Is Modern Israel a Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy?

Did God fulfill the Old Testament prophecies of the restoration of Israel with Ezra and Nehemiah and the early church, or have we seen them come to pass in recent decades?

Many Christians believe that the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948 fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and heralded the imminent return of Christ.

But what does the Bible mean when it talks about the "restoration" of Israel? And what happens to the identity of God's people and the entire fabric of Bible prophecy when modern Israel becomes the subject of the Old Testament prophets?

Jim Fletcher: Arguing in the Affirmative
Author of It's the End of the World As We Know It, speaker Jim Fletcher is the director of Prophecy Matters, Master Books, and the Icon Publishing Group. Drawing heavily from 20th century Israeli history, the Zionist movement, several Old Testament passages, and his own personal experience in Israel, Fletcher argues that God's support of the modern state of Israel as the restored kingdom foretold in the prophets is indisputable.

Gary DeMar: Arguing in the Negative
In his opening statement, American Vision President Gary DeMar weaves a cohesive argument from scripture and history, demonstrating the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in times past, the misapplication of New Testament images by premillenial commentators, and the confusion that ensues when the modern Israel "package deal" is forced on the Scriptures.

Includes two Bonus Lectures on Ezekiel 38 & 39 by Gary DeMar.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• american vision
• debate
• prophecy
• bible
• gary demar
• jim fletcher
• midway
• eschatology
• eschatological
• israel

[cris750]

@mikenathan57, the very verses of the dry bones is detailing one event: The return of the Jewish people after their 70 captivity......in BABYLON!!! Jeremiah 29:10! Jeremiah 29:28! Jeremiah 31:40 = Ezekiel 37:11-14 !!! Therefore, Paul and John(the writer) and Josephus(Jewish scribe) expected a return to the land after 70 years after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans copying the same pattern from the previous Babylonian destruction and captivity!!!

[mikenathan57]

The only reason anyone would believe such things regarding Israel is because of gentile pride. God through Paul told gentiles not to boast against the root but because of pride gentile believers must remove Israel as a nation before our God. Jeremiah 31 is quite clear on this subject. God has given us prophecy after prophecy regarding the returning of Israel including Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones. However those like Demar cannot stand the possibility of God keeping this covenant.

[cris750]

As for the creation of Isreal in 1948 fulfilling Bible pophecy? If this is the fulfilment of Bible prophecy then Paul's rapture is false. Paul expected a return and rapture 70 years after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans. Copying the same pattern of the Babylonian destruction of the previous Temple. This is why he did not care if people were married or stayed single(virgins) in the 1st Corinthians passage. Israel's creation is a NATURAL phenomenon. Example: the history of Italy.

[cris750]

OK, now to refute all christian arguments and positions including Preterists: The subject concerns rapture. Paul's "rapture" could be shown to be tied in with the 70 year miscalculation. Read 1st Corinthians 7:25-38. Paul expected a 70 year cycle to be fulfilled - 1st with the Temple destruction and then a return to Jerusalem with a RAPTURE! Why? b/c of his position concerning marriage/single issue. Then...1st Thessalonians 4:15-18. ...after the destruction of the Temple but it did not happen.

[JohnO318]

Keep up the great work you do Gary.

You're the best!!

[Killer0fTheSun]

@owensm13

No not all of them have come true in fact thousands have failed....including jesus supposedly coming in the age of the apostles.....you guys are still waiting for nothing.

[FAITHandLOGIC]

Historicism is the way to go. Dispensationalism is a bold faced lie invented by the Jesuits. These "scholars" who have erected "Evangelical" mega-churches are nothing more than false teachers who possess ignorance of the highest degree.

[rolysantos]

It means what God intended it to mean, yet even the O.T. writers did not even understand what they were writing sometimes (1 Pet 1:11) Did Hosea mean to for 11:1 to be a prophecy about Jesus? I don't think so, yet Matthew says it is (Mat 2:15). Modern Israel political entity not a fullfilment of prophecy; Just like Ishmael was not a son of promise, but an attempt by "man" to bring about the promise. Isaac was the son of promise! God's true Israel are believers, "Jews" of the heart!

[owensm13]

Guys The truth is there is no Debate. All the old testiments prophecies had come true when jesus was crucified. The bible is not meant to be looked at literally or figuratively, but naturally. It means exactly what it says. however i agree with alot of Garys points. you have to look at the time period it was written in. why would they write about things tht was gonna happen 2 thousand years later. its all logical understanding

[hannahr77]

In now way where the O.T prophecies abt Israel fulfilled 1 just have to read Jeremiah and Ezekiel so se that's not true and by the way JESUS will stand on mount Olive 1 day and that hasn't happened yet, Gary's view on Israel and the Bible is dead wrong

Romans 11:25-27

is yet to be fulfilled