O, PHIPPS... I think you are my favorite newb-- so bear with me, here-- let's boil it down, to what is really being said:
God didn't get His man.
Or in this case, His tribe. I just don't believe that. You know this verse from Isaiah 55...
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return without watering the earth...
... so My word that proceeds from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please,
and it will prosper where I send it.
This has probably been posted, but it bears repeating-- it clearly says, in Romans...
For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you may not be wise in yourselves: A hardening in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles may come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it has been written:
“The One Delivering will come out of Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
And this is the covenant from Me to them,
when I shall take away their sins.”
For as regards the gospel, they are enemies on account of you; but as regards election, beloved on account of the patriarchs.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy by the disobedience of these, so these also now have been disobedient for your mercy, so that they also now may have mercy shown them. For God has bound up all in disobedience, that He may show mercy to all.
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I know the verse in Isaiah 55 and it is true. God's word always accomplishes and prospers. Again, the Bible never says that God's promises will be fulfilled in the literal nation of Israel does it? That is what you guys are focussed on. Jesus removed the gospel from Israel and gave it to to others because they rejected Him. They still reject Him to this day. Jews can be saved individually like the Gentiles if they believe and have faith of Jesus.
Do you know that even in end time prophecy the Jews are not God's chosen people? In end time prophecy in the book of Daniel, it starts off with with the kingdoms that will affect Israel because they were God's chosen people then. So the first kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-persia, Greece and Rome all rule over the Jews. Then in chapter 7 of Daniel we read about the little horn that persecutes God's people and speaks blasphemous things against God.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 7:25. We all know that the little horn is the the papacy. We know it persecuted Christians during the dark ages and reformation and thought to change times and God's law which sadly most of Christendom still follow. Then when we go to the book of Revelation, in chapter 13 we read about the first beast that does the same thing as the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8 but we are given more information about it. We also have the second beast that forces
the whole word to worship the first beast whose wound was healed. Why am I telling you this? Even in prophecy we move from the Jews to the whole world. The gospel clearly goes around the world and end time prophecy is about those
who keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus (
Revelation 14:12). Spiritual Israel.
So God's promises will be fulfilled in those who believe and have faith in Jesus. The Bible never says that will be through the nation of Israel does it? Spiritual Israel is Israel too according to God and it will be saved. Are you going to ignore everything else Paul said about Israel? Does he contradict himself?
"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" (
Romans 9:6).
"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" (
Romans 9:8).
The children of the flesh are only natural descendants of Abraham, but the children of the promise are counted as the true seed. Today, any person—Jew or Gentile—can become part of this spiritual nation of Israel through faith in Jesus Christ.
"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 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" (
Romans 2:17, 25, 26, 28, 29).
Did you catch that? The implications are staggering! Someone who is
“called a Jew” because he is a physical descendant of Abraham, and yet who lives as a lawbreaker,
“is not a Jew”—at least, not in God’s eyes. His “
circumcision is made uncircumcision.” It is revoked. Thus to God, he is a Gentile. And a believing Gentile, who through faith keeps
“the righteousness of the law,” his uncircumcision is counted for circumcision. Thus to God, he is a Jew.
“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (
Galatians 3:7).
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (
Galatians 3:29).
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (
Philippians 3:3). Thus, according to Paul, a real Jew in the sight of God is anybody—Jew or Gentile—who has personal faith in Jesus Christ!
Its pretty clear Paul is talking about spiritual Israel.
What about what Jesus said about Israel?
Remember also when Jesus marveled at the faith of a Gentile soldier. He said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness” (
Matthew 8:10-12).
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (
Matthew 21:43-44).
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" Matthew 23:37-39.
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." Luke 19:41-44.
Jesus clearly related the destruction of Jerusalem to Israel’s final refusal to accept Him as their King and Saviour.
“They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham … Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” (
John 8:39, 44).
Also no where in the Bible does it say literal Israel are to get a second chance. They were given so many chances so there is no going back. Just like when the world ends there is not going to be another chance for people to repent. That will be it because God will have given us so many chances too. What happened to Israel on a small scale is what is going to happen to the world on a larger scale.