The Canaanites (called Phoenicians)spread throught North Africa , Europe, and the America's would eventually convert to Judaism (H.G. Wells even mentions this in his history book, well he doesnt mention the cross world travels but does mention Carthage and such springing up into large Jewish communities).So you have "Jews" that are ethnic Canaanite, and even the Palestinian Jews would be made up of many Canaanite converts.
Many Christians were Jewish converts including (gasp)the New Testament characters including the Lords relatives.
You have Palestinians that are Christians (and later converts to Islam) who are ethnic Jews.
Yemen (South Arabia) was mostly (or very large) Jewish till they converted to Islam, so you have Arab Muslims who are biological Jews.
These Arabs,desendent of Judah (in part), later spread to Palestine and the rest of Syria including Lebanon.Mixed in with "Palestinians", who again were "gentiles" but of Jewish descent.
Lebanese are descendent of ethnic Jews, Sidonians ,etc.
"Jews" are mostly descendent of a few tribes (Simeon, Benjamin , Levi, Judah) and gentile Samaritans.Plus Romans, Greeks, and much modern Diasopora European blood like German,Polish, Russian,etc.
There isnt a single New Testament prophecy related to any human beings (at least not before the final chapters of Revelation regarding the eternity),much less Jews, returning to Palestine.Because they were already there.in the first century AD, Jews were expected to convert to Christianity and all future prophecies (which are vague,general, and highly symbolic not to mention the fact that most,if not all, already happened back in the 1st or 2nd century) related to the Bible believers (the WHOLE Bible which means Christians).This racial obsession with "Jews" returning to Palestine may SEEM like some huge sacred issue that trumps all other "Christian issues".However.it is a modern western Christian invention.
Honestly, the descendents of Judah were already in Palestine by 1900 AD.They were Palestinians: Muslims, Jews, and Christian.Prhaps even the "Israelite" Samaritans even had a little Jewish blood in them.
I dont really care.
Race became an obsolete issue after Christ died on the cross.I think it already was before.I mean honestly,it is obvious the "12 tribes" were heavily gentile.By Christs time only the tribes Levi, Benjamin, and Judah were mentioned frequently because they were honestly (about)all that was left.The 8 Northern tribes were clearly viewed as gentile and they frankly were.The Old Testament described them as gentile implants. The New Testament broadly described them as "Samaritans" almost 100% of the time.Only once was an Israelite specifically labeled as a member of one of the obsolete Northern tribe (Asher), and that maye have simply ment a resident of the land of Asher, not a biological descendent of Asher.Asher was a large land in the north-west, so maybe gentile residents (Samaritan or Canaanite)would be called children of Asher or such.Ben-Asher.
Most prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled when Cyrus returned the large body of Jews (southern kingdom Jews though Im sure thy mixed in with the displaced Northern tribes in Mesopotamia,not to mention many babylonian gentiles)back in around 539 BCE.
Most Christians listen to many modern day leaders who use those types of verses as somehow relating to TODAYS times.
It is true,however, that some (very very little, much less than most Christians would imagine, when compared to what is commonly taught by Hal Lindsey types) prophecies may relate to a time in the future.But if Jews returing to Palestine AFTER Christs time was such a burning "Orthadox" issue, then why is the New testament silent on the issue? HMM?
Christian exegesis clearly shows that any future prophecies yet to happen (much less than most Christians think, most prophecies already happened) were directed at Bible followers which happened to be Christians.Not to "replace" Jew's (refering to the old cannard that anybody who believes such is "replacing Jews with the church")infact many Jews became Christians.
When Moses came around and wrote the law, he didnt "replace" Noah or take anything from him.He simply offered revelation that progressively was presented.David and Solomon didnt replace Moses. The books of Kings didnt displace anybody who followed the Law (I think the law was presented around 1500BCE not around the Exile or Josiah).The Jews (or Israelites) kept on recieving the revelation.
Christ and his revelation didnt replace anything or anybody.Everybody was free to continue the religion and worship of YHWH which extended itself from Genesis1:1 to Revelation 22 after the progressive revelation.
There is no replacment theology.Just progressive revealing of Gods program.If you add another room to your, house then nothing is replaced.The same people keep on livng in the house.The SAME Jews kept on following God only it included Matthew-Revelation (or a few books less in Syriac churches)plus the gentiles Christian converts they mixed in with.
Prophecies (I hate even mentioning them sice so much that is described as "prophecy yet to happen" already happened, I feel like a scam artist even saying "prophecy" these days)that havnt happened relate to Christians.The 12 tribes became Christians.Some didnt. Many Israelites rejected the faith in 1500 BCE, 1000BCE, 500 BCE but those that accepted the revelation (past,present, and progressive) kept on going.Same in c.33 AD.
ALL Biblical prophecies related the the believing community (the tribes in O.T.&N.T. times,or the "church" in post christ times)relate to Christians.
That is the long held conclusion of standard exegesis.Infact there was no debate.
Questions.
Those who hold these new modern views about one race having rights over another in Palestine should accept the burden of proof. Present DNA evidence that proves who is a member of what race.It must be doen on every individual Jew and Palestinian (or in the case of deciding which race to side with in Israeli-Lebanese wars,on each Jew and each Lebanese).
Also, Deuteronomy 23 (and the rest of the Bible) says that ethnicity is passed on through the father line and an Israelite that has a gentile father isnt an Israelite.We all know that many Jews are only Jews on their mothers side, and even if they have a father that is a Jew by modern standards, the fathers wouldnt dont fit the Deuteronomy 23 standard.
Modern American Christians who promost this racial theology MUST respond to that.
They must explain what (racial test)constitutes an Israelite worthy of specific racial rights over certain other peoples.
They must explain why the New Testament said NOTHING about Jews returning to the land and having rights over those Christians and Muslims already living there.Romans 10:11 and Galatians 2:28 infact seemed to imply that there is no difference in rights between Jews and gentiles.And the gentiles used as an example included an ethnicity(Greek) that would include many Palestinians then and in 1948.
Why did Christ seem to indicate that violence, corruption, and especially starvation was the biggest issue for a Christian(and Christians) to tackle yet modern Christians seem to feel that picking a favorite race in Palestine (an issue absent in the New Testament) is the burning issue of our day?
These need to be anwsered.
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