A Study of Pre-Millennialism #3
"The True Hope Of Israel"
INTRODUCTION:
The last study emphasized the theme of the O.T. as concentrating on the divine purpose to create a people "after our image, and after our likeness". Clarified by the teaching of the prophets (and the application of them as made by Christ and the writers of the N.T.). the achievement of this grand purpose is the theme of the New Testament. When preaching the gospel, Paul was never far away from the Old Testament To him, his work was a realization of that toward which the nation of Israel had (albeit in much ignorance) always looked:
Acts 26:6-7—"And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. FOR WHICH HOPE'S SAKE, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews."
Acts 28:16-23—"And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, Who, when they had examined me would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you; because that FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain—when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified THE KINGDOM OF GO0, PERSUADING THEM CONCERNING JESUS, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning until evening.
There is at least ONE consequence of the above references-one cannot logically look for a "hope of Israel" that Paul did not! Whatever might have been our idea BEFORE we became aware of this qualification of Paul's (and thus Christ's) message of the gospel, we are now limited in OUR view of the "hope of Israel" to that which is advanced by Paul. To some extent, we have already dealt with this topic as we saw the N.T. use of the description given God's people by Moses (and identified with spiritual Israel by Peter). The same ideas apply the earthly mission of Christ. He came to bring about the realization of the "hope of Israel", the same "hope" that Paul later preached. Just as the Jews misunderstood the mission of "Messiah" when Christ was yet alive, "savoring NOT the things of God", and "slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken", so it was with Paul. The Jews THEN mistakenly expected an earthly reign, preceded by a carnal subduing of the enemies of FLESHLY Israel. If Paul had been advancing this idea, would they have hounded him, imprisoned him, and eventually brought about his death? (In that case, despite the fact that they had mistakenly crucified Him, It is hard to believe that they would have been so adamant AGAINST the whole system of Christianity as taught by Paul, if he had been able to include them and their national aspirations within the scope of the gospel. As Paul himself said, "if I yet preached circumcision, THEN IS THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS CEASED.."-Gal 5:11)
More than this obvious point, the value of the ENTIRE body of N.T. truth-as expounded by Christ, Paul, Peter, and John on the subject of prophecy— is engaged. Over and over, especially in the case of Jesus and Paul, a prominent point of O.T. prophecy is applied to the present dispensation, shown to describe some aspect of the "church age", and thus is nullified as a support for the millennial speculation. And, the hard fact is, since these prophecies in so many cases refer to the SAME event (or series of events), when ONE is positively identified with the current order of things, then ALL others which are seen to refer to THAT event are taken out of consideration for any future time (unless there is a divine "this is that" to further apply them.)
The hope of Israel IN THE OLD TESTAMENT was centered around the promise God made to Abraham, first made in Gen 12:1-3'. Included in that promise, as further expanded in Gen. 13:15; 15:18; 17:7-8, was the "land" promised for Abraham's seed. In regard to this "land" promise, both Joshua (21:43-45), and Nehemiah (9:7,8), affirm that it had been completely fulfilled! A key point held by the pre-millennialists is that this was NOT fulfilled, and so it becomes an argument between uninspired Premillenialists of our day, and the inspired O.T. writers of Scripture. On that specific point, in Acts 7, Stephen refers to the 'TIME OF THE PROMISE", and said that it "drew nigh" -Acts 7:17. Back in Gen 15, God had said that BEFORE He could give the land to the Israelites, they must "sojourn in a strange land for 400 years," and the "iniquity of the Amorites must be made full.." Thus, both time and circumstance-regarding the giving of the land to Israel- is incorporated into the prophecy. IF THE TIME FAILED, then the prophecy failed! Yet, as we have already seen, their continuation in the land depended upon their national faithfulness to God, When they failed in this, any obligation God had to maintain them was discharged.. Still, though Judah—like the northern kingdom of Israel-fell, God did not completely destroy them, but promised that after 70 years in Babylonian captivity, He would raise up "Cyrus, king of Persia," to restore them to their own land. Looking back to Moses' assurances in Deut. 30, that should they be taken captive, and later repent, they would be restored to their land, Nehemiah, in Neh. 1, refers the fulfillment of that promise to the return of the Jews at that time.
The major point to be made is that these prophecies are said IN SCRIPTURE, TO REFER TO THAT TIME, AND THOSE EVENTS. If they did, then they do not refer to a FUTURE restoration. Don’t forget, at some time in the history of God's fleshly nation, they were to become SO depraved that they would be "broken like clay in the potter's hand, never to be made whole again." (Jer 19). When Christ's mission on earth was spurned by the Jews, the time for that final divine rejection came, and HIS picture of the future of fleshly Israel was much different than that portrayed by the Premillenialists In Matt 21:33-43, in the "parable of the "husbandmen", Christ clearly points toward the UTTER end of the Jewish nation. "Therefore shall the kingdom of God BE TAKEN FROM YOU, AND GIVEN TO A NATION BRINGING FORTH THE FRUITS THEREOF…" As he further pronounced in Mt 23:37-"therefore your house is left unto you desolate.."
1. THE "JEW" OF THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM:
a. Abraham's seed no longer with the fleshly Jew-THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK...if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.." Gal 3:26-29
b. God does not consider men as the children of Abraham's FLESH, but of his FAITH: Rom 4:13-16 “Abraham...the father of us all..."
Rom 9:7-8 “Neither because they are the seed or Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, THEY WHICH ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, these are not the children of God"
c. The new Israel is the church - Gal 6:13-16...(neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth ANYTHING)
d. Gentile Christians are God's Jews - Rom 228-29-"He is a Jew, who is one inwardly…"
e. Circumcision is of the HEART, not the FLESH-Col 2:11, 12
f. Conversion of the Jew negates his nationality - Col 3:10, 11
g. Jew and Gentile become ONE nation - Eph 2:12-16
h. Converted Jews have no desire to worship in earthly Jerusalem - Jno 4:20-24
i. All are united in "one body", and "one hope" - Eph 4:3-6
j. Fleshly Israel has no further place in God's plan - Phil 3:3—"we are the circumcision, which...rejoice in Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh…"
a. Allegory of the two sons in Gal. 4—
-Two covenants
-Two inheritances (son of bondwoman NOT inherit with son of free woman-so, the fleshly Jew NOT INHERIT with the spiritual Jew!) As Isaac and Ishmael could not inherit together, so cannot Spiritual Israel inherit with Fleshly Israel. If fleshly Israel is to be in the millennium, Spiritual Israel cannot be I
(NOTE: Much of the above material was developed from a study of Foy Wallace, Jr,
in "God's Prophetic Word"-Which I have used extensively in this whole study.)
2. FROM THE TYPE TO THE ANTI-TYPE:
a. In Interpreting TYPES":
-Can only be sure of a "type-anti-type" relation which is identified in NT., or is necessarily so in order to harmonize O.T. with itself, or with NT.
-Type, anti-type NOT identical. (David a type of Christ, but Christ no sinner!)
-type INFERIOR to the anti-type ("shadow" vs. "substance")
—Adam, a type of Christ, but inferior
—sin-offerings of O.T. inferior to sin offering of Jesus Christ
-type was temporary - POINTED TO the substance, was fulfilled in ft
—It then ceased to function, because it had accomplished its purpose
-These elements will be seen to be true in comparing O.T. types with NT. anti-types.
b. O.T. TYPES, N.T. ANTI-TYPES:
1. Seed of Abraham-Physical - Jews by race and national origin ("we have Abraham to our Father...") Spiritual - By obedience to Christ (spiritual) counted Abraham's spiritual seed. (Rom 228,29; Col 2:11-14; Phil 32-7)
2. Inheritance—
O.T.- earthly, land of Canaan —Heb 3:14-4:10 N.T. -Promise of ETERNAL, heavenly inheritance -1 Pet 1:3-9 (N.T. writers NEVER refer to any other!)
3. Circumcision -
Fleshly-Circumcision of the foreskin
Spiritual - Matt 3:9; Jno 3:1-5; Col 2:11-17; Phil 3:3
4. True Israel —
Fleshly - cut off for unbelief -
Rom 9:6,7;
1120-23
Spiritual - Christians, the church — Gal 6:14-16
("commonwealth of Israel" - the church - Eph 2:11-16)
5. Israel — God's son
Fleshly-Deut 32:18 Christ-Hos11:1; Mt 2:15
6. Elijah
Fleshly
Spiritual (John the Baptist) -Mal 4:5, 6; Mt 11:13-14; 17:10-13
7. David, a type of Christ Ezek 3724-28
Note: inconsistent to make "David" spiritual (refer to Christ), and make "Israel" (subjects) and "throne" in Jerusalem LITERAL…
8. David's throne over fleshly Israel a TYPE of Christ on His throne reigning over SPIRITUAL Israel (Acts 2:30-36)
9. Jerusalem
Fleshly - Jno 4:20-24; Mt 23:17-42 Heavenly- Heb 12:22; 13:1-14
10. Mt Zion-
Fleshly - NOT further considered
Spiritual-Ps.2:1-6; 110:1-*; Heb 12:22-24; Jno 4:23; Heb 13:10-14
11. Temple
Spiritual -Body is the temple -1 Cor 6:19-20; 2 Cor 6:16 Church is the temple Eph 2:19-21
12. High priest
Fleshly-Heb 5:1-4; 8:1-4 Spiritual (Christ) - Heb 7:1-28
13. Sacrifices-Heb 10:1-21; 927-29
-which we offer -Rom 12:1,2; 1 Pet 2:4,5,9
-Heb 3:14-4:11; 11:10; 1 Pet 3:1-9
EVERY CASE, ANTI-TYPE GREATER, MORE DESIRABLE! Must we go back to earthly Canaan? (Note: This has been adapted from material by J.D. Bales)
QUESTIONS: Lesson 3
How did the THEME of the OT. differ from that of the new?
For what’s sake was Paul accused of the Jews?
Why was Paul "bound with this chain?"
Then, what "hope of Israel" must we look for?
How could Paul have caused "the offence of the cross" to cease?
When you have a number of prophecies that refer to the same event, and you can prove FOR CERTAIN that one such accrued at a certain time and place, what does that prove about the other such prophecies?
What two things did God tell Abraham must take place before his seed inherited Canaan?
When did Stephen say, “the time of the promise drew nigh?"
God identified the time of the promise", and said it was near. What must we conclude if it did NOT then come to?
What did Christ say would happen to the Jewish nation?
Who does God identify as "children of Abraham “?
What about the Spiritual Jew's desire to worship in Jerusalem?
Whom did Paul identify as "the circumcision?"
Compared with the NT. "anti-type", what three things are true?
Rather than look to Canaan as our "rest", to what do we look?
How does the OT. temple In Jerusalem differ from the NT. temple?
What does the allegory of Hagar and Sarah (Gal 4) tell us about the destiny of fleshly Jerusalem?
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