Many question whether the Israel of Today is of the same covenant of the Israel chosen by God back in biblical antiquity. The migration and integration of so many cultures within the Jewish community, perpetuates a dilution of the blood line over thousands of years begs the question. Though the advent of idolatry within the Jewish community may have diminished over the millennia, most don’t realize how much today's Jews have strayed from even barely resembling any past remnant of God's Chosen People of Israel.
"Anti-Semitism" (as the mainstream view goes) means a "hatred of Jews." Ever since the rise of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the phrase Anti-Semitism has been manipulated into a tool and a weapon.
Calling someone an Anti-Semite is like saying they hate all Semitic peoples. The majority of the people who live in the Middle East are considered Semitic people. This includes not only ethnic Jews, but countless ethnic groups of Arabs as well.
One argument is that Israel, as God's chosen people after the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, makes the New Covenant between Jesus and His Church seem like a secondary issue, as if Israel is more important than true followers of Christ.
The reality is, one is either a born-again member of the Body of Christ and part of the Church, or one is not. There can be no middle ground. Which to some, makes the argument that Israel can’t possibly be God's chosen people anymore.
Those who subscribe to this view site the book of Revelation as the context of this authority.
“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Revelation 2:8-9
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Revelation 3:7-9
Another argument is in regard to Israel's treatment of their neighbors, it’s suggested that the nation and government of Israel treats its Palestinian neighbors like cattle. They are said to run the Palestinian people off their land and take their homes so that Israelis can move into them. Israel’s detractors suggest that Israel's current treatment of the Palestinian people today is closely reminiscent to Nazi Germany's treatment of the Jews in the 40's. None of these assertions are valid, but they remain an accusation of Israel nonetheless.
So the argument that is put forth is how can a Christian still believe that God has still claimed the Nation of Israel as His "chosen people"?
The Old and New testaments shows that God's grace will surpass the disobedience of Israel, such that He will turn the nation back to himself. Israel's rejection is neither total nor continuing which was first prophesied in the Old Testament, so everything that happened in the days the Jews rejected Christ was necessary in order that the Gentiles have salvation, which Jesus ushered in during His prayer in John 17. All that we see in Israel today was prophetic of the heart of Israel that is manifested today. This is no different than the fact that God created the New Jerusalem depicted in Revelation 21 and placed this city in Heaven long before Jerusalem was even a place on the earth, or for that matter before man was even created and placed on the Earth. (Job 38:4-7, Matthew 25:34)
“And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: and the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” Deuteronomy 30:1-6
Also see.. Ezekiel 36:16-37:14, Amos 9:11-15
Part of the disobedience of Israel is what opened salvation to the Gentiles. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20-21
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” Romans 11:11
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” Romans 11:25-32
Paul says that unbelieving Israel retains it's elect status as a nation before God.
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:28-29
Israel are enemies for the sake of the Gentiles which is everyone who is NOT a Jew, this speaks to their disobedience that led to the salvation of the Gentiles, but concerning the election portion of the scripture, they are beloved for the sake of their fathers, which is the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable, meaning in spite of what you do, once called or given a gift, God does not take it back. This is important to remember. (Romans 11:29)
Paul tells us that unbelieving Jews—those who were his most serious opposition, are enemies concerning the gospel, but are still nevertheless 'elect' (chosen by God) and are to be beloved by scripturally informed Christians for the sake of the fathers.
Even in unbelief, intermarried or disobedient, Israel as a nation remains elect—chosen and called by God for His purposes in history. National election differs from individual election. This is the sole means by which any person, regardless of ethnicity is saved.
“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” Romans 11:7
With respect to anti-Semitism, the current meaning of the term does not relate strictly to its etymology: Which is..
- Hostility toward or prejudice against Jews or Judaism.
- Discrimination against Jews: hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.
This is akin to the use of the term 'Jew' to denote any descendant of Jacob and not just those descending from Judah. Remember Jacob adopted and blessed Josephs Children, who were in part Egyptian and not strictly Jews so they could be part of Jacobs inheritance. (Gen 40:5-22)
When the entire revelation of God is taken into account, the Scriptures clearly predict the eventual restoration of Israel — the scriptures also take into account those Jews who are not even born as of Pauls writings.
“(for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” Romans 9:11
The believing Jews of the Church age are joined with believing Gentiles as 'one'
“having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” Ephesians 2:15
The body of Christ where Jew and Gentile, male and female, are one in Christ with regard to salvation, without jettisoning ethnic or sexual distinctions.
“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.” Galatians 3:28
The Scriptural teaching of the continued election of unbelieving Israel in the plan of God, in no way divides the unity of the body of Christ which is only composed of believers, regardless of ethnicity. The body of Christ reflects individual election, which differs from the national election of Israel—a point that Paul is careful to distinguish in Romans 11:7, 28.
Regarding Israel’s treatment of her neighbors, history shows it to be much more humane on the whole, than the reverse. Ask yourself this question: which of Israel’s surrounding nations support any form of a democratic process where Jews in that country may vote or hold political office? Which of her surrounding neighbors applauds her right to exist as a nation? Which of her surrounding neighbors has Israel refused to recognize? Even so, Israel is far from perfect, being made up of fallen men like every other nation.
A study in the Old Testament concerning God’s treatment of those who opposed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob even during situations when these men behaved in ungodly ways speaks to how much God means what He says beyond our behavior with the forethought that only God has. (e.g., Gen. 12:11-20; 20:2-7).
The reliability of God’s promises don’t hinge on the character of the recipient: God continues to bless Abraham and his descendants who are the line of His promise, even in times when they manipulate, lie, and otherwise seemingly thwart what God seeks to accomplish through them.
As we grow in our own knowledge of the Scriptures and realize our own foibles, we will no doubt come to see this Scriptural reality as a great blessing, because you will eventually realize that His promises to us are no different—in the same way that you repeatedly fail Him, He still stands by what He has said and accomplishes His purposes in you (and me).
This is how we need to see today’s (mostly) unbelieving Israel in the plan of God. God’s grace will outlast Israel’s present disobedience in that He will eventually turn them to Himself, even to those that come out of the tribulation who become the 144k evangelist that bring so many to Christ.
“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Rom. 11:26-27
The majority in Israel continue to reject Jesus. Yet during this period in history, we as Christians are to love them on account of the Abrahamic covenant and the promises which flow from it—which is the basis of the New Covenant by which we ourselves are saved.
The same grace which extended toward us while we ourselves were enemies of God will also uphold Israel which is now largely in unbelief and an enemy of the gospel.
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10
Israel is Israel as far as God is concerned, despite our lack of vision and prejudice, they are Gods people because unlike us, Gods promises don’t have a shelf life. He doesn’t forget, He is not regarded by time, He is merciful, forgiving, and sees the future beyond its own time. God is not a man that He should lie, man can trust Gods word beyond our circumstances and physical deaths, instead of judging Israel or ourselves, man should thank God for the grace He has given man, because none of us even deserve that.
