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Part 3 THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES | Jesus and the restoration of Israel?
In the New Testament, after Jesus rose from the dead, the book of Acts records that Jesus remained on earth for 40 days speaking to His Jewish disciples about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3) Acts 1:6, next records the disciples asking Jesus a very gripping question …” Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom TO Israel?”
Out of all the questions the disciples could have asked Jesus after He rose from the dead, why would they ask Him THIS specific question? This is a very Israel-centric question recorded for us in the New Testament.
As a Christian, have your Pastors ever explained this verse to you? If not, it’s something to think deeply about. Quite often, this verse is passed over or ignored by various Pastors and Teachers because it doesn’t seem to fit the traditional Christian narrative. The “Israel is out, Jesus is in” narrative that many Christians believe. Some say, that the “story of Israel and their centrality in the Bible is “Old Testament” and the story of Jesus, is “New Testament”, "and all I need to care about is the "New Testament!”
Many Christians believe that God replaced Israel with the Christian Church or put His plans on pause for Israel because He is focusing on Christians. Both these views are false. We will prove that through the following studies.
Now, while we will agree that the life, ministry and teachings of Jesus are central in the New Testament, the reality is, the story of Jesus is interwoven in the ongoing story of Israel. Israel’s story (which involves all the nations of the world) has not been interrupted. The story of Jesus, interwoven in the ongoing story of Israel in the New Testament, are inseparable from one another.
Keep in mind, Jesus is from the family of Israel (Matthew 1). He came in the fullness of time, as a part of the many promises God spoke concerning the Messiah and King who would come to save, restore and rule over Israel, and sit on David’s throne. (Jeremiah 33:14-26, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 1:31-33)
There is an enormous aspect of Jesus’ ministry that IS central to Israel. Please don’t be offended by that statement. This in no way excludes us who are not genetically of Israel. It’ll be explained as we move along in these studies.
Now, in order to understand this verse, Acts 1:6, (a verse that is often puzzling to most Christians) you must first understand that this verse is connected to countless promises, God in fact, made to Israel. It is a Biblical puzzle piece connected to the Old Testament. It is the promised full restoration of scattered Israel. The definition of the word restoration is: The action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition. This tells us as Christians that something happened to the people of Israel within their history, and God had a plan fix it.
Stay tuned as we unpack some more foundational promises and prophesied events, spoken forth by God, concerning the people of Israel that links us to the Feast of Tabernacles.
We will continue to re-connect the dots of Scripture that helps us understand Jesus’ message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We will also shed more light on Jesus’ mission for Israel, which is linked to many foundational promises of God to fully restore the fallen kingdom of Israel. To regather, cleanse and restore the scattered of Israel. Why is it so important? Because it is part of our faith history. It helps us understand the Bible. If we have a relationship with Jesus (the Jewish Messiah) then it means we also have a relationship with Israel. (Romans 11, Ephesians 2)
It also explains passages like Acts 1:6 and gives us a proper view of Israel the people, Israel the land and Jerusalem the city in our day. Furthermore, it helps us understand prophecy concerning Israel and what is to befall Israel and the nations in the last days before and when Jesus returns.
Now I want to give a friendly warning, these series of studies are going to challenge some traditional Church doctrine. But if you ask for the Holy Spirits guidance, listen prayerfully, read and test each scripture, you might learn something you’ve never heard before. Lets get to it!
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