Israel’s future suffering and prosperity
By Merrill Olson
Whether nations and religious groups plot against Israel, hate and persecute her, God promises her future prosperity: “For the LORD will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall end” (Isaiah 60:20).
As a faithful student studies the Scriptures, one will see clearly that Isaiah 60:1-22 looks forward to the redemption of Israel. It will be a time during the Millennial Kingdom as Israel recognizes her Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the nations will stream to Zion to know the Lord: “the Gentiles shall come to your [Israel’s] light, And the kings to the brightness of your coming” (v. 3).
Therefore, in the beginning of the Millennium and when Israel is gathered to her land, her “sons” will come “from afar” (v, 9). And people will bring wealth to Israel. They will bring “silver and their gold with them, To the name of the LORD your God, And to the holy One of Israel, Because He has glorified you” (v. 9). There will be a steady flow of wealth coming into Jerusalem: “Therefore, your gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, And their kings in procession” (v. 11).
Even more, there will be foreigners and kings that will assist in building Jerusalem’s walls that will be evidence of the LORD’S favor and compassion toward her instead of His wrath. Scripture says that “the sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, And their kings shall minister to you; for in My wrath I struck you, but in My favor I have had mercy on you” (v. 10). And any nation that will not serve her, will be brought to ruin. The promise is “for the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish. And those nations shall be utterly ruined” (v. 12).
In that day as the Messiah reigns in Jerusalem, it will occupy the foremost place in the world’s political, social, economic, and social structure. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, will reign supreme. At the present time, it lives in spiritual “darkness.” But when the Messiah comes, “light” will come. “Arise shine, for you light has come” (v. 1).
And yet, as we look at Israel presently, we know that God’s plan for her is happening as the Jewish people are being restored to the land (Ezek. 37:1-27). In fact, since the late 19th century when there was a great persecution of the Jewish people in Eastern Europe, this resulted in many Jewish immigrants have arrived in the Holy Land each year. But on the other hand, the “time of Jacob’s trouble” has not ended (Jer. 30:7). There will still come a gathering of nations against her to destroy her, the Jewish people (Zech. 12:2; 14:2). And then the Second Coming takes place: “Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives…And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west…” (Zech. 14:3-4).
This has all happened as the Jewish people alive at that time who have believed in Yeshua (Jesus) have called out to Him to save them (Zech. 12:10). They will be forgiven and delivered just as the apostle Paul said “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26).
Shortly afterward, the Lord Jesus will set up His Messianic Kingdom and the throne of David in Jerusalem and rule over Israel and the world (Isa. 2:3-4; 9:7; 11:1-10). It will be at that time that all the nations will acknowledge the God of Israel (Zech. 8:20-23).
Merrill Olson served as a senior pastor for thirty-four years. He received a B.S. from Minnesota State University-Mankato, an M. Div. from Bethel Theological Seminary, and a D. Min. from Columbia Evangelical Seminary. He is currently involved as an interim pastor along with a teaching and writing ministry. His emphasis is on apologetics and training believers to defend their faith in Christ from God’s Word. He is well versed in Bible prophecy as it pertains to end times. He is a gifted speaker with the conviction that only by the Word of God can people experience inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. He and his wife, Jan, reside in Minnesota and have two daughters and four delightful grandchildren.