David B. Curtis
David B. Curtis
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Good morning Bereans, thank you for joining us today for our study of God's Word. We are working our way through 1 Peter verse-by-verse but today we are going to be talking about Israel. What is Israel? Is the biblical Israel the Israel that is in the news today? Is it God's chosen people that are attacking Iran?
Hopefully this attack that Israel has launched against Iran has helped you to see that your eschatology really does matter. If you hold to the preterist eschatology the news of the war didn't make you think the end of the world was near. You didn't see it as fulfilling prophecy because you know that all prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70.
The prophecy preachers are out there screaming, the end in near. They scream this any time Israel gets in a military conflict. Eschatology matters because the eschatology of preterism destroys the false doctrine of Zionism. Our political leaders today are ready to go to war and Christians for the most part support them because they falsely believe that modern day Israelites are the people of God. Zionism is a destructive doctrine and the truth is that the majority of those who call themselves Christians today hold to this destructive doctrine.
Zionism is a political movement built on the belief that the Jewish people deserve by right to possess the land of Palestine as their own. Christian Zionism as a modern theological and political movement embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism. They believe that God will restore Israel's ancient fortunes as a nation in the Promised Land. They see the modern state of Israel, as the equivalent of the biblical Israel.
Grace Halsell summarizes the message of the Christian Zionist in this way: "Every act taken by Israel is orchestrated by God, and should be condoned, supported, and even praised by the rest of us." "Never mind what Israel does," say the Christian Zionists, "God wants us to support them."
In reference to Zionism I want to play a short video clip for you. The view expressed by Ted Cruz is Zionism and a view that I believe most American Christians hold to. Please think analytically as we look at this clip.
Ted said, "Growing up in Sunday school I was taught from the Bible; those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. (how many of you have been taught this?) And from my perspective I want to be on the blessing side of things. That's in the Bible and I believe that."
Ted is referring to texts like.
Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3 ESV
Speaking of Israel Balaam says,
He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you." Numbers 24:9 ESV
Zionists interpret these verses literally and nationalistically believing that modern nations and individuals should support the State of Israel to receive God's favor.
Tucker asks Cruz, "Is the nation God referred to in Genesis the same as the country run by Benjamin Netanyahu right now?" Cruz responds, "Yes." This is wrong. The modern state of Israel has NO connection with the nation of Israel that God brought out of Egypt and entered into covenant with.
Those in modern Israel who call themselves Jews or those anywhere who call themselves Jews or Israelites are NOT. Those who call themselves Jews have no connection with the ancient Israelites who were Yahweh's chosen people. Most Christians today believe that religious Jews today are adherents of the Tanakh. But they are not. Modern Judaism, is rooted in the Talmud, and diverges sharply from Mosaic Judaism. The Talmud, codified in the 4th century AD, adapted Judaism to a post-temple world, prioritizing rabbinic tradition over Torah. Modern day Jews are converts to Talmudic Judaism and have no spiritual or ethnic connection with the people that Yahweh entered into covenant with at Sini. NONE of the so-called Jews today are following the Mosaic Law.
A very important ordinance in the Mosaic Law was the Sabbath. It was part of the Decalogue given to Israel.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 ESV
The importance of the Sabbath is seen in.
You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Exodus 31:14 ESV
So, are those in Israel or anywhere else who call themselves Jews keeping the Sabbath? They may do or not do things that they think are Sabbath keeping but notice what biblical Sabbath worship included.
"On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. Numbers 28:9-10 ESV
When is the last time an Israelite sacrificed an animal? There have been no sacrifices since AD 70 when Yahweh destroyed the Jewish Temple.
Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD. Exodus 23:17 ESV
According to biblical law, all Jewish men were required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year, specifically for the festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. These three festivals are known as the Pilgrim Feasts. Are all Jews today traveling to Jerusalem three times a year with their sacrifices?
There are NO religious Jews or Israelites today. There are no followers of the Mosaic Law today, hence there are no religious Jews today.
Once Christ began His ministry only those who believed in Him where the children of God. The Jews who rejected Yeshua as Messiah were no longer the people of God.
Yahweh promised to judge Israel for her sin. The prophets repeatedly delivered messages of impending judgment upon Israel due to their disobedience, idolatry, and other transgressions against God's covenant. Yeshua spoke of Israel's judgment.
In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. Matthew 21:18-19 ESV
I believe that the fig tree is used here as a figure for the nation Israel. Throughout Israel's history, God constantly hungered for His people to bring forth fruit. The gospel writers spoke of the physical hunger of Yeshua as symbolic of God's hunger for fruit from His people. Yeshua pronounces a curse on Israel, because of their failure to bear fruit and their ultimate rejection of Him. Many of Yeshua's parables referred to Israel's rejection, and thus their destruction.
Most Christians think that national Israel is still God's people, contrary to what the Scriptures say. Look at what Yeshua says to the chief priests and elders of Israel.
Yeshua said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. Matthew 21:42-43 ESV
The "you" here is Israel. The chosen people Israel lost their status and came under judgment. Yeshua had clearly prophesied that the Kingdom of God would be taken from the Jews and given to another nation who would bring forth fruit.
So, when did national Israel stop being God's people? Once Christ began His ministry only those who believed in Him where the children of God. Once Christ came bringing in the New Covenant everyone who put their faith in him became a child of God and heirs of the Abrahamic covenant. Notice what Peter told the Jews.
And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' Acts 3:23 ESV
Peter identifies the true Israel. It is those who follow Messiah. Here Peter says that those within national Israel who don't listen to Moses and believe in Yeshua shall be cut off from "the people". If you reject the Messiah, you will no longer be "the people."
Peter is saying that from here on, and he is saying this right after Pentecost, so from here on ONLY those who follow Yeshua are "the people." All those who reject Him are the enemies of God and will be judged. Here is a clear indication that the coming of Yeshua will result in a new Israel arising out of the old, from which all who reject Him will be cut off. This new Israel will be the nation to whom God will give what the old nation has forfeited (Matthew 21:43). A new nation will be formed with the Christ rejecters cast off.
From here on ONLY those who believe in Yeshua are "the people." "The people" is a technical designation of Israel. All those who reject Yeshua are the enemies of God and will be judged. This was also Paul's message.
So, there are no religious Jews today, no one keeps the Mosaic Covenant. No one can because there is no Temple, priesthood, sacrifices, or Feasts. All this ended in AD 70.
Not only are there no religious Jews there are no ethnic Jews today. Most Christians still consider the Jewish people as a race but there is no Jewish race today. After the destruction of Jerusalem, the nation of Israel, after the flesh, was scattered throughout the earth, and lost all tribal relations. This scattering was made immutable due to the fact that all tribal genealogical records were destroyed with the Temple in A.D. 70. The simple fact is that there is no existing Jewish race.
Consider the following quotation from The Encyclopedia Britannica (1973)
The Jews As A Race: The findings of physical anthropology show that, contrary to the popular view, there is no Jewish race. Anthropornetric measurements of Jewish groups in many parts of the world indicate that they differ greatly from one another with respect to all the important physical characteristics." (vol. 12, page 1054)
In a paper on Pubmed entitled Highlight: Out of Khazaria—Evidence for "Jewish Genome" Lacking, published on Jan 16, 2013. Eran Elhaik, a geneticist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, in a recently published study in Genome Biology Evolution, is calling for a rewrite of commonly held assumptions about Jewish ancestry. Instead of being primarily the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel, present-day Jewish populations are, finds Elhaik, primarily the children of a Turkish people who lived in what is now Russia, north of Georgia, east of Ukraine. This civilization, the Khazars, converted from tribal religions to Judaism between the 7th and 9th centuries.
For Shlomo Sand, history professor at Tel Aviv University and author of the controversial book, The Invention of the Jewish People, Elhaik's paper was a vindication of his long-held ideas.
"It's so obvious for me," says Sand. "Some people, historians and even scientists, turn a blind eye to the truth. Once to say Jews were a race was anti-Semitic, now to say they're not a race is anti-Semitic. It's crazy how history plays with us."
"There is no Jewish genome and certainly no Jewish gene," says the Israeli-born Elhaik. Instead, all humans are a mix of the same building blocks, built with slightly different architectures.
In an article entitled, Ashkenazic Jews' mysterious origins unravelled by scientists thanks to ancient DNA by Eran Elhaik on phys.org Erin states,
"For a more scientific take on the Jewish origin debate, recent DNA analysis of Ashkenazic Jews – a Jewish ethnic group – revealed that their maternal line is European. It has also been found that their DNA only has 3% ancient ancestry which links them with the Eastern Mediterranean (also known as the Middle East) – namely Israel, Lebanon, parts of Syria, and western Jordan. This is the part of the world Jewish people are said to have originally come from – according to the Old Testament. But 3% is a minuscule amount, and similar to what modern Europeans as a whole share with Neanderthals. So given that the genetic ancestry link is so low, Ashkenazic Jews most recent ancestors must be from elsewhere." https://phys.org/news/2018-09-ashkenazic-jews-mysterious-unravelled-scientists.html
So, if there is no religious Jews today and if there are no ethnic Jews today. Do we have a biblical obligation to support the modern state of Israel? NONE at all.
Cruz says, "Biblically we are commanded to support Israel." Carlson asks, "We're commanded to support the government of Israel?" Then he asks Cruz to define Israel.
This is what most believers fail to do. As we have seen there are no religious or ethnic Jews today. So, we have no obligation biblically to the modern state of Israel.
Tucker asks Cruz, "Is the nation God referred to in Genesis the same as the country run by Benjamin Netanyahu right now?" Cruz responds, "Yes." And so would most Christians today.
Please hear the words of James Perloff who writes,
"Until 50 years ago most Christians accepted events recorded in the book of Joshua as something special for that particular time. We believed that the coming of the Saviour brought a New Covenant under which we no longer resort to violence to advance the kingdom of God. But when the Zionist movement began in Palestine around 1920, some Christians started to disregard New Testament principles. We would say it's wrong for us to kill our neighbor and steal his property, but if Jewish people did it in Palestine, then it was O.K. First it was thousands, then tens of thousands, and eventually hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were driven from their homes. All of their property was stolen by the Zionists. Forty percent of the victims were professing Christians, many of whom were born again believers. Yet, to our everlasting shame, many Christians in America have stood on the sidelines and cheered for the murderers. It's all O.K., we say, because Zionism is a fulfillment of prophecy. It is hard to imagine how any Bible believer with reasonable intelligence could endorse such things, particularly when so many thousands of conscientious Jews the world over have objected strenuously to Zionist aggression in Palestine."
Modern unbelieving Jews have absolutely no theological, and therefore, no historical and legal right to the land of Palestine. There are no racial Jews today, and those who hold to the Jewish religion are anti Christ.
James Perloff in an article on Christiam Zionism writes,
False-Flag Terrorism and War for the Rest of the World. "Contrary to the Zionist media's spin, Israel has been the world's number one sponsor of terrorism, implemented "by way of deception"—the motto of Massad, Israel's intelligence service. This has included, for example the 1946 King David hotel bombing, the 1954 Lavon Affair, the vicious 1967 attack on the USS liberty, the 1986 Trojan deception that led Reagan to bomb Libya, and of course, the mother of them all, 911, covered with Zionist Israeli fingerprints. 9/11 led to the countless and unnecessary Middle East wars which were already foreknown in 2001. Those wars in turn produced a refugee crisis ravaging Europe today." (https://jamesperloff.com/tag/christian-zionism/)
Christian Zionism is blasphemy. Christians have no theological stake whatsoever in the modern State of Israel. Religious Israelites are anti-God because they are anti-Christ. Judaism is a cult, and unless they turn to Christ, they will perish. Look at what John wrote about the Christ rejecting Jews of his day.
"'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Revelation 2:9 ESV
Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9 ESV
Who would say they were Jews, but weren't? Physical Israel. Yeshua said that an unbelieving Jew was of the synagogue of Satan. Yeshua is quoting here from Isaiah 60:
The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 60:14 ESV
If we were an Old Covenant Jew, we would understand this prophecy of Isaiah as our Gentile enemies being subservient to us. But Yeshua uses this verse and applies it to the Church, that is true Israel, and it is Old Covenant Israel that is persecuting the Church. Yeshua said that the Old Covenant Jews were going to come and bow before the feet of the Church, the true Israel of God.
A true Jew, a true Israelite is one who has trusted in Yeshua and has been circumcised in heart. Those who are the Israelites of God's prophetic purpose are not those who are Jews ethnically or outwardly. But those who are the Israelites of God's prophetic purpose are those who are Jews spiritually and inwardly.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Yeshua the Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:14-16 ESV
Paul points out that whether you've been circumcised or not, none of it plays any significance in your salvation. We are saved only if we are in Christ. And we are in Christ only if we are a new creation. Who is a new creation?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Anyone who has trusted in Christ is part of the new creation.
"Israel of God" is a title for the Galatian believers. By giving this title to the Galatian Christians, he is able to summarize his major arguments that they are indeed the true children of Abraham (3:6-29), the children of the free woman, just as Isaac was (4:21-31). The false teachers were claiming that only those who followed the law belonged to Israel. Now Paul proclaims that all those who follow the gospel are "the true Israel of God". We, believers, are the Israel of God by faith in Yeshua Christ.
The church is not a temporary interruption in God's prophetic program for Israel. The church is the prophetic fulfillment of that program, because the church is Israel. Covenant, not race, has always been the defining mark of the true Israel of God.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Yeshua and put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:3 ESV
Philippians 3:3, in context, is teaching that fleshly accomplishments don't matter to God, race doesn't matter to God. The true circumcision, the true Jew, the true Israel of God are those who trust completely and only in Yeshua the Christ. The true believer worships by the Spirit of God, rejoices in Christ Yeshua, and has no confidence in the flesh.
Christians, only those who trust in Christ are now he people of God. The Bible clearly teaches that if you are in Christ, then you are a true spiritual Jew. In 1 Peter 1:1 and James 1:1, the designation "the dispersion" is used for the Church. It was a technical term for Israel.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
Who is Peter writing to? The Church, believers. All of these terms are taken right out of the Tanakh, they were technical designations for the covenant people, Israel. Peter is saying, "You believers are now the covenant people of God."
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 ESV
Who is the "us"? It is believers, all believers. That phrase comes from Exodus 19:6 and it is used when God, on Mount Sinai, constituted Israel as His theocratic community. The terms which God gave to Israel are now applied to us, that's why Paul says that we are the circumcision.
Are we redefining what constitutes a Jew? No, Paul did!
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:28-29 ESV
Being a true Jew has nothing to do with ethnic background, it has to do with being in a covenant relationship with God by faith, which comes from trusting in Christ.
If you are familiar with dispensational theology, you know that it teaches that God has two peoples, Israel and the church, with two separate destinies, one earthly and one heavenly. This is not what the Bible teaches. The church is not a separate and distinct entity from Israel but we are the Israel of God.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. Romans 11:17-20 ESV
We, Gentiles, were grafted in with them, Israel, and with them partake of the root of the olive tree. I would say that the root is Abraham and the promises Yahweh made to him. Paul taught that the Gentiles in the Church shared in the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant with Israel.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:11-12 ESV
What is "at that time" of verse 12? It is prior to Christ's first advent. They were without hope because they were aliens from Israel.
But now in Christ Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 ESV
What were they brought near to? They were brought near to the commonwealth of Israel and the covenants and promises.
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16 ESV
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19 ESV
Believing Gentiles have been admitted as citizens into the commonwealth of Israel. We partake in their promises and blessings.
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 ESV
What promises? Genesis 12:3. If you by faith belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed and an heir according to the promise. It doesn't matter who's blood you have in your veins, but who's faith you have in your heart. It is covenant, not race, that makes one a Jew.
A Christian is a person who trusts only and completely in Christ for their salvation. If they believe that they can somehow earn merit with God for salvation by anything they do, they are under the condemnation of God.
Those in Israel who call themselves Jews or those anywhere who call themselves Jews or Israelites have no connection with the ancient Israelites who were Yahweh's chosen people. Those who call themselves Israelites today are Christ rejecting God haters who John calls antichrist.
Who is the liar but he who denies that Yeshua is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22 ESV
Let me give you one final point on this idea that every time something happens in Israel it is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. All prophecy was fulfilled in AD70.
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Luke 21:20-22 ESV
Luke tells us here that ALL things which are written will be fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem. What does he mean by that? "All that is written," refers to prophecy. All prophecy was to be fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem. This makes the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 a very significant event for all Christians. Everything that was ever prophesied to happen was fulfilled in Jerusalem's fall. Daniel tells us this very same thing.
"Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Daniel 9:24 ESV
Daniel was told that 70 weeks had been determined on his people Israel and on their city, Jerusalem. By the end of this prophetic time period, God promised that six things would be accomplished. One of the things that Daniel was told would happen by the end of that period was that God would "seal both vision and prophecy." The Hebrew commentaries are in agreement that the meaning to "seal both vision and prophecy" is "the end and complete fulfillment of all prophecy."
Daniel's prophecy, then, tells of the time when all prophecy would cease to be given, and what had been given would be fulfilled. When would this be? Daniel's vision ends with the destruction of Jerusalem, which we know occurred in A.D. 70.
So, Luke is saying the same thing that Daniel said—at the time of Jerusalem's destruction, all prophecy would be fulfilled. What does that include? It would involve the prophecy of the Second Coming, the Resurrection, and the Judgment. The big three all took place in AD 70 and were signaled by the destruction of Jerusalem. Everything prophesied to Israel would be fulfilled at the time of Jerusalem's destruction. All eschatology is Israel's eschatology. The Church has no last days.
Zionism is a deadly doctrine that most of the church today holds. The only cure is biblical literacy. The truth will set us free.