Greater Israel - Removing The Fog of Religion

Go to content

Greater Israel

PROPHECY > Israel's Future
Greater ISRAEL'S Future
Putting things Back into Perspective

by Your servant, Dan L Baxley
Modern Israel a Scary Future

(Gen 15:18) On that day the YHWH made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates-- NIV

(Gen 15:18)  In the same day YaHWeH made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: KJV

Sounds great for Israel, right?  But not so great for everyone else that lives in that region of the World, right?  But wait a minute, this verse says "To your descendants I (YaHWeH) give this land...".  Of course, everyone recognizes the people of Israel/Jews are descendants of Abraham.  I went along with this teaching about a Greater Israel for many years, and not really giving it too much thought -- Israel, the chosen people, would rule, right?  I wrote up a study built around that premise, but then one day, literally, one day it hit me that this verse does not say, Israel only.  I had read enough of my Bible to know that Abraham had more than one son.  Ishmael, to start with, but there were others as well.  

But wait, let's quote the rest of what YaHWeH told Abraham --

(Gen 15:19)  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
(Gen 15:20)  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
(Gen 15:21)  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

None of these nations or people exist today.  The land those people had possession of was taken from them and given to the descendants fo Abraham, and those descendants were not just Israel and Judah.  All of the people living in the Middle East, between the two rivers, are all decendants of Abraham and related to the people of Israel.  In fact, by the process of conquest many of the peoples mentioned, were assimilated into the conquering people, that would be, Ishmael, Esau, Iseael, and Judah.  For the most part, however, those people no longer exist other than in the mix blood of those displacing them.  

It turns out, that Abraham has many other descendants, as well, people that are not from Jacob, the one Patriarch from whom all of the children of Israel/Judah have their origin -- actually direct connect back to Isaac (Rom 9:7 -- the seed of Israel was to be calculated through Isaac, not Abarham).  Jacob, was a child of Isaac, and Isaac was the only son of Abraham?  No, he was the only son of Sarah, Abraham had other sons, other descendants.  One of those descendants is mentioned in many Bible Stories.  Abraham had a son by Hagar, the handmaiden (servant girl) of Sarah, Abraham's wife.  You can read all about it in Genesis chapter 16.  We will cover a couple of high points as we clear up this business of the Greater Israel teaching that it is only Israelis who will inherit the land between the two great Rivers of the Middle East.

The Covenant with Abraham was intended to be much greater than just bound up with one people, one nation.  There is more to this Promise, ending with the fulfillment found in YaHshua our Savior, but the physical fulfillment in an more immediate witness, with other verses taken in context, there is a physical reality among the people that live in and around the land of Palestine, the land of Isarel, Arabia, and others between the Two Rivers.  

(Gen 22:17-18)  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of His enemies; And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because You (Abraham) has obeyed My voice.

New Covenant Record:
(Galatians 3:16)  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
(Gal 3:17)  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ,  the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
(Gal 3:18)  For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

the Covenant of the PROMISE with Abraham is not the same Covenant that came 430 years AFTER.  Two different Covenants, the one is tied back to the Covenant of Promise made with Abraham, while the other is through Isaac to Israel.

Abraham Takes Another Wife

(Gen 25:1)  Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
(Gen 25:2)  And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
(Gen 25:3)  And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
(Gen 25:4)  And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
(Gen 25:5)  And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
(Gen 25:6)  But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Abraham has more descendants from another wife.  Keturah gave him six sons and these sons he gave gifts, their inheritance, and sent them away to the East.  There is a question about the sons of the concubine in verse 6.  Keturah was a wife, not a concubine.  Concubine were not wives and had no legal rights within a family.  The assumption is that itis the sons of Keturah that is meant, however, notice that the word is conubines, plural, for more than one.  If this is the view, then what happened to the sons of Ketonuria?  We are told that Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.  Poor Keturah.  I am thinking that there is much more to this.  The point of this study, however, is to demonstrate that the Land of Israel is the land of Israel, and the Greater Israel, as some want to call it, contains more than the people of Israel and it always has.  Ishmael was part of the Circumcision covenant, and was given a blessing from YaHWeH.    
Ishmael
As it turns out, Ishmael is the older brother to Isaac.  The family battle that began back then continues to this day.  Many people we know as the Arab people are descendants of Ishmael who is a direct descendant from Abraham and Sarah.  Ismael was not some small, dwindling tribe that just evaporated into the sand of time.  Ishmael is part of the Covenant of Circumcision, this is undeniable -- they too are children of the circumcision.  So why are they trying to kill each other?  It is all about the land, the inheritance, but the fight is over a physical inheritance.  

(Gen 17:25)  And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
(Gen 17:26)  In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

(Gen 16:11-13) And the Angel of YaHWeH said unto her, Behold, thou are with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael; because YaHWeH has heard your affliction.   And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the name of YaHWeH that spoke unto her, You God see me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that sees me?

(Gen 17:20)  And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
(Gen 17:21)  But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Hagar is visited by and Angel of YaHWeH and given a name to name her son.  Ishmael is the father of the Arab people, even related to Egypt, as his mother was an Egyptian, and related to Israel, because, of course, his father was Abraham, and Isaac, Ishmael's half brother became the father of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, the Patriarch of the Twelve sons who became the nation Israel, later become a division themselves into Israel and Judah, one to the Northern region and the other to the Southern region.  Esau, a twin brother to Jacob, also became a people, living between the Rivers.  Esau, also a descendant of Abraham.  We have, then, three main fathers coming out of Abraham as descendants, Ishmael, Jacob, and Esua.  Ishmael would have been Jacob and Esua uncle.  

It is interesting that the people coming out of Ishmael would be recognized as 12 Tribes or nations, just as the children of Israel were recognized as 12 Tribes, becoming 12 nations as well.  We see this listed as the generations of Ishmael.

(Gen 25:12-17)  Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:  And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

There is no argument that it is the people of Israel that are the chosen of YaHWeH at least from the Writings of Moses and all of the Scriptures, both Hebrew and Christian.  What transpired among the peoples of the region, between the people descendant from Abraham and Israel and the descendants from Abraham and Ishmael would develop into a family fued over the inheritance YaHWeH offered to Israel, as a direct descendant of Abraham and Sarah.  Through Sarah would come the promised Savior, not through Hagar and not through Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, either, because Esau willingly gave up his claim to the inheritance.   This all developed and still works among those living between the Two Great Rivers toward attempts to get rid of those to whom the inheritance is to pass.  This plot to rid the land of the rightful owners was in play back then as it is now -- plotting to get rid of the children of Isarel.

Here is a prayer calling for a curse to come upon those who plot to get rid of YaHWeH's people.  In this prayer request we are given the names of the people joining in a plot to rid the Earth of those YaHWeH has chosen for Himself.  By their actions, then and today, they chose to hate YaHWeH in their mad jealousy.

(Psa 83:2)  For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
(Psa 83:3)  They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted against Your hidden ones.
(Psa 83:4)  They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
(Psa 83:5)  For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
(Psa 83:6)  The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
(Psa 83:7)  Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
(Psa 83:8)  Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
(Psa 83:9)  Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
(Psa 83:10)  Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
(Psa 83:11)  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
(Psa 83:12)  Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

 Isaac, is the only son of Sarah but not the only son of Abraham.  Of course, the family situation and the events surrounding what happened so long ago, between Sarah and Hagar and their two boys is used by the Apostle Paul as an object lesson concerning the Old and the New Covenants.  

This needs repeating:
(Gal 3:16) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
(Gal 3:17) What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
(Gal 3:18) For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
(Gal 3:19) What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.
(Gal 3:20) A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
(Gal 3:21) Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.


Israel's New Future
Everywhere you read LORD in capital letters you should read, YHWH – YaHWeH – restore His Name – YaHWeH is the English transliteration of His Name, the title “LORD” is not.  This first verse in Isaiah demonstrates the double play in the name substitution game – GOD for YHWH and LORD for YHWH.   Keep this in mind as you read Isaiah – Isa YaH, means YaH saves.  
(Isaiah 61:1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD (YHWH) is upon me; because the LORD (YHWH) has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
(Isa 61:2) To proclaim the acceptable year of YHWH, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
(Isa 61:3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of YHWH, that he might be glorified.
(Isa 61:4) And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
(Isa 61:5) And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
(Isa 61:6) But you shall be named the Priests of YHWH: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves.
(Isa 61:7) For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
(Isa 61:8) For I YHWH love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
(Isa 61:9) And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YHWH hath blessed.
(Isa 61:10) I will greatly rejoice in YHWH, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
(Isa 61:11) For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord YHWH will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
The people of Israel have much to go through, still. Modern Israel is a small precursor of what is to eventually come, but Modern Israel is not the fulfillment, as some teach, of the blessing of YHWH. This proclamation from the inspired Isaiah is not about the Christian Church either; it is about Israel, the seed of Israel, and a New Covenant being made with them. Read this chapter a couple of times and you will see the truth of a future Israel.
Here is Isaiah 61 from a modern translation (NIV) for those troubled by the KJV Old English --  
(Isa 61:1-11) The Spirit of the Sovereign YHWH is on me, because YHWH has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of YHWH for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of YHWH; you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
For I, YHWH, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
I delight greatly in YHWH; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign YHWH will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Israel has a bright future but first they must still suffer and continue refinement. Today Israel is 90% sectarian and 10%, approximately, of any kind of religious belief. This is an incredible situation for a people responsible for much of the writings and records of the One True God around which the Christian faith is built. The Hebrew Scriptures told of the coming of our Savior, YaHshua, around whom the New Testament books were written and inspired. It is absolutely incredible that Modern Israel is so lacking in accepting their identity as the people of YHWH, but this is going to change and it is not going to be an easy path.

Modern Israel is not the fulfillment but a speck of what it is destined to be. The God of the Holy Bible, the Father of the People of Israel will one day, under a new Covenant, call their God Husband, but first Modern Israel is going to pass, again, through the fire. They will be forced to wake up and realize their only salvation is in the one to come and at their lowest point YHWH will hear their cries and repentance and He will give them a heart of flesh, breaking their hearts of stone. That’s right; the people of Israel are hard hearted, hearts and minds of stone. Did you know that many of the Seeds of Abraham are atheists? It is true some of the most famous atheists are or were born Jewish. Karl Marx, father of communism, born a Jew is one of the most visible examples. The list is endless and while the world hears about the religious Jew, they are the minority.

Israel is going to be brought to their knees again, for a final time, but their end will be greater than all of their beginnings as they will become the pride of YaHWeH/YaHshua and the world will seek them out to learn about their God. They will be honored by the Gentiles and Nations of the future as opposed to being hated and blamed for the world’s problems of today. The Jewish solution is a restoring of the People of the Living God to leadership among the Nations as the people of YHWH. Israel is going to enjoy a resurrection of the flesh and King David is going to rule over them – they are going to get the SECOND CHANCE – Not for their sake but for the sake of YHWH, YaHshua, and our Heavenly Father as their words and promises are true even if ours or Israel’s are not.

Israel has a wonderful future and will take their place at the head of the Nations, at the head of the table as the people the rest of the world should and will look to as representatives of the Creator God and will readily accept Him as their Savior YaHshua. David will be restored to his physical throne as a resurrected being, along with all of Israel. YaHshua will be recognized as King of Kings and He will essentially rule the world aided by His chosen Saints. The Saints of the Resurrection will be of the Spirit, not of the flesh; these are those having received eternal life at the appearance of our Lord YaHshua. It is these that will rule, by His permission, alongside the King of Kings, helping flesh and blood man come to the truth and knowledge of the way to salvation, through and by YaHshua. Yes, even in the coming Kingdom of a thousand years, acceptance or rejection of YaHshua will still be voluntary, the difference, however, will be the absence of Satan and His evil Angels influences.

For more on this subject check out the following links:
Israel Resurrected
Israel, Wake Up! 09-01-2010
Back to content