petebeck3, Author at Third Peter

Part 3: The Old Must Give Way to the New

Posted March 5, 2026March 5, 2026
by petebeck3

In the beginning, God created everything without flaw. It was perfect and accurately represented the One who made it.

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.  Genesis 1:31 (NKJV)

When sin entered God’s creation through Satan, the fallen angels, and then mankind, everything that was touched and marred by sin, including the earth and heavens, became defiled. They no longer accurately reflected the one who created them. They were no longer suitable for eternal habitation.

God’s plan to redeem his creation would include destroying the old, defiled creation and replacing it with something brand new and undefiled.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  1 Peter 1:3–5 (NKJV)

This would include new heavens and earth and a re-created mankind.

One of the grand themes of the Bible involves replacing the old with the new. That which is spiritual would replace that which is merely natural.

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.  1 Corinthians 15:45–49 (NKJV)

Sin brought death and destruction into God’s creation. That with which the Lord would replace the old order of things will be untouched and immune to those two things. They would be spiritual and eternal.

When God promised Abraham that his seed (singular) would become a blessing to the all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3), little did that man realize that the one who would fulfill that promise, our Lord Jesus, would be the instrument through whom God would accomplish this recreation.

Not only did our Lord redeem mankind, but he also redeemed all of creation.

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.  Romans 8:19–22 (NKJV)

When anyone places their faith and allegiance in the risen Lord, the Holy Spirit recreates the spirit of that person through what is called the new birth.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

This is the first installment in God’s great salvation. Over a lifetime the Holy Spirit will transform the believer’s soul into Christ’s image. The last step is the resurrection of the body by which the transformation will be completed.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  Philippians 3:20–21 (NKJV)

Jesus is the “last Adam,” the progenitor of a brand-new edition of humanity.

The “elect” or chosen ones, those whom God mercifully redeems, become new creations which will be made suitable to dwell with him for eternity in a recreated heaven and earth.

The first Adam was replaced by the last Adam, our Lord. Likewise, the “old man” must be replaced by the “new man” through the new birth.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  John 3:6 (NKJV)

All of this was made possible because God replaced the old covenant of Law with the new covenant of grace.

The old covenant had to give way to the new and fade away, just as our old bodies will die and turn into dust. Our resurrected bodies will reflect the glory of the new covenant creation.

The old earth and heavens will be destroyed only to be recreated.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.  Revelation 21:1 (NKJV)

In God’s great plan, the old always must give way to the new.

As I covered in the previous teaching, all of the covenants leading up to the New pointed to Christ and were fulfilled by him.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

The old covenant patterns and types all pointed to Christ as well. The sacrifices under the old covenant foreshadowed Christ’s perfect sacrifice of himself as God’s Lamb. The feasts of Israel pointed to Christ, who either has or will perfectly fulfill them. The moral Law pointed to Christ in that it showed us how much we need a savior. Only our Lord could keep it, which he did, fulfilling its purpose.

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)

After Jesus the Christ perfectly fulfilled the covenant of Law that pointed to him, with its rituals, patterns, and requirements, there was no longer any need for it. It simply faded away.

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB95)

Once a person, nation, or institution fulfills its purpose in introducing our Lord, who is preeminent, it is fitting for it or them to step aside and move out of the picture so Christ will have first place in all things.

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. Colossians 1:18 (NLT)

John the Baptist exemplified this attitude after he introduced Jesus to the waiting world.

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:29–31 (NASB95)

This was also the case with the Law of Moses. Its purpose was to define what is righteous and to lead us to Christ. Once it fulfills its purpose, it steps out of the spotlight.

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:24–25 (NASB95)

The purpose of the nation of Israel was to receive and preserve the Scriptures and provide the biological bloodline of the promised Messiah.

Once the Messiah arrived, however, the leaders and most of the people refused to recognize and serve the king God promised and sent to them.

He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11–13 (NASB95)

His own, the Jews, refused their Messiah because they desired to retain the preeminence for themselves rather than acknowledge and serve the true king.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’  Luke 19:14 (NKJV)

They revealed that they did not understand that the old order of things cannot inherit the kingdom of God and must step aside to make room for the new. They did not realize that the natural man cannot inherit the kingdom of God because the natural man cannot even understand the spiritual things relating to God’s eternal kingdom. They expected the Messiah to establish an earthly kingdom, but Jesus came to rule over a spiritual one. Because he did not give them what they expected and wanted, they rejected and killed him.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB95) 

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18:36 (NKJV)

The old Israel, which consisted of people born the natural way who were descended from Abraham, could never inherit the New Covenant kingdom because mortality cannot inherit immortality.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB95)

God would create a new Israel that was spiritual and able to inherit God’s kingdom. This new Israel would consist of people from the old order who are recreated through the new birth.

The new Israel is composed of those who are born again by faith in Christ by which they become children of God.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:26–29 (NASB95)

Jesus explained this to Nicodemus when he told him that he must be born again.

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?  John 3:7–10 (NKJV)

We have every reason to think that Nicodemus became a born-again follower of Christ based on his subsequent behavior, but most of the Jewish leaders refused God generous offer to saved from that perverse generation.

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Acts 2:40–42 (NKJV)

Most of the naturally born Jews imagined that they could keep the kingdom which belonged to the Lord Jesus but ended up losing everything, which is another spiritual principle.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  Matthew 16:24–25 (NKJV)

Jesus warned that generation of Jewish people living in Jerusalem that God would require justice for their rejection of the Messiah.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”  Luke 13:34–35 (NKJV)

The eventual destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army in 70 AD fulfilled this prophecy. It was God’s judgment of Israel for its rejection of their Messiah, Jesus.

Jesus warned the Jewish leaders of this looming judgment.

Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.  Luke 11:49–51 (NKJV)

“But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 “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.” Matthew 21:37–41 (NASB95)

“But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Matthew 22:7 (NASB95)

“What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. Mark 12:9 (NASB95)

The early church clearly understood that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was Jesus’ vindication which brought to a violent end the Old Covenant.

Not only did God punish those who rejected their Messiah, he handed the kingdom of God over to another “nation” or people that who would obey him.

“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 21:43–45 (NASB95)

That other nation or people is the church, which is composed of both Jews and Gentiles, all who have believed the gospel and been born again into God’s kingdom. The Jewish apostle Peter recognized that the church had become the new spiritual Israel that fulfilled the unmet purpose of the old Israel.

This new spiritual Israel is able to inherit God’s promises and dwell with him for eternity.

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; 1 Peter 2:9 (NASB95)

The royal priesthood of the New Covenant offers spiritual sacrifices of praise and obedience to God, rather than the now defunct animal sacrifices. Animal sacrifices were never able to provide forgiveness for sins (Hebrews 10:4). They were always only a picture of the sacrifice that Jesus would make at Calvary as God’s Lamb, who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Now that the perfect has come, the old dead order of things has become a stench in God’s nostrils. Holding on to it that stinking corpse represents rebellion and rejection of Christ and the New Covenant.

This is one reason why legalism is such a deadly perversion. Whenever we try to blend dead old covenant forms with new covenant life and grace, we create a hybrid that is alien to God and hostile to the gospel. Therefore, any attempt to rebuild the nation or the temple or the sacrificial system is a continuance of the Jewish rebellion against God, the New Covenant, and Jesus the Messiah.

Any attempt to resurrect and cling on to the old order of things amounts to a refusal to go forward with God.

Jesus compared God’s new covenant to new wine that requires a new wine skin.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’ ” Luke 5:37–39 (NASB95)

The new wineskin is the church composed of Jew and Gentile, the one new man, the body of Christ, the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). The old wineskin is the old covenant of law and the Jewish people who refuse to acknowledge Christ.

It is man’s unredeemed nature to prefer what we already have, though it be old and dying, over the new thing God offers which is eternal. We must let go of the old and embrace the new if we want to move forward with God. Let us continue to pray for the Jewish people that they may receive mercy to finally recognize their Messiah King so they can be transformed spiritually and become part of the reborn Israel of God.

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Is It Antisemitic to Tell the Truth about Israel?

Posted March 3, 2026March 3, 2026
by petebeck3

Antisemitism, or hatred for the Jews and Israel, has reared its ugly head many times through the centuries. It is a word associated with hatred, abuse, intense suffering, and crimes against humanity. Its past is so ugly that any accusation of being antisemitic carries a stigma, much as the over used word “racist” does. In fact, most people so fear being labeled either racist or antisemitic that it effectively can be used mute criticism and shut down debate. Today, while antisemitism certainly exists, the accusation of it is being leveraged more and more by the leaders of Israel to insulate themselves from criticism for their inhumane actions in Gaza and elsewhere.

For those of us who have dared to question Israel and have encountered the specter of being so labeled, it raises the question, “Is it antisemitic to criticize Israel?”

Going further, is it antisemitic to claim, as does the New Testament, that the Jewish people, except for a remnant, are no longer “God’s Chosen People,” which is a central claim of Zionists of both the Jewish and Christian varieties? Is it allowable to examine how the Bible defines Jewishness from a New Covenant perspective? If not, then the New Covenant is antisemitic, which would be quite odd considering it was primarily written by Jews.

They who seek to manipulate the conversation attempt to control how language is defined and used.

By so doing, they quite often are often able to manipulate us to support, or at least not resist, their agenda. A primary defense is to refuse to allow words to be improperly defined.

Using Language to Oppress

Propaganda experts employ euphemisms to make something evil sound much better than it is or to make something good seem evil.

A great example relates to the issue of abortion. The Bible clearly teaches that God knows us before we are conceived. (Ephesians 1:4) The Holy Spirit filled John the Baptist while he was still in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15), showing clearly that God regards the unborn as people. In order to justify genocide, oppressors almost always try to dehumanize the victims. In this country in the past, we did this to black slaves and Native Americans. Abortionists try to dehumanize the baby by calling it by a Latin term, fetus, which means “little one,” but those who push abortion insinuate that fetus means something not yet human, a mere clump of cells. This is designed to provide some wiggle room to those who wish to end the “inconvenience” of an unwanted pregnancy without having to feel guilty for committing murder. Politically, abortionists attempt to sway people by using the euphemism of calling themselves “pro-choice,” pretending to be on the side of downtrodden women who otherwise have no choice but bear the burden of birthing and raising their child perhaps quite by themselves. Who would be against women having a choice? Using this trickery, they often successfully make people think that abortion is merely giving a woman a choice while completely ignoring the irony of denying the baby any choice at all. One person’s choice is never supposed to eliminate the life of another. Abortionists further euphemistically couch their murderous intent inside such terms us “reproductive rights.” Anyone opposed to the murder of unborn children are thereby cast as rights deniers, even though nowhere does our Constitution provide anyone with the right to murder another human being. Abortionists cleverly support “women’s rights” while completely denying the human rights of the unborn baby. This abuse of language is used to justify a multi-million dollar business of killing unborn babies and sometimes harvesting their body parts, while pretending to occupy the moral high ground. In reality, from God’s point of view, it is murder of the most heinous type – the killing of innocent defenseless babies.

This is how the devil uses language against us. He calls evil good, confuses those whose moral compass is unsettled, condemns any who challenge him, and pretends to be decent and caring while he murders the innocent.

Another way the devil uses language to oppress us is by branding those who oppose him and his agenda as fear-filled haters.

We can see where the devil is at work in a society by discerning what activities and groups are being insulated from any form of criticism.

The devil does not allow us to be against any idea or agenda that he is pushing. A favorite tactic frames our opposition to sin as hatred for the people who practice it. He loves to claim that we are afraid of the people whose activity and agendas we refuse to support. An obvious example is Islam. If I resist the the spoken Muslim agenda to subjugate non-Muslims, I cannot possibly be anything but someone who has an irrational fear of Islam, an Islamaphobe. I am left no middle ground in which I can oppose ideas or practices found in Islam without hating or fearing those who follow that religion.

I grew up as a Roman Catholic, attended Catholic school, was an “altar boy,” and “practiced” that religion. At the age of 19, I heard the real gospel message for the first time. I discovered that I could be “saved” (forgiven by God, made right with him, become one is his children, and receive eternal life) by putting my faith in Jesus and what he accomplished for us on the cross and through his resurrection. As a result, I surrendered my life to him as the Lord and was born again. Thus I began a lifelong discipleship journey as I attempt to follow him and his teachings. Over time it became clear to me that much of what the Roman Catholic Church teaches directly opposes the Bible. I was forced to make a choice between the RCC and the Bible and came down on the side of the Bible. Now, some 55 years later and being conversant in Bible doctrine, I clearly see that many of the teachings of the RCC are a complete distortion of the gospel, “another” gospel as Paul would say. I detest all of the RCC’s false doctrine because it keeps people from knowing the gospel and have written several articles exposing it, but that does not mean I hate Roman Catholics. I absolutely do not.

It is very possible to hate what a group teaches or stands for without hating the people in the group.

I realize that most people in any large group do not know what the leadership of that group is doing. If I confront Catholics about doctrinal errors, often they will admit their ignorance or even disavow believing such things. I am quite sure that many Muslims do not support all the doctrines of the Koran. Likewise, many Jewish people do not support the genocide being perpetrated by the nation of Israel or do they espouse the hatred for Christ and the goyim that some rabbis and the Talmud teach.

Dispensational Lies Provide the Basis of Christian Zionism

The false doctrine of Dispensationalism teaches that Israel and the Jews are still “God’s Chosen People,” whom Christians must support unconditionally or risk coming under the judgment of God. During the early years of my discipleship journey, this is what I believed because it was all I knew, not realizing that for most of church history this was how Christians viewed things. Eventually I discovered other eschatologies (doctrines of the end times) and have come to the conclusion that the New Testament clearly teaches that, by disavowing any allegiance to Christ, the Jewish people biologically descended from Abraham are no longer considered to be authentic Jews, spiritually speaking. Instead, those who do place their faith and allegiance in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, have become the true children of Abraham and the Israel of God.

Jesus is the promised “seed” to whom God referred in his promises to Abraham and David. Our Lord is the one to whom the who Bible points.

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:27 (NKJV)

Biblical Israel was privileged to be the vehicle that God used to steward God’s Word and the promise and bring the Messiah into the world, but the Jews were never intended to become the focus of what God was and is doing. That honor belongs to Christ.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Ephesians 1:7–10 (NKJV)

Dispensationalism declares that Christ’s work on the cross was ineffective because it refuses to acknowledge that our Lord destroyed the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile and has not made both into one. It is an alien gospel.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 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, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14–18 (NKJV)

When one understands that the “chosen people of God” are the elect who believe in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, it undermines the false doctrine of Dispensationalism that those who are descended from Abraham or who have adopted the Jewish faith are “God’s Chosen People” who must be supported unconditionally and uncritically in all of their geopolitical aspirations and activities.

Jewish Zionism Distorts What It Means to Be Jewish

Just as Dispensationalism, the framework behind Christian Zionism, is a distortion of the gospel; so Jewish Zionism corrupts the meaning of Jewishness.

According to Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, the nation state of modern Israel has stolen the identity of the Jews in order to garner support. By so doing, it has commandeered the idea of what it means to be Jewish and transformed it from being a religious people into being merely a people who claim Jewishness and are occupying the ancient land of Israel, even though many do not even believe in God. The following interview with Rabbi Shapiro illustrates this more eloquently than I can.

He even says that Jewish Zionism is antisemitic.

Whereas Jesus came to establish a heavenly kingdom, Jewish Zionists in Israel, with the misguided and ardent support of Christian Zionists, are working to enlarge and strengthen an earthly kingdom. Jesus uses spiritual means, but Israel uses violence, intrigue, and any means possible.

The Truth about Modern Talmudic Judaism

Since the Jews formally renounced Christ and still do, except for a remnant, that religion is basically “antichrist” in its widest sense and, therefore, anti-God. The apostle John, a Jewish member of the early New Covenant church, clearly taught that, if we reject Christ, we also reject God the Father.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23 (NKJV)

Jewish teaching in the Talmud insists that Christ is a blasphemer who is boiling eternally in excrement for his sins. His name is held in disrespect and antipathy by the Jews. There is no commonality of belief between Christian and Jews at this most fundamental level regarding who is our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

Despite claims to the contrary, we are not able to walk or work together in any deep sense because we are not agreed on the most critical point.

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Amos 3:3 (NKJV)

The Talmud teaches that Gentiles have a lower kind of soul than do Jews and that it is okay to kill, steal, and lie to the goyim as a means to further the ends of Israel and the Jews. This is not my opinion. It is what the Talmud teaches.

The Talmud is the most important book in modern Judaism, being held in higher esteem than the Torah.

Leveraging the Accusation of Antisemitism to Shut Down the Truth

I am quite sure that many who watch the above video will immediately assume that its producer is an antisemite and its content is antisemitic, but that is not the case. If the truth is antisemitic, we are in trouble. The following interview features Daniel Klein, who grew up in Israel on the West Bank and later converted to Christianity. His insights and experience corroborate Peter Boland’s statements above.

Daniel Klein affirms that it is very difficult to go against the accepted narrative in Zionist Israel, even if one is a resident and Jewish. In our country, as soon as someone points out the horrible things found in the Talmud or the inhumane activities of the nation of Israel, the accusation of antisemitism is soon heard. This is a tactic to shut down the truth.

We must be allowed to critique Jewish doctrine and the activity of the nation of Israel without being labeled antisemitic or censored.

Will antisemites use such material to justify their hatred of Israel and the Jews? Certainly. Does this make the material antisemitic? No. It is the truth. The truth is a double edged sword which can be used for good or evil. I am not responsible for how haters use the truth. We cannot afford to censor the truth in order to avoid its being used by haters. That would be like forbidding anyone to have a car because some people will drive while drunk.

We cannot strip the majority’s free speech rights to protect against a minority of haters.

Free speech, the exchange of ideas without censorship, was enshrined in the Bill of Rights. We must not allow anyone to strip us of that right, no matter how righteous sounding the reason. If we do, tyranny will descend upon us very quickly.

We who follow Christ need to know the truth about the modern nation of Israel and the teachings of modern Judaism so we can properly pray for and share the gospel in the hope that Jewish people will also believe in and declare allegiance to our Lord Jesus. This is what it means to truly love them. It is not loving or godly to promote the falsehood that the Jews are still God’s chosen people who have an inside track to God. The only way for anyone, Jew or Gentile, to be saved is through faith in our Lord Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)

Click here to go to more articles on Israel, dispensational theology, and the end times.

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What Defines Jewishness?

Posted February 26, 2026February 28, 2026
by petebeck3

When I first embarked on my current quest to discover who is the true Israel, one of the major questions that needed to be answered is: “What defines Jewishness?” Interestingly, Jewish rabbis and those who lead the state of Israel differ greatly on the answer, as you will discover if you watch the video interview of Rabbi Shapiro below.

The most obvious answer, perhaps, is that a Jew is someone biologically descended from Abraham. Modern genetics confirms that most people who claim biological Jewish descent have genomes that trace back to the area occupied by ancient Israel, at least on the paternal line. So we can establish some sort of theoretical Jewish descent based on DNA, even though it is impossible to prove one’s lineage directly from Abraham genealogically since all records were destroyed when Jerusalem and the Temple were leveled in 70 AD. Also, without our being able to identify and examine Abraham’s bones, we cannot definitively establish who are his modern descendants using the science of DNA.

Grok AI breaks down what is commonly accepted as the various Jewish lineages living in modern Israel below.

The percentage of Jews living in modern Israel who are Ashkenazi (typically defined as those with origins in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, South Africa, or similar classifications, often excluding or separately noting post-1989 immigrants from the former USSR) is approximately 32%.

This figure comes from a representative 2019 study/sample of the Israeli Jewish population (cited in sources including Wikipedia’s Demographics of Israel page, drawing from academic analysis), which broke it down as:

- - About 44.9% Mizrahi (grandparents born in Asia or North Africa),
  - 31.8% Ashkenazi (grandparents born in Europe/the Americas/etc.),
  - 12.4% “Soviet” (post-1989 immigrants from the ex-USSR, many of whom are ethnically Ashkenazi but often tracked separately),
  - 3% Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews),
  - 7.9% mixed or other.

I suppose the above figures are correct, but it is not that important. Being unable to nail down genetically those who are biological descendants of Abraham does not really pose a problem, however, because a more legitimate claim to Jewishness, according to Rabbi Shapiro, comes from being a follower of the Jewish religion, something that transcends nationality, ethnicity, and genetics.

The video below is a brilliant presentation of what a Jewish rabbi says it means to be a Jew and how different that is from Zionism. I suggest you start at 3:36. It is long but well worth watching. I noted some interesting places in the video as follows.
3:36 - What is a Jew?
36:40 - Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.
Other quotes: Zionism is antisemitic and anti-Jewish.

One can be a religious Jew from being born into a practicing Jewish family or by choosing to convert to Judaism. In the Old Testament, several women in the line of Jesus the Messiah were non-Israelites who converted.

This method of identifying one’s Jewishness is more easily defined and provable, but it is not what the state of Israel accepts. Israel permits people who are atheists but have a Jewish background to be allowed to return to the land. Israel is a secular state caring little for the Jewish religion.

New Covenant Jewishness

Now let us examine how our Lord Jesus and Paul defined Jewishness, which is far more important for gaining a New Covenant perspective.

When the Jewish Pharisees attacked Jesus’ authority and credibility, a discussion of origins ensued. This discussion began after Jesus promised those who believed in him that obeying his words would set them free.

They [the Pharisees] answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” John 8:33 (NKJV)

The first issue that Jesus addressed was their claim never to have been in bondage. Then he progressed to the second point, their claim to be Abraham’s offspring.

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” John 8:34–38 (NKJV)

All are guilty of sin; therefore, all are in bondage. Their refusal to acknowledge their sin was central to their larger problem of refusing to recognize Jesus’ messianic claims.

Next Jesus acknowledged their genealogical link to Abraham, but denied their deeper connection to him by saying that spiritually they have another father.

The Jewish leaders denied Jesus’ claim, emphatically asserting, “Abraham is our father.” (John 8:39) To this Jesus replied:

...“If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” John 8:39–41 (NKJV)

Here the Pharisees insinuate that Jesus is the illegitimate child of Mary while at the same time insisting that not only is Abraham their father, but so is God. This set up Jesus to deliver his final judgment in this matter.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” John 8:42–47 (NKJV)

Despite their being genetically descended from Abraham, our Lord declared that they were not spiritual descendants of Abraham, “not of God,” and were the offspring of Satan.

Biological descent now means nothing when it comes to the kingdom of God. The only criteria for judging if one is part of the true Israel of God is whether one confesses that Jesus is Lord and is born again.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NKJV)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:15–16 (NKJV)

Paul addresses the issue of who is the true Israel in several places in his letters. It was a contentious issue in his day, as it continues to be today.

The devil resists the truth of what Christ accomplished because he wants to keep us in the dark. The truth sets people free.

God called Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles. I think it is quite impossible for us with a Gentile background to understand the shock to his system when God gave him that assignment! The Jews despised the Goyim. Paul, being an arch-Pharisee, would have embodied that sentiment; yet, our Lord Jesus immediately tasked him to take the gospel to the nations! I imagine it took Paul a little while to work out the theology of it all, which may account for his years of separation before the launching of his apostolic ministry.

Paul knew that he would encounter violent opposition from the Jews for preaching Jesus and including the Gentiles in God’s great plan of redemption. He knew because he had been a persecutor himself. He knew their mindset, their theology, their self-righteous indignation, and their willingness to use violence. Nevertheless, he resolutely determined to obey the Lord by taking the gospel to the world at large.

When the Judaizers confused the new converts with Jewish legalism, Paul laid out his arguments to the contrary, many of which have been preserved in the New Testament.

Modern Dispensationalism is another version of Jewish legalism that continues to try to undo the finished work of Christ in bringing Jew and Gentile together in one group.

The epistles to the Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians contain some of Paul’s best work in this area. I will quote some verses from these letters below with commentary so you can see how perfectly Paul’s words agree with Jesus’. We will start in Romans.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28–29 (NKJV)

These words of Paul agree with Jesus. Jesus agreed that the Pharisees were descended biologically from Abraham, but in the more important spiritual realm they were not his children. Paul contrasts that which is of the flesh (from natural birth) with that which of the Spirit (by supernatural birth). This agrees with what Jesus told Nicodemus.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5–7 (NASB95)

Unless a biological Jew (or Gentile. It is the same for everyone.) is born again, he or she no part in God’s kingdom.

Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:7–9 (NKJV)

Here Paul insists that only those who believe in Jesus and confess him as Lord are reckoned to be sons of Abraham, the true Israel of God.

This includes both natural born Jews and Gentiles. Conversely, those Jews who refuse to confess Christ are no longer considered children of Abraham.

Only those of faith are sons of Abraham.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26–29 (NKJV)

Here he reemphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles become sons of God and part of Abraham’s seed through faith in Christ.

The word “seed” is singular, indicating that our inclusion in God’s promise to Abraham becomes ours by our being placed in Christ, the promised seed.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 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, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:14–22 (NKJV)

In this beautiful and rich passage, Paul affirms that Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ are made one, coming together in Christ to form a “new man,” the body of Christ, the church. Together we both have equal access to the Father via the Spirit. We are indwelled by God’s Spirit and have become a living temple housing God’s presence.

The New Covenant, therefore, eliminates the distinction between Jew and Gentile, which Dispensationalism insists still exists. This shows that Dispensationalism is a distortion of the gospel and denial of this fundamental New Covenant truth. I

Most of the Jewish leaders in Jesus’ day completely rejected Christ’s messianic claims, choosing Barabbas the murderer and insurrectionist (death) instead of choosing their Messiah, who is Life. They put our Lord to death by the hands of the Romans, as Jesus prophesied they would, and continue in their rebellion to this day, except for those elect Jews who confess Christ. The Talmud says that Jesus was a blasphemer who is eternally boiling in excrement. There is no real Judeo-Christian unity. The Jewish religion is hostile to Christ and Christianity.

Through their rejection of Jesus, the Jews ceased to be Jews in any spiritual sense, according to both Jesus and Paul.

They still call themselves by that name, but are not. This brings to mind Christ’s words in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9, where he called those Jews who persecuted the church a “synagogue of Satan” who falsely claimed to be Jews. His promise to that church is that eventually those persecutors will one day admit that Jesus indeed loves his church.

Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9 (NKJV)

If my words seem inflammatory, remember, I am quoting Paul and Jesus. Forcefully making my point about what defines Jewishness has become necessary because of the Dispensational heresy that insists that modern Jewish people still have a claim to the title “God’s Chosen People” and have a destiny in God separate from the church. Both of these are allegations are untrue.

There is only one “chosen people,” the elect. There is only one group of blessed people in the end, the church.

Only by repenting and confessing Christ can anyone, Jew or Gentile, be included in God’s kingdom purposes which are bound up in his church through which God will be glorified forever.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NKJV)

Please do not regard this article as antisemitic. I do not hate Jewish people. On the contrary, it is loving to help people be delivered from a delusion that has the power to send us to hell.

It is a false hope to think that Jews by virtue of their Jewishness, whether through genetics or religion, are on good terms with God and, perhaps, have a separate plan of salvation.

There is no such thing, as the early Jewish church proclaimed.

...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10–12 (NKJV)

Our prayer is that those who are genetically descended from Abraham and practice the Jewish faith will one day have their eyes and hearts opened to behold their Messiah King so they too can become part of God’s one new man in Christ! They will be most welcome!

Click here to go to more articles on Israel, dispensational theology, and the end times.

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When a Protector Becomes a Beast

Posted February 25, 2026
by petebeck3

One of the earmarks of wild beasts is their lust to kill and maim their prey. In the Bible, governments are often portrayed as such in symbol. Take for example, Daniel’s vision of four governments that would successively rule the earth.

I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ Daniel 7:16–18 (NKJV)

Some beasts attack only outsiders, but others are known to prey upon their own offspring.

When a government turns on its own people, it reveals that it is a satanic beast.

God established government to be a blessing by protecting and benefiting its people. One way it does this is by enforcing justice against evil doers.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Romans 13:3–4 (NKJV)

Those governments that fulfill God’s purpose for their existence are legitimate representatives of God. Those who violate justice by turning against their own people, especially when they are believers, have abandoned God’s divine purpose and made themselves illegitimate. Such predatory governments are beastly distortions of God’s justice and await divine judgment.

Our own government, or at least some parts of it, has become beastly. This was apparent during Covid when it enforced a ghastly “vaccine” mandate strong arming an untested and now proven to be extremely toxic injection. Our government shut down conversation that could have brought into play very good medications that were at that time available. Why did it do this?

Currently, our military is routinely spraying barium, strontium, and aluminum into our skies at an astronomical level, gradually poisoning the air, soul, water, crops, and animal life, including humans. One must ask why? What beastly agenda is driving our own government and other governments around the world to do such a thing? It has to be a satanic hatred for God’s creation.

Our Lord Jesus is the legitimate ruler over all heaven and earth.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)

That is why he is called “lord” and why the way to salvation is to confess him as such.

Right now he sits on his father’s throne in heaven awaiting the day of his second coming at which time the kingdoms of this world will be turned over to him.

“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:34–36 (NKJV)

There is a worldwide conspiracy to try to overthrow Jesus’ rule, but it will fail abominably.

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Psalm 2:1–9 (NKJV)

Our Lord Jesus will rule with a rod of iron over those nations and people who are rebellious against his rule.The Jewish leaders who were alive during Christ’s ministry formally renounced allegiance to our Lord, but anyone and any nation, whether Jewish or Gentile, who refuses his rule is in the same predicament.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ Luke 19:14 (NKJV)

Those who refuse his rule may have their day of power for a season, but ultimately God’s judgment will put an end to every trace of rebellion on the earth.

But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ” Luke 19:27 (NKJV)

For those who submit their lives to him, he is known as the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11 (NKJV)

He is also known as our Keeper, the one who never sleeps and watches over us every moment.

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:5–8 (NKJV)

As we draw closer to the end of this world as we have known it, at which time God will destroy it and replace it with a new heaven and earth, it is vital that we know Jesus as the Good Shepherd and Keeper. Our nation may indeed become ever more beastly as it pursues whatever ungodly agenda its leaders impose, but we belong to another kingdom, one that will never end, whose King is always faithful to his sheep.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, it is becoming increasingly evident that our own government does not have my best interests in mind. I turn to you to be my protector and Shepherd. I trust you whatever may come and ask you to help me always to be loyal to you. Amen.

Click here to go to the other articles in this series.

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Who Said that We Live on a Globe?

Posted February 21, 2026February 21, 2026
by petebeck3

Would we think we live on a globe if people we trust had not told us so? Have we been duped by a master deceiver into rejecting God’s clear testimony in favor of a satanic lie?

One of the most tragic questions in the Bible is the one God asked Adam after his disobedience.

Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:9–11 (NASB95)

Adam never would have known of his nakedness unless sin had destroyed his glorious relationship with God and made him aware of his guilt. The fact that Adam hid from God and saw himself as being naked and ashamed was proof of his sin and Satan’s work.

I wonder if God asks us a similar question when most of his own people say confidently that we live on a spinning globe hurtling through “outer space” at incredible speeds? Who told you that?

We are said to spin on our imaginary axis at 1040 mph at the equator, which translates to about 840 mph at the latitude where I live in NC. The atmosphere, we are told, spins in sync with the earth, meaning that the air above us rotates at various speeds, depending on what part of the earth it covers, anywhere from 1040 mph at the equator to zero mph at the north pole. In addition, the higher one goes, the faster the winds must travel, since their distance from the earth surface increases. Despite this interesting and unprovable claim, we experience winds moving in all sorts of directions.

We are also told that we are revolving around the sun at about 67,000 mph? We are also moving with our solar system through our galaxy at a speed of about 500,000 mph, and our galaxy is whipping through the universe at anywhere between one to two million mph. And yet we feel nothing of the sort!

Where would we get such a notion? Certainly not from anything God ever told us. Maybe it came from someone who thought he was smarter than the Bible?

God said to be still and know that he is God? (Psalm 46:10) That would have zero meaning in a Copernican universe. But that is largely the reason Satan lied to us about where we live. He loves to contradict God’s Word and watch us believe him instead of our Creator.

You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever, Psalm 104:5 (NKJV)

We humans generally perceive ourselves as being very intelligent beings, but we are no match for God, or even Satan for that matter. That is why we so desperately need to rely on the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Without the “map” of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit for our guide, we are lost in a sea of surmise, conjecture, and deception.

This is why it is so tragic when we who call ourselves Christians choose to believe godless astrophysicists who take us down a road that leads away from Bible truth.

When I first came to the realization that the earth is not a globe after all and that the Bible is actually right in its description of where we live, I repented for not believing the Bible in this matter!

We would never arrive at the conclusion that we live on a revolving, rotating, wobbling spheroid without outside input from an exceedingly cunning liar. We have never perceived any such motion. It goes against all common sense that the earth’s surface is moving at around 840 mph at the latitude where I live. When we observe the stars keeping their same positions over the centuries, how could we possibly be hurtling through “space” in multiple directions at unbelievable speeds?

The patterned “retrograde” polaris-centric orbits of the “planets,” which Copernicus rejected in favor of more circular / elliptical heliocentric orbits, are

patterns that match what is created by an electromagnetic toroidal force field.

When one starts with false presuppositions, one is bound to arrive at false conclusions.

If we had accepted the biblical account of the earth, we could have spent the last several centuries doing real science to discover the true nature of the giant electromagnetic world in which we live, as Nicolai Tesla suggested.

Nothing about the globe earth model agrees with what our God-given senses tell us; yet, we lay that testimony aside to accept a theory of the cosmos that contradicts God’s written Word. How sad!

How mad! How tragic! How rebellious!

(If you want more information on the men who came up with these godless theories, I suggest you watch the Heliosorcery documentary.

Oh, that God would open our eyes and hearts to once again choose to be people of the Book who believe God instead of men!

Click here to go to series home page.

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Part 6 – Summary

Posted February 20, 2026February 20, 2026
by petebeck3

This article provides a brief summary of the preceding five articles in the series.

Principle #1: God does not relate to his people via “dispensations” but according to covenants, something that was clearly understood by the early reformers.

A decent book on this subject is The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson. Since the beginning, God has related to his creatures via covenants from the one made in the Garden of Eden to the New Covenant inaugurated by our Lord Jesus. Each successive covenant built upon the previous ones, and all pointed to Christ, except for the Mosaic Covenant of Law, which was its own entity that would fade away after the coming of the Messiah. The New Covenant fulfills and expands all previous covenants, except for the Mosaic Covenant, which it fulfilled and abolished. This is no small matter because it influences how we view the entirety of Bible history.

Principle #2: Israel in the New Covenant is defined as all those who put their faith in Christ from every people group, including both Jews and Gentiles.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. Romans 9:6–8 (NASB95)

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29 (NASB95)

Principle #3: The “one new man” in Christ is the focal point of God’s plan going forward.

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, Ephesians 2:14–15 (NASB95)

Principle #4: The New Covenant leaves nothing undone or unfulfilled in the previous ones.

The Bible teaches that the New Covenant is a complete change from what preceded it, especially the covenant of Law under Moses. This is because the Mosaic covenant depended on our faithfulness to keep the Law for us to obtain God’s blessings. The Bible teaches that no one is able to do that; so, the Mosaic covenant brings judgment upon us instead of blessings. The New Covenant depends upon the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus, who kept the Law’s stipulations on our behalf, rather than on our own performance. It is radically different.

For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Hebrews 8:8–10 (NASB95)

If you wish to read more about the New Covenant, click here.

The New Covenant is focused on Christ, not the nation of Israel. What preceded the New Covenant can be thought of as providing us with promises and shadows or types of what was to come in Christ, but not the full revelation.

The true meaning of the previous covenants cannot be understood outside of Christ.

All the covenants before the New pointed to what Christ would accomplish through his death and resurrection. If our teaching or theology of the end times does not feature the centrality of Christ, it is false. (Ephesians 1:10) This means that whatever happens in the end times will glorify our Lord and what he accomplished on behalf of God’s elect.

Just as nothing can pass from this mortal life into immortality unless it is first transformed, all the previous covenants were transformed in Christ and find their eternal significance in him.

Everything in the Old Testament pointed to Christ (Luke 24:27), who fulfilled the types and shadows of the previous covenants.

This means that Old Testament scriptures are interpreted, explained, or expanded by New Covenant revelation.

It can never be the other way around. We do not interpret the New Testament by imposing the Old Covenant scriptures upon it. That would be going backward and away from the centrality of Christ.

Principle #5: What God revealed in Christ and is doing in the end times will fulfill what is revealed in the New Covenant.

The types and shadows of the Old can add texture and depth of meaning for us but never restrict us to an Old Covenant understanding.

Examples of the Old Covenant Being Fulfilled or Expanded in the New

Descendants

God promised Abraham that he would have descendants and land. These descendants would become the Israelite nation, but even in Genesis, God told Abraham that he would be the father of nations, a clear hint that, through Christ, God would include people from every nation on the earth.

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” Romans 4:18 (NASB95)

The Jews in Jesus’ band of disciples also had a narrow view of what he came to do, thinking that it mainly pertained to their own nation. What followed Christ’s resurrection, however, revealed that the gospel would go to the nations.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB95)

This was always God’s plan, period, not plan B, as the Dispensationalists claim. Isaiah revealed a conversation between Father and Son at some time immemorial.

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)

Land

The promise of land given to Abraham was understood in the Old Testament to include Canaan, extending to the borders conquered during the reigns of David and Solomon. The New Testament, however, reveals that God expanded that promise of land to include the entire recreated earth.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 (NASB95)

Some argue that Matthew used the Greek word “ge” for earth, which can also be translated “land,” meaning the promised land of Israel. Interestingly, however, Jesus quoted Psalm 37:11, which uses the Hebrew world “eretz,” which is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, where the clear meaning is the entire earth. In addition, Paul adds that Abraham’s descendants would inherit the cosmos, a word that cannot be limited to Canaan.

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world [kosmos] was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13 (NASB95)

Kingship

The messianic promise God made to David that one of his descendants would reign upon the throne of Israel forever has been expanded in the New Covenant.

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12–13 (NASB95)

Christ now sits at the right hand of God and will return in the clouds in glory at the right hand of power to judge the living and the dead.

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:31–34 (NASB95)

Examples of the Abolition of Old Covenant Types and Shadows after Christ

Dietary Laws

Old Covenant dietary laws were abolished with the advent of the New Covenant. Jesus taught this, and the Holy Spirit later revealed this to Peter in Acts 11. Jesus makes us “clean” through the offering of his blood. We no longer need to be concerned with maintaining ceremonial purity.

And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. Mark 7:18–20 (NASB95)

Peter, who had been trained all his life to maintain ritual purity by avoiding “unclean” foods, had great difficulty accepting this new freedom provided by our Lord. A word to the wise: we are easily brainwashed into believing lies; so, it is difficult for us to overcome what we have previously believed, even when we are exposed to the truth.

Animal Sacrifices

Old Covenant animal sacrifices were also done away with after Christ offered himself as the Lamb of God for our sins. His perfect sacrifice eradicated the need for animals to be offered.

But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; Hebrews 10:3–5 (NASB95)

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. Hebrews 10:18 (NASB95)

The Temple

Some forty years after the crucifixion and resurrection, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, just as Jesus and Daniel had predicted. Animal sacrifice ceased because the Jews no longer had a place to perform them. My personal conviction is that it would be a horrible abomination against Christ to re-institute such sacrifices. They have been abolished by God.

The Old Covenant temple was God’s habitation of sorts, although he cannot truly be contained, but now the Holy Spirit inhabits each individual believer and the church as a whole, which is the new temple of God.

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NASB95)

God destroyed the old temple because he is no longer concerned with bricks and mortar. The New Covenant temple is made of people. If the temple were rebuilt, as some believe will happen, and if animal sacrifices are re-instituted, it will not honor God the Father or the risen Lamb of God. Their time of significance has passed.

The Role of Israel in the End Times

In the Old Testament, Israel served in a couple of notable ways. First, Paul wrote that God used them to receive and safeguard the scriptures. Secondly, he used them to bring the Messiah into the world. They fulfilled both tasks. However, they had a less glorious role, too. They betrayed the Messiah and had him executed. As a whole, the Jewish people still reject their Messiah.

Jesus warned the Jewish leaders that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to another – the church.

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. Matthew 21:43 (NASB95)

Stephen indicted those in his hearing with the stinging judgment that they always resist the Holy Spirit.

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. Acts 7:51 (NASB95)

His martyrdom effectively ended the gospel being prioritized to the Jews. From then forward it went primarily to the nations, although a remnant of Jews have come to Christ over the centuries. Nothing has changed since then. The Jews by and large still reject their Messiah and resist the Holy Spirit, as do most other people in the world.

It seems to me that Jesus taught that the Jews lost their chance to accept their Messiah as a nation. He gave no indication that they would get another one, although God in his mercy may yet do something amazing with them.

Principle #6: Just as the Law faded away after Christ’s coming, and John the Baptist decreased in significance after introducing the Messiah, I believe Israel’s role diminished greatly, even faded away, after the crucifixion, and certainly after the stoning of Stephen and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

To expect God to raise up the Jewish nation to worldwide prominence in the end times is the same error the early apostles made. That was not Christ’s mission. He came to redeem the elect out of the entire earth and release creation from the bondage of sin.

Dispensationalism has influenced Christians all over the world to give uncritical allegiance to the state of Israel, which is, for the most part, completely ungodly.

It is likely that we will discover that it, like the United States, has committed many atrocities. That nation’s Moussad has likely worked against our nation. Will God yet save a significant portion of Jewish people in the land of Israel at the very end? He may. He is full of surprises and loves to show mercy. I hope that happens, but to make such a happening a central part of our eschatology is probably a mistake. I believe the Lord wants us to keep our focus on Christ and expect him to do exploits through his worldwide church in the last days. Come, Lord Jesus!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NASB95)

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Part 5 – A New Covenant Understanding of the Holy Land

Posted February 19, 2026February 19, 2026
by petebeck3

I hope to demonstrate in this article that the New Covenant forever changed how we should view the Jews and the land occupied by Israel.

There is nothing quite so humiliating and infuriating as being deceived by a con man. The devil is a master liar who has been deceiving mankind for a long time. He is so good at what he does that he has even been able to persuade many Bible believers into accepting and promoting anti-biblical principles and teachings. This article will attempt to show that such has been the case when it comes to claiming that the modern nation of Israel is located on what should still be identified as the “Holy Land” and to believing that the Jews still retain the status as “God’s chosen people.”

It is important for us first to make a couple of important distinctions.

There is a huge difference between Old Testament Judaism and modern

Talmudic Judaism, which derives largely from ancient Babylon.

In addition, there is firm distinction between modern Judaism and what is called Zionism.

Talmudic Judaism is quite different from what the Jews practiced during the time of Moses for example. Suffice it to say at this point that the Talmud contains occult and anti-biblical teachings.

The god of the Talmud is not God the Father of Christians. Jesus said that we cannot deny the Son and still claim the Father.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23 (NASB95)

Any person, group, or religious doctrine that denies that Jesus is the Messiah is by definition antichrist. Any nation that persecutes Christians is being motivated by the antichrist spirit.

I will leave it to you to do your own research into Talmudic Judaism. Here is a link to some questions I posed to Perplexity AI about the matter.

The political movement called Zionism began in 1897 when when Theodor Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. Continuing persecution of the Jews in Europe led to the idea of creating a Jewish homeland where they could dwell in relative peace. Perplexity AI put together the following summary.

Theodor Herzl had a profound influence on later Zionist leaders by laying the ideological and organizational foundation for the Zionist movement. He transformed Zionism from a scattered set of ideas and local initiatives into a political movement with a clear goal: establishing a Jewish state. Herzl’s vision and actions provided a unifying framework and a diplomatic strategy that later leaders would build upon.

Key Influences on Later Leaders

- Herzl’s publication of Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) laid out the political rationale and vision of a Jewish homeland, inspiring subsequent Zionist leaders to pursue statehood as a realistic goal rather than a mere aspiration.
- By convening the First Zionist Congress in 1897, Herzl created the World Zionist Organization, establishing a structured political entity that later leaders used to mobilize Jewish communities worldwide and coordinate efforts toward state-building.
- Herzl’s diplomatic initiatives, though not immediately successful, set a precedent for Zionist leaders to engage with global powers to gain political and territorial support for Jewish statehood.
- His emphasis on the necessity of Jewish immigration and settlement in Palestine became a central strategy for later Zionist pioneers and leaders.
- Herzl’s inclusive vision of a democratic and pluralistic Jewish state shaped the political culture and aspirations of the Zionist movement, influencing leaders such as Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion.
- He instilled a sense of Jewish national identity and collective responsibility that helped overcome divisions within the Jewish diaspora, uniting different factions under the goal of statehood.

Herzl is often referred to as the “spiritual father of the Jewish State” because his vision and leadership inspired the political, diplomatic, and practical efforts of subsequent generations, ultimately culminating in the founding of Israel in 1948. His ability to combine political activism, visionary writing, and diplomacy provided a blueprint for Zionist leadership that endured long after his death in 1904.

Initially Western nations, such as the USA, were lukewarm toward the proposal. “Coincidentally” Cyrus Scofield, a proven fraud who abandoned his first wife and children and later claimed to have a PhD, but did not, developed and published what is called the Scofield Reference Bible about this time.

In it he proposed and taught an entirely new way of interpreting end-time scriptures. He and John Darby taught that God worked with mankind on the basis of “dispensations” rather than covenants. He also taught that the nation of Israel is still the focus of God’s kingdom activity on the earth, the church being a sort of “plan B”. I have written several articles about this serious error, which can be accessed through the following link.

By syncretistically blending the Old Covenant with the New, Scofield created a false gospel (Galatians 1:7) that has convinced multitudes of well-meaning Christians to unconditionally support national Israel.

The thinking is that for Jesus to return, Israel must once again possess the land promised to Abraham. The current residents are compared to the ancient Canaanites and must be driven out and even at times annihilated, even though many of those residents have been there for centuries and are believers in Christ.

We have been taught that any refusal to support Israel will bring God’s curse upon us. God did promise Abraham that those who blessed him would be blessed (Genesis 12:3), and those who cursed him would be cursed. This blessing must have been passed from Abraham to Isaac because we see Isaac pronouncing the same blessing upon Jacob in Genesis 27:29. These men experienced God’s blessing and protection under the covenant God established with Abraham, through which all the nations of the earth would be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) We know now that this promise was fulfilled perfectly by the coming of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who died for our sins and rose again as the glorious Lord of lords.

This same Jesus delivered us from the curse of the Law and procured for us the blessing God promised to Abraham.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14 (NASB95)

Consequently, the idea that our relationship to national Israel determines whether we are blessed or cursed is an unfounded and harmful idea which denies what Christ accomplished on our behalf.

Everything in the Old Covenant pointed toward Christ. Once our Lord fulfilled the Old Covenant promises, patterns, and symbols, they were no longer of any use and have been set aside or rendered obsolete..

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB95)

When we retain Old Covenant symbols and practices and incorporate them into New Covenant practice, we are guilty of syncretism and falsifying the gospel.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. Luke 5:37–38 (NASB95)

Paul warned against such syncretism which he discovered existed in the church located in Galatia.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Galatians 4:9–11 (NASB95)

The New Covenant has nothing whatsoever to do with maintaining elements of the Old Covenant.

Today if we become enamored with facets of Old Covenant Judaism and begin to celebrate and observe feast days, sabbaths, and dietary laws as a means of attaining to a deeper spirituality, it means we have fallen from relying upon grace, replacing faith with obsolete religious observances.

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:3–4 (NASB95)

Likewise, just as Christ fulfilled the Law, Israel’s purpose was fulfilled when Christ arrived on the earth.

God used that nation to preserve his promises and the scriptures and to provide a human pedigree for the Messiah.

who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:4–5 (NASB95)

Once the Messiah appeared, Israel’s role, as was John the Baptist’s, was to give the preeminence to Jesus and recede from view. (John 3:30)

God removed John through his execution at Herod’s hands. The nation of Israel proved to be very recalcitrant, however. Israel’s leaders resisted, rejected, and finally murdered their long awaited Messiah and afterward persecuted the fledgling church.

Knowing this would happen, Jesus prophesied the action God the Father would take in coming days.

“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 21:43–45 (NASB95)

The Lord was extremely patient with the Israelites leading up to this final rebellion against Christ’s rule because his plan was to use this disobedient people to provide his Messiah King to save the world and reestablish his authority upon the earth.

After their final act of defiance against God, his patience ended, Israel’s purpose having been fulfilled.

Israel’s arrogant rejection and murder of their Messiah, followed by the martyrdom of Stephen, brought to a climax that nation’s long history of rebelliousness and idolatry, which extended all the way back to Mt. Sinai. The murder of Stephen was a prophetic marker provided by Daniel, which signified that Israel’s place in salvation history had come to a close. The final working out of that judgment was fulfilled years later when the Roman army sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the glorious old covenant temple in 70 AD, ending the sacrificial system.

Once the Lamb of God shed his blood, animal sacrifices became an abomination.

Now God’s true worshipers, those who come to God through faith in Jesus, worship in Spirit and truth in God’s temple, the body of Christ, the church. (John 4:24)

When the old covenant ended, everything connected to it became obsolete and faded away.

The Jews who were previously called “God’s chosen people” were a type of that which was to be revealed. God’s “elect” from every tribe and kindred from all over the earth are now understood to be God’s chosen people. The old covenant Israelites who trusted God by faith are included in this group. There is only one “chosen people,” those God foreknew and drew to Christ from before the foundation of the world, the church, the “one new man”, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:4) Some denigrate this truth by labeling it “replacement theology.” It is New Testament theology, a fulfillment of what was prefigured in the Old Testament.
The new birth is the defining “marker” by which a person gains entrance into God’s kingdom. Physical lineage and outward circumcision were replaced by the inner work of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 6:15-16)
The significance of Jewish religion, including the sacrificial system, adherence to the Law of Moses, the keeping of feasts and the Sabbath, the dietary laws, and other traditions came to a close. (Hebrews 8:13) These things still have cultural significance to modern Jewish people, but we now can only come to God through Jesus. (John 14:6) We now worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), not using old covenant traditions. If Gentile Christians adopt Jewish traditions in a vain attempt to pursue a deeper way of relating to God, it reveals a dreadful lack of understanding of the New Covenant and opens the door to more errors.
In addition, the old covenant “Holy Land”, as it is often called, has been superseded by a much larger and more inclusive “promised land” that swallows up that small area of land in the Near East.

Holy means set apart. God set apart Canaan as a land of promise to Abraham and his descendants. That promise was fulfilled during the days of Joshua and the reigns of Kings David and Solomon. It was the land upon which Jesus’ feet trod and where he was crucified, and God may yet accomplish some significant things there, but it is not set apart to God’s people (the Israel of God) any longer.

The land promised to Abraham has been replaced in the New Covenant by God’s promise of new earth. (Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:13)

Jesus told us that those who follow him will inherit the entire earth (Matthew 5:5). Paul corroborated this interpretation of the Greek word “ge” as pertaining to the whole world and not just the land promised to Abraham.

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world [cosmos] was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13 (NASB95)

God will be glorified in Christ and his church through all eternity, not in the nation of Israel. We will occupy a new heaven and earth, not the Old Covenant Canaan land.

Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:21 (NLT) 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:1–2 (NASB95)

Only those descendants of Abraham who acknowledge that Christ is Lord will be included in what is called the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)

When all the elect Jews and Gentiles are finally born again and become part of the church, the “one new man” in Christ, the end will come and “all Israel” (the true Israel of God) will have been saved. (Romans 11:26)

If that includes a large number of biologically Jewish people coming to Christ at the very end, I am all for it. Nevertheless, God told us that only a remnant will be saved. (Romans 9:29) Today the true born-again Israel of God is being assembled from every nation under heaven.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95)

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The Modern Nation of Israel Cannot Inherit God’s Kingdom

Posted February 18, 2026February 18, 2026
by petebeck3

I believe that a great deception has been embraced by much of the evangelical church concerning the modern nation of Israel as a result of believing the false doctrine of Dispensationalism. Many now believe that the citizens of that nation, who call themselves Jews, are the biblical chosen people of God through whom Jesus will restore God’s kingdom and rule over the entire earth. This Israel-focused eschatology holds that the nation of Israel is still central to God’s purposes and will inherit the promises made to Abraham. I will attempt to show that none of this is true. Rather it is based on a misinterpretation of Scripture and the New Covenant in particular that originated in the faulty theology of John Darby and Cyrus Scofield.

Old Covenant Israel foreshadowed the church, which is God’s New Covenant people and is composed of both Jew and Gentile.

Only the church, whose members are born again by the Spirit of God, can inherit immortality.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5 (NASB95)

Biological descendants of Abraham who have not experienced the new birth through putting their faith and allegiance in Jesus the Messiah and Lord cannot inherit anything eternal.

Being a physical descendant of Abraham carries no weight whatsoever in the new order of things.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. Romans 2:28–29 (NASB95)

Old Covenant Israel served two very important purposes. It provided the blood line for the Messiah and preserved the promises of God recorded in the Scriptures. (Romans 1:3 and Romans 3:2) Sadly, the Jews as a nation refused to recognize or honor their Messiah, our Lord Jesus, when he came the first time.

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)

They condemned him and put him to death, which was all part of God’s plan to rescue and redeem those people from every nation whom he foreknew and chose to be his before the foundation of the world by including them in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, Ephesians 1:3–5 (NASB95)

This elect group of people are known by several names: the Body of Christ, the church, “one new man,” and the Israel of God.

For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:15–16 (NASB95)

Every single person included in the elect are “in Christ” and are part of God’s new creation in the Spirit. Through the miracle of the new birth, we are joined to Christ in the Spirit, from whom we derive our life and blessings.

Anyone outside of Christ cannot be blessed because all blessings reside in him. Since the nation of Israel rejected and still rejects our Lord Jesus, they cannot participate in the life and blessings that could be theirs.

Only a remnant of Abraham’s biological descendants has chosen to put their faith and allegiance in the Messiah. The rest are lost and outside the purposes and promises of God.

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; Romans 11:5–7 (NASB95)

Jesus warned Israel’s leaders that their rejection of him would result in their being rejected by God.

Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you [the Jews] and given to a people, producing the fruit of it [the Gentiles]. Matthew 21:43 (NASB95)

This revocation was permanent. There place in the old order of things was about to be superseded by the New Covenant, which operates on a radically different basis. No longer would the promises come to those biologically descended from Abraham. Now they are given to those born again into God’s kingdom.

Jesus is the Second Adam through whom an entirely different race of humans derives. Everything connected to Adam will perish, including all those non-born-again Jews and Gentiles.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB95)

Our Lord used parables about the fig tree to illustrate that judgment would come upon Israel for turning its back on God’s Messiah.

Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. Matthew 21:19 (NASB95)

The meaning of this parable was affirmed by another found in Luke 13:6-9, in which Jesus said that if the fig tree did not produce fruit in an allotted amount of time, it would be cut down. The fig tree was an Old Covenant symbol for judgment regarding Israel. (Hosea 9:10 and Jeremiah 8:13)

The nation of Israel has not had a change of heart since Jesus uttered that judgment.

In Revelation, Jesus calls the Jews a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9 and Revelation 3:9) This very harsh term is obviously not anti-Semitic, since Jesus was and is a biological Jew through his mother. It is not antisemitism to discern that the biological descendants of Abraham rejected their Messiah, which automatically allied them with Satan, and cease to have any special place or favor with God, except that in his mercy he is still calling a remnant to himself.

Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. Romans 9:27 (NKJV)

Biological Jews today are no different than any other people group in that we all need mercy and grace. No one deserves to be saved. We all enter God’s kingdom the same way, through the new birth, as Jesus told Nicodemus.

There is no difference between any of us, Jew or Gentile, at the foot of the cross.

Israel’s rejection of the Lord and the gospel is why God transferred the kingdom to a new nation, those who are purchased by the blood of the Lamb.

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)

Israel still is at the heart of God’s purposes, but the definition has changed in the New Covenant.

Now Israel is composed of born-again Jews and Gentiles who are part of the new creation. The New Covenant version of Israel transcends the Old Covenant nation which was mostly composed of biological descendants of Abraham.

The New Covenant reveals God’s plan to save the entire world, not just a small group of people biologically descended from Abraham. New Covenant Israel will inherit the entire earth (John 3:16), not just a sliver of land in Palestine (Romans 4:13).

In both of the above verses, “world” is the English translation of the Greek word “cosmos,” which has a much broader meaning than a small area of land. This expanded purpose for Christ’s ministry and rule was prophesied by Isaiah.

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)

Moses could not lead God’s people into the land of promise because he represents the law. Joshua, who represents the New Covenant Jesus, accomplished that task to give us an Old Covenant shadow of what was to come.

Old Covenant Israel cannot inherit the earth. That is reserved for God’s born-again church, the New Covenant Israel.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB95)

The natural descendants of Abraham cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Only those born of the Spirit will be included in God’s rule.

That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. Romans 9:8 (NASB95)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:28–29 (NASB95)

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14–18 (NASB95)

National Israel was only a shadow of the reality to come, which is the church. The shadow recedes and disappears after the fulfillment arrives. (Colossians 2:17 and Hebrews 10:1) Unless we have a proper understanding of Old Covenant national Israel’s place in the divine plan, we cannot fully understand the New Covenant.

All legalism is an attempt to keep elements from the Old Covenant to water down the tremendous truths of the New Covenant.

Paul made it clear, however, that if we do this we step away from New Covenant grace.

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:3–4 (NASB95)

If we try to stamp national Israel’s Old Covenant purpose upon the New Covenant, we will disfigure the New Covenant message which is that God now has enlarged his promises to include those from every nation and people group, who will inherit the earth, not just a sliver of land in the Near East. Christ will be glorified in the church for all eternity, not in the nation state of Israel.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NASB95)

Only a remnant of Jews will be saved, and the same is true for the Gentiles. Let’s continue to ask God to draw into his kingdom those he has chosen from every people group. When this has taken place, “all Israel,” the New Covenant Israel, will be saved.

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Part 4: Who Is the True Israel?

Posted February 13, 2026February 20, 2026
by petebeck3

A most significant biblical and geopolitical question today is who is the true Israel? Another way to ask pose this question is to ask if the modern nation of Israel corresponds to the Israel of the Bible. More importantly, is modern day or ancient Israel the Israel of the New Covenant?

These questions divide the Body of Christ and reveal whether we understand the New Covenant.

Dispensationalism blends Old Covenant theology regarding Israel with New Covenant truth, thus distorting gospel truth. It provides religious support for the political movement of Zionism, thus using Christianity to support modern Israel’s geopolitical ambitions. It teaches that any refusal to support national Israel will bring God’s disfavor and perhaps even a curse.

Some Christian Zionists even say that how we regard and treat Israel is a litmus test regarding whether we are true Christians, thus elevating that nation to a status almost equal to the Lord.

Dispensationalists wrongly interpret Genesis 12:3, a promise made to Abraham, and apply to the modern geopolitical entity of Israel.

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)

As New Covenant Christians, we understand that this verse was made to Abraham, not to modern Israel. In particular, Paul taught that Jesus was the “seed” promised to Abraham through whom the nations would be blessed.

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 (NKJV)

Jesus is the true Israelite who inherited all the blessings. To honor and confess him as the Lord is to participate in that blessing. To refuse to so honor him is bring judgment upon ourselves.

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day rejected him as the Messiah and put him to death as a blasphemer. Jesus spoke God’s judgment over the nation.

Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:10–12 (NASB95)

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. Matthew 21:43 (NASB95)

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)

If Dispensationalism and Zionism is correct, Jesus is cursed for cursing (judging) Israel.

Even though Jesus judgment largely was fulfilled in 70 AD, as a whole, the Jews never repented for rejecting their Lord. Today Israel’s religious leaders still curse Jesus in the Talmud saying he is boiling in excrement as a judgment for his blasphemy. Therefore, God’s judgment still rests upon all Jews (and Gentiles) who refuse to confess that Jesus is Lord.

Until the Jews repent, they remain under the curse of the law for putting to death their Messiah.

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)

Those who hold to a new covenant understanding of Israel, as taught by Paul, realize that it is composed of all who put their faith and allegiance in the Messiah, our Lord Jesus.

Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. Galatians 3:7–9 (NASB95)

This new Israel, called the Body of Christ, “one new man,” and the church, is composed of both Jew and Gentile.

Paul called the Israel of God “one new man,” because our being in Christ is the key to everything.

Jesus abolished the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile by fulfilling and setting aside that which divided us.

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. Ephesians 2:14–16 (NASB95)

People who hold this position do not regard Israel as having any special status any longer. That was an old covenant concept. Now, like everyone else, Jews’ eternal destiny will be decided by whether they confess Jesus is Lord.

Dispensationalists like to point to the following verses to contend for their belief that God is going to eventually save the people of Israel.

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved...” Romans 11:25–26a (NASB95)

From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:28–29 (NASB95)

“All Israel” in Romans 11:26 is thought by some dispensationalists to mean all those of Jewish descent who are alive at that time, at least those present within the environs of Jerusalem, when Christ appears for the second time. It is indeed possible that Christ will appear to descendants of Abraham in a special way at the very end, as seems to be indicated by Zechariah.

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 (NASB95)

However, Paul made it clear earlier in his letter to the church in Rome that only a remnant of those descended from Abraham will be saved, those foreknown by him, the elect from among the Jews.

And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed [remnant], We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” Romans 9:29 (NKJV)

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew... Romans 11:1–2a (NASB95)

Nowhere does Paul indicate that the entire nation will be saved, except potentially in Romans 11:26. However, we cannot interpret that verse in such a way that would undo what he stated previously, that only an elect remnant will be saved. The Holy Spirit does not contradict himself. In addition, we cannot redefine Israel in a different way than Paul already did. The Israel of God now consists of both Jew and Gentile who have reborn of the Spirit. (Romans 2:29, Romans 9:6, Galatians 3:29, and Philippians 3:3)

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. Romans 11:5 (NLT)

God’s plan is to save a remnant from Israel, as he is doing from all mankind.

He could have rejected them all after their leaders killed the Messiah, but God had mercy on the elect for the sake of the fathers. This agrees with the larger idea that Christ redeemed those whom the Father chose from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to be a part of his Body, the church, which is composed of both Jews and Gentiles.

God’s focus in the end times is on Christ and his bride, the church, which is composed of people drawn from every people group on the earth.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95)

This new creation people, the new Israel of God, is much grander than the Old Covenant nation of Israel.

God has enlarged the narrow Old Testament concept of the kingdom of God under monarchs such as David and Solomon. The focus now is King Jesus, the Lord of all, who will reign from the heavenly Jerusalem over a recreated earth, with the Bride, the church, at his side.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

Our destiny as the bride of Christ, composed of Jews and Gentiles, is to co-rule with him. (Revelation 21:2)

If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 2 Timothy 2:12 (NASB95)

The mystery is that God will reveal his splendid wisdom through the church, not through the geopolitical entity of national Israel.

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ephesians 3:4–11 (NASB95)

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Part 2: The Christ of the Covenants

Posted February 13, 2026February 16, 2026
by petebeck3

I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. Isaiah 42:6–7 (NKJV)

Covenant theology holds that throughout history God has related to mankind via covenants, which are solemn promises, beginning in the Garden of Eden after Adam’s sin. There God promised to a non-Israelite to send a Messiah who would crush Satan.

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NASB95)

Obviously, one could not in any way fathom at this point that this promise might be restrictive or narrow in scope. From that time forward, the Bible looks forward to that promise coming true, which it turns out came via a person called Jesus of Nazareth.

Everything in the Bible points to Jesus. If we are to understand the New Covenant, we must grasp this key point.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. John 5:39–40 (NASB95)

The second major covenant that pointed to Christ was given to Abraham. God promised Abraham that one of his descendants would be a blessing to the entire earth.

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:18 (NASB95)

This promise, like the one God gave in the garden, was worldwide in scope.

Although the Jews later had great difficulty accepting this, Paul said that the New Covenant unwrapped a great mystery that God’s plan through Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, would produce a blessing that would go far beyond Israel to include the nations.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Ephesians 3:1–6 (NASB95)

The great covenant was made between God and King David. The Lord promised that one of David’s descendants would rule God’s kingdom forever.

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12–13 (NASB95)

We now see through the lens of hindsight that Jesus perfectly fulfilled these promises, as the first apostles taught.

“And so, because he [David] was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. 32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:30–36 (NASB95)

Once again, this promise was not limited to Israel, for Jesus would establish his own kingdom, one that will never end over all the heavens and earth.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20 (NASB95)

Jesus, the eternal Logos become flesh, in the beginning created the heavens and earth, the seen and unseen realms (John 1:3). Eventually, as promised, he came in the flesh as a baby born through a miraculous conception (John 1:14). He came to earth to redeem mankind by paying the debt incurred by our sin. He imparted his right standing with God to us, reconciled us to his Father, set us free from all that enslaves us, and sent his Holy Spirit to indwell all who put their faith and allegiance in him. He took back the authority Adam gave to Satan, restoring God’s rule on the earth. Eventually he will come a second time in glory to raise the dead, judge all who ever lived, and rule over a new heaven and earth.

Paul wrote that God’s purpose was to sum up all things in Christ.

...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth... Ephesians 1:10 (NASB95)

This means the glorification of the Son of God is the goal of everything God the Father has done, is doing, and will do.

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Colossians 1:18 (NASB95)

In the New Covenant Christ fulfilled all the previous covenants.

The Edenic, Abrahamic, and Davidic covenants were fulfilled beyond expectation. I will cover that in more detail later. The Mosaic law covenant was also fulfilled and subsequently abolished because it no longer served any purpose for those who belong to Christ.

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)

Our Lord released us from its death dealing tyranny of condemnation and judgment. By doing this, Jesus united Jew and Gentile. There no longer exists any wall or barrier between us.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:13–18 (NASB95)

Much to the surprise of the early Jewish Christians, the New Covenant equally includes both Jews and Gentiles. The Body of Christ, which Paul calls “one new man,” is made up of all people who confess allegiance to Jesus the Lord. There is no distinction any longer between Jew and Gentile, male and female, free and slave, rich and poor, young and old, etc. We are all one in Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:28–29 (NASB95)

The above passage by itself destroys dispensationalism.

Everything in the Bible and God’s historical interactions with people points to Jesus. God’s plan culminates in our Lord, who will have first place in all things.

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Colossians 1:18 (NASB95)

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