WHAT ABOUT MODERN ISRAEL?

 Ever since the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the status of the Jews in God’s redemptive plan has been the subject of theological debate. The Apostle Paul discussed that matter under divine inspiration in his Epistle to the Romans, chapters 9 through 11. It seems clear from Romans 11:2-5 that God has not rejected the Jews and is saving a remnant from generation to generation.

 In spite of Paul’s assurances that God still has a special care for the Jews, one theological system maintains that the Jews have no more special place in God’s redemptive plan than do Gentiles.

On the other side of the debate is a very popular theological system that developed in the late 19^th century. That system sees God’s plan for ethic Jews as totally distinct from the Church. The modern state of Israel, this view maintains, is a fulfillment of prophecy and a preparation for “The Great Tribulation,” identified as “the day of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). This will be followed by the return of Christ to reestablish the kingdom of Israel and reign on the throne of David for a thousand years (which reign they see in Rev. 20:1-4).

In this latter view, the church is taken out of the world before that Great Tribulation and are designated as God’s “heavenly people,” while restored Israel is God’s “earthly people.” Though variations of this system have developed in recent decades, the distinction between Israel and the Church, and God’s different plans for each, remains.

My studies of the Scriptures have brought me to a position that differs from either of the above systems. Other scholars, I have learned, have come to a similar understanding, yet differing in various details. The following is a synopsis of what I believe is in accord with God’s redemptive plan.

 GOD’S SPECIAL CARE FOR ETHNIC ISRAEL

God’s care for ethnic Jews is based on His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Even in their wayward, unbelieving state, God has special concern for them just as He did for apostate Israel during the divided kingdom. During the reign of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, God answered the king’s desperate plea to Yahweh for help when the Arameans oppressed the nation.

Then Jehoahaz appeased the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them. And the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans; and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as previously. (2 Kings 13:4-5)

Second Kings 13:23 affirms God’s gracious compassion for Israel, even in their state of apostasy:

 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and He was unwilling to eliminate them or cast them away from His presence until now. (2 Kings 13:23)

This verse demonstrates Yahweh's care for wayward Israel in spite of their state of idolatry. And the reason is given: "His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (See also 2 Kings 14:27) He promised that He "would not destroy them from His presence until now" (that is, until the time of the writing). It would be a mistake to infer that "until now" leaves room for a future complete destruction of the Jews as a distinct people.  Jeremiah 31:35-37 declares that Israel (that is, the Jews) will never cease to be a people.  (See Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown commentary on Jer. 31:36)

God promises the preservation of Israel as a people, and He is saving a remnant in every generation, in fulfillment of His promise to the patriarchs. Believing Gentiles are also spiritual descendants of Abraham by faith (Galatians 3:7, 14) in fulfillment of God's promise that Abraham would be "the father of many nations" (Gen. 17:4, 5) in a deeper spiritual sense.

All believers, Jews and Gentiles, are united as one people in the Church, which is the culmination of the New Covenant, instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, accomplished by His sacrifice on the cross, and inaugurated by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. There is no evidence in the progressive revelation of God’s plan in the Scriptures that there are two peoples of God—earthly and heavenly. All are one in Christ for eternity. (See John 16:10; Ephesians 2:13-21; Zechariah 2:11)

MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL

So, with this understanding, what can we say about the modern state of Israel?

First, since we affirm the sovereignty of God in all the affairs of earth, we must affirm that the modern state of Israel is part of God’s plan for that people. But that plan is not to reestablish an earthly kingdom apart from the Church; rather, it is that “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26), that is, put their faith in their Messiah, Jesus, and become part of the Church, the redeemed people of God under the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-33). This conversion of the Jews seems to occur at a particular time, as the following passage implies:

For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” In relation to the gospel they are enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved on account of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:25-29)

The clause, “until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in,” seems to set a time for this  removal of ungodliness from Jacob. Yet there is disagreement as to whether “all Israel” means the total number of elect Jews from the first advent of Christ to the end, or all those alive at some future point, perhaps at the return of Jesus. In any case, we know that God is not finished with the Jews, and modern Israel is part of His plan to bring them to repentance and faith in Christ.