(Part 1 of 3)
It is often argued that the futurist view of prophecy is a modern view, therefore it has less merit. This is partially true. Even though we can find 1st and 2nd century writings that agree with the futurist view point, it was not the focal point during the Reformation Period and did not regain popularity until the last 100 years. It is also pointed out that the great theologians in the Reformation Period in the church rarely address prophecy and this is assumed to be in agreement with the Preterist view which believes all prophecy has already been fulfilled. It is true that Reformation theologians did not write extensively on prophecy; however, if we look at the focus of the reformers we can see why prophecy had such a low priority. Why were they called reformers? The church was split because the reformers were looking at the church of the day and the church of scripture and the two did not agree. The focus of the Reformation was to straighten out doctrinal differences. Martin Luther was excommunicated because of his famous stance in 1517 when he nailed his 95 thesis on the church door Wittenburg. When he opposed these 95 errors he saw in the church, he created a firestorm. When debating the church leaders, he pointed at scripture and stated, “Here I stand, I can do no other”. Church traditions had replaced scriptural doctrine. When the two disagreed, the church of the day would not budge from tradition. In protest to these violations of scripture, the Protestant movement was born.
The focuses of the Reformers were on the doctrines of the church and the doctrines that applied to salvation and Christian living. Understanding prophecy took a back seat and rightfully so. If the church has confusion within its doctrine, all other issues, including prophecy, are meaningless. After the foundational doctrinal issues had been hashed out, we then see doctrines concerning prophecy beginning to reemerge. After the turn of the 20th century, modern technology and the First World War began to shed light on prophecy. The book of Revelation speaks of world conflicts, but until WWI this was unheard of.
We also should remember that Israel was no longer on the scene. Sixty years ago, when someone looked at prophecy and saw Israel mentioned, it never quite fit. Church leaders tried to fit the church into Israel’s roles. The problem with this is that many, many scriptures have to be explained away in order to rationalize this view. Whenever Israel is mentioned by name, many people claimed that it was symbolic of the church. Some teachers went out on a limb and actually claimed that Israel was Israel and not the church. Sixty years ago, this seemed to be an impossible idea. How could a nation destroyed and scattered 2,000 years ago revive and return to their homeland? How could a people who were hated by the world and had no political clout possibly gain the power to reclaim their land? It was a preposterous idea. Yet theologians like H. A. Ironside claimed that this would happen. Ironside looked at the scriptures and stated that the only way prophecy could be fulfilled is that Israel must return to their homeland. If the Bible is true, he claimed that Israel must become a nation again. He made these claims in the 1919 and published his lectures in 1930. Ironside was not alone in his belief that Israel would be restored. Here are other quotes:
"The postmillenarian assumption, that Israel is nationally cast away forever, that God has no national future for Israel restored, and that Israel is now the ’Church,’ is the one fundamental and false postulate that blinds so many to the true interpretation..."
Nathaniel West in 1889
"About the time of the fall of the Othman empire and of the Christian Antichrist, the Jews shall turn to the Lord, and be restored to their own land. Innumerable are the prophecies concerning the conversion and restoration of this people."
Thomas Newton in 1760
Till the Jew is brought back to his own land, and the temple and its sacrifices are restored, the prophetic part of the Apocalypse does not begin." Robert Govett in 1861
’By many, and even by the most recent commentator, Dusterdieck, these sealed ones are taken to represent Jewish believers; the chosen out of the actual children of Israel.’ Among these we may note Irenaeus, Bullinger, Grotius, Bossuet, Bengel, Eichorn, Heinrichs, Maitland, Zullig, Hoffman, B.W. Newton, Kelly, ’Matheetees,’ and others...What, then, is the implication, but that when this period is once reached, Jerusalem will have been largely repopulated by the children of its ancient inhabitants, its temple rebuilt, and its ancient worship restored Joseph Seiss 1865
"In Scripture the glory and resurrection of the Church of the firstborn ones is always connected with the time when Israel (who will have returned to their own land in unbelief) ’shall know the Lord.’" George Muller in 1875
"The 144,000 must be literal Israelites. From other Scriptures we learned their return to the Land...They arrive in unbelief (Ezek.37:7,8)...Israel means Israel, unless expressly stated otherwise." William Frederick Roadhouse in 1932
"The language therefore relating to Israel’s gathering we treat as literally as that relating to the scattering...Will the elect nation of Israel ever return to the land of the fathers? Many Christians say, No; many other Christians say, Yes....The scattering was of the national Israel; shall not the gathering be the national Israel also?"
John Wilkinson in 1889
“A future restoration awaits this people [the Jews], and will be to the world a glorious demonstration of the truth of prophecy...” Samuel Wakefield in 1869
As we can see, even though allegorizing Israel in prophecy was the common doctrine of the day, many preachers of the Word took scriptural literally because it was stated literally. Samuel Wakefield’s claim that the rebirth of Israel would be a glorious demonstration of the truth of prophecy was well stated. In 1948, those who believed God’s word were proven to be the true prophets. Even so, it is still commonly taught that God has cast Israel aside because of their rejection of Christ. They forget that both the Jews and the Gentiles worked jointly to crucify Jesus Christ. This was no coincidence. Jesus died at the hand of sinners – all sinners. No man is innocent because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. The same Cross of Christ that bought our redemption also pays the redemption of the Jews who receive it. Some will receive it now and be a part of the church; some will receive it when Jesus returns. In this section we will look at what the scriptures say about God’s plan for the Jews.
Has God Rejected Israel?
God never rejected Israel, they rejected God. Romans 11:1 answers this question specifically:
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
This entire chapter of Romans 11 deals with the question about Israel’s future. God called Israel to be a light to the Gentiles. Romans 11:29 tells us that the calling of God is irrevocable. Israel cannot revoke God’s mercy and His call to them as a nation. As we get into this portion of our prophecy study, let’s begin by examining the foundation laid by scripture concerning Israel’s separation from God’s plan. Look again at Romans 11:
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,
31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
The first point to note is found in verse 25. Israel has been blinded “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”. The Bible clearly states that Israel is not blinded forever, but until a specific point in time. In unmistakable terms, the Bible tells us the mystery of His plan for Israel. The reason is “that you should not be ignorant”. The Bible declares that all of Israel will be saved and their deliverer (Jesus Christ) will turn away their ungodliness. What ‘all of Israel’ means is yet to be fully revealed. We know that no one can be saved outside of repentance and receiving forgiveness through Jesus Christ. All the details as to how God will execute this promise have not been given. Based on other passages we will soon study, I believe this refers to those who are alive when He returns. This passage in Romans even explains why God blinded the nation. God committed them all to disobedience so He might have mercy on all. Why does God’s plan give all of Israel mercy? Romans 11 also states:
34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
We cannot know the mind of God, but we can know what He has revealed to us in His word. In other words, who can second guess God? We are not His counselors, He is ours. I had an atheist once say to me that God was wrong because He doesn’t do what makes sense to the atheist. Should we assume that God must be wrong because He does not do what we would do? Why shouldn’t we assume that we are wrong because we don’t act the way God does? The Bible says that God executes His purposes and no one can hinder Him and no one can say, “What are you doing?” (Daniel 4:35) God planned all things before the foundation of the world; therefore we can safely assume that His plan is perfect. We know by the testimony of scripture that God has not rejected Israel and has a plan for them. Now let’s look at what scripture has revealed about that plan. As we go through, it will become clear as to why so many teachers predicted Israel’s return and why others struggled to make sense of prophecy when they taught the Church was Israel.
Israel Scattered
God was not surprised when Israel rejected Him. The Bible predicted the rejection of Messiah and the scattering of His people. Look at Zechariah 13
6 "And one will say to him, ’What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ’Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’
7 " Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one- third shall be left in it:
9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ’This is My people’; And each one will say, ’The LORD is my God.’ "
This prophecy is partly fulfilled and partly yet to be fulfilled. When Jesus was taken captive in the garden, His disciples scattered and He was left to face the cross alone. When the Shepherd was stuck, the disciples ran away to fulfill this prophecy, but on an even larger scale, the “lost sheep of Israel” also scattered. When they rejected Jesus as Messiah, they also stuck the Shepherd that protected them. Once Israel was willingly outside of God’s protection, He allowed their enemies to come in and scatter them. When the Shepherd (who was Jesus) was crucified, the hand of God was turned against His people just as described in verse 7. Verse 6 refers to the remnant that God will return to His land. Before Israel rejected their Messiah, God said they would smite the Shepherd and He would cast them out of the land and scatter Israel, but not reject them. God said that He would take Israel through the refining fire and they would one day be called His people again. They will see the scars and will be told by Christ, “I was wounded in the house of my friends”. Then they will recognize Him and return to Him. In verse 9, the remnant will repent and say, “The LORD is my God”. Hosea 9 says:
17 My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations.
Israel will be wanders among the nations, but not absorbed into the nations. God promised to scatter Israel because of their unbelief and rejection of Him and He promised to extend grace and restore Israel in the end.
Israel Returned
Ezekiel gives the most vivid description of Israel’s restoration found in the Bible. In Ezekiel 37, God gives the prophet a vision of a valley of dry bones and then asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live”? Look now at Ezekiel:
4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ’O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
5 ’Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
6 "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD." ’ "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ’Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." ’ "
10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ’Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, ’Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
…
14 "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.’ "
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21 "Then say to them, ’Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
22 "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
This passage continues to describe the restoration of Israel. The Bible tells us that they will turn to the Lord, will keep his commands, God will be in their midst and will make an everlasting covenant of peace with them. This covenant has never come to pass because it is an everlasting covenant – it will never come to an end. The only way Israel can keep all of God’s commandments is to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah. If you follow the logic of Ezekiel, Israel is first assembled as dry bones. Afterward, they are given flesh but had no breath of life. Then God will breathe life into them and they will live again. The breath of life is the Holy Spirit of God. Israel may be in their land now, but they will not be alive until they are as the church of Jesus Christ is. Roman 6 puts it this way:
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is no legitimate argument to identify these prophecies as being anyone but the Jewish people. The church was never scattered and dead. If God said, “This is the whole house of Israel” and “I will bring you back into your land”, how can anyone say this is not as He has clearly stated? How can anyone who believes the truth of scripture say that God has rejected Israel forever? Half of the unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies have to remain unfulfilled or explained away if Israel has been rejected forever.
We have seen the bones assembled and the gathering of Israel to their home against all odds. The assembling of the bones and re-gathering from the winds of the earth was proven true in 1948 when they were recognized by the world as being a nation once again. Yet to be fulfilled is Ezekiel 37:
26 "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
27 "My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
28 "The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore." ’ "
We know that this is future because God promised that the peace He will bring will never end. There is a trial by fire between the rebirth of Israel and the day when Jesus Christ will make a true covenant of peace, make His tabernacle in their midst, and be acknowledged as the God of Israel.
