Who's At Fault? Jews or Zionists? A Theological Perspective!

One of the most heated debates throughout the entire world, strongly visible and predominating the Internet, regards the issue of who is responsible for the majority of world conflicts, including religious, societal and political, that engulfs more than water cooler discussions.

Those folks primarily from the left, as well as many informed Christians, believe the promulgators of world conflict lay at the throne of a historical clandestine cabal and its ideological Zionist agenda, and a large throng of individual pundits, as well as a myriad of political web sites have grown larger and become more bold in their accusations that demonic financial masters (such as the Rothschild Family) are not only responsible for the ills of the world, they have been manipulating governments and their citizens for centuries.

On the other side of the Jewish Question, the U.S. government, the majority of Jews (and their representative groups such as AIPAC and ADL), along with a large throng of right wing evangelical Christians, use the Anti-Semitism mantra claiming the world is against the Jewish people and will not allow them the opportunity to establish their own homeland. That (Zionist) Christian segment boldly waves the Bible in your face and scream, “It’s right here! This Holy book says the Jews are the Chosen people of God, and obviously the majority of Jews agree with them (especially Israeli leaders), albeit they do not believe Jesus Christ is their Messiah!” It is these two ideologies that supposedly are creating hate throughout the world, while at the same time picking the pockets of the innocent while the debate continues to muddy the reality waters.

Well, someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong! This incessant debate cannot continue unabated without empirical data proving (or providing) who would Jesus really side with. While millions and millions of people do not believe that the Bible is truly the word of God (albeit both sides conveniently quote select verses to enhance their polemics) not enough scripture is tossed into the mix to substantiate, beyond a shadow of a doubt as to who and what action Jesus would approve.

First of all, let us emphatically state that this is not an issue of ethnicity. In other words, out of the starting gate we believe there are millions of ethnic Jews who seek peace and tranquility in the Middle East state of Israel, including God-loving, God-fearing Jews throughout the world. Many do believe Jesus is the Messiah albeit the majority of these folks don’t. Their disbelief in Jesus is insufficient reason to call them “The Enemy” and lump them with their leaders, most of which profess undying belief in Zionism and its true purpose.

Therefore, at the outset, we stare directly in the face of anyone person who would accuse us of making “Anti-Semitic” remarks, and tell them to use that reverse- psychology- politically-motivated-ploy-designed-to-manipulate-a-person-into- a-state-of-guilt on someone else. We could not care less how many acts of legislation have been enacted (due to Zionists pressure), that to ask questions, give opinions or even write articles or books about a perception as to the true and underlying motives that were birthed by the Zionism philosophy, has anything to do with being Anti-Semitic. No one person, group or nation has the right to exact a law among its people that goes contrary to God’s immutable law.

Don’t you dare make a claim that you (who accuse people of being Anti-Semitic) are God’s chosen people, and have a right to possess a specific parcel of Land in the Middle East because you believe God said so, and not expect anyone to question or challenge that assertion. God is no respecter of any man or nation, nor has He given any one person immunity from being examined as to whether that claim is consistent or in accordance with His written word.

Having set the required parameters for any further discussion, let us state from the outset that there is no written record of any chronological consistency that can trace the bloodline of those who today call themselves Jews to the roots of the original tribe of Judah spoken of in Torah (Old Testament), anymore than can anyone person of Asian, African, Hispanic nor Anglo-Aryan extraction. And if there was, what difference would it make? There were no promises made by God to any ethnic racial lines whatsoever! In fact, evidence to the contrary as to the lineage of those who today call themselves Jews is available in great abundance throughout the Internet, libraries, universities and colleges throughout the world, that the lineage of those who call themselves Jews are actually the descendants an ancient peoples known as the Khazars.

At some point in the last decades of the 8th century or the early 9th century, the Khazar royalty and nobility converted to Judaism, and part of the general population may have followed.[31] The extent of the conversion is debated. The 10th century Persian historian Ibn al-Faqih reported that "all the Khazars are Jews." Notwithstanding this statement, most scholars believe that only the upper classes converted to Judaism; [32] there is some support for this in contemporary Muslim texts.[33]

Essays in the Kuzari, written by Yehuda Halevi, detail a moral liturgical reason for the conversion which some consider a moral tale. Some researchers have suggested part of the reason for conversion was political expediency to maintain a degree of neutrality: the Khazar empire was between growing populations, Muslims to the east and Christians to the west. Both religions recognized Judaism as a forbearer and worthy of some respect. The exact date of the conversion is hotly contested. It may have occurred as early as 740 or as late as the mid-9th century. Recently discovered numismatic evidence suggests that Judaism was the established state religion by c. 830, and though St. Cyril (who visited Khazaria in 861) did not identify the Khazars as Jews, the khagan of that period, Zachariah, had a biblical Hebrew name. Some medieval sources give the name of the rabbi who oversaw the conversion of the Khazars as Isaac Sangari or Yitzhak ha-Sangari.

The more important aspect of this reality is that today’s Jews have to choose whether they are a race or a religion. If they are a genetic race, they do not qualify to make any claim whatsoever to the promises of God. Almighty God made covenant promises that included conditions, which have been abridged over and over again for centuries, thereby denying them any claim to any land promises whatsoever. If Jews choose to call theirs a religion (Judaism) they also automatically forfeit any of the privileges and covenant promises made by God to Abraham and his descendants, because they were based on faith in Messiah. Judaism does not believe that Jesus is the Christ, therefore they have no rights to any of the promises that were made to Abraham, the father of faith, of which there also exists numerous conditions which have also been broken by either entity for centuries as well. This reality automatically mitigates the claims made by those Christians who believe that God requires 100% support of any group of peoples, nation, religious or political entity that claims they are Jews, the chosen people of God.

Those who call themselves Jews cannot have it both ways. They cannot make any claims based on either their ethnicity nor of the faith of their own choosing. Simply by claiming they are Jews does not afford them either privilege.

Enter Zionism!

The origin of the word "Zionism" is the biblical word "Zion," often used as a synonym for Jerusalem and the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael). Zionism is an ideology which expresses the yearning of Jews the world over for their historical homeland - Zion, the Land of Israel.

The hope of returning to their homeland was first held by Jews exiled to Babylon some 2,500 years ago - a hope which subsequently became a reality. ("By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion." Psalms 137:1). Thus political Zionism, which coalesced in the 19th century, invented neither the concept nor the practice of return. Rather, it appropriated an ancient idea and an ongoing active movement, and adapted them to meet the needs and spirit of the times.

Political Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, emerged in the 19th century within the context of the liberal nationalism then sweeping through Europe.

Zionism synthesized the two goals of liberal nationalism, liberation and unity, by aiming to free the Jews from hostile and oppressive alien rule and to reestablish Jewish unity by gathering Jewish exiles from the four corners of the world to the Jewish homeland.

The rise of Zionism as a political movement was also a response to the failure of the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment, to solve the "Jewish problem." According to Zionist doctrine, the reason for this failure was that personal emancipation and equality were impossible without national emancipation and equality, since national problems require national solutions. The Zionist national solution was the establishment of a Jewish national state with a Jewish majority in the historical homeland, thus realizing the Jewish People's right to self-determination. Zionism did not consider the "normalization" of the Jewish condition contrary to universal aims and values. It advocated the right of every people on earth to its own home, and argued that only a sovereign people could become an equal member of the family of nations.

Most of the founders of Zionism knew that Palestine (the Land of Israel) had an Arab population (though some spoke naively of "a land without a people for a people without a land"). Still, only few regarded the Arab presence as a real obstacle to the fulfillment of Zionism. At that time in the late 19th century, Arab nationalism did not yet exist in any form, and the Arab population of Palestine was sparse and apolitical. Many Zionist leaders believed that since the local community was relatively small, friction between it and the returning Jews could be avoided; they were also convinced that the subsequent development of the country would benefit both peoples, thus earning Arab endorsement and cooperation. However, these hopes were not fulfilled.

Contrary to the declared positions and expectations of the Zionist ideologists who had aspired to achieve their aims by peaceful means and cooperation, the renewed Jewish presence in the Land met with militant Arab opposition. For some time many Zionists found it hard to understand and accept the depth and intensity of the dispute, which became in fact a clash between two peoples both regarding the country as their own - the Jews by virtue of their historical and spiritual connection, and the Arabs because of their centuries-long presence in the country.

During the years 1936-1947, the struggle over the Land of Israel grew more intense. Arab opposition became more extreme with the increased growth and development of the Jewish community. At the same time, the Zionist movement felt it necessary to increase immigration and develop the country's economic infrastructure, in order to save as many Jews as possible from the Nazi inferno in Europe.

The unavoidable clash between the Jews and the Arabs brought the UN to recommend, on 29 November 1947, the establishment of two states in the area west of the Jordan River - one Jewish and one Arab. The Jews accepted the resolution; the Arabs rejected it.

On 14 May 1948, in accordance with the UN resolution of November 1947, the State of Israel was established.

The establishment of the State of Israel marked the realization of the Zionist goal of attaining an internationally recognized, legally secured home for the Jewish people in its historic homeland, where Jews would be free from persecution and able to develop their own lives and identity.

Since 1948, Zionism has seen its task as continuing to encourage the "in gathering of the exiles," which at times has called for extraordinary efforts to rescue endangered (physically and spiritually) Jewish communities. It also strives to preserve the unity and continuity of the Jewish people as well as to focus on the centrality of Israel in Jewish life everywhere.

Down through the centuries, the desire for the restoration of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel has been a thread binding the Jewish people together. Jews everywhere accept Zionism as a fundamental tenet of Judaism, support the State of Israel as the basic realization of Zionism and are enriched culturally, socially and spiritually by the fact of Israel - a member of the family of nations and a vibrant, creative accomplishment of the Jewish spirit.

While this lofty nationalistic goal has been accomplished to a great degree, the current political atmosphere in the so-called Promised Land is anything but Holy and, if anything, the continued course of action by the Zionist movement (which many believe is based more so on capturing the trillions of dollars worth of minerals and other natural resources that lay embedded in Gaza). By controlling this wealth Zionists will be able to control the world, which is their underlying goal to head a one world government from the city of Jerusalem. This can only lead to the annihilation of mankind as we know it today.

Furthermore, even if it were remotely possible that any ethnic, religious or political connection can be made by Zionists that they have the right to dictate to the world that they will reign supreme, this evidence by no means provides any one group of people the right to claim they have the absolute right to any parcel of land on earth. While God has allowed various groups the privilege to reside in various regions on this planet, He has done so based on the requirements that His laws of order and care for both the land and its residents meet with His will and commands, because all land on our green earth is His.

In conclusion, (and it is extremely important for the Christian Zionist to read) Hebrews, Chapter 11, makes God’s word perfectly clear that the Patriarchs (from Abel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and his sons who make up the 12 tribes of Israel) were never looking to a parcel of land in the Middle East as their eternal nor final resting place:

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

¹¹ By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he^[a] considered him faithful who had made the promise. ¹² And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them, (Hebrews 11:8-16, NIV)

The conundrum?

Jews only believe in the Torah, the five major books from the Old Testament, while Christians believe in both the Old and New Testament (the new covenant); and regardless of whether the Jews agree with what is encapsulated in Hebrews 11:8-16, God is speaking loud and clear (especially to believers) that this conflicting land-grabbing insanity, which has cost millions of innocent lives of woman and children this past century, has gone on long enough and has to cease…or the conspirators of this loathsome quest will indeed suffer grave consequences.

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For more information about the author and his books The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation.

To acces the author’s web sites and blogs, please click on Joe Ortiz

Right Wing Prophecy "Experts" like Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye Make Millions Selling Zionist Kool Aid To Christians!

The Everlasting Hatred by Hal Lindsey- 2011 revised edition 

 
ALREADY IN SECOND PRINTING!

 WorldNet Daily web site is tooting the horn about Hal Lindsey's 'revised edition' of his "The Everlasting Hatred," book stating:

"This most recent book from the best-selling author alive - Hal Lindsey - sold out in less than a month, and for good reason. WND goes on to state that Lindsey is “Going where others fear to tread, the "father of modern prophecy" answers: 

§  Why do most Muslims hate Jews?

§  Why do Islamic fundamentalists hate the United States and call it The Great Satan?

§  Why did Islamic terrorists sacrifice their own lives to kill Americans?

§  Do Islamic fundamentalists have access to weapons of mass destruction?

§  Could Islamic terrorists imperil the survival of the United States?

§  What light does Bible prophecy shed on this?

§  Does the Koran call for violence and conquest?

§  And much more... 

     Phew!

        It's not bad enough that these topics are sheer fuel that stokes the political and foreign policy firestorm that could ignite World War 111, this polemic is coming from someone who ostensibly believes and supposedly practices the religion called "Christianity.

    WND adds in its advertisement that, "In a clear and eye-opening manner, Lindsey lays bare the complex roots of Islamic fundamentalism and its purpose to replace the Judeo-Christian world order with an Islamic world order. Addressing the issues head on, Lindsey reveals the enormity of the threat America faces and how imperative it is that every individual knows and understands this historic hatred and its repercussions."

    WMD and the Zionist-controlled public relations machine (called American Mainstream Media) fail to realize (or maybe they really do) is that their propaganda is actually feeding and fanning the flames that could pose a greater threat than the repercussions and hatred they supposedly are trying to protect us from. Their xenophobic and political rhetoric is actually fueling the alleged terrorists more so than preventing genuine terror, which will eventually cause a world conflagration unlike anything in history.

    Yet, those in the 'know" who have proven time and again that Premillennial Dispensationalism (the doctrine that claims the state of Israel is favored by God, therefore needs to be supported by ALL Christians), is in contradistinction to orthodox theology. Hundreds of new authors and scholars (both Christian and secular) present a case that Lindsey and others like John Hagee, Tim LaHaye, Mike Evans and many other right-wing evangelicals are promoting a faulty doctrine in regards (especially) to a Middle East conflict that is literally out of control. Folks like Lindsey and LaHaye especially are flying high on the magic flying carpet of Zionism-controlled media and publishing empires, making (at least over 200) millions of dollars from a highly distorted theology.

     While many credible and deeply researched books that biblically refute the prevalent "Left Behind" doctrine are making headway into the marketplace (written by Bible scholars like Stephen Sizer, Steve Wohlberg, Ted Noel, Barbara Rossing, Arnie Suntag, Dave MacPherson, to name a few), the majority of Christendom is being inundated by the politically (and for financial profit) designed campaign that most certainly will start World War 111.

     Please don't read any jealousy on the part of these brave authors who dare challenge a Zionism ideology and culture, an ersatz theological polemic beginning back with CI Scofield, who wrote the distorted Scofield Bible (with a myriad margins that skewed the Bible) solely to enhance the Premillennial Dispensationalism doctrine, which plays well into the hands of the Zionism agenda. Surely, they don't get the exposure nor author support services that Lindsey and LaHaye get from the MSN. Why should they? Their books don't paint the 'soothing gospel' one finds in the Rapture to Heaven messages inculcated in Lindsey's and LaHaye's escapist tomes. Millions of uninformed Christian readers pay tons of money to ease their escapist psyche, as well as their jingoistic, Manifest Destiny, American Exceptionalism, and nationalism ideology they feel gains them points with God by supporting the state of Israel.

 However, folks like Sizer and the others did not write their books to become wealthy and famous authors, they wrote them because Christians need to know they are being fed the biggest pitcher of theological Kool Aid ever concocted.

     Mine is not an ad hominem attack on Lindsey, LaHaye and others who write and support the Pre-Tribulation Rapture to Heaven and the Israel (is God's Holy Nation) First ideology. I and the aforementioned authors have challenged Lindsey and LaHaye to debate the theological discrepancies contained throughout their books. They didn’t even have the courtesy to respond in the negative.

     Oh wait! One of LaHaye’s hired guns, Tommy Ice, did respond when I offered him a free copy of my book, The End Times Passover, to examine, but he responded by saying, “I don’t read Jewish books.” Strange response from a person who believes Israelis are still God’s ‘chosen people.’

     Nevertheless, those dedicated servants who disagree with the Premmillennial Dispensationalism doctrine continue to parse through the war-mongering propaganda such as WND and others are putting out there. And, hopefully, they will convince the committed Christians will return to their Bibles to read and study what God’s word truly says about the nefarious Rapture to Heaven and ‘Israel First’ doctrines. Hopefully they will realize that they need to draw closer to Christ as we see in the immediate horizon that great persecution of the church is increasing exponentially, and that Christians will suffer great tribulation.

     The Christian –who has studied the Bible correctly, guided by the Holy Spirit – should know better that to listen, believe and teach others to follow theories that do not comport with the exact words God has given us in His easy to understand instructions about his overall salvation plan, and what to expect before the final return of Christ. But yet, many would rather entertain the titillating and provocative theories being presented to them by a throng of pastors, evangelists and Bible teachers who promulgate the erroneous theories being put forth by the likes of Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, Hal Lindsey, et al, who seduce the church to follow political ideology, ethnic strife, war-mongering and Rapture fantasy above God’s specific word.

     As we clearly see in Matthew 13:11-23, the group of scripture that describes the parable of the sower, Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand, they respond to their propaganda rather than doing the will of God.

Sadly, many Christians - who have been lulled into a false sense of confidence by their Bible distortion - may not be ready to handle the impending tribulation that awaits them.

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For more information about the author’s two books that provide deep and insightful understanding concerning what the Christian will experience before Christ returns, please click on The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access the author’s web sites and blogs, please click on Joe Ortiz.

Inaccurate Bible Prediction Prophets Run Rampant for Profit?

     I have been accused of late by some folk of posting articles and promoting Bible prophecy (as in predicting that Armageddon is right next door), and many of these folks want me to enter into debates with them not just to compare notes, but for them to be able to say my point of view is not as accurate as theirs.

     My response is that I will send them free copies of both of my books (The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation if they can send me any form of proof that I have engaged in any debates or postings on Facebook or in any of my blogs any type of discussions concerning the timing of the Rapture, or any connection between CNN type of news reports connecting them to any scripture whatsoever. While I will agree that we are one day closer to the return of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ to rule and reign on earth forever, I never have discussed any Old Testament nor New Testament prophecies, nor made any attempts to discern the messages found in the book of Revelations, as if somehow God has blessed me with any special gifts of discernment with its contents. Thousands before me and many ersatz prophets do this daily, sadly to their failed (perceived) biblical knowledge, exegetical implosions, orthodox upcommance and their eventual ministerial unraveling.

     While some have seen me of late focusing somewhat on the innerant "Zionist Agenda" (especially how it has captured the hearts of many evangelican Chrisitians to support the political agenda of the state of Israel), my main focus has been on steering the disciples of Jesus to draw closer to Him and His mandate for His children. Some fear that I may be violating the Orwellian Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, and that I may even be placing my life in "Harm's Way" for my boldness. My doing so has nothing to do with being Anti-Semitic nor am I personally attacking the Jewish people (my daughter is Jewish) in any form or fashion, other than to point out Bible truths that Jesus Christ has fulfilled all the promises God made to Abraham (and his spiritual descendants), who is our father of faith!
     More accurately, in all of my works, I am sounding the clarion call to avoid these popular "Doomsday Prophets" and focus rather on God's message to practice His true religious commandments (see James 1:26-27, with a strong emphasis and extollation to draw closer to Christ rather than man-made, man-conceived solutions to every day problems promulgated by the demonic forces that have been plaguing humanity since the fall of Adam.
     I recently ran across a great article that pretty much puts my thoughts into greater perspective concerning the 'alarmist fringe' that has hypnotized the church as never before, detracting it from a more important agenda:

Prophecies of Book of Revelation Fulfilled in 18th Century America?

By Thomas Williamson       A common and popular method of exposition of the Book of Revelation, is to link the prophecies in that book to current events and geopolitical realities in our modern world, and to proclaim that the headlines in our daily newspapers are fulfillment of John's prophecies. These alleged ongoing fulfillment of prophecy are then touted as proof that the Rapture must come soon, since "the stage is being set" for the final consummation of the end-times scenarios of the Book of Revelation. Every day, in every way, Antichrist's roadies are out there setting the stage for his coming, just as they have been for many generations. For instance, the "10 Kings" of Revelation 17:12-13 are taken to be a reference to the European Common Market. Never mind that there were only 6 nations in the Common Market when it was founded in 1958. Never mind that the European Union now has 25 nations, with 4 applicant nations on the way. Never mind that fewer than 10 of these nations have any literal king or any sort of monarchy. Meanwhile, the "Left Behind" movie presents the 10 Kings as rulers of countries scattered all over the globe, not just in Europe. The 10 Kings are an amenable, flexible crew of royal gentlemen - they can be anything and anywhere you want them to be. Somewhere in Europe or elsewhere on earth, you can always find some sort of alliance or confederacy that, with a bit of stretching, can be made out to be the 10 Kings of prophecy. And you can cry that up as an evidence that the Rapture is coming really soon. There are entire schools of sensationalist prophecy, based on the notion that we are now seeing John's visions in Revelation fulfilled, in meticulous detail, right before our very eyes, in the swirl of modern events, wars, peace treaties, alliances, dictatorships and disasters in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere in the world. What many of us do not realize is that for many centuries, past generations of sincere Christians have believed the same thing - that they were living through the events portrayed in Revelation, and that these things were signs that the end of the age would come very soon, even within their lifetimes. Obviously, they were mistaken in that belief, and this should caution us to avoid dogmatic certainty in reading the "signs of the times." Bible-believing Christians in colonial America believed that they were living in the last days and that they were seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in their time. Daniel Wojcik, in "The End of the World As We Know It - Faith, Fatalism and Apocalypse in America," notes that Christopher Columbus regarded his discovery of America as a fulfillment of prophecy: Columbus "apparently believed that he was fated to fulfill various prophecies prior to the appearance of the Antichrist and imminent apocalypse. Upon landing, Columbus supposedly quoted scripture from the Book of Revelation about discovering the Terrestrial Paradise - the 'new heaven and new earth' - cited in the Bible." The Puritans of New England also thought they were fulfilling specific end-time prophecies: "Eschatological beliefs pervade the writings of the Puritans, many of whom maintained that they had been elected by God to fulfill a divinely determined historical plan. Puritan settlements were conceived as communal millennialist prototypes, established in anticipation of Christ's Second Coming. The sermons of Puritan preachers such as John Cotton and Increase Mather dealt with apocalyptic prophecy. Cotton asserted in 'The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials' (1642) that doomsday would occur after the destruction of the Catholic Church, which was identified as the Antichrist. . . . The apocalyptic speculations of Increase Mather's son, Cotton Mather, had an especially strong influence on American colonialist religion. Cotton Mather was preoccupied with prophecy and the specifics of Christ's Second Coming - how Christ would return, who would accompany Him, the exact date, and the location of the millennial kingdom on earth - all of which he believed could be predicted by interpreting contemporary events as Providences." The mid-17th Century was a time of great millennial expectations, partly stirred up by the overthrow and execution of King Charles I in 1649. John Cotton of Boston, Massachusetts predicted the final overthrow of Antichrist's power by 1655. Such eager expectations subsided after the restoration of the Stuart dynasty in 1660, and prophecy teachers moved on to the next big speculative sensation. King Philip's War, an Indian rebellion in 1675-1676, was interpreted by Increase Mather as a fulfillment of the red horse of Revelation 6:4. Joseph Mede suggested that the American Indians would constitute the demonic army that would rebel against Christ in Revelation 20:9. In 1691, Cotton Mather, based on current events in the Ottoman Empire and on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in France (1685) tentatively predicted the end of the world in 1697. In 1692 Mather proclaimed that "I am verily persuaded 'The Judge is at the door;' I do without any hesitation venture to say, 'The Great Day of the Lord is near,' it is near, and it hastens greatly." When the 1697 date passed in an uneventful manner, Mather determined that the world would end in 1736. Later he corrected that to 1716. He dramatically proclaimed, "All that has been foretold . . . as what must come to pass before the Coming . . . is, as far as we understand, Fulfilled: I say ALL FULFILLED!" Francis Gumerlock, in "The Day and the Hour - Christianity's Perennial Fascination With Predicting the End of the World," says that Samuel Sewall of Boston "believed that the slaughter of Native Americans by the Spanish was the fulfillment of the 4th and 5th seals of Revelation. Sewall believed that the 'souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God' were the Native Americans." The Great Awakening under Jonathan Edwards and other preachers in the early 1740's was taken as a sign of the approach of the Millennium, but by 1745 revival fires had almost completely died out. In that year troops from New England captured the French fortress of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, and the clergy took this as a hopeful harbinger of the Millennium. Nathan Hatch, in "The Origins of Civil Millennialism in America," observes, "British victories . . . gave rise to an unprecedented outpouring of hope that Christ's kingdom was imminent. When Louisbourg fell, ministers overcame their theological differences to join in a harmonious chorus of millennial rejoicing. Not only would the Man of Sin no longer rule as vice-regent in the area of Cape Breton, but the conquest of Louisbourg was a sign that the day was not far off when it would be proclaimed that 'Babylon the Great is fallen.' Less than one year later the defeat of the Pretender [Bonnie Prince Charlie] at Culloden evoked even greater displays of millennial expectancy." Paul Boyer, in "When Time Shall Be No More - Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture," says that Jonathan Edwards avoided public date-setting, although he privately thought that the Millennium might begin in the year 2000. "But Edwards did believe the Millennium was approaching: the Reformation represented the Fifth Vial of Revelation, and the world was now in the period of the Sixth Vial - the last before the end." The book "The Strange and Wonderful Predictions of Mr. Christopher Love," published in Boston in 1759, predicted the rise of Antichrist in 1761 and the final end in 1763. The same year, Richard Clarke published "The Prophetic Numbers of Daniel and John," predicting the end of the world by 1766. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was taken as a sign of the end, as the American colonists fought the French Catholics who were regarded as minions of his infernal majesty, the Antichrist. Samuel Davies described the war as "the grand decisive conflict between the Lamb and the Beast." Aaron Burr preached in 1756 that "the destruction of Antichrist and the end of this night of popish darkness is near at hand"and that the Millennium would soon begin. John Burt denounced the French as "Offspring of that Scarlet Whore, that Mother of Harlots, who is justly the Abomination of the Earth." When the French were defeated in Quebec in 1760, Samuel Langdon saw it as the fulfillment of Revelation 18:2, "Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen." With the French bogeymen safely disposed of, the British were soon identified as the Antichrist, especially after passage of the Stamp Act in 1765, which was identified as the Mark of the Beast of Revelation 13, and a prelude to Antichrist's reign. In 1766 Lord Bute of Scotland was identified as the Beast from the Sea of Revelation 13:1. By 1773 the American colonists had decided that King George III was the Antichrist, and one clever number-cruncher calculated the numerical value of the phrase "Royal Supremacy in Great Britain" as 666. Samuel Sherwood in 1776 saw American Christians as the Church that fled into the wilderness, Revelation 12:14. In the same year the Maryland Journal denounced a statue of King George III, from which the head had been removed, as the IMAGE of the BEAST." In 1776, Timothy Dwight predicted that an independent America would be the fulfillment of the prophecy of a 1000-year reign of peace. In 1777 he interpreted General Burgoyne's invasion of northern New York as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy of invaders from the north. David Tappan saw the surrender of Cornwallis to George Washington in 1781 as a sign that the millennium would soon begin. Nathan Hatch states that "Sermons during the [Revolutionary] War stressed repeatedly that American liberty was God's cause, that British tyranny was Antichrist's, and that sin was failure to fight the British. With the coming of peace many ministers envisioned Christ's 1000-year reign on earth." Contrary to the confident expectations of the best prophecy experts of the 18th Century, Antichrist did not arise, Christ did not return, the world did not end nor did we enter the Millennium. All these things were predicted with certainty, as a result of careful correlation of the prophecies of Revelation and other parts of the Bible, with events reported in the colonial newspapers. The 18th Century prophecy buffs, however sincere, had fallen into the same "Bible in the News" deception that is so heavily worked by the prophecy preachers today. Any event that happens anywhere in the world can be declared to be a fulfillment of the venerable visions of John. You can produce a book or video about it, and make a lot of money. There is a lot of profit in being a prophet. But as we have seen, there is no factual or scriptural validity to this sanctimonious and deluded form of prophecy divination. There are many helpful teachings to be found in the Book of Revelation, but the timing of Christ's coming is not one of them. In Acts 1:7 Christ said, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." So, when some madcap prophecy guru assures us that we are living in the "Terminal Generation," let us stop to reflect that Christians of the 18th Century believed, based on the same Biblical texts that are used to prove the point today, that they were living in the Last Days also. And they were wrong. We need to re-evaluate a system of prophetic interpretation that results in date-setting predictions with a failure rate of 100%. God's Word is true, but our system of interpreting, massaging and manipulating the Word to fit with current events is sadly mistaken." ~ For those who would be tempted to lump me among the doubters spoken of in 2 Peter 3:4 (And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation), I say there is no doubt in my mind Jesus will return soon, but I choose not to be held captive by ersatz prophets who titillate the church with unsubstantiated prophecy rants designed to bring attention to themselves and their pocketbooks. For more information about this author, his web sites and blogs, please click on Joe Ortiz

The Israel of God

The Israel of God
By: Edward Hendrie

[Excerpt from the book, Antichrist Conspiracy, Inside the Devil’s Lair, Chapter 63, pp 310]

Many ignorant Christian pastors, who have been brainwashed in seminaries controlled by undercover Jesuits and Talmudic Jews, believe that it is important for the United States and all Christians to support Israel. As authority for their position they cite Genesis 12:2-3. “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3 AV) The passage does not refer to earthly Israel. Jesus never hesitated to curse the Jews. John 8:39-47; Matthew 15:1-9; Matthew 23:23-33. In fact, God calls earthly Jerusalem “Sodom. and Egypt” See Revelation 11:8.

Some think that all references in the Bible to Israel are references to fleshly Israel and that passages that refer to events that are believed to have not yet occurred, are prophecies regarding fleshly Israel. That is simply false doctrine! All prophecies referring to general blessings upon fleshly Israel that have not been fulfilled will never be fulfilled because those promises were conditional promises based on the obedience of Israel. Fleshly Israel rebelled against God and therefore has been cut off from the tree of life. 

God has saved a remnant of fleshly Israel to be grafted back in to the tree, but their ingrafting is upon the same grounds as everyone else, by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Many cite Romans chapter 11 as proof of a future renewal and blessing upon fleshly Israel outside the church. Let us look at that section. 

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:17-33 AV).

That passage says nothing about the regeneration of fleshly Israel. It simply states that salvation comes only through being grafted into the olive tree of life and that a remnant of fleshly Israel has been chosen by God for salvation. It says nothing about some future renewal of fleshly Israel outside being ingrafted into God’s church. Some take the position that fleshly Israel as a nation will be grafted back into the olive tree as fleshly Israel. That is not possible. God’s kingdom is not of the flesh but of the spirit. Once a Jew is grafted into Christ he becomes a part of spiritual Israel, the church. “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 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.” (Romans 9:6-8 AV) 

There is no more distinction between Jew or Gentile, all are one in Christ. Romans 10:12; Collossians 3:11, 28. Some state that the passage in Romans 11 that “that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” indicates that there will be a Jewish dispensation sometime in the future, at which time the Christian dispensation will end. That is false doctrine. 

The theme of the Gospel is that there will be no end to Christ’s kingdom, or his people, the church. 2 Peter 1:11. When the fullness of the Gentiles come in then will be the end of the world. 1 Corinthians 15:23-24. God did not state that the Jews will be saved en masse after the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. He simply stated that the Jews will be blind in part until the world ends. God has chosen a remnant of Jews to save from every generation, not just one generation during some post-Christian era.

God’s plan is to establish the earthly then the spiritual. “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.” (1 Corinthians 15:46-48 AV) God will not reverse course and reestablish the earthly kingdom of Israel in place of his spiritual kingdom of Israel. That is contrary to his revealed plan. Fleshly Israel was intended by God for an example to us, his church. 1 Corinthians 10:6. It is not the circumcision of the flesh that counts but the circumcision of the heart. Colossians 2:11.

He would not have us return to the weak and beggardly elements of the old testament law under fleshly Israel. See Galatians 4:9-11. To teach such a thing is to blasphemously state that Christ’s sacrifice was imperfect and insufficient, and that therefore there is a need to reinstate the animal sacrifices. The old testament law was to act as a schoolmaster until the promise of Christ. 

God would have no reason to reinstate something that was intended to be in place only until he came to offer his own body as a perfect sacrifice. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, we are all one by faith in Christ. He is not going to divide us once again into Jew and Gentile. His church is his body which cannot be divided. 1 Corinthians 1:13. For a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Mark 3:24. The seed of the promises to Abraham is Christ and those who have the faith of Christ, his church, not fleshly Israel.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise, (Galatians 3:23-29 AV).

A Jew who believes in Jesus as Christ becomes a new creation. He is no longer a fleshly Jew. He becomes a spiritual Jew, a Christian. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians 6:15 AV).

The bible makes clear that the old covenant made to fleshly Israel has vanished away, being replaced by the new covenant of faith in Jesus Christ. “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”(Hebrews 8:13 AV) 

Why would God reinstate something in which he has said would vanish away and in which he has had no pleasure? “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.” (Hebrews 10:6 AV). Fleshly Israel is symbolized by the fig tree. That fig tree will never again bear fruit. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. . . . And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursed is withered away. (Mark 11:13-14, 20-21 AV)

Whereas spiritual Israel is symbolized by the olive tree. “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12 AV) The answer is no! Fleshly Israel will never ever bear spiritual fruit for God. The spiritual fruit only comes from the spiritual olive plant, the church. The blessings of God do not flow to the physical seed of Abraham but rather to his spiritual seed. 

Who is the seed of Abraham? Jesus is the seed of Abraham. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16 AV). All who believe in Jesus are heirs of the promise given to Abraham. Galatians 3:23-29. Through faith in Christ one becomes the spiritual seed of Abraham. Obedience to God is the result of salvation not the cause of it. Just as with Abraham, who believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness, so too all others who believe God it is also accounted unto them as righteousness.

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:6-9 AV). A true Jew is the spiritual seed of Abraham, not the physical seed. “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 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 AV) “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 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.” (Romans 9:6-8 AV).

The eternal blessings of Abraham flow to all who believe in Jesus Christ. God’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom not an earthly kingdom. His children are spiritual children not earthly children. In God’s kingdom there are no distinctions between Jew or Gentile. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29 AV).

Fleshly Israel of the Old Testament is a temporal type of the spiritual Israel of the New Testament, which is the church. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (1 Corinthians 10:5-6 AV)

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11 AV). Thus, the prophecies regarding Israel had both temporal and spiritual fulfillment. The distinction between the temporal Israel and the eternal Israel is explained clearly in R. B. Yerby’s book The Once and Future Israel. First there is the temporal earthly fulfillment and then there is the spiritual fulfillment. 1 Corinthians 15:46. The scriptures teach us that in all of God's dealings with mankind, from the time of Adam, we may discern the same divine principle at work, namely, "first the natural, then the spiritual." (1 Cor 15:45-46). God has progressively revealed his purpose through, first, his dealings with the natural Israel and, second and finally, his dealings with spiritual Israel. (There is no scriptural basis for the regressive idea that God's dealings will again be centered exclusively on natural Israel at some future date.)

Because God's dealings follow the sequence of first the natural, then the spiritual, it is easy to see and understand that the same progression applied to his people and his promises. The natural people of Old Testament Israel enjoyed the natural fulfillment of the promises made to them, and saw the promises invalidated through sin and unbelief. Likewise, the spiritual people of New Testament Israel, the followers of Jesus Christ, have received, are receiving and will receive all spiritual fulfillments of the promises.

* * *

[In Galatians 4:21-31] as in many other New Testament passages, Paul skillfully defeated his adversaries with their own ammunition. He took the “foolish Galatians” who desired to be under the law" (Gal 4:21) right into the thick of Old Testament Law, into Genesis, the first book of Moses, to prove a spiritual truth with natural types. The early church recognized the need for spiritual authority to support their doctrines (for them, of course, the scriptures were the writings we today call the Old Testament) and therefore, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they quoted freely from the Old Testament.

In the fourth chapter of Galatians, as elsewhere, Paul proved his point through the superior understanding God gave him of the true meaning of the Old Testament scriptures. He said that the story of the two sons of Abraham was more than just a prominent part of the history of the Jewish people. It was, he said, an allegory (Gal. 4:24), that is, a story in which the people and events were symbols or types standing for some greater truth (Gal. 4:24).

The allegory speaks of two women and their two sons who were fathered by Abraham. Hagar, the bondwoman and the mother of Ishmael who was "born after the flesh" (Gal 4:23), typifies natural Jerusalem. Sarah, the free woman and the mother of Isaac, the child of promise (Gal 4:23, 28), typifies the church which is spiritual Jerusalem. The children of natural Jerusalem are in bondage (Gal. 4:25), as are all who are unsaved, but the children of the church, the heavenly Jerusalem, are free (Gal. 4:26). Those who are in bondage, who are not born again are only "born after the flesh” (Gal. 4:29) cannot possibly be God's people. Therefore, the scriptures “cast out”(Gal 4:30) the natural Jerusalem and her children after the flesh, and identify the heirs as the believers in Christ who are the children of promise (Gal 4:30).

* * *

Paul was constantly in trouble with the Jews because his spiritual interpretations of the Old Testament scriptures warred with their natural interpretation. Our onetime Pharisee had come to see clearly that "the things that are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor 4:18) but his former colleagues could not believe that their highly vaunted institutions were ready to “vanish away” (Heb 8:13).

* * *

Because the Lord Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2) spiritual Israel hears a better voice than the voices heard by natural Israel (Hebrews 1:1, 2), and we have, among other things, a better Priest (Hebrews 4:15), a better priesthood (Heb. 5:6), a better hope (Hebrews 7:19), a better covenant (Heb. 8:10), a better Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11), a better altar (Hebrews 13:10), a better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:14), a better country (Hebrews. 11:16), and a better city (Hebrews 12:22).

1

Many believe that some of the prophecies in the Old Testament regarding natural Israel have not been fulfilled and therefore there must be a post-Christian period during which they will be fulfilled. Let us examine these Old Testament prophecies. In Genesis 12:2 God told Abraham: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” Abraham did not see the fulfillment of that prophecy. That promise was fulfilled in part by fleshly Israel. “And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation” (Genesis 46:2-3 AV) After a 400 year of captivity God raised up Moses who brought Israel out of Egyptian bondage and it became a great nation, just as promised by God. See Joshua 8-12; 1 Chronicles 17:21.

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? (Deuteronomy 4:6-8 AV).

There, however, was yet to be a spiritual fulfillment of the promise that from Abraham would spring a great nation. The church was the spiritual fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 AV).

On three different occasions God promised that Abraham’s descendants would be too numerous to count. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16 AV) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. (Genesis 15:5 AV). That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22:17 AV).

Was that promise fulfilled in part by temporal Israel? Yes! We have the proof of the God inspired testimony of Moses, Solomon, and the author of Hebrews. Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. (2 Chronicles 1:9 AV).

The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. (Deuteronomy 1:10 AV) Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. (Hebrews 11:12 AV). Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. (1 Kings 4:20 AV).

There, however, was to be a future spiritual fulfillment of that promise through the church. The seed of Abraham is a spiritual seed. The nation that would spring from him would be a nation built not on fleshly Israel only. There would be a better fulfillment of the promise through faith. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (Romans 4:16 AV). In Genesis 17:5 God told Abraham he would be a father of many nations.(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17 AV). As Abraham believed the promises of God and God counted it as righteousness. So too are those who have the faith of Abraham, they are the spiritual seed of Abraham. The church of God is the promised spiritual great nation.

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:18 AV). Those that believe in Christ are Abraham’s seed and the innumerable children that God promised Abraham. First came the temporal earthly fulfillment of the promise through natural Israel, then came the spiritual eternal fulfillment through the church of Christ. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29 AV).

On no less than four different occasions God promised to Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:7; 13:14-15; 15:7,18; 17:8. Many say that the promise of the land was not fulfilled. That is not true. God has stated clearly that all the land that he promised to fleshly Israel was given to them. And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:43-45 AV).

Some claim that the land that Israel occupied did not reach all the way from Egypt to the river Euphrates, as promised by God in Genesis 15:18, and therefore there is to be a future fulfillment of the promise. That claim is simply not true. Solomon, King of Israel, ruled from the river Euphrates to Egypt. “And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.” (1 Kings 4:21 AV) Is the river mentioned in verse 21 the Euphrates? Yes it is! In verse 24 we read that Solomon had dominion over Tipsah. Tipsah was located on the Euphrates in Mesopotamia. “For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.” (1 Kings 4:24 AV).

Some have tried to beguile the children of God by stating that because Genesis 17:7-9 states that the land of Canaan was to be an everlasting possession of Israel, it is God’s plan that natural Israel regain possession of that land. Let us look at that passage. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. (Genesis 17:7-9 AV).

Notice that it refers to an everlasting covenant. That everlasting covenant is the New Covenant of Christ, which is fulfilled in Christ. It is a spiritual covenant. The land promised is a heavenly land that will be “everlasting.” God himself has revealed that truth to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 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. (Hebrews 11:8-16 AV)

[These last few verses are absolute proof that the contention for that parcel of land in the Middle East is sheer fallacy and chicanery on the part of demonically inspired Zionists who want that land to rule their New World Oder from, and they have nothing to do with the establishment of any geopolitical kingdom for ersatz Jews! (Comments by the editor)].

Notice that those pilgrims of God died in faith not having received the promises on earth. The everlasting covenant of God is spiritual, the land is eternal in heaven, not temporal on earth. For the earthly land of Canaan could not possibly be an everlasting possession of fleshly Israel, because the earth will one day be destroyed and replaced by a new heaven and a new earth. “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:12-13 AV).

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1 AV).

God made a conditional covenant with Israel that is referred to as the Mosaic covenant. The blessings were conditioned on the obedience of Israel. Israel violated that covenant and therefore the blessings did not flow to fleshly Israel. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.,(Exodus 19:5-8 AV).

No sooner did they agree to obey God that they immediately fell into idolatry. Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon, (Acts 7:40-43 AV).

The history of natural Israel is one of continual sin intermixed with periods of repentance, until God finally finished with them according to his foreordained plan. There is a spiritual Israel, the church, to whom the blessings flow. God’s true Israel is and always was the church. The church contains the children of the promise. “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” (Galatians 4:28 AV) The church is the Israel of God. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God, (Galatians 6:15-16 AV)."

The church is the temple of God. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 AV) The church is God’s holy nation inheriting the promises made by God in Exodus 19:5-8. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, (1 Peter 2:9, AV)."

God does not have a plan of salvation for fleshly Israel that is any different than the plan of salvation he has for Gentiles. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ for all. There is one body of Christ, his spiritual Israel, made up of Gentiles and the remnant of fleshly Israel. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Forby grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit, (Ephesians 2:5-22 AV).

Christ did not in any way provide some exclusive plan for the Jews. He stated that the gospel was to be preached to “all nations.” Luke 24:47. The only difference for the Jews was that the preaching of the gospel should start at Jerusalem. It was to start with the Jews, but that does not mean it is to end with the Jews in some post-Christian era. The Old Testament has prophecies of the church of God consisting of both believing Jews and Gentiles. Amos 9:11-12; Hosea 1:10; 2:23. The Old Testament prophecies regarding salvation to the both the Jews and Gentiles together are explained in Acts 15:13-17; 26:22-23; Romans 9:23-26; and 1 Peter 2:10.

The New Testament writers, being inspired by God, clearly understood that the church is the Israel of God and is the object of the promises made to Israel by God in the Old Testament.

Paul said that believers are:

"The children of God" (Romans 8:16).

"The Household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).

"The children of Abraham" (Colossians 3:7).

"Abraham's seed" (Galatians 3:29).

"The Children of promise" (Rom. 9:8, Galatians 4:28). 

"A peculiar people” (Titus 2:14).

"The elect of God" (Colossians 3:12).

"Heirs of God"(Rom. 8:17).

“Heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29)."The temple of God" (1 Cor 3:16).

"The circumcision" (Philippians 3:3).

"The Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16).

Peter said that believers are:

"A chosen generation" (1 Peter 2:9).

"A royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9).

"A holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9).

"A peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9).

James said that believers are:

"Heirs of the kingdom" (James 2:5).

John said that believers are:

"The sons of God" (John 1:12).

"Kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6).

"The new Jerusalem" (Revelation 3:12).

“The Holy city (Revelation 21:2).

The letter to the Hebrews said that believers are:

"The people of God" (Hebrews 4:9).

“Mount Zion” (Hebrews 12:22).

“The city of the living God” (Hebrews 12:22).

“The heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22).

The Jews are our enemies, because they are antichrist. Romans 11:28. Jews hate Christ and Christians. We, however, are to love them and pray for them. “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, (Luke 6:27-28 AV).

God has chosen a remnant of Jews for salvation. We should preach the gospel to the lost world, including the Jews. We, however, should not think that a Jew is any different in God’s plan than a Catholic, a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Satanist or any other follower of one of Satan’s pagan religions. Salvation for all, is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If a Jew repents of his antichrist religion and believes in Jesus, then he is saved. Once saved, a Jew will not continue in his Talmudic practices any more than a Catholic will continue his Catholic practices or a Satanist will continue his Satanic practices once they are saved. 

All believers in Christ become spiritual Jews, which are Christians. Loving our enemies does not mean that we should condone the pagan practices of the Jews, Catholics, Muslims, or other pagans. Rather, we are called by God to reprove them. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, (Ephesians 5:11 AV)."

Antichrist Conspiracy, Inside the Devil’s Lair, by Edward Hendrie

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalms 2:1-4 AV).

Revised Tenth Edition Copyright © 1999, 2003 by Edward Hendrie

[The author hereby grants a limited license to copy and disseminate this book in whole or in part, provided that there is no material alteration to the text and any excerpts identify the book and give notice that they are excerpts from the larger work. All other rights are reserved. All Scripture references are to the Authorized (King James) Version of the Holy Bible, unless otherwise indicated.]

Email: edwardhendrie@gmail.com 

Web site: http://www.antichristconspiracy.com/

“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.