This publication explores the promised coming peace in Israel on the basis of the past and the detail written about Israel in the Bible. For the past 70 years when it has been under Jewish command, Israel has endured constant threats and hostilities from its neighbours and certainly has not been at peace! Many countries endure such warfare. But in the foreknowledge of God the Bible lays out God’s plan with Israel in advance.
This will be after terrible suffering, because of their unbelief, nevertheless a future time of peace, in fulfilment of the Promises which God has made, will indeed come.
This foreknowledge of God may be tested and personal faith developed as a result. Only God possesses this power. As we read: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he reveals his secret unto his servants the Prophets” (Amos 3v7).
Here is a way for personal development of faith in God. By studying events and what God predicts about them in His Word, before they happen, and then observing those things come to pass in recorded history, perhaps thousands of years later, gives grounds for trusting in God, and for developing personal faith in Him. In a series of steps the script traces further developments shown in scripture, some of which we may have seen or can expect.
The reiteration of the promises to Abraham by Jesus Christ, the regathering of the people to their own land in unbelief of Jesus and the growth as a Nation as they are today, is noted. Beyond this the expectation of future development of peace and prosperity and the influence of the Abraham Accords are proposed as elements in making Israel into a desirable target for the aggressor Gog. This would be a practical way forward and so contribute to Israel dwelling safely which it is in the following:
“After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword… but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely (betach) all of them.” (Ezekiel 38v8 ).
The 9th verse predicts an attack on Israel which then is already dwelling safely:-
Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:9 KJV).
The 11th verse adds further details to the description of Israel at Peace, as seen by the attacker immediately before the attack:
“I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, (08252 shaqat) that dwell safely, (0983 betach) all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates.” (Ezek 38v11)
This shows clearly that Israel will be dwelling safely or securely in their land, perhaps for several years, before the attack by Gog is mounted and before the Lord Jesus returns as King of the Jews.
The booklet goes on to analyse language used in the Hebrew Bible as a whole and summarises that ‘betach’ (0983) occurs 42 times and is always rendered as ‘safely’ or ‘securely’; ‘shaqat’ (08252 ) occurs 41 times and always indicates rest or at peace. Gesenius gives the overall meaning: “No-one harasses and they harass no-one.”.
The conclusion is that future to 2021 there will emerge a period ofreal peace, safety and prosperity, in the land of Israel. It is maintained that this description cannot be applied to the experiences of any people dwelling in the land of Israel from 1948 till the present 2021. Therefore an unmistakable change must take place in the conditions of the Land before the attack predicted by Ezekiel can take place.
The final outcome – the fulfilment of the Promises to Abraham by the literal return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth – brings the theme to its grand crescendo! It should be noted that this is not a new conclusion but serves to confirm the expectations of many Bible Students.
The personal appeal to develop faith in God on the grounds of the evidence, especially of current events, is strongly made throughout, together with the glorious prospect held out to those who do.