Hmm, Apostles then, Hebrew Witnesses now.
Then was different. Jews brought the gospel to the Gentiles. Now Hebrew witnesses bring it to the Jews. Then, the nation rejected their Messiah. Now, many Jews are waiting for His return. Its different now and it is God’s doing. Long ago God said’ “Behold the days are coming, ‘declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land – not a famine of bread, nor for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11) And except for a small remnant, that has been the condition of the children of Israel since the rejection of Christ. The apostle Paul quoted Scripture when He wrote, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” (Romans 11:8) But it seems things are beginning to change.
Foretold is the day when the “The deliverer will come to Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:26-27; Isaiah 59:20) I use to think that Messianic groups were somewhat arrogantly separate in their Jewishness. Hebrew witnesses witnessing to Jews, but now I understand Jesus has given them a job to do.
Hebrew Witnesses leave me concerned for the Gentiles.
The apostle Paul explained a mystery concerning the redemption of Israel. A mystery that troubles me when seeing those I know and love resisting God’s grace. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in,…” (Romans 11:25) “UNTIL THE FULL NUMBER OF GENTILES HAS COME IN.”
Times are changing.
The most noticeable condition I witnessed in Europe was the decline of Christianity. Churches abandoned or turned to apartment units, cathedrals into museums, superstitions and traditions replacing faith. The Hebrew witnesses to their messiah, Jesus, gives me reason to be concerned. There is a number known to God when the last Gentile will come into the kingdom and His Holy Spirit turns once again to gather His Chosen People. Pray that those you know and love are not too late.
-Paul
His Family Table 