THEIR REAL BLESSINGS ARE SPIRITUAL

Although the Jews have brought great physical blessing to our world, their greatest accomplishments are, and will continue to be, in the spiritual realm. It cannot be denied that the Jews are the one people on the face of this earth who have had a direct audience with the Creator. They have faithfully delivered this revelation to us in the form of the Old Testament or Tanakh. In the fullness of time, the Messiah was also delivered to the world through Israel and the Jewish people. As a result of his coming into the world, we have also received the New Testament. All of the writers of the New Testament except Luke, were Jewish.

The Isaiah Scroll at the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem
 (Courtesy Israel Information Office)

Many people think that the contribution of the Jews in the realm of religion has drawn to a close. That idea is false on many counts. The Jews have an extremely rich heritage upon which to draw. Their tradition and learning continues even today, springing as a well from its ancient roots in Sinai. They can quickly add color and dimension to our understanding of the Bible.   But the real accomplishments and blessings of the Jewish people will come in the future. In the beautiful servant songs of Isaiah 41:8-10, God says of Israel:

     But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of
     Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners
     called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
     So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
     strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

     Isaiah is speaking of a future day and time, and it is interesting that Israel is still called the "servant" of the Lord.
     In Isaiah 43:4-7, we see the continuing special relationship between God and Israel in     the future:

     Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give
     men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid,
     for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the
     west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
     Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who
     is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

In Isaiah 43:21 the Lord says: "the people [the Jews] I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." Be not deceived, God will still show forth his praise through Israel. It is written in his word and will not fail.   As we approach the last days, the Jews and Israel will take on a much greater significance. This is clear even when we look at our own book of Revelation. When we carefully examine Revelation, we see that it is a picture of the Day of the Lord, a day often spoken of by the prophets of Israel. We sense a strangely Jewish flavor to these last days.

We are first introduced to Jesus, who is pictured in the garments of the High Priest of Israel. Next, we see what is surely are Jewish menorahs placed right in the middle of the first chapter (Rev. 1:12). It is even more surprising that these menorahs are said to represent the seven churches.
  

Then, we are introduced to the 144,000 overcomers from the tribes of Israel (Rev. 7:1-8). We began to hear much more about Jerusalem and its restoration as a spiritual reality.  In Revelation 21:2, 9-10, we learn that this heavenly Jerusalem is the true bride of Christ.

We hear of Jewish apostles whose names are now written on the twelve foundations of Jerusalem (Rev. 21:14). Interestingly, the gates of the city through which we all long to pass have written on them the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 21:12). Imagine how the Christian persecutors of Israel will feel when they attempt to enter through those gates!

There may even be some surprises for us when we begin to sing those heavenly choruses with the angels. (27) In Revelation 15:3-4, the redeemed sing the "Song of Moses." Whether this song is taken from Exodus 15 or from Deuteronomy 32, one thing is clear. The redeemed will be singing about Israel and God’s faithfulness to that nation. It may take some Christians a while to get in tune with that particular heavenly hymn.

We see that according to God’s great plan of restoration, the Jews will have a very prominent place in the end days. In Isaiah 61:6-7 it is said of them:

     And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God.
     You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead
     of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they
     will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their
     land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Yes, in the end days the Jews will be priests and ministers of God. We read in scripture that they will also be called "the Holy People" and "the Redeemed of the LORD" (Isa. 62:12). The Lord describes them as "jewels in a crown" (Zech. 9:16). We Gentiles have happily applied Malachi 3:17 to ourselves, however, this verse lets us see that God is primarily speaking of the Jewish people:
    
     "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my
     treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son
     who serves him."

In the last days, the Jews will be as though they were never cast off by God (Zech. 10:6).  Perhaps one of the most interesting pictures of the Jews in future ages is given to us in Zechariah 8:23. It is a verse that should demolish our triumphalistic and replacement theologies. We read in this passage:

     This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and
     nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with
     you, because we have heard that God is with you.’"

Let us pause to get the picture here. In the last days people from all over the world will cling to the Jewish people and beg to go with them because of the presence of the Lord will be with them. One would think that it would be Gentile Christians to whom the world is clinging in the last days. But alas, in God’s plan it is the Jews.   This is only a sampling of the many verses in scripture that speak of the elevation of the Jews in the end times, and their blessing to the nations. But with even these few verses in mind we would have to conclude with Moses in Deuteronomy 33:29:

     Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?...