You probably first heard about the salvation of Israel in the books of Romans and Hebrews. They are an excellent place to start, since most Bible teachers are more likely to preach from the NEW Testament rather than the OLD.
Part of the reason lies with the names. NEW is better than OLD, right? But, that seems to assume that the God of the OLD Testament is somehow different than the God of the NEW. But, that is not true in any way at all. This is why I no longer refer to the first books of the Bible as the Old Testament.
I call them the Hebrew Scriptures.
This raises another problem that Bible teachers have. Hebrew is a lot harder to learn than Greek. And, ancient Hebrew is even harder than the more modern version that Israelis speak. But, there’s more about the Last Days in the Hebrew Scriptures than in the New Testament. And, this is a big reason why Peter said this:
2 Peter 3:1-2
King James Version
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Yeah, the holy prophets. From Isaiah to Malachi, we have a real need to understand what they said. A lot of what they said has already been fulfilled. But, there are many that have not been fulfilled. And, I have to tell you, that some of what the prophets have said are terrifying, in much the same way that the Book of Revelation is terrifying.
So, let’s go through some of what is said in the New Testament about the coming Redemption of Israel.
The Remnant That Will Be Saved
Romans 9:22-28
King James Version
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
Zechariah speaks of only a third of those in the Land of Israel surviving, being saved and then refined. It will be a terrible time, but also one that will result in God being glorified and Israel being praised.
Israel Being Saved Over The Centuries
Romans 11 is the salvation of Israel chapter. And, it is one that antisemites hate to read.
Romans 11:1-7
King James Version
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
As Paul says, there have always been Jews who came to Christ. A little here. A little there. So, those who claim that God has cast away the Jews, should remember that many Jews have been saved over the last 2000 years.
The Redemption of Israel that the prophets talk about will be different. It will be explosive and catastrophic. It will be an event that no one can ignore. But, you’ll need to read the prophets to see it.
When The Time Of The Gentiles Is Over
Romans 11:11-12
King James Version
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
I know that there are many who claim that not all the Gentiles have heard the Gospel. But, I say that this isn’t true. Yes, there are some who have not heard it in their own dialect, but for 2000 years the gospel has spread across the world multiple times.
China, itself, has had waves of missionaries pass through. The same is true of every continent except Antarctica.
This doesn’t mean that we should stop translating Bibles or stop sending out missionaries. Far from it, but if you are waiting for the ‘time of the Gentiles’ to end, we are very close indeed.
Do Not Speak Against The Jews
Romans 11:16-25
King James Version
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Those who speak against the Jews, who attack them and speak evil against them – beware. God will do to you, what was done to them. God promised to bring the Jews back to Himself.
Do not stand against the promises of God.
There are too many Christians who think that cursing the Jews is good, not knowing that they are doing the work of Satan. There are enough people who curse the Jews. Do not add your voice to their hatred.
The Covenant Of God Towards The Children Of Jacob
Romans 11:26-32
King James Version
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
If God would cast away His promise to Abraham, Jacob and to the children of Israel, then how can you trust that God would not cast you away? But, we know that God does not cast away His promises. His promises are forever. He will never fail us, and so He will never fail Israel.
God has promised to bring them back to Himself and redeem them through faith in His Son, and the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross. If we turn our back on the promises that God made to Israel, then do not be surprised if God turns His back on you.
God Will Make A New Covenant With Israel And Judah
Hebrews 8:1-2, 6-13
King James Version
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
…..
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
We are a part of this new covenant. And, they will have the same indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we do. And, they will no longer need to follow the 613 laws of Torah that could not save them. And, God the Father will see the the righteousness of His Son, when He looks upon them – just as He does for us.
If there is no hope for Israel, then there is no hope for us.
We Were Told To Pay Attention To The Prophets – We Haven’t
2 Peter 3:1-2
King James Version
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
When the New Testament speaks of the Scriptures, they mean the Hebrew Scriptures – what most call the Old Testament. There was no New Testament when Peter was writing this. Nor was there a New Testament when Paul was writing to Timothy and said this:
2 Timothy 3:14-17
King James Version
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Again, was Paul speaking of the New Testament when he mentioned the ‘holy scriptures’?
Of course not. He was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet, we have forgotten this need to study the Hebrew Scriptures. It is time to listen to what Peter and Paul said, and obey their admonition to read the Hebrew Scriptures.