ISRAEL UPDATENovember 24, 2002 - Hebron, City of the Patriarchs, added another bloody chapter to its troubled history this past week as 12 Israelis were killed and 20 wounded.
The Arab riots of 1929 and 1936 left scores of Jews dead and wounded – and in both cases, the ruling British Mandate turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the plight of the Jews.
The instigators regarded both of these instances - occurring prior to the rebirth of the nation of Israel - as necessary to rid the land of the Zionists.
Now, the anti-Israel movement will be quick to remind us of the massacre of 29 Muslims by Dr. Baruch Goldstein, a militant Jew.
But the difference here is that Goldstein acted alone – shocking Jews and Christians alike. He was denounced by the Israeli government, which paid reparations to the families that lost loved ones.
Video footage has shown Palestinians jumping up and down with joy when the news reached them about this most recent massacre - just as they did when they watched the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
The participants in the Hebron massacre of this past week were congratulated and referred to as “heroic mujahideen” that carried out a “remarkable operation”. This gang included members of the Islamic Jihad and Shallah – another terrorist group based in Syria.
This incident only shows that there is no desire for peace in Israel, and the wholesale destruction continues - as the leaders of the world only sit and talk about the common ground both sides have - so once again peace is very far away…
November 24, 2002 – Replacement theology is not new to the church, and it continues to appear on the scene and distance people from good, solid biblical teaching.
Simply stated, this belief is the teaching that G-d’s eternal covenant with Israel and the Jews was eradicated – and that now the Church has replaced Israel, thereby have been made partakers of her blessings.
Today, people that hold these beliefs read the Scriptures and state that all references to Israel now refer to the Church – and that Israel is a dead issue.
But if you will notice, the book of Acts mentions the nation of Israel 20 times, and the Church (ekklesia) 19 times, as separate entities.
Our G-d tells us in Isaiah 49:13-16, “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the L-RD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The L-RD hath forsaken me, and my L-rd hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”
This is one of several passages that G-d speaks not only in the past tense of history, but He also speaks into the future – with no change according to Malachi 3:6, “For I am the L-RD, I change not…”
If G-d changed His mind, will, and plan for Israel – there wouldn’t much hope for the Church… but since He did not, both Israel and the Church can look forward to a time of blessing and receiving their respective inheritances.
To be continued…