8.
In dealing with predictive prophecy it is necessary to
distinguish between the prophecies which have already been fulfilled in the
past, and those which still await their consummation.
Thus the
predictions of the Egyptian bondage, the Assyrian invasion, the Babylonian
captivity and subsequent return to the Holy Land
were fulfilled.
Other
prophecies were fulfilled in part and await their final consummation in the
future. To this second type of predictions belong many of the Messianic prophecies. When the prophets Hosea,
Isaiah, Jeremiah and others first uttered them, these were still future events
which were later fulfilled with the coming of the Messiah
Jesus. However, their complete fulfillment awaits the return of Christ and the
establishment of His kingdom.
9.
We must bear in mind that the prophets were primarily
God’s messengers to Israel,
to teach, to rebuke, to console, to foretell His future plans for Israel.
Where the prophet speaks concerning other nations, it is generally with regard
to their relationship to Israel.
In general it can be said that the Old Testament speaks chiefly to and about Israel, while
the New Testament deals with the Church composed of Jews and Gentiles who
believe in Christ as their Lord and Saviour (Eph.2). The Church is a
supranational spiritual entity. Israel
is a national entity with a spiritual goal. It is therefore a mistake to
confuse the Church with Israel
as so many have done.
10. The
point of convergence of prophecies which were of a national character and those
of a universal nature, is the person of the Messiah
of Israel who is also the Saviour of all men. In His person the Kingdom of God and His salvation embraces all
mankind. Within physical and national Israel
there is a spiritual remnant, which is the true Israel, the Israel of God (Gal.
6:16). This is one of the central themes of Old Testament prophecy, and is
continues in the New Testament. Out of this faithful remnant of Israel come Christ, His apostles and the New Testament
Church, the ecclesia. To this Church belong both
believing Jew and Gentile (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:47; Gal. 3:28; John
10:16, Acts 1:8, Eph. 2; Rom. 9:24).
11. Because
the God of Israel is also the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and of
His Church, there are many spiritual similarities and parallels between Israel
and the Church. Nevertheless historical “Israel” and “the Church” are two
distinct entities which live their separate and distinct lives and should never
be confused. The spiritual core of Israel, the faithful remnant is not
the Church, but a part of it (Eph. 2:19-22). Conversely the Church is not Israel, nor
“the New Israel” as erroneously taught for centuries by the Church of Rome and
many contemporary Protestant theologians. The Church consists of believing Jews
and Gentiles. The confusion of the Church with Israel
has had baneful consequences for the Church and for Israel, and has caused grave
misinterpretation of the Scriptures. For centuries it has colored Christian
thinking about the Jews. It left the Jews with all the dire threats and predictions
of judgment and desolation and exclusively misappropriated for the Church all
the promises of divine redemption and mercy. There are enough distinctive and
glorious promises given specifically to the Church
of Christ without misapplying those
which were given to Israel (Rom.
9:4, 5).
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