Are you confused about biblical prophecy, which the land of Israel belongs to, or God’s covenant promises? You aren’t alone. Many people—Believers and non-Believers alike—don’t know how biblical prophecies, the land, and God’s promises all fit together.
Another question is why should we seek to understand and care about how all of this relates to Israel?
In this article, we are going to answer a few questions, such as…
- Why should I believe prophecy?
- Is the Land Covenant biblical?
- What should I do with this new knowledge?
Why should I believe prophecy?
The Bible is a book that has withstood time and is read more than any other book in the world. No other book or writings have been able to foretell events hundreds and even thousands of years in advance.
Here are just 3 of hundreds of already fulfilled prophecies…
1. The birth of Jesus
Prophecy: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”—Micah 5:2 (written 700 BC)
Fulfilled: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.”—Matthew 2:1 (written 70 AD)
2. The death of Jesus
Prophecy: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”—Leviticus 17:11 (written 538-332 BC)
Fulfilled: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”—Matthew 26:28 (written 70 AD)
3. Jesus buried in a rich man’s tomb
Prophecy: “And they made His grave with the wicked—but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.”—Isaiah 53:9 (written 739-681 BC)
Fulfilled: “Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus… and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.”—Matthew 27:57, 60 (written 70 AD)
As we can see, God’s Word has proved trustworthy over time. So why is it so hard to believe prophecy is now being fulfilled for the apple of His eye—Israel—just as He promised? If we believe these prophecies, we must also trust in and be ready for the prophecies involving Israel.
Is the Land Covenant biblical?
In short, yes. According to the Bible, the precious piece of real estate between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River is considered the Promised Land—which belongs to Israel.
Read more about the Land Covenant HERE!
Now, this is important to understand. This verified, biblical land ownership is not due to selfishness on Israel’s part but instead mandated by God.
“These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded… that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today, that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”—Deuteronomy 29:1, 12-13
In the verses of Deuteronomy 29, scripture maps out the boundaries of the Promised Land—which includes the current day West Bank.
Whether you agree or disagree, one thing is certain—Israel will fulfill what God has called her to do. His covenant promises cannot be broken. He has not forgotten about the nation of Israel and prophecy clearly states—in both the Old and New Testaments—the land and the people will be fully restored.
How should I respond with what I now know?
There are 3 ways people tend to respond to the Word of God…
- Receiving and accepting it as truth. When the seed of truth falls into fertile soil, it bears good fruit. Those who align with the Lord’s words are blessed.
- “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”—Psalm 1:1-2
- Ignoring God or running from Him. Some respond as Jonah did—run in the opposite direction, hoping that God’s calling would simply “go away.”
- “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord… the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea… they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea…”—Jonah 1:3, 4, 15
- Cursing God and His people. Some are disobedient to the Bible’s instruction not by ignoring but by directly and actively going against it. God gives warning to those who unchangingly resist Him.
- “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you…”—Genesis 12:3
The inerrancy of the Bible, including prophecies, governs our faith and confidence in the truth. Without it, we have nothing to stand on.
Therefore, we must heed two important attributes of the Word…
- What God tells us lies ahead
- What God tells Believers to do
God promises a number of events will take place before the Messiah returns.
Click HERE to read more about what the future holds!
He also calls those who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to Him, to every nation, including Israel!
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'”—Acts 1:6-8
If God promises to restore Israel, and He tells Christians to spread the news about the Messiah, then doesn’t it make sense that Believers are to manifest the love of God to Israel?
How does God bring people to Him? He patiently grows their faith so that they produce good fruit… This is what My Olive Tree is doing today in Israel. We have worked with the nation of Israel to provide a lasting approach to produce good fruit… literally!
We partner with farmers and the IDF to plant olive trees and grapevines in various places in Israel so that the blessing of sowing is multiplied. It is not a one-time harvest but a harvest for generations. This opportunity to sow literal seeds into the Promised Land—as a Believer and as a way to answer God’s call to be a witness to Him—is available to you now.
You have spiritual roots in Israel; it’s time to plant physical ones! God is waiting for Christians everywhere to answer this call. He promises to bless those who bless Israel. And Israel’s restoration is a prophetic sign that the Messiah’s return is upon us.
Let’s answer the call together so that the seed is multiplied!