In the time to come, an amazing broadcast message will be made to the entire earth. It appears this is the hour in which we need to contemplate this forthcoming announcement to all nations. It will take digital technology to make as widely known as possible, a permanent, perpetual and never-ending truth to creation. How can we, as Bible believers, be prepared to explain this proclamation of truth, beamed across the airwaves of the earth through modern technology, if we do not grasp it ourselves?
The reason I considered this subject matter, is that in 1973, churches around the world, began to sing the now widely known, and once favorite song “Our God Reigns.” Its lyrics contain wonderful news announced to the mountains of Israel–it is a tribute to Jesus. However, this song which I love to sing, was actually given to the Jewish prophet, Isaiah, many centuries ago. I began to wonder if Christians could accept this, and begin to see the song in a bit expanded light. Because, according to the prophet’s words a messenger is coming to announce that Israel’s God Reigns! Could it be that Christianity has missed, once again, the original meaning of this beautiful prophetic scripture, and placed itself in the position to ignore Israel, and to claim the One True God as theirs only? Whatever happened to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all Jewish patriarchs who followed the God of Israel? There are not two Gods…in other words, a Jewish God, and a Christian God.
Jesus taught His Followers from the Torah (Tanach) and proclaimed on the cross, “My God, My God” (Matthew 27:46). He cried out to His God, the Almighty One of Israel. Also, the Jewish Psalmist proclaimed these very words in Psalm 22:1. Therefore, the God of the Hebrews, Almighty G-d, is Eternal and still remains God. He was “their” God first. We know that God is the God of the whole earth, but why do we sing “Our” God with no mention of Him belonging to Israel? Worse yet, many Christians believe He is “our God” only! It could be that Replacement Theology has tiptoed in again to our churches and congregations, as it has so cunningly done, for centuries before. One may think it is a small thing, and yet it seems to be part of an overall pattern which has plagued the “Church” since ancient times. Everything in the Bible, including God, belongs to us, without even a footnote about Israel. I thought this needed to be addressed.
“In a few weeks the 70th anniversary of one of the modern era’s greatest Biblical miracles will be commemorated. On May 14, 1948, God declared to the world that now was the time that His Word and everlasting Promises to Israel, would again be proven true. His Chosen People have been restored to the Land that He gave them, much to the chagrin of others. They returned, and multiply they did! From a mere 600,000 in 1948 to over 6,000,000. In fact recent census numbers show that the population today of Israel, is nearly 9,000,000. God’s promises which are being fulfilled at an accelerated rate, are mere shadows of the blessings of God that await Israel and the rest of the world. “…we must recognize that the very purpose of Israel’s existence is spiritual.” (Rev. Anthony Abma)
As we watch the Invisible Hand of the Almighty actively involved in the restoration of the Jewish nation, and also in the affairs of world leaders, Israel’s light is truly beginning to surface for all nations to see as it becomes more visible on the horizon. Numerous nations are presently evaluating themselves in relationship to the nation of Israel. Some are missing the boat and headed directly into a tsunami of indictments for which one day they will have to answer. Others should be applauded, as they approach the intersection of decision regarding whether to support and defend, or stand against and fight. Israel’s star is on the rise.
The Moffat translation of the scripture above appropriately puts the proclamation of the prophet Isaiah into modern terminology when he says “Look! Tis the feet of a herald, hastening over the hills, with glad, good news, with tidings of relief, calling aloud to Sion, Your God reigns!” An official messenger-bearer (perhaps a modern day Journalist) carrying a dispatched report with the latest media buzz about developments that have triggered something very positive concerning the salvation and redemption of the Faithful. He is crying out to Jerusalem, the City of the Great King, that her Messiah and King’s sovereign rule is in place, or about to begin. Not the reign of a foreign god. Not the sovereignty of a pagan deity. It is He who belongs to Israel, her God!
The anxieties of this age are many. Some have chosen the way of Cain and are murdering their fellow human brothers. Others have the same spirit as Amalek, in desiring the downfall of the nation of Israel. But, could the world be on the threshold of something so pivotal and earth shaking, that it will stagger, and make the nations reel to their core – something that will thunder throughout the entire plant? It could be. It is for us to decide in our hearts.
As the apprehension and nervousness of this age have landed on us, through daily cyber-space headlines, discouraging news, tragic reports, horrific catastrophic events, unnecessary losses of life, and dismal news flashes one after another. We need to see in the Spirit, the words of the prophet Isaiah, to shatter the ability of today’s news, to rattle us. In my opinion, the One True God of Israel, is progressively moving toward something so momentous that there will be no doubt in the hearts of even the hardest criminals, the fiercest terrorists and the most wicked of people, that they are being confronted with the power and wrath of Almighty God, all tied into their plotting against His Chosen People.
Ruling princes over nations cause people to bow to Mohammed through fanatic Islam. Ruling monarchs and royalty of a thousand false religions around the world, have won the minds and hearts of millions who worship false gods. Thank God Christians worship the same God as Israel!
However, do we really know it? As already stated, the day may not be far off when the most startling, shocking and spiritually disturbing news that a crier will make known to the whole world, is “The God of Israel Reigns!” What a blow to those who are giving their lives senselessly for martyrdom for seventy virgins in “paradise” to a god that has deceived so many. What a shock to those religions who bow down to stone or wooden idols who have been made with human hands. It may also be a shock to many Christians who do not read the whole Bible, or realize that their Lord and King, is a Jew, in-the-flesh, who taught us to love the Lord with all of our hearts. The Aramaic translation of Matthew 22:37 translates: “Yeshua said to him, “You shall love The Lord Jehovah your God from all your heart and from all our soul and from all of your power and from all of your mind.” Perhaps someone needs to settle it now that the startling cry of Isaiah 52:7 is going to be heard and nothing will stop it. Hopefully, our anxieties will cease and we will be eager to hear it when it sounds!
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8:23, NIV).
When the news comes to the world, (every small village, community, and even those living in the jungles of Sri Lanka, and the Amazon), will want to flock to Israel to meet the King Messiah, who has promised to come. During the Kingdom era, “The Lord will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nation” (Zephaniah 2:11). We even learn that a minyan of people, a quorum of ten men over the age of 13, will cling to the Jewish people. Why would the nations of the world want to take a tight grip and clutch the hem of a Jewish man’s garment, (most likely a prayer shawl) as a sign of respect and reverence? Could it be they will draw strength and comfort by doing this? Perhaps it may mean that Israel will be given a major role when Messiah comes. Why else would people groups from 195 nations, speaking 7,106 living languages, hold tight to the garment of a Jewish man, and declare “we want to go with you”? It must be something they have heard? Scripture reveals this in the verse above. Didn’t Ruth also say to Naomi “Where you go…I will go…”? (Ruth 1:16-17). She had heard about the God of Israel from Naomi and made her mind up to follow Him.
Whatever the nations hear reported, or broadcast, in the future, it is powerful enough to get the attention of the whole world. They will join the Jewish people who seek the Lord their God spoken of in Jeremiah 50:5? The Jewish people will “…ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten”? The day will come when the nations will come to worship the Lord in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 14:16). One can visualize airplanes from all nations lining up on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport bringing people from every tribe and language to Israel. Perhaps the new international airport which is being built in Eilat will contribute to this great ingathering of pilgrims, as well as the expansion of Ben Gurion Airport facilities which have been announced. Obviously someone on the Jerusalem Police force understands what is coming. Months ago, a special task force was formed to help control crowds on the Temple Mount in a coordinated way. It was reported that one of the police officers stated that “when Messiah arrives, everyone will want to talk to Him. We had better be organized to handle the crowds.“ I would think this is a prophetic preparation.
In February 2018, Menachem Posner reported that the new South African President received the blessings of Rabbi Asher Deren, chairman of the Rabbinical Association of the Western Cape. As a Kohen (a priestly descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses) Deren conferred the Biblical priestly blessing upon newly appointed Ramaphosa. “When I lifted my hands to bless him, he very humbly bowed forward and seemed very moved by the gesture,” Rabbi Deren told the press. Could the Lord be moving South Africa into a new era of cooperation, transparency, and prosperity for South Africans? To me, it is a forthcoming herald proclaiming the God of Israel reigns! Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” (Isaiah 40:9).
For years, I drove on the Jerusalem highways proclaiming “Behold Your God!” I do not know if anyone heard me, but I spoke these prophetic words to Israel from my car window. It felt so good to proclaim this wonderful greeting which will one day be announced and that others will recognize.
The Book of Revelation is clear about the latter days of the praises of Hallelujahs to the One True God. An unbelievable number of people from Israel, and multitudes from the nations, will shout with the roar of a thunderbolt missile that the God of Israel, the God of Abraham is showing His Supreme Power, and His Sovereignty over the earth. His government and domain will have no end, and His rule over the Commonwealth of Israel will be set in order forever. It will be the culmination of a long battle between the angels of darkness, and Satan himself, who has been trying to overthrow the One True God since the beginning of time. He will be defeated and all of the kingdoms of men, and of this world, will become the Kingdoms of Israel’s God, (YHVH). It indeed is something to cheer about, as a royal King’s shout will be sounded, the multitudes of saved and redeemed from Israel and the nations will proclaim together who is King. As Christians, we believe this is Jesus (Yeshua) but best not to look for a “Christian” Kingdom to come, but only the Kingdom of the Lord! His Government will proceed endlessly. Indeed, together with Israel, let us all proclaim, He is “Our” God, the Lord Almighty!. “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns” (Revelation 19:6, NIV).
In observing nations around the world trying to “hold on” to what they once had, when we see the corruption on every continent and in every capital city of the world, we see that these “kingdoms” are coming to an end as far as their personal “glory” is concerned. Not even the most powerful nation in the world will be able to match for one moment, the Coming Kingdom of the Almighty God. Israel will be held to a very high accountability in the spiritual realm in order to lead the nations. Excelling in science, medical, technological, start-up and other areas of international importance is only the beginning. She must now move forward, with banner in hand, to become the leader of the world spiritually. We know this will happen once she is redeemed. This, she has not yet experienced but there are strong indications she is on her way. What we Christians, who have always carried the flag, said was “follow us.” Perhaps it is time that we humbly, as the new South African President did, acknowledge that Israel has a key role in the future to play and we must join her and desire the blessing. The issue of the Messiah still remains a major division between us, but do not think that God does not have it in hand. He does. We await His next move.
This Father of the Faith, Isaiah, foresaw the coming glorious day down the corridors of time, as did George Frederic Handel, the composer of the great oratorio “Messiah. As the swelling of the full chorus states: “For the Lord God, omnipotent reigneth…Hallelujah…comfort ye, comfort ye, My people, saith your God…make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:4), Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low…and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it…I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come (Haggai 2:6-7)…who may abide the day of His coming…He is like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2)…He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness (Malachi 3:3). “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us, (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23), O thou that tellest good tiding to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain….be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God (Isaiah 40:9)…the Lord shall rise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:2-3)…for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His Shoulder; and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”. (Isaiah 9:6).
If you are overtaken by the anxieties and worries of this present age, don’t be afraid of the darkness, but look toward the light, to see the wonderful victorious days ahead. God will take us through. There is no other God who is Creator of the world except the God of Israel. “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14). It is His Name that will go throughout the whole earth. His Name will be glorified as the waters cover the sea beds. When the Word goes forth from Zion (Isaiah 2:3), the Omnipotent One will be reigning.
I wish to be among the voices swelling the chorus, don’t you? Stand and proclaim it in this day and age. The question, what God do you serve may come to you one day. Do not shrink back, but say, “I bow to no one but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”…the God of Israel.
As a Bible-believing Christian, anchor your soul in the cleft of the rock, hold onto that Rock. Cling to the Lord God of Israel. This will be a sure remedy for uneasiness about the future. The best “news flash” we could ever hear are the echoes of Isaiah heralding His Coming and proclaiming “The God of Israel Reigns!” Stay tuned to His Word, and our ears just may hear it soon.
-Sharon Sanders-