Daniel Unlocked #62

The nation spent nearly 400 years in Egypt, for the most part being in the bondage of slavery. In 1445 BC, under the leadership of Moses and by the providence of God the Nation, comprising about 3 million men, women, and children, were liberated from Egypt in what we know as the Exodus (meaning departure in the Greek.)

It was at this time that the Book of Deuteronomy was revealed to them, with the blessings and curses pronounced depending on their obedience or rebellion. Read Deuteronomy 28 and note the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. Deut.28-30 contains the prophecy about their scattering amongst the nations if they did not remain faithful to the covenant.

Israel’s history was a Rocky Rd. Because of rebellion and disobedience, the 10 northern tribes went into Assyrian captivity between 732-722 B.C.  The two southern tribes followed just over 100years later. They went into Babylonian captivity in three successions between 605 – 586.B.C. (Babylon had defeated Assyria in the Battle of Ninevah in 612 B.C.)  All 12 tribes eventually returned (Ezra 6:17; 8:35 tells us this). After their return Daniel’s prophecy of probation was to run its course, as we have noted in Daniel 9:24-27.

Just days before Jesus announced the New Covenant at the last supper, He had said this to a gathering of Jewish priests and Pharisees: “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit.” Matthew 21:43. Notice the context of this verse. Passion week (Jesus last week) had commenced with the triumphal entry as Jesus (according to one of the 300 prophecies) had entered riding a colt. The next morning, He had cursed an unproductive fig tree (a symbol from the Old Testament of Israel). The fig tree withered and died – as the nation had done spiritually.

In Matthew 21:33-45 Jesus told the parable of the tenants – verse 33 is an allusion to Isaiah 5. And in v45 it says, “they perceived that he was talking about them.” It was in this context that Jesus announced that the nation would be taken from them and given to another. Old Testament predictions were made on the basis of Israel being the Covenant People of God. According to the New Testament Israel’s status before God came to an end in A.D. 34 at the stoning of Stephen which had marked the end of the 490 years of probation. The Christian church took their place! The Christian church was made up of the faithful remnant of Israel, including many priests and Pharisees like Nicodemus.

While addressing the Christian churches in the province of Galatia Paul said this, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Galatians 6:15-16. Earlier in the same letter he had said, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29.

Near the end of his life Paul wrote from a Roman prison,  “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;” Colossians 3:11-12.(He quoted from Exodus 19:5-6) “The elect of God” or some versions have “chosen”, is an Old Testament term for Israel, but here Paul is applying it to the church.

Peter said the same thing just two years before his upside down crucifixion: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Again, quoting Old Testament passages about Israel – now spiritual Israel.  Paul also talked about an Israel of the flesh (1Cor 10:18). Israel of the flesh is what we are witnessing in Gaza right now.