The Return Of
Israel To Israel
A) ALWAYS CONDITIONAL.
B) WHO COMPRISES ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?
C) MORE THAN ONE ISRAEL.
D) TO THE BOOK OF GALATIANS.
E) OTHER BIBLICAL PASSAGES.
F) WHICH ISRAEL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
G) THE 1948 A.D. RETURN ARGUMENT.
H) ISRAEL’S RESTORATION EXPLAINED.
J) THE NAIL IN ISRAEL’S COFFIN.
A) ALWAYS CONDITIONAL
One thing we can be CERTAIN of with God -- His promises are ALWAYS conditional. Before we take a quick look at some of the texts used to support the return of Israel in 1948 A.D. as a fulfillment of prophecy (or any other return, i.e., future), please consider Jeremiah 18:9-10: “And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” Thus, the claim that modern Israel’s restoration as a nation is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, completely ignores this Bible principle of God’s promises being conditional. Another outstanding section of verses that point this Biblical principle out is Leviticus, Chapter 26, Verses 14-39.
The most telling of all for the reason Israel is no longer in the eye of God is Luke 19:44: “because thou [oh Israel] knewest not the time of thy [oh Israel] visitation.” Therefore, since then God has rejected them as a nation (note, never as individuals).
B) WHO COMPRISES ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
First, let us notice that the Greek word for “Gentile,” is the same word that is translated as, “heathen;” for the Greek word “ethnos,” means one and the same thing. The two English words should have no difference of association, for they are translated from only one Greek word. And the Old Testament bears the same record for the corresponding Hebrew word (compare Psa. 2:1 with Acts 4:25; and Jer. 1:5, where “nation” is the same word, “gowy,” as in Psa. 2:1; and Joel 3:9 & 11, where the words “Gentiles,” and “heathen,” are the same Hebrew word). Here is my point: “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.” Romans 10:12.
James teaches us what Simeon Peter proclaimed, that “God at the first did visit the Gentiles [ethnos], to take out of them a people for His Name [sake],” Acts 15:14. In other words, Abraham, the father of Israel, was taken from among the Gentiles (see Jos. 24:2-3). And so it is, that all who become members of Israel are taken from among the “heathen.” Paul says it this way: “Ye know that ye were Gentiles [ethnos],” First Corinthians 12:2. Here, Paul is showing us that they were once “heathen,” “carried away unto these dumb idols,” First Corinthians 12:2. Notice also, that the text itself shows us that Gentiles are idol-worshipers -- “heathen” as it were. And Paul also teaches us that the Corinthians “were Gentiles;” but ceased to be such by the implication that when they became Christians, their relationship with God changed.
Paul again puts this principle forth in Ephesians 2:11: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past [ethnos] Gentiles,” or in other words, “heathen.” And James seats it in Acts 15:19, when referring to the believers in Antioch as those who were, “from among the [ethnos] Gentiles are turned to God.” This is well understood as meaning that God’s people are taken out from among the “heathen,” and upon being taken from out of them, they cease to be Gentiles.
Looking at Galatians 3:8, we can see, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen [ethnos, Gentiles] through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham.” Notice that this verse first teaches that the Gospel was preached as early as in the days of Abraham. And, it was preached to Abraham while he was yet a “heathen,” serving “other gods,” Joshua 24:2-3.
We learn from Acts 3:25: “saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” There is no other blessing that is not covered in this blessing, which Abraham received. For the Gospel preached to Abraham is the only Gospel that there is for any people on this earth. The reason is, because Jesus Christ is the “Seed” that is the fulfillment of the Gospel to Abraham.
C) MORE THAN ONE ISRAEL
Second of all, let us understand that according to the Bible, there is more than one Israel. The Biblical fact is that there are TWO Israel’s when considering prophecy: “Not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” Romans 9:6. So we see, that there is the Israel of the “flesh,” or the “seed of Abraham,” Isaiah 41:8, i.e., “which are of Israel,” and then there is “Spiritual” Israel, i.e., “not all Israel,” This is confirmed in Galatians 3:14: “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that wemight receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Notice that Paul, being a Jew, classes himself with the Galatians by stating, “we.”
This is better understood and cleared up very nicely if we continued reading in Romans, Chapter 9, verse 8: “That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” What is the “promise?” Let’s look again at Galatians 3:14. It is those who have faith in and receive the Holy Spirit. This is confirmed by seeing verse 29 of Galatians, Chapter 3: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Notice again the little word “we,” which Paul uses as all-inclusive. Even though Paul was a Jew, and the Galatians he was talking to were Gentiles, they are all “we[‘s],” when it comes to belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. And therefore, they are then counted as “Spiritual Israel,” and not fleshly “National Israel.”
D) TO THE BOOK OF GALATIANS
Now that we have this correct Biblical perspective, whenever the Bible is speaking prophetically about Israel, we must determine if it is speaking about “Spiritual Israel,” or the “Nation of Israel” (fleshly). Paul further clarifies this fact in Galatians 6:15: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision [being a Jew] availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision [being a Gentile], but a new creature.” This is the KEY to understanding God and His Word. God wants us to be, “a new creature,” i.e., “born again.” If we cannot agree upon this Biblical truth, then we can never come into agreement upon any Bible subject.
Now let’s notice verse 16, in Galatians, Chapter 6: “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Who is, “the Israel of God?” Those who “walk according to” God’s “rule[s].” Do we find the Nation of Israel obeying the voice of God in regard to the Messiah already Coming? Hardly! Here is verse 14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Paul wants no part in the Nation of Israel.
Briefly looking at Israel again, let’s discover which Israel the Bible is talking about in some of the following verses. The first time Israel is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 32:28, where it refers to one man. Yet only four verses later it refers not only to that one man, but primarily to Israel as a Nation: “Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day,” Genesis 32:32. When obedient, Israel as a Nation was protected by God. Not so today.
E) OTHER BIBLICAL PASSAGES
Acts 13:46 is SO CLEAR that all need not speculate as to any other interpretation or meaning: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you [ISRAEL]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” This is saying that Israel’s probation period is over.
Paul presents a convincing argument in Philippians 3:4-5: “(4) Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the Law, a Pharisee.” Yet the reason for his rationalizing with the Philippians, in regards to Israel, is not that he wishes for them to have been born Jewish, but that they might be, “born again,” and thus be grafted into “Spiritual Israel,” which is of infinitely more value.
In Exodus 4:21 we see for the first time a reference to God’s people as, the “Nation of Israel.” Now here is something very interesting. Hosea applies his discourse to the “Nation of Israel” (or does he): “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt,” Hosea 11:1. However, when Matthew quotes from Hosea 11:1, he does not apply it to the “Nation of Israel,” but to Jesus Christ! “And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Hosea], saying, Out of Egypt have I called My Son.”
Going back to Romans, Chapter 9, Paul clearly points out the fact that, “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” verse 6, when he states in verse 24, “Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles,” then verse 26, “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the Living God.” This must obviously refer to “Spiritual Israel.”
Paul makes this very clear, that only “Spiritual Israel,” and not “National Israel,” are the ones that will be saved; because if we continue on in his discourse, he states, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved,” Romans 10:1, thus indicating that any still remaining in “National Israel” must join and become “Spiritual Israel,” if they wish to be saved at all. Therefore, it should be becoming more and more apparent to you, the reader, that any promises applied to end time Israel, would be to those composing “Spiritual Israel,” and not “National Israel.” Remembering that all prophecies and promises are based upon obedience to them.
Other texts for “born again” Christians being “Spiritual Israel” are: “(28) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:28-29. “(12) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:12-13. There you have it, through obedience to the “promise.”
F) WHICH ISRAEL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
Now we can see that it is imperative that we understand WHICH Israel the Bible is speaking about when applying any Scripture to any prophetic interpretation concerning Israel. The following are texts used, or rather misused, to support Israel’s return to Palestine. No Biblical time prophecy can be found to support 1948 A.D. as a year set by the Lord for Israel to return; other than the misapplication of Daniel, Chapter 9, verses 25-27, which are clearly about the time period of the crucifixion or our Lord. Otherwise, Jesus must Come down to earth again to be “cut off in the midst of the week.”
However, the only time prophecies for Israel to return to Palestine are found in two separate events:
1) (From Egypt to Palestine) Genesis 15:13; Exodus 12:40; Acts 7:6; Galatians 3:17.
2) (From Babylon to Palestine) Second Chronicles 36:21; Isaiah 23:15; Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:12; 7:5.
Therefore, let us take a look at the verses below which supposedly support a 1948 A.D. return.
G) THE 1948 A.D. RETURN ARGUMENT
Genesis 13:15; 17:8; Second Samuel 7:16 -- Notice that these statements of God are also conditional, because even David’s descendants did not remain upon the throne after the Babylonian captivity. Genesis 17:9 confirms that God expected his descendants to continue in obedience: “And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep My Covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.” Consider also that the ultimate fulfillment for Abraham to possess the land of Canaan forever is embedded within the Heavenly gates. Consider Hebrews 11:10 & 16: “(10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. . . (16) But now they desire a better country, that is, an Heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” That the descendants of Abraham did not keep the “Covenant,” disqualified them of the promises. This concept rings true throughout the Bible.
Isaiah 66:8 -- This prophecy is fulfilled in the decree of Cyrus in Second Chronicles & Ezra 6:3. For those who may sight that it is a dual prophecy one must find where the Jewish community fulfilled the requirements of the prophecy.
Ezekiel 20:39-44 -- Verses 40-44 mean nothing if Israel was to still, “serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken [repent] unto Me: but pollute ye My Name. . .” Consider this section in Ezekiel corresponding with Numbers 14:23: “Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked Me see it.”
Ezekiel 22:17-22 -- God’s gathering of the Jews in these verses, in His anger and wrath, refers not to a return to Palestine, but to God’s judgment upon their disobedience. Therefore, the purpose of this prophecy was for judgment, not restoration, confirmed by the fact that shortly afterwards Israel is taken to Babylon. The words “anger,” “fury,” “leave you,” “melt you,” and “wrath” are words of judgment, not a gathering “into the midst of Jerusalem,” for a restoration of a nation (nowhere mentioned here).
Ezekiel 36:24-38 -- This section is used the most to promote the suggestion that the Nation of Israel will come back to the Lord and be saved. These wonderful promises are given when and if Israel repented(s). “A new heart” “and a new spirit,” verse 26, denotes attributes of repentance. To be delivered from foreign nations, as these texts suggest, Israel must first meet the conditions of God’s expected repentance of Israel.
Consider Deuteronomy 30:1-6: “(1) And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, And thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, (2) And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all [NOTE the word, “all”] that I Command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; (3) That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. (4) If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee: (5) And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. (6) And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart [check the Nation of Israel today that will not even read Isaiah, Chapter 53], and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.”
This is a great verse to use to prove that God honored His promise to return Israel to their land in 1948 A.D. However, were they then, or are they now, “obey[ing] His voice according to all that I [He] Command[ed]” them? Let alone, have they, or did they then, accept Jesus as their Messiah, and love Him “with all thine heart, and with all thy soul?” Be honest with you answers. And please don’t say this will take place in the future. For the conditions mentioned in this prophecy of belief and obedience take place at the restoration, not at a later period.
Ezekiel, Chapter 37 -- Notice verse 24. The key to this Chapter’s prophecy is forming a loving relationship with God, with “obedience” being the fruit thereof. Accordingly, the Israel of 1948 A.D., and the Israel of today, still do not worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In verses 26-28 God’s Tabernacle is to be in their “midst.” Since Israel did not obey God, we must look for another class of people who do (i.e., “Spiritual Israel”) and apply this prophecy to them. We find them in Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
Amos 9:11-12 -- Here we find a clear declaration that this does not apply to Israel. James tells us this by quoting this Old Testament prophecy (see below), that it is most definitely speaking of the Gentiles, or more importantly, “Spiritual Israel.” Consider James speech in Acts 15:13-17: “(13) Men and brethren, hearken unto me: (14) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His Name. (15) And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, (16) After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: (17) That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My Name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.” Who is doing “all these things?”
Explanation: James is here quoting a prophecy from the Old Testament by the prophet Amos (9:11-12), in which the ingathering of the Gentiles was to be brought about. What stands out for us in analyzing this passage, is that our Lord is pointing out that this particular prophecy was being fulfilled through the literal ingathering of the Gentiles, not into “literal Israel,” but into the Christian Church, both then (and as prophecies and sometimes dual, but also triune), and futuristic. This is a clear example of a figurative New Testament fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy. In this case, regarding the restoration of Israel in the hearts of the Gentiles.
H) ISRAEL’S RESTORATION EXPLAINED
It is important however, to mention that any prophecies regarding Israel’s restoration can be fulfilled in two ways: literally and figuratively (Spiritually). That the Gentiles (and any Israelite) have taken the role of “Spiritual Israel”should not be disputed, and any promises this group can apply to themselves should be accepted as a promise from God. For God will have a people to represent Him upon the earth. Galatians 3:29: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
“I saw that God has forsaken the Jews as a nation; yet there was a portion of them who would be enabled to tear away the veil from their hearts. Some will yet see that prophecy has been fulfilled concerning them, and they will receive Jesus as the Saviour of the world, and see the great sin of their nation in rejecting Jesus, and crucifying Him. Individuals among the Jews will be converted; but as a nation they are forever forsaken of God.” 1SG:107.
J) THE NAIL IN ISRAEL’S COFFIN
According to Daniel 9:27, Israel would crucify their Messiah (see my Bible Commentary on Daniel 9:24-27). If we understand what our Lord was referring to in Matthew 23:38 & Luke 13:35, i.e., the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27, in that when Israel crucifies and rejects their Messiah, their house would be left unto them “desolate.” In other words, the good news of the Gospel would be given (entrusted) to others because Israel will be “cut off.” Their time of probation prophesied by Daniel, is over. This is confirmed as stated before, in Acts 13:46: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you [ISRAEL]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
This is also represented in Matthew 21:19, in that the “fig tree” represents the “Nation of Israel” for not accepting their Messiah. “And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever [How long is that?]. And presently the fig tree withered away.”