Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Jews' Rejection of Jesus as Messiah

Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah because, according to their beliefs, He did not fulfill these prophecies that they recognize today:

  • Building the third Temple (Isaiah 56:6-8; Jeremiah 33:15-18; Ezekiel 43-46; Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Zechariah 6:11-14; 14:16)
  • Gathering all Jews back to the land (Deuteronomy 30:1-5; Isaiah 11:11-12; Hosea 1:8-11; Jeremiah 29:13-14; 31:38-40; Ezekiel 20:41-42; 37:11-25; Zechariah 10:8-10)

Does everyone who references these passages (Jews, Zionists, Restorationists, Dispensationalists) not realize that all of these have been fulfilled? All one has to do is pay attention to the immediate context surrounding them, as well as to the context of when they were written (before, during, or after the Babylonian captivity). Most of these predominantly have to do with the return of the Jews to the land and the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity. For example, Dispensationalists will quote Jeremiah 30:7 and say that this is speaking of the "7-year Great Tribulation." However, read the entirety of Jeremiah 25 to 31. What do you notice? The repeated reference point of "captivity." The context is dealing with the 70-year Babylonian captivity.

Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, speaking of His body as the Temple, which fulfills Zechariah 6, but also the only temple to exist today is the Ekklesia! (Not some building, but the people!) The Jewish temple will not be rebuilt! Even if they do so, it is not a fulfillment of biblical Scripture!

Those who believe in Jesus as the Messiah yet hold to the above Jewish myths also claim that Jesus said His Kingdom had not yet reached its completion, citing John 21:20-23 and Acts 1:6-11. They believe that He will fulfill this later at His second coming. However, these people continue to miss the point. They are looking for an earthly Kingdom. Jesus said on two different occasions, "My Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), and "the Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed ... behold the Kingdom is in your midst" (Luke 17:20-21). Mark 1:14-15, relating to Daniel 2, Jesus said, "the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand."

Do yourself a favour and read 2 Peter 3:10. This can only fulfill one single date. Either it is the mythical "rapture" taught by Dispensationalists, or it is the second coming of Jesus. If it is the "rapture," guess what? There will be no second coming or "millennial kingdom." If it is the second coming, guess what? There will be no "millennial kingdom." Why?!? Because when He returns to judge the world, everything will be burned up! The new heavens and new earth and eternity begin here.

If you do not get this right, you are going to miss His second coming just as the Jews missed His first coming. Stop believing in Jewish myths, avoid proof text methodology, eisegesis and Scripture twisting, and pay attention to the various contexts. May Yahweh bless your endeavours to honestly search out the truth and humbly submit to it when it presents itself.