/
RSS Feed
We have had more requests to talk about Israel than we have for any other topic. So, today we cave in to the pressure. We hope our conversation about Israel helps you discern at least how to think about current events in Israel from a Biblical perspective.
NOTES:
The book Scott quoted, Dispensationalism Today, is unavailable, even on Amazon!
You can find Lewis Sperry Chafer’s influential Systematic Theology here.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
- The name “Israel” is used in many ways in the Bible and outside. Make sure you know what you mean when you use it and what the Bible means when it uses the word Israel.
- Dispensationalism is a doctrinal framework that sees Israel and the Church as distinct and posits an eschatological future for the nation-state of Israel. This makes the formation of the modern nation-state of Israel to be extremely important in Biblical prophecy.
- There is no direct connection between Israel of the Old Testament, the covenant people of God, and the modern state of Israel.
- Genesis 12:1-3 is the pivotal text: Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
- Galatians 3: 14-16 identifies the fulfilment of that promise in Jesus: so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
- Here are other verses that suggest Jesus fulfills the promises of the Old Testament:
- Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Mat 5:17 ESV)
- For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4 ESV)
- For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory (2Co 1:20 ESV)
- Revelation promises a new Jerusalem where Jesus will reign: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
- So what are we to do?
- Lament evil and war.
- Pray for all involved.
- Avoid seeing this conflict as a Biblical one.Do not see this as the impending fulfilment of some prophecy.
- Pray for the salvation of souls through the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 9:1-5) and for Jesus to return soon.
GET IN TOUCH:
We’d love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing