Upon Thy People: Israel
The Seventy Weeks of Daniel prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) concerns the Jews, i.e., Daniel's "people" (9:24). It is not a myth that God has chosen Israel for Himself. "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:6).
Israel is presently blinded by unbelief. "Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25). </span style="color:darkred">"Because of unbelief they were broken off"</span style="color:darkred"> (Dan 11:20); but, "if they abide not still in unbelief, [they] shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again" (11:23).
The Church presently abides as the people of God only because Israel was cast off by God for unbelief. "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead" (Romans 11:15).
This is only a temporary situation, since Israel will soon be restored to faith and favor at the LORD Jesus Christ's Second Coming. "25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is My Covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins" (11:25-27).
Because God set His affection upon Israel, Satan has sought to exterminate Israel. "They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance" (Psalm 83:4). Though the LORD has allowed Israel to be afflicted, it is that they may learn to seek Him. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy Statutes" (Psa 119:71). God's anger against Israel's rejection of Himself will not be but for a short time longer. "In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer" (Isaiah 54:8).
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