What Does the Topic of National Israel Mean?
When the Jews and modern-day Israel are examined as a nation, it soon becomes clear that they do not fulfil the national promises given in the Old Testament by God to the Israelites. This apparent discrepancy led Thomas Paine, one of the instigators of the American Declaration of Independence, to go as far as to reject the Bible as being true. However, we know that God does indeed keep His promises. Thus we must gain a deeper understanding of the national promises which have been given to Israel, and we must seek out where these promises are fulfilled. For example, in Genesis, when God called Abraham, He gave him a blessing. “… a father of nations have I made thee … I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee …” (GENESIS 17:5-6). This blessing was passed from Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Now Jacob had twelve sons, and when it came time for him to pass on the blessing, he divided the promises. To Judah he gave the promise of kingship: “The sceptre shall not d
