Volume 30, Issue 1 _________________________________Bible Prophecy Ministry


Until Israel Learns to Cry. . .Page 2



      Again, notice the incrimination of the House of Israel when they dwelt in their land. Their uncleanness was compared to that of a wayward woman. Therefore it was God's providence to permit Israel to be scattered abroad to the nations of the whole world and submit them to dwell among the heathen. God even charges Israel with defaming his name among all the dwelling spots to which she was deported.

      But God does not for a moment intend to permit his Holy Name to be forever profaned among the world through Israel's mournful status. God shall indeed be glorified not only within Israel, but through Israel's national cry to be glorified to all the nations of the world. Notice the clearly stated design of God to ultimately become known by even the heathen nations of the world after Israel has been chastised and corrected of her own evil and backsliding ways.

      But, the question of this historic dilemma becomes a question of when. When will Israel ever mourn for Jesus like as one mourning for an only son? When will Israel ever cry out that mournful cry as Jesus demanded of them; "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord"?

      Even Israel itself has long since tired of yearning to see the day when her sorrow shall be turned into joy. Israel's mournful prayer throughout the ages is reflected in the cry of Habakkuk the prophet:

      Habakkuk 1:1-3 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

      O Lord, how long shall I (Israel) cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

      Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strive and contention.

      Israel continues even today, after being restored back into the promised land to face strife and contention from its varied and many violent enemies. Israel cries out for peace, but can find no real peace. The reason that Israel can still find no ease in this world is simply because they have still not yet learned to cry out for the Prince of Peace!

      There is a great controversy even amongst the Christian community today concerning whether or not it is appropriate to witness to and seek to convert the Jewish people. Many within Christianity have suggested that the attempts to witness to Jews is an act of insulting intolerance, because Jews really have no need to be converted, as they have their own unique pathway to God.

      I would suggest that the very same hope and dream that the apostle Paul held for Israel is still appropriate for today's Christian viewpoint. Paul knew firsthand the implications which lay in store for the whole world at long last when Israel learned to cry for Jesus.

      Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.

      For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

      For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.

      Paul knew that Israel needed to be saved! He had a heart filled with the desire for Israel to discover the true righteousness of God that can only come through their repentance and recognition of Jesus as their true Lord and King. Paul longed for Israel to learn to cry out for their own beloved son whom they themselves had pierced and rejected.

      Paul also realized that Israel's state of lamentation would run parallel along history with the era of time that is known as, "the Times of the Gentiles". Both, Peter and Paul had surmised that God had made a choice between Israel and the Gentiles. They concluded that God was using them ( apostles-church ) to take the message of the Gospel, first to the Gentile world for the purpose of taking out from them a people for God's name; and then after that era of time was fulfilled; the Lord should return unto them ( Israel ) and rebuild their desolate tabernacle; and save Israel during its hour of great Trouble! ( see Acts 15 ) ( also known as Jacob's trouble )

      The long running era of the Church age is simply the providential plan of God to effectuate the call of salvation to the far distant corners of the world. Even amidst Israel's epic travail among the lands of her exile God has utilized her rejection of his Only Son as the beacon of witness verifying his promise to bless all the nations of the world through the heritage of Israel.

      Meanwhile, Israel continues on working to establish its own righteousness. They have steadfastly refused to acknowledge the one who came in the name of the Lord. Therefore they grope about in ignorance, having a zeal for God, but all the while remaining in absolute darkness, or spiritual blindness, unable to discern that their rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah resulted in their national calamity.

      Romans 11:25-27 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

      And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob ( Israel );

      The apostle Paul relates in these verses that Israel dwells in partial blindness, and that God in his great program to take a people for his name from among the Gentile nations shall conclude that wonderful work one day, whereupon he then shall send the "Deliverer of Israel", to save all the remnant of Israel in the epic hour of their great distress.

      That epic hour of great distress is often referred to as, "The Time of Jacob's Trouble"; or by the term of "The Great Tribulation". Jesus referred to this time as a time of such great trouble, that it supersedes all other times of distress that has ever existed.

      It will be at just this point in earthly time that Israel will yearn and mourn for Deliverance! Israel, having entered into a covenant arrangement with a pretender Messiah will find her holy city of Jerusalem encircled by the armies of the Antichrist.

      Just when Israel thought she had found a safe and secure haven, never more to be exposed to weeping amid lamentation, she will find herself in her deepest period of struggle and hardship. But, then: from out of the eastern sky shall appear her Deliverer!

      Then shall the Lord fight against all those enemies of Israel, and destroy all who oppose her. The Lord Jesus Christ himself shall defend the city of Jerusalem!

      The very same Jesus who pronounced the long era of national mourning for Israel, and likewise instructed them that they would someday learn to cry out for him in bitterness; and look upon him whom they pierced and put to death; also shall be the very same one who shall deliver Israel when they finally learn to say with extreme gladness: "Blessed is he that Cometh in the name of the Lord"!

      Zechariah 12:10-11 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they ( Israel ) shall look upon me; ( Jesus ) whom they pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him; as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

      On that day shall Israel's weeping cease, their sorrow shall be turned into joy, and their hearts shall ever turn to rejoicing out of their great love for their wonderful and almighty King!

      When Israel learns to cry for Jesus, the whole world will find peace! The Prince of Peace will establish his throne not only in Jerusalem, but his law will go forth from Israel to all the world. The nations of this earth will honor the glorious King of Israel.

      Today, it seems inconceivable that there could ever be a measure of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but upon the day when Israel learns to mourn for her Deliverer; she will find her King capable of securing a peace with all nations

      Micah 4:2-3 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob ( Israel ); and he will teach us of his ways, and we shall walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

      And he shall judge among the many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

      And to Israel, the Lord says: I will put a new heart in you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them. Also the Lord says: Ye ( Israel ) shall dwell in the land that I gave to your forefathers, and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

      Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel “after those days”, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. This will all come to pass, but not until Israel learns to cry! This is the reason that we pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

Darrell G. Young
Copyright©2000






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