Future of Israel
Israel in God’s Plan for the Future
Hilltop Chapel
September 22, 2002
1. Introduction
a. Read Romans 11
b. Last message about “millenialisms” and “tribulationisms”
i. Key to distinguishing between them is how they interpret prophecies concerning Israel
ii. Some spiritualize – apply them to the Church
iii. Others literalize – apply them to physical Israel
c. Many cults groups major in this
i. Mormons consider Native Americans to be the 10 lost tribes of Israel
1. Book of Mormon is the account of Jesus’ coming to them
2. Biblical prophecies about Israel are interpreted as applying to their church
ii. “Anglo-Israelism”, esp Herbert W. Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, considers the British Empire and nations descended from them to be the 10 lost tribes, and apply prophecies of Israel to them
iii. American survivalist “Identity movement” groups do the same
d. Confusion even among real believers – e.g. e-mail from Harry
e. Bible has some clear statements on this subject
f. Proper understanding is essential to correct interpretation of prophetic scriptures and the OT law
2. Exactly who are we talking about here?
a. Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
b. Genesis 21:12 - And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
c. Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
3. What are some of the promises made to these people?
a. They will be a great nation: Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
b. They will inherit the land of Canaan:
i. Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
ii. Genesis 35:11-12 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
c. David will produce nations and kings
i. Psalm 89:3-4 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
d. Many other prophecies of future restoration: Jer 23, Jer 31-32, Ez 36-37, Zech 12, Rev 7
4. Many now say that the Jewish nation forfeited these promises when they rejected Christ. What does the Bible say?
a. God’s promises not breakable
i. Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
ii. Psalms 89:35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
iii. 1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
iv. Psalms 105:8 ¶ He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
v. Luke 1:54-55 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
b. Romans 11
i. Conclusion of a large section dealing with Israel
1. Romans 9 deals with Israel’s past
2. Romans 10 with their present (including the church age)
3. Romans 11 mostly with the future
ii. These passages written after Calvary, after the resurrection, after Pentecost, and after Peter opened the gospel to the gentiles in Acts 10
iii. 11:1-3 God has emphatically NOT cast away his people 11:1 “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.” 11:2 “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.”
1. Paul points himself out as one example
2. The remnant in Elijah’s day is another
iv. 11:5-6 Doctrine of grace vs works 11:5 “there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
1. Their place in God’s plan is by His grace, as is ours
2. Their corporate works as a nation do not nullify God’s grace, any more so than ours as individuals
v. 11:7-23
1. Their unbelief was predicted in advance
2. It had a purpose, namely to open the door for us as Gentiles to enter into a relationship with God.
vi. 11:25-28 God will again turn his attention to Israel
1. Will occur when “the fullness of the Gentiles be come in”
2. Will result in the vast majority of Israel returning to God, at least 144,000 (Rev 7) and probably many more
vii. 11:29 – Another statement of God’s promises being unbreakable: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
viii. 11:33-36 – These matters may seem to complicated to understand but God is in control and understands all
c. Jer 32:37-42 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
i. Clearly this was NOT fulfilled in the return from the Babylonian captivity as:
1. They did not all fear him, did not all have one heart
2. They have not yet feared Him forever
ii. BUT THEY WILL!
5. So what does all this mean for us?
a. Scriptures addressed to the Jews are meant for the Jews, and should be interpreted accordingly
b. Likewise those addressed to the Church should are meant for the Church and do not necessarily apply to the Jews, except in the instance of Jewish believers in Christ
c. The ceremonial law of Moses clearly does not apply to us
i. Most of it no longer pertains at all, esp. the sacrifices which for us are mainly types of Christ
ii. The 10 commandments for the most part still do pertain, as they are reinforced by NT teaching
iii. Laws that set forth moral standards still pertain, at least insofar as the NT affirms them
iv. But they exist as a guide, not as a binding standard. Our salvation does not depend on obeying them as we’re saved by grace
d. Prophecies about the Jews which are as yet unfulfilled, especially ones having an end-times fulfillment, will not come to pass until after the Church is taken out of the way
e. All of this lends support to the pre-millenial, pre-tribulation position as it allows for literal interpretation of the vast majority of prophetic scripture
f. Above all, the Jews are still God’s chosen people and we should treat them as such, supporting them politically and ministering to them spiritually as best we can Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.