In the kingdom-doctrine of the Bible the nation of Israel holds an important and essential place. Once more then, before taking up the New Testament teaching on this great theme, we must turn back to the Old, to see what were the kingdom promises made of God to His ancient covenant-people. We do this in recognition of the fact that the teaching of the Old Testament is not antagonistic to that of the New, nor that of the New subversive to that of the Old. The same God spoke both. They are therefore harmonious with each other. The truth of each is confirmed in the other.

      In considering the people of Israel we take our stand upon the high vantage ground of the apostolic teaching of the New Testament.

(Romans 9:1-5) "I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." [22]

      The high calling, position, and greatness of the nation of Israel is here pointedly set forth; as well as the heart-breaking misery of their present condition. As a nation they are what Paul in his love would gladly have been for them--"cursed and cut off from Christ." As he shows again in Romans 10:1--they are unsaved. A mere remnant and it is "by grace" has found acceptance with God, and "The others were hardened" (Romans 11:5-7). Israel, the nation, stands today seemingly abandoned by God; and there are not a few teachers who think themselves able to prove that the nation of Israel is forever cast off. But let Paul speak further: "I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy." (Romans 11:11, ASV)

      The two words translated "fall" here are not the same: the former signifies an absolute downfall, as unto destruction; the latter, a lapse, a trespass; so that Moffat renders it: "Have they stumbled to their ruin? Never! The truth is that by their lapse salvation has passed to the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous."

      (Editor's Note: The above paragraph was based on the King James and ASV translations The newer NIV and NAS correctly translate the second "fall" as "transgression," The complete verse in the NIV is--"Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious" Romans 11:11, NIV).

      The apostle continues, "But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Romans 11:12, 15.)

      Manifestly it is the nation of Israel which descended from Jacob through his twelve sons, of whom the apostle is speaking. He carefully denies that they have fallen into ruin. He declares that through their "transgression" (NIV, NAS.) salvation has come to the Gentiles--and even that privilege is granted to the Gentiles in order that disobedient Israel might be stirred to jealousy. In the future national salvation of Israel, he foresees a glorious day for all the whole wide world resulting. It will be a veritable resurrection out of the death of the ages to all the earth. Is there such a day ahead? Let us hear.

"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:25, 26.)

      Again it is evident that he speaks of the nation of Israel who is now hardened and set aside. He has a mystery--that is, a secret--to tell us: to wit that Israel's hardening is limited as to extent and as to time: as to extent, for it is "in part;" as to time, for it is "until" something is accomplished--namely, until the full count of the elect Gentiles shall have come in. Then Israel's tide shall turn. Then their great Deliverer shall turn away their ungodliness, and they shall no longer abide in unbelief. So "all Israel" (not, as now, a remnant merely, but the distinction between [23] "the remnant" and "the rest" will then disappear)--the whole nation shall be saved.

      This glorious hope is yet laid up for that nation. They are now indeed "enemies" as touching the gospel; but for their fathers' sake with whom God entered into inviolable covenant they are yet in God's purpose elect and beloved. "For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).

      It is this latter statement especially that will help us to understand Israel's place in God's kingdom-plan. To say that all God's original purpose and promise in the calling of the nation of Israel is certain of its ultimate fulfillment is not an inference, but the plain meaning of the word given us through Paul concerning Israel "The gifts and the calling of God are not repented of." He will not back down from it: the position and privilege He has assigned to that nation He will not abandon, however long the delay, however great and many failures until the realization. As then we search the Old Testament to see what is the high gift and calling of Israel, we will remember that God will not wax faint nor weary until He execute and accomplish that which He proposed to do.

      We have already seen (in the chapter preceding this) how the promise to Jacob involved the sovereignty over all the earth. Jacob's family subsequently went down to Egypt, and there became a nation, and came out from there under the hand of Moses. At Mount Sinai God laid the following proposition before the new nation:

"You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, "you" will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:4-6).

      All too thoughtlessly they agreed to fulfill every condition. As promptly they failed and broke their covenant and made a golden calf at the foot of the same Mount from whence they had but just heard the voice of God. But at the plea of Moses, God renewed the covenant with them (Exodus 32:34). God, however, fully foreknew their future course, their failure and rebellion; and foretold them plainly what chastisements should befall them, and how they should be carried away captive out of the good land which He gave them, and be scattered among all the nations. But however hopeless their downfall, never would he forget them, to abhor them utterly. "YET, in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord" (Leviticus 26:44, 45; see whole chapter.) [24]

      The calling and destined glory of that people is outlined in the prophecies of Balaam, which we can only cite (Numbers 23 and 24). A prediction in Deuteronomy 4 (verses 25-31) foretells their utter failure, captivity, scattering, their repentance also, "in the latter days," and God's sure response to them: "For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath." Because He loved their fathers He chose their seed. They are still "beloved for the fathers' sake." As His love for the fathers can never be altered, so His attitude toward this nation cannot change. "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed" (Malachi 3:6). Nor will they ever be. "I am with you and will save you, declares the Lord. Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished" (Jeremiah 30:11).

      The Jew is with us to this day, a wonder in the midst of the earth; and he will survive, for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it. Fearful have been their sins, and fearful have been, and will yet be, their sufferings; for "I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction." But like their Bush in the desert they burn and are never consumed. And out of the midst of the flaming bush the voice of God has gone forth to all the world. "For salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22).

      If now we inquire for what purposes God has from the first called this people, and for what end He has so marvelously kept them hitherto, the answer of scripture is clear and satisfactory.

      If they obeyed (and some day they will obey) "The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth." . . . "Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you." . . . "The Lord will make you the head, not the tail; . . . you will always be at the top, never at the bottom" (Deuteronomy 28:1, 10, 13). The place designed for them was that of supremacy in the earth. In the same connection God shows what would befall them if they disobeyed. Even in that case, however, when they should return to Jehovah with all their heart and soul, He would gather them again "from all the nations where he scattered you . . . and . . . bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live" (Deuteronomy 30:1-6).

      It is evident that their foreseen failure and disobedience does not affect the ultimate purpose of God. He waits--leaving them always a remnant that will insure the continuance of the nation (that they be not destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaiah 1:9) until the time that they turn again to Him from whom they had deeply revolted. Then the ancient promises of their exaltation to world-supremacy shall be fulfilled. [25]

      The kingdom-promise to Israel takes more definite shape in God's oath and covenant with David, 2 Samuel 7. That this oath-bound covenant concerns itself especially with Israel appears in its very terms. Bound up with the promise to David, are these words: "And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed." In response to which David said, "who is like your people Israel . . . You have established your people Israel as your very own for ever, and you, O Lord, have become their God" (2 Samuel 7:10, 23, 24).

      Involved in the perpetuity of David's throne is the perpetuity of David's people, this nation of Israel whom God redeemed out of Egypt, of whom God here speaks. Nor is this fact altered in the New Testament. For when the birth of the great Son of David was announced it was said to Mary: "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever" (Luke 1:32, 33). Now "the house of Jacob" is always and simply that nation of Israel of which we are now speaking. Such a term is never applied to the church. The throne of David was "the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel" (1 Chronicles 28:5).

      That the kingdom of God over Israel would extend its authority over all the nations of the earth is declared in many and plain prophecies, some of which are quoted in the preceding chapter. The great King of David's line holds sway over the nations from the River to the ends of the earth (Psalm 72). The people refined and purified in the furnace rejoice in this world-wide rule of God, (Psalm 66) and all the peoples of the earth are beneficiaries of Israel's blessing and exaltation. (Psalm 67; compare Romans 11:12, 15). This reign of Jehovah in the Messianic kingdom is celebrated in many Psalms, and in the prophets this happy anticipation constantly finds its expression. Jerusalem once in ruins, but then glorified (Isaiah 4:3-5) is seen as the city of the great King. From the ends of earth come the nations to pay homage to her and to entreat the favor of her Sovereign. Yea, ten men out of all the languages of the nations shall take hold of the skirts of him that is a Jew, saying, "Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you" (Zechariah 8:20-23). The "shoot out of the stock of Jesse," the root and offspring of David, begins his reign of righteousness: all enmity is banished, and the earth is filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as waters cover the sea.

      And in that day Jehovah gathers the remnant of his people from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11). For only He who scattered Israel can, and also will, gather him again (Jeremiah 31:10). "The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land" (Isaiah 14:1). "I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave to their forefathers to possess" (Jeremiah 30:3). Since they were first carried captive, until now, they have never again possessed their land. The remnant that returned from Babylon were only "servants in it" (Nehemiah 9:36, 37). But they shall possess it again in that day. [26]

      Nor does even the crowning sin of the nation, the murder of the Messiah negate this prospect and promise. For even this was foreseen and accounted for. The same book (Isaiah) that foretells the suffering of the Christ and His rejection by His faithless people, also proclaims most wonderfully their ultimate restoration, glory, and rule over the nations.

      The prophecies are too many even to cite. They cover every phase of the realization of the great promise made to Israel, involving their supremacy and sovereign place in all the earth. These things explain the nature of the national hope of Israel; which though in temporary abeyance, is not made void. The kingdom is at this time taken away from them and given to another nation bringing forth the fruits thereof (Matthew 21:43)--a nation composed of elect Jews and Gentiles, whose fleshly nationality and distinctions are wiped out in Christ. (Acts 15:14; Romans 9:23, 24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 2:9) which now fulfills a higher, spiritual mission in the world. This nation is the Bride, the Wife of the great Son of David, destined to share His throne and world-wide rule in the day of His glorious reign (Psalm 45; Revelation 2:26, 27; 3:21). Such is the peculiar status of things now on the earth, but as Paul shows in Romans 11, this is not for ever. For in God's time Israel will come into her own according to all the words that He spoke by His holy prophets from the days of old.

[KOG3R 22-27]