Israel – Old Testament

a member of the ancient Hebrew nation, especially in the period from the Exodus to the Babylonian Captivity ( c. 12th to 6th centuries BC).

The term ISRAEL is used in scripture to describe A MAN, A PEOPLE, A LAND (NATION).

A MAN:
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 35:10, 37:3,13 42:5 43:6,8,11 45:21 45:28 46:1,2,8,29,30 47:29,31 48:2,8,10,11,14,20,21,50:2

A PEOPLE:
Genesis 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.
Genesis 34:7, 35:21,22 36:1 47:27 49:2,7,16,24,28 50:25
Starting in Exodus 1:1 and through Deuteronomy 34:12 it was the people, the Children of Israel.

A NATION:
From Joshua to Malachi God dealt with Israel as a PEOPLE and A NATION as he gave them a land. As they kept God first He blessed them, when they went after other gods, He would discipline them, even remove them from the Land. As they returned to Him they would again be blessed.
Finally, at the birth of Christ the people of Israel were in their land, as a nation, however they were under the rule of Rome. Christ came and offered them their Kingdom, all they had to do was receive Him as their Messiah, their King. They not only rejected Him they had Him crucified.

Be sure to read the verses sited in context.

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Israel’s Warning

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While the Lord Jesus walked the earth during His three-year ministry, He taught His disciples and those who followed Him in Parables. Many times, He interpreted (explained) them, but the one about the fig tree was not explained.

Luke 13:6-9 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Christ in explaining to the Jews the coming kingdom of heaven on earth warned them of what was happening. Christ came to present himself as their Messiah one who was to be the ruler of Israel (all earth). As promised in Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
As well as in many other Old Testament Scriptures. What was about to happen to Israel was being fulfilled right before their eyes.  There are four key words in the parable: fig tree, fruit, three years, and this year.
The Fig tree was Israel. The fruit was supposed to be their acceptance of him as their Messiah. The three years were his ministry on earth where he presented them the opportunity to accept him as their Messiah. The request for this year was for one more year (after His resurrection).
He again warned them of the coming of the kingdom in Luke 21:29-31Matthew 24:32-33 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
This year was fulfilled during the first 8 chapters of Acts where Israel, through the Apostles preaching and teaching were presented many more opportunities to accept the risen Christ as their Messiah. When the stoning of Stephen took place (Acts 7) the year was up and the fig tree was cut down.
God closed the door to the Nation Israel and selected Saul (Paul) to go to the Gentiles with the message of salvation through faith. The door of salvation was opened to the Gentiles. The Jews were set aside, blinded (Romans 11:7-11,25). But one day, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, and the blindness will be lifted and God will again be dealing with His people, Israel.  

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Israel – New Testament

A member of the ancient Hebrew nation, especially in the period from the Exodus to the Babylonian Captivity (c. 12th to 6th centuries BC).

The gospels are full of God’s, through Christ, offer for the people of Israel to become the Nation of Israel with their own King.
Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
His detractors knew what he offered (and did not believe it).
Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
He came to restore the Kingdom and be their King.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:54,68, 2:25,32,34, 4:25,27, Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
His apostles believed it, Jewish leaders did not:
John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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Be sure to read the verses sited in context.

Hebrew

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a member of an ancient people living in what is now Israel and Palestine and, according to biblical tradition, descended from the patriarch Jacob, grandson of Abraham. After the Exodus ( c. 1300 BC) they established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and their scriptures and traditions form the basis of the Jewish religion.

First mention of a Hebrew is found in Genesis 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

All the other references in the Old Testament (14) refer to either men or women as Hebrews:  

GENESIS 39:14, 39:17, 41:12
EXODUS 1:15-16,19 2:7,11, 21:2
DEUTERONOMY 15:12
JEREMIAH 34:9,14    
JONAH 1:9

And in the New Testament, Hebrew refers to the language spoken or written:

LUKE 23:38
JOHN 5:2, 19:13,17,20
ACTS 21:40, 22:2, 26:14
REVELATION 9:11, 16:16

Only when Paul is testifying about his heritage is Hebrew referred to a people:
PHILIPPIANS 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

TO CONCLUDE, Abram was from a tribe know as Hebrews. Abram became Abraham, the father of Isaac, the father of Jacob who became Israel.

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Israel – Jerusalem – History

Historic events beginning with the Babylon Captivity

  BC
605        Fall of Jerusalem: Beginning of Babylon Captivity and times of the Gentiles
                                Jeremiah 25:9-11, Daniel 1:1
586        Destruction of Temple and Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezz
                                Jeremiah 52:11-13
535        Fall of Babylon: Beginning of second empire, Medo-Persia                               Daniel 2:39, 5:1-31, 7:5
535        Return of Jews to the Holy land
                                Ezra 1:1-2:70
515        Rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem
                                Ezra 3:1-13, 4:21-24, 5:1-6:18
445        Rebuilding of Jerusalem walls
                               Nehemiah 1:1-6:16
445-396 City of Jerusalem rebuilt
                              Daniel 9:25
331        Beginning of the third empire: Greece
                                Daniel 2:39, 7:6, 8:1-22
242        Beginning of the forth empire: Rome
                                Daniel 2:40, 7:7
  63        Rome conquers Jerusalem
 20        Romans begin rebuilding the temple
   6        Birth of Christ
                             Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:4-11
AD
  27        Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ
                              Psalm 16:19, 22:1-21, Isaiah 53:3-12,
Matthew 16:21, :22-23, 20:18-19, 27:33-50, 28:1-10
64        Jerusalem Temple completed
                               John 2:21
70        Jerusalem and Temple destroyed: worldwide scattering of the Jews
                              Deuteronomy 28:63-68, Matthew 24:1-2, Luke 21:20

1897       Zionist movement begins: Israel seeks home in ancient land
1945       Rise of Russia and Communism to Power
1946       Beginning of one world government: United Nations
1948       Israel established as a nation in the land
                     Third return … first phase of Israel’s restoration
1956       Israel extends territory
1967       Israel regains territory from Jordan river to Suez Canal, including Jerusalem
1973       Withdrawal of Israel from Suez
1974       Israel extends territory into Egypt and Syria

All dates best estimate 

ALSO SEE “What’s Next-3 Wars

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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 2

Then there’s Isaiah 53:4-6, “He endured the suffering that should have been ours.  Because of our sins he was wounded.  All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way.  But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.” Also, Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son (capitalized); this day have I begotten thee.”

And what are these passages talking about in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning: God with us)” and Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” if moshiach will not be virgin born, the Son of God, or a savior?  Notice the capitalization.  So what are these passages talking about if the moshiach has not yet come, will be a great man returning to restore Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.  It would seem the OT prophets were teaching blasphemy if moshiach will be a mere man because these passages are referring to Deity.  The worship of man is idolatry and blasphemy.

There are many Bible passages that refer to God as one.  Deut. 6:5, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one…Psalm 86:10, “…you alone are God.”  Isaiah 44:8, “Is there another God besides me?Malachi 2:10, “Did not one God create us?” Mk. 12:29, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deut. 6:5 verbatim)  Mk. 12:32, “You are right in saying God is one and there is no other but him.” (Jesus speaking)  Why would Jesus, who claimed to be God’s Son, say “you are right in saying God is one,” but look what he adds “and there is no other but him.”  These passages, however, are not meaning God is unitarian.  They’re talking about monotheism, the belief there is ONE God, only one true God, and not many gods, i.e., “and there is no other but him.” 

Now go back to Isaiah 53:4-6,He endured the suffering that should have been ours.  Because of our sins he was wounded.  All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way.  But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.”  If God is a unitarian God, one God, why wouldn’t that passage read, “But the Lord took the punishment all of us deserved.”  It’s saying the Lord made the punishment fall on him.  If moshiach is not coming as a Savior, this confuses me.

This also, in my opinion, validates there is only ONE way to heaven and that’s through Jesus because heaven is where we’ll fall down and worship God, the Three in One.  The Bible says our good deeds will earn us crowns that we’ll cast at Christ’s feet as gratitude for what He did for us at Calvary.  The Bible does say God is one, THE One, the ONLY God, but it also very clearly references the Trinity throughout Scripture.  God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent (3-in-1).  He’s past, present, and future (3-in1), and God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (3-in-1).  Maybe these examples might help.

⇛ continue reading Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 3
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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 3

God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit live in a great fortress, but because of the law and it’s condemnation of us, there is an enormous moat filled with the world’s sin which denies all of us access to God.  Jesus, God’s Son, is the drawbridge.  Jesus, who laid down His life for our sins, is laid down as the drawbridge allowing us to cross over the moat of sin and enter into the Holy of Holies and stand in God’s presence righteous and without blemish because of the blood of Jesus.  So Jesus PROVIDES believers access to God.

When you attend Booster Club meetings, are you representing Spencer as his mom, are you representing Scott as his wife, are you representing your Mom as her daughter, are you representing the neighborhood or community in some capacity?  If so, are you one person or many?  Obviously, you’re one person, but one person represented in different roles at different times in different places. 

The difference is that God, who is everywhere (omnipresent), knows everything (omniscient), and is all powerful (omnipotent) doesn’t make the Trinity seem too difficult to grasp.  It’s just difficult for our finite minds to understand all the things of God.  So God sent the Holy Spirit as the Great Comforter after Jesus left, but God’s Spirit is also talked about before Jesus’ birth.  God sent Jesus to die for sin and conquer death, but Jesus is talked about throughout the Bible before His birth.  God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are 3-in1, but serving in different roles at different times in different places. 

Here is something else I’d like you to think about.  Jews believe and have been taught that God is holy and righteous, so they write G-d out of reverence for Him and sometimes won’t even speak His name.  According to the Bible, God is holy and righteous, but He’s definitely not permissive.  So why would God’s penalty for sins be so much less than man’s earthly penalty?  If repentance, keeping the law, and doing good deeds can atone for sin, why are murderers, thieves, child molesters, and other criminals punished?  Why can’t a murderer go before a judge and say, “I’ve repented and will keep the law.  I’ll do good deeds, if you set me free.”  Would you feel that judge was just if the murderer had murdered your precious family and the judge set him/her free?

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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 4

The Bible stresses there is an incredible price to pay for sin, and nowhere does it say that keeping the law earns you a ticket into heaven, not only because it’s impossible for anyone to keep the law going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, but more importantly, to deny any of us the ability to claim that our works make us worthy of it.  David writes in Psalm 14:3, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”  This is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures.

Now look at Leviticus 24:11 and Matt. 12:31.  These verses deal with blaspheming God.  If God hates blasphemy and killed a child because of it, why wouldn’t God wipe Jesus right off the map for claiming to be “I AM”?  Even though Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, the Bible says he didn’t consider himself equal with God, nor did He demand royal treatment.  He was God’s humble servant and yet WAS and IS God.  Do you know how many bragging rights Jesus had?  Imagine if one of us were in such a role.    

We humans are all about consumerism and, from the beginning have been rebellious against God.  We love to customize everything to fit our needs, including God and the conditions upon which we’ll obey Him.  So, as an example, let’s use a smorgasbord of food.  We stroll through taking what we like and don’t like.  I’ll use myself as an example.  I tend to put healthy veggies on my plate because I know they’re good for me, but 99% of the time don’t eat them because I don’t like them.  It makes me “feel good” having them there even though, in the end, I don’t acknowledge them. 

So applying that spiritually, we want a double portion of God’s blessings, but we don’t want God’s discipline.  We want forgiveness of sins, but we don’t want Christ.  Maybe we put God on our plate (like my veggies) because it makes us “feel good,” but never acknowledge Him.  He’s a prop.  So we dictate to a holy and righteous God and give him our conditions.  “God, I like your salvation.  I’ll take that, but I’ll obey you when it works for me.  Don’t ask me to move out of my boyfriend’s house.  I know I’m living out of your will and it’s a sin, but I love Him too much.  It just feels too good.”  “God, I’ll do this, this, and this for you, if you do this, this, and this for me, but DON’T ask me to do THAT because I won’t.  Here’s where I draw the line.”  “God, I’ll obey your commandments because I want to look good in man’s eyes, and it makes me feel like a good person.”  We all need to be careful and not forget that at the end of the smorgasbord, there’s a price to pay for what we’ve taken, and none of us can afford to pay the tab.

There’s only one way to get past the cashier without paying because someone, who loves us very much, came through ahead of us and paid our tab, and was God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  God realized no one could afford the tab because we’re bankrupt, spiritually bankrupt, ruined by sin according to the law.  A person can only get through with JESUS CHRIST and JESUS CHRIST alone.  Nothing else will suffice, not Jesus PLUS something else, not good works, and not religion.  You could say that Jesus is our “Get out of Hell Free” card.  Jesus is God’s gift to everyone.  There’s nothing we can do to earn it, deserve it, and it can’t be bought, stolen, inherited, or shared.  It’s given freely to all, but it’s only good upon redemption by an individual placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and Savior.

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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 5

God told the Israelites to put an innocent lamb’s blood on their doorposts to avoid physical death when the angel of death passed over, and there will be a second “pass over” when Christ returns for His church and believers.  This time, God tells Jews and Gentiles alike to put an innocent lamb’s blood on their doorposts, the doorposts of their hearts to avoid spiritual death.  The innocent lamb’s blood is the blood of Jesus, the blameless Lamb of God.  When the angel of death passes over, if Jesus’ blood is missing, spiritual death will occur.  Those who’ve rejected Christ will suffer eternal punishment for their sins and eternal separation from God.  God chose Israel as his people, but throughout the Bible they rejected God despite all He did for them.  Even though they are God’s chosen nation, unless they accept Christ, just like Gentiles, they are not God’s children. 

God gave us all a free will.  We can reject His plan, we can reject His Son, and we can curse Him and have idols in place of Him, or we can get with God’s program.  He didn’t make us robots.  He allows each and every one of us to choose because He desires us to come freely.  In order to realize one’s need for salvation, the Bible says we must humble ourselves and come to God in childlike faith leaving our self-righteousness, education, religion, self-sufficiency, good works, self-worthiness, and anything else on our resume and check it at the door realizing we are spiritually bankrupt due to sin. 

Read the following Bible passage speaking about the Jews’ rejection of Jesus:  
2 Cor. 3:12-16, “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.  But their minds were blinded.  For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.  But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.  Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 

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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 6

Many Jews today continue to reject God’s plan, as mentioned in the above scripture passage, but whether Jew or Gentile, atheist, Buddhist, Mormon, Islam, or any other religion, faith in Christ often comes with a price as well, but one that we can afford even though it might be difficult.  We might lose a job, friends, a spouse, or family members because of our faith.  Suzanne, you might have a lot to lose by becoming a believer in Christ, but the benefits are for an eternity.  This earth is so temporary, but unfortunately, ignorance doesn’t trump accountability.  We all have to stand before God one day and won’t have opportunity to blame anyone else or pass the buck.  It amazes me that while on earth, we always want the best odds working for us, but when it comes to eternity, we’re willing to gamble with bad odds, take enormous risk and lose everything permanently.

From the perspective of an atheist, Buddhist, Jew, or any other religion, if Christianity is wrong, I really don’t have much to lose.  But if Christianity is true, those who reject Christ have EVERYTHING to lose and nothing to gain in the end.  I don’t know about you, but I want the best odds possible, and God made those odds to work in my favor even though I don’t deserve it. 

I leave you this last passage in closing:  “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, RATHER than according to Messiah.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.  And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah.  Having been buried with Him in baptism (of the Spirit), in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.  Having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

God, Creator of the universe, who hung the sun, moon, and stars and spoke the planets into place, desires our fellowship, not because He needs us, but because He loves us.  The same way we desire fellowship with our children and husbands because we love them.  In order to make that fellowship possible, God was required to hang something else, His precious Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross and shed His blood as the LAST and FINAL sin offering.  What a picture of God’s incredible love for us, the same love Abraham showed for God when he was willing to offer Isaac, his only son to God.

As you enjoy the warmth of God’s sun there in beautiful Arizona, I pray one day that you, too, will enjoy the warmth of God’s Son, Jesus, in your heart.  If you sincerely seek God through the reading of Scripture, God promises to reveal His truth through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  If through your searching, God doesn’t reveal anything new, you haven’t lost much other than time.  But, if through this, God does reveal truths, you have EVERYTHING TO GAIN.

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