New Then-and-Now Photo Books Confirm Prophesied Restoration of Israel
When is a book more than a book?
When it reveals how ancient prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes—and opens our eyes to that fulfillment through captivating photographs. That’s the goal of Doug Hershey’s Ancient Prophecy/ Modern Lens series of books, the travel company owner, photographer and author tells Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. The series “looks at biblical prophecies and being able to capture some of the ongoing fulfillment through a modern lens, whether that be photography or some video,” Hershey says.
Israel Rising, the first book in the series, documents the revival of the land of Israel … and Jerusalem Rising specifically focuses on the restoration and revival of the city of Jerusalem,” Hershey says. “By using then-and-now photography of ‘What did the land or the city look like prior to 1948, before Israel was established, and what has happened since then in the scope of history, and kind of tying that all in with a view to what the Scriptures said would happen.
Hershey explains that Ezekiel 36 contains an amazing prophecy that, in his many trips to Israel, he has seen coming to life. “Ezekiel is told to prophesy to the land,” he says. “Sometimes we think prophecy in the Bible is spoken to people or kings … and Ezekiel is told, ‘Prophesy to the mountains, to the hills, the ravines and the valleys. And so he’s prophesying and speaking directly to the land.”
When the Jewish people were driven out of the land of Israel, the prophecy says, “the land will be empty and desolate and the mockery of the nations,” Hershey explains. But read below to see what happens as God’s people return:
” But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit for My people Israel. For they shall come soon. For I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it. And the cities shall be inhabited, and the waste places shall be built. And I will multiply man and beast upon you. And they shall increase and bring forth fruit. And I will settle you as you were before and do better to you than at the beginning. Thus you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek. 36:8-11).
Since 1948, the land of Israel has seen dramatic advancements. “The waste and forgotten cities are being rebuilt and inhabited again; God is really multiplying the people on the land,” Hershey says. “And the branches are putting forth fruit. And again, we’re finding that the things that God said would happen aren’t simply allegory or metaphor; He actually meant what He said. And He said what He meant, and it’s happening exactly as He said it would happen.”
For much more from Doug Hershey on how God is fulfilling ancient prophecy in the modern land of Israel, listen to the entire episode of Greenelines at this link and subscribe to Greenelines on your favorite podcast platform. Find Israel Rising and Jerusalem Rising wherever fine books are sold, and check out Jerusalemrising.com to find bonus content and video material. {eoa}
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