God gave to the Israelites the wilderness area as a southern boundary, Lebanon as a northern boundary, the Euphrates River as an eastern boundary, and the Mediterranean Sea as a western boundary. Throughout history the nation of Israel has had difficulty gaining and keeping control over even part of this extensive area. To the present hour the Jews have been squeezed into a fraction of their inheritance. Today there is a new wave of hatred against the Jews arising in the nations of the earth.

The inability of the Jews to gain and hold their land may be due to two factors: one, their original lack of determination in going in and taking by force what the Lord directed them to invade and conquer; and two, their sins and rebellions against the Lord. It may be true that the Jews to this day are not trusting in the Lord with their whole hearts. They still are attempting to solve their problems by their own wisdom and strength and by leaning on Gentile nations for money and military assistance.

The Jewish race is the only race God called out from the world to be a kingdom of priests to Himself. It appears that the Jews prefer to be part of the world rather than a called-out nation. God cannot be mocked. Before He is finished working, Israel will be the Lord's royal priesthood. Jerusalem will be the throne of the Lord.

We understand from the Scriptures that the biblical history of Israel is a type, a foreshadow of what is true in the spiritual Kingdom of God.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (I Corinthians 10:11)

For if Jesus [Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:8,9)

It is scriptural that Canaan, the land of promise, represents the goal of the Christian redemption—the "mark" toward which Paul was pressing.

Precisely what is the goal of the Christian warfare?

Perhaps the most commonly held assumption in all Christendom is that eternal residence in Heaven is the goal of the Christian life. This assumption is a substantial part of Christian preaching, teaching, and hymns. "Going to Heaven" is a major concept of Christian doctrine. Also, many Jews and the secular world understand going to Heaven to be the goal of living righteously. There may be no other assumption so deeply ingrained in Christian thinking.

It is taught that if we are "saved" we will "go to Heaven" when we die. Heaven is our "eternal home"—this is the traditional belief.

However, going to Heaven is not emphasized in the Old Testament nor is going to Heaven when we die stressed in the New Testament. Going to Heaven is not the goal of the Christian redemption.

To be continued.