"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you" (Gen. 17:7). Over the years, God's covenant with Abraham has come under fierce attack among Christians. Harsh vitriolic words and out-of-context scriptures have been used to justify antisemitism and undermine Israel's right to exist. However, the Bible clearly warns, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people's on earth will be bless through you" (Ge. 12:3). To many Christian's dismay, God's covenant with Abraham, his son, Isaac, and his grandson, Jacob, is an eternal covenant. God's calling for the Jewish people is irrevocable. However, despite this eternal covenant, Israel still had to be faithful to God's commands. For unfaithfulness, God has punished Israel extensively for their idolatry, wickedness, and failure to trust in His promises. The Egyptian bondage, Babylonian captivity, destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., etc. are all direct results of God's judgement on His people. However, God still has a perfect will for the Jewish people and the land He graciously entrusted to them. Before we get to Israel's destiny, we must take a brief, but hard look at the history of Christian Jew-hatred.
Many of the most well-known and accomplished church fathers held deep contempt for the Jews. Since Jesus Christ was crucified by His people, people have in essence cursed the entire Jewish race and their land despite the fact that only a few people conspired to kill Jesus. That is like saying that all Germans are responsible for the Holocaust. Anyways, Saint Augustine believed that the Jews should suffer for their murder of Christ. Likewise, Justin Martyr believed that the Jews should rightly suffer and that no Jews should enter Jerusalem. Origen of Alexandria even believed that the Jews would never return to their homeland (Too bad he wasn't alive in 1948). Sadly, Christian treatment of the Jews wasn't limited to slander. During the Crusades, the Christian Crusaders, who were supposed to represent Christ, killed many Jews during the siege of Jerusalem. While some argue that the Crusades were justified and that the Crusaders justly took back Muslim territory, their goal was to conquer Jerusalem, which they accomplished. In 1099, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was established and it lasted for around 200 years. Clearly, though, this kingdom was destined to fall because Jerusalem doesn't belong to the Christians.
315 A.D. was a significant event in the history of Christianity. Emperor Constantine, who had his capital at Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople, made Christianity the state religion. In 380, under the reign of Emperor Theodosius, Christianity eventually became the official religion of the Byzantine Empire. In other words, the church married the world. Don't get me wrong. Constantine did some great things. For example, he ended Christian persecution and allowed for freedom of religion, but the ending of separation of church and state gave Christianity the type of power it had never experience, thus watering down the entire religion. This also meant that any semblance of Jewish importance and practices were done away with. For example, at the Council of Nicaea, Biblical Passover and First fruits were replaced by Easter, a holiday with pagan origins. In addition, Constantine initiated Sunday worship, which a vast majority of church's recognize today. This Sunday worship, however, is pagan and refers to the idea of sun worship. I will expand on the pagan practices of the church in another post. The reason I outline this brief history is to show how the church's renunciation of God's chosen people and the Biblical feast days has led to an arrogant, vindictive Christianity, which Jesus warned us about. Instead of listening to emperors, popes, pastors, or theologians, we should listen to what the Bible says about Israel and the Jewish people in God's plan of salvation.
"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:25-26). This one verse should be enough to entirely debunk replacement theology, the notion that the church replaced Israel. However, there are still many Christians, even sincere one's, who don't understand that Israel and the church are two distinct entities and have different purposes. Israel still needs to heed their calling and accept Yeshua as the Messiah, but their time will come. Despite the overwhelming number of Messianic prophecies pointing to Yeshua, Israel's hardening has been an ongoing process and will conclude at the end of the tribulation period, the time of Jacob's trouble. Notice how Romans 11:25 says "hardening in part". There are many Messianic Jews who recognize Yeshua as their messiah, but national Israel will have to wait at the end of the age, which will initiate Christ's millennial reign on earth.
Before moving on, I have to address the Jews as the root and the Gentiles as ingrafted branches. Some people misinterpret this section and say that the church is now "spiritual Israel". In essence, Israel's land and restoration is irrelevant, while the Gentiles are now the true branch or the "chosen" people. The problem with this is that Paul clearly makes a distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. With Christ's death and resurrection, salvation was purchased for the Gentiles, while still leaving the door open to the Jews. In fact, in Romans 11:17-18, Paul states, "If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive tree, do not boast over those branches." The fact that we were grafted in and share in salvation doesn't give us the right to demonize the Jews. Salvation has been made known to the Gentiles because of Christ's free gift and overwhelming mercy. We are only entitled to eternal death, but thankfully that was paid for on the cross. Again, Paul states, "Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all. Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious" (Romans 11:11-12). This shows that there is still hope for the nation of Israel. Why is it that God is so patient with this stubborn and hardened nation? Paul answers that at the beginning of Romans 11. "I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew." If we pick up at verse 4, it states, "I have reserved myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." Despite Israel's wickedness and idolatry throughout human history, God always chose a remnant to follow Him. The same applies to the church. In a wicked, God-rejecting world, God has chosen a remnant of people to receive salvation. People who say that Israel rejected Christ and thus forfeited her promises don't understand scripture. If that were the case, why did Israel return to their homeland following the Babylonian captivity? Why did they return in 1948? Why is Israel's future restoration the central focus of Biblical eschatology? The answer is simple: grace and mercy.
Before 1948, a restoration of the Jewish state seemed unlikely, which helped fuel the notion that God had indeed abandoned Israel. When Israel became a reborn nation after nearly 2,000 years, Christian antisemitism and replacement theology should have been put to rest. Satan had other plans, though. In fact, replacement theology has been strengthened in recent years. Proponents of replacement theology are in full force today and their false ideology is held by some of the most well-known Evangelical pastors in the world. Much of this thinking has to do, not only with Palestinian Liberation theology, but also with Jewish bloodline. There is a wide held belief that the Jews who are living in Israel are imposters and not true descendants of Abraham. A majority of the world's Jewish population are a sect known as Ashkenazi Jews. Ashkenazi Jews have settled in Central and Eastern Europe for centuries and currently make up under half of Israel's total population. People like to say that Ashkenazi Jews don't have Middle Eastern origins, although genetic tests have been conducted, which points to their Levant heritage in the Middle East. While no one is completely sure about their genetics, rarely do people talk about Mizrahi Jews, who make up nearly 3 million Jews in Israel, not including Mizrahi populations of other Middle Eastern nations. It is arrogance to think that we can determine who the real Jews are or not. Only God truly knows who the authentic Jews are. In Revelation 7, an angel seals 144,000 Jews to accomplish His will. These 144,000 are separated according to their tribe. Not only does God know their bloodline, but he knows what tribe they're from. With this in mind, how does scripture describe Israel's future restoration?
Jeremiah 30-31 paints a powerful portrait of Israel's future restoration during Christ's millennial reign. To truly understand this, replacement theology is not a remotely viable option. Since all of these passages talk about a time yet future, if we substitute the church for references to Israel and Judah, we will leave with a confusing, discombobulated narrative. For example, in Jeremiah 31:4, it states, "I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin, Israel." This is clearly talking about the physical land of Israel, not some metaphorical reference to the church. Also, when God talks about the new covenant He will make with the house of Israel, it states, "It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 31:32). Since when did God rescue the church from Egyptian bondage? Throughout Jeremiah 30-31, literal cities in Israel are specifically mentioned such as Samaria, Ramah, and Zion (Jerusalem). Christians are often quick to point out that God doesn't care about cities and nations on earth because we're aliens in a foreign place and desire a Heavenly country. This is partially true, but during Christ's millennial reign, the nations will be restored with Christ ruling from Jerusalem. In Zechariah 14:16, we read, "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King." It is unclear if every nation on earth will be restored during the millennial reign, but God will call out remnants, even from sinful nations such as Egypt, although nations that don't celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles will be punished during the millennium.
We must also address the word, Zion. This word has become a taboo word across many different lines. From Muslims to replacement theologians, liberals to conspiracy theorists, Zion is practically another name for Satan. However, Zion is another name for Jerusalem, the city which God has His name on. There is nothing special about Jerusalem, but as you will see throughout scripture, God uses less than desirable people and cities to accomplish His purpose. He was born in Bethlehem, a less-than-ordinary city and He hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other sinners. God could have chosen Babylon, Ninevah, Egypt, Tyre, etc. to put His name. Instead, He chose a humble city with unremarkable grandeur. However, during His reign as the lion of the tribe of Judah, Jerusalem will be exalted while the nations that will attack Jerusalem will be humbled and brought low. In Zechariah 12, it says, "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling" (2). If we pick up in verse 3, we read, "I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." This parallels what Joel says about nations who attack Israel and seek to divide her land. "In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehosphaphat. There I will enter into judgement against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land" (3:1-2). Not only does God judge people and nations who attack Israel, but dividing the land is a grave offense against God. If you hear politicians say that we need a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, with an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as a divided Jerusalem, don't support them. Satan uses people to masquerade as peacemakers. In reality, though, anyone who seeks a two-state solution is either naive or adamantly anti-Israel. We do know that Israel will be divided when the Antichrist makes a "covenant with many", initiating the 70th week of Daniel. If it weren't for God's protection, this future peace accord would be a death sentence for the nation of Israel. There are literally hostile nations surrounding her on every side. Above Israel is a hostile and unstable Syria. Also, Turkey, an aggressive enemy of Israel sits in waiting while the Middle East is destabilized. Above Turkey sits Russia, an ally of both Syria and Iran. To the east of Israel lies Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc., all of which would love to see Israel annihilated. While Saudi Arabia likes to play the moderate card, in reality, they are still one of the chief sponsors of global terror. To the west and south-west of Israel lies a plethora of aggressive northern African nations such as Libya, Sudan, and Egypt. While Libya and Sudan don't seem like major threats due to internal civil war and warring factions, they still present strategic locations for terrorists groups to set up shop. Egypt, similarly to Jordan, are peaceful toward Israel, but that could change in the near future, especially if we see another Arab Spring-type revolution. We also can't forget about Hamas in the Palestinian territories and Hezbollah in Lebanon. I bring these nations up to remind you that God will protect tiny Israel no matter how many nations attack her. You have to realize that God has just as much stake as Israel does in this conflict. God's eternal Abrahamic covenant is at stake, His name is on Jerusalem, and He has a deep and burning love for the land and people of Israel. Remember, if God dismissed His eternal covenant with Israel, it would not only make Him a liar or not all-powerful, but it would demonstrate that the new covenant which Jesus made with the church can be torn to pieces as well. That is why Christians need to support the nations of Israel regardless of popularity. "So do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel, declares the Lord. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 30:10-11).
Sources
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizrahi_Jews
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jews
3. http://www.yashanet.com/library/fathers.htm
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Jerusalem
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great
No comments:
Post a Comment