Understanding The Endtimes by John Corin - HTML preview

INTRODUCTION

Even within the narrow definition of foretelling (as opposed to forth-telling), the Bible is prophetic; nearly one-third of O.T. is explicit prophecy (many with an eschatological emphasis) and a fifth of the N.T. is the predictive genre (category or style of literature). Much of the O.T. prophetic corpus (collection) relates to natural Israel but any fulfillment (be it near term, in the medium term, and even some in the long term) often is only preliminary as the ultimate fulfillment is in the Israel with a new covenant. Of course, besides those regarded as prophetic, the spirit of prophecy has influenced the historical and poetic books.

In particular, the book of Psalms as the songs of prayer and praise were composed under a prophetic anointing. Many speak of God’s purposes in the church age, and not a few (e.g., Ps 102) are eschatological to highlight the destruction of the ungodly and the glory of God being manifest among the nations.

A rich prophetic vein is also found in the ‘types and shadows’

of both Testaments; these typical events and persons often are prophetic (often in a detailed way) of ‘anti-types’ with a much grander fulfillment—even more than once. A mine of prophetic truth confirmed by Paul when he explains how Israel as the

‘church in the wilderness’ (Acts 7.38) foreshadows that of Jesus Christ. (See 1Cor 10). In other words, natural Israel prefigures the people of God redeemed by Jesus Christ as their ‘Passover’ (See 46

John 1.29, 1Cor 5.7) and, in an ‘exodus’ from the ‘world’, are

‘called out’ to be the church (‘ ekklesia’-grk) to offer ‘spiritual sacrifices’ (Heb 13.15). This new Israel of every ethnicity is now the chosen ‘holy nation’ and ‘kingdom of priests’ Heaven wants to fulfill its purposes for humanity (Ex 19.5,6, and 1Pet 2.9,10).

NATURAL OR SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT?

In seeking to understand the end times, of paramount importance is a valid hermeneutic model. Especially critical in deciphering the prophetic corpus because every interpreter comes face to face with a key choice. The decision to see O.T. prophecy as having mostly a natural fulfillment, or by and large, ultimately a spiritual outcome in Jesus Christ and His church. (Cf. Rev 19.10) And when the relevant passages are often obscure, couched in puzzling poetic expression, and have more than one fulfillment, this is no mean feat. Yet though a difficult challenge, it becomes possible once the true focus of O.T. prophecy is understood. With believers today, this boils down to either seeing their fulfillment in the modern Jewish Zionist state—possibly with a rebuilt temple occupying the lands originally promised the nation, i.e. from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River—

or realized in the Messiah and spiritual Israel (Jhn 1.45, Act 3.24).

‘Of this salvation the prophets have inquired...carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things 47

which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven—

things which angels desire to look into’ (1Pet 1.10-12).

This passage has the master key to interpreting prophecy because it establishes what the inspired seers were (mostly) seeing relates to the generation in the church, i.e., ‘to us’ (v12).

This is true even when the word of the Lord was for current circumstances (forth-telling), i.e., the ultimate fulfillment is in another age, e.g., Isa 7.14. In seeking to understand what the prophets said about natural Israel this is critical. For example, when O.T. prophecies speak of the nation returning to its promised inheritance its focus is NOT the modern state of Israel but the Jews returning from captivity in Mesopotamia. By applying to the state of Israel today this reversal of fortune when Jewry returned to repopulate their desolate inheritance bible teachers misinterpret the prophecies.

I realize this is a vexing question, but when the passage quoted above indicates the O.T. prophetic corpus is ultimately for a new those in the dispensation of grace, we have a definitive answer to it. For instance, when Jeremiah predicted a new covenant for Israel (Jer 31.31), he had in mind the people in a new kingdom under the reign of the Messiah. The nation of spiritual Jews chosen to realize Heaven’s intention to reign and dwell among humanity. But in foretelling the outcomes for this spiritual ‘Israel of God’, the prophets would describe these using events and persons in the life of natural Israel foreshadowing the new dispensation, e.g. King David (Jer 30.9, Hos 3.5).

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To sum up: natural Israel only ever imperfectly represented the Kingdom Heaven wanted; it foreshadowed the divine plans for humanity but could never realize them. It dismays me, then, to find so many bible teachers failing to recognize the true focus of O.T. prophecy. Especially remiss of them when Christ’s seminal sermon on ‘The Mount’ as the ‘new Moses’ has its focus purely on this new kingdom and its governing ‘laws’. (See Mt Chpt 5-7).

Confirming the O.T. prophecies were never about the restoration of a natural kingdom with carnal kings and natural blessings; their concern was the divine purposes in the hearts of citizens in a Kingdom where righteousness rules. Jettisoned this core understanding about the intent of O.T. prophecy and we stray into seeking the restoration of a natural, carnal kingdom—even as Jewry did in Christ’s day.

Though the Scribes (scholars and theologians) and the Pharisees (along with other sects) expectation of the Messiah as a prophet, priest, and king was valid, their interpretation of the outcome of His coming was flawed. An incorrect schema for what His arrival would mean for the nation birthed out of carnality about retaining power and influence. And though the fallacy plunged the nation into an unspeakable disaster, this falsehood—

rooted in proud elitism—left them no option but to reject Jesus as the Messiah. Of course, besides their faulty eschatology, other factors stopped them from believing in Him, one of these was a mistaken belief about ‘monotheism’, i.e., when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God they were deeply offended. (Cf. Deut 6.4).

(Modern Jewish scholars have confirmed O.T. passages do indeed 49

reveal the concept of a trinity in the Godhead.) The real stumbling block, though, was their flawed eschatology and the misconception about the outcomes of the Messiah’s ministry; sufficient for Christ to become ‘ the stone which the builders rejected’ (Lk 20.17).

Their fixation on a Messiah to overthrow the occupying Romans and restore a natural, physical kingdom with the autonomy to rule their ancestral lands saw them also stubbornly refuse to believe the supernatural signs, wonders, and miracles—

confirmation Jesus was the Messiah. (See Lk 7.22). This, though He fulfilled all the prophets predicted in the three and a half years of ministry to the nation. Such wicked blindness and unbelief it earned the nation divine judgment by the Roman army. Yet, with the warnings Jesus gave, a disaster for the city and its temple Heaven sought to spare them. (Lk 19.43,44; 21.20-24.).

PIVOTAL TEXTS TO INTERPRET CORRECTLY

The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time

the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is

pressing into it (Lk 16.16). (See also Mt 11.12, 13) Arriving at the correct fulfillment for prophecy also rests on correctly interpreting two core N.T. verses. Unless extra care is taken to exegete the first of these—the text above—it will forever be a stumbling block to understanding the prophetic corpus because it reveals a pivotal truth, i.e., the sorely needed guide to interpreting this genre posing the greatest challenge (compared to the historic and poetic). Now, in saying the ‘law and prophets were (in effect, or in force) until John the Baptist’, there are two options to what 50

Jesus meant. The first is to interpret His words as indicating the canon of O.T. (the ‘ law and prophets’, e.g., Mt 11.13, 22.40, Luke 24.44, Act 13.15) closed at the birth of John—in fact, it closed centuries earlier. But if it was the meaning, then Jesus stated the obvious, and since He never wasted words on banality, the statement must indicate a lot more. Namely, this core truth: with John the Baptist, an entirely new dispensation of grace had arrived. His ministry launched a major change in Heaven‘s plans for humanity, a truly tectonic plate shift, especially concerning the future of Jewry. The bottom line: with the ministry of John the Baptist, in general, the natural fulfillment of prophecies from the Mosaic dispensation come to an end.

By Jesus juxtaposing the two dispensations —the Mosaic and the Kingdom of God—in this verse, His statement confirms, ‘The old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence’ (2Cor 5.17 Weymouth). A truth Paul establishes in saying the glorious ‘ ministry of the Spirit’ has supplanted the old ‘ministry of death’ (2Cor 3.7,8). The bottom line: with John’s ministry, an entirely new paradigm for God’s purposes with humanity was introduced. Their destiny is now in a radically different Kingdom—not in the natural one that failed to deliver what Heaven wanted.

Beyond it highlighting this radical change, the verse also confirms Heaven’s purposes no longer are tied to the covenant with limited grace and glory (Jhn 1.17). With John, the old one was about to become obsolete because it was only ever meant to be a ‘schoolmaster’ (Gal 3.24) to prepare for the Messiah’s 51

arrival. The natural kingdom of Israel with kings ruling alongside the priests and other leaders was, from the start, one of ‘planned obsolescence’. No longer needed because it relied on natural blessings, natural progeny, and a natural land yielding harvests.

Hence, when many bible teachers advance the notion of Jewry having the divine right to the land of Palestine ‘forever’ and the modern state of Israel fulfilling O.T. prophecy, I regard these claims as false. (I do, however, believe Jews have the legal right to form the modern state of Israel.) Indeed, these same teachers often claim the Jews possess the land today because Heaven is going to restore their natural kingdom (in the ‘Millenium’?)—

another false hope. Now, if anyone is inclined to reject what I have just written, the proof for these statements is next.

Bible teachers giving the modern state of Israel a divine status fail to take into account a critical biblical fact confirming the natural nation was a temporary measure in the divine plans—a kingdom Heaven has no desire to reconstitute. It is this: when the word ‘ forever’ qualifies an O.T. promise it almost always is an incorrect translation of, ‘ō·läm' (Str H5769). I make this bold assertion because, as J.A. Benner’s ‘Hebrew word definitions’

explains, this word merely means "beyond the horizon". Now, making out details when looking into the far distance is difficult especially when trying to see what is ‘beyond the horizon’.

Hence, this hebrew word merely indicates (almost always) a ‘very distant time’—not, I stress, eternity or forever. The word points to a promise being valid into a distant future, one unable to be seen and that is all. The bottom line: ‘ō·läm' is the word in the key 52

verses, i.e., Gen 17, 8, 13,19, and 48.4 used to justify modern Jewry’s divine right to the land today.

Hence, when it doesn’t (in every case but one) mean ‘forever’, a bible misleads believers when it translates ‘ō·läm' with words implying it means everlasting (eternal). If further proof is needed, here are other examples where ‘oläm' is found and all confirm the absurdity of rendering it as ‘eternal’ or an equivalent english word. In Ex 21.6, it cannot mean a slave serves their master for

‘eternity’, and in 1Sam 1.22, Hannah did not expect Samuel to live in the house of the Lord for ‘eternity’. And here, ‘For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God’ (2Sam 7.24). (I comment on Rom 11.29 later ) When ‘ Oläm' also can refer to the distant past, e.g., Prov 22.28, this obviously can’t be eternity past. The only time ‘Oläm' has the meaning of ‘eternity’ is when it forms part of God’s name, e.g., The Lord, the ‘everlasting’ God (Gen 21.33).

When Abraham and his descendants were promised land in the Middle East (Gen13.15), it was never a guarantee they would be the rightful owners without ending. Indeed, teachers of this falsehood of eternal possession of the land of Palestine (and beyond) leave out an important part of the promise; the caveat stating it would only remain their possession if they were obedient, ‘obeying the voice of the Lord to keep His commandments and statutes’ (Deut 30.1-10). This is the core reason for Jewry’s banishment from the ‘promised land’ and dispersed elsewhere in the centuries after the destruction of Jerusalem, i.e., they were disobedient. Never doubt, then, Heaven 53

has installed a different Kingdom in this present age to realize divine rule within humanity. A spiritual Kingdom of God (Heaven) with radical new laws overseen by a heavenly King ruling in the hearts of its subjects—each a ‘new creation’.

(Cf.Jam 1.18) No one can sidestep this momentous change in the administration of human affairs where Heaven’s purposes are now invested in Jesus Christ and His church.

Ignore this reality and it inevitably leads to the serious error of believing Heaven wants the Jews back in their old ancestral lands with a restored natural kingdom. (Though new plans for humanity are now in force, I cannot deny the providence of God in establishing the modern state of Israel.) The bottom line: as the apostle Peter confirms, the calling originally given to natural Israel (Ex 19.5,6) has been transferred to a new ‘chosen generation’ and ‘holy nation’ (1Pet 2.9), i.e., the Israel of God with members from every ethnicity, tribe, and tongue. Since Heaven deals differently now with the human race, natural lineage as a Jew is of little consequence. Note, I didn’t say ‘no consequence’.

‘I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and

given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.’ (Mt 21.43) This second pivotal text should remove any doubt about what Jesus meant with the first one. No one can mistake His words here mean the Kingdom of God are to be taken from natural Israel and given to a spiritual people. As pointed out, those who are now the,

‘chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who 54

called you out of darkness’ (1Pet 2.9). It can't be any plainer: the divine purposes originally invested in Jewry now belong to a new, multi-ethnic nation. God’s intention for a family of many

‘children’ has been reassigned to the members of Jesus Christ’s church, an entirely ‘new creation’ (2Cor 5.17) of both Gentiles and Jews. What Hosea predicted and Peter quotes here about those ‘ not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy’ (1Pet 2.10).

CONCLUSION

In finding an answer to the question of how to interpret O.T.

prophecy and natural Israel, I have highlighted the false hope of seeing its realization as largely ‘literal’ or natural. When bible teachers promote its fulfillment in the modern state of Israel in the

‘promised land’ of Palestine they misread O.T. prophecy. Some even teach ruled by a future King David in the natural city of Jerusalem with a ‘third temple’. Or, for that matter, seeing as the express favor of God other supposed natural blessings for the current state of Israel. Looking for earthly outcomes is a slippery slope to error, proven by the heresies espoused by some Christian Zionists, e.g., Jews have another ‘way of salvation’.

I realize the position I take can be a ‘stone of stumbling’, with some labeling me ‘anti-Semitic’ especially when I resist the claim the modern Zionist state of Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. But the prophecies of the O.T. about the Jews are either seen as fulfilled in the people of God known as ‘Israel after the flesh’ (1Cor 10.18) or in the church of Jesus Christ, i.e., the

‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6.16). I choose to believe the latter. Of 55

course, some believe it is possible to have both outcomes at the same time—I regard this as implausible. The O.T. prophecies about Israel’s restoration as a nation with a rebuilt Jerusalem and temple relate to their return from exile in Babylon and Assyria.

Now, though prophecy is misinterpreted to justify the modern state of Israel, this is not to deny the return of Jewry to part of their old ancestral land is something of a marvel. What I see as divinely ordained because of Heaven’s providential care—this is not the same as prophecies being fulfilled. It is even feasible to regard the formation of the modern state of Israel after the U.N.

mandate as symbolic of what the Lord is doing in the church, the true center of His intention. When significant dates in the formation of the modern state, e.g. 1948, correlate well with important points in the history of the modern church, the natural nation has become an object lesson. Their current history an

‘example’ (cf. 1Cor 10.11) of what Heaven is realizing in the spiritual ‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6.16).

It certainly is a stretch to believe the modern state of Israel will repossess all the original lands promised, or to think a ‘third temple’ will be rebuilt on the mount in Jerusalem. The latter is wild imagination, especially when this would incur the wrath of a billion or more Islamic followers. The completion of such a venture would almost certainly lead to Jewry offering animal sacrifices once again to repeat the ‘abomination that causes desolation’ as laid out in Chapter 3.

Yet, I also believe what Paul taught in saying, ‘ the callings of God are irrevocable’ and natural Jews are ‘ still loved on account 56

of the patriarchs’ (Rom 11.28, 29). Hence, he shows what this statement means in Romans 11: namely, the Jews have a bright future when their ‘natural olive branches’ are ‘grafted back in’ to the ‘olive tree’ (v24) at the time of ‘their acceptance’. And this can only mean they accept Jesus as their Messiah and seek to follow Him as members of His Church. He is the ‘way, truth and life’ for both Jews and Gentiles and this ‘grafting back’ is their reinstatement into the ‘olive tree’ of Abraham as the root and the branches are Jesus Christ ( ‘seed of Abraham’) and His many-membered body.

Rather than cite more texts showing how to interpret O.T.

prophecy let me finish with a quote from Dr. J. Angus, a 19th century theologian to confirm the understanding of O.T. prophecy I have presented—one I trust you can too. Here it is.

Giving weight to the facts that the Jews were types, that the distinction between Jew and Gentile is formally abolished, and that our dispensation is spiritual; thinking, moreover, that the descriptions in prophecy, if taken literally, would lead to a belief in the restoration of Judaism, and in the introduction of a system adapted to the infancy rather than the maturity of the church; finding that these descriptions, so far as the re-establishment of the Jews is concerned, are not repeated in the New Testament, and that many prophecies which seem to apply to them as a nation are referred in the N.T. to the church, or to the conversion of the Jews (See Act 2.17-21, Rom 11.26); they conclude that a spiritual interpretation of the whole series is most consistent with the tenor of Scripture.’ [‘The Bible Handbook’ (pg. 247, 1952]

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CHAPTER 5

THE JEWISH QUESTION

INTRODUCTION.

The ‘thorny’ issue addressed in the previous chapter is not the only one generating confusion; especially concerning the modern Jewish state of Israel today since the terrorist massacre in 2023.

Believers taking polar opposite positions on the controversy around the Zionist state have the church deeply divided on its legitimacy and the justification for the ongoing war with its neighbors. A somewhat related byproduct of this is the question of who is an ethnic ‘Jew’ and the more important one of who is a

‘Jew’ in God’s eyes since the Cross of Calvary. Millions of believers are unsure of the answers to these questions. A befuddlement I lay mostly at the feet of the ‘Dispensationalists’

who see the modern state of Israel as the fulfillment of prophecy with a favored role in the divine purposes at the close of the age.

A lack of clarity due also to believers ignoring the truth of two peoples are called Israel in scripture. The first is a natural people, viz., ‘Israel after the flesh’ (1Cor 10.18) or ethnic Jews, and the other is the ‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6.16)—like Isaac, spiritual

‘children of promise’ (Gal 4.28). At the risk of again being labeled ‘anti-Semitic’, I will address both issues. Now, if alarmed by what I put forward, let me assure you I am neither a hater of Jews nor do I believe everything put forth about them being the evil hand behind the Illuminati, Communism, Satanism, the 58

banking cartels, or any other supposed conspiracy. I am ‘anti’

teaching misrepresenting the truth of scripture; in this case, the promotion of a false hope for Jewry at the end of this age.

Now, I admit, these issues present an interpretative challenge, particularly the passages where the apostle Paul addresses them.

If they are not to trip up, nuances of truth must be taken into account; otherwise, more is made of them than is warranted. The same applies to statements by the other N.T. authors, e.g., a high-profile ministry quotes this verse, ‘In that He says, ‘A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away’ (Heb 8.13) to claim the Mosaic covenant is still in existence—a deduction he made by stretching the meaning of, ‘ready to vanish away’. To assert the old covenant has not been abolished on the strength of this clause is absurd; the obvious interpretation for it is, though it took 40 years for the temple’s demise along with its sacrifices, the Mosaic Law was canceled at Calvary.

WHO IS A NATURAL JEW?

Bible teachers often claim an ethnic Jew today is a descendant of the southern kingdom of Judah, and by this they usually mean the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. A statement probably made because they believe the ten northern tribes of Israel were ‘lost’

after their exile to Assyria. However, the assertion has more than one error, and the first correction is the kingdom of Judah was not only these two tribes. It also had much of the tribe of Levi (Levites and Priests) and the tribe of Simeon (Josh 19.1) scattered 59

throughout the kingdom as punishment for the massacre of the men of Shechem after the rape of Dinah (Gen 49.7).

Now, before addressing other issues let me first correct the opposite error of ‘British-Israel’ with its claim the northern ten tribes were not lost after their exile to Mesopotamia. They promote the notion many belonging to these tribes migrated back from exile and can be found (supposedly) in Europe (in the main)—especially in the United Kingdom. Hence the moniker of

‘British Israel’. This novel belief, therefore, posits these nations also rightfully inherit the blessings promised to the descendants of Abraham. Fortunately, the teaching is now much less accepted than it was immediately after the Second World War. More on this later in this chapter.

Then there is the ‘conspiratorial’ theory claiming a large number of Jews—the ‘Ashkenazi’—are not true children of Abraham but the descendants of the Turkic ‘Khazars’. Now, the Khazars did convert to Judaism in the Middle Ages and it is also true the ‘Ashkenazi’ migrated from a different geographical area in Europe than the smaller number of Sephardic Jews. However, genetic studies prove this radical claim about ‘Ashkenazi’ Jews to be a myth, if somewhat true. If unsure, please research it.

As covered already, evangelicals espousing the Dispensational teachings of Darby, Scofield, etc., believe ethnic Jews (natural Israel) have a divine right (because of covenant promises) to exist as the ‘Zionist’ state of Israel today, i.e., their return to ancient ancestral land is seen as a miraculous fulfillment of O.T.

prophecy. Some ‘Zionist’ Christians and their churches (in 60

concert with some Jews) also hold to the belief in a restored ‘third temple’ being built. This latter notion is held so strongly, it has given rise to an industry making the necessary sacramental garments, artifacts, and drapery in preparation. Astonishingly, some also believe God will sanction the restitution of offering up animal sacrifices in this rebuilt temple; in large measure, to fulfill a supposed prophecy about the ‘Antichrist’ desecrating it.

Interestingly, most ultra-orthodox Jews reject this temple project.

Some ‘Dispensationalist’ notables advancing the scenario outlined above have said Jews can be saved by another gospel than the one requiring repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. One of them (he is now dead) even taught the work of redemption on the Cross would not have been necessary if the Jews in the first century had accepted the divine offer of a restored natural kingdom. I regard both teachings as some of the gravest theological errors in Christendom today. With these and the other errors peddled today, please carefully follow the truths I advance of scripture to refute what oftentimes borders on heresy.

SOME CORRECTIVE ANSWERS

First, let's consider who is an ethnic Jew today as established by scripture and current genetic studies—many of course are a mixture. But before that, everyone must recognize an important fact about the appellation ‘Jew’, i.e., it changed its meaning in the biblical record over the centuries. It originally referred to an inhabitant of the southern kingdom of Judah (2Ki 16.5, 6), but as pointed out, this kingdom was not only the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. And as I prove in the next paragraph, the term started to 61

also refer to Israelites from the northern tribes. Indeed, this change in meaning was complete by the time of the exile of the southern kingdom to Babylon (some 140 years after the north).

The Jews today, then, are descendants from all twelve tribes—

not only those from the southern kingdom. Here is the evidence for this. When King Jeroboam set up the counterfeit religion in the north, ‘northerners’ began migrating to the south to escape the

‘apostasy’ of the new religion and participate in true cultic worship at the temple in Jerusalem—but also to live under the divinely appointed king. (Not that the southern kingdom retained cultic purity or remained faithful to its covenant obligations; again and again, they slid into apostasy and the worship of false gods.) At first, this migration was gradual but as the apostasy along with dysfunction in the northern kingdom deepened over time, it sped up—further fraying the distinction between the two kingdoms.

This migration south increased even more when many residents of the northern kingdom were exiled in 722BC; rather than coexist with the Samaritans (half-breeds) who made up most of the population, the Israelites left behind wanted to live as true Jews. And this migration accelerated even more after Hezekiah, king of Judah (ca 700BC) invited the Israelites left in the north to travel and celebrate a Passover at Jerusalem (2Chron 30). As also happened some 80 years later when another combined Passover was kept in the reign of Josiah king of Judah. The record says,

‘all Judah and (remaining) Israel(ites)…were there with the 62

people of Jerusalem’ to celebrate it; plus, ‘ no Passover (was) kept…like that since the days of Samuel’ (2Chron 35.18).

These facts destroy the myth of the ‘lost tribes’ of the northern kingdom and British Israel’s claim of the European nations being their descendants. Especially when Jewish scholars confirm most of the northern Israelites exiled to Assyria assimilated into the local tribes. A Jewish Rabbi who became a Christian also confirmed the fallacy to me when he said, “As far as Judaism is concerned, there are no ‘lost tribes”. So, while most know a

‘Cohen’ today is a descendant of the Aaronic priesthood, other Jews can trace their ancestry back to the northern tribes, e.g., Anna, at Jesus’ consecration, was from Asher (Lk 2.36).

Hence, when the citizens of the southern kingdom of Judah were exiled to Babylon around 600BC they were from both northern and southern tribes. Even if the majority were from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and Levi, others were from the northern tribes originally. When Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem (Jer 34.9), the inhabitants at this time were all called

‘Jews’, i.e., no distinction was made between those from the north and those from the south. No matter which tribe the citizens were from, they were thereafter known as ‘Jews’ and proven by the use of this term for those who returned from Mesopotamia after the edict of Cyrus. Though most returnees were from the southern tribes, remnants from all the tribes were repatriated. The bottom line: the appellation ‘Jew’ described any resident in the restored nation as proven by its use in the post-exilic books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. (e.g., Ezra 4.12, Neh 1.2, Esth 3.13).

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(Incidentally, most of the ‘northerners’ remained in the south rather than return to their original ancestral lands.) No matter which tribe they were from, from then on, this mixed populace was known by the interchangeable terms of Jews or Israelites .

In fact, the book of Chronicles specifically tells ‘northerners’

from ' the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh’ (1Chron 9.2,3) returned from exile in Mesopotamia to rebuild the nation—as does the book of Nehemiah. (See Neh 11.3, 4). If needing more confirmation, it is significant these returned exiles offered up sacrifices for twelve tribes, not just those in the south (Ezra 6.17).

The terms Jew and Israelite, in fact, applied to the inhabitants of Judea and Samaria right up to the time of Christ (See John 12.13; Mark 15.18; Acts 2.36 and 10.22). The final confirmation for what I present comes from Paul’s speech to King Agrippa where he refers to the ‘promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night’ (Act 26.7).

WHO ARE NOW ‘JEWS’ IN GOD’S SIGHT?

Even if my answer is rejected, this ‘thorny’ question needs tackling, and though my position is biblical, it often attracts the derogatory label of ‘anti-Semitic’. But no matter, it is important to establish who Heaven now regards as a true ‘Jew’ after the Cross of Calvary. Yes, an emotional issue, but it must be addressed and this pejorative name-calling must not stop the search for truth.

‘Christian Zionists’ will almost certainly protest, classifying my position as 'replacement theology’, a derogatory term getting ‘bad press’ in evangelical circles today. But disapproval of what I advance does not trouble me because I also believe the Jews have 64

a positive, bright future. One with great blessing after the divine plans for their salvation are realized and they are ‘ grafted back into the olive tree’ (Rom 11.24). No one, including me, can deny this glorious outcome. What I disavow is much of what is peddled about the modern Zionist state of Israel.

Now, once the biblical material is carefully interpreted, it becomes clear who is a ‘Jew’ in God’s sight today. Paul lays out the most complete understanding here, ‘But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called’ (Rom 9.6, 7) and here, ‘for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart…not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God’ (Rom 2.28,29). (Note the play on words in the phrase, ‘praise from God’; the appellation Jew is derived from the word Judah, meaning praise.) The definition of who is a true Jew today in God's sight found in these statements is clear, i.e., it is any believer in Jesus Christ who is born again and is now one of the spiritual children Abraham was promised. In other words, one who is baptized into the new ‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6.16), the nation with a new covenant. Therefore, it is startling to find anyone, let alone a well-known bible teacher, take what Paul said in those texts to posit only a natural Jew who also is ‘ circumcised of the heart, in the spirit’ (a Christian) is a Jew in God’s sight today. I must protest. Though I respect his ministry, to teach only 65

natural Jews can be true Jews in God’s sight today—a ‘Jew inwardly’—is exegetical nonsense.

The passages quoted are abundantly clear on this—a ‘Jew’ in God’s sight now are those who are ‘circumcised in the heart’ and not because of their ethnicity. A truth sacrosanct for Paul and why he emphasized it in his other letters, e.g., Phil 3.3, Col 2.11. The bottom line: the previous barrier between Gentiles and ‘the Circumcision’ no longer exists; in the Kingdom of God, they are fellow heirs and joint citizens (Rom 10.12, Gal 3.28, Col 3.11).

An fuller treatment of this is here, ‘Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—

that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the 66

household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God’ (Eph 2.11-22).

Though Paul uses the term ‘Israel’ here rather than ‘Jew’, he again establishes this reality of a new ‘commonwealth of Israel’

where Gentiles (once aliens) are fellow members with Jewish believers in a corporate ‘new man’ (v15), i.e., there is no hint of two classes of citizens. Every born-again believer baptized into Jesus Christ is, then, ‘circumcised in the heart’ and a true, spiritual Jew or Israelite. Those in this called-out company are known as the ‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6.16) and with ‘Israel’ meaning

‘prince with God or ruler with God’, this new ‘commonwealth’

consists of Christ Jesus as the head and the church as His body.

Indeed, Paul extols this reconciliation between two ‘races’ who once were enemies, revealing it is the ‘mystery hidden for ages’

(Col 1.26, 27). Two truths stand out from this: the ‘mystery’ was only revealed after being hidden for millennia and this

‘commonwealth of Israel’ with its new covenant means the Mosaic with its cultic order is obsolete. The bottom line: those whom God now views as His covenant children in this new dispensation are the ‘ children of promise’ (Gal 3.7) (like Isaac).

Believers in Christ Jesus are the true children of Abraham and inherit the promises given to him. A brutal truth, but the one both Jesus and John the Baptist also pointed out to Jewry by saying their actions proved they were not God’s children (Jhn 8.39-41, 67

Mt 3.9). The bottom line: natural descent from Abraham no longer guarantees the blessing of Heaven.

Paul has even more ‘hard sayings’ with regards to natural Jewry, including this on their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah,

‘ For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles…so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost’.

(1Thes 2.14-16) Add to this the words of apostles in the book of Acts, e.g. Act 2.23, 7.52 and it confirms the Jews are held responsible for the death of the Lord Jesus (even if the Romans crucified Him). Proving it was the prime reason for the desolation of Jerusalem and the nation’s dissolution (Lk 19.42-44).

Now, back to Romans where Paul also quotes this passage in Hosea to reinforce the truth about the inclusion of Gentiles into a

‘new Israel’, i.e., ‘ 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 Hosea, 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’ (Rom 9:23-26).

To reinforce the same truths, he later writes, ‘ I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through 68

their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”

Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, [goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree’ (Rom 11.11-24).

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Apologies for the extended quote, but this is where Paul spells out the actual future for natural Jewry. Namely, though they now are ‘fallen’ (v11, 12), and ‘ cast away’ (v15), with their branches

‘broken off’(v17) or ‘ cut off’ (v22) from the olive tree, they have the promise of being ‘grafted back in’(v24) to regain their

‘ acceptance’ (v15). However, despite many promoting a fanciful interpretation, this restoration can only be interpreted as Jews joining the spiritual ‘commonwealth of Israel’ because the ‘scales of unbelief’ are removed and they believe Jesus is the Messiah.

‘All Israel will be saved’

This brings us to these words, ‘all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, t here shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins’ (Rom 11:26,27). When bible teachers peddle a false doctrine by saying these verses mean ‘all natural Jews will be saved’, this important phrase needs to be correctly interpreted. Indeed, the promotion of this falsehood is astounding when Paul has already stated ‘ For they are not all Israel who are of Israel’ (Rom 9.6). What, then, did he mean by this phrase ‘all Israel shall be saved’? It can only be interpreted one way, i.e. it refers to spiritual Israel and not ‘Israel after the flesh’. Numerous Jews have already found salvation in Christ and many more will be saved through the testimony of the two witnesses (Rev 11) sent to overcome their blindness and unbelief, but to teach every natural Jew is going to be saved is inexcusable.

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CHAPTER 6

THE SECOND COMING (ADVENT)