The identity of the Messiah is usually considered to be the pivotal issue that divides Judaism and Christianity. However, authors Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin suggest that whether or not Jesus was the Messiah is not the most important question: “The major difference between Judaism and Christianity lies in the importance each religion attaches to […]
All Israel will be saved – Understanding Romans 9-11
Introduction In chapters nine to eleven of his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul deals with the questions: “Did God reject His people? Had God’s promises to Israel failed?” “Yes,” might be a natural, but unenlightened conclusion in view of Paul’s teaching of the first eight chapters – namely that the Gospel is the […]
Ezekiel’s Temple and the outflow of living waters – Where did the Spirit descend at Pentecost?
This is and edited version of chapter 12 of Mauro’s book, ‘The Hope of Israel’. Chapters 40 to 46 inclusive of the Book of Ezekiel contain the record of a vision given to that prophet, in which he was shown the pattern of a temple and its various appointments, the arrangements, gates, courts, and chambers, […]
Ezekiel’s prophecies: the Doom of Jerusalem, the Branch, the Shepherd of Israel and the Valley of Death
This is an edited version of chapter 11 of Mauro’s book, ‘the Hope of Israel’. The prophecies of Ezekiel are often cited as lending support to the idea of the future re-constitution and earthly dominion of a Jewish nation. While these contain many clear warnings of judgments to come upon the house of Israel and […]
The New Covenant – part 10 of ‘The Hope of Israel’
This is an edited version of the tenth chapter of Mauro’s book. It was shown in a previous chapter that in God’s covenants with Israel, both in the covenant of Horeb (Deut. 5:2-3) and in the substitute made in the land of Moab (Deut. 29:1), all the promises were expressly made to depend upon conditions […]
The travail of Zion – part 9 of ‘the Hope of Israel’
This is an edited version of chapter 9 of Mauro’s ‘the Hope of Israel’. We have shown by the prophecies of Moses, the founder of the nation, of Joshua the conqueror of the original possessors of the Promised Land, and of David the greatest king of Israel and one of its greatest prophets, that the […]
What were Gentile believers grafted into?
The latest misconception spreading within the ‘Messianic’ and ‘Hebrew Root’ movements is that Gentile Christians are being grafted into an ethnically defined, and predominantly unbelieving, ‘Israel’ at the present time – rather than historically, into the faithful remnant described in Romans chapter eleven. YHVH spoke of Israel as an olive tree whose branches would be cut off and […]
Salvation in Zion (the sure mercies of David) – part 8 of ‘The Hope of Israel’
This is an edited version of chapter 8 of Mauro’s book, ‘The Hope of Israel’. ‘The hope of the gospel’ is for those, whether Jews by heredity or Gentiles, whom God has ‘delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son’ (Col. 1:12,23). For the gospel brings a glorious hope even […]
God’s promise to Israel fulfilled through Joshua – part 7 of ‘The Hope of Israel’
(This is an edited version of chapter 7 of Mauro’s book.) Verses 43 to 45 of Joshua 21, throw light on the question we are investigating, namely the future hope of the Jews. The passage has already been mentioned in passing, but its importance demands a more extended consideration. Its value for our present purpose lies […]
More on God’s warnings through Moses – Part 6 of ‘the Hope of Israel’
(This is an edited version of chapter 6 of Mauro’s ‘The Hope of Israel’.) We have already seen that, by the covenant of Sinai, God offered Israel the highest of all blessings, but upon the express condition of obedience; the terms being, ‘If you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My Covenant’ (Ex. 19:5-6). […]