Yes — Israel was called to be God's channel of blessing to the Gentile nations, but only after the King was established in Jerusalem when the Gentiles would come to Israel.
In Zechariah 8, God promises a time when many peoples and strong Gentile nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord. Les Feldick teaches that Israel's role was then to carry the message to all the world, and the apostles stayed in Jerusalem first so Israel could repent and receive her King.
Zechariah 8:20-23 — This passage directly describes the future Kingdom setting in which Gentile nations come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord and attach themselves to Israel.
Zechariah 8:20-23 says, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD." Then verse 23 describes Jews at the center of this movement: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." These are not Israel going to the Gentiles, but Gentiles coming to Israel.
Les explains that in the Old Testament program, when the King was ruling in Jerusalem and the Kingdom was set up, the Jew would go into all the corners of the world and evangelize the Gentile. Before that, the apostles were to stay in Jerusalem, present the King to Israel, and hope the nation would accept Him so Christ could set up the Kingdom. He points to Zechariah 8 as the prophecy that would be fulfilled then: Gentile nations would come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord, and ten men of all languages would take hold of a Jew, saying, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Les also says Israel was to be God's way of reaching the Gentile world through this covenant people. Because Israel rejected the promises and the King, God opened the windows of heaven for the Gentiles and sent an apostle out among the pagan nations.
Les notes that when persecution scattered the believing Jews, the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. They knew the Old Testament program: Israel needed to repent and accept her King, then Christ could come and set up the Kingdom. The next event on their agenda was the coming wrath and Christ's return to Jerusalem to rule. Once the King was ruling, the Jew could go into all the world and evangelize the Gentile. That was Israel's role.
Zechariah 8 pictures people from many cities and strong Gentile nations urging one another, "Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts." In those days, ten men from all nations will take hold of a Jew and say, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Les explains these are Gentile nations coming to Jerusalem, not Israel going to them. This is Israel's prospective role when Jehovah God is ruling in Jerusalem.
Les says Israel rejected the Old Testament promises, rejected her Messiah and King, and crucified Him. In doing so, Israel opened up the windows of heaven for Gentiles whose forefathers were pagan. Rather than reaching the Gentile world through covenant Israel, Israel went into dispersion, and God sent His apostle out among the pagan Gentiles.
Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem
Les highlights that when the believing Jews were scattered, the apostles remained in Jerusalem, showing they still expected Israel to respond before the Kingdom could come.
The Kingdom and the Gentiles
Les explains the disciples knew from Zechariah 8 that once Israel had her King and the Kingdom, ten men of all nations would take hold of a Jew and go with him, because God was with Israel.
Israel's Role in the Kingdom
Les teaches that after the King ruled in Jerusalem, the Jew was to go into all the world and evangelize the Gentile; that was Israel's appointed role.
Zechariah 8:21-22 Previews Gentile Pilgrimage
Les shows from Zechariah that Gentile cities and strong nations would say, "I will go also," as they come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of hosts.
Israel's Prospective Role in the Future Kingdom
Les connects Zechariah 8 with the time when Jehovah God rules in Jerusalem and says this was Israel's prospective role.
Israel's Rejection Opened Heaven for Gentiles
Les says Israel's rejection and crucifixion of her King opened the windows of heaven for pagan Gentiles, resulting in a new work to the Gentiles.
Zechariah 8 Applied to Israel's Future Evangelism
Les applies Zechariah 8 to the days when Israel would be evangelizing pagan Gentiles, with ten men from all languages taking hold of a Jew.
God's Original Intent to Reach the World Through Israel
Les says God's idea was to go to the Gentile world through His covenant people, but Israel rejected it, so He sent the nation into dispersion.
Zechariah 8:22: Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
This describes Gentile nations coming to Jerusalem during the Kingdom, rather than Israel going out to them.
Zechariah 8:23: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
This reveals Gentile nations taking hold of Israel because God is with them, fulfilling Israel's Kingdom role.
According to Les, God intended to go to the Gentile world through covenant Israel, and Israel had the opportunity to a certain extent because every word of Scripture was written by Jews. But more than that was planned; Israel rejected it in unbelief, and God sent the nation into dispersion and turned to the Gentiles.
No. Les explains that they were to stay and present the King to the nation of Israel in hopes that Israel would accept Him and the Kingdom could come. Only after the Kingdom was set up and the King was ruling in Jerusalem would the Jews evangelize the Gentile world.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected the Gospel — Acts 8 Explained