Jordan Kishon Lachish Yarmouk
Yarqon
Isaiah 18 is divided into four parts. Verse 3 refers to two events. First, the world sees the return of Israel as a nation (1948). Second, “as soon as the trumpet is blown” refers to the Rapture. Verses 4-6 describe the Lord’s view of the Great Tribulation. Zephaniah 3:9-10 proves verse 7 refers to the millennium.
That leaves verses 1-2 to refer to our time.
The end of Menelik’s dynasty came with the Communist revolution of 1974. By the 1980’s, communists, under the control of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam (1982-1990), forbade the practice of Judaism. Even learning the Hebrew language was illegal. Some Falasha (Ethiopian Jews) started migrating to Sudan to be taken to Israel, but when other Muslim nations put pressure on Sudan, the migrations stopped. In 1990 another revolution occurred. The extreme persecution caused the Falasha to flee from Gonder to Addis Ababa. Israel was greatly concerned that the remaining Falasha Jews would be annihilated. A joint effort was undertaken by Israel and the USA to get them out.
Israel carried out Operation Solomon, in which Hercules C-130 cargo planes (liquid fuel drinking ships that make a buzzing sound while flying) were used to secretly fly out the remaining Jews before they were put to death. The planes flew the refugees from Ethiopia to Israel by flying over the Red Sea.
AD 2000
Multiple Points
In this section we want to list prophecies that were fulfilled by the end of the Twentieth Century but occurred in stages, rather than on specific dates during that time.
Archeologically Restored Cities and Palestinian Farmers
In the Twentieth Century we saw the growth of archeology in Israel and with it, the rebuilding of modern Israeli cities on the actual sites of former ancient cities. Not just Ashdod and Ashkalon, as described in Zephaniah 2, but many ancient cities are now tourist attractions. Palestinians (foreigners) will be hired for some jobs in Israel.
“Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.” Isaiah 61:4,5
City of Jerusalem Grows Beyond Its Old Walls
Jerusalem would expand so much that it would grow outside its ancient walls because of the multitude
of people and cattle. Jerusalem finally became this “city without walls” in the last century. As prophesied, it occurred after they came back from “all nations” – or in 1948. Notice also that in the future the LORD will protect it by being a wall of fire around it. Compare this to when Alexander came to Jerusalem. See Alexander the Great in the Section on Babylon to the Messiah.
“…Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it.
‘For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’
Ho there! ‘Flee from the land of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,’ declares the LORD.”
Zechariah 2:4-6
Tourists Fly In and Support Israel
Isaiah prophesied that some would “fly… like doves…” In the Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries, millions of people have flown into Israel and supported the nation though tourism. Most are Christians who want to see where “the name of the Lord” – or Jesus – walked, lived, died, and resurrected. Since Israel is not “reckoned among the nations” by her Muslim neighbors, for much of Israel’s history tourists couldn’t cross directly into Israel from bordering countries. Instead most tourists flew in from places like Amsterdam and Paris. While refugees usually come with little more than the clothes on their backs, tourism is one of the top five industries supporting the nation. Tourists come with their “silver and gold.”
“Who are these who fly like a cloud and like the doves to their lattices? … Their silver and their gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you. Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you; for in My wrath I struck you, and in My favor I have had compassion on you.” Isaiah 60:8,10
Constant Planting and Reaping In Israel
With the blessing of the Lord, the once desolate land now has constant crop rotation. It truly has become like the Garden of Eden. Today Israel sends her superior fruit all over the world. This prophecy would be fulfilled after the return of 1948. God promised Israel will NEVER be uprooted again. Isaiah 27:6 also says they would “fill the world with fruit.”
“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘When the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved. Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit. I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them,’ says the LORD your God.” Amos 9:13-15
Forests Reappear In Israel
Along with the water and crops, Isaiah said after Israel’s second return she would be reforested with cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, juniper, box tree, and cypress trees. This should not be simply dismissed.
Understand is it a move of God!
“I will open rivers on the bare heights and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land fountains of water. I will put the cedar in the wilderness, the acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert together with the box tree and the cypress, that they may see and recognize, and consider and gain
insight as well, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
Isaiah 41:18-20
Desolate Cities Restored
The ancient cities would be restored and renamed their original Hebrew names. This name restoration of ancient cities should be a sign to everyone that the LORD is doing this! After AD 132 the land of Israel was completely desolated. See Deuteronomy 29:23 for details. (The desert blooming like a rose will occur before the Antichrist’s appearance: see Isaiah 35:1 & Psalm 67:6)
“Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by.’ They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it.”
Ezekiel 36:33-36
“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations;
and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Isaiah 58:12
Sites That Will Remain In Ruin For All Time
In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus stated that Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum would be left desolate.
Also to be desolate for all time are Ekron according to Zephaniah 2, and Phoenician Tyre according to Ezekiel 26. Alexander the Great destroyed Tyre in 336 BC and shortly after that he destroyed Ekron.
Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were destroyed by the Romans after Jesus’ first advent. Today these cities remain in ruins. The ruins of Chorazin and Bethsaida are tourist attractions.
Israel Not Reckoned Among the Muslim Nations:
From 1948 to the present (2008), no Islamic country has Israel on their maps. They refuse to reckon Israel as a real nation. In Numbers 23:9 Moses prophesied in the later days Israel would “not be reckoned among the nations.”
“…Behold, a people who dwells apart, And will not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:9
Israel To Possess the Remnant of Edom (Palestinians)
With the return of the state of Israel, the local people would be incorporated into the society. Many of these would be peaceful but many would try to start wars. The remnant of the people from ancient Edom and the surrounding nations to day are called “Palestinians” and live mainly in Jordan and Israel.
“‘In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by My name,’ declares the LORD who does this.” Amos 9:11-12
Satellite-Television Communication Systems Invented
Revelation 11:9-10 describes all the world watching the two witnesses die and resurrect. Revelation 17:8 depicts all nations looking at the beast after it is resurrected. Only through satellites, television, and the internet could this have been made possible.