Does the Abraham Covenant with the Jews last forever – even through the Church age? If yes, why are we to spread the gospel to the Jews first and then the gentiles? Are all non-believing Jews from the time Jesus died on the cross and rose again going to Hell? Is it only the Old Testament faithful Jews, the believing Jews during the Church Age, and the 144,000 and the new converts during the tribulation that are or will be saved?
In Genesis 17:7-8 God said to Abraham,
“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
The covenant is forever and so is the land grant. But to enjoy its benefits they have to be obedient (Exodus 19:5-6). In the Old Testament that meant keeping the commandments and offering the sacrifices as evidence they believed in a coming Messiah. In the New Testament it means believing Jesus is the Messiah, and that’s why we spread the gospel.
When all is said and done, the Old Testament faithful, New Testament believers, the 144,000 and the Tribulation believers will be saved. No unbelieving Jew from any age will be be included. In Romans 2:28-29 Paul wrote,
A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.