Israel

• Israel - General Introduction
• Jerusalem
• Threats to Israel
• Religious
• Blessing or curse?
• Anti-Semitism
• Palestinians
• Part 1: History of Israel
• --- Part 2
• Part 1: History of the modern state of Israel
• --- Part 2
• --- Part 3
• --- Part 4
• --- Part 5
• Christian Palestinianism
• Israel back in the land means blessing for the Church
• Focus on Israel

Israel

Mandate and introduction

One aspect of our mandate is to promote a biblical worldview; another is to call our Nation back to her biblical heritage and the Church to her true destiny.  One way we can do this is by looking at Israel and the unique, strategic part the nation plays in the purposes of God.  Christian Spectrum first came into being when God alerted us to the importance of Israel and the following series of articles grew out of this.  

Israel central to the purposes of God

The Bible shows us how central Israel is to God’s purposes.  He called Abraham and promised him he would be the father of many nations and through him all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).  Throughout their history, however, the Jews (descendants of Abraham) have been despised and persecuted.  Yet God’s word tells us that whoever touches Israel touches the apple of God’s eye (Zephaniah 3:18).

Israel is still the apple of God’s eye, despite her apostasy and failure to recognise Jesus as their Messiah.  The prophetic scriptures promised 500 years before Jesus was born that one day Israel would be back in the land she was promised, and on the 14th May 1948, Israel became a nation again for the first time in over 2000 years.  In June 1967, Jerusalem became the unified capital of Israel.  The rebirth of the nation of Israel is unique among all the nations in history.  The story of how Israel came to be in the land can be found by following the link below.  This is the biggest sign in the land to us – and it’s happened in living memory!

Still fighting for survival

But those Jews who survived the Holocaust are still fighting for their land, amidst popular anti-Semitic propaganda.  The Palestinians have erased Israel from their atlases; the Arab Spring has raised anti-Jewish feeling in the Middle East and Iran is committed to Israel’s destruction.  Sadly, many within the Church also manifest anti-Israel feelings, whilst giving unconditional support to Arabs.  We would encourage you to read this series of articles whilst opening your spirit to what God might be saying to you concerning his chosen people Israel.

Here at Christian Spectrum we feel the Lord is saying to the Church to read and re-read the prophetic scriptures.  We need to understand that all the nations of the earth will be opposed to Israel at the end of the age.  Current events are moving fast in that direction.  Do not allow yourself to be affected by a largely anti-Semitic media; the BBC is vehemently hostile and biased against Israel.  Stand alongside Israel in the days that lie ahead.  Pray for Israel and call for the Jews to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.   

To the nations of the earth we would respectfully say that one day you will be judged for how you treated Israel.  The Bible tells us:

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land (Joel 3:1-2).

God's word never fails and history shows that when we bless Israel we are blessed, but when we curse Israel we bring a curse upon ourselves.  Read on . . .

Unique among the nations

What other nation is like Israel?  What is the explanation for the preservation of the Jews and the rebirth of Israel?  Are they back in the land solely by human design and endeavour, or do we see the hand of God at work?  Is it just a matter of chance and good fortune or is the explanation to be found in the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that was given four thousand years ago and we find recorded in the Book of Genesis?

In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates (Gen 15:18).

And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places where ever you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of (Gen 28:14-15).

Replacement Theology

There's a school of thought among Christians which believes that following the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and the final scattering of the Jews when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 135 AD, natural Israel no longer figures in God's purposes.  They believe the original covenant was superseded by the New Covenant and that the church replaced Israel in salvation history.  This is commonly known as Replacement Theology, and generally held by those who lean towards a Preterist view of eschatology.  See the End-Times for more on this.

Signs in the land

We believe, however, that Israel is still important, together with the church, in the on-going purposes of God.  Indeed, we believe that the survival and re-emergence of Israel in the land are significant signs indicating that Israel still matters to a faithful, covenantal God.

To provoke Israel to jealousy

The apostle Paul indicated that Israel remained part of God's purposes and that the role of the church was to provoke Israel to jealousy.

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all (Romans 11:25-32).

The end of the age and the return of Jesus

We believe the specific events related to Israel are also signs indicating that we are drawing close to the return of Jesus and the end of the age.  To enable the fulfilment of many prophecies related to the end times, Israel as a nation has to be in the land with sovereignty over Jerusalem.  For more, go to the following links:

Geopolitical 
Jerusalem 
Threats to Israel 
Religious 
Blessing or curse? 
Anti-Semitism 
Palestinians 
History of Israel 
History of the modern state of Israel
Christian Palestinianism

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