Below are some important thoughts from Reggie Kelly on Matthew 23:39. He rightly challenges the overly optimistic view of the prophecy that has been popularized in recent decades in the establishment of the State of Israel.
There can be no doubt that throughout the tribulation, there will be a burgeoning remnant of Jews that will be born again, no doubt much greater than usual. But this is not the “mercy upon all” that was spoken by the prophets and reaffirmed by Paul in Ro 11:26, 32. This does not happen till the Deliverer comes out of Zion at the day of the Lord.
I think the popular teaching is in error that Israel first comes to faith that Jesus is the Messiah and THEN calls out for Him to return and save them. I don’t think that’s what Mt 23:39 is about. They may indeed be calling out for Messiah to return, but they don’t know that He is Jesus “UNTIL” they look upon Him whom they pierced. Note that Zech 12:10 with Rev 1:7 shows that this happens when He returns in the clouds at the end of the tribulation (Mt 24:29). That is where all the prophets put the transformation / regeneration of the nation, namely at the end of the time of national travail / tribulation, i.e, the day of the Lord .
I realize it says “till you will say,” almost like something for which God is waiting, but a host of other scriptures show why a sizable remnant (the third part) of tribulation survivors are saying this at one and the same time. It is because they realize suddenly (at once … in one day; Isa 66:8; Eze 39:22 and many) that the glorious cloud comer is Jesus whom the nation pierced. This speaks, not of a progressive discovery or a general time and consensus of acknowledgement that leaders of Israel have come to, as some commentators suggest, but of a revelational (apocalyptic) moment of transforming vision, so that the seeing and the saying are happening at the same time.
It is not, as many suppose, a conditional order events, but an unconditional revelation that comes in a moment to a remnant that have been driven to the end of their power (Deut 32:36; Dan 12:7). The elect remnant have been miraculously preserved to that appointed and fixed time (Ps 102:13).
Again, it is the progressive versus the interventional apocalyptic view. I still say, God could hardly have given us a more apt analogy of the day of Israel’s salvation than Paul on the road to Damascus. I expect that Paul saw his conversion, as one born out of due time, as a picture in miniature of the sudden national salvation of ‘all Israel’ (a key phrase that we have many times discussed).
But let it be remembered, while the scripture gives us to know that the nation is not saved, as a nation, until the day of the Lord. The corporate birth of the nation will NOT be independent of the church’s witness. We see an appointed “conversation in the wilderness” that will expose Jews in flight to the prophetic witness of the corporate ‘Servant of Yawheh’. The true church, as the pillar and ground of truth, will play a critical and transitional role in preparing the Jewish heart for the revelation that comes to them in that day. We see this in remarkable prophetic analogy to what Paul witnessed in the martyrdom (witness) of Stephen. From that time till his arrest on the Damascus road, something had been registered on Paul’s consciousness that would be hard to escape until the appointed day of revelation. Whether individual or corporate, it is the moment of revelation that regenerates the heart and transforms the life.
Amen! The grafting in of the Gentiles is unto the salvation of Israel. The remnant of Jews fleeing their anhialation from a global military force lead by the man of lawlessness will find themselves between a Rock (Jesus ) and a hard place (persecution). To find their Way out of the snare (the mount of olives). Meanwhile, Gentiles around the world will have the opportunity to show mercy to “the least of these” (Jesus’ Jewish brethren). Lord give us grace to steward this calling.
Listening to one of Art’s messages and the question was brought up, how will this last time of persecution be any different from previous times? and part of the answer is, this time, the Jewish people will be met by a hope-giving, (Isaiah 35) compassion filled, (Psalm 102:13,14) people in the wilderness, whose sacrificial love will be used by God to preserve them until “that day.”
A helpful article. I had not heard the parallel drawn btwn Paul’s conversion & Israel’s conversion before.
I was so thrilled to read this article! Years ago I felt the Lord was showing me the same thing concerning the salvation of Israel. Glad that the Lord is raising up more voices in this hour that have deeper understanding and revelation of Bible prophecy.