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SUBJECT:
God's Chosen People
QUESTION: Just who are God’s chosen people? Is it the
Jews only?
ANSWER:
The Bible makes it clear that God chose Israel -- not just
Judah -- to be His nation (Deuteronomy 7:6). He made a
covenant with them when He brought them out of bondage in
Egypt. See chapters 9 through 24 of Exodus. Israel was to be
an example to all nations of the blessings brought by
obedience to the laws of God. They were His chosen people --
not His favorite. God has no favorites (Acts 10:34).
Yet, Israel failed. They rebelled constantly and sinned.
They split into two nations -- the house of Israel and the
house of Judah. God sent Israel into Assyrian captivity
about 720 B.C. They became lost in history. He later sent
Judah into Babylonian captivity, starting about 604 B.C.
Their territory was occupied and the people transplanted en
masse to Babylon in 587 B.C. You may wish to request our
free booklet “Europe and America in Prophecy” for the
complete story. It is posted at our web site at:
https://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/europe-and-america-in-prophecy/
Seventy years later Judah began to return, and the
rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple was begun. However,
the Jews again misapplied God's commandments. They added
many of their own laws under the influence of the Pharisees
(Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13).
Jesus said the Kingdom would be taken from them and given to
others -- to spiritual Israel, that is, to the Church
(Matthew 21:43). The Church now comprises God's chosen
people (1 Peter 2:9). All who are converted are reckoned to
be children of Abraham (Gal. 3:29). The Church is to marry
Christ as His chosen bride at His return from heaven in this
generation (Revelation19:7-9).
Nonetheless, God has not given up on national Israel!
Prophecies in Hosea 2, Ezekiel 36, and Zechariah 12-14 show
that the people of Judah and Israel will repent and reunite
and again become God's people. They will be the leading
nation in the world tomorrow (Zechariah 8). Of course, the
Church will then be immortal and under Christ, who will rule the
physical nations (Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6).
In summary, Israel, that is, the house of Israel and the
house of Judah united, will again be God's chosen nation. In
the world tomorrow they will fulfill the job God called them
to do 3500 years ago.
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