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The Biblical Case For Defending Israel-Part1-ClM-2023
The Biblical Case For Defending Israel-Part1-ClM-2023
BIBLE STUDY
The Political Leaders Weekly Bible Study SPONSORS
CURRENT AND
PART 1 OF 2 FORMER GOVERNORS
Defending Israel
Sonny Perdue GA
Rick Perry TX
Jim Pillen NE
Tate Reeves MS
Kim Reynolds IA
OCTOBER 16, 2023 Kevin Stitt OK
Scott Walker WI
Glenn Youngkin VA
PUBLIC SERVANT QUOTE................ 2 SENATORS
Marsha Blackburn TN
Adam Schnelting Mike Braun IN
Missouri State Representative Katie Britt AL
Ted Budd NC
Bill Cassidy LA
Kevin Cramer ND
VERSE OF THE WEEK........................ 3 Steven Daines MT
Joni Ernst IA
Genesis 12:3 William Hagerty TN
Cindy Hyde-Smith MS
James Lankford OK
FROM OUR FOUNDING FATHERS Markwayne Mullin OK
Mike Rounds SD
John Witherspoon.......................... 4 Tim Scott SC
Caleb Strong.................................... 5 John Thune SD
REPRESENTATIVES
John Quincy Adams...................... 6 Mark Alford MO
Robert Aderholt AL
Rick Allen GA
ABOUT CAPITOL MINISTRIES......... 8 Don Bacon NE
Michael Bost IL
Josh Brecheen OK
one. What follows is the exegetical For you are a holy people to the Lord VERSE OF THE WEEK
case; three major biblical chapters your God; the Lord your God has ✚
when studied together exclaim why chosen you to be a people for His own
every legislator, government leader, possession out of all the peoples who
Genesis 12:3
citizen, and human being should are on the face of the earth.
“And I will bless those who
befriend Israel.3 Those three chapters
bless you, And the one who
are Genesis 12, Romans 11, and Reve- “The Lord did not set His love on you
curses you I will curse. And
lation 7. You need to have these pas- nor choose you because you were in you all the families of the
sages at your fingertips and have more in number than any of the peo- earth will be blessed.”
intellectual dexterity when it comes to ples, for you were the fewest of all
this pertinent issue. peoples, but because the Lord loved
you and kept the oath which He
swore to your forefathers, the Lord
III. GENESIS 12
brought you out by a mighty hand
and redeemed you from the house of
In Genesis 12:1–2 God makes a cove- slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh
nant with Abram who is the patriarch king of Egypt.”
of the nation Israel. But before exam-
ining that in some detail, it is import- In addition, there are three unilateral
ant to understand the whole of promises that God makes with
Genesis. There are two main divisions Abram: a land, a seed, and a blessing
in the book, each possessing four sub- as evidenced from this passage (Gene-
points. The first portion (chapters sis 12:1–2).
1–11) relates to beginnings: the Cre-
ation, The Fall, the Flood and Disper- Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go
sion. The second portion (chapters forth from your country, and from
12–50) pertains to the patriarchs: your relatives and from your father’s
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. In house, to the land which I will show
this study, we are picking the book up you; and I will make you a great Seek God’s favor, not
at the start of the second portion nation, and I will bless you, and man’s, and the opinions,
where God chooses a man from whom make your name great; and so you criticism, or false charges
He will generate a family, a tribe and shall be a blessing …. ” of others will not cause
then a whole nation: again, the nation you to cower.
The aforementioned passages of
of Israel, a distinctive nation as
Scripture are where the case for being
described by God Himself in Exodus
pro-Israel begins. Noteworthy here is
19:5–6 and Deuteronomy 7:6–8: that God’s promise in Genesis 12
includes a land which is elsewhere
“‘Now then, if you will indeed obey referred to as the land of Canaan (cf.
My voice and keep My covenant, then Genesis 17:8)4 Again, the promise of
you shall be My own possession the land is critical to the study that
among all the peoples, for all the follows because in Genesis 12:3, pre-
earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me viously cited in the introduction,
a kingdom of priests and a holy God states the consequences of not
nation.’ These are the words that you being an ally of His people Israel, in
shall speak to the sons of Israel.” their land:
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For past studies or additional copies, go to capmin.org
The Biblical Basis for America’s Commitment to Israel – Part 1
John Witherspoon “And I will bless those who bless you, meaning of “descendants” in the
and the one who curses you I will above passage. The same holds true in
curse. And in you all the families of 13:15. Notice the word “forever”:
the earth will be blessed.”
“For all the land which you see, I will
At first glance, the passage above give it to you and to your descendants
seems quite straightforward except for forever.”
this: do the promises God made to
Israel “evaporate” forever due to her In 17:7, direct your eyes to “everlast-
later rejection of the Messiah, Jesus ing covenant”:
Christ? There are many Evangelicals
today who would answer in the affir- “I will establish My covenant between
mative. They reason that, due to Isra- Me and you and your descendants
el’s rejection of Jesus, God has replaced after you throughout their genera-
her with the Church. This is called tions for an everlasting covenant, to
Replacement Theology (RT), and it be God to you and to your descen-
comes in many versions. RT reasons dants after you.”
that the covenants made to Abraham
“Christ Jesus—the promise of and ensuing to Old Testament (OT) Israel’s right to hold onto the land due
old made unto the fathers, the Israel are null and void and spiritually to God’s everlasting covenant with
hope of Israel [Acts 28:20], accrue to the Church in the New Cov- her is called an everlasting possession
the light of the world [ John enant of the New Testament (NT) in 17:8:
8:12], and the end of the law and are now fulfilled more so in a spir-
for righteousness to everyone itual sense of understanding than a “I will give to you and to your descen-
that believeth [Romans physical one. dants after you, the land of your
10:4]—is the only Savior of sojournings, all the land of Canaan,
sinners, in opposition to The problem with this view, as we shall for an everlasting possession; and I
all false religions and every see in this study and the one that fol- will be their God.”
uninstituted rite; as He lows next week, is that there are many
Himself says ( John 14:6): ‘I passages throughout the Bible that Summarily, there is no limitation or
am the way, and the truth, indicate God is not forever finished qualification to God’s unending
and the life: no man cometh with Israel. Notice for starters the fol- promises relative to the land God will
unto the Father but by Me.’” lowing passages in Genesis that use give His people, Israel. No passage of
words in an unlimited sense: words Scripture anywhere in the Bible states
— John Witherspoon, signer of the like “descendants,” “forever,” and something to the effect of, “all bets are
Declaration of Independence, ratifier “everlasting” in describing the nature
of the U.S. Constitution, member of off forever if My people reject My
the Continental Congress, president of of the land promise. Note more care- coming Messiah … because if you do I
Princeton. fully Genesis 12:7 in this regard:
will ‘spiritualize’ these promises there-
John Witherspoon, The Works of John after and give them to the Church.”
The Lord appeared to Abram and
Witherspoon (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), What I am hinting at is this:
Vol. V, p. 255, Sermon 15, “The Absolute said, “To your descendants I will give
Necessity of Salvation Through Christ,” this land.” So he built an altar there to
January 2, 1758.
the Lord who had appeared to him. The case for supporting
Israel today turns on the
There is no qualifier or limitation rela- immutability of the
tive to the understanding of God’s Abrahamic Covenant.
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The Weekly In-Depth Bible Study For Political Leaders
Said the opposite way, if the Abra- I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Caleb Strong
hamic promises are now nullified, Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
then one is correct to reason that there God has not rejected His people
is no biblical basis for America to sup- whom He foreknew .... I say then,
port Israel. If Israel’s rejection of Jesus they did not stumble so as to fall, did
voids the Abrahamic Covenant of they? May it never be!
Genesis 12, then it stands to reason
that Israel has no future in God’s econ- In God’s big plan, He has temporarily
omy. If God is done with Israel, then sidetracked His chosen people. He did
why shouldn’t others be also? The this right after they did not recognize
truth is God has not replaced Israel (to say it politely) their Messiah (cf.
forever with the Church, and He has a Matthew 27:51). This passage makes
huge future plan ahead for the Jews, it clear that being sidetracked or hav-
even if for now they are on the “side- ing badly stumbled is to be distin-
track” as God grafts in the Gentiles guished from having been rejected or
during the age in which we live, the fallen in the sense of finality.
Church Age of biblical history. His
promises to Israel are not nullified as During this period God is grafting in
will be seen in the following redun- the Gentiles (cf. Ephesians 2:12–13). “He called on the State of
dantly plentiful NT passages.5 Notice this same idea as it is expressed Massachusetts to pray that …
in Romans 11:11–12: all nations may know and be
IV. ROMANS 11
obedient to that grace and
But by their transgression salvation truth which came by Jesus
This is a tremendously informative pas-
has come to the Gentiles, to make Christ.”
sage in light of the subject matter. In
them jealous. Now if their transgres-
the context of his epistle to the Gentile — Caleb Strong, delegate at the
Church at Rome, Paul inserts what is sion is riches for the world and their
Constitutional Convention to frame
commonly referred to as the paren- failure is riches for the Gentiles, how the U.S. Constitution, ratifier of the
thetical chapters of 9 through 11 in his much more will their fulfillment be! Constitution, U.S. senator, governor of
Massachusetts.
long letter.6 These three chapters reveal
God’s big plan for Israel—a plan that God will greatly bless Israel in the Caleb Strong, Proclamation for a Day of
validates the veracity of the words God future—when He fulfills His Abra- Fasting, Prayer and Humiliation, February
hamic Covenant promises to her! 13, 1813.
chose to use through His mouthpiece,
Moses, as He penned the book of Gen- That is the plain meaning of these
esis: specifically, the words “forever” texts! One must either ignore the
and “everlasting”. All of Romans 9–11 plain meaning of what Paul is writing
needs to be read as a whole to capture here under the inspiration of the Holy
the total impact, but having stated that, Spirit in Romans 11:9–11 or cava-
I have copied some of the pertinent lierly change hermeneutical principles
portions to underscore the point of from a grammatical-historical-norma-
this portion of our Bible study: God tive exegetical approach to the text, to
has a bright future for Israel! Note one of an allegorical, figurative, or
Romans 11:1, 2, and 11: symbolic hermeneutical understand-
ing of this text in order to rationalize
I say then, God has not rejected His what is being interpreted by Replace-
people, has He? May it never be! For ment proponents.
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For past studies or additional copies, go to capmin.org
The Biblical Basis for America’s Commitment to Israel – Part 1
John Quincy Adams Paul continues in his reasoning to the States Paul in Romans 11:25–29 in
Gentiles at Rome, now obviously this regard:
using metaphoric language. The lan-
guage now being used, obviously For I do not want you, brethren, to be
intended to be metaphoric language, uninformed of this mystery … that a
makes the point of this study: Paul is partial hardening has happened to
calling the Gentiles a wild olive Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles
[branch] that is being grafted into the has come in; and so all Israel will be
root. Note in this regard: saved; just as it is written .... From
the standpoint of the gospel they are
But if some of the branches were bro- enemies for your sake, but from the
ken off, and you, being a wild olive, standpoint of God’s choice they are
were grafted in among them and beloved for the sake of the fathers; for
became partaker with them of the the gifts and the calling of God are
rich root of the olive tree … (Romans irrevocable.
11:17).
Yes, presently Israel is a Gospel-rejecter,
This is a great word picture. Speaking but for the sake of the fathers (the
“The hope of a Christian is
further about the hardened hearts of great OT saints, like Abraham), God
inseparable from his faith.
Israel, a people having previously will honor Israel at a future time when
Whoever believes in the
rejected Jesus, there remains much
divine inspiration of the holy they too will come to Christ en masse
Scriptures, must hope that the hope. Note Romans 11:23–24:
(fr. “all together”). God is immutable
religion of Jesus shall prevail in His attributes, one being His verac-
And they also, if they do not continue
throughout the earth. Never ity; He is incapable of lying and is
in their unbelief, will be grafted in,
since the foundation of the therefore ever-mindful of His irrevo-
for God is able to graft them in again.
world have the prospects cable promises! Immutable means He
of mankind been more
For if you were cut off from what is by
nature a wild olive tree, and were is incapable of change.7
encouraging to that hope than
they appear to be at the present grafted contrary to nature into a cul-
tivated olive tree, how much more At a future time God will change Isra-
time. And may the associated el’s hearts toward Jesus; this is evident
distribution of the Bible will these who are the natural
branches be grafted into their own in the clear and powerful passage of
proceed and prosper, till the
olive tree? Ezekiel 36:24–26. Notice that verse
Lord shall have made ‘bare his
24 has already been fulfilled in this
holy arm in the eyes of all the
nations; and all the ends of the To paraphrase Dr. Charles Ryrie, who OT prophesy:
earth shall see the salvation of was a leading professor at Dallas Theo-
our God’ [Isaiah 52:10].” logical Seminary (a theologian with a “For I will take you from the nations,
consistent hermeneutic, see endnote gather you from all the lands and
— John Quincy Adams, sixth President of 7), Israel has been sidetracked while bring you into your own land. Then I
the United States, diplomat, Secretary of
God gathers in the Gentiles. In the will sprinkle clean water on you, and
State, U.S. senator, U.S. representative,
“Old Man Eloquent,” “Hell-Hound of end times, however, God will bring you will be clean; I will cleanse you
Abolition.” Israel back on track joining up with from all your filthiness and from all
the now much larger heavenly-bound your idols. Moreover, I will give you
William H. Seward, Life and Public Services
of John Quincy Adams (New York: C.M. train. During this period of biblical a new heart and put a new spirit
Saxton, Barker & Co., 1860), 249. history, however, the time in which within you; and I will remove the
we live, Israel’s heart is, for the most heart of stone from your flesh and
part, hardened toward their Messiah. give you a heart of flesh.”
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The Weekly In-Depth Bible Study For Political Leaders
Stemming from this passage there ened hearts descriptive of Israel in And they cry out with a loud voice,
should be no doubt: God is not fin- Romans 11 and Ezekiel 36 are obvi- saying, “Salvation to our God who
ished with Israel! Prior to examining ously absent. Revelation 7:4 states: sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
the fulfillment of these promises in And all the angels were standing
the prophetic book of Revelation, it And I heard the number of those who around the throne and around the
is important to emphasize that were sealed, one hundred and for- elders and the four living creatures;
Replacement Theology cannot over- ty-four thousand sealed from every and they fell on their faces before the
come the aforementioned theological tribe of the sons of Israel. throne and worshiped God, saying,
construct without changing its her- “Amen, blessing and glory and wis-
meneutical approach to these many Numerous other passages speak of dom and thanksgiving and honor
straightforward passages.8 RT is and power and might, be to our God
the rebirth of Israel and her inheri-
herein discounted by Romans 11 and forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation
tance of Jerusalem in conjunction
Ezekiel 36; in these passages God 7:10–12).
with the Second Coming of the Mes-
Himself declares He will be faithful
siah. These important passages What a glorious scene! What follows
to His own unilateral covenant of
include Zechariah 12:10; Psalm is the 1000-year Jewish-cultured Mil-
Genesis 12!
132:13–14; 2 Chronicles 12:13b; lennial Kingdom where Jesus will
Therefore, it stands to reason that His 33:4 & 7b; 1 Chronicles 23:25; 1 reign over all the earth from Jerusa-
“if-then” Covenant of Genesis 12:3 Kings 11:36b; and 2Kings 21:7b. The lem—wherein in the Abrahamic
also remains immutable and intact plain meaning of these texts indicates Covenant will be literally and ulti-
today. That is to say this: the promise that Israel will not only re-inherit the mately fulfilled!
of blessing or else cursing those who land, again, a prophetic event that
bless or else curse Israel applies for has already been fulfilled, but that her VI. CONCLUSION
individuals, terrorist groups and heart will subsequently be changed,
nations, today. This biblical fact more and the coming Messiah will bless the Since God is not through with Israel,
than insinuates and informs—it whole earth as He reigns in perfect and since God has a huge future plan
screams loudly—as to why American majesty from Jerusalem as the King of for Israel, it stands to reason—based
foreign policy should be extremely Kings and the Lord of Lords. on the healthy fear all should possess
positive toward Israel! Such policies relative to Genesis 12:3—that all
bless America. Plain stupid is an exec- individuals and all nations should be
A flurry of people will put their faith
utive branch or Congress that doesn’t sure to stand on the side of Israel.
in the Messiah during these end times
get this! Amen!
(cf. Matthew 24:14).
V. REVELATION 7 Next week we will continue this fasci-
After these things I looked, and nating study on Israel and go a step
behold, a great multitude which no further into an even deeper biblical
This passage of Scripture reveals that
there will be 144,000 Jewish evange- one could count, from every nation understanding of this subject.
lists who will herald the Second Com- and all tribes and peoples and
ing of Messiah throughout the world. tongues, standing before the throne
I dare say these Jewish evangelists her- and before the Lamb, clothed in
alding the Second Coming of Mes- white robes, and palm branches were
siah will make us Gentile evangelists in their hands; … (Revelation 7:9).
of the past look pale in comparison!
What a massively-huge turn-around Salvation is the main theme due to
will occur in Israel between now and the effectiveness of the 144,000
then! At this point in time, the hard- worldwide Jewish evangelists:
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For past studies or additional copies, go to capmin.org
The Biblical Basis for America’s Commitment to Israel – Part 1
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1. Romans 11:12a speaks specifically to this. Columbia South Carolina
Columbus Ohio
2. George Gilder, The Israel Test (Minneapolis: Richard Vigilante Books, Concord New Hampshire
2009). Des Moines Iowa
Hartford Connecticut
3. Obviously this statement should not be taken too far so as to mean a blan- Harrisburg Pennsylvania
ket endorsement of everything the nation might engage in or do that is Helena Montana
Honolulu Hawaii
ethically or morally unsubstantiated. Jefferson City Missouri
4. Later in Israel’s history, Joshua will lead Israel into the Promised Land. In Juneau Alaska
Lansing Michigan
Joshua 3:16 Scripture records that they crossed the Jordan River at a loca- Lincoln Nebraska
tion east of Jericho, which means they crossed just north of the Dead Sea. I Little Rock Arkansas
mention all that to make a simple point: if Israel were to now revert to her Madison Wisconsin
Montgomery Alabama
territory prior to the Six Day War she would in essence be forfeiting this Montpelier Vermont
area originally promised to them by God as an “everlasting possession” (cf. Nashville Tennessee
Genesis 17:8). Oklahoma City Oklahoma
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5. There will be two unique people of God relative to future things, both Israel Phoenix Arizona
and the Church. The latter does not eclipse the former, as many NT and Providence Rhode Island
Making Disciples OT passages evidence, nor will the former enter the Kingdom of God apart
Raleigh North Carolina
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of Jesus Christ from salvation in Christ per John 14:6 and Acts 4:12. In a real sense the Sacramento California
spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant accrue to the Church for a Salem Oregon
in the Political Arena time (until God grafts Israel back in) due to the present apostasy of Israel, Santa Fe New Mexico
Springfield Illinois
having executed the Messiah.
Throughout the World Topeka Kansas
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6. Paul’s first-century letter to the Gentile Church of Rome pertains to God’s
sweeping program for Gentile followers of Christ. It is his summum bonum INTERNATIONAL
(lat. “supreme good”), his magnum opus (lat. “greatest work”) pertaining Brussels Belgium
Porto Novo Benin
to God’s plan for salvation. He therefore begins his thesis by painting the Brasilia Brazil
world in sin (1:1–3:21); in chapters 3:21–5, he presents God’s plan of sal- Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
vation from sin. In chapters 5–8 he progresses into how the believer ought Gitega Burundi
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to live in this world, a discussion he continues in chapters 12–16 after the Bangui Central African Republic
herein-mentioned parenthetical discussion of God’s plan for Israel. In the San Jose Costa Rica
contextual thesis of the whole it makes perfect sense that Paul (himself a Yamoussoukro Cote d’Ivoire
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Jew) would include an overview of God’s summum bonum and magnum
Bible studies, evangelism, and opus for the Jews too! This insight into the greater context of the passages
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