The Role of Israel (1)

The lady who asked about the meaning of Christ’s cursing the fig tree, while stating that she agreed with most of the exposition in the last issue of the News, questions one of my conclusions: "At no time in the future will Israel be restored to her special nation status with God and certainly not in some future earthly millennium." She quotes Jer. 31:36 which says that Israel shall never "cease from being a nation before me for ever" and several other passages (Isa. 41:9; Eze. 37:22; Ps. 121:4) which she understands as speaking of a future spiritual restoration of the nation of Israel. Her question thus concerns (chiefly) the subject of the last times or, more specifically, the role of national Israel in the future.

The difference can be expressed like this. (1) There are passages in the Bible that speak of God’s casting off Israel because of their rejection of the Messiah. Jesus cursed the fig-tree (which the questioner and I agree refers to Israel): "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever" (Matt. 21:19). Later Christ said to the Jews, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (43). (2) Other Scriptures (such as Jer. 31:36) say that God chose and loves Israel and that He will never cast her off.

How are these to be reconciled? Some say that God will convert national Israel in a future millennium or golden age (premillennialism and dispensationalism). This view seeks to reconcile (1) and (2)—that Israel is cast off and that Israel will not be cast off—by saying that Israel is not now experiencing God’s special favor but that she will be converted in the future. The other view is that Israel is not now and never will be restored as God’s special nation and that the OT passages which promise that she will not be cast off refer to spiritual Israel, both Jews and Gentiles who are elect and called.

In support of the latter position, I remind you that Christ’s pronouncement, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever" (Matt. 21:19), is a word of curse upon the nation of Israel ending her role as the nation of God not just for two thousand or more years but "for ever." But more needs to be said than this because, as the questioner indicates, this is an important issue determining one’s view of Israel and the future, as well as one’s interpretation of many Scriptures and OT prophecy. However, this will have to wait for consideration in the next few issues.