Lived AD.1616-1683
On the future of Israel
An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Second Edition, Volume 1, published in Edinburgh in 1812. Quotes are from pages 546-547
- Moreover, it is granted that there shall be a time and season, during
the continuance of the kingdom of the Messiah in this world, wherein the
generality of the nation of the Jews, all the world over, shall be called and
effectually brought unto the knowledge of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus
Christ; with which mercy they shall also receive deliverance from their
captivity, restoration unto their own land, with a blessed, flourishing, and
happy condition therein. I shall not here engage into a confirmation of
this concession or assertion. The work would be long and great, because
of the difference about the time, season, and manner of their call, and
their following state and condition; and so is unmeet for us to undertake
in the winding up of these discourses. It is only the thing itself that I
assert; nor have I any cause, as to the end aimed at, to inquire into the
time and manner of its accomplishment. Besides, the event can be the
only sure and infallible expositor of these things; nor, in matters of such
importance as those before us, shall I trouble the reader with conjectures.
The thing itself is acknowledged, as far as I can understand, by all the
world that have any acquaintance with these things. Christians generally
do assert it, look for it, pray for it; and have done so in all ages from the
days of the apostles. Mohammedans are not without some thoughts of
what shall befall the Jews before the end of the world. As to the Jews
themselves, in their false notion of it, it is the life of their hopes and
religion. What is it, then, that the Jews plead? what do they expect? what
promises are given unto them? They say that they shall be delivered out
of their captivity, restored to their own land, enjoy peace and quietness,
glory and honour therein. We say the same concerning them also. But by
whom shall these things be wrought for them? By their Messiah, they say,
at his coming. But shall he do all these things for them whether they
believe in him or no, whether they obey him or reject him, love him or
curse him? Is there no more required unto this delivery but that he
should come to them? Is it not also required that they should come to
him?
https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/owen/An%20Exposition%20of%20the%20Epistle%20to%20-%20John%20Owen.pdf
We have manifested before that there is
ibid. 558
mention of a double Israel in the Scripture;—the spiritual Israel, that is,
all the sons of the faith of Abraham, in all ages and places throughout the
world; and an Israel according to the flesh, or the carnal posterity of
Jacob, which the present Jews are. This distinction we have elsewhere
confirmed.
Whatever is foretold and promised concerning the Jews
ibid., 558-559
themselves in the days of the Messiah, doubtless they have no ground nor
colour of reason to expect the accomplishment of it until they receive
him, own him, and submit unto him; which to this day they have not
done. When Moses went forth to visit them of old in their distress, and
slew the Egyptian that smote one of them, because they refused him, and
would not understand that it was he whom God would deliver them by,
and endeavoured to betray him to death, their bondage was continued
forty years longer; and yet at length by the same Moses were they
delivered; and although they have refused and rejected him who was
promised to be their Saviour, and so continue to this day in their
captivity, spiritual and temporal, yet it is he by whom, in the time appointed,
they shall be delivered from the one and the other. But this
shall not be done until they own and receive him: which when God shall
give them hearts to do, they will quickly find the blessed success thereof;
for,—(5.) We grant that there are many promises on record in the
Scripture concerning their gathering together, their return to God by the
Messiah, with the great peace and glory that shall ensue thereupon.
Return they shall to their own land, to enjoy it for a quiet
ibid., p559
and everlasting possession, their adversaries being destroyed; filled they
shall be also with the light and knowledge of the will and worship of God,
so as to be a guide and blessing unto the residue of the Gentiles who shall
seek after the Lord; and, it may be, be intrusted with great empire and
rule in the world. The most of these things are foretold concerning them,
not only in their own prophetical writings, but also by the divine writers
of sundry books of the New Testament. But all this, we say, must come to
pass when the veil shall be taken from before their eyes, and when “they
shall look on him whom they have pierced,” and joyfully receive him
whom they have sinfully rejected for so many generations.
Here lies the crisis of their condition: When they shall receive, acknowledge,
ibid., 560-561
and believe in, that Messiah who came so long time since unto them,
whom their fathers wickedly slew and hanged on a tree, and whom
themselves have since no less wickedly rejected; and when, by his Spirit
and grace, they shall be turned from ungodliness, and shall have their
eyes opened to see the mystery of the grace, wisdom, and love of God in
the blood of his Son;—then shall they obtain mercy from the God of their
forefathers, and returning again into their own land, “Jerusalem shall be
inhabited again, even in Jerusalem.”