Do you believe that the physical nation of Israel today has any significance in Bible prophecy ?

Question

Some Bible scholars feel that ... since the Jews have fulfilled their role in delivering a Messiah ..... and salvation has been opened to the Gentiles also .. that ... the current nation of Israel has no significance. They say the Jerusalum of the Bible is a spiritual nation ...... not one confined to the earthly land mass now known as Israel. What is your opinon ????

Answer 1

Are the natural Jews today God’s chosen people?

That is the belief of many Jews. Says the Encyclopaedia Judaica (Jerusalem, 1971, Vol. 5, col. 498): “CHOSEN PEOPLE, a common designation for the people of Israel, expressing the idea that the people of Israel stands in a special and unique relationship to the universal deity. This idea has been a central one throughout the history of Jewish thought.”—See Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Exodus 19:5.

Many in Christendom hold similar views. The “Religion” section of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution (January 22, 1983, p. 5-B) reported: “Contrary to the churches’ centuries-old teachings that God had ‘cast off his people Israel’ and replaced them with a ‘new Israel,’ he [Paul M. Van Buren, theologian at Temple University in Philadelphia] says churches now affirm that ‘the covenant between God and the Jewish people is eternal. This amazing reversal has been made by Protestants and Catholics, on both sides of the Atlantic.’” The New York Times (February 6, 1983, p. 42) added: “‘There is a fascination on the part of the evangelical right with Israel and a belief that everything Israel does must be supported, because God is on Israel’s side,’ said Timothy Smith, a professor of theology at Johns Hopkins University and a Wesleyan evangelical.” Some in Christendom expect the conversion and ultimate salvation of all natural Israel. Others take the view that there has always been an inseparable bond between God and Israel, so they reason that it is only the Gentiles who are to be reconciled through Christ.

Consider: Following the Babylonian exile, when Israel was restored to its land, the people were to restore true worship in their God-given land. One of the first projects undertaken was the rebuilding of Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem. However, since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E., the temple has never been rebuilt. Instead, in the former temple area stands an Islamic shrine. If the Jews, who say they are under the Mosaic Law, were today in Jerusalem as God’s chosen people, would not the temple devoted to his worship have been rebuilt?

Matt. 21:42, 43: “Jesus said to them [the chief priests and the older men of the Jews in Jerusalem]: ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures, “The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone. From Jehovah this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.’”

Matt. 23:37, 38: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her,—how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks together under her wings! But you people did not want it. Look! Your house is abandoned to you.”

Answer 2

Well the Torah scholars say (you know, the ones that came long before the Bible) that the Messiah hasn't come yet, and Israel is bringing the Jews closer to his arrival. No matter whether you think Israel and Jerusalem has no significance in prophesy today, history still happened there. The Kotel is still the most holy place in Judaism no matter if it's no longer significant or not, the Sepulcher is still very holy no matter if the land is significant or not. I think Israel, being a secular state, will not bring in Moshiach (unless it turns into a real Jewish state). However, I think that even if it doesn't bring in Moshiach, it is still something amazing that needs to be protected because finally Jews have a homeland, and they can't be kicked out massacred or murdered anymore by mad country rulers or mobs, and with so little of us left this is very important to us.

Peace

Answer 3

The bible (O.T.) is not a prophecy but the biblical history of the jewish people. The connection of Israel with the land of Israel (Palestine) is based on the Bible, specially on the israel periods in Palestine (Salomon' David' Herod) and the fact that the Israelis (Jews) created a culture in this land . Palestine (Eretz Israel) had 4 prosperities'
The period of Salomon, of Herod, of Ezra and Nehemia and the state of Israel. Those are facts

Answer 4

The conflict between Jews and Arabs began in Biblical cases. The conflict is between the 12 princes/rulers of Ishmael and 12 tribes of Israel. Arabs and the Israelis were struggling with because time immemorial over that tiny plot of land stated as Israel. Their conflict isn't one among flesh and blood, yet of religious issues. The Bible states that the perfect large conflict will pit Israel hostile to something of the middle East and its allies. I note that Revelation says God can help you Israel win the conflict hostile to it truly is enemies.

Answer 5

Both.

The physical nation will come into the forefront as history moves towards its' close.

The next great event will be the Christians going away. A lot of people will be very happy when this happens.
A lot of people see Christians as a blight on society.
Like I say, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Perhaps there is such a thing as spiritual animosity.
I think that if you have a belief, you should not push it on other people.
Religion has been one of the topics that has spawned great arguments. Even wars.

Answer 6

As much as anyone or anything else does, yes.

Answer 7

Prophecy has not been fulfilled yet