p. 759 | RETURN OF THE JEWS by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 16, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 48.

RETURN OF THE JEWS.

By Editor

A CORRESPONDENT sends us a copy of the Pacific Baptist, asking us to review Dr. Frost's Bible-reading on the "Return of the Jews to Palestine." We wrote a series of articles not long ago which covered every point which Dr. Frost has attempted to make. He makes the same mistake that many others do who attempt to explain all the promises to Israel, by endeavoring to interpret Old Testament texts from an Old Testament standpoint. Paul says that the mystery of God was not revealed to those of that time as it is now revealed to us, "that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Eph. 3:3-6.

All who are in Christ are Abraham's seed, and of the true Israel of God. Neither is it true that only two tribes were represented in the return from the Babylonian captivity. Judah and Benjamin and Levi were prominent, but others were with them. See Ezra 1:5; 2:70; 6:17; 8:35. All the tribes were represented. Abraham's seed, to whom the land—the earth (Rom. 4:13)—was promised forever, was the Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 3:16. Again, the temporal blessings to Israel were conditioned on their faithfulness. See Jer. 18:7-10. Israel according to the flesh forfeited all the blessings, and their privileges were taken away and given to a nation bringing forth fruits of righteousness, even the true Israel of God—those created anew in Christ Jesus (Matt. 21:43), whether they be, according to the flesh, Jews or Gentiles. Rom. 9:24.