One has to remember that when Jesus entered Jerusalem on that faithful day, Blinded them until the fullness of the Gentiles. To this date, they are still blinded and do not as a nation believe that Jesus Christ was or is their Mashach Nagid. However, there are individual Jews who have become messianic (believe in Jesus Christ). They are also part of the Church that Jesus built as you and I are.
I agree that Messianic Jews are Christians but only just barely so in most cases. Most of them all but totally ignore the writings of Paul (and thereby the gospel of grace) and are up to their necks in legalism and religious ritual. All such works will be burned up on that great day, they themselves will be saved but as through fire (I Cor. 9-15).
As for Israel being blinded, that did not happen during Jesus' Earthly ministry. If the timeline Jesus gave at the Barren Fig Tree is any indication, which I believe it is, then the cutting off of Israel and therefore their blindness would have happened about a year or so after the Fig Tree (Israel) was "fertilized" by the giving of the Holy Spirit during Israel's "Feast of Weeks" (Pentecost).
For 2000 years, the nation of Israel was scattered across the earth as prophecy gave us. Until May 14, 1948, the day Israel declared themselves to be a Nation, the Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Turks ruled the land for some 500 years until 1701.
There's a prophesy about Israel being scattered across the Earth for 2000 years? Where is that one at?
The spiritual rebirth of Israel you speak of is found in Ezekial 36:22-28.
Actually, Ezekiel 37:11-14
This is known as the "New Covenant" which applies to both Jew and Gentile (inherited). The application of this begins in Rev 12 :1-18 and ends at the beginning of the Millennium where Jesus will place the New Covenant in the hearts of all the Jewish survivors (the Remnant of Israel). They will live in Israel (all of it from the Euphrates to the Nile, etc.)and rule the earth with Jesus Christ as the High Priest and King on King David's throne.
God's covenant is not with Gentiles but with the nation of Israel. The nations of Jesus will rule over are those that He will have concurred and anyone who is not a Jew by birth will not be in covenant relationship with God unless and until they become a proselyte Jew and submit themselves to Moses (minus the blood sacrifices and other similar rituals that were a shadow of THE sacrifice of Christ).
Keep in mind that the Book of Hebrews, written by Paul, is about Salvation.
Hebrews was most certainly not written by Paul.
There are several reasons we can know this, not the least of which are things like the style of writing as well as details like how the author Hebrew quotes the Septuagint in ways that are inconsistent with the known writings of Paul but by far the most important reason, the reason the proves it without any question is the fact that the author of Hebrews refers to receiving the gospel second-hand....
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him
This not only states that the author was not an eyewitness of Christ or His direct teachings but directly contradicts Paul when he states explicitly that he didn't get what he repeatedly called "his [my] gospel" from anyone other than directly from the risen Lord Jesus Christ Himself and makes a big deal about how he didn't even confer with the Twelve to the point of insisting "before God" that he was not lying about it....
Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and destroyed it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.
One additional point that further establishes that the book of Hebrews was written by someone other than Paul (perhaps Luke?) is that Paul had made a very clear agreement with Peter, James and John that he would minister to the Gentiles while they remained in Jerusalem and would minister to Israel (i.e. the Hebrews).
Galatians 2:6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
So, I say it again, based on Paul's own testimony, the book of Hebrews was most certainly not written by Paul!
Paul's words are to Believers, every man among them.
After a great deal of study, and meticulous examination of the available evidence, it has been determined that the book of Hebrews was written to....
wait for it....
THE HEBREWS!
(That really is intended to be light hearted and not snarky!)
The details of the millennium are minimum at best. the 50 mile x 50 mile temple not made by human hands will serve the whole earth. It is my belief that they will return to earlier times, farming, etc. The religion will be different in this period of time (dispensation) as the "Everlasting Gospel" will prevail upon all who are alive on earth (as mortals). There is very little given about this new Gospel but my guess would be that it is in some form as the Laws of Moses without sacrifices. The Earth during this time will be restored to the earth in the early years of the Patriarchs where everyone that comes to believe (Gentiles) will live for the full 1000 years. Everyone will have to visit Israel once per year, they will receive no rain for the next year. Most of the information of the millennium will come from the prophecies of the OT...and have yet to be fullfilled as are the majority of the prophecies for last days.
I used to be very well versed in all such details. I practically lived and breathed end times theology. It's sort of lost it's "magic" (for want of a better term) for me over the years. What I know with certainty is that I won't be around to experience any of it and I suspect that I will be rather occupied by other concerns during this Earth's final millennium.
