The Truth about Zionism and Israilies
THE VIDEOS BELOW ARE FOR HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY. WE DO NOT CONDONE THE THEOLOGY OF FAKE JEWS. THEY ARE GOD HATERS.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to former IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers explain, in their own words, the wicked atrocities secular Israel commits. An abomination to JESUS. CLICK HERE TO HEAR Israeli soldiers, God(Jesus) haters themselves lest some of them have repented and turned to Jesus, talk about the occupied territories and the crimes they commit on a daily basis against humanity (and JESUS). We obviously don’t agree with their theology but we are here to expose the hatred that is carried out when one does not abide in Jesus.
Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Revelation 3:9 “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.”
Click here for a complete study on who the true Israel of God is. James 2:9 “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” Romans 2:11 “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
Dr Norman G Finkelstein, a God hater, Blasts Zionist Jewish University Student
An “honest”, Jesus hating Israeli Jew, exposes the truth about Israel.
Anna Baltzer 2008 “Life in Occupied Palestine”
Answering the Charge of “Replacement Theology”
Posted by israeliteindeed on August 10, 2016
Introduction
In this post, I will endeavor to answer the false charge of “replacement theology.” Those who charge thus do not understand the following truths in Scripture:
- God made a distinction between faithful and unfaithful Israel. Only the remnant (faithful Israel) would be saved.
- Faithful Israel has always included Gentiles
- The Old Covenant (with Israel) has been replaced with the New Covenant (with Israel).
- Faithful Israel was not replaced, but carried into the New Covenant, where it remains to this day:
a. The Olive Tree into which both Jews and Gentiles can be grafted by faith
b. The foundation of the New Covenant Temple, which is the Lord’s Body - Unfaithful Israel has been “cut off” from faithful Israel, just as the Lord promised in the Old Testament. The kingdom was given to faithful Israel, which includes all Gentiles who join themselves to the God of Israel.
We will look at each of these points in more detail.
God Made a Distinction Between Faithful and Unfaithful Israel
God’s distinctions between faithful and unfaithful Israel can be seen in the following verses. Please do look them up!
Faithful Israel is beloved of God–Ex. 15:13; Deut. 33:3; Ezra 3:11
Unfaithful Israel is not beloved of God–Lev. 3:16; Jer. 12:8; Jer. 16:5; Hos. 9:15
Faithful Israel is the children of God–Exo. 4:22; Deut. 14:1; Isa. 1:2,4; Isa. 63:8; Hos. 11:1
Unfaithful Israel is not the children of God–Deut. 32:5; John 8:39-44
Faithful Israel is the kingdom of God–Exo. 19:6; 1 Chr. 17:14; 1 Chr. 28:5
Unfaithful Israel is not the kingdom of God–Matt. 8:11-12; Matt. 21:43
Faithful Israel is the people of God–Exo. 6:7; Deut. 27:9; 2 Sam. 7:23; Jer. 11:4
Unfaithful Israel is not the people of God–Hos. 1:9; Jer. 5:10
Faithful Israel was the priests of God–Exo. 19:6
Unfaithful Israel was not the priests of God–1 Sam. 2:28-30; Lam. 4:13-16; Eze. 44:10-13; Hos. 4:6; Mal. 2:2-9
Faithful Israel was the vineyard/vine of God–Isa. 5:3-7; Jer. 12:10
Unfaithful Israel was not the vine of God (it was a degenerate, alien vine)–Jer. 2:21
Faithful Israel was an Olive Tree–Psa. 52:8; Jer. 11:16; Hos. 14:6
Unfaithful Israel was not the Olive Tree (but branches to be consumed)–Jer. 11:16
Faithful Israel was the Bride of God–Isa. 54:5-6; Jer. 2:2; Eze. 16:32; Hos. 1:2
Unfaithful Israel was not the Bride of God–Jer. 3:8; Hos. 2:2
Faithful Israel was counted as the children of Abraham–2 Chr. 20:7; Psa. 105:6; Isa. 41:8
Unfaithful Israel was not counted as the children of Abraham–John 8:39; Rom. 9:6-7; Gal. 4:25-30
Faithful Israel was chosen–Deut. 7:7, 10:15, 14:2; Isa. 43:20,21
Unfaithful Israel was not chosen–Deut. 31:17; 2 Ki. 17:20; 2 Chr. 25:7; Psa. 78:59; Jer. 6:30; Jer. 7:29, 14:10
Faithful Israel was circumcised in heart–Gen. 17:10; Deut. 30:6
Unfaithful Israel was not circumcised in heart–Jer. 4:4, 9:25-26; Rom. 2:25-29
As you can see, God has always made a distinction between faithful and unfaithful Israel. Another term designating “faithful Israel” is “the remnant.” Isaiah wrote:
For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (Isa. 10:22)
Paul, in quoting Isaiah, equated Israel’s “returning” with “being saved.”
Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved. (Rom. 9:27)
Faithful Israel has always included Gentiles
Israel was never a “pure race,” as some teach, but a people who were called to worship God from a pure heart. Please read Gentiles Included in Old Testament Israel in order to understand this(posted below).
The Old Covenant (with Israel) has been replaced by the New Covenant (with Israel).
Yes, in this case, there has been a replacement!
Dispensationalism attempts to have the old and new Covenants operating at the same time. This is false doctrine at its finest, for the writer of Hebrews states that the old Covenant has been rendered obsolete (Heb. 8:13). Now that the Lamb of God has been slain, He is forever the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:11-15). As a sign that the New Covenant was now in operation, the temple veil ripped from top to bottom at His death, opening the new and living way….through the veil, that is His flesh (Matt. 27:51; Heb. 10:19-20). There is no other way to the Father but through Jesus Christ.
Many people do not realize the New Covenant was made with Israel and Judah! (Jer. 3:31-34) That is, it was made with the faithful of Israel and Judah, for the unfaithful were blinded and stumbled because of their disobedience (I Pet. 2:6-8). Therefore any Gentile who enters the New Covenant, is now a citizen of the Commonwealth of [faithful] Israel (Eph. 2:12-18).
When Jacob blessed his sons just before dying, he prophesied that the scepter would not depart from Judah UNTIL Shiloh (Jesus) came. At that point, the gathering of the people (God’s faithful Israel) would be to Jesus.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. (Gen. 49:10)
Jesus is King of kings. He has claimed David’s throne, and rules faithful Israel from Mount Zion forever (Isa. 9:6-7). The obedience of God’s people is to Him (not to Judah). Those who have not gathered to Him are not in covenant with God.
Faithful Israel was NOT replaced, but carried into the New Covenant, where it remains to this day.
a. Faithful Israel remains the Olive Tree into which both Jews and Gentiles can be grafted by faith
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? (Rom. 11:16-24)
The root of the olive tree is holy because the root is faithful/obedient Israel! Unfaithful Israel was cut off, just as God promised. God does not graft us (believing Gentiles) into an unholy people, for we can have no fellowship with darkness. If the unholy repent of their unbelief, they can be grafted in.
I beg you to see that no “replacement” is being taught here. Faithful Israel has never been replaced. The throne of David is occupied by an eternal King. The faithful Israel of God has increasedby the influx of people from all nations, just as God had always planned.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote about how Gentiles could be established “in the midst” of Israel–
And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people. (Jer. 12:16)
And so they have!
b. Faithful Israel remains the foundation of the New Covenant Temple, which is the Lord’s Body.
Upon faithful Israel, the new temple was raised, which is the Lord’s Body (the continuation of His Church).
Isaiah testified that foreigners would be gathered to Israel, and must not consider themselves “separate” from God’s people:
Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord speak, saying,
“The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”…Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.” (Isa. 56:3-8)
A foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord is not separate from God’s faithful people, nor has he replaced them. Listen to Paul:
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph. 2:11-22)
Faithful Israel, far from being replaced, is the very foundation of the New Covenant temple (the Church), holding up the entire building. The Church has not replaced faithful Israel, but has been made a partaker in her promises.
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Gal. 3:16)
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:29)
Unfaithful Israel has been cut off from faithful Israel, just as God promised.
Unfaithful Israel will not inherit the promises. Ishmael became a symbol of this spiritual truth, according to Paul in Galatians 4. He wrote that the unbelieving Jews/unfaithful Israel shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman (Gal. 4:28-31).
The charge of “replacement theology” largely comes from children of the flesh (Ishmael) persecuting the sons of promise (Isaac) out of jealousy. They despise the idea that Gentiles can be grafted into God’s Israel, while they themselves are cut off due to unbelief. They see things through carnal eyes, trusting in race or nationality, just as many Jews did in Jesus’ day. Nevertheless, God’s Word is true–they are cut off from Israel until they repent and believe. The kingdom has been taken from them and given to a nation bearing the fruits of righteousness (Matt. 21:43). Unfaithful Israel will not be heir with faithful Israel.
How tragic that so many western Christians take up and repeat the delusions of those who have been cut off, twisting the Word of God. They “stand with” the spiritual Ishmael (unfaithful Israel) instead of Isaac (faithful Israel). May God open their eyes.
The doctrine that Unfaithful Israel is in any way accepted by God is antichrist. Jesus struck down this lie in John 8:37-47; Matt. 8:10-12; Matt. 21:33-45. John the Baptist struck it down in Matthew 3:7-12. The apostle John struck it down in 1 John 2:22. Peter struck it down in 1 Pet. 2:4-9. Paul struck it down in too many places to list. Only through repentance and faith in Jesus can a member of unfaithful Israel be translated into faithful Israel (the kingdom of God).
Let us agree with the Word of God, even if others refuse.
Cut Off
First, two things to remember:
1. Whatever things were written before (about Israel) were written for our learning (Rom. 15:4).
2. All these things happened to them (Israel) as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (I Cor. 10:11).
Keeping these two things in mind, we need to consider God’s dealing with Israel when Israel–as a whole–stopped obeying God.
“Cut Off”
Throughout the writings of the Law and the Prophets, it was written that those who disobeyed God in specific ways were to be “cut off” from among their people. That would mean they were no longer considered part of God’s congregation/assembly. Keeping the two aforementioned Scriptures in mind, it should be easy then to understand that the modern teaching of OSAS (“once saved always saved”) is a lie. If an Israelite could be cut off from God’s people for particular sins, and those things were recorded for our learning, then we too can be cut off from God’s people if we do not continue in God’s goodness (Rom. 11:22).
But there is another lesson in this that I’d like to bring out, which is: Being born a Hebrew in the Old Testament in no way kept a person from being “cut off” from God’s people. Blood or family relations didn’t save during the times of Moses, didn’t save during the times of the prophets, and still doesn’t save today. This is important because the false teaching of Talmudic “Zionism” teaches that if people are related to Abraham (or more specifically his son Jacob), they are the chosen people, or “God’s people.” Such is not the case, and both testaments are clear on this.
Let us look at specific examples of sins that were punished in the OT (Old Testament) by the sinner being “cut off.” With each one, I’ve included NT (New Testament) parallel Scriptures, which further demonstrate that the New Covenant completes and fulfills the Old. Notice that responsibility is placed on each person, under either covenant, to keep the covenant or be cut off. To be “cut off” from God’s OT “congregation” was exactly the same as being “cut off” from the NT Body of Christ/the True Vine/the Olive Tree.
“Cut Off” for:
OT: Not being circumcised if male–Gen. 17:14
NT: Circumcision of the heart unto obedience is a non-negotiable for the believer; it is defined spiritually in Rom. 2:28-29 and Phil. 3:3–We are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. I Cor. 7:19 makes it clear that obedience is the principle issue.
OT: Eating leavened bread during Passover–Exo. 12:15
NT: Sinning willfully–“eating leaven” after having knowledge of the Truth (Christ, our Passover slain for us) leads to damnation–Heb. 10:26-27.
OT: Anointing man’s flesh or anointing “an outsider”–Exo. 30:32-33
NT: Laying hands on people who have not been proven righteous leads to partaking in their sins (I Tim. 5:22). No flesh is to glory in God’s presence (I Cor. 1:29).
OT: Profaning the Sabbath–Exo. 31:14
NT: There remains a rest for the people of God, into which we must labor to enter, or we can fall “according to the same example of disobedience”–Heb. 4:9-11.
OT: Partaking of the Lord’s sacrifice while unclean, eating the fat or blood–Lev. 7:20-27; 17:10-14
NT: Partaking of the Lord’s supper while defiled by sin, and without self-examination, a man becomes guilty and brings damnation to himself–I Cor. 11:27-31. Bringing a gift to God’s altar while there is a need for reconciliation with a brother results in our worship not being accepted–Matt. 5:23-24.
OT: Shedding animal blood unlawfully–Lev. 17:3-5
NT: There was a prescribed way to be cleansed by blood–a way that foreshadowed the True Way, and in the New Testament it is revealed that the blood of Christ is that Way. It is the only lawful way to have sins forgiven–I Pet. 1:18-21, Heb. 9:22, etc.
OT: Committing sexual immorality–Lev. 18:29; 20:17-18
NT: Such will still cause one to be cut one off from God’s family/kingdom under the New Covenant–Acts 21:25, I Cor. 6:9-10, I Cor. 10:8; I Thess. 4:3, Jude 7, Rev. 22:15. I Cor. 5 explicitly teaches that the sexually immoral are to be rejected from the fellowship of the Church until they repent; we are not to pretend they are God’s people.
OT: Eating the sacrifice when it was more than 2 days old–Lev. 19:5-8
NT: This seems to teach a general principle that we cannot rely on old victories, but must have a new and fresh relationship with God by offering our bodies a living sacrifice continually–Rom. 12:1. Yesterday’s manna is gone; today we need to partake of Jesus (and His death/resurrection) again to remain alive. Jesus taught the cross must be carried daily–Lk. 9:23. We must take heed when we think we stand lest we fall–I Cor. 10:12. And we must be diligent to continue to grow spiritually lest we stumble–2 Pet. 1:5-11.
OT: Sacrificing children to the devil–Lev. 20:1-3
NT: Abortion/ritual child sacrifice, not parenting righteously; no murderer has eternal life–Eph. 6:4; Mark 9:42; I John 3:15.
OT: Consulting witches or familiar spirits for knowledge–Lev. 20:6
NT: Sorcery disinherits a person from the kingdom of God–Gal. 5:20-21; Rev. 21:8, 22:15.
OT: Attempting to serve the Lord as priest while being unclean–Lev. 22:3
NT: The highest of standards are required for the N.T. priests of the Lord–I Pet. 2:9. Those who attempt to teach others while being unclean will be judged more severely–James 3:1. Bishops and deacons must be blameless and have a good testimony–I Tim. 3:1-13. Every saint who hopes for the final redemption is to purify himself just as He is pure–I John 3:3.
OT: Not being afflicted in soul on the Day of Atonement–Lev. 23:29
NT: Considering the blood of Jesus as “a common thing” and insulting the Spirit of grace by trampling the Son of God underfoot is worthy of even more punishment than rejecting the laws of Moses–Heb. 10:28-31. To take the Lord’s supper unworthily without proper sincerity and self-examination results in judgment/damnation–I Cor. 11:27-32)
OT: Not observing Passover–Num. 9:13
NT: It is clear that any who do not look unto the Lord’s death and resurrection as the source of their redemption cannot be considered God’s people–Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Acts 4:12, etc. Jesus commanded His disciples to eat the Passover meal as a remembrance of His broken body and shed blood–Luke 22:15-20. Paul commanded NT Christians to eat the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him, proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes–23-26.
OT: Presumptuously sinning or despising God’s Word–Num. 15:30-31
NT: Sinning willfully after knowing the truth results in there remaining no sacrifice for your sins–Heb. 10:26-31. We must receive with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save our souls–James 1:21. It is the Word of God by which we are born again–I Pet. 1:23, and unless we are born again, we cannot see the Kingdom–John 3:3.
OT: Not purifying oneself after being contaminated by the dead–Num. 19:13
NT: Being “contaminated by the dead” could be seen as communing with unbelievers; we are to have no intimate fellowship with them, lest the Lord refuse us as His sons and daughters–2 Cor. 6:14-18.
OT: Not purifying oneself after any uncleanness–Num. 19:20
NT: Everyone who hopes in Jesus “purifies himself just as He is pure”–I Jn. 3:3. The Church is to have “no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”–Eph. 5:27. The pure in heart shall see God–Matt. 5:8. People who only have a “form of godliness” while being impure are rejected–2 Tim. 3:1-5. For this reason the Lord called the Pharisees “whited sepulchers” (painted tombs) and commanded them to cleanse themselves inwardly–Matt. 23:25-28.
OT: General disobedience and serving other gods (I Kin. 9:6-7)
NT: We are to flee from idolatry–I Cor. 10:14. Idolatry and other forms of disobedience are listed as “works of the flesh” and “they who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” To remain in Christ, we must have our flesh crucified–Gal. 5:19-24.
Hopefully it is clear that while the OT foreshadowing rituals have been superceded by the NT redemptive reality, God has always and will always expect absolute obedience from His covenant people. Hopefully it’s also clear that no Jew or Hebrew was ever exempt from the possibility of being “cut off” if he disobeyed.
More Examples:
Here are examples of specific people who were “cut off” in the OT–
1. Saul was rejected as king because of disobedience and rejecting the Word of the Lord–I Sam. 15:26, and the Spirit departed from him–I Sam. 16:14. His life ended with suicide–I Sam. 31:4.
2. The house of Jeroboam was “cut off” because of his idolatry–I Kin. 14:7-14.
3. The house of Ahab was “cut off” because of his sin, including murder–I Kin. 21:19-22; 2 Kin. 9:8.
4. In the days of Jehu, the Lord “cut off parts of Israel” because of sin–2 Kin. 10:32.
5. Uzziah was “cut off from the house of the Lord” because of pride and burning incense unlawfully–2 Chron. 26:16-21.
6. Evildoers are “cut off” from the earth, Israel, Judah, or the city of the Lord/Jerusalem–Psa. 34:16, 37:9, 37:22, 37:28, 37:34, 37:38, 94:23, 101:18, 109:13, 109:15; Prov. 2:22; Isa. 9:14, 22:25, 29:20; Jer. 7:29, 44:7-11; Lam. 2:3; Ezek. 14:8, 14:21, 17:9, 21:4; Hos. 8:4, 10:15; Mic. 7:15; Zeph. 3:7; Mal. 2:12.
7. After the apostasy of Israel, those Israelites who would not humble themselves under the yoke of Babylon would “perish” and “be consumed,” but those who would serve the Babylonians (acknowledging God’s righteous judgment) would “remain in their own land” and “live”–Jer. 27:8-17.
Hopefully we see that the Old and New Covenants had this similitude: under both covenants a man could be “cut off” because of sinning and/or not keeping the terms of the covenant. This truth undermines the present day lies of both OSAS and Zionism. Yes, we can be cut off after entering the New Covenant by faith. And yes, OT Jews/Hebrews were also cut off for disobedience, and were never guaranteed as “God’s people” unless they kept the covenant. The promises were only theirs by obedient faith.
Paul seems to sum up this whole thing nicely with his picture of the Olive Tree in Romans 11–a Tree which both Jews and Gentiles from the beginning have been part of by faith. He is very clear that both the “natural branches” and the “grafted-in branches” can be cut off and lost.
What does this teach us about Jews/Israelites today? Are they God’s people?
The simple answer is: Only if they have obedient faith in Jesus Christ.
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.(Jn. 5:23)
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (I Jn. 2:22-23)
Dear reader, if a Jew/citizen of Israel does not honor the Son, he has been “cut off.” He is an antichrist. It’s that simple. Let no one deceive you with empty words.
The only people who are not “cut off” are those who exercise obedient faith in God’s Word.
Abraham, technically a gentile called out of a pagan nation, became the father of both Jews and Gentiles (including some OT Gentiles like Rahab, Ruth, some of David’s fighting men, etc.) who have his faith. These, along with the God-honoring gentiles who preceded Abraham (like Noah) are God’s children. The saints who went before had to obey the light they were given, and we also must obey the light we are given in our own age. Now that the True Light–Messiah Jesus has come, God commands all men everywhere to repent and obey Him personally. Those who refuse will be cut off and burned in the fire, even if they are Jews (Matt, 3:7-12).
And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. (Heb. 4:11-12)
The promise given to Abraham is to His Seed–Christ, and those who are in Christ:
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Gal. 3:16)
Therefore it is of faith…that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”)… so that he became the father of many nations. (Rom. 4:16-18)
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:29)
Gentiles Included in Old Testament Israel
Introduction
This paper will show biblically that Old Testament Israel was a body of believers in the true God, a called out “congregation,” who were not all of one race. To remain in the Body of Israel required obedience to the covenant, and any “stranger” (Gentile) who did so, was considered as “native born” and granted full privileges, including marrying into Israelite families and receiving an inheritance.
The Promise to Abraham–All the Families of the Earth Shall Be Blessed
Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:1-3)
Specific Gentiles in the Old Testament shown to be true worshipers of God and/or included in Israel:
Melchizedek was called “Priest of God Most High,” although he was the king of Salem, a Canaanite. (Gen. 14:18)
Abimelech, the king of Gerar, called God “Lord” and pleaded for his “righteous nation,” vouching for his own integrity in having taken Sarah, not knowing she was already married. God confirmed the man’s integrity and kept him from sinning. God gave further instructions to Abimelech, which he carried out obediently. (Gen. 20)
When Moses led the people out of Egypt, a mixed multitude went with them also (Exo. 12:38). Who was this mixed multitude?–Egyptians, and perhaps other nationalities who had been dwelling in Egypt, who now feared the Lord and joined themselves to Israel! As God-fearing people, they were included from that point on. They married into the family of Israel and their descendants were eventually given a portion of the Promised Land with everyone else.
Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of the priest of Midian, Jethro. Zipporah and her father were both Gentiles. Zipporah was resistant to the ordinance of circumcision at first, and for this reason, God almost killed Moses! But she did obey God, and He let Moses go (Exo. 4:24-26). Later her father Jethro confessed that Yahweh was greater than all other gods, and offered sacrifices to Him. He ate with the leaders of Israel “before God” in full fellowship with God’s people. (Exo. 18:7-12)
The Canaanite Rahab confessed the God of Israel was the Lord and gave aid to the spies (Josh. 2). She married into the family of Israel and was in the direct line of Jesus Himself (Matt. 1:5). (With such Gentile inclusion, the idea of a “pure race” of Israel after the flesh must be ruled out.)
Ruth the Moabite married an Israelite, and after his death, she joined herself to Israel and the Lord by declaring, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16) She then married another Israelite Boaz, and became the grandmother of Israel’s renowned king David, from whose line Jesus came. Were David and Jesus “pure” in race?
There were whole Gentile nations who were submitted to David while his own son Absalom was in full rebellion against him, including the Cherethites, Pelethites, and Gittites (2 Sam. 15:18). The Cherethites were Cretans who lived among the Philistines, and the Pelethites were most likely related to the Philistines. The Gittites–“men of Gath”–were Philistines. These are a picture of the Gentiles who in the future would submit to King Jesus (who now sits on David’s throne), while some of His own family would remain in rebellion.
Of David’s close band of mighty men, some were Gentiles. Ittai the Gittite was David’s commander of the Gittites, and called a “foreigner,” yet he determined to be with his king wherever he would go (Read 2 Sam. 15:19-21. Recall Rev. 14:4–“These…follow the Lamb wherever He goes.“) Uriah (the husband of Bathsheba) was a Hittite faithful to David, as was Ahimelech (I Sam. 26:6). Ithmah was a Moabite, and Zelek was an Ammonite (I Chron. 11:46, 49).
After Esther was used to save her people from the evil plot of Haman, Scripture records that “many of the people of the land became Jews.” (Esther 8:17) Became Jews?! But we are told Jewishness is a racial thing? Not according to Scripture, and Paul later confirmed that anyone with a circumcised heart to the Lord is a Jew in God’s eyes (Rom. 2:28-29).
Peoples God Was Dealing with in the Old Testament:
When God prepared to take Israel out of Egypt, He told Pharoah that His purposes were these:
1. That Egypt might know there is no one like Him in all the earth (Exo. 9:14)
2. That God’s name might be declared in ALL the earth (Exo. 9:16)
God’s heart was to save not only Egypt, but all the earth! I could end this section here, since “all the earth” includes every nation. The prophets gave warnings to surrounding nations of Israel, not just Israel. God wanted to save them all! This perfectly coincides with the promise given to Abraham in order that “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” As stated previously, a mixed multitude followed Israel out of Egypt. Gentiles have been “going up to Zion” to worship the true God since the beginning (Isa. 2:3).
The book of Jonah tells the story of God’s love for Nineveh, a Gentile nation. Israel was “chosen” for the good of all the world, just as any Christian today is “chosen” for the good of the world, not for the good of himself only. Therefore God sent the Israelite prophet to warn a Gentile city to repent. Thus Jonah is sometimes called “the first apostle to the Gentiles.” The city was spared from judgment for a time because its king and people repented. I think it safe to assume, or at least hope, that some people in Nineveh remained true to the Lord after that, although the city was destroyed in a future generation for returning to its wickedness.
The book of Daniel records the story of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who, after being thoroughly humbled by God, magnified the Lord and His eternal Kingdom in Daniel 4:34-37. God was still trying to reach the Babylonians in Daniel 5, when He wrote a warning on the wall and slew Belshazzar for not turning to God although he knew better because of God’s previous dealings with Nebuchadnezzar.
Isaiah prophesied of a time when a portion of Egypt would “speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts,” and have an altar to the Lord in its midst. Assyria also would join with Egyptians in worshiping the Lord, and the Lord would say, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isa. 19:16-26)
There are many more portions of Scripture in the Old Testament that declare God’s heart for all people, and intent to gather people from all nations into His congregation (Israel), but these will suffice.
Laws and directives for “strangers” (Gentiles) who were part of Old Testament Israel:
Directly after the Exodus from Egypt, God gave laws to Israel concerning the Passover feast. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and HE SHALL BE AS A NATIVE OF THE LAND. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. (Exodus 12:48) Notice that the stranger was to be counted as a native of the land, so long as he participated in the true worship of God. (See also Num. 9:14)
And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall he do. One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you,an ordinance forever throughout your generations; AS YOU ARE, SO SHALL THE STRANGER BE before the Lord. (Num. 15:14-15) Do you see that?–No difference between the stranger and the native born. (Paul later asked, “Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.” Rom. 3:29)
And whatever man of the house of Israel, OR OF THE STRANGERS WHO DWELL AMONG YOU, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. (Lev. 17:10) If a stranger dwelling among the Israelites ate blood, he would be cut off from “his people”–Israel. The stranger (Gentile) was considered an Israelite with full rights and responsibilities unless he broke covenant with God.
In giving rules for the Feast of Weeks, the Lord commanded, “You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the STRANGER and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.” (Deut. 16:11)
And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when ALL ISRAEL comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, AND THE STRANGER WHO IS WITHIN YOUR GATES, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess. (Deut. 31:10-13) Notice that the stranger living within Israel’s gates is considered part of the ALL ISRAEL, and was to continue obeying the Law when he later possessed the land.
The next passage makes it clear that Gentiles were given land among the tribes of Israel, and were considered as “native-born.”–Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, AND FOR THE STRANGERS WHO DWELL AMONG YOU AND BEAR CHILDREN AMONG YOU. THEY SHALL BE TO YOU AS NATIVE-BORN AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; THEY SHALL HAVE AN INHERITANCE WITH YOU AMONG THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord God. (Ezek. 47:21-23)
The prophet Jeremiah wrote about how Gentiles could be established “in the midst” of God’s people Israel–And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people. (Jer. 12:16)
Isaiah was equally clear–
Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord speak, saying,
“The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say,
“Here I am, a dry tree.” For thus says the Lord, “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, even to them I will give in My house, and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.”(Isa. 56:3-8)
Let’s unpack this powerful passage:
1. Any foreigner could join himself to the Lord, and was not to say he was separate from God’s people. So long as the foreigner served God and obeyed the covenant, he would be brought to God’s holy mountain (Heb. 12:22).
2. The man that loved God, but could not conceive children (eunuch), would be given an everlasting name that would never be cut off. This is significant because it shows that possession of the Promise was not based on producing heirs who could then claim land.
3. The house of prayer was for “all nations,” and God explicitly says He will gather people from other nations “to him”–to Israel. Israel would not be a “pure race,” but a people who served God from a pure heart.
Remain in Israel, or Be Cut Off
Any person living in Israel, whether native born or a stranger, could be cut off for disobedience. To be cut off was to be no longer an Israelite. This concept is all through the Old Testament and completely obliterates any notion that being in a certain bloodline was a guarantee of benefits (just look up “cut off” in any Bible search tool, and study how many ways an Israelite could be cut off). Israel was always a congregation of people that worshiped the true God. To depart from true worship resulted in being cut off from Israel, from God’s perspective.
Conclusion
There were always “strangers” sojourning with Israel, and they were accepted as native born provided they worshiped the true God with obedient faith. Israel was not a “pure race” of people according to the flesh, even in the Old Testament. Some of the included Gentiles were purposely mentioned in the genealogies of King David and King Jesus, demonstrating God’s masterful sidestepping of man’s desire to mix racial supremacy with religion. God did choose one faithful man (Abraham) through whom to bless the world with the fulfillment of all promises–Jesus Christ. That family, which Gentiles could and did join, was the Old Testament family of God.
With the ratifying of the New Testament in Jesus’ blood, and the cancelling of the Old, that Old Testament family of God remained the foundation for the New Testament temple which is still being built. In Jesus, all the promises are yes and amen. All who are obedient to the terms of the New Covenant are grafted into the Israel of God. All people–whether Jew or Gentile–who disobey the terms of the New Covenant, are cut off from the Israel of God until such a time as they stop continuing in unbelief (Rom. 11:23).