Israel Always a Nation on this Earth

Until God’s New Heaven and Earth

There is only one way to understand the Word of God; with the help of the Holy Spirit. And we should use God’s Word to interpret God’s Word, before we use theories and doctrines which come from human minds; especially those which use theologian’s terms, which are hard to understand, generalize and often obscure or hide the true meaning of verses. Here are some verses which help us understand who Israel was, and is today.

The beginning of the nation of Israel to where we are today; awaiting the War of Gog

1. Israel will always be a nation; until God creates a New Heaven + Earth

2. Promises, covenants, and promised blessings God made to Abraham (2166 BC – 1991 BC)

2a. 3 promised blessings God made to Abraham, which bless all people; both Israelites/Jews and Gentiles.

2b. A promised blessing God made to Abraham; which is only for the Gentiles

2c. 3 promises God made to Abraham; which are for only the people of Israel

3. 2166 BC A very brief history of Israel; starting with Abraham

3a. 1446 BC Israel was baptized into Moses as a nation.

3b. 930 BC Breakup of the nation of Israel after King Solomon

3c. 722 BC Israel dispersed; 586 Judea Dispersed

3d. 538 - 432 BC 12 tribes of Israel united again in Israel

3e. 5 BC Israelites/Jews inter-dispersed as Jesus comes into the world

4. 30 AD Israel – Gentile relationship after Christ’s grace on the cross

4a. Our physical being, determines whether we are Israelite/Jew or Gentile

4b. Our Spiritual being our soul and spirit becomes one with Christ, a son of God

4c. Holy Spirit first given Israelites/Jews, then fullness of Gentiles, then all Israelites/Jews

5. The 2 reason God has brought Israel back their land

5a. God’s love and promises to the patriarchs of Israel

5b. God wants to vindicate His holy name Ezekiel chapters 36-39

6. Watching for now; War of Psalms 83; may be combined with the War of Gog

7. Why Israel is important to us

Dates from NIV Study Bible see copyright NIV+ at end of Message

1. Israel will always be a nation; until God creates a New Heaven and Earth

God promised Israel that it would be a nation until the sun and moon no longer shine; and this will only happen when God creates a new Heaven and earth. Until this time Israel would always be a separate people, a separate nation, even when not living within the land God gave them.

*This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the Lord Almighty is his name: "Only if these decrees vanish from my sight," declares the Lord, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me. Jer 31:35-36 NIV+

*There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Rev 22:5 NKJV+

God does not lie, or change His mind; He will fulfill His promises. He will not reject the descendants of Israel, not even when they are not faithful to Him, until He makes a New Heaven and Earth.

*God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Nu 23:19 ESV+

*This is what the Lord says: "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done," declares the Lord. Jer 31:37

Paul concurs that God does not lie or change His mind; but will be faithful to Israel though they have not been faithful to Him. For God’s gifts and His call to Israel are irrevocable.

*Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” Ro 3:2-3 ESV+

*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, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Ro 11:28-29 NIV+

God has brought Israel back to the land He promised them, and will begin to pour His Spirit out upon them.

*For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Eze 36:24 NKJV+

*And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Eze 36:27 ESV+

2. Promises, covenants, and promised blessings God made to Abraham (2166 BC – 1991 BC)

Abraham was called Abram until God changed his name. The name Abram is not used in the New Testament, only Abraham is used; and we will only use Abraham also. Just remember Abram and Abraham are the same person in the verses below.

*No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. Gen 17:5 NKJV+

Let us look at 7 of the promises, covenants, and promised blessings God made to Abraham; 3 for all people, 1 for the Gentiles, and 3 for the nation of Israel.

2a. 3 promised blessings God made to Abraham, which are for all people; both Israelites/Jews and Gentiles.

(1) God promised Abraham he would make his name great, so that he would be a blessing to all people. Abraham was known as the man of faith; and because faith saves us, all who will have faith in God, will be blessed along with Abraham.

*And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Gen 12:2 ESV+

*So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Gal 3:9 ESV+

This promised blessing to all people is still being fulfilled; for believers will always be blessed by the great example of faith Abraham showed us.

(2) God promised Abraham that in his seed, Christ, all nations, both Israelites/Jews and Gentiles, would be blessed; would receive the promised Holy Spirit. And through the Spirit we become sons of God, and inherit the Kingdom of God.

*"In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." Gen 22:18 NASB+

*Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. Gal 3:16 NKJV+

*so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Gal 3:14 ESV+

*For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Ro 8:14 ESV+

This promised blessing for all nations is still being fulfilled; for we are still being given the indwelling of the Spirit to become children of God.

(3) God promised Abraham that all people, both Israelites/Jews and Gentiles, would be blessed through him. For God would justify all people through Christ’s atoning grace on the cross; through faith like Abraham had.

*And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Ge 12:3 NASB+

*Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” Gal 3:7-8 ESV+

We would be justified by faith just as Abraham was, when he believed God would give him innumerable descendants. And God accounted (credited) Abraham’s faith as righteousness; this righteousness was credited against his sins, so they were forgiven. By faith Abraham’s sins were forgiven.

*Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Gen 15:5-6 NKJV+

*Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Ro 4:23-24 NASB+

This promised blessing to all people is still being fulfilled; for our sins are still forgiven by faith.

2b. A promised blessing God made to Abraham; which is only for the Gentiles

(1) God promised to bless those who would bless and help Israel; whoever dishonors, curses Israel, God will curse. We should support Israel as it struggles to become a nation, and help them find the Messiah they have been looking for; Jesus Christ.

*I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen 12:3 ESV+

This promised blessing to Gentiles is still being fulfilled; will not be fulfilled until Israel is no longer a nation.

2c. 3 promises God made to Abraham; which are for only the people of Israel

(1) God promised Abraham that through his physical descendants, a great nation would come; the nation of Israel. Israel was God’s chosen people, for Jesus tells us they would bring complete salvation into the world.

*And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Gen 12:2 ESV+

*You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. Jn 4:22 ESV

Israel would always be the first to receive trouble and tribulation; the first to receive the grace of Christ, and the indwelling of the Spirit. It would always be first for the Jew (part of Israel), then the Gentile.

*There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Ro 2:9-10 NIV+

*And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. Ac 13:46 ESV+

This promise to Israel is still being fulfilled; for God has brought Israel back to the Land He has promised them.

(2) God promised Abraham that Christ would be his physical descendant, his seed; and all people would be blessed by Christ’s coming. Christ was born of Mary; whose distant descendants include: Judah – Israel – Isaac – Abraham, Lk 3:23.

*And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; Gen 26:4 NKJV+

*Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. Gal 3:16 NKJV+

This promised blessing to Israel is still being fulfilled; for the blessing of Christ’s grace through His birth, death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven is still being given to Israel.

(3) God made a promised to Abraham; to give Abraham’s descendants a piece of land. Later God made a covenant to Abraham that his descendants would receive this land; giving a description of its boundaries. This was an eternal covenant in which nothing was required of Abraham to receive it; for God alone walked through the pieces of animals to be committed to this covenant.

*And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. Gen 13:1-25 NKJV+

*When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates--the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites." Gen 15:17-21 NIV+

This promised blessing is still being fulfilled; as Israelis now living in the land God promised to them. Will not be completely fulfilled until Israel is no longer a nation

Our Lord confirms His promises to Israel through Jeremiah and Paul; that God will honor His promises listed above to Israel, no matter what Israel has done.

*What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." Ro 3:3-4 NIV+

3. 2166 BC A very brief history of Israel; starting with Abraham

Abraham to his son Isaac; whom God would pass the blessings He gave to Abraham.

* Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." Gen 26:3-5 NKJV+

Abraham to Isaac to His son Jacob whose name God changed to Israel; and Israel’s 12 sons would become the great nation of Israel who would receive the blessings God promised to Abraham and Isaac and Israel.

*Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land." Gen 35:11-12 NKJV+

Israel, which means “struggles with God”. Israel, and all of his descendants who made up the nation of Israel, would always struggle to follow God, are still struggling today.

*Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel [Israel means he struggles with God], because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Gen 32:28 See Ho 12:4; Jacob wrestled with an angel

Descendants of Abraham to the nation of Israel

Abraham – Isaac - Israel (Jacob)

12 Tribes (sons) of Israel; the nation of Israel

1. Reuben (Leah) 5. Dan (Leah) 9. Issachar (Leah)

2. Simeon (Leah) 6. Naphtali (Bilhah) 10. Zebulon (Leah)

3. Levi (Leah) 7. Gad (Zilpah) 11. Joseph (Rachel)

4. Judah (Leah) 8. Asher (Zilpah) 12. Benjamin (Rachel)

Leah Jacob’s 1^st wife; Rachel her sister Jacob’s 2^nd wife-favorite; Bilhah slave girl (Rachel); Zilpah slave girl (Leah)

Jacob/Israel describes his 12 sons in Gen 49:3-27; Jesus would be born through the descendants of Judah

Israel would become slaves to Egypt for 400 years

*Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Gen 15:13-15 ESV+

3a. 1446 BC Israel was baptized into Moses as a nation.

Israel was taken out of slavery in Egypt by Moses, was baptized into Moses as a nation; to come into the land God promised to give them.

*Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1Co 10:1-4 NKJV+

Baptize does not always mean water immersion; here it means united into a nation of God through Moses; see 7 Different Baptisms

*Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. Ex 32:13-14 ESV+

Twelve tribes of Israel changed in the Promised Land.

When Israel came into the Promised Land, the tribe of Levi replaced the firstborn male of every family which was required by God to do His work.

*"Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. Num 3:12 NASB+

The tribe of Joseph was made into 2 tribes through the 2 sons Joseph had in Egypt with an Egyptian wife (Gen 46:20). Israel (Jacob) gave his blessing and name to Ephraim and Manasseh, with Ephraim becoming the greatest, and his descendants would become a group of nations (Northern 10 tribes of Israel). The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh would replace the tribes of Joseph and Levi.

*And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Gen 48:5 NKJV+

*When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Gen 48:17 NASB+

*But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." Gen 48:19 NIV+

1. Ephraim (son of Joseph) 5. Simeon 9. Asher

2. Manasseh (son of Joseph) 6. Dan 10. Issachar

3. Judah 7. Naphtali 11. Zebulon

4. Reuben 8. Gad 12. Benjamin

Levi; are God’s, to do His work

The land where Israel lived was called Israel, and had boundaries.

*And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 1Sa 27:1 ASV

3b. 930 BC Israel and Judah split into separate kingdoms after King Solomon

After King Solomon’s reign the 10 northern tribes of Israel, would no longer follow the King who was in Jerusalem, which was part of Judea and Benjamin.

*Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: "What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!" So Israel departed to their tents. 1Ki 12:16 NKJV+

Those in the 12 tribes of Israel who were in Jerusalem, remained in and under the Kingdom of Judah.

*But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah. 1Ki 12:17 NKJV+

*“Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’ ” So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord. 1Ki 12:23-24 ESV+

The Levites soon returned to Judah and Jerusalem, as well as others from all of the tribes who wanted to worship God. For Jeroboam, king of Israel, had excluded the worship of God; he worshipped other gods instead.

*For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord. 2Chr 11:14 NASB+

*Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2Chr 11:16 NIV+

Kingdom of Judah (Jews) Kingdom of Israel (10 Northern Tribes of Israel; Ephraim)

1. Judah 1. Ephraim 4. Simeon 7. Gad 10. Zebulon

2. Benjamin 2. Manasseh 5. Dan 8. Asher

Levi (Are God’s) 3. Reuben 6. Naphtali 9. Issachar

Any of Israel living in Judea

It is confirmed once more that Israel was given the Promised Land of God forever; though the tribes had split, they were still promised this land as Israel.

*"Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 2Chr 20:7 NASB+

3c. Israel 722 BC and Judea 586 Dispersed

Israel, Ten Northern Tribes of Ephraim are defeated; dispersed 722 BC

Israel Prophets of Israel ++

1. Ephraim 4. Simeon 7. Gad 10. Zebulon Elijah 875-848 BC Hosea 750-715 BC

2. Manasseh 5. Dan 8. Asher Elisha 848-797 BC

3. Reuben 6. Naphtali 9. Issachar Amos 760-750 BC

The capital of Israel was Samaria (1Ki 16:29) and it along with all of Israel was defeated by Assyria and the majority of people in Israel, were taken as slaves to Assyria. People from other nations were brought to live in the land of Israel.

*In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 2Ki 17:6 NKJV+

*And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. 2Ki 17:24 ESV+

King Hezekiah called for the remnant of Israel to return to Jerusalem, and some did.

*The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, "O sons of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 2Chr 30:6 NASB+

*Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 2Chr 30:11 NIV+

King Josiah tried to bring the remnant of Israel back, and some responded.

*he broke down the altars and beat the Asherim and the images into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. 2Chr 34:7 ESV+

*They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 2Chr 34:9 ESV+

Kingdom of Judah is completely defeated and dispersed 586 BC ++

Kingdom of Judah Prophets of Judah ++

1. Judah Micah 735-700 BC Jeremiah 626-585

2. Benjamin Isaiah 740-681 BC Obadiah 605-585?

Levi (Are God’s) Nahum 645-620 BC Ezekiel 593-571

Remnant of Israel

Juda was defeated, the Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed, and most of Judah, other tribes living in Jerusalem, were exiled; with a few left behind.

*Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was led away into exile from its land. 2Ki 25:21 NASB+

Those left behind in Jerusalem, who would not go into captivity; would be made into a curse among all the nations where God would drive them.

*therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone out with you into captivity—Jer 29:16 NKJV+

*And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth--to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, Jer 29:18 NKJV+

3d. 538 - 432 BC 12 tribes of Israel united again in Israel

*I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. Jer 29:14 ESV

*When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. Ez 3:1 ESV+

*Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. And they offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house of God, one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. Ez 6:16-17 NKJV+

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. Neh 9:1-2 ESV+

The 12 tribes of Israel continued to grow as they were ruled by other countries, as the time for our Savior to be born drew near. Yet our Father promised that the offspring of David (Judah); and Levites would grow and flourish the most.

As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.” Jer 33:22 ESV+

12 Tribes of Israel

Kingdom of Judah plus Remnant of Israel (Ephraim; 10 tribes of Israel) Prophets ++

1. Judah 1. Ephraim 4. Simeon 7. Gad 10. Zebulon Daniel 605-530

2. Benjamin 2. Manasseh 5. Dan 8. Asher Zechariah 520-480

Levi (Are God’s) 3. Reuben 6. Naphtali 9. Issachar Malachi 440-420

3e. 5BC Israelites/Jews inter-dispersed in Israel as Jesus comes into the world

Dec 6BC/Jan 5BC; Jesus is conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. Mary (Lk 3:23) and her espoused husband Joseph (Matt 1:1) were both from the tribe of Judah, and a descendant of David. Yet they both lived in northern Israel, in Nazareth; the land given to Zebulon. Mary thanked God for giving Israel their Promised Messiah. See Jesus Born Tishri 10 5BC

*Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Lk 1:26-27 NKJV+

*"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." LK 1:54-55 NASB+

After Herod died, Joseph would return from the land of Egypt with Mary and Jesus, to the land of Israel. Since Joseph did not go to Judah, Judah must have been considered part of Israel. And Nazareth was in Israel; and Jesus would be called a Nazarene or referred to as from Nazareth.

*And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. Matt 2:21-22 ESV+

*And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Matt 2:23 NKJV+

Jesus made a clear distinction between the Gentiles and the Israelites/Jews. For His disciples were not to go to the Gentiles. Yet the Israelites and the Jews were interrelated, for His disciples were to go to the lost sheep of Israel; which refers to both Israelites and Jews.

*These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Matt 10:5-7 NIV+

Israel in God’s Word can refer to different things; depending on the context.

1. Jacob whose name God changed to Israel.

2. Israel’s descendants: the 12 tribes of Israel; 10 tribes of Israel (also called Ephraim or Manasseh); Kingdom of Judah; any 1 tribe of Israel or Judah.

3. Name of a country in Middle East Asia.

4. 30 AD Israel – Gentile relationship with Christ; after His atoning grace on the cross

Our Soul and spirit; Our Body and Mind will help you understand how we are one spirit with Christ.

*But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1Co 6:17 NKJV+

4a. Our physical being, determines whether we are Israelite/Jew or Gentile

We have a body (strength) and mind, our physical being; and a soul and spirit (heart), our spiritual being, which lives within our physical being. Our physical being is procreated by our father and mother sinful, and in their image. We inherit their DNA, which shows who we have descended from, will always show whether we are an Israelite/Jew or Gentile.

*And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mk 12:30 ESV+

*Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Ps 51:5 NKJV+

*When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. Gen 5:3 ESV+

Our physical being, our flesh and blood, cannot become perfectly holy, cannot come into the spiritual Kingdom of God. While we live on earth our physical being will either be an Israelite/Jew or Gentile. When our body and mind dies it becomes dust once more, along with our nationality, whether we are an Israelite/Jew or Gentile. Only when Jesus returns for believers will we get a physical being once more, a glorified body like His. See 3 paragraphs below

*Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 1Co 15:50 NKJV+

*In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." Gen 3:19 NKJV+

*But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:20-21 NIV+

4b. Our Spiritual being our soul and spirit becomes one with Christ, a son of God

Our spiritual being, our spirit and soul, is created by the Holy Spirit; in the image of God, in the image of the angelic beings. For when our Father refers to our image, He is talking to all the angelic beings in His Heavenly council. And like all of the angelic beings, it is created holy and eternal.

*Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Gen 1:26 ESV+

*That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jn 3:6 NKJV+

*When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Ps 104:30 NIV

Our spiritual being can be kept holy or become holy once more; when our sins are forgiven by the atoning grace of Jesus, and we are given the indwelling of the Spirit (called baptism of the Spirit; being renewed or born again of the Spirit). And when the Spirit lives in our hearts, He sanctifies us, keeping our spiritual being holy by continually forgiving our sins; when we love our God above all things, our neighbor as ourselves.

*that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Ro 15:16 NKJV+

*You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Ro 8:9 ESV+

Though our physical being is dead, because it will always be sinful, and can never come into the Kingdom of God; yet our spiritual being will always be alive and can be righteous when the Spirit dwells in our hearts by our faith. And when the Spirit lives in our hearts, Christ likewise lives there; and because we are spiritually united with Christ, we spiritually come into the body of Christ, Christ’s one holy invisible church. Our spiritual being, our soul and spirit, comes into the Kingdom of God, for we are children of our Heavenly Father.

*If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Ro 8:10 NASB+

*For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

When we physically die, our time to receive salvation is over; our physical being turns back to dust, and our spiritual being either goes eternally to Heaven or Hell. And since we are children of God we are heirs of Heaven; and await Christ’s return to give us a glorified body.

*and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Ro 8:14-17 ESV+

*For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Phil 3:20-21 NASB+

Jesus came into the world to justify, make holy, the spiritual beings of both the Israelites/Jews (circumcised) and then the Gentiles (uncircumcised); so we can become sons of God.

*Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Ro 3:29-30 ESV+

*even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ” Ro 9:24-26 ESV+

Jesus’ purpose was to create in Himself, through His atoning grace, one new man out of both the Israelites/Jews and the Gentiles; a new holy creation, a spiritual Son of God. Both the Israelites/Jews and the Gentiles would be reconciled by faith through the cross, which would put an end to their hostilities between them here on earth. For each would have access to our Father by the same Holy Spirit.

*His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Eph 2:14-18 NIV+

*For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Paul tells the Gentiles who are being pressured by the Jews to be physically circumcised; that only circumcision of the heart by the Spirit, His indwelling is needed by the Gentiles to have our Father’s peace and mercy upon them. Our Father’s peace and mercy will also be upon the Israel of God; Israelites/Jews who receive the Spirit to be saved, and do not try to be saved by their ceremonial laws.

*It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Gal 6:12 ESV+

*And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Gal 6:15-16 NASB+

*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 which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. Ro 2:28-29 NASB+

4c. Holy Spirit first given Israelites/Jews, then fullness of Gentiles, then all Israelites/Jews

In 1a. above God promises all believers would receive Abraham’s blessings through Christ. Believers do not have to go through or be part of Israel, any congregation or earthly church, any leader, or anyone else; we can come directly to our God through Jesus.

*In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Eph 3:12 NIV+

Yet our Father will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, when He wants to give them mercy, and there are different times He will give the Spirit to different people.

*For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Ro 9:15 ESV+

*It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Ro 9:16 NIV+

*Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. Ro 9:18 NKJV+

Paul explains in what order our Father would give the Israelites/Jews and then the Gentiles the indwelling of the Spirit through the story of the tree. Jesus is the tree; Israelites/Jews the natural branches; Gentiles the wild branches; in Romans Chapter 11:11- 26

Jesus is our tree, He alone can nourish all people, forgive the sins of both the Israelites/Jews and the Gentiles; by the means of the blood He shed on the cross to redeem us from our sins. So we as the branches will also become spiritually holy (our soul and spirit).

*What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; Ro 3:9 NASB+

*For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Ro 11:16 NKJV+

The way all people, the Israelites/Jews and the Gentiles, can receive Christ’s atoning grace, is by receiving the baptism of the Spirit, being given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by our Heavenly Father. We become spiritually one with Christ, and come into His body, His one holy invisible church. Where we all drink of one Spirit; we are all guided by the Spirit.

*For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1Co 12:13 NASB+

Yet because our Father chose Israel to bring salvation to the world; He would first give the Israelites/Jews the indwelling of the Spirit.

*What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. Ro 3:1-3 NKJV+

The natural branches of Israel would first be given nourishment from the tree; and spiritually come into the Kingdom of God before the Gentiles.

*I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Ro 1:16 NIV+

Yet only a small remnant of Israelites/Jews would accept Christ, the rest rejected Him. So our Lord had Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles. He would have His grace brought to all people to the ends of the earth; and He would hide it from Israel, except for this small remnant.

*Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Ro 11:5 NKJV+

*Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Ac 13:46-47 NKJV+

*as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” Ro 11:8 ESV+

The wild branches of the Gentiles were grafted into Christ’s atoning grace. The blessings of Abraham which were given to all nations, would now be given to the Gentiles; through Jesus Christ. We come directly to Jesus; we do not have to go through Israel, any other congregation or earthly church; our salvation is between us and our God.

* If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, Ro 11:17 NIV+

*so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Gal 3:14 ESV+

And when given the Spirit, both Jews and Gentiles will become spiritually (soul + spirit) one with Christ, spiritually part of the body of Christ, spiritually one in His one Holy Invisible Church. Our spiritual being comes into the spiritual Kingdom of God while we are still physically living on earth; and when our bodies and minds die our spiritual being is taken to Heaven to be with our Savior,

*But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1Co 6:17 NKJV+

*for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ro 14:17-18 NASB+

We are in a spiritual relationship with our Savior; which our physical being cannot be part of it. We are spiritually children of God; there is no longer any physical divide between us, there is no longer Jews or Gentiles, men or women. We are all spiritually one in Christ.

*There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28 NASB+

*The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Ro 8:16 NKJV+

70 AD: The majority of Israel/Jews around Jerusalem would still not accept Jesus. So God would use Rome to conquer them, destroy the Temple at Jerusalem, so not one stone remained on top of another; and end the ceremonial sacrifices which were no longer needed. The vast majority, especially those around Jerusalem would be killed or dispersed into all the nations by Rome.

*Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Mk 13:1-2 NKJV+

The 12 tribes of Israel are dispersed plus tribe of Levi

Kingdom of Judah plus A remnant of Ephraim (10 tribes of Israel)

1. Judah 1. Ephraim 4. Simeon 7. Gad 10. Zebulon

2. Benjamin 2. Manasseh 5. Dan 8. Asher

Levi (Are God’s) 3. Reuben 6. Naphtali 9. Issachar

2015 AD Over 1995 years later we are still seeing the fullness of the Gentiles coming into the Kingdom of God.

*Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Ro 11:25 ESV+

*So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Ro 11:11 ESV+

Then in the future all Israel (Jacob) will be saved, all those who will believe in Jesus; the natural branches will be grafted back into Jesus.

*And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. Ro 11:26 NIV+

*And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Ro 11:23-24 NKJV+

5. The 2 reasons God has brought Israel back to their land

*Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Isa 66:8 NIV+

*"They will say, 'This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. Eze 36:25 NASB+

5a. God’s love and promises to the patriarchs of Israel

God loved the patriarchs of Israel, those who loved God and made it possible for His Son to come into the world. And because of His love for them, and the promises He gave to them; He will love their descendants also. Our Father’s gifts and His call to make Israel His children once more is irrevocable.

*To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Ro 9:5 ESV+

*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, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Ro 11:28-29 NIV+

5b.God wants to vindicate His holy name Ezekiel chapters 36-39

God does not change how we are saved; but will bring back His nation of Israel so He can vindicate His holy name.

*And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Eze 36:23 ESV+

Israel before Jesus was born, would not follow God; and after Jesus died on the cross (30 AD), to redeem them from their sins they rejected Him. Our Father gave Israel 40 years to accept Jesus and when they would not He used the Romans to disperse Israel into all the world in 70 AD.

*“Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. Eze 36:17 NIV+

*So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.

We have even seen Israel in our generation put down throughout the world, for they were not assimilated within the nations, but remained a nation looking for a home. They were persecuted, even to the extent of Hitler’s attempt of genocide, to annihilate them.

*When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name--when they said of them, 'These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.' Eze 36:19-20 NKJV+

In 1948 Our Father would begin gathering Israel back from all the countries He had sent them, to the land He gave them; never to uproot them again. And He would begin giving the indwelling of the Spirit; so this had to be after Christ’s atoning grace on the cross.

*I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. Eze 36:24 ESV+

*I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God. Am 9:15 NIV+

*"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. Eze 36:27-28 NASB+

This would include all of Israel, as symbolized by our God no longer cutting off, keeping the Spirit from Israel any longer. Opening their graves refers to physically allowing the people of Israel to come back as a nation to their land, the land of Israel.

*Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. Eze 37:11-12 ESV+

The tribe of Judah and all the people of Israel with him; and the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim’s stick) and the house of Israel with him; would be united together as one nation forever, would be called Israel. This happened in 1948 when the nation of Israel was brought back to the Land God promised them. And the nation of Israel will continue to grow with more people of Israel returning, from all of its tribes.

*“Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ Eze 37:16 ESV+

*say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand. Eze 37:19 NASB+

Our Father will make them one nation in Israel; one as they were originally; with Judah and Joseph who came together as the leaders.

*and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. Eze 37:22 NKJV+

Nation of Israel – made up the 12 tribes of Israel

1. Judah 5. Levi 9. Asher

2. Joseph 6. Dan 10. Issachar

3. Reuben 7. Naphtali 11. Zebulon

4. Simeon 8. Gad 12. Benjamin

We believe this is the correct order of Israel in that Judah and Joseph where the lead nations who came together; Joseph would include Ephraim and Manasseh so there would be 12 tribes; and until the Temple is built Levi is part of Israel and not God’s Priests.

6. Watching for now; War of Psalms 83; may be combined with the War of Gog

In the latter years God will bring Gog against Israel to vindicate His name, after Israel has been restored from war and feels secure.

*After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. Eze 38:8 ESV+

*You will say, 'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'-- to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Eze 38:11-12 NKJV+

There are different views on how the war of Gog will start; we believe the border war of Ps 83 will precede the war of Gog. The war will be between Israel and the nations which border her, which hate her and want to annihilate Israel. God will help Israel’s army defeat these nations. And because Israel will feel secure; Gog will think Israel will be easy to plunder; and come to take her possesions. Possible nations of the War of Ps 83 include: Palestinians, Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon; maybe Egypt and Iraq

*They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” Ps 83:4 ESV+

*For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; Ps 83:5-8 NASB+

*Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth. Ps 83:17-18 NKJV+

Note: The Lord will use Israel’s army to destroy them like He did at Median, Nu 31:7;

Or it may be the War of Ps 83 will be fought together with the War of Gog. As God brings Gog, those with Him against Israel; to defeat them by Himself; so He can vindicate His holy name.

Nations of the War of Gog: Possibly include Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Tunisia

*"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, Eze 38:2 NKJV+

*Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops--the many nations with you. Eze 38:5-6 NIV+

*You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Eze 38:16 ESV+

Others believe that Israel will sign a peace treaty with many nations which will make her feel secure, and then this treaty will be broken without Israel having any protection for an invasion.

Then God will show all it was not because He did not have power that Israel was dispersed from their homeland; was helpless in all nations they came into. It was because they sinned against their God, and He punished them for their sins.

*"The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. Eze 39:23 NASB+

*"When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. Eze 39:18 NASB+

God will destroy all who come against His nation of Israel, entering His judgment upon them. He will show His greatness and holiness to all the nations He defeats, to all the nations who see His great victory.

*I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord. Eze 38:21-23 ESV+

All who live in Israel will use the weapons of the defeated armies for their fires; and it will take 7 years to use up this vast supply of weapons for fuel. They will be the modern day weapons of our time; symbolized by weapons used in that day, so this prophecy could be written and understood by them. Israel will take the physical spoils and plunder, the silver, gold, livestock, and supplies the armies had come with, had taken from Israel, and had taken from others.

*"Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. "They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them," declares the Lord God. Eze 39:9-10 NASB+

Then Israel will bury all the bodies of the armies which came against them and were killed; in the Valley of Hamon Gog, to cleanse the land. This will take 7 months, and anyone seeing a physical bone shall mark it, so it can be buried.

*"It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Eze 39:11-12 NKJV+

*The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man's bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. Eze 39:15 NKJV+

After this battle our Father will continue to gather Israel from where they had been exiled; continue to give them the indwelling of the Spirit.

*Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord." Eze 39:28-29 NIV+

7. Why Israel is important to us

Remember to watch Israel, it will help us know when the time for Jesus to return is near.

*"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Matt 24:32-33 NIV+

And we should help Israel; praying for them, telling them about Jesus, and give them political and monetary support as they bring their people back home. For God will bless us when we bless and help Israel; and any who curse or dishonor Israel, our God will curse.

*I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen 12:3 ESV+

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+ ESV “Scripture quotations marked [ESV] are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,” copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

+ NIV Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Also used dates from Bible’s Old and New Testament Chronology 1985, 1995

Some words in the verses from these Bibles may be emphasized with bold letters.