Nov 16, 2006

The formation of the Israeli state in 1948 was the fulfillment of two sets of Bible prophecy. The first was Isaac's promise to Esau that he would have the dominion some time in the future. The dominion mandate, first given in Gen. 1:28, carried with it the authority and responsibility over the earth to bring all things under the feet of Jesus.

Under Abraham, this dominion mandate was clarified when God said that his seed would be a blessing to all families of the earth (Gen. 12:3). Under Moses, the law clarified this further with many specifics as to one's character and treatment of others. One important law in regard to the dispute between Jacob and Esau was the law regarding the birthright (Deut. 21:15-17). It says that a man's oldest son is the inheritor of the birthright and cannot be disinherited just because the father hates him or his mother.

The next law in verses 18-23 is about a rebellious and stubborn son. These two laws are given together in order to show us how a firstborn son can be disqualified and be disinherited.

In applying this to the story of Jacob and Esau, we find that though they were twins, Esau was the oldest son and the one naturally in line to receive the birthright. However, the prophecy given before they were born (Gen. 25:23) made it known that the elder would serve the younger. But yet we find that when the time came, Isaac fully intended to give Esau the birthright and the blessing. Was he going against the prophetic Word?

No, Isaac recognized that a man is not crowned unless he strives lawfully. In other words, in spite of the prophecy, he was bound by the divine law. He had to let God work out His plan in His own way. So he was willing to abide by the law--though not yet written down by Moses--because Esau was the one in line to receive it.

However, Jacob and his mother plotted to foil the transfer of the birthright, because they were focusing upon the fulfillment of prophecy, rather than upon the law. They thought that God needed some help in fulfilling His word, so they plotted to lie to Isaac in order to take the birthright by stealth. They succeeded, but only by violating the law. This made Esau a victim of sin, and Jacob would eventually have to release the birthright back to Esau's hands and allow the divine plan time to work itself out naturally.

This is what happened in 1948. The descendants of Esau had been incorporated into Judah in 126 B.C. when John Hyrcanus conquered them and forcibly converted them to Judaism. From then on, as Josephus tells us, they were known only as Jews. And so that portion of Judah became the inheritor of Esau's prophetic inheritance and destiny. In 1948 the descendants of Esau, manifesting as Zionists, received the birthright and dominion mandate once again, in order that Jacob's sin against Esau might be rectified.

When they called themselves Israel, they took the name that the angel had given Jacob in Gen. 32:28, which Jacob had later passed down to Joseph's sons (Gen. 48:16). Joseph's son, Ephraim, was the leading tribe of the northern House of Israel, and when Israel was dispersed into Assyria, the name was removed from them. In 1948 the Zionists took that name for themselves, as if they possessed the birthright of Joseph. From their perspective, it was theft. But from God's perspective, it was divine justice, for Esau had to receive the birthright in order to prove whether or not he would use it lawfully.

Esau was the hated son (Malachi 1:3). God tells us that He hates Esau, not in order to do him injustice, but in order to protect him by the law of the hated son (Deut. 21:15-17). As a hated son, Esau was specifically protected from injustice. This is why God allowed Esau to receive the birthright from Jacob (who is truly called to have the birthright in the long run).

Esau has now proven himself to be a rebellious and stubborn son by the actions of the Israeli state and their mistreatment of Palestinians and anyone else who gets in their way. Much of the Church is still as lawless as Jacob was in ancient times, for they still think that helping and supporting Esau in his rebellious state is right and pleasing to God, on the grounds that it fulfills Bible prophecy.

I believe that Esau's time is nearly completed. When it is, no military force on earth will be able to prevent the destruction of his Zionist state. For every sin, every massacre, every theft, every oppression and abuse that the Israelis have committed against others, God has empowered Esau's enemies further. Ultimately, this will come to a world crisis, and Esau's fall from power will be earth-changing. It will also be an embarrassment to the Church, and Christians everywhere will lose faith, thinking that prophecy has failed.

But God is also raising up a few people who know and understand the law and how prophecy must truly be fulfilled in a lawful manner. These are the ones that God will use to re-stabilize the devastated Christians and show them how all of these things were foretold in Scripture.

This will be quite similar to the disciples' devastation that occurred when Jesus was crucified. Because they did not understand Bible prophecy, they were horrified that Jesus was actually crucified, and they thought that all was lost. But at the resurrection, Jesus returned to explain to them how all of these things were prophesied even through Moses (Luke 24:44, 45).

It will happen again. But this time, Jesus will use the overcomers, His Body, to minister to the rest of the Church and to give them an understanding of Scripture, beginning with Moses. There will be a great repentance (Day of Atonement) in that day, and the sons of God will be manifested (Feast of Tabernacles). The birthright will not only be taken away from Esau, but will also be given to the true inheritors who have the character of Jesus Christ and who are qualified to rule the Kingdom of God with impartiality, love, and equal justice for all mankind.

Then will the nations rejoice, as David tells us in Psalm 67:4-7,

"Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for Thou wilt judge the peoples with righteousness, and guide the nations on the earth. . . God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear [respect] Him.

This is the final part of a series titled "Zionism Prophesied in the Bible." To view all parts, click the link below.

Zionism Prophesied in the Bible