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Who Really Owns

The Holy Land?


Dr. Robert L. Reymond

Permission to reprintfrom effort is being made not so that system of hermeneutics


The Trinity Review, Number much today by the secular known as Dispensationalism.
256, June 2006 granted by The leadership of the state of Israel Apparently convinced by this
Trinity Foundation, Post Office as by self-acclaimed Christian propaganda effort, President
68, Unicoi, Tennessee 37692, scholars and televangelists Clinton, after citing the words
Phone: 423.743.0199 (www. who claim to speak for over of his desperately ill Baptist
trinityfoundation.org) seventy million evangelical pastor to him: "If you abandon
Christians. These men, Israel, God will never forgive
This essay is an address including Assemblies of God you," declared before the
delivered by Dr. Robert L. preacher and televangelist John Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem on
Reymond, Professor Emeritus Hagee, founder and pastor of October 21, 1994: "".it is God's
at Knox Theological Seminary,
the Cornerstone Church in will that Israel, the Biblical
to ''Advancing Reformation
San Antonio, Texas;3 Kenneth home of the people of Israel,
Truth and Spirituality"
(ARTS) on April 21, 2006, at Copeland, televangelist; Paul continue forever and ever," 5 a
DeVos Chapel, Coral Ridge and lVlatt Crouch of the Trinity statement that enters deeply
Presbyterian Church, Fort Broadcasting Network (TBN); into Biblical hermeneutics
Lauderdale, Florida. Jack Hayford, founder and concerning the nature of the
pastor of the Church on the church and the kingdom of
Way in Van Nuys, California, God, not to mention Biblical
PART I and president of the Foursquare eschatology (note his "forever
Gospel Church; Benny Hinn, and ever"). President Clinton
The Challenge Facing pastor of the yet-to-be-built concluded his speech by
Covenant Theology World Healing Center in saying: "Your journey is our
Dallas, Texas; ·Rod Parsley, journey, and America will stand
A gigantic effort is underway pastor of the World Harvest with you now and always," a
today to convince the Church in Columbus, Ohio; statement that illustrates this
evangelical citizenry of the Pat Robertson, founder and nation's deep involvement in
United States of America that chief executive officer of the both Middle East politics in
the political state of Israel Christian Broadcasting Network general and its specific political
rightfully owns in perpetuity (CBN) and the Bible teacher commitment to Israel in the
the so-called "Holy Land"2 on the 700 Club;4 and Jerry Israeli/ Palestinian conflict in
at the eastern end of the Falwell, founder and pastor particular in away that cannot
Mediterranean Sea by virtue of the Thomas Road Baptist but affect the course of world
of God's bequeathing it to Church and founder of Liberty politics for the foreseeable
Abraham and his descendants University in Lynchburg, future. In my opinion, President
in the Old Testament. This Virginia, are all purveyors of Clinton's statement is bad

4 The Counsel of Chalcedon


Who Reall), Owns the Holy Land?

politics based on equally bad before you aooept or reject it. for nlany of the thoughts in
theology. I say this because, VV-ith that caveat I will now this seotion of the paper. the
as I shall argue in this paper, begin with a discussion of idea of paradise was renewed
all of God's land promises to by God's inaugurating with the
Israel in the Old Testament Eden and the guilty pair a second oovenant
are to be viewed in terms of Abrahanlic Covenant ~ the covenant of graoe of
shadow, type, and prophecy, Genesis 3:15 - and later by
in contrast to the reality, O. Pahller Robertson begins his covenant with Abrahanl
substance, and fulfillment his treatise on the significance of Genesis 12:1-3 to redeenl
of which the New Testament of the land as a theological a people fr0111 their fallen
speaks. Consequently, contrary idea by stating: The concept condition and to transfon11
to John Hagee who insists that of a land that belongs to God's the cosnl0S. Just as Adam and
"Israel has a Bible nlandate people originated in Paradise. Eve had known God's blessing
to the land, a divine covenant This siIllple fact, so often in Eden, so also God would
for the land of Israel, forever ... overlooked, plays a critioal role bless his redeel11ed people in
[and] Christians have a Bible in evaluating the significanoe of a new Eden, a land flowing
mandate to be supportive the land throughout redel11ptive with l11ilk and honey, that lay
of Israel,"6 I will argue history and its consummate s0111ewhere ahead of thenl in
that it is we Christians, as fulfilh11ent. Land did not the future. With the call of
mel11bers of Christ's Messianic begin to be theologioally Abrahanl in Genesis 12 the
kingd0111, who are the real significant with the promise oovenant of graoe established
heirs to the land promises given to Abraham. Instead, the in Genesis 3: 15 underwent
of Holy Scripture, but only patriaroh's hope of possessing a a rel11arkable advance. The
in their fulfilled paradisical land arose out of the concept of instrul11ent of that advance is
character.7 Hagee terms this restoration to the original state the covenant that God l11ade
view "replacel11ent theology" from which nlan had fallen. with Abrahanl that guaranteed
because, he says, it "replaces" The original idea of land as and secured soterio blessing for
in the econ0111Y of God the paradise significantly shaped "all the faI11ilies of the Earth"
Jewish people who are, he says, the expeotations associated (Genesis 12:3). So signifioant
"God's centerpiece" and "the with redeI11ption. As the place are the pr0111ises of grace in the
apple of his eye" (Zechariah of blessedness arising fr0111 Abrahal11ic covenant, found in
2:8) with the ohurch of Jesus unbroken fellowship and Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-16; 15:18-
Christ. Of course, Hagee's conll11union with God, the 21; 17:1- 16; and 22:16-18, that
perception of ethnio Israel is in land of paradise beoaI11e the it is not an overstatel11ent to
error, beoause ethnic Israel per goal toward whioh redeel11ed declare these verses, fr0111 the
se was never the oenter-piece hUl11anity was returning.8 covenantal perspective, the
of God's covenant progranl most it11portant verses in the
sinoe, according to Paul, God's In the Edenio paradise of Bible. The fact that the Bible
pr0111ises ahvays applied only Genesis 2 we see God, whose sweeps aoross thousands of
to the true spiritual Israel (that garden it was (Ezekiel 28:13; years betv\Teen the creation of
is, eleot Israel) within ethnic 31:8), and which garden man and the call of Abrahanl
Israel (R0111ans 9:6-13); and was employed later as the in only eleven chapters, with
the land promises of the Old prototypical ideal (Genesis the oall of Abrahanl c0111ing
TestaIllent, as we will show, 13:10) and type of the in Genesis 12, suggests that
were always to be viewed eschatological paradise of God God intended the infon11ation
typologically. Nevertheless, (Isaiah 51:3; Revelation 2:7), given in Genesis 1-11 to be
Hagee has thrown down the placing the original pair he preparatory "background" to
Dispensational gauntlet; and had oreated within it to tend the revelation of the AbrahaI11io
it is high tit11e that oovenant and to keep it and to enjoy covenant.
theologians pioked it up and conll11union with him. But the
responded to him Biblically. paradisioal nature of Eden was Revelation subsequent to it
This is what I propose to do lost in and by AdaI11's fall, and discloses that all that God
now. But I offer a word of our first parents were expelled has done savingly in grace
caution, and it is this: Reflect fr0111 this land of blessing. But since the revelation of the
oarefully upon what I say Abrahal11ic covenant is the
Continued on Page 14

Mahing the Nations Christ's Disciples 5


Who Really Owns the ~fIoly Lancl? (continueclfrom page 5)

result and product of it. In 7. Paul declared that God,


other words, once the covenant 4. When we come to the New when he promised Abraham
of grace came to expression Testament it is no different. that "all peoples on Earth
in the salvific promises of Both Mary and Zechariah will be blessed through you"
the Abrahamic covenant - declared the first coming of (Genesis 12:3), was declaring
that God would be the God Jesus Christ, including the very that he was going to justify
of Abraham and his spiritual act of Incarnation, to be a vital the Gentiles by faith and was
descendants (Genesis 17:7) part of the fulfillment of God's announcing the Gospel in
and that in Abraham all the gracious covenant promise to advance to Abraham (Galatians
families of the Earth would Abraham. Mary in Luke 1:54- 3:8). Accordingly, he stated
be blessed - everything 55 said: "He has helped his that all believers in Christ
that God has done since that servant Israel, remembering "are blessed [with justification
time, he has done in order to to be merciful to Abraham through faith] along with
fulfill his covenant promises and his descendants forever, Abraham" (Galatians 3:9).
to Abraham (and thereby the even as he said to our fathers."
eternal plan of redemption). Zechariah in Luke 1:68-71 8. Paul also declared: "Christ
If this representation of the said: "Praise be to the Lord, the became a Servant of the
salvific significance of the God of Israel, because he has circumcision .. .in order to
Abrahamic covenant seems come ... to remember his holy confirm the promises made
to be an overstatement, the covenant, the oath he swore to the patriarchs so that the
following declarations from to our father Abraham."I may Gentiles might glorify God for
later revelation should suffice note in passing that, whereas his mercy" (Romans 15:8-9).
to justify it: Christians today mainly
celebrate only the Incarnation 9. Paul further declared that
1. It is the Abrahamic covenant of God's Son at Christmas time, Christ died on the cross,
and none other that God later Mary and Zechariah, placing bearing the law's curse, "in
confirmed with Isaac (Genesis this event in the covenantal order that the blessing given
17:19; 26:3-4) and with Jacob context of Scripture, saw to Abraham might come to the
(Genesis 28:13-15; 35:12). reason in Christ's coming to Gentiles in Christ Jesus, in
celebrate the covenant fidelity order that we [both Jews and
2. The Scriptures state of God to his people. In their Gentiles] might receive the
that God redeemed Jacob's awareness of the broader promise of the Spirit through
descendants from Egypt in significance of the event and faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).
order to keep his covenant the words of praise that this
promise to the patriarchs: awareness evoked from them 10. Paul expressly declared that
"God heard their groaning and we see Biblical theology at the Mosaic covenant and law,
he remembered his covenant its best being worked out and introduced several centuries
with Abraham, with Isaac, and expressed. after God gave his covenant
with Jacob" (Exodus 2:24: see promises to Abraham and to
4:5). 5. Jesus, himself the Seed his Seed (Christ), "does not set
of Abraham (Matthew 1:1; aside the covenant previously
3. Again and again throughout Galatians 3:16), declared that established by God [with
Israel's history the inspired Abraham "rejoiced at the Abraham] and thus do· away
authors of Scripture trace thought of seeing my day; he with the promise" (Galatians
God's continuing extension saw it and was glad" (John 3:16-17).
of grace and mercy to Israel 8:56).
directly to his fidelity to his 11. Paul also declared (1) that
covenant promises to Abraham 6. Peter declared that God sent Abraham is the "father of all
(Exodus 32:12-14; 33:1; Jesus to bless the Jewish nation who believe" among both Jews
Leviticus 26:42; Deuteronomy in keeping with the promise and Gentiles (Romans 4:11-12);
1:8; 4:31; 7:8; 9:27; 29:12-13; he gave to Abraham in Genesis and (2) that all who belong to
Joshua 21:44; 24:3-4; Psalm 12:3, in turning them away Christ "are Abraham's seed,
105:8-10, 42-43; 2 Kings 13:23; from their iniquities (Acts 3:25- and heirs according to the
1 Chronicles 16:15-17; Micah 26). promise" that God gave to
7:20; Nehemiah 9:7-8). Abraham (Galatians 3:29).

14 The Counsel of Chalceclon


Who Really Owns the Iioly Land?

oonoerning Israe1's so~oalled prh11ary. Rather, the fulfilh11ent


12. Finally, Christ desoribed "perpetual divine right" to the of the land pr0111ises n1ust
the future state of glory in land of Palestine. 10 be viewed as arising fr01u
terms of the redeemed "taking the n10re basio and essential
their plaoe at the feast with That is to say, God's rede111ptive rede111ptive pr0111ises, and for
Abrahan1, Isaao, and Jaoob purpose, first disolosed in their fulfilh11ent they await the
in the kingdom of Heaven" Genesis 3:15, onoe it had COllIe final and c0111plete salvation of
(Matthew 8:11). to expression in the terms God's eleot and the reoreation
of the Abrahamio oovenant, of the universe in the Esohaton
'What this all means is that the ,vas oontinuously advanoed (R0111ans 8:19~23). I say this
pr01l1ise of God, oovenantally thereafter by the suooessive beoause the Bible deolares that
given to Abraham, that he oovenants with Israel, David, Abrahan1 dwelt in Palestine "as
would be the God of Abrahan1 and finally the new oovenant. in a foreign oountry" (Hebrews
and of his spiritual desoendants Aooordingly, in his letter to the 11:9), and he never inherited
after hh11 forever (Genesis Gentile ohurohes in Galatia any land during his lifeth11e
17:7~8) extends temporally Paul desoribed those who (Aots 7:5), whioh is just to say
to the farthest reaohes of repudiate Judaistio legalisn1 that AbrahaIl1 believed that
the future and enoompasses and who "never boast exoept the fulfilhuent of God's land
the entire oonul1unity of the in the oross of our Lord Jesus pr01uises lay antitypioally in
redee111ed and the renewed Christ," that is, Christ's the esohatologioal future.
00sn10S. This is just to say that ohuroh, as "the Israel of God"
the Abraha111io oovenant, in the (Galatians 6:12~16). In his 'Vas this really AbrahaIu's
speoifio prospeot it holds forth Ephesian letter Paul told those understanding of God's land
of the salvation of the entire Gentile believers that God had pr01uise? Or did he think
ohuroh of God, is identioal in Christ 111ade the111 citizens that God's pr0111ise 111erely
with the soterio progran1 of of Israel and benefioiaries of entailed the sl11all portion of
the oovenant of graoe. It also the oovenants of the promise land bounded on the west and
means that the blessings of the (Ephesians 2:11~13). And in the east by the Mediterranean
oovenant of graoe that believers his letter to the Philippians Sea and the Jordan Valley and
in Christ enjoy today under Paul declared that those "who generally on the north and the
the New Testament eoon0111Y worship by the Spirit of God, south by the Sea of Galilee
are founded upon the oovenant who glory in Christ Jesus, and the southern tip of the
that God 111ade with Abrahan1. and who put no oonfidenoe Dead Sea? Hardly. Was his
Said another way, the "new in the flesh" are "the [true] faith suoh that he would have
oovenant" whose Mediator OirOU1110ision" (Philippians 3:3). been satisfied in knowing that
is Jesus Christ is simply the Clearly, the ohuroh of Jesus s01ueday his offspring would
ad111inistrative "extension and Christ is the present~day true inherit the land "fr0111 the river
unfolding of the Abrahamio Israel of God. of Egypt [not the Nile River but
oovenant"9 in redemptive the 'Vadi el Arish] to the great
history. The ohuroh of Jesus The Typological Nature river, the River Euphrates"
Christ, then, not ethnio Israel, of the Land Prolnises (Genesis 15:18)?11
is the present~day expression
of the one people of God whose Undoubtedly, teI11poral, earthly Again we n1ust respond, hardly.
roots go baok to Abrahan1. promises of land were given to His entire life experienoe
Abrahan1 and his desoendants of walking by faith and not
These passages also highlight in the AbrahaI11io oovenant by sight (see the reourring
the unity of the one oovenant (Genesis 12: 7; 13:15, 17; phrase "by faith Abraham" in
of graoe and the oneness of 15:18; 17:8). But the land Hebrews 11:8, 9, 17) taught hh11
God's people in all ages over pr0111ises were never prhl1ary to look beyond the te111poral
against the disoontinuities and oentral to the oovenant's oirou1ustanoes in '''hioh he
injeoted into redemptive intention, and God never lived. To understand AbrahaI11's
history by the DisiJensational envisioned literal fulfilhl1ent oonoept of God's land pr01uise
heresy that lies at the root of of these promises under Old to hhu, ,,,e must give speoial
all the bad "land theology" Testament oonditions as heed to the divinely revealed
being espoused today insights of the writers of the

Mahing the Nations Christ's Disciples 15


Who Really Owns the Holy Land?

New Testament. Jl1st as Paul Possession of a particular land, receiving in a limited


declared that the events of tract of land in ancient times fashion the paradise God
Israel's redemptive history were might have significance from had promised. But it quickly
"types" for believers during a number of perspectives with became obvious that this
this age (1 Corinthians 10:6), respect to God's redemptive territory could not be the
just as Paul said the religious working in the world, but ultimate paradise. Undefeated
festivals of the old covenant clearly the land promise under Canaanites remained in the
were "a shadow of the things the Abrahamic covenant served land as "hornets." And because
to come" (Colossians 2:17), simply as a type, anticipating of Israel's sin throughout the
just as the author of Hebrews the future reality of the coming united and divided kingdom
stated that the administration of the Messianic kingdom with periods, finally the land
of redemption under the old the Messiah himself assuming was devastated by the Neo-
covenant was "but a shadow the throne of David in Heaven, Babylonians; the indwelling
of the good things to come" and ruling the universe after Glory departed from the
(Hebrews 10:1), so also he his resurrection and ascension, Solomonic Temple (Ezekiel 9:3;
taught, in Hebrews 11:8-16, and reigning until all his 10:1- 22), which Temple was
that Abraham knew that enemies have been put under then destroyed; and the people
God's land promises in their his feet. How was it possible for were banished and came to be
fulfillment entailed something Abraham to have the view of known as lo-ammi, meaning
far more glorious, namely, a the land promise that the New "not-my-people" (Hosea 1:9).
better and heavenly homeland Testament ascribed to him? The once fruitful land took on
whose designer and builder is What led him to "spiritualize" the appearance of a desert, a
God, than the land of Palestine the promise to make it entail dwelling place of jackals, owls,
per se that served only as the future heavenly, kingdom and scorpions. Paradise, even
type of their fulfillment: By realities? The answer lies in in its old covenant shadow
faith Abraham ...went to live the fact that he took seriously form, was taken from them.
in the land of promise, as in God's promise to him that Even the restoration after the
a foreign land, living in tents "in [him] all the families of Babylonian captivity, under
with Isaac and Jacob, heirs the Earth would be blessed" Ezra and Nehemiah, designated
with him of the same promise. (Genesis 12:3).13 Therefore, by Biblical scholars as the
For he was looking forward to he perceived that the promise Second Temple Period, could
the city that has foundations, to him and his offspring, who not be paradise. But the return
whose designer and builder is is Christ (Galatians 3:16), to the land and the rebuilding
God .... These all died in faith, entailed that in Christ "he of the Temple pointed the way
not having received the things would be heir [not of Palestine to it. The glory of that tiny
promised,12 but having seen but] of the [glOrified] world Temple, Haggai prophesied,
them and greeted them from [kosmou]" (Romans 4:13). would someday be greater than
afar, and have acknowledged Plainly, Abraham under-stood the glory of the Solomonic
that they were strangers that God's land promise meant Temple.
and exiles on the Earth. For that God would restore the What did this hyperbolic
people who speak thus make entire cosmos to its former language mean? It meant that
it clear that they are seeking a paradisical glory and in that he God had something better for
homeland ... a better country, placed his hope and patiently them than a temporal land and
that is, a heavenly one. waited for it. His faith and a material temple. The promise
Therefore, God is not ashamed understanding would have of the land would be fulfilled
to be called their God, for he been satisfied with nothing by nothing less than a restored
has prepared for them a city. less! Moses too, and his paradise on a cosmic scale!
contemporaries, wandered in As Isaiah predicted, someday
Quite plainly, Abraham the wilderness of Sinai for forty the wolf would lie down with
understood that the land years, and died in faith, not the lamb, the leopard would
promised to him actually having received the promise lie down with the goat, the
had both its origin and its (Hebrews 11:39). calf and the lion would live in
antitypical fulfillment in peace, and a little child would
the heavenly, eternal reality Under Joshua's leadership lead them. The nursing child
that lay still in the future. the Israelites conquered the would play over the hole of the

16 The Counsel of Chalcedon


lVho Really Owns the Holy Land?

cobra, and the weaned child essentialf01" salvation. "pmaching thc Gospel b~f01'chand
would place his hand on the to Abraham," that is, he was
adder's den, and the Earth 4 Pat Robe1"tson stated on public declaring that hc would .iustif:v the
television on January 5, 2006, that Gentiles by faith.
would be full of the knowledge Prime Minister A1"iel Sha1"on qf
of the Lord as the waters cover Israel suffered his 1nassive strohe
the places of the sea (Isaiah at the hand of God because he was
11:6-9). No nlore would sin and in the pmces's qf giving a portion
sorrow reign nor thorns infest of Israel's land to the Palestinians
the ground. Then, writes Paul i;t exchangefor peace. He later
in Romans 9:25-26: Those who apologized for his statement.
were not [God's] people [not 5 See Vital Speeches 61, no. 3
only from the Jews but also (November 15, 1994): 70, 3.
fr01~l the Gentiles, Romans
9:24] [he] 'vill call "my people," 6 John Hagee, 'Yost evangelicals
and her who was not beloved are seeing the e1Tor qf
[he] will call "beloved." And 'replacement theology, '" online
in the very phlCe where it was edition oj the JenlBalem Post,
}.![amh 20, 2006.
said to theIn, "You are not nly
people," there they will be 7 I happily acl?'nowledge my grcat
called "sons of the living God." debt to O. Palmer Robertson, Thc
To Be Continued Israel of God: Ycste1"day, Today,
and Tom01Tow (Presbyterian and
Rcfonncd, 2000), 3-31.
Endnotes
8 Robertson, The Israel of God, 4.
1 (C) The Trinit:J' Foundation
9 John Murra:J', Ch1"istian Baptism
2 I say uso-called" because the (Presbyterian and Rejormed,
phrase Uho{v land" occurs only 1962),46.
twice in Scdptu1"e (Psal1n 78:54;
Zechariah 2:12) and in both 10 For the redemptive implications
instances the W01"d "land" must qf this bad "land theology" see
be supplied. Apart fnnn the holy Knox Theological Seminary's
God's mantfested presence in it, '~n Open Lette1" to Evangelicals
there is nothing holy about the and Othe1" Interested Parties: The
"Hob' Land." But whemver God Pcople of God, the Land qf Israel,
ntantfests his p,"eSe1We that place and the Impartiality of the Gospel"
is ho{v, as God taught Moses at the posted on the Seminary's website
bU1"ning bush in Sinai (Exodus www.hnoxseminary.cdu under
3:1-6). "HTittenbeTg DOO1:"
3 AccoTding to Julia Duin, "San 11 This particular divine promise
Antonio Fundanwntalist Battles has already becn literally and
Anti-Sel1titis11't," in Thc Houston explicitl:J' fulfillcd by the conquest
Chroniclc (April 30, 1988), 1, of thc land undcr Joshua and
Hagcc does not belicve that Jcws Solomon's reign (Joshua 21:43-45;
must trust ChTist in 01"de1" to go to 23:14; 1 Kings 4:24). It docs not
Hcavcn: "Thc Jewish 1)coplc havc require somc fUtU1'C fu(fi.llment in
a relationship to God thmugh the a Jewish millennium.
law as given thmugh Moses. I
bclieve that every Gentile pe1"SOn 12 Abraham owncd on{v the plot The "gap theory" is exposed
can only come tc; God thmugh of ground, .the.field qf }.![achpelah,
and the Gospel is clearly
proclaimed in the text.
the cmss of Christ. I believe that he pumhasedfmm the
that eve1:V Jewish person who Biblical
Hittites living in the land f01" a Historic
lives in the light qf the TOTah ... buTial gmund f01" Sarah his wtfe
has a relationship with God Reformed
(Genesis 23). • Gospel-loaded
and wi1l come to 1"edemption."
This 1-adically Dispensational 13 Paul tells us in Galatians 3:8 24 pages - $3
statement is he1"etical in its denial that whcn God made this p1'omise TO Of1DEPt: www.viclockmali.com
thatfaith in ChTist is unive1"sally to Abraham he was in ~ffect

"taking the Nations Christ's Disciples 17

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