Yes — Israel was in spiritual darkness because it refused to search the Scriptures and was blinded by unbelief.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel could have known who Jesus was from the Old Testament, but they did not bother to study and refused to believe. Because they rejected the Messiah, they were blinded, and the Bible describes the condition as "gross darkness the people" (Isaiah 60:2) and "blindness in part" on Israel (Romans 11:25). A few believing Jews obtained the promise, but the rest were blinded.
Isaiah 60:1-2 — Explicitly names the "gross darkness" over the people while pointing to the LORD's glory rising on Israel.
Romans 11:25 — Paul says blindness in part has happened to Israel.
Romans 11:7 — Scripture says only the election obtained it and the rest were blinded.
The Bible directly associates Israel with the condition of darkness. Isaiah 60:1-2 declares: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 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." The same passage says the Gentiles would come to Israel's light and kings to the brightness of her rising (Isaiah 60:3). Isaiah 49:6 also states that the Servant would be given "for a light to the Gentiles" so that God's salvation could reach the end of the earth. In the New Testament, Romans 11:7 says, "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." And Romans 11:25 explains that "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."
Les Feldick repeatedly teaches that Israel should have known who Jesus was. He says the Old Testament had it "plain as day," yet Israel did not know because they refused to search the Scriptures and did not bother to study. As proof, he points to Herod's question: the priests and scribes did not know where the King of Israel was to be born until they searched the Old Testament and found Micah's prophecy of Bethlehem. Les explains that Israel's rejection of Jesus came from ignorance and unbelief. They were looking for a king of pomp and power, but their King came riding on a lowly donkey, and they missed Him. The result, Les teaches, is what Romans calls a spiritual blindness in part. A few believing Jews — the election — obtained the promise, while the rest were blinded. Les also notes that God had intended Israel to be the light through which the Gentiles would come to Jehovah, but Israel "blew it." He applies Isaiah 60:2 directly to Israel: gross darkness was over the people, even though the LORD was to arise upon them.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. He says the Old Testament contained the information "plain as day," so Israel should have known. They did not know because they refused to search the Scriptures and did not bother to study. Herod's priests proved the information was available: when asked where the King would be born, they searched the Old Testament and found the prophecy in Micah. Les says they should have been able to answer without looking it up, but they could not.
Les's teaching points to ignorance and unbelief. Israel did not know who Jesus was, so they rejected Him. They had the Scriptures, but they would not study them, and they were expecting a conquering king rather than the lowly Jesus. Paul's conclusion, as Les reads it, is that Israel did not obtain what it sought; only the election obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Isaiah 60:1-2 says, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 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." Les applies this directly to Israel: the "people" under gross darkness were Israel, who were spiritually blinded. Yet the verse turns on the word "but": the LORD would arise upon Israel and His glory would be seen.
Les Feldick says the nation of Israel is still blind to who Jesus really was. He explains that a few Jews at Christ's first coming recognized Him and were the election, but the majority rejected Him and were blinded, and that condition continues to this day.
Israel's Unfulfilled Role as Light to the Gentiles
God's plan included Israel bringing the Gentiles to a knowledge of Jehovah, showing that Israel was intended to be a light rather than to remain in darkness.
Israel Was to Be the Light, but Blew It
Israel was to be the light to which the Gentiles would come, but they "blew it" and should have known who Jesus was.
Why Israel Didn't Study
Israel could have known Jesus from the Old Testament, but did not study; even Herod's priests had to search the Scriptures to find Bethlehem.
Priests Had to Search for Bethlehem
Israel was unbelieving and refused to search the Scriptures; the priests could not answer Herod off the top of their heads but found Micah's prophecy only after searching.
Ignorance and Spiritual Blindness
Israel rejected the Messiah out of ignorance; Paul says a spiritual blindness in part has happened to Israel.
The Election Obtained It, the Rest Were Blinded
Only a few Jews recognized Jesus as the Messiah; the majority rejected Him and were blinded.
Isaiah 60: Gross Darkness over Israel
Isaiah 60 describes spiritual darkness covering the earth and gross darkness over Israel, yet the LORD would arise upon them.
Looking for the Wrong Kind of King
Israel expected a king of pomp and power, but Jesus came riding on a donkey; the election obtained the promise and the rest were blinded.
Isaiah 60:1-2: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 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.
Shows both the darkness over Israel and Israel's coming light.
Isaiah 60:3: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Connects Israel to being a light for the Gentiles.
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.
Shows God's intent for Israel to reach the Gentiles.
Micah 5:2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The prophecy that Herod's priests found when they searched the Scriptures.
Romans 11:7: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Scripture's statement that the remnant obtained salvation and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Paul's explanation that blindness in part happened to Israel.
Yes. Les Feldick says the Old Testament was plain, and after Herod asked, the priests searched the Scriptures and found that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Israel had the information but did not bother to study.
Les says it was ignorance and unbelief. Israel rejected the Messiah because they did not know Him and expected a powerful king. As a result, the election obtained the promise and the rest were blinded.
Les teaches that the nation is still blind to who Jesus was. Only a few Jews at the first coming recognized Him; the rest were blinded, and that condition remains.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts