Other Articles 
on Zionism

The Time to Favor
Zion Is Come
 

How Deep are the Palestinian Roots?

Jordan seized the West Bank, including Jerusalem, in the '48 War. But in 1967 the people of the Bible obtained their historic territories, Judea and Samaria. All during Jordan's 19 year occupation there was not one Arab cry for a Palestinian State on the West Bank. Instead the cry was for a Palestinian State on the ruins of the Israeli State. But once Israel occupied the West Bank there was a united Arab demand for a Palestinian State on the West Bank.

Over the years millions of dollars have been spent in a P.L.O. propaganda campaign which is changing the tide of world opinion. The Arabs' "moral right to a Palestinian State" is fast becoming a majority concept. But both the Bible and history confirm the shallow roots of the Palestinians.

During the "double" of disfavor, Divine Providence kept-the land desolate of man and beast until God's appointed time to "favor Zion." (Isa. 40:1, 2; Psa. 102:13) Many scriptures foretold this desolation. Why? So that there would be ample room for the mass return of the Jewish people to Eretz Israel. Isaiah speaks of repairing "the waste cities, the desolations of many generations."—Isaiah 61:4; Amos 9:14; Ezekiel 36:33-35

From 1200 CE to 1917 CE there was uninterrupted Moslem rule in Palestine. For over 600 years Arabs had free access to Palestine; yet Philip Hitti, the noted Arab historian, observed that the total population of Palestine in the 1840s was less than 180,000. This included Arabs, Turks, Christians and Jews. This shows that Arab families did not develop roots in Palestine. They did not for the most part remain in Palestine generation after generation. Rather, Palestine was always considered undesirable. It was a place Arabs wandered in and out of according to economic need—but not to settle and develop a continuity of family roots that span the centuries. By Divine intent the Arab population in the 1840s was both meager and shallow rooted so that there would be ample room for a mass return of the children of Israel "to the land that I gave to their fathers."—Jer. 30:3

When the return of the exiles began in the 1870s the economy of the land took an upswing. Arabs followed the Jews to Eretz Israel to enjoy the new prosperity. One of the most important books in recent years on the Arab-Israeli conflict is entitled From Time Immemorial by Joan Das Peters. Peters proves that Arabs did not live in western Palestine from time immemorial, but moved there only after Jews had settled and developed the area. For example between 1933 and 1936, over 30,000 Arabs left Iraq, Syria and Trans-Jordan for "the better life" in Palestine. In 1946 Bartley C. Crum, a United States Government observer, noted that tens of thousands of Arabs had entered Palestine because of this better life and they were still coming. Most of the Palestinian refugees are the Arabs or descendants of Arabs who entered Palestine since the 1880s.

The "refugee problem" should have been solved in 1948 when it began. Approximately 600,000 Arabs were displaced in that war. What is not as well known is that 600,000 Jews who were living in Arab nations had to flee for their lives because of Arab hatred. The solution to this double refugee problem was simple—an even exchange. The Israelis opened up their arms and absorbed the 600,000 Jewish refugees. The Arab nations refused to absorb the Arab refugees. Instead, they placed them in refugee camps which became showplaces of hate and misery that turned world opinion against Israel. Less than one percent of one year's Arab oil in-come could comfortably settle the so-called "Palestinian refugees" in Arab lands.

The current struggle between Arabs and Jews to territorial rights in the Middle East dates back to the breaking up of the Turkish Empire by the Allies at the end of World War 1. Both Arabs and Jews requested in-dependent states in this vast territory. The world powers were generous in the extreme to the Arabs by granting them 21 independent Arab states so that they now enjoy sovereignty over 1,250,000 square miles. The Jews asked for only three percent of this vast territory for a national home in Palestine. The Allied powers agreed. In 1922 the League of Nations recognized the legal, moral and historic right of the Jewish people to a national home in Palestine, including the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Then vast oil reserves were discovered in Arab lands. Consequently, when Israel was finally granted independence in 1948, international intrigue resulted in Israel receiving less than one-half of one percent of the territory given to Arab states. Since then, the worsening oil crisis has caused world powers to become progressively more supportive of the Arab nations.

If the Jews had a right to the West Bank and Jerusalem in 1922, that right is valid today.

Psalm 83 describes the determination of the Arabs to destroy Israel. However, Isaiah 11:14 shows that Israel will finally gain a decisive victory over the Arabs. And thus the Arab-Israeli conflict will finally be resolved and peace will finally be achieved.

Genesis 15:18 shows that the ultimate boundaries of Israel will be from the river of Egypt unto the Euphrates River. More specifically, Zech. 10:9-10, Micah 7:14 and Zech. 12:6 prophesied that Israel would acquire the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights (Bashan) and even the East Bank (Gilead) during the current Israeli-Arab conflict. Therefore, ac-cording to Scriptural and historical roots, not only the West Bank, but the East Bank as well belongs to Israel.

Since 1922 Zionist leaders have time and again been willing to accept territorial compromise. However, Divine Providence has had a way of over-ruling these compromises. If, for the sake of peace, Israel surrenders portions of the West Bank, Golan Heights or Jerusalem, the above scriptures indicate Israel will once again acquire these territories before her final victory over the Arabs (Isaiah 11:14).

"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered." (Dan. 12:1 ) Daniel's burden and prayer was for Israel. The answer Daniel gives points to the Messiah as "Michael." It is He, "the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people" (the descendants of Israel). Who can observe events surrounding the restoration of Israel, at the right time in the right place, without a sense of awe and wonderment? Surely there is One standing for the "children of thy people." It is equally true that the regathering and restoration of this people to their homeland has taken place in the most troublesome time in human history. The time of trouble is upon us. who can deny in the face of two world wars, in the face of thermonuclear war with guided missiles capable of being delivered anywhere, that we are in the day spoken of by Daniel.

In Israel, the day before Independence Day is a Memorial day to those who died in order to secure the independence. In 1968, at the memorial service in Ashkelon, one of the speakers, moved by the successes of the 1967 war as well as other events said: "Look, the Old City of Jerusalem is now in Israel. The Western Wall and the Temple area are in our hands. Think! This can only mean one thing. Either the Messiah is coming very soon, or he is here already." Not all are prepared to receive a personal Messiah, as the "prince" who stands for Israel. Some are inclined to think of Israel itself as the Messiah.

While Israel is still Rushed with its military successes, it is only natural for it to trust to its internal and material capabilities. But these shall fail! Israel's extremity will become God's opportunity to manifest His power. Ezekiel 38:1-13 gives a detailed prophecy of this event. Some apply this to the Hitler massacre, overlooking that it applies at a time Israel is dwelling safely in the land. He describes the enemies of God's people, called "Gog"—a representative force of all nations—and shows how they will come against the "unwalled" or relatively defenseless people of Israel to despoil them. These invasion forces will include some of the major world powers. Israel will be helpless in its own power. Those Israelites who trust in the "arm of flesh" will go forth, only to fall before the enemy. The concept that Israel itself is the Messiah will fall with them. But those who believe God and trust in the "arm of the Lord" will see the glory of God when he fights for his people as he did in the day of battle. The formidable forces of Gog will be destroyed by Divine power. (Zech. 14:2, 3; Isa. 28:21; Jer. 31:7-9) of this time the Prophet says; "They shall know that I am the Lord their God, . . . neither will I hide My face any more from them; for I have poured out My spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God." (Ezek. 39:28, 29) Then Israel will realize their Messiah is a powerful spirit being, and that it is He that has been standing on their behalf through the return of favor to Zion, through the regathering process, through establishment in the homeland, and finally the deliverance of this nation from the forces of Gog and Magog. Then not only shall Israel know, but the nations shall learn their needed lessons. Zechariah (14:16) speaks concerning the people left after Gog is destroyed: "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles."

We have followed the events from the first step in the return of favor to Zion in the Berlin Congress of Nations, the Balfour Declaration, the regathering and rebirth of the nation and on into Gog's invasion and God's intervention on Israel's behalf. These events must be viewed as progressive steps in God's purpose if we are to possess or be possessed by the hope this holds for those waiting for the consolation of Israel and the world.

The days when God is removed from men are ending. Not only are the forces of Gog to be defeated, but the way they are defeated will be a revelation to the world. "Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will make Myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezek. 38:23) Even the burial goof this mighty force serves to remind the world of God's stately intervention. "There shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it "the valley of Hamongog." (Ezek. 39:11) Hamon means "multitude" or the "multitude of Gog." But it may also be a play on words, a reminder of Haman who would have Mordecai destroyed only to be destroyed on his own gallows—Haman-Gog. The Lord will manifest his hand to Israel and to the world.

The Psalmist depicts this time saying: "Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who hath made desolations in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder: He burneth the chariots in the fire. 'Let be, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower." —Psa. 46:8-12.

Daniel was told "go thou thy way till the end be and thou shalt rest, and shall stand up to thy lot, at the end or the days." (Dan. 12: 13) This must mean Daniel himself will again appear on the scene, resurrected and invested with princely power, to stand as a ruler in Israel. What about Abraham'? Did not the lord promise him the land of Israel for an everlasting possession'? Yet he received not a foot of it in his lifetime! This can only mean that Abraham must return as heir to the land—the title to the land belongs to him first and to Israel second. God must fulfill His promise to Abraham. Did not Job share the view of the resurrection from the dead when he said, "Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the nether-world, that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past, that Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! . . . Thou wouldest call, and I would answer Thee"?—Job 14:13-15

God never ceased to be identified with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob even though they were dead. He identified himself to Moses, saying: "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob . . ." (Exod. 3: 15) Surely the end of the days are nearing when Daniel and all the heroes of faith of Israel past will "stand on their lot." This should not seem an extravagant hope when the promise is made that "Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former estate." (Ezek. 16:53-63) Rachel, weeping for her children was promised, "Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for thy future, saith the Lord; and thy children shall return to their own border." (Jer. 31:16, 17) Surely, the hope of resurrection is abundant; it includes those of the inner circle of God's favor and those estranged from Him.

In that the arabah is already beginning to blossom as the rose, it is only reasonable to look for the fulfillment of the whole of Isaiah 35: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; . . . and a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; . . . the redeemed shall walk there; and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." With such promises as these before Israel and the world, let none fail to recognize God's kingdom which will grow and fill the whole earth. (Dan. 2:35, 44)

God's immutable promise to bless "all the families of the earth" is in the dawn of fulfillment. This promise will result in the grandest reconciliation between God and men. "And in this mountain will the Lord of hosts make unto all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering that is cast over all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of His people will He take away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day: 'Lo, this is our God, for whom we waited, that He might save us; this is the Lord for whom we waited, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.' "—Isa. 25:6-9

The present, however, remains a critical time in Israel's history. Having emerged from the uncomforted mourning and suffering of her dispersion, emerging as a nation under the shadow of 6,000,000 tormented and slaughtered Jews, standing alone among hostile neighbors, Israel stands now to be divided between those who trust in the arm of flesh and those who trust in the arm of Jehovah. Israel's history teaches that it can only prosper when it serves its Lord God with all its heart and soul and strength. It is only those who believe God, as did Abraham of old, who will remain the children of Abraham and worthy to inherit the land as an everlasting inheritance—becoming the nation of blessing to all the families of the earth. For the Jews the wages of unbelief have been costly and terrible beyond description, and yet even now nation al pride stands ready to envelop them. Will they remember that as a nation they can know no life divided from God? In no part of Israel's history has she been blessed and had rest except when she abode "under the shadow of the Almighty."

Israel's hopes center in God's immutable choice and election of this nation to be his own. God's gifts and callings are not in vain, nor will they fail. Israel is the elect nation of God—to be the blesser nation of earth. But this does not mean an individual election. No indeed. Each individual Israelite will have to demonstrate his worthiness to be a part Of this "holy nation." So may every Israelite settle it now, settle it forever, his place is with his God. There is his hope, his life, his eternity. His is the promise of a new and better covenant that will bring the ultimate blessing — even life evermore under the light of God's countenance.