Thoughts on the End Times [14]: Is There a Future for National Israel?
Is there a future for a re-united national Israel as predicted by the ancient Hebrew prophets? If there isn’t, what are we to make of those ancient prophecies about a re-united Israel?
The system of theology that teaches that the kingdom belongs to national Israel is built on the Old Testament without input from the New. But Christians believe the Old Testament must be interpreted in light of the New, and I have pointed out in previous blogs that the New Testament teaches that Christ is the heir of the ancient promises and He shares those blessings with His Church, believers in Him, both Jew and Gentile.
A literal interpretation of the prophets seems to predict a re-united kingdom of Israel. But the apostles say such passages find fulfillment in the Christian Church. Hosea, for example, predicts the restoration of both the northern and southern kingdoms:
And in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not my people”
there they will be called “sons of the living God”. (Hosea 1.10)
Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people’,
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved’. (Hosea 2.23)
But Paul applies these passages to the Christian church (Romans 9.24-26). It seems not unreasonable to conclude that other prophecies a restored Israelite kingdom may be interpreted the same way.
I don’t believe that ancient prophecy requires a restored state of Israel to achieve God’s purposes. Jesus and His church fill the role predicted by the covenants and promises. But might providence bring about a Jewish state that accepts Jesus as the Messiah at His return? Certainly! Could the state of Israel that now exists be that nation (or the roots of it)? It could be. Only time will tell.
Either way, national Israel is no longer the center of God’s earthly workings. Jesus Christ is, and with Him, His Church. The only hope for anyone, Jew or Gentile, is faith in Jesus Christ, not the politics of Israel. There is not, and cannot be, any other way to the Father but Jesus (John 14.6; Acts 4.12).
The system of theology that teaches that the kingdom belongs to national Israel is built on the Old Testament without input from the New. But Christians believe the Old Testament must be interpreted in light of the New, and I have pointed out in previous blogs that the New Testament teaches that Christ is the heir of the ancient promises and He shares those blessings with His Church, believers in Him, both Jew and Gentile.
A literal interpretation of the prophets seems to predict a re-united kingdom of Israel. But the apostles say such passages find fulfillment in the Christian Church. Hosea, for example, predicts the restoration of both the northern and southern kingdoms:
And in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not my people”
there they will be called “sons of the living God”. (Hosea 1.10)
Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people’,
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved’. (Hosea 2.23)
But Paul applies these passages to the Christian church (Romans 9.24-26). It seems not unreasonable to conclude that other prophecies a restored Israelite kingdom may be interpreted the same way.
I don’t believe that ancient prophecy requires a restored state of Israel to achieve God’s purposes. Jesus and His church fill the role predicted by the covenants and promises. But might providence bring about a Jewish state that accepts Jesus as the Messiah at His return? Certainly! Could the state of Israel that now exists be that nation (or the roots of it)? It could be. Only time will tell.
Either way, national Israel is no longer the center of God’s earthly workings. Jesus Christ is, and with Him, His Church. The only hope for anyone, Jew or Gentile, is faith in Jesus Christ, not the politics of Israel. There is not, and cannot be, any other way to the Father but Jesus (John 14.6; Acts 4.12).