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The Israeli-Arab
Peace Process and
Bible Prophecy
Chapter 5
The Remnant . . .
A Blesser Nation
After its decisive victory over
the Arabs (Isaiah 11:14; Zephaniah 2:4-10; Ezekiel 36:7), Israel
will dwell in peace and "unwalled villages" as
symbolized in Ezekiel (38:11). At this juncture, Gog and the
nations listed will invade Israel (Ezekiel 38:3-6). Here we
disagree with many of our "born-again" Christian
friends. We do not believe in a so-called "second
holocaust"—in which nine-tenths of the Israelis will be
eternally condemned when slain by the forces of Gog and only a
one-tenth holy remnant remain.
The Purpose of Gog's Invasion
Is the purpose of Gog's invasion
to once and for all teach Israel a lesson of God's sovereignty? Or
is it to teach the Gentile nations which attack the Land the
sovereignty of the God of Israel? The answer is "Yes" to
both questions. But the way God accomplishes this lesson is
different in each case. On Israel's behalf He fights for them as
He did in ancient times, "Then shall the LORD go forth and
fight against those nations as when he fought in the day of
battle" (Zechariah 14:1-3) In their spectacular deliverance
the LORD says, "I will bring again the captivity of Jacob and
have mercy upon the whole house of Israel…for I have poured out
my spirit upon the house of Israel…" (Ezekiel 39:25,29). On
the other hand, the way God will sanctity Himself "in the
eyes of many nations" so that "they shall know that I am
the LORD" is by defeating them (Ezekiel 38:23). They will be
so dumbstruck by Israel's extraordinarily outstanding victory,
that they will have no choice but to glorify God. "For I am
with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee, though I make a full end
of all nations [governments, not the people] whither I have
scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee…"
(Jeremiah 30:11).
Actually, Ezekiel's prophecy
does not indicate how many Jews are killed during Gog's invasion.
But great emphasis is given to the Lord's destruction of the
forces of Gog. By contrast is Israel's prospect, "Now I shall
restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of
Israel" (Ezekiel 39:25, NAS). A parallel prophecy speaks of
half of Jerusalem being exiled (not destroyed) but the rest of the
people would remain (Zechariah 14:2,3). What becomes of those who
went into exile? The prophet Isaiah shows a further regathering of
Jews to Israel after the invasion of Gog (Isaiah 66:19,20;
60:4-9). The "half" who are taken into exile during the
invasion will return in this post-Gog invasion regathering.
The Scepter Over Israel
This concept of the destruction
of nine-tenths is based on the Revised Standard Version's (1952)
gross mistranslation of Ezekiel 20:37 which among several errors
implies the "rod" that Israelis pass under is a
shepherd's counting rod. The New Revised Standard Version has
corrected its former mistranslation and shows that the thought of
counting or numbering is not contained in the Hebrew text. The
Hebrew word "shebet" is translated "rod" in
the King James rendering of this text, but it can be translated
also "staff" or "scepter." The thought of
counting is not contained in "shebet" even though
"second holocaust" commentators unfortunately couple it
with tithing (Leviticus 27:32,33).
The Hebrew word "shebet"
(here rendered "rod") is often translated
"scepter" when the thought of a reigning king is in the
context. Actually, the context of Ezekiel 20:37 presents God as
reigning over the Jewish people during their regathering (vs. 34).
That is why some Bibles have "scepter" in the margin as
an alternative rendering of "shebet."
In any case, under the Law when
every tenth animal was tithed—given to God (Leviticus 27:32,33)—
the tenth animal was not to be inspected and determined better
than the rest. Even if the animal was bad, blemished or defective,
it was still the Lord's. This procedure does not fit as a picture
of "Jews of faith" as a tenth part being delivered out
of Gog's invasion as some claim.
Since every tenth animal in the
flock or herd was given to the Lord, what happened to the other
nine-tenths? Were they killed? No. They remained alive as the
flock or herd of the shepherd. Therefore, the nine-tenths of
living animals cannot portray the death of nine-tenths of Israel
in Gog's invasion. In fact, nothing in the description of Gog
indicates such a massive destruction of Jewish life. Rather the
outcome of the invasion will be glorious for Israel, "the
whole house of Israel" (Ezekiel 39:25, NAS).
Is the Holy Remnant Small?
The several Hebrew words
translated "remnant" mean "remainder, descendants,
survivors." The thought of a minority is not implicit in
these Hebrew words. The meaning for "remnant" can refer
to either a minority or a majority. When a tenth part of an ephah
(1½ bushels) of flour is given to the priest for a sin-offering,
he only used one handful of the flour as an offering upon the
altar. The leftover flour (still more than a bushel) is referred
to as a "remnant" (Leviticus 5:11-13; 2:3). Here the
"remnant" (Hebrew "yathar") is significantly
the larger portion.
Another example in the New
Testament of a remnant being the larger portion is in the Apostle
Peter's discourse (Acts 15:14-17). When the Apostle described the
"residue of men" who will seek the Lord in His Kingdom,
he quotes from the Old Testament which renders the phrase,
"remnant [Hebrew word "she'eriyth"] of Edom"
(Amos 9:11). In the Hebrew "Edom" means "reddish,
Adam or man." Conversely, "Adam" or "man"
means "reddish." Hence the phrase, "residue of
men," in Peter's discourse refers to the overwhelming
majority of the human race who will be on trial for eternal life
in the Kingdom. Since both of these Hebrew words ("yathar"
and "she'eriyth") are used in Scripture to refer to the
"remnant of Israel," obviously, the thought of "a
minority" is not inherent in the phrase, "remnant of
Israel."
The Prophet Micah (2:12) gives
insight as to the size of the "remnant of Israel" in
three different instances:
I will surely assemble, O
Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;
I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in
the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason
of the multitude of men.
First, "Jacob"
always refers to natural Israel. Therefore, "O Jacob, all
of thee," whom the Lord assembles or gathers to the Land
equals the "remnant of Israel" in the next phrase.
This internal equation demonstrates "remnant" is not a
small 1/10 minority. Second, this "remnant of Israel"
is like a flock of sheep of Bozrah. Bozrah was not only noted
for large sheep but for very large flocks of sheep. Third, this
sheepfold is noisy because it is crowded with men. Therefore the
remnant must be a large flock.
The Rotherham translation speaks
of this "remnant" as "sheep in distress." This
rendering locates the context at the time of Gog's invasion when
Israel will be surrounded by enemies. The next verse shows how
these sheep of Israel are delivered (Micah 2:13):
The breaker is come up
before them: they have broken up [out], and have passed through
the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass
before them.
The Hebrew for
"breaker" is the "one who breaks out or
through." Their king will deliver them from the forces of
Gog. Only those who are "feeble" (Hebrew, "bend
the knee"), that is, turn to the Lord in prayers of faith
will be delivered (Zechariah 12:8). Those lacking this faith
will be killed (Ezekiel 20:38) and not immediately share in the
special blessings of the remnant or flock that are brought
through the trouble safely. But even these lacking faith who die
will come forth from their graves in the general resurrection of
the "unjust" to a fair trial or "judgment"
(John 5:28,29 NAS).
Only after their deliverance
from Gog's invasion will the Messiah or Christ reveal himself to
Israel by pouring God's spirit upon them (Zechariah 12:9-14).
Those who accept Christ at this time are described as "all
families [of Israel] that remain." Therefore, all the
"remnant of Israel," who are a large flock, shall
recognize their Savior who died for them…and there will be
"great mourning" throughout the Land. But the very next
verse shows a wonderful opportunity will be opened, "In that
day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to
the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness"
(Zechariah 13:1).
Further Regathering After
Gog's Defeat
Not only is there a pre-Gog
invasion gathering of Jews, but also a post-Gog invasion
regathering. This further regathering after the destruction of Gog
is prophesied in Isaiah 66 & 60 and also Ezekiel 36. The
Isaiah 66 prophecy parallels the time after Gog's defeat when the
Gentile nations see the Lord's glory through the great destruction
He brings upon them (Isaiah 66:15,16,18 and Ezekiel 39:21). This
prophecy in Isaiah additionally explains that some Gentiles escape
"…I will send those that escape of them unto the nations…and
they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall
bring all your brethren…out of all nations…to my holy mountain
Jerusalem" (Isaiah 66:19,20).
Similarly, the prophecy in
Isaiah 60 reveals that the Gentiles shall see God's glory upon
Israel and they will come into harmony with God's Kingdom in Israel,
"and the Gentiles shall come to thy light." After the
trouble is over and the Kingdom is set up in Israel, there is a
further regathering, "Thy sons shall come from far" on
"ships" to Israel and "to the Holy One of Israel,
because he hath glorified thee" (Isaiah 60:2-9).
The parallel passages in Ezekiel
36 supply added details (vss. 23-38). Specifically, vs. 23 focuses
on the time after Gog's defeat, "I will sanctify my great
name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned
in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the
LORD God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their
eyes" (Ezekiel 36:23 and Ezekiel 39:21-23, 27). After the
heathen nations see the Lord in the miraculous deliverance of
Israel from their invading forces, a further regathering is
expected, "For I will take you from among the heathen, and
gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own
land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be
clean…" (Ezekiel 36:24,25). Significantly, it should be
noted that these Jews gathered after the invasion of Gog are
"cleansed with water" just as those gathered before the
invasion are cleansed in the "fountain…for sin"
(Zechariah 13:1). Also, at this time the newly gathered flock will
receive the Holy spirit as did the flock of Israel who was already
in the Land and delivered during Gog's invasion (Zechariah
12:9,10).
The "remnant of
Israel" which was a large flock before Gog's invasion (Micah
2:12) is now increased in size to include these cleansed Jews
regathered after Gog's defeat. "I will increase them with men
like a flock." This combined flock that is now increased in
size is described as a "holy flock" (Ezekiel 36:37,38).
The "second holocaust"
commentators believe all of the Jewish people will return to
Israel before Gog's invasion. But the nine-tenths ratio of
judgment on the Jews in the Land during Gog's invasion becomes
meaningless if there are still Jews outside of Israel who will
return (also Isaiah 66:18-20; 60:4-9 and Ezekiel 36:23-28). The
nine-tenths destruction becomes even more pointless since during
Gog's invasion, "half of the city shall go forth into
captivity [exile]" (Zechariah 14:2). These recently exiled
Jews will be also part of the grouping of Jews who return after
Gog's invasion is over. They will have the opportunity to be
cleansed, receive the Holy spirit and be part of the "holy
flock" together with those who lived through Gog's invasion.
Both segments of this flock—those
that lived through Gog's invasion and those who are gathered to
Israel after Gog's defeat—accept the Savior, are washed and
receive the Holy spirit. Therefore, it is a "holy
flock," a sanctified flock, that is set aside to God's
service, God's destined purpose. For what service is the
"holy flock" sanctified?
The Destined Purpose of the
"Holy Flock"
This large and cleansed holy
flock, the descendants of Jacob, is the earthly seed of Abraham
("sand which is upon the sea shore") which will work
with the spiritual seed, Christ and his Church ("stars of the
heaven") to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis
22:16-18; Galatians 3:16, 27-29). All the Land promised from the
Euphrates to the River of Egypt will then belong to these
descendants, the remnant of Jacob (Genesis 13:15,16; 15:18) for
Jerusalem will be the capital of God's Kingdom and the Land of
Israel its operational base.
"All Israel shall be
saved," then, is not a gross exaggeration on the part of the
Apostle Paul (Romans 11:26). How are they saved? Israel is
"saved" by the Deliverer, the Christ, that comes out of
Zion, the Kingdom of God. The Deliverer saves them by turning
"away ungodliness from Jacob." By Christ's death they
are saved from Adamic death and the condemnation of the Mosaic
Law. Why are they saved? "They are beloved for the fathers'
sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without
repentance" (Romans 11:28,29).
Then, the fathers of Israel—Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, David, Samuel, Elijah and the rest—will constitute
the government of Israel and will be "princes" on earth,
"children" of the King and of his Bride (Psalm 45:10-16).
God will restore (by raising from the dead) their "judges as
at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning"
(Isaiah 1:25,26). What will begin as God's Kingdom on earth in
Jerusalem and Israel will eventually extend to the ends of the
earth (Isaiah 2:2,3):
And it shall come to pass
in the last days, that the mountain [Kingdom] of the Lord's
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of
Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his
paths; for out of Zion [the spiritual seed of blessing] shall go
forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem [the
natural seed of blessing].
The whole world—the Arab
peoples too—will come up to worship the God of Jacob in
Jerusalem. Peoples of all national tongues will come to pray to
the LORD God of Israel because they will understand God is
blessing Israel (Zechariah 8:3, 21-23):
…Jerusalem shall be
called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts
the holy mountain…O house of Judah and house of Israel; so
will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing; fear not, but let
your hands be strong….It shall yet come to pass that there
shall come people and the inhabitants of many cities,….saying,
Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD
of hosts…ten men shall take hold
out of all the languages of the nations, even shall take hold of
the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for
we have heard that God is with you.
God's own peace process
will succeed when man's has failed. The peace God will give
Israel and the whole world will be all-comprehensive and
permanent. All peoples, both Jews and Gentiles, even Israelis
and Arabs who faithfully drink of the "water of life
freely" and who overcome "shall inherit all
things" (Revelation 22:17; 21:7).
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