Israel at a Tipping Point

Understanding the signs of the times as it relates to Israel

A “tipping point” is defined as a critical point in a situation, process or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.

The world that we’re living in today has gotten to a point where it’s going to end. There’s an end of the age coming. There is no going back.

The rise of anti-Semitism and hatred against Israel around the world is out of control. The world economy in a continuous state of crisis. America is in trillions of dollars of debt and it is growing very rapidly. There is new a Cold War escalating with Russia. China is growing in military might and aggression. And of course, the rise of radical Islam and the threat of worldwide terrorism.

This is what the Bible talks about in the end. And that is what we’re going to talk about here on the The Tipping Point. We will focus on the prophecies that are given in the Bible about the end times.

The Final Generation

Understand this: about 30% of your Bible is prophecy and most of it is end-times prophecy. The Bible says more about our generation than any generation that has ever lived or ever will live. And you say, “Well, why would the Bible say so much about the final generation?”

One reason is because there’s more people alive on the earth right now than have ever lived in the history of the world before this generation.

The other thing is that this is the most severe time in human history. Jesus said, “Unless those days would have been shortened, no flesh would be saved...” Matthew 24:22 NKJV

The Bible is the only book in the world that foretells the future with accuracy. Other people may say that their religion is the right religion. Then let them produce a book that can foretell the future. And the reason that we have a book that can foretell the future is because our God controls the future. And thousands of years ago, He told us in detail what the end of the world would look like and it’s happening right before our eyes.

This post is called “Israel at a Tipping Point.”  And I want to tell you about Israel, because their existence is a phenomenal miracle that has taken place in this generation.  They didn’t exist for 2,000 years.  And their rebirth in 1948, in one day, was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Isaiah 66:8).  Let’s talk about some Bible facts about Israel to begin with.

Four Facts About Israel

1. Israel is the only nation created by God.  There has never been another nation created by God Himself.  In fact, Israel’s existence is testimony to God’s existence.  This is Genesis chapter 12:1-3 and this is how Israel began: 
   
   The Lord said to Abram, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.  I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

2. Israel is in an everlasting covenant with God that is still in place today.

   Genesis 17:5-8 - No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 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. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

   Jewish people cannot be saved unless they receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah. But every Jewish person and the nation of Israel is special by covenant. God still have an everlasting covenant with them that He still recognizes. It is important that non-Jews respect this and show respect and support for the Jews and the nation of Israel.

3. Israel and the Jews have blessed the world more than any nation on earth.  And this is...God said in Genesis 12:3, “…in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Here are the three gifts the Jews have given the world: 

   • Number one, they gave us the most important Man in human history, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Savior is a Jew. I don’t know how any Christian can be anti-Semitic (against the Jews) when our Lord and Savior is a Jew. I didn’t say He was a Jew. I said He is a Jew.

   • Number two, they gave us the most important Book in the world, and every word in the Bible was written by a Jew. The Bible is a 100% Jewish book that has given the light we use to guide our lives.

   • The number three thing they gave us was the church. When the church started on the Day of Pentecost, 100% of the people in it were Jews. And then they let us join the club.

   They gave us the most important Man in human history.  They gave us the most important Book in human history.  And they gave us the most important organization in human history.  God has blessed all the families of the world through the Jewish people. 

4. Israel is God’s prophetic super-sign and stopwatch.  Here is a passage from Joel chapters two and three:

   And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls. 3 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. Joel 2:30-3:2 NKJV

There are four things that match that passage to the day that we’re living in.  Number one, the rebirth of Israel in 1948 and the regathering of the Jews.  “In that day and at that time, when I gather My people from the nations…”.  In God’s mind, the end times began in 1948.  And we know that because this is God speaking through Joel in first person.  He is effectively saying, “When I bring back My people from all the nations, Armageddon is going to happen in those days and in that same time frame.” 

The number two thing that matches this passage with the days that we’re living in is the division of the land of Israel.  The United Nations has censured Israel and rebuked them more than all other nations of the world combined.  They have labeled them as a racist state.  The United Nations is clearly against Israel, which again is a fulfillment of end-times prophecy.  The U.N. and America have forced Israel to give up what they call “land for peace.” And Israel keeps giving up land, but there is no peace.  When the Palestinians get the land, it’s just a closer place for them to shoot a missile from. 

In 2005, the United States forced Israel out of the Gaza Strip—their land—to give it to the Palestinians.  Seven days later, Hurricane Katrina hit our Gulf Coast.  And Jewish rabbis openly stated that it was God’s judgment against America for making them divide their land.  Even now the United Nations is trying to force a two-state solution upon Israel and to give up East Jerusalem. All of this is clearly a prophetic fulfillment of Joel chapter three and Zechariah chapter twelve.

The Truth About the Palestinians

The Palestinians are led by terrorists who will never recognize Israel’s right to exist. Rather, they have vowed their destruction.  So why would you recognize someone who will not recognize you and wants to destroy you? Certainly, not all Palestinians are terrorists, but they are led by terrorists. And God has warned that all parties that have mistreated the Jews and have forced them to divide their land will be judged.

The land of Israel belongs to God and the Jews.  They have a tiny piece of land—and they can’t even rest there.  The world is trying to get them to give it up.  And isn’t it interesting that our Bible has foretold these events thousands of years in advance!

The third thing that matches this text to the day that we’re living in is the four blood moons of 1949 and ’50, 1967 and ’68, and 2014 and 2015.  “The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”  This passage tells us, before the end is going to happen, God is going to advertise it in the sky.  In 1949 and 1950, on Jewish holy days, there were four blood red moons, which are lunar eclipses.  They cause the moon to appear a blood red color.  In 1948 Israel became a nation.  In 1949 and ’50, there were four lunar eclipses on Jewish holy days.  In 1967 there was a Six-Day War and Israel regained control of the entire city of Jerusalem as their capital.  And in 1967 and ’68, there were four blood moons on Jewish holy days. 

In 2014 and 2015 there were four more lunar eclipses on Jewish holy days accompanied by a full solar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse on Jewish holy days. That is remarkable! And it speaks to us that we are living in very significant days when major prophetic events are about to unfold!

When the book of Joel prophesies that the sun will not give its light and the moon will be turned to blood - you can check that box.  Someone might ask, “How frequently do blood moons on Jewish holy days occur?”  Before 1949, it didn’t happen for 500 years before that.  And after 2015, it won’t happen for another 500 years.  What we are seeing in modern times is God hanging an advertisement in the heavens that is saying, “Hey, I’m doing something special here. The end is near!”  

The fourth thing that ties the text of Joel chapters two and three to current times is worldwide anti-Semitism and the hatred of the United Nations for Israel.  God states in Joel chapter three that He will enter into judgment with the nations concerning His heritage Israel for the way they have been treated. Not only have the Jews been persecuted and scattered around the world for the past two thousand years, anti-semitism is on the rise all over the world.  Anti-Semitism is rising so much in Europe that many Jews are having to move out for safety.

Here is what Jesus said in Luke 21:20-24: But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Every word of that prophecy has been fulfilled. It began with the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and defeat of the Jewish people in A.D. 70 by the Roman General Titus. After destroying the city and the Temple, the Jews were either killed or led away captive and scattered to the nations just as Jesus said. But then when the Jews regained control of Jerusalem in 1967, the final piece of Jesus’ prophecy fell into place. Not only does it mean the Jews control their sacred city, it also means that in God’s mind the times of the Gentiles (non-Jews) is fulfilled. That is extremely significant.

We are living in the end of the end times. I love prophecy for many reasons, but one of those reasons is how specific and measurable it is. It isn’t vague or esoteric. It is in your face history written in advance. And we need to thank God for it! It is a beautiful gift that gives us perspective and comfort in very troubling times.