Daniel Chapter 8 – A prophecy about our day. July 2022

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Daniel Chapter 8 – A prophecy about our day.  July 2022

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A Story Concerning the Restoration of Israel

                                          Restoration

-A Story Concerning the Restoration of Israel –

D.P. Weary, Th.D.h.c.

June 2022

 

 

Character List

 

Saul of Tarsus

 

Tertius of Iconium

 

Josiah of Jerusalem

 

 

 

I.           The Concern

The year is 57 AD. It is winter. The place is Corinth, Greece. Saul of Tarsus is spending three months in Corinth while on his way to Jerusalem. One chilly, blustery evening we find Saul and his faithful scribe Tertius gathered around a table lit by oil lamps in the room Saul rents from his friends Pricilla and Aquila. A small fire burns in the fireplace warming the room.

Saul met Pricilla and Aquilla 5 years earlier in Corinth. They became faithful believers in Jesus at that time and Saul lived with them for 18 months. Now they are hosting Saul during his journey to Jerusalem. Tertius is Saul’s scribe and long-time friend. Tertius is one of the original 70 disciples. He is well educated and a faithful disciple of Jesus. Tertius later becomes Bishop in Iconium.

Saul and Tertius are discussing a portion of a letter Saul is writing to the Believers in Rome. Tertius says to Saul, “I have a great concern for believers in Jerusalem. The priests have turned the people against our friends and our message of salvation through our Lord Jesus. And then there is the general persecution of all Jews by the Romans. Our message of salvation and redemption through faith in Jesus has become a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to the people. We see our message going forth to the gentiles and many are believing and being saved. Even the Church in Rome is growing. But in Israel, the people are suffering, the Believers are being persecuted, and the people are rejecting our message. When we get to Jerusalem, what will we find? What words of comfort and encouragement will we have to give our brothers and sisters in Christ?”

A knock at the door interrupts their conversation. When Tertius opens the door, he finds Josiah of Jerusalem standing there looking a bit distraught. Josiah is a friend of both Saul and Tertius. He is a fellow believer in Jesus who became a believer along with Pricilla and Aquila 5 years ago when Saul was first in Corinth. Josiah comes from a wealthy Jewish family of merchants in Jerusalem. He fled Jerusalem to Corinth in 50 AD leaving behind family and friends.

Saul greets Josiah, “Come in my friend, come in.”

Josiah responds, “I trust that I am not intruding, but I have just received a disturbing word from Jerusalem concerning my family.”

Saul replies, “You are always welcome here my friend. Come sit with us and tell us the news.”

Taking a seat across the table from Saul, Josiah with tears in his eyes begins to tell his story. “The Romans have destroyed our family business with their taxation and controlling laws. Now they have arrested my cousin on false charges. The persecution of Jews not only in Jerusalem but all over Israel is growing daily. Even in the synagogues, the Romans are harassing and controlling the priests. And the persecution of our fellow believers is even worse. It seems that God has abandoned all of Israel. Is there no hope Saul? Has the wrath of God fallen on Israel and the Jews for their rejection of our Lord and their pursuit of redemption through the works of their hands and seeking to establish their own righteousness?”

 

II.        Israel’s Need

After a long pause, and perhaps a tear falling from his eyes, Saul replies. “My dear brother, I long in my heart and pray to God that the people of Israel be redeemed and saved. What enthusiasm they do have for God is misdirected zeal.”

Interrupting Saul, Josiah asks, “Why do they reject God’s way of getting right with Him? The Way has been prophesied in their own scriptures. Why can’t they see it?”

 “They don’t understand God’s way,” Saul replies. “They cling to their own way by trying to keep the law. They simply do not understand that Christ accomplished the purpose of the law. He fulfilled the law for righteousness and He gives His righteousness to all who believe in Him. Remember that it was Moses that wrote, ‘If you obey all my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them.’ Only Jesus obeyed all God’s decrees and regulations perfectly. This is impossible for mortal men. But through faith in Jesus, He freely gives His righteousness to all who believe.”

Josiah sighs, “The Jews work so hard to get right with God. They think they can work their way up to heaven and somehow get Messiah to come down to earth by their works. They would even dig their way down to the place of the dead to bring forth their Messiah.”

“Yes, it is even written in the law,” adds Saul, “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. This message is the very message about faith that we preach. If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Anyone who trusts in Jesus will never be disgraced. It was Isaiah that wrote, ‘The Lord is placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a precious cornerstone, and whoever believes will never be shaken.’”

“Anyone?” asks Josiah. “What about the Gentiles?”

“Jew and Gentile are the same, Josiah. They have the same Lord, who gives righteousness to all who call on Him. It was Joel that wrote, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

“And that’s where we come in isn’t it, Saul? How can they be saved unless they believe in Jesus? And how can they believe unless someone tells them about Him? And how will anyone go and tell without being sent? That’s why the scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’”

 

III.     Israel’s Problem

“However, Josiah,” Saul cautions,  “Not everyone welcomes the Good News. The prophet Isaiah said, ‘Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?’ Faith in Jesus comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.”

“But, have the people of Israel heard the message?’ asks Josiah.

“Josiah, King David said this, ‘The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.’ Yes, Israel’s own scriptures have proclaimed the message.”

“Saul, if they heard, did they really understand?”

 “Listen to what Moses said,” answers Saul. “They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God; they have provoked my anger with their useless idols. Now I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people; I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles. Later the prophet Isaiah wrote, ‘I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.’ But regarding Israel, God said, ‘All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.’ This is the reason the people of Israel are having so much trouble and tribulation Josiah. This is Israel’s great problem.”

With great sadness in his voice, Josiah asks, “So, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Has God given the covenant promises He gave to Abraham to others who were not even seeking Him?”

 

IV.      The Remnant

Saul’s answer is strong and emphatic. “Absolutely not! Far from it! Look at us. We are Israelites, descendants of Abraham. We are members of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. He has not rejected us! No, God has not nor ever will reject His own people; the people He chose from the very beginning to be His special people. Yes, some Israelites will be lost and rejected. But not all. There will always be a faithful remanent. Elijah the prophet spoke about this when he said, ‘LORD, the people of Israel have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.’  But God replied, ‘No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal.’ This will always to true. God will always have a few people of Israel that remain faithful because of God’s grace; His undeserved kindness.”

          Josiah observes, “Since it is through God’s grace that they are saved, then it is not by their good works. If it was by their works, then God’s grace would not be free and undeserved would it?”

“Josiah, most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they try so hard to work for. But like us, a few have. At the end of the age, it will be like this also. But for the rest, their hearts will be hardened and they will be lost. The prophet Zechariah told us that at the end of the age, two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die. But one-third will be left in the land. Just as it is written in the scriptures, ‘God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.’ King David also wrote, ‘Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.’”

          Looking down at the table before him, Josiah laments, “It all seems so hopeless. Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery?”

 

V.         The Mystery of Salvation for the Gentiles

“Absolutely not!” Saul responds. “God’s people, the Israelites were disobedient and rebellious, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. God’s intent was to make His own people jealous and claim it for themselves.”

Josiah asks, “Are you saying that the blessings of salvation are made available to Gentiles as a means of drawing the Israelites back to God?”

“Yes, Josiah. And if the Gentiles and indeed the world are so blessed and enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of free salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share in when they finally accept it.”

“Saul, this is a very important message for the Gentiles in Rome. And indeed, for the whole Gentile world.”

“Yes, Josiah. Because God appointed me as an apostle to the Gentiles, I need to stress this. Somehow, I want to make the people of Israel jealous of what the Gentiles have in and through our Lord Jesus, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!”

Josiah, now gazing into the fire burning in the fireplace reflects, “So God’s promises and covenant with Abraham and the Israelites still holds, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, Josiah. It is a blood and unconditional covenant with Abraham and Israel that God will completely fulfill at the end of the age. Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy and their descendants will also be holy. It’s like a batch of dough. The entire batch is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. Like a tree, if the roots are holy, the branches will be holy also.”

“But Saul, you are saying that some of the branches, Israelites, are not holy and will be lost. I don’t understand.”

Saul responds, “Yes, some of the branches from Abraham’s tree – some of the people of Israel – have been and will be broken off. And Gentiles from a wild olive tree will be grafted in. These Gentiles will then by the grace of God, benefit from the blessings promised Abraham and his children, being nourished from the root of God’s special olive tree.”

“Won’t the Gentiles then say that they have replaced Israel and the promises given to Abraham given to them?” asks Josiah.

“Some may Josiah,” responds Saul. “But these Gentiles must not consider themselves superior to or replacing the original Jewish branches. They must remember that they are just a branch, not the root. And they must not say ‘those branches were broken off to make room for me.’ The Gentiles need to remember that those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ. And these Gentiles are saved because they do believe. So, they should not think highly of themselves, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches because of unbelief, he will not spare them either.”

Josiah adds, “Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed but kind to those who continue to trust in his kindness. But any who stop trusting in His kindness, they also will be cut off.”

Saul elaborates, “Here is the main point for the Gentiles to remember. If the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree! The Gentiles, by nature, are a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So, if God was willing to graft them into His cultivated tree, He will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.”

             

VI.      The Restoration

Tertius looks up from the parchment he is writing on. “When our Jewish brothers and sisters hear this they will want to know when and how this restoration will occur. What do we know of it now?”

Saul answers, “This is a mystery. The Holy Spirit has revealed some of it to me. I want you to understand this mystery, but we Jews should not get puffed up and prideful because of it. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until all of the Gentiles who are to come to believe in Jesus do so. There will come a time when God sees that all of the Gentiles that are to be saved are saved. Then our Lord will come and take them away to be with Him. It is like when a ship is fully loaded with supplies and crew. After everything and everyone is on board they cast off and proceed to their final destination. When this happens, then God will turn to restore Israel.”

“What will this restoration be like, Saul,” asks Josiah.

Saul replies, “In the end, it will be like what happens to the Gentiles after their full number comes in. But, it will be after a time of testing and refining of the people of Israel. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of these days, ‘In all history, there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. It is the time of Jacob’s trouble. Yet in the end, they will be saved!’ A remnant of Israel will turn and believe in our Lord and be saved. These will cry out, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.’ As the prophet Isaiah said, ‘The one who rescues will come from Zion, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.’”

          Josiah spoke up, “With such a great promise, why do the Jews rage at us who bear such good news?”

          “Josiah,” replies Saul, “Many of the people of Israel are blinded to the truth. The spirit of deception and unbelief is in the land and these people are now enemies of the Good News. But God still loves them because of their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. God’s covenants with Israel are irrevocable!”

          “Saul, do the Gentiles share or benefit from God’s covenants with Israel?” asked Josiah.

          Saul answers, “Once, Gentiles were rebels and disobedient to God, but now they have received mercy because of Israel’s disobedience and rebellion. Now the people of Israel are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to the Gentiles so that they too will someday share in God’s mercy. Josiah, God has committed everyone to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”

          “God’s riches of wisdom and knowledge are so great,” Josiah adds. “It is impossible for me to understand His decisions and ways. As God told the prophet, Isaiah, ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.’”

          Saul leans back in his chair. Looking upward he proclaims, “Everything comes from God and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. From Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. All glory to Him forever!

          Turning to look at Tertius, Saul says, “Tertius, you have been very quiet this evening.”

          Tertius responds, “I have been writing all of this down. We must include it all in your letter to the saints in Rome. And we must carry this message to Jerusalem and deliver it personally to our brothers and sisters there. It is a message of truth, encouragement, comfort, and hope to all who believe in our Lord Jesus, and all that will ever come to Him as their Lord and Savior!”

 

Amen!

 

Scriptures are from the New Living Testament. The story is from Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11.