By Dr. Ken Matto

When we look at the covenants in the Bible, there seems to be an air of confusion concerning to whom they were given. Now in this article, I am not going to be looking at the essence of the covenants but to whom were what covenants given. The reason there is so much confusion concerning the covenants is because the majority of Christians continue to read prophecy books and theology books without even looking at the Scriptures. These types of books make assertions and then plaster a Scripture verse to their belief system to supply a pseudo-legitimacy to them. This is easily done because the writers of these books know full well that Christians do not check anything out objectively, only subjectively. One of the reasons for the great misunderstanding of end time events in the Christian church is the misunderstanding of what covenants were given to which particular people.

 

For example, when you read anything about the Abrahamic covenant which is the covenant of Grace, the eternal covenant, you can pick up any Pre-Millennial writing and you will automatically read that the eternal covenants were made to the nation of Israel. This is why the teaching that the “Jews are God’s chosen people” has made such a lasting deposit in Christian theology and the teaching that there is a future golden reign for them. That was a political statement and not a theological statement made at the 1956 Presbyterian Laymen’s League Convention. Some even teach that Israel will have a position of priesthood. These teachings are so far from the truth and are absolutely foreign to the Scriptures. In fact, right after the nation of Israel came into existence in 1948, the notes of the Scofield Bible were changed to embrace these ideas. This is called “Christian Zionism” and is a very dangerous position for any Christian to be in.

 

The problem with this excessive focus on the modern nation of Israel has caused it to become a god among typical Pre-Millennial Christians who follow and swallow that erroneous teaching. Their belief is that no matter what Israel wants, God wants. Well God does not follow the dictates of any apostate nation on earth. He directs them, not follows them. As a matter of fact, during the Reagan and Bush administrations, there were many Christian Zionists who went to the White House and began to postulate the Armageddon theories to the President and his staff. Some of these were the false prophet Hal Lindsay, Jerry Falwell (who was given a 3 million dollar jet by the nation of Israel), Pat Robertson, Mike Evans (a Hal Lindsay wannabe) One of the greatest Christian Zionists alive today is John Hagee and his obsession with the Jews has helped him draw the false conclusion that all the Jews are saved, even those outside of Christ. He bases this on the assumption that their relationship to God is all they need. He may sound very authoritative but there are two types of authority-Right and Wrong. He is wrong with authority.

 

There are some who believe that the Pre-Millennial teachings go back as far as the 1600’s which is another lie the dispensationalists tell their followers. The truth is that there is not one mention of a two-stage appearance of Christ in any historical writing before 1830, when it was trance channeled from Satan by an apostate woman named Margaret MacDonald in the Port Glasgow Prophecy Conferences in Scotland. Her channeled teachings were handed down to Edward Irving, then to J.N. Darby, and then to, surprise, surprise, C.I. Scofield.  Every Puritan writing I have ever read has always mentioned the return of Christ on the last day, and not some two-stage event. Now I don’t want to get into a big discussion on the false theory of Pre-Millennialism but it must be mentioned since it is the underlying teaching that has caused many to go astray in their thinking, this author included, for the first few years of his Christian walk.

 

Abrahamic Covenant

(Gen 12:1-3 KJV) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: {2} And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: {3} And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 

Here is the first mention of the Abrahamic Covenant. As we read God is going to make Abraham a great nation, in fact, that blessing is going to extend to all areas of the Earth. That statement of the universality of the blessing gives us insight as to what God is speaking about.

 

(Mark 16:15 KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

(Mat 24:31 KJV) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

All the families of earth will be blessed by the Covenant of Grace and not by the nation of Israel. Ask any country in the Middle East if Israel is a blessing to them. They must be factored in because they are a part of the earth. There is a large group of true Christians among the Palestinians in Israel but Christian tour groups are disallowed from visiting them.

 

Now if you look in any prophecy book or speak to any typical pre-tribber, they will automatically attribute the “curse and blessing” part of this covenant to modern Israel. This is because Christian Zionists have redefined the covenants and applied to Israel what applies to the Christians. These lies are so embedded in the church, that Christians actually fight against the truth.

 

Genesis12:7

(Gen 12:7 KJV) And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

 

Here is an interesting statement. It looks like God is telling Abraham that He is going to give him a specific patch of land where his descendants or his “seed” will dwell. If we look at this statement and isolate this passage, we can then easily conclude that the nation of Israel has an eternal place of refuge. However, we don’t do as the prophecy books do. Take a look at the verse below.

 

(Heb 11:10 KJV) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

(Heb 11:13 KJV) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 

In Genesis 12:7, God specifically stated that the land that Abraham was seeing would be given to him and his seed. If that is taken literally, then why do we see Abraham still “looking “ for a city and then dying in faith without having received the promises but seeing them afar off? The answer to this dilemma is again found in Scripture and not a prophecy book.

 

(Gal 3:16 KJV) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

 

(Gal 3:29 KJV) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Here is the reason that God was speaking in a parable concerning the land. In Genesis 12:7, God promised this land to Abraham’s seed and Abraham’s seed are the redeemed Christians and as we saw in the Mark and Matthew verses, that the extent of the land on earth was the entire earth but the land that God showed Abraham was typifying the eternal home of the believers. Genesis 12:7, has absolutely nothing to do with physical land nor the modern nation of Israel. It is an extension of the initial promise of eternal salvation to the redeemed of Christ.

 

Genesis 13:14-17

(Gen 13:14-17 KJV) And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: {15} For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. {16} And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. {17} Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

 

Here is the third mention of the eternal Covenant. Now we have already established that the physical land was just a type of the eternal home of the believers. In verse 15, in the above Scripture portion, we see the same words, “to thy seed.” Of course, we saw from Hebrews that the seed of Abraham are those who are in Christ. But in this verse God adds another word which further enhances the interpretation toward the eternal covenant. It is the word, “for ever.” This present world will be burnt by fire on the last day so the idea that the eternal covenant is going to be fulfilled in this world cannot happen. The reason that Abraham looked for a city whose maker and builder was God, was because he was not seeking an earthly kingdom but the Kingdom of God. This third mention of the eternal covenant has nothing to do with the physical land of Israel nor the modern nation of Israel. It too points to the eternal Kingdom of God where the Christian has eternal habitation. Also you can basically count the number of Jews on earth and they are small part of the population, but God is saying that through Abraham, there is going to be a great number of his seed. Remember who the seed of Abraham was? The redeemed Christian from all parts of the world including national Israel.

 

(Rev 7:9-10 KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; {10} And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

 

Genesis 15:5-7

(Gen 15:5-7 KJV) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. {6} And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. {7} And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

 

In the fourth mention of the eternal covenant, God is restating that the number of Abraham’s seed will basically be uncountable. Again, God is also restating that he is going to give Abraham a specific land to inherit, yet we saw that Abraham looked beyond the promise of physical land to the promise of the spiritual land of Canaan which is Heaven. This is the problem that Pre-Millenialists have, they look at the literal and stop there. Basically, Pre-Millenialism is a very worldly system which re-focuses the believer’s eyes on earth and off of Heaven.

 

Look at what they seek:

 

1) A physical manifestation of Satan, A “man” of sin.

2) A physical thousand year reign of Christ

3) A physical land as a fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant

4) A physical temple in Jerusalem with animal sacrifices

5) A physical Armageddon

6) A physical Jerusalem hanging between heaven and earth

7) 144,000 physical Jewish Evangelists

8) A reincarnation of David

9) A physical slaughter of 2/3 of all Jews on Earth

 

Need I go on? I know this is what they teach because for the first 7 years of my Christian walk, I was a Pre-Tribber who was “tossed about by every wind of doctrine” from prophecy books.

 

Genesis 15:18-21

(Gen 15:18-21 KJV) In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: {19} The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, {20} And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, {21} And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

 

In the fifth mention of the eternal covenant, God continues to say that the seed of Abraham was going to inherit land. However, in this verse we see that God widens the parcel of land that He is promising to Abraham. Are we at an impasse? Absolutely not! Let us look at the verse below while keeping in mind who the seed of Abraham is.

 

(Psa 2:7-8 KJV) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. {8} Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

 

God mentions ten heathen nations that He is going to give to Abraham’s seed. Abraham’s seed is the believer and when we look at the Psalm 2 verses, we see that the heathen is going to be a part of the eternal redeemed church of God. Notice that God mentions ten heathen nations in the above verse and then specifically mentions the heathen will be the inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth. Remember, we saw in Matthew 24 that the angels of God went to the four winds of the earth to gather God’s Elect. This is another way of saying that there is going to be Christians in every country on earth.

 

(Amos 9:11-12 KJV) In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: {12} That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

 

Here we read that there is going to come a time when God is going to include the heathen in the Covenant of Grace. We read the phrase “of all the heathen, which are called by my name.” The only people who are called by God’s name are the true believers. This means that back in the time of Amos, the heathen was already in God’s plan of redemption. The book of Psalms predates the book of Amos and these verses give us a good confirmation that the God’s plan of salvation not only included Jews but was going to go world wide and include the other nations of the world, typified by the ten nations that He mentions in Genesis 15.

 

(Gal 3:8 KJV) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

 

Genesis 17

This chapter contains many insights into the Abrahamic Covenant, so we will be looking at many of these verses on an individual basis. This sixth mention of the eternal covenant will put the icing on the cake that it was a universal covenant and not a dedicated covenant to one nation alone.

 

Verse 2

(Gen 17:2 KJV) And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

 

In this verse we read a direct statement concerning who the covenant was made with. God said that He would establish His covenant between Him and Abraham. This statement quashes the idea that the eternal covenant was made to national Israel, since national Israel did not exist at the time God made the covenant. This is an important bit of information that we must keep in mind when dealing with these covenants. God restates the fact that Abraham’s descendants will be multiplied greatly.

 

Verse 4

(Gen 17:4 KJV) As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

 

God reinforces what He stated in verse 2. The eternal covenant is going to be between God and Abraham. Then God adds that as a result of that covenant, Abraham is going to be a father of many nations. Abraham was going to become the father of the faithful. In other words, he will be the father of all the saved who will come after him.

 

(Gal 3:9 KJV) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

 

Verse 6

(Gen 17:6 KJV) And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

 

Here God adds another aspect to the eternal covenant. He says to Abraham that kings are going to come out of him. The kings are the born again believers who will come after him. This may be the verse which many feel that is applied to some future priesthood for national Israel, however, the Bible does not support that.

 

(Rev 1:6 KJV) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

(Rev 5:10 KJV) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

(Exo 40:15 KJV) And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

 

If we also look at this Exodus verse, we will plainly see that God is saying that Aaron will be an everlasting priesthood throughout all generations. First, of all if something is everlasting, it is eternal in nature. We know that the Aaronic priesthood came to an end at the cross, since Christ now became our High Priest, the animal sacrifices were no longer needed as the type of Christ’s coming sacrifice, and the true Christian is called a king and priest as we see in the two Revelation verses. The body of believers is now the worldwide priesthood of God as every Christian is a priest.

 

Verse 7

(Gen 17:7 KJV) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

 

As in verse 2, God is reiterating the fact that His eternal covenant, which is the Covenant of Grace AKA salvation in Christ, will be made between Him and Abraham. There is no connection between the eternal covenant and the nation of Israel at this point. We will look at the connection later on. We know this is definitely speaking of the eternal covenant because God uses the word “everlasting.” It is the word “Olam” which in Hebrew means “Forever or Everlasting.” In fact one of the names of God is “the everlasting God.”

 

(Isa 40:28 KJV) Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

 

God also tells Abraham that he is going to be a God unto Him, and his seed that shall come after him, which means in succeeding generations. Those whom the Lord will call will be the Children of God and no one else.

 

(Acts 2:39 KJV) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

 

Genesis 17:8

(Gen 17:8 KJV) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

 

Here God again mentions that Abraham and his seed will be inheriting the land of Canaan but you must also factor in that God also said, it was going to be an everlasting possession. Remember, before we said that this present world is coming to an end and then there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth? The only way anyone can enter into that New Heaven and Earth is through the cross of Christ which is the Covenant of Grace. God is using a physical land to typify the eternal home of the believers. He is speaking in parabolic language concerning His salvation program. The only everlasting covenant in the Bible is the Covenant of Grace.

 

Genesis 17:9-13

(Gen 17:9-13 KJV) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. {10} This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. {11} And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. {12} And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. {13} He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

 

Here God brings in another aspect of the eternal Covenant. He tells Abraham that all the males born to him and those bought with his money are to be physically circumcised. This requirement comes a few hundred years before the law of God was instituted on Mt. Sinai through Moses. This is important because God is showing us here that since the nation of Israel was not yet in existence, a gentile from a neighboring country could be brought into the Covenant by means of circumcision. Now since everything in the Old Testament was a type of something concerning the Covenant of Grace, we must ask the question concerning both situations-Circumcision of those born in the house and those who were bought with his money.

 

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not Israelites but were descendants of the nation of the Chaldeans. The nation of Israel began in Jacob’s later years through his twelve sons. Those who were born into the physical house of Abraham, including his descendants and any slaves which were purchased were to be circumcised as a sign of God’s covenant. Now, because God brings in the term “everlasting covenant,” we must look at what is being taught here concerning the everlasting covenant.

 

First of all, when God mentions circumcision in reference to the eternal covenant, can we conclude that physical circumcision is a requirement for salvation? The answer, of course, is no. No work that any human does can aid in “buying” salvation. So then what kind of circumcision would be in keeping with the everlasting covenant?

 

(Deu 10:16 KJV) Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

 

(Deu 30:6 KJV) And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

 

What we are seeing in these verses is the “spiritual circumcision” that is in keeping with the eternal covenant. Whenever a physical circumcision takes place, blood is shed. No longer does blood have to be shed since the Lord Jesus Christ had shed His blood for the final sacrifice for His people. Now the Lord applies “spiritual circumcision” to the heart of the believer. That is, a bloodless application because the blood was drawn from Christ, which now removes the sin from His children. So no longer is physical circumcision needed as a sign of the covenant. As for those who are bought with money, the following verse adds a little insight.

 

(Isa 55:1 KJV) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 

We can “buy” salvation only because the price for it has been paid! If I bought a full tank of gas for you at the local gas station, would you have to pay for it out of your pocket? The answer is no, it has been paid for fully. Wine and milk are both synonyms for salvation. The only ones that thirst after salvation, are God’s Elect. The unsaved world wants nothing to do with it.

 

(Mark 2:22 KJV) And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

 

(Ezek 20:15 KJV) Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

 

The glory of all lands is the eternal land of Canaan.

 

Summary

Up to this point we see that God specifically made His covenant between Abraham and Himself. This was before the physical nation of Israel was brought into existence. The covenant that God made with Abraham, was not of a temporary nature, although God used temporary things to symbolize it. The covenant that God made with Abraham was the everlasting covenant of Grace which finds its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have also seen that the seed of Abraham is the children of God which are those who are born again in Christ.

 

 

The Covenant to National Israel

(Exo 34:27-28 KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. {28} And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

 

Here we see the only Covenant that God made with Israel as a nation. It is the Sinaitic Covenant or the Covenant of Law. The requirement for Israel is found in the following verse.

 

(Exo 19:5 KJV) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

 

The key phrase in that verse is, “if ye will obey my voice indeed,”. How long was Israel out of Egypt before they started sinning against God? A few weeks! The covenant that God made with physical Israel was a temporary one. This was because once Christ went to the cross, He would no longer deal with only one nation anymore. God would deal with the entire world as we so plainly saw. God’s salvation plan was to go out the entire world. God knew that national Israel could not keep the law because they, like us, are cursed with sin that continually tries to get us to sin against God. So God did not make any eternal covenant with the nation of Israel as a whole, that covenant came through Abraham and his seed.

 

(Deu 10:15 KJV) Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

 

Notice this very important verse in Deuteronomy. God is saying that He loved the fathers, that is, because they were true believers. God then goes on to say, that He is going to choose the seed of Abraham! Physical circumcision did not guarantee anyone salvation, as water baptism doesn’t guarantee anyone salvation today. Remember, we saw that God was going to circumcise the hearts. This means that He is going to choose those who will be the seed of Abraham.

 

(John 6:37-39 KJV) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. {38} For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. {39} And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

 

 

The Two Israels

(Rom 9:6 KJV) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

 

One of the main reasons that Christians get confused about the Covenants is the fact of the high ignorance of the plain teachings that there are two Israels in the Bible. Notice the verse above, “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:.” There is an Israel inside of Israel. That Israel which God gave the Abrahamic or Eternal Covenant to are the true born again believers.

 

(Rom 2:28-29 KJV) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

We read in Deuteronomy that God was going to circumcise the heart, and in this verse, we see that those who are circumcised in heart are the real Spiritual Israel or the Israel of God.

 

(Gal 6:16 KJV) And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

 

(Phil 3:3 KJV) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

In the Philippians verse we see that the believer is called the circumcision in spirit. We also read that that we are in Christ Jesus. Remember in Galatians we read that Abraham’s seed was those in Christ.

 

(Gal 3:29 KJV) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

By discerning the difference between the two Israels, we will plainly see that the eternal covenant was given to spiritual Israel which is made up of all those saved all around the world and the Covenant of Law or the Sinaitic Covenant was given to physical Israel. Once we begin to realize there are two Israels, then the passages in the Old Testament which speak of everlasting things, will become clearer and we will be able to interpret passages of Scripture the way they should be with the proper hermeneutic and not just make blanket statements based on the flawed theology of prophecy book writers.

 

Israel in the context of the Eternal Covenant

(Luke 3:23 & 34 KJV) And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, {34} Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,

 

The physical nation of Israel was the chosen nation by which the Lord Jesus Christ would come through. Jesus came through the line of Judah. Israel was chosen to bring forth the Messiah but was never chosen, en masse, as the eternal people of God.

 

(John 4:22 KJV) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

 

In this verse, if we take it on the surface, it looks like we have to go to the Jews for salvation. However, the words “of the” is the Greek word “ek” which simply means “from or out of.” This verse is telling us that the Lord Jesus came out of the nation of Israel and that salvation is found only in Him. How is this deduced? The leaders were blind as to who Christ was and the Scripture tells us that they did not recognize who He was. Today, if you want salvation in Christ, is there a large population in Israel that will tell you to go to Christ for salvation? Absolutely not! In fact, if you mention His name you could get arrested. So therefore, by deduction, the only way to gain salvation is by Christ who came out of the lineage of Judah.

 

The question is then raised, are any of the Jews saved? The answer is yes because God promised thousands of years ago that a remnant of believers would come forth from the nation of Israel. Some people try to make the claim that a great number of Jews are going to be saved in the last days. This theory is not found in Scripture but is another product of “prophecy book philosophy.” The number of Jews that will be saved will be according to how many God named before the foundation of the world and no one knows the number.

 

(2 Ki 19:31 KJV) For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

 

(Isa 10:20-22 KJV) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. {21} The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. {22} For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

 

(Jer 23:3 KJV) And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

 

(Jer 31:7 KJV) For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

 

(Ezek 11:13 KJV) And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

 

(Joel 2:32 KJV) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

 

(Micah 5:7 KJV) And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

 

(Zep 2:9 KJV) Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

 

(Zep 3:13 KJV) The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

 

(Rom 9:27 KJV) Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

 

(Rom 11:5 KJV) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

 

Christian and Jewish Relations

The fact that so many Christians are relegating the eternal covenants to Israel are giving the Jews a false sense of security. They must be saved the same way everybody else is. All these prophecy books and these lying teachers who claim that all the Jews are saved by means of their relationship to God are all blatantly lying to the Jewish people. There will be many Jews at the Great White Throne Judgment arguing that they read they were saved in some prophecy book. The truth is that the Jews are not God’s chosen people unless they are chosen for salvation, otherwise they are sinners who will face the same eternal judgment as the rest of the unsaved world. It is a hard truth, but nevertheless it is truth

 

Summation

We have a come a long way in trying to understand and discern the two covenants in Scripture. The Temporary Covenant of Sinai was given to Israel as a nation. The Eternal Covenant of Grace was given to Abraham and promised to his seed. Many of his seed would be saved from the physical nation of Israel and many from surrounding nations of the world. It is the same today. Jews are being saved according to the election of grace and so are Gentiles from all over the world. God is no respecter of persons. The Jews who become saved do not have any closer relationship to God than the saved of any other race because they must come through the cross of Christ as others do. Whenever we see the mention of the eternal or everlasting covenant, then you can safely conclude that God is speaking of spiritual Israel. When we see the temporary covenant, we see Him referring to national Israel.