The ministry on this page is supplemental subjects on Christianity, the Bible, history, people, special papers,
etc. Readers might pray about it to see what God will show them. Constructive comments are welcome.
It is recommended that to see sound ministry on various Christian subjects each month, one can subscribe to the magazine: THE CHRISTIAN, from Bible Truth Publishers. It sets forth a different Bible subject each month by various Bible teachers from past and present years.
[A brief Bible overview especially designed for new Christians]
If readers want to better understand Bible truth, they can ask for the new Word Of Truth Study. It is a brief overview of God's Word for today, and designed to show es-sential issues of faith and obedience, which are often not understood by new be-lievers. It will be sent at no cost, and the serious seekers can study it at their lei-sure.
These papers will give a good foundation concerning the Christian faith to provide a basis for further studies in more detail. It leaves the study of people, events, and historical scenes to others. This is not a study by every chapter and verse. The readers can gain a good overview of the Bible and Christianity here. There are seven parts to the study and one can take as much time as needed to review each part:
We know nothing of God and His ways apart from His Word, so the serious seekers after truth are urged to follow the Word and not traditions and religious ideas. The writer surely does not claim to know all things, but after many years of study he would like to share what he has found. Feel free to write if you have questions or comments. - R. L. D.
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A COMMENTARY ON ISRAEL’S FUTURE
By R. L. DeWitt, 08/11
[Many religious people speculate about God’s mind con-cerning Israel ---the people in the Bible whom God called by covenant for special care (see promises to Abraham in (Genesis 12 & 17& 22 ). Popular thoughts are often guesswork and misapplying Scripture to suppose things not true to the Word of God.]
Let us seek to appreciate God’s purposes and determine what is the course for Israel ---God’s chosen earthly people. Will they diminish and be destroyed, or continue and event-ually prosper and be at peace?
Any careful student of the Bible will see that there are three kinds of people in the world: Israelites, Gentiles, and the Church of God. Israel is a chosen earthly people, presently under discipline, but always in the mind of God for good. They are presently set aside, but will be preserved and restored in a day to come with blessings on the earth forever. The church is a called out and redeemed people as a heav-enly bride today, who will go to be with Christ forever. All other souls are Gentiles ---the gender of mankind.
The nation called Israel today was formed in 1948 as a sovereign state, and the people that returned and settled in that land reclaimed what God gave them a very long time ago, as the Bible shows. Their return was allowed by God, but not directed by Him, for He will personally re-gather them in the “promised land” one day in the future, in triumph over all their enemies as prophecy shows.
The so-called Israelis today are called that as nationals, but God’s people of the O.T. are by promise still Israelites. The reference to "Jews" today is a religious name and are called that because it was mostly the tribe of Judah that returned to recover the land after exile, but actually most Israelites do not know which tribe they are from. They are a scattered people in the world, and will not be gathered again as a
nation by God until the Lord comes to reign after the Trib-ulation Period, as shown in Bible prophecy.
Israelites were overthrown and taken captive by the judg-ment of God in about 588 BC for their rebellion over many years. Some were allowed to return under the provision of Cyrus, King of Persia – circa 520 BC, and later the King Artaxeres in 446 BC. This people were later conquered by Rome about 63 BC just prior to the time of Jesus Christ, and later driven out by the Romans in about 137 AD after being occupied by them for about 75 years, though some poor Israelites remained along with various Arab tribes wandering through the land, but never settling and forming a State.
The history thereafter in brief shows Great Britain governing the land under the control of the League of Nations following World War I, and then dividing the land to accommodate various religious groups coming in 1922. After Israel began returning to their homeland in great numbers in the 1930’s they eventually formed a nation in 1948. One can study the historical account further from the official records.
The world in general today is divided, with most people outside of Christianity opposing Israel and calling for them to give in to Moslem demands for ownership of part of Israel’s land. That is unique in the world, for it does not happen in any other country. Israel established a nation and developed the land, and now the various Arab groups that continue coming into the land today want to own it.
Israel is still God's earthly people by covenant, and that is why we as Christians must honor that and aid Israel as much as we can. Israel and the Church are both people of God. We may not approve of their governmental ways, and we are sad that they reject their Messiah --the Lord Jesus Christ, but that is between them and God (and they have and will suffer much for it). Today they must come to God the same as Gentiles through Jesus Christ --God's beloved Son and their only blood sacrifice. Only then will the current generation find blessing and hope, and that for eternity.
It is important to see in the Bible that Israel as a people will rule over the earth by God's leading when the new earth is established and they repent; and today their religion has been done away at the cross. The church --the bride of Christ, is a heavenly people, and they are not destined to live on the earth, but in Heaven. One needs to understand this difference between the Church and Israel. -RLD
