There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

The fear spoken of here does not include the fear of the Lord. God’s love toward us would not cast out the very fear which God commands us to have, which He has placed in our heart as proof of his everlasting covenant He has given us. The fear spoken of in 1 John 4:18 is the kind that brings torment.

“…because fear hath torment…”

This word torment is translated from the Greek word (kolasis) and is defined as penal infliction, punishment, and torment. This is tormenting fear concerning eternal punishment, which is why he makes the statement, “that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (v17).”

This kind of fear (fear of eternal damnation) has torment, and does not produce faith toward God in the heart of His children. Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us that Jesus took upon flesh and blood so that He might deliver us from the fear of death. Jesus did this by destroying the devil who once wielded this power over us.

Throughout the pages of the scriptures the fear of the Lord is never spoken of as tormenting those who serve Him. Instead the fear of the Lord in the heart of the child of God is the restraining force that keeps us from departing from Him.

And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me (Jeremiah 32:40).

His perfect love that gives us boldness for the Day of Judgment, and His fear that keeps us from departing from Him, are in perfect harmony in the heart of faith. God’s love draws us into the sweet fellowship of communion and intimacy with Him. His fear draws us into worship in the Spirit with true humility and meekness as we stand in Awe of His holiness and power and glory, for He is the Living God.

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy but he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:5-6).

What exactly does the statement, “the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy,” actually imply? The Amplified Bible gives a much clearer rendering and reads as follows: “The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit to be welcome with a jealous love.”

These words were written after the following verses:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:1-4).

While we are wrapped up in the desires of the world, and consumed in the lust of our flesh, the Holy Spirit earnestly yearns over us with a jealous love to be fully welcomed in our hearts.

Romans 5:5, tells us that the “love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.” And only He can fully reveal it to our hearts. God’s love for us is everlasting with a depth and breadth, and length and height which is immeasurable, Yet comprehensible by His Spirit.

It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to manifest the power of that love in hearts, and to reveal the Father’s intense love directly to us – heart to heart. You might say the Holy Spirit has come to bring the heart beat of the Father’s love – the love which was manifested through His Son Jesus. In the very next verse he calls this love – GRACE!

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6).

The proud mentioned here in verse six refers back to those who are spoken of in verses 1-4. It is pride that drives men away from God’s love and causes them to lust after other things. But the one who receives grace, which is an expression of love, is the one who welcomes the Holy Spirit and allows the jealous love which God has for them to fill their hearts and minds. This is God’s desire – that we might be filled with and ruled by His love.

This is expressed so beautifully in Ephesians 3:14-21.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Are you struggling with such things as anger and fear? Are you caught up in the self pleasure and consumed with desires for the things of this world? Do you sense a tug in your heart to draw close to Jesus and spend time with Him. Then why not open you heart to the one who loves you perfectly. He is earnestly yearning over you now with a jealous love. Allow his presence to fill your heart by simply welcoming His Spirit. Your Heavenly Father loves you. He gave His Son and He wants to fill your heart with His grace through the love of His Spirit.

May God’s Grace be with you.

From Joshua 5, we read the following:

At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not shew them the land, which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way (Joshua 5:2-7).

Circumcision was sign or token of the covenant which God had given to Abraham.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant (Genesis 17:10-14).

The Israelites would have been unsuccessful in possessing the land under the leadership of Joshua if they had not first been circumcised, for they would have broken God’s covenant and would have been cut off as the people of God.

Israel’s ongoing covenant relationship with God was dependent on physical circumcision, and being uncircumcised was one of many things which would caused the people of Israel to be cut-off from covenant membership.

In God’s covenant with Israel, there where specific things which would cause the children of Israel to lose their covenant status. Failing to be circumcised was one of them. In Joshua 7 we see another example when Achan sinned terribly in the eyes of God and cause the entire camp of Israel to be cursed.

During the overthrow of Jericho (Joshua 6), the Bible tells us, “Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1).

God had commanded Israel not touch the any of the accursed things in Jericho and to consecrate the all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron to the Lord.

And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord (Joshua 6:17-19).

Because of Achan’s sin, which defiled the entire camp, Israel failed in their next battle.

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? (Joshua 7:2-9)

Joshua was unaware of Achan’s sin which had defiled the camp of Israel, and in response to his prayer, God said the following:

“…Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith theLord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you (Joshua 10:-13).

Notice that God tells Joshua, “I will not be with you anymore, except ye destroy the accursed thing from among you.” Israel was called to be a holy people and being Abraham’s physical descendants did not mean that they were automaticly blessed as the people of God.

Joshua did as the Lord commanded.

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day (v. 24 -26).

Being the descendants of Abraham meant, only, that they had been born into the covenant community, it did not guarantee their blessing. They were required by God  to obey His voice or else they would be cut off from the covenant.

Listed below are some example, from scripture, of things which would cause the people of Israel to be cut off from covenant membership.

• The uncircumcised male (Genesis 17:10-14).
• Eating leavened bread during the 7 days of the feast of unleavened bread (Exodus 12:15, 19).
• Making substitute version of the anointing oil, or putting the anointing oil on a stranger (Exodus 30:31-33).
• Making a substitute version of the sweet incense for themselves (Exodus 30:34-38).
• Defiling the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14).
• Eating the t peace offerings while ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 7:20-21).
• Eating the peace offering on the third day (Leviticus 19:5-8).
• Eating the fat of the offerings (Leviticus 7:25).
• Eating or consumed blood (Leviticus 7:27; 17:10, 14).
• Killing an ox, a lamb, or a goat and inside or outside the camp and not bringing it to the tabernacle as an offering to the Lord (Leviticus 17:1-4).
• Offering burnt offerings somewhere other than the altar in the Tabernacle (Leviticus 17:8-9).
• Being sexually immoral (Leviticus 18:29).
• Sacrificing children to Molech (Leviticus 20:1-3).
• Tolerating others who sacrificed their children to Molech (Leviticus 20:4-5).
• Consulting with mediums (familiar spirits)and wizards (Leviticus 20:6).
• Marring and having sex with your sister (Leviticus 20:17)

These are just some (not all) of the offenses recorded in scripture for which a physical descendant of Abraham, under the Law, would be cut off from the covenant. Covenant membership required obedience to God.

In my first post concerning Ezekiel’s temple vision, I opened with the following statement:

There are teachings by some that the levitical priesthood and animal sacrifices will once again be placed into operation when Christ returns. This assumption is based on Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 40 – 48. Yet there is absolutely nothing in the new testament to support such claims. In fact, such ideology undermines the finished work of Jesus Christ because the sacrifices that Ezekiel references include the sin offering and are said to be for atonement (Ezekiel 45:17 see also Ezekiel 42:13 and 45:23).

Ezekiel’s temple vision is widely accepted by many within the Messianic movements as being prophetic of a Millennial temple from which they claim Christ will one day reign.

Yet, the temple in Ezekiel’s vision is a temple that would have been but never was, because of the sins of Israel and their priests.

Ezekiel was a priest by blood linage and also a prophet. This temple vision was given to Ezekiel to make the people of Israel ashamed of their sins. In this temple, the  Holy presence of God would have continued to be separated from the people, and particularly from the Levites because of their past sins.

According to the new testament, Jesus has removed the separation between God and his people and we now have unhindered access to God through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22; Ephesians 2:13, 18).

Is a temple in which the presence of God cannot be approached consistent with the finished work of Jesus Christ? Certainly not! Yet, this is exactly the temple you have  in Ezekiel – a temple which erects a separating barrier between God and his people.

In Ezekiel’s temple vision, the Levite priests bear the shame of their sins for leading the people of Israel into iniquity. They are still appointed to serve, but cannot approach God’s presence in the temple. Only the descendants of Zadok will be able to come near to the Lord.

Does physical linage matter in the kingdom of God? According to Jesus it doesn’t (see John 3). Yet, those who teach that Ezekiel’s temple is a millennial temple advocate a return to the importance of physical linage even though Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7)

So if this is the millennial temple as some claim, we now have a millennium where the finished work of Christ and the necessity of being born again is undermined. The Levites bear the shame of their sin for a 1000 years and God’s presence is unapproachable by anyone except the sons of Zadok. Furthermore, the Prince of Israel would have to  offer sin offerings for his own sin.

In God’s kingdom, Jesus is the only prince. Does Jesus have to offer sin offerings for his own sins? Certainly not! The new testament tells us that Jesus has no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15) and that is why he was able to offer himself without any blemish to God as the sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 1:18-20; Hebrews 9:14).

My first post concerning Ezekiel’s temple vision can be read here:
https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/what-about-ezekiels-temple/

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ADDITIONAL NOTES:

“‘THE LEVITES WHO WENT FAR FROM ME WHEN ISRAEL WENT ASTRAY AND WANDERED FROM ME after their idols MUST BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN. They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them. BUT BECAUSE THEY SERVED THEM IN THE PRESENCE OF THEIR IDOLS AND MADE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL FALL INTO SIN, THEREFORE I HAVE SWORN WITH UPLIFTED HAND THEY MUST BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN, declares the Sovereign Lord. THEY ARE NOT TO COME NEAR TO SERVE ME AS PRIESTS or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; THEY MUST BEAR THE SHAME OF THEIR DETESTABLE PRACTICES. And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it. “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord. They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and serve me as guards. (Quote from Ezekiel’s temple Vision).

And upon that day shall THE PRINCE prepare FOR HIMSELF and for ALL THE PEOPLE of the land a bullock FOR A SIN OFFERING. (Quote from Ezekiel’s temple vision).

If you stop and really listen to a lot of modern day preachers, the issue of forgiveness is often presented from the perspective of what “unforgiveness” will do to you, if you allow this attitude to remain in your heart. This definitely a part of the equation, but it is not the totality of why we should forgive.

If we forgive for our sake only we are missing the weight of the teaching of scripture and we are making ourselves the priority.

The scriptural approach to forgiveness is first the fear of the Lord and secondly compassion on the other. Do you remember in the scripture when Jesus gave a parable about the servant who was forgiven much, and refused to forgive his fellow servant of little?

Here is what the scripture says:

Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds” (Matthew 18:23-35).

According to this teaching by Jesus, the motive for forgiving others ought to come from of reverence for God and compassion for those who need forgiveness. In the verses above, the King had compassion on his servant who could not repay him and forgave his debt. The servant should have done likewise to his fellow servant, but when he chose not to do so, he angered the King. Jesus taught this to illustrate how God will respond to us, if we do not forgive others.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ~ Genesis 12:1-3 

The words, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee” (v.3), are often cited by Christian Zionists as a reference to the modern State of Israel. The end result of this interpretation is unwavering support for the modern State of Israel, and any criticism of Israel is condemned as anti-semitic.

Allow me to challenge you with the following observations.

1. These words were spoken to Abraham and not to Israel, for there was no nation of Israel when God said this to Abraham.

2. In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul applies the words, “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,” to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the nations.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. ~ Galatians 3:8

According to Paul, the promises God made to Abraham are confirmed in Christ! See Galatians 3:16-17

3. If the men of God in the Old Testament, men like Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, had believed that it was wrong to criticize Israel, and hold them accountable to the standard of righteousness which God expected, they would have never been able to speak God’s word of rebuke to the nation of Israel.

4. God’s covenant with Israel was established with a curse which was to come upon them if they did not obey God’s voice and keep his ordinances, statutes, and judgments.

Nehemiah 10:28-29 tells us the Jewish captives, upon returning from Babylon, bound themselves with a curse. Why? It is because they were dedicating themselves to God and to the covenant God made with their fathers through Moses.

The Law of Moses was accompanied with the curse of the law. This was Israel’s binding agreement with God and their right to live in the land of Promise was dependant on keeping this covenant. From the time of the exodus and onward, there is no language – anywhere in scripture – which gives Israel the liberty of live in the land of Promise without being under the requirements to keep the Law of Moses.

5. John the Baptist spoke God’s words and called the people of Israel to repentance. He exhorted them not to trust in their physical descendancy and warned them to flee from the coming wrath of God.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ~ Matthew 3:7-10 

6. Jesus spoke God’s judgment against Jerusalem and the Temple for rejecting the prophets and for rejecting Him as the Messiah, the Son of God.

7. The apostles and the believers in Acts warned the people of Israel of the coming judgment of God on the nation of Israel, and exhorted them to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ.

The concept that we who are believers in Jesus Christ are called to “stand with Israel” in such a way that we turn a blind eye and deaf ear to their sins is contrary to the truth of scripture, and flies in the face of the entire narrative of the Bible.

We are called to judge righteously and stand for the truth. We are called to glorify Jesus Christ in whom all the promises made to Abraham have come to fruition.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to THE PROMISE ~ Galatians 3:28-29

 

The pro- Israel ministries such as Christians United for Israel (aka CUFI) are generally not going to teach their followers sound Biblical doctrine concerning Israel. On the contrary, they have a political agenda and they use the texts from scripture which help support their agenda.

The problem is, the average Christian who feels endeared to Israel will often think that those with a pro Israel agenda (such as CUFI) are giving them the Bible perspective, when in reality they are not.

For example, you probably will never hear a CUFI leader teach that Jerusalem is no longer the place of worship for God’s people. Especially since pro Israel ministries teach that Jerusalem will be the place of worship when Christ returns.

Yet in the Bible, Jesus says otherwise in his conversation with the woman at the well in John 4.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem, worship the Father….But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ~ John 4:21, 23

Also those with a Pro- Israel agenda will not tell you that the land promises given to Israel in the Old Testament were conditional. They want you to believe they were unconditional and that is why they only tell you verses which sound as if they are unconditional. Yet when you read and study the Bible you find out they are conditional.

Here are a few Bible facts that many Pro Israel Christians don’t know.

1. If modern Israel truly possessed the Promised Land according to scripture, it would include parts of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Saudi Arabia (Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31; Deuteronomy 11:24). What we recognize as modern Israel is a very small fraction of the land promise inherited in scripture. Under the reign of King Solomon the Kingdom extended from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates as was promised to Abraham. ~ Genesis 15:18; 1 Kings 4:20-21, 24

You would not know this ^ above ^ unless you studied what the scriptures say about the land and took into account that the Old Testament is an unfolding narrative leading to revelation of Jesus Christ.

2. The land of Promise was the inheritance and rest for Israel in contrast to Egypt which was the place of bondage. This is a type and shadow of the inheritance and rest we have in Christ in contrast to the bondage of slavery to sin and death.

3. The strangers among the Israelites who were circumcised and kept the Passover were to be counted among the Israelites as one born in the land (Exodus 12:48). In other words, those who were not Abraham’s physical descendants also became heirs to the land promise through circumcision and obedience to God’s Laws given to Israel.

4. God never promised the land of Canaan to Israel apart from serving him. ~ Exodus 34:8-16; Leviticus 18:24-30; Deuteronomy 19:8-9; 28:1-3, 7, 10, 15-16, 25, 63-64; Joshua 23:11-16; Jeremiah 7:4

5. God drove out the previous inhabitants of the land because of their sins and wickedness. ~ Deuteronomy 18:12

6. God also promised to drive Israel out of the land if they did not keep His ordinances, statues, and judgments. ~ Exodus 34:8-16; Leviticus 18:24-30; Joshua 23:11-16

7. God told Israel they were only strangers and temporary residents in the land. ~ Leviticus 25:23

8. Through Ezekiel, God rebukes those who think they have the right to the land inheritance because they are physical descendants of Abraham only, rather than doing right in God’s sight. ~ Ezekiel 33:23-26

9. God promised to make the land desolate because of the sins of Israel. ~ Ezekiel 33:25-29

10. Within the boundaries of the Promised Land (Genesis 15), was a place known as Mount Seir. God told Moses that he had given this portion of the land not to the children of Israel, but to the children of Esau.

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me: and we compassed Mount Seir many days. And the Lord spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. ~ Deuteronomy 2:1-5

Mount Seir is in the desert area known as the Negev in the southern portion of modern Israel. The ancient town of Beersheba is also in the Negev.

If you are a follower of a Pro Israel ministry or organization and you think you have a Biblical perspective of Israel based on what those ministries/organizations are teaching you, my I encourage you to study your Bible.

When you learn what the Bible teaches, across the board, on any biblical truth, it opens your understanding to so many more other truths within scripture.

Recently, I listened to few minutes of a conversation between two pro-Israel advocates as they discussed replacement theology, which is actually a misnomer.

At the beginning of the video, the host minister made a statement about the land of Israel. He commented that there are more than a thousand references regarding the land in the Bible and he made this statement to support his position regarding the modern state of Israel.

He actually offered a proof-text, by the volume, without going into any detail about what those scriptures reveal about the land. His loose and vague handling of scripture was used to promote the idea that the land promises given to Israel were unconditional promises and applying them to modern day Israel.

We must take the time to learn the Biblical narrative regarding Israel and the land of Israel, and not allow anyone to persuade us with their vague proof-texts which often lead to unscriptural ideas about Israel.

Oftentimes the picture is painted that the blessings of God on other nations depends on their support of the modern state of Israel. Yet, in your Bible, God did not judge nations based on their support of Israel or lack thereof. God judged each nation based on their own sin or righteousness. Of course when Israel was right with God, He defended them against those nations that rose up against them. On the other hand, when Israel was in rebellion against God, he allowed other nations to come against them. Israel’s blessings in the land and God’s blessings on other nations, through Israel, was always dependent on their being right with God.

Furthermore, the concept that Israel was only blessed with regards to the land is a very faulty concept. Throughout the Old Testament, the wicked within Israel (not the remnant of righteous Jews) committed all sorts of grievances against God within the land. They committed idolatry by worshipping other gods, they sacrificed their children to idols, they committed all sorts’ sexual sins, and the list goes on. Time and time again, God’s anger and wrath was against Israel within the borders of the land of Israel.

In the book of Ezekiel, God had Ezekiel prophesy to the wicked leaders of Israel and say: “Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” ~ Ezekiel 11:1-2, 10

God told them that He would judge them within the borders of Israel.

In verses 11-12 we read the following: “This city shall not be your caldron (an iron pot of protection), neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel: And ye shall know that I am the Lord: for ye have not walked in my statutes neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.” ~Ezekiel 11:11-12

All throughout the Old Testament, there was much bloodshed and death in the land of Israel and many times God’s anger and judgment came on the people within the boundaries of Israel. In fact, Israel wasn’t yet even settled in the land, but in the process of possessing it, when God turned against them because of the sin of Achan.

God told Joshua, “Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.”  ~ Joshua 7:11-12

Notice that within Israel’s borders, God said “Israel has been set apart for destruction” and he would not be with them any longer unless they repented.

From the very outset of God’s covenant with Israel, the promise of the land inheritance was always dependent on Israel’s obedience to God’s law. Many scriptures from the Bible could be provided to prove this. Therefore, the land inheritance was never an unconditional promise, but conditional. If it were unconditional, God would have never driven Israel and Judah out of the land into captivity.

Israel’s right to the Land was completely dependent on their obedience to God, otherwise they were not entitled to the land.

To learn more about Israel’s land inheritance, follow the links below:

IS THE LAND INHERITANCE STILL RELEVANT? 
https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/is-the-land-inheritance-still-relevant-today/

THE MEANING OF “MY LAND”
https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/the-meaning-of-my-land/

THE PROMISED LAND AND GOD’S REST 
https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/09/22/the-promised-land-and-gods-rest/

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God called Jerusalem Sodom’s older sister and said that Jerusalem’s sins had surpassed and were more corrupt than Sodom. ~ See Ezekiel 16

In the book of the Revelation, John identified Jerusalem as “spiritually Sodom and Egypt.” ~ Revelation 11:8

In Matthew 10 Jesus sent his disciples throughout the land of Israel to preach the gospel and told them that it would be more tolerable for Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for those cities in Israel which rejected the gospel.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel… And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. ~ Matthew 10:5,6,11-15 

Jesus also preached to the cities of Israel and condemned them for not repenting and believing the gospel.

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. ~ Matthew 11:20-24

I once had a friend say, in defense of his Zionist theology, “God will use the Law to reveal himself to them once again, otherwise, they will never hear” Yet according to Jesus, they should have “heard and repented” at the preaching of the gospel!

In Matthew 11, Jesus refers to Capernaum’s rejection of the gospel as a greater offence than the sins of Sodom.

In Galatians, the apostle Paul refers to the Jerusalem which now is as being in bondage with her children and speaks of the Jerusalem from above (the heavenly) as being free.

In the Revelation, the apostle John refers to Jerusalem in Israel as “spiritually” Sodom and Egypt.

Under the Old Testament (which was the type and the shadow of the true in Christ) Jerusalem was the beloved City because of the Temple of God was there. After Israel had entered the Promised Land, the Tabernacle was placed in Shiloh. Yet because of the sins of Israel God removed His presence and forsook the Tabernacle.

The Psalmist tells us the following:

“…they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.” ~ Psalm 60:56-62

Later, under the leadership of Solomon, the first Temple was build in Jerusalem and God filled it with his glory. However, in due time both the house of Israel and the house of Judah went astray and were taken captive by their enemies.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God reminds those who trusted in lying words regarding the Temple, what He had done to the tabernacle in Shiloh.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. ~ Jeremiah 7:1-12

In Acts 7, Stephen preached the following to the elders of Israel:

“But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers…” ~ Acts 7:47-52 

When God sent John the Baptist to the people of Israel he proclaimed that the Messiah’s coming was at hand and called the people to repentance. Many came and were baptized by John and confessed their sins. Yet, because of the sway of the corrupt “religious institution” which was controlled by the corrupt “religious leaders” many chose to reject the Messiah.

Only a remnant followed Jesus.

The remnant who followed Jesus preached the gospel first to their fellow Israeli kinsmen and God gave eternal life to all who repented and believed the gospel.

With these Jewish followers of Christ, God began building his true temple and in due time Gentiles were added. This true temple continues to be built today as the “body of Christ” consisting of Jews and Gentiles, and is being built together as an habitation of God through His Holy Spirit. ~ See Ephesians 2:18-22

The true house of God will never again be a physical temple in the physical land of Israel. That house has been made desolate because of their sins, and their rejection of all those whom God sent to them culminating in their rejection of Jesus (Matthew 23:37-39). The kingdom of God was taken from them and given to another which brings forth the fruits thereof. ~ See Matthew 21:43

Yet many continue to promote an eschatology that tolerates evil in Israel for the sake of the rebuilding of an apostate temple that they “think” God still wants.

Modern Israel is nearly worshipped by some even though the state of Israel rejects the gospel of Christ, and does evil in the sight of God, such as Tel Aviv, priding itself as the gay capital of the world.

Any American city which does the same, is condemned by evangelicals. Yet with Israel, it is overlooked because of the pervasive “end time theology” which is apostate to the gospel, namely, a third temple with animal sacrifices. 

This is the epitome of  hypocrisy! And it is a “political gospel” rooted in Jewish supremacy rather than the true gospel rooted in Christ.

God’s House, his true temple, is built with living stones of which Christ is the foundation stone. God has no other temple on his agenda for the temple of God is his Holy people who are in Christ!

The promise made to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3). God’s covenant with Abraham was with Abraham and his seed which is Christ. This covenant was given to Isaac and Jacob also. Interestingly neither Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob ever inherited the physical land of Israel (Acts 7:5; Hebrews 11:8-13).

The land promise was for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and was fulfilled under the ministry of Joshua (Joshua 14:1; Psalm 105:44). God’s covenant with Israel regarding the ongoing inheritance in the land was dependent on observance of the law covenant given through Moses (Deuteronomy 27-30; Psalm 105:44-45).

The law covenant was accompanied with a curse which for the nation as a whole would result in banishment (or disinheritance) from the land (Deuteronomy 27-30; Daniel 9:11). One cannot separate the land promises to Abraham from the law covenant and remain true to the narrative. They are inseparable.

Furthermore, Israel’s land inheritance coincided with physical circumcision which was the “sign” of the covenant. All who were uncircumcised were to be cut off (Genesis 17:7-14).

Paul tells us that physical circumcision has been made of no effect and the law abolished. In Christ it is circumcision of the heart (spiritual circumcision) that matters and in Christ all families of the earth become the children of Abraham.

God’s promise to the Messiah was; “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2:8).

The land promises given to Abraham were conditional, being dependent on physical circumcision and obedience to the law. Israel in the flesh failed to keep the law and inherited the curse. Jesus the Messiah, redeemed the people of Israel from the curse of the Law, and in doing so the promise expanded beyond the physical borders of Israel to all nations for the blessing of Abraham was now to come on the Gentiles (Galatians 3:13-14).

The uttermost parts of the earth has become the possession of the children of Abraham and in Christ, Abraham has now become the heir of the world (Romans 4:13).

The fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel in the Messiah did not leave them as a physical nation in the land of Israel. The fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel made them a spiritual nation of people in all nations throughout the whole world, beginning in Jerusalem (Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-11).

Now, there is a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13). This new covenant has replaced the former which defined Israel as a physical nation and of which the land of Canaan was the inheritance. In this new covenant the Gentiles from all nations are grafted in with believing Jews as the true Israel of God, and made fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of God’s promise in Christ by the gospel (Romans 11: Ephesians 2:11 -3:6).

 

The land of Canaan is said to be an inheritance for the descendants of Abraham forever. ~ See Genesis 13:15; 17:8

Does this then mean that the promise of the land inheritance has relevance today? If we were to take Genesis 13:15 and Genesis 17:8 at face value without considering the balance of scripture, then we would certainly have to come to a conclusive yes.

Therefore, we need to ask, “does the balance of scripture support our interpretation of the land inheritance?”

To begin, let’s consider the use of the word, forever, elsewhere in the Old Testament. The same Hebrew word translated as “forever” in Genesis 13:15 is translated as “everlasting” in Genesis 17:8 mentioned above (see also Genesis 48:4; Exodus 32:13).

That’s certainly a good start if we are going to build a case that the land inheritance is still relevant.

However, we immediately have our first hurdle before we ever get out of Genesis 17. In verses 10-14, we read that physical circumcision is an everlasting covenant and that the land inheritance coincides with circumcision. The “uncircumcised” have no share in the covenant through which the land was to be inherited.

This immediately becomes problematic in building a defense for the “land inheritance”having relevance today because in the New Testament the apostle Paul tells us that circumcision in the flesh no longer has any value. According to Paul, it is the circumcision of the heart (in the Spirit) which matters.

As we continue through the scriptures we find that the feast of Passover and unleavened bread are said to be an ordinance forever (Exodus 12:14, 17, 24), and the Sabbath was to be a covenant forever. ~ Exodus 31:16-17

Yet the New Testament tells us that these were only shadows of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17) and that Christ Himself is our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The ministry of the Levitical priesthood (Aaron and his descendants) within the tabernacle is said to be a statute forever (Exodus 27:21, Exodus 28:43, Exodus 30:21, Leviticus 24:1-3) and an ordinance forever (Numbers 18:8). The wearing of the priestly garments by the sons of Aaron was also referred to as a perpetual ( forever) statue. The ceremonial washing of the hands of the priests who served in the tabernacle was to be a statue forever. ~ Exodus 30:21

Yet according to the New Testament this priesthood has been abolished and has given way to one that is greater and more glorious, and that is the Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Law of Moses also declares that the Levites were to be servants to the priests and this was to be a statute forever. ~ Numbers 18:23

The law of the portion of meat offering which belonged to the sons of Aaron was also to be a statute forever. ~ Leviticus 6:14-19

The daily meat offerings offered by Aaron and his descendants was to be a statute forever. ~ Leviticus 6:20

The commandment for Aaron and his sons not to drink wine nor strong drink in the tabernacle was to be a statute forever. ~ Leviticus 10:9

The heave and wave offerings belonging to the Levitical priests and their families was a statue  forever. ~ Exodus 29:28; Leviticus 10:15: Numbers 18:19

Like the Passover, the Day of Atonement was also to be a statue forever (Leviticus 16:29, 34, Leviticus 23:31). Yet according to the New Testament, those things which were done under the Law on the Day of Atonement served as a foreshadowing of Christ (Hebrews 10:1-4) and have now been taken away because Christ has become the High Priest of a greater and a perfect tabernacle.

With regards to sacrifices for sin, the Law of Moses also says that the sin offering of the red heifer was to be a statute forever. ~ Numbers 19:9-11

Yet Hebrews 9:13-14 says, For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

As we can see the use of the language forever as it applied to the Old Testament promises, statues, and ordinances doesn’t mean for all eternity without any change as they originally were.

In studying the scriptures, we should consider the qualifying clause “throughout your generations” and other similar clauses. These should be taken into account when considering those things which were said to be forever.

For instance, Genesis 17 says the covenant of circumcision and the land inheritance is forever in view of the those generations.

In Exodus 12:14 the scripture says; And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. ~ See also verses 17 and 42

The daily offering of the burnt offering was to be throughout your generations (Exodus 29:42). The yearly consecration of the altar of Incense by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement was to be throughout your generations. ~ Leviticus 30:10

These references (above) regarding throughout your generations are just a few examples of the many times this qualifying clause and others similar to it are mentioned in view of the forevers in the Old Testament.

The Old Covenant was a covenant for God’s people in the flesh and was binding throughout their generations, wherein the revelation of Christ was hidden in a mystery (Colossians 1:26). The forevers were types and foreshadowings of Christ.

God has saved us according to his mercy by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5) and that which was in the flesh has now given way to that which is in the Spirit.

The forevers of the physical covenant has given way and been translated to forever in Christ!

The forever ordinances of things like Passover continues, but now it’s in Christ and not in the outward offering of animals. The same holds true for the land inheritance, the Sabbaths and all other forevers of the first covenant. True inheritance and rest are in Christ!  He is our Passover, He is our Sabbath, He is our promised land!

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ADDITIONAL NOTES

1. Israel’s right to the land, according to scripture, was dependent on their covenant relationship with God. Physical Israel has no covenant with God today because of their rejection of Jesus. Only believing Jews (those who believe in Jesus Christ) have a covenant with God. Physical Israel is a secular nation like all other nations. Covenant membership is found only in Jesus Christ. The only way that secular Israel could be considered God’s people is for there to be two covenants and two groups of people as the people of God. Dual Covenant theology is heresy.
2. Israel’s right to the land was not exclusive to the physical descendants of Jacob. Throughout Israel’s history, Gentiles were joined to them and inherited full rights as citizens which included land inheritance (see Ester 8:17, Isaiah 56:3-7, Psalm 87:4-6, Ezekiel 47:21-23).
3. When Israel was given the land it was divided among their tribes, which included Gentiles who had joined them. (See the book of Joshua and Ezekiel 47:21-23).
4. The Levites were given no land inheritance.
5. God never meant for Israeli’s only to have access to the land, Israel was required by God to treat those living among them justly and not to oppress them (Leviticus 19:33-34; Jeremiah 7:5-7; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10; Exodus 22:21-24; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 23: 7-8; Deuteronomy 10:19).
6. Supporting Israel in everything is unscriptural. For example, God was angry with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, for making an alliance with Ahab, the King of Israel (See 2 Chronicles 18:1 – 19:2). Also the Apostle Paul tells us that the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and continue to hinder the message of the Gospel are under the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).