:: Israel – Past, Present, and Future ::

Israel – Past, Present, and Future

By Bro. David Manchala, Hyderabad

The Israel-Gaza conflict began on 7 October 2023, when militants invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip. The attack was met with an Israeli counter-offensive, and Israel formally declared war on Hamas a day later. The war is part of the decades-long Palestinian–Israeli conflict. Since then, print media, electronic and social media have all been breaking news every day. However, for believers, this all is not a surprise. Israel is a geographical center as well as a center for prophetic events.

Zechariah 12: 2, 3 – “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the 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.”

In the past, Haman, the Herods, Hitler, Hussain of Iraq, and Hassan of Iran have all tried to wipe out Israel from history; now in our times, Hamas of Palestine, Hezbollah of Lebanon, and Houthis of Yemen are all trying to do the same. In the near future, little Horn also would join the list. But they will not prevail against this nation.

God has a purpose for this nation, and it will not fail but will be fulfilled. Israel is the only nation in history that has a Past, Present, and Future.

To understand the program of Israel, we will look into some features:

1. Israel Past: Abraham to Jesus Christ

A. Selected – God in His sovereign will, selected a weak vessel named Abraham and built a mighty nation (Genesis 12:1-3). Through Abraham, families were generated, and out of 70 families, a nation was built!

B. Saved – By the Passover blood, God saved them from the mighty empire of Egypt. God raised up a slave child Moses to deliver this nation!

C. Specialized – God specialized this nation with so many privileges – (Refer to Deuteronomy 4:7; Numbers 29:3; 2 Samuel 7:23; Psalm 147:19,20; Amos 3:2; Romans 3:1-2; 9:4); however, they were…

D. Sinned and Sentenced. The Old Testament narrates that whenever they sinned and violated God’s law they were sentenced and punished, starting from the times of Judges, and further taken away as captives to Assyria and Babylon.

2. Israel Present: Jesus Christ to the present

A. Scattered – When Jesus Christ came to them as the Son of David, the Prince of Peace, they rejected and crucified Him. They accepted Caesar as their King but rejected the True King. As a result, they were scattered around the world in A.D. 70.

B. Suffering – During all these 2000 years, they were continuously suffering in various forms around the globe like in Anti-Semitism, Holocaust, and Ghettos, but they are…

C. Surviving – Despite all these terrible sufferings, they survived. Many races and nations have disappeared from world history, but this race is still surviving.

D. Stablishing – Since 1948, after the establishment, this nation is thriving in all areas.

3. Israel Future: Jesus Christ’s Return to the Millennium

A. Sanctified – According to the New Covenant, they will be sanctified (refer to Ezekiel 36:22-29; Jeremiah 31:32-34; Romans 11:25-27)

B. Settled – According to the Abrahamic covenant they will be settled in the Land. Then, there will be no wars and no woes (refer to, Genesis 15; Micah 4:4,5)

C. Sovereign – According to the Davidic Covenant, they will become the head of the nations (refer to Deuteronomy 28:13; 2 Samuel 7; Jeremiah 31:7)

D. Spiritual – Once again, they will worship the Lord (refer to Zechariah 14, Zephaniah 3:19,20).

Consider the three dispensations of Israel History as follows:

1. Israel as a Nation out of Egypt – the Vine (Isaiah 5:1-7)

2. Israel after the Babylonian captivity – the Fig tree (Matthew 24:32-35; Luke 13:6-8)

3. Israel inherited the promised Land during the Millennium – the Olive tree (Jeremiah 11:16; Romans 9:25,26; 11:24).

God is faithful; He will never fail in His program for the Nation of Israel and for the Church – Rom. 11:33-36

(Bro. David Manchala is a Bible Teacher, fellowshipping with the Bharatnagar Christian Assembly, Hyderabad)