©January 31, 2014 Revive Israel Ministries

The Holocaust and the 70 Year Prophecy

By Asher Intrater and Ariel Blumenthal

This week marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Europe and the 69th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. Members of the Israel government assembled at the gates of the Auschwitz camp. Recently, new documents have been found from Nazi commander Himmler, uncovering new insights of the horrid events of those days.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote of a 70-year punishment and exile on the people of Israel, which is dated from 586 BC and the destruction of the first Temple (Jeremiah 25).  Years later, Daniel read Jeremiah's prophecy and realized that the 70 years were soon to be fulfilled, and thus committed himself to extended prayer and fasting in order to see God’s word come to pass (Daniel 9:2). He then received from the angel Gabriel an additional prophecy concerning the 70 years.

In this new prophecy the pattern of the 70 years (70 “weeks” of years) was extended into the future to a new dimension concerning the coming of Messiah and the End Times (Daniel 9:24).  Daniel saw a clear connection between the 70 years of Jeremiah's prophecy and the 70 weeks of years in his own.  Jeremiah's prophecy was more historic and immediate, while Daniel's was futuristic and Messianic. 

The 70 years of both Jeremiah and Daniel represent a spiritual pattern for us even today.  The 70th year marks the end of a biblical period, particularly of national judgment. The Ten Commandments state that the effects of the sin of one generation will be experienced until the 3rd and 4th generations—also approximately 70 years (Exodus 20:5).  This 70 year period is coming to an end as regarding the Holocaust.  The last of the Holocaust survivors are gradually passing away and the direct psychological influence on their grandchildren and great-grandchildren is passing away with them. This spiritual change has both positive and negative effects. 

We believe that in the coming year, the 70th after the end of the Holocaust, there will be a shift of paradigm in God’s dealings with Israel and the nations, particularly Europe. (There will be a parallel shift in East Asia concerning the relationship of Japan to the surrounding nations.)  May we be like Daniel, setting our hearts to fast and pray concerning this new season; and may the Lord grant that we too receive insight for the end times--for a new period of restoration and revival as it was in the days of Zerubbabel. 

By Anja A.

God is so vast, that He could not put all of His glory and goodness in one person alone (outside of Yeshua). So, as He created us in His image, He chose to put a little bit of Himself into each individual and into each people group. As we reach out to know Him deeper and deeper, we should look out to those around us to seek out God in them. If, on the other hand, we encounter them with prejudice, we will not be able to see God in them, and we will miss out on parts of God's nature and character. Let's seek the image and qualities of God in those around us!

By Roni Rejuwan

In Acts 16 we read of Paul and Silas being thrown in prison in Philippi after commanding a demon to come out of a slave girl. We know from 2 Corinthians 11:23 that Paul was in prison many times.  I am sure that it was not only this time in the Philippian prison that the Apostle gave himself to whole hearted praise and thanksgiving.  It was from this same prison that he wrote these immortal words: 

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

When Paul and Silas sang praises at midnight, the prison walls and chains were broken open by a divinely caused earthquake.  It is interesting that though Paul was imprisoned many times, this one time alone it is recorded that God delivered him in such a supernatural way.  It seems that this was Paul's first time in prison.  Perhaps there was special grace for this new situation. 

Like Paul, though our circumstances may not change immediately or at all, we are to rejoice. As we praise Him, His presence is always close at hand.