Template:Israel

What is or who is Israel

The Hebrew word in the Bible is defined 03478 ^לארשׂי^ Yisra’el \@yis-raw-ale’\@ from 08280 and 0410, Greek 2474 ~Ισραηλ~; ; n pr m AV-Israel 2489, Israelites 16; 2505 The term Israel means first "God prevails" but is also defined:

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah

2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile.

The first place we see the word is :

• Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. {Israel: that is, A prince of God}

It is important to understand that to say somethings name is to describe its character or nature. Those who say"Israel Only" often do not understand that the term is meant to identify a spiritual character.

We see the יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל YodShemReishAlefLamed appears over 2500 times but 111 of those times there is a Beit at the beginning of the word and is often translated "in Israel". There are 50 times it begins with the letter Lamed and is translated to or "unto Israel". The word is from two words which is "sarah" meaning "preserver" as in have the "power of" and the word "el" meaning "god". If you are not a preserver or have the power of God then you are not Israel. You are not Israel just because you say you are.

• Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn:

• Psalms 89:18 For the LORD [is] our defence; and the Holy One of Israel [is] our king.

Comments Israel

: Supersessionism, also called replacement theology or fulfillment theology, is a doctrine that holds that the early Christian Church has succeeded the Israelites as the definitive people of God. This view directly contrasts with dual-covenant theology which holds that the Mosaic covenant remains valid for Jews.

: Many Early Church commentators taught that Israel was replaced (superseded) by the Church:

* Justin Martyr (about 100 to 165): "For the true spiritual Israel ... are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ."

* Hippolytus of Rome (martyred 13 August 235): "[The Jews] have been darkened in the eyes of your soul with a darkness utter and everlasting."

* Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240 AD): “Who else, therefore, are understood but we, who, fully taught by the new law, observe these practices,—the old law being obliterated, the coming of whose abolition the action itself demonstrates ... Therefore, as we have shown above that the coming cessation of the old law and of the carnal circumcision was declared, so, too, the observance of the new law and the spiritual circumcision has shone out into the voluntary observances of peace.”

* Augustine (354–430) follows these views of the earlier Church Fathers, but he emphasizes the importance to Christianity of the continued existence of the Jewish people: "The Jews ... are thus by their own Scriptures a testimony to us that we have not forged the prophecies about Christ."

Others also supported forms of these perceptions like Origen, Luther and modern theologians like Karl Barth and his "theology of the Word". See Theology.

• Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

This a clear statement saying that if Jesus is the Christ he shall rule Israel. Anyone who rejects the king or chooses another king is no longer Israel.

Even those who mocked Jesus knew he was the king of Israel.

• Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

Merely being called Christ is saying that someone is the King and many made this claim more clear with their words and praises.

• John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

• John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

• Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Jesus stated that he would take the kingdom from those Jews who were not following the ways of God.

• Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Jesus made it clear who he would appoint that kingdom to.

• Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

And then He appointed that kingdom of God here on earth to them and told them not to be like the princes and rulers of other nations who call themselves Benefactors who exercise authority one over the other.

• Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

Thousands of Jews accepted Christ as their king at Pentecost as these new appointed ministers of the kingdom worked daily in the temple rightly dividing the bread from house to house and ministering to the people the Corban of Christ that made the word of God to effect in His kingdom. That daily ministration had been the responsibility of the Levites but now it was the responsibility of the early Church in the practice of Pure Religion.

Those who said they had no king but Caesar are no longer of the nation of Israel, the kingdom of God. Millions more of the "lost sheep" were grafted into that kingdom of God and His righteousness.

• John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

But they may repent and seek that kingdom of God and his righteousness.

• Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

The Christian conflict with Rome brought judgment upon those people who persecuted the Church and those seeking that kingdom of God. Apostasy of the Church and an entanglement through a yoke of bondage were prophesied. Through covetous practices, the people would become merchandise and curse children.

Constantine brought in his apostate Church with his watered down baptism but for a thousand years true Christians survived and thrived. The kingdoms of men ruling over men collapsed and withdrew from its dominance over men. Then came false Christians and their damnable heresies who brought inquisitions and crowned men over men.

The problem today is the Modern Christian is under a strong delusion. They think they are professing Christ but they are actually workers of iniquity. The Modern Church does not instruct the people to sit down together in a network of tens as Christ commanded so that they may receive the true Eucharist of Christ.

The people have pursued the Corban of the Pharisees and seek social security through men who exercise authority one over the other. They do not live by faith, hope and charity and the perfect law of liberty but by the wages of unrighteousness.

The Modern Christian look to the Cain's, Nimrod's and Caesar's of the world with an appetite for free bread and benefits at the expense of their neighbor.

But they too may Repent and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.