The future of Israel according to Bible prophecy
Many prophecies in the Old Testament contain details which have not yet come to pass, making it clear that they are yet to be fulfilled.
Psalm 83 was a prophetic psalm written about 2,000 years ago, and describes Middle East nations coming against Israel. This must certainly signify an event yet to come, as never before in history have the list of nations within this Psalm all joined together in this way to attack Israel. Verse 4 could have come straight from the mouth of the rulers of the Middle East nations of today:
"They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." -- Psalm 83 v 4
The Psalm continues, listing all of the nations that join together with the aim of destroying Israel:
"For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah." -- Psalm 83 v 5-8
Looking back at ancient maps from the time when the Psalm was written we can see that the nations listed here cover the area of the Middle East comprising the following modern-day countries:
Amalek - The north-eastern area of Egypt, just below the Gaza Strip
Ishmaelites and Hagarenes - Northern Saudi Arabia
Philistines - The Gaza Strip
Gebal and Tyre - Lebanon
Moab and Ammon (both also referred to as the children of lot), and Edom - Jordan
Assur - Iraq (the capital of ancient Assyria)
Many other prophetic books from the Bible refer to this situation and the outcome of it, accurately predicting the nations and areas that are now hostile towards Israel. When the prophecies are pieced together, one can see the exact order in which these events are to occur, and how Israel is to defeat these nations that attack it.
This article uses some of the Bible prophecies, but not all. There are so many, all in agreement with each other, and they are very specific in their descriptions. Whether or not one believes the prophecies is irrelevant: it is whether or not they come to pass that matters. No Christian should desire the destruction revealed here, but should pray for those who do not know God. The following selected prophecies are listed in order of occurrence:
Ezekiel 36
The prophecies of Ezekiel were written around 593 to 571 B.C. Part of this prophecy has been fulfilled, and the latter part is still being fulfilled today. It mentions how God scatters the Jews throughout the countries of the world, leaving the land of Israel desolate because of their sins against him. The scattering of the Jews, known as the Jewish Diaspora, started in 79AD following the Jewish Wars and sack of Jerusalem by Tiberius:
"And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them." -- v 19
After the dispersion of the Jews the prophecy claims that the land of Israel shall be taken possession of by the surrounding nations, specifically mentioning the area we now know as Jordan (Idumea):
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey." -- v 5
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame." -- v 7
Jordan occupied much of Israel until 1948, when Israel once again became a nation, and the Jews took back part of the land of Israel, fulfilling this part of the prophecy.
Also mentioned is how God will again bring the Jews back to Israel, and that Israel shall be built up as a prosperous country. Since 1948 Jews have been returning to Israel from all over the world:
"For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land." -- v 24
Ezekiel 37
"And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:" -- v 21-22
Israel had always been one nation up until the death of King Solomon in 979 BC. After this the kingdom was split up into the two nations of Israel and Judah, and remained that way ever since.
In 1948 the nation of Israel was established as a single nation, for the first time since 979 BC, fulfilling the prophecy. Even today Jews are still flocking back to Israel.
Ezekiel 35
"As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD." -- v 15
Both Seir and Idumea are the lands of the Edomites, which today are known as Jordan.
"I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD." -- v 9
This prophecy must be for a time yet to come as it describes Jordan as being utterly destroyed and without inhabitants or cities, something which has not yet occurred in history.
Obadiah
This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. It describes how Edom, which is modern Jordan, is despised by the countries around it, and that the surrounding countries deceive its army and fight against it:
"The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised." -- v 1-2
"All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; that they eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him." -- v 7
The prophecy ends with Israel posessing the area of Jordan:
"But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." -- v 17
"And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south." -- v 19-20
Here we see that the Jews are to take posession of the following areas:
Philistines - Gaza Strip
Ephraim and Samaria - The West Bank
Gilead - The area to the right of the Jordan river
Zarephath - Lebanon
Joel 3
Tyre and Zidon were the areas now known as Lebanon. This prophecy claims that Lebanon and the coasts of Palestine, which is the area of the Philistines now known as the Gaza Strip, shall attack Israel, and Israel shall attack back rapidly:
"Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;" -- v 4
The people from these countries shall be ousted from these places and find themselves banished to the Yemen area, which is now the land once belonging to the Sabeans, the people of Sheba:
"And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it." -- v 8
As in Ezikiel 35, this prophecy claims that Edom, the area of which today is known as Jordan, shall be destroyed, adding that Egypt also shall be destroyed:
"Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land." -- v 19
Zephaniah 2
"For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant." -- v 4-5
The people of the sea coast area comprising the Gaza Strip up to Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron which is slightly beyond, shall be destroyed from the land. This prophecy specifically mentions the Cherethites: these are the people who inhabited the lower region of the land belonging to the Philistines, the land that is now the Gaza Strip.
"And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity." -- v 6-7
The inhabitants of these areas shall be destroyed, but the land shall not be completely destroyed.
"I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them." -- v 8-9
The area of Jordan shall be completely desolate, and Israel shall posess it.
"Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword. And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness." -- v 12
The Ethiopians will be killed, and Assyria, which today encompasses Syria and Iraq, will be destroyed. Nineveh, which is in Iraq, will be completely desolate like a wilderness.
Isaiah 11
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." -- v 11-12
A sign for the nations is that Israel shall be gathered from around the world. Pathros and Cush are parts of Egypt, Elam is within Iran, Shinar is Iraq, Hamath is Syria.
"The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them." -- v 13-14
This prophecy also claims that Edom, Moab and Ammon -- representing what we know today as Jordan -- shall be taken by Israel.
"And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." -- v 15-16
Here we see that the rivers around Egypt and Assyria -- which then covered the areas of Syria and Iraq -- shall be dried up so that men can travel through over the dry land there.
Zechariah 10
This prophecy must occur after the prophecy where Jordan and Lebanon are destroyed by Israel, as Jews are to gather in these areas in great numbers.
God will call the Jews from far countries and out of Egypt and Assyria, and that they shall come again to Israel. It actually states that they shall come to Lebanon and Gilead, which is modern Jordan, in such great numbers that there will not be enough room:
"I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away." -- v 8-11
Here the prophecy also adds that the sea feeding the rivers of Assyria and Egypt shall dry up.
Ezekiel 38
This prophecy depicts an attack upon Israel by Magog, which is known today as Russia. Concerning Magog we read:
"And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee." -- v 4-6
The reference of hooks in Magog's jaws signifies that Russia will be unable to resist, and will be drawn to Israel. Ethiopia and Libya shall be alongside Russia; Persia which is now known as Iran, and Gomer and Togarmah, which cover the region known today as Turkey, shall also be with Russia in this attack.
"And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land." -- v 11-12
Here we see that the prophecy is to occur after Israel has been gathered from the nations, which would be some time after 1948. The nations surrounding Israel, such as Jordan and Lebanon, are not listed as attacking Israel therefore they must have been defeated by this time. This is backed up by the mention of Israel living in peace and safety, and without walls -- something which has still not occurred since the Jews first returned to Israel.
"Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" -- v 13
Whatever the hooks in the jaws of Magog are, it becomes obvious to the trading countries that the reason for the gathering of the Russian/Islamic forces is to take away the wealth of Israel.
"For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone." -- v 19-22
The destruction of Russia and its allies is depicted as being supernatural, and also we see that "every man's sword shall be against his brother".
Jeremiah 49
"The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come." -- v 34-36
Elam is known today as Iran. The prophecy tells of how the inhabitants of Iran will be scattered throughout the nations.
"For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD." -- v 37-39
Here the prophecy specifically claims that this is to happen in the latter days, the days of the end.
Ezekiel 39
The prophecy of Magog continues:
"Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand." -- v 1-3
This prophecy depicts the demise of the Russian forces, how all but one sixth of them shall be destroyed. They shall get as far as the mountains of Israel and shal be defeated there.
"Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it , saith the Lord GOD. " -- v 4-5
Again, it is mentioned that they shall all die upon the mountains of Israel, and upon the open field.
"So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword." -- v 22-23
The outcome of this battle where God destroys those attacking Israel is not only that the Jews will come back to God, but that all those around them will know that God only allowed the Jews to be defeated before because of their sins against God.
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