Israel Redefined
Are the people who live in Israel today the Old Testament Israelites of the Bible?
This is a common question asked by many and different kinds of church people in many places around the world. What do the Scriptures say and what do they mean when they say it?
In the Book of Genesis 12:1-3, we find God calling Abram.
In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abraham. Genesis 17:1-2,4-5, 7-11
This was a covenant of promise to Abraham. The promises that God made to Abraham concerned him, his seed, the land, and his posterity.
These blessings which should come from the Lord to Abraham were first called a "covenant". First came the promise of a seed which would grow into a nation.
Through Abraham's seed would come Jesus Christ and those who would believe in Him. Galatians 3:16, 24, 28-29
Then came the promise of a land, a temporary place for the seed to live.
Next, there was the promise of future blessing to all the world. Genesis 12:3
The Apostle Paul explained this in Galatians 3:14.
Not just the Jews, but all Gentiles (nations) were to participate in the blessings of salvation through Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Galatians 3:6-9
This same covenant was renewed to Isaac in Genesis 26:3-5 and then to Jacob (Israel) in Genesis 28:13-14.
We must remember that Abraham was not a Jew or an Israelite.
Never was the Covenant given to Abraham to be inclusive of just national fleshly Israel but was to involve all families of the Earth. Genesis 12:3
God also promised that the children of Israel would be dis-possessed of the land if they did not remain true to Him. Exodus 19:5,8, 24:7-8
Notice in Deuteronomy 4:1 that this inheritance was to be on the basis of their obedience. Deuteronomy 4:23, 26-27, 8:6, 19-20 God made it very clear to them that if they disobeyed, they would perish.
The Bible is the story of the unfolding of time and events in God's dealings with His Covenant people. These people were not chosen because of race, creed, or colour; but a people chosen through covenant connection.
The Bible is about the restoration of the spiritual life lost through Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:16-17 It is the story of the
redemption of humanity through the promised seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
Eschatology is the study of the last-days generation of the Old Covenant that God had with the 12 tribes of Israel.
We find in Genesis 47:1 that Jacob called his 12 sons together around his death bed and told them what was going to happen to them in the last days, their last days; the period of 40 years from AD 30 to AD 70.
The Judgment of God was coming in their last days against Covenant breakers. Isaiah 24:5 On the Last Day of their last days came the Day of Resurrection and the Return of Jesus which was in the year AD 70. John 6:40, 44, 54, 11:24-25
Moses wrote of God's judgment in the latter days and Israel's latter end in AD 70. Deuteronomy 31:29 This is when the armies of Rome would besiege and destroy the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. Deuteronomy 28:49-57
In the eyes of God, this would end the religion of the Jews forever. This is what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. The Lord actually says that He gave Israel a bill of divorcement because of their backsliding and adultery. Jeremiah 3:8
This is what the Apostles preached about to the first century believers. It so impacted their lives that they sold the lands and houses in preparation of the return of Jesus in their lifetime. Acts 2:45, Matthew 24:34
When you read your Bible, you must read it in context and understand the concept of audience relevance. The things that were written were written to living, breathing people about what was happening and going to happen in their generation.
Many churches and their preachers are wrong about the last days and end times and the end of the world.
The Bible says absolutely nothing about a regathering of Jews to the physical land of Israel. The Israel of God was redefined from a natural people, from a physical building and animal sacrifices to a spiritual building, a house made without hands and spiritual sacrifices. 1 Corinthians 3:16
The people of God are, now and forever more, those who become covenant connected through faith and obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The New Covenant connection is through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus.
We obey the Gospel by first repenting which is a type of the death of Jesus. Through repentance, we die out to our carnality and choose to commit our life to the Lord.
Then we are buried with Him through Baptism for the remission of our sins in the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:4
Then we are filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues which completes our rebirth experience. This is our resurrection!
Now we are connected to the New Covenant through our obedience to the Gospel. This New Covenant is everlasting and eternal. Jeremiah 31:31-35, 32:39-40, Hebrews 13:20, 10:16. 12:24
Now, Israel has been redefined.
The physical nation of Israel with its physical temple has now been superseded by the Church.
