Restorationism - Moriel Ministries

above the ground is the New Testament Church. The Church is thespiritual continuity of Old Testament Israel, not its replacement.Restoration of IsraelThe root is still Jewish. The original branches were Jewish. The firstChristians were Jews. The writers of the New Testament were Jews,and the final Christians will be Jews.If Israel was finished forever, the church would be finished with it. IfGod has rejected Israel because of their sin and unfaithfulness, Hehas just as much reason to reject the church, possibly more.Jesus spoke of the national dimensions of the restoration of Israel inthe Olivet Discourse - Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by theGentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24).Jesus used the same words that Paul used in Romans 11:25, exceptthat Jesus was speaking of Israel as a nation.The time of the Gentiles is dealt with soteriologically in Romans 11,but it is dealt with eschatologically in the Olivet Discourse in Luke 21.The ultimate meaning of the time of the Gentiles coming to an end isbound up with the prophecies of Daniel. God's final plan for worldredemption depends on the salvation of Israel and the fulfillment ofHis plan, prophetically, for the restoration of Israel.There is a national aspect of this but, more importantly, asoteriological, as seen in Romans 11:15. For if their rejection be thereconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life fromthe dead?God's planThe New Testament speaks of restoration, not in terms of this sillyTriumphalist movement we have today, but in terms of God's plan forthe restoration of Israel, through whom He will bless the nations.