Israel has the strongest military in the Mideast, but its military is not a defense against the Arab population bomb or the demographic reality that Israel may well be an underdeveloped, third world country by 2020. Will the Jewish state survive? At what cost? With what identity? Can it ever know peace?

Many are in despair because they fear it is too late to fulfill the vision of the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel in our generation. Is it too late for any solution at all?

Is it too Late?

In the late eighteen hundreds Jewish immigrants began the trek back to Israel in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy that the tents of Judah would come up first (Zec 12:7). By the time the State was formed in 1948 some 552,857 Jews had returned. From 1948 - 2005 an additional 2,986,786 had returned. In 2006 the number of immigrants fell to 21,000, its lowest level in 18 years. For 2007, 14,400 immigrants are expected, but it is estimated that emigrants from Israel will total over 20,000, for a net population loss of 5,600.

The current demographic developments in Israel indicate that the warnings sounded by University of Haifa's professor Arnon Sofer, are right on track. In 2002 Sofer said if the non-Jewish population continues to outpace Jewish population growth, which is greatly depended on immigration, Israel could become an underdeveloped, third world country by 2020,

Sofer elaborated by saying, "Today (2002) in Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza), there are 5 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews. The latter figure is composed of 4.5 million Arabs and the remainder non-Jewish immigrants, mainly from the former Soviet Union, and foreign workers. By the year 2020, he forecasts about 6.4 million Jews, based on population growth and an average of 50,000 Jewish immigrants a year. He expects the Arab population to reach around 8.5 million, in addition to 1 million non-Jews of other origins.” Note that Sofer is basing his dismal predictions on an average of 50,000 Jewish immigrants annually. Obviously the situation is much worse than he envisioned, as the immigration for 2002 - 2006 totaled 98,015, an annual average of 24,504 immigrants.

In addition, the birth rate among Arabs is much higher than that of Israeli Jews. In 2002 “total fertility rates” (TFR) in the Gaza Strip were the highest in the world at 7.4 births per woman. The TFR in the West Bank (5.9) was almost twice as high as in Israel (1967 borders) (3.0). Similar trends can be seen within Israel (1967 borders): Jewish women have a TFR of 2.7 compared with 4.8 for Arab women.

Sofer told the Israeli Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense committee that by 2020, Jews will account for only 42 percent of the population in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Alongside a Jewish population of 6.4 million, he says, there will be 3 million Arabs and non-Jews inside Israel's 1967 boundaries, plus 3.3 million Palestinians in the West Bank and 2.5 million in Gaza.

Sofer’s conclusion was, "I am very concerned. If my predictions are correct, and the problem is not dealt with, our country is finished, and there will be a collapse."

Unfortunately, current demographic changes indicate that Sofer’s warnings have exceeded his worst expectations.

Emigration from Israel Exceeds Immigration to Israel

The Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot recently reported that the number of emigrants had exceeded the number of immigrants for the first time in 20 years. In 2007, 14,400 immigrants are expected in Israel while 20,000 people are expected to leave the country.

Meanwhile the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that approximately a quarter of the Israeli population is considering emigration. Almost half of the country's young people were thinking of leaving the country, the report said. Their reasons included dissatisfaction with the government, the education system, a lack of confidence in the political ruling class and concern over the security situation. 54 percent of the population is under age 30.

The birth rate among Israel’s Arabs is not only creating pressure on the Jewish State, but it is quite a phenomenon when considered in light of the declining birth rates in most of the world. Between 1950 and 1970, fertility rates in the United States dropped from 3.7 children per woman to 1.9; they have risen slightly since then to around 2.0. Fertility decreases in many other industrialized countries were even more pronounced. Many developing countries, including Mexico, China, and India, have undergone a similar transition. Though birth rates in many parts of the developing world remain higher than in the industrial world—and populations have continued to grow—the decline in birth rates has generally been faster and steeper than that which occurred earlier in the United States.

Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East are the only major regions of the world where fertility rates and family sizes have not fallen.

Even Jerusalem is feeling the impact of these changing demographicss. In 2006, some 10,900 Jews moved to the capital, while the number of Jews moving out was estimated at 17,300, half of whom were aged 20-34, a net loss of 6,400.

This year Jerusalem Day was celebrated with mixed emotions. Remembering with pride and joy 1967, when after almost two thousand years the Jews had regained control of their ancient capital, but sad and dismayed when the Mayor of Jerusalem warned that demography shifts could lead to Hamas controlling the city by 2020.

Is there a defense to the Arab population bomb? What can the people of Israel do to change the demographics? Especially, what should we forerunners of Messianic Israel do?

We Must Face the Facts

If we do not understand and confront the problem stones on the road home to Zion, there is little hope for their removal and clearing of the way for the returning lost sheep that the Great Shepherd has ransomed (Isa 35:8-10; 62:10).

1. The big stone is demographics! One thing alone can change demographics, and that one thing is different numbers. We are engaged in a battle of numbers, which started with the promises of numbers to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and will won when the promises are fulfilled.
2. When the Kingdom is restored to Israel. the majority of the people in the kingdom will be Israelites.
3. If the Jews become a minority in Israel, we no longer have a Jewish state!
4. Judah or the Jewish people cannot provide the necessary numbers to maintain a Jewish majority. Given the current state of affairs in Israel, and the Middle East, the majority of Jews in Israel if given the opportunity to emigrate to the west would accept it. On the other hand few Jews are accepting the current open offer to immigrate to Israel.
5. The vast majority of the people of Israel are lost sheep. There are various degrees of being lost sheep, one does not fully become a found sheep until they are back in the original sheepfold, walking and talking with the Great Shepherd in the cool of the evening. In the process of becoming fully found, most lost sheep are in one of four major categories:
   1. Sheep who recognize and place their emphasis on their heritage with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and have believe that a physical link with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is of utmost importance. They have not recognized the necessity of a personal or individual relationship with Israel’s Messiah. Most Jewish people would be in this category.
   2. Sheep who place an emphasis on having a personal or individual relationship with Israel’s Messiah, and for the most part disregard heritage or family relationship that would link them physically with prior generations of physical Israelites. Most Christians would be in this category.
   3. Sheep who have a personal or individual relationship with Israel’s Messiah, and recognize the part that heritage and family relationship plays in fulfilling the Great Shepherd’s desires and plans for a people for His own possession. Most Messianic Israel Believers will be in this category.
   4. Sheep that are lost to both a personal and family relationship with the Great Shepherd. Any lost sheep not falling into one of the other categories would be in this category.
6. In the age old controversy over who is or is not a lost sheep and what state of foundness they are, are not in, we must rely on the fact that the Great Shepherd knows His sheep and His sheep know His voice (John 10:3, 4, 16, 27). Regarding how we interact with lost sheep, may it be with love and as led by the Holy Spirit.

It is primarily the Church, those lost sheep who have a personal relationship with Israel’s Messiah, but who were lost to their heritage, or family relationship with the other sheep in the Great Shepherd’s fold, that has produced most of the forerunners in Messianic Israel. It is from this source that the majority of the numbers will come that will turn these dismal demographics in Israel around. Our challenge in recruiting from these ranks is to have them recognize a physical connection to the Land of Israel and to their Jewish brothers. While many sense a spiritual connection to Israel, it is for the most part limited to praying for the peace of Jerusalem, being supportive of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. They believe their goal is a Kingdom in Heaven, and the Messiah, when He returns for His millennial reign can handling land problems, demographics, and the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

When given the opportunity to reproduce lost sheep tend to reproduce their brand of lost sheep. Jewish lost sheep do not have the opportunities to reproduce on the same scale as do the other categories of lost sheep, but when they reproduce, they will produce more Jewish lost sheep. Christian lost sheep will produce more Christian lost sheep, and Messianic Israel lost sheep will produce more Messianic Israel lost sheep, and unfortunately unbelieving lost sheep will produce more unbelieving lost sheep.

The Answer

Reproducing which brand of lost sheep has the greatest hope of laying the foundation for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, and favorably changing the demographics in Israel by 2020? The answer is obvious: Messianic Israel lost sheep!

So What Do We Do?

We reproduce Messianic Israel lost sheep! We follow in the footsteps of Yeshua, our Messiah, and go to the lost sheep of the whole house of Israel with the message of Israel’s redemption, reunification and restoration. We encourage the Christian lost sheep to reconsider the importance of their heritage, and encourage Jewish lost sheep to realize the need for a personal relationship with their Shepherd.

How Do We Do It?

We are engaged in a numbers battle, and the weapons of our warfare are words. The war of words started in the garden when Adam and Eve were overcome by Satan’s words. Satan’s tactics have not changed. He continues to use words in his attempt to destroy Israel (Rev 12:15). What better way to counter Satan’s words, than to provide the message of Israel’s redemption, reunification and restoration in words with a copy of the book Redeemed Israel - Reunited and Restored.

Earlier I pointed out the net loss in the population of Jerusalem this year is projected to be 6,400, which is about the size of the Messianic Israel Alliance (MIA) active mailing list. No, I am not suggesting that we move at this time to Jerusalem, but imagine what might happen if each one of the 6,400 on the list followed in Yeshua’s footsteps and asked 12 people to follow them, by giving them a copy of Redeemed Israel - Reunited and Restored, and encouraged them to follow in your footsteps and likewise go to 12 people.

Imagine, 6,400 x 12 x 12 x 12 x 12 x 12 x 12 x 12... Wow! Enough numbers to get the job done and give our Father a redeemed people for His own possession. When we have the numbers I firmly believe, in fact I can say that it is a Word from our Father, “When we have found a sufficient number of lost sheep to do the job, the way will open to return them to Israel.”

I am pleased to report that the MIA is one hundred and ten percent behind the need to build up the numbers and change the demographics in Israel. The following is a recent message to fellow Israelites from Scott Diffenderfer, the COO of the MIA:

Good day fellow Israelites,
Ed Harris has joined the staff of Messianic Israel as our Director of Community Relations. Ed is an anointed man of Elohim, with a fine family and a servants heart. He currently is the Nasi of Beit Messiach in St. Louis and will continue in that capacity as he assumes this added responsibility.

Ed’s primary roles for Messianic Israel will be:

1. Strengthening and fostering relationships between all members (new and existing) within Messianic Israel.
2. Exploring and directing new methods for Messianic Israel to reach out throughout the world.
3. Identifying and equipping the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

Please pray for Ed as he walks into this new position. We are stepping out in faith once again to meet the needs of the people and ask you to consider increasing your financial support to Messianic Israel so that we are able to accomplish all that YHWH has placed before us. Of course you could send an offering which would be great, but please realize that we all need to accept the responsibility of making disciples. To do this we must identify and then equip the people of Israel. Therefore, I encourage you to purchase and hand out a minimum of 3 copies of Redeemed Israel - Reunited and Restored each month for the next four months. You know that this book has opened eyes and changed lives. You can purchase the book for $14.95, or 3 copies for $40, 5 copies for $60, 10 copies for $100 at: www.messianicisrael.com

But PLEASE understand, our primary desire is to get the message out and awaken all of Israel. If the thousands of people who receive our e-mails would accept this challenge and then those they hand the books to would do the same, and so on, we could reach over 200,000 people this year. It has to start somewhere – how about with you?

Ed Harris has joined the Messianic Israel staff in faith because of his passion for our message. Every time you purchase a book it not only reaches out, it also helps to support the ongoing efforts of Ed and the rest of the Messianic Israel team. So, I ask you to join Ed and step out in faith. The time is short, the workers few, but the rewards are great! Step up and move out – the Father has created you for such a time as this!

It is not too late! If each one of us has the faith to fulfill this request and start the ball rolling by giving out a minimum of 3 copies of Redeemed Israel - Reunited and Restored, each month for the next four months, and encourage those to whom we give copies to emulate us and give out 3 copies a month for four months, and encourage their recipients to do the same, and so on, we will change the demographics in Israel. And 2020 will see the tents of Ephraim in the land with the tents of Judah, and Israel well on the way to being redeemed, reunited and restored, rather than being an underdeveloped third world country. The question is not “Can we do it?” The questions is “Will we do it?”