The purpose of the Tribulation is Israel's salvation!
God made a promise to Abraham and Moses that He intends to keep. In the tribulation, God will bring about 'everlasting righteousness' and 'finish their transgression'. Israel will be reconciled once again with God!
God made a special promise to Abraham. He said that Abraham would become the father of a great nation—the Jewish nation. The Jews would have their own land and would be exceedingly blessed compared to other nations. God also stated that through the Jews, all nations would be blessed. So, from the very beginning, God revealed that Israel would be His chosen people on earth.
Jesus came as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy. He came as the Messiah to the Jews after 4,000 years of God's dealings with Israel to fulfill their plan of salvation. However, we know what happened - Jesus was rejected by the Jews.
"He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24)
His plan of salvation was also to save the Gentiles through the rejection of the Jews and provoke Israel to jealousy. Paul says that he is not "ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Rom 1:16).
The church is a completely new creation that began on the day of Pentecost and will exist until it is taken to heaven during the rapture. The church is not connected to the blessings and curses intended for Israel. The agreements, promises, and cautions of the Mosaic Covenant applied exclusively to Israel. For the past 2,000 years, Israel has been temporarily set aside in God's plan, experiencing dispersion. (Ro: 11)
Once the Church Age of Grace (the time of the Gentiles) comes to an end with the rapture, the plan of salvation for the Jews will still continue. It is not over for them. It will continue during the 7 years of the tribulation, which is known as the 70th week of Daniel. The first 69 weeks were about Israel and not the Church, and the same will hold true for the 70th week! We, the Church, are not part of it! "
Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy." (Daniel 9:24)
1. Finish transgression. 1st Coming
2. Make an end to sin. 1st Coming
3. Reconciliation for iniquity. 1st Coming
4. Everlasting Righteousness 2nd Coming of Jesus
5. Seal up vision. 2nd Coming
6. Seal up prophecy. 2nd Coming
7. Anoint The Most Holy. 2nd Coming.
The first three were fulfilled already in the first coming of Jesus, the last 4 will be fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus.
After the rapture, God will make Israel the main focus of His plan once again. The world will be judged for rejecting Christ, while Israel will go through trials during the great tribulation to prepare for the second coming of the Messiah. When Christ returns at the end of the tribulation, Israel will be ready to welcome Him. The surviving remnant of Israel will be saved as a nation, and the Lord will establish His kingdom on earth with Jerusalem as its capital.
When Christ becomes the King, Israel will be the most important nation, and people from all nations will come to Jerusalem to honor and worship Him, Jesus Christ. The church will come back with Christ and rule with Him for a thousand years, as mentioned in Revelation 20:1–5.
In this amazing way, we can clearly see how God will fulfill His promises to Israel and also to His Church. While God may be giving special attention to His Church during this time of grace, it's important to know that He has not forgotten Israel. God has a plan to restore Israel to its rightful place as the chosen nation.
Comments