Biblical references of return of Jews to Israel

[richardson1]

I understand that reference is made to the Jews return to Israel in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Revelations. The return to Israel will be directed by God not by man and will be prefaced by many miracles and the appearance of Elijah calling all men to Israel. Is this correct?

Thank you.

Patricia Richardson

 

[RyanL]

have you, by chance, been reading the “left behind” books?

 

[Mijoy2]

RyanL:

have you, by chance, been reading the “left behind” books?

Is this to insinuate the return of the Jews to Isreal is not biblical prophecy from the Cathiolic perspective?

 

[Fidelis]

Mijoy2:

Is this to insinuate the return of the Jews to Isreal is not biblical prophecy from the Cathiolic perspective?

Not in the sense adherents of the “Left Behind” type of theology would have it. The Church, in general, does not accept a futurist view of biblical prophecy and studiously avoids tying specific passages of Scripture to current events. The current State of Israel, for example, even in the eyes of devout Jews is not seen as a re-establishment of the biblical Israel. The modern state was founded as and remains an officially secular state, more ethnic than religious. The reason the “Left Behind” adherents place so much emphasis on Israel is 1) they think it’s establishment is ushering in the “Last Days,” and 2) they do not accept the Church as the fulfillment of Israel, which is what the Church has always taught. They believe the “Church” is invisible, and the Catholic Church is a fraud. Here is an excerpt from an article by Carl Olsen that speaks to this:

…The Catholic Church has always understood herself as being the New Israel (Gal. 6:16; Eph. 2:11-12) and the new People of God (1 Pet. 2:9-10), the recipients of the New Covenant given through Christ (Heb. 8:8-13). The Old Covenant was not rejected by Christ, but fulfilled and taken up into the New Covenant; it concluded with the New Covenant and is included in it. This difference between dispensationalism and Catholic doctrine is the basis for other disagreements, including those involving the Rapture and the nature of the millennium.

As for what the Church teaches about Israel, another excerpt:

What will happen to Israel in the end? According to the Catechism, “The glorious Messiah’s coming is suspended at every moment of history until His recognition by ‘all Israel’, for ‘a hardening has come upon part of Israel’ in their ‘unbelief’ toward Jesus” (CCC 674). The Church, reflecting upon Romans 9-11, believes that Israel will somehow come to recognize Christ for who He is. Precisely how this will occur the Church has not said.

To see the whole article, go to:
Are We Living in the Last Days?
catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Faith/2001-10/olson.html

Or visit Carl’s website for numerous other articles on the same subject at carl-olson.com/rapture_articles.html

 

[RyanL]

Mijoy2:

Is this to insinuate the return of the Jews to Isreal is not biblical prophecy from the Cathiolic perspective?

i was quite careful not to insinuate anything, merely to pose a question. you may want to pick up a book from dr. olsen, perhaps “will catholics be left behind”.

carl-olson.com/wcblb_book.html

if i am way off base here, please let me know.

p.s.,
i have read all of the “left behind” series, and i enjoyed the fiction emensly!

RyanL

 

[Mijoy2]

Fidelis:

Not in the sense adherents of the “Left Behind” type of theology would have it. The Church, in general, does not accept a futurist view of biblical prophecy and studiously avoids tying specific passages of Scripture to current events. The current State of Israel, for example, even in the eyes of devout Jews is not seen as a re-establishment of the biblical Israel. The modern state was founded as and remains an officially secular state, more ethnic than religious. The reason the “Left Behind” adherents place so much emphasis on Israel is 1) they think it’s establishment is ushering in the “Last Days,” and 2) they do not accept the Church as the fulfillment of Israel, which is what the Church has always taught. They believe the “Church” is invisible, and the Catholic Church is a fraud. Here is an excerpt from an article by Carl Olsen that speaks to this:

As for what the Church teaches about Israel, another excerpt:

To see the whole article, go to:
Are We Living in the Last Days?
catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Faith/2001-10/olson.html

Or visit Carl’s website for numerous other articles on the same subject at carl-olson.com/rapture_articles.html

Thank you for spending your time writing this to me. I have not heard this viewpoint before and will be looking into it more.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hello Richard 1,

Are you talking about the scriptures which descibe heaven and eternal life as the new Jerusalem?

Please visit The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand

NAB REV 21:1 New Heavens and New Earth.

Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer. I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of the heaven from God, beautiful as a bride prepared to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne cry out: "This is God’s dwelling among men. He shall dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be their God who is always with them. He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away."

The One who sat on the throne said to me, “See, I make all things new!” Then he said, “Write these matters down, for the words are trustworthy and true!” He went on to say:“These words are already fulfilled! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To anyone who thirsts I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water. He who wins the victory shall inherit these gifts; I will be his God and he shall be my son. As for the cowards and traitors to the faith, the depraved and murderers, the fornicators and sorcerers, the idol-worshipers and deceivers of every sort–their lot is the fiery pool of burning sulphur, the second death!”

One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the woman who is the bride of the Lamb.” He carried me away in spirit to the top of a very high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. The city had the radiance of a precious jewel that sparkled like a diamond. Its wall, massive and high, had twelve gates at which twelve angles were stationed. Twelve names were written on the gates, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb…

…Only those shall enter whose names are inscribed in the book of the living kept by the Lamb.

NAB ISA 62

For** Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. Nations shall behold your vindication, and all kings your glory; You shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall men call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” But you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the LORD delights in you, and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you. Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have stationed watchmen; Never, by day or by night, shall they be silent. O you who are to remind the LORD, take no rest And give no rest to him, until he re-establishes Jerusalem And makes of it the pride of the earth. The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm**: No more will I give your grain as food to your enemies; Nor shall foreigners drink your wine, for which you toiled. But you who harvest the grain shall eat it, and you shall praise the LORD; You who gather the grapes shall drink the wine in the courts of my sanctuary. Pass through, pass through the gates, prepare the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, raise up a standard over the nations. See, the LORD proclaims to the ends of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, your savior comes! Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. They shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the LORD, And you shall be called “Frequented,” a city that is not forsaken.