Messianic Perspectives

Guest (Female): The Book of Numbers records a remarkable series of four prophecies, including a startling prediction about the coming of the Messiah. But what makes these four prophecies even more amazing is that God gave them not through Moses or through a Jewish prophet, but through a pagan priest named Balaam. Stay tuned as Dr. Gary Hedrick discusses Balaam's four prophecies, right here on Messianic Perspectives.

Liz Aiello: Shalom, and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the Scriptures from a distinctive first-century Jewish point of view. I'm Liz Aiello. Today, our Bible teacher is Dr. Gary Hedrick and he's talking about four remarkable prophecies given through a pagan priest named Balaam. I'll be back at the close of the program to tell you about our special offer. And now, with today's installment, here's Gary Hedrick.

Dr. Gary Hedrick: Thanks. This is your friend Gary Hedrick and I want you to know I'm glad you tuned in today. When we ran out of time on the last broadcast, we were discussing the fact that Balaam, this pagan prophet in the Book of Numbers, gave a remarkable fourfold prophecy revealing God's plan for Israel's past, present, and future.

We were talking about the fact that many people today, including some fairly well-known Bible teachers on radio and television, say that God is finished with the Jews and that the church has replaced Israel in God's prophetic plan. God has put the Jews on the shelf, these people say. He's done with them.

So we were looking at some prophetic passages in the Old Testament to see if that's true. Is God finished with the Jews? Have the Jews been replaced in God's program by the church? Last time, I directed your attention to this passage in Hosea chapter 3, verses 4 and 5, where we have a summary of Jewish history.

We said that verse 4 is a reference to the times of the Gentiles, that is, the period from the Babylonian captivity up until the end of the tribulation period when Jerusalem is controlled by the Gentiles. Then, in verse 5, the prophet Hosea says, "Afterward," that is, after the times of the Gentiles, "shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their king." That is the second David, of course, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. "And they shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days."

So this refers to the final restoration of Israel at the close of this age when the Lord ushers in his millennial kingdom of worldwide peace and prosperity. Hosea chapter 3, verse 4 is the times of the Gentiles when Israel will be scattered among the nations, and verse 5 is her restoration at the end of the age. In no uncertain terms, the prophet Hosea says God is not finished with the Jews.

These people who say that God is finished with the Jews also say that the restoration of the state of Israel in 1948 is totally unrelated to Bible prophecy. Interestingly enough, there are other Bible teachers and Bible scholars who also take the position that the present state of Israel is not a fulfillment of Bible prophecy because they say the restoration promises in the Old Testament all had reference to the Millennium, not to anything in this present church age.

But I said on the last broadcast that this latter-day restoration of the Jews would take place in two phases, according to the Scriptures. First, there was to be a partial restoration in unbelief prior to the Millennium. I believe that is what we saw beginning in 1948 and what we see today in Israel. Secondly, there is to be a complete restoration when Israel comes to faith in Messiah Jesus in the Millennium. There's a partial restoration in the years prior to the Millennium, and then there's a complete restoration at the beginning of the Millennium.

Sometimes people say, "Gary, where do you find this partial restoration of Israel in unbelief in the Scriptures?" Let me show you where it's mentioned in the Bible. There are two references in particular, one in the Old Testament and another in the New Testament, where it's unmistakably clear. In fact, that may be why some people miss it, because it's so obvious.

I'm going to show you where the present and partial and temporary restoration of the nation Israel in unbelief is prophesied in the Scriptures. Let's look at it together. If you're at home and you have your Bible handy, turn with me to Matthew chapter 24, verse 15. Here's what our Lord said in his prophetic Mount Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:15: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand." Verse 16: "Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."

It's interesting that in AD 70, when the Romans came against Jerusalem and close to a million Jews lost their lives during that terrible siege and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem, the Christian Jews were the ones who survived. Because when they saw the Roman general Titus desecrate the Holy of Holies, they thought he was the abomination mentioned by Christ, and they headed for the hills, just as the Lord had told them to do. They fled from the city.

Many of the Christian Jews in the church in Jerusalem were quite large back in those days. Many of the Christian Jews escaped the Roman slaughter in AD 70. But in reality, although it was a good thing that those Jewish believers in AD 70 thought he was referring to them, the words of our Lord in Matthew 24:15 referred not primarily to the events of AD 70, but to the events of the 70th week of Daniel.

That's found in Daniel chapter 9, verses 26 and 27. It's the time of Jacob's trouble, the seven-year tribulation period, which ends at the Battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. In the middle of this seven-year period, that is, after the first three and a half years, according to Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and desecrate the Jerusalem temple by setting up the abomination of desolation in the holy place in the temple.

Remember, we're asking how we know that the restoration of national Israel to Palestine occurs in two phases. Phase number one, when they're restored partially in unbelief, and phase number two during the Millennium when they're restored completely. Pretend with me for just a moment. Pretend that nothing happened in 1948. Israel didn't become a state. The Jews didn't return to Palestine. There is no Israel.

We're looking at the prophetic Scriptures here and we see two very interesting things. First, Daniel prophesies that the Antichrist will enter into a covenant agreement with the nation Israel during the tribulation period. What does that tell us? Obviously, the nation Israel will be restored at some point before the Millennium. After all, you can't have treaties or covenants without a nation.

The second interesting thing we would see is that Matthew 24 indicates that the Antichrist is going to desecrate the Holy of Holies during the tribulation. So what would that tell us? Obviously, there will be a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem during the tribulation period. Doesn't that make sense?

We're not reading something into prophecy that's not there. Even if there were no state of Israel today, even if nothing had happened in 1948, we would still know that it's on its way before the Millennium from just these two prophetic passages in Daniel chapter 9 and Matthew chapter 24. So these people who say the restoration of Israel in 1948 has no prophetic significance because the promises of Israel's restoration refer only to the Millennium, they're walking on very thin theological ice.

The point we're making here is simply this: God is not finished with his people Israel. God made a promise to Abraham. In fact, let's take just a moment here and go back to Genesis chapter 12. Balaam can wait until next time, if necessary. The Abrahamic Covenant actually consists of a series of promises, and these promises are outlined in several passages in Genesis, but chapter 12 will do nicely.

Listen to what it says in Genesis chapter 12, beginning in verse 1: "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Notice how Jehovah, the God of creation, the God of the universe, says, "I will, I will, I will." He says, "I will show you a land. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you, Abraham. I will make your name great. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse those who curse you." This is Jehovah Adonai Elohim God giving his word to Abraham. Notice something else, my friend, you won't find the word "if" anywhere in these verses.

He doesn't say, "Abraham, I will bless your seed Israel if they're good" or "if they don't reject the Messiah" or "if they don't forget me." He doesn't say that. He doesn't make this covenant conditional in any way. He simply says, "I will, I will, I will, I will do it." That's all he says. It's an unconditional promise. That's the point.

When you put all these covenant passages together from Genesis chapter 12, chapter 17, chapter 21, chapter 28 of Genesis, you find that this Abrahamic Covenant consists of a series of not four or five or even six promises, but it's a series of 13 distinct promises God made to Abraham. Among the provisions of that covenant, God made it clear, first of all, that the promises would be inherited by the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

And secondly, that the children of Israel would inherit the promised land as an everlasting possession, forever. So again, we ask the question, is God finished with his people Israel? Have the Jews been displaced in God's plan by the church? The answer is, no, they have not. In fact, in the Old Testament, God revealed through the prophet Balaam his wonderful plan for Israel's past, present, and future. That's what we'll take up on the next program as we go to the book of Numbers and look at Balaam's four prophecies.

Liz Aiello: Thank you Gary. And thank you, listening friend, for tuning in today. It's always good to have you with us as we look into God's Word together. Now, let me tell you about our special offer. It's the compact disc, which includes all of the programs in this current series of studies on Balaam's Four Prophecies, and it can be yours for a gift of just $6 or more to Messianic Perspectives.

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. When you write, just ask for the series Balaam's Four Prophecies. Balaam is spelled B-A-L-A-A-M. Or just ask for CD number GT-20. That's GT-20 and enclose $6.

To order by phone, use our toll-free order line. The number is 1-800-926-5397. Have you enjoyed this edition of Messianic Perspectives? Why not continue to learn about the Jewish roots of your Christian faith by inviting a speaker from CJF Ministries? Call our toll-free number, 1-800-926-5397, and we'll be happy to handle all of the details.

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. I'm Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, as Dr. Gary Hedrick continues our series of studies on Balaam's Four Prophecies, right here on Messianic Perspectives.

Guest (Female): Messianic Perspectives is sponsored by CJF Ministries of San Antonio, Texas, and is made possible on this station by the free-will contributions of our listeners in this area.