Israel Future
Does Israel have a Future?
“June 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the Six Day
War. For four decades we have been told that the cause of the anger,
violence and terror against Israel is its occupation of the territories
seized in that war. End the occupation and the "cycle of violence''
ceases. The problem with this claim was that before Israel came into
possession of the West Bank and Gaza in the Six Day War, every Arab
state had rejected Israel's right to exist and declared Israel's
pre-1967 borders -- now deemed sacred -- to be nothing more than the
armistice lines suspending, and not ending, the 1948-49 war to
exterminate Israel. But you don't have to be a historian to understand
the intention of Israel's enemies. The issue is, and has always been,
Israel's existence. That is what is at stake” (Charles Krauthammer).
We affirm the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. God
has chosen Israel to bring forth our Messiah Jesus Christ, the son of
David, the Lion of Judah, as well as His true revelation to mankind in
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Our God is the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Holy One of Israel. Despite the national
unbelief of Israel concerning her Messiah, God has neither finished
with Israel, nor replaced Israel by the Church in His purposes.
1. Israel’s standing is based in her ELECTION
by God’s sovereign, unconditional grace before the foundation of the
world (Deut 10:15, 32:8,9; Amos 3:1,2; Romans 11:1-7,28,29). Thus she remains God’s CHOSEN people. Although only a remnant of
believing Jews (‘the Israel of God’) will fulfil God’s calling (the
rest disqualify themselves), God’s election of Israel guarantees the
preservation of the remnant of Israel and the ultimate repentance,
salvation and restoration of the nation of Israel in fulfilment of the
Abrahamic Covenant (see Romans 9-11).
2.Israel’s standing, existance and future is guaranteed by the ABRAHAMIC COVENANT for God is faithful to the everlasting, unconditional Covenant He made
with Abraham, and confirmed to Israel through Isaac and Jacob (despite
Israel’s sin). This Covenant guarantees the continued existance of
Israel as a nation and the fulfilment of all God’s covenant promises to
her, as confirmed by all the prophets who prophesied the coming golden
Messianic Age of God’s Kingdom on earth (the Millennium) when Israel
will enjoy all the promised covenant blessings.
The Abrahamic Covenant was first stated in seed-form in Genesis 12:1-3 promising: (1) The Land, (2) Nationhood, (3) Spiritual Salvation.
Later these 3 promises were confirmed and developed by God in 3 Covenants:
1. The Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Genesis 12:7, 13:14-17, 15:18, 17:7,8, 1Chronicles 16:17, Psalm 105:8-11).
2. The Davidic Covenant, promising nationhood through an
everlasting King (the son of David) and Kingdom (2Samuel 7:12-16,
1Chronicles 17:7-14, Psalm 89:19-37, 132:11-18).
3. The New Covenant promising spiritual blessings, prophesied
in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and established through Jesus Christ. This New
Covenant replaced the temporary Old (Mosaic) Covenant and belongs to
the seed of Abraham. Now the Church, by virtue of being in Christ (the
Seed of Abraham) are partakers of the New Covenant. However this does
not change the fact that Israel will receive the fulfilment of the New
Covenant, as well as the rest of the Abrahamic Covenant in the
Messianic Kingdom Age, when Jesus will literally reign on earth on the
Throne of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 years, with Israel exalted among
the nations.
3. Israel has unconditional promises that guarantee her future (Jeremiah 31:10,35-37).
What about Israel now? The rebirth
of Israel in 1948, and her re-establishment of control over Jerusalem
in 1967 were according to God’s purpose, plan and promises and
fulfilled the Biblical prophecies that after scattering Israel to all
the nations, God would regather her to her promised land. Israel’s
rebirth is the fulfilment of the sign of the Fig-Tree given by Jesus
for us to know when we are near the end of the Church-Age (Matthew
24:32-35). This event signified that ‘the Times of the Gentiles’ (of
Gentile Dominion over Israel), a time-period imposed by God on Israel
as a discipline because of her sin, are now fulfilled (Luke 21:24). Now
God is preparing the way to bring Israel to repentance and faith
concerning her Messiah. Israel’s rejection of Christ has resulted in
tribulation for her, which will continue until she accepts Jesus as her
Messiah. Israel’s repentance and faith in her Messiah are necessary for her
national restoration in the Kingdom (which is why Jesus did not
establish the Messianic Kingdom at His First Coming, but instead
postponed it and released salvation to the Gentiles by establishing the
Mystery Church-Age). But Israel will finally repent and call upon Jesus
in faith to save her, and in response He will return (His Second
Coming) to judge the nations, restore Israel and set up His Kingdom on
earth (Romans 11:26,27). Thus the rebirth and regathering of Israel is
a fulfilment of prophecy and sets the stage for all the remaining
prophecies of the Bible to be fulfilled. Israel’s miraculous rebirth is
now a sign to the nations that God’s Word is true and that the End of
the Age is upon us. God will fulfil his purposes for Israel, but if
people, nations or religious groups resist God’s purposes for Israel,
by cursing her or seeking her destruction, then God will bring them
into judgement. But if they bless Israel, they will receive a blessing
(Genesis 12:3).