Messianic Perspectives

Guest (Male): On May 14, 1948, the Jewish National Council proclaimed the birth of the modern state of Israel. Was this unprecedented event foretold by the ancient prophets, or was it merely an accident of history? We'll find out today, right here on Messianic Perspectives.

Liz Aiello: Shalom and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinct first-century Jewish point of view. This is Liz Aiello. Today, Gary Hedrick is leading our discussion about whether or not the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer, so have your pencil and paper ready. And now, with today's installment, here's Gary.

Dr. Gary Hedrick: Welcome, listening friend, to another edition of the program. It's good to have you on board today as we continue our series of studies dealing with the question of whether or not the rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. If you've been with us, you've heard us talking about Matthew chapter 24, one of the most remarkable prophetic passages in the entire Bible. I told you on the last program that if we had time today, I'd explain what the sign of the Son of Man is in Matthew 24.

Now watch this. After Jesus had prophesied the destruction of the temple, it says here in Matthew 24, verse three, "And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?" That is, when will the temple be destroyed? "And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Notice they asked him to identify the sign, singular, of his second coming.

The scriptures speak of two advents of Christ. The first was at Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and the second, someday, will be when he touches down on the Mount of Olives. Both of those advents are accompanied by a sign. The sign of the first advent was the manger in Bethlehem. Luke 2:12 says, "And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

That was the sign of our Lord's humiliation. In Matthew 24, he says there will be another sign for his exaltation when he comes the second time. That's what the disciples are asking about: "What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" So what is it? Remember, we always say the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself. Let's look right here in Matthew 24 and see if we can find any clues as to what the sign will be.

Look down here in verse 29. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." Verse 30. Now watch this. "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

That's the sign. It's a sign that appears in the heavens when Christ returns. It will be visible from anywhere on the planet. It will be seen by all the tribes of the earth, and it says they'll mourn. Everywhere in scripture, when you read about the second coming of the Messiah, it's always portrayed in basically the same way. He will come in the clouds. He's portrayed as coming with clouds, moving like golden chariots beneath him as he rides the wings of the wind.

As one preacher of yesteryear expressed it, he is coming in clouds with glory above the splendor of the noonday sun, a sunburst of resplendent radiance from his presence. He is coming in clouds, the insignia of power that shall fasten upon him the astonished gaze of all mankind. That's how his coming is always portrayed, even in the Old Testament. Turn with me back to the book of Daniel, chapter seven, and let's look at verse 13.

Daniel says, "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him." Verse 14. "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

In Daniel, he's coming in clouds. In Matthew 24, he's coming in clouds. In Matthew 26, it says he's coming in the clouds. In Revelation 1:7, John says, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." That's the sign of the Son of Man. You might say, well Gary, what's so arresting about clouds? What is there about a cloud that would make all the nations of the earth mourn?

That's a good question. The answer is that these are not just ordinary clouds. This is where you need the Jewish perspective in order to properly interpret scripture. Follow me. When Yeshua comes, he will be in a very special cloud. Turn back to Exodus, chapter 19. This is where the Israelites have come out of Egypt, and on their way to Canaan they stop at Mount Sinai. Watch what happens when God appears to them on the mount.

Verse 16. "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled." Verse 18. "And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."

The presence of God Almighty was described as a thick cloud. It was not an ordinary cloud of water and vapor, but a cloud of fire and smoke, divine presence. This is what the Jewish people call the Shekinah, the glorious manifestation of the presence of God. The Shekinah appeared to Moses in the burning bush and to Israel on Mount Sinai. It was the perpetual flame of God that dwelt over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle.

The Shekinah was the cloud and the pillar of fire that appeared to Israel at the Red Sea and on through the wilderness wanderings. At the dedication of the temple, the Bible says the cloud so filled the building and the sanctuary that the priests couldn't even go in. In that marvelous vision of Christ in Isaiah chapter six, the prophet says the glory of God, like a cloud, filled the temple.

Today, orthodox Jews, especially Lubavitcher Jews, believe the Shekinah will dwell over the third temple when it's rebuilt when Messiah comes. They believe not just that the Shekinah will dwell in the Holy of Holies in the temple, but that it will actually hover in the sky over the temple compound like the pillar of fire did in the Old Testament. The Lubavitcher Jews believe that, my friend. You might say, where is the Shekinah now? What happened to it?

The answer is in Ezekiel chapter 10, where the prophet had a vision of the glory departing from the temple. Interestingly, he traces the route of the Shekinah as it leaves. First, it departs from between the cherubim in the Holy of Holies. Then it goes to the threshold of the temple. Then it goes from the threshold of the temple to a mountain east of Jerusalem. Do you know what mountain that is? The Mount of Olives. From there, the Shekinah returned to heaven from whence it came.

The departure of the Shekinah glory of God from the temple, from Jerusalem, and from Israel signified the setting aside of the nation of Israel—a temporary setting aside as a result of Israel's idolatry and disobedience, while God opened the way for salvation to be brought to the Gentiles and for the institution of the church. The star of Bethlehem was probably the Shekinah glory of God, leading the Magi, showing them the way to Bethlehem.

On the day of Pentecost, the Shekinah came down in the form of cloven tongues of fire as the Holy Spirit, the Ruach HaKodesh, came down to dwell in God's spiritual temple, the church. It will appear again someday when God picks up where he left off with his people, Israel. When Messiah Yeshua returns, he will come in the clouds of God's Shekinah glory. At his first advent, he put aside his glory, but at his second advent, he will put on his glory.

In the first advent, he was clothed in a garment of mortal flesh, but in the second advent, he will be clothed with the garments of God. In the first advent, he appeared in weakness as a baby in Bethlehem's manger, but in the second advent, he will appear in power and great glory. When he comes back, where will he touch down on earth? On the Mount of Olives. Isn't that interesting? It is the same place from whence the Shekinah departed in the Old Testament.

The Shekinah will return to Jerusalem with Yeshua and eventually to the millennial temple by the same route that it departed 2,500 years ago: from heaven to the Mount of Olives, from the Mount of Olives to the threshold of the temple, and from there to the Holy of Holies. Well, that's the sign of the Son of Man: the Shekinah glory of God. We're out of time. We'll pick it up again here in Matthew 24 on the next program. I'll see you then. Bye-bye.

Liz Aiello: Thank you, Gary. And thank you, listening friend, for tuning in today. With everything that's been happening recently in the Middle East, it's vital that Christians understand what the Bible says about this important piece of real estate. Has God given up on his people, Israel, like the replacement theologians would have us believe? Is God finished with the Jewish people as some people claim? Absolutely not.

In fact, nearly 2,000 years after the destruction of the temple, God is now beginning to deal with his people, Israel, in a very specific way. All the information you need on this timely subject is right here on one convenient CD. It's available for a gift of just six dollars or more to the ministry of Messianic Perspectives. Just ask for series number GT12. The title is simply, "The Rebirth of Israel in 1948: Was it a Fulfillment of Prophecy?"

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This is Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, as Dr. Gary Hedrick continues our series on the rebirth of Israel in 1948: was it a fulfillment of prophecy, right here on Messianic Perspectives.