The Return of Israel
“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD. “I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before. Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return. I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, till there is no room for them. He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 10:6–12
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The Return of Israel
Today there is a lot of confusion about the modern-day country of Israel and the Israel of old. Was the reforming of Israel a trigger for the end times? Do certain things have to happen in Israel for Jesus to come back? Does the temple have to be rebuilt? The devil loves to sensationalize these things and cause them to become our focus as opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between the Old Testament kingdom of Israel and the kingdom restored by the Messiah. Luther described the former as weak because it was based on Israel’s obedience. Of the latter he said: “This kingdom is founded on God’s mercy without our own goodness or merit, and therefore it will stand fast to all eternity.” Like Israel, we all fall short of God’s glory. Because of His compassion, He called Israel back to Him and likewise keeps calling us. And though the temple was destroyed, we are rebuilt. Through God’s Word and Sacraments, we have new life in Christ Jesus. May the Holy Spirit continue to move us to exclaim with gratitude and awe in our hearts, “The LORD … is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”
Zechariah 10:6–12
+
The Return of Israel
Today there is a lot of confusion about the modern-day country of Israel and the Israel of old. Was the reforming of Israel a trigger for the end times? Do certain things have to happen in Israel for Jesus to come back? Does the temple have to be rebuilt? The devil loves to sensationalize these things and cause them to become our focus as opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between the Old Testament kingdom of Israel and the kingdom restored by the Messiah. Luther described the former as weak because it was based on Israel’s obedience. Of the latter he said: “This kingdom is founded on God’s mercy without our own goodness or merit, and therefore it will stand fast to all eternity.” Like Israel, we all fall short of God’s glory. Because of His compassion, He called Israel back to Him and likewise keeps calling us. And though the temple was destroyed, we are rebuilt. Through God’s Word and Sacraments, we have new life in Christ Jesus. May the Holy Spirit continue to move us to exclaim with gratitude and awe in our hearts, “The LORD … is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”
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