ISRAEL’S END TIME DILEMMA
I. INTRODUCTION
25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (hidden knowledge), lest you should
be wise in your own opinion (puffed up with pride), that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the
fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25)
A. There is two subjects that today’s western church has grossly neglected and as a result we have paid a high price
in terms of lacking a spirit of revelation. These two subjects when understood are actually one reality. The subjects I am
referring to are “Israel” and “The End Times.”
B. Paul peered down the corridor of time and sounded a clear prophetic warning to the Church at the end-of-the-age.
His warning was twofold. Don’t become dull–minded (ignorant) over these subjects and guard against walking in a haughty
spirit (pride). Webster’s Dictionary describes “ignorance” as being “unaware or uninformed.” The Church has not done
well in terms of heeding Paul’s admonition.
C. Paul’s burden was more than just a casual recognition by Gentile believers that the subject of Israel was legitimate.
Storm clouds (angry nations) are gathering against Israel and their threats are real and growing daily. Although history
teaches us that the early Church totally disregarded Paul’s passionate plea (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1; 11:22-25)—my
conviction is that he was prophetically addressing his comments primarily to the Church that would be present when the
Lord returns.
D. Paul’s concern was that believer’s instead of pressing into God’s heart for the Jewish people because of our
ignorance or arrogance would rather back away from our mandate to “provoke His people to jealousy” (Romans 11:11).
Paul’s pastoral burden was that if the Church chose that path, tragically many believers would end up apostate
(2 Thessalonians 2:5; 1 Timothy 4:1).
E. My point: The subject of Israel and the End Times is one subject in God’s heart and we have been mandated from
heaven not to neglect or minimize this subject.
1I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow
and continual grief in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen
according to the flesh, 4who are Israelites … (Romans 9:1-4a)
II. STUMBLING-BLOCKS THAT HINDER END-TIME UNDERSTANDING
A. The first stumbling block is poor scholarship that has confused and disheartened most believers. The Church has
looked to scholars to help them understand end-time Bible prophecy and instead of getting clarity they got a great variety
of views and opinions that were in serious conflict with each other. Some were saying that everything has been fulfilled
historically thus making end-time prophecy totally irrelevant. Others interpret end-time scriptures symbolically and have
reduced key events to confusing allegorical ideas that lack substance. The end result has been a massive lack of interest
in the most troubling time that the human race has ever faced—not the kind of subject that you want to be passive about.
B. The second stumbling block has been the Church’s longstanding embrace of “Replacement Theology.”
C. Another stumbling block that has caused the average believer to be confused and lose interest in end-time events
has been the statement that every generation thought they were the final generation so why should our generation be
any different?
D. The last stumbling block that has been a huge impediment to the Church has been the idea that we will be
removed prior to the period that the Bible identifies as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). The Apostles Paul and
John both agreed that the Church would be removed at the “Last Trumpet” (I Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 10:7;
11:15). God has no interest in faking-out the Church or making key events impossible to understand.
III. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STUDY AND TAKE THE END TIMES SERIOUSLY?
A. We must study the End Times because of the sheer volume of scripture that God has allocated to this subject.
Well over 100 chapters of scripture are devoted to this subject alone.
B. We must study the End Times because we are living in the generation the Lord returns. These chapters are like
God’s personal love letter to His people to give them courage to stand in victory against the rage of Satan and his demonic
hordes.
C. We must study the End Times because it was the primary way both Jesus and His apostles motivated the Church
to grow in righteous. When we lack understanding of the times we are living in it is a natural tendency to get spiritually
complacent and lethargic.
34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and
that Day (the Second Coming) come on you unexpectedly. 35For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the
face of the whole earth. 36Watch (diligent attentiveness) therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to
escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”(Luke 21:34-36)
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all
these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness … (2 Peter 3:10-11).
D. We must study the End Times because the Word of God offers the last generation of believers a unique challenge.
The Lord is not returning to a complacent Church living in reckless compromise. If God’s end-time Church will walk in a
spirit of holiness and enter into agreement with the heart of the Father concerning His Son there is a strong hint that
God’s end-of-the-age time-line has some pre-designed flexibility. Hasten means “to expedite the process” (Webster’s).
Although many commentators state that “hasten” means “earnestly desire” several translate the word to mean, “hurry it
along” (NLB), “speed it’s coming” (NIV), “do your best to make it come soon” (TEV). I believe that both views have merit.
His meaning of “looking for” is not about His people simply gathering outside to gaze aimlessly at the sky but living in full
agreement with His heart. Only a purified Bride (Revelation 19:7) will be genuinely excited and anticipating His return.
12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God … (2 Peter 3:12)
E. We must study the End Times because Jesus is passionate that His people rightly discern the spiritual season in
which they are living. Both Jesus and Paul emphasized the know-ability of the prophetic signs of the End Times.
32“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know
that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! (Matthew 24:32-33)
1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2For you yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night … 4But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that
this Day should overtake you as a thief. (1Thessalonians 5:1-4)
F. We must study the End Times because it reveals the heart of Jesus and His stunning leadership over the earth.
Many believers when they think of the End Times they get caught-up with charts, grafts, and obscure passages of
scripture. A more biblical view is to see these events as: (1) revealing the manifest beauty of Jesus in a spectacular way
(2) presents a picture of an empowered end time church walking in unprecedented dedication because she is operating
with a spirit of holiness (3) shows God’s heart for the nations as He sends forth laborers to reap the Great End Time
Harvest (4) exposes the total demise of the enemies of God and those who have fiercely opposed His righteous rulership
(5) unveils the ushering in of Christ’s glorious Millennial Kingdom and the place of divine partnership that He has given to
His saints who faithfully serve Him in their resurrected bodies and (6) gives us a glimpse of the ultimate expression of His
love when the New Jerusalem is established with new heavens and a new earth where the saints of God will dwell with Him
in intimate fellowship forever.
G. Finally, we must study the End Times because this information is specially designed to prepare the Church to fully
participate in the Great Harvest at the end of the age. It is my conviction that Amos 9:11-15 gives us a brief look at the
prophetic pattern or progression of how these events will unfold. There are massive implications for God’s strategic
purposes concerning the nation of Israel contained in these prophetic promises. Certainly these verses will find their
partial fulfillment at the conclusion of this age and reach their full expression in the age to come. However, the prophetic
pattern or progression is consistent with end-time revelation.
11 “On that day I will raise up The Tabernacle of David (house of prayer), which has fallen down, And repair its
damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old … 13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip
with sweet wine (God has reserved His best wine until the end of the age), and all the hills shall flow with it. 14 I will bring
back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and
drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them (they are really eating and really drinking in
the Millennial Age). 15 I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given
them,” Says the Lord your God.
H. I believe the biblical end-time progression is that the prayer movement will birth the Great Harvest which will
provoke and inspire more Jewish people to believe in Jesus (Yeshua) then occurred in all its former history combined.
Jews require signs (1 Corinthians 1:22) and God will be releasing them in great abundance.