Israel in Bible prophecy

Why is Israel so important in Bible prophecy. The bible tells us that this tiny piece of land will be the envy of many nations. Israel is currently home to 6 million Jews.
You can trace Jewish origins back to the first patriarch Abraham. He had a son Isaac and a grandson Jacob whom God later gave the name of Israel.

The Jewish nation are God's people. The Lord chose them to be a holy people. He led them from the bondage of Egypt to the promised land, despite their disobedience. He also made an eternal covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israel will be restored in the last days as God promised. The nation of Israel is at the centre of Bible prophecy, and it will culminate in the return of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately there is a portion of the modern church that does not even realise the importance of Israel in God's end time plan. The bible predicted thousands of years ago that in the last days he would bring his sons and daughters back to the land he promised them.

Quote from Charles Krauthammer - The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998

"Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store."

Israel is God's time piece. If we want to know where we are on God's prophetic clock then we need look no further than this tiny place that is so special to God.
The nation of Israel has always experienced conflict. Why is this ? because God has a special plan for Israel, and Satan wants to mess it up.

Lets look at some of the prophecies concerning Israel. These are the ones currently being fulfilled

The Bible says that the Jews will be gathered from the four corners of the earth
Isaiah 11:11-12

The state of Israel will be established. In 1948 Israel became a nation. Isaiah 66:7,8 & Ezekiel 37:21-22

The city of Jerusalem will be occupied by Jew's  Zechariah 8:4-8

Reclamation of the land which was desolate will again experience abundance Ezekiel 36:34-35

Restoration of the Hebrew language Zephaniah 3:9

All the nations of the world want to control it. Zechariah 12:1-3

In the very near future the surrounding nations will come against Israel to annihilate it. In Ezekiel 38:1-17 it says that a Russian coalition with surrounding Arab nations will descend like a cloud over Israel. They are going to attempt to solve the problem of the Jews  once and for all.
As Christians we should be very encouraged by the fulfilment of these prophecies. God has also made prophecies concerning the church. As we see the fulfilment of what God has promised Israel, we can be sure that his prophetic word will always come to pass

We have been promised that very soon Jesus will come for his church in the Rapture. The trumpet will sound and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive on the earth will be taken up to meet the lord in clouds. 1 Thessalonians  4:13-18. it is here in heaven that we will celebrate the marriage supper of the lamb. Revelation 19:7-9
Then after seven years of tribulation, we will return with our Lord Jesus, to rule and reign with him for a thousand years .Revelation 20:1-6
It is then that we will experience a new heaven and a new earth coming down from heaven. where we will live and reign with Jesus forever and ever.
We are living in very exciting times