The Restoration of the Land

1
The Restoration of the Land

• Fundamental tenets of dispensationalism
• 1.) Israel has never possessed all the land.
• 2.) The land was given to Israel forever.
• 3.) O. T. prophets foretold the restoration of
  all twelve tribes of Israel, in the land.
• Millennialists insist that no one can properly
  respond to these promises.
• All attempts to say that the promises are
  fulfilled in Christ, in the church, are labeled
  as allegorization.

2
A Question of Hermeneutic

• To help settle the issue of the land, we must
  determine how the N. T. applies O. T. prophecies.
  I want to establish several important facts that
  will answer, definitively in my estimation, the
  question of the land.
• At issue is the authority of the N. T. writers,
  their prophetic expectations, and how they
  applied the O. T. prophecies. These are the
  foundational issues involved in settling the
  question of the land promises.

3
A Question of Hermeneutic

• K. Gentry This approach to biblical interp.
  allows the conclusive revelation of God in the
  N.T authoritatively to interpret incomplete
  revelation in the Old.
• Fruchtenbaum This could be sound if Gentry
  meant(progressive revelation) as more details
  and explanation are added. But this would happen
  in such a way as not to change the meaning of the
  original O. T. passages through reinterpretation
  in the N.T. (i.e. the church replaces Israel in
  the O. T. passages).

4
A Question of Hermeneutic

• Fruchtenbaum continues he believes that the N.
  T. theology gives him the liberty to take O.T.
  passages and apply them spiritually to the
  church
• But, must one adopt an element of
  spiritualization (i.e. the N. T. re-interprets
  the O. T.), into ones hermeneutic in order to
  properly understand how the N. T. uses the O. T.?
  I do not think that is necessary.
• How the N. T. Uses the O. T., Arnold
  Fruchtenbaum

5
A Question of Hermeneutic

• I want to establish several points
• 1.) The N. T. writers were all Jews.
• 2.) The N. T. writers preached only the O. T.
  promises made to Israel.
• 3.) The N. T. writers believed they were living
  in the days of the fulfillment of those O. T.
  prophecies.
• 4.) The N.T. writers say that the O. T. prophets
  did not understand what they prophesied!
• 5.) The N. T. writers say that they, through the
  Spirit, are giving the authoritative, inspired
  meaning of those O. T. prophecies!!
• 6.)The N. T. writers say that O.T. Israel, her
  history, cultus, and events were only shadows of
  coming better things.
• 7.) The writers say Israels promises were being
  fulfilled in Christ and the church.

6
Establishing Our Case 1

• Points 1-3 are either not disputed, or will be
  proven as we progress.
• 4- The N.T. (and O. T.!), writers say that the
  O. T. prophets did not understand what they
  prophesied!
• Isaiah 64 Since the beginning of the world, men
  have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has
  the eye seen any of God besides you How does
  Paul use this verse?
• Daniel 10-12 I saw but did not understand!

7
Establishing Our Case 1

• Matthew 1317 Prophets desired to see what you
  see, but did not, to hear, but did not!
• Romans 1625-26- Mystery hidden in previous ages,
  now made known, preached from the prophets.
• 1 Cor. 26f- Wisdom hidden in other ages eyes
  have not seen (Is. 64!), nor ears heard, nor
  entered into the hearts of man the things that
  God has prepared. Natural man -v-spiritual. O.
  T. prophets and people did not know! Only the N.
  T. prophets revealed it!

8
Establishing Our Case 1

• 1 Peter 110-12 Of this salvation the prophets
  have inquired and searched carefully, who
  prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
  searching what, or what manner of time, the
  Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating
  when He testified beforehand the sufferings of
  Christ and the glories that would follow. To them
  it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to
  us they were ministering the things which now
  have been reported to you through those who have
  preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit
  sent from heaventhings which angels desire to
  look into.

9
Establishing Our Case 1

• We have seen
• 1.) The O. T. prophets did not understand their
  own prophecies.
• 2.) The New Testament prophets, by inspiration of
  the Spirit, did understand.
• 3.) The N. T. prophets were revealing the true
  meaning, and time of those O. T. prophets!
• How did the N. T. prophets understand the O. T.
  prophecies of the restoration of the Landor were
  those prophecies important to them

10
N. T. Prophets and the Land

• N. T. writers say they were anticipating
  fulfillment of O.T. promises to Israel
• 1.) Peter? Acts 321f Samuel and all the
  prophets spoke of these days cf. Mt. 1317.
• 2.) Paul? Acts 2414 266-8, 21-23 2816f
  Nothing but the hope of Israel.
• 3.) John? Rev. 107f-- when the seventh trump is
  about to sound, the mystery of God would be
  finished, as He declared to His servants the
  prophets.

11
N. T. Prophets and the Land

• N. T. prophets were Jews, preaching only the hope
  of Israel.
• Yet,
• Not one N. T. prophet ever refers to Israels
  restoration to the Land!
• However!!
• They do speak of Israels salvation (Rm. 11).
• They do quote from O. T. prophecies of the
  restoration to the Land!!
• How do they apply those promises?

12
Isaiah 49 / Isaiah 61

• Indeed He says, It is too small a thing that You
  should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of
  Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of
  Israel I will also give You as a light to the
  Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the
  ends of the earth. Thus says the LORD, The
  Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom
  man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To
  the Servant of rulers "Kings shall see and
  arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the
  LORD who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel And
  He has chosen You. Thus says the LORD "In an
  acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day
  of salvation I have helped You I will preserve
  You and give You As a covenant to the people, To
  restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the
  desolate heritages.

13
Isaiah 49 and the Land Promise

• What Isaiah 49 foretold
• Sending of the Servant (v. 6f)
• Salvation of Israel (two houses, v. 6), resulting
  in,
• Calling of the Gentiles (v. 6).
• Making of the Covenant (in Him, v. 8)
• Restoration of the earth (eretz, Land, v. 8).
• All this in The acceptable time, the Day of
  Salvation. (v. 8)

14
Isaiah 61 and the Land Promise

• "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because
  the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings
  to the poor To proclaim liberty to the captives,
  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And
  the day of vengeance of our God To comfort all
  who mourn,
• 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give
  them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for
  mourning, 4 And they shall rebuild the old
  ruins, They shall raise up the former
  desolations, 622f The Gentiles shall see
  your righteousness, You shall be called by a new
  name You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor
  shall your land any more be termed Desolate But
  you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land
  Beulah And your land shall be married.

15
Isaiah 61 and the Land Promise

• What Isaiah foretold
• Messiahs Anointed Ministry
• Proclamation of the Acceptable Day (Is. 49!)
• Day of Vengeance
• Giving of a New Name
• Gentiles called and Glorify Jehovah
• Restoration of the Land, The Land shall be
  married!

16
Jesus and Isaiahs Prophecy

• Jesus was sent to the House of Israel (Mt.
  1510f)
• Jesus, Luke 416f The Spirit is upon me
  Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your
  hearing!
• In the Acceptable Day, Israel would be restored,
  given a new name, married, and restored to the
  Land.
• Jesus said that prophecy was being fulfilled that
  day!
• Therefore, the time for the restoration of
  Israel, the new name, the marriage, and the
  restoration of the Land was being fulfilled that
  day!!

17
The Millennial Dilemma

• Jesus said the time for the restoration of Israel
  foretold by Isaiah, had arrived! Did Jesus
  fail?
• Millennialists say it was postponed!
• Millennialists The church never predicted in the
  O. T.
• Yet, millennialists now say that Isaiah 61 was a
  prediction of the church and the church age!
• If Isaiah is the salvation of Israel, and Jesus
  did not fulfill it, then he failed!!
• If Isaiah foretold the church, a pillar of
  millennialism is destroyed!!

18
Paul and Isaiah

• Paul taught nothing but the hope of Israel.
• Paul said that through the Spirit, the apostles
  were revealing what was not known or understood
  in the O. T.
• Remember what Isaiah said
• In the Acceptable Time, the Day of Salvation,
  Israel would be restored to the land. (Isaiah
  49 61) the Lord would marry Israel in the
  land. Gentiles called (49/61-62).
• Does Paul have anything to say about this?

19
Paul and Isaiah

• 2 Cor. 61-2 We then, as workers together with
  Him also plead with you not to receive the grace
  of God in vain. For He says "In an acceptable
  time I have heard you, And in the day of
  salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the
  accepted time behold, now is the day of
  salvation.
• Paul, proclaimer of nothing but the hope of
  Israel, authoritative interpreter of the O. T.
  prophecies that the prophets did not fully
  understand, said the time foretold by Isaiah was
  present, fulfilled in Christ!!

20
Paul and Isaiah

• Paul the time foretold by Isaiah 49, 61, the
  acceptable Day, the Day of Salvation, when Israel
  was to be restored, in the land, was present,
  fulfilled in Christ!
• But, the fulfillment being wrought when Paul
  wrote was spiritual, not a geographical
  re-gathering, but spiritual gathering into
  Christ!
• Therefore, unless Paul was wrong, deluded, or
  lying, then Isaiah actually foretold the
  spiritual work of restoration in Christ!

21
Paul and Isaiah

• Jesus came to fulfill the promises to Israel, and
  said the prophecies were fulfilled.
• Paul preached nothing but the hope of Israel and
  said the prophecies--- the prophecies of the
  restoration to the land!!!--- were fulfilled.
• Undeniably, Paul did not believe that the promise
  of the acceptable day of the Lord, the day of
  salvation (of Israel), had been postponed!
• Israels restoration in the land was being
  fulfilled in Christ!