I've recently visited a forum on Discord named "Israel" it also had the Israel flag. Wow, they were not happy people. They were mean, negative and off key with Christianity. This made me sad at first, and it made me think further...: who really is Israel and Jerusalem and Judah? Who really are these cities? Can I just go to Israel and assume everyone is friendly and Christian? Maybe not.
So who really are they? Thanks.
I believe many of these are the spiritual descendants testified against by the martyr Stephen. They not only reject the gospel, but to add to their sin, they seek to harm and silence those who proclaim it. And yet, like in the passage, perhaps there are some like Saul, who will later come to saving faith in Christ.
Acts 7:51-58
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
I believe they are also spoken of in Revelation.
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.