When compared on a modern day map, the vision given to Ezekiel and the territory given to Moses as quoted earlier are almost identical. And so, we see that God has not deviated from the original territory given to the children of Israel, in that He has prophesied that Israel will once again possess that self-same territory. Currently, modern day Israel occupies most of the territory as recorded in Ezekiel’s vision, except for the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, half of current day Lebanon, and the south-western part of current day Syria. Those four territories are still to be added to the state of Israel as it exists today. It may seem impossible now, but nevertheless those territories will be added to the state of Israel, for God said they would be. In the past, Israel has added to her territory through wars she has fought. For example, the 1967 six-day war added the so-called occupied territories, which included the Golan Heights and the city of Jerusalem. It is significant to note that recently the USA has officially recognised the Golan Heights as being a part of Israel. It must be mentioned however, that in the past when Israel added to her territory through wars fought, those wars were always wars of self-defence, i.e. when she was invaded by those who would try to annihilate the state of Israel. And so, it is entirely possible that another war will be fought in the Middle East, the outcome of which will see all four of the territories mentioned, being added to the state of Israel. Nevertheless, this will be a war of self-defence for the state of Israel. It is interesting to note, that the previous Israeli Defence Minister, has gone on record to say that, “the next war will be fought on two fronts, with Hezbollah along Israel's northern border and Gaza in the south, regardless of where the initial conflict begins or what causes it”, and he went on to warn, that Israel’s next conflict with Lebanon, would also involve Syria. As we have already seen, it is precisely these territories that God still has to restore to the nation of Israel. And so, if the conflict finally erupts, God will work a miracle and deliver to Israel the four territories mentioned, for all Muslims living in those territories will evacuate those territories as a result of the conflict. Michael E.B. Maher
Comments