Did God give the land He promised to Israel? Joshua 21:43-45 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of I...srael. All came to pass.
Again Nehemiah also recounted this - Nehemiah 9:7-8. Paul also clarifies this in Acts 13:19. So we can see that God gave Israel the land as promised. However, dispensationalists believe it was to be forever (Gen 13:16). But it seems the Hebrew word for forever means Olam, according to Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldea Lexicon Olam means 'what is hidden; the beginning or end of which is either uncertain or else undefined.' But the word doesn't mean forever in the sense of the western thought - endless.
Likewise, dispensationalists agree that the Mosaic covenant was removed, however, it was to stand forever! What other things were forever;
1. Gen 17:7-8 Land promise
2. Gen 17:13 circumcision, yet it ceased (Gal 5:1-6).
3. Exodus 12:14 Passover - this ceased because Jesus became our Passover and it was only a shadow of good things to come (Col 2:14) in Christ.
4. Exo 29:9 Priesthood would remain in the Aaronic family, however Christ superceded it and it's now annulled (Heb 7:12-18).
5. Exo 31:16 - Sabbath but Paul reiterated that (Gal 4:10).
So from scripture we see that forever doesn't mean it has no end.
Again Nehemiah also recounted this - Nehemiah 9:7-8. Paul also clarifies this in Acts 13:19. So we can see that God gave Israel the land as promised. However, dispensationalists believe it was to be forever (Gen 13:16). But it seems the Hebrew word for forever means Olam, according to Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldea Lexicon Olam means 'what is hidden; the beginning or end of which is either uncertain or else undefined.' But the word doesn't mean forever in the sense of the western thought - endless.
Likewise, dispensationalists agree that the Mosaic covenant was removed, however, it was to stand forever! What other things were forever;
1. Gen 17:7-8 Land promise
2. Gen 17:13 circumcision, yet it ceased (Gal 5:1-6).
3. Exodus 12:14 Passover - this ceased because Jesus became our Passover and it was only a shadow of good things to come (Col 2:14) in Christ.
4. Exo 29:9 Priesthood would remain in the Aaronic family, however Christ superceded it and it's now annulled (Heb 7:12-18).
5. Exo 31:16 - Sabbath but Paul reiterated that (Gal 4:10).
So from scripture we see that forever doesn't mean it has no end.
What many well intentioned people do not realise when they make the argument that Israel must still be God's chosen people forever, is that God also cast them off forever - Jeremiah 23:39-40, He also said His fury would burn forever Jer 17:4. God's fury was expressed in Ezra 10:14 as destruction and captivity.
If national Israel is no longer God's chosen people, the entire house of dispensationalism crumbles to the ground.
The only thing that I have found that is endless is Jesus' Kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7).
If national Israel is no longer God's chosen people, the entire house of dispensationalism crumbles to the ground.
The only thing that I have found that is endless is Jesus' Kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7).
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