The Migration of Jews
About the migration of Jews to Israel, Jewish eschatology teaches that the signs of the end and the coming of the Messiah will be accompanied with events that had not taken place at the time of Jesus, such as the rebuilding of the Temple, a Messianic Age of peace, and the in-gathering of the Jews to their homeland. The Jews today reject Christ as a Messiah – the Son of God – and teach that He was a deceiver and a false prophet.
Popular Un-scriptural Teaching
In the 1800s, John Nelson Darby wrote about the doctrine of dispensationalism and taught that end-time prophecies are connected to the literal nation of Israel. Today, these teachings have been promoted especially by the books: The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series and film. For this reason the attention of many Christians are focused on Jerusalem, the migration of Jews, the rebuilding of the temple, and a literal Middle East Armageddon.
Bible Teaching
The New Testament authors under inspiration of the Holy Spirit clearly taught that most Old Testament prophecies about Israel were transferred to all who believe in Christ as the Messiah. So, God’s people are those who accept Him as a personal Savior and walk in His path (John 1:12).
Peter wrote to both Jew and Gentile believers, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9). The apostle stated, that God has now assigned the privileges and responsibilities of the Jewish nation to the Christian church, not as a national group, but as a people called out of every nation to form one spiritual entity, one great family throughout the world. The Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah, and this excludes them from being God’s people.
Paul affirmed this truth, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). And he added, “They are not all Israel who are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). The fulfillment of God’s promise is limited to those who meet the conditions of the covenant relation. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ are the true sons of Abraham (Romans 4; Galatians 3:7–9). The former special status of literal Israel has been stretched to include all those who accept Christ as their Savior.
According to the Scriptures, a true Jew is not based on his ancestry but rather on his character. “He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28, 29). A real child of Israel is one who possesses the spirit that fulfills God’s purpose in calling him to be His chosen child.
A Sign of the End?
Although we are certainly living at a time when the signs of the end are being fulfilled before our eyes, the major migration of Jews to Israel in 1948 and 1951 is not a specific sign of the end. For the promises of God to Israel were conditional on their obedience to God (Deuteronomy 28).
When literal Israel, crucified the Son of God, His covenant was transferred to spiritual Israel – the Christian church, which Paul speaks of as “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16; Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:6, 7). Jesus declared to those that rejected Him that the “kingdom of God” was taken from the Jews and was “given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). However, as individuals, the Jews may be saved by accepting Christ (Romans 11:23, 24).
Also see: How did ancient Israel lose its covenant with God?
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
