The Church on Jews in the Christian Era

[Peter]

The church is fairly evenly divided on our views regarding Jews in the Christian era. On one side are those that believe that God has no plan for Jews during the Christian era other than their coming to Christ. That Christians are God's only chosen people in the Christian era. Examples of this side of the church are preterists, and partial-preterist protestant denominations like Presbyterians and the Church of Christ, as well as Roman Catholics and Orthodox.

On the other side are those that believe that God included Jews in His plan during the Christian era, and part of that plan includes a restoration of Jews to Israel prior to, His bringing many into a life in Christ. Examples of this side of the church are numerous protestant denominations and so-called non-denominational denominations, that include primarily futurist churches. However, because of bible prophesy, Christians believed that Jews would be restored to Israel long before that restoration began, as well as before the 19th century advent of, and 20th century popularization of, futurism.

In 1635, Brightman wrote a commentary on Daniel 11-12 which he sub-titled, 'The restoring of the Jewes and their callinge to the faith of Christ after the utter overthrow of their three enemies is set forth in livelie colours.'

In 1641, the British Puritan leader, Oliver Cromwell stated, "And it may be, as some think, God will bring the Jews home to their station, 'from all the isles of the sea,' and answer their expectations 'as from the depths of the sea.'

Matthew Henry - "If God will build Jerusalem for the people and their comfort, they must inhabit it for him and his glory. The promises and privileges with which God's people are blessed, should engage us to join them, whatever it costs us."

Isaac Newton - “Hence I observe these things, first that the restauration of the Jewish nation so much spoken of by the old Prophets respects not the few Jews who were converted in the Apostles days, but the dispersed nation of the unbelieving Jews to be converted in the end when the fullness of the Gentiles shall enter, that is when the Gospel (upon the fall of Babylon) shall begin to be preached to all nations.”
More quotes at this link: http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=3151.0

None of us can deny the historical reality of Jews return to Israel, their population having grown from just hundreds at the beginning of the 19th century, to five million today. While in the process Israel was transformed from the utter and complete desolation visited upon it from 1200 years of Islam, to being physically restored through agricultural innovation and production, while becoming one of the most technologically advanced and vibrant economies in the world today. With Jews having remained as a cohesive group even while being scattered among gentile nations for over 2500 years, and even gaining sovereignty over Israel and Jerusalem, as that tiny little strip of land became the geopolitical focus of the world.

From a Christian perspective it would be absurd to believe this to be nothing more than a historical accident that took place in a spiritual vacuum. So the restoration of Jews to Israel is either of the Lord or it is of Satan.

God VS Satan

As one preterist expressed it to me it is "of men and void of truth". Since Jesus IS truth and Satan is the father of lies, that opinion was expressed in unambiguous absolute terms.

Those of us that believe the restoration of Jews to their land is of the Lord and was prophesied, generally see Jews that haven't yet come to Christ as being in one of two groups. In the first group we see faithful Jews who may remain blind to the Gospel through an act of God, and whose lives revolve around YHWH whom they worship through their Old Testament scriptures, who are God focused along with their faith-based community - Jews that have a circumcision of the heart. In the second group we see unfaithful or natural Jews that are of the world, who share the same spiritual condition as gentiles that have not had a circumcision of the heart.

When we consider Jews we also see the blessing they have been on mankind. While only composing about 2/10 of 1% of the world's population Jews have received about 20% of Nobel Prizes in such fields as physics, chemistry, and medicine, while contributing ingenuity and innovation toward the betterment of the world community in everything from agriculture to the high tech industry. Our gratefulness and love for Jews has resulted in many of our churches being populated with large numbers of Jews that have received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.


On the other side of the church there isn't a difference recognized between the spiritual condition of a Jew who centers his life on his faith in, and worship of YHWH, and a Jew that is an atheist or agnostic. Since those on this side of the church consider all Jews as a monolithic group, it isn't difficult to understand why all too often they judge the whole group by the deeds of the most unregenerate among them, since their replacement theology does not allow them to recognize any difference in spiritual condition.

This is evidenced a little more candidly historically, during less politically correct times, then the times we live in today:

Pope Clement VIII: “The Bible itself says that the Jews are an accursed people.”

Pope Innocent IV: “The wicked perfidy of the Jews - from whose hearts Our Saviour did not remove the veil because of their enormous crimes but caused them justly to continue in their blindness, commit acts of shame which engender astonishment in those who hear, and terror in those who discover it.” (The Wicked Perfidy of the Jews)

Pope Saint Pius V: “In order to make an end of all doubt concerning the colour of the cap and the sign of the women, we declare that the colour must be yellow.” (Romanus Pontifex)

Pope Innocent III: “The Jews, by their own guilt, are consigned to perpetual servitude because they crucified the Lord.” (To the Archbishops of Sens and Paris)

Pope Leo VII: “Let the Gospel be preached unto them and, if they remain obstinate, let them be expelled.”
http://www.romancatholicism.org/popes-jews.htm

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Certainly not limited to the many popes of the Roman Church, persecution of Jews continues by many that believe themselves to be Christians unto this day, as a result of replacement theology. Among other self-described Christians that believe the restoration of Jews to their land is not of God are Arnold Murray and his Serpent Seed cult, David Duke and the KKK, the World Council of Churches and the Presbyterian church from which leaders were led to praise the internationally recognized terrorist organization Hezbollah with:

"We treasure the precious words of Hezbollah and your expression of goodwill toward the American people. Also we praise your initiative for dialogue and mutual understanding. We cherish these statements that bring us closer to you. As an elder of our church, I'd like to say that according to my recent experience, relations and conversations with Islamic leaders are a lot easier than dealings and dialogue with Jewish leaders."

Since some church groups are reluctant to weigh in on the matter it's also constructive to see who considered, or were compelled to vote on, "divestment" of Israeli assets. These include the United Church of Christ (partial-preterist), United Methodist Church, The Church of England, The Toronto assembly of the United Church of Canada, the World Council of Churches and the Presbyterian Church (USA) (which for the most-part holds partial-preterist eschatology, and Romans 11 may not be the only chapter of Romans they have difficulty with, as witnessed by their ordination of homosexuals). In addition is the ECUSA's suggestion of "positive investment" - whatever that is. Since the so-called "Palestinians" produce little more than murder, mayhem and misery which leaves little to "invest" in, perhaps ECUSA "positive investment" means funding Islamic terrorism through ignorance, as is done by so many that have been duped.

"Finally, a Palestinian 'Charity' Tells The Truth" By Debbie Schlussel
"A Gaza charity headed by the interior minister of Hamas yesterday offered $1.4 million to any Arab citizen of Israel who abducts an Israeli soldier."

On one tree are those of us that support the Jews sovereign control over Israel and Jerusalem, that is fruited by majorities of Israeli non-Muslim Arabs, Israeli Jews and Israeli Christians, the vast majorities of whom were born there. Also supporting the Israelis in their struggle to simply be left alone to live in peace, while continuing to protect the freedom, liberty and right to self-determination of all Israeli citizens, are freedom loving people from around the world, including millions of evangelical Christians that also recognize the bible as having prophesied the - now stunning reality - of the restoration of Jews to their land.

On the other tree are those that reject the restoration of Jews to Israel as being of the Lord, that is fruited by preterists and partial-preterists and the other self-described Christians listed previously. They are joined by the vast majority of Israeli Muslims and at least one minor cult of Israeli Jews, Nazis, skinheads, Louis Farrakan and the Nation of Islam, white supremacists, Soviets, George Soros and his Center for American Progress, and anti-Semites of all stripes. None of whom would ever tolerate having bomb carrying rockets randomly fired into their neighborhoods (and as easily onto their schools), for two days, let alone two years, without expecting their government do something about it. In addition to members of those self-described Christian groups listed previously who considered divestment of Israeli assets are U.S. liberal academics, and the "Palestinian" NGO "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions", that was preceded by The Arab League boycott of Israel, which started in 1921 and was formalized in 1945.

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The restoration of Jews to Israel is either of the Lord or it is of Satan. Regarding what Paul described as a "mystery" in respect to God's judgment on faithful Jews in this Christian era, I am not about to suggest that God gave me the sole franchise on the answer to that mystery. But judging by the fruit I don't have too much difficulty discerning which side I want my Lord and Savior to find me on. Is it surprising to discover the fellow fruit that preterists - who pit themselves against nearly 2,000 years of Christian scholars and universal Christian core doctrine by suggesting the resurrection of the dead is past already - find themselves among?

2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

As we witness around the world, wherever God is removed, Satan fills the void. Examples are communist countries, and, as the Christian faith continues to die in Europe, Islam continues to fill the void. Antichrist Islamic expansion is taking place in most countries in the world today. The obvious heir apparent in any further conquest of Israel, perpetrated by powers from around the world that pit themselves against the Jewish state:

"Christians can only continue living safely in the Gaza Strip if they accept Islamic law, including a ban on alcohol and on women roaming publicly without proper head coverings, an Islamist militant leader in Gaza told WND in an exclusive interview."
"The militant leader said Christians in Gaza who engage in "missionary activity" will be "dealt with harshly.""

Satan obviously filled the void in Gaza that anti-Israel powers left behind, by removing the Jewish state and thus preventing Jews from being able to continue to protect the freedom, liberty and self-determination of the Israeli Christians (and all other non-Muslims) that live there.

Nor can the overwhelming majority of preterists I have chatted with discern any difference at all between the spiritual condition of those Jews who love and worship our God YHWH through our Old Testament scriptures and simply wish to be left alone to live in peace, and the spiritual condition of Muslims that follow the stand-alone false prophet Muhammad by prostrating themselves toward the Quraish pagan's black stone idol in Mecca five times a day and praying in the name of the pagan Arabian deity "Allah" while engaging in thinly veneered Arabian Star Family and jinn-devil worship rituals, who are called by the false prophet Muhammad to conquer all kingdoms of the world and subjugate all people to doing the same.

[Peter]

The OP was written for another forum.

As I chat with preterists on the matter-of-fact subject of the return of Jews to their land, and point out the fruit of their tree that denies that this is of the Lord, the following verse keeps running through my mind:

Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

(NASB) Luke 16:31 "But he said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.' "