--Barry Borthistle, September 2016 1. Israel was God’s idea and He chose the borders and the leader, Abraham and promised a great nation. He promised those whom blessed Israel would be blessed and those who cursed Israel would be cursed. Gen. 12:1-3 Paul confirms this promise that the blessing of Abraham would fall upon the Gentiles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Gal. 3:13-16 2. God is a God of love but also a God of judgment and a great example is found in Ex. 4:22-23 where Gold says Israel is God’s firstborn. He instructs Moses to tell Pharaoh to let Israel go or He will slay their firstborn, which He did. However, others who were not Jewish also must have applied the blood to the doorpost because Ezek. 12:38 tells us a mixed multitude went with them. 3. Israel is mentioned 3000 plus times in the Word of God and Jerusalem is mentioned 800 plus times. 4. When Zion (Israel) is built up, the Lord will appear in His glory – Second Coming; Psalm 102:12-24; Matt.16:27-28; II Thess. 1:7-10; I Cor. 15:51-52 - which is a mystery to the unbelievers or the United Nations. 5. God chose the boundaries of Israel and not the U.N. Num. 34 6. There are only two things that God considers to be the apple (pupil) of His eye: His Word, Prov. 7:2 and Israel – Zech 2:8,9 Human vision is the ability to see and to know where we are going. So is the Word of God and our support of Israel. 7. Did you know that the Prophet Ezekiel actually named the countries that would attack Israel in the last days… about 2500 years ago? Ezekiel chapters 36 to 47. 8. Did you know that the first thing God told us to bless is Israel? Gen. 12:1-3 Up until this time God had done all the blessing. 9. Did you know that there are at least six Biblical reasons why Israel cannot give up land for peace? 10. Did you know that there are at least seven Bible reasons on why we should support and pray for Israel? 11. Did you know that Mein-Kamph (the Hitler Bible) is once again a top seller in Germany? 12. Did you that the I.D.F. is one of the top military forces in the world and with only a population of about 8 million and probably has the nuclear bomb? The Bible indicates there will be a nuclear explosion someday…. Which is known as The DAY OF THE LORD; Zech 14:12-15; II Peter 3:10-13 13. FOR NEARLY 2000 YEARS THE Jewish people were scattered to around 60 – 70 countries around the world and the Hebrew language disappeared. However, Zephaniah 3:9 clearly states that a pure (chosen) language, which is Hebrew will be restored. 14. Moses's final blessing on Israel before he died (Deuteronomy 33) was very extensive. The promise of sucking the abundance of the seas and the treasure in the sand. Seas = gas; sand = oil Today it is reported that Israel is about to become an exporter of both oil and gas. Some experts suggest that Israel may have the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world next to Saudi Arabia. Other blessings include grain and wine; verse 28 15. Amos closes out the book in Chapter 9:13-15 by saying that in the last days Israel will return to the land and plant vineyards. In 1981 there were 2 vineyards; today there are 300-plus vineyards. 16. It has been calculated apparently that Abraham was born 1,948 years after Adam. Israel became a nation in 1948… after Jesus was born. May 14, 1948, in one day in Isaiah 66:7-11, WHICH WAS ALSO PASSOVER and the first Prime Minister of Israel read the Constitution in 18 minutes… 18 in Hebrew means LIFE. 17. Did you know that the Star of Bethlehem reappeared for the first time in 2000 years, as reported on CNN? The planets of Jupiter and Venus were dancing in the sky on June 30, 2015. It was reported as a superstar and was called “the Star of Bethlehem." Question: do you think God is trying to tell us something? 18. On May 15, 1948, one day after becoming a nation, Israel was attracted by several Arab nations and were outnumbered about 200 to 1. The Arab countries had a massive array of planes and tanks and Israel had 2 or 3 planes and a couple of tanks. Israel won! WestPoint Military Academy will not teach about wars that Israel has won because there is no military strategy. “I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you” Gen. 12:1-3 SHALOM