THE RETURN OF ISRAEL

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with God - His promises are always conditional.  Before we take a quick look at some of the texts used to support the return of Israel in 1948 as a fulfillment of prophecy, please consider Jer. 18:9-10:  "<I>And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;  If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them</I>."  The claim that modern Israel's restoration as a nation is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy completely ignores this Bible principle of God's promises being conditional.</div> <bR> <div> Who is Israel anyway according to the Bible?  First, let us notice that the Greek word for “Gentile” is the same word that is translated as “heathen;”  for the Greek word “ethnos,” means one and the same thing.  The two English words should have no difference of association, for they are translated from only one Greek word.  And the Old Testament bears the same record for the corresponding Hebrew word (compare Psa. 2:1 with Acts 4:25; and Jer. 1:5, where “nation” is the same word “gowy,” as in Psa. 2:1; and Joel 3:9&11 where the words “Gentiles” and “heathen” are the same Hebrew word).  “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  Romans 10:12.  Consider a few instances of many.</div> <bR> <div> James teaches us what Simeon (Peter) proclaimed, that "God at the first did visit the [ethnos] Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name [sake]," Acts 15:14.  In other words, Abraham, the father of Israel, was taken from among the Gentiles (see Jos. 24:2-3).  And so it is that all who become members of Israel are taken from among the heathen.  Paul says it this way:  "Ye know that ye were [ethnos] Gentiles," 1Co. 12:2, showing us that they were once heathen, "carried away unto these dumb idols," 1Co. 12:2.  Notice that the text itself shows us that Gentiles are idol-worshipers - heathen as it were.  And it also teaches us that the Corinthians "were Gentiles;"  but ceased to be such by the implication that when they became Christians, their relationship with God changed.  Paul again puts this principle forth in Eph. 2:11:  "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past [ethnos] Gentiles," or heathen.  And James seats it in Acts 15:19 when referring to the believers in Antioch as those who were "from among the [ethnos] Gentiles are turned to God;"  understood as meaning that God's people are taken out from among the heathen, and upon being taken from or out of them, they cease to be Gentiles.  Looking at Galations 3:8 we can see, "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen [ethnos, Gentiles] through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham.'  Notice that this verse first teaches that the Gospel was preached as early as in the days of Abraham.  And, it was preached to Abraham while he was yet a "heathen," serving "other gods," Jos. 24:2-3.  We learn from Acts 3:25:  "saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."  There is no other blessing that is not covered in this blessing which Abraham received.  For the Gospel preached to Abraham is the only Gospel that there is for any people on this earth.  Because Jesus Christ is the "seed" that is the fulfillment of the Gospel to Abraham.</div> <bR> <div> Second of all, let us understand that according to the Bible, there is <B>more</B> than one Israel.  The Biblical fact is that there are <B>TWO</B> Israel's when considering prophecy:  “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.  For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” Rom. 9:6.  So we see that there is the Israel of the “flesh,” or the “seed of Abraham,” Isa. 41:8, i.e. “which are of Israel;”  and then there is “Spiritual” Israel, i.e. “not all Israel,” confirmed in Galatians 3:14:  “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that <B>we</B> might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  This is better understood and cleared up very nicely if we continued reading in Romans chapter 9, verse 8:  “That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:  but the children of the <B>promise</B> are counted for the seed.”  What is the “<B>promise</B>?”  Look up again at Galatians 3:14 - it is those who have faith in and receive the Holy Spirit.  This is confirmed by seeing verse 29 of Galatians chapter 3:  “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Notice also the little word “we,” which Paul uses as all-inclusive.  Even though Paul was a Jew, and the Galatians he was talking to were Gentiles, they are all “we['s]” when it comes to belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Messiah;  and they are then counted as <I><B>Spiritual Israel</B></I>, not fleshly <I><B>National Israel</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="26037280.gif" border=0 width="55" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Therefore, whenever the Bible is speaking prophetically about Israel, we must determine if it is speaking about Spiritual Israel, or the Nation of Israel (fleshly).  Paul further clarifies this fact in Gal. 6:15:  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being a Jew) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (being a Gentile), but a new creature."  This is the key to understanding God and His word.  God wants us to be "<B>a new creature</B>," "<B>born again</B>."  If we cannot agree upon this Biblical truth, then we can never come into agreement upon any Bible subject.</div> <bR> <div> Now let's notice verse 16 in Galatians chapter 6:  "And as many as walk according to this <B>rule</B>, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."  Who is "the Israel of God?"  Those who "walk according to" God's "rule[s]."  Do we find the Nation of Israel obeying the voice of God in regard to the Messiah already coming? Hardly, verse 14:  "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."</div> <bR> <div> Briefly looking at Israel again, let's discover which Israel the Bible is talking about in some of the following verses.  The first time Israel is mentioned in the Bible is in Gen. 32:28, where it refers to one man.  Yet only four verses later it refers not only to that one man, but primarily to Israel as a Nation:  "Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day," Gen. 32:32.  Paul presents a convincing argument in Philippians 3:4-5:  "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh.  If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Circumcised the eighth day, <B>of the stock of Israel</B>, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews;  as touching the law, a Pharisee."  Yet the reason for his reasoning with the Philippians, in regards to Israel, is not that he wishes for them to have been born Jewish, but that they might be born again and thus be grafted into Spiritual Israel, which is of infinitely more value.</div> <bR> <div> In Exo. 4:21 it is used for the first time as referring to God's people, and/or the Nation of Israel.  Now here is something very interesting.  Hosea applies it to the Nation of Israel:  "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt," Hos. 11:1.  However, Matthew quotes from Hos. 11:1, but does not apply it to the Nation of Israel, but to <B>Jesus Christ!</B>  "And was there until the death of Herod:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My son."</div> <bR> <div> Going back to Romans Chapter 9, Paul clearly points out the  fact that "they are not all Israel, which are of Israel," verse 6, when he states in verse 24, "Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles," then verse 26, "And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people;  there shall they be called the children of the living God."  This must obviously refer to Spiritual Israel.  And Paul makes it clear that only Spiritual Israel, not National Israel will be saved, because if we continue on in his discourse, he states, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved," thus indicating that National Israel must join Spiritual Israel if they wish to be saved.  Therefore it should be becoming more and more apparent to you, the reader, that any promises applied to end time Israel, would be to those composing Spiritual Israel, not National Israel.</div> <bR> <div> Other texts for "born again" Christians being "Spiritual Israel" are:  "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;  and circumcision is that of the <B>heart</B>, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."  Romans 2:28-29.  "And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."  Romans 4:12-12.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="22d1e560.gif" border=0 width="30" height="86" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Now we can see that it is imperative that we understand <B>WHICH</B> Israel the Bible is speaking about when applying any scripture to any prophetic interpretation concerning Israel.  The following are texts used, or rather mis-used, to support Israel's return to Palestine.  No Biblical time prophecy can be found to support 1948 as a year set by the Lord for Israel to return.  The only time prophecy's for Israel to return to Palestine are found in two separate events:  <B>1)</B>  (From Egypt to Palestine) Gen. 15:13; Exo. 12:40; Acts 7:6; Gal. 3:17.  <B>2)</B>  (From Babylon to Palestine) 2Ch. 36:21; Isa. 23:15; Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Dan. 9:2; Zec. 1:12; 7:5.  So let's take a look at the verses below which supposedly support a 1948 return.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Gen. 13:15; 17:8; 2Sa. 7:16</U></B> - Notice that these statements of God are also conditional, because even David's descendants did not remain upon the throne after the Babylonian captivity.  Gen. 17:9 confirms that God expected his descendants to continue in obedience:  "<I>And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations</I>."  Consider also that the ultimate fulfillment for Abraham to posses the land of Canaan forever is embedded within the Heavenly gates.  Heb. 11:10, 16:  "<I>For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God... But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:  wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:  for He hath prepared for them a city</I>."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ezekiel 20:39-44</U></B> - Verses 40-44 mean nothing if Israel was to still "<I>serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken {repent] unto Me:  but pollute ye My name...</I>"  Consider Num. 14:23:  "<I>Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked Me see it</I>."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ezekiel 22:17-22</U></B> - God's gathering of the Jews in these verses, in His anger and wrath, refers not to a return to Palestine, but to God's judgment upon their disobedience.  So the purpose of this prophecy was for judgment, not restoration, confirmed by the fact that shortly afterwards Israel is taken to Babylon.  The words "<I>anger</I>," "<I>fury</I>," "<I>leave you</I>," "<I>melt you</I>," and "<I>wrath</I>" are words of judgment, not a gathering "<I>into the midst of Jerusalem</I>" for a restoration of a nation (nowhere mentioned here).</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ezekiel 36:24-38</U></B> - These wonderful promises are given when and if Israel repented.  "<I>A new heart</I>" "<I>and a new spirit</I>" (verse 26) denotes attributes of repentance.  To be delivered from foreign nations as these texts suggest must first meet the conditions of God's expected repentance of Israel.  <B>Consider</B> Deu. 30:1-6:  "<I>And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, And thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;  That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.  If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:  And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live</I>."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ezekiel Chapter 37</U></B> - Notice verse 24.  The key to this chapters prophecy is forming a loving relationship with God with obedience being the fruit thereof.  1948 Israel and today's Israel still do not worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  In verses 26-28 God's tabernacle is to be in their "midst."  Since Israel did not obey God, we must look for another class of people who do (i.e. spiritual Israel) and apply this prophecy to them.  We find them in Rev. 21:3:  "<I>And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the </I><I><B>tabernacle</B></I><I> of God is </I><I><B>with men</B></I><I>, and </I><I><B>He will dwell with them</B></I><I>, and </I><I><B>they shall be His people</B></I><I>, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God</I>.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Amos 9:11-12</U></B> - Here we find a clear declaration that this does not apply to Israel.  James tells us in quoting this Old Testament prophecy that it is most definitely speaking of the Gentiles, or more importantly, spiritual Israel.  Consider Acts 15:13-17:  "<I>Men and brethren, hearken unto me:  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things</I>."</div> <bR> <div> <B>It is important</B> however to mention that any prophecies regarding Israel's restoration can be fulfilled in two ways:  <B>literally</B> and <B>figuratively</B> (spiritually).  That the Gentiles have taken the role of spiritual Israel should not be disputed, and any promises this group can apply to themselves should be accepted as a promise from God.  For God will have a people to represent Him upon the earth.  Gal. 3:29:  "<I>And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise</I>."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="18b641c0.gif" border=0 width="100" height="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>