"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.' Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.' For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.' Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good." Psalm 122
I don't think anyone would question that God's chosen people, His first love if you will, were the descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people. The entire Old Testament, or the Tanakh, is originally written in Hebrew, short of a few select chapters. Most of the major players in the Biblical stories we know best were of Jewish decent (though not all), including the most important, HaMashiach Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. God's original covenant was with His people, and He protected them and watched over them, even during times of punishment for their actions. And, His plan for redemption was fulfilled through His people and the lineage of David. Even the original followers of Christ were Jewish, who eventually spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and started the first churches.
Knowing all of this, it came as quite a surprise to me when I realized about a year ago that much of the Church today believes that the promises of God to Israel are no longer valid, and that the Church has replaced Israel in those promises. How did I not know of this replacement theology? Had I never actually heard anyone speak of it, or was I just so ignorant to ignore it? Or worse, did I actually believe it and just not realize it because I rarely read my Bible?
The more I read and study the Bible, the more I discover that it is the most cohesive story ever told, from Genesis to Revelation, and it was penned by over 40 different authors over thousands of years. The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed (Chuck Missler), and all of it by Holy inspiration of God and His Breath (Spirit) (2 Tim. 3:16). The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and those who love her will prosper (Psalm 122:6). Not only that, but Paul makes it a point several times to give priority to Israel, as he describes the promises of Christ given first to the Jew and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16 and many others). He even writes a whole section of the epistle to the Romans about Israel and her destiny (Romans 9, 10 and 11). And it's difficult to deny the "Jewishness" of Revelation 5 to the end (i.e. Jesus' titles as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David and the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel, just as a few examples).
Israel still has a destiny in God's great plan for mankind. It differs from that of the Church, but we have not replaced them in God's eyes. In fact, it's possible that they are even more important. If by Israel's denial of Christ, salvation was able to come to the Gentiles, how much greater would the riches be in the fullness of Israel, if they recognized the Messiah (Romans 11:11-12)? In fact, I'm thankful for Israel, because without them I would have no Savior and be dead in a life of sin. My prayer is not only for the peace of Israel and the comfort of the Jewish people, but that more and more of them would come to know that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled not just a few, but all of the Messianic prophecies in their scriptures and that the way to God the Father is by Him alone.
Father, protect Your people and bring peace to the land of Israel. Watch over Jerusalem, Your Holy city, as they deal with constant violence and destruction from Your enemies. Bring revelation to the Church and help us all to see the importance of Israel and their role in Your plan for mankind, and remove any antisemitic thoughts. Help them to recognize Yeshua as the Messiah, so they can bridge the gap to You and experience Your freedom. In Jesus' great name, Amen.
I don't think anyone would question that God's chosen people, His first love if you will, were the descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people. The entire Old Testament, or the Tanakh, is originally written in Hebrew, short of a few select chapters. Most of the major players in the Biblical stories we know best were of Jewish decent (though not all), including the most important, HaMashiach Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. God's original covenant was with His people, and He protected them and watched over them, even during times of punishment for their actions. And, His plan for redemption was fulfilled through His people and the lineage of David. Even the original followers of Christ were Jewish, who eventually spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and started the first churches.
Knowing all of this, it came as quite a surprise to me when I realized about a year ago that much of the Church today believes that the promises of God to Israel are no longer valid, and that the Church has replaced Israel in those promises. How did I not know of this replacement theology? Had I never actually heard anyone speak of it, or was I just so ignorant to ignore it? Or worse, did I actually believe it and just not realize it because I rarely read my Bible?
The more I read and study the Bible, the more I discover that it is the most cohesive story ever told, from Genesis to Revelation, and it was penned by over 40 different authors over thousands of years. The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed (Chuck Missler), and all of it by Holy inspiration of God and His Breath (Spirit) (2 Tim. 3:16). The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and those who love her will prosper (Psalm 122:6). Not only that, but Paul makes it a point several times to give priority to Israel, as he describes the promises of Christ given first to the Jew and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16 and many others). He even writes a whole section of the epistle to the Romans about Israel and her destiny (Romans 9, 10 and 11). And it's difficult to deny the "Jewishness" of Revelation 5 to the end (i.e. Jesus' titles as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David and the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel, just as a few examples).
Israel still has a destiny in God's great plan for mankind. It differs from that of the Church, but we have not replaced them in God's eyes. In fact, it's possible that they are even more important. If by Israel's denial of Christ, salvation was able to come to the Gentiles, how much greater would the riches be in the fullness of Israel, if they recognized the Messiah (Romans 11:11-12)? In fact, I'm thankful for Israel, because without them I would have no Savior and be dead in a life of sin. My prayer is not only for the peace of Israel and the comfort of the Jewish people, but that more and more of them would come to know that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled not just a few, but all of the Messianic prophecies in their scriptures and that the way to God the Father is by Him alone.
Father, protect Your people and bring peace to the land of Israel. Watch over Jerusalem, Your Holy city, as they deal with constant violence and destruction from Your enemies. Bring revelation to the Church and help us all to see the importance of Israel and their role in Your plan for mankind, and remove any antisemitic thoughts. Help them to recognize Yeshua as the Messiah, so they can bridge the gap to You and experience Your freedom. In Jesus' great name, Amen.
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