Behold, I set thee a Watchman on the Wall" (Isaiah 62:6)
The Times of the Gentiles -- Are They Being Fulfilled?
11/30/2000, Michael Hopkins
Special for: To His Glory Ministries
TIME OF THE GENTILES AND JERUSALEM
A Prophetic Perspective by Michael J. Hopkins
One of the greatest proofs of the inspiration of the Bible is the evidence of thousands of detailed prophecies fulfilled throughout history to the smallest detail. For thousands of years, people who have studied the Bible have wondered whether or not they would be the ones to witness the return of Jesus to earth. Is our generation the one to see Him come and just how close are we? The answer to this question has profound implications for us in how we set our daily priorities.
No one except God can predict future events with absolute certainty. Neither Satan or his demons are able to accomplish this though he has tried for centuries through his sorcerers and occult mediums. Isaiah said that there is no one else like God and that He declares the end from the beginning, His counsel shall stand, and He will do all His pleasure.
(Isa. 46: 9 – 10). Prophecy is given to God’s people so that we can know and understand where we are and where we are going. The Bible contains prophecies that have been fulfilled in the past and prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled.
To date, we have been witnessing the visible fulfillment of prophecies that were thousands of years old since 1948. By now, most people that are even generally acquainted with end-time prophecies recognize this date as being the year that Israel was re-formed as a nation. This is significant because Israel’s relationship to the land is a major focus of both fulfilled and unfulfilled prophecy. The schedule of time for both Israel and the Church is spelled out with amazing detail in the Bible.
For almost 2,000 years, Israel existed as a landscape in rather silent and desolate condition. Many of its former cities were in ruins and except for a few bedouins and nomads, were considered lifeless as well. Some questions immediately appear to the casual observer:
Obviously, those who occupied the land during their administrations in times past must have realized to some degree that the land wasn’t theirs. To the people of faith, it is understood that God was behind the scenes directing the flow of world history and carefully guiding the ultimate rebirth of His covenant people among the family of nations. The confirmation of this spiritual understanding of course is the fact that only after Israel returned to the land did the landscape start to blossom again agriculturally and with occupants as was foretold by Isaiah (35:1) and Ezekiel (36: 8-11; 37:3) Ezekiel is very specific in his description of how Israel would rise miraculously from the graveyard of nations. The agonizing history of Israel for the last 2,000 years under Gentile dominion is what Jesus refers to as the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). The Times of the Gentiles basically is referring to the administration of non-Jewish nations as the rod of chastening upon Israel to further God’s purpose concerning them. By looking at the Times of the Gentiles we can obtain an important benchmark in charting the closeness of Christ’s return to earth. This brief study will include a parallel analysis of the Times of the Gentiles and Jerusalem.
Israel was driven out from among the family of nations because of their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:63-68). During their scattering, God focused on the Gentiles (Acts 15:14). Since that time, the Jews have longed for their Temple, the priesthood and the restoration of sacrifices. Consider just what the city of Jerusalem has endured under Gentile power. Jerusalem (in Hebrew meaning: "city of peace") has known more struggle than perhaps any other city in history. The following Gentile powers ruled Jerusalem:
70 A.D. - The Romans
614 " - The Persians
637 " - Caliph Omar
1099 " - The Crusaders
1187 " - Salidan
1250 " - The Egyptian Mamalukes
1517 " - The Turks
1917 " - The British
1967 " - The Jews won it back again!
Since 1967, a date within modern history, it is interesting to note some of the events both in the U.S. as a leading world power and some world events:
While some of these things have recently experienced some changes, they appear to be short-lived and sure to return on the world scene. It seems obvious that the Gentile world powers (economic, political, social) have been and are being shaken (Heb. 12:27). When we speak of worldwide crises in oil, gold markets, nuclear war, banking collapses, breakdowns in law and order, rampant pornography, abortion, terrorism, environmental concerns, international labor problems, civil warfare between neighboring nations, inflation, etc., the list goes on, we are describing symptoms of a dying Gentile world system. World powers see only one solution: WORLD GOVERNMENT & COOPERATION – GLOBALISM – WORLD SOCIALISM. The Christians see only one way out: the return of Jesus Christ!
At the same time, since 1967, Jerusalem has been in the process of being restored and one could say that as the door has been closing on the Gentile world powers, the door is opening wider for God’s dealing with the Jews. Jerusalem is the key benchmark in watching prophecy unfold. God said that it would be positioned in the midst of the nations (Ezekiel 5:5) and that he would be vigilant over it (1 Kings 9:3; 11:36). He also said that He would establish the throne of David forever (2 Sam. 7:16) and ultimately give this throne to His Son (Luke 1:31-33). God reminds us that all the nations who trouble themselves with Israel will be under His judgment (Zech. 12:3) and that He will be the one who ultimately brings these nations to war against Jerusalem (Zech. 14:1-2). If a generation with God’s people is truly 40 years, then we should consider the time seriously: 1967 + 40 = 2007. This doesn’t leave us with much time to 1.) Fulfill the Great Commission and 2.) Get right with God. Jesus said "this generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled." (Matthew 24:34)
The present time is ripe for the Jews to see their long-awaited hope of a restored temple, priesthood and sacrifices. If we have followed the news closely over the last few months (Oct. – Nov. 2000), it appears that the Temple Mount has come to the forefront in peace negotiations. It is almost obvious that any possible peace plan between Israel and her Arab neighbors MUST include the right of Israel to worship the way they envision on the Temple Mount. At some point, sacrifices must be re-instated also because according to Bible prophecy, the Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease in the middle of the final week – or in the middle of the Tribulation period. (Daniel 9:27)
In order for sacrifices to take place, there first has to be a restored Temple. Certain ultra-orthodox Jews are very determined to see a new Temple built soon. In the Spring of 1998, Gershon Salomon wrote a newsletter about plans to rebuild the 3rd Temple. In his newsletter, The Voice of the Temple Mount, he wrote, " We continue the efforts to prepare plans for the Third Temple. We feel that the moment to begin the building of the Third Temple is near". (p.8). He also mentioned various reconstruction projects of Temple furniture currently taking place that will be to the exact specifications in the Bible. In David Allen’s book, Prophecy 2000 (New Leaf Press), he mentions that the Levitical Priesthood is being restored along with Temple artifacts. In the book are numerous photos of some of these rebuilt pieces of furniture. The momentum towards this goal is undeniable.
The MidEast Dispatch, a newspaper in Israel, had a very interesting article on 3-18-97 "Acceptable Red Heifer Found in Israel". The article said that the red heifer was born on a farm in a small village in Haifa. A team of 25 experts, including some Rabbis, concluded that the animal met the requirements of Torah, Jewish Law. The animals have since reproduced. This is significant because the red heifer was supposed to be used for sacrifices in the Temple and its blood was to be sprinkled by the Priest. (Number 19:2-3) There has not been a strain of red heifers since Old Testament times!
In conclusion, the Times of the Gentiles are drawing to a close and there has been a shift to the Jewish people and the problem of Jerusalem. Israel has presently compromised her security in offering "land for peace" and has formed unreliable alliances with some of her Arab neighbors. This can only lead to the eventual consequence of war. However, when war seems to be imminent on a large scale, someone will enter onto the world stage with some answers to the age-old problems of Mideast harmony. He will offer the Jews an opportunity to rebuild their Temple and perform animal sacrifices. The world will call him a hero and the Jews will accept him as he comes in his own name (John 5:43). Later, in the middle of Tribulation, he will cause the sacrifices and oblations to cease. From that point onward to the end of the 7-year Great Tribulation, the earth will experience a "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation" (Daniel 12:1). But for the Jewish people …"thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." (Daniel 12:1). We also know that the Lord is coming for the Church (! Thess. 4: 16-17).
Those of us "in Christ" do not have to fear, but for all others it is VITAL that you make peace with God now and settle your eternal destiny. At some point in the near future, as we consider that the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 is at the doorstep, the nation of Israel will have to be weaned off of the United States as her protector so that she may see that the Lord Jehovah is her only source of protection. How will the United States be pushed aside is a serious question for us to consider right now. Will it come through political problems? Will it come through severe natural disaster of some sort? Will it come through economic chaos such as a stock market crash? Will it be through a militaristic judgment from God such as a first strike nuclear attack from a foreign power? Only time will tell.
Are we close? It certainly seems so!!
Maranatha!
Michael J. Hopkins
Think and pray on these things and choose this day whom you will serve.
Maranatha!
How to Be Saved Through Jesus
Invasion of Israel - Part 1
Invasion of Israel - Part 2
Invasion of Israel - Part 3
Invasion of Israel - Part 4
Invasion of Israel - Part 5
Invasion of Israel - Part 6
Invasion of Israel - Part 7
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