UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM Part 5

ISRAEL AND THE PROFFERED KINGDOM – PAST

There are two times in history when the nation Israel was placed in a position where the people of Israel could enter into and occupy the kingdom. The first was under Moses and later Joshua following the Exodus from Egypt, and the second was under Jesus the Christ 1500 years later.

THE EARTHLY

The proffered kingdom during the day of Moses and Joshua had to do with the earthly segment of the kingdom. The Israelites had been called out of Egypt to realize an inheritance in another land, and that other land was the earthly land of Canaan. The nation under Moses, at Kadesh-Barnea, rebelled against God and His appointed leader Moses. They, because of unbelief, refuse to enter the land and, under God, take the land; and they even went so far as to seek to appoint a new leader to return to Egypt (Num. 13:26-14:4).

This resulted in the entire accountable generation, save Caleb and Joshua (because they possessed “another spirit” relative to entering the land), being overthrown in the wilderness during the next thirty-eight and one half years (Num. 14:5-38). And then Joshua, after the overthrow of the entire accountable generation and after the death of Moses, led the second generation of Israelites into the land (Joshua 1:1ff).

The Israelites entering the land under Joshua though, along with succeeding generations of Israelites, never realized the fullness of the purpose for their calling. This failure was the result of disobedience and unbelief at different times on the part of the people. And the attitude and action of the people in this respect governed the attitude and action of God in this same respect (Lev. 26; Deut. 28).

God’s blessings followed Israel’s belief and obedience, resulting in the surrounding Gentile nations also being blessed. But exactly the opposite resulted from unbelief and disobedience. There were curses rather than blessings, and the withholding of blessings from the surrounding Gentile nations as well.

The kingdom reached its heights during the days of David and his son, Solomon. But following the division of the kingdom after Solomon’s death, things took a different turn entirely. The nation through disobedience, became entrenched in a downward course from which there would be no return. God’s call to the people to “humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways” (2 Chron.7:14) – through the ministry of men such as Elijah and Elisha – went unheeded.

Thus, Gentile nations were eventually allowed to enter the land and take the people captive. The Assyrians came down and took the northern ten tribes into captivity about 722 B.C., and the Babylonians came over and took the southern two tribes, completing Gentile captivity beginning about 605 B.C. The removal of the southern two tribes completing Gentile captivity, begun the period known as “the times of the Gentiles,” which extends from that point until the end of the coming Tribulation.

The kingdom was taken from Israel at this time, along with the Glory; and neither will be restored to Israel until the coming Messianic Era (Ezek. 10:4, 18; 11:22, 23; 43:1-5; cf. Luke 9:32; Acts 1:9; 1 Tim. 3:16). Though the nation was allowed to return from captivity seven years following the Babylonian captivity, only a remnant returned; and though the temple was rebuilt, it housed no Glory.

And the same holds true today. Though the nation has been allowed to return, only a remnant has done so; and though Israel will shortly rebuild her temple, it will house no Glory.

Another parallel relative to Israel past and present also holds true. The remnant forming the present nation, as the remnant forming the past nation, will be up-rooted and driven to the ends of the earth. The former occurred under the Romans, beginning in 70 A.D., and the latter will occur under Antichrist, beginning in the middle of the Tribulation.

And as the temple built by the remnant returning to the land following the Babylonian captivity was later destroyed (in 70 A.D), so will it be with the temple which Israel is about to build. It too will be destroyed (Dan. 9:26; Matt. 24:15-22; Luke 21:20-24).

Israel, with her temple (housing the Glory of God once again), will be restored only after the times of the Gentiles has run its course and after Messiah returns. Christ will, Himself, personally restore the nation (Deut. 30:1-3; Matt. 24:30, 31), and He will, Himself, personally build the temple (Zech. 6:11-13).