''What does this mean to us? A lot. When Magog and her allies attack Israel, God will intervene and decimate the armies of Magog and its allies. Because of this, the Bible tells us, the Jewish people will give glory to God. Today, many Israelis are atheists. Certainly you will find very few Jewish people who believe in Jesus as their Messiah, although there are some. But they do have a determination to return to their homeland.''
When Israel
became a nation on May 14, 1948, it was a modern-day miracle. More specifically, it was a prophecy fulfilled that set the last-days clock ticking. Never has a nation been able to maintain its national identity 300 to 500 years after being removed from its homeland – until Israel.
Today, one will look in vain for the descendants of the Hittite nation or the Babylonian nation, although they were major powers in the ancient world. In fact, were it not for the Bible, the Hittites never would have been remembered by history, having sunk deep into the sands of time. There was a time that scoffers ridiculed the Bible for even mentioning the Hittites, as it was thought they were a fictional people. But in the 19th century, archaeologists confirmed the accuracy of Scripture when they uncovered irrefutable evidence of the extensive Hittite empire.
You won't find any Hittites today – or Babylonians, for that matter. But not so with Israel. How did the nation survive when the mighty Hittites, Babylonians and others vanished? Because God promised they would. In his book, "What in the World Is Going On?" David Jeremiah writes, "The return of the Jews to Israel in 1948 was an astounding event unprecedented in world history. Never had a decimated ancient people managed to retain their individual identity through almost 20 centuries and re-establish their nation in their original homeland. This event was specifically prophesied, and it happened exactly as foretold."
This was a super-sign, which started the prophetic time clock ticking. And Scripture prophesies that not only will the Jews be regathered in their homeland, but they will have Jerusalem under their control as well.
After the modern state of Israel was declared in 1948, a war of independence left the city of Jerusalem divided, with Jordan retaining control over the Old City, including the Temple Mount and most of the historic sites. Then, during the Six-Day War in 1967, Israeli forces captured the Old City and reunified all of Jerusalem. For the first time in many centuries, the city was under Israel's control, and the Bible's prophecy had once again been fulfilled to the letter. It poses no risk for God to predict the future, because he lives in the eternal realm. Tomorrow is as yesterday to him.
Events predicted in the Bible that have already transpired include Israel's scattering; Israel's regathering; Israel's regaining of Jerusalem; Israel's isolation; and Israel's being attacked. The Bible tells us that the final conflict of humanity will be centered on Jerusalem and the Middle East.
It is really amazing when you think about the fascination with Jerusalem and Israel, yet it was predicted long ago. God has promised a blessing for those who bless Israel, and a curse on those who don't. And throughout history, the judgment of God has fallen heavily on Israel's oppressors: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Rome – and in more modern times, Spain, Germany and perhaps very soon, Russia.