“And the LORD said unto Abram, after Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever“ (Genesis 13:14-15).
This is a promise from God and isn’t contingent upon anything Abram or his descendants have done. The land of Israel belongs to the descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people forever, and the capital is Jerusalem. Over the years, they have been forced out of the land (slavery in Egypt, captivity in Babylon, etc.); but God didn’t put any conditions on His land grant to them, and no other people have the right of ownership.
The Jewish people were chosen by God, and through them the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born. The ownership of Jerusalem and the land of Israel is not for the United Nations to say, nor is it up to Muslim groups. Israel belongs to the Jewish people. God gave it to them.
Israel as a nation hasn’t always obeyed God, and their disobedience caused them to be taken captive – the Northern Kingdom (at that time called Israel) by the Assyrians and the Southern Kingdom (at that time called Judah) by the Babylonians. It was during the Babylonian captivity that Daniel was given an amazing prophecy regarding the end times, and specifically the final seven years known as Daniel’s 70th week.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy“ (Daniel 9:24).
In the following chapters, the prophecy goes into much detail; but the thing to understand is that it is about “thy people” (Daniel was Jewish) and “thy holy city” (which is Jerusalem).
Even though they were in captivity and had been taken away from their land, God made it clear that they would return. At the end of the 70 years of captivity, they did return and they rebuilt the temple; but the prophecy given to Daniel was not about that return. In 70 AD they were dispersed again and the rebuilt Temple was destroyed.
Today there’s an effort underway to rebuild the Temple, and the items required to be used in the soon-to-be rebuilt Temple have been crafted; and many men have stepped forward to learn the proper ways of the priesthood.
When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the Jewish people either fled the destruction or they were killed. From that time until 1947, it seemed as if prophecy had failed; and a heresy began stating that Christians had replaced Israel. The people who promote this lie just don’t study God’s word. Not only was Daniel given the prophecy of the Jewish return to Jerusalem in the end times, but there are other prophecies which also declare their return to their God-given land.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea“ (Isaiah 11:11).
It happened. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution allowing for the formation of the Jewish state of Israel. The UN has no authority over God’s covenant, but this resolution allowed the Jewish people in Assyria, Egypt, and the other nations listed to return to their God-given land.
“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth“ (Isaiah 11:12).
This includes the “outcasts” in Germany, Poland, Russia, the United States, and anywhere else the Jews had been dispersed to. The “he” in this verse is the Lord. The UN may pass resolutions, but it’s God who is in control. On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was officially re-established.
Even though the land was given by God to the Jews forever, Muslims believe they have rights to Jerusalem and have fought for these “rights” ever since 1948. The rightful ownership of Israel was passed from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob (whom God renamed Israel), through King David to the modern-day descendants of those men. These descendants are being called to Israel, and they will never be uprooted again.
“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God“ (Amos 9:14-15).
When the Jewish people returned to Israel, this is exactly what happened. They began to build the cities again and their farms flourished; and today this nation is a leader in agriculture and a major exporter of produce. Unfortunately, many of these lush farms have been confiscated by the UN and given to Muslims who have laid them waste. God will not allow the Jewish nation to be dispersed again, but there is a satanic push to remove the Jews from their land. Tensions in the Middle East are strong, but this did not surprise God.
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it“ (Zechariah 12:2-3).
Is Jerusalem a burdensome stone? Are all the people of the earth gathered against it? If you read the news, you’ll see that prophecy is being fulfilled. The hatred against the Jews is satanic. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and that’s where the seat of government is located. It belongs to the Jewish people, not Islam.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee: and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed“ (Genesis 12:1-3).
When Israel declared their independence on May 14, 1948, Tel Aviv was a temporary capital because there was a war raging in Jerusalem. Today foreign embassies are located in Tel Aviv instead of the true capital, Jerusalem.
When Donald Trump was running for office, he promised to support Israel; and this year President Trump made the bold proclamation that the US Embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This set off a firestorm of anger but is exactly what needed to be done in order to support Israel. The reports were that it would take a few years to make the move, and it seemed that it would be a slow process filled with red tape. Not so. The US Embassy will be moved on May 14, 2018, which is exactly 70 years since Israel declared their independence.
Mr. Trump, may God bless you and may His mighty hand of protection be upon you, because Satan is mad.
Why is this significant? Brothers and sisters, we are rapidly nearing Daniel’s 70th week. That week will be the most horrific time the earth has ever known. Israel is back in their land, and that fulfills prophecy. They are ready to build the Temple, which will be built to be used during those final seven years; but the satanically indwelt man of sin will defile it with the abomination prophesied by Daniel and reiterated by Jesus.
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains“ (Matthew 24:15-16).
Every nation is joining together against Israel, and the alliances between nations described in various prophecies are in place. That final week is ready to begin, but Christians have a special blessing. We won’t be here. God promised that we will be Raptured prior to the beginning of that final week.
I’m not setting dates, but I am reading signs. May 14, 2018, will mark 70 years of Israel’s statehood, and it will be the date that the US Embassy opens its doors in Jerusalem. Most of the world is angry about this and it could trigger the events that have been described in prophecy. Only God knows the time, but He has given us signs. We are rapidly drawing closer to that event.
For generation upon generation, people have talked of these events but the Lord delayed. The time wasn’t right then, and it may not be the right time now. The point is, be ready.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation“ (2 Peter 3:3-4).
The signs are all pointing to apocalyptic events on the near horizon.
If you’re one who scoffs and walks in the lusts of the flesh, you need to do some research. The harpazō (Rapture) will happen in the twinkling of an eye, and you won’t have time to repent of your sin. Even if that blessed event is in the far future, you still need to walk in the ways of the Lord rather than after the lusts of the flesh. A car wreck, heart attack, or any number of other things could claim your life unexpectedly. Now is the time for you to be right with God, and you need to witness to your friends and family.
Jesus told of a rich man who died and, because of his choices in life, he’s spending eternity in torment. He knew he deserved his punishment but he wanted Abraham to send a message to his family.
“For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come to this place of torment“ (Luke 16:28).
The only way to avoid spending eternity in the lake of fire is to place your faith in Jesus Christ. Repent of your sin, ask Jesus to forgive you, and begin a new life by walking close to Him. Witness to those you love and those you come into contact with. If the Rapture happens before they accept Christ, they will face a time of judgment the likes of which have never been seen before.
How long will He delay? He may not call us Home this year, but that day is closer than you think.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.
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