Israel's spiritual and political fulfillment was intended to prepare the nation to carry God's light and salvation to the Gentile world.
Les Feldick shows from Isaiah 60 and 49 that after Israel was delivered from her enemies (political) and enlightened by God's glory (spiritual), the Gentiles would come to that light. Israel was to become a prepared, obedient nation — a 'vehicle' — through whom God's salvation would reach the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 60:2-3 — Describes Israel's spiritual enlightenment and the outcome that the Gentiles would come to her light.
Isaiah 49:6 — States God's purpose to make Israel a light to the Gentiles and His salvation to the end of the earth.
In Isaiah 60:2-3, the prophet declares: 'For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.' Isaiah 49:6 similarly states: 'And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.' Luke 1:72-74 also records the covenant promise of deliverance from enemies, tied to the oath sworn to Abraham.
Les Feldick emphasizes that everything Jesus did in His earthly ministry was based on the covenant with Abraham, which was Jew-only (clip 0). Politically, Israel was to be delivered out of the hand of her enemies — mortal, physical, neighboring enemies (clip 0). Spiritually, Israel was to be the light of the world; Jesus told the nation, 'You are the light of the world' (clips 1,5). Les points to Isaiah 60, where the LORD's glory rises upon Israel and the Gentiles come to that light (clips 1,3,5). He also cites Isaiah 49:6, showing God's intent that Israel would take His light to the Gentiles, to the end of the earth (clips 2,7). Israel's role was to be a nation of priests, bringing salvation and the knowledge of God to the Gentile world (clip 6). God intended that once Israel became a prepared, spiritual, obedient people, He would send them into the Gentile world (clip 4). However, Israel rejected the Messiah when He came, and so this purpose was interrupted (clip 6). Nevertheless, the original purpose — political and spiritual fulfillment — was to make Israel the vehicle through which God's light would reach the nations.
Les teaches that Israel's political fulfillment involved deliverance from her enemies — described as mortal, physical, next-door enemies (clip 0). This was part of the oath God swore to Abraham, that God would grant Israel deliverance out of the hand of her enemies (clip 0). This outward deliverance was the physical side of Israel's preparation.
Les describes Israel's spiritual fulfillment in terms of receiving God's light and glory. Israel was to be the light of the world, and when the Messiah appeared He said, 'I am the light of the world' (clips 3,5). Isaiah 60 says that when the LORD arises upon Israel, the Gentiles will come to that light (clips 1,3,5). Les also says Israel was to be a nation of priests, bringing the knowledge of God to the Gentile world (clip 6). Thus the spiritual side was enlightenment that qualified Israel to shine to others.
According to Les, God's plan was that once Israel had completed the promises — politically delivered and spiritually prepared — then God would turn to the Gentile world through Israel (clips 4,7). The deliverance from enemies (Luke 1:74) and the rising of God's glory upon Israel (Isaiah 60) together would make Israel a light to the Gentiles. The intended result was that Israel would bring God's salvation to the ends of the earth (clips 2,7).
Political Deliverance and Abrahamic Covenant
Les explains that Israel's deliverance from mortal, physical, neighboring enemies was part of the covenant oath sworn to Abraham — the political side of Israel's fulfillment.
Israel as the Light of the World
Les applies Isaiah 60:1-3 to Israel, showing that the nation was to be the light of the world and that the Gentiles would come to that light.
Israel a Light to the Gentiles
Les reads Isaiah 49:6-7 as plain proof that God's intention was for Israel to take His light to the Gentiles and be His salvation to the end of the earth.
Israel Could Have Told the World
Les teaches that had Israel believed in her Messiah, who said 'I am the light of the world,' the nation could have gone out and told the world — the fulfillment purpose.
Israel Prepared for the Gentile Mission
Les explains that Israel was to become a prepared, spiritual, obedient people, after which God would send them into the Gentile world to bring the Gentiles to the knowledge of God.
Israel as the Vehicle
Les points out that Jesus told Israel 'You are the light of the world' — they were to be the vehicle through whom God's light would reach the nations.
Nation of Priests Rejected Messiah
Les shows that throughout the Old Testament Israel was to be a nation of priests bringing salvation to the Gentiles, but they rejected the Messiah when He came.
Israel's Completion Turns to Gentiles
Les states that when Israel had completed the promises, God would turn to the Gentile world, using Isaiah 49:6 to show Israel as a light to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 60:2: For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Central to Les's teaching that Israel's spiritual enlightenment would draw the Gentiles.
Isaiah 60:3: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
The direct result of Israel's political and spiritual fulfillment.
Isaiah 49:6: And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Explicitly states Israel's purpose to carry God's salvation to the Gentile nations.
Luke 1:72-74: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Les cites this passage to show the political deliverance promised to Israel under the Abrahamic covenant.
Matthew 5:14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Les quotes Jesus' words to Israel to show that Israel was to be the light of the world.
Les taught that Israel's political fulfillment was physical deliverance from her enemies — mortal, physical, neighboring enemies — as promised in the covenant with Abraham (clip 0). This deliverance was part of God's mercy promised to the fathers (Luke 1:72-74).
Les taught that Israel's spiritual fulfillment was to make Israel a light to the Gentiles. When the LORD's glory arose upon Israel (Isaiah 60), the Gentiles would come to that light, and Israel would bring God's salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6, clips 1,2,7).
According to Les, Israel had to be politically delivered from enemies and spiritually enlightened so that the nation could serve as God's vehicle to reach the Gentile world. Once Israel completed these promises, God would turn to the Gentiles through Israel (clips 4,7).
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts