We are all familiar with the prophecy of Micah that is part of the story of the birth of Jesus. When the Wise Men came, Herod asked the rabbis where the Messiah would be born. They referred to Micah 5:2:
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”Jesus, to whom every knee will bow, has yet to be crowned as “ruler of Israel” as prophesied by Micah. This prophecy will be fulfilled when the Lord Jesus reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
But Brother J. R. Church points other prophecies contained in chapter five of Micah. In Micah 5:1 the prophet told of Jesus, the Messiah, being struck on the cheek with a rod. This was fulfilled in Matthew 26:67 and 27:30.
Further, Micah continues with:
“Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.” – Micah 5:3This prophecy contains a time factor. Jesus, the Lord, will give Israel up until ... Israel did not come into their kingdom two thousand years ago. In fact, they became slaves to the Romans throughout the Roman Empire, and their land was renamed Palestine to remove any association with the people of God.
Some say that the Lord has given up on Israel and has replaced them with the Church. This is incorrect, and Micah’s prophecy of “she which travaileth” gives us the qualifying factor. The Greek word translated “sorrows” in Matthew 24:8 refers to birth pains (Strong’s G5604). The birthing (travailing) began in 1948.
The remnant of Israel has been returning to Israel since 1948. This return accelerated with the capture of Jerusalem in 1967. New groups of Hebrew peoples continue to be found and returned to the Promised Land. Isaiah prophecies that the nations of the world will bring the Children of Israel back to their land.
The “travailing” has begun and will continue until the Lord Jesus returns to bring an end to the war the nations will wage against Israel. The Lord Jesus will then return as royalty; the King of the earth. Jesus richly deserves this honor. May His name be praised forever! (And keep your eyes on Israel.)