Happy 60th Israel

On May 14, 2008 Israel will be 60 years old. I want to take this opportunity to tell you a little about Israels history.
The Israelites or Jewish people can trace their origin back to Abraham. Abraham, his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, also known as Israel, are the patriarchs of the Israelites. All of them lived in the land, (Israel), that God gave to them. God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation, (Gen. 12:2).
God changed Jacobs name to Israel. He had twelve sons that became the twelve tribes of Israel and the beginning of a great nation. Jacobs next to the youngest son, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, who were very jealous of him. Joseph ended up in Egypt and after 13 years of slavery he became second in command next to Pharaoh.
A great famine came and eventually Jacob and his sons and their children went to Egypt to live in the land of Goshen, (Gen. 46:34). There Joseph provided everything they needed. Eventually Joseph died and the Israelites had multiplied and became a great people. The Egyptians started dealing horribly with the Israelites and turned them into slaves.
After 400 years of slavery God sent Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and back to the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Through many miracles God brought the people out of Egypt.
Soon after the Exodus, Moses under God's command gave to the people of Israel the ten commandments and the Torah. After 40 years in the Sinai desert Joshua that led them into the promised land.
Then came the time of the Kings. Saul was the very first king. But, due to disobedience the kingdom was given to David. King David, the line in which our Lord Jesus Christ comes from, made Jerusalem the capitol of Israel. Solomon, his son built the first temple during his reign as King.
Shortly after Solomon's death Israel became divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah.
from 722-720BC - Assyria attacked Israel and ten tribes exiled. (the ten lost tribes)
In 586BC the Babylonians (modern day Iraq), conquered Judah destroying the first temple and Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish people were exiled.
Under the Persian rule Israel was allowed to run their own state.
538BC-142BC-Persian and Hellenistic periods
538BC-515BC-Many Jews return from Babylonia; Temple rebuilt.
332BC-Land conquered by Alexander the Great; Hellenistic rule.
166BC-160BC-Maccabean (Hasmonean) revolt against restrictions on practice of Judaism and desecration of the Temple
142BC-129BC-Jewish autonomy under Hasmoneans.
129BC-63BC-Jewish independence under Hasmonean monarchy.
63BC-Jerusalem captured by Roman general, Pompey.
63-4 BC-Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel;Temple in Jerusalem refurbished
20-33-Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth
66-Jewish revolt against the Romans
70-Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple.
73-Last stand of Jews at Masada.
132-135-Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome.
210-Codification of Jewish oral law (Mishna) completed.
313-636 - Byzantine rule
636-1099 - Arab rule
1099-1291-Crusader domination
1291-1516 -Mamluk rule
1517-1917-Ottoman rule
1918-1948-British rule

STATE OF ISRAEL
In 1948 on May 14Th, Israel became an independent nation again after more then 2000 years scattered throughout the world. This was a miracle of God. Having been brought to the brink of extinction by the horrors of the Holocaust, facing persecution around the world, and surrounded by their enemies, the Jewish people gathered together in Israel and declared themselves a nation in a single day. The United States recognized Israel as a nation on that same day, and Israel’s victories in the wars since have solidified their place among the nations of the world. Isa. 66:8-9.

Long ago the Bible predicted these events would transpire in the last days:
1) The gathering of the Jews into their homeland
2) The rebirth of Israel in a single day
3) The rebirth of Israel in the year 1948
4) Israel’s possession of Jerusalem
5) The nations of the earth aligned against Israel
6) The war of Gog / Magog
7) The rebuilding of the Jewish Temple

Five of these seven prophetic events have already been fulfilled, and the final two are certain to follow.

Those who study the Word of God recognize the restoration of Israel as the primary sign of the end of the age. Jesus promised the generation that witnessed this event would also witness His return. Matthew 24:34.
Israel is 60 years old. How long is a generation? Is it 60 years? Jesus said no one would know the day or hour, but we would know the season. It all started when Israel became a nation again. I'm not saying the rapture is coming this year, "no man knows the day or hour of the return of Jesus." I'm saying all the signs are here. Look up for our redemption draws nigh! Praise God! Even so come Lord Jesus!
Take a few minutes to wish Israel a Happy 60th. Thank you and God bless you.