THOU, ISRAEL, ART MY SERVANT, JACOB WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN
ISAIAH 41:8
ANY true Christian believers at this present time, are well aware that the second advent of Lord Jesus the Christ, “is near, even at the door” – (Matthew 24:33). The true contemporary identity of Israel according to Scripture, will be universally revealed in the same time frame. Throughout the World, some people are even now aware of the true identity. Paul says in Romans 11:25:
” Blindness IN PART is happened to Israel”
Meaning that not all are blind. At the same time, many others hold erroneous beliefs:
(A) The Jews – including the Israelis at present in Palestine are the Children of Israel.
(B) The Children of Israel have been abandoned by God because of their sins*
(C) The Church has taken over the mantle of Israel.
Let us consider what Scripture has to say about this.
Excluding the historical records, the Bible contains over one thousand informatory and prophetical references concerning Israel. These clearly confirm that such beliefs are incorrect.
(A) THE JEWS
The House of Judah, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, were at one time very numerous. The Bible does not give much detail on numbers, except numbers of men of war. According to I Chronicles 21:5. in BC circa 1000, David’s numbering of Judah was 470,000 men of war. The tribe of Benjamin was not then numbered, but was probably about half the size of Judah – see the proportion of numbers in 2 Chronicles 17:14-18. Say the total number of men of war in these two tribes was probably about 700,000 men. The total number of the two tribes including women, children and older people, using a multiplier of 4.5 would therefore have been about 3,000,000. According to 2 Chronicles 17:14 in circa 860 BC during Jehoshaphat’s reign over the House of Judah, the men of war numbered 1,160,000. Using the same multiplier, the total number of people was probably about 5,000,000. A considerable increase since 1000 BC. However in circa 780 BC during Amaziah’s reign over the House of Judah, we read in 2 Chronicles 25:5 that Amaziah found 300,000 “choice men of war”. The probable total number of people then would have been about 1,350,000 souls! A big reduction since Jehoshaphat’s times.
Secular, particularly archeological evidence, does indicate that emigration west and northwards was taking place over the years. It is even possible that it occurred before 1500 BC when Israel was in Egypt. Such emigration seems to be the only possible answer to the above reduction in numbers.
The Bible is silent on the total numbers of the House of Judah after this time. Between circa 605 BC and circa 585 BC Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon attacked the House of Judah. In three deportations he caused all the people to be carried away into exile in Babylon. These people were not only from Jerusalem but also from the cities of Judea listed in Nehemiah 7:6-38. The Babylonians left only “the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen” … 2 Kings 25:12. Finally in circa 580 BC Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah ruler over Jerusalem, but he was subsequently murdered by Ishmael and ten men. Fearing reprisals by the Chaldeans the people remaining fled to Egypt, see 2 Kings 25:25-26.
In Deuteronomy 28, Israel – the twelve tribes – had been warned by God, that banishment would happen to them if they ignored God and his precepts, which they subsequently did. So the House of Israel and the House of Judah were both conquered and taken into captivity and deported in circa 720 BC and circa 600 BC respectively. 2 Chronicles 36:21 records that the House of Judah’s banishment would be seventy years. The House of Israel consisting of the ten tribes has never, so far, returned to the promised land.
Cyrus, King of the Medes and Persians, who had conquered the Chaldeans after the House of Judah was taken in exile to Babylon, was inspired by God in circa 530 BC, to return Jews to Jerusalem, for rebuilding the Temple and the city walls previously destroyed by the Babylonians. Three returns are recorded in the Bible. The first in circa 530 BC under Zerubbabel, see Ezra 4. The second under Ezra in circa 450 BC, see Ezra 8. The third under Nehemiah in circa 445 BC, see Nehemiah 2. With Zerubbabel, 42,360 Jews and 7,337 servants returned to Jerusalem. An indefinite number, probably about 3,700 returned with Ezra. Under Nehemiah, no record is given of people with him except a guard of soldiers. All told therefore, something like 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem and neighbouring cities. The servants who returned with Zerubbabel may not have been Jews. A few Jews had escaped the former deportations and remained in Judea as detailed in 2 Kings 25:12 above.
At this juncture then, the majority of the House of Judah, had left their homeland. Previously when the House of Israel (the ten tribes) had been deported from their land, the Bible tells us that the Assyrians brought in other peoples to occupy the empty land, which had become known as Samaria. The Bible tells us who entered in and occupied the Israel homelands:
Ezekiel 35:10: “… thou (the Edomites) hast said these two nations (the Houses of Israel and of Judah) and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the Lord was there;”
Ezekiel 36:5 “… surely … have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea (Edom) which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.”
In Psalm 83 Asaph the Psalmist, speaking about the Edomites, Moab, the Hagarenes, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, the Philistines, the inhabitants of Tyre, Assyria, and the children of Lot, in verse 12 says, “let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession”.
Obadiah verse 13, concerning Edom says: “Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the days of their calamity; yea thou shouldest not have looked upon their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity”. [See also verse 14]
Revelation 3:9: “Behold I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie.”
Thus, when the 50,000 or so Jews came back from Babylon to Jerusalem and the neighbouring cities of Judea, they found these people there. They had moved in during the Jew’s exile. The same had happened in Samaria, but the House of Israel never returned. This then was the situation circa 400 BC – a small number of genuine members of the House of Judah – a remnant – remained in their own land: which was occupied largely by foreigners. Further immigration as well as emigration of both Jews and these Gentiles could have occurred in the following four hundred or so years up to the birth of our Lord in 4 BC.
The situation in Palestine in 4 BC is well documented in the Bible. The country was under Roman domination. The Jewish faith had been corrupted as Isaiah had prophesied of the House of Judah in chapter 29:13:
“Wherefore the Lord said, forasmuch as this people draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.”
The Herodeans and the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees under Roman control were ruling the Jews. Herod, an Edomite, was a puppet King. Jesus made it clear when speaking to the Jews that they were not partakers of salvation or part of the Children of Israel. In St John 10:26 he says:
“but ye believe not, because YE ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP…”
The Children of Israel are often referred to as ‘my sheep’ by God in the Bible. We can also be reasonably sure that at least some intermarriage between the various races in Palestine, had occurred, contrary to the Law of Moses. Nehemiah records such practices in Nehemiah 13:23, before 400 BC. In spite of this and other disobedient practices God had made sure that a remnant of faithful Judeans and Benjamites were maintained through the centuries. Paul and the Disciples (except Iscariot) were Benjamites, while Mary and Joseph were from the royal line in the tribe of Judah, to name but a few.
The reason for quoting the above brief history of the House of Judah, is to draw attention to their numbers in the one thousand or so years before Jesus was born. At the time of Jehoshaphat c. 860 BC. they probably numbered about five million. But at Ezra’s time on the return from exile, the number LIVING IN Judea of the House of Judah, was in the region of 50,000! What happened to the rest? Obviously, most of the House of Judah who were taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzer never returned to Judea. We have seen above that both Houses of Israel and Judah had gone into exile, save for a small remnant. James, in his Epistle 1:1 says:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the TWELVE TRIBES which are scattered abroad, greeting.”
Thus he confirms that all of the Children of Israel (save a tiny remnant) at this time, circa 60 AD, were abroad. Whether by deportation to exile or emigration matters not, as the prophets had said, they were scattered abroad. That there are faithful Judeans and Benjamites among the Jews today is not questioned. Jewish Christians are part of the world wide true Church.
The final confirmation that the larger part of the Jews are not Children of Israel, is given by our Lord:
In Matthew 15:24 Jesus, speaking unto a woman Samaritan says:
“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel.”
The Jews were there in Palestine, not at all lost. So he could not have been speaking about them. In Matthew 21:43. Jesus says to the Jews:
“Therefore I say unto you, the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given unto a nation bringing forth the fruits of it.”
The nation referred to by Jesus is Israel, the twelve tribes. Again in Matthew 10:6, Jesus speaking to the disciples tells them on their first missionary journey, not to go to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans:
“But go, rather, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
The whereabouts of the House of Israel obviously was known at that time. In St John 8:37, speaking to the Pharisees. Jesus says:
“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.”
In verse 39 he says:
“If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
Abraham’s seed were and are many, but the promises were for Jacob’s descendants. These quotations coming from Jesus, the Son of God, cannot be doubted or ignored. The Jews were rejecting him as he had long known they would. So he was about to set in motion the proceedure to ensure that the twelve tribes of Israel, at that time scattered throughout the world, would be taught the Gospel eventually, and then be active in “bringing forth the fruits of it”, that is, spreading the Gospel to all mankind.
(B) ISRAEL IS NOT ABANDONED
To believe that God has abandoned the Children of Israel because of their sins, is to doubt God’s word and his promises. Also to doubt his ability to perform such promises. Such belief surely is blasphemy. We have free choice, to believe the whole Bible or none of it. There is no half way choice. The Bible is a treatise on righteousness, honesty, truth, faith etc. It is just not logical to select some parts for belief and reject others. Our completely righteous God. by definition, set out his word – the Bible – in absolute truth from cover to cover. Jeremiah records God’s words in chapter 32-27:
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for me?”
To believe that God has abandoned the Children of Israel, is to confess ignorance concerning the Bible’s massive evidence that Israel will not cease to exist as a nation before God. At this beginning of the 21st Century they are still here on this earth, howbeit, under other names in accordance with God’s infallible word. As we saw above in spite of warnings, Israel disobeyed God’s precepts and was banished. Under the Palestinian Covenant God, through Moses, told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:1-10 that if they reformed and obeyed his precepts all would be well with them. In verse 3 he says:
“the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.”
In Isaiah 11:10-13 we are informed that the regathering of Israel is contemporary to the Second Advent of Jesus. Further proof, if it were needed that the present Israelis in Palestine, cannot be the Children of Israel. We still await the Second Advent! In 2 Samuel 7:16 God through Nathan the prophet sets out the Davidic Covenant. Speaking to David he says
“… thine house and thy kingdom (all Israel) shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever”.
Under this covenant any disobedience would lead to chastisement, but no idea of abandonment is stated:
“Thy kingdom shall be established for ever”
is absolutely crystal clear.
The reader may wish to consider the remaining royal thrones today, and draw his own conclusions. In Isaiah 49:3 God says:
“thou art my servant, 0 Israel, in whom I will be glorified”.
Again, in Isaiah 48:9-11 God says:
“For my names sake will! defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that! cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be polluted? I will not give my glory unto another.“
The embolden sections taken together give a clear statement of God’s will. Isaiah 59:20-21 relates the connection between Jesus the Christ and Israel:
“And a redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord: My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.”
Many more quotations are included in Scripture along the same lines, namely that Israel still exists and will continue, never to be forsaken by God. Jeremiah 30:11:
“For I (God) am with thee, (Israel) saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: But I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”
Jeremiah 31 :35 & 36:
“Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of Hosts is his name. If these ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.”
It is noted that the sun, moon, and stars are still here!
The Bible refers some fifty times to the REMNANT of Israel, the faithful minority down through the ages.
Jeremiah 23:3:
“I will gather the remnant of my flock (Israel) out of all countries whither I have driven them.”
Ezekiel 6:8:
“Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations…”
No hint of abandonment here. The same theme continues: Isaiah 1-9:
“Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.”
Malachi 3:6 reminds us that God does not change his mind:
“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
Hosea 3:5. records the reformation of Israel in the latter days:
“Afterward shall the Children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.”
Isaiah 62:2, states that Israel will eventually have a new name:
“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.”
Amos relates God’s watchful eye on Israel during the dispersion period in chapter 9:8-10:
“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the House of Jacob, saith the Lord. For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the House of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.”
Paul in Romans chapter 11:25 & 26 warns the Gentiles (Romans) and records the situation of Israel at that time in circa AD 60:
“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, (Jesus) and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”
Note the ‘in part’ which indicates that not all Israel were blind. The word ‘until’ introduces a time limit for this situation to continue.
No indication exists in the Bible that God has or will abandon Israel. The above quotations are but a small part, of the large amount of evidence to the contrary.
(C) THE CHURCH HAS NOT TAKEN OVER ISRAEL’S MANTLE
In view of the above in section B, the idea that the Church has taken on the mantle of Israel appears to be without foundation. Again, no Scriptural evidence exists confirming such an event. We have evidence concerning the duties of Israel and those of the Church. These will now be considered with other relevant information.
Israel:
For what purpose did God choose the nation Israel? Isaiah tells us in 41:8:
“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.”
God chose Israel for several purposes:
(1) To witness the unity of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear 0 Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord:”
Isaiah 43:10,11: “Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.”
(2) To illustrate the blessedness in serving the true God.
Deuteronomy 33:26-29 eloquently gives details such as help from God, support by the everlasting arms, thrusting out the enemy before thee, dwelling in safety living in a land of corn and wine, etc.
(3) To receive, present and transmit divine revelations. As is well known the Children of Israel received, retained and looked after the Scriptures.
(4) Most important of all, they were to be the way whereby the Messiah came into the world. Luke 2:11 records the nativity in the words of the Angel of the Lord at the time: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
(5) In Jeremiah 51:20. God, speaking to Israel says: “thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.”
We see then that Israel were the elect of God, for these duties.
The Church:
The word Church comes from the Greek word ecclesia meaning ‘an assembly of called out ones’. So the members of the true Church are also the elect of God, but are the elect by grace.
1. The true Church consists of all true believers in the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, both Israelites and all nations.
2. Jesus, in Matthew 16:18 speaking to the Apostle Peter says: “I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, (from the Greek ‘Petros’ — a little stone) and upon this rock I will build my Church; the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
3. In 1 Corinthians 12-27, Paul, talking about the Church says: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Again in Ephesians 1:22-23, speaking of Jesus, Paul says: “(God)… hath put all things under his feet, and gave him (Jesus) to be head over all things to the Church, which is his body… ” Ephesians 5-23 also says: “Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body”
So we see that the Church is Jesus’s body of believers and Christ himself is the head thereof.
The duties of the Church are well known. Primarily they are in missionary and pastoral work, to teach mankind concerning God’s word as set out in the Bible and of course especially to spread the good news of the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. These Christian Church duties were originally to be carried out by the Jews. However, as already stated the responsibility was taken from them and given unto the children of Israel. – see Matthew 21:43 and Matthew 10:6.
The case has been made out in Scripture that the Jews are largely Gentiles with a small remnant of faithful Israelites and that the children of Israel exist in the world today and have not been abandoned by God. Lastly the Church has an important current job of missionary work now and in the kingdom age to come. According to the Bible in Ezekiel 44-9 the Children of Israel who are of the true Church will be the main participants in the Kingdom of God. May this last statement be put another way; members of the true Church who are also descendants of the Children of Israel will be the main participants in the Kingdom of God. No doubt all members of the true Church in the other nations of the world will perform similar roles.
The true Church is now universal and domiciled in most countries of the world, including those of Israel. It cannot be overemphasized that it is as necessary for the children of Israel to undergo redemption as it is for the people of all other nations. Israel over recent centuries has been responsible for spreading knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. That same Gospel , the good news, was carried by the disciples to scattered Israel when Jesus sent them on their first missionary journey nigh on two thousand years ago. Many Israelites have become members of the true Church over countless centuries. It is surprising that most of them are still unaware of their true identity as descendants of the Children of Israel.
