Israel
I received a great question regarding the church's relationship with Israel. I thought this was helpful in general. This was a question posted on a youtube video from a few years ago from a person I dont know:
Question:
Many teach that Gentiles will be servants of Israel in the Kingdom (especially in the Hebrew Roots Movement, Black Hebrew Movement and certain Jews). Where do they get this from? I have a difficult time with meshing 2 verses that seem to not agree: 1. God is no respecter of persons and 2. Israel is the apple of his eye. Does God love one group of people more than another? That makes me cry - also, will any of Edom be saved? How can ALL of Israel be saved and yet Paul said that we are to move them to jealousy that "some might be saved?" You teach as if the Church will be here for the time of Jacob's trouble- the end time Church will be here on the Earth?? When will the rapture take place then? Thank you.
My answer:
These are great and informed questions. I think that they (teachers) get that from not fully understanding the millennial reign and the purpose of Israel. Israel is simply the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) who God selected to bring forth the Messiah. The way God wants us to see Israel is with gratitude and humility to understand that when God selected Abraham he also marked him for great persecution. If we are saved by the Jewish Messiah born from Israel, we need to realize we are part of a Jewish man's body. So we care for that body, because it is our body. We are grafted in to Israel, but we don't replace her. We serve her, yes, but that doesn't mean we are her servant. We voluntarily serve her with the heart of Jesus, who did the same. God loves all of his children, but He enjoys the obedient. Israel has been obedient in very unique ways. Therefore, Israel has a very unique place in God's heart, just as you and I do.
"All of Israel" being saved means all those who are truly Israel. Consider what else Paul said in Romans 9:
Romans 9:6-7 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, (7) nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED."
Then Paul goes on to explain the remnant. All of Israel means all of Israel that wants the leadership of God. Christians believe (rightly, IMO) that there is no alternative plan of salvation. Jesus is the only way to the father for all people.
Zechariah 12 tells us that Israel will collectively and individually mourn for "the messiah they have pierced" when God pours out a spirit of grace and supplication on them, as Jerusalem is laid siege to one last time.
Yes, some of Edom will be saved! Consider Amos 9:
Amos 9:11-12 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; (12) That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the LORD who does this thing.
In the time of Israel's greatest persecution, those who come out of Babylon will come into wholehearted night and day worship of Jesus, called David's Tabernacle here, and in Acts 15. We see a beautiful picture of this in Revelation 7, where multitudes worship God day and night having come out of the great tribulation. In Amos 9, God specifically makes this promise over Edom!
The rapture takes place at the end of the tribulation. What Revelation 11 calls the sounding of the seventh angel.
Question:
Many teach that Gentiles will be servants of Israel in the Kingdom (especially in the Hebrew Roots Movement, Black Hebrew Movement and certain Jews). Where do they get this from? I have a difficult time with meshing 2 verses that seem to not agree: 1. God is no respecter of persons and 2. Israel is the apple of his eye. Does God love one group of people more than another? That makes me cry - also, will any of Edom be saved? How can ALL of Israel be saved and yet Paul said that we are to move them to jealousy that "some might be saved?" You teach as if the Church will be here for the time of Jacob's trouble- the end time Church will be here on the Earth?? When will the rapture take place then? Thank you.
My answer:
These are great and informed questions. I think that they (teachers) get that from not fully understanding the millennial reign and the purpose of Israel. Israel is simply the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) who God selected to bring forth the Messiah. The way God wants us to see Israel is with gratitude and humility to understand that when God selected Abraham he also marked him for great persecution. If we are saved by the Jewish Messiah born from Israel, we need to realize we are part of a Jewish man's body. So we care for that body, because it is our body. We are grafted in to Israel, but we don't replace her. We serve her, yes, but that doesn't mean we are her servant. We voluntarily serve her with the heart of Jesus, who did the same. God loves all of his children, but He enjoys the obedient. Israel has been obedient in very unique ways. Therefore, Israel has a very unique place in God's heart, just as you and I do.
"All of Israel" being saved means all those who are truly Israel. Consider what else Paul said in Romans 9:
Romans 9:6-7 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, (7) nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED."
Then Paul goes on to explain the remnant. All of Israel means all of Israel that wants the leadership of God. Christians believe (rightly, IMO) that there is no alternative plan of salvation. Jesus is the only way to the father for all people.
Zechariah 12 tells us that Israel will collectively and individually mourn for "the messiah they have pierced" when God pours out a spirit of grace and supplication on them, as Jerusalem is laid siege to one last time.
Yes, some of Edom will be saved! Consider Amos 9:
Amos 9:11-12 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; (12) That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the LORD who does this thing.
In the time of Israel's greatest persecution, those who come out of Babylon will come into wholehearted night and day worship of Jesus, called David's Tabernacle here, and in Acts 15. We see a beautiful picture of this in Revelation 7, where multitudes worship God day and night having come out of the great tribulation. In Amos 9, God specifically makes this promise over Edom!
The rapture takes place at the end of the tribulation. What Revelation 11 calls the sounding of the seventh angel.
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