What is GOD’s eternal purpose for Israel?
Who is Israel today?
Does Israel still matter to GOD today? Are Jews still GOD’s special people? Why hasn’t the Jerusalem temple been rebuilt?
What should be the Christian’s attitude towards the modern country of Israel? Should Christians support Israel for religious reasons?
Are there yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies for physical Israel?
It’s time for us to re-think what Scripture reveals about Israel. Will you join me? Let’s do it!
Part #1: Re-Thinking GOD’s Promises to Abraham
In order to understand Israel’s future, we must first understand the past. What did GOD actually promise Abraham, the grandfather of Israel? How and when are those promises realized?
In this video, we take a fresh look at these questions and more.
Part #2: Re-Thinking Israel: Covenant and Failure
GOD made ancient Israel a covenant: Obey me and I will be your God and you will be my people.
Israel accepted but broke the covenant repeatedly, chasing other gods. So GOD rejected them.
In this video, we look at how that unfolded and the promises GOD made to ancient Israel about the future—curses for the wicked and blessings for the righteous remnant. Understanding this important truth is foundational to a proper perception of Jesus’ church.
Part #3: Re-Thinking Israel: Heirs of the Promise
The majority of ancient Israel was wicked and got destroyed. The covenant with those people was eliminated, superseded by a better new covenant.
Thankfully, the New Testament writers explained these things in great detail.
And that is the focus of this video. We look at who Scripture says are the heirs of GOD’s promises to Abraham—the true Israelites.
Part #4: Re-Thinking Israel: Amazing Blessings
How can a people who are destroyed be around to receive the blessings thereafter? On the surface, it makes no sense.
The answer is found in understanding the distinction between the two Israel’s of Scripture.
The first Israel refers to the physical children of Jacob, the majority of whom were wicked. These would receive the curses for their disobedience.
The second Israel refers to a remnant of those physical descendants—as well as many Gentiles, in the then-future—who would have the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This Israel is spiritual in nature. Its citizenship is determined by faith, not physical birth.
The then-future blessings were promised to this remnant, spiritual Israel.
The timeframe of these blessings is consistently described as the time of Jesus. Here is one example from Isaiah 11:
10 “It shall come to pass in that day that there shall be a Root of Jesse who shall arise to rule nations. The Gentiles shall hope in Him, and His resting place shall be honorable.” 11 It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will show His hand again to be zealous for the remnant left of His people: left by the Assyrians and by Egypt, Babylon and Ethiopia, and by the Elamites, and from the rising of the sun, and out of Arabia. 12 He shall set up a sign for the Gentiles and will assemble the lost ones of Israel. He shall gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth.
(Isa. 11:10-12 OSB)
According to Isaiah 11, the scattered remnant of Israel would be gathered under one king in the time of Jesus. And Jesus would, at that time, rule over many Gentiles as well.
These promised blessings to the second Israel, the children of Jacob by faith, are given to us—to faithful disciples of Jesus for all time.
This is an incredible and profound realization. Had you any idea that some one-third of the Old Testament Scriptures were prophetic blessings given to you? Amazing!
But what are these blessings, exactly?
That is the focus of this lesson.
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