How should a true born again, Bible believing Christian, view the modern day State of Israel, and the Jewish people in general? What should our attitude be toward them? Do the Jewish people, especially those who reside over in modern day Israel deserve honor, or special treatment above the rest of society? Those are some of the questions that I will answer according to the scriptures in this article.
If you were to listen to John Hagee, and many other dispensational teachers, you would be led to believe that it is your absolute duty as a Christian to give your full fledged support to Israel, with no questions asked. John Hagee has been preaching his dispensational message regarding Israel for many years now, and he continues to idolize a people who continue to reject the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the very heart of the matter, and that is where his whole message falls to the ground. You will often hear John Hagee and others quoting scriptures, such as the following, to show you that it is your absolute duty to bless Israel. This is the mantra of those who preach the gospel of Israel!
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
If you were to take that scripture alone, on the surface it appears that we must support Israel with no questions asked. But the main thing, that we as Christians must realize, is that this scripture and many others have their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It was the pre-incarnate Christ (Messiah) who led the people of Israel all the way back then, and it is that same Lord Jesus Christ who watches over His people (Jewish and Gentile believers) today.
The scripture promise above was given to Abraham, because it was his seed (descendant) who would indeed be a blessing to the whole earth. That scripture that is so often quoted by John Hagee and others, but it is actually pointing to the very Jesus Christ, whom Israel refuses to honor and accept! Not only that, but the families of the Earth who are blessed, include both Jewish, and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ. The very fact that Israel still refuses to believe in Jesus Christ (for the most part), is proof positive that they are not included in this blessing! You will not hear John Hagee tell the Jewish people that in his “Night To Honor Israel” meetings though. The proof that Jesus Christ is the very “seed” described in Genesis 12:3 is found in the New Testament (Covenant) book of Galatians. That book (letter) was written by the Jewish apostle Paul, after he was converted to Jesus Christ.
And the scripture, foreseeing that GOD would JUSTIFY the HEATHEN through FAITH, preached before the GOSPEL unto ABRAHAM, saying, In THEE shall ALL NATIONS be blessed. So then they which be of FAITH are BLESSED with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:8-9)
Take a good look at the scripture above and you will find the word gospel written. The scripture tells us that God had foreseen, that the heathen people (Gentiles), which would include “pagan” wretches (like myself) would one day be justified by simple faith in Jesus Christ. The scripture tells us that ALL nations would be included in this blessing. That means that any person in this world of lost souls, could be saved and justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Every person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ over the past twenty centuries, is included in the “families of the Earth” that would be blessed through the “seed” (descendant) of Abraham.
Not only that, but the invitation to “all the families of the Earth” is still an open invitation. Do you qualify to become part of this blessing of God? Yes you most certainly do. What are the qualifications you may ask? I will tell you what the qualifications are for you to inherit the ultimate blessing of eternal life and heaven! You must recognize your own sinfulness before God, and take the advice of Jesus Christ, to repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15) What is eternal life, and how do you get it? This is what Jesus said:
And this is LIFE ETERNAL, that they might know thee the ONLY true God, and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is TRUE, and we are in him that is TRUE, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the TRUE God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
Where do we find this eternal life anyway? This is what the apostle John said:
And this is the record, that GOD hath given to us ETERNAL LIFE, and this LIFE is in his SON. (1 John 5:11)
The promise of blessing given to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) is all tied in to the person of Jesus Christ. If you do not want Jesus Christ then there will be no blessing to you. It does not matter a tad, whether you are Jewish or Gentile when it comes to the blessing and promise that was given to Abraham.
Now to Abraham and his SEED were the PROMISES made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy SEED, which is CHRIST. (Galatians 3:16)
There is absolutely no spiritual blessing for anybody outside of Jesus Christ. If a person wants to be included in the blessing which was given to Abraham, (Genesis 12:3) then they must put their total faith in Jesus Christ! The truth of the matter is simply this. Mankind has a heart problem, and that problem is called sin. The wages of our own sin is death! (Romans 6:23) You can choose to ignore this truth, but that is simply your choice. Billions have made that fatal choice over the past centuries. You would just be one of billions who have made a poor choice, that took them unto eternal destruction! (Mark 16:15-16)
But the scripture hath concluded ALL under sin, that the PROMISE by FAITH of JESUS CHRIST might be given to THEM that BELIEVE. (Galatians 3:22)
The scriptures make it clear that ALL are under sin, and in dire need of salvation. That is why we ALL need to put our faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Jesus Christ himself made it very clear WHO the BLESSED people were according to the scriptures.
“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And BLESSED is HE, WHOSOEVER shall NOT be OFFENDED in ME. ” (Matthew 11:2-6)
Do you see how this applies to the unbeliever? If a person is a Jewish man or woman who does not believe in Jesus Christ would they be blessed according to Jesus Christ himself? Absolutely not. Are they still headed for HEAVEN or are they are on the way to HELL like every other UNBELIEVER? Do the JEWISH people who continue to reject Jesus Christ have everlasting life? What do the scriptures say about this?
But when the JEWS saw the multitudes, they were filled with ENVY, and spake AGAINST those things which were spoken by PAUL, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the WORD OF GOD should FIRST have been spoken to YOU: but seeing YE put it FROM YOU, and judge yourselves UNWORTHY of EVERLASTING LIFE, lo, we turn to the GENTILES. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a LIGHT of the GENTILES, that thou shouldest be for SALVATION unto the ends of the earth. (Acts 13:45-47)
The Jewish apostle Paul said that the unbelieving Jewish people, had judged themselves UNWORTHY of everlasting life! Paul preached the Word of God to them, but they resisted him, just as they resisted Jesus, and just as their “fathers” resisted the prophets of earlier generations! That is the point that Paul went on to give the gospel to the Gentiles, even as the Old testament prophets had prophesied would happen! That is the very fulfillment of “all the families of the earth” being blessed through the promised “seed” of Abraham which is Jesus Christ! But wait, is there not a big difference between the Jewish people and the Gentiles in the sight of God? This is what the Jewish apostle Paul said about this:
There is neither JEW nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all ONE in CHRIST JESUS. And IF ye be CHRIST’S, THEN are ye ABRAHAM’S SEED, and HEIRS according to the PROMISE. (Galatians 3:28-29)
The Jewish apostle Paul made it so clear to us that there is no distinction between the Jew and Gentile, male and female, and anybody else for that matter. Salvation is free and it is available to all who want it. Some years ago pastor John Hagee in a “Night to Honor Israel” meeting boasted about how Israel gave us all of the prophets, and how they gave us Jesus, Mary and Joseph and how they gave us the apostle Paul.
But John Hagee failed to mention how that same Israel rejected and killed all their own prophets, and then they killed Jesus too! Not only that, but when Paul got saved they immediately wanted to kill him too! (Acts 9:1-23)
Israel killed their own prophets because they had no desire to take heed to the message which those same prophets proclaimed! Israel rejected Jesus Christ because they had no desire to take heed to the message that Christ (Messiah) brought to them! Israel sought to kill the apostle Paul because they had no desire to take heed to the message concerning Christ, that Paul preached to them! (Acts 9:1-23) When Jesus Christ preached His heart out to the Jewish people, they rejected Him, and wanted nothing to do with Him! Jesus was absolutely heartbroken over their rejection of Him, and the scriptures quote Him here:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that KILLEST the PROPHETS, and STONEST them which are SENT unto THEE, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and YE would not! (Matthew 23:37)
That my friends was a cry from the very heart of the Lord who had witnessed the murder of the prophets, over the centuries whom he had sent to them. He told them that he desired to gather them as a mother chicken gathers her own, but they were not willing to follow Him! The Lord even gave the Jewish leaders the parable of the vineyard, to illustrate the truth of how they killed their own prophets, and then He prophesied of how they would kill Him too! (Matthew 21:33-46) Not only that, but Jesus Christ rose from the dead, showing Himself to be the true Messiah, and Son of God, and He made it clear that the Jewish prophets testified about Him! (Luke 24:36-47) So do we honor Israel or do we honor the Son of God, Jesus Christ? What do the scriptures teach us?
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed ALL judgment unto the SON: That ALL men should HONOUR the SON, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth NOT the Son honoureth NOT the Father which hath SENT him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall NOT come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:22-24)
The scriptures make it clear that the Son should be honored just as God, the Father is honored. Not only that, but that same father has committed ALL judgment to the Son, Jesus Christ. That same Lord promised everlasting life to those who believe. The call of John Hagee and many others to bring honor to Israel, despite their rejection of Jesus Christ is totally ludicrous. It is a doctrine of devils that has ensnared millions of people over the recent years. You will not hear the preaching of the Gospel to the Jewish people, nor any warnings given to them regarding the state of their souls. You will sometimes hear the term “non-conversionary meetings” being used also. Where is that in the Bible? The Bible still teaches us all, that a person (Jewish or Gentile) is under the wrath of God if they do not believe in Jesus Christ. (John 3:36) The scriptures still make it clear that a person will be damned without Jesus Christ.(Mark 16:15-16) The scriptures still make it clear that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. (John 14:6, Acts 4:10-12) The Lord Jesus Christ came unto his own people but they did not receive Him! To this very day, the majority of Jewish people, including most in Israel, still reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour!
He came unto his OWN (Jewish), and his OWN (Jewish) received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:11-12)
What good is it to say that Israel has given us the prophets, Jesus and Paul if that same Israel rejects the Gospel message that was preached to them? The very purpose of the coming of Jesus Christ, including His very death and resurrection is mocked by giving honor to the people of Israel who still refuse Him! The dispensational message is a bogus message and it is idolatry in it’s purest form. Run for your very souls sake from that bogus gospel that seeks to make two distinct peoples of God, when there is only one in Jesus Christ alone.
