[teejay]

Last time I was here I promised to open up some issues about Israel that has bothered and even baffled religious people for some time. And in those my posting I will try to show that Israel is no longer the chosen of God.

We shall now take a look at Israel both Ancient and Modern. But before we do that let us ask ourselves why Israel has and the surrounding environs are highly volatile. First of all there are Palestinian Arabs. To touch them means to stir up the loyalties of powerful allies who control the world’s oil production which can in turn create serious global difficulties in financial markets. There is also Jerusalem revered by pilgrims of three major world religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The devotees of these religions are drawn to hallowed sites such as the Wailing Wall, temple mount and the dolorosa. Modern states of Israel, can no longer claim sole devotion to Jerusalem.

Jews, Christians and Moslems are dispersed world over with most influential world leaders belonging to any of the three religions holding high political and social positions. From then Jerusalem symbolizes a touchstone of faith and unity. Peace in Jerusalem gives them relief while strife and bloodshed has the opposite effect.

For some strange reason however evangelical Christians excel all others in religious devotion with regards the future of Israel and Jerusalem. To them the prophetic book of the bible which contains apocalyptic references cast light on the future of the modern state of Israel. Evangelicals fervently believe that the rebirth of Israel in 1948 and the victory for the Jews in the six day war of 1967 were nothing short of the fulfillment to the end time bible prophecies. The modern state of Israel, they conclude, must play a significant role in the last day events.

Hal Lindsey a popular evangelical writer who authored a bestselling book THE LAST GREAT PLANET EARTH believes that the political restoration of Israel in 1948 is “the most important prophetic sign to herald the era of Christ’s return”.

The big question here is, does the bible actually equate the modern Israel with the spiritual Israel? Can Bible prophecies of a return to Zion to Jewish historical glory find their fulfillment in Israel’s modern history, present & future?

THE BIBLE AND MODERN ISRAEL.
God’s chosen. God call them(Israel)"Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name "Isaiah 45:4, Exodus 4: 22"...Israel is my son, even my firstborn ", Psalm 80:8"Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt, thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it",Hosea 11:1"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt" God intended to fulfill his promises to ancient Israel, but the promises were conditional which the always communicated through the prophets. Jer. 18: 9,10.
Despite repeated call to repentance Ancient Israel did not obey they only transgressed more Hosea 11: 2.God finally set Christ (His son) John 3:16

Jewish leader hardened their hearts to Christ’s message. Bible terminology began to change Jesus was called by the names reserved for Israel. Matt 2:15" 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",Matt 3:17 "...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased " Colossians 1:15" Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature", John 15:1" am the true vine... ".The applications of these prophecies also included His followers. Just as Jacob’s descendants were called by his new name, Israel, and claimed his spiritual heritage, so were Christ’s followers. Christ’s followers took His name & His heritage. Gal 3. 29"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise ".

New Testament teaches that New Israel are Christians whether Jews or Gentiles Gal 3: 7"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham ", Rom 2:28,29"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 heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God".As the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Christ the reveal their true heritage John 8:39,44"..If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham..Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own,for he is a liar, and the father of it"

In the parable of the vineyard Jesus delivered God’s divorce papers to ancient Israel Mat 21:43"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.".The Bible confirms the identity of the new Israel 1st Pet 2:9"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light"

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE
Those who believe that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of end-time prophecies also teach that the temple will be rebuilt & ancient sacrificial services reinstated.

The Jewish temple was indeed God’s sanctuary. Christ called it my house mat 21:13"...My house shall be called the house of prayer...".But in the face of open rejection, Jesus pronounced the awful sentence on the temple,Mat 23:38"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate," from then on the temple was no longer God’s house, but instead believers individually & collective would make of God’s temple. 1st Corinth 3:16"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?", 2nd Corinth 6:16" And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people".
When Christ died on the cross the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom signifying the end of earthly temple services. Mat 27:51"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent". All sacrificial ceremonies of the temple had pointed to the great fulfillment (Christ death). Once the real sacrifice had been offered, there was no more need for the blood of lambs. Validating any animal sacrifices today would mean rejecting Christ as the Messiah.

There you are. Those who still think that Israel today is occupying a special place in God's good books is very mistaken. As Tm says Israel should be regaded as any other nation. A jew today is no more special than an ogiek living in the heart of kenya's forests.If anybody teaches otherwise simply ignore them and know they are the false teachers that the bible has talked about numerous times.