The Cross of Christ Moves the World Not Israel
I don’t mean that God failed to keep his promise to the Jewish people. But only some of the people of Israel are really God’s people. And only some of Abraham’s descendants are true children of Abraham. This is what God said to Abraham: “Your true descendants will be those who come through Isaac.” This means that not all of Abraham’s descendants are God’s true children. Abraham’s true children are those who become God’s children because of the promise he made to Abraham. (Rom 9:6-8)
No matter what subject, regardless of which doctrine, it is always and only going to be about the cross. All other truths are invested with power and influence, according to their relation to this theme. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal 6:14) That especially includes Israel in prophecy.
Israel in Bible prophecy actually shows us how and when “every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” will get a chance to embrace “the everlasting gospel.” (Rev 14:6-7)
The cross of Calvary challenges, and will finally vanquish every earthly and hellish power. In the cross all influence centers, and from it all influence goes forth. It is the great center of attraction; for on it Christ gave up His life for the human race. This sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his original perfection. Yea, more, it was offered to give him an entire transformation of character, making him more than a conqueror. {6BC 1113.3} (Compare Gal 6:14)
Christ declares, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” If the cross does not find an influence in its favor, it creates an influence. Through generation succeeding generation, the truth for this time is revealed as present truth. Christ on the cross was the medium whereby mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. This is the means that is to move the world (MS 56, 1899). {6BC 1113.5}
Paul’s Epistle “to the saints in Ephesus” (Eph 2:11,17, Eph 4:17) enlightens our understanding of the special relationship of Israel and The Church. Written specifically to Gentile Christians, at that time, the Apostle informs them that the integration of the Gentile believers into Israel, as sons and daughters/heirs of God was not just a matter of divine afterthought. It was not some kind of mistake. It is all part of God’s plan (Eph 1:5,11) from “before the creation of the world.” (Eph 1:4). The Bible explains how that BOTH Jewish and Gentile children of God would be would be united forever “under one head, even Christ.” (Eph 1:10) To be a true Christian today, we must live from the knowledge that all can now take part in Israel’s covenant blessings. No matter what the nationality. Through “the everlasting gospel” (Rev 14:6-7) Christians of all stripes may receive “citizenship in Israel” and to rejoice in the very same hope that the tiny nation of Israel does. (Eph 2:12, Eph 4:4)
So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family. You believers are like a building that God owns. That building was built on the foundation that the apostles and prophets prepared. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in that building. (Eph 2:19-20, ERV)
It was through the cross, “Christ and Him crucified:”
I decided that while I was with you I would forget about everything except Jesus Christ and his death on the cross (1 Cor 2:2, ERV).
In like kind, all prophecy is about the cross. Prophecy is HIS – Story. Prophecy is the story of Jesus. Always. “Christ and Him crucified,” is the story in all the parts of ‘the everlasting gospel. When we talk about Israel in Bible prophecy, we cannot avoid also talking about the cross. After all, we are not “saved” by being a citizen of any literal country in this world. ALL are saved by the cross. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Whether literal Israel, or one of the “Gentile” nations. (Eph 2:13, Gal 6:14, etc) “Christ and Him crucified,” and ALL other truths are invested with power and influence, according to their relation to this theme.” (1 Cor 2:2)
Through the cross, Jesus has reconciled BOTH Jews and Gentiles are saved by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:16) This had been God’s plan all along the ages. That’s why the Bible says how “Christ is the reason we are now at peace. (John 14:27) He made us Jews and you who are not Jews one people. We were separated by a wall of hate that stood between us, but Christ broke down that wall. By giving his own body,Christ ended the law with its many commands and rules. His purpose was to make the two groups become one in him. By doing this he would make peace.
Through the cross Christ ended the hate between the two groups. And after they became one body, he wanted to bring them both back to God. He did this with his death on the cross. (Eph 2:14-16 ERV) Christ’s mission was and is the formation of a Messianic Israel, made up of al believers from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” (Rev 14:6) thereby making for peace” (Eph 2:15) Christ’s mission of peace was and is realized through the shed blood of Christ, (Eph 2:16) and commissioned to be proclaimed by “God’s holy prophets and apostles.” (Eph 3:5)
And this is the secret truth: that by hearing the Good News, those who are not Jews will share with the Jews in the blessings God has for his people. They are part of the same body as Israel, (Jews), and they share in the same promise God made through Christ Jesus. (Eph 3:6) Everyone on earth shares in the promise of the gospel. God does not leave anyone out. All are invited to the “kingdom of God.” (1 Thes 2;12, Luke 17:21)
God’s plan was not revealed to previous generations, not because God wanted to keep something from his people, but because he would reveal it to everyone in his own perfect timing. God planned to have Jews and Gentiles comprise one body, the church. It was known in the Old Testament that the Gentiles would receive salvation (Isa 49:6) but it was never revealed in the Old Testament that all Gentile and Jewish believers would become equal in the body of Christ. Yet this equality was accomplished when Jesus destroyed the “wall of hostility” and created “one new people” (Eph 2:14-16).
Paul is stressing to us today, by mentioning the word “together” three times just in (Eph 3:6) When Paul said “together” here he was referring to how both Jewish and Gentile Christians are totally equal within Israel and The Covenant promise. (in the original language it is even more conspicuous: synklerinoma, syssoma, symmetocha). We can therefore assume that no theological system is justified in somehow trying to rebuild the dividing wall between Jews and Gentile,or between Israel and the Church.
The grand reception of Gentiles into the household of Israel has sometimes been compared to the reception of the prodigal son into his Father’s house, in Jesus’ parable. (Luke 15:11-32) That father embraced the lost son when he returned home in shame, while the elder son strongly begrudged the Father’s generosity. So too must the largely Gentile Church in Paul’s time realize that Gentiles have entered into the house of Israel as if they would in their Father’s house and are entitled, by the cross to partake fully of Israel’s covenants as “fellow citizens and heirs.” (Rom 8:17) The Sonship of Gentiles is the adoption into an already existing household.
Paul differentiates between “we who were the first to hope in Christ,” (Eph 1:12) meaning the Israelites, and then the Gentiles, who were called “aliens” “without hope, and without God in the world,” (Eph 2:12) Of the Jews he said “we” were predestined in Christ “for the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:12). Of Gentiles he says: “and you also were included in Christ…to the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:13-14) BOTH Jews and Gentiles are called “in Christ” to the very same destiny. To praise God’s glory. Paul stresses in Ephesians chapter one the assuring concept that Christ carried out, and that The Spirit simply revealed, all that God had chosen in eternity.
The cross was the preconceived plan appointed for the salvation of BOTH Jews and Gentiles within one body, including some literal Israelites, but also many “Gentiles” or non-Israelites. Collectively can just be called “the Church.” The united worship of God by both Jews and Gentiles into one body, not any literal nation, but rather, all believers, as a whole, from all over the world. Such a joining together is not to be thought of as some sort of temporary fix for an emergency situation caused by the rejection of Christ by the Jewish nation of Israel.
THIS uniting of two previously separated branches of the human race is a mystery, and yet is the very substance and essence of God’s eternal plan. Meaning, “the everlasting gospel.” (Rev 14:6-7). “Everlasting” means that it is not only just literal Jews, from one place only. It means people from all over the world. The gospel is not just for one race only. otherwise, it would not be and “everlasting” gospel. This was revealed in principle, although never on such a scale and never with such clarity as in the various prophetic writings of Israel.
The gospel of Christ was not fully disclosed in any of Israel’s prophetic writings. (Eph 3:5, Rom 1:2, Rom 16:25-26). It was mostly understood dimly during the times before Christ. (1 Pet 1:10-12, Luke 24:15-15,44). In the light of God’s new revelation in Christ, the Apostles were able to properly understand God’s eternal plan of salvation, covering ‘every nation, kindred, tongue, and people,” as described, in it’s universal scope and to fully grasp it’s Christ-centered structure in all it’s bearings within the classic gospel text from Rev 14:6-7. (see also Eph 1:9-10, 2 Cor 3:13-18)
Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel.
Now we have a message,
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.”
Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Savior, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson. Whosoever will come after Me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me. Anyone whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. They will die to selfishness. They will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ.(6BC 1113.1}
All things are made by and sustained by Christ. All things in the universe will finally be reunited and once again fully integrated into one, organic whole by Him, on the basis of His reconciling shed blood at the cross. (Col 1:20) This cosmic unity of heaven and Earth has now been achieved in Christ (Eph 1:22) and therefore signifies also the decisive end of racial barriers of every kind in Abraham’s true seed (lineage) and Israel’s spiritual household before God. (Eph 2:16-22) All eyes are not, or should not be on “Israel” but on Jesus, and His Messianic Israel by which He has fully welcomed Gentile Christians into Israel, as fully equal, fellow citizens.
And the Spirit himself speaks to our spirits and makes us sure that we are God’s children. (John 1:12)
If we are God’s children, we will get the blessings God has for his people. He will give us all that he has given Christ. But we must sometimes suffer like Christ suffered. Then we will be able to share his glory. (Rom 8:16-17)
God loves His obedient children. He has a kingdom prepared, not for disloyal subjects, but for His children whom He has tested and tried in a world marred and corrupted by sin. As obedient children, we have the privilege of relationship with God. “If children,” He says, “then heirs” to an immortal inheritance. Christ and His people are one. {6BC 1077.8}