Promise to Abraham — Genesis 22:15-18 Dispersion and restoration of people — Deuteronomy 28:64-66; Ezekiel 37:21-22 Desolation and restoration of land — Leviticus 26:27, 31-33; Ezekiel 36:8-11, 29-35 National identity — Leviticus 26:42-46

Israel is one of God’s signposts for the end times.

Seth Thompson shook his head. “You did it again, Logan! Why did I have to be stuck with a brother who knows all the answers?” He laughed as he walked down the church steps with his brother. Logan grinned and said, “Well, the reason I like to learn all of these things is because I’m interested in them, Seth, and . . .”

“Yeah, I know,” growled his brother. “You’re interested and I’m not. Well, I did what the folks wanted and came to the contest, but now I’m heading over to Joel’s for the rest of the afternoon. So, you’re on your own.” With a brief wave of his hand he was gone.

Logan jogged the three blocks home and let himself in the front door. Wow, was he ever hungry! His mother had gone to see a friend, so Logan started making his own lunch. Behind him, the back door opened and his dad came in.

“Hi, Logan . . . so you’re home from the contest! Sure sorry I had to work today, but tell me all about it. How’d your team score?”

“We won, Dad! And the prize is a pizza party next week.”

“Good work, Son! I know you and the other kids have really been studying hard for this. You all deserve that pizza. And speaking of food . . . is that a ham sandwich you’re making?”

“Yes. How ‘bout I make one for you too?”

“Sounds great,” said his dad with a grin. He sat down and picked up a magazine that was lying open on the table. “Logan, did any of the questions in the quiz concern prophecies regarding the Nation of Israel?”

“No,” Logan looked up from his sandwich making. “We were mostly concerned with prophecies regarding Christ. Why?”

“I was reading this news magazine this morning. It features an article on Israel. I couldn’t help thinking how many prophecies have been fulfilled in that little country over the centuries.”

Logan carried the sandwiches to the table, poured two glasses of milk, and sat down by his father. “Well, you’ve got me curious. What kind of prophecies? I’ve always heard that Israel is one of God’s signposts for the end times—and there’s plenty going on over there now! Tell me what you read that relates to things in the Bible.”

“You know it was prophesied that the Jewish people would be scattered from one end of the world to the other, because they rejected Christ. In Deuteronomy we read that they would find no peace anywhere, and would fear for their lives. The Jewish nation has seen that come to pass!”

“Yeah,” said Logan somberly. “I’ve studied about the Nazi persecution of the Jews during World War II. It really was awful.”

“Yes, it was, Logan. But Ezekiel also told of a time when the Children of Israel would be gathered back into their own land. That happened. Many of the Jewish people returned to the land of Israel, and in 1948 Israel became a nation once more.”

“We studied about the Six-Day War of 1967, Dad. Was that significant to prophecy?”

“Well, that is when the Jewish people regained full control of the city of Jerusalem.

There are other prophecies too, about the land. For instance, in Leviticus we read that the land will become desolate. For years, Israel was an arid desert—completely non-productive.”

“It sure isn’t that now,” said Logan. “Israel produces things for export.”

“You’re right,” said his dad, “and that was foretold too! We can read where it was prophesied that the ‘wastes shall be builded’ and the land ‘tilled and sown,’ and that it would once again produce abundantly. This article certainly substantiated that prophecy. It says that Israel is now a leading exporter of citrus fruit, olives, and grapes, and grows three-fourths of her own food.”

“Are there some things foretold about Israel that haven’t come to pass yet?”

“There are many, Logan. A great number of them will occur after the Rapture has taken place, during the Tribulation here on earth. We feel that all of the prophecies that must be fulfilled before the coming of Christ have been fulfilled.”

Logan finished his sandwich, and then said, “You know, it makes me excited when I think that the Lord could come back at any time. I wish it would somehow get through to Seth.”

His dad nodded in agreement. “I feel the same way, Logan. I believe that Seth really wants to get saved, but he thinks he can choose the time—and that it will be way down the road somewhere. He doesn’t seem to realize he might wait just one day too long.”