The Middle East (News) Beat Goes On and On

Are you keeping up with the news in the Middle East? If not, then you’re missing some electrifying events that are part of end times Biblical prophecy which tells us what to expect in the last days … just before the return of Messiah Jesus.

Biblical prophecy is centered around two subjects: Israel and the Messiah. God’s purpose for humanity consists of two plans; each plan composed of two parts.

Israel: God’s selection of the Jews as his special possession to be a light to all nations, which included discipline of his people through exile to foreign nations because of their disobedience. Then final restoration of Israel as a sovereign nation, accomplished by return of the Jews to Israel, which began substantially in 1948.

The Messiah: First, to implement the New Covenant proclaimed by Jeremiah (Chapter 31) and prophetically pinpointed by Isaiah (Chapter 53): Fulfilled through Messiah’s once-for-all redemptive sacrifice that took place when Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross and rose again from the dead. Second, for this same risen (Jewish) Savior to return as King of all kings to complete Israel’s physical and spiritual restoration in the soon to come Kingdom of God on earth.

World headlines once again focused on Israel this past week. Such concentration is continuous; but some Middle East incidents—most of which include Israel—garner more press than others.

On March 30^th, an estimated 30,000 Gazan Palestinians marched on the border fence separating the sovereign state of Israel from the Gaza Strip, a “territory” (nonetheless part of Israel) occupied exclusively for over twelve years by “Palestinian” Arabs.

In late 2005, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (now deceased) ordered the eviction of some 8,000 Israelis from Gaza; thereby, uprooting his own people from their homes. Although the ostensible objective was to better ensure the safety of Israelis from Palestinian attacks in the Gaza, the ulterior motive was the ill-advised “exchange of land for peace.” A strategy that has never worked in or for Israel. Not long after the Israelis withdrawal from Gaza, the terrorist enclave of Hamas took over Gaza from the Palestinian Authority headquartered in the West Bank and began to lob thousands of mortars and rockets into Israel.

(Sadly, Some Jews Had To Be Forcibly Removed from Their Homes, by Their Own Soldiers)

Because Israel has every right to defend her people, these attacks have led to three wars with Hamas, a more secure border fence, and Israeli destruction of terror tunnels. Consequently, mortar attacks and illegal border crossings from Gaza into Israel have subsided, much to the chagrin of Hamas. Not, however, from West Bank Palestinians or Israeli Arab citizens in Israel itself who continue “lone-wolf” attacks that have killed dozens of Israelis, especially in the past three years. Hamas is embarrassed that their rival Palestinian Authority (supposedly the “moderate” of the two groups) can kill more Jews that Hamas. Thus, Hamas is (at least for now) switching strategies to appease world preference for a more peaceful means of advancing their agenda.

It is an attempt to reverse the Biblical David and Goliath duel by identifying the Palestinians as/with David (a Jew, no less) and Israel (Jews in a Jewish nation) as the pagan Philistine Goliath. It is not only a perversion of history, it denies the beginning of God’s modern-day miraculous restoration of Israel to the glory years of King David when Israel was the most prominent nation on earth. A position among the nations that God has solemnly sworn will be restored; culminating with Messiah (Jesus) ruling Israel and the nations as King of all kings. We are witnessing the unfolding of this magnificent prophecy in our generation.

The “March of Return” … What It Is & What Most of the World Thinks It Is (But Isn’t)

A. What the March of Return Isn’t (About)

The phrase “March of Return” is based upon the Palestinian doctrine/demand for The Right of Return of nearly seven million Palestinians and (mostly) their descendants since the Israeli/Arab War of 1948.

The terrorist regime Hamas of the Gaza Strip isn’t being subtle as to what the march is all about. Contrasted to their rival Palestinian Authority of the West Bank led by PA President, Mahmoud Abbas—still in office 13 years after what was supposed to be a four-year election term—who usually appeals to world opinion under the softer guise of wanting “peace,” for his people. Who, however, is himself becoming more blatant in expressing his real agenda—a Palestinian State in place of Israel, not one that “peacefully” exists within Israel.

(1) It Is Not a Peaceful Protest

Despite Hamas propaganda that this “March of Return” is and will continue to be a peaceful protest of (alleged) Israeli occupation of (alleged) Palestinian territory. Which territory is, according to Hamas leaders such as Ismail Haniyeh and Yehya Sinwar, “from the river to the sea.” In no uncertain terms, they are referring to ALL of Israel … from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

This “peaceful protest” began on March 30^th and is supposed to continue for six weeks cresting with Palestinian remembrance of Nakba Day on May 15^th. The tactic will be constant probing of the security fence with mass demonstrations each Friday of the six-week “March of Return.”

Nakba is an Arabic term for disaster or catastrophe. What was that catastrophe?

Generally, it was the entire Israeli War of Independence to defend the reborn Jewish nation against Arab armies that attacked the Jews the day after Israel declared statehood on May 14^th, 1948. More specifically, it was the humiliating defeat of all five Arab nations—Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan—by the fledgling Jewish State of Israel against all odds. Nakba focuses on one Palestinian demand more than any other: The so-called “Right of Return” of Palestinian “refugees.” With their (supported by the corrupt United Nations agency UNRWA) classification of refugee extending to all descendants of the original Palestinian refugees defined as only those who left Israel between December 1947 and January 1949.

Question: How can a protest march be peaceful, when Gazans (many of whom are members of Hamas) hurled rocks, Molotov cocktails, and other fire bombs against Israeli soldiers. Or by brandishing weapons such as hatchets and a few guns. And by firing some of those guns toward the IDF. Or by rolling burning tires into the border fence to breach it by creating a huge smoke screen? If there was a breach in the fence, several thousand “peaceful demonstrators” would have poured into Israel and even more would have been killed. Which is exactly what Hamas wants … the killing of their own people that would spark world outrage (already has) of Israel’s “disproportionate response.”

(Israeli Soldiers On One Side & Palestinians on the Other Side of the Border Fence. The IDF Didn’t Use Live Ammunition Unless Firebombs, Rocks (slingshot) or Guns Were Used by the Palestinians. Could/should the Israelis Have Just Withdrawn? No, Because Thousands of Palestinians Would Have Torn the Fence Down and Poured in Israel)

Seventeen Palestinians were killed, and hundreds injured (the number of injured grossly inflated by Palestinian sources), with Israel identifying by name and photos eleven of those killed as militant members of Hamas. Obviously, the march was anything but peaceful. You don’t bring weapons to peacefully protest anyone or anything. And you certainly don’t attempt to breach the borders of a sovereign nation. There is absolutely no country on the face of the earth that would willingly permit such an intrusion onto their sovereign soil.

This isn’t the first time such an incident occurred. The last time was in 2011, when Syrian Palestinians attempted to forcibly enter Israel and occupy the Golan Heights which Israel reclaimed in its amazing Six-Day War victory in June 1967. A dozen “protestors” were killed during that incident; which, unlike the current one, didn’t pretend to be peaceful.

(2) It Is Not About the Current Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

However, much of the world thinks it is. Worse, that Israel is responsible because of (alleged) border restrictions on Gaza Palestinians. It’s true that Israel maintains a naval blockade (from the Mediterranean Sea) to prevent Iran, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups from smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip. However, the land border checkpoint to and from Israel is open to Gazans (for essential goods including medical supplies and for tens of thousands of Palestinians to work in Israel) at the northern Gaza border, called the Erez crossing. This includes hundreds of foreign journalists, diplomats, and international aid agencies crossing the border into Gaza throughout the year. In 2017, this border crossing was open 280 days. When Israel closes the border it’s for a legitimate reason.

In contrast, the southern Rafah border was closed permanently by the Egyptians for most of last year; opened earlier this year and then for only 2-3 days at a time. Foreigners, including Arabs, who want to help the Palestinians in Gaza are not allowed passage through the Rafah crossing most of the time.

Why, then, don’t the Gazans march on the Egyptian border crossing? Simple answer: Egypt’s reaction would be far more severe than Israel’s response. Egypt would use artillery and warplanes to indiscriminately shoot and kill as many protestors as necessary to force them to withdraw, peaceful or otherwise. Besides, world reaction wouldn’t be nearly as negative against Egypt as it is against Israel.

Leaders of rogue nations or territories contrive incidents to divert world attention from serious issues and conditions going on in those countries. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a direct result of long-term Palestinian mismanagement and corruption, but also the recent increase in hostilities between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Including, but not limited to, Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to severely curtail electrical power (controlled by the PA from the West Bank) to the Gaza Strip until Hamas agrees to abide by the “agreement” between the PA and Hamas that includes the disarmament of Hamas’ military wing. Which, of course, isn’t going to happen. Like the P5 +1 Nuclear Agreement (deal) with Iran, the agreement between the PA and Hamas is the most disagreeable agreement possible.

($50 Million-Dollar Personal Mansion Built for PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinians Are Banned From Staging Protests At This Site or Anywhere in Front of Abbas or His Headquarters)

(3) It Is Not to Reinforce The Palestinian Demand for Their Own State

Virtually all nations and their leaders, including the United States, still believe that the only viable option of peace between Israel and the Palestinians is that of a Palestinian State (Two-State solution). The world buys into this (what would be the worst solution for peace) paradigm because they still nod to the notion that Jews in Israel are “occupying” Palestinian territories.

I (and a few others) have written much about this so-called occupation and the dangers of a Palestinian State within the geographical borders of Israel itself. Including the necessity to define Palestinian and a Palestinian State. And the (unreasonable) pre-negotiation demands for such things as: East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital; all Jews expelled from the West Bank (to coincide with expulsion of Jews from the Gaza Strip); Israel’s withdrawal to pre-1967 Six-Day War cease-fire lines (including return of the Golan Heights to Syria). All of which would seriously jeopardize Israel’s line of defense against Muslim attacks from nations outside Israel and a Palestinian State within Israel.

And, of course, the Palestinian right of return, which is the main topic of this week’s article.

B. What the “March of Return” Is (About)

Unlike what this March of Return is not about—demands for more autonomy or better living conditions which Arabs in Israel enjoy far more than Arabs in Muslim countries—Palestinians leaders know better than anyone that they are responsible for the plight of their own people. To divert world attention on the real cause for the Palestinian maladies, they have ratcheted up their incessant rhetoric that Israel is responsible for all Palestinian woes. Much of the world buys into this hype.

Ultimately there’s only one purpose for such a protest march; one that represents the true Palestinian agenda.

It’s quite simple: Elimination of Israel as a sovereign state, replaced by a Palestinian State. By any means possible, including return of millions of so-called “Palestinian refugees” to flood Israel with a demographic imbalance that would be untenable for Israelis … economically, politically, socially, and logistically.

There’s an abundance of reasons why a Palestinian State is not only dangerous to Israel, but also to Palestinians. Starting with the implausible idea that there could be a single Palestinian State at all. When two bitter rivals (PA and Hamas) refuse to budge an inch on who would control that state, whether elections were held again or not. Short of a Palestinian civil war (which Israel would never allow to happen), a Palestinian State isn’t feasible.

As it stands today, both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority know that there’s no way they could conquer Israel militarily. The only possibility of Hamas and the PA agreeing to share administrative and military authority between them is if they conclude that other Muslim nations or terrorist groups might join them in an attack against Israel, from without and from within (the borders of a Palestinian State).

Thus, the biggest demand—as great or even greater than East Jerusalem as a Palestinian capital—and the one that appeals to most Palestinians (people and leaders alike) is, The Right of Return.

If some seven million Palestinians refugees (who are not refugees by any world standard or definition) were to deluge Israel from within and without (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and a few other countries), Israel would functionally cease to exist as a Jewish nation.

Why is it that a normal, reasonable person (including heads of state) won’t take seriously Hamas’ boast (supported by Hamas’s rival Palestinian Authority whose common enemy is Israel) when they both state and imply that this “March of Return” would be a clear path to destroy Israel, or at least thwart any “peace plan” proposed by the United States?

What part of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s or Yehya Sinwar’s statement that such a march would lead to “liberation of all of Palestine from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River,” don’t many world-leaders accept at face value? Not to mention incessant threats by the rogue terrorist nation of Iran (staunch supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas) to “erase Israel from all maps of the world.” And then give Iran the (time-capsule) capacity to resume manufacturing of nuclear weapons in a few years. As the title of the 1963 movie says (but much more seriously): It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. And most of this madness is directed toward Israel. Just as the Bible predicted long ago.

On What or Whose Authority Can the Palestinians Claim a “Right of Return”

Return to what? To a land that never belonged to them in the first place? To a (Palestinian) nation that doesn’t exist? By Islam, whose religious text, the Koran, never mentions Jerusalem even once, with the obvious inference that neither Israel nor Jerusalem were of any real importance to Islam or Arabs except to oppress and suppress Jews (including the number thereof) in the Holy Land? And to expel the Crusaders in the 11^th & 12^th centuries.

Or because that 1948 generation of Arabs fled Israel because Israel forced them to leave? As opposed to the accurate historical record that most Arabs voluntarily left Israel, and did so at the request (orders) of the five Arab nations that attacked Israel the day after Israel declared statehood on May 14, 1948? That many of them expected to return after a quick and decisive Arab victory over Israel. Guess what didn’t happen?!

This is explained in varying detail in a few previous Eye of Prophecy articles. The most recent of which is: Palestinian Refugees … Are They Really Refugees? Posted 1-27-18. And, What Is Palestine & Who Is A Palestinian? Posted 12-2-17.

Here is an excerpt from the first of the above-mentioned articles (In italics):

What we see today are Palestinians (Arabs) still alive who fought with or supported or cheered Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in these wars (and their children and grandchildren who don’t know any better or who know and don’t care) who were defeated in battle; yet, who make demands as though they were the victors in these wars. That and rewriting history itself by making preposterous claims that they were in the land of Israel first, or there the longest, or that they bear sovereign status over the Jews because for a while Arabs ruled over Israel (when it was called Palestine). When, in fact, both before and after the Arabs (beginning with Mohammed) took possession of most of Israel, it was the Romans, then the Crusaders, then the Arabs (again), then the Ottoman Turks, and finally the British who seized and maintained control of the Promised Land for varying intervals of time.

One of the indefensible Palestinians arguments is that for hundreds of years Arabs outnumbered Jews in Israel, whose name had been changed to Palestine (a territory) by a Roman Emperor in the 2^nd century A.D. If, however, that rationale is used, then contemporary (facts on the ground) numbers create an exceedingly stronger case for statehood or land rights, which is the current situation of Jews outnumbering Arabs in Israel and has been for decades.

Which is what the Right of Return propagandized by the “March of Return” is all about. If millions of Arabs (erroneously designated and wrongfully detained in camps by Muslim countries as Palestinian refugees) can “return” to Israel, then the population explosion would virtually overnight make the Jews a minority in their own country. This would be unconscionable to a Jewish State that is already outnumbered by hundreds of millions of Arabs around Israel with land masses infinitely greater than Israel.

The Real Right of Return Belongs to the Jews

There are four fundamental reasons why the Jews have (always had) the Right of Return to the Promised Land of Israel. The first three will be listed in chronological cause and effect order, with any one of these ratifying why Israel belongs to the Jews. With, however, the fourth foundational principle vastly superseding the other three; in fact, rendering them (as convincingly valid as they are) irrelevant.

(1) The United Nations Resolution of 1947

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly approved Resolution 181 in which the British Mandate over Palestine would be abolished allowing for partition of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab State. The Jews accepted the resolution, the Arabs rejected it. In principle and practice, Arab Palestinians (not called Palestinians until the 1960s) have refused a state alongside Israel ever since. Although they attempt to convince liberal sympathizers to the contrary, the Palestinian objective is crystal clear: They want a state in place of Israel, not inside Israel.

It was the first time in history that the international community supported the Jewish Right of Return to their ancient homeland. It was a monumental decision by the newly formed United Nations that has changed the course of history. And for an obvious reason: Despite (irrational) Anti-Semitic persecution of Jews for thousands of years, people were horrified at the Holocaust. Six million Jews slaughtered; at the hands of a national government (Third Reich), no less.

For one brief shining moment, more nations and peoples than not knew in their individual and national heart that this must never happen again. The Jews must have their own country. And what better place than… their own county—Israel!

Sadly, the United Nations has since deteriorated into Nations United Against Israel.

Many people forget that the Arabs had a golden opportunity to create a state alongside the State of Israel in 1948. They forfeited that right by rejecting UN Resolution 181. Which was an international recognition of Israel’s right to statehood approved by the United Nations itself, no matter if the Arabs consented or not. Instead the Arabs viciously attacked the infant state of Israel the very next day. Which leads us to the 2^nd reason why Israel legally and legitimately belongs to the Jews, and why the Jews alone had (still have) the Right of Return … for those still in Diaspora.

(2) A Righteous War of Self-Defense

There is an innate time-honored tradition that any nation or people have the right to reactively or preemptively defend themselves from armed attack. In fact, it’s moral common sense. This includes the prerogative, if exercised, to annex or purchase land (Jews have purchased most of the land on which Israelis reside) within the geographical boundaries of that nation. When obviously justified, it also includes adjacent territory (such as the Syrian section of the Golan Heights) from which an enemy had constantly rained down rockets, shells, and small arms fire.

As opposed to a unilateral unprovoked assault on neighboring nations for the exclusive purpose of taking over all or part of another country … an unrighteous war of aggression.

The historical record is indisputable: Israel was forced to defend herself when attacked by an Arab coalition that far outnumbered and outgunned the Jews. Against insurmountable odds, Israel won her “War of Independence.” An independence that had already been granted by a convincing majority of the UN’s member countries.

But the world at large sees it differently. To this day, many entertain the notion that the Arabs made a mistake. So, give them another chance to reconsider acceptance of the UN Resolution. Or, even that UN Resolution 181 still applies to the Arabs—which it doesn’t because the Arabs rejected it. Or, PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ farcical fantasy that Resolution 181 is invalid, much like his accusation that the Balfour Declaration of 1917 was illegitimate.

The Arabs made more mistakes, one after another. I’m referring to three more wars in which Israel was forced to fight for its very survival; Suez War of 1956, Six-Day War of 1967, and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. In the Six-Day War, Israel reclaimed ALL of what was formerly called Palestine, including the historic liberation of Jerusalem itself. Israel had every individual, national, and international RIGHT to keep those liberated lands of the Golan Heights, Judea/Samaria (West Bank), the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and ALL of Jerusalem.

Instead, Israel relented to international pressure and has since given back jurisdictional control of Gaza, West Bank, and Sinai Peninsula to the Arabs and Egyptians. This despite the sacrifice of Israeli blood and lives to protect themselves and the land that has belonged to them for some 3,500 years.

The Palestinian mistakes continued, this time politically. On two separate occasions, the Palestinian Authority rejected massive concessions made by two Israeli Prime Ministers (Ehud Barak in 2002 and Ehud Olmert in 2008) to yield control of 98% of the West Bank to the PA. This was tantamount to and could have (probably would have) resulted in Palestinian State.

With the summary highlight of this point being: The Jews didn’t “invade, conquer, and occupy” a territory that didn’t belong to them. They defended and liberated their ancient and now modern homeland.

(3) Majority Numbers Within a Nation

We’ve already touched on this issue. Aside from the United States of America (a truly eclectic mix of nationalities from all over the world), most nations on earth have a majority population based primarily on race (nationality), religion (Muslim nations), ethnic and cultural identity, or all the above. One reason so many countries have been formed in the 20^th and 21^st centuries is because of post-World War I (somewhat) arbitrary creation of countries; or because an ethnic minority group or groups succeeded from the parent country and were given nation-state status.

(This Is Just a European List of New Countries After WWI. Other Nations Came Later Especially in the Middle East Before or After WWII, Such as Iran–formerly Persia–and Iraq, and Israel)

The Jews first came to the Promised Land when God called Abraham to be the father of a special people and nation, nearly 4,000 years ago. And as a nation when Joshua led them to victory after victory over the wicked Canaanite tribes, some 3,300 years ago. The Canaanites were a pagan people whom God told Abraham would be given 400 years to repent of their evil ways, during which time the Hebrews would live in a foreign land (Egypt). Then 3,000 years ago, Jerusalem became the eternal capital of Israel.

Said God to Abraham: “But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth … After four generations (400 years) your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites (representing all the tribes of Canaan) do not yet warrant their destruction” (Genesis 15:14-16, parenthesis mine).

Which leads us to the fourth reason for the Jewish Right of Return to Israel.

(4) Israel Is the Land Promised and Given to the Jews by God Himself

Absolutely no other reason is needed. If anyone disagrees, then they can take it up with the God of the Bible … the ONLY true and living God. (*Note: Whether they lose the debate now or in the next life…. Well, why debate in the first place?). He has proven this time and time again by mighty miracles and powerful (fulfilled) prophecies that no other god or prophet of any other religion has done or can do.

“Present the case for your idols (man-made gods), says the Lord. Let them show what they can do, says the King of Israel. Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we can consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us” (Isaiah 41:21-23, parenthesis mine).

This Right of Return has been accomplished in spectacular fashion three times in Israel’s history, each one foretold in Scripture. With the last two returns after God disciplined his people by exile to foreign nations. A right of return promised and orchestrated by God himself. With the final return and/or result of that return prophesied in hundreds of Biblical passages.

“But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, for I am the Lord their God. For their sakes, I will remember my ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of all nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 26:44-45).

That covenant was none other than God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants (the Jews) would forever possess the Promised Land of Israel.

It was the right of return to Israel after 400 years of enslavement by the Egyptians. A right proven to both Egyptians and Israelites by one awesome miracle (ten plagues) after another. Miracles that humbled an arrogant and defiant Pharaoh, that terrified and devastated the entire nation of Egypt. A right demonstrated by the splitting of the Red Sea allowing God’s people to cross on dry land and drowning Pharaohs’ charioteers and soldiers who dared pursue the Israelites. Then more spectacular signs in the wilderness, like water gushing from solid rock and bread (manna) from heaven that fed God’s people for forty wilderness years.

Miracles performed by the same God who promised them the right of return after 70 years of captive exile to Babylon, during which time God spared and protected a remnant of his people. A return prompted by a decree from a Persian king whose name the Lord identified some 150 years before Cyrus was even born! During the Babylonian captivity, the Lord revealed marvelous prophecies to Daniel and Ezekiel of the end times. Such things as the Gog/Magog invasion and the Antichrist-led ten nation coalition, both of which are soon to come during the Great Tribulation.

The God who miraculously wrote on the wall of the Babylonian palace, warning the Gentile king of a pagan nation that he and his nation were about to end. A warning that applies in perpetuity to all leaders and nations who have dared defy the true and living God and attempted to enslave or destroy God’s people the Jews.

It was the right of return after 1,900 years of dispersion to practically every nation on earth. A prophetic right that was fulfilled by the miraculous rebirth of Israel in a single day (May 14, 1948).

Providentially planned and divinely orchestrated by the same Sovereign Lord who foretold such a birth: “Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? By the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born” (Isaiah 66:8).

A final right of return that has seen Israel’s population increase exponentially in just 70 years, and the numbers are growing.

A return accomplished by more mighty miracles of God supernaturally assuring Israel of victory in four major wars against enemies that (without God’s intervention) would have otherwise overwhelmed the Jews. The same God who finally ended the discipline of his people and delivered them (forever) from Gentile domination in the phenomenal Six-Day War when the Holy City of the Holy Land was liberated.

A return made possible by preserving the Jews and their customs during their exile to foreign nations. Then restoring their all but dead language of Hebrew which is now the main language of Israel.

There is no question. The Right of Return to Israel belongs exclusively to her people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Foreigners are welcomed, but not to replace or to displace the Jews. Isn’t that true of any nation? Why, then, don’t billions of people recognize the devastating result of millions of Arabs “returning” to Israel? But you see, many do know. In fact, they would love to see that happen, especially Muslims.

Any peaceful coexistence must be through the lawful requirements of residency extended by the national rights of Israel as a sovereign nation to permit citizenship to those who qualify. Not to those who through violence and terror assert a right of return that never has and never will belong to them. A return shrouded in the sinister strategy of eliminating Israel as a Jewish state.

Things to Ponder

This Right of Return for God’s people is part of His providential plan not only for the Jews but for the Gentiles. It began when the Lord said he would bless the nations through Israel, and curse those who hold Israel and the Jews in contempt (Genesis 12, and other passages).

“This is what the Lord says: ‘I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her … I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child. When you see these things, your heart will rejoice. You will flourish like the grass! Everyone will see the Lord’s hand of blessing on his servants—and his anger against his enemies’” (Isaiah 66:12-14).

Said Ezekiel in the 6^th century B.C., not long before God gave the Jewish exiles in Babylon (and Persia) the right of return to Israel, a prophetic promise that would begin to unfold in 1948:

“When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see. Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” (Ezekiel 39:27-29).

Thousands of (Messianic) Jews world-wide have embraced Jesus as Messiah and Savior, and the Spirit of God has been poured in and upon them, as well as Gentile believers. Most have not, but that will soon change.

We who love Israel and the Jews echo the passionate hope of the Jewish Pharisee who recognized and accepted the risen Jesus as Messiah. Said the Apostle Paul:

“Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved, I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God” (Romans 10:1-4).

One day soon, Israel’s physical and spiritual redemption will be complete. God’s chosen people will recognize their (our) Jewish Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, as both Savior and Lord—the very Son of God.

“Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it” (Romans 11:12).

And when that day comes….