Who has heard such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. (Isaiah 66:8)
This is what the Lord God says: Look, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. (Isaiah 49:22)
They will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the Lord on horses and chariots, in litters, and on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:20)
“However, take note! The days are coming”—the Lord’s declaration—“when it will no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt,’ but rather, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the Israelis from the land of the north and from all the other lands where He had banished them.’ For I will return them to their land that I gave to their ancestors.” (Jeremiah 16:14,15)
“ . . . the nations will know that I am the Lord. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.” (Ezekiel 36:23,24)
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach appeared recently on a Sid Roth television debate with Dr. Brown (Viewable at: http://www.sidroth.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&abbr=tv_&page=NewsArticle&id=11373&security=1041).
Shmuley recited a list of reasons that Jesus “can’t” be the Jewish Messiah that was, to say the least, less than persuasive. One of his “reasons” seemed particularly strange; Shmuley cited the “unfulfilled” Messianic prophecy that Israel’s Messiah would “restore the kingdom to Israel.” He asked, with his characteristically-intense, rising volume, pitch, and speed, whether anyone thought this prophecy has been fulfilled.
Surely Shmuley is aware of the massive return to Israel in recent decades of people of Jewish ancestry from Russia, Africa, the U.S., and other parts of the world. Christians (and perhaps other people of faith from around the world) have financially supported the return of those who couldn’t have “made aliyah” otherwise. Even if Shmuley refers to the restoration of military power and superiority to Israel, rather than the restoration of its lost tribes and scattered citizenry, these military objectives have also been accomplished by tiny Israel in recent decades!
Yes, Rabbi Shmuley, many viewers are absolutely certain that these amazing prophecies have been — and are still being — fulfilled before our eyes.
The prophetic verses above (and there are many more on this topic) become so powerful and precious in light of recent history, with regard to the return of the lost tribes or scattered citizenry of Israel. But the statement at the end of Isaiah 66:20, which is about Israel’s children being brought back to her in every possible type of conveyance, is deeply intriguing: “as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.”
Could the “clean vessel” be a new Israel (“Messianic” Israelis), whose citizens’ eyes will increasingly be freed from the “scales” that have blinded them (also foretold in prophecy), and whose people will at long last see the One who has so long been obscured from her understanding and recognition — and finally requite to the Lord the offering of love and recognition that He so richly deserves?
May it increasingly come into manifestation before all rejoicing hearts. Maranatha!
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Acts 3:21 goes on to Acts 3:22 & 23, which may cinch it for Shmuley, to find the Real Kosher Jesus. Peter is speaking to the Jewish crowd who missed the visitation, “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut of from among his people.” Notice that right after quoting Moses, on heeding Yeshua’s teaching, the Apostles, Peter and John were arrested by the temple guard for “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” Thereafter it was attempted to contain this reality, but, ‘many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.’
Neither the Temple guard, nor Shmuley, can contain the short view’s expectation limits for instant literal Jerusalem Messianic rule, and get it right. Does this indicate that those so trained, like Shmuley and the lawyers Jesus debated with His unique knowledge, are awaiting someone who will quickly take charge, deceive, and falsely declare a messianic kingdom without redemptive promise? It seems then that that short view expectation is a setup for failing truth and grace with greater long view promise.
Thanks, Jabez. You’ve done quite a bit of research here.
At a simple level, one just wonders if Rabbi Shmuley has visited Israel recently? If he’s heard about the large Russian-Jewish immigration to the Land, for example, etc.
It is understood that he was probably referring to Jesus’ apparent failure to wrest the kingdom from Roman rule and free Israel during His walk with us here. But on the other hand, ours is a living Lord — and the kingdom is being restored to Israel on a daily basis! The restoration of modern Israel to its ancient Land after some 2,000 years is miraculous.
I think in your longer message you were making the point that Jesus may have been more figuratively restoring and reconciling the kingdom — restoring us to God in righteousness, through our recognizing Him and following both His example and Word. This point is both important and true as well.