The Christian’s Responsibility to Israel in 2025:
The Church’s Rejection of the Root
Last week we ended with Romans 11:7-19 and a vision the Lord gave me of The Great Awakening and Revival coming to Isreal and the impact of that in both Israeli and the Gentile world.
I’d like to read Romans 11:19-33 as a reminder of what this will look like as we get started:
Remember, Paul is talking to Gentiles in this passage.
19 You will say then, Branches were broken (pruned) off so that I might be grafted in!
20 That is true. But they were broken (pruned) off because of their unbelief (their lack of real faith), and you are established through faith (because you do believe). So do not become proud and conceited, but rather stand in awe and be reverently afraid.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches (because of unbelief), neither will He spare you (if you are guilty of the same offense).
22 Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s gracious kindness to you—provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away).
This passage uses two very critical words in the revelation Paul is bringing to the Church at Rome.
1. “Kindness.” The Greek word used here is crestotes and refers to a kindness that is morally useful. This is an attribute of God and a virtue created in His people. This paints a rich portrait of kindness as powerful goodness rooted in God’s own nature, revealed in Christ, imparted by the Spirit and Destined to be celebrated forever. It’s difficult for us to comprehend this unless the Lord reveals it to us and even then, we are limited in that level of revelation based on our own maturity in God.
This is contrasted with:
2. “Severity.” The Greed word used here is apotomia and carries with it the idea of uncompromising severity, the abrupt ‘cutting off’ of that which stands opposed to God’s redemptive purposes. This is not mere harshness but righteous firmness that defends holiness, upholds covenant standards, and preserves the purity of the people of God.
These two terms: kindness and severity form a moral unity. Kindness offers salvation, while severity falls on persistent unbelief. This tension safeguards grace from presumption and fuels reverent perseverance if you continue in His kindness. Keep this in mind as we read on and consider our own eternal position in God.
Continuing on in Romans 11:23-33
23 And even those others (the fallen branches, Jews), if they do not persist in (clinging to) their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.
24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these natural (branches) back on (the original parent stock of) their own olive tree.
25 Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has (temporarily) befallen a part of Israel (to last) until the (c)full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in, (This is kindness and severity at work)
26 And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.
27 And this will be My covenant (My agreement) with them when I shall take away their sins.
28 From the point of view of the Gospel (good news), they (the Jews, at present) are enemies (of God), which is for your advantage and benefit. But from the point of view of God’s choice (of election, of divine selection), they are still the beloved (dear to Him) for the sake of their forefathers.
29 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. (He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.)
30 Just as you were once disobedient and rebellious toward God but now have obtained (His) mercy, through their disobedience,
31 So they also now are being disobedient (when you are receiving mercy), that they in turn may one day, through the mercy you are enjoying, also receive mercy (that they may share the mercy which has been shown to you—through you as messengers of the Gospel to them).
32 For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all (alike).
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!
So, if we are grafted into the stock of the Vine, supported by the root—Israel—we must always remember that the Covenant which came through their lineage has been opened up to us today for this window of time. Without the stock, the root, we have nothing. Should we not take even more care to nourish that root by fervently loving and praying for that root to come into the Kingdom of Heaven? This is extending the kindness of God back to the root.
I have a peach tree in front of my house. It’s a few years old now. I planted it, nourished it and was so excited when it began to fruit. That first year I noticed that half of the tree produced the most delicious peaches I’d ever had. The squirrels and I constantly at odds for those peaches. The other half of the tree however, produces bitter fruit. So bitter in fact, I have to throw it all out every year. I have nourished that tree for several years and now realize it was two peach varieties grafted into a rootstock of a healthy, mature tree. These grafts are scions. One has matured into a sweet, fragrant peach, something me and that squirrel will fight over until the end of time. That other scion was a bad graft that matured into bitter fruit. The squirrels will not even eat from that side of the tree. One day, I’m going to have to prune that bad graft all the way down and see about grafting in another fruit into one of the branches.
One day my friends, God is going to deal with those who claim to be His children yet do not follow His commands and refuse to pray for and show kindness to the root—Israel. When He does, the pruning likely be painful, but He must make way for His covenant people to be brought back in. This is the severity side of God we learned about in Romans 11.
Why don’t we show kindness? What happened between Christians and Israel?
The enemy has created a wedge—a deception—to further propagate hatred and animosity toward and between the two groups for centuries. Jew and Gentile, always at odds, with a deep bitterness that divides them. We are of one stock, this division, was not meant to remain. More than that however, is the fact that the rejection of the Jews by Christians is not of God. We have been grafted in to provoke Israel to jealousy. If instead, we persecute, reject, and consistently push them away, how are we to provoke them to jealousy? Are we not pushing them further away from their Messiah?
The Great Divide:
We read in Acts of the initial divide that occurred after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord. As time went on persecution of Christians occurred both by the Jewish leaders and the Romans. Then, Christians began to persecute the Jews. To be honest, the relationship between the Christian and especially the Catholic Church and the Jewish people has been complex, marked by periods of theological disagreements, political tensions, and even outright hostility.
Let’s look at key theological moments in history that led to this Great Divide:
1) The Early Church (2nd-4th Century)
a) Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) a 2nd Century Apologist and philosopher. He argued in his manuscript “Dialogue with Trypho” that Christians were the true spiritual Israel, implying that Jews no longer held a unique covenantal role. I spoke to the longevity of God’s covenants last week.
b) Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) a 4th Century Catholic Priest- felt that the Jewish people were to be preserved as a “witness people” to Christian truth, but he endorsed supersessionism which is the belief that the Jewish Covenant was fulfilled and as such, replaced by Christianity. This is the root of what we refer to today as “replacement theology.” Augustine of Hippo’s ideology profoundly influenced the upcoming mediaeval worldview.
Supersessionism or “replacement theology” became a core tenet in many denominations, Christian, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and so on, resulting in the propagation of theological attitudes marginalizing Jewish people and, in some cases, even justifying discrimination or outright hostility toward Jewish people still today.
2) Medieval Church and Anti-Jewish Policies (11th–15th Century)
During the medieval period, the Catholic Church, as the dominant religious institution in Europe, implemented policies and teachings that frequently opposed Jewish communities, associating them with deicide (the charge of killing Jesus) and as such, portraying them as enemies of the Christian faith. We are all responsible for Jesus’ death on the Cross. Every one of us, never forget that… However, for the Jewish community, the punishment for this, handed down through the Church, has only served to divide us further. We see this under some distinctive segregated movements through this period of history.
• Fourth Lateran Council (1215): Under Pope Innocent III, the Council mandated that Jews wear distinctive clothing to segregate them from “Christians” thereby reflecting the Church’s view of Jews as outsiders. This contributed to both social and economic discrimination.
• Blood Libel Accusations: This was a horrific lie about the Jewish people wherein they claimed that Jews killed Christian children for ritual purposes. If a child went missing, nearby Jews were often blamed without trial or thorough investigation. Church leaders and communities sometimes endorsed or failed to refute these false claims. These accusations incited violence and terrible pogroms. (Pogroms are organized massacres of Jewish people in Russia, Ukraine and Europe. This became especially severe in Ukraine.)
• Crusades: During the Crusades (11th–13th centuries), Christian zealots, often with implicit or explicit Church approval, attacked Jewish communities in Europe (e.g., the Rhineland massacres of 1096- where mobs of French and German Christians of the People’s Crusade committed mass murders of Jewish people.). While not directly orchestrated by the Church, such actions were fueled by religious rhetoric.
These policies and events entrenched anti-Jewish sentiment, leading to widespread persecution, forced conversions (convert or die), and expulsions. We saw forced expulsions from England in 1290, France in 1306, and Spain in 1492.
3) Martin Luther and the Reformation (16th Century with an impact even into 21st Century)
Martin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation, initially expressed hope that Jews would convert to his reformed Christianity. However, when this did not occur, he turned against them. In his 1543 treatise On the Jews and Their Lies, Luther advocated harsh measures against Jews, including burning synagogues, confiscating their books, and expelling them from Christian lands. He described Jews as “rejected and condemned” for denying Christ. Luther’s writings influenced anti-Jewish attitudes in Protestant regions, particularly in Germany, and were later exploited by Nazi propagandists.
4) Church opposition (by denomination) to the Modern State of Israel (20th–21st Century)
With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, some Christian churches and leaders expressed opposition, often rooted in theological objections to Zionism, political concerns about Palestinian rights, or criticism of Israeli policies.
Some key examples include:
. Catholic Church’s Delayed Recognition of Israel (1948–1993)
The Vatican historically opposed Zionism, viewing it as incompatible with Catholic theology, which traditionally saw the Jewish diaspora as a divine consequence of rejecting Jesus. In fact, the Vatican did not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until 1993, reflecting a cautious stance shaped by theological concerns and geopolitical considerations, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Church also prioritized protecting Christian holy sites and communities in the Holy Land, many of which were under Arab or Muslim control before 1948.
In their defense, the Vatican’s position softened post-Vatican II (1960s), which rejected collective Jewish guilt for Jesus’ death and moved away from hard supersessionism (replacement theology) but the damage has been done.
. Criticism of Zionism by Mainline Protestant Churches (20th–21st Century)
First, what is Zionism? This is a nationalist movement that supports the self-determination and statehood of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel.
Some Protestant denominations, particularly mainline churches (e.g., Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ), have criticized Zionism and Israeli policies, often citing concerns over Palestinian rights and the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Zionism is a movement for the establishment and development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. It was established as a political organization in 1897 under Theodor Herzl and was later led by Chaim Weiszmann. Zionism is a movement provoked by God to prepare a place for His people.
How has the Church responded?
• Presbyterian Church (USA) (2004–Present): The church has passed resolutions calling for divestment from companies profiting from Israel’s occupation, citing human rights concerns. These actions have been interpreted by some as opposition to Israel’s policies.
• Church of Scotland (2013): The report The Inheritance of Abraham questioned the theological basis for Zionism, suggesting it did not align with Christian views of the “Promised Land.” After criticism, the report was revised, but it reflected skepticism toward Israel’s claims.
• Mennonite Central Committee: This group has criticized Christian Zionism for supporting Israeli settlements, which it views as illegal and detrimental to peace.
These stances have been seen by pro-Israel groups as anti-Israel, though the churches frame their actions as advocating for “justice and peace” rather than opposing Israel’s existence.
Now, it’s important to note here, that many of these churches I mentioned have moved away from traditional Biblical beliefs, embracing the “Liberal Ideology” that infiltrated the Bible Schools in the early 19th Century and today, runs rampant in many mainline churches. These advocate for social justice over Biblical Justice.
What is Liberal Ideology?
Liberal ideology strives to reconcile Christian teachings with contemporary knowledge, science, and ethics. In other words, they’ve transitioned from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states:
16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),
17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
So, they do not teach that the Bible is the Divinely inspired Word of God, meant for our instruction, correction, conviction of sin, training in righteousness, to equip the man of God for every good work anymore. Instead, they’ve stripped the Scriptures of their Divinity and Divinely inspired attributes and instead, applied a deceptive historical-cultural ideology to the Bible.
What does that even mean?
Liberal Ideology proponents believe that the Bible is a collection of metaphorical or symbolic narratives rather than actual historical events! This obviously challenges the miracles God has done throughout history, from Creation to the parting of the Red Sea to the Birth of Christ, His death, His resurrection, Pentecost, essentially the fulfillment of THE Covenant that is foundational to the Christian faith. They’ve watered down the power and authority of the Word of God into a collection of symbolic, perhaps even inspirational stories meant to act as a guide for us in our modern-day environment. They take the teachings of Jesus and mix this Social Justice, Cultural Marxist ideology and believe, that if Jesus were walking the streets today, He would embrace social justice over the Holy Justice of a living God. They believe He would be inclusive and embrace the sinful lifestyles running rampant in the world today. Bible Schools are teaching this today my friends! The same denominations I’ve mentioned, have all embraced same-gender unions, the LGTBQ lifestyles, pro-choice, “climate justice,” and antisemitic ideology over Biblical teachings.
In short, there is a direct correlation between these compromised denominations and the rise of antisemitism in the Church today. How can we ever expect those who no longer adhere to the Word of God as the inherent Word of God to stand for Israel today? They are like the bitter side of my fruit tree, a bad graft. They will be met with the severity of God’s justice in the coming days.
Again, what is the Christian’s responsibility to Israel in 2025?
As Christians, we must weigh everything in light of what the Lord brings to us through His Word and through the voice of His prophets and remember our elder brother needs our covering in this hour. Jesus, in His 3-part “lost and found” series in Luke 15 speaks of the Prodigal Son. Like all of the Lord’s parables, there are lessons that can be applied in more than one area. I see this parable as fitting perfectly here on the importance of embracing that which was cut off or lost, when it is found.
Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Israel, or the Jewish people, is like the prodigal son, and they will return to the Father. Will we run and prepare the feast for them or be bitter like his brother? Will we choose to bless Israel, pray for God’s light to enter, for the veil to be rent, and for them to come to know their Messiah?
Do we, as Christians, particularly Intercessors, really want to be part of cursing Israel? Do we want to stand before the Judgment Seat and be shown the history of our opportunity to do so and the result of our failure? Do we want to answer for our unwillingness to pray for Israel? I personally could not bear to carry that burden.
Darrell had a dream last Friday after the first message I gave on Isreal:
In this dream I was walking and came upon a couple guys that were having a conversation. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I intuitively knew they were talking about me and making plans for my future. I thought to myself, “What right do these people have to discuss my future?” They actually wanted me to join the discussion and consider what they were saying, but I made it clear that I wouldn’t give any place to these people that were butting in, and I had no interest in being their friends. They became offended and angry and wanted to fight me. That’s when I noticed a bystander and I knew he intended to intervene for me against these guys that wanted to do me harm. I also saw that he (the bystander) was engaging in non-verbal communication with a woman who was wearing a cowbell around her neck.
The scene changed. Some kind of an official asked me to scan a tag on my phone, and I knew that by it, I could be tracked. Then I had to provide my phone number to someone who jotted down the last 4 digits of my phone number. This person also wrote the numbers that come just before and just after the digits of my phone number.
When I woke up from my dream, I knew by revelation that the last 4 digits of my phone number corresponded to a chapter and verse in the Bible, and the verses just before and just after that verse were important to read as well.
The portion of Scripture it referenced was
Jeremiah 32:37-44.
Jer. 32:37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.' 42 "For thus says the LORD: 'Just as I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them. 43 And fields will be bought in this land of which you say, "It is desolate, without man or beast; it has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans." 44 Men will buy fields for money, sign deeds and seal them, and take witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South; for I will cause their captives to return,' says the LORD."
These verses of Scripture fit the context of the dream.
In this dream, I personified Israel and those that wanted to pick a fight with me represent Israel’s enemies that want to butt in on the future God has in store for them. The bystander planning to intervene in the dream is the Lord. The woman with the cowbell around her neck also represents Israel. The cowbell has symbolic significance. Cowbells are used to identify the members of the shepherd’s herd. There’s another reference in the dream to God tracking His people. That’s when I scanned something on my phone which enabled tracking. The message is one and the same. God is able to identify every single one that He drove to other countries and call them back to their own land.
-end-
As I said last week, when Israel became a nation, it was the catalyst for end-time events and as we progress further into those events, the world will turn against Israel in greater measure. America is the last physical line of defense for Israel as the Arab nations which, incidentally, boast a 98-99 percent Islamic religion, which believes at its core, death to Israel and death to America, are currently surrounding the tiny nation of Israel. Israel is only .24% of the entire region of the Middle East, they are surrounded by people who want to kill them. And the world continues to vilify Israel!?! America is the last physical line of defense, but the Church, we are the last spiritual line of defense as we grow closer to the end-time events.
Candace and Tucker have disappointed me greatly as of late in their presentation of Israel. (I’ll cover this more when I speak to the media’s coverage of Israel in two weeks) One claims there is a difference between ancient Israel and modern-day Israel—which is false. Over 4500 years ago, God spoke to Abraham throughout this land. In Genesis 14:18, Noah’s son Shem founded Salem which would be reclaimed by King David for God’s people and renamed Jerusalem in 1070 BC. In addition, many decedents of Ancient Israel are living in Israel today and God is continuously, intentionally, drawing them in for Aliyah for their own protection. Do we see the persecution building? As we progress through the prophetic timeline more and more will flee antisemitic arenas to make Aliyah for their own protection.
In 2022, shortly after the Russia/Ukraine Conflict was reignited, Pastor Sayo came to Fresno, and we drove out to a Christ for the Nation’s facility about 90 minutes from me. They take the imperfect fruits, dry them and ship them out all over the world. They are now contracted with grain operators who transport grains to their facility, and they assemble highly nutritional bags of grain for soups and such and ship by container-loads into poverty-stricken nations. They showed us the facility; they were packing up containers to be shipped to Israel. He said one of the effects of the war was that many Jewish families, who had suffered antisemitic persecution in Ukraine were now being forced out. The beauty of this is that they were making Aliyah. These containers were being filled with furniture, blankets, dishes, etc. to help them get established. He was so excited to be part of how God was using this tragedy to fulfill the Scriptures and bring the Jewish people to safety by shipping supplies for them to rebuild their lives in Israel.
The Days Ahead
In the coming days, I want to encourage you to put your thinking caps on, let’s really activate the critical thinking part of our brains. Think about what we’ve seen in America over the last several years with the media and the corruption they’ve promoted with propaganda and consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the enemy is at work in how we perceive events in a world 7000 miles away and stay the course, pray for Israel.
We must consider that there is a direct correlation between the end times and the increased hatred and persecution of Israel and the Jewish people the world over. In short, if the people of God do not pray for Israel, who will? Paul tells us in Romans not to speak against the root—aka Israel—or be arrogant in our own standing with God but walk out our salvation in the fear of God being mindful of His gift of salvation to us and the root from which we were grafted into.
I’ll cover the medias propagation in two weeks. Until then, let us spend time repenting for the Church’s rejection of our root, Israel and ask the Lord to open our eyes to His truths so we, the intercessors can fulfill the Christian’s responsibility to Israel in 2025
Blessings & love,
Ricci Johnson-Wilson
