Zola Levitt: Gary Fisher on Ezekiel 38-40 – Israel’s Future in Bible Prophecy

Gary Fisher & Dr. Todd Baker (Pre-Trib Conference 2013)

What does the Bible say about Israel’s past, present, and future? At the 2013 Pre-Trib Conference in Dallas, Dr. Todd Baker (Zola Levitt Ministries) interviews Gary Fisher (Lion of Judah Ministries) about Ezekiel chapters 33–40 and God’s prophetic plan for Israel.

In this discussion, you’ll learn:

• How Ezekiel 33–40 outlines Israel’s future from dispersion to the Millennial Kingdom
• Why Israel’s modern rebirth is the greatest prophetic sign since Jesus’ first coming
• The meaning of Romans 9, 10, and 11 (Israel’s past, present, and future)
• The “partial hardening” of Israel (Romans 11:25) and the promise of national salvation
• The rise of the Messianic Jewish movement and signs of revival in Israel today
• How prophecy points to the coming theocracy when Jesus returns as King (Zechariah 14:9)
• Fulfillment of Ezekiel 36—from desolate land to one of the world’s top food exporters
• The prophetic timeline: dispersion (Ezekiel 33–34), conflict (Ezekiel 35–39), restoration and Messiah’s reign (Ezekiel 40 onward)

Key Scriptures referenced: Deuteronomy 28–30; Romans 9–11; Ezekiel 33–40; Zechariah 14; Isaiah 2

Learn more about Gary Fisher’s ministry: lionofjudahministry.org

#Israel #BibleProphecy #Ezekiel #Messiah #EndTimes #PreTrib #Romans11 #LionOfJudah #ZolaLevitt #Prophecy

Gary Fisher on Ezekiel 38-40 – Israel’s Future

Dr. Todd Baker (Zola Levitt Ministries): I had the chance to talk with Gary Fisher, and I really enjoyed how he’s strung together Ezekiel chapters 33 through 40. In those chapters, you have a chronologically laid-out view of Israel’s future—from modern day to the Second Coming. I think you’ll enjoy it as well.

We’re here at the 2013 Pre-Trib Conference in Dallas, Texas, and I’m with Gary Fisher of Lion of Judah Ministries. Gary, good to see you again. I know you were on Zola Levitt a couple of years back, and today’s theme—the theme of the conference—is “God’s Plan for Israel.” That’s right down your alley. Why is Israel important to the Church, and why should the believer pay close attention to Israel?

Gary Fisher (Lion of Judah Ministries): All of history’s destiny is wrapped up in the future of Israel. The Bible makes it very plain that all things are headed toward the redemption of Israel. Israel lived outside her country in exile for about 1,900 years, but the Bible says that in the end days the world’s focus will return to Israel. All the blessing God has available will be wrapped up in their glorification and reunification—Israel re-established back in the land.

God is now restoring them, and they will assume all the blessings of God and become the head of the nations, as God intended for them as a nation to begin with. Their being in the land, as we recognize today, is a sign that God is moving and is about to do all the promises He made to the Jewish people, funneling His blessing through them to the world.

Dr. Baker: He certainly did that with the Scriptures and the Messiah. Israel’s past, present, and future are clearly laid out in the Bible—in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy chapters 28 through 30, and in the New Testament, Romans 9 through 11. Can you give us an overview of what’s going on in those two places in Scripture?

Gary Fisher: Romans is an echo of God’s Old Testament promises. I like to think of it this way: Romans 9—Israel’s past; Romans 10—Israel’s present; Romans 11—Israel’s future. Romans 11:25 says a partial hardening has happened to Israel. I’m glad the word “partial” is used; if it were full, we wouldn’t have Peter, James, John, or any of the other writers of the New or Old Testament Scriptures. A partial hardening has happened, and we see it throughout history.

But something is about to break loose. Romans 11:25 also says that a partial hardening has happened “until”—and I love that word “until”—the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, and then all Israel will be saved. What other group of people has been promised that? What better circumstances could there be than the ones God describes after that?

Right now, God is starting to move that partial hardening away. We’ve seen the birth of the modern Messianic movement at the turn of the 1900s. Today there are over a hundred Messianic congregations in Israel alone—something like 500 worldwide. Jewish people are starting to understand that Yeshua was and is the Messiah. I love the way John the Apostle put it: He was, He is, and He is to come.

Dr. Baker: You’re so right. As you know, I carry out gospel outreaches in Israel three or four times a year, and I’d say eight out of ten Israelis we witness to are very open to the gospel of Jesus and receiving the New Testament with the Old Testament in Hebrew. We tell them that the New Testament completes the Old Testament with the Messianic prophecies.

Gary Fisher: The greatest sign that God is about to send the Messiah is the restoration of Israel. Ezekiel 36 says, “I will take you from the countries where you’ve been scattered; I will bring you into—not somebody else’s land—but into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you’ll be clean.” God “invented,” if you will, the Jewish nation to teach the world what it’s like to know a personal God—that was their original calling, to be priests to the nations.

God has gathered the Jewish people back in the Land of Israel as a sign that He’s putting that plan back into place. The Jewish people are going to call on Him; they’re going to say, Baruch haba b’shem Adonai—“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”—which brings His physical return. He is going to come with all the power in the universe, and blessing will follow. We’ve been operating under a curse since the Garden of Eden, but Zechariah 14 says that in that day the curse will be lifted and all the power in the universe will be turned into blessing. The Jewish people are front and center in that plan. Their being in the land today is a sign that God is about to install that plan. I cannot wait.

Dr. Baker: It’s an indisputable sign. Yet some denominations want to divest from Israel and deny that modern-day Israel fulfills prophecy—even though it so clearly does. To deny that is the height of blindness.

Gary Fisher: Another thing worth mentioning is that what this world needs is a King. We’ve got Democrats, Republicans, socialists, communists—every political idea you can dream up. Have we ever tried a theocracy? We’re getting ready to enjoy a theocracy. Jesus is coming, and according to Zechariah 14:9, He will be King over the whole earth. And guess what? He is a Jewish Rabbi. We’re going to have a Jewish Rabbi as King over the whole earth. The Bible will be the Constitution. The whole world will start the day with Bible study, with Yeshua teaching from Jerusalem. I cannot wait, brother.

Dr. Baker: Absolutely—Isaiah 2: “The law will go forth from Jerusalem.” It will be a universal, global law. There’ll be no Supreme Court to say, “You can’t bring the Scriptures into the public arena.”

Gary Fisher: Amen. When that Baruch haba b’shem Adonai statement is made, all the cursing in the universe will break off the earth, and blessing will flow. The curse will be lifted. It will be like a renewed Garden of Eden all over again when Messiah reigns on earth. That’d be good with me! I see it logically—brother, I’ll skip the Rapture and the Tribulation—just get me the King in here! What the world needs is a King. Amen.

Dr. Baker: So true. For the last 2,000 years, the re-establishment of Israel has to be the greatest fulfillment of prophecy since Jesus’ first coming. Wouldn’t you agree?

Gary Fisher: Absolutely. Ezekiel 33 talks about the dispersion of the Jewish people from the land of Israel—seemingly, all hope was gone. God says in Ezekiel 34, “I’m going to bring you back to the land. I’m not going to leave you dispersed.” Ezekiel 35 says the Arabs are mad about the Jewish people being back in the land. But Ezekiel 36 says, “I’m going to bless the land. I’m going to bring tourists and passers-by, and they’re going to say, ‘This land has become like the Garden of Eden.’”

Mark Twain went to Israel in 1867—reflecting back on Ezekiel 33. God said He would take a desolate land. In 1867, Mark Twain wrote in Innocents Abroad that the place was “totally desolate,” “devoid of life.” He even wrote that there were perhaps more rocks in the approach to Jerusalem than in the surrounding countryside.

Today, Israel is one of the few food-exporting countries in the world. In just over 100 years since Mark Twain, they’ve transformed it. Every year they’re breaking export records. That is Ezekiel 36 literally coming to pass. Then Ezekiel 37—the valley of dry bones—the average Jewish person is not in belief in God, but that’s getting ready to change. Ezekiel 38—the great war of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel 39—a further description of that war. And Ezekiel 40—breaks forth in glory: the return to Zion, the Millennial King, and the Millennial Kingdom in which He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Dr. Baker: Gary, it’s been great talking with you. How can our audience learn more about your ministry?

Gary Fisher: Our website is lionofjudahministry.org. The ministry operates out of Franklin, Tennessee. Telephone number: 615-591-8036. I circulate a newsletter called The Trumpeter. Anyone is welcome to call and get on that mailing list if they choose—lionofjudahministry.org.

Dr. Baker: Thank you, brother. I’ve enjoyed talking with you.

Gary Fisher: Same here. God bless you.