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judgment of the tribulation. The following Old Testament passages predict this
development: Ezekiel 20:33-38; 22:17-22; 36:22-24; 37:1–14; Isaiah 11:11-12; Zephaniah
2:1-2 and Ezekiel 38–39 presupposes such a setting.
Before these things can happen, Jews from all over the world must return to the
land, just like we see happening with the modern state of Israel. This, of course, does
not mean that every Jew in the world has to be back in the land. But it does clearly mean
that many of the Jewish people must have returned to their ancient homeland. End-
time prophecy in Scripture is built upon the assumption that Israel is both regathered to
her land and is functioning as a nation.
The implications of Daniel 9:24-27 are unmistakable. “And he [Antichrist] will make
a firm covenant with the many for one week [one week of years or seven years].” In
other words, the seven-year tribulation period will begin with the signing of a covenant
between Antichrist and the leaders of Israel. Obviously, the signing of this treaty
presupposes the presence of a Jewish leadership in a Jewish nation. This Jewish state
must exist before a treaty can be signed.
16
To summarize, then, the logic goes like this: The tribulation cannot begin until the
seven-year covenant is made. The covenant cannot be put in place until a Jewish state
exists. Therefore, a Jewish state must exist before the tribulation.
CONCLUSION
In view of all this, I believe that the main purpose for the regathering of Israel relates
directly to the peace pact with Antichrist, as described in Daniel 9:24-27. For such a
treaty to be viable, the Jews have to be present in the land and organized into a political
state. And since 1948 they have been. It is this modern miracle—something unheard of
in history—that we, our parents, and grandparents have witnessed unfolding before
our eyes. An ancient and scattered people have returned to their ancestral homeland
after almost two millennia, making the peace covenant of Daniel 9:24-27 possible for the
first time since A.D. 70.
17
As a result, the stage is set for the very event that will trigger the tribulation and
usher in the final days of the world, as we know it. Much to the disappointment of
those who are opposed to Zionist theology, the modern state of Israel is in just such a
position. This truly indicates that we are near the end of days. Maranatha!
ENDNOTES
1
Gary DeMar, “Land Over Jesus and The Gospel” Internet article from July 25. 2006,
www.americanvision.org/articlearchive/07-25-06.asp.
2
Timothy Webber, Living In The Shadow Of The Second Coming, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983), p. 141.
3
Yaakov Ariel, Evangelizing the Chosen People: Missions to the Jews in America, 1880–2000 (Chapel Hill, NC:
The University of North Carolina Press, 2000, pp. 12, 13, 14.
4
Passages include: Gen. 12:7, 13:14–15; 15:18; 17:8; Lev. 26:33, 43; Deut. 26:9; 30:1–11; Josh. 24:20–28; 2
Sam. 7:11–16; Ezra 4:1–3; Psalm 102:13–20; Isa. 11:11–12; 18:7; 27:12–13; 29:1, 8; 44; 60:8–21; 66:18–22; Jer.
3:17–18; 7:7; 11:10–11; 23:3–6; 25:5; 29:14; 30:7, 10; 31:2, 10, 23, 31–34; 33:4–16; 50:19; Ezek. 11:17; 20:33–37;
22:19–22; 28:25; 36:23–24, 38; 37:21–22; 39:28; Dan. 12:1; Hosea 3:4–5; Joel 3:20–21; Amos 9:9, 14–15; Micah
2:12; 3:9–10; 4:7, 11–12; Zeph. 2:1–3; Zech. 7:7–8; 8:1–8; 10:6–12; 12:2–10; 13:8–9; 14:1, 5, 9; Mal. 3:6.
5
Passages include: Matt. 19:28; 23:37; Luke 21:24, 29–33, Acts 15:14–17; Rom. 11; Rev. 11:1–2; 12;
6
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. “The Land of Israel and The Future Return (Zechariah 10:6–12),” in H. Wayne
House, editor, Israel: The Land and the People: An Evangelical Affirmation of God’s Promises (Grand Rapids,
Kregel, 1998), p. 211.