Arch of Titus built in Rome, c. 73 A.D., for fall of Israel
carved depiction - Arch of Titus - of Temple treasures captured & carried in triumph
May 14, 1948
Hebron and Israel reforestation, 2008
Jesus told us the seasons of earth changing events would have signs. 12 years ago, the set of novels called “Left Behind” written by Dr. Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins stirred people’s imaginations about the book of Revelations. But we are extremely fortunate to live in the earth’s history of the last 60 years. When Titus pulled Jerusalem apart, as Jesus foretold, the Romans then built the Titus Arch celebrating the conquest of Israel. After 1,935 years, Roman Jews proudly walked under the Titus Arch, for the first time, because Israel was again a nation, May 14, 1948.
Looking at the signs of the times: we have witnessed, in just a lifespan, the rebirth of Israel. We do not have the miraculous events of the Exodus, but Herman Wouk’s book “The Hope” tells of amazing story of Israel’s birth as a nation, the fantastic against-all-odds struggles & win of the 1967 war.
Just like the Left Behind series, we don’t stop to have the shock and awe realization that we live in an amazing time in the earth’s history. Israel is alive and well.
Some amazing facts about Israel today:
- highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world
- only liberal democracy in the Middle East
- Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.
- Most books purchased per person
- highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita
- Invented in Israel: cell phone, most of Windows XP & NT, AOL instant messenger, Pentium chip & voice mail
- more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.
- highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.
- fourth largest air force in the world
- most impenetrable flight security. U. S. officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.
- third highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world
- more museums per capita than any other country
- only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.
Luke 21:20-28
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
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