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Israel's Future
 The restoration of Israel to Palestine and that nation's futureconversion to Christ occupy an important place in Bibleprophecy. Israel's return to the Holy Land is an event which isoccurring today, and it is an outstanding sign that the secondcoming of Christ is near.
I. God's Covenant With Abraham
The land of Palestine belongs to the Jews. God, who is ownerof the universe, has promised that land to Israel for aneverlasting possession. To many observers, the future destinyof Palestine is a matter of speculation. To students of theBible, however, there is no need for guesswork. Palestine isthe Holy Land of the Bible, and God's Word is very definite instating to whom the land belongs. The land belongs to Israel.Genesis 12:1-3, 7
 
Promised land, seed,blessingGenesis13:14-17
 
All the land he couldseeGenesis 15:5-7, 18
 
Unto thy seed giventhis landGenesis 17:1-8
 
An everlastingpossessionGenesis22:16-18
 
In thy seed all nationsblessedRomans 4:13
 
Heir of the worldGod called Abraham from the city of Ur of the Chaldees to theland of Canaan. In a solemn covenant, God gave the land toAbraham and to his descendants after him for an everlastingpossession. Genesis 17:7, 8 can be described as a warrantydeed to the promised land, through which Abraham's eternalownership is assured: "And I will establish my covenantbetween me and thee and thy seed after thee in theirgenerations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God untothee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee,and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art astranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possesion;and I will be their God."
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God's covenant promises were repeated to Abraham's son,Isaac (Gen. 26:2-5), to Isaac's son, Jacob (Gen. 28:13-15;35:10-12), and to Jacob's twelve sons (Ex. 2:23-25). Thedescendants of Jacob's twelve sons constituted the nation,Israel. (1 Chron. 16:13-19.)1.
Promises Yet to Be Fulfilled 
. God's promises to Abrahamand Israel have not been completely fulfilled. These promiseswill be fulfilled in Christ's Kingdom. Stephen, in his historicsermon, mentioned that Abraham had not inherited thesepromises during his lifetime. "Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, whenhis father was dead, he removed him into this land, whereinye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, notso much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he wouldgive it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him,when as yet he had no child " (Acts 7:4, 5). "These all died infaith, not having received the promises, but having seen themafar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them,and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on theearth" (Heb. 11:13). Abraham and other faithful believers willbe raised from the dead and will inherit these eternalpromises in Christ's future Kingdom. Jesus said, "Many shallcome from the east and west, and shall sit down withAbraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven"(Matt. 8:11). "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth,when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all theprophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrustout" (Luke 13:28).2.
Blessings Conditional 
. God warned the Israelites that theirprivilege of dwelling in the promised land was dependentupon their obedience to Him. As punishment for their sins,God would drive them from the land. (Lev. 26:27-34; Dent.28:1-67; Josh. 24:13-20.) The covenant nation and thepromised land are linked together. Whenever Israelites havedwelled in the land of Palestine, they have received blessing.Whenever they have left the land, they have receivedbondage (Egypt), captivity (Babylon), and persecution (worlddispersion).
II. Three Departures and Returns
Three times, the Israelites have left the promised land. Threetimes they have returned or are returning home. Each
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departure and each return to the land have been prophesiedin God's Word.1.
Egypt 
. Israel's first departure from the promised landoccurred during the time of Joseph, when Jacob and his familywent to Egypt to escape famine conditions in Canaan. Duringtheir residence in Egypt, Jacob's descendants were subjectedto extreme bondage by the Egyptians. Through Moses, Godliberated the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and enabledthem to return to the land of Canaan. Israel's bondage inEgypt (Gen. 15:13; Acts 7:6) and the nation's return to thepromised land (Gen. 15:14, 16; Acts 7:7; Gen. 50:24-26; Heb.11:22) had been prophesied. These prophecies were fulfilled.2.
Babylon
. Israel's second departure from the land of promise occurred during the time of Daniel, when theBabylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, carried the people toBabylon as captives. All of the Jews, of course, were notdeported to Babylon; many persons were left in rural areas tocare for the land. It was to these Jews that Jeremiah, theprophet, ministered. The deportation of Jews to Babylonbegan in 606 B.C. The Babylonian captivity lasted seventyyears. The captivity was prophesied (Jer. 25:8-11; Ezek.21:18-27) and was fulfilled. (2 Chron. 36:15-21.) The return of the Jews after seventy years was foretold also (Jer. 25:12-14;Isa. 44:28; 45:1-4), and these prophecies were fulfilled. (2Chron. 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1-11; Dan. 9:1, 2.) The return of the Jews under Ezra and Nehemiah did not fulfil the manyprophecies concerning Israel's future return to Palestine.These prophecies are beginning to be fulfilled today, and theywill be fulfilled when Jesus comes. Many Jews living inBabylon never returned to Canaan. Moreover, a greatcompany of Jews who escaped deportation to Babylon went toEgypt and started an important Jewish colony there.3.
World Dispersion
. The third departure of the Jews fromPalestine began in 70 A.D. and was completed in 135 A.D.This departure resulted in world dispersion for God's chosennation. Today, after almost two millenniums, the restorationof Israel is beginning to be fulfilled. Israel's dispersion wasprophesied and became a reality. Israel's restoration to thepromised land likewise was prophesied, and these propheciesalso will be fulfilled.
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Peter Amschel

Right, pal. G*d will still have his chosen ones to be kings and priests in his Kingdom of God over the earth, but it's not going to be you! This privilege of being part of the new kingdom has been taken away and given to the peoples of the nations.Israel was warned about the obedience requirement and they all agreed to it at Mt. Sinai. Too bad they tried to kill Jesus. Works God did at Jesus' han

reply01 / 07 / 2010
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