{"id":9452,"date":"2023-10-21T11:44:53","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T15:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/?p=9452"},"modified":"2026-06-16T16:02:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T20:02:05","slug":"gods-plans-for-the-church-and-israel-are-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/gods-plans-for-the-church-and-israel-are-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"God’s Plans for the Church and Israel are Connected (288)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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God's Plans for the Church and Israel are Connected<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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By Steven J. Hogan<\/p>\n

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~ A Saturday Morning Post #288 ~

<\/em>What does this war in Israel have to do with Christians? How does it relate to the future God has mapped out for us? One of the keys to understanding God\u2019s plans for the church is knowing how He is working with Israel. Today, I will give you a brief overview of Jewish history from Christ\u2019s 1st<\/sup> coming to His 2nd<\/sup> coming to the kingdom ages. As you track God\u2019s working with the Jewish people, you will more clearly see the future God has planned out for Christians, and for you.

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1. 4 BC – 29 AD. The salvation of believers is definitely connected to Israel<\/strong>, most specifically and importantly to the most famous Jew, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. Born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, Jesus, at the age of 30, began His 3-year ministry, during which time He traveled all over Israel, teaching, doing miracles, and making disciples. He was unjustly crucified<\/strong> and killed<\/strong>, and then was buried<\/strong>, and then was raised from the dead<\/strong>. Jesus\u2019 suffering and death is the payment for the sins of all those who repent and believe that He died for them (Mk. 1:15). Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the church<\/strong> began<\/strong>.\u00a0

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2. 70 AD – late 1800\u2019s. <\/strong>The Jewish people<\/strong>, because of their rebellion against God and rejection of Christ, were greatly persecuted and then led captive into all the nations<\/strong>. Throughout the centuries, the Jews continued to be hated, harassed, persecuted, and killed, but they were never wiped out, for God faithfully protected them. And now we are living in the church age<\/strong>, and the growth of the church is related to the fact that God isn’t focusing on the Jews, but on the Gentiles. <\/strong>Luke 21:20-24, Rom. 11:25-27

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3. Late 1800\u2019s<\/strong>. By the promise and power of God, the Jewish people miraculously began coming back <\/strong>to their homeland \u2013 and this is what I call the beginning of the end-times. And the Jews kept coming and coming. That the Jews have been returning to their land is God\u2019s sign to Christians that Christ will soon return to rapture the church<\/strong>. and that He will in the near future begin fulfilling His final plans for Israel<\/strong>. Gen. 12:1-3, Is. 45:17, Ez. 36-37, Dan. 12:4, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 11:15

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4. Late 1800\u2019s to the end of this age. <\/strong>Birth pains (wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues) are impacting various parts of this planet, affecting unbelievers, the church,<\/strong> and the Jews<\/strong>. These physical signs are spiritual alarms, designed to awaken us <\/strong>and the whole world to the fact that this age will soon come to an end, and Christ will return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:3-8, 29-31; Rev. 6:1-8

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5. 1937-1944. <\/strong>One of the most barbaric atrocities on this earth was the murder of over 6 million Jews during WW2.<\/strong> This led to the rebirth of the nation of Israel<\/strong> in 1948, a clear signal to the church<\/strong> that God had not abandoned His people, and that His promises to them of land, salvation, and a King, would be fulfilled (Ez. 37:21-23). Ever since this holocaust, strong, Satanic opposition continues to plague the Jews. But God keeps them going and growing, their population in Israel now being close to 7.2 million people.

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6. OCTOBER 7, 2023 – ???. THERE\u2019S NOW A WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS<\/strong>. Here is what you need to know about this war, and about Israel\u2019s future and our future: 1 – This war is against Hamas, but many other Jew-hating nations also hate and oppose Israel. 2 – This war will come to an end. 3 – This war will lead to increasing Antisemitism around the world. 4 – This war is part of God\u2019s sovereign and detailed plan leading to the coming of the Antichrist and the coming of Christ. 5 – Israel, realizing that they can\u2019t depend on the United States to protect them, will be looking to others for help. 6 – This war is to awaken you to the fact that the rapture of the church is getting closer and closer. <\/strong>\u201c\u2026 encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> (Heb. 10:25). And as a church, we are to keep praying for Israel. Psalm 122:6-9

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7. End-times:<\/strong> In the Bible, many passages about Israel are adjacent, are sitting side by side with passages about the church that are eschatoloigcal,<\/strong> that are speaking of the future. This is one of the strongest proofs that God’s plans for the church and Israel are connected, are intimately related. Here are some of them: Matt. 24:9-14 – 24:15-26; Luke 21:12-19 – 12:20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-3 – 2:4-6 – 2:7-9; Rev. 7:4-8 – 7:9-12; Rev. 12:13-16 – 12:17

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8. The beginning of Daniel\u2019s 70th<\/sup> week. Israel <\/strong>will continue to see the need for peace, and in the near future will naively and foolishly sign a 7-year covenant with the coming Antichrist. <\/strong>This results in a temporary \u201cpeace\u201d,<\/em> and also allows the Jewish people to build a temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifices. (Dan. 9:27). The church may or may not know when this signing takes place, but they will see the consequences of this covenant<\/strong>, and be further reminded that the coming of Christ is very, very near.

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9. The midpoint (3\u00bd years) of Daniel\u2019s 70th<\/sup> week. <\/strong>At the 3\u00bd year mark, the Antichrist is revealed. This is when Christians and Jews realize that he is the Antichrist, for he \u201ctakes his seat in the <\/em>(Jewish) temple of God, displaying himself as God\u201d<\/em> (2 Thess. 2:4). It\u2019s at this time that believers know the rapture of the church is less than a few years away.<\/strong> Before that happens, the church will have to endure great tribulation. This world dictator, this most devilish man, begins persecuting Jews in Israel, but many escape and are protected by God. The<\/strong> Antichrist then goes after Christians<\/strong> all over the world, persecuting and killing them. (Matt. 24:9, 15; Rev. 12:16-17). But this great tribulation is mercifully cut short by God, at which time, Christ returns to rapture all the Christians on earth.<\/strong> Matt. 24:29-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17

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10. The end of Daniel\u2019s 70th<\/sup> week. <\/strong>At this 7-year point, a great number of Jews, having been physically protected from God\u2019s wrath, are spiritually saved. (Ps. 98:1-3, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 11:25-27, Rev. 12:13-16). At this point in time, the church is in heaven, keenly watching the fulfillment of God\u2019s glorious salvation plan for these Jews, these chosen people.<\/strong> And they know what is soon to come.

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11. Soon after the salvation of the Jews begins the 1000-year kingdom age when Christ is ruling over this earth.<\/strong> Here are some things to note: 1 – The earth will be renovated (Is. 65:17-25, Acts 3:21). 2 – Jews and Christians will be reigning with Christ (Is. 61, Rev. 5:10). 3 – Jews and Christians will inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11, Matt. 5:5). <\/strong>4 – God\u2019s purposes will be fulfilled: Christ is the King of the world (Ps. 47); God\u2019s power, holiness, justice, mercy, and glory are seen in Christ, being displayed all over the world (Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14); the gospel is proclaimed in every nation resulting in great multitudes being saved (Ps. 96); and all Christ\u2019s enemies, including death, are defeated. 1 Cor. 15:25-26

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12. In eternity future, all Jewish and Gentile believers will be living together in their eternal home.<\/strong> \u201c\u2026 the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God\u2026 It had a great and high wall, with 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels\u2026 names were written on them, which are the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel<\/strong>\u2026 and the wall of the city had 12 foundation stones, and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> (Rev. 21:10-14). It\u2019s quite significant that our eternal home pictures and recognizes all God\u2019s people, those of the Old Covenant and of the New Covenant.

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As believers, our primary purpose is bringing glory to God. <\/strong>Rom. 15:8-12 is one of the best passages describing this eternal purpose that Jews and Gentiles, believers from all ages, will be worshiping God together<\/strong>. \u201cTherefore, I<\/em> (Jews) will give praise to You among the Gentiles\u2026 Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people <\/em>(Jews)\u2026 Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him\u2026 There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.\u201d<\/em> Do you see this? It speaks of both Jews and Gentiles. And in eternity future, all believers will unitedly be worshiping the Lord. Psalm 117

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Finally, why is it that we get so fixated on our immediate problems, and I\u2019m talking about the war in Israel? We must have perspective, we must see the big picture, we must know what God says about our future. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, and it\u2019s the only book that truly maps out our future. You need to read what God says about the Jewish people in both the Old and New Testaments. And be a watchman – find out what is presently taking place in Israel and around the world (Ez. 3:17, Luke 12:56). Doing this will help you more clearly see God’s plans for Israel, but also God’s plans for the church. \u201cThe men of Issachar understood the times, and knew what they should do\u201d<\/em> (1 Chron. 12:32). \u201cThe people who know their God will display strength, and take action.\u201d <\/em>Daniel 11:32

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P.S. Too many Christians are naive, ignorant, or in error about the future God has for the Jewish people and the church. This must not be! Here are a few more posts about the plans God has for Israel and the church: “Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church”<\/a><\/em>, “Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers”<\/a><\/em>, “The New Testament Tells Us God’s Plans for the Jews.” <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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