The Most Clarifying Truth

Proponets of the rapture theory make a sharp distinction between Israel and the Church, and believe that end-time Bible prophecy focuses exclusively on the nation of Israel, not the church.  They believe that all as-yet-unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel will be fulfilled literally in the last days in the renewed state of Israel.  In fact their theories of the rapture are admittedly predicated on this belief.

But due to its reliance on this belief, the Left Behind book series has itself left behind the most clarifying truth of all.  A truth that begins with a single word–conditional.

Well, from the very beginning that's the way God has related to man.  The "if...then" formula was established in the Garden of Eden story–"if you eat the forbidden fruit, then you will die; if you obey, then you will live.  Don't misunderstand, God's love for man was never conditional.  But then that's just the point–becauseGod's love for us is unconditional, His promises and warnings are always conditional.  The "if...then" formula is ingrained in Scripture.  It characterizes the entirety of God's relationship with man as well as every prophecy He ever gave about any nation, including Israel. Jeremiah 18:7-11

Now note the application.  God told Israel that if they would obey Him, then they would remain His chosen people, "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Exodus 19:3-6  The subsequent history of Israel's relationship with God, however, followed a very repetitive pattern–they disobeyed God, God grievingly gave them up to their enemies and they suffered, they repented of their sin, God delivered them from their enemies and prospered them, they disobeyed God, and so on, over and over again throughout their history, right up to their overthrow and captivity in Babylon in the sixth century B.C.. Nehemiah 9  It's a record of Israel's unfaithfulness contrasted with God's patience and mercy, and a classic demonstration of the "if...then" formula.

Enter the greatest prophecy of them all–Daniel 9:24-27.  God granted Israel 490 years to return to Jerusalem, rebuild their city and temple, and prepare for the coming of the Messiah.  When the Messiah came, He would "make reconciliation for iniquity" and "bring in everlasting righteousness."  In other words, the Messiah would make eternal salvation available to them.  God even specified the exact time of the Messiah's baptism and death, so they could recognize Him for sure when He came.  And sure enough, it all took place right on schedule, just as prophesied–Jesus was baptized in 27 A.D., exactly as the prophecy said.  Only when He came, His own nation of Israel rejected Him, even crucified Him.  Ironically, they crucified Him in the exact year it was prophesied He would die–31 A.D.!

The prophecy also foretold that Jerusalem would be destroyed and that God would rescind the Jewish nation's role as His chosen, missionary people. Daniel 9:26,27  This part of the prophecy might never have been fulfilled, due to the "if...then" formula that applies to every prophecy God makes concerning a nation. Jeremiah 18:7-11 If they had accepted Jesus and followed Him, then Jerusalem might never have been destroyed.  But they not only rejected Jesus outright and then crucified Him, but they also began killing the prophets Jesus subsequently sent to offer them forgiveness for having done the unthinkable. Acts 7:57;-8:1  By killing the prophets who were making a last appeal to them, Israel as much as said:  "So, God, what is it about our decision to be completely and forever disassociated from that Jesus of Nazareth that You don't understand?!" Finally, grievingly, God accepted their decision and turned to the Gentiles to carry His gospel of salvation to the world.  You can get further details of this story.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Luke 19:41-44  He agonized that they had spurned every divine overture and rejected every prophet God had sent to them, including Himself, God's own Son. Matthew 23:37; etc.  True to the divine "if...then" formula, Jesus announced to the Jews that their temple would thereafter be desolate of the divine presence. Matthew 23:38,39  Furthermore, He sorrowfully told them, "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it." Matthew 21:31-43

Thereafter national Israel no longer figures into Bible prophecy.  And this fact of Bible truth lays the ax to the pillar of the rapture theory.  God created a new "Israel" out of people from all races and cultures who put their faith in Jesus and His sacrifice for them. Galatians 6:14-16  The New Testament calls this spiritual Israel "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," the very same designation God used for national Israel in the Old Testament. 1 Peter 2:9; etc.  The true Jews in God's eyes are no longer people born through lineal descent from Abraham, but those who are of faith and belong to Christ. Galatians 3:26-29; etc.  If you are a loyal and obedient follower of Jesus, then in God's reckoning you are more Jewish and more a member of Israel  than if you could trace your geneology all the way back to Abraham.

Which is why the literal restoration of the political kingdom of modern Israel is just that, a political event, not a spiritual fulfilment of Bible prophecy.  Even if the Jewish temple were to be rebuilt, it would not be a spiritual fulfillment of Bible prophecy.  There are no more Bible prophecies concerning literal, national Israel yet to be fulfilled.  Because on the testimony of the New Testament writers, and of Jesus Himself, being a member of Israel is no longer a matter of geneological descent, but of spiritual faith and belonging to Jesus.

That doesn't mean that God has cast off individual Jews from the opportunity of salvation.  God loves Jews, even as He loves Arabs, American, Russians, and all other nationalities. Romans 11:1,2  "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever [including the Jews] believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Do you belong to Jesus?  If so, then you will inherit all the promises made to Abraham, even eternal salvation. Galatians 3:26-29  If not, would you like to belong to Jesus?

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