The
presence of a nation calling itself “Israel” today makes us again ask the
question: “Are there two “Israels”? According to the Scriptures there is only
one true Israel, but there is also a false “Israel,” a pseudo-Israel.
We
find in the messages to the churches in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 that there are
those who “say they are Jews and are not.”
These are appearing to be “Israel” but are liars and of the synagogue of satan.
These so-called "Jews" were against Christ in their religious
doctrine, and their historical and daily practices in the religion of the
Pharisees. They were anti-Christ, "against-Christ" to the extent that
they crucified Him.
Romans
2:17- 28-29 also speaks directly to those that “are called a Jew” but are not. Verses 17-27 lists their boastful
claims, but how they are not what they so boastfully claim to be. Romans
2:28-29 then clearly states who is and is not a Jew:
“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.”
Paul’s
writing in the Book of Romans deals thoroughly with this subject. Read it
carefully and follow his discourse. He brings the question to a head in chapter
9, showing that those claiming fleshly descent from Abraham are not necessarily
“Israel” but only those who also follow the faith of Abraham. Verse 6-9:
“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.” [Emphasis mine.]
Read
this continued discourse and you will see that the true Israel are those who
have accepted Christ, a remnant chosen, elected by grace. Those who would not
accept Christ were cut off, blinded and have rejected the New Covenant. The Old Covenant
with Israel of the Flesh became obsolete and passed away when Christ came to
redeem God’s people. The final end of the Old Covenant was complete in the
destruction of Jerusalem, Judea and the nation in 70 A.D.
The true Israel now are those who
have accepted the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ. The prophets had
foretold the New Covenant with the House of Israel: Jeremiah 31:31-33; 32:40;
Ezekiel 37:26-27. These prophecies are
declared to be fulfilled in Christ: Hebrews 8:7-13. This New Covenant is specifically said to be
“with the House of Israel,” Hebrews 8:10.
Hebrews 9 continues the discourse
concerning this New Covenant. Verses
1-10 describe the requirements of the Old Covenant; verses 11-21 describe how
Christ fulfills the requirements and carries them to perfection. He is the High Priest, verse 11, and
Mediator, verse 15, of the New Covenant.
Verses 11 and 12 show that it is His Own blood that is the Blood of the
New Covenant. This is in accordance with
His Own words to His disciples. Moses is
quoted in Hebrews 9:20 as saying: “This
is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” Clearly, Christ was fulfilling this Blood
requirement when He quoted Moses’ words to His disciples: Matthew 26:28; Mark
14:24; Luke 22:20.
The blood of the flesh of animals
could no longer atone. Even the genetic
blood of Abraham could not avail: John 8:37-44.
Christ declared that they were indeed genetically descended from
Abraham, yet He said that they were not children of Abraham, but of the devil:
John 8:39-44.
I Corinthians 15:50 declares: “... flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” Therefore, the so-called Israel of the Flesh
has no covenant, and even if they had only the genetic blood of Abraham in
their fleshly veins, they could not claim any inheritance rights, for their
sins have cut them off from the promises.
The so-called Israel of the Flesh
pretends to worship God, but this is a lying pretense for they do not accept
the Son: I John 2:22-23:
“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus
is the Christ? This is the antiChrist,
he who denies the Father and the Son. No
one who denies the Son has the Father.
He who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
II John 9: “Anyone
who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God;
he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son.”
Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but
by me.” John 14:6.
If the so-called Israel of the
Flesh were 100% racially pure, and if they all returned to the land of
Palestine, and if they rebuilt the Temple and re-established the language, the
Mosaic Law, the priesthood and sacrifices, they could never re-establish
themselves in the Covenant, for there is only one Covenant with the House of
Israel now and that is only entered through Christ. Christ is the only living,
legitimate Heir to the promises to Abraham, David and the only fulfillment of
the prophecies of the Bible. He is
sufficient.
So what happened to the Old
Testament ten-nation tribe called “Israel”? We have the prophetic and historical
accounts of their demise in the Bible. The prophecy was first given to Solomon
when he had sinned against the Lord:
“And the Lord was angry with
Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had
appeared to him twice, (10) And had commanded him concerning this thing, that
he should not go after other gods, but he kept not that which the Lord
commanded. (11) Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done
of thee, and thou hast not kept my Covenant and my statutes, which I have
commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to
thy servant. (12) Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David they
father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. (13) Howbeit, I
will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for
David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen,”
1Kings11:9-13.
Then the
word was given to other prophets:
“Hear ye this
word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. The
virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon
her land; there is none to raise her up,” Amos 2:1-2.
This was spoken by the prophet Amos in the years
prior to 722 BC, the year that Assyria invaded and conquered the ten-tribe
nation called “Israel.” Read the Book of Amos who further prophesied to that
nation at that time, specifically Amos 5:2; 8:2, 14; 9:7-10.
This was also prophesied by Hosea
who lived the allegory of God’s judgments against the unfaithful whoredoms of
that nation called “Israel.” Read the Book of Hosea for the context of the fall
of that nation, specifically 1:4, 6, 9-10; 7:16; 8:8; 9:7, 17; 11:5; 13:9, 14,
16.
The historical record of this is
found in 2Kings chapter 17. The reason for their fall was:
“Because they obeyed not the voice
of the Lord their God, but transgressed His Covenant, and all that Moses the
servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them,” 2Kings 18:12.
“Therefore the Lord was very angry
with Israel, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but the
tribe of Judah only,” 2Kings 17:18.
We are warned in the Book of
Revelation against those "who say
they are Jews and are not", (2:9; 3:9). The laws in the so-called "Israel"
of today as well as their historical and daily practices are in the religion of
the Pharisees. They are anti-Christ, "against-Christ." Romans 2:28-29 shows that only those in
Christ are truly Jews. There is only one
true Israel.
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