The Full Restoration of the Nation of Israel

Question from a Reader: Was the re-establishment of the State of Israel in the year 1948 C.E. proof of the full restoration of the Jewish people as Yahweh’s Nation?

“The children of Israel shall dwell many days without a king and without a ruler and without a sacrifice and without an altar, and without the one who wears an ephod and burns incense. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they shall know the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea 3:4,5, Lamsa)

The Bible clearly tells us that the once glorious Nation of Israel will once again, in the future, be restored to its former glory, under the hand of the Father. While we believe the events that took place just prior to and after 1948 were in the Creator’s plans, we do not believe that the establishment of the modern day State of Israel is equal to the restoration of the Nation as outlined in God’s Word the Bible.

For Israel to once again be considered as Yahweh’s Covenant Nation it is conditional – it must be based entirely upon the Creator’s requirements. The people of Israel MUST meet the Father’s conditions set forth in the Law Covenant. In other words, for the State of Israel to truly become a RESTORED nation as in ancient times, its inhabitants MUST return to the Law Covenant established by Yahweh Himself through Moses. As long as the Law Covenant is ignored or not observed properly, the people REMAIN IN CAPTIVITY, as shown to us in the Scriptures.

Consider the following passages from the New American Standard Version:

“So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them.” (Leviticus 18:5)

“And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, By which if a man observes them he shall live. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.” (Nehemiah 9:29)

“I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live.” (Ezekiel 20:11)

Have the residents of the State of Israel returned to the Law? Are its inhabitants worshiping Yahweh in purity according to His righteous requirements? Statistics show that atheism and agnosticism are rampant among the modern State of Israel’s residents. Among the majority of religious Jews in Israel, there is a tendency to practice idolatry, demonism and polytheism by their belief in the occult teachings contained within “Kabbala” which consists, in part, of dark esoteric teaching introduced to Judaism that includes the practice of magic and even contained within many Hebrew prayer books. Encyclopaedia Britannica says that Kabbala gave “Judaism a religious dimension whose mystical approaches to God were viewed by some as dangerously pantheistic and heretical…The earliest known Jewish text on magic and cosmology, Sefer Yetzira (‘Book of Creation’), appeared sometime between the 3rd and the 6th century.” Kabbala also introduced the thought of reincarnation to Judaism. (Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., 2012).

In modern day Israel there is the problem with foreign religions in the land, thereby causing it to contaminated; as long as such religions are permitted to exist in the land, it will remain contaminated. (Deuteronomy 7:25; Hosea chapters 1-3) Until Yahweh’s conditions are met by the people who claim to be His light to the nations, the tribes of Israel will remain in captivity.

There is also the problem of no Temple being in existence. How can the Law Covenant, which also contains precise instructions concerning sacrifices, be observed in fulness without the Temple or even without the Tabernacle? Currently, a major Muslim center of worship for Allah sits upon the ancient Temple Mount.

Followers of Messiah should ask themselves, are the residents of the modern day State of Israel meeting the requirements outlined in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 30?

“I will return to you and make you great and multiply you and establish my covenant with you…but if you will not hearken to me and will not do all these commandments, and if you despise my laws, or if that you will not do all my commandments, and make my covenant of no effect, I also will do this to you…and I will pour out my anger against you, and you shall be defeated before your enemies; they that hate you shall reign over you.” (Leviticus 26:9,14,17, Lamsa)

“Then the Lord your God will bring back again your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you..And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and he will do you good, and multiply you more than your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 30:3,5, Lamsa)

There are certain movements among religious Jews that call for modern day Israelites to return to the Law of Yahweh. We believe such efforts among Jews is admirable, but the record shows that most Jews today are still in bondage to darkness. We love Israel and the Jewish people as a whole, and believe they are God’s people, even in modern times and that, as the Apostle Paul said in the eleventh chapter of Romans, verses 1 and 2, they have not been rejected. We believe in the FUTURE restoration of the Land of Israel as prophesied in Yahweh’s Holy Word the Bible. We believe that 1948 is a significant year in the history of modern day Israel and the early stage of development of the restoration of the people as the Nation of Yahweh, but that 1948 did not see the realization of the people of Israel fulfilling the requirements of the Law.

It is our belief that the FULL restoration of Israel still remains in the FUTURE and that followers of Messiah should not consider the speculation on chronology as part of their essentials of faith. When the Temple is rebuilt in the land of Israel and Jews return to the full observance of the Law, and when foreign religions are rooted out of the land, they can then be considered as the restored Nation of Yahweh’s people. Could this be the “generation” spoken of by Messiah – referring to the generation who would witness the events that are required for the true restoration of Israel as a nation that would not pass away? (Matthew 24:32-34) While the State of Israel was re-established in the year 1948, there has still been no true return to the Law, no rebuilding of the Temple and no rooting out of foreign religions. We still await the fulfillment of these prophecies and perhaps, after these are completed, we may then point to a specific year for the “start” of the generation spoken of by the Messiah. Until that time it is best not to make speculation or dogmatic statements concerning chronology, especially in light of the evidence that such prophecies have yet to be fulfilled.

Your brothers,
Kepha and Yaaqov Yonan
Iraq.

See a related article from Questions from Readers

Trying to Realize the Divine Promises

The following is extracted from a message given by Br. Hermann several years ago in the Holy Land.

“Israel stands now in the greatest danger of its entire history. Unfaithful leaders are trying to solve this situation by making concessions to the enemy and fulfilling their growing demands. Central parts of the Holy Land will be handed over shortly to terrorists.

But most terrifying of all is that these parts of the Land of Israel will be delivered together with the pioneer settlers who are today the hope of Israel. Because these faithful Jews are trying to realize the Divine Promises, Satan makes them the focus of his attacks.”

Drawing Back

“If he draws back, my soul will not have pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38)

The drawing back may at first be a very slight departure from the narrow way of sacrifice — only a looking back perhaps, with a sigh for the things behind; a little slowing up of speed in the race set before us; then a little disposition to compromise the Truth in favor of the cravings of the fallen nature. Thus the way is prepared for the arts of the tempter, who is quick to note our weak points, and to take advantage of them in a manner best suited to our case.

Subtle errors are brought to bear against the judgment; pleasing allurements, with a show of righteousness, are presented to the fleshly mind; and, almost difficult to perceive by the mind, the soul forgets its “first love” for Yahweh, and its first zeal for His service, and drifts away from the Truth and the spirit of it, being no longer led by the Spirit of holiness. (Ad. DHM)

“The Messiah is Risen”

“But now the Messiah has risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

The Holy Scriptures give very particular details respecting the death of Yeshua and His burial in Joseph’s new tomb, wherein none had previously been buried and respecting the sealing of the tomb and the setting of a guard lest the body should be stolen at night. But while these matters are interesting to us, they probably do not now have the same importance that they had when they were written. From this distance we feel inclined to ask about the general character of Yeshua’s disciples who declared his resurrection, rather than to inquire particularly respecting all the details which they enumerated. In broad terms we say, If the characters of the Apostles prove themselves satisfactory to us, we are ready to take their word respecting the resurrection of Yeshua and His subsequent appearances to them. On the other hand, if they were bad men or otherwise unworthy to be believed, no amount of details respecting the tomb, the watch, the seals, etc., would be satisfactory to us, because cunning and designing men could make up the story to suit their desires.

But it was not so at the time of our Lord’s death and resurrection. It was then very necessary that every little detail should be explicitly specified. The parts of three days and nights, for instance, were unimportant to them because of Yeshua’ words, which they remembered. He likened His period in death to the period in which Jonah was in the whale’s belly. With us the important question is, Did He die? Did He arise from the dead? Was there a value in His sacrificial death, from the Divine standpoint, and how is that value or merit made applicable to mankind, and have we obtained our interest therein according to the Divine terms.

The Third Day

With the majority of Christians for these many centuries we agree that Yeshua was in the tomb parts of three days and nights, and that He arose from the dead early in the morning. But we are not contentious. The all-important matter is, “Messiah died, and arose, and is on the right hand of God, and makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) The stone at the mouth of the sepulcher was not a large boulder, as many suppose, but was shaped like a wheel – like a large grindstone. It rolled in a groove, but, being heavy, would be cumbersome and difficult for the women, as suggested.

The sorrowing friends of Yeshua did not realize at the time what he had taught them respecting His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. Hence they were surprised with every incident of their experience on that eventful morning. The angel appeared in dazzling brightness, that he might not be mistaken for a man. He told the women who brought spices for the embalming of the Lord’s body that their Master was risen from the dead – that He was no longer dead; that they would see Him in Galilee; and to so tell His disciples. On the way Yeshua met them and revealed Himself to them. Another account tells us that Mary, separated from the others, met Yeshua alone and, mistaking Him for the gardener, asked where the corpse had been taken. Then Yeshua revealed Himself to her. Recognizing her Master she clasped Him by the feet as though afraid that He would leave her; but, different from His previous course, He declared, “Do not come near me; for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.” (John 20:17, Lamsa)

For forty days Yeshua was with His disciples and during that time He appeared some seven or eight times, according to all the different accounts. Once He appeared as a gardener. Once He appeared as a traveler to two of the disciples going to Emmaus. Again He appeared on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to some of the disciples who were returning to the fishing business. They knew it was Yeshua, yet He was different from formerly. But we read that they did not dare ask Him respecting the matter. He appeared again to more than five hundred believers in the mountains of Galilee, and finally, by appointment, He met the eleven at the top of the Mount of Olives and ascended out of their sight – a cloud receiving Him. Only on two occasions are we informed that He appeared with nail-prints in His hands and the spear wound in His side. And on these two occasions we are distinctly told that He appeared in their midst, the doors being shut, and that He vanished again from their sight.

Thus did Yeshua demonstrate to His disciples the fact that He was no longer dead, but alive, and additionally, the other fact equally important, namely, that He was no longer alive as a man, but as a spirit being. As the Apostle Paul declares, “while he died in the flesh, he lives in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 4:18, Lamsa) But every precaution was taken to permit their natural powers of observation to comprehend the spiritual truths revealed to them respecting Yeshua’s resurrection and ascension. It was ten days after His ascension, on the fiftieth day from His resurrection, that the Spirit of holiness came, and thus demonstrated at once that the Great Redeemer lived and that He had appeared in the Presence of God on the spirit plane and that His sacrifice had been presented and was acceptable to God; and, on the basis of His sacrifice and the ascribing of His merit to the disciples, the sacrifices which they had presented in His name were accepted, and they were regenerated by the Spirit of holiness, that they might also become New Creatures and share in His Kingdom and glory.

The Necessity of His Death and Resurrection

It is needless that we seek to dispute as to which was the more important event – the death of Yeshua or His resurrection from the dead. Both were equally important. Had He not died there would be no basis for a reconciliation of Adam and his race condemned to death. Had He not risen there would have been no one to apply the merit of His sacrifice. Had He not risen there would have been no call of the Remnant during this era of the Kingdom Witness to be the Bride of Messiah. Neither would there have been use for the promised Mediatorial Kingdom to be established at His Second Coming for the blessing of Israel and the world.

The eleven Apostles were commissioned, “Go, therefore, and instruct all the nations; and baptize them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Spirit of holiness. And teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you always, unto the consummation of the worlds.” (Matthew 28:19, 20) This did not signify, as some suppose, a command to convert the world. It meant that they should make disciples out of people of all nationalities – and not any longer, as formerly, of the Jews only. And the Master’s injunction has been fulfilled. Disciples, followers of Him, have been found in all nations. But, as Yeshua did not say, Convert all nations, neither has the Gospel message done this. Those accepting discipleship were to be baptized with Messiah’s baptism in the name or authority of the Father, the Son and the Spirit of holiness. In all, these have been but a “little flock.” (Luke 12:32.) But theirs is the “high calling” to joint-heirship in His Kingdom, which is soon to bless the world.

But even this permission to disciple people of all nations could not, and did not, begin at once. For three and a half years after the death of Yeshua, in fulfillment of Divine prophecy, the Good News was kept from the Gentiles, until the door for them into this High Calling was opened – Cornelius being the first to enter it.

All disciples of Yeshua were instructed to follow Him, to take Him as their pattern and example. Any instructions contrary to these are contrary to the words of the Great Teacher. And the Master said, “Behold, I am with you always, unto the consummation of the worlds.” He has been with His faithful followers to bless them, to comfort them, to strengthen them, to fellowship them, to safeguard their highest interests, though often at the expense of their temporal interests. And this promise of His Word, of providential guidance, was to continue until the end of the Age – then he would come again in a personal and official sense to exalt His Remnant, to establish His Kingdom, to bless Israel with the New Covenant arrangements, and thus to bless the world of mankind. (Ad. Zwt R4713, pg. 362)

Did Knorr follow in the footsteps of Rutherford?

The anti-Semitic statements and anti-Israel teachings adopted early in the presidency of J.F. Rutherford, already well known to many Witnesses throughout the world, appear to have been followed by Nathan Homer Knorr, former president of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.

The following is a quote from Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah’s Witnesses, by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, (page 159) …

“In the Watchtower printery, and at Bethel residence, we worked eight hours and forty minutes a day, five and a half days a week. We filled out times sheets daily at the factory, and there was no time allotted for coffee or rest breaks. An elderly Bethelite on my floor of the factory kept a small supply of chocolates and candies, which he sold to hungry workers at candy-store cost on an honor system; we dropped our nickles and dimes into a box while he was busy at his menial work. I suppose he made a few pennies’ profit each day, and I suppose also that he was one of those who received no financial help from outside, so those pennies were important. I can’t remember ever having heard him speak.

Knorr [president of the Watchtower Society at the time] heard about the little enterprise and read the old man out, at great length, in public. He tied his attack to the fact that the man was a Jew. The Jews, Knorr asserted, had always been willful, penny-grubbing ingrates. Jehovah had chosen them precisely to show that such unappetizing raw material could be redeemed if they adhered to His laws. The candy seller was, Knorr said, demonstrating all the abysmal qualities that had lead the Jews to kill Christ. And so on, for an hour, while I cringed.”

Which Calendar did the Early Believers Use?

“Only by avoiding time-keeping altogether or by adhering to the Jewish calendar [did] the Pauline communities escape idolatrous alternatives. Other time-keeping systems name the days and the months after pagan deities and mark out the season by pagan rites. In contacts, the Jews distinguish the seasons by festivals that obviously have no pagan connotations. They recognize the months by new moons and name these months using agricultural terms. They designate the week by Sabbaths, and beginning from the Sabbath, they number, instead of name, the days of the week one through six. The only options available to Paul and his communities are Jewish, pagan or no time-keeping system at all, and the evidence indicates they opt for the former.

The references to time in Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians allusively reflect the adoption of a Jewish calendar. Even in a place like Corinth, Paul speaks of the first day from Sabbath (…1 Cor. 16:2), not the days of the sun. He builds an elaborate argument based on the festivals of passover and unleavened bread (1 Cor. 5:6-8) to exhort the Corinthians, ‘Let us keep the festival’ (1 Cor. 5:8).

Although the temporal references in Paul’s letters are sparse, 1 Corinthians provides strong evidence for the Pauline adoption of the Jewish religious calendar. In addition to 1 Corinthians, the portrait of Paul and Christian communities in the book of Acts demonstrates that the Christians adhered to the Jewish calendar.” (By Philosophy and Empty Deceit: Colossians as response to a Cynic Critique, by Dr. Troy Martin, Sheffield Academic Press , 1996, pages 125-127)

The Liberty by Which Messiah Makes Free

Liberty is is a grand word, yet it does not always spell true blessing and happiness. In the Second Psalm we read of some who say, “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us” — let us be free (verse 3). In Genesis we read of how Satan broke loose from the restraining hand of righteousness and made shipwreck of his eternal interests. We learn also of how he seduced Eve and she persuaded Adam to break loose from the Divine restraints to eat of the forbidden fruit.

The entire history of the Jewish nation is a narrative of rebellions against Divine regulations — temporary feelings of release and liberty and subsequent experiences of sorrow and repentance. Judas cut loose from bondage to his Master and the Divine Providences represented in him. The thirty pieces of silver, the wage of his treachery, brought joy to his craven heart for but a little time. At last it ate away away at him like a cancer and he wished it back and himself rid of the liberty into which he sold himself. The Apostle Peter was unwillingly entrapped into denying his Master and asserting his liberty with oaths. But his loyal heart could find no rest in such liberty.

Should it surprise us that the Adversary still holds up the bait of liberty and leads the world into all kinds of excesses in the name of liberty? Should it surprise us that amongst Yahweh God’s people, too, the evil one uses the same tactics — telling them that they are enslaved when they are obedient to the voice of God’s Word and to the leading of His providence? Is it surprising that he urges them to break the bands of their dedication and consecration and reassert their freedom? It is not strange! Nor is it peculiar that some, in leaving the Truth, are beginning a warfare against it — opposing the very Harvest Work which once they endorsed and co-operated with, betraying it, seeking to injure it, etc. When such boast of their new-found liberty we ask them, What liberty do you really have? The only answer can be that they feel relieved in being rid of their bonds of consecration to Yahweh and His Son Yeshua. Unfortunately, they glory in their shame. What need we wonder if anger, malice, hatred, envy, strife, bitterness, back-biting, assassination, slander and murderous hatred take the place in their hearts and conduct, once filled by the spirit of brotherly kindness, meekness, gentleness, long-suffering?

Let all the children of the Light, begotten of the Spirit of holiness, rejoice in the only liberty that is a true blessing, the liberty by which Messiah makes free those who become His bond-servants. These are set free from the bondage of sin — envy, malice, strife, hatred and the murderous spirit. These are bound with cords of love to their Master and to the letter and spirit of his teachings — bound to do good unto all men as they have opportunity, especially to the Household of Faith — bound to the altar of sacrifice with cords of devotion, strengthening as the days go by, even unto death; for such is the crown of life prepared. (Ad. Zwt 4707, pg. 351)