F.M. Riley (15
Sep 2019)
"The Progressive
Redemption Of Israel and the Jewish People"
The Progressive Redemption Of
Israel and the Jewish People
By Pastor F. M. Riley
September 14, 2019
".....Blessed be the name of God for
ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His:
And He changeth the times and the
seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He
giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know
understanding:
He revealeth the deep and secret
things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the Light
dwelleth with Him," Daniel 2:20-22
"And they shall fall by the edge of the
sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and
Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times
of the Gentiles be fulfilled," Luke 21:24.
Introduction
We believers living today are living in
the most prophetically significant time in human history,
for we are living in "the last days" of this present
Dispensation of Grace, 2 Timothy 3. And it is about
to end!
We are living in the
end of another Jewish year, a year of great prophetic
significance, and we can expect the Lord Jesus Christ to come
for His Church and every true believer in just a few more
days!
I am well aware of the wicked spirit of
unbelief in the ranks of "professing" Christianity today, so now
I will furnish proof of everything I have just said, using the
explicit statements of God's prophetic Word, and human history
over these past two centuries.
Those readers who are unbelieving
"professing Christians" better grab something and
hang on, for we are going for a wild ride into the truth and
reality of God's prophetic Word.
The Regathering Of the Jewish People
In our text Scripture in Luke 21:24, the Lord
Jesus Himself clearly stated that His own Jewish people would
be "led away captive into all nations....." But
don't fail to notice that the Lord also set a time limit on
their captivity; "until the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled." Well.....!! Isn't this an
interesting time limit set by the Lord?
The Times of the Gentiles.....
which the Lord Jesus Christ spoke about has already been
fulfilled! I know this to be true, for the Jewish people
are no longer held as captives in all nations. In fact,
most of the nations today don't even want the Jews within their
national borders, and don't hesitate to make it known.
Matthew 24:9 has never been more applicable to the Jewish
people than it is today.
This is okay, for the Lord God is
taking care of the Jewish people, and doing so according to the
schedules He has set forth in His inspired Word.
The Beginning of Israel's Redemption
No attempt to regather the Jewish people
throughout the last 2,000 years since their dispersion, even
showed any sign of being successful UNTIL 1897. That was
the year Theodor Herzel sent out word to the Jewish people all
over the world, to come to the First Jewish Congress,
for which he had made arrangements to be held in Basle,
Switzerland in August, 1897.
From what information I have been able
to gather, approximately 1,000, or possibly a few more, Jews
from various nations around the world, attended that First
Jewish Congress.
The stated purpose of the Congress was
to search out a national homeland for the "wandering" Jewish
people, in order for them to establish their own nation
again. Thereby this would make it possible for Jews all
over the world to come "home" to their own country and
people. Glory to God!
Many areas were suggested, and were
later looked into, as a possible site for the homeless Jewish
people to establish their own nation, but for one reason or
another, nothing suitable was found.
But that First Jewish Congress
planted a longing in the hearts and minds of the Jewish people
for a national "home" of their own. And those who had
attended the Congress never stopped longing until it became a
reality.
[May I break in to suggest that the
longing planted in their hearts, must have been similar to the
longing in the hearts of true believers today who are holding
fast to "the blessed hope" of our Lord's soon coming to
resurrect and rapture His people to glory? Amen?]
On the final day of that First Jewish
Congress, August, 31, 1897, as Theodor Herzel made his closing
remarks to his Jewish people who had attended, he actually made
the statement, heard by everyone in attendence that
day......."We don't have a national homeland today, but due to
the interest stirred up at this Congress, we will have our
own nation within fifty years."
Dear readers, Almighty God was
listening! Exactly to the day, fifty years later, on
August 31, 1947, the United Nations voted to end the British
Mandate over the Holy Land, and allow the Jewish people to
return to their own ancient homeland and reestablish their
nation.
Oh, glory to God!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Dear readers, don't
ever let anyone try to convince you, that we believers are not
serving a true and living God. He can and does intervene
in human history, and in the lives of His people, to make "all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28.
That this vote of the UN occurred exactly fifty years to the day
was not just "coincidence."
"He lives! He lives! You ask me
how I know He lives? He lives within my heart! "
And Then.......
The First Jewish Congress
was adjourned. Three years went by, bringing humanity on
the earth up to 1900. Three points.....
[1] Preceding the JUDGMENT
of the flood in "the days of Noah," God gave to Noah a 120 year
warning. The flood would destroy the whole world of that
time, Genesis 6:3. We believers today are living in a
repetition of "the days of Noah." The Lord Jesus Himself
said so in Matthew 24:37 and Luke 17:26.
Now begin with 1900 being the first
year of a count, and count all the years up to this present
time, including 2019 in your count. How many years
in the count? Exactly 120 years. This indicates that
2019 is a very significant year in the fulfillment of Bible
prophecy. This is an indication that it is time for
another JUDGMENT to come on "this present evil world,"
[Galatians 1:4], just as it did in "the days of Noah" some 4400
years ago. But the coming judgment will not be by water,
Genesis 9:9-13. Rather, the judgment that is
coming will be by FIRE. Ever hear of the seven year
"Tribulation Period"? Read on.....
[2] 1900 was three
years after the First Jewish Congress was convened to seek out a
home for the "wandering" Jewish people.
"3" is the number in the Bible which
signifies, "resurrection." But in this case, whose
resurrection? 1900 was the year the figurative
resurrection of the Jewish people began. That year they
began to be raised up, as a people, out from among
the Gentile nations of the earth, where they had been buried for
the past 2,000 years. Read it for yourself in
Ezekiel 37:1-14. This figurative or typical resurrection
of the Jewish people, began in 1900.
[3] "19" is the number in
the Bible signifying, "faith." The typical
resurrection of the Jewish people began in 1900, but this was
not immediately evident. The Jews scattered all over the
world, had to exercise "faith" that God would restore their
nation and their land.
Progressive Redemption
What we are looking at is the
"Progressive Redemption of Israel and the Jewish people."
It is wonderful to be living in these "end times" where we who
are true believers can visibly see the Spirit of God moving men
and nations to accomplish what God prophesied in His Word would
come to pass in relation to Israel and the Jewish
people.
The next important "time" in the
progressive redemption of Israel and the Jewish people was the
First World War, which began in 1914, and officially ended in
1918. But let's place our attention on 1917.
It was in 1917 that the allied armies
under the command of General Allenbey drove the Ottomon Turks
out of the holy land. The Ottoman Turks had been in
possession of the holy land for 400 years, and would not allow a
Jew to even set foot in the land.
Do our readers remember that
Israel, in the very beginning of their history as a nation,
after being delivered out of Egypt, was "tested" in the
wilderness for 40 years. Why? Because of their
unbelief and disobedience. Read the account for
yourself in Numbers 13-14.
The few Jews who had managed to return
to their ancient homeland after their great dispersion in 70
A.D. were driven from the land again in 1517 by the Ottoman
Turks. The Ottoman Turks then occupied the holy land
for the next 400 years.
Think about this! After the Jews
were delivered out of the land of Egypt, they refused to believe
God, and had to "wander" in the wilderness for 40
years. Then 2,000 years ago, they refused to believe
their God appointed Messiah [Deuteronomy 18:15], and crucified
Him. But just as He had predicted in Matthew 24:1-2, the
Temple was destroyed, and the Jews were driven from their land
in 70 A.D. and were scattered all over the world. Over
many centuries a few managed to return to their land, but sadly,
those few who returned were still in unbelief. Therefore
in 1517 they were driven from their land again, and the Ottoman
Turks occupied the holy land for the next 400
years.
400 years is ten times forty. 10
X 40 = 400. Quite a price to pay for their
unbelief, and their rejection of God's Son as their
Messiah and Savior.
The Holy Land was then held in
possession of the Ottoman Turks for 400 years. But in 1917
the Turkish army was driven from the holy land by the advancing
armies of General Allenbey. Allenbey was the Commander of the
Allied forces in the First World War. His army drove
the Turkish forces out of North Africa, and into the Middle
East. The Ottoman Turks retreated before the advancing
forces of Allenbey, all the way to Jerusalem. There they
"dug in," vowing to fight to the death rather than giving
up Jerusalem. But our gracious God had other plans.
General Allenbey knew that the entire
city of Jerusalem would be destroyed in the fighting if his army
invaded the city. So he wrote a letter to the Commanding
General of the Turkish forces, demanding the immediate surrender
of the whole Turkish army, and sent it to him under a flag of
truce. Since Allenbey was a "lord" back in the royal court
in England, he signed his letter as "Lord Allenbey." The
ignorant Turks were Muslims who worship Allah, and they
actually thought they were receiving a letter from
Allah, demanding that they surrender.
At the same time the first two
airplanes ever used in war, were flown over the city of
Jerusalem. Those early planes had no mufflers on their
powerful engines, and the sound made by the engines of the
planes vibrated off the sides of the mountains near
Jerusalem. The superstitious Turks had never seen
airplanes, and didn't have a clue what they were. But the
letter and the terrible deafening roar being made by two strange
creatures flying over their heads convinced them that the planes
were "death angels" and they were about to be destroyed.
The entire Turkish army, "dug in"
at Jerusalem, abandoned their weapons and ran through the
streets of Jerusalem, and out of the city headed
north towards Turkey, screaming and crying in absolute
terror, and begging Allah as they ran, to please
show mercy and spare their lives. General Allenbey
then rode into Jerusalem on a white horse, and not a shot was
fired. The people still living in Jerusalem at that time
thought Allenbey was the Messiah, and they bowed in the streets
and pleaded for mercy.
Now any of our readers who
think all of these connected events were just
"coincidence," likely need to have their head examined to
see if their brain is still working.
Also any of our readers who think
this is a wild fictional story, then turn in your Bibles and
read Isaiah 31:5. The Lord God, who alone knows the
future, knew that this would happen, and so inspired His
prophet, Isaiah, to write about it hundreds of years
before it was fulfilled. What a mighty God we
believers serve. Give Him glory!
So in 1917, the holy land, which had
been held captive by the heathen Turks, was delivered out of
their hands. The old League of Nations, as the UN was then
called, voted to place the holy land under the control of Great
Britain. Great Britain accepted care over the land, and
there it remained until that wonderful day, August 31, 1947,
when the United Nations voted to allow Israel and the Jewish
people to return to their ancient homeland, and reestablish
their nation. Glory to God!
Note that it was exactly 30 years from
the time Jerusalem was recovered by General Allenbey in 1917
until the UN voted to release the land to the Jewish people in
1947. I would also point out that 1947 was exactly fifty
years after 1897, when Theodor Herzl began his attempt to find a
homeland for his people.
It is also interesting to note,
that the armistice agreements ending the First World War were
not signed until one year later in 1918. Even so, the
modern nation of Israel did not become a reality until one year
later in 1948. So it was 30 years from the end of
the First World War until the modern nation of Israel became a
reality.
Is all this just "coincidence," or do
our readers see the hand of God in it all? Be
careful! God is listening! Matthew 12:36-37.
By God's grace, let me give our readers
even more.....
"30" is the number in the Bible
signifying, "blood." Was this a warning to Israel?
The day following the rebirth of their nation, they were forced
to go into a bitter "war of independence," due to the Muslim
nations around the holy land who absolutely did not want the
nation of Israel reestablished. Of course Israel won their
war of independence and became a nation among the nations of the
world. Modern Israel has won all of their wars, and
will continue to do so. Why? Because God fights for
them. Read it for yourself in Zechariah 12:6.
The date Israel was established as a
nation in these "end times" was May 14, 1948. On
this date God was really displaying His love and care for
Israel.....
May is the fifth month of the year on
the Gentile calendar used by many nations today. "5" is
the number in the Bible signifying, "Grace; the grace of God."
Israel was reestablished on the 14th
day of May. "14" is the number in the Bible signifying,
"Salvation and/or deliverance."
The year was 1948. As previously
noted in this study, "19" is the number in the Bible signifying,
"Faith; to believe."
Also "48" is the number in the Bible
signifying, "Tabernacle; dwelling place."
No, I'm not finished with the
numbers.....
5 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 4 + 8 = 32.
"32" is the number in the Bible signifying, "Covenant."
Now did God make an "everlasting covenant" with Abraham and his
"seed," or did He not? See Genesis 17:7-8.
When Israel became a nation again, in their own ancient
homeland, was God's Covenant with Abraham at work? Every
reader should know the answer.
Now let't take note of the next three
events in the Progressive Redemption of Israel and the
Jewish people.
1956.......The Suez Canal
War.
Israel won!
1967.......The Six Day
War.
Israel won!
1973.......The Yom Kippur
War. Israel won!
Counting their war of Independence in
1948-49, this makes four wars some Gentile nations have waged
against Israel in the past 71 years, with Israel winning every
war. By the way, Israel's 70th birthday as a nation was on
May 14, 2018.
"70" is the number in the Bible
signifying, "The restoration of Israel." Now dear readers,
pay careful attention! This year, 2019, is Israel's 71st
year as a modern nation. Why hasn't Israel been restored
to the right fellowship with their God?
Hey, this year isn't over yet!
This present year is the 120th year, in relation to the warning
given to Noah, and the Lord Himself said, "and as it was.....so
shall it be," Luke 17:26.
The Redemption of Israel
I have just pointed out to our readers
the meaning of the number, 70.
"7" is the number in the Bible
signifying, "To complete; finish, fill up, fulfill, bring to
completion. But 70 signifies, "the restoration of
Israel." So why hasn't Israel spiritually turned back to
God? Well.....
"1" is the number in the Bible
signifying, "Unity; to unite; to be united." Think about
this!
This is Israel's 71st year as a nation
in these "last days." The two numbers signifying
restoration and unity have been brought together in this
120th year of warning. Is the Lord God trying to show His
people something? Indeed He is!
Now read Revelation 7:1-8. In
this chapter, AFTER the rapture has occurred as typified
in Rev. 4:1-2, but BEFORE the judgments of the Tribulation begin
to be poured out on those LEFT BEHIND, as clearly stated in Rev.
7:1-3, there will be 144,000 of the Jewish people who will
turn to and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior;
redeemed by the blood of Christ, shed at Calvary so long ago.
The Salvation of the 144,000
Notice that this is 12,000 out of each of the
12 tribes of Israel explicitly named in Rev. 7:4-8.
Dear readers, God Himself dealt
with the whole nation of ancient Israel as only 12
tribes. Actually there were 13 tribes, but the Lord God
explicitly set aside the tribe of Levi, telling Moses that they
were not to be numbered as one of the tribes of Israel, Numbers
1:47-49. So, throughout their history, Israel as a
nation, has always been spoken of in God's Word as
the twelve tribes of Israel.
However, time and circumstances
sometimes make a change necessary. In the list of
the twelve tribes "redeemed" by God in Rev. 7:4-8, the Lord God
Himself removed the tribe of Dan, and in place of Dan
inserted the tribe of Levi. Now why will God do this?
I remind our readers that it was the
tribe of Dan which first introduced IDOLATRY into the nation of
Israel, Genesis 49:17; 1 Kings 12:25-30. God HATES
idolatry, Exodus 20:2-6. Therefore, while the 12
tribes listed, will be under the special protection of God
during the first half of the Tribulation, there will be no
special protection upon the Jewish people who are the
descendants of the tribe of Dan. They will have to
suffer right along with the Gentiles during that time.
When the
144,000 Jews out of the 12 tribes listed are saved and sealed,
the redemption of Israel will have come to pass, for the 144,000
[12 tribes] are representative of the whole
nation. To God be the glory!
Praise the Lord! Israel will have been "redeemed."
Two Truths Commonly Overlooked
[1] The Jews living in
Israel today, even though unbelieving in relation to Christ and
Christianity, are quite familiar with the Gospel of
Christ. By radio, TV, and missionaries, they have heard
the "Christian" message over and over again. There are now even
a few Messianic Jewish churches in Israel, preaching Christ
Jesus to their own people.. So the Jews in Israel today
are certainly aware that New Testament believing Christians
teach faith in Jesus Christ as God's only "way" of salvation;
and that the Lord Jesus promised His Church that He would come
again, and resurrect and rapture His people to glory. The
common reaction to this by religious Othodox Jews is total
unbelief. They don't believe that the Lord Jesus was the
Messiah promised to them in their own Old Testament Scriptures,
Deut. 18:15. They do believe that the rapture is a
fantasy!
Now here is the amazing thing!
They are so fervent in their unbelief of these "Christian"
teachings, that when the resurrection and rapture occurs RIGHT
BEFORE THEIR EYES, [Matthew 24:40; Luke 17:34-37; Isaiah 40:31],
it will be the greatest witness to the Jews in Israel of the
truth of the Gospel of Christ, that one can even
imagine. Glory!
Then, exactly as set forth
in Revelation, chapters 4 through 7, following the
rapture, 144,000 presently unbelieving Jews will be smitten in
their hearts, just like Saul was in Acts 8, and in instant
repentance and faith, will give their whole hearts and souls to
Christ in believing faith. Oh glory to God!
The question is posed in the Old
Testament, "Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion
travailedr she brought forth her children," Isaiah 66:8. Didn't
Paul say something about being "a pattern" for his people? 1
Timothy 1:16.
[2] At the very time the
rapture occurs, "God's Two Witnesses," Elijah and John, will
also appear in Jerusalem preaching Christ. What a witness
that will be, and an incentive for the Jewish people to receive
the Lord Jesus as their Messiah and Savior, and 144,000 of them
will do exactly that. Praise the Lord!
Conclusion
Dear readers, I am writing and posting
this study on the 14th day of September. I make no claim
to knowing the exact day the Lord Jesus is coming to resurrect
and rapture His people to glory. Yet many things about
this month of September, appear to be pointing to the
resurrection and rapture occurring on Rosh HaShanah, Tishri 1,
September 30th of this present year. Folks, that is only
16 days from today. If the rapture should occur on
that date, would you be ready?
Or would you be one of those LEFT
BEHIND to face the terrible judgments, and the wicked
persecution, which will occur during the seven year Tribulation
that will follow the rapture?
If our gracious Lord will permit me to borrow
a statement from one of His prophets,, and apply it to America
today, and to our readers, I will close this study by
saying, O America, America!.....
"How long halt ye between two
opinions? If the lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal,
then follow him." 1 Kings 18:21.
Is the reader a true believer, saved
and ready to meet the Lord? John 3:16-18 and 3:36 are
still in the Bible. Read them and take heed!
<<<<<<<
O
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A Personal Note:
I am still sending and receiving
emails, and answering those which I feel a need to answer.
However, this is very likely my final Bible Study. My eyes
are deteriorating fast, and I can hardly see the computer screen
to write. I am so ready for our Lord to come for us.
BROTHERS & SISTERS, I REALLY DO
NEED YOUR PRAYERS.
In the love of Christ Jesus,
Pastor F. M. Riley