The Israel of Today Is NOT the Israel of Scripture
BY LYNDEN HOWARD, PONCA CITY, OK

Israel was no longer a nation after 70 A.D. Not until the U.S. brought it about in 1948 by taking over land belonging to Palestine. The nation of Israel today is not the Israel of the Old Testament.

The Israel of the scriptures not only rejected the Messiah, but hated him for pronouncements concerning them and tried often to put him to death. The Jews finally succeeded in having the Messiah crucified. The apostle Paul was hated in the same way for being an ambassador of Christ and an apostle to the Gentiles, as recorded in the book of Acts.

Some religious groups teach that all Israel will be saved. But Jesus said to Jews in his day, "I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he" (John 8:24). Paul said, "Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" (Romans 10:1). And Paul refers to Isaiah, "And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, 'Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved…'" (Romans 9:27). So it is not by being a part of Israel that a Jew will be saved, but only by faith in Christ as the Son of God.

Much harm is being done in our world by persons of the millennial persuasion who believe Israel is still to be favored and protected as the chosen people of God, thinking that all the prophecies concerning Israel extended beyond 70 A.D. Those who hold such a view put pressure on our government to favor and fortify Israel. And this position of course angers the Arab nations.