Israel and Bible Prophecy: What Is God’s Plan?
The Bible says we are in the end times. And with the turmoil and war taking place in Israel, it leaves us asking:
- Is Bible prophecy being fulfilled?
- What is God’s plan?
- How do Israel and Bible prophecy come together?
End Times: Ezekiel 38, Zechariah 12, Luke 21
We hear about the Ezekiel 38 war, the anticipation of God’s divine intervention mentioned in Zechariah 12, and Jesus’ prophecies about the signs of the end times and His second coming in Luke 21.
All these, and many more references throughout the Bible, describe God’s great and divine plan for complete reconciliation, revival, restoration, and renewal!
- Is Bible prophecy being fulfilled? Yes! Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948, fulfilling Isaiah 66:8. Before that, it was difficult to see how God’s plan of Israel’s restoration would happen because they weren’t a known nation with borders.
However, after becoming a nation, and now the development of technology, warfare, and even governments have started to set the stage for more and more prophecies to be fulfilled in the near future.
- Does God have a plan? Yes! He is sovereign, and His plans are laid out in His Word. Israel will be restored, and judgment will come upon her enemies.
- How do Israel and Bible prophecy come together? We must understand that Israel is God’s chosen people and nation. They are the apple of His eye; they are the first-born. He made covenant with them and cannot lie. So, when we study Bible prophecy, we must pay close attention to Israel—the two are tied together. Israel is the focal point of prophetic fulfillment in the end times.
Don’t Miss the Signs
Many of us go through our days completely blind to the signs around us. The news cycles move so quickly that it’s hard to keep up, so we disengage. What seemed like a sign just a short time ago (such as the Great American Eclipse) is forgotten just months or even weeks later.
For example, the Great American Eclipse was considered “old news,” and “nothing happened” just a few weeks later.
We get used to the chaos around us and get distracted from looking for the fulfillment of Bible promises.
But God has a divine plan for all creation: to return and restore it to Himself. He says all will be made new.
This can be difficult to understand when the world becomes increasingly broken. But again, isn’t this what the Word says—there will be days of destruction that lead to deliverance and restoration?
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, emphasis added).
When current news is compared to what the Bible says will happen, more light is shed on the situation.
Believers can get lost in the dread and destruction of the “end times,” but God’s Word reads…
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10
We are not called to fear but to rejoice in the coming of Messiah. He is our hope and salvation.
Biblical Prophecy Defined
The Bible outlines God’s plans for all nations—both Jew and Gentile—and the land, with a special focus on Israel. Biblical prophecy reveals how God’s plans unfold precisely as foretold, from the writings of Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.
God has provided a timeline of events, establishing circumstances in a specific order and recording them for us to understand. However, the challenge arises when we fail to grasp the full picture. Many events in the Old Testament foretell and mirror representations of events unfolding today.
Bible prophecy is the fulfillment of God’s divine plan, just as scripture has predicted throughout history.
Messianic, End-Times, Israel & the Nation Bible Prophecies
The Word of God is prophetic, containing divine revelations about God’s plans and His redemptive purposes for all humanity. Here are some types of biblical prophecies…
- Messianic Prophecies: Foretelling Jesus’ birth (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2), death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53), and resurrection.
- End-Times Prophecies: Descriptions of the last days, the return of the Messiah, and the establishment of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation).
- Israel and the Nations: Israel’s future, exile, regathering, and interactions with other nations (Ezekiel 37, Zechariah 12).
God’s Words of Encouragement…
- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11
- “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His” —Romans 8:28
- “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” —Joshua 1:8
FAQ’S About Israel and Bible Prophecies
Q: Why does Israel matter? Why should Christians care about Israel?
A: Believers know that Jesus is Jewish, but do they know that His Jewish blood is what covers their sin? We need to not only know our spiritual heritage but also embrace our adoption into God’s family.
Jesus said that Israel would be restored through the help of the Body of Messiah.
“And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:7-8
Paul echoes this message in Romans 11…
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’” —Romans 11:25-27
Q: How will God restore all the nations?
A: The Bible says every nation will confess that Jesus is Lord of all. Right now, God is using the United States to take the gospel across the globe and the First Nations people here in our homeland.
God forgets no one and is using our nation to spread His Good News leading to the prophecy of every nation confessing Jesus is Lord and fulfilling the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
Q: How does prophecy come to pass?
A: This question takes much time for research and meditation on the scriptures, but as you read the Bible as a whole, not just one book or one Testament, you see God’s timeline and desire to restore all things.
In Ezekiel 36, we read about God decreeing His Word of restoration to the land. He uses creation and nature to reflect His power and majesty. He will grab our attention through His act of restoring it.
Q: Is President Trump fulfilling biblical prophecy?
A: President Trump’s platform is pro-Israel, pro-life, and pro-marriage, and how he interacts with Jerusalem, standing and supporting, being used as an instrument to bring back what was taken—it’s fulfilling prophecy.
Many have said that President Trump is a “Cyrus.” The Cyrus anointing is about how he interacts with Jerusalem.
Now, in his second term, we must continue to pray God’s protection, sovereignty, and will over him and his administration.
Q: What is the connection between Israel’s restoration and Bible prophecy?
A: The Bible says Israel’s rejection is not final.
“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” —Romans 11:19-23
Zechariah 12 presents a vision of Israel’s ultimate deliverance by God, describing how He will defend His people, defeat their enemies, and bring about a spiritual revival among them, where they recognize the Messiah and turn back to Him in repentance, leading to their restoration.
Ezekiel 36, 37, and 38 describe God’s restoration of Israel, the spiritual revival of His people, and a future battle involving Israel and her enemies. These chapters encourage us by speaking of God’s faithfulness, Israel’s restoration, and His ultimate victory over evil.
- Ezekiel 36 tells us God’s promises to restore the land after they return from exile.
- Ezekiel 37 tells us that God promises to resurrect the nation, breathing physical and spiritual life into the “dry bones.” God also reaffirms His covenant, promising David’s descendant (the Messiah) will rule.
- Ezekiel 38 tells us that nations will attack Israel but God will show His power by protecting her, making His name great among all the nations.
Q: What was the significance of Israel’s 70th anniversary?
A: 2018 marked the 70th anniversary of the nation of Israel. Seventy is made up of two numbers:
- 7 representing perfection
- 10 representing completion
The number 70 is represented by the Hebrew letter Ayin, which means eye in Hebrew. The Hebraic calendar year 5778 was Israel’s 70th anniversary, and many began to see the significance of the small and mighty nation, as well as the United States standing with Israel in support.
Israel’s 70th year, 5778, had biblical importance as well. The number 8 is represented by the letter Chet, which means life. The letter resembles a door, and 5778 was the year of new beginnings and open doors.
There was no denying that there were noteworthy changes and new beginnings for Israel that year, such as Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital. Moving forward, we must see Israel and Jerusalem as God’s time clock.
There were other significant events associated with the number 70 in the Bible as well.
These are only a fraction of the 70’s in the Bible:
- Israel was in Babylonian captivity and released after 70
- There were 70 disciples sent by Jesus on a mission to preach the Gospel to the surrounding areas (see Luke 10).
- The Bible has record of Jesus giving 70 parables during His ministry.
- Through Noah’s 70 descendants, the world was repopulated after the flood.
- Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 in Matthew 18.
- There were 70 offspring of Jacob who went down to Egypt and started the Jewish population—later multiplying into over 2 million by the time of the Exodus.
- Daniel 9:24 says, “Seventy weeks were determined for your people and for your holy city [Jerusalem] to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy…”
Q: How can I prepare for the end times?
A: The Lord instructs us to be strong and courageous… not to fear. He also directs us to build the character of vigilance. Jesus said that no one knows the day or hour of His return, but gave us ways to identify, such as natural disasters and signs on the moon and stars.
However, the ultimate preparation is to live a life of repentance and seek Him above all else. Grow in your covenant relationship with Him and the Holy Spirit will guide your steps and make your path straight.
Q: I have more questions. Where do I go?
A: Check out our resource library and download one of our free resources, our blogs, and connect with us on social: Facebook and Instagram.
Watch our services weekly on our LIVE stream and gain more insights into the covenant relationship. And reach out to us through the chat feature at CurtLandry.com and we’ll be happy to answer your questions!