Consider: Following the Babylonian exile, when Israel was restored to its land, the people were to restore true worship in their God-given land.
One of the first projects undertaken was the rebuilding of Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem. However, since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E., the temple has never been rebuilt.
Instead, in the former temple area stands an Islamic shrine.
If the Jews, who say they are under the Mosaic Law, were today in Jerusalem as God’s chosen people, would not the temple devoted to his worship have been rebuilt?
Matt. 21:42, 43: “Jesus said to them [the chief priests and the older men of the Jews in Jerusalem]: ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures,
“The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone.
From Jehovah this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes”?
This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.’”
Matt. 23:37, 38: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her,—how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks together under her wings! But you people did not want it. Look! Your house is abandoned to you.”
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
No. Christians today are the new "Jews"/spiritual Israel. Matthew 21:43
Jesus is not God and to say that is idolatry, which is what God hates.
Yes, we are still under the same covenant we have always been. Sin results in punishment, not a breaking of the eternal non-breakable covenant.
We will build the Temple, it's just a matter of time. In fact, I was just in visiting the new Temple Institute in Jerusalem this last Passover. It was so exciting:) Here are some pics of what we have ready. Other thant the ark of the covenant, it's all halachically kosher, meaning we can use it when the Temple is rebuilt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCRtyXRHYmo
Jesus came to save the lost sheep of Israel. When Jesus sent His disciples to preach the good news of the kingdom, He expressly told them, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). Jesus narrowed their focus to the areas which should be most receptive—those who knew the Law and were expecting the Messiah. Paul, in his missionary journeys, followed the same priority of preaching to the Jews first (Romans 1:16). That was then. What about now? Has God abandoned his chosen people? Has God broken his everlasting covenant with them? Background information in the first two links below.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are the only true church and they have replaced Israel. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. All the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel can be divided into two camps: either the church is a continuation of Israel (replacement/covenant theology), or the church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism/premillennialism).
Replacement theology teaches that the church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the Bible are fulfilled in the Christian church, not in Israel. So, the prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land are “spiritualized” or “allegorized” into promises of God's blessing for the church. Major problems exist with this view, such as the continuing existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries and especially with the revival of the modern state of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God, and there is no future for the Jewish nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2000 years despite the many attempts to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1900 years?
The view that Israel and the church are different is clearly taught in the New Testament. Biblically speaking, the church is completely different and distinct from Israel, and the two are never to be confused or used interchangeably. We are taught from Scripture that the church is an entirely new creation that came into being on the day of Pentecost and will continue until it is taken to heaven at the rapture (Ephesians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The church has no relationship to the curses and blessings for Israel. The covenants, promises, and warnings are valid only for Israel. Israel has been temporarily set aside in God's program during these past 2000 years of dispersion.
After the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), God will restore Israel as the primary focus of His plan. The first event at this time is the tribulation (Revelation chapters 6-19). The world will be judged for rejecting Christ, while Israel is prepared through the trials of the great tribulation for the second coming of the Messiah. Then, when Christ does return to the earth, at the end of the tribulation, Israel will be ready to receive Him. The remnant of Israel which survives the tribulation will be saved, and the Lord will establish His kingdom on this earth with Jerusalem as its capital. With Christ reigning as King, Israel will be the leading nation, and representatives from all nations will come to Jerusalem to honor and worship the King—Jesus Christ. The church will return with Christ and will reign with Him for a literal thousand years (Revelation 20:1-5).
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament support a premillennial/dispensational understanding of God's plan for Israel. Even so, the strongest support for premillennialism is found in the clear teaching of Revelation 20:1-7, where it says six times that Christ's kingdom will last 1000 years. After the tribulation the Lord will return and establish His kingdom with the nation of Israel, Christ will reign over the whole earth, and Israel will be the leader of the nations. The church will reign with Him for a literal thousand years. The church has not replaced Israel in God's plan. While God may be focusing His attention primarily on the church in this dispensation of grace, God has not forgotten Israel and will one day restore Israel to His intended role as the nation He has chosen (Romans 11).
More information in the links below about Israel and her place in God's divine plan.
1) Did Jesus say that the natural Jews today are still God’s chosen people?
The term "natural Jews" cannot be found in the Bible, nor is it a standard English term, nor does the term make a lot of sense. Am I a "natural Catholic" turned Protestant? Or am I a "natural Jew" raised Catholic and turned Protestant? Or am I a "natural pagan" whose ancestors for centuries have rejected their nature and unnaturally become Christian or Jewish people and who eventually gave birth to me, a natural (or unnatural) Protestant?
2) If the Jews, who say they are under the Mosaic Law, were today in Jerusalem as God’s chosen people, would not the temple devoted to his worship have been rebuilt?
According to the Bible: not necessarily. According to the Bible: the Jewish people would remain God's chosen people even when their nation as conquered and the Temple was destroyed and they were deported to foreign nations - which very thing you mention in passing! Is it your contention that the Jewish people were not "the chosen people" during the time of the Babylonian Captivity? **The Bible disagrees** and assures the Jewish people that they are God's chosen people even during such dire occasions (even when they are being punished for their sins against God - in fact, the punishment **is because** they are God's chosen people) and that God will return to them when they return to him.
So: if you accept the Bible as accurate, your conclusion is NOT reasonable. According to the Bible, the Jewish people remain God's chosen people even when the Temple does not exist.
The lack of a Temple is NOT a sign that the Jewish people are no longer "God's chosen people". We know this because the Bible teaches so!
- Jim, http://www.bible-reviews.com/
The natural Jews had him murdered yet he still offered hope for all .
All they need do is seek first the Kingdom & they too can find truth.
God is not a man that He should lie. Was there a question in there somewhere that you needed answered?