Posted on 10/25/2010 11:58:16 AM PDT by wmfights
A new headline in the Jerusalem Post reads: “Vatican synod calls for end to Israel’s ‘occupation’: At conference on Christians in the Middle East, US Melkite archbishop says: ‘There is no longer a chosen people.’” With all due respect, the Vatican is wrong on this issue. The entire Bible — from Genesis to Revelation — makes crystal clear again and again the Lord’s love for the Jewish people, His decision to choose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants for His very own, and His eternal promise to give the Holy Land to the Jewish people.
As such, it is the duty of all true followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to bless Israel and reaffirm her fundamental legitimacy and right to the Land. Yes, we should bless and love the Palestinians, as well, because our Lord Jesus said as a Jew living in Israel, “Love your neighbor,” and, “Love your enemies.” But we should never accept the false teaching that God has rejected the Jewish people or rescinded His promises to the nation of Israel. That simply is not Biblical.
In Genesis chapter 12:1-3, the Lord makes it clear He has chosen Abram to “make a great nation” and the Lord says to him, “I will bless you and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” In Genesis 13:14-18, the Lord specifically takes Abraham to the land we now call Israel and said, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are (the Jordan Valley), northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.”
Doesn’t “forever” mean forever?
This promise is reaffirmed to Isaac, and later to Jacob, whose name the Lord changes to “Israel.” For example, in Deuteronomy 7:6-8, the Lord says to the children of Israel, “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord didn not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers.”
In Genesis 48:3-4, Jacob tells his son Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you an everlasting possession.”
Doesn’t everlasting mean everlasting?
Interestingly, the Apostle Paul prophetically anticipated that the Christians in Rome would one day think that God would reject the Jewish people and His promises to them because many Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. So Paul wrote this in his letter to the Romans, chapter 11, verse 1 and 2: “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.”
The New Testament again and again affirms the Lord’s love for the Jewish people and for the nation of Israel. Indeed, in the Book of Revelation, we specifically see the nation of Israel regathered and playing a key role in the End Times. God defends Israel. God fights for Israel against her enemies. God blesses Israel and the Jewish people. And then the Lord Jesus Christ Himself comes with His saints to reign from Jerusalem. To deny such truths is to deeply and fundamentally misunderstand the Word of God.
May I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to share this message with others. Be kind towards the Catholic leaders. Let us show them the mistakes they are making, but do so in love. Let us also teach followers of Jesus Christ around the world the Lord’s deep love and compassion for the Jewish people, and His desire that they — and all people — come to faith in Messiah Jesus.
At the same time, please prayerfully consider becoming involved in The Joshua Fund to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus in real and practical ways. And please prayerfully consider coming to Israel and the Epicenter Conference in Israel next May. Thank you, and God bless you.
Everything that comes out of Vatican City is NOT official Catholic Church position, and has no connection whatsoever to the Pope.
Pretty lame attempt at Catholic-Bashing.
Read John Chapter 8 carefully to see what Christ says about Jews who do not believe in him....
Stunning statement isn’t it? I read it last night and was amazed they would be so verbal and direct. But we should not be surprised when we consider the Lord has stated no one will come to Israels defense as those days approach...still I think this is just a temporary thing as they will be quick to spin this around once the public gets their heads around it. It’s simply too soon for a public statement as that...However, it does evidence the general puplic, and International Governments are moving away from Israel more and more. Things will get heated for israel and the pressure mount....then in time the anti-Christ will bring in His peace treaty of protecting them.
Regardless these were stunning statements coming from the Bishops! It will not be taken lightly by many.
Maybe it's been about something else for the Vatican all along?
ML/NJ
A new headline in the Jerusalem Post reads: “Vatican synod calls for end to Israel’s ‘occupation’: At conference on Christians in the Middle East, US Melkite archbishop says: ‘There is no longer a chosen people.’”
With all due respect, the Vatican is wrong on this issue.
The entire Bible — from Genesis to Revelation — makes crystal clear again and again the Lord’s love for the Jewish people, His decision to choose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants for His very own, and His eternal promise to give the Holy Land to the Jewish people.
As such, it is the duty of all true followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to bless Israel and reaffirm her fundamental legitimacy and right to the Land. Yes, we should bless and love the Palestinians, as well, because our Lord Jesus said as a Jew living in Israel, “Love your neighbor,” and, “Love your enemies.” But we should never accept the false teaching that God has rejected the Jewish people or rescinded His promises to the nation of Israel. That simply is not Biblical.
In Genesis chapter 12:1-3, the Lord makes it clear He has chosen Abram to “make a great nation” and the Lord says to him, “I will bless you and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” In Genesis 13:14-18, the Lord specifically takes Abraham to the land we now call Israel and said, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are (the Jordan Valley), northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.”
Doesn’t “forever” mean forever?
This promise is reaffirmed to Isaac, and later to Jacob, whose name the Lord changes to “Israel.” For example, in Deuteronomy 7:6-8, the Lord says to the children of Israel, “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord didn not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers.”
In Genesis 48:3-4, Jacob tells his son Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you an everlasting possession.”
Doesn’t everlasting mean everlasting?
Interestingly, the Apostle Paul prophetically anticipated that the Christians in Rome would one day think that God would reject the Jewish people and His promises to them because many Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. So Paul wrote this in his letter to the Romans, chapter 11, verse 1 and 2: “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.”
The New Testament again and again affirms the Lord’s love for the Jewish people and for the nation of Israel. Indeed, in the Book of Revelation, we specifically see the nation of Israel regathered and playing a key role in the End Times. God defends Israel. God fights for Israel against her enemies. God blesses Israel and the Jewish people. And then the Lord Jesus Christ Himself comes with His saints to reign from Jerusalem. To deny such truths is to deeply and fundamentally misunderstand the Word of God.
May I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to share this message with others. Be kind towards the [Roman] Catholic leaders. Let us show them the mistakes they are making, but do so in love. Let us also teach followers of Jesus Christ around the world the Lord’s deep love and compassion for the Jewish people, and His desire that they — and all people — come to faith in Messiah Jesus.
At the same time, please prayerfully consider becoming involved in The Joshua Fund to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus in real and practical ways. And please prayerfully consider coming to Israel and the Epicenter Conference in Israel next May. Thank you, and God bless you.
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It would be great if a two state solution and Isael withdrawing from land gained after 1967 would mean peace in the region. And perhaps it is good that Bishops have such an idealized view of human kind. But it doesn’t.
You can not have peace with another when the goal of that other is your total destruction. No matter if the people want it, no matter if some religious and civic leaders want it.
The truth is that the radical Muslims will use their terrorism against their own people if any softening towards the existence of Israel is ever perceived by them.
So as a matter of self preservation attacks against Israel will be tolerated if not encouraged.
Israel should hold fast to her gains and do what is necessary to prevent the expansion of Islam.
This first part is confusing. Whether it is intentionally confusing or not isn't clear, but the synod isn't "the Vatican" but met there, and consisted of bishops from the Middle East.
Here's the list of the major attendees: http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2010/10/other-pontifical-acts_05.html
It would be great if a two state solution and Isael withdrawing from land gained after 1967 would mean peace in the region. And perhaps it is good that Bishops have such an idealized view of human kind. But it doesn’t. [Qx: There is no peace outside of God's Peace and God's will.]
You can not have peace with another when the goal of that other is your total destruction. No matter if the people want it, no matter if some religious and civic leaders want it.
The truth is that the radical Muslims will use their terrorism against their own people if any softening towards the existence of Israel is ever perceived by them. So as a matter of self preservation attacks against Israel will be tolerated if not encouraged.
Israel should hold fast to her gains and do what is necessary to prevent the expansion of Islam.
Unfortunately even many leaders in The Church are ignorant of the deadly current Islamic attack on the West. Pushing Israel in front of the bus is shameful in this age.
This myopia seems to come from higher education and a liberal world view, nurtured by a cushy upbringing in an elitist bubble. These “brainy” protectors of faith will get us all killed in the long run. They don’t know that the Crusade has begun and they are acting as useful idiots for the enemy.
NOTE ALSO THE MEETING ITSELF WAS CALLED BY THE POPE...from the article:
“The bishops issued the statement at the close of their two-week... ‘MEETING CALLED BY POPE BENEDICT XVI’... to discuss the plight of Christians in the Middle East amid a major exodus of the faithful from the region.”
It’s nice to see an article that supports and respects the Vatican for a change.
Again this meeting was called together by the POPE so clearly it was indeed a part of the Vatican...you cannot disassociate that fact.
Yes, but calling the meeting and the results of the meeting are separate issues.
Also, to keep things in perspective:
Christianity represents 33% of the world’s religious people, while Judaism (Jewish Faith) is less than 1%.
The Church can afford to protect Israel. Jesus was a Jew and both faiths share the same Old Testament and tradition.
Now the bad news: Islam is second worldwide... with 22% of the world’s religious... and they are fast growing due to their birth rates. Muslims are sworn to eventually convert or kill all infidels, this is common knowledge and easily verifiable. Islam WILL NOT live in peace with Christianity, and this simple fact should animate all discussions of the current Crusade (which we did not start or even ask for).
As usual must split hairs...The Bishops made these statements and the Pope knows those who were called to this meeting....they are under His authority.
...the facts are what they are and have been presented...and it moves across the news and media. I understand the Pope has called them to the Vatican so it appears they will be attempting to quiet this down of course. I anticiapate the Pope will give a statement before too long...but clearly the Vatican will soon be in damage control.
It isn’t a matter of “splitting hairs.” It’s a matter of accuracy and avoiding convulsion.
Nor should it, but it is an accurate statement of their eschatological views. I think most RC's don't understand this their church's teaching.
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