God drove the Jews out of their Promised Land because they rejected their Messiah, their King, and the Kingdom offer.
Les Feldick teaches that this was God's sovereign act of discipline, not Israel's voluntary choice. After the crucifixion, Israel continued to reject the overtures Peter and the eleven made to them, so around 70 A.D.—40 years later—God permitted the Roman army under Titus to destroy the temple and the city and to uproot the Jewish people into worldwide dispersion. Yet God promised to bring them back.
2 Kings 17:23 — Records that the LORD removed Israel out of His sight and carried them away out of their own land to Assyria, showing it was God who drove them out.
2 Kings 17:18 — Shows the LORD's anger and His removal of Israel out of His sight because of their persistent sin.
The Scriptures show that God Himself removed Israel from their land. In 2 Kings 17, the children of Israel "walked in all the sins of Jeroboam" and "departed not from them" (2 Kings 17:22). Therefore, "the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight" (2 Kings 17:18). The same passage says "the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight" (2 Kings 17:20). The passage closes with a direct statement: "Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight... So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day" (2 Kings 17:23).
Les Feldick teaches that Israel was driven into exile because they rejected the King and the Kingdom. God had called Israel out, given them covenant promises, and called them His Son and favored nation. In the Old Testament, Israel killed the prophets God sent. When God sent His Son, they rejected Him and continued to reject all the overtures that Peter and the eleven made toward them after Pentecost. Because of that continued rejection, God sovereignly permitted the Roman army under Titus to destroy the temple and the city of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and uproot the Jew out of the Promised Land into the dispersion. Israel lost their temple, their worship, and their homeland, and were dispersed into every nation on earth. But Les emphasizes that this was not the end—God promised to bring them back, and they are coming in from the four quarters of the world. The land is still theirs.
Les Feldick teaches that the removal was God's sovereign action, not a voluntary departure. He points to 2 Kings 17 where the LORD removed Israel out of His sight and carried them away to Assyria. Then, in 70 A.D., God sovereignly permitted the Roman army under Titus to destroy the temple and the city and to uproot the Jews out of the Promised Land. The Bible and Les both present the removal as divine discipline for Israel's rejection and rebellion.
Les Feldick says the scattering is not permanent. God brought Israel back after the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, and after the 70 A.D. dispersion He promised again, "I'll bring you back." According to Les, God is currently bringing the Jewish people back from the four quarters of the world because the land is theirs according to His promises.
Les Feldick explains that God made Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, putting them under the Law to prepare them for a tremendous role. They could have had the King and the Kingdom and brought all the nations of the world to a knowledge of their God. Instead, they dropped the ball—they rejected the King and the Kingdom in unbelief and were dispersed out into the world, losing their temple and worship.
Is Jesus God? The Prophecies of the Coming King Explained
Now, I like that because, you remember, we pointed it out back in Genesis chapter 2, and we'll really get into it when we get to Exodus chapter 3, how that the very name of Jehovah derives from the I Am, and you're all acquainted with that, I Am that I Am. Now then, this very title of this coming king is the I Am. Oh, the almighty I Am of creation is going to be the Lord of Righteousness.
70 A.D. Dispersion
Les directly attributes Israel's loss of temple, city, homeland, and dispersion into every nation to their rejection of the Messiah.
God's Sovereign Removals and Regathering
Les traces how God in sovereignty removed Israel to Assyria and Babylon, and then again in 70 A.D., while promising to bring them back from the four quarters of the world.
The Promised Return
Les says God took the Jews out of Palestine because of their rebellion and crucifixion, but He promised to bring them back because the land is theirs.
Israel's Rejection of God's Messengers
Les shows the pattern of Israel killing the prophets and then rejecting the Son, which leads to the eventual removal in 70 A.D.
Rome Under Titus as God's Instrument
Les explains that Israel's continued rejection of the Kingdom promises after Pentecost led God to sovereignly permit the Roman army under Titus to destroy the temple and Jerusalem and uproot the Jews.
Old Testament Removal to Assyria
Les reads 2 Kings 17 to show that the LORD Himself removed Israel out of His sight and carried them away to Assyria because of their sins.
The Dropped Ball
Les says Israel was called to be a kingdom of priests who could bring all nations to God, but they rejected the King and Kingdom, so they were dispersed and lost their temple and worship.
2 Kings 17:18: Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Shows that God Himself, in anger, removed Israel from His presence because of their sin.
2 Kings 17:20: And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
Describes God's rejection and affliction of Israel leading to their being cast out.
2 Kings 17:22: For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
Identifies the persistent sin that provoked God's removal of Israel.
2 Kings 17:23: Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
Explicitly states the LORD removed Israel and carried them away out of their own land.
According to Les Feldick, yes. God sovereignly permitted the Roman army under Titus to destroy the temple and the city because Israel rejected their Messiah and continued to reject the Kingdom overtures after Pentecost.
No. Les teaches that God promised to bring them back, and He is doing so from the four quarters of the world. The scattering was discipline, not abandonment.
Les says Israel rejected the King and the Kingdom and were dispersed out into the world, losing their temple and their worship. Because they did not carry out their role as a kingdom of priests, God turned to the Gentiles without using the nation of Israel.
Watch the Teaching: Is Jesus God? The Prophecies of the Coming King Explained