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End Times Prophecy | Act Two: Israel by Abidan Shah, PhD

Abidan Paul Shah

END-TIMES PROPHECY – ACT 2: ISRAEL by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction: One of my favorite plays of all time is the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” by Joseph Stein. It is based on a series of short stories by Sholem Aleichem. The main character of the story is Tivye, who is a milkman in Russia in a small village called Anatevka. The story is set at the turn of the twentieth century when things are changing all over Europe. To begin with, there’s a clash between the old world and the new world. The old world is the world of traditions and predictability. The new world is one in which his three older daughters have a mind of their own and they are going against the traditions. To make matters worse, Tivye is poor. At the same time, the tsar wants to evict Jewish people from Russia. The play has many lighthearted moments, one of which is when Tevye looks up and says to God “I know, I know. We are your chosen people. But, once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?” That is the big question in the world – “Why are the Jewish people the chosen ones?” “What makes them more special than everyone else?” Lately, it has not been asked as a question. Instead, it has been vehemently rejected with anger and violence. In recent years, that question has been asked even in the church. This series began as an answer to that question. 

Romans 9 (page #1743) 1 “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Context: We are focusing on Romans 9-11 because this not only answers the question what makes Israel special, but also does it still matter? I doubt that many will deny that Israel was (past tense) God’s chosen people but are (present tense) they still his chosen people, that is a different matter. Furthermore, will (future tense) Israel have a special role towards the end of times is an even bigger question. Before we dive into this message, I want to look at some statistics from Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research. They surveyed over 1000 evangelical Protestants nationwide in 2025 to understand current evangelical perspectives on Israel and the Jewish people. This is what they found:

To understand the role of Israel in end-times prophecy, Romans 9-11 is the heart of the issue. Here Paul repeatedly quotes from the Old Testament and talks to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles from what God promised his people Israel in the Old Testament. In fact, one-third of all the Old Testament quotations that Paul used in his writings are right here in these verses (Doug Moo). By the way, this will not be a one and done sermon. It’s a series that builds on each sermon.

Don’t forget the context: Paul wrote the letter to the first century church in Rome which was made up of Jewish background and Gentile background believers. There appears to be a rift between them over the matter of the Law. Paul wrote this letter to bring them together. He wanted them to know that both Jewish people and Gentiles had to come by the way of the cross. We are all born in the family of Adam, the family of Sin, and we all must be born again into the family of the New Adam, Jesus Christ. Even though we are no longer under Law, as to the details, we still keep the Law in principle, because the Law is good. Now, we have the Holy Spirit who helps us overcome the struggle of the Christian life. Suffering helps us to grow in our likeness of Christ. When we go through suffering, don’t forget that God still loves you. In fact, the last message where we left off was titled “The Golden Chain.” This is the chain that binds us together in our sufferings to Christ. Listen to Romans 8 (page #1742) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Application: Do you see who you are in Christ? Do you see who we all are in Christ as we go through suffering? Make sure you ask the right questions as you are going through trials – Not “Why is God doing this to me?” but “What is God teaching me through this?”

By the way, there is nothing mentioned about Christ’s return. It would be great if Paul had said here “And Jesus loves you so much that he is coming back to get you. He will not leave you suffering forever. He is coming to take you with him to the new heavens and new earth where there will be “no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain…”(Revelation 21:4).” Beverly Gaventa says, “God’s triumph in Jesus Christ is incomplete – indeed, it is inconceivable – apart from Israel, the people God created and sustains and from whom God also will not be separated.” In other words, I cannot trust someone who says “I got you” but is not taking care of someone to whom he has made the same promise…”

Illustration: I talked about hanging over a cliff and someone comes to help. If he doesn’t save his own son, also hanging over the cliff, what’s the guarantee that he will save me?

This is where Paul turns to the people of Israel. Romans 9-11 is not some afterthought. It is perfectly in line with Paul’s train of thought, his logic. He begins with 3 doublets. Romans 9 (page #1743) 1 “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites…” Let me point out one thing here: Throughout Romans 9-11, Paul uses the designation “Israel” about 11 times and “Israelite(s) about 2 times. Only twice does he say Jew(s). Two things are implied here: First, it is a reference to ethnic Jewish people. Second, it is a reference to Israel as a nation, more than just Jewish people of the tribe of Judah.

What I want us to understand is Paul’s heart for his people. He says that he is willing to be “anathema” for them. Interestingly, that word in Greek is found repeatedly in the LXX to describe the situation when Achan had stolen things from Jericho, and, for that, he and his whole family had to be stoned to death. Paul is willing to be anathema from Christ for his people. That’s how much he loved and cared for them. This is very similar to Moses’ response when God was angry with Israel for making a Golden Calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai. Exodus 32 (page #135) 30 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! 32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” I don’t believe that I have the same heart for people as Moses and Paul.

Let me pause here. I’ve been talking about Israel and the land for 25 years, only recently (October 7, 2023) it has become a hot button issue…If you want to know more about these issues, check your motivations…There are many important issues to consider…

How about personal issues? Personal relationship with God, prayer life, serving in the church, addiction issues, moral failures, etc.?

What is your motivation in wanting to know more about what’s happening in Israel? Prayer? Giving? Going? By the way, we care about the whole world, even the Muslim world. We support missionaries all over all the time.

As Paul describes his people, he gives a list of 8 privileges that they have: Romans 9 (page #1743) 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the 

  1. adoption, – Exodus 4      22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”
  2. the glory, Exodus 40       34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
  3. the covenants, – Genesis 15.      18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” Again in Deuteronomy 29
  4. the giving of the law, – Exodus 19
  5. the service of God, – all throughout the Old Testament
  6. and the promises; – all throughout the Old Testament
  7. 5 of whom are the fathers – all throughout the Old Testament
  8. and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” – fulfilled in time

There is one word to encapsulate all these things – Witness.

Does Israel still have a purpose? Franz Mussner, Tractate on the Jews, gives the following:

  1. The Jew Is the Continuing Witness to God in the World and as such a “Proof of God.” Karl Barth – “only valid proof for God.”
  2. The Jew Is the Continuing Witness for the Concreteness of “Salvation History” Mussner – “disturbing factor” of the first order.
  3. The Jew Is the Witness of the Deus Absconditus, Whose Ways Are Not Discernable It means Hidden God.
  4. The Jew Does Not Allow the Messianic Idea to Disappear from the World
  5. The Jew Holds Up the Vision of a “Better World”
  6. Israel Is the World Historical Witness for the Not-Yet of the Divine Will
  7. The History of Humanity Has Become a Holy History through Judaism
  8. Israel, Despite the Christological “Narrow Pass” in the Church Has Not Ceased, Even Post Christum, To Be, Through Its Unheard of Sufferings, Together with Christ the Reconciling “Servant of God” for the Sins of the World

Invitation: Today’s message is more than just “What you think about Israel?” It is about what you think about God and his faithfulness. It is also about do we have a heart for the lost, especially those of the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Are you praying for Israel? Are you saved? Are you praying for the lost? Are you giving to support missions? Today’s message is more than just “What you think about Israel?” It is about what you think about God and his faithfulness. It is also about do we have a heart for the lost, especially those of the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Are you saved?

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