Recently some people have said to me that God has forsaken the Jews—that he is finished with them. One person who replied to a comment I made, said that God’s judgment came upon Israel in AD 70 which means he has forsaken the nation of Israel forever, and that Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 prove it. These verses say: “I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9, CSB); “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (Rev. 3:9, KJV). Of course, you can see that these verses do not condemn the Jewish nation but rather certain Jews who were doing the work of Satan.
In the churches of Smyrna and
Philadelphia, they were being persecuted because of the lies certain Jews were
spreading. This had turned the pagan communities they lived in against the
church. In Smyrna, Jesus told the church that they were about to suffer even
more at the hands of the city officials (deduced) who the devil was leading,
some of them were going to be arrested and thrown in jail for ten days, and
likely they would be killed or executed there because of their faith in Christ
(Rev. 2:10). In Smyrna and Philadelphia, the synagogue leaders (deduced) were riling
up the pagans saying that the cities would experience bad things because of the
Christian church. At the time, the worshipers of the Roman emperor (Domitian), believed
that if things were going bad then it must be someone or some group that is the
cause of it. They thought the Greco-Roman gods would send disaster on those who
were disobedient. They thought the gods would send bad weather, crop failure,
sickness, and disease. The Jews were saying that the Christians were teaching a
false doctrine about a man named Jesus whom the Romans crucified. The Jews were
making the pagans angry because the Christians were calling him Lord. This is
why the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia were being persecuted.
The church was persecuted because
they would not worship Caesar. The Jewish leaders appeased the Romans by burning
incense to the emperor and his gods. The Jews would also call Caesar lord. This
gave them favor with the city officials. But the Christians would not. This is why
Jesus called them fake Jews. They were hypocrites as far as Jesus was
concerned. Even though they may have had Jewish blood Jesus saw them as fake
because they were doing Satan’s work and not the Lord’s. The reason why Jesus
called the Jews a συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ (synagogí toú Sataná) “synagogue of Satan”
is because they were doing the Devil's work; lying and conspiring against the
Christians. These hateful Jewish leaders were of their father the devil, they
were carrying out his desire to destroy the church of God (Jn. 8:44). The
synagogue leaders saw the church as their enemy, as does Satan. This is also
why Jesus said the Jewish people there who refer to themselves as Jews are not.
Their synagogue is of Satan.
If a Jew today conspires against
the Christian church, then they too are a synagogue of Satan. But the Jewish
community in general is not conspiring against Christians. They believe that
Jesus is not their Messiah, and do not want to hear his name. But one day the
whole community of Jews will believe in Jesus. Just like Peter, John, and Paul did.
And just like many Jewish people who have put their faith in Jesus, in the
world. The nation of Israel belongs to God. Israel is his treasured possession
(Ps. 135:4; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 32:9; 1 Sam. 12:22). God still has plans for
Israel. He plans on redeeming the remnant on the final day of their 70th
week (Dan. 9:24; Rom. 11:26-27). If any
nation harms Israel they have touched the apple (pupil) of God’s eye (Zech.
2:8). Even though Israel has rebelled over and over against God, they are still
important to him.
Someone else suggested that God had forsaken Israel because they crucified Jesus. This way of thinking promotes the idea that the Christian church has replaced Israel as God’s people. This, of course, is the doctrine of replacement theology.[1] The belief in this doctrine seems to be growing. Replacement theology teaches that God has forsaken Israel as his chosen people and replaced them with the Christian church. This doctrine is false. We see how prominent this idea has become ever since Hamas slaughtered over 1,100 Jews on October 7, 2023. When Israel declared war on Hamas and went into Gaza to rescue the captives, whatever festering hatred there was towards Israel was brought to light—it revealed that even some members of the church are Israel haters. The doctrine of replacement theology also teaches that the church is spiritual Israel. This sect believes, that the promises God made to Israel are now fulfilled in the church. But this idea is just not true. Israel is the chosen of God, and the church is a new creation also chosen by God. Two beings chosen and cherished by God with distinct missions and purposes. Because of the replacement doctrine you hear some TV ministries and local church pastors utilizing prophesies from the Old Testament that are meant solely for the nation of Israel and applying them to the church. Whether or not they realize the ramifications of misinterpreting Scripture is beside the point. Prophesying falsely is prohibited. One example is Ezekiel 37:1-14. Some say this prophecy is about a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church that will begin a great revival. They prophesy that it is coming soon. They call this revival the “latter rain.” This message is taught by leaders who adhere to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)[2] and are affiliated with the Latter Rain Movement.[3] This false message is gaining ground over the internet and some local churches. It was popular in the 1940s through the 1960s but then got quiet. It then started picking up steam again about 40 to 50 years ago. It is being taught to the body of Christ prophesying that the church will save the world and then Jesus can come back. But the Ezekiel 37:1-14 prophecy is really about the renewed state of Israel. God restored Israel’s statehood in a day (Isa. 66:8). That prophecy was fulfilled on May 14, 1948. It has nothing to do with the church. It would be nice if what they taught was true, everyone in the world putting faith in Jesus, but the apostle Paul taught that in the latter days of the church age, there would be an apostasy, a falling away from Jesus (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:3-4)—we are living in that time.
Some also teach that Jesus prophesied
about a revival in the church. They use Luke 21:29-31 as their proof. But no,
this prophecy is concerning Israel’s renewed statehood, and the people that
were alive who witnessed this event. It has nothing to do with an outpouring of
the Holy Spirit upon the church and a worldwide revival. The prophecy teaches
that some of the people who witnessed the rebirth of the state of Israel will still
be alive to witness the rapture of the church, the 7-year Tribulation, and the
2nd coming of Jesus (Matt. 24:32-34; Mk. 13:28-30; Lk. 21:29-32). Jesus
used the natural process of a fig tree bearing fruit to prophesy the restoration
of the state of Israel. Of course, he prophesied speaking in riddles. Unfaithful
Israel is the fig tree, its branch-producing leaves are when Israel’s statehood
is renewed—unfaithful Israel is sometimes referred to as a fig tree or the fig
fruit, and faithful Israel is sometimes referred to as an olive tree. Knowing
that summer is near refers to the process of said events. When the state of
Israel was restored, then the process of their eternal salvation began. Israel
will bear fruit once its redemption takes place (Dan. 9:24). The remnant of
Israel will be forever saved (Rms. 11:25-27) at Christ’s 2nd appearance
(Matt. 24:29-31; Mk. 13:24-27; Lk. 21:25-28; Rev. 19:11-21). When pastors or TV
ministries mishandle these prophecies about Israel’s future and say it is a
great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church they are in error. They
unknowingly are doing Satan’s work. They confuse the undiscerning. They are
filling the church with false hope. They are teaching a lie.
The segment of the church that
believes God has forsaken Israel and replaced it with the Christian church is
unaware that God has blinded Israel to the fact that Jesus is their Messiah.
They may forget that they too once walked in sin and darkness, obeying the
promptings of evil spirits (Eph. 2:1-3). They may not understand that they have
been saved by grace through faith and that their faith is a gift of God, they
did not work for it, so they cannot boast about their faith in God (Eph.
2:8-9). Even though Jesus performed many signs before the people of Israel
while he was on the earth, they did not put their faith in him (Jn. 12:37).
Isaiah had prophesied: “Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm
of the LORD been revealed” (Isa. 53:1, HNV; Jn. 12:38)? Israel could not put
their faith in Jesus because as Isaiah also prophesied God had blinded their
eyes and hardened their hearts to the truth (Isa. 6:10; Jn. 12:40). Now, some
had put their faith in Jesus, like the apostles. Some leaders of Israel did too,
but they kept it a secret fearing the Pharisees, because if they openly
confessed faith in Jesus they would be ejected from the synagogue (Jn.
12:42-43). Even today Israel is blinded when they read the Old Testament, a
veil covers their minds and hearts, because it is only through Christ that the
veil is removed (2 Cor. 3:14-15). But when a Jew turns to the Lord the veil is
removed (2 Cor. 3:16).
When the disciples came and asked
Jesus why he spoke to Israel in parables he said that the mysteries of heaven
were not given to them (Matt. 13:10-11). He meant at that time because someday they
will understand the mysteries when they are all saved. But in Jesus’ time, they
could not see or could they hear (Matt. 13:13-15). And it was a good thing, because,
it was their transgression that caused salvation to come to the Gentiles to
make Israel jealous (Rms. 11:11). Gentiles were once disobedient to God also,
but have now received mercy because of Israel’s disobedience (Rms. 11:30). And
because of the mercy God has released to Gentiles he may also release the same
mercy to Israel (Rms. 11:31). God has given everyone over to disobedience so
that he may have mercy on everyone (Rms. 11:32). Israel’s rejection of their
Messiah has allowed Gentiles to be reconciled to God (Rms. 11:15a). Gentiles
have been grafted into the olive tree so that they can share in it nourishing
root (Rms. 11:17).
If it was not for Israel’s
rejection of Jesus then Gentiles could not be saved. Therefore, the segment of
the church that believes they have replaced Israel should stop being so
arrogant and repent. If God did not spare some of the natural branches of the
olive tree, meaning some unbelieving Jews, so that he could graft in Gentiles
who put their faith in Christ, then this should be a warning to the church to cast
away their pride, and cast away replacement theology (Rms. 11:18-20). Because,
“For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you”
(Rms. 11:21, ESV). God has not rejected Israel, for there is a remnant chosen
by grace (Rms. 11:1-5). Yes, God has chosen the church to be his holy people
too, a royal priesthood, calling us out of darkness so that we may belong to
him (1 Pet. 2:9), but he chose Israel first (Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 41:8; 44:1). Once
all Israel is saved at the 2nd appearance of Christ Israel will be
able to obey God and keep his covenants because they will be finished with
their disobedience (Dan. 9:24).
Picture: Jewish youth praying at Western Wall
https://messianicbible.com/feature/inside-look-gods-chosen-people-today/#overlay
[1] What
is replacement theology / supersessionism / fulfillment theology?
[2] New
Apostolic Reformation
[3] Latter
Rain (post–World War II movement)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Rain_(post%E2%80%93World_War_II_movement)
