The Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 28-30; Ezek. 16)
We must understand the Certainty of God’s ‘Promise’ & His ‘Oath.’ Hebrews 6:16-19 says “Men verily swear [the promise] by the greater: & an oath [of the covenant] for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. (17) God, willing more abundantly to show … the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.” (18) That by two immutable things [the promise & the covenant] in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation… and lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul”
GOD’S PROMISE GIVES US AN UNSHAKABLE FAITH
God commits Himself to us with His “Great & Precious Promises” (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 22:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:4). A promise is as sure as the character of the one making it. God is omnipotent & Holy [perfect]. It’s impossible for him to lie (Heb. 6:18; Num. 23:19; Gen. 35:11; 48:3-4).
GOD’S OATH GIVES US AN ETERNALLY SECURE FAITH
Sometimes God confirms His Promises with a Blood Covenant Oath (Described in Genesis 15:9-21). Once something is sworn to by an unconditional Blood covenant it can never be changed. It is immutable!
Blood Covenant is the closest, holiest & most Indissoluble Relationship conceivable
The covenants of God must be understood & interpreted literally. Like any known legal contract today or yesterday, wording is extremely important. (Rom. 3:4). You cannot spiritualize away the literal meaning of the words. Understand Blood Covenant & you Understand Assurance! God’s Covenants with Israel make it impossible for Israel to ever be totally destroyed. Likewise If we enter the New Covenant by repentance of sin & faith in Christ we can never lose our salvation.
2 KINDS OF BLOOD COVENANT IN THE BIBLE
1st the conditional covenant: God promises to grant special blessings to the covenanted people provided they fulfill certain conditions set forth in the covenant. It is Recognized by the words “If you will… then I will.” The Mosaic or Sinai Covenant was a conditional covenant. Such covenants are temporary by nature (Galatians 3:16-26).
2nd is an Unconditional Blood Covenant: Anchored on the Holy Character of God, whereby He establishes an unconditional relationship with man. God obligates Himself alone, in grace, to bring definite blessings for the covenanted people. The Abrahamic Covenant is Unconditional & thus Eternal. God Confirms it by taking the oath of “I Will… ” (without conditions)
Unconditional Covenants are immutable declarations of God’s Sovereign purpose (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-14). God’s Unconditional Eternal Covenant with Abraham is Key to Understanding History & Eternity! The Blood Covenant Promises Determine the Ultimate Outcome of History {God’s Covenants are Prophetic by nature}
God’s Covenants with Israel permanently & irreversibly set God’s plan for Israel & the Middle East. The Unconditional Palestinian Covenant (Deut. 28 - 30) was a Prophetic Preparation to enter “The Promised Land.” Deut. 29:1 Makes it clear this is different from the Sinai (Horeb) Covenant but expands upon the Land Promises to Abraham. In The Palestinian Covenant God Guarantees that the Promised Land will belong to Israel forever despite Her unfaithfulness!
THE PALESTINIAN COVENANT CONTAINS SOME AMAZING PROPHECIES
1. Israel will be removed from the Land for unfaithfulness (Deut. 28:63-68; 30:1-3; Ezek. 16:35-52; Lev. 26:32-33).
2. The Land will be under a curse & almost uninhabitable as long as Israel is in Exile. (Deut. 29:22-24)
3. When the Jews “return unto the LORD” (repent) God will restore them to their Promised Land (Deut. 30:2-5;
Ezek. 16:53-63)
4. There will be a future repentance of Israel (Deut 28:63-68; 30:1-3)
5. God will miraculously make the Land inhabitable & fruitful again! (Ezekiel 36:1, 4, 6, 8-12)
6. Israel will be converted as a nation (Deut. 30:4-8; Rom. 11:26-27; Hosea 2:14-23; Ezek. 11:16-21)
7. Israel’s Enemies will be Judged (Deut. 30:7; Gen. 12:3)
8. Israel will then receive the full blessings Promised in the Covenants (Deut. 30:9)
The Palestinian Covenant is confirmed again 1000 years later in Ezekiel 16 & in many other prophecies in the O.T. Prophets
God can never Brake His Blood Covenant Promise with Abraham (Gen. 15:18). Because the Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional Covenant the Promised Land will be Israel’s Forever (Gen. 12:1). God says He gives Israel: “all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession (Gen. 17:8; also Gen. 22:15-18; 26:2-5; 28:12-13)
Leviticus 26:14-46 is a Prophesy of what Happens to Israel & the promised Land when Israel sins against God. God “will bring the land into desolation & your enemies that dwell therein shall be astonished” (Lev. 26:32-33). Despite having to Judge Israel for her sin God will still eventually fulfill His Covenant with Abraham (Lev. 26:42)
2 GREAT DISPERSIONS FROM THE LAND PROPHESIED OF ISRAEL:
Lev. 26:14-45 – Babylon 587 BC (2 Kings 25)
Deut. 28:15-68 – Rome 70 AD (Luke 21:20-24)
There is a Miraculous Relationship Between the People of Israel & the Land of Israel. God Prophesied the Land will be desolate when Israel is not inhabiting it. Ezek 33:28-9 says: “For I will lay the land most desolate… & the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through… (29) “Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all the abominations they committed” (see Lev. 26:19-20; 32-33; Deut 29:23-27)
God miraculously stopped the rain for 2000 years! The Land of Israel Remains Desert till the Jews Return. God Prophesied He would stop the rain when Israel Dispersed (Deut 28:22-24). God miraculously did this for 2000 years! Then miraculously restores the rain in the End Times (Joel 2:1, 23-25). This is totally supernatural!
PROPHECIES OF REBUILDING THE DESOLATE CITIES
“And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, & the cities shall be inhabited, & the wastes shall be builded (Ezek. 36:10-11). I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, & the wastes shall be builded” (Ezek. 36:33).
Notice how carefully the Scripture reveals that the Desolate cities of Israel will be rebuilt by Jews! In 400 yrs. the Ottoman Turks could not rebuild Israel! Why? (read Lev. 26:32-33; Deut. 29:23-27; Locust plagues drove them out - Deut. 28:38-42).
The Land Miraculously Produces again when the Jews Return
“O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, & yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come” (Ezek. 36:8). “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of ISRAEL, and they shall build the waste cities, & inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, & drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, & eat the fruit of them” (Amos 9:14). “… Israel shall blossom & bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isa. 27:6 and 35:1-2; Amos 9:14-15). “This Desolate Land is become like the garden of Eden” (Ezek. 36:35-6). Today Little Israel fills the World with Fruit by exporting and agricultural consultation.
Israel’s Return to their Land & it fruitfulness is a sign the End is Near! Jesus said: “Now learn the parable of the fig tree” (Matt. 24:32: Mk. 13:28-31; Lk. 13:6). The Fig Tree is a Type of Israel in the Bible (Hosea 9:10; Jer. 24:5, 8; Joel 1:7). It is blossoming in front of our eyes!
The many Prophesies of Israel returning to Her Promised Land is irrefutable Proof of the Divine Inspiration of the Bible! Until it happened in 1948 even many Christians thought it was impossible! (Deuteronomy 28:62-65; 30:1-3; Ex. 23:31; Isaiah 11:11-12; 14:1-3; Isa. 27:12-13; 43:1-7; Jer. 16:24-16; 23:3-8; 29:14; 30:10-11; 31:8-10;
Ezekiel 11:17; 20:34; 20:41-42; 34:11-13; 36:24; 36:28; 36:33-38; 37:1-14; Ezek. 37:21-25; 39:25-28; Hosea 1:10-11; Amos 9:14-15; Micah 4:4-7; Zephaniah 3:18-20; Zechariah 8:4-8; Acts 15:14-17; Mark 13:28-29; Matt. 24:32-34).
Israel is Reborn in a Day May 14, 1948 (Isa 66:8 & Rom 11; see Deut. 30:5)
Nazi Persecution required The supernatural resurrection of Israel from the graveyard of the World. In Ezekiel 37:3 God said to Ezekiel: “can these bones live? I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
(Ezek. 37:9) “Then said he unto me, Prophesy …, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, & breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” (Ezek 37:12) … Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.”
The utterly supernatural unexplainable survival & return of the Jews to Israel must not be understated!!!! They had no homeland for 2000 yrs. But returned from “every corner of the earth” (Deut. 28; Isa. 11:12). The Nation of Israel will Never be Dispersed Again (Amos 9:14-15; Isa.11:11-12).
TAKE TO HEART SOBERING PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL’S SUFFERING
Israel brought their unimaginable sufferings upon themselves by their Disobedience to God (Lev. 26:14-15; Deut. 28:15, 45) & rejecting their Promised Messiah (Luke 13:34-35; 19:41-42; Matt. 23:37-39).
Not Even God’s People get away with sin.
IMPORTANT LESSONS
1. It is impossible for God to Lie! So there will always be an Israel (Jewish Nation).
2. Eventually she will inhabit all of Her “Promised Land.”
3. When we enter into a Blood Covenant Relationship with God through Jesus Christ we have an unshakable
assurance of our salvation.
4. We have been eyewitnesses to some of the most stunning events of History.
5. It is life changing to study World History in light of Biblical Prophesy.
6. The light of God’s Prophetic Word lets us know how close we are to the End of History! (2 Pet. 1:19-21).
7. Prophesy is a concrete irrefutable proof that God Almighty has spoken & is in Control of History.
8. Study it to strengthen you own Faith! Share it to lead people to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
