why was israel scattered amongst the nations thrice before, again?????
The sign of Jonah
What you said above got me thinking. Remember what Christ said to the pharisees? He said an evil generation looks for a sign, but the only one that will be given to it is the sign of Jonah. This was seen in Christs laying in the tomb and then being resurrected i suppose, but perhaps its also seen in how Israel was conquered that many times, and the kingdom promise was finally realized in Christ, after he rose from the dead and went to heaven. Its there that the kingdom is seen, not on earth. Just as the flesh profits nothing, and it was crucified, so earthly nations also profit nothing and are crucified. The righteousness that is by the law, which Paul speaks of in Philippians, this, in my opinion, refers also to the carnal law of "earthly" Israel. That's why Paul said he counts all things as a loss, even his earthly citizenship. His wish is to be resurrected with Christ in His Heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one. THe flesh profits nothing, just as Christ has said.. All things are spiritual now. All things are New.
Colossians 3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Phillipians 3:7 But whatever were gains to me
I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake
I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes,
to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model,
keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. T
heir mind is set on earthly things. 20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.