As you can probably tell by now in reading our posts, we know Israel plays a key role in God’s prophetic plan. Lately, I don’t think a day goes by without seeing something on Israel in the news. She is the epicenter of worldly events, and there is a good reason why – these are God’s Chosen People.

Our faith comes from this place called Israel because the gospel is a Jewish message, about a Jewish Messiah, given to Jewish disciples. Also, God worked through the Jewish people to give us the Ten Commandments – the basis of morality.

God’s reason for choosing the nation of Israel was not solely for the purpose of producing the Messiah. God’s desire for Israel was that they would go and teach others about Him. Israel was to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. God’s intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation who pointed others towards God and His promised provision of a Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior. For the most part, Israel failed in this task. However, God’s ultimate purpose for Israel—that of bringing the Messiah into the world—was fulfilled perfectly in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Most Biblical scholars and evangelicals will tell you, the prophetic events of Israel are the main reasons they know the Bible to be true. We believe that Israel, as she is constituted today, is a work of God in progress preparing the nation for the tribulation, which will lead to her national conversion, the second coming of Christ and His millennial reign.

“More wars have been fought on the gates of Jerusalem than any other city on the face of the earth. Jerusalem is the nerve center of the world geographically, the salvation center of the world spiritually, it is the storm center of the world prophetically, and it is the glory center of the world ultimately. Jerusalem is the city of the past, the present and the future.” ~ Greg Laurie

There is so much to expand on when it comes to Israel, that I wanted to first just give some foundational stats in this post where modern Israel sits today. I think it’s very interesting and I never realized how blessed they were (and are to us) until I started studying up on this myself. Just as God said they would be, after all they have endured.

Basics

• Israel is the one and only Jewish state in the world.
• The State of Israel is the youngest on the planet (only 67 years old).
• Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

Size

• Israel is only 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East.
• Israel is only about 290 miles in length and 85 miles in width at its widest point.
• Israel’s population is half the size of Metro New York City.
• Israel is roughly half the size of Lake Michigan.

Security

• Israel has fought seven wars since its establishment in 1948.
• Israel spends more money for security than any other country in the world.
• Israel has the fourth largest Air Force in the world (after the U.S., Russia and China).
• Israel is the only nation in the world with an operational anti-ballistic missile defense system to intercept and destroy rockets headed for population centers within Israel.

Nature

• Over 150 nature reserves and 65 national parks are established throughout the country covering some 400 square miles.
• Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees.
• The Dead Sea in Israel is the lowest point on earth, at 1,315 feet below sea level at its lowest point.
• The Sea of Galilee, at 695 ft. below sea level, is the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
• Over 500 million migrating birds, more than 230 species, fly in Israeli air space on annual migrations between Europe, western Asia and Africa.

Business

• Israel’s $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
• Apart from the US and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
• With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world (apart from the Silicon Valley).
• Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.
• The cell phone was developed in Israel by Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.
• Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
• Both the Pentium-4 and Centrino processors were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel.
• The first anti-virus software was developed in Israel in 1979.
• Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.
• Israel is the world’s largest wholesale diamond center; most cut & polished diamonds in the world come from Israel.
• Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as “conflict free.”
• Israeli bank notes have braille on them so the blind can identify them.

Society

• Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on Earth.
• Hebrew is the only case of a dead national language being revived in all of world history.
• 26 political parties participated in Israel’s 2015 elections.
• One-third of Israelis are volunteers.
• Israel publishes more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
• Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
• Israel has more in-vitro fertilization per capita than anywhere in the world, and it’s free.
• Israel is ranked first place in the world in the survival of cancer patients.
• The most independent and free Arabic press in the Middle East is in Israel.
• Israel receives more media coverage per capita than any other country in the world.
• Israel is the only country in the Middle East where women enjoy full political rights.
• Talking on a cellular phone while driving is against the law in Israel.
• All Israeli citizens, regardless of race, gender or religion, have the right to vote.
• Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.
• Israel has more orchestras per capita than any other nation in the world.

Education

• Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
• Israel has the highest number of scientists and technicians per capita in the world.
• Israel has the highest number of engineers per capita in the world.
• Israel has the highest number of PhD’s per capita in the world.
• Israel has the highest number of physicians per capita in the world.
• Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin -109 per 10,000 people.
• The Weizmann Institute of Science has been voted the best university in the world for science research.

Food

• Israel produces 93% of its own food requirements.
• Israelis, per capita, are the world’s biggest consumers of fruits and vegetables.
• Israeli cows produce more milk per cow than almost any country in the world.
• Cherry tomatoes were originally engineered in Israel in 1973.
• Breeding and raising pigs in Israel is illegal for Jews.
• The glue on Israeli stamps is kosher.

As you are reading this, there are over 120,000 missiles aimed directly at her borders. Iran has vowed to wipe her off the face of the planet. But, not to worry, because God won’t let that happen. That’s not how the story ends – this battle has already been won.

Keep your eye on Israel, pray for Israel, and a lot more to come.

Holding fast,

Lori

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. (Psalms 122:6)

^{Photography by Biegun Wschodni}