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THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF ISRAEL
“To visit this land is like a pilgrimage in the past, and walking in the shadow of greatness. But it is more. Here, today, one rubs elbows with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. With Bible in hand, one can see the fulfillment of biblical prophecy,
and can sense God's promise for the future.”
~Billy Graham
GOD PRIORITIZES AND CARES ABOUT ISRAEL.
This is the primary and most compelling reason we should care about Israel. Israel was the only country chosen by God for a specific purpose: to be a blessing to the nations. Jerusalem is the only city in the world where God chose to place His name (2 Chronicles 6:6). The three valleys that run through and surround the Old City (marked by the blue lines in the photo) form the Hebrew letter shin, meaning Shaddai or God Almighty.
GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM.
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Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their Jewish descendants were the sole benefactors of the unconditional, irrevocable Abrahamic covenant. This covenant included two major components (Genesis 12:3; Numbers 34:1-12):
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Abraham would have a multitude of descendants.
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The descendants would be heir to a literal piece of land for which God pronounced specific boundaries.
ISRAEL IS THE GPS EPICENTER OF THE WORLD.
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Geographically – Israel is the center of the world and the exact mid-point between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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Politically – Israel's relationship with her neighbors in the Middle East and the United Nations are a continual source of passion and rage across the globe.
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Spiritually – Israel and her surrounding nations are the center of virtually all biblical events.
ISRAEL IS GOD'S PROPHETIC TIMEPIECE.
If you want to know where the world stands regarding Bible prophecy, keep your eyes on Israel. Daniel 9:27 relates the beginning of the seven-year tribulation.
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Anti-Christ, the “ruler who is to come,” will confirm a seven-year covenant with Israel and other nations. (Abraham Accords?)
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The Jews will rebuild the third temple on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount (everything is currently ready at Jerusalem’s Temple Institute and three red heifers qualify to be sacrificed).
UNDERSTANDING ISRAEL OPENS UP THE SCRIPTURES.
Israel and its surrounding countries are the central location of most of Scripture. Procuring a visual of the places where Jesus lived, where He performed His ministry, and where He will return to establish His future kingdom provides believers with a tangible connection to God and a more intimate understanding of Scripture. It also helps us connect to God's plan for our own lives. You'll never be the same as Scripture becomes alive!
ISRAEL ILLUSTRATES GOD'S LOVE, PURPOSE,
AND DESIRE FOR ALL HUMANITY.
The love story between God and Israel helps us grasp the character of God. As we learn of His enduring compassion and mercy towards His people as we continually fail, we better understand His compassion and mercy towards us.
God has established Israel to convey His love for all people. He has ordained Israel to bring His Word and the Messiah to Jewish and non-Jewish people.