ISRAEL and the Church

ISRAEL and the ISRAEL and the ChurchChurch

and the and the ChurchChurchISRAISRAELEL In Our TimeIn Our Time

Pre-Old Testament Times

• God called out Abraham (Gen 12:1).

• From Abraham grew a “called out” family.

• From the “called out” family grew a “called out” nation consisting of both Jews and a minority of subservient Gentiles.

• Assembled Israel is called “the church.”

Old Testament Times

• Assembled “Old Testament” Israel is called “church” [Grk: EKKLESIA] 110 times in the Greek Old Testament Scriptures:

- Often called Septuagint or LXX.- Translated by Jewish scholars three centuries before

Christ.- Quoted extensively in the New Testament Scriptures.

• Assembled “Old Testament” Israel is called “church” [Grk: EKKLESIA] at least 2 times in the Greek New Testament Scriptures:

- Act 7:38.- Heb 2:12 (Cf. Psa 22:22).- See also Mat 16:18; 18:17.

Old Testament Times

This is [Moses], that was in the church [Grk: EKKLESIA] in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us…

(Act 7:38 KJV).

Old Testament Times

This is [Moses], that was in the church [Grk: EKKLESIA] in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us…

(Act 7:38 KJV).

Old Testament Times

Saying, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church [Grk: EKKLESIAS] will I sing praise unto thee.”

(Heb 2:12 KJV; Cf Psa 22:22)

Old Testament Times

Saying, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church [Grk: EKKLESIAS] will I sing praise unto thee.”

(Heb 2:12 KJV; Cf Psa 22:22)

Old Testament Times

See also:

Mat 16:18: “…I will build my church”(Possibly in the sense of “build[ing]” upon what already existed).

Mat 18:17: “…tell it to the church”(Certainly referring to a Pre-Pentecost “church”).

Conclusion:

The Church was not “born” on that The Church was not “born” on that Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2, when Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2, when God began His promise to pour out His Spirit God began His promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. No! This was not “the birthday of on all flesh. No! This was not “the birthday of the Church,” as some incorrectly teach.the Church,” as some incorrectly teach.

The Church has existed as the faithful The Church has existed as the faithful “called out” and “assembled” people of God “called out” and “assembled” people of God since at least the time of Abraham.since at least the time of Abraham.

The Church andThe Church and

ISRAELISRAELIn the LandIn the Land

Old Testament Times

• Assyrian Captivity (c. 722 B.C. – Northern)

• Babylonian Captivity (c. 586 B.C.)

• Persians (late 500s B.C.)

• Greeks (c. 332 B.C.)

• Romans (c. 64 B.C.)

New Testament Times

JERUSALEM

Post-New Testament Times

• Pagan Romans (…70 - 313 A.D.)• Byzantine “Christian” Romans (313 - 614 A.D.)• Pagan Persians/Iranians (614 - 628 A.D.)• Re-conquest by Byzantines (628 - 638 A.D.)• Muslim Arab Conquest (638-1099 A.D.)• “Christian” Crusaders (1099 - 1517 A.D.)• Muslim Ottoman Turks (1517 A.D - 1917 A.D.)• “Christian” British (1917 - 1948 A.D.)• Jewish Israeli (1948 - present)

Post-New Testament Times

• Pagan Romans (…70 - 313 A.D.)• Byzantine “Christian” Romans (313 - 614 A.D.)• Pagan Persians/Iranians (614 - 628 A.D.)• Re-conquest by Byzantines (628 - 638 A.D.)• Muslim Arab Conquest (638-1099 A.D.)• “Christian” Crusaders (1099 - 1517 A.D.)• Muslim Ottoman Turks (1517 A.D - 1917 A.D.)• “Christian” British (1917 - 1948 A.D.)• Jewish Israeli (1948 - present)

Conclusion:

In all these times, from the time Abraham was In all these times, from the time Abraham was “called out,” from the time “Old Testament” Israel “called out,” from the time “Old Testament” Israel [partially] settled the Land, from the time of Jesus, [partially] settled the Land, from the time of Jesus, from the time of the Apostles, from the time of the from the time of the Apostles, from the time of the Post-New Testament Christians…all the way up until Post-New Testament Christians…all the way up until our time…our time…

……the Church has been directly the Church has been directly connected with the People and connected with the People and the Land of Israel.the Land of Israel.


The Unfortunate Context of Today’s Jewish and Christian Relations

Gentile Christian Anti-Semitism

since the years following the

132-135 A.D. Bar Kochba rebellion

against Rome…to the present.

John Chrysostom

“The synagogue is worse than a brothel [i.e. house of prostitution]…It is a den of scoundrels…the temple of demons devoted to idolatrous cults…the cavern of devils…[It is] a criminal assembly of Jews…a place of meeting for the assassins of Christ…a house worse than a drinking shop…a gulf and abyss of perdition…I would say the same things about [the Jewish people’s] souls…I hate the synagogue…I hate the Jews for the same reason.” (Quoted in Malcolm Hay, The Roots of Christian Anti-Semitism. New York: Liberty Press, 1981, p. 27)

Medieval Catholics

“Kill a Jew and save your soul.”

(Quoted in Michael L. Brown, Our Hands Are Stained With Blood. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Press, 1992, p. 12)

Reformers – Martin Luther“First, their synagogues should be set on fire…Secondly, their homes should likewise be broken down and destroyed…Thirdly, they should be deprived of their prayer-books and Talmud… Fourthly, their rabbis must be forbidden under threat of death to teach any more…Fifthly, passport and traveling privileges should be absolutely forbidden to the Jews…Sixthly, they ought to be stopped from usury [charging interest on loans]…Seventhly, let the young and strong Jews and Jewesses be given the flail, the ax, the hoe, the spade, the distaff, and spindle, and let them earn their bread by the sweat of their noses…We ought to drive the rascally lazy bones ought of our system…Therefore away with them…To sum up, dear princes and nobles who have Jews in your domains, if this advice of mine does not suit you, then find a better one so that you and we may be free of this insufferable devilish burden—the Jews.” (Concerning the Jews and Their Lies, reprinted in Frank Ephraim Talmage, ed. “Disputation and Dialogue: Readings in Jewish-Christian Encounter. New York: Ktav. 1975, pp. 34-36)

Reformers – John Calvin

He called Jews “mad dogs,” “beasts,” and “animals”. Furthermore, in Geneva, Switzerland, where Calvin headed a Protestant Christian government, it was written in their civil laws that Jews were forbidden to own property.

(Christelijke theologie na Auschwitz: Theologische en kerkelijke wortels van het antisemitisme, Tome 1, 6th ed. Hans Jansen, Amsterdam: Blaak, 1999, p. 157)

Current Catholic Bishop – Richard Williamson

“The historical evidence is hugely against six-million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler.

… between two and 300,000 Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but not one of them by gassing in a gas chamber.

Germany has paid out billions and billions of deutschmarks and now Euros because the Germans have a guilt complex about their having gassed six-million Jews. But I don't think six-million Jews were gassed. Be careful, I beg of you. This is against the law [to say this] in Germany. You could have me thrown into prison before I leave Germany. I hope that's not your intention.”(Interview - http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2474115.htm)

Replacement Theology

• The Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, having been replaced by the Church.

• The curses of the Law apply to the Jews while the blessings ONLY apply to Christians.

Conclusion:

Replacement Theology is Replacement Theology is largely what lies behind largely what lies behind historical and current historical and current Christian Anti-Semitism.Christian Anti-Semitism.


Old Testament Israel




Old Testament Israel“New Israel” “Spiritual Israel” = “The Church”





The Church



The Church


The Jews = Law The Christians = Grace

Olive Tree Theology“For I speak to you Gentiles…. if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.“ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” (Rom 11:13-24).

Olive Tree Theology

Israel

Gentiles = the Nations

Olive Tree Theology

Israel


Israel

RighteousRemnant

Olive Tree Theology

Israel


Israel

RighteousRemnant

Gentiles

Olive Tree Theology

Israel


Israel

RighteousRemnant

Gentiles

Olive Tree Theology

Conceives of, along with Paul:1. An Olive Tree and Roots that are somewhat independent of their branches and shoots.2. Natural branches (Jews) in unbelief.3. Natural branches (Jews) in belief.4. Unnatural branches (Gentiles) who are “grafted contrary to nature” into the Jews’ “own Olive Tree” (Rom 11:24).

Conclusion:

The Church, comprised of The Church, comprised of believing Jews and Gentiles, is a believing Jews and Gentiles, is a subdivision of Israel, the righteous subdivision of Israel, the righteous remnant, whose numbers, because remnant, whose numbers, because of equal Gentile inclusion since of equal Gentile inclusion since Cornelius and Acts 15, have Cornelius and Acts 15, have swelled to numbers greater than swelled to numbers greater than those of even unbelieving Israel.those of even unbelieving Israel.

ISRAEL and the ISRAEL and the ChurchChurch


Underscores the fact that we, the Church, in our time, are a part of Israel, and that we have both believing Jewish brethren and UNbelieving Jewish brethren to whom we are related by covenant (and for whom we Gentiles should be concerned) because

we got grafted into “their” good Olive Tree.


Let’s Review:1. The Church was not born on Pentecost but rather has 1. The Church was not born on Pentecost but rather has existed as the faithful “called out” and “assembled” people of existed as the faithful “called out” and “assembled” people of God since at least the time of Abraham.God since at least the time of Abraham.

2. The Church has, since the beginning, been directly 2. The Church has, since the beginning, been directly connected with the people and the Land of Israel.connected with the people and the Land of Israel.

3. The Church’s swelled Gentile portion (swelled in numbers 3. The Church’s swelled Gentile portion (swelled in numbers and swelled with arrogance) has taught Replacement Theology, and swelled with arrogance) has taught Replacement Theology, which is largely what lies behind historical and current which is largely what lies behind historical and current Christian Anti-Semitism.Christian Anti-Semitism.

4. The Church must repent of our historic anti-Semitism and 4. The Church must repent of our historic anti-Semitism and return to Olive Tree theology, thus recognizing our intrinsic return to Olive Tree theology, thus recognizing our intrinsic relationship as Gentile Christians to our Hebrew Roots, the relationship as Gentile Christians to our Hebrew Roots, the Jewish people (believing and unbelieving), and the Land of Jewish people (believing and unbelieving), and the Land of Israel.Israel.

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ISRAEL and the Church