Messianic Perspectives

Liz Aiello: On May 14th, 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.

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 is good to have you with us 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. We've been talking about this remarkable passage in Matthew chapter 24. It's where our Lord outlines an amazing series of prophetic trends whereby his followers can know that the end of the age is approaching.

So far, we've discussed two keys to the interpretation of the prophetic trends given here in Matthew chapter 24. We said the first key is that of convergence, that is, none of these signs by themselves is a sign of the end. It's when they come together and begin happening simultaneously that they become a sign. The second key is found in the analogy of childbirth, when he says all of these are the beginning of sorrows, or in the Greek literally, all of these are the beginning of birth pangs. So he's comparing the signs of the second coming with the signs of childbirth. As we get closer and closer to the end, these signs will increase in frequency and intensity, just like labor pains.

Now look at verse four, Matthew 24, verse four. And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Take heed that no man deceive you." And here's the first prophetic trend, verse five: "For many shall come in my name," he says, "saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many." The first indication is that of latter-day religious deception. He says there will be false Christs, false Messiahs, and they will deceive many people.

Look at verse 24: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Now let me explain what I think is going to happen as we approach the time of the tribulation. The Bible indicates that the apostolic gifts will be restored during the tribulation period. Because as the gospel of the kingdom goes out to the ends of the earth through the ministry of those 144,000 Jewish evangelists during the first half of the tribulation, the Holy Spirit will operate during that time in much the same way as he did in the book of Acts.

Let me show you one of the passages that has led me to that conclusion. It is over here in Joel in the Old Testament, the prophet Joel, chapter two. It tells us something about conditions during the tribulation after the church has been taken out. Joel chapter two, verse 28: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Verse 29: "And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

Now, how do we know what Joel is talking about here is the same thing Jesus was talking about in Matthew 24? Well, look at the next verse, verse 30, here in Joel chapter two. He says, "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke." Verse 31: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come."

Now, flip back over to Matthew 24 and look at verse 29. Tell me if this sounds familiar. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall what? The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." There's no question, my friend, this refers to the same series of events as Joel chapter two. It is the great and terrible day of the Lord, so there will be a restoration of the miraculous sign gifts during the tribulation.

That would include the gift of tongues, enabling those Jewish preachers to take the gospel to every nation and every language in the world. Look at Matthew chapter 24, verse 14: "And this gospel of the kingdom," it says, "shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." In other words, for the first time in 1,900 years, the gospel will be preached literally to all the world.

During the tribulation, those Jewish believers will complete the task of world evangelization that was begun by the church. Listen, there are still hundreds of people groups in this world who have never even heard the name of Jesus, don't have the foggiest notion of who he is. Worldwide, the physical birth rate exceeds the spiritual birth rate. That is, people are being born faster than we're winning them to Christ, so we're actually losing ground right now.

But during the first half of the tribulation, for the first time in 1,900 years, my friend, the entire world will be evangelized. The entire world will hear the gospel. The last time that happened was in apostolic times, when the book of Acts says that virtually the entire known world had heard the gospel. So there's a correlation between the apostolic period and the tribulation period. And during the tribulation, the apostolic gifts will be restored. God will pour out his spirit in much the same way as he did in the book of Acts.

Now let's take it one step further. Let me show you what is going to happen. God will work miraculously, but Satan will attempt to counterfeit those miracles. Look what Jesus says here in Matthew 24:24: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." You see, he's prophesying that as we approach the time of the end, there will be widespread religious deception.

There will be false prophets who will counterfeit the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they will deceive many, many people, the Bible says. And I believe we're seeing the beginning of this deception in our generation. Listen, you and I both know that a lot of the stuff that's going on right now on the religious scene is just about as phony as it can be. Like preachers who claim to have the gift of tongues, but then they have to use an interpreter when they go overseas to preach.

Come on, let's get real. What an inconsistency. Because that's what the gift of tongues is, my friend, it's a supernatural endowment by the Holy Spirit that enables you to proclaim the gospel in languages you've never learned. It's very clear in Acts chapter two. And that's one of the gifts that I believe will be restored during the tribulation period, the original, genuine gift of tongues, the gift of languages. But for each gift, Satan has a counterfeit.

That's why he says these false prophets will show great signs and wonders, and many people will be deceived. So the first prophetic trend is that of widespread latter-day religious deception, the appearance of false prophets preaching a false gospel and demonstrating counterfeit miracles. Now, does that apply to us today? Well, all we have to do is look around us. There is more confusion today on the religious scene than ever before.

There is more out and out heresy being taught today than ever before. There are more cults and religious groups today than ever before, even many of them calling themselves Christian. There are more false prophets today than ever before, more false teaching going on right now than ever before. That's why we've got to be anchored to the word. First John chapter four, verse one says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit." Don't be gullible. "But try the spirits," he says. Put them to the test, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

And you know what? The Jewish people, especially the Orthodox Jews, are susceptible to this latter-day deception. Even the rabbis are warning that Orthodox Jews are so desperate for the coming of the Messiah, they're ready to accept just about anyone. Well, expecting the Messiah is a wonderful thing, my friend. I'm expecting him too. But our Orthodox Jewish friends are not expecting Yeshua.

They're looking for another Messiah, someone more to their liking than Jesus of Nazareth. And that's what makes them susceptible to a religious delusion. Well, that's the first prophetic trend of Matthew 24. Latter-day religious deception, false prophets and false Messiahs. That's all of our time for today, so I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.

Liz Aiello: Thank you, Gary. And thank you, listening friend, for tuning in today. You know, 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 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 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?"

Just visit our secure online store at messianicspecialties.com to place your order. If you would prefer to order by mail, just address your request to Messianic Perspectives, P.O. Box 345, San Antonio, Texas, 78292. To order by phone, use our toll-free order line. The number is 1-800-926-5397.

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And as always, when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. 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.