False Teachings about Israel

Some Christian teachers say that there is a link between the nation of Israel and the progress of the Church and that when things go well in Israel, then the gospel and the church advance. This view is not correct. Because Israel is still under the judgement of God, things cannot go well for it. Yet where the church is obedient to him, God will bless it, so the two will often go in different directions. A nation that rejected God cannot shape the destiny of the church. On the other hand, there may be a parallel between state of the church in the West and Israel. They are both missing the will of God, so they both face a troubled future.

Although Israel receives the gospel, it will not go back to having a special role in the world. In Old Testament times, God worked through the nation of Israel. In this age he is working through the church, so he will not go back to working though a chosen nation like Israel. However, when Israel has come into the church, God will be able to work through Israel again, as part of the church. Israel of old, will have joined the New Israel, the Church. Once this takes place, the church will have a completeness that it did not have, while the Jews were kept in darkness. When Israel is grafted into new Israel, two great streams in the workings of God will have come together. When they come together, he will be able to work together in a mightier way. This is what Paul meant in Romans 11, when he wrote of the calling of the Jews bring blessing to the world.

Many Christians believe that the existence of the state of Israel is a sign that the second coming is near.  (Some believe the temple must be rebuilt.) This is not true. Jesus appears in the air and his followers will be caught up to be with him and the existing earth destroyed.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thes 4:16,17).

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Mat 24:27).

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (2 Pet 3:10).

The second coming is a worldwide event, so Israel does not have to be in existence for it to occur.

The creation of the state of Israel is an important event, but it must be kept in perspective. It is an event that had to happen, but it is not God's ultimate purpose for Israel. His real goal is to bring Israel into the church. The restoration of the land is just a prior event to make that possible. It is a sign that the times of the Gentiles are drawing to a close.

God's main goal is build a church that can establish the Kingdom of God.  Even Israel must fit with this goal.