Understanding God’s Eternal Plan for Israel

By Deby Brown and Song for Israel

There is no other nation in history that has experienced what Israel has. Throughout history, people and nations have tried to destroy the Jewish people. With anti-Semitism on the rise once more and enemies threatening to wipe Israel from the face of the earth, many Christians want to instead show their love for Israel and the Jewish people. However, most Christians have no idea how to show support for or defend the Jewish people. Understanding God’s Eternal Plan for Israel provides an overview of Israel’s spiritual, historical, and political history, challenging believers in Christ to bless Israel and its people. Christian believers can learn about the biblical holy days (or feasts), how God called Israel to be a chosen nation to accomplish his work, and how the Middle Eastern conflict began and why it matters for both the Jewish people and Christians today. If Christians can understand God’s plan for Israel, then we can be in alignment with the Word of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Nov 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483475073

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ISRAEL

Copyright © 2017 Deby Brown, Song For Israel.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7506-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7507-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017914003

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture was taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,

1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Author Photo by Julia Humphrey.

All sketches provided with permission by Ray Hart, 2017.

All photos provided with permission by Thomas Winder and Deby Brown, 2017.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 10/25/2017

FOREWORD

Born of a deep and abiding love for God’s chosen people, Israel, Deby Brown passionately makes the case that God has plans for Israel in His redemption of mankind. If you love Israel, read this book. If you don’t love Israel, read this book.

—Pete De Lacy, Vice President of Content, Precept Ministries International

In Understanding God’s Eternal Plan for Israel, Deby Brown gives the reader a good overview of the theological and historical importance of modern day Israel. She is a teacher at heart and wholeheartedly tackles daunting and complex issues in order to simplify and explain them to a Christian audience. This volume is commended for its contribution in mobilizing Christians to pray for and support the Jewish state.

—Susan Michael, USA Director, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

If there is an important historical and political national issue in the world today, it is the establishment of the State of Modern Israel in 1948. Even though it is a small nation state, about the geographical size of the State of New Jersey, it is an economic powerhouse producing high technology and agricultural products for many other nations of the world. Any person with an iPhone carries and uses Israeli technology daily.

Author Deby Brown has described vividly both the biblical and historical roots of Israel. In her first section on Biblical Israel she portrays what the Bible says historically and prophetically about the past and future of Israel. The four biblical covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, New & Davidic) describe in such a dramatic way God’s plan for the future of Israel. In a parallel manner, Deby Brown presents the modern historical issues regarding what has taken and is taking place in the Middle East. Past and present national conquerors are similar in their desire to control that important corridor of land in the eastern Mediterranean.

I strongly recommend this book for the modern reader!

—George Giacumakis, Ph.D. Professor of History, California State University, Fullerton; Director of The Museum of Biblical & Sacred Writings; and "Director of HistoryOnTheMove Study Tours to the Middle East and the Mediterranean areas.

On an intellectual quest, back in 1984, to follow the footsteps of Jesus; traveling from Upper Egypt to Central Turkey, something unexpected took place. In the depths of my soul a light grew from a dim twinkle to a towering flame. I discovered the wealth of truth and history found in the many books of the Bible. Stories once read as mere fables or myth, became as real as the air I breathed. It was time for me to first seek His Kingdom, and His righteousness, and not worry about selfish ambition.

The Word says that truth will set one free. Consequently, my preconceived beliefs, formed from childhood, also went through visible transformation. Two seminaries, multiple degrees, eight years on staff at Trinity Southwest University, (a non-denominational Seminary), and now a Biblical Archaeologist; what is undeniable, is that the Church has a horrible past of antisemitism. Unfortunately, the disgraceful history of persecution of the Jewish people is squarely placed on the shoulders of the Church. From Emperor Constantine to Saint Augustine and even the great protestor, Martin Luther; one common thread was agreed on, that Jews were to blame for the death of Jesus, therefore, God must be finished with the Jewish people and that God’s eternal covenants with them are null and void. Apparently, it didn’t matter what the Bible said, or what the truth was; for some of the worst atrocities known to man have been committed against the Jewish people, all too often, in the name of the Cross. What happened to Love thy neighbor?

Finally, Understanding Gods Eternal Plan for Israel, by Deby Brown, answers these sensitive questions and provides the reader with the Biblical mandates to follow concerning our treatment of Israel and the Jewish people. A must read for understanding the past, present, and future for the most important land on Earth. God’s own land, the State of Israel.

—Rev. Thomas Winder, Executive Director "Church of the Transfiguration Restoration Project, Maj dal Shams, Israel. Brother Thomas Ministries, 7601 Keith Ct SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87105.

Deby Brown’s book, God’s Plan for Israel is a must for any serious Christian. The book follows several themes including a deeper look at four of God’s sacred covenants, Christian responsibilities towards Israel and the Jewish people, and two very disturbing trends – the Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and replacement theology. A well-informed Christian needs to know his or her Bible and history, as well as emerging trends within our society and the Church.

I commend Deby for tackling such challenging topics, while keeping them interesting and contemporary.

—Robb Schwartz, author of Operation Last Exodus, a book on the possibility of another holocaust in the United States, and the final return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. Robb writes and lectures in Orange County, California. www.operationlastexodus.com

PREFACE

Israel is the most hotly-discussed news topic around the world. There is no other nation or people group in history that have experienced what Israel has. Throughout history, time and time again, people and nations have tried to destroy the Jewish people. With anti-Semitism on the rise once more and enemies threatening to wipe Israel from the face of the earth, many Christians want instead to show their love for Israel and the Jewish people. However, most Christians have no idea how to show support for or how to defend the Jewish people. To stand with Israel, one must understand their history, their spiritual background, the political issues they face today and God’s forever promises to them. God says He has written His name on Jerusalem, claims it is the place He Himself will dwell at the end of the age, and refers to it as the apple of His eye. This is why Understanding God’s Eternal Plan For Israel was written.

As founder and president of Song For Israel, our goal is to proclaim God’s eternal plan for Israel. I hope you will enjoy reading this book and that it will not only help you understand your roots in the Jewish faith but also help you gain a greater love and understanding of your Jewish friends and neighbors.

If you are Jewish, I hope and pray that as you read this book, you will come to know there are multitudes of believers in Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah) who love you and would give their lives to stand with you. Yeshua did give His life for you and He loves you. Forever.

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet,

Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness,

And her salvation like a torch that is burning.

Isaiah 62:1 (NASB)

PART ONE

Biblical Israel

CHAPTER 1

God’s Plan versus Satan’s Plan

God has a stated eternal plan for you and for me, as well as for Israel. To understand God’s plan, one needs to understand the beginning and end of time as we know it and how we and Israel fit into it.

The Beginning—Before Time

Time did not begin with the creation of earth in Genesis 1:1. It began earlier and is spoken of in Ephesians 1:4–5—He [God] chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

If God is infallible, then we can rightly assume that His Word is also infallible. God wrote His plan down in His Book, called the Holy Bible, which He says is infallible, meaning not capable of error:

• Prophets are completely reliable; they spoke from God as they heard from the Holy Spirit—2 Peter 1:19–21

• All Scripture is God-breathed—2 Timothy 3:16–17

• The law of the Lord is perfect—Psalm 19:7

• The statutes of the Lord are right—Psalm 19:8

God and His Word are so closely related that John 1:14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

God’s Plan

God selected a nation through which to work out His plan to bring salvation to the world (Deuteronomy 7:6–8). This nation would be a light to the world (Isaiah 49:6), a holy priesthood (Exodus 19:6), and the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). The nation God chose is Israel.

The promises of God were given to the Jewish people (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6–8, Romans 3:2). God promised to protect them through the ages. Through the Jewish people God would bring His message of eternal salvation to the world.

Israel is unique in that no other nation has been given the role that God has given them—Israel alone has been appointed as the custodian of the Word of God. If Israel were to fail (and she won’t—God would not allow that), then God’s plan for world redemption would fail. God guarantees Israel’s survival.

God has said that we are to bless Israel. In fact, God’s Word says that if we bless Israel, He will bless us. Likewise, if we curse Israel, He will curse us (Genesis 12:3).

Satan’s Plan

Satan was also known as Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12), an angel in heaven. He was beautiful—In Ezekiel 28:12–15, God describes Lucifer as He compares him to the sinful king of Tyre:

You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

God referred to Lucifer as the anointed cherub, giving him the highest created position. No other angel was created with the beauty and intelligence that God gave to him.

Illustrationsketch11Garden.jpg

But before the creation of Earth, Lucifer planned to usurp God and His plan. We know this because Lucifer had already fallen from heaven before he met Eve in the garden to tempt her (Genesis 3:1–7).

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who