Israel was to be the channel through which salvation and the knowledge of Jehovah would reach the Gentiles.
According to Les Feldick, God's prophetic program appointed Israel, after the King and kingdom were established, to bring salvation and the knowledge of their God to the Gentile world. This purpose is evident throughout the Old Testament, as Israel was set apart to be a nation of priests and a light to the Gentiles. However, Israel rejected this role, and God turned to the Gentiles directly through the Apostle Paul.
Isaiah 42:1 — Identifies the Messiah as God's servant, upon whom He puts His Spirit, to bring forth judgment (rule) to the Gentiles, setting the stage for Israel's role.
Zechariah 8:23 — Depicts Gentiles taking hold of a Jew's skirt, saying 'we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you,' illustrating Israel's intended role.
In the Old Testament, God promised Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Israel was called out and set apart as a covenant people with the purpose of being a light to the Gentiles. Isaiah 42:1 speaks of God's servant (the Messiah) upon whom He places His Spirit to bring forth judgment (or rule) to the Gentiles. Zechariah 8:23 shows Gentiles taking hold of a Jew's skirt, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.' This indicates that Israel was meant to be a channel through which the knowledge of Jehovah would reach the nations. The Psalms also emphasize that God's salvation would be to the ends of the earth (Psalm 98:3).
Les Feldick teaches that God's prophetic program involved using Israel to bring salvation and the knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles. This was to happen after the King (Messiah) and the kingdom were established. He emphasizes that this was a distinctive Old Testament format—'that God would go to the pagan, heathen Gentiles through Israel' (Clip 1). Israel was set apart to be a nation of priests, and every Jew was potentially to be a priest to bring Gentiles to a knowledge of God (Clip 2). However, because Israel rejected the prophetic program, God set Israel aside and turned to the Gentiles without them, as revealed in the raising up of the Apostle Paul (Clip 3, Clip 1). Les also notes that this was all part of God's sovereign plan, and that Israel's rejection did not negate God's intention to eventually use Israel to bring salvation to the Gentiles in the future (Clip 7).
According to Les Feldick, the Old Testament program was that God would reach the Gentiles through Israel. He says, 'the whole Old Testament program was that God would go to the pagan, heathen Gentiles through Israel. That was the whole purpose of calling them out, and setting them apart, and making them His covenant people, that they one day could go back into those pagan Gentiles and give them the knowledge of their Jehovah God' (Clip 1). Israel was to be a nation of priests, and 'every Jew would have been a priest of God to bring Gentiles to a knowledge' (Clip 2).
Les Feldick explains that 'Israel rejected the prophetic program' (Clip 0). They rejected the King and continued rejecting until God raised up the Apostle Paul (Clip 6). As a result, God set Israel aside and turned to the Gentiles directly, as seen in the Church Age (Clip 3). Israel's unbelief led to their dispersion (Clip 4).
Les says, 'that doesn't take away the fact that God is still intending to use the nation of Israel to yet bring salvation to the Gentiles' (Clip 7). This indicates that even after Israel's rejection and the Church Age, God has a future purpose for Israel in fulfilling this role.
Prophetic Program Israel's Role
Les states that God planned to use Israel, after the kingdom was established, to bring salvation and knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles, and that this was part of the prophetic program which Israel rejected.
Old Testament Program
Les explains that the whole Old Testament program was for God to reach the Gentiles through Israel, and that this was the purpose of calling them out.
Nation of Priests
Les teaches that every Jew was meant to be a priest to bring Gentiles to a knowledge of God, based on Zechariah 8:23.
Israel Set Aside
Les explains that because Israel rejected, God set them aside and put Gentiles in their place, fulfilling the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed.
Israel's Rejection and Dispersion
Les says that Israel rejected its opportunity, so God scattered them into dispersion, yet had planned to go to the whole Gentile world.
Isaiah 42:1
Les points to Isaiah 42:1, showing that God's servant (the Messiah) would be the one to bring salvation, but through Israel as His covenant people.
Israel's Rejection of the King
Les references Israel's rejection of the King (Jesus) and that they continued rejecting until God raised up Paul, which led to the turn to Gentiles.
Future Purpose for Israel
Les affirms that God still intends to use Israel in the future to bring salvation to the Gentiles, despite Israel's past failure.
Isaiah 42:1: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
This verse is central to Les's teaching, identifying the Messiah and His role in bringing rule to the Gentiles, with Israel as the channel.
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.
Illustrates the Gentiles seeking Israel for knowledge of God, confirming Israel's intended role as a priestly nation.
Psalm 98:3: He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shows that God's salvation was intended to be seen by all the earth, aligning with Israel's role.
Israel was to be a channel through which salvation and the knowledge of Jehovah would reach the Gentiles. This was to happen after the King and kingdom were established, but Israel rejected this prophetic program.
Israel rejected the prophetic program and the Messiah (the King). In their unbelief, they refused to accept Jesus as King, and as a result, God set them aside and turned to the Gentiles directly through the Apostle Paul.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, God still intends to use Israel in the future to bring salvation to the Gentiles, even though they have not yet fulfilled this role.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts