Israel and Prophecy
Amir Tsarfati, Part 2—Israel’s Rebirth and Christ’s Soon Return
By Christmas Beeler
Photos by Nathan Deck and Billy DiMirra
International speaker and founder of Behold Israel, Amir Tsarfati, teaches about the importance of Israel in Bible prophecy—especially as it relates to the End Times, when Christ will return. This summer, he shared at multiple Calvary Chapels and other churches across the U.S. and spoke with Calvary Chapel Magazine.
“We are the most blessed generation,” Amir said, “watching more prophecies being fulfilled than ever before: The return of the Jews to Israel, the re-establishment of Jerusalem, the marvelous turn of Israel from almost being annihilated in 1948, to become the 8th superpower of the world. The technology, the advancements. We call it: ‘The miracle that is called Israel.’”
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Amir Tsarfati teaches in front of a packed-out crowd at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel in Colorado Springs, CO.
Miraculous Rebirth of a Nation
This miraculous rebirth began on May 14, 1948 when Israel declared itself an independent state. At that time, the population of the country was roughly 800,000 people; today, it is more than 9 million.
“And they are still coming,” Amir celebrated, reading a recent news headline: “The past decade saw a quarter million immigrants to Israel from 150 different countries.” More than 60,000 have come from Russia alone, and about half of that from the U.S., according to reports.
Christians and Jews may view Israel’s rebirth as a divine miracle, prophesied in the Old Testament. As Amir’s testimony states: “There is no other country on earth that was driven from its ancient homeland only to return nearly 2,000 years later. From the diaspora beginning in 70 AD to the restoration beginning in the early 1900s, the Jews were dispersed among the nations of the world.”
CC East Anaheim, CA, Pastor Bob Kopeny (right) prays with Amir before he shares at the service.
He added, “I am from the old school that believes Psalm 83 was fulfilled in the 1948 war of independence when Israel was almost annihilated.” In that psalm, the enemies of Israel joined forces: They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (verse 4). And the people prayed that God would strike down their enemies for His name’s sake: That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth (verse 18).
Amir emphasized, “The return of the Jews to their nation (aliyah) cannot be explained in human terms or logic—but it can be explained in light of Bible prophecy.”
Amir commented, “We are no longer on the verge of annihilation by our first-tier enemies that share a border with us, such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt (two of which have peace with us); now, we are on the verge of Ezekiel 38, where second-tier nations like Russia, Turkey, and Iran will want to come and invade and steal from us because we are already prosperous.” From these prophecies, the believer understands that “Israel had to turn from being a persecuted, weak nation to a strong, prosperous one.”
Amir Tsarfati enjoys talking with well-wishers at a recent speaking event at Calvary Chapel East Anaheim. Amir is a born-again Jew, Bible prophecy teacher, and founder of Behold Israel ministries.
A Sign to Gentiles and Jews
At one Calvary, Amir explained how Ezekiel 36 paints the prophetic picture of how the Lord would scatter Israel, regather it, abundantly bless it, and cause His name to be glorified among the Gentile nations:
“For their idols…I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries… And I will sanctify My great name…For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. … I will put My Spirit within you… Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:18-36
Many people waited to speak one-on-one with Amir in East Anaheim.
This regathering of Israel is a sign to other nations that God is the one true God. “The creator of heaven and earth is looking at a sinful rebellious nation that He chose. …He is saying, I have a plan for you but it is not about you. It’s about My Name, and about the nations. I want them to see that I am the Lord,” Amir expounded. “Imagine—God loves you so much that He brought my grandparents back to the land of Israel so that you will see that He is God, and He is in the business of fulfilling His promises.”
“And the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” Ezekiel 36:23b
In Ezekiel 37, this regathering is also a sign to the Jews themselves: Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.” (verse 12). He is among many born-again Jews who see this regathering as a sign of God’s faithfulness and also as a harbinger of Christ’s soon return.
In fact, he emphasized, “The return of the Jews to their land is the most important sign of the End Times.”
Amir listens intently as he discusses prophecy with a young man at Calvary Chapel East Anaheim.
Signs of the End Times
The regathering of Israel and its prosperity had to happen before many other End Times events could unfold. Amir explained, “We have begun a new era. A whole host of Bible prophecies are being fulfilled one after the other. Amazing Bible prophecies.”
“We are watching how subtly Damascus is becoming a city which the whole world is watching. Isaiah 17 says that the city has to be destroyed in the eyes of the world,” Amir noted. “We are seeing global developments setting the stage for the antichrist. He will somehow have to be related to Israel, since Daniel said that he would bring peace to Israel. He would set the abomination of desolation in the midst of the temple—so we know there must be a temple standing in Jerusalem.”
Amir Tsarfati (front left) and Pastor Bob Kopeny (front right) of CC East Anaheim engage in a deep discussion at Bob’s church. Pastor Bob and Amir have been friends for many years; they first met in Israel, when Amir led church groups that Bob brought to Israel from CC East Anaheim.
Jesus spoke of these things, that the Jews will have to endure the Great Tribulation, Amir cited:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. …For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:15a, 16, 21
Aware of the Times
Amir also explained that Jesus’ teaching about the fig tree was a prophecy about the nation of Israel. The disciples had asked Jesus about when the End Times would come.
CC East Anaheim Pastor Bob Kopeny and Amir enjoy an enthusiastic exchange of Bible prophecy.
Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Matthew 24:32-34
“The fig tree is Israel,” he said. “People miss out on the fact that the birth of the fig tree is the sign of the last generation, the generation that shall not pass away.” Those Jews who were born or alive in 1948 are among this last generation, those who have been brought back to Israel.
Amir quoted from Psalm 126 about the Jews’ joyous return to Zion, or Israel:
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
Psalm 126:1-2
Amir signs a book for a woman at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel.
“As we watch these amazing prophecies taking place in our time,” Amir said, “we are not the dreamers or ones falling asleep. We are awake, watching. We live in the time and season in which these things are happening.” Amir added that, for many of the Jews who are coming back to Israel: “We understand that the Tribulation is the only thing that will lead them to salvation. Until then, we want to reach out to them and bless them, to share the Good News that the Messiah Jesus has come, and He is the only way to salvation.”
In these historic times, he said, “We are excited about what the Lord is going to do next. And we can be sure that Jesus is coming soon!”
Even children were eager to meet Amir in Colorado Springs. Here, a woman and two children enjoy talking to Amir.
The Church Responds
After Amir shared this message at his church, Calvary Chapel San Juan Capistrano, CA, Pastor John Randall encouraged his church to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6a).
“As a church, we feel we are living in the midst of [biblical prophecy]. It has been on our hearts to pray for revival. We need to be a light in this world. We are asking God to continue to pour out His Spirit and bring revival before Jesus comes. And we believe that His return is ‘near—at the doors’ (Matt. 24:33b).”
John also cited Titus 2:13: Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, “As Paul said, we are not asleep, but aware and awake—looking for the blessed hope and appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. The church is reviving and awakening. God has used this last year to open our eyes to reality; we need to be awake and ready for His coming.”
The line of people waiting for Amir to sign their books at CC Anaheim goes out the front door.
All verses above are quoted from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
© 2020 Calvary Chapel Magazine. All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.