Thursday, September 27, 2007

Since when, is the gospel anti-Semitic?

It goes against my grain to attempt to explain in essay form, that which should be expressed in nothing less than a treatise--line-upon-line, precept-upon-precept. But to borrow a phrase from the apostle Paul, "Necessity is laid upon me". It is becoming more and more difficult to have fellowship with other believers, or to take part in home groups or Bible studies without the subject of Israel or modern Jews and Judaism coming up. And the popular doctrine espoused by so many today is leading much of the Body of christ away from the Truth of Scripture--further into confusion. It has infiltrated sound Biblical teaching concerning the end-times, and it has robbed so many believers of their true identity in Christ.
I am referring to the popular teachings concerning the Israel of Bible prophecy, and the relationship between Christians and modern Jews. To some, there seems to be no question about this. They are unaware of any controversy. Others, however, will read just this far and claim to know exactly where I'm going... They will affix one or more of the popular labels to me and toss this publication aside, saying, "I've heard it before". My doctrinal stance will be labeled "secessionist", "replacement theology", or even "anti-Semitic"--none of which is true (especially the last one).
Let me say, before I go any further, that the number one reason this discussion is such a "necessity" as far as I am concerned, is because the love of God mandates the telling of the Truth of the gospel to every person. "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).
That's the deal. Regardless of one's natural or religious heritage, whether he is a Muslim cleric, a Buddhist monk, or a Jewish Rabbi; if he or she does not come to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ and receive Him alone, as Savior and Lord, he will not see life. His or her portion for eternity will be nothing but the unending wrath of God. That is nothing but plain, old-fashioned gospel; yet, an ever-increasing number of Christian churches and ministries have ceased proclaiming that message--especially to Jews.
"Proselytization" has become a bad word, these days, particularly when used in connection with the efforts on the part of Christians who are attempting to convert Jewish people to Christ. Those of us who still believe and express the Truth to the Jew, that without Christ, he or she is in sin and bound for hell just as any other sinner, are now being labeled as "anti-Semitic". In other words, to proclaim the same exact message to modern Jews, as Jesus and the apostles proclaimed to Jews of old, has somehow become wrong.
Well known pastors of large churches in America have gone so far as to amend their church constitution and By-laws to include a policy against the evangelism of Jewish people. They say the Jews 'have their own covenant' with God, passed down through Moses... And they claim that covenant is still in effect. Literally thousands of Christians in America are being taught by their pastors, to support political Israel, financially and otherwise, and to avoid any participation in the few evangelical missionary works which still focus on converting Jews to Christ. The result?.. While more and more Jews from poverty stricken Nations may be receiving funds from Christian ministries to 'make Aliyah' (move to Israel); many more are being cut off from the only Truth that offers them eternal life. This is not paving the way to the 'promised land'--for all too many lost souls, it is paving the way to hell.
I, for one, have had it. I have tried the 'sweet, silent' approach. I've tried to smile, listen for points to agree on, and 'agree to disagree' about the rest. But I just cannot be silent anymore about this. Jesus Christ came to Israel, in fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to redeem them from all iniquity--to restore Israel to a right relationship with God Almighty--and to make that same salvation available to 'whosoever will believe' in Him. He did not fail. He did not do anything halfway. He is surely coming again, but this time He is not coming to redeem, deliver, save, or rescue anyone from the wrath of God. He is coming to "strike the nations"--to "tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:15).
When Jesus bodily returns to this earth, ALL the saints will be with Him. From the beginning of time, those who were deemed righteous by the Lord--all those were in covenant with God Almighty--those who had died and were buried, along with those who were still alive on earth and were caught up (raptured) when God's resurrection trumpet sounded--the entire family of God--the 'whole house of Israel'--the 'general assembly and church of the firstborn'--Yes, ALL the saints will be with Him when He comes to execute wrath on ALL who dwell on the earth. And ALL who are still dwelling on the earth when He comes will violently and utterly perish (Revelation 19:17-20).
I know there are those who quote Zechariah's prophecy which says...
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplications; then they will look on Me whom they pierced, Yes, they will mourn for Him".
(Zechariah 12:10)
They try to apply it to Jesus' second coming, saying the Jews who have not received Christ up till that time, will see Him coming (look upon Him whom they pierced), mourn, repent, and be led safely into the Millenial Kingdom. Zechariah's prophecy however, will not be fulfilled when Jesus comes again... It has already been fulfilled. According to the ONLY New Testament scripture that specifically refers to that prophecy, it was fulfilled when Jesus actually hung on the cross... "For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, 'Not one of His bones shall be broken.' And again another Scripture says, 'They shall look on Him whom they pierced." (John 19:36,37). And it was while Jesus yet hung on the cross, that the "spirit of grace and supplications" also began to be poured out, and even those who pierced Him began to mourn and repent, saying "Surely this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39). It was this spirit of grace that opened the door to the conversion of thousands of Jews on the Day of Pentecost and shortly thereafter.
Jesus Himself also referred to another portion of Zechariah's prophecy, saying it would be fulfilled that very night, following His betrayal and arrest... "Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered..." (Matthew 26:31/Zechariah 13:7).
There are several other prophecies which people today are mistakenly applying to the end-times, in spite of the fact that the writers of the New Testament, who wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, quoted the same prophecies and specifically explained how they were fulfilled either in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, or in the establishment of the Christian church. Nowhere are these particular prophecies referred to, as 'yet to be fulfilled'. Among them are the prophecies concerning, 'the rebuilding of the Temple', the salvation of the 'whole house of Israel', the 'restoration of David's throne', the 'return to the promised land', and the 'fullness of the Gentiles'. All of these are related to God's promises to Abraham and his seed, and contrary to what many church leaders are teaching today, the early church leaders, Peter, James, John, and Paul taught that all of these promises were fulfilled in Christ, and the establishment of His Kingdom.

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