Tad grumpy today - Posters on various thread have asserted quite strongly that Israel never existed - The proof was in the ground -
As to those that did not believe Israel existed I say that the Good Lord has a special place in his heart because he made so many of them. Would you agree to that last statement???
I support the OT as being quite correct, God won all their battles as far as controlling the land called Israel. As soon as He stopped doing that, exile into Babylon.
Your statement is quite correct, unfortunately they have arrived a tad early. The plans Christ has for the 'remodeling' doesn't include the survival of any people in the immediate area when He returns. It isn't Christ who will be messed up when some of the 12 tribes are being sent to hell instead of being brought home alive (or resurrected) , they should have been safely scattered in the Nations (the last place He left them).
He has a special place in His heart for mankind. If your statement was true there would be no Christians. What He has is a special place in His heart for what He calls 'His people', in spite of their lacking obedience to what He asks of them. Us Christians aren't any better at following directions from Heaven BTW.
Eze:36:19:
And I scattered them among the heathen,
and they were dispersed through the countries:
according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
Eze:36:20:
And when they entered unto the heathen,
whither they went,
they profaned my holy name,
when they said to them,
These are the people of the LORD,
and are gone forth out of his land.
Eze:36:21:
But I had pity for mine holy name,
which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen,
whither they went.
Eze:36:22:
Therefore say unto the house of Israel,
Thus saith the Lord GOD;
I do not this for your sakes,
O house of Israel,
but for mine holy name's sake,
which ye have profaned among the heathen,
whither ye went.
Eze:36:23:
And I will sanctify my great name,
which was profaned among the heathen,
which ye have profaned in the midst of them;
and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD,
saith the Lord GOD,
when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Eze:36:24:
For I will take you from among the heathen,
and gather you out of all countries,
and will bring you into your own land.
Eze:36:25:
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you,
and ye shall be clean:
from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze:36:26:
A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.