Israel’s ongoing rebellion against the lordship of Christ means that God’s judgment still rests upon it.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NKJV)
In fact, modern Judaism, which is largely based on the Talmud, does not resemble the practice and faith of the people of God in the Bible. The following video will most likely shock anyone who is only familiar with a sugar-coated version of modern Judaism.
The Old Testament scriptures pointed toward the coming Messiah, Jesus the Lord, starting with God’s promise in the Garden that one of Eve’s descendants would crush the head of the serpent. (Genesis 3:15) The next great promise was made to Abraham that one of his descendants would be a blessing to the entire earth, not just a relatively small group of people who later became known as Israel. (Genesis 12:3) God’s plan was always to bless the entire earth. (I have written a series about this entitled The Cosmic War.) The next highly significant messianic prophecy came to Moses, who prophesied that God would one day raise up a prophet like him who must be heeded or the consequences would be fatal. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) The last significant promise that I will mention is the one God made to King David, which guaranteed that one of his descendants would rule on God’s throne forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) Jesus’ miraculous birth, prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14), ended the waiting. His advent fulfilled the longing of many generations who lived in the expectation that God would keep the promises he made regarding the coming Messiah King (Isaiah 9:2).
Satan violently opposed our Lord’s coming because he understood it was the beginning of his complete defeat. He inspired King Herod to attempt to murder the baby boy. God foresaw this and ordered Joseph, his father by adoption, to take his family to Egypt for safety. After Herod died, an angel instructed Joseph to return to Israel, fulfilling an ancient prophecy and identifying Jesus as God’s true Israel.
When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. Hosea 11:1 (NASB95) He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.” Matthew 2:15 (NASB95)
The Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to connect Hosea’s prophecy to Jesus.
This identification of Jesus as Israel is hugely important in deciding if the modern day Jewish nation is the true Israel.
The first time God called anyone Israel was when he renamed Jacob following his overnight struggle with God’s angel prior to meeting his brother Esau after many years of separation.
So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Genesis 32:27–28 (NASB95)
Jacob’s struggle with God, which ended in his being defeated by the angel and surrendering to God, resulted in his receiving God’s blessing. Such surrender, however, has not typified the relationship the nation of Israel has had with God. In fact, it has been just the opposite, as Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stated so powerfully just before being stoned to death.
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Acts 7:51–53 (NASB95)
This event ended the seven-year period prophesied by Daniel the prophet, about which I have written in my article, “The Prophetic Significance of the Stoning of Stephen.” From this point forward, the gospel went primarily to the Gentiles.
Dispensational theology is a serious error because it undermines essential New Covenant truth.
The New Covenant has nothing to do with nationality or genetics. It is based solely on the new birth, making participation in God’s kingdom available to people from every nation and ethic background. (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11)
The rejection of the Lord Jesus by the Jewish nation, as exemplified by most of its leaders over the years, began in earnest during Jesus’ public ministry, climaxed at the crucifixion, and continued unabated after his resurrection up until the present day. Since the Lord Jesus could no longer be harmed, their hostility against the lordship of the risen Christ was taken out on his followers who were violently persecuted. This attitude continues, as shone in the video above.
Significantly, Saul of Tarsus, a prominent Pharisee who adamantly opposed the gospel and persecuted followers of Christ, was present at Stephen’s death and heard that man ask his Lord to forgive his murderers. (Acts 7:60) A short time afterward, Saul was intercepted by our Lord himself as he traveled on horseback to Damascus to punish disciples of our Lord in that city. Saul understood immediately that the one who appeared to him was and is the Lord, even before he knew his name. Saul, who became Paul the apostle, later recounted what happened to King Agrippa.
“And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:15–18 (NASB95)
When Paul understood it was the risen Jesus who spoke to him, without hesitation he surrendered his entire being to the Lord and became a fearless trumpeter of the gospel message.
Such a turnaround should be present in every person to whom God reveals that Christ is Lord. Those who reject this revelation of the lordship of Christ sentence themselves to eternal damnation.
Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you [the Jews] first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’ ” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:46–48 (NASB95)
The majority of Jews rejected Jesus claims to be the Messiah and Lord. Nothing has changed. That ethnic group of people largely are still hostile to the gospel, as are many others. The reason I point this out is because Dispensationalism causes many people to view Jewish people through rose colored glasses.
God the Father punished the nation of Israel in 70 AD for murdering his Son, just as Jesus said he would.
“But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. 44 “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. Matthew 21:38–45 (NASB95)
God indeed brought that nation to a wretched end at the hands of the same Roman army that they used to kill their Lord. In addition, he removed the kingdom of God from having anything to do with national Israel. It has been given to another nation, those who are born again, the church of our Lord.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9–10 (NASB95)
The city of Jerusalem and the temple were both destroyed, thus signifying the official end of God purposes with Israel.
The sacrificial system ended because Christ’s perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God eliminated the need for any future animal sacrifices. In fact, to re-institute that system would be an abomination. Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the Law, ending its significance as a means to gain or maintain a right standing with God.
The New Covenant officially abrogated the Old (Hebrews 8:13). Going forward, the New Covenant is God’s only means of reconciling humanity to himself.
There is no other name under heaven beside Jesus whereby anyone can be saved. I have written more in detail about these things in my article, “Are the Jews God’s Chosen People?”
Under the New Covenant, the kingdom of God is made up of those who acknowledge Jesus’ lordship. The only admission into that kingdom is through the new birth. T
Many believe that God’s end time plan is to restore the nation of Israel to worldwide prominence and rule the earth through a redeemed Jewish kingdom. This is a result of believing the teaching of dispensationalism introduced by the proven scoundrel, Cyrus Scofield.
I have written a series of articles relating to this deception, the first of which may be accessed by clicking here. This doctrine contradicts the New Covenant and syncretistically blends Old with New, something that cannot be done without sacrificing the truth of the gospel.
Jesus’ purpose was to redeem those God chose before the foundation of the world and to reestablish God’s rule upon the earth.
God’s kingdom advances as people acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Everyone who confesses Jesus is Lord becomes a “living stone” in the New Covenant temple which God is constructing out of human beings who provide a habitation for the Holy Spirit.
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23–24 (NASB95) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19–22 (NASB95)
The key confession of all who receive forgiveness, justification, reconciliation, sonship, and become part of God’s kingdom is that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 10:9-10) All those who refuse to acknowledge his lordship are excluded. Those who fight against those who make this confession are antichrist.
It is a sadly peculiar observation that those who are most used or elevated by God often succumb to pride. Satan, who was an anointed cherub and close to God, fell into such arrogance and pride that he was no longer content with his assigned role and tried to usurp God’s throne. (Isaiah 14:12-14) In similar fashion, the nation of Israel, whom God elevated to the glorious privilege of stewarding the inspired words of God and providing the human pedigree for the coming messiah, fell into pride. When the actual Messiah arrived, it could not tolerate another having the preeminence. Out of jealousy and a determination to have the kingdom for itself, it’s leaders, supported by the people, put the Lord of life to death.
In a parable, Jesus summed up Israel’s attitude toward him.
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ Luke 19:14 (NASB95)
Later in the same parable, Jesus laid out what God’s response would be.
“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” Luke 19:27 (NASB95)
Today the Jewish nation of Israel continues its rebellion against Christ’s lordship and is attempting presumptuously to fulfill its ambition to rule Palestine and the world without submitting to Jesus the Lord.
They still await a messiah who they believe will assist them to accomplish their ambitions. Whoever this messiah may turn out to be, it will not be our Lord.
The only hope for any Jewish person is to recognize that the true messiah has already come and to proclaim him as Lord.
Therefore, it is wrong for Christians to blindly support the nation of Israel’s misguided efforts whose ultimate purpose is to defeat the West and Christianity. (See the first two videos above.)
We have been duped into believing that support for antichrist Israel, which hates Jesus the Lord, is required by the Bible. This is one of the great deceptions of our time.
The true Israel of God is the Lord Jesus, and because we are in him through faith, we who believe, have become the Israel of God. Everyone outside of Christ, has no part whatsoever.
Just as John the Baptist willing receded from the picture after he introduced Jesus to a waiting world, the Jewish people, having accomplished the purposes of God, should have acknowledged the Lord’s rule, stepped aside, and welcomed the nations into God’s kingdom. Instead, they continue to try to jealously cling to what no longer belongs to them.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 (NASB95)
Nothing made the Jews in Jesus’ day more angry than to be told that God’s kingdom now includes Gentiles. They are like the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son who resented the Father’s generous mercy toward the profligate brother. Until we understand that God always planned to reach the entire world, we will not understand Israel’s place in the scheme of things.
He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (NASB95)
Not only does God’s kingdom include people from every ethnicity, the land promised under the new covenant is the entire earth, not just Palestine. The New Covenant is superior to the Old in every respect. To continue to believe that God is still working to fulfill land promises to Israel misses the fact that those promises were already fulfilled in David’s and Solomon’s time.
I do not embrace or encourage any form of antisemitism, but I do not endorse blind support either.
We will continue to love and pray for the Jewish people and share the gospel with them, just as we would for any people group. However, I believe it is a mistake to label them “God’s chosen people.” Nothing could be further from the truth, except for the remnant who become part of the elect through faith in Christ.
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED; 28 FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold, “UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH.” Romans 9:27–29 (NASB95)
The only way for Jews or anyone else to be saved is by confessing that Jesus is Lord.
