שלום חברים
Shalom Dear Friends,
Last month I wrote about one of my concerns with the “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference that has been meeting in Bethlehem on a biennial basis since 2010. I downloaded their Manifesto and became quite concerned when I read its contents. Last month I dealt with the first article of the Manifesto, dealing with the Kingdom of God and the Christian’s practical response today.
This month I want to discuss one more article in the Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto, article number 5. Article 5 reads:
Any exclusive claim to the land of the Bible in the name of God is not in line with the teaching of Scripture.
I have to take extreme issue with this statement. To be blunt, it is entirely in error. This statement flies directly into the face of one of the unconditional and eternal covenants God made with the Jewish people: the often ignored or overlooked Land Covenant. The Land Covenant comes into view in Deuteronomy 29:1:
These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He had made with them at Horeb.
A key word in verse 1 is the word besides. The word carries the idea of separation. The thought here being “apart from” or, as translated by the NASB, “besides.” In other words, this is a distinct covenant God is initiating. It exists “apart from,” or “besides” the Mosaic Covenant.
The clear identification of this covenant is further emphasized by the geographical description found in verse one. This covenant is being instituted in the Land of Moab, to the East of the Promised Land, some 40 years after the Mosaic Covenant was instituted. That location is in contrast to the Mosaic Covenant which was signed at the Horeb mountain range in the Sinai Peninsula. The two locations are approximately 300-350 miles apart. The point is that this covenant is not part of the temporary and conditional Mosaic Covenant. The only other covenant that it can be associated with is the unconditional and eternal Abrahamic Covenant. In fact, it is a subset of the Abrahamic Covenant.
The Abrahamic Covenant consisted of three promises made to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob. The three promises are 1) a spiritual blessing promise, 2) a national promise, and 3) a land promise. These three promises are expanded and developed by three additional, unconditional and eternal covenants God made with the Jewish people. The spiritual blessing promise is expanded and developed by the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31. The national promise is expanded and developed by the Davidic Covenant of 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, and the land promise is expanded and developed by the Land Covenant of Deuteronomy 29. The result is the fact that the Land Covenant is eternal and unconditional in nature. It depends on the faithfulness of God, and not the faithfulness of Israel for its fulfillment.
The Land Covenant of Deuteronomy 29 consists of four distinct ideas. 1) It is a distinct covenant in verse one. 2) The majority of the covenant explains and predicts Israel’s upcoming history of disobedience (verses 2-29). 3) In Deut 30:1 a worldwide dispersion is predicted as a result of this history of disobedience. Lastly, in verses 2-10, a final restoration is promised in the future.
No details are given at this point. The details regarding the outworking of the Land Covenant await further development as God’s revelation progresses over time. One of the details relating to the outworking of the Land Covenant is the fact that there will be two worldwide regatherings of the Jewish people. This fact is revealed 700 years later in Isaiah 11:11:
Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
We learn from Ezekiel 20:33-38, 22:17-22; and Zephaniah 2:1-2 that the first worldwide regathering will be in unbelief, in preparation for judgment – the judgment being the Tribulation Period. The second worldwide regathering will be in faith, in preparation for blessing – the blessing being the Messianic Kingdom. It is the first worldwide regathering that we are experiencing today. The Jewish people are back in our land, the vast majority in unbelief, and the Tribulation period is looming on the horizon.
My point in of all this is to affirm that the Jewish people indeed have biblical warrant for an exclusive claim to the little notch of land called the State of Israel today. The unilateral, unconditional, and eternal Land Promise of the Abrahamic Covenant and its Land Covenant forms the basis for 1) Jewish ownership of the Land 2) Jewish dispersion out of the Land for disobedience 3) Jewish return to the Land, today, in preparation for the Tribulation, and in the future for the institution of the Messianic Kingdom.
In fact, the literal, physical borders of the Land during the Messianic Kingdom can be determined from a study of Genesis 15:19-21; Exodus 23:31; Deuteronomy 1:7, 11:24; Joshua 1:1-4; Micah 7:14; Obadiah 19; Isaiah 11:14, 27:12-13; Psalm 72:8; Zechariah 9:10, 10:10; Ezekiel 47:15-20, and Numbers 34:1-12.
I think it is quite clear that Article 5 of the Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto is patently inaccurate and incorrect. There is an enormous amount of information in the Bible which supports the teaching that the Jewish people have been given the title deed to the Land of Israel in the Name of God.
As I stated last month, do not be fooled by the high sounding language of the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference. This conference is built on a foundation of sand because it does not properly represent the teaching of the Holy Word of God.
Please pray that God will magnify His Word in the hearts of the sponsors and participants of the Christ at the Checkpoint conferences, so they will align themselves with the truth of His Word.
Rosh Hashanah: Festival of Trumpets
In Hebrew, the term “Rosh Hashanah” literally means “the first of the year;” this particular feast is more commonly known as the Jewish New Year. The common greeting for this holiday is “L’shanah tovah,” literally “for a good year.”
Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of the seventh month, according to the Hebrew calendar. It marks the beginning of the period known as the High Holy Days and the first two days of Rosh Hashanah usher in the Ten Days of Repentance, culminating in the major fast day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
In Scripture, the term “Rosh Hashanah” is not used to describe the holiday. Instead, it is known as “Yom Ha-Zikkaron” (the day of remembrance) or “Yom Teruah” (the day of the sounding of the shofar). This day is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.
Various observances of Rosh Hashanah include the blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn) in the synagogue. The sound of the shofar is a call to repentance for the Jewish people. If the holiday falls on Shabbat, the blowing of the shofar is typically not observed. Work is not permitted during Rosh Hashanah. For the most part, people observed Rosh Hashanah by spending the day reading liturgy in the synagogues. Religious services for Rosh Hashanah focus on God’s sovereignty.
Another popular observance is the eating of apples or bread with honey, as a symbol of the wish for a sweet new year. Instead of the traditional braided challah, round challah is served during Rosh Hashanah.
In 2014, Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on September 24 and ends at nightfall on September 26. The year 2014 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to the Jewish year of 5775.
Recently, the exchange of Rosh Hashanah greeting cards has become popular in America. Take this opportunity to build bridges with your Jewish contacts by sending them a Rosh Hashanah card. Study up on Leviticus 23:24-25, Numbers 29:1-6, Psalm 81:3-4, Ezra 3:1-6, and Nehemiah 8:1-12. Rosh Hashanah will be fulfilled by the rapture of the Church (I Thess. 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:50-58). Ask them how they celebrate Rosh Hashanah and tell them what the feast means to you. L’shanah tovah!
* Adapted from Judaism 101 (http://www.jewfaq.org)
HaDavarniks, thank you for being part of our ministry team.
– Bob