1948: The Hinge of History

Fulfilled prophesy is one of the ways we can be assured that the Word of God, which is the Holy Bible, is from God and that He's in control of all things. Moses set the quality bar for the prophets of Israel at perfection. If their prophesy’s weren't 100% accurate, they were to be killed. That may seem harsh to this generation but it made people think twice about deceiving the people with messages that were not from God.

The Bible is packed with prophecies, many of which have already been fulfilled. There are also many that have not yet come to pass because they’re about the days that will occur just before or during the tribulation. Because these prophecies all revolve around Israel being a nation in their own land, the remaining prophecies could not be fulfilled until Israel became a nation again. The prophets foretold Israel’s rebirth as a nation more than 2,500 years ago.

And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.
Ezekiel 37:22

I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. 
I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,”
Says the Lord your God.
Amos 9:14-15

Israel was reborn as a nation in one day, on May 14, 1948. It had not been a nation since 606 B.C. Never has a people been exiled from their homeland for so many years and return to the same land and with their same national identity. Also, Israel had not been unified under a single king since the reign of King Solomon. Israel’s return as a nation to their homeland is nothing short of a miracle but it was prophesied centuries ago.

Hal Lindsey, a beloved teacher of end-times prophecy refers to 1948 as the hinge of history. He says that we’re seeing these prophecies coming into sharper focus with ever-increasing frequency and intensity. I agree with Hal.

The 24th chapter of Matthew is beginning to read like today’s headlines. Since 1948 the occurrence of major earthquakes has tripled. We’re seeing wars and rumors of wars and famines. Jesus said, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 ESV). Birth pains, also called birth pangs grow in frequency and intensity just as these signs are increasing in frequency and intensity before our very eyes, if we only pay attention. Jesus also talked about the sun being darkened and the moon not giving its light as signs that the end is near.

The parable of the fig tree
After giving all the signs recorded for us in Matthew 24, Jesus said:

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Matthew 24:32-34 (ESV)

Jesus gave us the signs of the times so that we could make sure that we're ready for his second coming. Are you ready? Here’s a six-minute clip from the Hal Lindsey Report that inspired this message.