Questions: Is the land God gave the Jews as recorded in the OT book of Joshua still theirs by Divine right? Is the land God gave the Jews as recorded in the OT book of Joshua still theirs by Biblical right?

Answer: The two questions of this study are the same. If the Jews have a Divine right to the land, then the Bible will tell us so. How else could we know? Therefore, a Biblical right equals a Divine right.

The giving of the land to Abraham’s seed was unconditional. Their remaining on the land was conditional. For proof of this last statement, read Deuteronomy chapter twenty eight and II Kings 17:23. In Isaiah 43:28 the prophet said, “Therefore I (Jehovah, gm) have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.” Where has this ever been reversed? Read Romans chapters nine through eleven and see that in Romans 11:15-32 Paul teaches that the natural branches (the Jews) were broken off because of unbelief.

Has God fulfilled the land promise to Abraham? Millennialists say, NO! For proof that God has fulfilled that promise, please read the front page article. Since the land promise has already been fulfilled, it cannot be fulfilled in the future.

Further, many are looking for Jesus to return to earth and set up an earthly kingdom with a throne in Jerusalem. At which time all Jews, who are not deceived by a supposed antichrist, will be converted. This earthly kingdom is to last one thousand years amid peace and tranquillity. And they are to be given the land promised to Abraham. Does the Bible teach that Jesus will return to earth, vanquish an antichrist, then set up an earthly kingdom which will last one thousand years? No! Consider the following reasons.

First, many believe that Jesus came to offer the Jews a physical, earthly kingdom, but they refused it. Such is not the case. The Jews wanted to make Jesus a physical, earthly king, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone” (John 6:15). Jesus told Pilate, “...My kingdom is not of this world...” (John 18:36). They wanted Him to be an earthly king, but such was not the nature of His kingdom.

Second, when Jesus returns, the righteous will meet Him in the air “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). The Bible nowhere teaches that Jesus will ever set foot on earth again. Why would He come back to earth when He Himself said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Third, when Jesus comes the world will be destroyed: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

If the righteous are going to meet the Lord in the air and the world is going to be burnt up, How can Jesus set up a kingdom on earth and how could the land promise be fulfilled?

Fourth, the Bible teaches there will be one resurrection, in which all men will be raised at the last day. The future kingdom advocates believe in more than one resurrection. But, what does the Bible say? “...for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth...” (John 5:28,29). “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39). Millennialists want the righteous raised a thousand years before the last day. Jesus and the Millennialists do not agree. Listen to Jesus!

Fifth, the kingdom was taken from the Jews: “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof:” (Matt. 21:43). In the Old Testament, the kingdom of God was a physical, earthly nation of Jews, most of whom were disobedient. God rejected them and cast them off because of their unbelief (Romans 9-11). In the New Testament, the kingdom of God is a spiritual nation made up of all the saved, Jew and Gentile (see article on page eight).