ISRAEL-Our First Sign of the Times

“We are in the end days!” You can hear people shouting this stuff from the pulpits, on street corners, and on television. But you
wonder if that is true. After all, even our grandparent’s grandparents heard the same stuff. If we are really in the last days, how do
we truly know that ‘we’ are in that final chapter of world history?

Jesus told the parable of the fig tree. He said that we are to learn the parable. After the parable, Jesus says that the generation
that sees this parable come to pass will not pass away until they see all these things come to pass. (Mark 13:28-30)

(v.28) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

(v.29) So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

(v.30) Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Jesus spoke of the fig tree (Israel). Jesus said that when you see Israel begin to sprout new leaves (come to be), that you know
that summer is near. In other words, that season when Jesus returns is close. Jesus then says that the generation that is alive and
sees Israel given back to the Jews and that it becomes a nation once again will physically see with their own eyes the return of
Christ (the second coming).

But you say, “Come on, John… Israel becoming a nation may have just been a lucky thing though.” I am so glad you said that.
See, a long time ago, the Jews lost the Holy land and God dispersed them amongst the whole world. God told the Jews that they
would not return until He would bring them back to Israel and that when He does this, God Himself will give back the Holy land of
Israel to the Jews. God spoke all of this through His prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel prophesied the exact time when the Jews would become a nation again. (Ezekiel 4:3-6) Read the following verses so you
can see what the Bible says. Then follow the calculations so you can see exactly when it was prophesied that Israel would become
a nation again.

(v.3) Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it,
and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.

(v.4) Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that
thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.

(v.5) For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so
shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

(v.6) And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah
forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year .

Babylonian captivity ended in the spring of 536 BC.    [536.4]

The duration of Israel’s captivity (Ezekiel 4:3-6).    [Subtract, 2,483.8]

To adjust for the fact there was no year between

1 BC and 1 AD, we adjust one year. Therefore,

the end of Israel’s captivity would occur…    [Add, 1 year]

THE REBIRTH OF ISRAEL!      [1948 – May 15]

Make no mistake about it; God is very specific when He says something. Is it any wonder why it took such a long time for Israel to
come together? There can be only one answer. God did it. And if He is accurate about this, then we have to realize that when
Jesus tells us that this generation will not pass until we see all of the other things occur, we have to believe it!

The Book of Zechariah says, “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves
with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zech. 12:3) Notice that ‘in that
day’. God is telling us that it is a day to come. At no place in history has every nation been gathered against Jerusalem to remove
it – UNTIL NOW. God tells us that it will be a burdensome stone. In short, a stone that they can not remove no matter how hard
they try.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed Israel at war with Syria and Lebanon. The real story is that Israel is at war with Hezbollah, the
number three terrorist organization in the world today. It should infuriate you when you hear someone talk against Israel because
of this war. The stinkin’ thinkers of the world (liberals) are siding with known terrorists when they rebuke Israel for defending
herself. Then these same people say that Israel should give up their property to make peace. God said, “For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1
Thessalonians 5:3) Hear me right now! There will never be peace with these peace accords because the Jihad terrorists will not
be honorable in their agreements. Israel knows this. Why can’t the world see this? History has proven that Islamic terrorist
organizations and Islamic countries will only use an agreement as a means to and end. The end that is common to Islam is simply
the total annihilation of Israel and the Jews as a people. Can anyone hear the faint whisper of Hitler’s extermination camps? Is it
any wonder that during the Second World War the Nazi’s and the Muslims became allies and fought in campaigns against the
Jews? They had a common goal then and that goal is still set in the minds of these Islamists.

God calls Israel the apple of His eye. You can see it in the Bible in five different instances.

(Deut. 32:10) “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept
him as the apple of his eye.”
(Psalm 17:8) “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”
(Proverbs 7:8) “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.”
(Lamentations 2:8) “Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night:
give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.”
(Zechariah 2:8) “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that
toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”
Look close at the fifth verse (Zechariah 2:8). If someone touches Israel (Jews), they touch the apple of God’s eye. This is very
important to keep in mind. In fact God also says, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse (8799) him that curseth thee:
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) Can you get what God’s stance is when people come against
Israel?

In light of the Word of God, we can now begin to understand why America is so blessed. America has been behind Israel.
Americans are behind Israel. But what about proof that God will come against those who come against the Jews? Look at Adolph
Hitler. Look at Joseph Stalin. Look to the anti-Semitic groups. Is there any doubt that God dishes out justice to these people who
hate the apple of His eye? An entire nation fell because of the mistreatment of the apple of His eye; that nation being the leading
nation in communism, the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union). Judgment came to Germany because of what Hitler did to the Jews. Look at how
God dealt with Iraw and Saddam Hussein. Not only did Saddam Hussein tortured and murder his own citizens, but the Kurds are
Jewish. Saddam Hussein tried to terminate the apple of God’s eye in his own country. The list can go on and on. But, I think you
got the picture. To mess with God’s people is to mess with God Himself.

I hope that this article has helped you to understand that Israel is the single most key factor as to us being in the last days before
the return of Jesus Christ. We have witnessed the rebirth of Israel on May 15, 1948, witnessed God intervene on behalf of His
chosen people, and the recent history of the world community coming against Israel. Take this time right now to pray for the safety
of Israel.