This is the third installment from a series of articles written about this subject by Wayne Jackson. It was published in the April 1973 edition of the "Christian Courier", published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and edited by Mr. Jackson.
The doctrine of premillennialism dogmatically asserts that God unconditionally promised Canaan's land to the descendants of Abraham. Further, it is contended that the promise has never been completely granted, hence the claim is made that the Jews will eventually be restored to Palestine in order that the Abrahamic covenant might be fulfilled. Indeed, some are declaring without hesitation that with the establishment of Israel as an independent government in 1948, the Jewish restoration has begun and this is a signal of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The anti-scriptural errors involved in this are plenteous and pathetic.
THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM - Concerning Canaan, Jehovah promised Abraham, "Unto thy seed will I give this land" (Genesis 12:7). this land covenant with the patriarch involved all that land "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Genesis 15:18) and it was pledged to his seed "forever" (Genesis 13:15). Two questions are of great concern here: (1) Was the promise ever totally fulfilled? (2) Was the promise in any sense conditional? An understanding of these queries devastates the premillenniall theory.
First of all, when the Law of Moses was given, provision was made for the establishment of cities of refuge where the man slayer who had killed without premeditation might flee for the preservation of his life. Initially, three cities were to be set aside for this purpose. Moses declared however, that "if Jehovah thy God enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers' if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love Jehovah thy God, and to walk ever in His ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, besides these three...(Deuteronomy 19:7-9). Thus, SIX cities of refuge would be evidence of the fulfillment of the land promise to Abraham's seed. A reading of Joshua 20:7-8 reveals that the cities of Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan were assigned as havens of refuge; SIX cities. Thus, "all the land" had been given. The land covenant has been fulfilled! This is further demonstrated by Joshua 21:43, "So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers and they possessed it, and dwelt therein." Additionally, it is specifically stated of Solomon's time: "And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt..." (I Kings 4:21; II Chronicles 9:26). Finally, Nehemiah rehearses the fact that God brought Abraham from Ur of Chaldees to give him the land of Canaan and says He, "hast performed Thy words for Thou art righteous" (Nehemiah 9:7-8). It would appear that the premillennial heresy implies the exact opposite!
Premillenialists contend however, that Palestine was promised to Israel "forever" (Genesis 13:15). this fails to recognize of course, that the term "forever" is not always used in the Bible in a completely unlimited sense. For instance, circumcision was an "everlasting covenant" (Genesis 17:13); the passover was an ordinance "forever" (Exodus 12:14) and the Levitical system had an "everlasting priesthood" (Numbers 25:13). These Old Testament institutions however, passed away with the abrogation of the Law, thus demonstrating that "forever" sometimes had a temporary significance.
The truth of the matter is, the Old Testament clearly indicates that Israel's possession of Palestine was conditioned upon their faithfulness to God; a condition which they repeatedly violated. Hence, it was foretold: "When ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given unto you" (Joshuah 23:16). That time eventually came and the Jews lost their "deed" to the Promised Land!
JEREMIAH'S VISUAL AID - In the 19th chapter of his book, the prophet Jeremiah is instructed of Jehovah, "Go, and buy a potter's earthen bottle." Subsequently, he is told to go to the valley of Hinnom and to prophesy to the inhabitants of Jerusalem concerning their sins and their eventual destruction. As a symbol of this promised punishment, Jeremiah is commanded to "break the bottle" and to proclaim its meaning, "Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again..." (Jeremiah 19:10-11). This prophecy was partially fulfilled with a seige of the Babylonians in 586 B.C. (II Kings 25) but was completely and ultimately fulfilled with the destruction of national Israel by the Romans in 70 A.D. (See Clarke's Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 305.) After the Jewish nation was destroyed, it was so permanently scattered by the providence of God that it CANNOT BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN! Irregardless of the fact that some Jews are migrating back to Palestine again, they will never be restored as GOD'S NATION!
THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF CHRIST - Further confirmation of the above evidence that national Israel will never be restored is the plain teaching of Christ himself. In Matthew 21, Jesus told the parable of the wicked husbandmen, the design of which was to emphasize how wretchedly the Jews had treated God's prophets, such rebellion reaching its zenith with the crucifixion of Christ. Because of their rejection of Jehovah's precious stone, the Lord said to the Jews, "Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God (i.e., their reign as God's special people) shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matthew 21:43). The inspired apostle Paul unquestionably declares that the "nation" to be henceforth so blessed, is God's "holy nation", the church (See I Peter 2:7-10). The Bible is exceedingly clear; Christians are the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:26-29), the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16).
RESTORATION 'PROOF TEXTS' - The premillennialist purports to have a whole repertoire of proof texts to substantiate his claim of Israel's restoration. An examination of several of these will reveal a characteristic deceitful handling of the Word of God.
1. Isaiah 2:2-4 - It is argued that this passage will be fufilled with the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. Actually, it is a prophecy of the establishment of the church, which is the "house" under consideration (see I Timothy 3:15). This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) which was the beginning of the "last days" (Acts 2:16-17). The truth is, if there is a dispensation yet to come, namely the Millennium, then Peter was wrong and we are not in the "last days" but in the next-to-last days. Isaiha 2:4 does not predict a time of universal world peace, raither it characterizes the peacful idsposition of those formerly hostile nations which "flow unto" the house of God.
2. Isaiah 11:1-16 - This is a prophecy regarding Christ (1-5) and the establishment of His divine government in the church. Again, the peaceful atmosphere thereof is beautifully described (6-9) as being in God's "holy mountain" which is the church (Daniel 2:35,44). And to cinch the matter, verse 10 is quoted in the New Testament (Romans 15:12) by an inspired writer and shown to be applicable to the reception of the Gentile nations into the church. To suggest that it applies to some future age is to totally disregard the inspired interpretation of the prophecy and to reflect upon the credibility of a New Testament pensman!
3. Hosea 2:14-23; 3:5 - Hosea's prophecies are frequently said to point to Israel's restoration in the Millennium. Again however, an inspired New Testament writers says otherwise. Paul quotes Hosea 2:23 and 1:10 in his letter to the Romans (9:25-26) and thereby shows that the restoration foretold by Hosea was of a spiritual nature, including both Jews and Gentiles. And such is accomplished in the church. Hosea 3:5 speaks of israel returning and seeking Jehovah and "David their king" (certainly not David literally) "in the latter days." This is another indication that the Christian era, the reign of Christ, is in view (Luke 1:32-33; Acts 2:30-36; 2:16-17). (See Laetsch, Minor Prophets, p. 40.)
4. Amos 9:11-15 - This is a favorite of the premillennialists, but to no avail. It is argued that the rebuilding of the "tabernacle of David" referes to the restoration of national Judaism in the Millennium, at which time Solomon's temple will literally be rebuilt and the Jewish economy reinstated. In Acts 15 a question was raised among the early disciples as to whether Gentiles were obligated to circumcision. Peter, who had preached first to the Gentiles, denied such. James utters an inspired oracle corroborating Peter, and in connection, he cites the words of Amos concerning the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David. the rebuilding of David's tabernacle was the enthronement of Christ and the establishment of His church! And a part of this design was that the Gentiles might have the privilege of seeking the Lord. It would thus follow, if the tabernacle of David is yet in the future, as the premillennialists contend, then all Gentiles are still lost! (Acts 15:16-17) Also, the claim that Judaism will someday be restored, in view of the books of Galatians and Hebrews, is absolutely incredible!
5. There is of course many additional prophecies which, according to the premillennialists, predict Israel's restoration; but none of these demonstrates a restoration of national Israel in a future millennium. It may be suggested in summation that the Old Testament prophecies which speak of a restoration for Israel pertain either to: (1) A return to Palestine from the confines of the Babylonian Captivity (605-536 B.C.), in the time of Cyrus of Persia (II Chronicles 36:22-23). For example, a number of passages in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel are of this nature. Or, (2) The restoration of Israel to Jehovah's favor spiritually through the church. Peter affirmed that a major thrust of Old Testament prophecy was concerning salvation, which "the prophets sought and searched diligently" and which has now been announced through the preaching of the gospel (I Peter 1:9-12). Thus, the premillennial doctrine virtually ignores the spiritual emphasis of Old Testament prophecy. Actually, it is crassly materialistic in character. It must be utterly rejected!
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