Around the time of Israel's captivity, Bible-Prophets spoke of a time in Israel's near future when the nation would be restored to their land, their Temple would be rebuilt, and the nation would once again carry-out Levitical worship.
The Prophets declared that those nations which had taken them captive would end-up losing their own kingdoms.
They foresaw that people from many nations would make annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles annually.
Most importantly the Prophets foretold that Messiah would come and visit them in that setting - at a time when all those things would be realities in their nation - and bring salvation to Israel.
Dispensationalists and Post-Millennialists both expect a future fulfilment of such prophecies - either after or before the second coming of Christ.
But the problem with expecting a future-fulfilment of such prophecies is that it implies we must observe Moses' Law in future - because the text of the prophecies included a description of Levitical worship being carried out.
And that's unreasonable for two reasons:
One, because the hardware required to carry-out Moses' Law doesn't exist anymore, and can never exist again; and
Two, because we're under a New Covenant now - and God isn't into returning to a shadow.
Even if someone spiritualises the Levitical, Israel-based aspects of the prophecies, as many Post-Millennialists do (by making it apply spiritually to the worship of the Church instead of literally to Levitical worship carried-out by the nation of Israel) - still there is another problem posed by seeing the fulfilment as future:
If the fulfilment is future - even if it's seen as spiritual not physical - then Messiah's coming must also still be future - because each theme is part of the same prophecy - it was all to happen in the same setting.
If Messiah and His salvation - Israel's salvation - is still future - if Jesus of Nazareth wasn't the Messiah - then our faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, Christianity would be a farce.
The prophecies therefore had to be fulfilled while they still could - or else they forever lost their opportunity to be fulfilled.
The Prophets declared that those nations which had taken them captive would end-up losing their own kingdoms.
They foresaw that people from many nations would make annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles annually.
Most importantly the Prophets foretold that Messiah would come and visit them in that setting - at a time when all those things would be realities in their nation - and bring salvation to Israel.
Dispensationalists and Post-Millennialists both expect a future fulfilment of such prophecies - either after or before the second coming of Christ.
But the problem with expecting a future-fulfilment of such prophecies is that it implies we must observe Moses' Law in future - because the text of the prophecies included a description of Levitical worship being carried out.
And that's unreasonable for two reasons:
One, because the hardware required to carry-out Moses' Law doesn't exist anymore, and can never exist again; and
Two, because we're under a New Covenant now - and God isn't into returning to a shadow.
Even if someone spiritualises the Levitical, Israel-based aspects of the prophecies, as many Post-Millennialists do (by making it apply spiritually to the worship of the Church instead of literally to Levitical worship carried-out by the nation of Israel) - still there is another problem posed by seeing the fulfilment as future:
If the fulfilment is future - even if it's seen as spiritual not physical - then Messiah's coming must also still be future - because each theme is part of the same prophecy - it was all to happen in the same setting.
If Messiah and His salvation - Israel's salvation - is still future - if Jesus of Nazareth wasn't the Messiah - then our faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, Christianity would be a farce.
The prophecies therefore had to be fulfilled while they still could - or else they forever lost their opportunity to be fulfilled.
Therefore modern Judaism is really a vain hope.
But the Word of God cannot fail:
But the Word of God cannot fail:
Israel was indeed restored from captivity; Messiah did come in that setting - and so did His salvation.
Our faith in Jesus is based on historical facts. On fulfilled Prophecy.
Why then was Israel not saved? many ask.
The Prophets themselves forewarned that although salvation would be procured for all Israel, not every Jew would believe and be saved.
Why then was Israel not saved? many ask.
The Prophets themselves forewarned that although salvation would be procured for all Israel, not every Jew would believe and be saved.
They also foresaw that the Gentiles would be grafted in. The outcome that was seen was the exact outcome which had been foreseen.
God had always planned to redeem both Jews and Gentiles, in one new body.
God had always planned to redeem both Jews and Gentiles, in one new body.
The Kingdom is here - within you; and on the last day it will be seen openly.
Any timespan between the cross and the second coming is not of the essence - Jesus Christ truly brought the Kingdom of God, in a way which was never possible before the cross; the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
It's the GOSPEL that saves and opened the door to heaven and to life.
Jesus is coming!
It's the GOSPEL that saves and opened the door to heaven and to life.
Jesus is coming!
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