Restoration of Israel

[nebula]

I was watching this morning's broadcast of Day of Discovery.

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/dod/home.php

Today, they were talking about "The Restoration of Israel."

Throughout history, civilizations have come and gone. But none have returned-except for one. After surviving dispersion among the nations of the world for almost 2,000 years, the Jewish people have returned by the millions to their ancestral homeland. Is this re-emergence of a nation mere coincidence or the fulfillment of ancient prophecies? "The Restoration of Israel," on this Day of Discovery.

I thought they made some interesting points. Note: I'm paraphrasing.

One commentator mentioned that if the Arabs and Muslims in the region would put down their weapons and give up fighting, there would be no more fighting and wars in the land of Israel. If the Israelis put down their weapons and gave up fighting, there would be no more Israel.

The hosts of the program offered Scriptural prophetic support of the return of the Jews to Israel as being a fulfillment of prophecy. One of them acknowledged that some do not believe the current state of Israel to be such a fulfillment, but offered some arguments in defense of the original position.

For one, if the scattering of the Jews to the nations of the world (physical event) was a fulfilling of prophecy, why would the prophecies of a restored Israel also not be a physical event.

Second, in Ezekiel's prophecy of the Valley of Dry bones, the retoration of the bones to flesh occurs in stages. Might it be possible that the return of the Jews to Israel is to occur in stages? For though the current restoration of Israel appears to be a political occuring, might the spiritual fulfillment (when the breath finally enters the bodies), when the Jews will once again be worshipping the God of their Fathers, only this time through Messiah, still be forthcoming in the process?

Anyway, if you are interested in seeing the station listing and times of showing, click here:

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/stations/

[nebula]

OK, found a page that gives a summary of the points of the broadcast:

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/sb154/point8.html