Prophecy Becoming Reality

Prophecy can mean different things to different people. Some think of end times. Some think of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Some think of the Old Testament messages. But after my trip to Israel, I have experienced a whole new way of viewing prophecy. 

One of the biggest privileges of my life has been to see firsthand the prophecies of the Bible being fulfilled in Israel. For me, I give glory to God for His covenant faithfulness to Israel. One lesson I learned on my trips is that fulfilled prophecy is a result of God's faithfulness. To read a prophecy about Israel in my Bible and then see it come to life before my very eyes has become one of my most treasured experiences. 

You see, God called me to Israel in 2016, and after being there in person and seeing the physical fulfillment of the very things that the prophets of old spoke about, my life has never been the same. 

The biggest prophecy I have witnessed is the return of the Jewish people. I have found over 64 passages of Scripture that speak about this very thing. The Jewish people returning to the land of Israel is a huge miracle, and it’s happening just as it was foretold in Scripture: 

“For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the lands; and I will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). 

Again in Isaiah 11:12, Isaiah prophesies that God “will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” And in Deuteronomy 30:3 it says, “then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.” 

Since the First Zionist Congress in 1897 and also since Israel’s Independence Day in 1948, we have seen more Jews return to the land of Israel than ever before in history. 

The Bible also prophesies that the land of Israel will flourish and come back to life. “But as for you, mountains of Israel, you will grow your branches and bear fruit for My people Israel; for they are about to come” (Ezekiel 36:8).  

In Isaiah 27:6, it says, “In the days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, and they will fill the whole world with fruit.” 

And the prophet Amos foretold that the LORD will, “restore the fortunes of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the desolated cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.” 

We see from these Scriptures that the promised land will bear branches, fruit, blossoms, and have vineyards. These vineyards are one of the main signs of redemption and peace! 

You see, it takes seven years to get from grapevine saplings to wine you can drink. When you live in one place longer than seven years it is often seen as a sign of stability and peace. 

Vineyards are also a sign of redemption. When Israel was dispersed into the nations in A.D. 70, the vineyards were destroyed. But in recent history, the vineyards are coming back! 

“Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the planters will plant and will enjoy the fruit” (Jeremiah 31:5). 

This verse came to pass for the first time in two millennia, when in 1998, Nir Lavi, a Jewish farmer, put vines in the ground of Samaria. 

Isaiah 61:5 says, “Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.” In 2004, Mr. Tommy Waller, a Gentile, came and helped harvest grapes on the mountains of Samaria. Since then, every year, hundreds of volunteers come from all over the world to harvest grapes. Another prophecy being fulfilled in our lifetimes.

Genesis 15:18 talks about the Abrahamic Covenant:  “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land.’” God made this covenant close to 4,000 years ago, giving the land of Israel to the physical descendants of Abraham forever. The return of the Jewish people to this same land after thousands of years testifies that God is a covenant-keeping God. A God who keeps His promises. 

Some people hate Israel, some people love Israel, and some are indifferent. If you are a Christian, I encourage you to search the Scriptures for yourself and consider what they say about Israel. As followers of Jesus, we must love what He loves and hate what He hates. 

People often view prophecy in one of two ways. Either you sit back and wait for it to happen, or you can be active and participate with God in fulfilling them. In my experience, God often works with people to accomplish His will on the earth. Some prophecies can be understood as instructions. Assignments, so to speak.

The written word of God lived out and demonstrated on the earth. For the Jews, that is returning to the land of Israel. For Christians, that is harvesting grapes or tending sheep and actively supporting the Jewish people as they return and build up the Land. We all have a part to play in the restoration of Israel. As we witness these prophecies unfolding, we can see how God is calling us to be a part of it. 

I have seen some people treat the above verses as “spiritual” or remove the physical fulfillment, and that is a mistake. We must have the faith to see and understand when a Scripture is being fulfilled. 

The New Testament authors knew this well, when speaking about the first coming of Jesus. In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Just as many prophecies were fulfilled in the past, many prophecies are being fulfilled today, and all we need is the eyes to see them. 

Our response to God’s Word matters. God desires our hearts and seeks to strengthen our faith. Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and said, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25).

When I look at what is happening in Israel today, I see the unfolding biblical prophecies as evidence of God’s covenantal faithfulness. My hope is that when you look at Israel, you will recognize the faithfulness of God.

What if God is bringing about these prophetic fulfillments in our time, just as He promised? And what if we as Christians are called to be a part of it? 

So wherever you stand on this, don’t close the Scriptures on it. I encourage you to examine the Scriptures for yourself—and remain open to recognizing God’s hand when prophecy becomes reality.

(Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!)