Although these fascinating apocalyptic signs are difficult to discern, God has not leſt us without signposts along the way. He would have us be wise as “the men of Issachar, who understood the times . . . ” (1 Chronicles 12:32). And there are some very distinct indications that we are indeed in the Last Days.
Te term Last Days has a dual application, referring to the time period following the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), and also the days that will precede His return. Looking at Luke 21, one can clearly see this principle: “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with giſts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be leſt on another; every one of them will be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5-6). Herod’s Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem sacked in 70 A.D., fulfilling Yeshua’s words. As you continue reading through the terrible warnings of what is to come, much is applicable to the horrific Roman devastation that occurred at that time. However, verse 24b, “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” was not fulfilled until 1967 with the reunification of Jerusalem aſter the Six Day War. And verses 25-28 are looking forward to a time yet to come, when Yeshua returns.
SIGN 1: A RESTORED ISRAEL AND JEWISH JERUSALEM
A predominant prophetic indicator
is the re-establishment of Israel, and Jerusalem returning to Jewish sovereignty. Tese major, and seemingly implausible, events for nearly two thousand years had to occur before Yeshua’s return. According to the Bible, Yeshua is returning to Israel, and specifically Jerusalem.
• Israel Rebirthed—in a Day Aſter nearly two millennia and a succession of foreign rulers, on May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion declared the restoration of the Jewish State, Israel, saying, “In order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” Isaiah seemed just as incredulous, challenging: “Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?” (Isaiah 66:8) We have seen it—in our lifetime!
• Jerusalem Restored to the Jews “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24b). Although the exact meaning of Luke 21:24b has been debated for nearly 2,000 years—and still there is no consensus, signs of this prophetic fulfillment have begun rapidly falling into place since the re-establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
• The Desert Will Bloom and Blossom Te prophet Isaiah saw a time when “the desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom” (Isaiah 35:1). It’s
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almost impossible to believe, but the fledgling State of Israel has developed such revolutionary agricultural methods, that even the sand produces lush crops! In her short time of existence as a modern State, Israel became the largest exporter of roses to Europe.
• The Hebrew Language Revived According to the prophet Zephaniah, God would “restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord” (Zephaniah 3:9 NKJV). In the late 1800s, Russian immigrant to Israel, Eliezer Ben-Yehudah, revived the ancient Hebrew language, giving the returning exiles of Israel a common language.
Israel and Jerusalem are back in Jewish hands. Te People of Israel scatered throughout the world are returning to their biblical Land and to their God. Te time of His return is near!
SIGN 2: ISRAEL SURROUNDED BY CONFLICT AND THE RISE OF GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM
Anti-Semitism has always existed in the world. Tere has never been a time when the Jewish People have not been victimized by Satan’s savage atacks against them. Even today in America—probably the least anti-Semitic nation on earth, the Anti-Defamation League reports the highest level of anti- Semitism since World War II.
At its core is Satan fomenting hatred among men against the Children of the God of Israel, generation aſter generation. He
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