Book Review:

Jews, Gentiles, and the Church

            This book is written by David Larsen, Copyright 1995, and is available from Christian Book Distributors (CBD), P. O. Box 7000, Peabody, MA 01961-7000. It is an excellent book overall. Mostly the book looks at the history of the Jews, the Church, and the World, as it applies to YaHVaH’s plan for the Jews. Mr. Larsen uses lots of good resources from every side of an issue. He discusses the promises, the fulfilled prophecies, the second coming of the Messiah, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the coming end times (eschatology), as well as secular history of the Jews and establishment of the State of Israel.

The only retractor from the book is that Mr. Larsen promotes premillennialism, in that of the “church” being ‘raptured’ before the tribulation in Rv. Yet, to Mr. Larsen’s credit, the majority of the book shows that Jewish people are not abandoned by YaHVaH and have a literal place in the real world. He does not agree that the “church” is a spiritualized replacement for the Nation of Yisrael. He commends the literal interpretations of Scripture to the actual fulfillment of prophecies concerning Yisrael and the Jews. This makes the whole book worth reading.

Several interesting facts come to light in this book. For one, it does not say the Jews are always “perfect and right.” It expands on the facts that the push for the establishment of Yisrael as a State was mostly secular Jewish instigation, with resentment and resistance from the religious and Rabbis. It also shows that Jewish organizations, like Irgun and Stern Gang, were using terrorism themselves. They terrorized the British and others during the establishing phases of the State of Yisrael between 1942 and 1948. Also of Haganah defense force, blowing up a ship with Jewish refugees that was coming to Yisrael, and attacking the British themselves after WW II. Yet, it shows that it was a result of the British betrayal of not helping stabilize, establish, and immigrate the region for Jews, as promised, who fled persecutions in Europe.

The book explains the varying groups of Islam and groups of Judaism, with some interesting information, like the 150 sects of Islam and the 102 different Jewish groups in Jerusalem. By this it is obvious that almost all religions have multiple divisions. The major groups of Islam mentioned are: Sunni, Shi’ite, Druce, Alawite, Sufis, Isma’ilya, Wahhabis, Amidiya, and Baha’i.

Not all Judaism supports Zionism, the established State. The groups of Judaism mentioned are: Ultra-Orthodox (Lithuanians, Sephardis, Hassidim), Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, Reconstructionists, Askenazim, Neturi, Karta, Lubavitchers, Kabbalism, Karaites, and others. The book shows the Jews emigrated to Spain, France, England, Germany, Poland, Russia, China, Syria, Iraq, India, Yemen, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gibraltar, South America, Mexico, United States, and more.

At the end of Chapter 4, the approximate populations currently of some countries listed are: Denmark 355,000; Mexico 350,000; Argentina 200,000; Zimbabwe 1,800; Hong Kong 1,200; Japan 600; Portugal 600; Philippines 70 families; Singapore 500; Christchurch, New Zealand 400; Thailand 300; Egypt 150 (once boasting 40,000). At Chapter 12, Yisrael is said to have 4 million.

The book barely speaks of Messianics. However, speaking of the “church.” Mr. Larsen presents it as all Christians, regardless of denomination. Certain denominations’ contributions to Zionism, and the support of the Jews, is mentioned, though.

The book ends with an invitation to Justice (fair treatment for all), Hopefulness (belief in Messiah’s coming and the Millennial Kingdom), Vigilance (stopping hate and Anti-Semitism), Witness (presenting the gospel to Jews), and Readiness (preparations for the Messiah’s coming) to all those in the “church.”

Overall, it is a Christian writing on the importance of the Jews in YaHVaH’s plan. It also seems to be written to combat Anti-Semitism of the Believers in the “church” to show Messiah-like character in treatment of the Jews. I believe it to be well-written and worth checking out.

First published 1-2005, © 2004, 2017

THE CHURCH

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