Are The Jews Today God's Chosen People?

Genesis 12:1-3, “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 shew thee: 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:  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.”

My humble opinion in the matter is that God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 was solely for Abraham. The Bible tells us in Genesis 18:19 that God chose Abraham because the Lord knew “that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” I don't think Genesis 12:3 applies to all Jews; but rather, only to Abram (later to be renamed by God in Genesis 17:5 to Abraham).

God promised Abraham to make of him a great nation (Israel), and that through him all families of the earth shall be blessed. This speaks of the promise of the coming Messiah, who would save men from their sins and give them eternal life. Romans 2:28-29 plainly tells us that one is "not a Jew" who is one outwardly, but inwardly, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 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.”

Galatians 3:26-29 teaches that saved Gentiles and Jews are “all one in Christ Jesus” (vs. 28), and that there is no difference for those who put their faith in Jesus. In my mind, I see saved Jews and Gentiles as "one" in Christ. When Romans chapter 11 says that “all Israel shall be saved,” I believe it means all of believing Israel shall be saved. It would violate numerous Scripture passages to say that unbelieving Jews will be saved. I personally do not believe that every Jew will repent to be saved at the end of the Tribulation. There has always been a “remnant” of Jews who believed, not all. We know that many of the Jews will believe on the true Messiah when He appears. Hosea 3:4-5 teaches that when the Israelites turn toward God, then He will regather their nation. That hasn't happened yet.

I like reading Pastor Harry Ironside's (1876-1951) books. I don't like dispensational teaching myself. Pastor Ironside said that dispensational teaching is not doctrine, but an overlay to help a student understand the Bible. I humbly disagree from what I have seen. In fact, dispensational teaching is very much doctrine (which means “an opinion”). I think dispensational teaching runs the risk of leading a Bible student astray from the emphasis of Scripture on preaching the Gospel, and instead emphasizing the future kingdom of Israel (aka, Zionism).

One of my favorite books by Dr. Ironside is "The Lamp Of Prophecy." Chapter 6 in particular is titled, “Will Israel Be Regathered,” which I think is a helpful chapter to read. Pastor Ironside wrote this book in 1940, eight years before present-day manmade Israel became a nation in 1948. I agree with Dr. Ironside's view that Israel will be regathered when Jesus Christ returns at His Second Coming. Dr. Ironside had no clue that Israel was about to be put back onto the map in May of 1948. I am not against preachers who teach dispensationalism per se, but I don't like it. My long time ministry friend, Pastor Max Younce (1935-2023) was (in my humble opinion) the Dr. John R. Rice of our generation. Dr. Younce has graciously freely shared all of his numerous Bible study books (which I cherish) on his church website.

One of my favorite authors is Phillip Mauro (1859-1952). Phillip Mauro was an attorney and theologian who wrote prolific writings to counter the teachings of Cyrus I. Scofield. I agree with his book, "The Gospel of the Kingdom."

Also, his book, "The Two Covenants."

I tried to simplify Phillip Mauro's teachings in this article. The basic gist of Evangelist Mauro's message is that dispensationalism tends to lead the student to focus on the future kingdom of Israel, whereas the inspired Word of God leads the student to focus on preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (soulwinning). I realize that there are different types of dispensational teaching (e.g., Ultra-dispensational versus just dispensational views). I have no problem per se with how Dr. Younce and Pastor Ironside teach dispensationalism. However, I have a problem when some preachers idolize present-day Israel and the Jews. My humble opinion is that present-day Israel since 1948 is a fraud, a manmade imitation of true Israel.

I like to use Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament as an illustration. God had promised them a son (Isaac), but they became impatient and doubted God. Sarah suggested that her husband impregnate their servant girl Hagar (I'm sure he made a big fuss with Sarah and was reluctant to do it...lol). Hagar got pregnant. When Abraham presented Ishmael to God the Lord rejected Ishmael as the son of promise, because Abraham and Sarah had taken matters into their own hands instead of trusting the Lord (we're all guilty of doing that). Likewise, it was The Council on Foreign Relations, and not God, who put Israel (as a Democracy) back on the geographical map in 1948.

I think Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) gets it 100% correct.

I agree with Pastor McGee that Israel today is no different than any other nation. Of the 12 million Jews in the world, 7 million have returned to Israel, but they still haven't returned to God. In 586 BC God cut off the Jews. That is, the Lord divorced the nation of Israel due to her perpetual spiritual adultery (idolatry) with false gods. In the Holy Bible the olive tree is a symbol of life and prosperity. The olive tree symbolizes the promise of God's salvation and the abundant eternal blessings that follow. Tragically, the Jews were cut off from the olive tree because of unbelief the Bible says:

Romans 11:20-23, “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.”

Our merciful God desires to pardon the Jews, and welcome them back into  the olive tree of salvation and blessings, but only through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus. Romans 11:23 teaches that God desires for the cut off Jews to be graffed back into the olive tree, but it can only happen by faith. Until they believe on Jesus, they are still cut off. God is done with Israel for now, until the Times of the Fulness of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24). This event is depicted in King Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel chapter two. The stone cut from the mountain without hands is none other Jesus Christ. This event will happen at the Second Coming of the Messiah, after the 7-year Tribulation period.

The Pharisees were arrogant, relishing in their Jewish heritage. John the Baptist rebuked them sharply, emphasizing the truth that God could raise up inanimate stones as children of Abraham if He desired. Is there anything to hard for God to do? Are we not all made of the same dust of the earth as rocks? Matthew 3:9, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” John was effectively saying to the Jews, "Big deal if you're Jewish, that doesn't impress God." God is only pleased by our trust and obedience to His inspired Word in the King James Bible. 

As Christians we are commanded in the Bible to love everyone, just as God loves all humanity and died for them (Romans 5:6-9). It saddens me what has happened in Gaza this past 6 months. So far 33,596 Palestinians have been murdered (a genocide) as of April 7, 2024. It is horrible what Hamas did to Israel on October 7, 2023. But that doesn't justify the hateful retaliation of Israel, who have massacred tens of thousands of defenseless women and children in Gaza to send a message to Hamas. Sadly, Hamas doesn't care! Israel has much blood on her hands for slaughtering innocent people.

The reported crimes (if they are true at all, because the media lies so much) are atrocious. I remember back in 1990. I was at work as a mechanic and listening to the news as the U.S. was about to invade Iraq. The mainstream newsmedia was telling Americans that Iraqi soldiers took babies out of the incubators in Kuwait and threw them onto the ground to die. The American people were enraged and wanted Iraq blown off the map, all based on LIES! It was all an elaborate fabricated lie to justify attacking Iraq. The whole scene was staged to create propaganda! This sneaky tactic is as old as civilization itself, but still as effective as ever.

I do not trust our ungodly American newsmedia. For all I know no one was raped, or Jews baked in ovens, or babies beheaded. The mainstream newsmedia has lost credibility with the public. Dr. Hyles was so right, "The only thing you can believe from the newspaper is the date." Even so-called erroneous "fact checking" websites like Snopes have been caught lying. We need fact-checkers to check the fact-checkers!!!

They are liars! I don't trust the media, fact checkers, Pentagon, social media companies, government or anyone who stands to gain by lying. I am not sure what happened in Israel on October 7, 2023. But I do know that even if the horrible news is true, it doesn't justify Israel brutally murdering 33,596 innocent people (70% of who were defenseless women and children). I fear that the death toll will increase much higher before this present Middle East conflict is over. Just because someone murders one of my family members, doesn't give me the right to go murder their entire extended family. It bothers me that professed Christians support this evil. They are all for Israel, but couldn't care less about the Palestinian people. 

Cartoon evangelist Jack Chick (1924-2016) wrote some horrible propaganda tracts; such as, "Love The Jewish People." Jack Chick showed no regard or love for Arab people. He was a Zionist who idolized manmade Israel. Jack Chick's cartoon tracts praise wealthy Jews and demonize suffering poor Arabs. Jack Chick had some nutty theology.

Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) always rooted for the underdog. The Palestinian refugees are the underdogs in this conflict (and have been since 1948). Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) admirably expressed sympathy for the Palestinian people:

“I have a great deal of sympathy for that spirit of nationalism among Arabs who feel they have been robbed and defrauded and abused and imposed upon and who want back their own land. I can understand that. I think they will never be given back the land that was given Israel by the United Nations in 1948, but I think that provisions must be made for those millions and a third refugees in refugee camps in Jericho, in Amman, in Beirut, in the Gaza strip, and elsewhere. God loves those people and they must have the Gospel.” —Dr. Rice... “Here Are More Questions,” by John R. Rice, p. 315, Sword Of The Lord Publishers (1973)

I haven't heard the least bit of sympathy from American churches today for the suffering people of Palestine. I heard Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, a featured Fox News contributor, publicly call for preemptive nuclear strikes against Arab nations in the Middle East. What insane hatred! Pastor Jeffress makes me sick! What did Jesus say about having that horrible type of destructive attitude? Luke 9:54-56, “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” I think it is a very bad thing when pastors become politically biased in the ongoing Middle East conflict, and start taking sides. Instead, our heart's attitude ought to be that both Jews and Arabs alike need to hear the Gospel of free grace preached unto them. People need the Lord.

Here is a helpful Bible study titled, "God Will Keep His Kingdom Promises To Israel" (Pastor Max D. Younce). God is not done with true Israel, but until Jesus returns to establish His millennial Kingdom Israel won't exist. What exists today is a manmade deception.

On October 8, 2023, Pastor Greg Locke in Tennessee ruthlessly called for Israel to turn Gaza into a giant parking lot (i.e., to bomb them to smithereens). Israel has had their foot on the necks of the Palestinian people since 1948. Dr. John R. Rice is correct that the Arab people are hurting, They just want to be recognized. They want their own nation. I strongly disagree that the Arabs want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, but I wouldn't blame them if they did in lieu of how Israel abuses them. No doubt there are some radical extremists in Islam who would like to see Israel obliterated. However, 99% of Arabs and Muslims are peace-loving people who just want to get along with their Israeli neighbours. I don't like when Zionists group billions of Muslims into the same boat as a handful of radical Shiite Islam terrorist nuts. That is unfair.

Israel has made life intolerable for the Arab people. As this article plainly reveals, the Palestinian people are NOT Hamas, nor do they desire to be. Israel are murdering innocent people. Such inhuman injustices are nothing new. I watched a disturbing documentary about World War II. The Germans under Hitler's leadership were ruthless monsters. The Jews by far weren't the only victims of Hitler's war machine. Millions of Russians were murdered by the Germans. The small country of Czechoslovakia suffering great losses at the brutal merciless hands of Adolf Hitler. Upwards of 320,000 Czechoslovakians were murdered by German soldiers (263,000 were Jews). The Germans exterminated 73% of all Jews living in Czechoslovakia. When World War II ended the people of Czechoslovakia were traumatized, devastated and angry. They wanted their pound of flesh in revenge against Germany. A group of about 80 people (who were not Germans but spoke German) were horrifyingly lynched publicly by some angry citizens in Czechoslovakia. They ripped those poor strangers to shreds, exacting their furious hatred of Hitler and his German henchmen soldiers upon those innocent victims (merely because they spoke the German language).

The Bible teaches that the Arabs will always be in conflict with themselves and their neighbours. Genesis 16:11-12, “And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” This verse is true. When I went to Los Angeles for my first neck surgery in 2009, I stayed at a hotel in West Hollywood. At the hospital they had the insurance instructions posted in Arabic. I asked why. The nurse said the hospital is required to post any language if at least 5% of the local population speaks that language. In West Hollywood and around Los Angels I saw umpteen Jewish synagogues, and lots of Arab people. Just like the Bible says, the Arabs dwell in the midst of their brethren, the Jews. That is interesting.

To summarize, I do not believe that unsaved Jews today are “the chosen” people. They are lost children of the Devil, just like unbelieving Gentiles (John 8:44). God's promises have always followed a line of faith from the very beginning in the Bible. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 plainly describes the curses which God will inflict upon disobedient Jews. Why would God expect us as His redeemed children to bless a wicked people whom He Himself curses? Think about that.

The Bible is abundantly clear that only believing Jews will be graffed back into the olive tree of God's salvation and blessings. May I quote this helpful Scripture passage again from Romans 11:22-24, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?” Paul is telling the Romans that they too will be cut off from God's salvation and blessings if they refuse to believe the Gospel.

I full agree with Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) concerning why present-day Israel is NOT the fulfillment of Bible prophecy:

“Israel is just like any other nation. Some think they're a little brutal, but my friend, they're on the defense over there, you can be sure of that. And they have to exercise a strong defense system. They're not backing that land in fulfillment of prophecy. They have returned to the land, but they have not yet returned to the Lord. When they return to the Lord there will be blessing. They have not yet done that! ...they went out in 70 A.D. And they actually have never returned to the land according to the Word of God. Now hear me very carefully because this is very important to see. They have returned to the land today, and it's remarkable what has happened over there, but it's not the fulfillment of prophecy, because the prophecy says when they return they'll return TO GOD!” —Pastor J. Vernon McGee; 'THRU-THE-BIBLE,' Hosea 2:19-23 and Hosea 3:4

In his 5-year “THRU-THE-BIBLE” commentary for Hosea 3:5, Dr. McGee emphasizes the biblical truth that there are more Arab Christians in Israel today than there are Jewish Christians. Galatians 3:26-29 teaches that only saved Jews and Gentiles are "one" in Christ, and of the seed of Abraham. Many unsaved Jews will repent during the Tribulation period to get saved by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe this is what the number “144,000” refers to in the book of Revelation. They will be Jewish converts who become soulwinners. Toward the end of the 7-year Tribulation period, a remnant (not all) of Jews will turn toward God. At this time the Lord will defend them in the Battle of Armageddon, put down the Antichrist (the Beast), judge the nations, and set up His millennial Kingdom.

I'd like to also mention that I humbly do not agree with everything that Pastor Steven Anderson teaches. Brother Anderson is a popular figure today on social media. I love the guy for his soulwinning zeal, hard preaching and faithfulness; however, I disagree with him on about a dozen doctrinal issues. For example: I think he is way off on the timing of the Rapture. According to Brother Anderson, the Rapture will happen 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation midway through the Tribulation. This is date setting, which is theological incompetence.

I have watched his “Marching to Zion” documentary several times and I agree with it, with the exception that I do not believe in Replacement Theology (as he does). I humbly don't think there was anything to replace. Israel is Israel, and the Church is the Church. There has never been a time in the Old Testament (or today) when God blessed unbelieving wicked Jews. I do not believe that the Church replaces Israel, because unbelieving Jews have never been “The Chosen” of God. Unbelieving Jews (e.g., Korah and the Jews who rebelled with him against Moses) were swallowed into the fires of Hell beneath. From the very start God's promise of blessing was conditional (Exodus 19:5-6).

Also, I heard a pastor recently say that although God divorced Israel in the time of Babylonian's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC (Jeremiah 3:8), He remarried Israel when they returned from captivity 70 years later. I totally disagree. Nowhere does the Bible say that God remarried Israel. I don't believe God remarried Israel after 70 years when they returned to the land and rebuilt a new temple. Those Jews were still under occupation from the Medes and Persians. Israel never had another king because their nation was long gone! God was done with the nation of Israel, as far as them being a peculiar people zealous of good works, His ambassadors to the world with the Gospel. But the Lord did not cast away His people, so He made a way for the Jews to come back through faith in His only begotten Son. Any Jew today who desires to be a part of God's future nation of Israel, needs to be born-again. It's the only way (Acts 4:10-12).

I firmly believe that the true nation of Israel does not exist today, nor has it existed since 586 BC when God gave Babylon mastery over Jerusalem. Manmade Israel today has no divine protection promised to it. Luke 21:24, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” I heard a preacher say that since the time of Jerusalem's annihilation in 70 AD by Rome, that great city has been trodden down 28 times! I believe that figure.

In contrast, the true nation of Israel will not be restored unto the Second Coming of the faithful Messiah, at which time our faithful Redeemer will establish His earthly Kingdom for 1,000 years. We will help reign with Christ (Revelation 20:6). Amen! The Jews today are still scattered throughout the earth without a king, without a temple to sacrifice, and without a legitimate nation. What exists today is an ungodly manmade democracy, which woefully lacks God's blessing. Tel Aviv, Israel, today is the “Gay Mecca” of the sodomite world. The Huffington Post called Tel Aviv a “Gay Paradise.” Israel today is the unholy land. If it weren't for the United States giving Israel $4,000,000,000 each and every year in welfare money, and giving them nuclear weapons to defend themselves, Israel couldn't exist.

When the Man of Sin (Antichrist) comes, he is not going to Rome, he is going to appear in the (likely soon to be rebuilt) third temple in Jerusalem, where he will profess to be God (2nd Thessalonians 2:3).

I don't like when preachers foolishly claim that certain chapters in God's Word only apply to the Jews. I've heard preachers claim that Matthew chapters 24 and 25 were only written for the Jews. That is preposterous. They errantly claim that Romans chapter 10 only speaks about the future physical salvation of the nation of Israel. However, Romans 10:3-4 plainly reveal that the Apostle Paul is speaking about the spiritual salvation of a man's soul. I believe that all of the Bible is written for all humanity, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2nd Peter 1:20).

We read repeatedly in the Scripture that God is no respecter of persons (e.g., Romans 2:11). Yet, Zionists do just that, elevating the Jews as gods among mankind. I think that is very wrong. It is a sin to esteem a Jewish person as being better than a Gentile. Dr. William P. Grady goes as far as foolishly calling Jews, “The Master Race.” That is nutty! Dr. Grady goes on to falsely teach that it is in the Jew's DNA to “run the world.” You couldn't make this stuff up. Satan is the god of this evil world (2nd Corinthians 4:4). Here's a great book by retired Canadian Navy commander William Guy Carr (189501959) titled, 'Satan: Prince Of This World.'

In the 1970's, Pastor James Modlish said publicly that he wanted to hire a man in his church, to do nothing but witness to Jews to obtain God's blessing, as if witnessing to black or Asian people wouldn't bring God's blessing. Listen to Pastor James Modlish's insanity for yourself! Preachers say the darndest things! It is a form of bigotry and racism! Jews are no more special than Gentiles. God loves all men. Christ died for all humanity, not just Jews (John 3:16; Romans 1:16; 1st John 2:2). It is offensive for anyone to suggest that God favors Jews over Gentiles. People are people. The phrase “to the Jew first” in Romans 1:16 does not mean in level of importance or social status; but rather, in time. The Jews received the Gospel first in time (chronologically in the Bible), and then through Israel God gave the world the inspired Holy Bible and the Messiah.

What Hamas did on October 7, 2023, to Israel should NOT be avenged upon innocent women and children in Gaza. It is wrong that Israel refuses to acknowledge the Palestinian people as human beings. Israel president Benjamin Netanyahu even called the people in Gaza “human animals” last October. That is terrible! They're created in God's image, they're not animals. The innocent people in Gaza didn't hurt anyone. They are poor people just trying to survive from day to day. Israel refuses to let them live in freedom. With all of Israel's blockades, it takes some Palestinians an extra hour each day to get to work. The sad truth is that many Jews and Arabs alike hate each other, and the fighting will never stop until the Man of Sin (the False Messiah) comes, who will establish a peace treaty between the Jews and Arabs. But that peace agreement won't last long until it is broken, and The Great Tribulation ensues, when billions of lives will be lost. That is why Matthew 24:15 calls is a time of “Great Tribulation” because of the horrific conditions which will exist at that time.

I humbly believe that our proper attitude as God's redeemed children in this world should be to always think live and do right at all times. That is why my favorite Bible verse for many years now has been Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Be careful what thoughts you allow to fester in your mind and heart. My attitude and prayer is that of the psalmist in Psalms 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” David was a wise man.

Our proper mindset toward the Jews should be that they are just sinful people for whom Christ died, the same as the Gentiles. We are all miserable struggling sinners on planet earth. Since God is not a respecter of person, neither should we be (James 2:1). If you think that Jews are more precious to God than Gentiles, then you are foolishly mistaken friend.

I humbly think that many pastors merely go along with the Zionist agenda today for fear of being criticized, rejected and ostracized by peers in the ministry, because the common consensus since C.I. Scofield's Zionist theology infiltrated the churches in the late 19th century is to believe that all Jews are God's chosen people. It is not a mere coincidence that Zionist theology was introduced to America's churches a half century before the present-day secular state of Israel was established in 1948. The Luciferian elite needed the support of the churches to achieve their Satanic plans. It is tragic that 99% of churchgoers are deceived by the Devil in so many areas today, including the plethora of hundreds of corrupt English Bible revisions, the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation, wrong repentance and Zionist heresy.

There is no legitimate nation of Israel today. Pastor J. Vernon McGee was absolutely correct, Israel today is just the same as any other nation. God never promised to save and bless Christ-rejecting Jews. Zionism is a cruel hoax, a fallacy. Just like Abraham and Sarah foolishly took matters into their own hands instead of waiting upon the Lord, so also have ungodly men taken it upon themselves to restore the manmade nation of Israel today (since 1948). Unfortunately for them, God does not honor or recognize heathen Israel today, because they do not honor or recognize His only begotten Son Jesus, who is the only true Messiah.