There’s a popular misconception in some Christian churches that the church has replaced Israel as the apple of God’s eye. It’s what they want to believe but it has no scriptural basis. It’s just wishful thinking. God is never wrong and God never makes mistakes. God also never changes his mind. If you want proof look no further than God’s Word. Don’t get on God’s bad side by being against Israel or by disparaging or discriminating against Jews. In the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, one enduring theme is God’s love for man, his special creation, and for the Jews in particular as his chosen people. Don’t get me wrong, God loves Jew and Gentile alike but it’s Israel that’s the apple of God’s eye. I’m a Gentile and I can live with that. In heaven God will love Jew and Gentile equally as children of God.
Malachi 3:6 – For I the Lord do not change.
One reason I’ve heard for people’s hatred of Jews is that they killed Jesus. It was the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus crucified but they didn’t have the authority to put Jesus to death. You can’t blame the whole Jewish nation for the crimes of a few. It was the Romans, our modern day Italians, who actually condemned Jesus to be crucified and then nailed spikes into the wrists and feet of Jesus and hung him on a cross to die an agonizing death. Why don’t we hear any hatred toward the Italians because they’re the ones who actually killed Jesus? We don’t because it doesn’t fit Satan’s narrative of wanting to stir up mankind’s hatred toward the Jews so they can be destroyed. Satan hates God but can’t touch him so he does the next best thing by trying to destroy what God loves, his chosen people. Satan also can’t touch us physically but he can influence our minds and the weak-minded wind up being manipulated into hating Israel and winding up on God’s bad side. God commands us to love the Jewish people. On the last day we will stand before God to give an account of our treatment of Jews. Nothing happens on this earth without God’s permission. Ultimately, God killed Jesus to redeem us from our sins and Jesus gave His consent.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ecclestiastes 12:13 – Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is man’s all.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
When I learn about or hear a Christian disparaging Jews or Israel I cringe inside. Any Christian who is truly a believer who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior cannot be against Jews or Israel. How can they be? We Christians have our salvation and eternal life in heaven because of the blessings of Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people. Christ is a direct descendant of Abraham. Jesus was, is, and always will be a Jewish rabbi in heaven. So if we hate Jews we’re saying that we hate our King and we hate the very people who have allowed us to enter heaven in the first place. Does that make any sense to you? It doesn’t to me.
When we get to heaven the second in command will be King David, also a Jew. The twelve Jewish Apostles will have exalted leadership positions in heaven. They will sit on thrones and will rule over the Jewish remnant in heaven. All the prophets and important disciples like Paul, Mark, Barnabas and Stephen will have high positions in heaven and they are all Jewish men. All Jewish holidays will be celebrated. To put it bluntly, when we get to heaven Jews will be running the joint. If you’ve persecuted Jews during your lifetime on earth and you still manage to make it to heaven your previous actions will be known by all the Jews in heaven for the rest of eternity. You’ll be forgiven, of course, but the Jews will always remember how you persecuted them on earth. Keep that in mind the next time you have an evil thought against anyone Jewish. Push back against Satan’s attempt to influence your mind toward a hatred of the Jews. You’ve been warned of the danger so guard your mind against Satan or wind up on God’s bad side.
Ephesians 4:30 – Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.