Many Christians have been deceived on the role of Israel in Bible prophecy. This deception is
causing them to be misguided and unprepared for the final events of earth’s history. In
this video, we will go straight to the Bible and unveil a spectacular prophecy
that reveals Israel’s true role in the last days, and what it means for you. Stay tuned!
This is Dustin with Hope Through Prophecy – the channel that helps you understand Bible prophecy
and prepare for the soon return of Jesus. If your knew, please consider subscribing.
As the war continues to rage in the middle east,
many Bible scholars and those preparing for the return of Jesus have their eyes focused
on Israel and their role in end-time events. A popular movement known as Zionism teaches
that Israel will be the center of end-time Bible prophecy and the battle of Armageddon.
The biggest Christian Zionist movement in the US is called Christians United for Israel,
founded by Pr. John Hagee, an American pastor and televangelist. He openly promotes the idea
that the Jews have a God given right to the land of Palestine. This right, he claims,
extends beyond the current borders of Israel. The following is a short video clip that expresses
His hyperfocus on Israel – a mindset that many modern evangelical Christians share:
If Israel today were currently occupying all the land that God gave them, it would control all of
present-day Israel, Lebanon, the west bank of Jordan, plus substantial portions of Syria,
Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. God gave exact boundaries to a specific piece of land
on planet earth. I encourage Christians everywhere to always and in all occasions,
both personal and public, to aggressively, both in word and deed, to support the Jewish
people and their right to the land of Israel. Is it true? Should we be focusing on Israel as
God’s chosen people and the epicenter of last day events? Or is this a smokescreen – a deception?
What is the true role of Israel in the last days? We must turn to the Bible for answers.
Follow me now to apocalyptic book of Daniel where we discover a spectacular prophecy that would
reveal the truth about Israel in the last days. The angel Gabriel reveals to Daniel:
Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city…
You see Daniel was a Jew. His people had been taken by King Nebuchadnezzar when He destroyed
their temple and took the Jews captive. This prophecy was given specifically
for Daniel’s people – the Jews. Gabriel also reveals the length of
the prophecy – 70 weeks. In the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation, many of the symbols,
figures, and dates are actually symbolic rather than literal. How do we know
this? – because the Bible reveals it. According to the Bible, one day equals
one literal year in Bible prophecy. Here are two verses that reveal this:
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year…
And …I have appointed thee each day for a year.
So, we know that this prophecy would last for 70 prophetic weeks, or 490 prophetic days,
which equals 490 actual years when we apply the day-for-year principle.
But in order to know when this 490-year prophecy would end, we must first understand when it began.
Notice how the Bible describes this beginning point:
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem… So, the commandment to restore and
rebuild Jerusalem would be the starting point of this prophecy. Does the Bible
reveal when this event took place? Yes, it does! Ezra chapter 7 describes this decree – made by the
Persian King Artaxerxes – it was his only decree that ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem along
with the restoration of the Jewish worship system. This decree took place in 457 BC. So now we have
the starting point of this prophecy. The angel Gabriel continues:
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build
Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
As we add up this time period - 7 weeks, plus threescore, which is 60, and 2 we come up with
69 prophetic weeks, equaling 483 prophetic days, which is 483 actual years (again,
using our day-for-year principle). This would bring us to the year AD 27. According to the
prophecy, Messiah the Prince would be present in AD 27. Is this true?
It appears that “Messiah the Prince” is referring to Jesus. But how could
this be – Jesus was born earlier than AD 27. But notice that the prophecy specifically says
“Messiah” the prince. In the original Hebrew, Messiah actually means the “anointed one”. Was
Jesus anointed? Certainly – the Bible reveals: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost and with power… So the question follows “WHEN was Jesus anointed?”
Notice how the Bible describes Jesus’ baptism: Now when all the people were baptized, it came
to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost
descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou
art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. Notice that Jesus was anointed with the Holy
Ghost at His baptism! It was at this event that He officially became the
anointed one! And the year of his baptism? AD 27 – a perfect fulfillment of prophecy!
This stunning prophecy is further confirmation that the Bible can be trusted,
that the day-for-year principle is accurate, and most importantly,
that Jesus Christ is indeed the promised Messiah! Now, the prophecy will get very specific as it
refers to Jesus’ Earthly ministry and the role of Israel in Bible prophecy!
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So far, we have covered 483 years of this 490-year prophecy. What would happen next
during the final prophetic week, or 7 literal years, of this prophecy?
Gabriel continues revealing the message to Daniel: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah
be cut off, but not for himself…And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:
and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease…
Notice that the Messiah, Jesus, would be cut off in the midst of the final week, or 7 years,
of this prophecy. The middle of this final 7 years, 3.5 years after Jesus’ baptism in AD 27,
brings us to AD 31 - which was the time of Jesus’ crucifixion – His sacrifice for the human race.
As the prophecy reveals, Jesus died not for Himself, but for me
and you – for the sins of the human race. But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed. You will notice that the prophecy
also reveals that Jesus, at this time, would …cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease…
What does this mean? In the Old Testament, God provided a system of worship for the Jews built
around the sanctuary. In this service, the Israelites were to slay innocent lambs as a
sacrifice for their sins. These lambs, along with all aspects of the Sanctuary service were created
to point the people forward to the Messiah. In fact, the Bible refers to Jesus as
…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So, when Jesus came to earth and died for the
human race – He was the fulfillment of the all the sanctuary symbols – He caused the
sacrificial system to cease, or end. When Jesus died, the elaborate curtain
that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary
literally ripped in half from the top down. This was a symbol that the earthly sanctuary
was no longer the place for God’s presence, and that, because of Jesus’ sacrificial death,
a way has been opened for us to come to God, with Christ as our high priest, or intercessor.
Friends, is it clear to you that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of in this prophecy? The Bible
leaves us no doubt. Here is where we begin to see how many modern Christians have been deceived.
You see, in response to the protestant reformation, a false Bible teaching known
as futurism was invented by a Jesuit scholar named Francisco Ribera around 1590. This
dangerous teaching declares that the 70th week of this prophecy will come at some distant date in
the future! The problem is, there is absolutely no scriptural evidence to support this! What’s worse,
many futurists claim that the Messiah in this prophecy refers to the antichrist!
In just a moment, we will see how this futurist teaching has also deceived many Christians when
it comes to Israel’s role in the last days. As we return to the prophecy, we can see
that there is just 3 and ½ years remaining – the second half of the final prophetic week.
Remember, this 70 week/490 year prophecy was designated for Daniel’s people - the Jews.
In the final week of this prophecy – the 70th week – Jesus was to
…confirm the covenant with many for one week... It’s true that God had a covenant with the
Jews. In fact, they were His chosen people. God told Abraham, the father of the Jews:
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in
their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
But God’s covenant to Israel was conditional – it was based on obedience. Notice the
condition on which Israel would be God’s people: But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey
My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have
commanded you, that it may be well with you. Unfortunately, the Jews were not faithful
to their end of the covenant. Even after 100s of years of rebelling
against Him, God, in His great mercy gave the Jews numerous opportunities to repent. In fact,
this 70 week prophecy represents the Jews final opportunity, as a nation,
to repent, return to God, and accept the Messiah. In the final, 70th week of the prophecy, the Jews
still had an opportunity to repent and accept the Messiah. During these 7 years, Jesus does indeed
confirm the covenant with them – He focuses His efforts on the “lost sheep of Israel” – the Jews.
He lives and ministers among the people – healing the sick, preaching the good news
of salvation, and living a blameless life. Despite the tireless efforts to reach them,
the Jews crucified Jesus – the very one who came to save them.
God, in His mercy, even after they killed His Son, provided the Jews another 3.5 years (the
second half of the final week) for the Jews to repent and accept the Messiah.
Before he died and rose again, Jesus instructed His disciples to preach specifically to the
Jews during the final years of this prophecy: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them,
saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the
Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Sadly, the Jews not only rejected the Messiah, but they even rejected the messengers He sent to them.
We see this in the final, dreadful scene of this great prophecy. The apostle Stephen, one
of God’s chosen messengers, delivers a powerful sermon to the Jews, so much that His face lights
up with the Holy Spirit. He reveals to them that they have rejected and killed the Messiah. Rather
than repenting of their sin, the Bible reveals: Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped
their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him…
This event took place in AD 34, precisely 490 years from the start of the prophecy. It is
the end of the 70 week prophecy, and it marks the end of Jews being God’s particular chosen people.
Jesus foresaw this tragic fate for the Jews, and cried out:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!
How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under
her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.
But can we be sure that God, after first revealing the truth to the Jews,
would then turn to the gentiles – the rest of the human race? The Bible couldn’t be clearer:
It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye
put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
So here we see a transition. Now, instead of God having a specific nation as His main focus,
He welcomes everyone to be a part of His chosen people – yes, including
both Jews and non-Jews – all are invited! But what about all the references to Israel
in the book of Revelation? You see, this is where many Christians have been deceived.
Despite much of Revelation being symbolic, they believe this is referring to the literal nation
of Israel. But we have seen from this prophecy that literal Israel is no longer God’s chosen
people. Just like Revelation is symbolic when referring to Babylon, it is symbolic
when referring to Israel. When Revelation speaks of Israel, it is referring to Spiritual
Israel – God’s chosen people in the last days. So, what qualifies someone to be a part this new
chosen people – part of “spiritual Israel”? And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise. If we belong to Jesus – we are an offspring
of Abraham – part of God’s chosen people. It doesn’t matter your race, ethnicity, or color!
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all
is rich to all who call upon Him. In fact – you and I, despite our
background – can be a Jew! A spiritual Jews that is. Consider this clear, powerful verse:
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,
in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Yes, this is the Israel that God is referring to in the last days – spiritual Israel – those
who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, confessed their sins, and are living for Him.
So what does all of this mean for us? It means that are focus must be on Jesus. You see,
false teachings such as futurism not only cause us to misunderstand Bible prophecy, but they can
lead us away from Jesus and to putting our main focus on certain wars or people groups.
There is nothing wrong with following what is happening in the middle east,
praying for that situation, and hoping for peace. But friends, our main emphasis must
be on building our relationship with Jesus – reading the Bible, spending time in prayer,
and sharing the truth for this time with others. This strong relationship with Jesus is what will
prepare us for the final events of history. If this is your desire and commitment – to be
part of God’s last day spiritual Israel, then write in the comment section below:
Lord, I belong to you! Amen!
And speaking of last day events, make sure to watch this video on
Armageddon! It reveals the Bible truth about this end-time apocalyptic battle.
Please like and share to support this video, and make sure to subscribe if you are new. And
remember friends, keep your eyes on Jesus – the Author and Finisher of our faith!