Relationship Between Israel and The Church

Relationship Between Israel and The Church

Sometimes the identities of the church and Israel get misconstrued which can lead to false conclusions based on wrongful assumptions. There are two Israels in scripture. There is of course the physical nation of Israel and there is a spiritual Israel of God (Gal. 6:16) which is founded in faith with the spiritual aspects of the Abrahamic covenant. Gentile Christian believers, upon salvation, become a part of this spiritual Israel. God made several covenants with the nation of Israel. Some, the church inherits by faith, others remain for just the nation of Israel. All the spiritual promises God made to Israel were fulfilled at Christ’s first coming because for the first few years, the church was only made up of born-again Jews. We inherit these promises the same way Abraham did in Gen. 15:6 through our faith and belief in our Redeemer and upon the covering of the righteousness of Christ we receive by faith at salvation.

Many people see the church becoming Israel in Romans 11 but I contend the opposite is true. This shows the separation of the two and reveals the destiny of the physical nation of Israel that will once again be based on their future understanding and utilizing the same faith that Abraham exhibited. Let’s look closer at Rom. 11.

There are two groups shown here, the wild olive shoots (the gentile church) that are grafted into the cultivated tree (aka, the tree of faith) and the natural branches (Israel). Because the word “natural” is used, many assume the tree to be Israel but that isn’t the case here. Israel is considered natural because the nation began based upon the “faith” of Abraham. Israel rec’d the opportunity of faith “first”. However, because of disobedience and lack of “faith,” the natural branches were cut off so that we (Gentiles) could be grafted in because of our “faith” and obedience.

When the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, this grafting process will cease (vs. 25) and Christ will restore the natural branches to their rightful place based on their faith in Jesus the Messiah (vs. 24). The word “all” in vs. 26 doesn’t necessarily mean the whole nation, but at some point, all that will be left of Israel that enters into the millennium will be saved.

Where will this group come from? I believe they will be the 144,000 of Rev. 7 and the rest of the woman (believing Israel) who goes into hiding for 3 ½ yrs., Rev. 12:14. Where will they come from? I believe that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes (remove their spiritual blindness) of His chosen (Zech. 12:10) at the abomination of desolation in the context of the future, yet unfulfilled 70th week, Rev. 13:14-15.

While we enter into the tree by faith as Abraham, that only entitles us to the spiritual promises, which are more than enough. However, the land promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and further explained in the latter chapters of Ezekial, remain for the saved, human Israeli remnant that enters the millennium, not the church because the earth is not our home, our home is in heaven with God until the NJ arrives.

This is only a difference of destiny but the way of salvation will always be through Christ. The law will never return. Many believe that Israel and the church will be eternally separate but I do not. I believe God’s plan is for an ultimate, total unity between both parties and this is where I believe the future prophesied wedding has greater meaning.