Hi John & All:
When it comes to prophecy, I think
people do sometimes give up on the literal interpretation of a given scripture
verse, particularly if they are getting nervous and feel that said scripture
is not coming too pass in what they believe to be a timely manner. A perfect
historical example of this would be the initial belief that Israel would
once again - quite literally - become a nation. When many centuries passed
without the fulfilment of supporting prophetic scriptures, many people began
to "spiritualize" said prophecies - until of course Israel did become a
nation in 1948, and much repentance from unbelief took place.
The Old Testament is filled to the
brim with scriptures, particularly in the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, which
state that in the last days God would once again bring Israel back into
the land he swore to give unto them, after having been dispersed for many
years. In fact, the famous "dry bones" prophecy found in Ezekiel 37, shows
the time of dispersal to be of unprecedented length.
From their dispersal under the Romans
in 70 A.D., until Israel came back into the land in 1948, a total of 1,878
years (nearly 19 centuries had
passed). In fact, it is 1,897 years if one counts until they finally did
regain control over Jerusalem in 1967. If I may digress for a moment, 1878
also represented the year in which the first Jewish colony was formed (Petkah
- The Gate), and 1897 also marked the year in which the First Zionist Congress
(Theodore Herzl), took place.
Flash forward to present.
I remember reading certain postings
at another site (which shall remain nameless), which indicated that people
were getting antsy over what was happening in Israel, and the amount of
time that was passing beyond their personal time frame. They began to question
whether or not this was the final end time generation, and whether or not
Israel would once again be dispersed from the land. Amazingly, those in
charge of the site only added to the growing doubt and unbelief, by not
being grounded in the relevant scriptures, feeling confused and hopeless
themselves.
Let me say it straight: This is the
final generation, and God will not
disperse them from the land again.
First let me point out two things,
and then I will show you a scripture verse which very clearly shows this
to be the final generation -- crystal clear, free of personal doctrine,
and without question.
Israel was first dispersed from their God-given land, and sent
among the nations, when Nebucahnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the first
Temple. They were gone for 70 years before God brought them back with His
mighty arm.
Israel was dispersed from their God-given
land a second time, and sent among the nations, in 70 A.D., when the Romans destroyed
Jerusalem and the second Temple. They were gone for 1878 years before God
- once again - gathered them from the nations with His mighty arm, and brought
them back into the covenant land in 1948 (with Jerusalem in 1967).
Now take a look at the following
prophetic scriptures. You would do well to read all of Isaiah 11 for the
full details, but for the sake of time and bandwidth, I will simply write
the most important verses:
"And in that day there
shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand
for an ensign of the
people; and to it shall the Gentiles seek:
and his rest shall be
glorious.
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.
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: 10-12
The entire chapter concerns
the Millennial reign of Christ, and says that He will not only be a sign
to the nations, but that it will be a glorious time of unprecedented peace
and rest. Further, it gives a second sign to show when this will take place.
Verses 10 and 11 clearly show that it happens just after God stretches out
his arm, and gathers the Jews out of the nations, back into their land,
for the second time.
There will be no third
dispersal. This is the appointed time.
Quite apart from the Word
of God, even logic dictates this, since if there were an endless dispersment
and ingathering the Jews could not possibly be a sign (as scripture states
they will be), since you would never know which ingathering to believe.
See ya in the air,
Eric