WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE VATICAN'S LATEST, PAINFUL PRONOUNCEMENT ON ISRAEL IS WRONG

Joel Rosenberg's Weblog ^ | October 25, 2010 | Joel Rosenberg

[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 But we should never accept the false teaching that God has rejected the Jewish people or rescinded His promises to the nation of Israel.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.

[caww]

Stunned again! Just when I was thinking I at least understood where catholics are coming from...So they are amill...believe in replacement theology...and oppose Israel on the land issue. That does not sit well with me by any means.

You know we spend so much valuable time getting History lessons and takes on these.. that the business of today gets lost we might better be addressing. I am really surprised they believe in replacement theology for that in itself alone puts them on a bad place.

[mas cerveza por favor]

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?

Isolating the first two verses of Chapter 11 takes them out of context. In the rest of the chapter 11, Paul goes on to say that everything depends upon the election of grace and that hallmarks for said grace include belief and humility.

[Quix]

YEA.

BTTT

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

[Salem]

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[trisham]

What do you mean?

[wmfights]

Wow, that's the cleverest response I've seen!

[wmfights]

I am really surprised they believe in replacement theology for that in itself alone puts them on a bad place.

I agree, but they aren't alone on this. Unfortunately, as Christianity rose to the level of being a part of the state the Jews didn't get treated very well.

[wmfights]

Isolating the first two verses of Chapter 11 takes them out of context. In the rest of the chapter 11, Paul goes on to say that everything depends upon the election of grace and that hallmarks for said grace include belief and humility.

Fair enough, but go down to Roms 11:25 and you will find the time word until after which God will turn his attention to Israel. IOW, God is not done with Israel and the covenant promises given to Israel have not been transferred to anyone else.

[mas cerveza por favor]

Your IOW is quite an interpretive leap to unsay what had been previously spelled out explicitly in Chapter 11. Roms 11:25 is sometimes interpreted to mean there will be an ingathering of Jews prior to the End Times but, again, everything is still dependent on the grace that involves belief.

[lastchance]

Too many people mistake cowering silently in the face of tyranny for peace. Israel must feel like the abused spouse who is always getting told how he or she is causing the abuse.

I’m a simple lass, but even I grasp that you don’t show a desire for peace by blowing up a bus filled with civillians. It kind of throws doubts on your sincerity.

[Tribemike1]

He redefined what it meant....to be “jewish”...the “Jews” invoked their pedigree....Jesus told them their father wasn’t Abraham but the Devil. He divided off those who rejected him from that moment on....after his Ascension, only a small remnant believed...then 70AD...it closed. The temple was destroyed ...their sacrificial system was crushed...and then they had no religious practice....it became Rabbinical Talmudism.....something completely different/foreign to the Aaronic priesthood...and the Old Covenant “passed away..”

This is what the NT says....sorry if you don’t like it

[wmfights]

Amen

[smvoice]

I find it amazing that every time a provocative statement is given, the Pope is the first to be cleared of any knowledge in the situation. Even though the article clearly states the meeting was arranged by THE POPE, somehow he escapes scrutiny. The Teflon Don would be proud. And what is the deal with all these rogue bishops, constantly shooting from the hip, hiding information from Christ’s “Vicar on earth”, or at the very least, not filling him in...seems he needs to call a council and kick some ...

[presently no screen name]

Be kind towards the [Roman] Catholic leaders. Let us show them the mistakes they are making, but do so in love.

Leaders should know God's Word and not replace it any part of it with their own doctrine. So I don't see it as 'their mistake' but their willful disobedience. Their doctrine is deception and used to deceived others.

Right in the Genesis God says.."I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse". And I say let God's will be done!

God bless Bibi, God bless Israel!

[Quix]

I happen to be one who believes that

WHEN Jesus told the RELIGIOUS magicsterical 2000 years ago

that they were a brood of vipers, white washed tombs, sons of satan

THAT HE WAS GIVING THEM THE HIGHEST FORM OF LOVE THEY MOST NEEDED at the time.

[Quix]

I think Holy Spirit alone can give us flawless guidance about what type of LOVE to extend to others in groups or as individuals.

I think those in groups tend to ‘earn’ more whatever it is that the group most demonstrates, stands for, promulgates etc.

. . . the leaders, more so.

[presently no screen name]

They may be working with their parishioners to get to heaven

Since heaven isn't 'theirs', in order to get in, they must do it God's Way in His Word. And catechism, their doctrine goes against God's Word.

Working to steal our earnings and private healthcare, working to make illegals citizens to vote for Dems, working against Israel, working for the enemies of Israel (Islam), working for Marxists, Socialists and Communists, and pro-abortion. pro-homosexual Democrats.

WELL SAID!!

[Iscool]

Stunned again! Just when I was thinking I at least understood where catholics are coming from...So they are amill...believe in replacement theology...and oppose Israel on the land issue. That does not sit well with me by any means.

It's gotta be tough being the one true religion with an earthly throne with the vicar of Christ sitting on it and not being able to claim the Holy City where the scriptures tell us the Lord will reign from on His throne...

They would give their (your) right arms (and legs and heads) to have claim to that Holy City, Jerusalem...

The Catholic church is the 'new' Israel...You can bet they are chomping at the bit to get ahold of Jerusalem and build their statues of Mary, their phalanxes and perfor their pagan rituals and superstitions...

And they will succeed, for a time, times and a half...

[CynicalBear]

>> This is what the NT says....sorry if you don’t like it<<

So you are a Preterist?