WILL THE REAL JEW PLEASE STAND UP
Since no one stood up, let’s give a definition of “what is a Jew”? As used in the Bible, a Jew is a shortened
from of Judahite. However, after the
resurrection of Jesus there may be more to the definition than just a nick-name. Paul answers the question to a degree in Romans
2. Many will probably reject the
following description, but it is scriptural none the less.
Romans 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.
Romans 2:28-29 CLV For not
that which is apparent is the Jew, nor yet that which is apparent in flesh is
circumcision;" (29) but that which is hidden is the Jew, and
circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, whose applause is not
of men, but of God."
Above is a KJV and a Concordant Literal version of the
same two verses. According to Paul, what
is a Jew? To begin just because he
dresses like a Jew, sacrifices in the temple like a Jew, teaches in the synagogue
like a Jew, and keeps all the feasts and offerings like a Jew doesn’t mean he
is a Jew. As a matter of fact, it means
that he is NOT a Jew. Just because he is
circumcised like Abraham does not mean he is a Jew. As a matter of fact, he may not even be a
Jew. Being a Jew depends on one and only
one criteria – Is he a believer and follower of the King of Judah? Jesus Christ is the King of Judah.
A real Judean is one of spirit that dwells from the
inside. The circumcision of the heart is
the one that is important not that of the flesh. Our praise comes from God not from other
people.
Two Baskets of
Figs
Jeremiah is shone a vision containing two baskets of
figs. One basket contained good edible
figs and the other contained bad, rotten figs that could not be eaten. This took place after the first invasion of King
Nebuchadnezzar when King Jeconiah and the choice leaders, women, and children
were deported to Babylon. God is
dividing the Judeans (or Jews) into two groups or baskets – the good Jews and
the bad Jews.
Jeremiah 24:1-3 NET The LORD
showed me two baskets of figs sitting before his temple. This happened after
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported Jehoiakim's son, King Jeconiah of
Judah. He deported him and the leaders of Judah, along with the craftsmen and
metal workers, and took them to Babylon.
(2) One basket had very
good-looking figs in it. They looked like those that had ripened early. The
other basket had very bad-looking figs in it, so bad they could not be
eaten. (3) The LORD said to me, "What do you see,
Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see figs. The good ones look very good. But
the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten."
It appears that God directed the actions of the
Babylonian King and his military to only choose the good figs as prescribed by
God to be taken captive to Babylon at this particular invasion. God promises to care for their welfare in
Babylon. At the conclusion of the 70
years of captivity they will be brought back to the land and they will
acknowledge that God is the Lord of all.
God states the good figs will give their heart to Him. These are the ones who acknowledged that
Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and the King of Judah and also of the
Kingdom of God.
Jeremiah 24:5-7 NET The LORD said to me, (5)
"I, the LORD, the God of Israel, say: 'The exiles whom I sent away
from here to the land of Babylon are like those good figs. I consider them to
be good. (6) I will look after their welfare and will restore
them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I
will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. (7) I
will give them the desire to acknowledge that I am the LORD. I will be their
God and they will be my people. For they will wholeheartedly return to
me.'
The ones not deported such as King Zedekiah, his
officials, and the people of Jerusalem are the bad figs. This group of figs also includes the ones who
escaped to Egypt or elsewhere. These
figs are so bad they cannot be eaten.
Jeremiah 24:8-10 NET (8)
"I, the LORD, also solemnly assert: 'King Zedekiah of Judah, his
officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in
Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs
that are so bad they cannot be eaten. (9) I will bring such disaster on them that all
the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified. I will make them an object of
reproach, a proverbial example of disaster. I will make them an object of
ridicule, an example to be used in curses. That is how they will be remembered
wherever I banish them. (10) I will bring war, starvation, and disease on
them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their
ancestors.' "
What will happen to the bad figs? They will have horrific disasters befall them
and they will be an object of reproach.
Curses will be composed using their namesake. God will bring war, starvation, and disease
on them until they are completely destroyed from the land He gave them and
their ancestors. Much of this has
happened already, but the final end will be completed at the wrath of God (or
maybe sooner). It has been surmised that
people of actual Judahite DNA are the Sephardim Jews who escaped into the area
of Spain after the Roman destruction of 70-73 AD.
The beginnings of the Kingdom of God on earth after the
resurrection of Jesus were the good figs of Judah. They completely separated themselves from the
temple of Jewishness and to differentiate them from the bad fig Jews they came
to be called Christians or followers of Jesus the Christ (Greek word for Messiah). The followers of Jesus were originally mostly
all Judahites or the good figs. Jesus
became the King of Judah due to the dominion promise given to Judah and carried
down through generations and completed in the life of Jesus. The fig tree is a symbol of Israel but the
figs of Jeremiah came from two completely different trees as attested to by
Jesus in Matthew 7:17-20.
Matthew 7:17-20 NET In the
same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad
fruit. (18) A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit,
nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. (19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire. (20) So then, you will recognize them by their
fruit.
The good tree only bears good fruit and the bad tree only
bears bad fruit. Both trees, good and
bad, represent Judah or the Judahites but there is a clear separation between
the two groups. Through faith, the good
figs believed in Jesus and the bad figs did not. The bad figs were looking for
a military Messiah, along the lines of the Maccabees, who would rise up in
revolt against Rome. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, did not qualify and did not
meet their expectations. Therefore, the basket of good figs became Christian
believers, while the evil figs rejected Christ and ultimately openly revolted against
Rome and were destroyed as prophesied by Jesus.
The King of
Judah
Jesus, is/was the perfect man who perfectly obeyed and
fulfilled the laws of God. His mother
was of the linage of Judah and His Father was the Holy Spirit. Although considered the best of the fig tree
fruits, He inherited the dominion promise, became the King of Judah, and He is
also the very fig tree itself. Various
branches have been attached to Him and all these branches bear good fruit or
are thrown out.
John 15:1-6 NET "I am
the true vine (fig tree) and my
Father is the gardener. (2) He takes away every branch that does not bear
fruit in me. He prunes (disciplines)
every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. (3)
You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to
you. (4)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear
fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine (tree), so neither can you unless you remain in me. (5)
"I am the vine (fig tree);
you are the branches. The one who remains in me — and I in him — bears much
fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. (6) If
anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and
such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.
Those who accepted Jesus as Messiah became the branches
of the good fig tree. These were the inheritors of the dominion mandate given
to Judah. Those who refused to accept Jesus as Messiah were cut off and are no
longer inheritors of the dominion mandate. Jesus clearly said that there is no
way that anyone can bear fruit apart from being attached to Christ.
The early Church, founded on Jesus Christ and the
apostles, was the true Judah “tree” that produced the good figs according to
the New Covenant prophecy of Jeremiah 24. However, the Judean followers of
Jesus were a small minority and were not in control of the temple in Jerusalem.
When the bad figs rejected Jesus as Messiah, the believers were persecuted and
finally expelled from the land. They were excommunicated from Judaism and thus
the good fig Judahites lost their identity as Jews and became know as
Christians. The end result is that
gentiles (nations) or a gentile church did not replace the original church
consisting of Judahites of the tribe of Judah.
The New Covenant was made by Jesus, King of Judah, to the good fig
Judahites. Any and all gentiles
(nations) can be saved and become a convert to the true house of Judah (the
original Church) and NOT as a convert to Judaism which is the religion of the
bad figs.
The bad figs have been allowed back into the land of
Canaan. Although they may be Sephardim
Jews, Ashkenazi Khazars, Edomites, or a mixed breed version, they have been
allowed back for their judgment became they did not want Jesus Christ to reign
over them.
Luke 19:27 NET But as for
these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and
slaughter them in front of me!' "
Conclusion
The most astounding and unbelievable story is that many
Christians, particularly in the USA, support these modern day Israelites. Calling them the chosen people, the return of
Biblical Israel to the land, the healing of the breach between Israel and
Judah, and other lies is the upper limit of being deceived. There are so many Christian internet sites and
blogs that have preached this false message for so long they actually believe
it and their minds will most likely not be changed. Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, Tom Horn, Terry
James, Gary Stearman, David Bay, Chuck Missler, and several others are
intelligent people with noteworthy ideas who give out fantastic information but
are completely deceived by the real origin and purpose of the current nation of
Israel. The prophecy of Obadiah will not
be fulfilled with the Palestinians but with the nation of Israel that contains
the real Edomites.
