"For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye." (Zechariah 2:8)

 

Genesis 17:7 and most of Romans 11 illustrate that God is not through with Israel; replacement theology is unbiblical. 

 

Israel is God's Nation and the Jews are God's chosen people; the nation He chose to speak to the world and demonstrate His Almighty Power and Sovereignty.

 

Here is more of what God says about Israel.....

 
I). ANY NATION/ANYONE THAT SETS ITSELF AGAINST ISRAEL WILL BE DESTROYED, and by the same token, any nation/anyone that blesses Israel, will be blessed. Furthermore, God referred to Israel as the apple of His Eye. He said this to Abraham:

"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye." (Zechariah 2:8)

Moreover, Israel is deeply rooted in Bible Prophecy; God's Promises coming to pass for the nation by which He has chosen to speak to the entire world AND her role in the END TIMES (Matthew 24, The Parable of the Fig Tree)

II). GOD HAS BEEN USING HIS NATION ISRAEL IN DEMONSTRATION OF DIVINE EVIDENCE IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE:

      A. PROPHECIES, PRE- BATTLE (EZEKEIL 38 & 39)

     *Israel will exist in the last days.

"And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all" (Ezekiel 37:22)

     *Israel will be scattered all throughout the world (over 1900 years).

"Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD." (Zechariah 2:6)

     *Israel will be non-existent for a long period of time and will be desolate:

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:" (Hosea 3:4)

     *Jews will return to their ancient homeland (May 14, 1948).

     *Returning numbers would be very large:

"I will multiply upon you man and beast........." (Ezekiel 36:11)

     *Great wealth and prosperity will be restored in the land; returning
     Israel to the "Land of Milk and Honey."

"And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD."
(Ezekiel 36:11)

     *Israel will form a political entity or state.

"Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? [or] shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." (Isaiah 66:8)

     *Israel's borders will include the mountains of Israel.

     *They will come back in unbelief as Jesus as Messiah.

"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." (Romans 11:11)

B. SECOND SET OF PREDICTIONS: THE AFTERMATH

*Several modern nations will invade Israel for "spoils"
(Iran, Turkey, Russia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Libya).

*None of these nations border Israel.

*The invasion will raise a protest, by Saudi Arabia and others.

*NO super powers will align with Israel (God will destroy their armies as well as their control centers).

*The world will understand that something supernatural is going on!

Pre-Battle Fulfillment

 #1, Israel has returned to their homeland (1948), not once, but twice (when they were held captive in Babylon).
#2, The people had been scattered for over 1900 years.
#3, They have come back in large numbers.
#4, Great wealth has been created.
#5, The land had been desecrated and desolate.
#6, A modern state has been formed.
#7, They have come back to the land in unbelief in their Messiah.

******NO OTHER PEOPLE GROUP THAT HAS BEEN SCATTERED; THEIR LAND NO LONGER THEIR HOME, HAS EVER COME BACK TOGETHER AS A NATION, OTHER THAN GOD'S PEOPLE: ISRAEL.

Furthermore, God will raise up Israel at the Second Coming of Christ and Jerusalem will be where Jesus reigns and rules for a thousand years:

 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain 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 shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:2-4)

"To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations- that one 'will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery'-just as I have received authority from my Father." (Revelation 2:26-27)

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

 

KJV, NKJV