true cry, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of YHVH!’, which we who believe should know only Yeshua will answer such a call in THAT name. His Word sounds much different from many other words going out today concerning the timing and nature and results of an expected revival.
Even though thousands of Israeli Jews believed in Yeshua, both while He walked the Land of Israel and during the early years of the church following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, yet God reckoned that the NATION He chose for His inheritance rejected His Son whom He had sent. Even so today, despite that thousands of Israeli citizens believe in Yeshua/Jesus/Isua as Lord and Christ, yet the NATION is still unrepentant and actively opposing the Holy Spirit of God.
God has given Israel as an example to the Church. The natural comes first, then the spiritual. What believers in Jesus can see in Israel and the Jewish people is a pretty good reflection of what is taking place within the Body of Christ and Christians. Israel has virtually lost its vision of returning to the Promised Land according to promise. The founding fathers of the modern State of Israel didn’t so much believe in the God of the promises, yet because of His binding this Land with this People, there was and is an affinity that makes it ‘home on Earth’ like no other country or people have. Sixty years is a long time. “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and still we are not saved”. (Jer 8:20) When the vision fails, hope comes to an end, and people will start to take matters into their own hands. Every one does what is right in his own eyes, and there is much evil in the land. Scoffers begin to scoff, ‘Every thing is as it always has been; where are the signs of His coming; that this is all true; that this is of God; that God is able to do what He has promised; that God even knows what is going to happen!?”
Israel’s lack of faith in the words of YHVH God’s own prophets to them bring them to trust in what is no longer trustworthy and to make plans of their own to solve the impossible — while still proclaiming their unique calling. Christians who encourage Israel to give up everything display their own lack of faith in the sure word of prophecy which will perform all that it has been sent out to do. Christians who insist that Israel give up nothing fail to appreciate the righteous paths of our Great and Good Shepherd, who will not remove the cross as a cause of stumbling for His sheep, nor remove His judgments from those who insist on another way to gain victory. Sixty years is a long time in the face of so much ‘reality’ and the long-suffering of our God, who is not slack concerning His promises, but He works to bring as many as possible to repentance unto life, from whatever side of the tracks we were born or live.
As in Israel, so in the Church: the Holy Spirit expressly says that in the last days a great falling away would take place and great deception fall upon those professing Messiah. Many are losing faith and hope in the soon coming of the Lord, and are apparently feeling that it is up to believers to make the most of a bad situation and to take this increasingly desolate world and rule over it without Jesus Himself coming back to regenerate the world that He made. Isn’t that what the devil offered Jesus in the desert after His baptism? Can our answer be any different than our Lord’s?! Israel’s call to be a light in the world is not to be found fulfilled in business or in high-tech weaponry. The Bride’s destiny to rule and reign with Messiah is not without Him ruling over Israel and the nations.
Israel’s 60th independence celebration is a time to rejoice in the Lord for His sovereignty to consummate all things according to His purpose. Israel is the Noah’s Ark of our time: judgment is coming soon from the Holy God, and a remnant delivered by the mercies of this same God who will establish His throne forevermore. God has given us His calendar of redemption to help us be ready for the things to come, and to keep faith in Him who is faithful to all who love Him for loving us. We are His witnesses and evangelists to Israel and to the nations.
