UNCONDITIONAL KINGDOM PROMISES TO ISRAEL:
Assembled by Russell E Kelly 10-2-15
Prophecy is both conditional and unconditional. It is conditional when in the context of “if” statements which only delay ultimate fulfillment. However prophecy must be interpreted both literally and unconditionally when it is predominantly found in non-apocalyptic books such as Daniel and Revelation. Even Daniel and Revelation must be interpreted literally and unconditionally after the obvious symbolism has been considered. The presence of conditions within unconditional prophecy should never be used to conclude that God never intended to keep His promises.
The following text demonstrate the confusion found in most churches today concerning God’s literal unconditional promises made to the nation Israel – mostly in the Old Covenant. Without exception, every major modern denomination came into existence before 1948. Israel had ceased to be a nation after its defeat by the Roman Empire in A.D. 70 and A. D. 135. It was natural and common to “spiritually” re-interpret the literal unconditional prophecies concerning national Israel as references to the Church, which now called itself “spiritual Israel.” Again, this was done by every major denomination: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist and Church of Christ.
With the Ottoman Turks firmly in control of Palestine and repulsing Christians, In 1827 James Nelson Darby built upon the writings of many predecessors and established Dispensationalism which distinguished between God’s unconditional promises to literal Israel and His promises to the Church. Darby did not originate the idea of a re-established literal Israel. See Zionism timeline: Joseph Nasi (1561), Thomas Brightman (1615), Sir Henry Finch (1621), the Cartwrights (1649), Judah he-Hasid (1700), Joseph Eyre (1771), M. Mendel (1777), Richard Brothers (1794), Foundation of the Palestine Association (1805), Vilna Gaon (1808) and Lord Byron (1815).
1948 changed a lot of theology for those who follow the newspaper for the fulfillment of prophecy. Israel was once more a nation since A. D. 135 (over 1800 years). While Israel again had its own land, the Jews had returned in unbelief as Ezekiel 36:20-28 predicted. At least the stage is now set for end-time events concerning literal Israel.
The following texts include both literal unconditional texts for national Israel and also texts used by Replacement Theology to argue that the Church is now “spiritual Israel.”
GEN 12:2 [THE LITERAL NATION ISRAEL] I will make of thee a great nation.
GEN 13:15 [THE LITERAL LAND OF ISRAEL] all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.
GEN 15:18 [THE LITERAL LAND OF ISRAEL] given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
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2 SAMUEL 7:16 [THE LITERAL HOUSE AND KNGDOM OF DAVID] And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
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AMOS 9:8 Israel would be destroyed from “the face of the earth”
AMOS 9:9 a few would be sifted among all nations
AMOS 9:10 Israelites who do not believe this prophecy will be killed.
AMOS: 9:11 The “tabernacle of David” will be raised and rebuilt “as in the days of old.”
AMOS 9:12 Israel shall rule all nations. Acts 15:15-17 uses the wording from Amos merely to prove that God’s plan included the salvation of Gentiles.
AMOS 9:13 The land shall be incredibly fertile.
AMOS 9:14 Israel will return and rebuild the cities.
AMOS 9:15 Israel will “no more be pulled up out of its land”
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ISAIAH 1:26 [JERUSALEM] will “again be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”
ISA 2:2 [JERUSALEM TEMPLE] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
ISA 2:3 [GENTILES WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
ISA 11:1 JESUS will rule; “a rod out of the stem of Jesse, Branch
ISA 11:4 JESUS will judge
ISA 11:6 ANIMALS will be tame and live together on earth
ISA 24:23 the LORD will rule from Jerusalem, Zion
ISA 49:16 God will not forget Israel; it is graven on His palms
ISA 51:2-3 the wilderness of Israel on earth will be like Eden
ISA 54:3 Israel’s seed will inherit the land of the Gentiles; this compares to Amos 9:11-15.
ISA 60-66 MESSIANIC REIGN ON EARTH
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MICAH 4:1 In the last days God will establish his throne in Jerusalem and other nations will come to it.
MIC 4:2 JERUSALEM is the focus of worship in the last days.
MIC 4:3 JUDGMENT from Jerusalem; no war on earth.
MIC 4:7 YAHWEH will rule from Jerusalem forever.
MIC 5:3-4 MESSIAH from Bethlehem will “give up” Zion until a time of his choosing.
MIC 5:5-7 When last-day Assyria invades Israel, 7 shepherds will defend it and conquer Assyria and Iraq.
MIC 5:8-9 Scattered Israelites among the Gentiles will devastate them.
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JOEL 3:1-14 After the scattered of Israel returns, God will gather all nations.
JOEL 3:17 Know that God dwells in Zion, Jerusalem.
JOEL 3:18 Wine, milk; fountains out of the Temple.
JOEL 3:19 Egypt and Edom shall be desolate.
JOEL 3:20 ‘But Judah shall dwell forever and Jerusalem from generation to generation.”
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JEREMIAH 14: 7, 21 Do not forsake us “for thy name’s sake; remember your covenant with us.”
JER 23:3 God will gather the remnant.
Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
JER 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
JER 24:7 Israel is called God’s people.
JER 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.”
JER 30:7 “the time of Jacob’s trouble”
JER 30:9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
JER 30:11 God will never “make a full end” of Israel.
JER 31:31-34 is quoted in Hebrews 8:8-13 as the New Covenant.
JER 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. (also Hebrews 8:8)
JER 31:35-36 God’s covenant with the houses of Israel and Judah is as sure as the existence of the sun, moon and stars.
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EZEKIEL 11:17-20 A remnant will return to Israel.
EZE 16:60-62 God will remember His covenant with Israel and will again establish them.
EZE 20:44 God deals with Israel “for my name’s sale” (because of His unconditional promises) and not because of its actions.
EZE 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
EZE 36:23-24 Gather “into your own land.”
EZE 36:25-26 Cleanse Israel and give them a new heart.
EZE 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
EZE 37:24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
EZE 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever.
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DANIEL 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
DAN 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
DAN 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
DAN 9:17 [Daniel’s prayer for restoration of the Temple.]
DAN 9:19 [Daniel’s prayer for people of Jerusalem.]
DAN 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [Compare 8:11-14.]
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ZECH 9:9 literal Zion, Jerusalem, King on the foal of an ass.
ZECH 10:6-12 Judah and Ephraim to be restored.
ZECH 12:1-2 Jerusalem to be under siege.
ZECH 12:6-9 God will destroy all nations which come against Judah.
ZECH 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
ZECH 13:1 [Israel will accept Jesus of David as Messiah.]
ZECH 13:2 God will cause prophets and unclean spirits to leave.
[ZECH 13:7 Messiah and His followers will be treated as false prophets. 13:9 persecution purifies.]
ZECH 14:2 All nations invade Israel and carry half into captivity.
ZECH 14:3 YAHWEH will intervene for Israel.
ZECH 14:4 YAHWEH will stand upon the Mount of Olives and split it.
ZECH 14:5 The inhabitants of Jerusalem will flee to the mountains.
ZECH 14:8 Living waters will flow from Jerusalem.
ZECH 14:9 YAHWEH will be king of all the earth.
ZECH 14:10 The land will become a plain.
ZECH 14:12-13 The invaders will die.
ZECH 14:16 The remnant of the Gentiles will worship in Jerusalem.
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MATT 19:28 (Luke 22:30) 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.
ACTS 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
ACTS 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
ACTS 26:6-7 [Paul had been accused of being against the promised God had made to Israel’s fathers. He denied it.]
ROM 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [There are believing Jews and believing Greeks.]
ROM 4:16 [Abraham is the father of all; believers are called the children of Abraham by faith; believers are not called Israel; only believing Jews (Israelites) are called Israel.]
ROM 9:1-5 [When Paul uses the word “Israel” he refers to his kinsmen by flesh – not to Gentile believers.]
ROM 9:6-9 [Israelites by flesh are not automatically Israelites in God’s sight. Although both were seeds by flesh, Isaac was the seed of promise, not Ishmael.]
ROM 9:10-13 Although both were seeds by flesh, Jacob was the seed of promise, not Esau.]
ROM 9:14 [The discussion changes here from Abraham’s literal fleshly seed of Genesis 12:3 to his seed of the Gentiles of Genesis 12:3.]
ROM 9:15-23 [If God wants to extend mercy to the Gentile, He can do as He pleases.]
ROM 9:24-33 [Paul does not equate Gentile believers with Israel.]
ROM 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
[Paul was part of God’s “people” because he was a believing Israelite.]
ROM 11:13 [Paul begins speaking to Gentiles.]
ROM 11:13-24 [God’s original plan was for Israel to accept its Messiah and convert the Gentiles. The plan has been reversed.]
ROM 11:26 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.
[Instead of the nation converting Gentiles, the Gentiles will accept Israel’s Redeemer and lead Israel (Jacob) to its Messiah. Is so doing “all (believing) Israelites will be saved.]
ROM 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
[God cannot and will not forget his calling of Israel.]
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GAL 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
[All believers are children of Abraham; Hebrew believers are also true Israel.]
GAL 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
[When the promises were made to Abraham, Israel did not exist.]
GAL 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[Note: We are “children of God” – not Israelites. The promises go back to Abraham before Israel existed.]
GAL 3:28 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.
[Spiritual speaking and as the Church, the Body of Christ, is concerned, we are all equal. That does not mean that the physical difference between Jew and Greek, slave and free and male and female ceased to exist in the first century. This does not annul the scores of unconditional promises God made to the obedient seed of Abraham to national Israel.]
GAL 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
[Notice, believers are called “Abraham’s seed” – not spiritual Israel.]
GAL 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
[As far as salvation is concerned, fleshly circumcision means nothing. Ishmael and Esau were most likely circumcised.
GAL 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
[The Israel of God is Christian Jews, not the church. If this term applied to the Church, it would be the only text in the Bible to do so. Compare Romans 2:28-29; 4:16; 9:1-5; 11:26; Gal 3:7, 26, 29.
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EPH 2:12-20 “Gentiles in the flesh” (2:11) , “aliens from Israel” (2:12) “are made near,” not by making Gentiles Israelites but by “the blood of Christ” (2:13) by “breaking down” (2:14) “the law of commandments “ which distinguished Israel from others (2:15) by making both “one” in the body of Christ, the Church (2:15-22).
2 THES 2:3-4 [These texts say that future antichrist will sit in the temple of God. The church assembly is never called a temple, only individuals. Surely a literal interpretation is best. God will not allow Satan to sit within believers.]
HEB 8:7-13 [This post-Calvary repetition of Jeremiah 31:31-34 says that the New Covenant is primary for the House of Israel and the HOUSE of Judah.]
JAMES 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
[This does not prove that the church is Israel. It shows that James, like Peter, and unlike Paul, felt inadequate to minister to Gentiles. His compromise in Acts 15 to require Jewish Christians to keep the whole law was wrong.]
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1 PET 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
1 PET 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
[Although Peter calls believers a “spiritual house” in 2:5, he never calls them “spiritual Israel” or the “Israel of God.”
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REV 7:4-8 [During the great tribulation 12,000 from each tribe of Israel is sealed.]
REV 7:9-10 [During the great tribulation a “great multitude which no man can number” of Gentiles and unsealed Hebrews are saved. There is still a distinction between Israel and Gentiles.]
REV 11:1-2 [The temple of God is a literal building; it is not the church.]
REV 12:1-6 [The woman who flees into the wilderness during the great tribulation refers to Israel.]
REV 14:1-4 [The 144,000 Hebrews of the great tribulation are only the redeemed “firstfruits”.]
REV 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
[This is a literal place inside literal Israel.]
REV 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
[The beloved city is literal Jerusalem inside literal Israel.]
REV 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
REV 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
[Even though both Hebrew Christians and Gentile Christians are One in the Church as the Body of Christ, they retain their rank-of-calling throughout eternity. See Romans 1:16; 2:9, 10; Acts 1:6-8.
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Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
KJV
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TAKING-AWAY OF THE CHURCH AND THE SECOND COMING IN GLORY.
1a. RAPTURE: To keep promises to the church. Jn 14:1-3
1b4. SECOND COMING: To keep promises to Israel through OT prophets.
2a. RAPTURE: Meets believers in the air. 1 Thes 4:15-17; Acts 1:9-11
2b. SECOND COMING: Meets Israel on earth, Zech 14:4-5; Rev 19.
3a. RAPTURE: Christ does not touch earth. Acts 1:11
3b. SECOND COMING: Christ comes to stay for 1000 years. Rev 20; Mal 3:2-4
4a. RAPTURE: For the church. 1 Thes 4:15-17; 1 Cor 15:51-55
4b. SECOND COMING: For Israel and tribulation saints. Rev 19; Mal 3:2-4
5a. RAPTURE: “With” souls of saints to get bodies. 1 Thess 4:14-18
5b. SECOND COMING: “With: saints and angelic armies. Rev 19
6a. RAPTURE: “Church” an O.T. “mystery” Rom 16:25; Eph 5:32
6b. SECOND COMING: Natural Israel not a mystery; always God’s nation.
7a. RAPTURE: Kept from final wrath of great tribulation. 1 Thes 1:10; Rev 3:10
7b. SECOND COMING: Except for the 144,000 suffer the great tribulation. Rev 6-18
8a. RAPTURE: IMMINENT: At any time: no prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
8b. SECOND COMING: After last day apostasy, revelation of antichrist, and many prophecies fulfilled. Eze 36:31-33
135-1948 AD: almost all churches came into existence and spiritualized God’s OT unconditional promises to Israel.
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Those who disagree with the above principles:
