When the subject of the return of Christ is addressed questions always arise concerning "Israel." Are God’s "chosen" people the nation of Israel or the spiritual Israel—the church? While the popular view holds that national Israel has been, is, and shall always be God’s chosen people, I believe the Scriptures teach otherwise.

Most Evangelicals reserve a special place in their hearts for national Israel because they believe God’s plan still centers upon these disobedient people. Timothy P. Weber, writing in the October 5, 1998 issue of Christianity Today, states, "In its fiftieth anniversary year, the State of Israel has no better friends than American Evangelicals." This is in spite of Israel’s opposition to Christians in Israel.

This support of national Israel—regardless of their actions—has influenced many uninformed Christians, as well as American political leaders. To understand this, Weber, himself an Evangelical, says, "One must know something about how many evangelicals interpret Bible prophecy" (ibid.).

How do they interpret Bible prophecy to conclude that national Israel is still God’s chosen people? There are basically three methods they use which bring them to such an erroneous result.

First, they interpret Scripture literalistically, ignoring the clear figurative language of the prophets. Second, they refuse to accept the New Testament writers’ interpretations of the Old Testament prophecies. Third, they fail to see the significance of Christ’s first coming and redemptive work.

Using this approach to Scripture the Evangelicals (as well as others) develop theories that directly contradict the New Testament writings. For example, a group called "Embrace Israel Ministries," published an article on their web site in February 1999, entitled, "Israel, My Covenant People." This so-called "prophecy" has God saying such things as, "My chosen Israel shall play an integral role in the coming Kingdom.... For I indeed shall establish My throne, My seat of authority upon My covenant people...for the Lord God of Israel shall establish the Kingdom among you and upon you!"

Note that the writer quoted above believes that the Covenant and Kingdom are for national Israel, and is still future. During the Old Testament times a false prophet was stoned. How would this one fare?

Notice how this "prophecy" contradicts God’s true word. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, "this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). It is obvious that Christ’s death and resurrection sealed the New Covenant promised through Jeremiah (Chapter 31). And the Hebrew writer confirms this by quoting from Jeremiah 31 (see Hebrews 8:7-13).

The "Embrace Israel Ministries" writer (as well as all dispensational writers) has Jesus establishing His throne over national Israel in some future earthly kingdom. But the New Testament says that this promise to David has been fulfilled by Christ (see Acts 2:29-32) and that for obedient believers "He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13). This is a completed act. To believe otherwise contradicts the true word of God and diminishes the significance of the work of our Lord!

After relating the dispensational scenario for the return of Christ, Weber states: "Obviously, the key to this entire prophetic plan is the refounding of Israel as a nation state in Palestine. Without Israel, the whole plan falls apart" (ibid.). Therefore, to support their false prophecies they must support the false "chosen nation."

When Israel became a nation again in 1948 it was not the fulfillment of prophecy. It was the work of the British, the United States, and the United Nations. Ever since then the "prophets" have been ecstatic, taking the side of national Israel unconditionally, and labeling non-supporters of Israel as non-Bible believers and as actually fighting against God.

This obsession with national Israel is not limited to the Evangelicals. One of the most popular speakers among Christian Churches is David Reagan. He also has this non-biblical view of Israel.

From Reagan’s web page (downloaded 3/16/99) he gives "Six Reasons Why Christians Should Desire the Soon Return Of Jesus." "Reason" number five is: "The Jews—when Jesus returns, the Jews will receive what they have been promised—salvation and primacy."

Reagan states:

God has made many wonderful promises to His chosen people, the nation of Israel. Most of these are unfulfilled and will not be fulfilled until a remnant of the Jews turn to Jesus and accept Him as their Messiah. The prophetic Scriptures tell us this will happen at the end of the Tribulation when the Jews who are left alive have come to the end of themselves and decide to turn to God.

Where does Reagan find support for such predictions? Like other dispensationalists, he does not get it from the New Testament, but from a misuse of the Old Testament. He first turns to Zechariah 12:10 and claims that a remnant of national Israel will be the ones in the future who will "look upon Him whom they have pierced and will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son." If Reagan were willing to accept the New Testament interpretation of this text he could have found it in John 19:36-37. John writes that the events involving Christ’s crucifixion "came to pass, that Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’"

The inspired John says Christ fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy at His first coming! Consequently there is no second fulfillment to come.

Next, Reagan attempts to support his idea of a glorious future for national Israel by appealing to Zechariah 13:1. Reagan writes: "The prophet also says that on that day of repentance, ‘a fountain of salvation will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for iniquity.’"

What does the New Testament say relative to this prophecy of Zechariah? In His first advent Christ was born of the house of David (Matthew 1:1) and brought salvation to Jews and Gentiles alike. When an angel appeared to Joseph he told him that Mary "Will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Following Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)! Did Jesus fail?

If Reagan would consider the context of Zechariah 13 he could find a reference in verse 7, along with Matthew 26:31-32, which would show that Zechariah’s prophecy relates to Christ’s first coming. Zechariah 13:7 says (in part), "Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered." As recorded in Matthew 26:31-32, Jesus told His disciples, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."

Thus Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled as the disciples were scattered prior to His crucifixion and then came together after His resurrection.

The third Scripture section that Reagan uses to support his theories concerning national Israel is Isaiah 60-62. He claims that the blessings described in these chapters are for national Israel. Is this the truth?

A great deal of space could be taken to show how the New Testament writers believed that the blessings of Isaiah 60-62 were provided by the work of redemption by Christ and enjoyed now by Christians. We will limit the discussion to verses 1 and 2 of Isaiah 61.

If the reader would open the Bible to Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:16-21 he will see how far off base Reagan’s theory on national Israel really is. Luke records the event of Jesus going into the Synagogue on the Sabbath and reading from the book of Isaiah. He quotes from Isaiah 61:1-2 and concludes by saying, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). That ought to settle the matter for those who accept the Bible as God’s inspired word.

In this brief look at the teachings of those who think God’s Israel is still national Israel, I believe the Scriptures show conclusively that such teachings are contrary to the New Testament writings.

If national Israel is not the benefactor of the ultimate blessings promised to Israel—then who is the benefactor? Clearly the New Testament teaches that those blessings are now realized in spiritual Israel—the Church.

Paul wrote that "they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel" (Romans 9:6), and "it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants" (Romans 9:8). Thus, it is not physical (national) Israel that God considers heirs of the promises, but spiritual Israel, the remnant. The "promise" which Paul refers to is the promise to Abraham (Romans 9:9). Later in the same chapter Paul says the heirs of the promise include both Jews and Gentiles (see verse 24).

The letter to the Galatians is very instructive concerning Israel. These Christians, who obviously are considering returning to Judaism, are told that there is no hope in such a move. Instead, "it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham" (Galatians 3:7) and "children of the promise" (Galatians 4:28). Consequently, it is those in the church who make up the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16).

The work of Christ has already fulfilled the glorious promises of the prophets. Through the cross He has brought peace, made both Jew and Gentile into "one new man" (Ephesians 2:14-16). Therefore, when Paul (as well as others) preached Christ he preached "the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers" (Acts 26:6). When he was imprisoned for preaching Christ it was "for the sake of the hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20). Notice that this is not some hope for national Israel in the future, but the hope realized when one is obedient to Christ as Lord and Savior.

I have no objections to national Israel having her own nation. But I do object to the twisting of Scriptures to claim that it is the fulfillment of God’s prophetic promises! My Lord did not fail!