Numbers 22, 23 and 24:
Three Consecutive, Irrefutable Chapters of Blessing for Israel

Among the Scriptural evidences available to us regarding the blessing upon Israel and the people of Israel, there is one story that summarily addresses the matter. It can be found in the book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 24.

These three consecutive chapters are really about one topic and one question: Are the people of Israel blessed? The answer comes to us very quickly in Numbers 22:12 when Balaam is admonished by God not to go with certain men who were sent by Balak, the king of Moab.

The reason why King Balak was sending for Balaam was very simple. He wanted Balaam to curse the people of Israel.

“Therefore,” he said, “Please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
(Numbers 22:6)

There are some interesting themes here. One of the themes that is often overlooked is the desire of the enemies of Israel to drive the people of Israel out of the land. Yet we find that it is as persistent today as it was back then. Even today, we have those who want to divide the land, and we have those who want to completely drive them out of the land.

“You shall not curse the people for they are blessed.”

The LORD’s response comes very quickly in Numbers 22:12.

“And God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people for they are blessed.'”
(Numbers 22:12 NKJV)

It was a very clear directive from God, and it was also a clear answer to the question as to whether the people of Israel are blessed. Read all three chapters (Numbers 22, 23 and 24), and you will realize that the matter is firmly established. It is settled forever. Yet just as Balak and Balaam went back and forth, people still go back and forth regarding God’s blessing on the people of Israel.

The Big Picture:
Understanding the Purpose of the Blessing

Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. In order to do so, we must ask an important question: “What was God’s purpose in blessing Abraham?” In Genesis 12:3, the promise was made with a purpose, and the purpose was to bless all of the families of the earth. Keep the big picture in mind, and it easier to understand why Balaam could not curse Israel even though Balak was prepared to “honor” him for doing so.

The short version of Numbers 22 through 24 is that God prevented Balaam from cursing Israel at every turn, because God promised a blessing upon Abraham and his descendants, namely the people of Israel. In other words, nothing other than blessing Israel would be compatible with the promise God made, because God’s promise had a very specific purpose, which was foreshadowed in the same verses in which the promise was made.

So instead of cursing Israel, Balaam blessed the people of Israel three times. Not only that, but Balaam went so far as to follow up the three blessings with an added bonus—prophecies concerning the Messiah.

In other words, God’s promise to bless Abraham has always been connected to His purpose for blessing Abraham. His purpose for blessing Abraham has always been to bless all the families of the earth. God’s plan has always been to accomplish this through the Messiah. The Messiah came into this world through the people of Israel and—more specifically—through the tribe of Judah, and history confirms that this in fact is how the Messiah came into the world.

Moses wrote about the Messiah

Ari grew up in the synagogue, one day he asked his Rabbi: “What will happen to you after you die?” His Rabbi’s response led Ari to a spiritual journey that dramatically changed his world forever. Click here to see the video.

In light of this, the most Jewish thing that a Jewish person can do is to recognize and believe in the Messiah. Yeshua (Jesus) referred to the writings of Moses when He said:

“If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.”
(John 5:46 NLT)

There are various ways in which Moses wrote about Jesus. But consider the manner in which Yeshua was described by His first followers:

Pilipos found Natan’el, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moshe in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Yeshua of Natzeret, the son of Yosef.”
(John 1:45 HNV)

This clearly indicates that their expectations regarding the identity of the Messiah were based upon what Moses wrote and what the prophets wrote. Moses (whose Hebrew name is Moshe) wrote the following in Deuteronomy:

15 The LORD your God will raise up to you a prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me; to him you shall listen;
16 according to all that you desired of the LORD your God in Horev in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.
17 The LORD said to me, They have well said that which they have spoken.
18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.
19 It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:15-19 HNV)

This was confirmed, of course, in the book of Acts by Stephen, who said:

37 “Moses himself told the people of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people.’
38 Moses was with our ancestors, the assembly of God’s people in the wilderness, when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai. And there Moses received life-giving words to pass on to us.
(Acts 7:37-38 NLT)

But Moses was not the only one who wrote about the Messiah. The list of prophets who wrote about the Messiah prior to His appearance extends beyond Moses. The prophet Isaiah revealed characteristics of the Messiah as well in Isaiah Chapter 53. Moreover, in the Book of Daniel, the Scriptures even revealed the time frame in which he would appear so that it would be possible to recognize Him.

A pivotal point in the discussion…

This, of course, is a pivotal point in the discussion, because rather than waiting for the Messiah as if He has not yet come, we have to look back in history and acknowledge that Messiah Prince already came. He came while the Second Temple was standing and before it was destroyed. History records that the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. According to the Scriptures, this means that the Messiah had to appear prior to 70 A.D. There is no other person at that time in history who fits the description and who claimed to be the Messiah other than Yeshua (Jesus). The complete history of these events is available as a free download in both streaming audio MP3 and PDF formats at LibriVox.

The Wars of the Jews
Flavius JOSEPHUS (37 – c. 100), translated by William WHISTON (1667 – 1752)

The Wars of the Jews (or The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, or as it usually appears in modern English translations, The Jewish War – original title: Phlauiou Iôsêpou historia Ioudaïkou polemou pros Rhômaious bibliona) is a book written by the 1st century Jewish historian Josephus.

The Messiah will come again, but it is essential to recognize that Yeshua (Jesus) is the only person in history who fits the prophetic descriptions of the Messiah.

The testimony of the TaNaKh

Even today, Messianic Jews who are sharing the message of salvation in Israel refer to the time frame in which the Messiah had to appear to prove that Yeshua (Jesus) is their Messiah. Tanakh is an acronym of the first Hebrew letter of each of the Masoretic Text’s three traditional subdivisions: Torah (“Teaching”, also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi’im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”)—hence TaNaKh. The TaNaKh is comprised of 24 books, including the book of Daniel, and we shall see in a few moments that the book of Daniel revealed the time frame in which the Messiah had to appear. But we will revisit this later.The significance of this is explained in Temples and Time Frames.

The testimony of Yeshua (Jesus)

Yeshua Himself spoke openly about the reason why He came into the world, and He foreshadowed the manner in which He would be killed. By saying that the Son of Man must be lifted up, He was providing a hidden reference to the cross upon which he would be crucified. We will look up the passage of Scripture which prophesied that the Messiah would appear while the Second Temple was still standing and before it was destroyed. That is in the book of Daniel. But first, let’s listen in on a late night conversation between the Messiah and one of the teachers of Israel.

1 Now there was a man of the Perushim named Nakdimon, a ruler of the Yehudim.
2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
3 Yeshua answered him, “Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nakdimon said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
(John 3:1-4 Hebrew Names Version)

“As Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…”

While the teacher struggled with the concept of being born again, Yeshua further explained:

14 As Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
(John 3:14-18 Hebrew Names Version)

The Serpent on the Pole:
A Universal Symbol

Notice the illustration given by Yeshua: “As Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.” This reference was foreshadowing the manner in which he also would be lifted up when He was crucified. The bronze snake on a pole that Moses lifted up so that those who looked upon it could be healed eventually became a universal symbol for the field of medicine. Yes, the serpent on the pole ensign comes from the Scriptures.

4 They journeyed from Mount Hor by the way to the Sea of Suf, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
5 The people spoke against God, and against Moshe, Why have you brought us up out of Mitzrayim to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread.
6 The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Yisra’el died.
7 The people came to Moshe, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD, and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. Moshe prayed for the people.
8 The LORD said to Moshe, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.
9 Moshe made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.
(Numbers 21:4-9 Hebrew Names Version)

The Brazen Serpent illustration from a Bible card published 1907 by Providence Lithograph Company (Public Domain)

But of all things…
Why a serpent?

You may be wondering, of all things, why would God use the symbol of a snake on a pole? It is because the serpent was cursed.

13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”
(Galatians 3:13 Hebrew Names Version)

Lest the fact that this is verse 13 go unnoticed, it is worth mentioning that every detail is significant. Is it any coincidence that this chapter and verse combination circles all the way around and back to Genesis 3:13?

13 The LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above every animal of the field. On your belly shall you go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18 Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
20 The man called his wife Havah, because she was the mother of all living.
(Genesis 3:13-20 Hebrew Names Version)

Used on Ambulances Worldwide

You have seen this symbol everywhere—perhaps without even realizing it—because this symbol is used on ambulances worldwide. Regardless of the language, regardless of the country, an ambulance almost isn’t an official ambulance unless it bears this symbol.

This symbol is used in Norway…

Public Domain courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norwegian_Volkswagen_Ambulance.jpg

This symbol is used in the Netherlands…

Imagine that. The Netherlands. This is a clear example of how universal this symbol really is. All over the world, people know that this symbol means that help is on the way.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Creative Commons licensing. Attribution: Nederlands: Een ambulance uit de regio Gelderland-Zuid (2013) | Date: 13 January 2013, 21:26:52 | Source: Own work | Author: Ramon Versteeg | Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ambulance_08116.JPG

When we see lights are flashing and sirens sounding on these vehicles, we pull over to the side of the road, because we know that these vehicles are going to help someone who is in trouble.

When we see what this symbol actually represents, the implications are profound.

When we realize that this symbol is used all over the world, we can appreciate its relevance.

But we realize that this symbol, which dates all the way back to Moses, was pointing forward to the Messiah, we will never be able to forget who and what it represents.

Who it represents. What it represents.

Keep these two things in mind, because there is only one Person in all of recorded history who not only claimed association with this symbol and also fulfilled every detail of what it represents.

And just in case you are wondering, this symbol is also used in…

This symbol is used everywhere, even in Israel…

Here you can see it on an emergency medical services scooter in Israel.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Creative Commons licensing. Attribution: English: An Ichud Hatzalah rapid response scooter parked in downtown Jerusalem. | Date: 22 September 2009 | Source: Own work | Author: Yoninah | Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ichud_Hatzalah_scooter.jpg

In fact, if you visit israelrescue.org, you will see that this symbol in every photo that is featured in the slider of their home page. This symbol is a universal symbol. It is used on ambulances and on the equipment of emergency response teams all over the world.

In the recent wave of terror in Israel, this symbol is racing all over Jerusalem, Nazareth and other cities. The serpent on the pole—a symbol associated with rescue, healing and salvation—is arriving on the scene wherever their is an emergency.

But few people recognize the Person who was foreshadowed when Moshe made a bronze serpent and put it on a pole in the wilderness. At that time, the Scriptures record that anyone who looked at the serpent on the pole would live.

In the same manner, when the Messiah associated himself with Moshe’s raising up the serpent in the wilderness, He was revealing three important things.

First, He was indicating the manner in which He would be killed. He was lifted up (John 3:14-18).

Second, He was indicating that He was going to take our place and become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

Third, the symbol revealed God’s plan of salvation. Messiah was raised up on a cross so that whosoever believes in Him could have eternal life (John 3:14-18).

God cursed the serpent.

Modern biologists confirm that serpents like the giant Anaconda have claws, which they explain were once legs. In fact, they even have pelvic bones. Most people are amazed to discover that snakes had legs and still have pelvic bones.

What does this imply?

It means that they used to walk.

But where they attribute this change to evolution over millions of years, the Scriptures provide a much simpler explanation.

God cursed the serpent.

But let’s not get stuck on the question of whether snakes had legs. The evidence suggests that they did. The connection that needs to be made is more important than that. The connection is found within the Scriptures, and the whole point is that the Messiah chose to associate Himself with the story of Moses lifting up the serpent on a pole for a reason, and the Scriptures describe the reason in complete detail in Isaiah 53.

When God used the symbol of the serpent on a pole, he was foreshadowing both how and why the Messiah would suffer.

13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”
(Galatians 3:13 Hebrew Names Version)

The Messiah became a curse for us in order to save us.

Genesis 3:13 and Galatians 3:13
An Unmistakable Correlation

According to the TaNaKh, The Messiah had to appear while the Second Temple was standing and before it was destroyed. It was destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus and the Roman legions. All of this is a matter of recorded history, and it is available in the writings of Flavius Josephus. Click here for access.

The correlation between Genesis 3:13 and Galatians 3:13 is unmistakable, because they are both about the same topic. They are both about the curse. In Genesis 3:13-19, the serpent is cursed, and Galatians 3:13 the Messiah redeemed those who put their trust in Him from the curse of the law. He did this by becoming a curse for us.

With this in mind, we are prepared to revisit something that we touched upon earlier, and that is the fact that the book of Daniel revealed the time frame in which Messiah had to appear. When we refer back to Daniel 9:25-27, it is important to keep this in mind when we read in some translations of the Scriptures that the Messiah would be cut off, but not for himself. In other words, He would be executed. But it wasn’t for any crime on His part; it was a substitutionary death for us.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
(Daniel 9:25-27 KJV)

Suffice it to say that this correlation is consistent with other passages in the Scriptures which foretold the suffering of the Messiah. Clearly, passages like those found in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 revealed that the Messiah) had to suffer.

Therefore, according to the TaNaKh, the Messiah Prince had to appear while the Second Temple was still standing and prior to its destruction. The Scriptures reveal this to us in the book of Daniel. (See Temples and Time Frames…)

But first, we will watch an important video—one which poses some very relevant questions…

“Do Jewish people need Yeshua?
Or is Jesus only for the Gentiles?”

Please note that selected videos provided within this article are complementary to the written content. So please watch the videos as well as reading the article in order to derive the greatest benefit from the article. More than likely, the perspectives and passages within the Scriptures which are not covered in this article are covered in the videos. This is to keep the article to a manageable length.

What is the best way to bless Israel?
A growing number of Israeli Jews are discovering that the best way to bless Israel is with Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua is the Hebrew name of the Messiah, and it means “The LORD saves.” (See the video…)

Everyone needs Yeshua

So while it is clear that Israel is blessed, they need Yeshua (Jesus) to be saved. It is not necessary to choose between being blessed and being saved. Why? Because being saved is the greatest blessing, and it is available to all. Even in the midst of all that is happening in the region, stories of hope are making it to the surface as “…hundreds of Jewish and Arab believers met together on Saturday [October 17, 2015] to worship the Messiah together in unity, and yet more Israeli new believers were baptised at the weekend, publicly declaring their faith in Yeshua!”

Jewish and Arab believers are coming together to worship the Messiah in unity.

These and other stories of hope are being reported. (Read more…)

God’s plan includes both Jews and Gentiles

God chose to bring the Promised Messiah into this world through Israel. In light of this, Israel is not exempt them from God’s plan of salvation. With respect to repentance for sins and acceptance of the Messiah, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. God’s plan includes both Jews and Gentiles.

God’s plan includes all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues:

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
(Revelation 7:9-14 NKJV)

Let the Lion Roar

This would be an appropriate time to make an important movie recommendation regarding God’s purposes for every believer in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.

“Let the Lion Roar needs to be seen by every believer!” ~ The Dove Foundation

Let the Lion Roar is a movie which was produced every believer in Yeshua (Jesus) to understand and reach their full potential through a proper understanding of God’s continuing purposes for His people. Click here to learn more about a movie and a movement that is awakening God’s people.

The Everlasting Covenant
(and the Error of Replacement Theology)

God’s plan of salvation still involves Israel. This should be obvious, but there are those—even among Christian churches—who believe that the Church has replaced Israel. This is called Replacement Theology, and it erroneously denies the fact that God’s covenant with the descendants of Abraham is an everlasting covenant.

7 “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”
(Genesis 17:7 NIV)

This covenant is reaffirmed elsewhere in the Scriptures, and it was confirmed specifically to Israel, once again, as an everlasting covenant.

15 He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”
(1 Chronicles 16:15-18 NIV)

These same words are also recorded in the Psalm 105:

8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”
(Psalm 105:8-11 NIV)

In other words, what is recorded in the history books is also echoed in Israel’s songs of worship. So—whether or not they remember—anyone who has read the Bible in its entirety has read these words at least twice. This matter is settled. Nevertheless, even though God makes a point of repeating this in the Scriptures, people still miss it. In some cases, God’s everlasting covenant with Israel is simply not acknowledged; in other cases, it is misinterpreted.

What is “Replacement Theology?”

To counter the error of replacement theology, we need only to remember that God’s covenant with Israel is an everlasting covenant.

Simply put, those who subscribe to replacement theology believe three things:

• that the Christian church has replaced national Israel regarding the plan, purpose, and promises of God
• that the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and
• that God does not have specific, future plans for the nation of Israel.

To counter the error of replacement theology, we need only to remember that God’s covenant with Israel is an everlasting covenant. (This should be abundantly clear by now.) Erick Stakelbeck, host of the The Watchman program on CBN News, joined Derek Frank, author of Escaping the Great Deception and narrator of the movie Let The Lion Roar for an interview in which they addressed the error of replacement theology. You can see the interview on YouTube. With respect to the future, a reading of the book of Revelation reveals that God has very specific plans for Israel, and we are going to see this in a few moments. But before we read about Israel in the book of Revelation, we can gain valuable perspective from the book of Romans.

Romans 9, 10 and 11

When questions or challenges about God’s future plans for Israel arise, they usually pertain to identity. In other words, who are the true descendants of Abraham? But it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, all of this is sorted out in detail in the three chapters of the book of Romans (see Romans chapters 9, 10 and 11). Unfortunately, some who reference these chapters see in them only that which they want to see and ignore the rest. Yet everything is there if you want to see it. In the interest of time, we are going to summarize, and as the summary of most presentations comes at the end, we will consider the following selection from Romans chapter 11, because it basically summarizes everything in chapters 9 and 10:

17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.
18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”
20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.
21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.
24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
(Romans 11:17-24 NLT)

A few of the key points to keep in mind are as follows:

• God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants is an everlasting covenant,
• Gentile believers are grafted in, and
• if God is able to graft in the wild branches (i.e., the Gentile believers), then He is also able to graft back in any of the original branches which were broken off in order to make room for the wild branches.

Additional clarification is provided in Galatians, which closely parallels the themes in the book of Romans. Galatians chapter 3 reveals with complete clarity, for example, what the whole purpose of the law really was from the beginning:

24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith.
(Galatians 3:24 HNV)

Israel in the Book of Revelation

Israel has a very significant role in God’s plan. This is very apparent in Revelation 14:1-5. Clear references to Israel also appear in Revelation 21:12 (where we can see that the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel are written on the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem).

12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
(Revelation 21:12 NKJV)

(Incidentally, it is interesting to note how so many key verses concerning Israel contain the number 12. Let’s see now… We’ve got Genesis 12:3, Zechariah 12:3, Revelation 12:13-17, Numbers 22:12, Revelation 21:12 and so on. Some will argue that is a coincidence. On the other hand, the number twelve sure makes it easy to remember key chapters and verses concerning Israel.)

The Woman, the Child and the Dragon

Among the most important references to Israel in the book of Revelation, however, we are going to focus on Revelation 12. It is only 17 verses long in the New King James Version, so it is a quick read.

(Click here to read the entire chapter at Bible Gateway.)

Throughout the Scriptures, twelve is a number which is closely associated with Israel, and Revelation chapter 12 is no exception. This passage in the Bible clearly pertains to Israel. But how do we know this? We know this through the symbolism that it uses. The story within this passage uses symbolism to illustrate that it was the nation of Israel through whom God chose to bring the Messiah into this world. Moreover, it does so in such a way that enables us to understand and interpret why certain things are happening today with respect to Israel.

In fact, that is why the dragon, which represents the devil, was enraged with the woman (representing the nation of Israel). Even today, people are enraged with the nation of Israel.

But this begs the question: Why?

No. The real reason. What is the real reason? Why was the dragon enraged with the woman? Why is the dragon still enraged with the woman even to this day? Why has the dragon done everything within its power to destroy the woman and to destroy the male Child that she brought into this world?

Yes, the reason that most of the people of Israel still do not understand.

Yes, THAT reason.

Some people confuse the symbolism in Revelation 12:13-17. They read the passage and erroneously ascribe the identity of the woman in this passage to the church. The woman in Revelation chapter 12 gives birth to a male Child, which clearly refers to the Messiah. How could the Church give birth to the Messiah?

No. The woman described in Revelation 12 is clearly a reference to Israel.

The Woman Persecuted

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Revelation 12:13-17 KJV)

That is why the dragon was enraged with her, even if she does not understand why. But now we need to take a second look at verse 17, because not only is the dragon obsessed with persecuting the woman who gave birth to the male Child. He is at war with the rest of her offspring.

The Rest of the Woman’s Offspring

Who are the rest of the woman’s offspring? The passage reveals this to us quite clearly. The rest of the woman’s offspring—oh, please don’t miss this—the rest of the woman’s offspring are those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But lest you be overwhelmed by the thought of keeping the commandments of God, remember that Messiah fulfilled every one of them perfectly for you if your trust is in Him. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote:

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
(Galatians 2:20 New Living Translation)

In other words, the rest of the woman’s offspring are believers in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, the male Child of Revelation chapter 12. This includes all believers in Yeshua. This includes Jewish believers. This includes Arab believers in Yeshua. Pick any country. Pick any ethnicity. The “rest of her offspring” is a phrase which includes every believer in Christ.

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.
29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
(Romans 2:28-29 New Living Translation)

That is why the dragon wants to divide Jerusalem. That is why the dragon wants to drive Israel out of the land. That is why the dragon is also at war with the rest of her offspring. That is why a Dutch believer who is stabbed in the recent wave of terror attacks is proof that the dragon is still enraged. Even though she is not a Jew outwardly, she is a Jew inwardly—the way that truly matters most to God.

“…a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God.”
(Romans 2:29 New Living Translation)

Circumcision of the Heart

This is circumcision of the heart, and the Apostle Paul did not simply pluck this expression out of thin air. It is originally found in the TaNaKh. In fact, the Scriptures present this concept in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done—burn with no one to quench it.

Jeremiah 9:25
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh—

Jeremiah 9:26
Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

So we are not speaking figuratively to take anything away from Israel. To the contrary, we are seeing what the everlasting covenant with Abraham—the covenant He confirmed with Israel—is really based upon. True circumcision is circumcision of the heart, and a circumcised heart is a believing heart. A circumcised heart is an obedient heart. A circumcised heart is a softened heart—not a hard heart. A circumcised heart is a heart of flesh—not a heart of stone. So when God goes to such great lengths to reveal that His plan and to provide so many proofs that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah, a circumcised heart is one that submits to His plan and is credited with the righteousness which Abraham received when he believed God.

Consider the experience of Abraham; as the scripture says, “He believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.”
(Galatians 3:6 GNT)

Thank God for the symbolism that He, in His wisdom, provided us in the prophecies. Just consider who wants to divide the city of Jerusalem. Just consider those who want to drive the people of Israel out of the land. Just consider those who are at war with the rest of her offspring. The news—regardless of the channels—is of little value to you unless you are able to interpret the cause and the reasons why. Once you understand the symbolism, you begin to understand why certain things are happening. With respect to understanding the symbolism, the first step is to acknowledge the givens, because the meaning of the key symbols are often spelled out for us very clearly. Once you have identified the key symbols with an understanding of what they represent, the second step is to take a closer look and examine the additional details which are provided. Even when we do not know why certain details provided, you can rest assured that they are provided for a reason. The details matter.

Understanding the Symbolism
Step One: Acknowledging the Obvious

Let’s take another look at Revelation 12. In particular we are going to focus on verses 1-12.

(Click here to access the chapter at Bible Gateway.)

When you understand the symbolism in Revelation 12, you will know who is working for the dragon, because they are also enraged with the woman. And even if they do not realize it, they are enraged with her, because she brought forth the Messiah. The dragon is enraged with Israel, because it is through Israel that the Messiah came into this world. That is the real reason why the dragon (and those who serve him) are enraged with Israel, which, once again, is represented by the woman. Specifically, the Messiah came through the tribe of Judah. But make no mistake about it. The male Child of Revelation chapter 12 came through Israel, and “the rest of the woman’s offspring” are the Messiah’s followers.

Understanding the Symbolism
Step Two: Examining the Details

Upon close examination, we realize that the symbols in Revelation 12 have some very specific and interesting details—details which are easily overlooked. For example, why would the dragon have seven heads and ten horns? Details like this may seem inconsequential. But could they be concealing something significant? A recent prophecy conference—one which featured presentations by Walid Shoebat—closely examined details like this. You may find it helpful with respect to understanding prophecies like those in Revelation 12.

Click here to see a segment of the conference video.

Hang on…
Hairpin Turn Ahead

Hang on… and make sure you have both hands on the wheel… because this next transition is like a hairpin turn.

At this point in the study, it is necessary to slow down to make this next transition, because—figuratively speaking—it’s like a hairpin turn. So far we have been progressing right along. The tires have a good grip on the road and the vehicle is easily handled.

But there are certain times when the road conditions make it more challenging to drive. There are times when you have to dramatically reduce your speed and make sure that you have both hands on the wheel until you make it all the way through the turn.

This is one of those times.

If you have driven for any length of time, you know what a hairpin turn is like. Well, we are approaching a hairpin turn.

Once we make it through this turn, the road straightens out and the view will be absolutely incredible. Yet as we approach this turn, you will feel an obvious change in the momentum as we slow down so that we can make it through the turn.

We enter the turn with a question—a question which history has already answered for us.

Nevertheless, it is a question which we must ponder.

We now proceed into the turn with great caution as we ask the question…

Question:
Would God allow His people to be driven out of their land?

Theologically speaking, this question is a hairpin turn. It is almost counterintuitive, because it is so difficult to contemplate a question like this. But we must acknowledge the relevance of this question. We don’t want to admit it any more than we want to ask it.

Why would God allow His people to be driven out of their own land—the land which He gave to them? The Scriptures revealed the answer to this question in advance, and history confirms every detail.

18 “Yet even in those days I will not blot you out completely,” says the Lord.
19 “And when your people ask, ‘Why did the Lord our God do all this to us?’ you must reply, ‘You rejected him and gave yourselves to foreign gods in your own land. Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’
20 “Make this announcement to Israel, and say this to Judah:
21 Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.
22 Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence?
I, the Lord, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set.
23 But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me.
24 They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God,
for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’
25 Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.
(Jeremiah 5:18-25 NLT)

The LORD issued some very serious warnings to the Israelites through His servants the prophets. He warned them that He would drive them out of the land that He gave to them if they were disobedient to the terms of His covenant with them. He warned them in advance not to commit in the same sins that had been committed by the people who were in the land before them.
(See Deuteronomy Chapter 7).

He sent them prophet after prophet to warn them to repent prior to the Babylonian captivity.
(See Jeremiah Chapter 27:10 and Ezekiel 11:9.)

The important thing to keep in mind is that God’s reasons for driving them out were completely different than those of Israel’s enemies. God’s reasons were for discipline in order to turn the hearts of His people back to Himself. Yet even when God drove them out, the prophets revealed that He would bring them back into their land. The Scriptures revealed that a time would come in which they will never be uprooted again.
(See Amos 9:14-15).

The Babylonian Captivity

The Scriptures foretold that this would happen (See Jeremiah Chapter 27), and history records that it did.

“The Babylonian captivity or Babylonian exile is the period in Jewish history during which a number of Judahites of the ancient Kingdom of Judah were captives in Babylonia. After the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, resulting in tribute being paid by King Jehoiakim.”
(Source: Wikipedia, More on this…)

Yet even though he was taken into Babylon, the prophet Daniel knew when it was time for the Jews to return to their land, because he studied the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. The seventy years of exile were announced in Jeremiah 29:10-12.

10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place.
(Jeremiah 29:10 AMP)

Isn’t that amazing, even before He allowed His people to be driven out of their land, the LORD was already letting them know that the punishment would be for a limited time frame. It was going to be for 70 years. And He was letting them know in advance that He was going to keep His good promise to them. In other words, He would never forget the everlasting covenant that He made with Abraham and confirmed with Israel. The LORD was letting the people of Israel know in advance that He would bring them back to this place. That is, He would bring the descendants of Israel back to their land.

11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.
(Jeremiah 29:11-12 AMP)

Now with respect to the 70 years of punishment, it is believed that this period of time coincided with the number of years of Shemitah violations—that is, the number of times that the people of Judah ignored God’s command that the land should rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:1-7, Lev 20-22; 26:33-35; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21).

Once again, God’s reason for driving His people out of the land are different from Israel’s enemies reasons for desiring to drive them out of the land. God’s reasons were for discipline in order to bring His people back to Himself.

On the other hand…

On the other hand, the enemies of Israel have sought to drive them out of their land for different reasons altogether.

1 O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
(Psalm 83:1-4 NIV)

If verse four sounds familiar, perhaps it is because it is repeated continuously by the enemies of Israel. Just remember the woman, the male Child and the dragon of Revelation 12, and you will understand the ultimate reason for the conspiracy against Israel as revealed in Psalm 83. Yet the foreshadows of animosity between the woman and the dragon go all the way back to Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and even then the reasons for this animosity were revealed. The Seed of the woman (See Genesis 3:15) was a reference to the Messiah, and the Messiah came through the tribe of Judah.

In other words, the Messiah would be a Jew.

Salvation comes from the Jews

Remember what Yeshua (Jesus) told the woman at the well?

“Salvation comes from the Jews.”
(John 4:22)

Why did He say that? The answer should be obvious by now. Salvation comes from the Jews, because the Messiah came through the Jews. So the statement is actually more about Him than it is about it is about them.

Salvation comes from the Jews, because Yeshua comes from the Jews. In fact, the name Yeshua means, “The LORD saves.” Technically, the subject of the sentence is the word salvation, and yet the focus of the sentence appears to be the Jews.

Why is this?

Clearly, the association is intentional, and the statement is made in such a way as to insure that the two are inseparable. The Messiah had to come into the world somehow, right? The Scriptures revealed that He would come through the tribe of Judah, which means that He was (and is) Jewish. This understanding is essential because it is foundational.

The King of the Jews

God made a decision to bring the Messiah through the people of Israel and, more specifically, through the tribe of Judah. (Jews are from the tribe of Judah, and, according the Scriptures, the Messiah Himself would be a Jew).
The wise men knew this.

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
(Matthew 2:2)

The Spirit of Grace and Supplication

According to Zechariah, chapter 12, a day is coming when all of Israel will recognize that Yeshua (Jesus) is their true Messiah just as surely as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt. Until then, yet not for very much longer by the looks of things, the day is coming when the prophecies in Zechariah 12 will come to pass.

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”
(Zechariah 12:10 NKJV)

Dry Bones

The vision of the valley of dry bones is located in Ezekiel chapter 37. In this chapter, the LORD specifically reveals the identity of a people who were brought back to life.

Click here to watch a related video. The video will open in a new window, so you will not lose your place in this article. Simply close the video when you are done, and you will see this article again.

“Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.”
(Ezekiel 37:11-12)

Pause there for a moment. Notice the number 12 again. It sure makes these verses easy to remember, doesn’t it?

The Whole House of Israel

In Ezekiel 37:12, God promised that He would bring the whole house of Israel back to life, and He promised that He would bring them back into the land of Israel. Is this to be interpreted literally or figuratively? Well, let’s see…

Historically, we can see that this happened on May 14, 1948, when Israel was reborn as a nation state. Nevertheless, the enemies of Israel have been very persistent in their attempts to drive the people of Israel out of the land of Israel. Not surprisingly, every employer provides a job description, and when the job description entails driving the people out of the land of Israel, you know right there that the boss is a dragon. So what do you do? You seek employment elsewhere. You change teams. You switch sides. We will revisit this thought again later. In the meantime, consider the following questions.

Is it possible for a person who is submitted to God’s will and His Word to oppose the people of Israel?
No.

Is it possible for someone who loves God to reject His chosen people Israel?

Of course not.

Click here to learn more about this amazing documentary.

Against All Odds

Israel has survived against all odds. If this indeed is the time in history about which the LORD was referring when He promised that Israel would never be uprooted again, how could anyone who is truly serving the LORD join forces with those who seek to drive the people of Israel from the land of Israel?

14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.
(Amos 9:14-15 KJV)

If this indeed is the time about which the prophet Joel prophesied in which the LORD will gather the nations to judge them for how they treated His people and for dividing His land?

1 “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 3:1-2 NKJV)

As you can see, the prophecy in Joel parallels the prophecy in Amos. Both of them prophesied that God would bring His people back to their land. Both of them prophesied that God would bring them back to their land. This, of course, has happened. Yet while the focus of Amos 9:14-15 is the promise that Israel would never again be pulled up out of their land, the focus of Joel 3:1-2 is the judgment of the nations for how they treated God’s chosen people.

The Consequences of Dividing Up the Land

Would God actually punish individuals and even nations for dividing—or even attempting to divide—the land of Israel? In light of the foregoing verses (Joel 3:1-2) and God’s everlasting covenant with Israel (1 Chronicles 16:15-18 and Psalm 105:8-11), the consequences for dividing up the land of Israel is very real. Moreover, recent history seems to confirm a correlation between efforts to divide the land of Israel and “natural” disasters.

Of course, most people would quickly dismiss the idea that God would judge and punish nations for dividing up the land of Israel as being far-fetched. That is because they do not understand the nature of a covenant and—more specifically—how serious God really is about keeping His covenant promises. Nevertheless, the world’s ignorance of God’s word and His ways does not diminish His commitment to keeping His word.

12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it.”
(Jeremiah 1:12 AMP)

John McTernan is an author who has studied whether there is in fact a correlation between modern efforts to divide the land of Israel and severe consequences in the form of “natural” disasters.

How about you? Do you believe that such a correlation could actually exist? Or do you dismiss the whole idea that such a correlation could actually exist as being far-fetched?

Click here to see a video which features John McTernan on Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural as he describes his findings.

Click here to preview some of the books he has authored. The book in which he really delves into this topic is entitled God’s Final Warning to America.

With a background in law enforcement, John McTernan is one of the original founders of International Cops for Christ Ministries. He served 25 years in federal law enforcement. The documentation he provides for these correlations is quite extensive, and he demonstrates how efforts to divide the land of Israel have to share front page headlines with what people usually refer to as “natural” disasters.

The Apple of God’s Eye

So with all these things in mind, why would anyone dare to touch the apple of God’s eye? The phrase “apple of God’s eye” is an expression, which means His most precious possession.

For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.
(Zechariah 2:8 ESV)

Walid Shoebat is a former Arab terrorist who was born in Bethlehem. But his attitude toward Israel and the Jewish people was changed when he received Yeshua (Jesus), the Jewish Messiah. Since then, he has defended Israel’s right to their land and teaches Bible prophecy with Middle Eastern insights and perspective. Click here to see this video.

So while nations seek to “internationalize” the land of Israel, we see that Israel is standing up to them, because Israel obviously knows what’s at stake. It is common knowledge, for example, that the Hamas Charter permits neither negotiation or coexistence with Israel.

“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.”
(Reference: Article 13, Hamas Charter)

It has been said that a blessing is a positive word spoken, and a curse is a negative word spoken. Yet silence can also speak volumes. In fact, when the Prime Minister of Israel addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September of 2015, one of the issues he raised was the silence—”deafening silence”—of the international community concerning existential threats against the people of Israel. Israel is reaching out for friends right now—not silence. Lately, it would appear that good friends are hard to find. Nevertheless, the power of the good news of Yeshua (Jesus) is such that it can transform even an enemy of Israel into one of Israel’s most devoted allies. How is this possible? It is because the Gospel (i.e., the good news about the Messiah) is the power of God for salvation.

16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Yehudi first, and also for the Yevanit.
(Romans 1:16 HNV)

(Note: The link will open in a separate tab, so you will not lose your place in this article.)We will revisit this point shortly, but for the moment, consider—at least in microcosm—the testimony of a former Arab terrorist who was born in Bethlehem. Walid Shoebat was a member of the PLO, and he hated Israel and the Jewish people. But his attitude toward Israel and the Jewish people was completely changed when he received Yeshua (Jesus), the Jewish Messiah. Since then, he has defended Israel’s right to their land, and he teaches Bible prophecy with Middle Eastern insights and perspective. Is this not the kind of friendship that Israel is seeking? Of course it is. But we must be careful not to forget how this this friendship was achieved. It is achieved through someone receiving the good news of Messiah, which the Bible says is the power of God. That is what removes the hostility.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
(Ephesians 2:14 NLT)

This is also why the good news of Messiah is also referred to as the Gospel of peace (See Ephesians 6:15).

Are you looking for an enduring peace?
Are you serious about removing the hostility?
The good news of Messiah is the solution to the problem.
The good news of Messiah is the answer.

“What is the answer?”

The “Sword of Gideon” (movie), starring Steven Bauer and Michael York, chronicles a Mossad team which was hand-picked to hunt down the terrorists involved in the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre of Israeli athletes. Click here for more details or to watch it on Amazon Prime.

This question is associated with the most pivotal scenes in a highly rated—albeit little-known—movie entitled “Sword of Gideon.” When an Israeli army commando is recruited by Mossad, he goes out with a small team, a set of specific rules and a list of seven names. His mission is to hunt down and exact Israeli justice upon the terrorists who organized the massacre of Israeli athletes who were participating in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

You can see this movie (as well as many other excellent documentaries about Israel) on Amazon.com. In fact, if you have an Amazon Prime account, you can watch it instantly here. The movie has an unusual viewing format (i.e., The aspect ratio is a square as opposed to wide screen), but the acting is excellent.

But you may be wondering… What is the purpose of this movie recommendation? The purpose is answer a question which is raised at a pivotal point the movie.

At a certain point in the movie, the leader of the team reports back to his recruiter, and he expresses his concerns. “If we keep taking an eye for an eye, everyone is going to end up blind.” His recruiter does his best to respond to his concerns, but, eventually, after all his responses are exhausted, the recruiter sits down at his desk, leans back and asks a question.

“What is the answer?”

The team leader, who is pacing back and forth in the room, grapples with the question. Ultimately, he replies, “I don’t know.”

The question marks a defining moment—indeed, a pivotal moment—in the movie. But aside from the movie, that question is as relevant today as it was then.

ישוע
Yeshua ( Jesus ) is the answer.

While the answer to this question is ignored, overlooked and dismissed, the answer is the good news of Messiah. In one case study after another, the good news of Messiah has proven itself. It has proven its power to change hearts, because it is, in fact, the power of God for salvation.

Yeshua (ישוע, with vowel pointing יֵשׁוּעַ – yēšūă‘ in Hebrew)^[1] was a common alternative form of the name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (“Yehoshuah” – Joshua) in later books of the Hebrew Bible and among Jews of the Second Temple period. Meaning “salvation” in Hebrew, it was also the most common form of the name Jesus when he was alive hence the name corresponds to the Greek spelling Iesous, from which, through the Latin Iesus, comes the English spelling Jesus.^[2][3]

Video Testimonial: An Ex-Hezbollah Iranian Muslim saw Jesus… and Jesus identified Himself to Him.

Who else has the power to change hearts and break down walls of hostility like Yeshua?

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
(Ephesians 2:14 NLT)

If you need more examples of how the good news of Messiah can transform people into the greatest and most vocal supporters of Israel, the roster of testimonials is enormous and growing by the day. Each one of these testimonials is proof positive of the power of the Gospel—that is, the good news of Yeshua (Jesus).

Consider the stories and video testimonials of Muslims who became Christians. In addition to receiving the Jewish Messiah, these are people who gained a deep and genuine love for the Jewish people, because they understand the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

For even more video testimonials, click here.
(Note: The link will open in a separate tab, so you will not lose your place in this article.)

Are you a friend of Israel?

Are you a true friend of Israel? Are you willing to speak up for her? Or do you prefer to remain silent whenever Israel is the topic of discussion in order to be “politically correct?” We do well to ask ourselves a few questions with respect to what we say about Israel. We do even better, however, when we realize that the best way to bless Israel is with the good news of Messiah. We have read Romans 1:16 a moment ago in the Hebrew Names Version of the Bible. Here it is in the New Living Translation:

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
(Romans 1:16 NLT)

So, once again, the best way to bless Israel is with the good news of Messiah.

But Israel also needs people to speak up for their right to exist, for their right to their land and for their right to defend themselves. If anything, the Jewish people are more likely to respond to the good news about Messiah from someone who defends them and speaks up for them than from those who do not. Still, friendship is not expressed in words alone; it is also expressed materially and practically.

Above and Beyond

There have also been times when the kind of friendship that Israel has needed is the kind that is willing to take risks. It is the friendship that goes above and beyond, and this was the kind of friendship which was necessary in 1948.

With absolute certainty, it was known that the declaration of statehood by Israel would be met by an immediate military attack—an attack which Israel was not prepared to confront. The main reason why the nation of Israel was not prepared to confront its enemies is that they did not have an air force.

The documentary Above and Beyond: It wasn’t their country, but they made it their war is about the creation of Israel’s first air force. It is the incredible story of American pilots who flew for Israel in 1948. Most importantly, it embodies the kind of friendship—not to mention courage and valor—that was willing to take risks in order to help Israel in an hour of need.

Obviously, the Israeli Air Force has come a long way since then. If you are interested in the latest posts regarding Israel’s Defense Forces, the IDF provides updates on its facebook page and on its website, the IDF Blog.

Messianic Soldiers in the IDF

A recent study was conducted which revealed some remarkable statistics regarding Messianic soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). By Messianic soldiers, we are referring to soldiers who believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Jewish Messiah who was foretold in the Scriptures.

A related info-graphic reveals some amazing stats in extensive details concerning Messianic soldiers who are serving in the IDF.

Kehila News Israel (KNI) is a news and media website which rovides valuable insights regarding the Messianic Jewish Community in Israel. The info-graphic above is one such example.

You can follow KNI on Facebook and on Twitter.

The About page on their website shares their passion for proclaiming the truth about the Messiah.

Yeshua Needs to be proclaimed!

Israel needs Yeshua. Gentiles need Yeshua. The whole world needs Yeshua, and Yeshua alone. Kehila News brings you the news through the eyes of Messianic Jewish believers: How is biblical prophecy being fulfilled in these very days? Where are we in the prophetic timeline? How is the Iran deal connected to all this?

With respect to the Messianic soldiers who are presently serving in the IDF, Kehila News Israel published an article entitled Messianic Soldiers in the Israeli Army: Bolder than Ever about Their Faith that considers the profound significance and impact that they are having as their fellow soldiers—and even their officers—are taking interest and asking questions about Yeshua.

Why do the heathen rage?

By definition, a rhetorical question is one for which you already know the answer in advance. The Scriptures often ask questions like this. In Psalm 2, we read an important question.

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

The Kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem. Incredible! Click here to see an unforgettable video.

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
(Psalm 2 KJV)

Why would kings and rulers conspire against the Lord, and against his anointed?

While Psalm 2 is focused upon those who do not believe in God and their conspiracies against the Him, their are also references to the Messiah when it says, “against the Lord, and against his anointed.”

In the Hebrew Names Version (HNV) of the Bible, the title Anointed One is referring to the Messiah. The Scriptures are referring to the same person. It is just that different versions of the English translations refer to Him differently.

So when Psalm 2 describes rulers taking counsel against the Lord and against his anointed, we should understand that this passage of Scripture is also a Messianic prophecy, because it is referring to the Messiah.

Psalm 2 gets even more descriptive in verses six and seven with respect to the king of Zion when we realize that He is the begotten Son. In verse eight, therefore, the Father is giving all of the nations of the earth to the Son.

The remaining verses of the Psalm shift their entire focus to the Son, what our response should be to Him and the benefit of a proper response to Him.

What’s your opinion?

If, after seeing the rebirth of the nation of Israel, you are still intent on speaking against the people of Israel (or against the leaders who are working to defend her), then you may need to reconsider your opinions in light of God’s promises to Israel.

“How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?”
(Numbers 23:8)

Moreover, the Scripture reveals…

“For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel.”
(Numbers 23:23)

In Numbers chapter 24, the Scriptures make it very clear that the Spirit of God came upon him when he spoke concerning Israel.

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!”
(Numbers 24:5)

And within the context of the same oracle, there is no mistaking the conclusion.

“Blessed is he who blesses [Israel], and cursed is he who curses [Israel].”
(Numbers 24:9)

Balak’s Anger Foreshadowed the Dragon’s Rage

Have you ever seen someone so angry about something that they pounded their fist into the palm of their hand? Well, that is essentially what Balak, the King of Moab, did when Balaam concluded the oracle with those final words.

“Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, ‘I have called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times!'”
(Numbers 24:10)

The word anger uses the same letters as the word enrage, and the word danger uses the same letters as enraged. Well, Balak was enraged, because Balaam blessed Israel in three separate oracles. But the encounter was not over yet.

Balak informs Balaam that he just forfeited his honorarium. In spite of Balak’s anger, Balaam still had a few more things to say:

“Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”
(Numbers 24:14)

In case you are wondering, we are living in the latter days, and you can read verses 15 through 25 on your own.

Prophetic Gems in Numbers Chapter 24

But we will examine a couple of gems in this passage with respect to the real reason why the dragon was enraged at the woman (which represents Israel) in Revelation chapter 12.

“I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel…”
(Numbers 24:17)

He proceeded to prophecy…

“Out of Jacob, One shall have dominion…”
(Numbers 24:19)

These are Messianic Prophecies

Clearly, these are Messianic prophecies. That is, they were foretelling the coming of the Messiah. They are referring to the male Child described in Revelation 12. They are referring to the Messiah prince described in Daniel 9:25. They are referring to the Yeshua (Jesus), the Promised One.

You will recall that the dragon in Revelation chapter 12 was enraged because the people of Israel (represented by the woman) would bring forth the Messiah. The dragon was enraged because she was part of God’s plan for salvation. The dragon was enraged because the Messiah Himself told the woman at the well that salvation comes from the Jews.
And everyone who works for the dragon will be enraged for these very same reasons.

Nevertheless, Israel and the people of Israel are blessed.
They always will be blessed, because God promised that they are blessed.

Prophecy Fulfilled: Israel is Back in the Land

Since May 14, 1948, Israel has been back in the land that God has given to them, and in 1967 the Jewish people regained control over the city of Jerusalem during the Six Day War. How about a multinational sneak attack in 1973? The Yom Kippur War returns the same results yet again. Israel has survived against all odds.

As Foretold by the Prophet Amos

Is this that time in history about which the prophet Amos spoke when he prophesied that Israel will never be uprooted again? It sure looks like it, because, against all odds, Israel has survived every attack since the day after the state of Israel was reborn in 1948.

14 I will bring back the captivity of my people Yisra’el, And they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, And eat the fruit of them.
15 I will plant them on their land, And they will no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them,” says the LORD your God.
(Amos 9:14-15 HNV)

As Foretold by the Prophet Zechariah

Is this also the time about which the prophet Zechariah spoke regarding those who burden themselves with Jerusalem?

1 An oracle. The word of the LORD concerning Yisra’el. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the eretz, and forms the spirit of man within him says:
2 “Behold, I will make Yerushalayim a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and on Yehudah also will it be in the siege against Yerushalayim.
3 It will happen in that day, that I will make Yerushalayim a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the eretz will be gathered together against it.
4 In that day,” says the LORD, “I will strike every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes on the house of Yehudah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
5 The chieftains of Yehudah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Yerushalayim are my strength in the LORD of Hosts their God.’
6 In that day I will make the chieftains of Yehudah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Yerushalayim will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Yerushalayim.
(Zechariah 12:1-6 HNV)

“Can these bones live?”

Some questions are rhetorical in nature, because the answer is obviously known. However, there are some questions for which the answer is less certain. Such was the case when the LORD asked Ezekiel the questions that many are asking today regarding Israel. Ezekiel did not know, but he knew that God knew.

3 He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? I answered, Lord GOD, you know.
4 Again he said to me, Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, you dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
(Ezekiel 37:3-5 HNV)

“There was a noise, and suddenly a rattling…”

Remember what the Messiah said. If God is able to turn stones into the children of Abraham, how much more can He bring back to life those who are returning to the land by the dozens every day. While many split hairs and debate over who the true Israelites are—and we would not diminish the importance of this—but God is bringing people back to the land. He has been bringing them back over the years, but lately He has been bringing them back by the dozens daily.

6 I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and, behold, an earthquake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
(Ezekiel 37:6-7 HNV)

They are coming back regardless…

Moreover, they are coming back regardless of the recent wave of riots, stabbings, car rammings and other terrorist attacks. Even while their enemies are burning Joseph’s tomb, the Jews are coming back. They are making Aliyah. They are not deterred. If anything, they are even more inspired to return to their land.

8 I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.
(Ezekiel 37:8-9 HNV)

This simply defies logic, and yet…

Admittedly, this defies logic. No question there. And yet in spite of everything that the enemies of the Jewish people are throwing at them—whether in the form of rocks, rockets, stabbings, settlement disputes or even silence from the international community—the Jewish people are returning to their land. They are returning to the land of Israel.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceeding great army.
(Ezekiel 37:10 HNV)

Nothing short of a miracle…

This is nothing short of a miracle. Against all odds, God is fulfilling His promises to His chosen people. He will fulfill every one of His promises to them, and He is fulfilling them right on schedule. While some to split hairs over the question of whether Israel is blessed, can we at least acknowledge the obvious? Israel is back in their land, and dozens more are arriving by the day.

11 Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Yisra’el: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.
12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into Eretz-Yisra’el.
13 You shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.
(Ezekiel 37:11-13 HNV)

Prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes.

When something is happening right in front of you, and you say that it is not happening, the condition is called denial. Many people are in “prophetic denial” right now with respect to the miracle that is taking place concerning Israel. Prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes, but they just don’t see it.

14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it, says the LORD.
(Ezekiel 37:14 HNV)

The fact that the Scriptures describe this in preterit terms (i.e., using past tense verb conjugations) indicates that this is a done deal as far as the LORD is concerned. He says, “I have spoken it AND performed it, says the LORD.”

There is a growing body of evidence that God is putting His Spirit in His people and bringing them into their own land. Click here to see video testimonials of Israeli Jews in Israel who are meeting their Messiah.

So you do not have to wait until you can figure the whole thing out. God is going to do everything that He has said concerning the restoration of Israel. Sequentially, Ezekiel chapter 37 comes right before chapters 38 and 39, and—based upon significant developments in the region—many are beginning to look into those chapters as well.

Just An Observation…

This is just an observation, but perhaps you have also noticed that when a Jewish person receives Yeshua, they see things in the Scriptures that few others see, and they are able to explain them in such a way that everyone can understand. It is so powerful to experience this. But this, unquestionably, is an important part of the role that the Jewish people will play as more and more of them are receiving their Messiah. Even now, many are sharing their testimonies on Messianic Jewish websites like www.IMETMESSIAH.com, which is an evangelistic outreach of www.OneForIsrael.org and Israel College of the Bible (www.IsraelCollege.com).

The Power of God

Earlier in this article, we considered the fact that every employer provides job descriptions for its workers. Figuratively speaking, we also noted that when the job description entails driving the people of Israel out of the land of Israel, you know that the boss is a dragon. So what do you do? You seek employment elsewhere, and that is what many people have done over the centuries.

Take for example, the Apostle Paul. He was an Israeli from the tribe of Benjamin, and he persecuted Christians so badly that he even chased them beyond the land of Israel. Yet things changed when He had an encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus. Paul’s name was originally Saul. But that day he got a new boss, and a new job description would follow, because Yeshua (Jesus) changed his heart and changed his life. The entire encounter is described the book of the Acts of the Apostles chapter 9.

That was the power of God, and the Apostle Paul describes it this way:

16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Yehudi first, and also for the Yevanit.
(Romans 1:16 HNV)

If you have ever heard the expression that “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still,” then you know that it can be next to impossible to change a person’s mind when their mind is made up. But it is different with the Good News of Messiah. In this case, we are talking about the power of God. A changed heart and a changed life are the products of the power of God.

So now instead of persecuting Yeshua (that is, by persecuting His followers), Paul became a follower of Yeshua. Then, after personally experiencing persecution for being a follower of Yeshua, his assignment was revealed to him. He was to take the Good News to the Gentiles.

Let’s consider some modern day examples of this power—the power of Yeshua to change hearts and lives. Rather than naming them specifically in this article, you can see one video testimonial after another.

In the midst of all the negative reports of things that are happening in the region, did you know that Israelis and Palestinians are coming together through faith in Yeshua? Learn more here…

This, once again, is the power of God.

But what about those whose minds are made up to drive the people of Israel out of their land? What about the sworn enemies of the Jewish people? What about those cases characterized by extreme hostility? If time permits, you will be completely amazed by the testimony of Walid Shoebat.

Among the testimonials of Arab believers in Yeshua (Jesus), you simply must see this three-part video interview featuring Joseph Farah and Jonathan Bernis. Joseph Farah is the publisher of WND.com (World Net Daily)—the largest website of its kind. Jonathan Bernis is the host of Jewish Voice Ministries International, a ministry which, among other things, works to help believers rediscover the Jewish roots of their Christian faith.

Among the Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus) who are reaching many with the good news of salvation and the power of God to change lives, you will also enjoy the ministry of Sid Roth and his program entitled It’s Supernatural.

Once again, this power to change hearts and lives is the power of God.

In Closing

It has been said that a blessing is a positive word spoken. Conversely, a curse is a negative word spoken. What do you say about Israel? Are you blessing Israel? Or are you cursing them? God’s plan of salvation certainly involves Israel. If you love God, then you will love His plan. And if you love His plan, then you will love His chosen people Israel. And if you love the people of Israel, then you will understand the importance of sharing the good news with them and supporting those who do, because the best way to bless Israel is with Yeshua (Jesus).

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Temples and Time Frames

One of the greatest proofs that Yeshua was Israel’s true Messiah is often overlooked. Indeed, the time frame in which he was born is one of the greatest proofs that we have, and it was recorded in the TaNaKh. It is hidden in plain sight, actually, in the book of Daniel.

According to the Scriptures, the Messiah had to appear while the Second Temple was still standing and before it was destroyed. He also had to fit the description of what the prophecy said would happen to Him. The prophecy said that He would be “cut off” (i.e., He would be executed). Yes, he would be executed, but not for Himself. This fits the description in Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and any other chapter in the Scriptures where we read about the suffering of the Messiah.

When was the Second Temple destroyed?
It was destroyed in 70 A.D.

This means that—according to the Scriptures—Israel’s true Messiah had to appear before 70 A.D. Only one person in recorded history meets the description of the true Messiah, who also happened to be alive during the specific time frame in which the Scriptures revealed that He had to appear. He is none other than Yeshua (Jesus), whose very name in Hebrew means, “The LORD saves.”

See the free video teaching on facebook:
Temples and Time Frames

The Promise

In the book of Genesis, the Scriptures record a three-fold promise that God made to Abraham:

“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.” (Genesis 12:3 NKJV)

How powerful is God’s blessing?
Is the promise still in effect?

Discover one of the most powerful and timeless promises ever made in history and understand why it is more important than ever today.

Click here to listen to The Promise, a free audio teaching on SoundCloud.

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