When The Jews Rule
George Burnside
"AND SO all Israel shall be saved." Romans 11:26.
The greatest hope of the tragic nation of Israel is that they will be established again as a secure nation. The new earth and the great promises of the Bible, the Jewish people claim as their own and hope to see them soon fulfilled. And why should they not feel they have a right to claim those promises, for were they riot given to Abraham, their father? “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.” Galatians 3: 16. These promises included the promise, that he (Abraham) should be the heir of the world. Romans 4: 13. Thus the Jews feel they have a good reason to look for a glorious triumph for their people
The name Israel is often regarded merely as a national distinction. However from God's point of view, it held no such meaning. It was the name given by God to the conquering Jacob. “Thy name shaft be called no more Jacob but Israel for as a prince has thou power with God and with men and has prevailed” Genesis 32: 28. The margin says "A prince of God.” A prince is the son of a king. Israel is a compound of Sarah (to rule), and El (God). Thus Israel means “God reigns," or "God rules," and Israel indicates a God-ruled man. Nathaniel was “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” John 1:47. After the restoration from the captivity, the name Israel was used as a national title for the Jewish people and in the Scriptures, the names Israel and Jews are used interchangeably.
Why Hate the Jews?
Some people become annoyed and even hostile when they hear the word “Jew.” But why should Christian people feel angry at the Jews? Remember we are indebted to the Jews for all the religion we have. The Bible is a Jewish book. It was written by Jews, and much of it was written in the Jewish language. The great men who are field tip continually in sermons by Christian preachers are Jews. Moses was a Jew. David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel were all Jews.
But some will say, “We take the New Testament." But, that, too, is Jewish. The Gospels and the Epistles, with perhaps two exceptions, were written by Jews. Paul was a Jew of the strictest sect.
Think what God did for the Jews. He spoke to them face to face. He did this for no other people. He opened the Red Sea for them. He fed them with the bread of heaven-with angel's food. He opened the rock and poured out crystal-clear water for that people. He fought for them. He guided them with His own visible presence. God loved the Jews and did more for them than for any other people. Why then should Christians hate the Jews?
Some will object, "it is not the Jews that we hate, but we do not have any time for their teachings. For instance, those old Jewish commandments. But the facts are that they are not Jewish commandments. They are God's commandments, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 6:17. The Jews did not invent or write the Ten Commandments. It was God himself Who wrote them. “He gave them to Moses, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God,” Exodus 31:18. When anyone opposes the Ten Commandments, he is not fighting some Jewish teaching, but he is fighting God's teaching.
But it is objected, "the Ten Commandments were given to the Jews.” Yes, that is true. They were given to the Jews and so was all the rest of the Bible. The Bible was written by Jews and given to them and we have received it from them. Jesus was speaking to a Jew when he gave the most wonderful promise “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16. Remember this promise was given to a Jew and it was given by a Jew. No Gentile heard these gracious words fall from the lips of Jesus. You see if we are to reject something because it comes through the hands of the Jews then John 3:16 must be rejected. The whole Bible would have to be discarded, for it was all given through that people.
He Also Was a Jew
Jesus was a Jew. His mother was a Jewess. Jesus said He was sent only to the Jews. “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24. You will never read anywhere in Scripture that the Ten Commandments were given only to the Jews, but we find there that Jesus was sent only to the Jews. If the Commandments are to be rejected because they were given to the Jews, then Christ must be rejected, for He was sent to the Jews. If something is to be avoided because it was given to the Jews, then all Gentiles should avoid heaven, for it is certainly and entirely a Jewish place.
The New Jerusalem is solely a Jewish city. No one can get into it except through a Jewish gate,
for it “had a wall great arid high, and had twelve gates. And at the gates twelve angels. And names written thereon, which are the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” Revelation 21:12. How will those who reject anything Jewish get on trying to get into heaven? There is no Gentile gate. The only gates are Jewish. Every one who enters will go through a Jewish gate and the requirement to enter this Jewish city is the keeping of the so called Jewish Ten Commandments “Blessed are they that do His commandments that they might have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14.
If a person rejects everything that is Jewish he would have to reject everything in the Bible except the Ten Commandments-the only thing that is not Jewish. God wrote the Ten Commandments. All the rest was written by Jews. The Ten Commandment Law is the only part that God Himself wrote. The Ten Commandment Law, therefore, is the only part that is not written by a Jew.
The New Covenant
Some would have us believe that the new covenant was made with the Gentiles, but the Word of God clearly states, "Behold, the days come said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah." Hebrews 8: 8. It is only through the new covenant, that anyone today can be saved. This, God says, is only made with the Jews. Therefore no one can be saved but the Jews. It is clear that everything worth while both in time and eternity is linked with the Jews. How then can Gentiles be saved? Only by becoming Jews! Not Jews after the flesh, but by faith. "If you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29.
This marvelous change is clearly described in the Scriptures. “If the casting away of them [the Jews] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the first-fruit be holy [the Jews], the lump [or the vine from which they come] is also holy: and if the root be holy so are the branches” Romans 11:15-16.
Here the illustration of the vine is used to show the relationship of once a holy people. If they were holy it was because they had come from a holy source or vine. For the fruit cannot be different from the vine. Jesus said “I am the vine, you (His people] are the branches.” While the Jews were connected with God they were a holy people. They were Israel, a God-ruled people. They were at that time the only people in union with God. It was then that God gave them His inspired Word, the Bible. They were given prophets, for the prophets were linked with Christ, the source of inspiration. They were His Israel, His God-ruled people. It is only those in this relationship who have the Savior, the promises of Heaven and eternal life.
How to Become a Jew
Abiding in Christ is vital. It is the only way to be branches. Jesus said, “If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” John 15:6. This is where the Jews failed. They did not abide in Christ. They rejected Him and handed Him over to be crucified. They were broken off. They were cast off. "Because of unbelief they were broken off.” Romans 11:20. They ceased to be "Israel." They were not God-ruled.
Unbelief or disobedience separates people from God. Belief and obedience unites them to Him. A Jew may come back by belief and he will be grafted into the vine. Gentiles may be united to God in the same way. “If some of the, branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree [Gentiles], were grafted in among them and with them partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree Romans 11:17. Thus the Gentiles are adopted into the family of Israel.
They become true Jews, the Israel of God. “If you be Christ's then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3: 29. "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly [that is from descent], but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly.” (That is, by faith in Christ.) Romans 2: 28, 29. Thus abiding in Christ we walk in Him and are obedient.
“If you keep My commandments you shall abide in My love.” John 15: 10. The commandments are of great importance. Jesus said. “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17. You cannot be grafted into that life-giving vine without keeping the Ten Commandments. Thus it is clear why Jesus called the people who keep those Commandments “blessed” or “happy,” for they have a "right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. If there is no commandment-keeping, there is no Jesus and no heaven waiting for them.
When one begins to walk with Christ and keep the commandments and enters into life, he must continue to keep them or he will be cast off as a dead branch. It is only the commandment keeper who can hold this life-giving relationship with our Lord. “And so [or in this manner] all Israel shall be saved, as it is written. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:26, 27
Israel therefore are those who permit the Deliverer, the Lord Jesus Christ to take away sin from their hearts for they are then God ruled and to them He whispers “If you love Me keep My commandments.” John 14:15