Aliyah and the return of Israel

• What the Prophetic Scriptures Say
• The LORD’s Reasons for Aliyah
• Opposition to Aliyah
• Lessons for Us from Aliyah

Aliyah means ‘to go up’: initially this meant to go to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim feasts; today it means to return to the land of Israel

What the Prophetic Scriptures Say

1) Two Exiles and Two Returns – Isaiah 11: 11-12

2) The LORD Initiates the Regathering – Isaiah 43: 5-6, Jeremiah 31: 8-9

3) A Far Greater Aliyah – Jeremiah 16: 14-15

4) The LORD’s Heart & Soul – Jeremiah 32: 41

5) The Gentiles Have a Role in Aliyah – Isaiah 49: 22-23, Isaiah 60: 8-9, Isaiah 62: 10

6) First the Fisherman Then the Hunters – Jeremiah 16: 16

The LORD’s Reasons for Aliyah

1) For His Holy Name’s Sake – Ezekiel 36: 22-23

2) He Loves His People and Remembers His Covenants – Jeremiah 30: 17-18

3) Israel’s Spiritual Restoration – Ezekiel 20: 40-44

4) The Nations Will Know and Fear Him – Psalm 102: 12-16

5) A Study of Ezekiel 36 & 37

Recommended Personal Study
Ezekiel 36 is an amazing prophecy of Israel’s future after the return from the Babylonian empire and of the modern day aliyah from the nations – and of the prophetic purposes which the LORD has for His people.
Ezekiel 37 gives a starting picture of the Jewish People and the LORD’s prophetic purposes for them and the land of Israel.

Opposition to Aliyah

1) Preventing the Return of Yeshua Preventing the cry ‘Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai’ – Matthew 23: 37-39

2) Satanic Opposition to GOD’s Declared Purposes

As God has refined the visibility of His plan, it allows Satan to focus his attack. Now his attacks are on Israel and Aliyah – because of God’s declared purposes for the Jewish people in these days. Revelation 12: 13

3) Opposition from the Church
Some churches have no teaching or understanding of GOD’s prophetic purpose for the Jewish people. Some have a Replacement Theology and some also have an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic agenda. This leads them to oppose the state of Israel, and oppose aliyah, and to adopt a pro-Palestinian narrative. 1 Timothy 4: 1-2

4) False Teaching in the Church
This comes in two principal forms:
Firstly, a denial that the scriptures speak of aliyah at all, or denying an aliyah before the time of ‘the tribulation’.
Secondly, a misinterpreting of scripture – even in ministries and churches that have a Hebraic understanding – e.g. Zechariah 13: 7-9 is misinterpreted to say that two-thirds of those making aliyah will be killed in a time of ‘Jacob’s trouble’ when the context is clearly the time of the Diaspora.

Lessons for Us from Aliyah

1) The LORD Keeps His Promises and is Faithful to His People
Just as the LORD is committed to His covenants with His Jewish people – so He is committed to His promises to us. Just as the Yahweh loves His people the Jews – so Yeshua loves His people, the Church…His bride for which He gave Himself. 2 Peter 1: 2-4, 2 Corinthians 1: 20, Ephesians 5: 25

2) The LORD is the Initiator
Just as the LORD initiates aliyah – so He initiates our spiritual rebirth and sanctification. Aliyah is all at the LORD’s initiative – and He will see it through.
Our salvation is all at the LORD’s initiative – and He will see us through to glory.
Nothing can separate you from the LORD or His purposes for you. Ephesians 2: 4-7

3) The LORD’s Prime Concern is Holiness
Just as aliyah is not only for the sake of the Jewish people – so the Yeshua’s purposes for us are not only for our sakes but to bring glory to the Father. Above all things it is Holiness, the honouring of the LORD and His name that is of prime concern to Him.
That is why there is discipline in the Christian life – that we might more accurately reflect the nature and character of the LORD.
The Holy Spirit’s work in us is sanctification – to set us apart in holiness for the LORD. Philippians 2: 9-11, Ephesians 5: 26-27

4) We have a Role to Play for the LORD
Just as the Gentiles have a role to play in Aliyah – so we have a role to play in the LORD’s purposes. The LORD has work for each of us to do to bring about His divine purposes – we must be obedient to His direction for service; we must seek…listen…obey.
Only in doing what the LORD commands, rather than what we wish to do for Him, will we find fruitfulness and fulfilment; ‘Do no un-commanded works!’ Romans 12: 1-2

5) The LORD will make Two Become One
Just as following aliyah the LORD will unite Judah and Ephraim (Ezekiel 37) – so in the New Jerusalem he will unite Jew and Gentile to become one new man. The enmity between Jew and Gentile will be done away with – both will be reconciled to GOD through Yeshua’s perfect sacrifice – and thereby reconciled to each other. Ephesians 2: 14-16

The LORD’s great plea to us is to love those who now are enemies of the gospel. Romans 11: 25-32

————–

Share this page