Page 77 - Signs of the End

THE SIGNS OF THE END 41

the Gentile nations. He often reminded them of the fact that they
had benefitted spiritually from the Israeli Christians and that
they therefore had a responsibility to help them financially in
their needs (Rom. 15:25-27).

When the Apostle Paul returned to Jerusalem for his last
visit, he brought with him the laige offering from the churches
around the Roman Empire. Jam es and the elders of the church
greatly appreciated the gift and told Paul that there were many
thousands of Jewish believers in Christ there. Shortly afterwards,
Paul w as arrested in Jerusalem and brought to trial before the
Sanhedrin for preaching about Jesus.

The impact of the Mother Church of Jerusalem and Israel was
great upon the evangelical movement in the Roman Empire, until
Rome crushed Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in A.D. 70.

Potential Value to Church Today

The world has not seen a true Israeli Church since that time.
For 19 centuries, there has been no indigenous Israeli Church in
the New Testament sense. But now, we have one again. It is
comparatively small, but it is vocal and it is determined to have
a testimony to this generation of Israel. It would seem that this
new Israeli Church has a potential of meaning as much to the
body of Christ in our time as it did in the New Testament era.

The church universal did well when it w as balanced with a
strong witness in Israel and an emerging testimony in Asia Minor
and Europe. The Jewish and Gentile arms of the body of Christ
were thus well represented. The same thing might well happen
now, as the church in Israel gains strength and momentum.
Having a strong Jewish voice for the Gospel once again in Israel
could be a great encouragement to believers throughout the
world, and should also make it easier for Jewish people every­
where to identify with the message of Christ. After all, if Jesus
is acceptable for Israelis, He must be acceptable for Jews in the
Dispersion!