Messianic Perspectives

Liz Iello: 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 now that we've laid some groundwork for the discussion, we're going to start working our way through the booklet. And by the way, if you haven't secured your copy yet, I hope you'll write us or call us and get yours. And we want to cover some of the main arguments that are used by all millennialists and others who say that God is finished dealing with Israel as a nation.

And by the way, it's hard to get through a discussion like this without mentioning all millennialism because many of the preachers and teachers today who are saying that God has washed his hands of the Jewish nation are all millennialists. But we should point out that not all all millennialists believe that way, especially in England. There are all millennialists who are very supportive of Israel and who believe in the ultimate restoration of the Jewish people of national Israel. They call themselves optimistic all millennialists. In fact, in the booklet we're offering in connection with this series, we've gotten permission to include transcripts of two messages that were preached by the late Dr.

D. Martin Lloyd-Jones in Westminster Chapel in London. Dr. Lloyd-Jones was an all millennialist who believed strongly in the restoration of Israel. And in those two messages, he talks about the restoration of Israel from Romans chapter 11. Powerful stuff. I hope you've already ordered your copy of the booklet. If not, you can call us at 1-800-926-5397 or you can write to us at box 345 San Antonio, Texas 78292. We'll give that address again at the end of the broadcast. Now before our time gets away from us today, let me talk about some key areas where we locked horns in that internet debate.

And in this cyber debate, I took the negative position that no, God is not finished with Israel. A lady we call Cheryl, no that's not her real name, took the affirmative position that yes, God is finished dealing with Israel as a nation. And so for about two months, Cheryl and I shot dozens and dozens of notes back and forth on our computers as we explored this whole subject of Israel's role in Bible prophecy and how it's distinct from the church's role in prophecy. And one day someone was looking over my shoulder during one of those sessions on the computer and this person said, hey, that's interesting stuff.

You should put that in a booklet. So we did. The title of the booklet is God finished with Israel. And it includes virtually the entire text of those two months worth of computer messages, about 75 pages of them as a matter of fact. So it's obviously not practical for me to sit here and just read the booklet to you when you can order yours for yourself. But what I can do here on the radio is summarize for you some of the key points of disagreement that came up during the course of that debate. All right.

Now the first thing that came up was this. Most all millennialists reject the idea that Abraham has more than one kind of seed or descendant. Premillennialists believe Abraham has a spiritual seed, the church, and he also has his physical seed, Israel. In the church, we are the spiritual descendants of Abraham because we have the faith of Abraham. And many times they'll say, well the word seed in the Old Testament always means offspring or physical descendants. And that simply is not the case. Take for example that great Messianic passage in Isaiah 53. It's talking about the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

And what does it say? Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, a sin offering, he shall see his what? His seed. He shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Now unless you're suggesting that our Lord had physical offspring, this has to be a figurative use of the term seed. He's not talking here about physical offspring, but spiritual offspring, sons and daughters of the kingdom. That includes all of us. And this principle applies not only to the Messiah, but also to Abraham.

He has both physical and spiritual offspring. His physical descendants through the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be the Jewish people or Israel. His spiritual descendants would be the church or the ecclesia because we have the faith of Abraham. And there is some overlap between those two categories because of course there are Jewish believers who represent both groups. Now let me give you some scripture. If you have a Bible handy, why don't you turn with me to Romans chapter 4 and we'll begin reading here in verse 12. Romans 4 verse 12. Here's what it says.

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. So you've got two categories of believers right here. First there's the circumcision which would be believing Israel because circumcision was the sign of the covenant between God and who? Israel. And second there are those who are uncircumcised or those Gentiles who walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham. So there are two seeds of Abraham, his physical seed or Israel and his spiritual seed, the church.

Then he goes on verse 13. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Verse 14. For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect. Verse 15. Because the law worketh wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression. Verse 16. Now watch this. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, he says.

Not to that only which is of the law or Israel, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham or the church. Who is the father of us all which includes Israel and the church? You see, this is one of the keys to rightly dividing the word of truth. The Abrahamic promises go in three directions. First to Israel, second to the nations, and third to the church. Israel, the nations, and the church. And Abraham has two kinds of seed or two kinds of descendants. First he has physical descendants through the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and we call those people Israel or the Jewish people.

And second, Abraham has spiritual descendants and we call those people the church or the ecclesia. Have you ever noticed that in the book of Genesis there are three distinct symbols for Abraham's seed? What are the three symbols? Sand, stars, and dust. One could say first that the sand represents Abraham's physical seed, Israel. It says that in blessing, remember the blessing comes through the Messianic line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that in blessing I will multiply thy seed as the sand which is upon the seashore. Genesis 22:17. What better symbol could there be for national Israel than sand?

Sand is produced by natural processes of abrasion and erosion and then it is scattered along the shores of the world's oceans. And what about Israel? Israel has been ground fine by persecution and has been scattered in the diaspora among the nations of the world. Then second, the stars could represent Abraham's spiritual seed, the church. Look now toward heaven, the Bible says, and tell the stars if thou be able to number them. And he said unto him, so shall thy seed be. That was God speaking to Abraham. Genesis 15:5. The church like the heavenly constellations provides illumination and direction in a world of darkness.

In Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 through 16, Jesus said we are what? The light of the world. And finally there's the dust seed. You might say it represents Abraham's Gentile seed, represented by the Arab nations of the world. He said, and I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth. So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Genesis 13:16. In the Bible, dust is often a generic symbol for humanity. The scope of the Abrahamic covenant is further shown in Genesis 28:14 where he says, and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and thou shalt spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

So Abraham has both physical and spiritual seed. And the fulfillment of Abraham's promises is like a stream that flows in three directions, to Israel, the church, and the Gentile nations. All three ultimately benefit from the promises God made to Abraham. Interestingly, this same threefold distinction is made in the New Testament where it says in 1 Corinthians 10:32, give none offense neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to }$- the church of God. Well that's all of our time for today. We'll continue next time Lord willing. Until then this is Gary Hedrick saying God bless you.

Take care. Bye-bye.

Liz Iello: Thank you Gary and thank you listening friends for joining us today. It's always good to have you with us here on Messianic Perspectives. If you'd like your own copy of Gary's series or would like a copy for a friend, you'll be glad to know that it's available on CD for the suggested gift of just $6. Just ask for the series entitled, is God finished with Israel? By Gary Hedrick. If you'd like the companion booklet also entitled, is God finished with Israel? That booklet can be yours simply by enclosing an additional $7. This booklet is especially helpful because it includes a word for word transcript of an internet debate between Gary Hedrick and an all millennialist.

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. It's all here in the booklet, 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. Let me remind you that when you order the materials we offer here on the program, you're not only enabling us to remain here on your station, but you're also helping us take the good news of Yeshua Ha Mashiach to Jewish people and Gentiles all over the world.

Even if you're one of our regular listeners, you still may not know that we're much more than just a radio program. Messianic Perspectives is sponsored by CJF Ministries, one of the largest missionary organizations in the world. We currently have missionary families serving the Lord all over the world including the United States, Canada, South America, England, France, and of course Israel. So when you write, consider helping us with a gift above the suggested amount. We'd be very grateful. 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.

Guest (Male): 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.