The Jewish nation is unique amongst all the ethnic groups that exist on our planet today. No other nation has been subjected to as many racial extermination attempts as the Jewish nation. No other nation has been scattered worldwide, had to flee from country to country, suffered persecution and abuse and yet has retained a distinctive national identity.

The Bible has much to say about the Jewish race. In Isaiah for example we have recorded God’s words to them:

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he… Isaiah 43:10

The burning question is, how can Israel be a witness to the existence of God? Again, to find out the answer to this question we have to turn to our Bible. One passage which is of interest in this regard is Deuteronomy chapter 28. In that chapter we have recorded Moses’ last words spoken to Israel before they were to enter the promised land. Moses, an inspired prophet of God, warns Israel that they had to follow God’s law as a nation or else terrible punishments would be sent upon them by God:

…ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other… And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:” Deuteronomy 28:63-65

Later in the nation’s history the Lord Jesus Christ quotes this prophecy. He was living in the Roman period and warned his followers in Luke 21:20-24:

“When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh… And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” Luke 21:20-24

These prophecies of course were fulfilled when, in AD70, the city of Jerusalem fell. The great Jewish temple was destroyed and the Jews were scattered throughout the known world. They migrated from place to place – always as strangers, never able to completely settle down. Even throughout the middle ages evidence exists of Jewish persecution. It all came to a head when the infamous Austrian, Adolf Hitler came to power as leader of the Nazi party in Germany in the 1940′s.

The Treblinka Death Camp

In November 1941 the Nazis established a forced labour camp in Treblinka, 50 miles northeast of Warsaw in Poland. This camp became known as Treblinka I. The Nazis imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Jews from Eastern Europe here and forced them to work in a nearby gravel pit. A year later another camp was built only a mile away, not a labour camp but a killing centre. It became known as Treblinka II. The camp had four sides, was surrounded by barbed wire and trees to block the view of what occurred inside. Four great watchtowers were built to oversee and protect the mass-murder which was to take place within. Both the camps were alongside a main railway line and were linked by rail so that victims could be transferred to the death camp. It is thought that over 800,000 Jews lost their lives in the gas chambers within the camp.

In July 1944, with Soviet troops approaching, the camp authorities killed all remaining prisoners and dismantled the camp, hiding much of the evidence of what went on there. They did such a good job that Holocaust deniers have often claimed the camp was no more than a transit camp – despite many Jewish eyewitness accounts.

However this week on the BBC website, British forensic archeologist Caroline Sturdy Colls has been reporting on her new findings of her recent studies of the site. However this week on the BBC website (source: Although no digging has been done on the site because she wished to respect Jewish tradition for not exhuming the dead, she has found evidence of many mass grave pits using penetrating radar and electrical imaging – technologies which have only very recently been available.

The regathering of the Jews foretold in the Bible

This news story is another reminder of Bible prophecy concerning Israel and the Jews. How right the words of Deuteronomy have been – “And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind”. In Jeremiah though we read this:

“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun… moon… and stars… If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.” Jeremiah 31:35-36

This verse tells us clearly that God has a special purpose with the nation of Israel – His witnesses. Although, as we have read, the Bible prophesies of their scattering amongst the nations because of their rebellion against God, it also talks about their regathering back into the land which God had promised them. The prophecy from Luke, quoted earlier makes this clear “and they shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”.

Again in Jeremiah 31:
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. Jeremiah 31:10

Many more verses could be called upon to prove this point. When we piece all of this together we realise how much God is in control of human afairs. God had said that if the Jewish nation failed to keep His national law they would be scattered. It occured. God had said that he would regather them. This occurred but only after the terrible judgments written had been poured out in the events of World War 2. The situation for the Jews became so bad that world leaders were compelled to help establish a homeland for the Jewish people and in 1948 the nation of Israel was born.

This event had been looked for by Bible students who had studied some of the prophecies we have already quoted. For example Christadelphian author John Thomas wrote this in 1848:

“There is, then, a partial and primary restoration of Jews before the manifestation (return of Christ), which is to serve as the nucleus, or basis, of future operations in the restoration of the rest of the tribes after he has appeared in the kingdom. The pre-adventual colonization of Palestine will be on purely political principles; and the Jewish colonists will return in unbelief of the Messiahship of Jesus, and of the truth as it is in him. They will emigrate thither as agriculturists and traders, in the hope of ultimately establishing their commonwealth…”

We see then how that the Jewish nation is indeed a witness to the fact that the author of the Bible, God Himself, exists and is at work – that indeed we may know the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.

His work with Israel though has not yet finished. We are told in the Bible that they were to be regathered  but that more trouble lies ahead which will eventually see the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ who will return from heaven to re-establish the Kingdom of Israel as it existed in days of old. We read of that time in many prophecies and we will quote from one in Zechariah:

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city…. Zechariah 14:2

International Holocaust Memorial Day & signs of the times.

On Friday 27th of January, the world is preparing for the International Holocaust Memorial Day, which marks the liberation of the largest Nazi death camp, Auschwitz. On the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s website it says “Holocaust Memorial Day provides an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides and apply them to the present day to create a safer, better future.”. This is a well meaning statement however as we have seen, the Bible tells us that man will not learn from the horrors of the past. In Ezekiel 38:12 we read that the nations who will come against the regathered Jews have an evil thought to: ”to turn their hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations”.

There were many signs in the news this week that things are moving in that direction. Reuters had an article entitled “Netanyahu cites Holocaust lesson in dealing with Iran” where the Prime Minister of Israel There were many signs in the news this week that things are moving in that direction. Reuters had an article (source: referred to lessons from the Holocaust and related them to a nuclear armed Iran. He is reported to have said “We must not bury our heads in the sand. The Iranian regime calls openly for the destruction of Israel, and plans the destruction of Israel and acts for the destruction of Israel.” Iran appears in Ezekiel 38 under the title of “Persia”.

On Wednesday The Jerusalem Post reported on the words of the President of the European Jewish Congress, Dr. Moshe Kantor about the rise of anti-semitism in Sweden. On Wednesday the Jerusalem Post reported (source In some Swedish cities the rise in Jewish hate crimes has increased so much that many Jews have had to flee cities like Malmo. Kantor is reported to have said that it was “unthinkable that in the 21st century Jews need to move from the city of Malmo to Stockholm and elsewhere.”

A report entitled “Court Keeps Hitler’s Work From German Newstands”, published by The New York Times on Thursday, also showed how antisemitism is on the rise in Europe. The article tells of how The German authorities have had to step in to stop excerpts from Adulf Hitlers anti-Jewish book “Mein Kampf” from being published after a publisher had proposed to provide German newsstands with 100,000 copies of important passages from the work. The book has been regarded as the source of much of Nazi ideology. The report also goes on to state: “This week, the government released the results of a two-year-long study showing    g that one in five Germans still harboured anti-Semitic beliefs.”

The final news story we wish to mention is the report from the BBC on a row which has erupted over a Holocaust memorial near the Russian town of Rostov-on-Don, which is south of Moscow. The memorial used to have a plaque which specifically mentioned the Jews who had died in that place. It read “On the 11-12 of August 1942, Nazis killed more than 27,000 Jews here.” A decision has been made which would replace the plaque with, instead of “Jews”, the words “peaceful citizens of Rostov-on-Don and Soviet prisoners of war.”

The return of Christ is near to re-establish God’s Kingdom

So we can see clear signs that the world has not learnt the lesson from the Holocaust and that they are preparing, unwittingly, for the events which have been outlined in the Bible long ago. God will bring the nations against Israel once again. It is at that time says the prophet Zechariah that Jesus will return:

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him… Zechariah 12:9-10

This personage who the Jews have pierced is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom at his birth, the angel said in Luke 1:32-33 that ”the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

So we look and watch the signs of the times for the coming of the Messiah to re-establish the kingdom of Israel. To sit on the throne of David his father, to rule in righteousness over the whole world. The message of the Bible is one of hope and to all who humble themselves and listen to God’s word we can be part of that glorious time of God’s Kingdom in a wonderful age which will come upon the earth. The return of Christ is a sure thing – for the one who has promised it has already shown that His word has been fulfilled and therefore this confirms our certainty that He will fulfil the other prophecies revealed in His word.

Bible in the news – original here »

The nations of Europe give away more power to attempt to save the Euro whilst Great Britain stands alone in isolation to protect her trading powers. Welcome to the Bible in the News. This is Matt Davies joining you.

The lone man of Europe

In the past week dramatic events have been taking place in the European Union which see Britain take a few steps towards distancing herself from the nations of Europe. These events are exactly what Bible students have been watching for and mark another sign of the times as we see God at work in the Kingdoms of men.

On Friday the 9th of December European Union leaders met in Brussels to discuss the future of the euro and to seek to save it from collapsing. The summit was held to agree to a new treaty (called a “fiscal compact”) which would see members economies being more tightly integrated to allow stronger coordination of economic policies. The new treaty means more powers being taken from the member countries and handed over to the European Union.

Mr Cameron, the British Prime Minister, did not agree to the new treaty stating “What is on offer isn’t in Britain’s interests so I didn’t agree to it” after he had failed to secure concessions for the UK. He was the only leader to do so. He vetoed the new compact ensuring it fell outside of the current EU treaty. The other 26 EU nations resolved to bypass this and negotiate the new fiscal compact which will be implemented by March. For the first time since Britain joined the European Community in 1973, a treaty that goes to the heart of how the EU works will now be decided upon without British representatives being present.

On Saturday December 10th, the Daily Telegraph, in an article entitled “Cameron stands as lone man of Europe” gave the following insight into the events of the previous night: “David Cameron took a decisive step to distance Britain from the European Union yesterday as he became the first Prime Minister to veto a new EU Treaty. Mr Cameron provoked widespread anger among European leaders by refusing to back a deal to rescue the Eurozone… raising questions about Britain’s future in the EU… European leaders and Tory skeptics alike suggested that Mr Cameron had set Britain on a course that could end with departure from the EU.”

When asked if Europe was divided Lithuanian President Dalia Gry-baus-kaite said “Not Europe, Brits divided and they are outside of decision making. Europe is united…”

These events come after many in Britain have been questioning the UK’s membership of the EU. Recently the Daily Express newspaper has been running a campaign calling on the British public and politicians to “Get us out of the EU”. The Express is now frequently reporting of the problems of EU membership. One recent headline read “Fury over Britians £50m a day EU Bill” (Nov 24th 2011) and another printed last year read “99% of you say get us out of Europe” (Nov 26th 2010). It seems then that Eurosceptisim in the UK is growing and Britain is being forced into a position of isolation in Europe as the British public are becoming increasingly fed up with the large bills and bureaucracy of the EU. Meanwhile the Euro crisis see’s nations continuing to give up their sovereign powers to the system of Europe with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, telling her parliament on Wednesday 14th of December that the 26 other nations had set themselves on an “irreversible course towards a fiscal union”.

A Latter-day Prophecy

When we turn to Gods word, the Bible, we find an interesting chapter in Ezekiel which helps to shed some light on these events we are witnessing in the news. In Ezekiel chapter 38 we have a prophecy about “the latter days” (see v 8 and verse 16). The latter days is a phrase which describes the end of the gentile age. We know that we are living in that time period because one of the events which marks the beginning of the latter day period is that the Jews will have begun to return to their land (see Hosea 3:5). So this chapter then is very relevant to us living today!

The prophecy deals with two power blocks of nations. The first power block is a confederacy of nations led by a character called “Gog” who is from the territory of “Magog” and is the leader of the territories of “Rosh, Mesech and Tubal” (see v2 and v3). Allied with him is “Persia”, “Ethiopia”, “Libya”, “Gomer” and “Togarmah”. These are all ancient territories which correspond to modern day Russia, Europe, Northern Africa and Iran. The prophecy speaks of how this confederacy comes down form the north and attacks Israel.

The second power block of nations is described in verse 13 and are depicted as challenging Gog and his allies:

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?”

The ancient territories of Sheba and Dedan correspond with the modern day Arab states of the Gulf.

Identifying Tarshish

Allied with Sheba and Dedan is a trading, merchant, power called “Tarshish”. Tarshish, it seems, has a base in the area of Israel and together with Sheba and Dedan they challenge the invading force of Gog asking “Art thou come to take a spoil”?

Over 160 years ago Bible student John Thomas identified Britain as the power spoken of in the prophets as Tarshish. He wrote of this identification in his books ‘Elpis Israel’, ‘Eureka’ and ‘The Destiny of the British Empire’. John Thomas based his conclusions on the identifying features that the Bible gives about the Tarshish entity. When we look at our Bibles we find that Tarshish has the following characteristics:

• It is a trading maritime power: Isaiah 2:16, 23:1 Ezekiel 27:25
• It is a island or coastal power: Isaiah 60:9, 66:19, Genesis 10:4-5
• It is located to the far west of Israel: Jonah 1:3
• It is allied with Southern gulf states: Ezekiel 38:13, Psalm 72:10
• Tarshish will have descended from Japheth: Genesis 10:4
• It is a source of silver, iron, tin and lead: Ezekiel 27:12
• It trades in global markets: Ezekiel 27:25
• It has strong ties with Israel: Isaiah 60:9, Ezekiel 38:13

When the Tarshish clues are all pooled together we find that no other modern nation better qualifies than Great Britain.

The Bible in the News

To the Bible student then the events that have, and are, taking place in the EU are a sure and certain sign that God is preparing the nations for His plan and purpose as outlined in His word. We see the nations of Europe giving up more of their power and strength to the beast system which is prophesied of in Revelation 17. We see the Tarshish power standing apart from the nations of Europe just as Ezekiel 38 tells us the case will be at the end of the time period of the latter days.

We do not of course know exactly how events will pan out but surely we can see God at work in the Kingdoms of men bringing about the situation required by His word which will bring the nations down against Israel for the great battle of Armageddon. It is at that great time of trouble that the Bible speaks of Christ appearing in glory to the nations with his saints (Zechariah 14:4) and establishing God’s Kingdom on the earth. That Kingdom will be the ancient Kingdom of Israel restored with the Lord Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of his father David reigning in peace and righteousness.

Let us therefore watch the events in the news knowing that soon the vision of the future outlined in the Bible will come to fruition. We take comfort from the inspired word of God which tells us that:

“…the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habbukuk 1:3

Tune in next week for another “Bible In The News” God willing…

Are you concerned about the state of our world?
As problems about finance & morals worsen, are you confident that world leaders can find lasting solutions?

We are very confident there is a way out of the difficulties which face the world. It is found in the pages of the neglected book, The Bible. The Bible claims to be a message from the creator of heaven and earth – that claim can be tested! – consider the following:-

Thousands of years before these events took place they were foretold in the Bible. (References given below)

1. The nation of Israel would be scattered worldwide. (Happened AD70)
2. They would be persecuted worldwide. (A fact of History)
3. They would return to their ancient homeland (Happening now)
4. Their return would cause problems for all nations (Happening now)
5. All nations would be against Israel (Happening now)
6. Other conditions would exist when they returned (Happening now see below)
7. Worldwide problems with no solutions would exist (Happening now)
8. ‘People power’ would cause governments to fall (Happening now)
9. Faith in the Creator God would be at an all time low (Happening now)

These, and other signs, foretell that Jesus Christ is about to return to the earth as Judge and King.
The Bible warns that we need to prepare for that time by reading its page and putting its teaching into practice. This is the only way to escape the coming judgments on this world and to share in the peace and justice which will follow.

Bible ref’s 1&2, Deuteronomy 28:64-65. 3, Jeremiah31:10.4&5, Zechariah 12:2-3. 7&8,Luke 21:24. 9, 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

If you would like to know more about these matters read the Bible Teaching area of this site or email in…

An exciting Podcast about the problems of the Western world and the notable decline in respect for the Bible. In this address, given in October 2011, Mr Paul Billington of Ontario Canada (editor of the Bible Magazine), explains the impact of the Bible’s translation into English and the far reaching influence that the Bible had on shaping the Western world we know today. Now that same Western world is fast loosing sight of the importance of the Bible and is facing some of the toughest challenges history has ever seen. We invite you to download this podcast and see the connections between The neglect of Scripture and the decline of Western civilisation.

Podcast

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“Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye (Israel) are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” Isaiah 43:9-10

The nation of Israel is a living prophecy fulfilling – it is a witness that God exists.

This video examines a few of the Bibles prophecies concerning the Jewish people and how they have been, and are being fulfilled today:

Since it’s declaration of independence in 1948, the nation of Israel has been at the centre of controversy. This talk examines the problems of the Middle East in relation to Israel and explores the Biblical solution. The accuracy and Divine authorship of the Bible is proved once again by the amazing prophecies that this talk examines and the clear outworking of those prophecies in current world affairs.

Podcast

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The conflict in the Middle East is a huge problem for world leaders. Hardly a day will go by without it being mentioned in our media.

In this podcast, Mr Jim Cowie of Queensland Australia presents a compelling and exciting lecture about the Bible prediction that this conflict will eventually be solved by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. Does that sound far fetched? Listen to the Podcast and hear the evidence – then decide…

Podcast

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The recent unrest in a number of Middle East countries is sending shock waves throughout the world. As Britain and other nations prepare their war machines to help the Libyan rebels in their fight against Colonel Gaddafi, many are fearful that the UK will be dragged into another full-scale conflict, which could have far-reaching consequences.

This podcast of an illustrated talk by Bernard Burt examines the current world events from the perspective of Bible prophecy. It demonstrates that God has a purpose with the world, and that the turmoil that we see in the world today is the prelude to the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. It will also explain how our personal salvation is connected with these events.

Podcast

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The Pope is coming under attack (see this BBC news article) for his involvement in cases of child abuse. It seems he failed to act swiftly to prevent priests who were known to be practicing this obscene behavior.

One reason this is a problem is because of the Roman Catholic celibate priesthood.

It is a shame that the Bible is not consulted! This prophecy about a great apostasy that would come out of the true faith is an interesting and apt description of what we see happening within the Catholic church:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” 1 Tim 4:1-3

Forbidding to marry then is not a scriptural idea! Why then has it become part of church tradition? It is because the Catholic church is not based upon the Bible.