Messianic Perspectives

Liz Iello: Did God reject the Jewish people when they replaced his son 2000 years ago? Has he replaced Israel with the church? Stay with us as Dr. Gary Hedrick discusses the question, is God finished with Israel today right here on Messianic Perspectives? Shalom and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinctive first century Jewish point of view. This is Liz Iello. On today's edition of Messianic Perspectives, Dr. Gary Hedrick is discussing the question, is God finished with Israel? I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer.

So have your pencil and paper ready. Now with today's study, here is Dr. Gary Hedrick.

Dr. Gary Hedrick: All right, thank you and welcome listening friend to another edition of the program. It's good to have you with us today as we continue this series of studies on the question, is God finished with Israel? And what we've been doing here on the program is working our way through a series of issues that came up in a recent prophecy debate on the internet. And obviously we can't go into all the detail that's covered in the book here in such a brief format on the radio. Verse nine. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, God says.

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isn't that wonderful, my friend? A complete transformation of the creation. This will be a different world. Even the animal kingdom will be transformed. The food chain will be different in the animal kingdom. Just think no more crime in society, no more drive by shootings, no more poverty, no more pestilence, no more AIDS, no more birth defects, no more leukemia, no more injustice, no more war, no more killing, no more unemployment, no more need, no more want, no more tension between races.

A new world. That's the new world order I'm waiting for, aren't you? So here is that third distinction premillennialists make that I think is very important. Remember we said the first distinction was between the spiritual and physical seed of Abraham. The second distinction is between the method of salvation and the timing of salvation between soteriology and eschatology. And now the third distinction is between individual salvation and national salvation. Now think about it. Are individual Egyptians being saved right now? Of course they are. What about the Syrians? Are individual Syrians coming to the Lord right now?

Of course they are. What about Israel? Are individual Jewish people coming to the Lord during this present dispensation? Again the answer is yes. But let me ask you a question. The Bible says that when Egypt, Syria, and Israel all experienced national salvation, it will be a time when the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the kid or the goat. But would you want your pet lamb in the same pen with a wolf right now? Or would you want your pet goat in the same pen with a leopard? Why not?

Because the leopard would get your goat. No pun intended. You see although individual Egyptians and individual Syrians and individual Jews are being saved right now, listen, the Messianic age has not yet arrived and the fulfillment of the national prophecies is yet future. So the next time someone tries to tell you that there's no distinction between national salvation and individual salvation or they try to tell you that those prophecies are being fulfilled right now in the church instead of in the future, just tell them you want to do a little experiment. And tell them you'll provide the wolf if they'll provide the lamb.

And we'll see if the prophecies are being fulfilled right now. You see the key to so much of this is learning about biblical distinctions. We've already talked about three of them, the distinction between spiritual seed and physical seed, the distinction between the method of salvation and the timing of salvation, and now the distinction between national salvation and individual salvation. It's learning to distinguish between one and the other. That's why Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, study to do what? To show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed doing what?

What is it? Rightly dividing the word of truth. Rightly dividing the Bible, God's word. You see it's learning to cut a straight line. That's the literal meaning of that Greek word orthotomeo. You're cutting a line, separating one from the other, distinguishing between one and the other, learning to make distinctions, learning to draw a line between one and the other. That's the key. Rightly dividing the word of truth, learning to distinguish between God's plan for Israel and God's plan for the church. And that's yet another important biblical distinction that we'll get to next time. Well that's it for today.

We'll continue next time, Lord willing. Until then this is Gary Hedrick saying God bless you. Keep on rightly dividing the word. Take care. Bye bye.

Liz Iello: Thank you Gary and thank you listening friend for tuning in today. Now let me tell you about our special offer. It's Gary Hedrick's booklet entitled, Is God finished with Israel? It's available for a suggested gift of $7. This booklet is especially helpful because it includes a word for word transcript of an internet debate between Gary Hedrick and an amillennialist. This is someone who very definitely believes that God is finished with Israel. And of course Gary very definitely believes that he is not. So it made for quite a lively discussion. Then we also have the programs you're hearing here on the broadcast.

This series of studies is available on compact disc for a suggested contribution of just $6 to this ministry. The title again is, Is God finished with Israel? Just visit our secure online store at messianicspecialties.com to place your order. If you would prefer to order by mail, just address your request to Messianic Perspectives, PO Box 345, San Antonio, Texas 78292. To order by phone, use our toll free order line. The number is 1-800-926-5397. Have you enjoyed this edition of Messianic Perspectives? Why not continue to learn about the Jewish roots of your Christian faith by inviting a speaker from CJF Ministries?

Call our toll free number 1-800-926-5397 and we'll be happy to handle all of the details. And as always when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. I'm Liz Iello. Join us next time, won't you? As Dr. Gary Hedrick continues our series of studies on, Is God finished with Israel? Right here on Messianic Perspectives. Messianic Perspectives is sponsored by CJF Ministries of San Antonio, Texas and is made possible on this station by the free will contributions of our listeners in this area.