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Those that bless Israel are blessed, those that curse
Israel are cursed:
On this page I'd like to show
in the NT especially in Rev all references to the Temple and Jerusalem are
actually talking about the Christian temple and the new Jerusalem in Heaven
not the future re-built temple in Israel. If the Holy Spirit lives in us, we
are now the temple of God (2 Co 6:16), moreover the same word "temple" in
Greek is used when talking about God's temple of 2 Thes 2:4. Again, many
think this temple is the future rebuilt temple in Jerusalem but it is
actually the false Christian temple in Rome where the Pope sits on his huge
throne. I want to prove that Paul and John taught that after JC's
resurrection there became a New Covenant and the old one of works and
administrations via the Jewish community was now replaced by everyone who
proclaimed themselves as follower of JC or Christians as it doesn't matter
anymore whether one is Jewish or is circumcised (Gal 5:6.)
A re-built Temple where Jews
will again start
sacrificing animals to God would be a final declaration of denial by the physical Jews
(Israelis) that they do not believe Jesus Christ died as the final blood sacrifice, and
if their blood sacrifices and re-built Temple are denying Christ then they
would be an Anti-Christ and God could never bless this.
He Who Blesses Israel is Blessed?
by Steve Wohlberg
Across America the line is heard, "He who blesses Israel will be blessed and
he who curses Israel will be cursed." This line, supposedly from the Bible,
is even quoted as a Divine, behind-the-scenes reason for the present
prosperity of the United States. The idea is, America has become the most
powerful nation on earth because she supports Israel.
First of all, America was en route to becoming a great nation long before
she began to support Israel (the nation was reborn in 1948).
Secondly, the line, "He who blesses Israel will be blessed and he who curses
Israel will be cursed" is really not in the Bible at all. That oft-repeated
phrase is really a misinterpretation of one verse, Genesis 12:3.
In Genesis 12:3, God said to Abraham,
I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you, and in you
shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Notice, the direct "bless-curse" line concerned Abraham alone, not Israel,
and "all the families of the earth" were to be blessed in Abraham, which
meant through "his seed," which was Jesus Christ (see Galatians 3:16). In
order to receive that very blessing, individuals must be willing to be
"turned away" from their sins by God's grace (see Acts 3:25,26).
In Deuteronomy 28, God said if Israel followed Him she would be "blessed,"
but if she strayed, she would be "cursed." Throughout the Old Testament,
God's blessing or curse upon the Israelites was connected to their faith and
obedience to His will. In the Bible, there is NO UNCONDITIONAL BLESSING upon
any individual or nation that chooses to reject faith and disobey God. Paul
said that "glory, honor, and peace" would come upon "the Jew first, and also
the Gentile," if they do what is right, whereas "indignation and wrath"
would come "upon every soul of man that doeth evil, to the Jew first, and
also to the Gentile … for there is no respecter of persons with God" (Romans
2:8-11).
If Jews respond to God's love, repent of their sins, trust in Jesus Christ
as their promised Messiah, and do good, they will be blessed. If they don't,
they will be cursed. The same is true for every human being inside
Jerusalem, America, Russia, Europe, China, or Japan.
There is no UNCONDITIONAL BLESSING in the Bible upon any man or nation,
including America or the modern nation of Israel.
God pleads with us now,
I call heaven and earth to record against you this day, that I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that
both you and your seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19.
Should Christians Focus on Earthly Jerusalem?
by Steve Wohlberg
When it comes to Christians and Bible prophecy, the hot spot is Jerusalem.
Prophecy teachers around the world are talking about Arafat, the PLO, the
Jews, the Arabs, the peace process, a rebuilt Jewish Temple, and a final
Middle East war of Armageddon.
Pastor John Hagee’s recently published book, The Battle for Jerusalem
(2001), reveals this current focus. An advertisement declares, "Pastor John
Hagee explains the heart of Israel’s struggle for Jerusalem and the Holy
Temple Mount - and why the battle for Jerusalem should be of major concern
to Christians around the world." John Hagee Ministries (magazine), March /
April 2001.
Should it really? While Christians should love Jewish people (and everyone
else), and should definitely support Israel in her struggle against
terrorism, we wish to ask - Does the New Testament really say we should
focus on the earthly city of Jerusalem? And do New Testament prophecies, as
is so commonly taught, really swirl around this location? The answer may
surprise you. First of all, there is not one single direct reference in the
book of Revelation to the earthly city of Jerusalem! Look for yourself.
Jesus referred to "the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh
down from heaven from my God" (Revelation 3:12). "And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from my God" (Revelation
21:2). "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain,
and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven
from God" (Revelation 21:10). Here the New Jerusalem is plainly called "the
holy city," and this is where the saints of God are to live eternally.
Revelation 11:2 also refers to "the holy city." Again, in Revelation 22:19,
we read about "the holy city." And Revelation 20:9 describes a final battle
at the end of the 1000 years against "the camp of the saints ... the beloved
city" (20:9). Christians sometimes apply these verses to the present,
earthly city of Jerusalem, but Revelation itself does not do this. As we
have already seen, Revelation defines "the holy city" as the "new Jerusalem"
(21:2). Thus there is no proof that the book of Revelation has even one
reference to earthly Jerusalem!
Concerning the saints of God, the New Testament says, "But now they desire a
better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:16).
This city is clearly the New Jerusalem. Paul told his readers, "But you are
come to mount sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22).
The most powerful New Testament section on this subject is Galatians
4:22-31. An honest and careful study of Paul’s words reveals that earthly
"Jerusalem which now is" (verse 25) is compared to Hagar, Ishmael, (verse
22), and the flesh (verse 23). Amazingly, it is "cast out" (verse 31) and is
no longer an "heir" to the promises of God. But the "Jerusalem which is
above is free, which is the mother of us all" (verse 26).
Christians should love Jewish people, and should seek to thoughtfully share
with them the message of Jesus their Messiah. Yet according to the New
Testament, our focus should be on the New Jerusalem, rather than the
present, war torn city in the Middle East.
This was taken from
www.remnantofGod.org
Before commenting on the obvious, I must say I have heard this
phrase repeated often in the last year or so, and I am getting a bit tired
of it. It was stated that, "those that bless Israel are blessed, those that
curse Israel are cursed." Is no one reading their Bibles anymore? Physical
Israel DENIED Christ did they not? Why would the Lord suggest we go against
His will and yoke unequally with those that deny His Son? I am not saying we
should ignore the obvious evils being perpetrated against Israel at all. I
believe we should help them 100% in this war against terrorism. But I would
hope the people stating "those that bless Israel are blessed, those that
curse Israel are cursed," would read their Bibles and discover that,
"...they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are
the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be
called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the
children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
-Romans 9:6-8
Biblical fact is, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise." -Galatians 3:29 The REAL Israel of today is
the Commandment keeping, prophecy understanding, Christ obeying body of
believers! Common sense affords the reality that we will NOT be blessed if
we choose to persecute the REAL Children of God. PERIOD! It is better to
define who they are, before assuming who they "might" be.
Want to know the REAL reason everyone wants to be so chummy with Israel? It
has NOTHING to do with blessing or cursing the Jews! It's the exact same
agenda we saw the Vatican pushing when they asked Hitler to help them.
Prophecy denotes Antichrist DESIRES the Capital of Israel as his base of
operations. (Daniel 11:45) The Vatican wants to PHYSICALLY sit in, "...the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. " -2 Thessalonians 2:4
Regardless of the fact that Rome cannot even phantom proper prophetic
understanding, they STILL WANT THAT CAPITAL! There really is no reason to
re-build the temple. It is ONLY Satan's desire to do so, period!
Also keep this in mind. With Jerusalem becoming the CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
everyone knows that ALL money will be funneled through that city! And when
the "One World Government" starts to flex it's muscles, whoever stands in
that position will be RULER OF THE WORLD! Don't think it will happen? Fact
is, the ball has already started rolling...
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