After literally fulfilling His Promises to Israel THROUGH THE GOSPEL, God did not explicitly revoke Israel's calling and election, despite widespread unbelief amongst the Jews at that time. Any Jew could still at any time claim the fulfilled-promise and be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul's conversion was an example of that.
The blessing and salvation of Jews today - and we hope, of many more Jews in the future - will not mean the first-time fulfilment of Bible-Promises and Prophecies - rather, their salvation and blessing is possible precisely BECAUSE the Bible-Promises and prophecies, having already been fulfilled (through the Gospel of Jesus Christ), were never revoked. There is a difference, and the difference is important.
If Bible-Prophecies concerning Israel are only now being fulfilled - or are only yet to be fulfilled in future - then it implies that Israel must return again under the Old Covenant and carry-out sacrifices - because the carrying-out of sacrifices was a major theme of the Prophecies.
If the Bible-Prophecies are still future, then it weakens our witness that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah - because the prophecies concerning the Messiah were to be fulfilled within the historical context of Israel carrying out the Law. If the carrying-out of the Law is still future, then the first coming of Messiah might still be future too.
But if we understand that Bible-Prophecies concerning Israel were fulfilled in Israel by the time of Jesus, then it supports our witness that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah; it also eliminates any need for Israel to revert again to Old Covenant practices in future in order to fulfil Prophecy. This puts the focus fair and square back where it ought to be: on Jesus Christ, and on the Gospel.
The blessing and salvation of Jews today - and we hope, of many more Jews in the future - will not mean the first-time fulfilment of Bible-Promises and Prophecies - rather, their salvation and blessing is possible precisely BECAUSE the Bible-Promises and prophecies, having already been fulfilled (through the Gospel of Jesus Christ), were never revoked. There is a difference, and the difference is important.
If Bible-Prophecies concerning Israel are only now being fulfilled - or are only yet to be fulfilled in future - then it implies that Israel must return again under the Old Covenant and carry-out sacrifices - because the carrying-out of sacrifices was a major theme of the Prophecies.
If the Bible-Prophecies are still future, then it weakens our witness that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah - because the prophecies concerning the Messiah were to be fulfilled within the historical context of Israel carrying out the Law. If the carrying-out of the Law is still future, then the first coming of Messiah might still be future too.
But if we understand that Bible-Prophecies concerning Israel were fulfilled in Israel by the time of Jesus, then it supports our witness that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah; it also eliminates any need for Israel to revert again to Old Covenant practices in future in order to fulfil Prophecy. This puts the focus fair and square back where it ought to be: on Jesus Christ, and on the Gospel.
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