Spiritual Israel - Part
1
Spiritual Israel, Out of All Nations? Or Out of National Israel?,
taken, in part from, by Ted R. Weiland, Mission to Israel, P.O. Box
248, Scottsbluff, NE 69363
Spiritualizing Israel (A Jewish deception, to deceive our Israelite
people, so they can steal their inheritance - WM) A large segment of Judeo-Christianity
is being taught that God no longer has a plan for "physical Israel" under
the New Covenant (New Testament) and that He is now working with only a
"spiritual Israel" doctrine:
"For ye (Christian Galatians) are all the children of God by faith
in (the) Christ Yhshua. (Yhshua is the Hebrew spelling of our Savior's
name and is the author's preference) For as many of you as have been baptized
into (the) Christ have put on (the) Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free,there is neither male nor female; fo ye
are all on in (the) Christ Hyshua. And if ye be (the) Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26-29;
All Scriptures quoted from the King James Version, unless otherwise noted)
Many Judeo-Christians, thinking that Jews and Greeks are two separate
races of people, conclude that God is no longer working with "physical
Israel" under the New Covenant (New Testament), but with on a "spiritual
Israel" (people from all races of mankind, non-Israelite and Israelites
alike, who have been saved in Yhshua the Christ).
Leonard C. Lee in his book, "Clouds Over America," wrote the following
concerning physical Israelites under the New Covenant (New Testament);
"God rejected the Israelites as a nation (at the commencement
of the New Covenant-Leonard C. Lee, Clouds Over America, (Washington: Review
and Herald Publishing Association, 1948) p. 71) The Israelites have
now paxsed off the stage of action. (Leonard C. Lee, Clouds Over America,
(Washington: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1948), p. 71
Their (Israelites) nationality (under the New Covenant) is of
no significance in the ultimate purposes of God." (Leonard C. Lee, Clouds
Over America, (Washington: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1948)
p. 71; See what a liar he is?)
Mr. Lee further concluded:
"Since God rejected the Israelites as a nation,we can look for
fulfillment of His purposes only in spiriual Israel." (Leonard C. Lee,
Clouds Over America, (Washington: Review and Herald Publishing Association,
1948) p. 71)
Mr. Lee then attempted to explain how this takes place, using
Galatians 3:26-29 to support his claims:
"Those (of other races) who are grafted into Christ, the root,
the true vine, will become spiritual Israel and will receive all the blessings
and promises made to ancient Israel." (Leonard C. Lee, Clouds Over America,
(Washington: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1948) p. 75)
In his book "Just Before Dawn," Cornelius Vanderbreggen Jr. wrote:
"Here (Galatians 3:26-29) are words addressed not to physical
descendants of Abraham, but to saved Gentiles (Mr. Vanderbreggen means
non-Israelites). They are informed that because of their faith in Jesus
Christ they are Abraham's seed. In other words, spiritually they are his
descendants or his children, for they have believed in the same One (Yhshua)
in Whose coming he (Braham) believed." (Cornelius Vanderbreggen, Jr., Just
Before Dawn, (Hiawassee, GA: Reapers Fellowship, 1988) p. 35)
Dr. Ed Moore wrote the following in his periodical "The Last Trump":
"Hence,we can begin to see that being the children of Abraham
has nothing to do with race (physical descendancy)." (Dr. Ed Moore, The
Last Trump (Jan/Feb, 1991), p. 7)
Even the Catholics made the same claim. Pope Pius XI is quoted
as saying:
"Spiritually, we (non-Israelite Catholics) are Semites (Israelites,
because of faith in the Christ. (Pope Pius XI, the Point (October, 1958),
p. 18)
As a minister, who once taught this "spiritual Israel" doctrine,
I feel it is imperative to take a closer look at this passage and at the
arguments employed by those trying to justify the teaching of a "spiritual
Israel" under the New Covenant (New Testament). However, before scrutinizing
this passage it must be understood that even "if" this particular passage
does seem to spiritualize Israel, this one passage can "not" invalidate
the sixty or more New Testament passages that clearly deal with Israel
on a physical basis. (Refer to Chapter 2 of "God's Covenant People O Yesterday,
Today and Forever," for a list of sixty New Testament passages that clearly
teach God's New Covenant plan for physical Israel)
With this last point in mind we can now ask:
"Does this passage spiritualize Israel in the sense that many
modern-day preachers and Judeo-Christians claim?"
Definitions
Those who believe in and teach a "spritual Israel" under the New
Covenant (New Testament) wil find that "their interpretationh" of this
passage in Galatians is totally dependen upon "their definitions" of the
words "Jew" and "Greek." they "assume" the word "Jew" is synonymous with
the term Israel or Israelites; descendants of any or all of the twelve
sons of Jacob. They "also assume" that the word "Greek," when used in contrast
to the word "Jew," means any or all non-Israelites.
If Their definitions, for these two words are correct, then their
interpretation of this passage is also correct.
However, it must also be understood that:
"If their defintions for these two words are incorrect,then they
have arrived at the wrong conclusino."
Spiritual Israel - Part 2
For example: If your mother had taught you when you were a child
that a turkey walked on four legs, had a tail, and said "moo," then more
than likely whenever you spoke of turkeys you would be making erroneous
conclusions based on the original definitions given to you by your mother.
Initially, ti would be difficult to convince you that your basic understanding
of turkeys was incorrect; your mother (Judeo-Christian preachers, college
professors, denominations, etc.) couldn't be wrong. Imagine how much more
difficult it would be to convince a whole society that had been taught
the same erroneous definition? Yet the "number" of Judeo-Christian churches,
so-called authorities and people who falsely believe and teach a lie DOES
NOT MAKE THE LIE TRUE, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT IS REPEATED, AND NO
MATTER WHO REPEATS IT.
This is exactly the scenario we find ourselves in today. Modern-day
Judeo-Christian teachers have taught that all Israelites are Jews, and
that everyone else is either a Gentile or a Greek. However, the commonly
accepted definitions of "Jew," "Gentiles," and "Greek" are erroneous. Once
the correct definitions are provided, a different light is shed on Galatians
3:26-29 and on the remainder of Scripture as well.
Even the Jews admit that they are not the descendants of the ancient
Israelites. Under the heading of "A brief History of the Terms for Jew"
in the 1980 Jewish Almanac is the following:
"Strictly speaking it is incorrect to call an Ancient Israelite
a 'Jew' or to call a contemporary Jew an Israelite or a Hebrew." (1980
Jewish Almanac, p. 3).
Correct Definitions
Jews: The Biblical use of the word "Jew(s)" refers to Judahites
who were descendants from the house of Judah which was composed primarily
of the two tribes Judah, and Benjamin. The word "Jew(s)" "never" refers
to all twelve tribes as a whole and "never" to the ten-tribed house of
Israel. (For a more exhaustive explanation please refer to Chapter 1 or
God's Covenant People - Yesterday Today and Forever)
Greeks: For the most part, the word "Greek(s)" is used in the
bible interchangeably with the word "Gentile(s)" as illustrated in 1 Corinthians
and several other locations:
"For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom;
but we preach (the) Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to
Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks,
(the) Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:22-24,
NASV)
Consequently, the word "Greek" in Galatians 3:28 could be replaced
with "Gentile" without doing harm to the intent or meaning of Galatians
3:26-29.
Gentiles: The word "ethnos," from which the word "Gentile(s)"
is derived, has at least five New Testament applications:
1). "gentiles": In reference to "heathens," specifically
any nation or race not serving YHWH as God; (1 Corinthians 12:2)
2). "Nations": In reference to "a multitude of people," specifically
the whole human race; (Acts 17:26)
3). "Nation": In reference to Jews, specifically descendants of
the house of Judah, the two southern tribes; (Luke 7:3-5)
4). "Gentiles": In reference to "Israelites," specifically descendants
of the house of Israel, the ten northern tribes; (Romans 9:24 - For a more
exhaustive explanation please refer to Chapter 1 of God's Covenant People
- Yesterday, today and Forever)
5). "Gentiles: In reference to "non-Israelites," specifically
those not physically descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; (Acts 7:45)
There is more than one possible interpretation for the word "ethnos."
It can refer to "either" non-Israelite or Israelite gentiles. Thus, it
is foolish, if not dishonest, for anyone to randomly select the application
which happens to suit his doctrinal position and apply it to a particular
passage. The context must be taken into consideration and studied to determine
which of the interpretations is the correct application.
The Context of Galatians
So what does the context of Galatians tell us about these Greeks
or Gentiles? To whom was the book of Galatians written?
"Paul, an apostle...and all the brethren which are with me, unto
‘the churches of Galatia.'" (Galatians 1:1-2)
With the understanding that the word "church" means those "called
out" or "saved in Yhshua," it is then obvious that the Apostle Paul was
addressing this epistle to the Christians of Galatia who had responded
to the New Covenant (New Testament Gospel) call of salvation.
We were the Galatians who responded to the gospel? The Apostle
Peter provides an important clue in answering this question:
"Peter, an apostle of Yhshua (the) Christ, to the ‘strangers scattered'
throughout Pontus, ‘Galatia,' Cappdocia, Asia, and Bithynia..." (1 Peter
1:1)
The phrase "strangers scattered" is also rendered "sojourners
of the dispersion," (Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear Greek-English New
Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958), p 908) "Israelite
resident(s) in Gentile countries," (James Strong, The Greek Dictionary
of the New Testament, The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,
(Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), p. 23) and is the same Green noun as
found in James 1:1:
Spiritual Israel - Part 3
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Yhshua (the) Christ,
to THE TWELVE TRIBES (of Israel) WHICH ARE SCATTERED (dispersed, NASV)
ABROAD, greeting."
With this understanding, 1 Peter 1:1 can thus be interpreted and
understood to say
"Peter...to the strangers, ISRAELITES OF THE DISPERSION SCATTERED
THROUGHOUT Pontus, GALATIA, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia..."
Many of the Israelites, after being taken captive by the Assyrians,
migrated and made their residence in the country of Galatia. These Israelites
were some of the people Peter addressed in his first epistle. Thus it would
be safe to say that when the Apostle Paul, who was contemporary with the
Apostle Peter, wrote to those in Galatia, he was writing to some of those
same people. This, alone, does not prove that the "Greek(s)" mentioned
in Galatians 3:28 were Israelite Gentiles, but it certainly deserves consideration
in our attempt to discover their true identity. The context of Galatians
3 will provide the rest of the clues necessary to correctly answer the
previous questions:
"Know ye therefore that THEY WHICH ARE OF FAITH, the same ARE
THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM." (Galatians 3:7)
This verse is also often quoted in an attempt to spiritualize
Israel in the New Testament. But this verse taken alone, as it is translated
in our modern English versions of the Bible, does not support the concept
that Israel is merely spiritual. IF the word "they" spoken of in this verse
refers to non-Israelite Gentiles, then one must conclude that the CHILDREN
OF ABRAHAM ARE SPIRITUAL CHILDREN rather than PHYSICAL CHILDREN. On the
other hand, IF the word "they" refers to literal Israelites from either
the house of Judah or the house of Israel, then one must conclude that
only those physical Israelites who are of faith (Redeemed and Saved by
Yhshua) are TRUE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM. The remaining physical Israelites
would continue to be an anathema, as the house of Israel had become when
God divorced her. (Jeremiah 3:8)
Nothing can be proven by proponents of EITHER position using this
verse as it is translated in most of our modern English Bibles. However,
consider this verse as provided to us by Pastor Alfred Marshall in The
Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, and another clue is uncovered
which helps determine the correct interpretation:
"Know ye then that the (ones) of faith, THESE SONS are of Abraham."
(Galatians 3:7)
In other words, THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PHYSICAL SONS (Israelites)
AND WHO ARE OF FAITH ARE RECKONED AS BEING TRUE SONS OF ABRAHAM.
We find a similar expression in 1 Peter 3 that acts as an additional
witness:
Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and YOU HAVE BECOME
HER CHILDREN IF YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT without being frightened by any fear."
(1 Peter 3:6, NASV)
The Apostle Peter wrote his first epistle to Israelites of the
dispersion; consequently, verse 6 can be interpreted and understood to
say:]
...YOU, PHYSICAL DAUGHTERS OF SARAH, HAVE TRULY BECOME HER CHILDREN
IF YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT... (1 Peter 3:6)
Even when using the literal translation of Galatians 3:7 we are
not provided enough evidence to determine the correct application for the
word "Greek" in verse 28. Therefore, further study in Galatians 3 is required.
"But before faith came, WE were kept under the (Old Covenant,
Old Testament) law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto (the) Christ, and
WE might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, WE are no
longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:23-25)
Who are the "we" whom Paul addressed in these verses? Clearly
they are the same people as the "he" (you) whom he addressed in verses
26 and 27:
"For YE are all the children of God by faith in (the) Christ Yhshua.
For as many of YOU as have been baptized into (the) Christ have put on
(the) Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27)
The "ye" in verses 26 and 27 is represented as Jews or Greeks
in verse 28; thus we can conclude that the "we" of verses 23, 24 and 25
are also both Jews and Greeks. Paul described those people, who were both
Jews and Greeks, as having been previously "under the law." which people
had been given God's Law, or were considered under God's Law? This description
fits only one group of people; the nation of Israel.
Consider the Scriptures quoted below:
"MOSES COMMANDED US (the twelve tribes of Israel) A LAW,
EVEN THE INHERITANCE (possession, NASV) OF THE CONGREGATION OF JACOB."
(Deuteronomy 33:4)
For HE (YHWH) ESTABLISHED A TESTIMONY IN JACOB, AND APPOINTED
A LAW IN ISRAEL, which HE COMMANDED OUR FATHERS, that they should make
them known to their children." (Psalm 78:5)
"...who are ISRAELITES, TO WHOM PERTAINETH (belongs, NASV) the
adoption, and the glory and the covenants (Old and New), and THE GIVING
OF THE LAW, and the service of God, and the promises." (Romans 9:4)
These Scriptures clearly teach what every preacher across this land
should already know: God's Law was given to the Israelites (and no one
else); it belonged to them and they were under its requirements. Not only
was the Law given to the Israelites as their possession, it was given EXCLUSIVELY
TO ISRAELITES as their possession. This exclusiveness is made clear in
the following passage:
Spiritual Israel - 4
"HE SHEWETH HIS WORDS TO JACOB, HIS STATUES AND HIS JUDGMENTS
(laws, Moffatt Translation), UNTO ISRAEL. HE HATH NOT DEALT SO WITH ANY
NATION; AND AS FOR HIS JUDGMENTS (commands, Moffatt Translation), THEY
(the other races) HAVE NOT KNOWN THEM." (Psalm 147:19-20) Praise YH!
This irrefutable evidence correctly identifies the Greeks of Galatians
3:28. They can be no one else but Israelite Gentiles. Additional evidence
confirms this conclusion. Thus far, in studying the context of Galatians
3, verses one, seven and the three verses (23-25) immediately preceding
the passage in question have been examined. Let us continue with a study
the five verses which immediately follow verse 29 of Galatians 3:
"Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, different
nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and
governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were
children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the
fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman,
made under the law, to REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE (Old Covenant -
Old Testament) LAW, that we might RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS." (Galatians
4:1-5)
We are provided with THREE CLUES in this passage "UNDER THE LAW"
is the FIRST CLUE that has already been reviewed from Galatians 3:23-25.
Israelites, both Jews and Greeks, descendants of the house of Judah and
the house of Israel, were the ONLY people who had been under Tod's Law.
THE SECOND CLUE uncovered is that Yhshua came to "REDEEM THEM
THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW." Notice it says nothing about redeeming those
who were NOT under the Law. Why not? Why would Yhshua not want to redeem
non-Israelites as well? Simply put, He could not! He COULD PURCHASE non-Israelites,
but He COULD NOT REDEEM them. The reason is simple when one understands
that the word "redeem" means to BUY BACK. Only people who had once been
the possession of YHWH could be bought back or redeemed. Which people had
previously been the POSSESSION of YHWH? Moses answers that question in
the following two passages:
"...Now therefore, if ye (Israel) will obey my (YHWH's) voice
indeed, and keep my covenant, then YE SHALL BE A PECULIAR TREASURE (possession,
NASV) UNTO ME ABOVE ALL PEOPLE; for all the earth is mine; and ye shall
be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. THESE ARE THE WORDS
WHICH THOU SHALT SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL." (Exodus 19:5-6)
"For thou (Israel; Deuteronomy 6:4) art an holy people unto YHWH
thy God; YHWH THY GOD HATH CHOSEN THEE TO BE A SPECIAL PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF
(a people for His own possession, NASV), ABOVE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE UPON
THE FACE OF THE EARTH."(Deuteronomy 7:6)
It is very clear, ONLY Israelites who had been the POSSESSION
of YHWH and who had subsequently been divorced and rejected by YHWH could
be BOUGHT BACK or REDEEMED by YHWH. Both Old and New Testaments (covenants)
attest to the accuracy of these statements:
"...THE REDEEMER (Yhshua) SHALL COME TO ZION, AND UNTO THEM THAT
TURN FROM TRANSGRESSION IN JACOB, saith YHWH." (Isaiah 59:20)
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for HE (YHWH) HATH VISITED
AND REDEEMED HIS PEOPLE (Israel)." (Luke 1:68)
"But we (the two on he road to Emmaus with Yhshua after His resurrection)
trusted that it had bee HE (Yhshua) WHICH SHOULD HAVE REDEEMED ISRAEL."
(Luke 24:21)
Once again we have evidence that correctly identifies the Greeks
in Galatians 3. These Galatians Greeks had to be Israelite Gentiles since
only Israelites could be redeemed by Yhshua.
THE THIRD CLUE is found in the word "ADOPTION." To whom do the
Scriptures say the adoption belongs?
"Who are ISRAELITES, TO WHOM PERTAINETH (belongs, NASV) THE ADOPTION,
and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and service
of God, and the promises." (Romans 9:4)
It is conceded that this verse does not harmonize with what many
Christians have been taught concerning the adoption; that anyone of any
race can receive the adoption. However, we hope that you are honest enough
to lay aside any previously held misconceptions and to accept what Paul
clearly teaches. With the evidence from Romans 9:4, only one conclusion
can be drawn concerning the identity of the Greeks (Gentiles) in Galatians3;
THEY ARE ISRAELITES to whom "BELONGS THE ADOPTION."
The context of Galatians 3 correctly identifies the Greeks as
Israelites. This conclusion is supported by the Apostle John:
"The Jews therefore said to one another, ‘Where does this man
(Yhshua) intend to go that we shall not find him? He is not intending to
go to the DISPERSION (Israelite resident) in Gentile countries. (Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance) AMONG THE GREEKS, and teach THE GREEKS (Israelites
of the dispersion), is He?" (John 7:35, NASV)
In addition to the previous three clues, note the emphasis placed
on the words "if" and "then" in verse 29 of Galatians3:
‘And IF ye be (the) Christ's, THEN are ye Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)
This verse can now be correctly understood to say: "ONLY ISRAELITES
(either Jews (meaning Judeans) or Greeks) BELONGING TO THE CHRIST ARE RECKONED
AS TRUE HEIRS OF ABRAHAM ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE." In other words, this
passage is dealing with Israelites who were under the misconception that
simply being a physical descendant was all that was necessary to be considered
an heir of the promise. In contrast, Paul was pointing out that physical
descent alone is NOT enough under the New Covenant. Physical descendants
are ONLY considered "heirs according to the promise" IF they are ALSO spiritual
sons of Abraham through salvation in Yhshua the Christ.
