Tuesday 27 October 2015

Israel's Promises

I think it can be shown that all of the historical predictions made about Israel in Daniel 9:24-27, were already fulfilled by the end of Jesus' generation.

I therefore see subsequent Jewish history as the aftermath of fulfilled prophecy, rather than as specific prophecies being directly fulfilled for the first time.

Excepting the final consummation of course (the second coming, resurrection of the dead, final judgment, end of the world, and new heavens and new earth).

The Kingdom of heaven comes in two phases: already, and not yet; inaugurated, and awaiting consummation; within you, and coming in glory. Old Testament prophets didn't always understand the two phases. Even Jesus' disciples didn't understand it at first.

Some Old Testament passages dealt with both phases as a unit - because that was sufficient to God's purpose for those particular prophecies; while other Old Testament passages include statements which show the distinction. Jesus expounded these details to the apostles after His resurrection; this was the apostles' doctrine. Their assertion was: there had been the fulfilment of promise and prophecy, in and for Israel.

I don't think the present timespan (between inauguration and consummation phases) involves the first-time direct fulfilment of any particular historical predictions concerning Israel. Rather I think what we are seeing in Israel and among the nations is just more of the same. It's the aftermath of fulfilled prophecy, not prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes for the first time. What we are seeing has been possible because fulfilled promises were never revoked.

If there is anything yet to happen in history before Jesus comes, in fulfilment of Bible Prophecy, it can't involve anything to do with the Old Covenant (the Temple, Levitical priesthood, sacrifices, feasts). Because those things have been superseded by the New Covenant. That fact alone places most of Bible Prophecy concerning Israel in the past.

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