Will Living Saints Escape Death At The Rapture?

1st Corinthians 15:51-53, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

At the Rapture, which I humbly believe happens BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period (aka, a pre-Tribulation Rapture), all saints (both dead and live) will be changed from mortality to immortality (1st Corinthians 15:51-58; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18). By the way, I always capitalize the word “Rapture,” since it is a proper noun for an event.

That being said, all living saints MUST die at the Rapture. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Hebrews 9:27b, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Since all men are guilty sinners, all men MUST die once (i.e., the physical death). But we don't have to die the second death in the everlasting Lake of Fire. The old adage is true: If you're born once, you die twice; if you're born twice, you die once.

So, no, living saints will not escape death at the Rapture. We must die as sinners. But don't worry because the Bible says we will be “changed” in a fraction of a second (i.e., “in the twinkling of an eye”). An eye blink lasts about a tenth of a second, typically ranging from 100 to 400 milliseconds. This quick action helps keep the eyes lubricated and clear of debris. So, all living saints will die at the Rapture and be given a new immortal perfect resurrected body by God before we can even realize what just happened.

Psalms 92:11

Psalms 92:11, “Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.”

I cherish this Scripture passage. I have been deeply hurt, defrauded, abused, victimized and mistreated by countless wicked sinners throughout my life. Humans equal pain! We are all guilty sinners. This passage promises that we will someday see God avenge us of our enemies. God will settle all scores! Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” God will recompense (avenge) all evil (cf., Ecclesiastes 5:8).

The inspired Holy Bible teaches in 1st Corinthians 6:1-3 that we as saints will judge the world and angels in the future. Yet, sadly, Christians drag each other into secular heathen courtrooms, unable to judge matters between themselves because of pride (Proverbs 13:10).

Let's just face it, the book of Psalms is the most vindictive book in the whole Bible. David prayed for God to “Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.” (Psalms 58:6-7). David wanted to be avenged, and I don't blame him. I have often felt exactly the same way toward ungodly sinners who've hurt me. David essentially said:

“Don't worry about the wicked because they're going down! God's going to destroy my enemies. They are going to perish like the grass. They're going to regret ever being born. God will punish them! I'm going to live to see what bad things happen to them!”

That is the way the book of Psalms is written. The words “enemy” and “enemies” appear 104 times in the book of Psalms. Psalms 25:2, “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.” You're singing for God not to let the bad guys win. It is a vindictive type of song. This is as Christian as the Gospel. Yes, we are commanded to forgive others, but there is nothing wrong or unscriptural with desiring to be avenged of those who wrong you. Even if someone hurts you with their words, Jesus warned that all men will be held accountable for their words (Matthew 12:36).

We have a biblical precedent for rejoicing over enemies who get what they have coming to them. Revelation 18:20, “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” It is very normal to desire to see our enemies crash and burn! But wait a minute, doesn't the Scripture warn against rejoicing when your enemy falls? Proverbs 24:17-18, “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” So, we have a striking paradox here, a clear contradiction.

To clear up this matter, I found some helpful Bible commentary for Revelation 18:22 from Dr. John R. Rice in his book titled, “Revelation: Behold He Cometh!”...

“Rejoice over her, thou heaven” (vs. 20). Jesus said, 'I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.' (Luke 15:7). Then again He said, 'Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth' (Luke 15:10). In Heaven they rejoice over souls saved; but here they are to rejoice when sin is avenged and when they wicked are put down. 

In Revelation 6:9-11 we read of the great concern of saints in Heaven in Heaven after dying as martyrs: 

'And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.' 

Now they will rejoice that their patience is rewarded, that their death is avenged! 

Angels in Heaven must rejoice also with those who rejoice 'in the presence of the angels.' How their gladness peals out in that beautiful chant at the birth of Christ when the sky was filled with them! Angels are the guides and the servants, the protectors of Christians (Heb. 1:14; Matt. 18:10; Ps. 37:7; 91:11, 12). Will they not rejoice when those they love and serve rejoice? Holy beings as they are, will they not rejoice that sin is punished and God is vindicated? 

So angels, with the apostles and prophets of all ages, will rejoice that sin is put down and in the destruction of that great city of sin, the spiritual Babylon of the tribulation time.” —Dr. John R. Rice, “Revelation: Behold He Cometh!,” pp. 270-271; © 1977, Sword of the Lord publishers

Proverbs 24:17 differs from Revelation 18:22 in that there's a big difference between rejoicing when your enemy falls, versus rejoicing when God avenges you of your enemy.

I humbly think a great example of this truth is found in the story of Joseph and what his wicked half-brothers did to him, selling Joseph into slavery...

Genesis 50:14-21, “And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.  And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones.  And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”

Joseph forgave his Brothers, but he also acknowledged that he had placed the matter into God's hands for judgment. Joseph reminded his brothers that he was not God, so it wasn't his place to judge iniquity. James 4:12, “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

Heaven rejoices in Revelation 18:20 because God has judged Babylon (which I humbly believe is the United States) for the wrongs she inflicted upon the saints, signifying divine justice. In sharp contrast, Proverbs 24:17 warns against rejoicing over an enemy's downfall to promote mercy and humility, highlighting different contexts of judgment and justice. So, yes, we have every right to expect for God to avenge us of our enemies; but at the same time we should have the forgiving spirit of Stephen, who while being stoned to death by a mob of angry Jews cried out, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” That is, Stephen died from his injuries.

There should be a burning desire within the soul of every child of God for sinner's to come to repentance. 2nd Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This is the great heart of God.

Deuteronomy 32:43, “Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.”

Psalms 96:11-13, “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”

Revelation 19:1-2, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”

Part of my soul desires to see those ungodly sinners who have stole, hurt, lied, defrauded and conspired against me to burn in Hell. I desire to see the rotten carnal pastors who kicked me out of their churches, who threw me under the bus for dead in my loneliness and suffering, to suffer horribly. I want to see them crash and burn! I often feel like Jonah the prophet, who became angry when God repented not to destroy the Ninevites. Jonah wanted them to burn in judgment! I know how Jonah felt.

Yet, I would be delighted someday to find out that the unsaved men who persecuted me in the workplace got saved. I would be delighted to know that the wicked pastors who persecuted and drove me from their corrupt churches, had later repented of their Lordship Salvation and then started preaching more doctrinally sound because of my calamity which they caused. I would delight in my painful losses and long time suffering, if it led to their salvation and edification in the LORD. 2nd Corinthians 12:15, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

I humbly think this is the proper mindset for every saint of God. While we have every right to expect for God to avenge us of all evildoers for their unethical behavior and wrongdoing toward us; contrariwise, at the same time we should equally have a sincere desire for their repentance unto salvation, or repentance and growth in grace if they are already saved. Although I want my enemies and the hundreds of mean people who have deeply hurt me throughout my lifetime to be punished severely by God, I much more desire for their salvation and spiritual wellbeing in the Lord. So, there is a balance, and that I think is the key word.

It's okay to pray impreccatory prayers toward our enemies, but at the same time we are not right with God as believers if we don't also feel some desire for those people to come to Christ for salvation, and then to grow in grace as Christians. Nothing would make me happier.

I and my wife Alice like to sit by our firepit in the yard. We sat outside tonight. It was about 55 degrees and I got a nice fire going. As we ate pizza that I cooked in our convection oven in the garage, I made mention to her that I felt bad over something that I had said to someone. As she often does, she spake some comforting words to calm my soul. She said, the fact that you feel bad shows you have a good heart. She's right.

Dear reader, if you feel like you fail God continually, you are likely a much better Christian than you think you are. Ungodly people don't care. They don't feel bad when they hurt the feelings of others. Ungodly pastors don't think twice about kicking people out of their church (it's not the Lord's church). They don't feel bad because their hardened hearts have grown calloused and cold. People just want to be loved.

Psalms 92:10

Psalms 92:10, “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

The word “unicorn” simply means one horn, not the  mythical creature in fables. It could likely refer to a rhinosaurus (some rhinos have two horns). What is the horn for? Some male animals use their horn to impress females. It can also be used as a deadly weapon. The horn represents authority, power and status, it's impressive.

In the context of this Scripture passage, “my horn” refers to God giving you status. If you walk uprightly as His child, God is going to give you power, the tools that you need to succeed and defeat your enemies. God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourself in the sight of the LORD (James 4:6).

“I shall be anointed with fresh oil” refers to the Holy Spirit's power and influence being upon you. Without the Spirit of God, we are nothing. Psalms 127:1, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Jesus said in no uncertain terms in John 15:1-5 that without Him, we can DO NOTHING. The Lord even gives us the breath of life (Acts 17:25). Without God we can do nothing, not even survive.

1st John 2:27, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” This Scripture means that the indwelling Holy Spirit can teach the saint of God everything we need to know from the Word of God (i.e., the inspired King James Bible). We are anointed with the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation.

The word “fresh” in regard to “oil” refers to walking with God in the present. It doesn't matter how spiritual you were three weeks ago, it matters what you are doing right now. Many believers tend to coast on yesterday's walk with God, neglecting today. We need to be praying, memorizing Scripture, studying, caring and laboring for Christ and pleasing today. Sadly many Christians are a broken record, same ole same ole, lacking a fresh walk with God.

We go to church to fast-track learning the truth, but even without church the Holy Spirit can potentially teach us all things (if we prayerfully study, asking God for wisdom).

Psalms 92:7-9

Psalms 92:7-9, “When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.”

Like annoying weeds that grow quickly on their own and thrive, so also do ungodly people thrive in this wicked world (1st John 5:19).

I and my wife Alice live in Pensacola which is located in the deep south. We're originally from Chicago. We also lived on the island of Guam for 17 years. We never saw such horrible painful weeds until we moved to Florida! The number one thing that we hate about Pensacola is an annoying little weed called, “Nutsedge” (or Nutgrass). These terrible weeds feature PAINFUL little balls with spikes and trust me, they hurt. I have bled more times than I can remember after being stabbed by a Nutsedge ball. Our poor Cockapoo dog occasionally gets a Nutsedge ball stuck in her paw. We buy several gallons each year of Nutsedge killer from Monsanto, which works great for a few weeks, but then the weeds grow back again. So, me and my wife have declared war on the Nutsedge weeds!

The most important thing we've learned is to keep the grass short, which prevents Nutsedge from maturing to grow its spiky balls. Once the balls have grown, even if you kill the pant with Monsanto weed killer, the dried out balls still exist on the ground and can hurt. This reminds me of Proverbs 17:14, “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.” It's easy to fix a small leak, but if you wait until the dam breaks loose it won't be easy to fix.

Likewise, the longer we allow Nutsedge plants (weeds) to grow and mature, the bigger of a problem they become. And the pastor who doesn't nip sin and heresy in the bud that creeps into the church of God, it will become a big problem, even destroying the church in time. A wise and godly pastor preaches without apology or compromise against all sin, false prophets and false doctrines. God deliver us from the wicked neo-evangelical worthless pastor today.

God allows the wicked to thrive so that ultimately He can bring them low in a spectacular fashion that He may be glorified. We see this with Pharaoh in the time of Moses. God is lifting them up to be destroyed. Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”

The Scripture tells us that one of God's duties is to bring low the proud. Job 40:12, “Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.” Though a sinner may thrive for an hundred years, yet it won't go well for them in the end.

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.”

The wicked spring up as weed grass, but their days are numbered. Things that are of value tend to grow very slowly, but things that are useless (like weeds) tend to grow fast on their own. To grow fruits, flowers and vegetables required a lot of attention (water, fertilizer, pruning and care); but for weeds to flourish you don't have to do anything.

Another example is if you want your children to turn out for God someday, it will require a lot of your time, concern and effort to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). If you want your kids to go to the Devil, you don't have to lift a finger, just do nothing! Thankfully, God is not an absent parent (Hebrews 12:6-8). 

Psalms 37:8

Psalms 37:8-9, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.”

We ought not hate people. The Bible teaches not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. That is, every day is a new day. I sometimes think this is why God in His astounding wisdom created the 24 hour day, so that we could start over with a fresh beginning each day. Don't carry unnecessary burdens from one day to the next.

Taking matters into our own hands when angry can be dangerous. The word “anger” is one letter away from “danger.” Just like the word “evil” is one letter shy of “Devil.” Some people taking matters into their own hands because they doubt God. The prisons are full of such criminals. Instead of waiting on God, they avenged themselves (Romans 12:19-21). I assure you with all biblical authority that NO ONE will get away with anything in God's court of law.

In recent months we've seen much controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files. In fact, there are approximately 6 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, including 180,000 images and 2,000 videos. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice released 3.5 million pages, which is part of this total. Unfortunately, the Justice Department has redacted and held back millions of the documents. The long list of hurting victims can rest assured that there will be no redacted documents or images at the Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15; Hebrews 4:13). THERE WILL BE JUSTICE! ...

Ecclesiastes 5:8, “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.”

The Epstein victims will be avenged (Romans 12:19-21).

We've all felt angry due to painful past experiences, because of wicked people who have hurt us. We've all been thrown under the bus numerous times by people that we trusted. We've all been gossiped about, slandered and lied about by ungodly sinners. We've all been cheated, robbed and defrauded by someone. PAYDAY SOMEDAY! You have God's promise to be avenged (Matthew 7:1-5; 1st Thessalonians 4:6; James 4:11-12, 5:9).

1st Corinthians 9:1-18

1st Corinthians 9:1-18, “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”

The Apostle Paul and his ministry companies were routinely struggling financially, yet they admirably prioritized preaching the Gospel more than receiving money. Paul addresses the believers at Corinth regarding the church's obligating to take care of the Apostle and his ministry friends.

Paul calls his right to expect wages from them “this power over you” (verse 12). Paul reminds them that others have benefitted from “this power” but says “we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ” (verse 12). What a godly Christian man! How many covetous believers today in ministries beg for donations? Nearly all of them sadly. I see umpteen professed Christians begging for donations on YouTube, parasiting off off Christianity. Most of them are woefully unlearned in the inspired Word of God, dangerous wannabe theologians (e.g., 'Renee Roland' and 'Jack Smack 77' YouTube channels). They both beg for money like greedy dogs! I've never asked nor taken a single penny for my 24 years of website ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ. A full reward awaits me in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21, 10:42; 1st Corinthians 3:7-8; Revelation 14:13).

Paul says in verse 14 that God has ordained for a godly man who preaches the Gospel to be able “to live” of the Gospel. No where does the Bible mention money. This passage doesn't justify living large, that is, a life of extravagance. It means that local churches should help provide sustenance for a legitimate preacher's basic needs to survive (if he faithfully preaches the Gospel). The laborer is worthy of his reward. 1st Corinthians 9:14, “For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?” Sadly, most pastors and their families today are merely in the ministry for the INCOME instead of the OUTCOME (Romans 16:17-18). I write to their shame!

In verse 16, Paul exclaims: “woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” God uses that exclamation mark, I didn't add it to Paul's statement. Woe unto every Christian who does not share the Gospel of free grace with lost sinners (Proverbs 11:30; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 28:19-20). Most of all, woe unto shameful, lazy, carnal, incompetent, neo-evangelical pastors today who refuse to teach, encourage and lead God's flock to go soulwinning publicly from door-to-door (Acts 20:20). Do we really believe as God's children that lost sinners will burn in the fires and torments of Hell forever? I think most of us do not, considering that less than 1% of Baptist churches today have regularly scheduled public soulwinning. No wonder the churches are 90% empty! This is exactly what is wrong with Smyrna Baptist Church, Family Baptist Church and Fairfield Drive Baptist Church in Pensacola. They are spiritually dead churches! Moreover, all three cults are WRONG on repentance and therefore, the Gospel.

In verse 17, the Apostle Paul simply says that if he took the money for preaching the Gospel, he would have a reward. But Paul refused to take a penny for preaching the Gospel from the church at Corinth. Contrariwise, Paul says that if he was reluctant to preach the Gospel willingly, it was his duty as an Apostle to do so anyway. The Apostle says that “a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” This simply means that God had given Paul the administration (responsibility) to preach the Gospel. It was his duty! 

That all being said, I loathe the doctrinal system called “dispensationalism.” There is no way to come up with the systematic fables of dispensationalism by rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Although Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) taught that dispensational teaching provides a mere overlay to help guide the Bible student and is not doctrine, I humbly disagree. I contend that dispensational teaching is absolutely doctrine, because it shapes (and in my opinion warps) the Bible student's mind and leads him astray from the truth.

Case in point is Pastor David Hoffman, a devout dispensationalists and follower of that nut Dr. Peter S. Ruckman (1921-2016). In his 'The Hoffman Study Bible' commentary for 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, Pastor Hoffman errantly teaches insanely that there are SEVEN different gospels taught in God's Word. This is what dispensational doctrine does, it warps and rots your brain! Galatians 1:6-9 plainly declares that there has always been only ONE Gospel.

See also Acts 10:43, which says “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” This Scripture teaches the exact opposite of wacky dispensationalists like Peter S. Ruckman, William P. Grady and David A. Hoffman who all foolishly claim that people were saved under Mosaic law by performing WORKS. NO ONE has ever been saved by works (Romans 3:19-20).

And please examine Romans 4:4, which teaches that if salvation had (at any time in history) ever been by works, then God would have owed men salvation. Romans 4:4, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” Thus, salvation would have been by debt and not by grace, and we know this simply has never been the case. There is no such thing as a “dispensation of grace.” Salvation has always been by God's wondrous grace through faith in the promised Messiah. BEWARE of toxic dispensational teaching!

True Israel Will Be Restored At Jesus' Second Coming

Jeremiah 23:7-8, “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.”

Although some Christians believe present-day Israel is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy to rebirth Israel, but I firmly don't. Present-day manmade Israel was created in May of 1948 by the ungodly United Nations (controlled by the Council On Foreign Relations).

Hosea 3:4-5 teaches that God won't restore the true nation of Israel until the Jews repent toward God. Of the seven million Jews inhabiting Israel today, only about 2% profess faith in Jesus (and that includes all the pseudo-Christian cults like Roman Catholicism and Mormons). 

Our text passage of Scripture from Jeremiah 23:7-8 teaches that when Jesus returns at His Second Coming, after the 7-year Tribulation, the LORD will return saved Jews to their own Promised Land.

Only born again Jews (those saved by God's grace) are members of the elect (i.e., the chosen). God's solemn promises in the inspired Holy Bible has always followed a line of faith, never works. This is why I don't believe in Replacement Theology, simply because there was never anything to replace. Replacement Theology is the false doctrine that the Church in these modern times replaces Old Testament Israel.

Consequently, we as believers are the chosen and no longer the Jews. However, if you understand the truth that God NEVER blessed Christ-disobedient Christ-rejecting Jews (Exodus 19:5-6), then you know that there was never anything to replace. That is, there was never a time in history when God blessed hellbound heathen Jews! The Lord's promises have always followed a line of faith among the Jews. Those who died in their sins without faith in the coming Messiah perished into Hell.

Praise God, there has always been a “remnant” of believing Jews...

Romans 11:5-6, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

God did not divorce Israel, they divorced Him (Isaiah 50:1)... 

Romans 11:20, “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

There is still hope for any living Jew to be saved, but it can only happen by faith alone in Jesus Christ...  

Romans 11:23, “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.”

Any Jew or Gentile can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.