And they also show that even before that takes place two-thirds of all the inhabitants of the land will be killed. (Zechariah 13)
Zechariah 13:
v. 7 - Jesus quotes most of this verse in Matt. 26:31, shortly before his betrayal.
v. 8 - In the Jewish-Roman wars, two thirds of the Jewish population perished; one third remained.
v. 9 - Over time, the remaining third fled, many to Africa, where many converted to Christianity.
Then it doesn't fit as fulfillment. Even if one accepted the assumption that full 2/3 of the Jews were killed off by the Romans, which I do not, then to fulfill the prophecy, ALL the remaining 1/3 would have converted, not "many" of them. Even one missed, constitutes a lack of fulfillment.
You are assuming the Bible never rounds numbers...
Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
God owns the cattle on all the hills, not just a thousand.
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Then it doesn't fit as fulfillment. Even if one accepted the assumption that full 2/3 of the Jews were killed off by the Romans, which I do not, then to fulfill the prophecy, ALL the remaining 1/3 would have converted, not "many" of them. Even one missed, constitutes a lack of fulfillment.
Africa wasn't the only destination. The overall historical record isn't complete, but it's not at all unreasonable to believe that, ultimately, whatever their destinations, the full surviving one third did accept Christ.
This is at least a modicum of historically verifiable evidence. What evidence do you have?
So, you have presumption. Not a very steady foundation. And, yes, it is quite unreasonable to presume such things, especially since Rabbinic Judaism survived the dispersion. Had they all become Christians, Rabbinic Judaism would have been replaced and died off in that generation.
There was already a preexisting Jewish presence throughout the world of that day (Acts 2:5), many years before the dispersion. This presence would have continued even with the conversion to Christianity of those dispersed.
My position consists of part historical evidence, part presumption. Yours consists solely of presumption.
The burden of proof is on you.
You think that's rounding? Do you know what rounding is?
So, you have presumption. Not a very steady foundation. And, yes, it is quite unreasonable to presume such things, especially since Rabbinic Judaism survived the dispersion. Had they all become Christians, Rabbinic Judaism would have been replaced and died off in that generation.
As to how it will be determined who is, or is not, a true Israelite, as this determination will be made by the Lord himself, there will be zero problem. Everyone that the God of heaven recognizes as a descendant of the ancient nation of Israel will be brought back to the land. And the judge's decision will be final.
The Israeli government's Law of Return recognizes a non-descendant who has converted to Judaism as being a Jew.
From the beginning, God extended His covenant to non-descendants:
Gen. 17:12: "...which is not of thy seed..."
Would not God continue to recognize these as descendants?
I really do not think the Lord, God of heaven and earth, is very interested in the laws passed by the government of a nation that is still in rebellion against His message.
1Ti_1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Tit_3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Right.
Here's something of further interest: Every female descendant of a Jewish (including by conversion) mother, in every successive generation, is also considered Jewish, having "inherited Jewishness" from her mother in the previous generation.
I've confirmed this with local rabbis.
So much for God's ageless covenant conditions of faith and obedience.
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