"Does the Bible Say?"

Why do people look to Israel when their is war?

It is automatically assumed the occurence has Biblical Prophetic meaning.

In essence, people with specific end times leanings watch every event in the middle east like a hawk.

Their desire is to recognize when to be prepared for the end of time.

Does war in Israel automatically mean prophecy is being fulfilled?

Israel has had conflict since the beginning with the following nations:

Egypt

Amalek

Midian

Moab

Ammon

Philistia

Assyria

Babylon

Persia

Rome

Not to mention:

Germany

Iran

Lebanon

The real answer is in part.

Matthew 24:6–13 ESV

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

There will be wars and rumors of wars.

Nation against nation.

But these things are not new.

These are not something just beginning to occur, but things happening for thousands of years.

As a matter of fact, some might describe our time as “war weary”; meaning we are weary of watching the battles of Israel and looking for the end.

Likewise, if the current situation is of significance…we should be mindful of the 1967 six day war.

In 1967, Israel took the entire area including the temple mount.

Yet Israel surrendered the control of the temple mount to the Islamic Waqf, the Islamic guardians of Muslim holy sites. (This release does not state the U.S. involvement, but we should note U.N. Security Council Resolution 242 which exhorts Israel to return lands taken.

Levi Eshkol led, as Israel’s Prime Minister, to release the area to the Waqf as a sign of peace or peace offering to the Muslim world.

In the Southern end of the Temple Mount you find the mosque Al Asqa —known with its entrance being the Dome of the Rock. (known to Muslims as the location Muhammad ascended.) (Across the street and up the hill is the place where Jesus ascended.)

This is interesting because it is the home of the first two temples in Judaism.

So, our focal verse is one quoted in our worship service by the Messianic Jewish preacher, when he said: “all Israel will be saved.”

Why is all of this important?

Most people who look to Israel are concerned about the rebuilding of the temple from Ezekiel 40-48.

With all of the evidence we just presented…we want to make sure you understand that the moment Israel would the holy sites of Islam…the entire Islamic world would declare jihad.

So if the temple is to be a literal one…we must be wary of when.

We must also be wary of passages like our focal passage.

Let’s read:

Romans 11:26 ESV

26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

If one takes this verse out of context it will easily prove a multitude of false understandings about eschatology, soteriology, and about Israel.

Who is Israel?

Romans 9:1–8 (ESV)

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—

2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.

5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

So, if Paul is correct…Israel are those chosen/elect of God.

Not by birth, but by God’s sovereign hand/choice.

So that we are not confused, let’s continue.

Romans 9:25–26 ESV

25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ”

Hosea prophecies and Paul reiterates the Gentile adoption as Israel.

Romans 9:27 ESV

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,

Is Israel Rejected?

Romans 11:1–5 (ESV)

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”

4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

No. A remnant has been spared, just like in Elijah’s time.

Grace by faith, just like in the O.T.

Many were blinded that they may not see.

God has give salvation to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

In essence, God will use this to draw the true Israel to himself.

Romans 11:25 ESV

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

We should not become arrogant.

Romans 11:28–32 (ESV)

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Here is the perfect picture of God at work and revealing we are all saved the same way.

What about the Temple and Eschatology?

Let’s compare the O.T. and N.T.

Revelation 21:1–3 (ESV)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:10 (ESV)

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

Ezekiel 40:2 (ESV)

2 In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.

Ezekiel 48:35 (ESV)

35 The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.”

There is no such “high mountain” near Jerusalem. The temple mount is nothing more than a big hill.

The high mountains near Israel are in the far north and far south… well over a hundred miles from Jerusalem.

God is giving us a picture of what will come to pass in the new heaven and new earth.

Will All Israel Be Saved?

Yes

True Israel will be Jew and Gentile as one.

Walking Away, But In...

Recognize that we are always to be prepared.

Salvation is the same for all.