Showing posts with label Brian Hennessy. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Does God See the Jews As Enemies? - Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

Does God See the Jews As Enemies?

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

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To those of us who love Israel, that question sounds preposterous. Yet many Christians suffer from what I call a Replacement Theology hangover. They finally made room in their eschatology for a restoration of Israel, but they do not accept the present return of the Jews to their ancient homeland as part of that restoration. They point out that most Jews in Israel and abroad are still unbelievers in Jesus and therefore must be considered God’s enemies. They’ll quote Paul’s words, “that from the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies” (Rom. 11:27). If they’re enemies of the gospel, they argue, then they are enemies of God.

Sadly, these Christians have taken Paul’s words in Romans 11 completely out of context. After warning all the non-Jewish believers grafted into Israel’s tree “to not be arrogant towards the branches [that had been cut off],” Paul instructed us concerning the Jews in their present state of unbelief. “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, BUT from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the Fathers, for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (vs. 28, 29).

From an earthly standpoint we should expect them to oppose the promotion of the gospel, tooth and nail. And that for our benefit! God had deliberately made them enemies of the gospel to drive it out into the nations where we could hear it and get saved.

But then Paul urges us to look past their angry opposition and view them from God’s perspective. He says, “that from the standpoint of God’s choice” they are still beloved. In other words, don’t think God has rejected them and put them in the same category as every other unbeliever in the world. No, they are still His people – even in their unbelief! The promises to the fathers had not been nullified.

Over and over He assured Israel that “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth” (Amos 3:2). So even though a majority rejected Yeshua, their unbelief did not cancel out His eternal commitment to them. “Though some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be!” (Rom. 3:3,4). God had put them in a state of suspended, militant unbelief until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [to Israel].” Then He’ll provide the same mercy and grace to the Jews He gave to us. “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all” (v. 32)

What these undiscerning Christians don’t realize is that a paradigm shift has taken place in God’s dealing with the Jews. Everything changed with the founding of Israel in 1948. We know this because God always deals with Israel in the same way.

Whenever the nation’s disobedience finally exhausts God’s patient warnings He allows them to be conquered and thrown out of the land. It happened when Assyria invaded the northern kingdom in 722 BC, when Babylon conquered Judah in 586 BC, and when Rome exiled them again in 70 AD. But those times of exile had an expiration date. We know Judah’s time of punishment, which culminated with the Holocaust, has ended – because they’re back in the land. Their miraculous return, impossible victories against overwhelming odds and rejuvenation of the land, all confirm God is with them, and again fighting for Israel!

So, yes, the Jews have come home in unbelief. But that’s exactly what had been prophesied. “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. THEN I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean” (NAS Ezek 36:24,25). And again, in Ezekiel’s famous dry-bones prophecy, it is after the nation is restored from extinction that the prophet is commanded, “say to the breath…Come from the four winds and breathe on these slain, that they may come to life” (Ezek 37:9).

I believe that Breath will soon come. And it will be accompanied by those believers who have awakened to the Hebraic roots of their faith. For if you noticed in my recounting of Israel’s three exiles, there is still one scattering that has not been resolved. Namely, the worldwide banishment of the northern ten tribes of Israel. I have no doubt that all believers who have joined themselves to Messiah from among the nations are their lost descendants. If so, then the next thing on God’s restoration calendar would be to make it possible for us to make _aliyah. _Along with many more Western Jews.

“In those days, ten men from among the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zech 8:23).

Brian Hennessy is author of Valley of the Steeples

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Monday, February 1, 2016

Will Two-Thirds of Israelis Perish? - | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

Will Two-Thirds of Israelis Perish?

Monday, February 01, 2016

Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

Topics:

Christians

There is a popular belief, even among Christian lovers of Israel, that according to Zechariah’s prophecy, two-thirds of the Jewish people in Israel “will be cut off and perish” (Zech. 13:8). This interpretation is tied to the belief of how God will bring about Israel’s ultimate salvation. The theory being, that nothing short of near annihilation will ever be able to overcome their stubborn resistance to accepting Jesus as the Messiah.

Quite frankly, I believe it is dispassionate theological interpretations of Scripture like this that only reinforce Jewish resistance to the gospel. How can we loudly proclaim love for Israel one minute, and in the next breath, say, “oh well, it’s a shame, but up to four million more Jews must die before all Israel is saved.” I don’t buy it.

So - can Zechariah’s prophecy be understood another way? Let’s look at it. “It will come about in all the land, declares the Lord, that two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (Zech 13:8,9).

Like all prophecy, we never really know when or how it will be fulfilled until it happens. Who could have guessed the massacre of the children in Bethlehem would be a fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy of “Rachael weeping for her children?” (Matt. 2:18) Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit can and does give us advanced insight on Bible prophecy, often based on what God is doing in our day. And one thing that should be abundantly clear today, especially to a Christian Zionist, is that God is now squarely on Israel’s side. That their long exile is over and God is restoring all that the “gnawing … swarming … creeping … stripping locust has eaten” (Joel 1:4).

So when we read Zechariah’s prophecy, I believe it must be understood in light of God’s favor being shown to Israel today. Not in terms of the divine displeasure the nation has already suffered. If we look at the prophecy in full context we see it follows these words, “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones” (Zech 13:7). We know this is speaking of Yeshua, as John informed us (John 26:31). So we can safely assume the judgment that follows is connected to that first-century rejection of him.

Historians tell us that 1.1 million Jews died in the siege of Jerusalem, far less than two-thirds of the population needed to fulfill the prophecy. But who can say the counting didn’t continue over the centuries? When Zechariah said “in all the land,” it could mean the whole earth. In fact, I find it beyond coincidental that the number of European Jews murdered in the Holocaust is always said to be “two-thirds.” If we needed to have an obvious sign that God’s judgment spoken by Zechariah has been fulfilled, that did it for me.

More importantly, we know that just three years after the Holocaust the dark days of Jewish exile came to an end when the nation of Israel was resurrected from the rubble of history. Those who had ears to hear understood immediately God was once again restoring favor to His people. The winter was over.

So does that mean Israel will avoid severe tribulation in the days ahead? Of course not. They are even now being “refined as silver” in their efforts to reclaim the land. Jeremiah states concerning the last days, “Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,but he will be saved out of it” (Jer. 30:7).

It doesn’t take a military genius to see Israel is facing the battle of its life in the days ahead. And with the mass migration of Muslims to Western nations, it’s inevitable European and American Jewry will also soon face an explosion of anti-Semitism. Yes, God will no doubt use all the coming tribulation to bring His chosen ones to faith (and home), but it won’t be Israel that suffers the catastrophic judgment.

Instead of forecasting doom and gloom upon Israel, Christians ought to see the handwriting on the wall regarding their own nations. As Jeremiah also told Israel: “I am with you, declares the Lord, to save you; For I will completely destroy all the nations where I have scattered you” (Jer. 30:11).

Is there any nation on earth where a descendant of Abraham has not lived?

Brian Hennessy is the author of Valley of the Steeples, available at:ketchpublishing/BrianHennessyBooks.htm

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Sunday, January 24, 2016

COMMENTARY: Are We Working Too Hard For God? | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

COMMENTARY: Are We Working Too Hard For God?

Sunday, January 24, 2016 | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

Topics:

Bible

Most have heard the expression, ‘Our arms are too short to box with God.” But it’s equally true that “our arms are too weak to work for God.” Which is why every time we tackle a work for Him in our own strength we become exhausted. Burned out. Both physically and spiritually.

To prevent that problem God gave us the Sabbath. He introduced the concept as a day of physical rest at the end of the week under the Mosaic Law. Six days of work followed by one day of complete inactivity. It was His signature piece of legislation upon which all His other precepts hinged. And He made sure everyone understood its importance by attaching the ultimate penalty for non-compliance. “Therefore you are to observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people." (Ex. 31:14)

But as welcome and God-honoring as that day off was, it was the principle embedded in the commandment Father most wanted us to learn. Our 24-hour rest from physical work was simply a means to teach us about ceasing from unprofitable ‘works of the flesh.’ We became aware of those carnal works when we met the Savior and saw how our best efforts to save ourselves were, to quote Paul, “like dung” (Phil. 3:8 KJV).

But once saved, many believers stop resting in Yeshua’s salvation. They return to living a divided life, seeing their career and family life as secular and separate from their spiritual life. They work as if everything depended upon them. And their spiritual life continues to be understood as participation in religious activities, even full time, without regard to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They do not yet see they have died in Messiah and are risen with him. That we are no longer our own, but are part of Yeshua’s body. And in him we are summoned to rest in his completed work 24/7. “For the one who has entered God’s rest [in him] has himself rested from his works, as God did from His” (Heb. 4:9).

Nor do they consider, that if death was the penalty for violating the Sabbath command given on Mt Sinai, how much more attentive should we be to honor God’s new covenant Sabbath sprinkled with Yeshua’s blood? For those found working their own programs when Yeshua returns, it will be gut-wrenching anguish. “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will say to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness'” (Matt 7:22,23). Lawlessness? Yes, they broke the Sabbath!

How then should we live?

When the disciples asked Yeshua, “what shall we do, so that we may do the works of God?” he responded, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He has sent” (John 4:28,29). In other words, if we want to walk with God, yoke yourself to Yeshua. “I am the vine, you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We are in him now! Exhaustion is the early warning signal we are working apart from him.

To each follower, Yeshua continues to call, “Come to me you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Yes, rest for our souls. But at the same time, obedience to God’s Sabbath command, as Isaiah declared: “Turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways and seeking your own pleasure” (Isa. 58:13).

I’m convinced we are well into the night of the sixth day. God’s full kingdom rest is about to dawn. Are we learning to rest in Yeshua now so “he may cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?” (Heb. 9:14)

Or are we still straining and sweating away?

Brian Hennessy is the author of Valley of the Steeples, available at: ketchpublishing/BrianHennessyBooks.htm

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Monday, January 18, 2016

ISRAEL TODAY - COMMENTARY: Is 'Christian Zionism' Becoming a Dirty Word? | Brian Hennessy

COMMENTARY: Is 'Christian Zionism' Becoming a Dirty Word?

Monday, January 18, 2016 | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

Topics:

Christians

Approaching the Jewish people under a Christian banner, even when connected to “Zionism,” has always been a liability. The memory of forced conversions and unbridled Christian anti-Semitism is too ingrained to be quickly set aside. So even though Christian support for Israel has been quite forthcoming over the last 40 years, it wasn’t until recently that many Israelis began to accept our support as genuine. And to reciprocate with a generous measure of trust.

However, the problem I’m alluding to concerning the term ‘Christian Zionism’ is not coming from Jews, but the Church. It seems there is a growing hostility within the Traditional Church towards those members whom they feel love Israel too much! A church in my own hometown of Pennsylvania recently spilt over support for Israel.

The hostility is being spearheaded, of course, by pastors and denominations still in the grip of Replacement Theology. But they are being increasingly joined by other Christians who aren’t anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist, but who just don’t get it. Not having awakened yet to the Hebraic roots of their faith they can’t understand why Zionist Christians love Israel so much. They feel we’re putting our love for Israel above our love for the Church.

If things continue, Christian Zionists could one day be unwelcome within the Christian tent.

Inflaming this problem, of course, is the false narrative being pushed by both religious and secular anti-Semites who keep insisting the so-called Palestinian/Israeli conflict is the reason Muslims hate the West. And Israel, they say, is responsible for both the cause and continuation of the problem. If Israel would just give back the land they took from the Palestinians, then peace would come to the Middle East and joy to the rest of the world. That this is a complete nonsense is besides the point. The lie has been repeated so many times, in so many ways, it has become the reality.

Complicating things even further is a new ecumenical movement on the rise within Christendom. It involves a final push to patch up all the major theological differences that has fractured Christianity into thousands of sects. Their goal is to fulfill Jesus prayer to the Father about his followers, “that they might all be one’ (John 17:21). Many influential evangelicals are now paving the way for reunification, believing all roads must lead to Rome. The scriptural protests that inspired the Protestant Reformation are being minimized, while our points of agreement maximized. Even the giant schism that divided the Church into east and west is quietly being sewn back together.

If this reunification takes place, as it probably will, Christianity would once again become that intolerant ecclesiastical power we’ve been apologizing to the Jews for since the Holocaust. And Christians who love Israel could become as much of a pariah in their home churches as Israel presently is to their governments.

If that happens, I believe Christian Zionists will be forced to make a hard decision about where their loyalty lies. Will we stand with Israel, or with the religion that long ago severed us from the Hebraic roots of our faith, and persecuted the family of Messiah Yeshua?

When push comes to shove, it will help to recall the name ‘Christian’ is not something we owe a great deal of loyalty to. It was just a name imposed upon us by our enemies that we eventually adopted. And it was not a nice name at that. According to the scholars, it was meant to be one of scorn and derision. The term only appears in the Bible three times (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). Paul never used it to address believers. The name the early church referred to themselves by most often was as members of “The Way.”

In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion “Christian” may be the name Isaiah was referring to when he uttered this judgment against the persecutors of God’s people: “You will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones. And the Lord God will slay you. But My servants will be called by another name” (Isa. 65:15).

Brian Hennessy is the author of Valley of the Steeples, available at:ketchpublishing/BrianHennessyBooks.htm

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LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE Editor's Note (Steve Martin):

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Tuesday, May 17, 2016