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ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISRAEL
May 1, 2024

By now it is quite apparent that anti-Semitism is alive and well in America and elsewhere in 2024. This is widely attributed to Israel’s socio-political presence in the Middle Eastern region in general and within Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights in particular. Israel is accused not only of occupying land that is not theirs but also of committing other atrocities towards the Palestinian people, neither of which reflect the facts of the matter.

Anti-Semitism is not new. The worst expression of it occurred in Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945, which in turn triggered other movements in Europe as well as within the United States through the much smaller German-American Bund, a movement that disintegrated when the United States entered World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, approximately six million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazis in what is known as the Holocaust. So, even when scattered throughout Europe the Jews, prior to Jewish statehood in 1948, anti-Semitism raged as an agent of destruction.

An important question is, why? Why has Israel experienced the level of antagonism it has throughout its history?

Biblically, several answers can be offered. First, Israel is certainly viewed as an interloper by other Middle Eastern countries and elsewhere. While the patriarchs lived in the land prior to their sojourn in Egypt, Abraham’s own country of origin is far to the east (Genesis 11:31-12:5). The land of Canaan is gifted to him and his descendants by God by virtue of God’s covenantal relationship with and promise to Abraham and subsequently to both Isaac and Jacob as well (Genesis 26:1-5; 28:10-17). In the estimation of this writer, all aspects of the Abrahamic covenant remain in effect, including the promises concerning the land of Israel. When the Mosaic covenant is renewed on the plains of Moab prior to Israel’s entrance into the land of Canaan, Israel’s uniqueness within the redemptive plan of God is restated: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

Second, while Israel as a nation does not currently embrace Jesus the Messiah, the notion of her chosen status is certainly perceived as arrogant, privileged, and exclusive. This same criticism is leveled at Biblical Christianity. Though Israel has at many points violated her covenantal responsibilities toward God, the nation has since its beginning functioned as the vehicle through which the Triune God would finally provide redemption for the world. Notice how Matthew opens his account of the one gospel: “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Jesus is shown to be the God-man, “Immanuel”; literally, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), who became incarnate as a Jew. This role is attributed to no other nation beside Israel.

That Israel has, as a nation, rejected Jesus Christ is a mystery that we will discuss in a future article. For now, it is important to recognize that, despite her failure, God has not discarded the nation. All is not lost.

ISRAEL IN THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH
April 21, 2024

John’s vision of the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21-22) provides a fitting finale for the entire Bible. It represents the end of the beginning, the culmination of redemptive history. The two chapters present the fourth and final act of the overarching Biblical drama, the metanarrative, that describes the trajectory of the created order: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. In light of the claims of covenant theology as well as current events, it is significant that the only two entities that appear in John’s account of the new heaven and earth are the church, represented by the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14) and the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12). This is an indication that Israel is not going away anytime soon.

In the course of its history Israel has survived a relocation to Egypt, exile in Babylon, near-destruction at the hands of the Roman Empire, the holocaust, and numerous wars since achieving statehood in 1948. It has proved remarkably resilient. The question is, how? How has Israel survived when so many of its antagonists have either disappeared from history or been reduced in international standing?

The answer is found in Israel’s unique covenantal status. Deuteronomy 7:6 expresses it well: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Only Israel enjoys such a privileged position, a position given them through the initiative of God. When traced through the entire Biblical narrative, the relationship remains in place, even though Israel is at times disobedient to her calling. Yet when we reach the conclusion of the Scriptures, including the description of the new heaven and earth, Israel remains intact as a recipient of God’s favor, as evidenced by her commemoration within the New Jerusalem that descends from God. This is not said of any other entity besides the church. This strongly suggests that the church has not replaced Israel in God’s plan, but has instead complemented it as they together compose the one people of God.

One of the important passages in relation to Israel’s future is located in Romans 11:26a – “and so all Israel will be saved,” an event still in the future at the time of Paul’s letter. But who, exactly, is Paul referring to? Contextually, the apostle Paul’s comments concerning Israel began in Romans 9:1 and extend to 11:32. To this point, Romans 11:26a, Paul has already used the term “Israel” ten times, each referring to ethnic Israel. It would be highly unlikely his eleventh use would refer to something other than the nation of Israel. So, coupled with Revelation 21:12, there is good reason to conclude that God’s plans and purposes for ethnic Israel are not yet complete. And it is this that gives Israel its staying power.