October 15, 2006
"Israel in the End Times"
God is Not Slow in Keeping His Promise—Part 3
Selected verses
Question: Is God still at work in and through His chosen nation?
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
—Romans 10:20-11:1
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
—Romans 11:25-29
"When God promises something, He carries it out to completion."
Prophecies related to Israel
1. Israel will return to the land and become a nation.
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth."
—Isaiah 43:5-6 (NLT)
In that day the Lord will bring back a remnant of his people for the second time, returning them to the land of Israel from Assyria, Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Ethiopia, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands. He will raise a flag among the nations for Israel to rally around. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.
—Isaiah 11:11-12 (NLT)
2. The nation will be brought about in one day and no longer be divided.
Who has ever seen or heard of anything as strange as this? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem's birth pains begin, the baby will be born; the nation will come forth.
—Isaiah 66:8
Read: 1 Kings 11:33-36 (NLT)
...I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered... no longer will they be divided into two nations.
—Ezekiel 37:21-22 (NLT)
3. Israel's currency will be the shekel.
The standard unit for weight will be the silver shekel... This is the tax you must give to the prince... All the people of Israel must join the prince in bringing their offerings.
—Ezekiel 45:12-13,16 (NLT)
4. Israel will blossom as a desert rose.
Even the wilderness will rejoice in those days. The desert will blossom with flowers. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel's pastures and the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God.
—Isaiah 35:1-2 (NLT)
5. Israel will be the center of conflict for the whole world.
I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.
—Zechariah 12:2-3
6. Israel will have a powerful military.
On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.
—Zechariah 12:6
7. Israel will rebuild the temple.
Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
—Revelation 11:2 (NASV)
He will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings.
—Daniel 9:27
Lifework
I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place... "Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap.
—Luke 21:32-35
"Understanding the End Times"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- Do you like cookie dough less than, more than, or as much as the baked cookies?
- How much do you enjoy gardening? What is your favorite part? Have you ever tried to graft a plant? Tell about your experience.
Digging Deeper: Read Romans 11:11-36
- How does Paul's question in verse 11 relate to his question in verse 1? What hope does he give in his answer?
- In what ways would God's grace to the Gentiles break through the walls of presumption which the Jews had built around God?
- Up to now, Paul has been dealing with Jewish believers' feelings of superiority over the Gentiles. How does the image of the dough and the olive tree deal with the other side of the coin?
- What phrases indicate the thoughts and attitudes of Gentile believers? What should their attitude be about their acceptance by God?
- What difference is there between Jew and Gentile, if any? Is there?
- Why does Paul want Gentile believers to be aware of God's plan? Why would pride become a danger for them? How might his pride or how has this pride manifested itself throughout history?
- What is God's ultimate hope for Israel? (vs. 26-27) What is God's ultimate hope for the Gentiles? (verse 32)
Applying It To My Life
- How has arrogance between groups of Christians hurt your church experience?
- When a prodigal receives God's blessing, does that encourage you to seek God all the more or does it make you upset? Why?
- Read the doxology in verses 33-36. Why is this a good place for this doxology? When caught up in the awesomeness of God, are you silent with wonder or singing with Joy? For what aspect of God's grace do you want to give Him praise?