|
|
|
|
Does Israel stand alone? Gen.12:3 Israel was selected and used by God for his representation of a nation to the world, although they have not received the new covenant which God promised to and through them, the Gentiles are able to take advantage of being grafted in as wild branches (Rom.11). Psalm 121:1-4 “ I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.” God watches over Israel he will allow her enemies to go only so far. The change of prophecy views has many churches no longer siding with Israel. When you hear teachers say that Israel’s return to the land has absolutely NOTHING to do with Bible prophecy, that God is finished with the Jews because they rejected him, that the church is the new Israel (Spiritual Israel). That is false and can easily be proven from numerous Scriptures. This type of teaching purposely misleads people into thinking that Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled. When we are finally seeing the very things warned about in the Scripture about the end, we are being told by a segment of the church not to be concerned, it means nothing - Watch out! It is this type of position, rejecting written prophecy that has its connection to the apostasy that is foretold in Scripture for the latter times. Jesus states you are either for or against him. This would also apply to your stand on Israel who are God’s people whom Jesus said He was coming back to rescue and restore into the land. How the church relates to Israel is key to her being blessed or judged (Mt.25:31-46) as the millennium begins. For Gn. 12:3 is still in effect “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;”the reason is because in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” How can you accept the blessing, when you don’t accept the ones who God gave the blessing through to us? This passage gives the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant that flowed from Abraham to his offspring, to the nation of Israel. This is still in effect today. God promised to Abraham and his offspring, (nearly 2000 years before Christ) a land, a people, and a nation. And he stated the whole world (the families) would be blessed. Why? Because the only savior came through Israel (Rev.12). Like it or not that is what took place, the Messiah came from the Jews (Jn.4:22.) and the Devil hates it, and hates them. What does it mean to curse Israel? To ridicule them, to dishonor, disparage, abuse, dishonor, despise, consider of little account, treat as contemptible. If anyone, any nation curses them or tries to do harm to them they will be cursed, for the blessing for the whole world comes from them as God ordained. This includes questioning their status with God and try to remove them from the land. As it says in Psalm 129:5: “Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back .” Pay attention replacement teachers. Zion is Jerusalem There are real repercussions when people or nations go against God’s people. We have seen this in history. Many have found what is meant by this phrase in Gen.12:1-3. Saddam Hussein had portrayed himself as the new Nebuchadnezzar, to destroy Israel. President Ebrahim Raisi (likewise, known as the “Butcher of Tehrān”) who launched the tremendous attack against Israel died in a helicopter crash in Iran. The world will one day be punished for their unbelief in God, and I dare say so will those in the church who take a stand against Israel's right to exist in her land and the promises (covenants) God has written for her. This is not a carte blanche excuse to Israel for whatever wrong they do, especially in war. Despite whatever wrongs she does today she has a right to the land because of the Lord's promises in his covenant throughout the centuries. And if the Lord does not back his word for Israel, will he back his word for the Church? Or, for anything said? Hebrews 8:7-9: “He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, whenI will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah--”not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.” The new covenant is found in Isaiah 59:21; 61:8-9; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 16:60, 34:25-32; it includes both houses of Israel. Isaiah 10:20-23 qualifies by explaining that only the remnant of Israel will be saved. It is the Gentiles that are grafted into the covenant made with Israel, not the reverse. If this is made to Israel then Israel cannot be replaced because she is the root. God has been actively keeping his promise to Israel throughout history. It is for this reason they still exist. If they existed then they must exist today for the promises to be fulfilled. If we say Israel is finished then we can have no confidence as unnatural branches grafted in. How could a Gentile trust God if He has not kept his promise to Israel? They would have no confidence for him to keep the promise to them either Consider Romans 11 have statutes in it that are immovable according his covenant. Rom 11:17 Paul tells us “some of the branches were broken off,”Not all! The natural branches get their life from the same root, but if the natural branches are not grafted back in, then the prophecy is broken. Jesus said Scripture cannot be broken (Jn.10:35.) That means it must be completed and Jesus told us the branches broken off will be grafted in again. This would not make sense Rom 10:1 “b rethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” Why say this if it is not true? But how can Israel be grafted back into the same tree (the new covenant) that the Gentiles are now in, if the blessings are now transferred to the Gentiles believers; teaching Israel is replaced. Paul speaks of The “mystery” of the gospel of whom the Gentiles are included in by being grafted into the covenant of Israel (Rom.11). They are to remember how they got there and not think they have replaced Israel. God has not forsaken Israel whom he made covenant[s] with, they are temporarily severed. Eph. 3:6 “ that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.” “hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11:25).This temporary hardening of Israel continues until the full number of Gentiles to be saved is reached. At a certain point of time God turns his focus to Israel for their restoration (which is during the Tribulation). Israel's reinstatement is held for the 70 th shavuim of Daniel (9:24-27). The world will be tested according to Gods righteousness on what they do with Israel and his people. There are leaders out of ignorance and there are some who intentionally want the church to forsake Israel, teaching the church has replaced Israel. You need to make up our mind now. The church will be judged on what they do with Israel (Gen.12 and Mt.25). Christians need to stand by Israel as a nation in the land. God's ancient promise in Genesis 12:3 is still very much in effect: “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.” God keeps his promises and will not break His covenant with his people. Ps. 129:5: “Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back.” If you do not accept God’s word on Israel you make yourself an enemy of God, God is for his people Israel and He wants his church to be blessed by supporting them as a nation and individually. The Lord is coming back to rescue and restore Israel and put in order the nations. In the meantime God along with his angels are present to protect Israel and to fulfill all that he spoke.
|
|
