06/11/2024
Just to tie it all together for an understanding of what is going on here and over there, why America seems so obviously divided between faith and sin right now (between repentance and all sorts of evil pride). Putting the current events into a Biblical perspective that keeps the End in mind and shows it’s just a matter of time…
Part A. Christianity and Israel
Christianity has expanded Israel’s religious and spiritual heritage to the world by interpreting Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Israel, opening it to all people. Here are some of the key ways Christianity has done this:
1. Through the Covenant of Faith
• Christianity teaches that Jesus, as the Messiah, fulfills God’s promises to Israel, extending the promise of salvation to all nations. Paul emphasizes that, through faith, believers are spiritually united with Israel, or the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16 KJV).
• Christians believe that God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:3 KJV) — that “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” — finds fulfillment in Jesus, creating a universal pathway to God.
2. By the Great Commission
• Jesus commanded His disciples to spread His teachings beyond Israel to all nations: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19 KJV). This “Great Commission” led to the rapid spread of Christianity across the Roman Empire and beyond, planting the teachings of the God of Israel throughout the world.
3. By Embracing Gentile Converts
• In the early Christian church, leaders like Peter and Paul encouraged Gentiles (non-Jews) to convert without requiring them to fully adopt Jewish customs. This shift is illustrated in the decision at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15 KJV), which determined that Gentile converts could be part of the church without following all Mosaic laws.
• Paul, in particular, emphasized that in Christ, there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile: “There is neither Jew nor Greek…for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 KJV). This helped establish Christianity as a universal faith rather than a sect within Judaism.
4. By Framing the Church as the New Temple
• The New Testament depicts Jesus as the true temple (John 2:19 KJV), symbolizing that the presence of God is no longer confined to the physical Temple in Jerusalem. Instead, believers, through the Holy Spirit, become temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV). This belief has allowed Christianity to grow beyond the geographic boundaries of Israel, as God’s presence is seen as being accessible everywhere.
5. By Adapting and Translating Scriptures
• Early Christians translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek (the Septuagint) and later into many languages, enabling non-Jewish populations to read and adopt the spiritual heritage of Israel. The Christian Bible, incorporating both the Old and New Testaments, provided a unified narrative of God’s work with Israel and His promise of salvation for all.
6. By Seeing Christians as “Grafted In”
• Paul describes Gentiles as “grafted” into the tree of Israel, sharing in the promises originally made to Abraham and his descendants: “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them” (Romans 11:17 KJV). This concept gives non-Jewish believers a sense of continuity with Israel’s heritage.
Summary
Christianity’s expansion beyond Israel involves reinterpreting the promises of Israel to include all believers worldwide, establishing a global “spiritual Israel.” Through the teachings of Jesus, the mission of the apostles, and the universal access to the Scriptures, Christianity carries Israel’s spiritual legacy and its covenantal themes across cultures and nations.
Part B. Physical and Spiritual Restoration
The promises of God to Israel in the end times, particularly concerning the land and prophetic fulfillment, are complex and debated within Christian theology. However, several key passages shed light on this issue, especially in the prophetic writings and the words of Jesus in Revelation. Let’s examine these from a biblical perspective.
1. God’s Everlasting Covenant with Israel Regarding the Land
• In the Old Testament, God made a specific covenant with Abraham, promising him and his descendants the land of Canaan as an “everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8 KJV). This covenant is reaffirmed throughout the prophets, suggesting that the land is an integral part of God’s promises to Israel. Prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel repeatedly speak of Israel being restored to their land in the “latter days.”
• Ezekiel 36:24-28 (KJV) speaks of a future time when God will gather Israel from the nations, cleanse them, and restore them to their land with a new heart and spirit: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”
2. The Role of Jesus in the Promises to Israel
• Jesus’ ministry introduced the concept of the Kingdom of God, which is not restricted by geography. He taught that God’s promises include spiritual dimensions that extend beyond physical Israel. In John 4:21-24 (KJV), Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that worship is no longer limited to a specific place, such as Jerusalem, but rather in “spirit and in truth.”
• However, in the end times, Jesus’ teachings suggest a distinct role for Israel. Many Christians interpret that Jesus will return and reign from Jerusalem during a millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6 KJV), where God’s promises to Israel may find both spiritual and physical fulfillment.
3. The Promise to the Philadelphia Church in Revelation 3
• In Revelation 3:9 (KJV), Jesus speaks to the church in Philadelphia, mentioning the “synagogue of Satan,” describing it as those “which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie.” This reference has been understood in different ways, but it generally suggests a warning against false claims to the spiritual heritage of Israel.
• Some interpret this as a reminder that not all who claim to be God’s people genuinely are, reinforcing the idea that God’s true Israel includes those faithful to Him through Christ. This may imply a distinction between physical descent and spiritual identity, without nullifying God’s promises to ethnic Israel.
4. The Role of Ethnic and Spiritual Israel in the End Times
• Paul makes a distinction between ethnic Israel and the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16 KJV) — those who are of faith in Christ. In Romans 11:25-27 (KJV), Paul prophesies that a future “remnant” of Israel will be saved: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery…blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved.” This suggests a future reconciliation and restoration for Israel as a nation, fulfilling God’s promises.
• Many scholars believe that this means God’s promises to Israel regarding their land and their covenant will be honored in the end times, alongside the spiritual promises that extend to the church.
5. A Future for Israel and the Church’s Role
• According to Revelation and other prophetic texts, Israel and the church each have roles in the end times. Israel’s return to their land, as seen in modern history, is often viewed by Christians as a fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecies and a prelude to greater end-time events.
• Zechariah 12:10 (KJV) foretells that the people of Jerusalem will recognize the Messiah they “pierced,” a passage interpreted by many as Israel’s future recognition of Jesus as the Messiah.
Summary
In conclusion, the promises of God to Israel in the end times seem to include both the physical land and the spiritual restoration of Israel to God. The “synagogue of Satan” warning to the church in Philadelphia may emphasize the importance of authentic faith over mere claim to heritage. For Christians, these events reflect God’s enduring covenant with Israel and His inclusion of all nations through Christ, with the expectation that Israel will ultimately play a significant role in the culmination of God’s plans in the latter days.
