We live in a unique time in history. The words of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah and other prophets are literally coming to pass in our day. We are able to watch the unfolding of biblical prophecy today in a way that believers only 70 years ago did not have the privilege to see. One of the most dramatic examples of this is in Ezekiel 36. Ezekiel 36 is a prophecy, not to people or kings, but to the land of Israel. Ezekiel was told to speak "to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys" (Ezekiel 36:6); that it will put forth fruit, man and beast would be multiplied on it, and the waste cities will be rebuilt when His people Israel returns to the land. Since the time of Ezekiel, this land was conquered and re-conquered over 20 times. It never became a homeland for any other people, nor would the land produce for any other people group. Only 150 years ago, Mark Twain wrote about the fertile Jezreel valley: “There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent-not for thirty miles in either direction. There are two or three small clusters of Bedouin tents, but not a single permanent habitation. One may ride ten miles hereabouts and not see ten human beings…." ”Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes.... desolate and unlovely…” Today, in only 67 short years since her rebirth, Israel exports 1.5 billion flowers and vegetables to Europe and the US, most of which are grown in the desert. Vineyards are being replanted in Samaria and are winning awards. As of 2014, Israeli cows produce more milk per capita than anywhere else in the world. In what was once a small town on sand dunes, Tel Aviv has become the #1 tech start up location in the world in less than 70 years. The land is responding to Israeli sovereignty in the most dramatic way just as the prophets foretold.
This change has been visible on one of my favorite drives in Israel- driving south along the Jordan River from the Galilee region to the Dead Sea. 12 years ago, about 20 minutes after we would leave the rich and fertile farmland of the Galilee, the scenery would become dry, brown and dusty desert with small communities scattered along the way until you crested a ridge and saw the green and lush oasis of the ancient city of Jericho 90 minutes later. Today, in only 12 years, it’s a different landscape. Due to new Israeli desert farming technology, this same journey is virtually green with desert orchards, vast greenhouses and small farms. The desert is literally blooming and “filling the world with fruit” as the prophets said (Isaiah 27:6; 35:1). In the hopes that all can see it, I intend to provide photographic evidence of this dramatic change through a book project that we are trying to launch. “Ancient Prophecy, Modern Lens” will be a groundbreaking photo journalism book that will compare old pictures of the Holy Land taken between 1880-1940 to current pictures taken from the same angle. This book will reveal the miraculous changes in this region since the establishment of Israel in a way that has never been done before. The circulation of these old yet stunning black and white photos have been very limited, creating virtually unseen changes that will be revealed by our “then and now” photo comparisons; from the vast desert farms in the Negev desert, to booming coastal cities. See for yourself the literal fulfillment of the Hebrew prophets’ vision of ancient cities being rebuilt. To see some of the stunning pictures that we plan to recreate, find our project on Facebook here.
We have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money to shoot this project. But we need your help and support to get there! Kickstarter allows you to make a pledge for our various levels of backer rewards, but doesn't draw on those funds unless our goal is reached. Our rewards range from a “high 5” to a trip to Israel with me to personally show you these changes! This campaign is time sensitive and only has until December 8 to fund or else we will not get funded for this project! Please go to our campaign to view our short video, make your pledge and then share our link with your friends. Together, we can show the world thru photographs, that God keeps His word! Click here to view the short video, make your pledge today: http://kck.st/1kL2wIJ
Israel is Real,
Doug
"I'm Doug Hershey and welcome to the Ezra Blog. I am an author, conference speaker, musician and travel lover. I like Turkish coffee with baklava, motorcycles, darbukas, and campfires in the wilderness. I believe that in the last 50 years we have seen 2600 year old biblical prophecies come to pass, just as they were foretold.
In 2010, I wrote a book called 'The Christian's Biblical Guide to Understanding Israel.' Since then, I’ve been speaking in churches and synagogues around the United States about the importance of Israel in the Bible and in current events.
I travel to Israel regularly to introduce others to this amazingly unique country. There are simply too many Jewish and Arab needs in Israel to just empathetically view it from a tour bus window. There are too many exotic adventures available to simply dream and read about it in someone else’s blog… (except mine, of course)… It’s time to 'go' and to 'do.' I hope you’ll join me in this sacred and rugged land."