Future Israel

1 FUTURE ISRAEL Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must be Challenged “Do not be arrogant toward the branches” Romans 11:18 by Barry E. Horner 2 Copyright Barry E. Horner 2006 3 FORWORD To be perfectly blunt: I must say the Christians have robbed the Jews! And perhaps what is worse is that this thievery has been encouraged by theologians, pastors, and even Sunday School teachers, where small children are taught to sing the song, "Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line. ." Every promise in the Scripture in some way benefits Christians, but it's not all promised to Christians. Sometimes the thievery has been inadvertent and as unintentional. Its like thinking that the raincoat hanging in the office closet is yours for wearing home because of unexpected showers. Hopefully, you will discover the raincoat belongs to a fellow worker and you will restore it. It is not as if Christians do not have the greatest promise of God, which is I John 2:25, ”And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life”. Barry Horner is a theologian who furnishes evidence of this identity theft and the false claim that the Church inherited all the promises of Israel. Not only that, he demonstrates how that by restoring the election of God or chosen-ness to the Jewish people, the Church is even more blessed. He shows that the Jewish People are present historical evidence of the Bible’s complete trustworthiness. Every living Jewish person, no matter what he believes, no matter what he observes, no matter whether or not he cares, is evidence that the God of the Bible is, and He keeps His Word. Though Israel might be blinded in part, yet there is a glorious destiny to be fulfilled, and that glorious destiny is a light and a blessing to the Church of today and tomorrow. Horner's scholarship is impeccable, his reasoning is profound, his revelation of theological anti-Semitism is astounding. His proposal for the solution is based on the integrity of the Scripture and the sovereignty of God. I can’t imagine a more useful book for those who take theology seriously. Moishe Rosen 4 The God of Abraham praise, Who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of everlasting days, and God of Love; Jehovah, great I AM! by earth and Heav’n confessed; I bow and bless the sacred Name forever blessed. The God of Abraham praise, Whose all sufficient grace Shall guide me all my happy days, in all my ways. He calls a worm His friend, He calls Himself my God! And He shall save me to the end, thro’ Jesus’ blood. He by Himself has sworn; I on His oath depend, I shall, on eagle wings upborne, to Heav’n ascend. I shall behold His face; I shall His power adore, And sing the wonders of His grace forevermore. The goodly land I see, with peace and plenty bless’d; A land of sacred liberty, and endless rest. There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound, And trees of life forever grow with mercy crowned. There dwells the Lord our King, the Lord our righteousness, Triumphant o’er the world and sin, the Prince of peace; On Sion’s sacred height His kingdom still maintains, And glorious with His saints in light forever reigns. The God Who reigns on high the great archangels sing, And “Holy, holy, holy!” cry, “Almighty King! Who was, and is, the same, and evermore shall be: Jehovah—Father—great I AM, we worship Thee!” Before the Savior’s face the ransomed nations bow; O’erwhelmed at His almighty grace, forever new: He shows His prints of love—they kindle to a flame! And sound thro’ all the worlds above the slaughtered Lamb. The whole triumphant host give thanks to God on high; “Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” they ever cry. Hail, Abraham’s God, and mine! (I join the heav’nly lays,) All might and majesty are Thine, and endless praise. Thomas Olivers Dedicated to: Ann, Moishe, David, Ron, Carolyn, Kay, Eddie, all encouragers after the spirit of Barnabas. 5 Table of Contents Forword 3 Personal Introduction 9 1 Israel – and Christian anti-Judaism in contrast 19 Aurelius Augustine 21 John Calvin 24 Horatius Bonar 27 Charles Haddon Spurgeon 31 2 Israel – and centuries of Christian anti-Judaism 35 The Early Church to 135 AD 37 The Patristic Period 39 The Medieval Period 43 The 16th century Reformation Period 48 The 17th century Puritan Period 50 The 18th century Evangelical Period 52 The 19th century Gentile Missionary Period 53 The 20-21st century Jewish Missionary Period 56 3 Israel – and Christian anti-Judaism in the US 59 Albertus Pieters 59 Loraine Boettner 62 Gary Burge 67 O. Palmer Robertson 79 An Open Letter to Evangelicals 91 6 4 Israel – and Christian anti-Judaism in the UK 108 Law precedes Grace 111 Covenentalism 114 Romans 11 116 Heaven without Earth 121 Unity without Diversity 123 Anti-Judaic Tone 125 5 Israel – and Christian encounter with Zionism 133 The foundation of Zionism 134 The exile of Zionism 136 The birth of Zionism 147 The British encouragement of Zionism 152 The British discouragement of Zionism 158 The Recovery of the State of Israel 162 Christian sympathy with Zionism 173 6 Israel – and Christian anti-Judaism hermeneutics in history 178 Reformed connection with Roman Catholocism 178 Judeo-centric millennialism to the Reformation 182 Judeo-centric millennialism beyond the Reformation 183 Reformed development with Fairbairn, Bavinck and Vos 193 7 Israel – and Christian anti-Judaism hermeneutics 215 The hermeneutic of George Eldon Ladd 216 The instructive example of Hebrews 220 7 A Christocentric hermeneutic against Hebrew scripture 222 A Christocentic hermeneutic that is misguided 229 A Christocentic hermeneutic for Hebrew scripture 233 8 Israel – and the harmony of spiritual materiality 241 The fall of spirituality and materiality 242 The spirituality of materiality in the Old Testament 244 The spirituality of materiality in the New Testament 246 The influence of Greek Philosophy upon the church 249 The redemption of spirituality and materiality 252 The tension between spirituality, materiality, and Augustinianism 254 The redemption of Israel’s fallen spiritual materiality 259 9 Israel – as heir of the land through Abraham 263 The land in the Old Testament 266 The land in the New Testament 269 The land and Patrick Fairbairn 280 The land and W. D. Davies 284 The land and David E. Holwerda 285 The land and the Heavenly Jerusalem 290 10 Israel – and a Romans 11 Synthesis 296 Romans 11:1-32 298 Galatians 6:16 307 Ephesians 2:11-22 314 Philippians 3:2-3 321 8 Hebrews 8:7-13 326 I Peter 2:9-10 333 11 Israel – as God’s beloved enemy in Romans 11:28 339 Carnal Israel as God’s beloved enemy 340 Carnal Israel and the spiritual remnant 347 Carnal Israel as “Israel after the flesh” 355 Carnal Israel in the personal testimony of Paul 359 12 Israel – in need of the prodigal Gentiles’ love 360 The admonition of Paul to the Gentiles in Romans 11 361 The anti-Judaic nominal regard for the Jew 363 The analogy of family interest in the Jew 367 The analogy of Ruth and Orpah 369 The encouragement of eschatological Jewishness 371 The exhortation of Horatius Bonar 374 Appendices A The future of Israel and Jonathan Edwards 383 B The future of Israel and J. C. Ryle 389 C God’s dealings with Israel – law or grace? 399 D Melanie Phillips on Replacement Theology 404 E Annotated bibliography on Jewish–Christian Relations 410 Bibliography Index Personal Introduction 9 PERSONAL INTRODUCTION N the pilgrimage of a Christian, significant junctures are encountered I that bring about a radical change of direction, particularly in the realm of doctrinal course correction, that may be regarded as near- revolutionary. Such was the case when this writer came to a knowledge of a more Reformed doctrinal emphasis, that is biblical, or more precisely, exegetical Calvinism. He will never forget the change of perspective that came about with the reading of Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will; a whole gospel world-view was turned around, even though appreciation still remained for an earlier evangelical heritage that did not agree with the German Reformer’s understanding of human corruption and the sovereign grace of God. Furthermore, having been raised in Methodism, this new doctrinal allegiance became more sympathetic with the Calvinistic foundation of George Whitefield rather than John Wesley’s Arminianism, and as a result fellowship tilted toward those of a more Reformed persuasion. There further came appreciative acquaintance with John Owen and C. H. Spurgeon and Charles Hodge and B. B. Warfield and Loraine Boettner and J. I. Packer and Martyn Lloyd-Jones etcetera, especially by means of The Banner of Truth Trust as well as other similar publishers. Consequently there also developed a more heartfelt understanding of the grace of God in the light of man’s thorough sinful pollution, which led to expanding familiarity with Calvinism, more euphemistically referred to as “the doctrines of grace.” This whole new environment, although incorporating Anglican, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist legacies, has presented an admirable unified front. With this aura there has been fervent endorsement of the major historic strands of the Reformation with regard to God, man, sin, and the gospel, and to a lesser degree with regard to the doctrine of the church. However the area of eschatology has revealed a yet lesser degree of unity except that it would be true to say that Augustinian amillennialism has appeared to be the predominant school of prophetic thought, with postmillennialism ranking a respectable second, and premillennialism being relegated to a tolerable third place, provided that it was purged of that much maligned subset, dispensationalism.

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