Against Jews

Blinded Jews argue against us that the Messiah has not come yet.

Book of Questions (PDF), by Gregory of Tatev

Isaiah 2: 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

The Jews say, your supposed Messiah came many days ago – more than one thousand four hundred years (at Gregory’s time). what happened to the “latter days”? So, clearly, He was not the Messiah.

To which the Doctors of the Church answer, and taking their words, I say that [the expression] last days does not refer to the consummation of the world; it means the diminution of laws and His justice, for their law was diminished at the time of the coming of Christ.

This is as Jesus taught, that the laws were used as a weapon; they were taught but not kept by the leaders of the Jews; they were not used to lift a man toward righteousness but to bring him down in shame.

Further, the Jews did not see “all nations flow to it.” But how is all used elsewhere in Scripture?

2 Samuel 16: 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Did all Israel see this? Every person of Israel? Of course not.

2 Samuel 17: 14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.

Did Absalom speak to all men of Israel?

Then, therefore, all means many. Likewise, not all nations but many people from all nations came to Christ.

We know this to be true.

What of the following objection?

Isaiah 2: 4(b) They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Certainly, in the years since Christ, this has not been the case.

We say that the Prophet speaks here about peace, which prevailed shortly before the coming of the Christ, and during all the time of the Christ, and forty years after Him until the Jews rebelled against the Roman domination.

There was peace in Palestine except when the Jews would rebel.

Isaiah 11: 6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

The Jews will say that this has not happened either. But the Bible often speaks in allegory, for example:

Judges 9: 8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

Did actual trees actually do this? Most certainly not. Likewise, we see Judah likened to a lion.

The Jews also say that Judah will be saved:

Jeremiah 23: 6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

But this is answered in the Talmud, where it says that ‘Jew’ means ‘confessor,’ for those who confess to Messiah will be saved.

Conclusion

Ezekiel 38: 1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

When did Messiah, Jesus, do this? Again, it is a wrong understanding of Messiah:

We say that Gog and Magog spiritually mean all persecutors of the church. Our Lord Jesus will destroy them all…

Christians see this prophesied here:

Psalm 2: 7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.