Statehood, Peace Agreements, Securing the Land

“Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18).

Israel attained statehood in 1948, a date well known and remembered. It seems that this was not an arbitrary year for statehood. Israel’s restoration to the land commenced in 1878 with the settlement of Petah Tikvah. From 1878 to 1948 is a period of 70 years. This reminds us that long ago, when Israel lost their independence, it was during a time that Babylon was declared to rule for 70 years. “These nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11). Thus, the period of time for restoring Israel as a nation is connected to the period of time during which Israel lost its independence.

A Second Pointer

There is another pointer to the year 1948, also. Peter said that the flood experience, in some respects, represented baptism into Christ. The ark of wood represented salvation from the curse abroad in the world. Those in the ark were spared destruction, as those in Christ are saved from the condemnation of the world. Those in the ark were surrounded by water, as one is when baptized into Christ. “Eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us … the answer of a good conscience toward God … by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20, 21).

Jesus died in 33 AD, and no one could enter the ark of redemption until he had died, risen, ascended, and opened the way at Pentecost. In the flood episode, 40 days of rain opened the experience. After Jesus died in 33 AD, 40 years later takes us to 73 AD, the fall of Masada, and the close of the judgments upon Israel.

The eight persons saved in the ark, while the flood waters raged without, represent those baptized into Christ during the Gospel Age. They remained in the ark for five months, to the day, until the ark came aground, marking the beginning of an ending period of the flood experience. Outside of the ark, they still saw only water everywhere, just as we, at the end of the age, see the curse on mankind still active. But having come aground, those on the ark recognized that they were at the ending period, and things would soon be better.

Today, we are in the ending period of the Gospel Age, the Harvest of the age, as Jesus called it in Matthew 13:39. “The Harvest is the end [sunteleia, ending period] of the world [ainos, age].” This period began in 1874, at the close of the 1335 years of Daniel 12:12. The curse is still abroad, but the end is at hand.

In the flood experience, after waiting for 74 days more, they observed “the tops of the mountains,” the first visible sign that the close of their experience was at hand (Genesis 8:4, 5). This count is precise, for it is apparent from the narrative that each month was precisely 30 days (compare Genesis 7:11, 24, 8:3, 4). If we count 74 years following 1874, that takes us to 1948, and the establishment of the nation of Israel. This was the first visible sign among the kingdoms of earth, of what will become the kingdom of Christ in due time.

Noah and his family waited further until the first day of the next new year, and on that day saw that the waters of the flood were gone (Genesis 8:13). The first day of a new year sometimes represents a new age in God’s plan (Exodus 40:2, for example). So, in the opening of the blessed Kingdom of God on earth, the curse will be remitted and progress toward life will be at hand.

However, those on the ark did not yet disembark. Though the water was gone — symbolizing that the curse was removed — the ground remained muddy. Likewise, when the curse is lifted at the opening of the Kingdom, mankind will be required to remain in the protection of this ark, redemption in Jesus, for the effects of sin within will linger.

They remained another 56 days on the ark, until the muddy land was dried, representing the effects of sin removed. Then mankind at last may exit their dependence on the ark of Christ, having been restored to perfection. The 56 days, 7 x 8, reminds us of the 7 kings, and 8 princes of Micah 5:5, who will guide the world to everlasting life, in the Kingdom.

Statehood

Thus, the year that Israel attained statehood as a precursor of the Kingdom is marked in Scripture, though in ways that would not be discerned until after the time had come. There may be a third pointer to this time also.

Above, we referred to the 1335 years of Daniel 12:12. In Daniel 12 there are three time prophecies — 1260, 1290, and 1335 years. The first of these is mentioned twice in Daniel and five times in Revelation, seven times in all, emphasizing the importance of the prophecy. The latter two prophecies are mentioned only once each. They are not less important, but counting the time of those prophecies is founded upon the earlier one, so they do not require the same repetition.

The dates pointed to by these prophecies are 1799, 1829, and 1874. All of these pertain to things about spiritual Israel. (1) 1799 points to the close of the persecuting authority of Papacy in Christendom. (2) 1829 saw an opening of the prophecies of Daniel to better understanding, as the time of the harvest approached. (3) 1874 began the harvest itself, commencing with the return of Christ.

These dates each begin with a marker described in Daniel 11:31, which speaks of placing “the abomination that maketh desolate.” We know that is the time for beginning these time prophecies, for Daniel 12:11 says “from the time that the … abomination that maketh desolate [is] set up, there shall be,” followed by the mention of the last two time prophecies.

The “abomination” Daniel speaks of was “set up” when Papacy received authorization to govern the Christian world as a spiritual overlord. In 533 AD the emperor Justinian mandated that the bishop of Rome would thereafter be the head of Christian churches. However, at the time, Rome was ruled by the Ostrogoths, who being Arian in persuasion, did not respect the authority granted by Justinian. Subsequently, Justinian’s general Belisarius entered Rome, and the Goths then sieged the city. The siege was lifted in 538 AD. Subsequently Ravenna, the capital of Italy at the time, was taken by Belisarius in the year 539 AD. Later, subsequent to this victory, Belisarius returned to Constantinople where he was accorded great honors — leaving the bishop of Rome in “spiritual” control of Italy.

Natural Israel

That is the fundamental meaning of Daniel 11:31, and the subsequent time prophecies. They pertain to spiritual “Israel,” Christendom. But sometimes there are multiple dimensions to the meaning of scripture, as when Old Testament prophecies have multiple applications, some near term, and some for the more distant future.

Might there also be a parallel application of these time prophecies respecting natural Israel and their later restoration? This suggestion arises because of an observation respecting an “abomination” constructed on the temple mount of Israel, long ago. Namely, the “Dome of the Rock.” To this day it remains a notable landmark respecting Jerusalem, but one which every Jewish and Christian believer recognizes as inappropriate, to express it mildly.

The “Dome of the Rock” was constructed to honor not the sacrifice of Isaac, representing Christ, but the supposed offering of Ishmael, recognized by Islam. In replacing the memory of Isaac, it is an affront to the offering of Jesus, which the offering of Isaac foreshadowed. If the Papal doctrine of the Mass, which speaks against a once-for-all redemption in Christ, is designated an abomination, then supplanting the scriptural depiction of the sacrifice of Jesus with tribute to a false and imitation offering perhaps qualifies also.

The year of the building of the Dome of the Rock is subject to some uncertainty, but it is given by al-Suyuti, of the 1400s, as commenced in the year 688 (Wikipedia). If we count 1260 years future, we arrive at 1948, the restoration of Israel as an independent nation.

Another 30 years, to the close of 1290 years, takes us to 1978 — the year of the Camp David Accords, which resulted in peace with Egypt, later peace with Jordan, and as years passed, to the Abraham Accords, which include more Arab nations. There have been three wars against Israel in which nearby Arab nations sought to overthrow the new state of Israel. Those were in 1948, 1967, and 1973. There has not been another such invasion since then. When the final invasion of Ezekiel 38 comes, it is notable that the Arab nations that have made peace with Israel are not involved. Perhaps a cold peace, but peace, nevertheless, has been achieved between Israel and her Arab neighbors.

Another 45 years, to the close of 1335 years, takes us to 2023 — the year of the Gaza conflict, which opened a new phase of concern. Namely, restoring to Israel their control of what God affirmed to be part of Israel’s God given heritage. That the area of Gaza belongs to Israel is apparent in broad descriptions of the land, such as Genesis 13:14, and 15:18-21. More specifically, after Joshua had taken much of the land of promise, evidently through an angel, God spoke to Joshua about what remained due. “Joshua was old, and stricken in years, and Jehovah said unto him … This is the land that yet remaineth,” and then specifies Gaza, Ashdod, Eshkalon, Gath, and Ekron — the five cities of the Philistines (Joshua 13:1-3).

The Philistines remained a thorn in Israel’s side for generations following. King Saul lost his life in battle against the Philistines. Zechariah chapter 9 speaks about this people, affirming that they would be dispossessed, and the people scattered, so that they would no longer continue as a recognized people. The remnants would be assimilated among the Israelites. This prophecy was fulfilled during the campaign of Alexander the Great. After his conquest, the Philistines were no longer an identified and assembled people. (See various commentaries on the opening verses of Zechariah 9.)

By the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, following the Bar Kochba rebellion, the Romans referred to the land as “Palestine,” rather than “Israel,” evidently drawing from the name Philistines, who were former occupants of the southwest.¹ The people today incorrectly referred to as Palestinians are from two sources, either Arabs or Egyptians. They are not native occupants from centuries ago. Another place of contention is termed the west bank. As any map shows, this is part of the heartland of Israel. This is unambiguously part of the land of promise. In these two places — Gaza and the west bank — lie the present areas of contention. It seems likely that the unexpected violence of October 7, 2023, was the trigger for a lengthy process by which Israel will obtain these portions of the promised land.

Thus, these three dates — 1948, 1978, 2023 — may be intended to mark three important phases in the preparation of Israel for the Kingdom. (1) The return of their independent state, (2) the end of armed conflict with surrounding Arab nations, and (3) the restoration to Israel of land that is unambiguously apportioned to them by God.

{1} Some sources indicate that the term Palestine was applied by the time of Josephus, or even earlier. It is possible that the expression applied by Rome, “Syria Palaestina,” was used not as a pejorative, but to identify the northern and southern reaches of the land.