Conference: 2004 Pre-Trib Study Group
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The term "ISRAEL" is used2566 times in the Bible - more than any other subject next to the Lord Himself! The misunderstandings andvarious interpretations of this unique word moves us to a careful investigationof how it is used in the Bible.
(1) The word refers to a newname for Abraham's grandson- Jacob - Genesis 32:28; 35:10
(2) The word refers to thetwelve tribes who descended from the sons of Jacob - Genesis 49:28
(3) The Bible refers to the "childrenof Israel" 644 timesof which 14 usages are in the New Testament.
(4) The word "Israel" refers to the "nation" that was giventhe 613 commandments of God - Deuteronomy 4:1, 7-8
(5) The word "Israel" refers to the "land" which was promisedto the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, andJacob - Genesis 17:8; 26:3; 35:12; Psalm 105:8-11; Ezekiel 37:11-14
(6) The term is used of the tennorthern tribes that separatedfrom the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the days of King Rehoboam, the son ofSolomon - I Kings 12:16-24
(7) The term "Israel" is also used in the New Testament to describethose Jews who became believersin the Messiah; they are called "the Israel of God" - Galatians 6:16
Interestingly, God refersto Himself as "the LORD God of Israel" 108 times, and as the "God of Israel" 203 times.
Out of the 145 usages ofthe word "nation" in theBible, at least 55 are used ofthe "nation of Israel." Outof over 1700 usages of the word "land" - 31 refer to the words "land of Israel." The phrase "the land of Canaan" is used 66 times and the Bible makes it very clearthat this land was given to the "children of Israel" by God Himself (Deuteronomy 32:49; Numbers13:2). It is inescapable todeny the prophetic presence of both the "nation" and the "land of Israel." It is impossible to "spiritualize" or "allegorize" the term "Israel" when it speaks of itself as a "nation" and a "land."
The following three issuesare related to the subject of "THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL":
1A. THE PROMISE OF A LAND
1B.The DIMENSIONS of the land were determinedby God Himself - Genesis 15:18
2B.The DESIRE of God for the land is constant - Deuteronomy11:10-12
3B.The DESCENDANTS to whom God gave this landare the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac,and Jacob - Genesis 12:7; 13:14; 15:18; 17:7-8,18-19; 26:3; 28:3-4, 13-15; 35:11-12; 48:3-4; 50:24
4B. The DECLARATIONS of the Lord to the childrenof Israel when they were in bondage inEgypt are clear - Exodus 3:8, 15-17; 6:1-8; 13:5,11; 15:17; 32:13; Leviticus 25:38
5B. The DISOBEDIENCE of God's people did NOTforfeit their right to the land in the future- Leviticus 26:40-45; Deut. 30:3-5; Jeremiah16:15; 31:10, 35-37
6B.The DECISION to give the land to the nation ofIsrael was based on an everlasting covenant - I Chronicles 16:15-18; Psalm105:8-11 7B.The DETAILS of the land's productivity cannotbe symbolical - Ezekiel 36:8
8B.The DWELLING of Israel in the land in the futureis clearly predicted in Bible prophecy - Ezekiel37:11-14; Zechariah 12:1-14
9B.The DETERMINATION of nations to remove Israelfrom its land will NOT be successful - Psalm83:1-5; Amos 9:13-15
10B. The final DESTINYof Israel in its land is in thehands of the Lord - Ezekiel 39:25-29
2A. THE PROBLEM OF UNBELIEF
1B.The RESURRECTION of Ezekiel 37:1-14
1C.Is this the resurrection of OT believers mentionedin Daniel 12?
2C.Is this referring to the resurrection of individualsor the nation?
3C.Is this referring to Isaiah 66:8?
NOTE: The phrase "thewhole house of Israel" is used5 times including Ezekiel 37:11 - cf. Leviticus 10:6; Jeremiah 13:11;Ezekiel 39:25; 45:6. Thesimple phrase "the house of Israel" is 152 times (6 in the New Testament) - and refers repeatedly toIsrael as a nation and as an unbelieving and rebellious nation.
2B.The national REPENTANCE of Israel - Ezekiel39:29; Zechariah 12:10
3B.The predicted REBELLION of some - Ezekiel20:33-44; Zechariah 13:8-9
4B. The limited RESPONSE of Israel until the completionof the salvation of Gentiles - Romans11:25-27
3A. THE PREDICTION OF ISRAEL'S SURVIVAL JesusHimself predicted the survival of the nation ofIsrael through the horrible holocaust of the comingGreat Tribulation - Matthew 24:34-35 cf.Jeremiah 31:35-37
The interpretations of "this generation": Theword "generation" from theGreek word genos isused 21 times in the New Testament and from the Greekword genea it is usedanother 42 times - a totalof 63 times. The words "this generation" appear16 times.
1B.A reference to those who were listening to thisprophecy of Jesus (preterist view) and sawthe destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad.
However,it is clear that whoever is meant by thewords "this generation" -they will exist until"all these things" arefulfilled. That cannotrefer to the destruction of Jerusalem becausesome of "these things" didnot occur atthat time.
2B.A reference to the nation of Israel during the futureGreat Tribulation. Luke11:50-51 - Why would the words"may berequired of this generation"apply to first centuryJews who were not responsible for the deathof the prophets mentioned? It would makesense if it applies to the nation of Israel.
ISRAEL'SSURVIVAL IS BASED ON THREE MAJORISSUES:
(1) GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE Romans11:2
(2) GOD'S FAITHFULNESS Deuteronomy7:9; Psalm 89:30-37
(3) GOD'S FORGIVENESS Jeremiah31:31-37; Ezekiel 39:22-29; Romans 11:25-27
cf.Isaiah 63:7 CONCLUSION: It isclear from the Biblical evidence that the modern State of Israel is afulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Bible makes it clear that God will NEVERcast away or forsake His people - the nation and its land will exist forever!
Isaiah 41:9 - "Thou artMy servant; I have chosen thee, and NOT cast theeaway."
Isaiah 41:17 - "I theLORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will NOT forsake them."
Isaiah 44:21 - "forthou art My servant: I have formed thee; thou art My servant: O Israel, thoushall NOT be forgotten of Me."
Isaiah 49:15b-16 - "yetwill I NOT forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands;thy walls are continually before Me."
Isaiah 54:7-8 - "For asmall moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlastingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer."
Isaiah 62:4 - "Thoushalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termedDesolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORDdelighteth in thee and thy land shall be married."
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