The significance of Israel’s restoration in the light of world events.

While spending time in north London looking after my mum this summer, I was once again inspired by a verdant overhanging fig tree almost blocking my path as I walked (and ran) around Hampstead Heath. Laden with ripening fruit, it was another reminder of one of the most significant events of our time, largely missed by most people – including Christians.

In speaking to his disciples about Israel’s restoration and of his own return to reign on earth, Jesus said one of the signs of his imminent return was “when the fig tree blossoms…” (Matthew 24:32f) The fig tree is a biblical symbol of Israel.¹

Expectations of Revival

For the past 40 years there have been expectations of revival in Britain. There is certainly a need for one! My understanding is that, along with much trouble and strife, there will be revival in the last days. Joel prophesied that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28). That was partly fulfilled at Pentecost, but its final fulfilment is yet to come, although Asia, Africa, the Far East and South America have already witnessed great outpourings of heavenly rain in recent decades.

But who in the church is preparing for the great revival prophesied for Israel? God has not forgotten them, nor has he replaced them with the Church as some preachers suggest. He has made an everlasting covenant with Israel – with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants.

God’s Faithfulness

Covenants are not meant to be broken; a disciple of Christ who expects God to go back on his word has completely misunderstood his character! If Israel is cut off from God because of unfaithfulness, what chance has the Church with all her backsliding over the centuries – especially in terms of persecution of the Jewish people? No, God will never reject his chosen ones. “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 31:37).

The New Covenant received by Jeremiah is not addressed to the Church, but only to Israel!

The New Covenant received by Jeremiah is not addressed to the Church, but only to Israel! “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31). Earlier in the same chapter, he declares his “everlasting love” for his chosen people whom he vows to restore – to their land, which would once more become fruitful he says: “I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow” (v13).

Look at Israel

Christians need to take a closer look at Israel and God’s dealings with his chosen people which enables us to understand what he is doing in the world today. The very existence of the State of Israel is a testimony to the faithfulness of God in keeping his promises. The New Testament tells us that the day will come when all Israel will accept Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Paul writes, “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so, all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:25-26).

Many people in Israel today are secular humanists rather than followers of the faith of their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Some 200,000 recently marched through the streets of Tel Aviv in support of Gay Pride. But the fig tree is blossoming: a nation has been rebuilt from a barren wasteland and is now supplying the world with fruit. It is a global leader in technology, using their agricultural genius to help African and other countries, and even using their medical expertise to heal their ‘enemies’ as they tend to the wounds of Syrian soldiers wounded in the civil war that rages on their northern border.

Messianic Jews

The real clue to the future lies in the growing number of Messianic Jews – those who have recognised Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) as their Messiah. Despite the high price paid by Jewish believers in Jesus (being cut off from their families in many cases), they keep ‘coming home’, like the Prodigal Son – not only in Israel but throughout the world.

Yet the fig tree is still only a bud, not yet in full blossom; soon to be laden with fruit, like the one in Hampstead’s Spring Path (pictured).

The Church really does need to ‘watch’ Israel, especially the growth of Messianic Judaism, for it is key to the unfolding events leading up to the second coming of Christ. It is also key to understanding the loving-kindness, forbearance and longsuffering of our God, who watches over his word to see it fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:12).

Yet the fig tree is still only a bud, not yet in full blossom; soon to be laden with fruit.

Dreams and Visions

Sadly, many Christians can’t see what Israel has to do with them; they seem to forget that we worship the God of Israel. Many Jews and Arabs are having dreams and visions of Jesus as he reveals himself to the children of Abraham, as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt. This surely underscores the truth that Jesus holds the answer to world peace.

Even on the war front, there are lessons to be learnt. The ongoing tension on the Temple Mount, for instance, needs to be understood as a spiritual battle, representing on a grand scale what Christians are taught to expect in their individual lives.

Ignorance of Israel will leave your faith weakened while knowledge of Israel, even in its present largely unrepentant state, will edify your soul as you realise afresh that you can trust in the One and only Saviour of the world, who is a covenant keeping God who never breaks his promises.

The Budding Fig-tree

Some date the budding of the fig tree from the year 1967, fifty years ago, when Israel recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem for the first time in 2,000 years, thereby ending (in the understanding of some) the ‘trampling down of Jerusalem by the Gentiles’ spoken of by our Lord (Luke 21:24).

The One and only Saviour of the world is a covenant keeping God who never breaks his promises.

It’s an interesting point that 1967 is generally also regarded as the year the Messianic Movement began in earnest, coinciding with the start of the Charismatic Movement that brought a restoration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the old historic churches.

The feast of Pentecost (known to Jews as Shavuot) is still seen in Israel as a celebration of the Law received by Moses, which of course is now ‘written on our hearts’ through the work of the Holy Spirit in accordance with Ezekiel 36:26f. It seems that there is a ‘golden’ thread holding together this Trinitarian truth.

So, in this golden year of celebrations, make sure that ‘Jerusalem the Golden’ lightens up your understanding of the Scriptures and of God’s wonderful – though sometimes mysterious – ways.

References 

¹ Dr Clifford Denton goes a step farther and interprets the budding of the fig tree as a restoration in Israel of the authority to interpret Torah. See, for example