Israel is Israel?

[nebula]

Sorry for the delay, but I didn't have computer access until now. I knkow Shiloh answered you, but since you asked me I thought I'd explain what I meant myself.

Israel has a unique calling from the Lord - which is why we see the Jews going through the greatest refining fires the world has ever seen.

Are you saying that the Jews are unique from the Gentiles even today?

So this "unique" calling does not include me?

The Jews are unique - yes.

But you are unique, too - just a different unique.

You know the illustration in Romans 11 about the wild and natural branches? Well, I heard someone mention that olive trees are cultivated this way - with both natural branches and then wild branches grafted in. It was explained how the wild functions one way for the tree and the crop while the wild branches serve another function in for the tree and the crop.

So to say Israel is unique is not to say you are excluded. We Gentiles have our own uniqueness - but the way things are, Israel is a much smaller percentage of the population that their uniqueness stands out because their calling is so much more different.

Another way to think about it is the difference between someone called to be a missionary to Uganda and someone called to be a pastor to the inner city. Would you not say that someone called to be a missionary to Uganda has a very unique calling? (I mean, how many of us could handle missionary work in Uganda? I don't think I could!) And wouldn't you say that the man called to be a pastor to the inner city has a unique calling? I sure wouldn't want that unique calling!

So in the same vein, Israel has a unique calling to the Kingdom of God here on earth. They were to be the physical representation of the Kingdom of God - thus the theocratic government - and thus how severely they screwed up when they demanded a king. They were the ones to whom the Law was given. No Israel - no Bible! They were the ones from whom the Messiah would come. And if you study the prophets for the unfulfilled prophecies and Revelation, you can see that Israel still has a role to play in the End of Days. As is stated in Romans 11, when Israel as a whole returns to the Lord and acknowledge Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah, there's going to be a revival like the world has never seen!

But the price for such a calling is very, very high. Like I said, Israel has gone through the most severe refining fires, more so than any group of people. The Lord is pruning that tree and pruning that tree and pruning that tree...until it is perfected.

Be glad you are not a part of that. (!)

Does this make more sense?

[~Shalhevet~]

Does this make more sense?

I think it does...after 8 pages.

[nebula]

I have been taught nothing about Jewish people other than they were among those who crucified Jesus. This is all very new to me.

It was not all the Jews who demanded Jesus' death. And if you are able to research it, it turns out that not even the entire Sanhedrin was in on the secret trial late at night they put Jesus through. Likewise, "all the Jews" before Pilot could not have been more than maybe a couple hundred - the courtyard was only so big, you know. And Scripture even states that the crowd gathered was put together and manipulated by the religious leaders wanting Jesus put to death.

Also consider that the first disciples of Jesus were Jewish. The first converts (Pentecost) were all Jewish.

You and I have the Jews to thank for our salvation, ultimately.

[nebula]

The Old Testament was that which was *replaced* by a "new" and "better" covenant

[nebula]

So you can imagine the shock on my face when you wrote that the Jewish people were "unique" to God.

But aren

[nebula]

The truth is Jews have the same

[Guest yod]

Shiloh....

did you hear something?

[nebula]

Horizon, the way you worded that makes it sound like Genesis - Malachi are now obsolete and should no longer be regarded as Scripture.

Then you need to go back and read my post a bit more carefully for I never said any such thing

[Guest yod]

How many times do we have to say that we are not talking about salvation before you will understand that we are not talking about salvation?

don't you know that's where it starts AND stops for some people?

[~Shalhevet~]

Here is the e-mail reply I received from LCMS:

Thank you for contacting the LCMS Church Information Center. You ask: "What is the LCMS' view on replacement theology?" The answer to this question is that the Synod has not taken an official position on this question, meaning that the Synod has not specifically addressed "replacement theology" either in its official statements or in its convention resolutions.

Let me refer you to two reports of our Commission that I think you will find helpful as you reflect on the question of "Israel" and the church. The first is the April 2004 report titled A Lutheran Response to the 'Left Behind' Series (http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/LeftBehind.pdf), which contains a section titled "Israel and the Church." The second is the 1989 report The End Times: A Study on Eschatology and Millennialism (http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/endtme-2.pdf). You may want to look at Section II C of this latter report and the discussion on Romans 11:25-27. Note as well Section II A (point six) which briefly discusses his question.

We hope you find this information helpful. Blessings on your day!

Serving Him and you! Until next time,

Diane Grimm

LCMS Church Information Center