Last year, a week or so after the raid of Hamas on October 7, Eyal Golan, famous in Israel for Mizrahi and pop music, released a new song titled “Am Yisrael Chai”, עם ישראל חי. This is a well-known expression that means, “The people of Israel live”. It is sort of like the French saying “Vive la France”.
The lyrics of this song caught my attention because there are unmistakable allusions to the Bible, and even to the gospel of the coming kingdom of God. It is very unusual for someone that is not a Christian to know about these things.
According to Wikipedia, Eyal Golan is one of the most successful singers in Israel. However, Golan has tattoos, whereas Leviticus 19:28 prohibits printing marks on one’s skin. Moreover, in 2014, Golan was found guilty of tax evasion. This sort of thing is contrary to Mark 12:17 and Romans 13:6. Furthermore, Golan divorced his first wife in 2008 after having two children. He then had a son born out of wedlock with another woman in 2014. Then in 2020, he married again and had two more children, and then the next year he divorced her, only to get back together in 2023. Besides all that, in 2013, Golan was arrested and charged with statutory rape, but the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. To his credit, in December 2018, Golan was honoured by the Knesset for his contribution to the arts or something like that. So, Golan is a controversial and complicated figure. He does not strike me as someone aspiring to be righteous. I am also not sure whether he has taken drugs at any time like other pop-stars nowadays, which would suggest the inspiration for this song came from demons.
As for the allegations brought against him in August 2024 of incitement for calling Gaza to be “erased” – “not leave a single person there” – that is not an issue because Zephaniah 2:4-5 is very clear that in due time Gaza will be judged by God and destroyed entirely, “that there shall be no inhabitant”. As I have said before, this will be done on the day of the LORD by the angels and the saints of God, rather than by the IDF.
Anyway, I cannot tell which side inspired the lyrics of Eyal Golan’s song Am Yisrael Chai.
This song might be a trick from a demon. Suppose I say the words came from God, and subsequently the singer goes full evil and is blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, then the demons will gloat that they managed to deceive me, and all that again.
Whatever the case may be about the messenger, there is no denying that the message is remarkable. There is no denying either that this song has reached and continues to reach a great many Israelis.
Now, let me explain why the gospel of the kingdom of God can be found in the lyrics of this song.
First, “Soon the sun will shine. We will know better days than these.”
The rising of the sun is a reference to the coming of Israel’s Messiah (ref. Malachi 4:2, “the Sun of righteousness”). Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Next, “The heart battles with worry.”
Many in these last days are fearful, because Satan and his angels have been cast out of heaven and on to the earth (ref. Luke 21:26, “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”).
Next, “Everyone will return home.”
After the day of the LORD, when all of the promised land becomes Zion and the kingdom of God, Jews that have survived the war and tribulation will be called to return and live in Zion (ref. Isaiah 49:22, Isaiah 11:12, etc).
Next, “Hopefully, we will know the good news.”
The expression “the gospel” literally means “the good news”. The gospel, as it was preached by the Son of man Jesus Christ in his day is actually “the gospel of the kingdom of God” (ref. Mark 1:15). Almost every Christian church today has forgotten this.
Next, “Because the eternal people never fear.”
Joel 3 prophesies that after the day of the LORD, the humans of Judah will live continually from generation to generation in Zion (ref. Joel 3:20) until the planet earth is no more, after which life will go on in the New Jerusalem (ref. Revelation 21), also known as the kingdom of heaven. It is this that explains why Jews will be an “eternal people”.
Separately, Israel also is eternal – Israel as in the 144000 saints – at least those individuals that remain loyal to Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Next, “Even when it is hard to see”
Hard to see is a reference to Israel’s current partial blindness (ref. Romans 11:25, Isaiah 29:10), a blindness that will be reversed when the Holy Spirit is poured out to all living Jews (ref. Joel 2:28-29, Zechariah 12:10), shortly before the day of the LORD.
Next, “The Holy One, blessed is he, watches over us. So who can defeat us?”
This clearly speaks of Israel’s Messiah: Jesus Christ, the Almighty God (ref. Revelation 1:8, Isaiah 40:25, Isaiah 43:10, etc). Romans 8:31 in the New Testament even asks the question, “If God be for us, who can be against us?
Next, “O my land, our heritage.”
This refers to the promised land, of course – a covenant made between God and Abraham (ref. Genesis 15:18).
Next, “Around us, the iron of swords.”
This has double meaning. For now, it speaks of the IDF and “Operation Swords of Iron”, the war against Hamas in Gaza. But after the day of the LORD, when the 144000 saints have been reaped and transformed, Zion will be defended by the army of the 144000 saints, whose power in comparison to humans will be like iron versus clay (ref. Revelation 2:26-28, “a rod of iron”, “the morning star”).
Next, “And the dove will spread his wings.”
After the day of the LORD, Zion will be at “peace”, and will never see evil again (ref. Isaiah 9:6, Zephaniah 3:15, etc). No human living in Zion will have to fight and shed blood anymore (ref. Isaiah 65:25).
Next, “The hope of two thousand years.”
This is a reference to Israel’s national anthem Hatikvah, which as I have explained is about the coming of Israel’s Messiah. (See my post about Hatikvah.)
Next, “We’ll again go out to sing in the streets.”
This is Zephaniah 3:14-15, “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel…. rejoice… the king of Israel is in the midst of thee.” The arrival of Israel’s Messiah will be a joy to Zion and even a “Joy to the world”, as the Christian hymn goes.
Next, “If we don’t forget to always be united.”
Of course, when a people are united, there is strength. This is also an allusion to Jesus Christ’s command in the New Testament that we as in everyone of the body of Christ should love one another (ref. Matthew 22:39, Romans 13:8, etc).
Finally, “Because we haven’t lost our faith.”
This is also noteworthy. Just as in the days of Elijah when he alone stood against the prophets of Baal, and God reserved for himself several thousands who have not bowed a knee to Baal, so too in these last days “there is a remnant” of Jews “according to the election of grace” (ref. Romans 11:1-5). This means, God has not cast away the Jews, because a certain number of Jews has not lost faith in God. Remember, we are all saved by grace and through faith, Jews and Gentiles alike, lest anyone should boast (ref. Ephesians 2:8-9).
So, all of that was very deep Christian theology and Bible prophecy in a contemporary Jewish pop song. For sure, one side or the other inspired the lyrics. It cannot be a fluke.
Now, to the other meaning of Am Yisrael Chai that I would like to draw attention to.
When one says “the people of Israel live”, one can mean the modern-day nation of Israel (ref. Psalms 83:4), and therefore the Jews, a remnant of the kingdom of Judah. However, the same statement can mean a remnant of the northern kingdom of Israel lives – ie. that part of Jacob that was scattered by the Assyrians in 722 BC.
When the 144000 saints are reaped on the day of the LORD to become soldiers of the kingdom of God, Am Yisrael Chai has this second meaning, because God has now regathered a select few of the ancient kingdom of Israel, and so indeed “the people of Israel live”. This prophecy can be found in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
Hosea 1:10-11
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Romans 9:23-26
In his wrath, God scattered Israel in 722 BC, but in his mercy at this time of the end, he will regather a remnant of the descendants of Israel to serve him and the kingdom of God.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10
For those who don’t know, this is the kingdom of God: Judah and Israel together again.
Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
Isaiah 49:18