Reviews
Michael Eaton is respected internationally as a theologian and Bible expositor. He lives in Nairobi and is involved in leading a Kenyan-based Fellowship. He is therefore well-placed to write this guide to the relationship between Israel and the Church.
The only real way to establish God’s attitude to this question is to work carefully through the argument set out in detail in Romans 9-11 and that is exactly what this book does. By contrast, a number of authors of recent publications appear to have failed to take this passage seriously.
After Biblical analysis, the author exposes the relative weaknesses of contemporary positions, such as Dispensationalism, the virtual idolization of Israel as a state, and the polar opposite position (most popular in Europe today) which views Israel as no different from any other nation.
Eaton shows that the Bible has a “balanced” position and concludes that, although the nation of Israel in general has backslidden, the day is coming when God will once again restore the nation of Israel in such a way that neither Gentiles nor Jewish people will be dominant in God’s work. Instead, they will be fully and joyfully united in the plan of God and in the propagation of His Kingdom. This will inaugurate a new epoch, “a spiritual revival that the apostle Paul calls `life from the dead’.”
At last we have a well-researched, Bible-centred reference book which focuses on the role of Israel today.
Midasin
Preface
1 The Christian’s Interest in Israel
2 Israel: A Question Raised (Romans 9:1-5)
3 The Word ‘Israel’ (Romans 9:6)
4 Gentiles in ‘Israel’ (Romans 9:6-23)
5 God’s Righteousness (Romans 9:30–10:21)
6 Is God Against Israel? (Romans 11:1-10)
7 God’s Mysterious Ways (Romans 11:11-17)
8 A Good Future for Israel (Romans 11:18-36)
9 ‘Bibliomancy’
10 The Christian and Israel (Romans 11:1-32)