“without Christ … aliens of the commonwealth of Israel”
(Eph 2:12, NKJV)
Each one of the Old Testament prophecies could be proved to have already come to fulfilment IN CHRIST.
In his book End times fiction Gary deMarit makes an apt statement concerning the fulfilment of these Old Testament prophecies – “there is no seven-year Tribulation period or Antichrist making a covenant with the Jews and then breaking it found in Revelation. There is no gap in time in Daniel’s seventy week’s prophecy. When all of the elements of prophecy are put together, we find that there is no need for gaps, postponements, a seven-year Tribulation period, another rebuilt temple, or an antichrist making a covenant with the Jews and then breaking it.”
If we perhaps understood what had truly happened during “the Jewish war” of 66-70 AC, we will see how Jesus’ words about prototypical Jerusalem and the Jews spell out that the old dispensation will end because of the hardness of their hearts – “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-22)
In his authoritative archaeological text The Bible as history Werner Keller has the following to say about this matter – “the city and temple of Jerusalem … have eluded the endeavours of archaeologists: they have been blotted out for ever from this earth. For barely within a generation after the crucifixion of Jesus they suffered in ‘the days of vengeance’ the fate that Jesus prophesied to them. Old Israel, whose history no longer included the words and works of Jesus, the religious community of Jerusalem which condemned and crucified Jesus, was extinguished in an inferno which is almost unparalleled in history.”
In the light of this one understands the frightening passage of Matt 23:35-38 – “that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks, under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate …” Here the word house does not only refer to the temple, the seat of God’s presence and covenant (remember the tablets of the Law were in the Ark of the Covenant, which had then already departed) – it also points to the collective “house of Israel”. In the Old Testament the house of Israel is referred to in this way no less than 140 times. But Jesus continually only speaks of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 10:6; 15:24).
When Peter preaches in Acts 2:36, he makes it clear that “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
In his book Keller points out certain details concerning how Mark 13:2 had been fulfilled – “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.'” In his devastating words – the house of Israel “have been blotted out for ever from this earth”. ALL that remains is Jesus the Christ. Without Christ all of us are divorced from the commonwealth of the true “Israel of God” (Eph 2:12; Gal 6:16).
- Sela: Make sure that you are an Israelite according to the Spirit (according to Rom 9:6).
- Read: Gen 7-9
- Examine how this has been fulfilled: Gen 7:21-22
- For a deeper understanding: Read the books mentioned in the text.
