[Letter to a Messianic Christian About Israel, and adapted here to avoid names and references]
Hello again brother:
Did I understand you to say you have been ill? I hope it is not severe, and pray all is now better for you. I wanted to share some thoughts on your previous expressions.
I depend more on the Word of God rather than reasoning about all that is happening today, though the scene today concerning Israel is very interesting and informative. I look at the Israeli people today from a Bible view; and as I indicated, Christians need to uphold Israel as a covenant people of God, though various political entities vary every few years and not all are Christian. Overall I believe Christians in the USA will not allow the government here to back away from Israel --not just by treaty, but also due to the Christian commitment.
Now, I will share some thoughts on your remarks about my statements, and I will not go into debate, for it is based on beliefs, which we both have, and what I see in Scripture. The so-called Messianic Christians seem to see that the two beliefs merge, which I do not see, for the Israelite religion was done away (fulfilled) at the Cross of Christ. As a Gentile I am strictly Biblical which views the twelve tribes of Israel as being restored in a future time, and only allowed back in the land presently in preparation for the final scene of Tribulation, before their Messiah returns. A remnant (144,000) will be preserved in the seven years of tribulation, to rule in the Millennium under their Messiah. See the notes below:
You stated: "I would say that the Jewish people are being restored to the land as we speak, and have been gravitating back there in significant numbers since the end of the 19th Century. The rebirth of Israel is probably the most significant prophetic marker of all time as Jews from every nation return to their historic homeland and once again the land yields her crops, cities and towns are rebuilt etc. The great Jewish prophet Ezekiel makes it clear that G-d will deal with Israel and national sin...in the land."
Allow me to say that the reference to prophecy you mention speaks of what Revelation shows as during the time when Jesus comes and begins His reign supreme, and THEN restores Israel when they repent, for they will see His nail-pierced hands and be humbled (see Zech. 12:9-10). They have been allowed back in the land by God in this age and are building, but the King of the North and the King of the South will yet come against them and nearly annihilate them, before Jesus, the Christ of God rescues them and humbles them to confess Him.
You stated in quote: "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you." Let me say about the full picture: During the Tribulation time (after the Bride of Christ --the Church, is translated up to the Lord) --which I believe is very near, the political Beast will rule this whole world scene. Israelites everywhere will suffer much, but some will be preserved through it and also the wrath of God against mankind; then Israel as a nation will be restored in the Millennium period --the thousand year reign of the Christ of God. None of this applies to you and I, for we won't be here as "of Christ" (remember, salvation is today --2 Cor. 6:1-2 and Matt. 25: 5-13; also, 1 Jn. 5:10-13).
You added: "The cleansing comes after they are restored to the land and not before as many Believers try to make out." According to the Bible they will be restored by God, not by Israel, and that at the beginning of the Millennium.
You said: "The understandable fear of many Jewish people is that Christians only truly accept them if they become Christians or believe as they do. To many of them the name Jesus Christ is a foreign gentilized aberration because it conjures up nearly 2,000 years of mistreatment at the hands of Christians trying to make them something that they are not...and the way many groups of Christians still carry on does nothing to allay these fears." Sad to say, professing christendom promotes many false ideas, but true "born again" believers in Christ who trust Him and study the Word, which I hope includes you, know that Jesus is maligned by these false preachers.
You stated: "What Jewish people need, and have always needed and looked for, is Messiah --their Jewish Messiah. We know Him as our Saviour but we have been guilty of presenting their Messiah back to them in a sanitized, gentile fashion, often with threats, beatings and murders if they don't respond as we hoped...Martin Luther was a case in point." I would not say "we" when referring to apostate Christians (Matt. 7:21-23); and I can allow that Martin Luther's contribution was in restoring the true Gospel message out of the bondage of the RC religion; for he was like all who fled the Roman religion in the Middle Ages, being limited in understanding the full picture of chuch truth.
So, I will leave this response and speak of the scene in the world. The fact that Nazi Germany claimed Jews were "Christ haters", was accepted by many in Germany as reason to not support Israel, we are told. We cannot condone the fallacies and hatred of many religionists, but as true Christians, those of us who embrace the full Word of God, we do value and know the biblical truth.
I agree that Israel is not being apartheid and racist, but is being careful and trying to protect themselves. When I visited Israel some years ago during the time of Arafat's funeral, I got a good overview of the land and people, and how they function as a nation. Look up always!
Ever in Christ by grace alone, 1watchman
Hello again brother:
Did I understand you to say you have been ill? I hope it is not severe, and pray all is now better for you. I wanted to share some thoughts on your previous expressions.
I depend more on the Word of God rather than reasoning about all that is happening today, though the scene today concerning Israel is very interesting and informative. I look at the Israeli people today from a Bible view; and as I indicated, Christians need to uphold Israel as a covenant people of God, though various political entities vary every few years and not all are Christian. Overall I believe Christians in the USA will not allow the government here to back away from Israel --not just by treaty, but also due to the Christian commitment.
Now, I will share some thoughts on your remarks about my statements, and I will not go into debate, for it is based on beliefs, which we both have, and what I see in Scripture. The so-called Messianic Christians seem to see that the two beliefs merge, which I do not see, for the Israelite religion was done away (fulfilled) at the Cross of Christ. As a Gentile I am strictly Biblical which views the twelve tribes of Israel as being restored in a future time, and only allowed back in the land presently in preparation for the final scene of Tribulation, before their Messiah returns. A remnant (144,000) will be preserved in the seven years of tribulation, to rule in the Millennium under their Messiah. See the notes below:
You stated: "I would say that the Jewish people are being restored to the land as we speak, and have been gravitating back there in significant numbers since the end of the 19th Century. The rebirth of Israel is probably the most significant prophetic marker of all time as Jews from every nation return to their historic homeland and once again the land yields her crops, cities and towns are rebuilt etc. The great Jewish prophet Ezekiel makes it clear that G-d will deal with Israel and national sin...in the land."
Allow me to say that the reference to prophecy you mention speaks of what Revelation shows as during the time when Jesus comes and begins His reign supreme, and THEN restores Israel when they repent, for they will see His nail-pierced hands and be humbled (see Zech. 12:9-10). They have been allowed back in the land by God in this age and are building, but the King of the North and the King of the South will yet come against them and nearly annihilate them, before Jesus, the Christ of God rescues them and humbles them to confess Him.
You stated in quote: "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you." Let me say about the full picture: During the Tribulation time (after the Bride of Christ --the Church, is translated up to the Lord) --which I believe is very near, the political Beast will rule this whole world scene. Israelites everywhere will suffer much, but some will be preserved through it and also the wrath of God against mankind; then Israel as a nation will be restored in the Millennium period --the thousand year reign of the Christ of God. None of this applies to you and I, for we won't be here as "of Christ" (remember, salvation is today --2 Cor. 6:1-2 and Matt. 25: 5-13; also, 1 Jn. 5:10-13).
You added: "The cleansing comes after they are restored to the land and not before as many Believers try to make out." According to the Bible they will be restored by God, not by Israel, and that at the beginning of the Millennium.
You said: "The understandable fear of many Jewish people is that Christians only truly accept them if they become Christians or believe as they do. To many of them the name Jesus Christ is a foreign gentilized aberration because it conjures up nearly 2,000 years of mistreatment at the hands of Christians trying to make them something that they are not...and the way many groups of Christians still carry on does nothing to allay these fears." Sad to say, professing christendom promotes many false ideas, but true "born again" believers in Christ who trust Him and study the Word, which I hope includes you, know that Jesus is maligned by these false preachers.
You stated: "What Jewish people need, and have always needed and looked for, is Messiah --their Jewish Messiah. We know Him as our Saviour but we have been guilty of presenting their Messiah back to them in a sanitized, gentile fashion, often with threats, beatings and murders if they don't respond as we hoped...Martin Luther was a case in point." I would not say "we" when referring to apostate Christians (Matt. 7:21-23); and I can allow that Martin Luther's contribution was in restoring the true Gospel message out of the bondage of the RC religion; for he was like all who fled the Roman religion in the Middle Ages, being limited in understanding the full picture of chuch truth.
So, I will leave this response and speak of the scene in the world. The fact that Nazi Germany claimed Jews were "Christ haters", was accepted by many in Germany as reason to not support Israel, we are told. We cannot condone the fallacies and hatred of many religionists, but as true Christians, those of us who embrace the full Word of God, we do value and know the biblical truth.
I agree that Israel is not being apartheid and racist, but is being careful and trying to protect themselves. When I visited Israel some years ago during the time of Arafat's funeral, I got a good overview of the land and people, and how they function as a nation. Look up always!
Ever in Christ by grace alone, 1watchman
