Prophecy Update #538 – Nation-State

We like to spend a few minutes each Sunday talking about trends and Bible prophecy.

The New Testament tells you and I repeatedly that we are living in the last days before the coming of Jesus Christ. Not only are we told that, but there is evidence to back it up. There are signs that we’re living in the last days:

There will be an exponential growth of knowledge (Daniel 12:4)
Global communication will exist (Revelation 11:4).
The rise of Europe as a superpower and the move towards a one world government. (Revelation 13).
The move towards a one world cashless society (Revelation 13).
The alignment of hostile nations against Israel (Ezekiel 38).
International conflict over Israel (Zechariah 12:3).
The movement of Israel to rebuild their temple (Matthew24:15).
The birth of the Israel as a nation (Isaiah 66:8).

Something very profound happened in Israel this July. They signed into law what is being called the Nation-State Law. The law does three big things:

It states that “the right to exercise national self-determination” in Israel is “unique to the Jewish people.
It establishes Hebrew as Israel’s official language, and downgrades Arabic – a language widely spoken by Arab Israelis – to a “special status.”
It establishes “Jewish settlement as a national value” and mandates that the state “will labor to encourage and promote its establishment and development.”

(Adopting Hebrew as the official language is by itself a fulfillment of Bible prophecy from Zephaniah 3:9).

The legislation also adopts the Hebrew calendar as the official calendar of Israel – including its special holy days. It promotes the Sabbath and the festivals of Israel as the established days of rest in the state. Non-Jews have a right to maintain days of rest on their Sabbaths and festivals.

It’s interesting that the law was passed this year, as Israel celebrates its 70th year as a nation. 70 is a significant biblical number – especially with reference to Bible prophecies such as those of Daniel.

Supporters call Israel’s new Jewish nation-state law a “defining moment.” Critics say it is apartheid.

One Jewish publication said, “Proponents of the legislation argue that Israel has been forgoing its Jewish nature for its democratic nature, and it is time that the two are put on equal footing – or with its Jewish identity eclipsing its democratic identity.”

Another said, “Israel, as the only Jewish State, should prioritize its Jewish identity. One of the great mistakes has been that we’ve promoted Israel as Jewish and democratic as if these two values are equal.”

One Israeli radio commentator said, “Israel is not here to create an Arab democracy or promote other people’s values or put everyone on equal footing. It’s here to promote a group of people who need protection in this world and need to have a place to have their culture grow and succeed.”

Think of it this way: What if Congress passed a law stating that the United States is a Christian nation, and that “the right to exercise national self-determination is unique to born-again Christians?”

What if we said, “The United States is not here to create an Arab democracy or promote other people’s values or put everyone on equal footing. It’s here to promote the Church of Jesus Christ – a group of people who need protection in this world and need to have a place to have their culture grow and succeed?”

One source commented,

The new Jewish Nation-State Basic Law makes official that the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people only (as God’s covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stipulates). From 1948 to the passing of this Law it was the land of both Jews and Arabs. The majority of the Moslem populations are not pleased with this and this will very likely set the precedent for future attacks against Israel.

Turkish president Erdogan compared the legislation to Hitler’s Nazi Germany. His criticism is to be noted because he has openly called for all the nations of Islam to recognize him as their leader in an all-out invasion of Israel.

Reading the Bible from a literal, futurist perspective (like we do), this kind of thing is exactly what you’d expect to be happening.

You’d mostly expect that Jesus could return at any moment.

Jesus promised He’d return to rapture His church – which entails the resurrection of the dead in Christ of the Church Age, then the translation from earth to Heaven of all living believers.

It is presented in the Bible as an imminent (any-moment) event.

Are you ready for the rapture? If not, get ready, stay ready, and keep looking up. Ready or not, Jesus is coming!