KING’S BUSINESS PROPHECY FEATURE
A ll Israel Shall Be Saved by Nikolas Kurtaneck, Th.D. Assistant Professor of Bible, Biola College
a mere cursory reading of Zechariah twelve. One should also recognize immediately the eschatological character of this passage. It is one of many prophecies which describes uniquely the final battle of the tribulation period prior to the conversion of Israel. The war of Armaggedon will witness the decisive defeat of her enemies. Synchronized with this historical event, brought to pass by the visible and majestic .appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory (Rev. 19:11-21), will be the pouring out of the spirit of grace and supplication by Jehovah, resulting in the salvation of Israel. It need only be mentioned that the certainty of this act is as sured by the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3), the Palestinian Covenant (Deut. 29 and 30), the Davidic Covenant (II Sam. 7:1-17), and the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). The nature of the power instrumental in this re deeming action is concisely stated to be “the spirit of grace and of supplications.” All agree that “the spirit of grace” refers to the Holy Spirit. It is quite obvious that the Old Testament writers did not understand clearly the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit, but they did know of His existence. A quick comparison of Psalm 51:11, Joel 2:28, Isaiah 11:2, and Ezekiel 36:27 will confirm this fact. That this designation describes the Holy Spirit is verified by Hebrews 10:29 where He is called “the Spirit of grace.” He is thus described because He communicates the grace of God to sinners. Grace speaks of the active love of God in behalf of sinful man. This love was mani fested historically on the Cross of Calvary (Rom. 5:8), and is personally experienced at the initial moment of regeneration (Rom. 5:5), and continues actively to the consummation of salvation (Phil. 1:6). Salvation is based on pure grace from beginning to end. How true it is that grace puts us in the way, keeps us in the way, and takes us all the way! This same grace will be poured out upon the children of Israel. It is worthy to note that liberality with which Jehovah will give the Spirit of grace to Israel. This is revealed by the verb “pour.” The same word is used in Joel 2:28 with reference to the Holy Spirit, and is translated “to pour out.” Lexicographers are in agreement that the verb signifies “a pouring out” which is abundant and full. God will pour out the Holy Spirit upon Israel in an affluent manner. Hosea expressed it colorfully when he said that Jehovah “will be as the dew unto Israel” (Hosea 14:5). Metaphorically, then, the Holy Spirit, like natural dew with all its benefits, will be poured out abundantly upon the house of Israel. Of further interest are the words, “of supplications.” Perhaps the simplest way to understand the two kindred terms, “grace and supplication,” is “to view them in the light of cause and effect, for grace is that which God bestows and the Holy Spirit conveys, and ‘supplication’ is the fruit of that condition of heart, or soul, which that (continued on next page)
O v e r n i n e t e e n h u n d r e d years have passed since the people of Israel declared vociferously, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him . . . We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). These tragic statements dis close the fundamental cause for the disastrous history of the Jewish people. Israel’s wilful rejection of Jesus Christ, her long-awaited Messiah, is the only adequate explanation for the bitter sufferings and ill-treatment experienced by the children of Israel these past nine teen hundred years. Thé reckless and thoughtless as- ertion, “We have no king but Caesar,” unwittingly in voked the curse of God upon Israel, which has proved to be very costly and calamitous. Her national identity and survival have been in constant jeopardy as wit nessed by the record of history, which bears ample evi dence to the repeated disasters which have threatened to obliterate the Jews. Time after time they appeared doomed to destruction, and even today their future seems quite dark from the human standpoint. But every student of Scripture, who accepts literally the many prophecies relating to Israel, knows that her future is bright and blessed, because it is fastened se curely to the unfailing promises of Almighty God. Her dreary past and doubtful present will culminate in a glorious future of peace and prosperity. It is true that since Calvary, “blindness in part is happened to Israel,” but this condition will terminate when “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” and then, “all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:25-26). The Old Testament abounds in prophecies related to the future redemption of Israel. One which presents a graphic portrayal of the initial repentance of her people is Zechariah 12:10, which reads: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeru salem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one moumeth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” It is my purpose to examine this verse in the light of the theme, “All Israel shall be saved.” I should mention that a project of this length will not permit a detailed exposition of this tremendous verse. To facilitate somewhat the reading of this brief treatise the proposed broad outline will be followed: 1. The power instrumental in Israel’s salvation. 2. The people involved in Israel’s salvation. 3. The place and time of Israel’s salvation. 4. The penitence accompanying Israel’s salvation. First: The power instrwnenUil in IsraeFs Salvation. It is to be observed that the power responsible for the salvation of Israel is indicated by ,tfie jtfatement, “I will pour . . . the spirit of grace and of supplications.” Two facts appear in this declaration — first, the source of the power; second, the nature of the power. The source of the power is revealed by the pronoun “I,” which contextually refers to Jehovah, the prominent speaker in this chapter. That Jehovah, the Covenant God of Israel, is the source of this power can be proved by
23
MAY, 1963
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online