Happy 60th Birthday Israel!
| Posted On: 05/22/08 07:04:26 AM |
Age 46, AUSTRALIA |
For me the existence of the State of Israel is proof positive that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob reigns supreme. It is no surprise to me that the world hates Israel -the world first hated the Lamb of God, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Yeshua Hamashiach. Like Gamaliel I could say to the nations and peoples who wish to curse and to destroy Israel or harm the Jewish people that they will find themselves fighting against the Holy One of Israel. I had the privilege of spending nearly two years in the Land of Israel and, although not Jewish, I rejoice with the Jewish people at this momentous time in the history of Israel. As to the USA, as an Australian I look to the USA for leadership in this world and I am convinced that your greatness in so many areas is a direct result of your support for the Jewish people. As God has said He would bless those that bless Abraham and his seed. May you continue to support Israel. A day may come when a future American leadership turns its back on Israel and this would be a terrible day. It is a salient point that God will one day enter into judgment against all those nations that lifted their hands against His beloved people. Therefore continue to fulfill the purpose and mission that God has called forth your nation to!!
Ron
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Israel is a witness to God
| Posted On: 05/14/08 12:42:51 AM |
Age 55, FL |
Great article! It was Israel's existence as a nation that brought me back to the faith as a wild, evolutionary college student. It was 1973, and I became fascinated with Israel, read some secular books, and remembered by childhood Bible teaching. I realized that it was impossible for Israel to survive like that. So many people all over the world have tried for so long to kill the Jews. Why?? Then 1900+ years later Israel suddenly appears again? I came to the conclusion that the God of Israel must exist, or Israel couldn't. Though they are like skin over dry bones, there is no breath of life in them yet. Perhaps soon.
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Don't burden yourselves with this one, guys...
| Posted On: 05/13/08 09:20:48 PM |
Age 60, OR |
Sorry, guys! George, I've seen your stuff & I know you know better than to partially quote a passage [unless, of course, it bites you]. Jesus had been clearly speaking prophetically for several chapters and a couple more to come when he said: “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, *til* ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:39). There are 3 "Untils" in the NT that concern the End-time return of our Lord, all referring to the transferring of the "Blessing” back to Israel. Luke 13:35: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, *until* the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.“ Luke 21:23-25: “...and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, *until* the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” [For 2000 yrs, Jerusalem has been under Gentile control until Israel recaptured it in the Six-day war of '67.] And Romans 11:25: “25 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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob [not the church]: 27 For this is my *covenant* unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching *the election*, they are beloved for the father's sakes. 29 For the *gifts* and *calling* of God are without repentance. -KJV [29 Because the gifts and calling of God are *irrevocable*. -NASB] The ‘Sixties’ was the beginning of the passing back of the Blessing to Israel and the beginning of the great falling away of America into moral & spiritual decay; “Sex, drugs, & rock-n-roll”, New Age occult religions, witchcraft, etc… Meanwhile, Israel has been restored from 2000 yrs of barren desert to the most productive land in the world as foretold [Amos 9:11-15], even surpassing America in produce/per acre, dairy gal/per head of cattle, etc… Please note 2 things: 1. Paul makes it absolutely clear that he is talking about true Israel, “my kinsmen according to the flesh”, not spiritual Israel [the Church]. And 2. Rom. 9-11 are NOT an insertion or a parenthesis of an off-topic problem. There are no chapter & verse divisions in the original texts. Paul had already anticipated the objection of the Greco-Roman world, which had the LXX as a curio for 280 yrs. & had been hearing Christians preaching Jesus is the Messiah rejected by Israel for about 25-30yrs. “Why should I trust this Jewish God & Jesus. I'm not as devout as the Jews. The 1st time I screw up I'll be rejected just like Israel...” Rom. 8 thru 11 are about eternal security & Israel is the killer example & argument to that critical topic. Our ES is directly linked to the promise of the security of the *covenant gifts & calling* of Israel. OT prophecies to Israel still being fulfilled? Ezek. 36; the land is being restored in preparation for the people, especially vs.8 “...for they are soon to come home.” 37; the bones are together with flesh on them but there is no breath in them yet... Those who love Israel & pray for the peace of *Jerusalem* pray for that “breath”, 'cause 38 & 39 are waiting in the wings. Zech. 12:2-3, 14:2. Many nations existed back then that had never heard of Israel. Now, ALL the nations know of her & Jerusalem is a burdensome stone & a cup of trembling to ALL. Don't burden yourselves with this one, guys... DanRN
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Who would want to be a Jew in Israel?
| Posted On: 05/13/08 12:14:46 PM |
Age 40, GA |
Israel of our day IS biblical Israel. Only the spiritually and historically ignorant cannot see it. Same persecutions, same hassles, same drama as before.
I am African-American. Chris Rock once told a joke that nowadays in America being "Black" is in. Everybody wants to be Black. Kinky hair, braids, collagen lips, and so forth are in. It's hard to tell the real from the wanna be's until they start hanging Blacks again. Then we'll know who the real Black folks are.
In that bit of dark humor was an analogy that applies also to Israel. The reality is that the people over in the land of Israel - claiming to be Jews - are getting the same harsh treatment from the world as they ever did throughout history. Same struggles, same hatreds, same denials from friend and foe.
Down through history they've been persecuted, pogromed, holocausted, jihaded, and diplomatically pressured to be somebody other than who they are. And from Aelia Capitolina to Eretz Yisroel, Jerusalem has been the center of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish attention, too. You have to ask why this is.
I also think that all you Preterists, Partial Preterists, and Amillenialists are in the same boat as the Pre-Millenialist Evangelicals you condemn. Your theology (and eschatology) may very well be dead wrong.
Me? I just examine history and wonder who would WANT to be a Jew living in Israel except the real Jews.
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Geopolitical Israel is not the Israel of God
| Posted On: 05/12/08 08:45:36 PM |
Age 61, MO |
The geopolitical nation state of Israel is not a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. This claim made by Jews and many Evangelical Christians is a shallow and errant understanding of the Bible. There have been two returns of the Jews to their land. The first return was when Moses brought the 12 tribes living in exile in Egypt back to the land of Canaan in 1445 BC. The second return of the Jews came from their living in exile in the Babylonian Empire by Ezra in 536 BC. Just prior to 70 AD the remaining tribes were destroyed or scattered. There is no additional prophecy of a third return nor of a third temple to be reconstructed. Jesus was speaking to the Jews when He said: Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:38). Many American Evangelicals and Jews are haphazardly pulling passages out of context from the Old Testament to prove that the racist State of Israel is Biblical. George Cancilla
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- Amen George!
| Posted On: 05/13/08 10:11:09 AM | | Age 42, TX |
I'm so glad someone else realizes God is not into real estate and racism! He doesn't need the Jews to be in their "homeland" to change their hearts towards Christ. People need to really study the scriptures for themselves and not listen to sensationalist theologians focusing on the land itself and who is entitled to it now. You can't assume everything in the Bible that must "come to pass" hasn't already happened - in many cases, it has. All prophecies are not meant for our future only - some were for THEIR "futures" when they were alive, a long time ago and they were fullfilled.
Jan, your dogmatic views are offputting sometimes when you speak of things which you are not an authority on, hermeneutically speaking.
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