Passover is a story that takes us to Egypt in the year 1400 BC. We sit down to eat dinner with a Hebrew family on the evening of the passover…

Scene 1:

Listen to me, baby girl, I know that you’re upset
Come over here to Daddy, baby, let me wipe your eyes
What I’m about to tell you, Rachel, you must not forget
So listen very closely and I’ll give you a surprise
Your daddy and your uncles have been busy making bricks
And they don’t pay us anything- just blood, sweat and tears
If you came to where I work, you’d see the pyramids
Our people have been building those for 400 years
Remember when I introduced you to Mr. Aaron?
The one who pinched your cheeks and said you had a nice dress
Well him and Mr. Moses have been talking to the Pharaoh
Because the God of Abraham is gonna give His people rest
Some crazy things been happening the last couple of weeks
You didn’t even notice because we’re living in Goshen
The smell of death is everywhere in Egypt and it wreaks
Cause Yahweh is angry and He’s causing a commotion
First, He spoke to Mr. Moses from the burning bush
Commanded him to tell the Pharaoh “Let His people go!”
So that it would be said from Egypt all the way to Cush
That Yahweh is God because everybody would know
Then he went before the Pharaoh and all of His servants
Knowing that the Lord was gonna harden Pharaoh’s heart
When Mr. Aaron threw his staff, it turned into a serpent
But Pharaoh had magicians and they used their secret arts
Their staffs turned to snakes too, but Mr. Aaron’s ate them
Because they don’t know that our God is the One who caused the flood
But Pharaoh wouldn’t let us in the wilderness to praise Him
So Plague 1: Yahweh turned the Nile into blood
The fish died, the river stank, no water for Egyptians
But Pharaoh’s heart was so hard, he didn’t even pause
The miracle was somehow copied by Pharaoh’s magicians
So the second time around, Yahweh hit ‘em with the frogs
When Pharaoh still was hard-hearted, Yahweh brought the gnats
This was Plague number 3- but now something was different
As hard as the magicians tried, they couldn’t copy that
They told him, “This was God”- Pharaoh still wouldn’t listen
Plague number 4 was the swarm of the flies
Plague number 5- all the livestock died
Plague 6- sores terrorized
Plague number 7- fiery hail fell from the skies
You still with me Rachel? I need you to focus
I have something for you- soon I’ll reveal it
Continuing- Plague number 8 was the locusts
And Plague 9- it got so dark that you could feel it
You would think that Pharaoh had a little common sense
But after all of that, honey, he still hasn’t budged
But when this night is over, he will be fully convinced
Because Yahweh’s gonna show Himself to be the perfect Judge
You know how you do bad things and then you get a beating?
It’s like that with God- He punishes our wrongs
He can’t just look the other way because that would mean He’s cheating
But unbelievably, He’s been patient for so long
But now time is running out and so is God’s pity
He’s the universal Ruler many don’t want to cherish
So tonight He’s gonna send the Destroyer through the city
And the first-born son in every house is gonna perish
Look over there, honey- see the blood on our door?
When God notices that, He’s gonna pass by
By faith, we’re believing in the Word of the Lord
that whoever isn’t covered by the blood’s gonna die
So now, back to Fluffy: It doesn’t seem nice
But part of God’s plan was to substitute another
An innocent victim, Fluffy paid the price
Because if it isn’t Fluffy, it’s gonna be your brother

Scene 2:

We rushed into the house so we could finish up our dinner
“Rachel, honey, eat your food as fast as you can!”
The bread was unleavened and the herbs- they were bitter
Belt tight, sandals on, with my staff in my hand
“Joseph and Rachel, it’s almost time to go to sleep
Mommy’s gonna wash you up and I’ll tell you a story
While Daddy’s cleaning up, I don’t want to hear a peep
Matter of fact, I don’t want you to have to wait for me”
We put the kids to bed, I knew the time it was dawning
I looked at the table and that’s when it hit me
Moses said, “Let nothing remain until the morning”
We had leftovers and we had to burn them quickly
I started grabbing meat and throwing it on the fire
All over my face, there were drops of perspire
I cried out for mercy as it came down to the wire
The Destroyer was here! Time had expired!

“At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.” Exodus 12:29-30, ESV

I’ve been a Christian for 7 years. I’ve learned, I’ve grown, I’ve wondered. I came to believe a lot of things that I took for granted, but never thought too much about. But less than a year ago, God showed me something.

There is a solid Christianity that has been fought for, that people have died for. There have been Church councils, and controversial men, who stood up to revolt against corrupt practices, and unbiblical doctrines. We aren’t left in the dark to figure Christianity out all over again. The truth has been opened to, and passed down to us by, Saints past.

Not only has reformed theology opened my eyes to new things, but it’s cleared up so many thing that I believed, but I never really understood.

10. My Sin

I knew I was a sinner. I knew I needed to be forgiven. But just how much of a sinner, I had no idea. Sometimes I would say, “Wow, I didn’t sin much this week.”.

Now I know that it’s quite possible that I have never, for a second, obeyed the command “Love the Lord, your God, with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.”. I never took seriously Jesus’ words that looking at a woman with lust is to commit adultery, or that hating a man in your heart is murder. I ignored the fact that Jesus said “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” -Matthew 5:48

I finally understand that I sin every day, every hour… on some level I sin every moment of my life. This is how sinful I am. But God! Oh how merciful He is to such a sinner.

9. God Works All Things for My Good

This seemed like a nice idea, God works stuff out in the end. I don’t need to worry too much, because God can clean up the messes and put it back together.

But once I understood sovereignty, it all changed. God doesn’t just react to what people are doing, or the messes that pop up in life. He is “working all things” for the good of His people. He orchestrates everything, and my life isn’t left to chance for a split second. Nothing surprises Him, not because He knows it all, but because He’s actually in control.

8. Why We Pray for the Lost

This is something everyone does. We pray for our family and friends to be saved. We say things like “soften their hearts” or “reveal yourself to them”. It’s not something I ever thought about as incosistent with my beliefs, but now I see how strange it was.

If God couldn’t override people’s free will, how could He save them? How could He do anything different than the 100% He was already giving everyone, waiting fo them to make their decision. What does it mean to “soften a heart” other than “do more than You are doing to change their mind”?

Now I can pray fervently for God to override a family member’s sinful will, because I know that it’s their only hope. If God can’t touch our wills, we all go to Hell. God, destroy their will, and MAKE them love You, so they can be saved from Hell!

7. There is Now No Condemnation

I was always on the fence on the “can we lose our salvation?” question.  I’d seen and heard of epic backsliding and people who walked completely away from faith. So it only seemed logical that there were certain sins that could push us too far away from God.

The Bible says nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love that is in Christ, let alone the very thing he died to forgive. The gospel teaches that everything, past, present, and future is forgiven. So what could undo the work of Jesus and make us accused again?

Now I understand that sins aren’t counted against me, anymore. God convicts me to cease from sinning, but the condemnation and marks against me have been paid for. I’m truly free.

6. Jesus Took My Place

The idea that Jesus was in my place on the cross was another nice thought, and was truly my object of faith. But I believed He took everyone’s place on the cross, even people who would be in Hell. What kind of assurance can I find in a substitution that didn’t help such a large number of people it took the place of?  What does it mean to die in someone’s place, if not that they are pardoned?

I understand, now, that Jesus was laying His life down for His sheep… perfectly. Not one of the people who’s place He took on the cross will be in Hell. Anyone who does end up in Hell has not been atoned for.  Jesus truly, perfectly, and finally took my sins on Himself, not because I applied His blood to myself, but because the Father placed my sins, specifically, on His Son.

5. The Necessity of Prayer

I used to pray. I would pray especially hard when I messed up, or when something was completely out of my control. When I knew there was nothing I could do about a situation, I’d give it over to God. Other than that I’d pray very generally that God would help me in my life.

Reformed theology has opened my eyes to the truth that I am completely helpless. I’m 100% at God’s mercy. God could, if He wanted, take the faith out of my heart tomorrow. I’d wake up, shake my head, and say, “Wow, that Christianity faze was weird.” and get right back to my sinful life. God promises to never do that, but that’s how much we are  at His mercy.

I NEED God to live, I need him in every area because I’m powerless without Him. He’s the power that makes me flea from sin, help people, open His word, and even pray. Yes, we should pray that God would give us the desire to pray. God is truly our strength, so we must pray without ceasing if, or we are relying on our powerless flesh.

4. Being Born Again

When I look back, I don’t even know how I would have defined being born again.  I knew it was a change, maybe a feeling. I definitely knew that you needed to be born again to be saved, and I even knew the moment it happened to me. What it was, though, I’d be hard pressed to answer.

Oh boy! I could tell you now. It is the supernatural change of a God-hater into a God-lover. It’s the work of God to change a man’s entire nature. We are set free from slavery to sin, and made slaves of righteousness. We are new creations. Without it man can not believe the gospel or repent. Praise God for the free-will smashing new birth!

3. The Holy Spirit

What a mystery the Holy Spirit was. I believed in the trinity. Father – The one who calls the shots. Son – The one who came to earth to die for sin. Holy Spirit – um… it’s like a mist, that like… is everywhere. Kinda like the wind, I guess. And it… helps us.

Praise God for His Holy Spirit! The third Person of the trinity that works in God’s people. He’s IN me! It’s amazing! He’s the One that produces the fruit, the One that makes me understand the Bible, the One that makes me cry “Abba, Father!” The Holy Spirit confirms to my spirit that I’m in Christ. He perfects my broken prayers and praises. Without God’s Spirit inside us, we’d never know God.

2. The Necessity of the Gospel

I would, from time to time, share my faith. I would talk about how Jesus died, but the most important thing I was seeking was a decision. Offensive parts of the gospel, about sin and wrath… those don’t make people want to accept, so I’d minimize them. I would let people know that Jesus wanted to make them happier, and fulfill their lives, certainly not that He demands their submission and will take away their rights.

Now I know that apart from the clear, complete gospel, nobody can be saved. Anybody who signed a decision card or said a prayer based on a promise of ,”The Bible tells us that we can know where we go when we die. Come to Jesus and He’ll forgive you.”, is not going to heaven. They were deceived. People must hear about their sinfulness, the forgiveness on the cross, and the repentance God requires. This is how we are saved, through the gospel.

1. The Meaning of the Universe

God’s creation, I would guess, was an experiment in free-will. How will people respond to God becoming a man and dying? God was trying His hardest to save as many people as possible, but inevitably some would go to Hell, since it was their decision. Jesus died to make salvation possible, and God was going to be eternally frustrated by all the people that He loved who would be in Hell for eternity. In the back of my mind, I always had a theory that God would forgive them all and bring them into Heaven in the end, and we’d all rejoice.

Oh, how glorious God’s plan truly is. God’s number 1 priority is to show off His majesty and be glorified. God is beautiful, and when we see His beauty and respond in worship, we are fulfilling our entire purpose.  When we fail to love God, we are spitting in this glorious King’s face, and we will be punished.

The purpose of this creation is for God to demonstrate His power and mercy. The fall of Satan and Adam are all part of this amazing story. God’s righteous hatred toward sinners will display His awesome power for eternity. God became a man and redeemed mankind from His own wrath. All who He has mercy on will worship Him for eternity because of this amazing love displayed on the Cross. Heaven will be the most amazing pleasure imaginable, fulfilling the purpose of  creation. We will worship God, forever, because we’ll know what we were saved from. He displayed love beyond our comprehension! Praise God!

The incarnation is when Jesus entered into human flesh (yeah that whole baby in a manger story). The almighty incredibly powerful God, who words cant even begin to explain, entered the world by taking on human flesh. I think that literally DEFINES humility. And while he walked the earth, Jesus never wanted to be treated the way he rightfully deserved to be treated. He made himself the lowest. He is the greatest servant of all time. He served us by coming to us and continued serving us by dieing for His bride. What an amazing example!

This week’s selection is Timothy Brindle’s “The Humility of Christ”. Timothy Brindle is an artist of Lampmode Records along with Shai Linne. “The Humility of Christ” is a track off of his sophomore release entitled “Killing Sin”. I personally love this song. It brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. Once again, a song that literally DEFINES the term “Lyrical Theology”. The song starts off with an audio snippet from Dr. John Piper. So get ready, it’s time to study the work of Christ!

Timothy Brindle – The Humility of Christ
(from the album Killing Sin)

Intro:
Who’d assume that this could be?
God became Man penetrating into human history (Repeat)

Verse 1:
Forever before the creation or there was Satan
The Son was with the Spirit and Father in Glorification
Before worship of fine angels above
The Trinity was in a perfect Triangle of Love
Chilled with no one else 
No need for others
’cause God is self-sufficient—fulfilled within Himself
And we can only guess the conversation
but the Son agreed to rescue those the Father gave Him
And although this Lord should be worshipped
He volunteered to take upon the form of a Servant
The Father commanded and asked Him to come
So now let’s examine the fashion it was done
Let me ask you if you seemed confused with this
God passed through His own creature’s uterus 
and
I admit this is odd, but the Bible can persuade me
an Omnipotent God, crying as a baby?
No doctors around, no spot could be found
To give birth to a Child- the only option in town
was to be born in feeding trough
with breeding cows 
and feces piles- the scene was foul!
It wasn’t fancy but raunchy
how the Son of God was born next to camels and donkeys
What an awesome feat- to drop so deep to cop His sheep
He didn’t step down—He took a quantum leap
And I’m amazed how God, infinite in wealth
put aside His fame and limited Himself
to time and space and eyes and legs
He died to save a violent race whose sin would bring’em hell

Hook 1:
Who’d assume that this could be?
God became Man, penetrating into human history
But He did it completely opposite than people thought He would
so unbelievers (are) mocking it (repeat)

Verse 2:
The Promised Messiah didn’t come in the honor of sire
but humbly rockin’ some modest attire
So people missed it- to be specific
The legalistic thought there king would be the richest
and we know we like commodities
but the Possessor of all riches chose a life of poverty
Wait, it’s not the descendant of David is this?
Yes! And He’s descended the greatest distance
He chilled with sinners and tax robbers
amongst His creatures who to Him were grasshoppers
He dwelt with the lower class, lowly men
And those known as trash were His chosen kin
And the unbelieving Jews were sick of Him
They said “He runs with a team of stupid fishermen
And speaks to Samaritans and Barbarians”
Pharisees stared at Him with harsh arrogance
It’s shown when the Savior took notice of beggars,
healed the blind and sick and those with lowest of wages
He even touched those with leprosy!
which was seen as the most disgusting known infection, see
Wait, are you kidding me?
watch Jesus go low and wash Peter’s toes what great humility!!!
See the Second Person of the Trinity
came down to rescue workers of iniquity
Check His earthly ministry
He didn’t make a bed- He had no place to lay His head
But He became bound to His own Law
but we found no flaw
was from a rugged town-so raw
Slumbered and slept, hungered and wept and sweated
Plunged to our depth, the sum of our debt’s pathetic
The humblest, yet, the humblest death—that’s dreaded
The Son is our rest, come under Him- get His credit.

Hook 2:
No question that He’s G-O-D
but He laid aside the full expression of His Deity
and surfed the chasm, no words can fathom
how God walked this earth, which is cursed from Adam

Verse 3:
He was falsely condemned by Jews and filthy pagans
Now the Cross-the peak of His humiliation
No discussion. Sure they’d best remove Him
He got the most disgusting form of execution
He who sits up on the throne and rules
was kicked and stomped and spit upon by Roman fools
Despised by Israel, tried by sinful souls
But remained silent when struck by violent imbeciles
And Jesus was able to call down legions of angels
But He was too faithful
Gracious and patient was Him
yet He was hated and forsaken by men:
Like Jews, they hated His soul, Judas betrayed Him for gold
When it was tough, His crew was afraid, so they rolled
Suckers—they merked Him, this Suffering Servant
was beat up and looked like He was cut by a surgeon
Slaughtered, bleeding, gushing, oozin’ blood
The Father pleased to crush Him whom He loved
so He probably didn’t even feel the crown and nails
He had to suffer more than to bring down the veil
1
Our eyes are haughty and our lies are naughty
the Holy Christ bore our sins inside His body 
yea,
His veins they burst but no one’s pain was worse
cause the One who made the earth became a curse!
And He was One with the Father’s Essence
But on cross the God of heaven cut off His presence
So I can’t share any language
that can rightly describe the Christ’s despair and His anguish
So forever will I tell: 
In three hours,
Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell! (It is finished)
He who had infinite joy and pleasure
became a Man of Sorrows so we could join forever.

Hook 3:
He took a cosmic plunge, put on some lungs
on the Cross He became to God a sponge
to soak up His wrath
so the wicked wouldn’t be sifted and blown into chaff

By the way, For one argument for the biblical soundness of Amillennialism, click here: Problems with Premillennialism. Now on to the principal intent of this post…

A Purpose for this Writing

In the past, it has been thought and even today it is currently being asserted that if one holds to Amillennialism, then he must believe that the Land Promise divinely issued for the sake of Abraham and his seed has been revoked. For the Millennium, as happening after the return of Christ, is said to be the grounds upon which that promise, concerning Abraham and his seed, shall come to fruition. Those who hold to Amillennialism are commonly and erroneously (as in this site: gotquestions.org) referred to as Replacement Theologians, so as to be seen as believing that God has rejected Israel and has set the Church in it’s place (as if the Church did not consist of Jews!). There is a twofold reason why such disparaging expressions about Amillennialism take place: There is an ignorance of Amillennialism and there are misunderstandings of Scripture. It will be my attempt to vindicate Amillennialism, in respect to the extent to which it is impugned by the more notable and erudite Dispensationalist, and stay the reproach that men have designated for those that hold to it as well as articulate at some measure how the Land Promise is still maintained and that it still necessarily finds fulfillment in light of a proper adherence to Amillennialism. Of course, particularly for those who depart from Dispensationalism in order to lodge at any non-Dispensational perspective on the Millennium (whether Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or even Postmillennialism), a dramatic change on how the term ‘Israel’ is defined is necessary. But an espousal of a non-Dispensational eschatology doesn’t entail that God has forsaken his intent to accomplish his love toward Israel. What I intend to do by the following words is not to comprehensively and conclusively prove Amillennialism, but simply to show in one respect how Scripture itself is perfectly consistent with it.

A Word on the Identity of Israel for whom God’s Promises were made

By the Dispensationalist, there is much emphasis as to what is to be done with Israel. For what we do with Israel should jibe with God’s intent to effectually bring mercy to Israel as he has brought mercy to the Gentiles, to bring about a mass conversion for Israel, to actually save all Israel. That God will accomplish these things, there is ardent agreement on my part. But when we use the term, ‘Israel’, it is necessary that there be qualifier applied to it. Consider the following verse (and everything from the beginning of Romans Ch 9 to the very end of Romans Ch 11 for that matter).

Rom 9:6 – Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

You have here a statement that is quite unequivocal, conveying that one is not Israel just because he is (born) of Israel. This necessarily excludes reprobate Jews (those Jews who actually will never place their respective faiths in Jesus Christ unto salvation) from being deemed Israel. But in the same context, insofar as Israel is distinguished from “the World” (the Gentiles), Israel necessarily or logically excludes the World also. Thus Israel in this context consists exclusively of the elect Jews. But upon the confirmation of the New Covenant, a middle wall of partition, once separating the elect Jews (Israel) from the elect Gentiles (the World), is broken down. This is not so that the elect Jews, whom God foreknew, would be replaced, but rather so that the Gentiles who were far off and strangers would be reconciled with the elect Jews to God, so that they might also be citizens of the commonwealth of Israel (Eph 2:11-19). So in accordance with how Paul uses the term ‘Israel’ in Rom 9-11, of course the invisible Church (true believers) doesn’t replace Israel. The Church comprises Israel.

However, Paul’s usage of ‘Israel’ in Rom 9-11 does not necessarily preclude the appropriateness of referring to the invisible Church as Israel (or spiritual Jews), especially considering that believing Gentiles are considered citizens of Israel as Scripture indicates (Eph 2:12, 19, see also Rom 2:25-29, Phil 3:3, Col 2:11-12, Rom 9:6-9, Psa 73:1, Matt 3:9, Gal 3:29, and possibly also Gal 6:16 depending upon the correct translation/interpretation). And if there should be objection to this, I reserve that at best such an objection could only be a correction on mere semantics. Even if it were wrong for one to call the Church “Israel”, it does not follow that such a reference necessarily entails that the Church has replaced Israel.

A New Testament Explanation of the Promise of Inheritance to Israel’s Father

Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out to a place which he should after receive for an inheritance; and he went out not knowing whither he went.

Abraham was to receive (this inheritance that he went out to) “after”, and not then. Not just after he left from his native residence, Ur of the Chaldees, but “after” his earthly life. This is corroborated with the context, especially the next two verses as well as with Acts 7:5 which says, “And he gave him [i.e. Abraham] none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child“.

Hebrews 11:9 – By faith he sojourned in a land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

Even when he arrived in and walked and dwelt upon what was at that time called Canaan, he is referred to as a sojourner. Verse 10 tells us why…

Hebrews 11:10 – For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

He never received what was promised physically (Heb 11:13 & 39, Acts 7:5). Notwithstanding, he did receive it through promise (Gal 3:18). And since God did promise him, he looked for (or forward to), that city, that country, that world, which was heavenly. And in such a way should the promise be ultimately, absolutely fulfilled.

The Scriptural Account of God’s Promise to Abraham Concerning him and his Seed

Now lets look at the scriptures, which show us God’s intimations to Abraham concerning the land that he and his seed should possess. The very first verse, I will not comment on, but nonetheless have included as a preface for the series of passages in the book of Genesis that I shall pose for the sake of the subject at hand:

Gen 12:1 – 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:

Gen 13:5 – For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

God does not merely say to Abraham that he will give the land to his seed, but regards Abraham as being a future recipient of the land as well. This must pertain to the land, not (or at least not merely) in its temporal state, but in it’s final and renewed. For even though his seed did possess the land physically when Joshua was leading them, Abraham had not. Therefore, seeing as the fulfillment of this promise is for Abraham and his seed to experience, and not his seed only, the totality of this promise has not been fulfilled as of yet. So while the land was to Abraham’s seed that did possess it, it will also be for him as and as a part of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Gen 13:15 – Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Notice, here, that God says Abraham will be given the land that he himself is told to tread upon. Meanwhile, in this particular instance, his seed is not even mentioned even though they should also be given the land, seeing as they were in him, are blessed with him, and are plainly said, by God, to be heir to the land, as he was heir to the land (Rom 4:13). Abraham had yet to physically receive the land that he tread upon for as long as he was living, seeing as he never actually received it in the entire duration of his earthly life.

Gen 12:7 – And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Gen 15:18-21 – In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

In these two verses, God speaks of the land as it should be (i.e. in its temporal state) when given exclusively to Abraham’s seed. Note that even Abraham is excluded. With Gen 12:7, he says that Abraham’s seed will be given the land and with, Gen 15:18-21, to stress the certainty and irrevocability or immutability of his promise, he says not that they would be given the land, but that his seed had been given the land. And he gives specific details, naming real geographic locations, enabling us -the readers- to know the state and extent of this land as should be given to his seed according to the way he means it here in this passage, whether it be in it’s temporal state or whether it be in its renewed. And it is clear that he is speaking of the land in its temporal state, and such that his seed, and not he himself, should physically possess. And according to Scripture and so as to fulfill the promise issued to Abraham, his seed did in fact possess the land (Josh 21:43-45, 23:14, 1 Kings 4:20-21, 8:56). It is in this state that Abraham’s spiritual and true seed (otherwise known as the elect or the remnant) physically did receive it, and as they should have -in faith (as evidenced by Heb 11:30).

Also, in that Abraham’s seed did possess Canaan under Joshua’s leadership, the promise that Abraham and his seed should physically possess the land was partially fulfilled. How was it only partially fulfilled? (1) Only his seed physically possessed the land, and not he also. (2) Canaan itself wasn’t capable of housing a people, so great in number and bodily form, as that which Abraham and his seed are to be. (3) Abraham’s seed doesn’t consist merely of those that are his seed merely biologically. Though it absolutely comprises a portion of his biological seed, it also includes the Gentiles who are fellow-heirs and partakers of the same promises (Eph 3:6) (4) I believe and suggest also that there was only a partial fulflillment because, as yet, many more were to become Abraham’s seed, because of the continual deaths that the constituents of that seed have been subject to, as any and all men, since the members thereof first went into the land to receive it under Joshua, and because of their displacements -however temporary- from the land which were consequent to the nation’s recurrent apostasies. And being that it was partially fulfilled, the promise that Abraham and his seed would receive the land (as an everlasting possession) was not totally fulfilled. Therefore, in that a partial fulfillment –however substantive and significant- is not a fulfillment as it shall finally be, there is a sense in which it was not received. For it is true that it is not merely that the land should be received, but that it should be received as an entirely new world, by every single one of those that are ordained both to be renewed and immortalized. And this is indeed what the scripture says (Heb 11:13 and 39, see also Heb 4:8).

As the promise that his spiritual seed should possess the land in it’s temporal state was totally fulfilled (Joshua 21:43-45, 23:14, 1 Kings 4:20-21, 8:56), I do not contest against the notion that some of those, of Abraham’s biological seed (John 8:33) and never also of his spiritual seed (John 8:36, John 3:3), should have possessed the land also. Moreover, I do not contest against that such possessing happened upon entering into it for the first time after the exodus from Egypt, upon being born within the land, and upon entering into it again at the decree of Cyrus (2 Chron 36:22&23 or Ezra 1:1-4). As a matter of fact, considering that the reprobate and elect Jews alike had part in the Old Covenant, it was necessary and perfectly fitting that the elect and reprobate Jews alike would have possession of Canaan. Yet still, though they were his biological seed, they did not receive the land, as they should have, for they lacked faith (Heb 4:2). Thus, in a noteworthy sense, they didn’t receive it (i.e. they did not receive it as spiritual or regenerate men), and as far as their receiving of it (i.e. as natural or unregenerate men) was concerned, there was futility. Being that those who have not faith are not counted as Abraham’s seed (Rom 4:12, Rom 9:8, see also Gal 3:29) as Jesus himself indicates (John 8:39), they cannot be counted as having possessed the land for the fulfillment of the promise that Abraham and his seed would possess the land as a physical possession in any sense –whether temporal or eternal.

The Land Received by Abraham by Promise and by his Seed Temporally

It is certain that God gave the land to Abraham’s seed as he promised and that his seed did possess it (as it was temporal and confined). It is also certain that there is a sense in which God had yet to give the same land to his seed (as it shall be eternally renewed). This parallels significantly with God’s administrations to Abraham as enunciated earlier. And here, I shall reiterate: He received it along with other blessings by promise (Gal 3:8), which obviously is before any of the promises were even fulfilled, and thus he had yet to receive it (Heb 11:39, Acts 7:5) (see also Heb 11:8) perfectly and eternally, in and by Christ. Concerning Abraham, one manner of his own receiving of estate from God was merely virtual (by promise), and the other is perfect and eternal (in and by Christ). Concerning his seed (that is his spiritual seed), one manner of receiving was temporal (under Joshua), but the other is perfect and eternal (in and by Christ). Since there is indeed a distinction between the way in which Abraham has already received the land, which is as through the promise of God, and the way in which his seed has already received the land, as under the leadership of Joshua, let it be recalled and stressed that ultimately such a distinction is obscured insofar as neither of them in their days received the land as in its renewed, perfected, and eternal state as God had promised. And thus the scripture implies by saying that “the world was not worthy” of those who had faith (Heb 11:38). And again, speaking in respect to the world as it shall be, it is written that Abraham and his seed, by faith, should be the heir (intentionally singular) to the world (Rom 4:13) (Some might argue that ‘world’ as used in both of these two passages represent people and not a place or location, but I assert that a proper consideration of the contexts that encompass these two passages respectively would lead to the conclusion I am supposing). It does not matter whether the land, which was part and parcel to the world and temporal, is received virtually as opposed to actually or vice-verse insofar as they all  (Abraham and his seed) “desired a better” and “heavenly” place which God prepares (as Heb 11:16 says, see also John 14:2 and Isa 65:17&18), not having received it when they were alive (as Heb 11:13 quite clearly says).

A Delicate Point Concerning Israel as Relating to a Right to Possess Israel-Palestine

As I state emphatically that the promise of Abraham and his seed’s rightful possession to the world is realized merely spiritually now and physically at the coming of Christ, I am certainly not trying to make a case that ethnic Israel should under no circumstance occupy the land that is today called Israel and Palestine and that we should contest that occupancy as it now is, except to the extent that there real is scriptural grounds. But I do believe that we should avoid both of what constitutes two diametrically opposed and unbiblical standpoints…

As Gentile Christians (for those of us who are Gentile Christians), I don’t believe that we should side with those that seek for ethnic Israel to be “driven into the sea”, lest we be not too unlike the Assyrian, Rabshakeh who said, “The Lord said unto me, go up against this land and destroy it” (2 Kings 18:25) which entailed the destruction of the occupants of that land. Rabshakeh sought not only for destruction concerning Israel, but even affirmed that God actually sent him. Although God did send him in some sense, it was certainly not as he thought, or at least not as he affirmed. We are not to go in the way of Rabshakah and act outside of the boundaries of scripture, which says that we are to love our neighbors (Rom 13:10) and indicates that we are to be a light of the Gospel to the whole world, not excluding ethnic Israel (Rom 11:14), especially considering the fact that Scripture says that God is able and actually will bring about a mass revival within ethnic Israel.  Aside from this, we see quite consistently that after God has finished bringing another nation even against apostate Israel, He disposes of that other nation. I would not opt to be a part of the nation, which God shall dispose of, however much or in whatever way God uses that nation to chasten Israel.

On the other hand, we should be discerning and effective about our treatment of ethnic Israel if we should deem it is necessary to have concern for them. After all, for the sake of our own souls, we should not be overly eager about this temporal world for ourselves (1 Pet 2:11, Phil 3:19-20, Col 3:2, 1 Cor 7:31). And it is corollary to or consonant with this that we should not encourage others, particularly the Jews, to be overly eager about this temporal world for themselves. Israel-Palestine, being part and parcel to this world, is no exception. In the times of Moses, an entire generation, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, was not allowed into Israel-Palestine, and because of unbelief. Today, especially since May 14, 1948 Jews chiefly occupy the land, though the majority of them are unbelieving. As astonishing and significant as it might be that the Jews have become or been established as an independent nation and as scriptural as it actually is that God shall eventually bring about a mass conversion within ethnic Israel, should we now commit the error of making our concern for the welfare of the Jews to be also the condoning of a system of worship or the attempted keeping of Old Covenant ordinances that God, himself, has purposely abolished (Dan 9:27, Heb 10:5-12))? If our treatment of the Jews, is not for the furtherance of the Gospel among them (as well as all other peoples) to begin with, in effect we will do just that. If our treatment for the Jew is not unrelentingly according to the Gospel, in effect we will do just that. And while it might appear that we are “pro-Israel”, we would actually be performing a grave disservice to them.

The Insufficiency of Terrestrial Jerusalem and the Anachronism of Old Covenant Practices

Gal 3:21-26 – Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to (or corresponds with) Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Right here Paul says that Jerusalem is in bondage, being such that corresponds to Mount Sinai and is therefore not worthy of being distinguished by those that are spiritual and of faith. No wonder why Abraham looked above (Heb 11:9). For earthly Jerusalem itself, as stated in the passage above, was initially allegorical and is currently in bondage, and is not the city of those that are children to Abraham (Heb 13:14). And so the land that encompasses it is in bondage, and the whole world for that matter (Rom 8:21). And all this agrees with Heb 11:38.

Now if there is land to look forward to as well as occupy now (as I would argue Gal 3:9 implies and 2 Pet 3:13-14, Heb 11:9 & 10, 12-16, 13:14, 12:22 explicitly states), which is designated for Abraham and his seed, and we know that his seed is those who have faith -Jews and Gentiles (Rom 4:17 & 18), it must be that the promises shall have their literal fulfillment in the future by Christ, and it is necessary that presently there exists a spiritual fulfillment in Christ. This must be conceded as scripture actually prompts.

Consider Jesus in his declaration to the woman at the well.

John 4:21-24 – Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Consider also…

Gal 4:24-26 – Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth [corresponds] to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Now if we will be serious about embracing Jesus’ words to the woman at the well as well as what Paul says to the Galatians, in order for all the promises to be fulfilled concerning Israel, must there really be an age, be it regarded as a thousand literal years, in which it is mandatory for all of the nations to physically offer sacrifice in a terrestrial Jerusalem?

The Return of the Jews to the Holy Land

Considering the fact that God said he would scatter Israel among the nations for persistently rebelling against him and that their return to the land would be preceded by their return unto him, I will offer some explanation as to how it is that the Jews can occupy Israel-Palestine as they do now even though they are in unbelief: In this current, post-pentacost and inter-advental age or as the New Covenant has been confirmed, the land doesn’t have such significance that God should keep them out. For Israel-Palestine has not the purpose that it once had in respect to the Old Covenant, seeing as the Old Covenant is now abolished. Their occupancy of Israel-Palestine as unbelievers reflects this. For regarding the economy or dispensation of the Old Covenant, God spoke of Israel’s turning back unto Him as taking place within the nations to which they were scattered, before they were allowed or brought back into the land (Lev 26:40-45, Deut 4:29, Neh 1:9). And in fact, they did (Dan 9:18 &19) and they were brought back into the land after the consummation of seventy years of Babylonian captivity. Aside from this, it seems that God has permitted them to occupy Israel-Palestine insofar as they are human beings that require residence in this world just like everyone else. So of course, we have no reason to suppose that God absolutely forbids and should prevent them from occupying Israel-Palestine due to their unbelief. And if on the basis of ethnic Israel’s unbelief, we will still suppose this, it seems that we might as well also suppose that God forbids the unbelieving Gentiles from occupying any place in the rest of the world.

Faith in Christ and the Anticipation of an Incorruptible and Eternal Estate

Any legitimate appropriation of Israel-Palestine, from the point at which Abraham was given the promise of it and from the point at which Joshua lead them into it until the first coming of Christ, was to be done in faith and in anticipation of the new world as spiritually occupied in Christ through his first coming and physically inaugurated by him at his second coming (Heb 11:13). Even now, any legitimate appropriation of any part of this world, whether Israel-Palestine or elsewhere, is to be done in faith (Acts 4:13). With ethnic Jews in general today as well as many Gentiles, faith in Christ is lacking. Yet with those that are not Abraham’s seed (merely) biologically (Rom 11:7), but rather spiritually (comprising Jew and Gentile, Gal 3:29), there is faith (Gal 3:7). These are those who appropriate not merely a sliver of land, but the whole world as found only in Christ. And these are those who shall reside for all eternity in this world renewed: the New Heaven and the New Earth.

- Written by Sonny Burrell – Original Post