We believe that one of the results of the taking of Jerusalem from the Turk, will be a great return of the Jews to Palestine.
Rather prescient. But then again, all Mr. Welch was doing was taking Bible prophecy as literal, just as Daniel took Jeremiah literally (Dan 9:2) and knew that Israel's captivity in Babylon would be limited to 70 years (Jer 29:10). Mr. Welch was not alone in his expectation. Over the history of the true church, there has always been some expectation of Israel's regathering. This expectation gained prominence in the 19th century and the early 20th century because of men like Darby, Kelly, Gaebelein, Bullinger, Anderson and other dispensationalists.
No people, in the history of the world, have been removed from their land, scattered to all corners of the globe, maintained their identity, and returned two thousand years later to reform their nation as the Jewish people have.
As we look at the great wars facing Israel (outlined in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39 as well elsewhere among the prophets), we see that the nations noted and the conditions of that future day are lining up with what we see in our day. The great regathering of Israel, assumed by Mr, Welch and others many years before it would happen, has blossomed before our eyes (and Jews continue to flock to Israel daily). We may very well see the expected wars break out before our eyes as well.
As Daniel read the signs of the times and as the Lord Jesus called on those in his days to read the signs of the times, let us carefully consider the world around us in light of scripture as they sit today at this writing.
Israel Is Not in the Land in Faith
Although I support Israel, and believe that Christians should do the same, we cannot deny Israel's continued rejection of God as a nation. Surely Israel is in the land in unbelief. In general, it is a very carnal nation with little concern for God. But within her is a remnant that God will use in the age to come to evangelize the world (in the name of her Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, the only name by which any are rescued). Acts 4:12
Two women are contrasted in the Revelation. One a Bride, the other a Harlot. The figure of an unfaithful wife is constantly used in the O.T. to describe Israel in apostacy.
Mr. Welch (quoted above) sees believing (overcoming) Israel as the Bride contrasted with harlot Israel as the Scarlet Woman. Not all Israel is Israel (Rom 9:6). In the near future, all true Israel will be rescued (delivered) when Christ finally turns all ungodliness away from Israel (Rom 11:26-27; Is 59:20-21) and destroys her enemies.
As the Revelation is the future of story of Israel, his words should be considered soberly. Believing Israel is destined for a great future, yet there are some terrible times ahead before she realizes those promises.
Israel's Future is Not the Future of The Body
In Part 2, we will look at Israel's deliverance and how Christians who supposedly reject Replacement Theology (the idea that "the church" has replaced Israel in God's plan) blindly teach that the current church has replaced Israel in the New Covenant! As we have noted in other studies, the New Covenant is for Israel and is not what we are under in the current age (Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8, etc.).
I referenced Romans 11 in the last section. To whet our appetite, I will quote it here and ask the reader to note the future nature of the promise and the subject of the promise:
The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.
The Lord WILL (future) take away ungodliness from JACOB (Israel, not the Body of Christ). Why? Because the New covenant (like the old, again read: Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8) is with THEM. He will, at that time, take away THEIR sins. Paul is quoting from the prophecy of Isaiah which continues:
“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”
Isaiah 59 is clearly a prophecy for Israel. Paul's use of it, long after the cross, tells us that it has not yet been fulfilled. The pronouns refer to ISRAEL, back in the land, in a future age. We will see in Jeremiah and Hebrews how the New Covenant is for a future, fully restored, believing israel and not for the The Body of Christ.
Just as the Old Covenant was never given to me, neither is the new.
Things to Consider:
- Israel is back in the land as prophesied (although in unbelief)
- Israel is separate from The Body
- Israel is yet to play a key role in the plan of God
- The New Covenant is not yet in effect
- The New Covenant is not for The Body, it is for a redeemed Israel
"This does not mean that their [Israel's] `lo-Ammi' [not my people] condition has ended, it does not mean that the prophetic clock has recommenced ticking, but it does mean that the most decisive movement of the centuries has taken place before our eyes, and for weal or for woe, the Rubicon has been crossed. For Israel there can be no looking back... "It will be both useless and unbelieving for any one who has perceived the unique character of the `Mystery' to take to themselves the prophetic utterances either of the O.T. or of the Gospels and the Revelation. The only valid prophecies that fall within the sphere of the present dispensation are those found in Paul's epistles written since Acts 28:28. We know, from Ephesians 6:13 that there awaits the believer `the evil day' for which the whole armor of God has been provided; but for specific prophecies we must turn to the epistles to Timothy, for these are the only epistles written after Acts 28, that contain prophecies that pertain to the Church today."
-Charles Welch (Signs of the Times, 1951, excerpt)
