Does modern Israel fulfill Bible prophecy? Should we pray for Israel?
Many Christians strongly believe that modern day Israel is “God’s Chosen People,” and that Jews en masse will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior before the end. Based on this viewpoint, they pray for modern day Israel. But, should we pray for Israel? To get the correct Biblical view in answer to this question, we need to understand and view the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and not the other way around. People often misunderstand and mistinterpret the scriptures by doing this.read more
Should We Observe “Yom Kippur,” “the Day of Atonement”?
Every year, “Yom Kippur,” “the Day of Atonement” is observed by practicing Jews, Samaritans, and some Christians, on “the tenth day of the seventh month” (Leviticus 25:27). On our calendar, this day comes in either late September or early October. In 2023, it began at sundown on September 24th and ended at sundown on September 25th. This Jewish festival was very important under the Old Mosaic Law Covenant that Almig
Should we celebrate Yom Kippur?
hty God made with the ancient nation of Israel, as elaborated in detail in Leviticus chapter 16. “He has not done this with any other nation” (Psalm 147:19,20 NLT). Jews today “observe many other traditions” in connection with “Yom Kippur” which “go beyond what is written in Scripture” (1 Corinthians 4:6 GWT).read more
Are Restoration Prophecies About Israel Literal – or Symbolic?
The majority of Biblical commentators and preachers take the restoration prophecies about Israel literally, so many Christians today think that the modern-day Republic of Israel is fulfilling Bible prophecies. However, a careful analysis of the Bible, especially the New Testament, shows that this is not the case at all. Please keep in mind, however, that a symbolic or spiritual fulfillment does not mean not real or not true. All Bible prophecies are real and true!
When the first Christians miraculously spoke in foreign languages (Acts 2:1-12), “Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘they have had too much wine.’ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd . . . ‘No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people”‘” (Acts 2:13-17 NIV). Peter, under God’s direction through the Holy Spirit, applies Joel 2:28-32 about the spirit poured out on all people as being fulfilled right then and there, “In the last days”. Peter’s quote from Joel 2:28,29 was fulfilled on that Pentecost Day, but not literally. Peter (and Luke, the Bible writer) includes this part of Joel’s prophecy also:
“I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:19-20 NIV, which quotes Joel 2:30,31)
There were no literal, physical signs, on Pentecost Day fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, such as “fire”, “smoke”, ‘sun going dark’, or ‘the moon turned to blood’. This highly figurative language shows that God does indeed intervene in history, and does miraculous things, and that is what is symbolized by the cosmic language of Joel 2:30,31.
“After much discussion” (Acts 15:17 NIV) about the assertion that “Unless you are circumcised, according to the the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1 NIV), “James spoke up” (Acts 15:13 NIV). He stated the fact that “God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles” (Acts 15:14 NIV). James then quotes Amos 9:11, as an accurate prediction of the reality that “God made a choice . . . that the Gentiles might hear . . . the gospel and believe. God . . . showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them” (Acts 15:7-9 NIV):
“‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild and I will restore it'” (Acts 15:15 NIV).
This restoration prophecy of Israel at Amos 9:11 is clearly applied to the spiritual “Israel of God”, the Christian church comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. “David’s fallen tent” is an obvious reference to fleshly Israel in its Old Covenant relationship with God, which has been “=&0=&. The ‘rebuilding of it’ is the New Covenant relationship of the church, in covenant with God, mediated by Christ (Hebrews 9:15; 1 Timothy 2:5). But there is no literal rebuilding of a fallen tent from ruins, etc! This leads to the main point, as James quotes Amos 9:12 from the Greek Septuagint Version (LXX):
“‘That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’—things known from long ago” (Acts 15:16-18 NIV). By quoting both Amos 9:11 and Amos 9:12, James is showing that restoration prophecies of Israel are accomplished by bringing the Gentiles into the Church on an equal status basis with the Jews. The house of David is rebuilt, not with physical Jews, but with spiritual Jews, the Christian “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15,16 NIV), some of whom are physical Jews, and the rest, the vast majority, are physical Gentiles, non-Jews.
“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart , by the Spirit, not by the written code” (Romans 2:28,29 NIV). What one is outwardly, in the flesh, no longer matters (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11-18; Colossians 3:11). These and other NT scriptures give very strong proof that the restoration prophecies about Israel are real, but they are not literal, they are spiritual.
“The ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6 NIV). The New Covenant is thus affirmed to be highly superior to the Old Covenant, “which has been replaced” (2 Corinthians 3:11 NLT). The writer, likely Paul, quotes from Jeremiah’s prophecy to demonstrate the point:
“I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah” (Hebrews 8:8 NIV). On the surface, it looks like the New Covenant is made with Jews only. However, by stating that the covenant is made with both Israel and Judah, the fact is emphasized that God’s people will again be united, not divided. We’ve already seen from Romans 2:28,29 (above) that the New Covenant is made with spiritual Jews, not fleshly, Jews. Also, notice:
“Understand, then, those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed together along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:7-9 NIV). Taken together, the New Testament scriptures, combined with the prophecies of the Old Testament, clearly show that the restoration prophecies of Israel are fulfilled spiritually, not literally., with the Christian “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15,16 NIV). “The Church is the true Israel, the recipient of God’s promises, which goes out to all nations in the power of Christ” (New Jerusalem Bible, Pocket Edition, Introduction to Matthew).
Paul said that all Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, who follow the Christian way, comprise “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16 NIV).
Peter wrote that Christians:
“Are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special =&1=&Peter says that Christians are ” a chosen people”, which was predicted by Isaiah: “My people, my chosen” (Isaiah 43:20 NIV).
Peter says Christians are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession”, which fulfills the prediction at Exodus 19:5,6: ” If you obey me fully and keep my =&2=&(NIV), and Malachi 3:17: “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, when I take action. I will have compassion on them” (NAB).
Why can we say for certain that what was promised to fleshly Israel was given to spiritual Israel?
“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you (fleshly Israel in the Old Covenant) and given to a people who will produce its fruit (spiritual Israel in the New Covenant)” (Matthew 21:43 NIV).
” But you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were ‘no people’ but now you are God’s people; you ‘had not received mercy’ but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9,10 NAB). “The prerogatives of ancient Israel mentioned here are now more fully and fittingly applied to the Christian people” (NAB note on 1 Peter 2:9,10).
Peter says that non-Jews they were “once . . . not a people” who had “once not received mercy”, but “now . . . are the people of God”, who “now . . . have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10 NIV.
This fulfills the predictions of:
“You are not my people, and I am not your God” (Hosea 1:9 NIV).
“Say of your brothers, ‘My people'” (Hosea 2:1 NIV).
“I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’, and they will say, ‘You are my God'” (Hosea 2:23 NIV).
“Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people” (Jeremiah 7:23 NIV; also 11:4; 30:22).
“I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 37:23 NIV).
These scriptures originally applied to God’s Law Covenant with the people of Israel. However, Peter applies them to the church, made up of spiritual Jews, who are Jews and Gentiles in the flesh (Romans 2:28,29). Peter addressed the letter to Christians living in five provinces of Asia Minor, 1 Peter, which was a largely Gentile area (1 Peter 1:1). We can confirm that Peter was indeed writing to a predominantly Gentile audience from the following scriptures:
“Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14 NIV).
“You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors” (1 Peter 1:18 NIV).
“You have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” ( 1 Peter 4:3 NIV).
Christians, who are mostly Gentiles, “are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV). God has blessed the church with the blessings promised to “Israel” in the Old Testament (OT)!
Many assert that Romans 11 promises the national restoration of fleshly Israel to God’s special favor, including the land fully restored to Israel, rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple, and a visible rule of Christ enthroned in Jerusalem. Romans 11 says nothing about any of this. NT writers correctly saw spiritual fulfillment of OT prophecies. John the Baptist fulfilled: “Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him” (Malachi 4:5,6; Matthew 17:11-13 NIV). The promise to David that his son would establish an eternal kingdom was fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Acts 2:29-36; 13:29-38). Christians living back then and us today “have already come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22 NIV). The NT interprets OT restoration prophecies as already fulfilled in Christ and the gospel.
“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made them a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross . . . The reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:15,17b NIV). Interpreting Old Testament prophecies about Israel’s restoration literally minimizes the important work of Christ in his first coming, and, in effect, shifts major attention from Christ’s first coming to his second coming.
“By this gospel you are saved . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared . . . ” (1 Corinthians 15:2-5 NIV).
“=&3=&
New Covenant – ‘Good Things Now Already Here’ – Access to God
Do we need to go through some human intermediary, or hierarchy, to get to Almighty God? – No! Why not? We certainly do not want to in any way diminish the need of “meeting together” with those of like faith (Hebrews 10:24,25 NIV), nor do we want to downplay the importance of Christlike spiritual leadership (Hebrews 13:7,17). What does the New Covenant have to do with any of this?
However, we need to keep in mind that “there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between humanity . . . Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 2:5 NJB).
He is “the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through” him
“One flock, one shepherd” (Join 10:16), “one new people from the two groups” (Ephesians 2:15 NLT)
Should Christians try to separate Jews and Gentile in the church, or in their understanding of how God and Jesus deal with people today, and in the future?
“Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and =&0=&
Some Christians still try to separate Jews and Gentiles. Is this what God wants? Let’s see what the scriptures have to say on the subject.
“In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile”—Galatians 3:26-28 NIV. The distinction between Jew and Gentile is thus removed by Jesus Christ. Among Christians, there should be no distinction. According to the scriptures. God does not want Christians to try to separate Jews and Gentiles.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4 HCSB) Christ is the end of the Law Covenant, which separated Jews and Gentiles.
“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is strongly urged to enter it.” (Luke 16:16 HCSB) The Old Covenant was until John the Baptist. Every kind of person, not just Jews, can enter the kingdom of God now since the New Covenant was inaugurated.
“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16 HCSB) No longer would there be distinction between Jew and Gentile. No longer would God separate Jews and Gentile, as they would become “one flock.”
“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'” (Acts 10:34-35 HCSB) Peter was helped to realize that in Christ, there is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile.
“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:6-13 NIV) The New Covenant mediated by Jesus “replaced” the “old covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:11,14 NLT). That means there would be no need to separate Jews and Gentiles.
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” (Hebrews 10:1 NIV) The Old Covenant was a shadow of the good things to come through Christ and the New Covenant. Christians need to interpret the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and not the other way around. The New Testament interprets, fulfills, and completes the Old Testament.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ‘” (Matthew 19:28 ESV) The twelve tribes of Israel represent all mankind.
“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.” When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will.’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:1-10 ESV, emphasis added) It is impossible for the blood of animals to completely remove sins, which is the main deficiency of the “old =&1=&
Fleshly Israel was under the old covenant, which was canceled. Now a new covenant operates for Christians. How do we know this? Let’s examine the scriptures to find out.
“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’ Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” (Matthew 21:33-44)read more
Old Covenant Land Shadows Fulfilled in New Covenant Reality
The Old Covenant always was primarily relational (with God), not material
Many think the promises of living in the promised land of ancient Israel for God’s people are permanent. However, the Old Covenant was cancelled, and today God operates through the New Covenant and its reality.
“The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim reflection of the good things to come, not the good things themselves”—Hebrews 10:1 NLT
“These are shadows of the things to come; the reality belongs to Christ”—Colossians 2:17 NABread more
Does modern day “physical Israel” (1 Corinthians 10:18 JNT) fulfill Bible prophecy? Many claim that it does.
THE CLAIMS
They often cite Old Testament prophecies of restoration of the promised land to Israel, asserting that modern Israel does fulfill Bible prophecy. Frequently, they cite verses that seem to indicate fleshly Israel would have this land forever, such as:
“They will live on the land I gave to Jacob my servant, the land where their ancestors lived; they shall live on it always”—Ezekiel 37:25NAB
Many also claim that all or most Jews will accept Jesus as the Messiah, or that God will never forsake his people, meaning fleshly Jews of the nation of Israel. Are these views correct? More importantly, are they scriptural? Let’s examine this issue in light of the Bible.
THE COVENANT WITH ISRAEL WAS CONDITIONED ON ISRAEL’S OBEDIENCE
“So now, if you are really prepared to obey me and keep my covenant, you, out of all peoples, shall be my personal possession, for the whole world is mine... and the people all replied with one accord, ‘Whatever Yahweh has said, we will do.’ Moses then reported to Yahweh what the people had said.” (Exodus 19:5-8 NJB) It was clear that the Sinaitic or Mosaic Law Covenant that God entered with the ancient nation of Israel was conditional, dependent upon their obedience to God. They agreed to obey all that Yahweh had commanded them.
“Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of Yahweh and all the judgments, and all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words Yahweh which has spoken we will do!’ And Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh’s. Then he arose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offering to Yahweh. And Moses then took half the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, ‘All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!’ So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘Behold, the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has cut with you, in accordance with all these words'” (Exodus 24:3-8 LSB) This covenant was officially ratified by animal sacrifices, and officially accepted by the nation. It was a very serious and responsible contract into which they entered, conditioned upon the obedience of the people of Israel.
“When a foreigner lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must regard the foreigner who lives with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34 HCSB) Thirty-six times in the Old Testament, God warns Jews to be compassionate to strangers and aliens.
“Very well, tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says this: You eat blood, you raise your eyes to your foul idols, you shed blood; are you to own the country? You rely on your swords, you engage in loathsome practices, each of you defiles his neighbour’s wife; are you to own the country?’ Tell them this, ‘The Lord Yahweh says this: As I live, I swear it, those in the ruins will fall to the sword, those in the countryside I shall give to the wild animals for them to eat, and those among the crags and in caves will die of plague. I shall make the country a desolate waste, and the pride of its strength will be at an end. The mountains of Israel will be deserted and no one will pass that way again. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I make the country a desolate waste because of all the filthy things they have done.'” (Ezekiel 33:25-29 NJB) Murdering innocent people, etc., meant forfeiture of the God-given land, a denial of Abraham’s faith. (Jeremiah 17:4)
“But if you do not obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and do not keep and observe all his commandments and laws which I am laying down for you today then all these curses will befall and overtake you. You will be accursed in the town and accursed in the countryside.” (Deuteronomy 28:15-16 NJB) “Just as Yahweh used to delight in making you happy and in making your numbers grow, so will he take delight in ruining you and destroying you. You will be torn from the country which you are about to enter and make your own. Yahweh will scatter you throughout every people, from one end of the earth to the other; there you will serve other gods made of wood and stone, hitherto unknown either to you or to your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 28:63-64 NJB) “You must keep my laws… if you defile the land, it will vomit you out.” (Leviticus 18:24-28 NIV) It is clear that the Israelites’ claim to the land was conditioned on obedience to God’s laws and commandments.
COVENANT WITH FLESHLY ISRAEL BROKEN
“Then I took my staff called Favor and cut it in pieces, to break the covenant which I had cut with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day” (Zechariah 11:10-11 LSB). “Revoking the covenant . . . It was revoked on that day” (Zechariah 11:10-11 NIV). Yahweh foretold long in advance that he would break. or revoke, the covenant with Israel.
“He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (John 1:11 NAB). Why are the Israelites “his own people”? “They are the Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever” (Romans 9:4-5 NAB). The rejection of God’s Son was the final straw. God canceled the covenant with Israel.
“The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. When they heard his parables, the chief priests and the scribes realized that he was speaking about them” (Matthew 21:43-45 NJB). The Jews in the Jerusalem area were deported from the land in the first century because of their rejection of the Messiah. The nation of Israel broke the Law covenant; therefore, God “canceled” (Colossians 2:14 NIV) the covenant with the nation of “Israel according to the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18 NAB) at the murder of his Son, Jesus.
“God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11 NIV). Privilege never cancels responsibility.
THE OLD TESTAMENT MUST BE INTERPRETED IN LIGHT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Often those who claim modern Israel fulfills Bible prophecy are interpreting the Old Testament independently of the New Testament.
Luke 24:27,44 – “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures about himself . . . ‘Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms'” (NIV). Jesus set the “example” for us by interpreting the Old Testament in the light of his coming.
“Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of them, it can never make perfect those who come to worship by the same sacrifices that they offer continually from. year to year” (Hebrews 10:1 NAB). Under the New Covenant, Old Covenant laws and patterns are generally fulfilled in various spiritual ways. “The term “shadow” suggests that the law was a preliminary representation, not the full reality. In biblical context, the law given to Moses was a guide and a tutor (Galatians 3:24) leading to Christ. The “good things to come” refers to the new covenant and the salvation brought through Jesus Christ. The law’s rituals and sacrifices pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17). This concept of shadow versus reality is also seen in Colossians 2:17, where Paul describes religious festivals as a shadow of things to come, with the substance belonging to Christ. The “realities” are the fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus. The law’s sacrifices were temporary and symbolic, unable to provide true redemption or a clear conscience (Hebrews 9:9). The reality is found in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice, which provides complete atonement and access to God (Hebrews 9:12). This distinction emphasizes the superiority of the new covenant over the old.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). “In Galatians 5:2-6, Paul argues that circumcision is not necessary for salvation, emphasizing faith in Christ over adherence to the Law. This reflects the theological shift from physical signs of the covenant to spiritual faith in Christ.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).
There is no way to accurately understand how the Old Testament applies today, without analyzing it in light of the New Testament.
IS THE MODERN ISRAELI LAND SEIZURE BLESSED BY GOD?
The assertion that the founding of the Republic of Israel in 1948, and the capture of Jerusalem in 1967, means that God ordained and blessed the modern nation of Israel, has no basis in scripture, and does not fulfill Bible prophecy.
Based upon what we read in the scriptures, the Israeli seizure and colonization of Palestine in the 20th century is equivalent to Ahab’s theft of Naboth’s vineyard:
“Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, ‘Give me your vineyard so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.’ But Naboth said to Ahab, ‘I will never give my fathers’ inheritance to you.’ So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, ‘I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.’ He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and didn’t eat any food. Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, ‘Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat?’ Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,’ he replied. ‘I told him: Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place. But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!” Then his wife Jezebel said to him, ‘Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. In the letters, she wrote: Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people. Then seat two wicked men opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death. The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had commanded them, as was written in the letters she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, ‘Naboth has cursed God and the king!’ So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent word to Jezebel, ‘Naboth has been stoned to death.’ When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, ‘Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver, since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.’ When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Get up and go to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. You’ll find him in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick your blood!” Ahab said to Elijah, ‘So, you have caught me, my enemy.’ He replied, ‘I have caught you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will sweep away your descendants: I will eliminate all of Ahab’s males, both slave and free, in Israel; I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin. The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land at Jezreel: He who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and he who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.” Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him. ” (1 Kings 21:1-25 HCSB) Illegal seizure of land by one who has no right to it, especially by force, violence and murder, is condemned by God, and the perpetrators will be punished. God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6), and the example of God’s dealing with land-grabbing Ahab is notably instructive for modern-day Israel.
“JEW” REDEFINED
“One is not a Jew outwardly. Tue circumcision is not outward, in the flesh. Rather, one is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not the letter; his praise is not from human beings but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 NAB). Under the New Covenant, fleshly circumcision no longer matters. What qualifies one to be a spiritual Jew is the circumcision of the heart by the holy Spirit.
“ISRAEL” REDEFINED
“They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel . . . That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as seed” (Romans 9:6,8 LSB). Those who are of Israel are redefined as “children of the promise”.
The scriptures are clear that modern Israel doesn’t fulfill Bible prophecy, and has no place in god’s purpose any longer.
THE “LAND” REDEFINED
“These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. Now you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now But what does the Scripture say? ‘Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” (Galatians 4:24-25, 28-31 BSB). Jerusalem – dependency in the Christian era is criticized as being unscriptural. Thus, modern Israel does not fulfill Bible prophecy, and no longer counts with God. Now it is “the Jerusalem above” that counts with God.
“‘So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?’ Jesus replied, ‘Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.'” (John 4:20-23 NLT) Access to God no longer has anything to do with earthly Jerusalem or Israel. Notice the key phrase in verse 21: “It will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.” Why?
“For we do not have here a lasting city, but we are seeking the one to come” (Hebrews 13:14 LSB). Christians back there were told that earthly Jerusalem wasn’t the one to seek. What was, or is?
Christians “have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem . . . and God the judge of all . . . and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 12:22,23 NAB). “The covenant in Christ gives us direct access to God” (NAB footnote). Now it is “the heavenly Jerusalem” that counts with God.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, the modern day nation of Israel does not fulfill Bible prophecy
For more information about this subject, see the following articles on this website:
Skeptics and some modern Christians believe the Old Testament (OT) was simply the word of man and is fallible. However, the Apostle Paul viewed the Old Testament as the infallible word of God. How did Paul view the Old Testament, Luke and the Old Covenant? Below, we will use scriptural quotations followed, by comments to show why this is true:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Paul affirms God’s active involvement in the writing of Scripture through his holy Spirit, including the Old Testament, an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the infallible and authoritative word of God.
Paul’s View of Luke’s Writings and the Old Testament
“For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’[” (1 Timothy 5:18)read more
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