The false teaching regarding Israel in this modern day is probably a lot worse than any of us realize. That is why it is so important for those Christians who have had their eyes opened to this great deception to speak out. I will be quoting often from Stephen Sizer’s book, ‘Zion’s Christian Soldiers? The Bible, Israel and the Church’ in this article.
‘How often have you heard the Jewish people described as God’s ‘chosen people’? Probably so often that you have never even questioned it. It is so ingrained that to deny it is often seen as evidence of anti-Semitism. As is the assumption that God blesses and curses nations on the basis of how they treat Israel-which is sometimes used as a threat. This view goes back to Genesis 12:3. Jerry Falwell, for example, says God is blessing America because America has been kind to the Jew. He claims God ‘will bless those who bless the Jews and curse whoever curses the Jews’. That is why Christians United For Israel conducts ‘A Night To Honor Israel’ in as many cities as possible, so that God will continue to bless America and Canada.’
‘It may surprise you to discover that the New Testament never uses the term ‘chosen’ to describe the Jewish people. It is used only of those who follow Jesus. Does that mean God has two separate ‘chosen people’? Some like to think so. They are usually called ‘dispensationalists’, and this is a popular viewpoint among evangelicals in the United States.’ [Zion’s Christian Soldiers, by Stephen Sizer, page 40, by Inter Varsity Press, 2007]
The quotes above explain the situation regarding Israel so well and I know it to be true. I have listened to enough ‘Christian’ radio and television preachers as well as Pastors in the pulpit, and that is the message that you will hear. I have heard the term ‘Israel is God’s timepiece’ quoted by a Pastor, and he was simply quoting what ‘Sister Basilea Schlink,’ a nun in the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, (is it a cult?) had taught him. This type of teaching regarding Israel, is very mainstream in the modern day church and it has had an enormous influence on church people. Most people who sit in Churches will never question their Pastors because they believe that God has called them, anointed them, and they can do no wrong. They surely do not want to be considered a rebel within their own congregation. As a new Christian when I heard the teachings about Israel, and the prophecies about their return to the land, I too, never really searched deep enough, because I believed the ‘prophecy teachers’ surely knew a lot more about those things then I did. I knew all along that the Jewish people needed Jesus Christ just like the rest of us, but the teachings on the prophecies and other things, I left to the ‘experts’ and I thought that they knew what they were talking about. I did not really search out any opposing opinions until several years ago.
As I look back though, I can remember getting a ‘check’ in my Spirit many times, as I would listen to other Christians talk about the Jewish people, almost as if, they (the Jewish people) did not need to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ like everyone else. It was almost as if they (the Jewish people) were alright just the way they were. I can remember listening to a radio teacher early on Sunday mornings, and I would hear him quote the scriptures, including passages from the book of Romans regarding the grace of God, and I would say amen. Then one day I heard that same preacher say something about the apostle Paul as being the only apostle that had the ‘mystery’ revealed to him, and he contrasted Paul’s Gospel with the rest of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and I said huh? What on earth is this guy talking about? Little did I know at the time, but I was listening to a classic dispensationalist teacher, that is sometimes hard to discern because of the mixture with truth.
‘John Nelson Darby, one of the founders of the Brethren movement, along with Cyrus Scofield, through his Scofield Reference Bible, popularized the novel idea that God has two separate plans-one being fulfilled through the church, the other through Israel.’
‘Lewis Sperry Chafer, one of Scofield’s students, elaborates on this alleged dichotomy between Israel and the Church:
‘The dispensationalist, believes that throughout the ages God is pursuing two distinct purposes: one related to the earth with earthly people and earthly objectives involved which is Judaism; while the other is related to heaven with heavenly people and heavenly objectives which is Christianity . . . Israel is an eternal nation, heir to an eternal land, with an eternal kingdom, on which David rules from an eternal throne, so that in eternity . . . never the twain, Israel and church, shall meet.’ [Zion’s Christian Soldiers, by Stephen Sizer, page 41 by Inter Varsity Press, 2007]
I was truly not aware of the details of this type of teaching, and so I started to read more about what they taught, and I could not believe it. This teaching sounds like spiritual insanity to me. This truly shows us how the false teachers along with their demonic doctrines, are able to infiltrate the church. It is a mixture of error along with truth, and if a person is not seeking to discern truth from error, it is extremely easy to be deceived. If that person being deceived is a Pastor (and that often is the case), then he (or she) will simply teach their people (sometimes thousands) the very same demonic doctrines that he (or she) has learned and accepted.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12-13)
Stephen Sizer goes on to write in his book the following:
If you imagine the way railway lines run parallel but never meet, that is how many dispensationalists believe Israel and the church remain separate.
This leads John Hagee, for example, to a novel interpretation of Genesis 22, where God promises Abraham, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.’ (Genesis 22:17)
‘Stars are heavenly, not earthly. They represent the church, spiritual Israel. The ‘sand on the shore’ on the other hand is earthly and represents an earthly kingdom with a literal Jerusalem as the capital city. Both stars and sand exist at the same time, and neither ever replaces the other. Just so, the nation of Israel and spiritual Israel, the church, exist at the same time and do not replace each other.’
However, Hagee’s colourful interpretation doesn’t quite fit with the way Scripture interprets Scripture. Around 430 BC Nehemiah thanked God that the promise made to Abraham had already been fulfilled.
‘You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky’ (Nehemiah 9:23)
Notice Nehemiah likens the JEWS, not GENTILES, to the STARS in the sky. Maybe they are the sand not the stars . . .
‘Nevertheless, this view remains popular among many evangelicals and fundamentalists in the United States. It also lies behind best sellers such as Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth, as well as Tim LaHaye’s blockbuster Left Behind series.’ [Zion’s Christian Soldiers, by Stephen Sizer, page 42-43, by Inter Varsity Press, 2007]
There is absolutely no difference between the Jew and the Gentile (all nations) in the sight of Almighty God. In the passage below the apostle Peter made that ever so clear to the early church:
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the GENTILES by my mouth should hear the WORD of the GOSPEL, and BELIEVE. And GOD, which knoweth the HEARTS, bare them witness, giving them the HOLY GHOST, even as he did unto us; And put NO DIFFERENCE between US and THEM, purifying their hearts BY FAITH. Now therefore why tempt ye GOD, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be SAVED, even as THEY. (Acts 15:7-11)
A person is either with Christ or they are against Christ. A person is either in the Kingdom of God or they are not. A person is either SAVED and HEAVENBOUND or UNSAVED and HELLBOUND! The Bible passage above makes it very clear that a person has their heart purified by faith in Jesus Christ. If God, who knows the hearts, puts no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, then why would anybody want to follow the false teachers and false prophets who claim that God has two different plans, for two different peoples? The New Covenant (Testament) makes it so clear to us that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11)
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past GENTILES in the flesh, who are called UNCIRCUMCISION by that which is called the CIRCUMCISION in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without CHRIST, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of ISRAEL, and STRANGERS from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But NOW in CHRIST JESUS ye who sometimes were FAR OFF are made NIGH by the BLOOD OF CHRIST.(Ephesians 2:11-13)
The ‘commonwealth of Israel’ is made up only of those (Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ) who have been made near by the blood of Jesus Christ. Yes, there are indeed two groups of people in the sight of God, and those two groups are the SAVED and the UNSAVED. The Gospel call to salvation has been going forth for centuries now, and many have received Jesus Christ (John 1:11-12) but most continue to reject Jesus Christ and HIS Gospel, and you can find people from both of those groups in EVERY NATION in the entire world!