Israel Before the Fall
Jeremiah: 50:6-8 “My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting-place. All that found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Jehovah, the habitation of righteousness, even Jehovah, the hope of their fathers. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.”
Comment: This is the result of following human leadership, instead of receiving Christ as their Messiah. During the Gulf War, there were no people from Israel listed in the newspapers trying to get out of Iraq. The Israeli people already had realized that Iraq was not their friend.
Jeremiah 50:17 “Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.”
Comment: Evil nations have never loved God’s chosen people.
Jeremiah 51:5-6 “For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, of his God, of Jehovah of hosts; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be not cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of Jehovah’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.”
Comment: Israel’s land is full of guilt against God but God has not forsaken them. The people of Israel are no longer living in Iraq.
Jeremiah 50:33 “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together; and all that took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to let them go.”
Comment: Two major countries of the world (Germany and Russia) have had control over the Jews and have oppressed them, and have not allowed them to move somewhere else.
Isaiah 48:15-19 “I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord Jehovah hath sent me, and his Spirit. Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Jehovah thy God, who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains thereof: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.”
Comment: God is the one who has taught Israel to profit. If Israel had obeyed God’s commands, they would have lived in peace. Their righteousness would have honored God and they would have multiplied as a nation.
Jeremiah 51:45-56 “My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and save yourselves every man from the fierce anger of Jehovah. And let not your heart faint, neither fear ye for the tidings that shall be heard in the land; for tidings shall come one year, and after that in another year shall come tidings, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.”
Comment: Their hearts will be faint and living in fear at several times in different years as they see the news of how they are being threatened or attacked.
Isaiah 48:1-2 “Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Jehovah, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness (for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; Jehovah of hosts is his name).
Comment: Even though Israel claims to have the Holy City of God and to be His chosen people, they do it not in truth or righteousness. They have rejected God’s Son, Jesus, and His message to them as the Messiah.
Isaiah 48:8-10 “Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from of old thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou didst deal very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb. For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Comment: For His name’s sake, God will not completely destroy Israel even though they reject Him. The furnace of affliction is a good term for the gas chambers and the burning of the Jews during World War II.
Summary: Israel before the Fall
Within the context of the fall of Babylon, we continually find mention of the country of Israel. Before the fall, God has not forgotten Israel, even though they are experiencing the results of not following God.
Israel during the Fall
Jeremiah 50:4-5 “In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Jehovah their God. They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come ye, and join yourselves to Jehovah in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.”
Comment: The people of Israel will realize their state of hopelessness and demonstrate in the streets seeking for God’s help. They promise to follow God if He will deliver them. The verse before these refers to the coming war, which causes people to flee. The problem of Babylon causes Israel to go in the streets asking for God’s help.
Jeremiah 50:44 “Behold, the enemy shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that can stand before me?”
Comment: In the context of the destruction of Babylon, Israel will be attacked and dragged into the battle. Still, God will not allow others to take control of Israel.
Jeremiah 51:19 “The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.”
Comment: God favors Israel and they will not be destroyed like Babylon.
Jeremiah 51: 20-24 “Thou art my battle-axe and weapons of war: and with thee will I break in pieces the nations; and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and him that rideth therein; and with thee will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces the old man and the youth; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the virgin; and with thee will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces governors and deputies.”
Comment: God uses Israel as His battle-axe. As the nations come against Israel, they will be defeated. The destruction affects all levels of society.
Isaiah 14:1 “For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.”
Comment: God will have compassion on Israel and they will once again get their land back.
Summary: Israel during the Fall
Israel realizes their hopelessness and the threat against their nation. They march in the streets, asking for God’s help. They promise to keep the everlasting covenant with God. God will have compassion on Israel and place them in their own land. He will use Israel as His battle-axe to cause in one way or another the destruction of Babylon.
Israel after the Fall
Jeremiah 50:19-20 “And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.”
Comment: Israel will have control over Carmel, or northern Israel, which they currently control, Bashan, (the Golan Heights), Gilead (east of the Jordan River, located in Jordan today), and Ephraim (the West Bank). Some nations will seek to make Israel return the land that they capture but God will allow them to keep it in their possession because the nations realize Israel has tried to live in peace with their neighbors who have insisted they should be wiped off the face of the earth.
Jeremiah 50:34 “Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of hosts is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.”
Comment: Because of the peace with Israel, the earth is at rest but the inhabitants on Babylon’s side are left fearful. The forces against Israel have been defeated.
Isaiah 14:1-3 “For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids: and they shall take them captive whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve.”
Comment: Israel will be at peace in their land. The Arabs will become servants and handmaids in the Israeli homes. Israel will have control over the Arabs living there. Israel will be given rest from the sorrow they were forced to endure.
Summary: Israel after the Fall
In the context of the fall of Babylon, Israel will be given all their land. They will have rest from their sorrows. They will rule over those who have oppressed them. The earth will be given rest from the Middle East problem. God will bring about a major power shift that allows Israel to live in peace. It sounds to me like the perfect opportunity to rebuild the temple.
