Some Thoughts

Here’s an email I wrote recently to a couple of friends about my take on Israel, the millennium, etc. -

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Brothers,

Up until a few years ago, I would have agreed with [dispensationalism] completely–and anyone who didn’t I would have accused of anti-Semitism at worst, or of preaching a “Replacement Theology” at best. But despite its modern (and distinctively American) popularity, Dispensationalism (whether classical or progressive) is a bit of a Johnny-come-lately on the church scene (~150 yrs.). Given that the position of historic catholic Christianity, including both the Reformed Protestant and the Roman camps, has been Amillennialism, it would appear that Dispensationalism itself could be credited with the charge of eroding the covenant. (In fact, it’s been labeled “THE Scandal of the Evangelical Mind” by [Mark Noll].) The New Covenant, which fulfills both the “protoevangelion” in Gen. 3:15 [show] [15]I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
and the (typological expansion of that same promise in the) Abrahamic covenant, was not fulfilled in the Mosaic economy but in the Messianic — that is, in the person and work of Christ Jesus himself.

[...] The progressively-revealed purpose of God to fill all of heaven and earth with his presence–making the entire cosmos his holy temple, not just a Rhode-Island-sized parcel of land in the Mideast, let alone a very small building within it–began in Eden, was unfolded further in the meaning of the tabernacle, and then the Temple and Land of Israel–but none of these were the final goal. They were all mere prototypes of God’s cosmic plan: for example, just as there was no religious freedom in the geopolitical state of Israel under the conquest of Joshua, there shall be no religious freedom anywhere in the entire cosmos under the conquest of Jesus (Heb., “Jeshua”). Just as Adam was to guard/cleanse the Edenic garden-temple, and Joshua the Palestinian land-temple, and the priests the Solomonic building-temple, [and just as Christ symbolically cleansed the temple on his first advent,] so also shall Christ cleanse his cosmic-temple [on his second advent]. (“Out like a lamb, in like a lion,” as they say!) His sights are on a much, much, bigger prize than Palestine. The kingdom/land of Israel of the Old Testament was a foreshadow of the coming cosmos-encapsulating Kingdom/Reign of Christ Jesus. The types, shadows, and pictures of the (aptly so-called) “Old Covenant” have long-since served their pedagogical purpose; now that Christ has come, they are to be done away with. Who needs the object-lesson when the reality has come?

As Christians, we are the true Israel (see Rom. 9 [show] I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit-- [2]that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. [3]For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. [4]They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. [5]To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. [6]But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, [7]and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." [8]This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. [9]For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." [10]And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, [11]though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-- [12]she was told, "The older will serve the younger." [13]As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." [14]What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! [15]For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." [16]So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. [17]For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." [18]So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. [19]You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" [20]But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" [21]Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? [22]What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, [23]in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- [24]even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? [25]As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" [26]"And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" [27]And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, [28]for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." [29]And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah." [30]What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; [31]but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. [32]Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, [33]as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
), the true Jews (see Galatians/Ephesians), the true circumcision (Philippians), and all the Abrahamic promises belong to us in Christ Jesus (Galatians again)–we are heirs of all things, heaven and earth, Christ included, not of a small parcel of land. We, “the meek [in Christ,] shall inherit the earth.” (See also, in context: Matthew 3:9-10, 8 [show] [9]And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. [10]Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (ESV) [8]Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (ESV)
:5-12, 21:33-45; Galatians 3:29 [show] [29]And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)
; and the over-arching argument of Romans. Also check out Kim Riddlebarger’s excellent and concise book, A Case for Amillennialism, if you’re interested in further study. Almost a must-read given today’s evangelical, and dispensationally-inspired political, climate.)

Though the Kingdom of God has come ethically and morally, it has not yet come geographically*–which is why he taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come,” and why he taught us to live as pilgrims in a foreign kingdom-land–for truly, “…here we have no continuing city.” We are sojourners–Rahabs in a cosmic Jericho awaiting the freedom-bringing conquest of the coming Joshua. In the world, but no longer of it–that is, of the kingdom, but not yet in it. When he (and it) comes, he brings the permanent and true Promised Land with him–”even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!”

Last but not least: what, then, should be our position regarding the geopolitical state of Israel? Simple: we ought to promote freedom and justice for all. (And by that I mean the rule of law, by which I do mean a state-authorized lex talionis system–just not, as [T] rightly decried, an anarchistic vigilante-run lex talionis free-for-all.) And that freedom-and-justice principle goes for all nations, including Israel’s enemies.

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*The only current “geography” of the kindgom is the hearts and minds of its dislocated citizens–just like Rahab’s, as she awaited her coming King. The geographical realm of the coming Kingdom–the territory, the borders–advanced with each step of Joshua and his armies as they marched on Jericho. But the ethical rule of the coming kingdom–personal allegiance–”blossomed” far in advance of his front lines, upon their being given “eyes to see the kingdom” coming toward them, a heart to forsake (or die to) their current kingdom and embrace the coming one. As Rahab saw the kingdom coming, she transfered her life-wide allegiance to Joshua. The rule precedes the realm. It was (and is) a matter of political, as well as religious, allegiance. Which means that Joshua’s attack on Jericho was both a kingdom-expanding conquest of enemy territory, as well as a rescue mission for his captive loyals. And so shall it be for Christ on a cosmic level.

My favorite sentence in the email, reflective of my favorite thought-topic of late, is emboldened above. So many of the New Covenant statements about the Kingdom seem to make a lot more sense, in a real-world practical sense, when interpreted in the “cosmic Jericho” grid. Were I ever to write a short book on something, I think it might be this.

Man, ain’t Truth cool?