First Lutheran Church Plainville, Kansas
Peace Lutheran Church Natoma, Kansas
November, 2023
Israel is in the news quite a bit lately, more so than usual; and commentators are speaking and writing about the events transpiring, and some are even evoking end times conversations and Israel’s role in ushering in those events.
Ergo, I thought it would be helpful to take a few moments to review what the word ‘Israel’ means, because it is a loaded term, and can mean different things to different people.
- Probably most familiar to us is Biblical Israel. This is the country of Israel that begins with Jacob and his 12 sons in Genesis, grows into the multitude that departs Egypt, conquers and settles the Promised Land, and then dwells there for a period of time. There is a lot that could be covered here, but the bottom line, is that Biblical Israel ceases to exist after 70AD when Rome comes in and destroys Jerusalem.
- This is where things get more complicated, because in 1948, following the events of World War II, the global super powers of the day, determined it best to give the Jews the current land that occupies the state of Israel. It is important to note that the democratically elected and governed state of Israel, is NOT Biblical Israel. Modern-day Israel has about as much in common with Biblical Israel as the United States in 2023 has to do with the British colonies of 1750. While we support the modern-day state of Israel in their wars against their earthly enemies, we also fervently pray that Israel repents of its war on the Messiah, who is Jesus.
- Then there is the spiritual Israel spoken of in Revelation. This is where most outsiders, and insiders, get confused, because they read Revelation, and see the word Israel, and immediately assume it is the Jewish people. However, we read Revelation through the lens of Christ, therefore, the Israel spoken of in Revelation is not Biblical Israel, nor is it the modern-day state of Israel, but it is the Church. You and I, and all the baptized, who confess the name of Jesus, are the new Israel. Here, we must note the words of the New Testament; in Luke 19:41-44, Jesus speaks about the land, but never mentions it being restored to Israel. In Matthew 24:30-31 and Luke 21:25-28, Jesus teaches His disciples to look ahead to His return in glory, not to the restoration of the land to Israel. Following Pentecost, Peter speaks about the faithful inheriting a land that will never fade or perish (1 Peter 1:4). In Hebrews 4:1-11, the land for Christians is described as the rest we have in Christ Jesus.
It is amazing that one word can refer to three completely different things. This makes
talking about Israel very difficult, because many churches do teach that God has a separate plan of salvation set apart for the Jews, and that there are a series of events that must take place involving Israel in order to usher in the end times, including the state of Israel occupying the land that Biblical Israel once had, and rebuilding the temple and re-instituting the system of sacrifices.
It is perfectly ok for Christians to support the 1948 state of Israel, but we should support them through the same lens and ask the same questions of strategic interest that we would of other countries we support, such as Ukraine, South Korea and Canada.
It is not ok for Christians to support the 1948 state of Israel, thinking that it is somehow a continuation of Biblical Israel, or that it has any bearing on the spiritual Israel that is the Christian Church. Rather, we should earnestly pray that they repent of their rejection of the Messiah, believe the Gospel, and be baptized in the name of Jesus.
God Bless!
Pastor Schmidt
Such a time as this - Esther 4:14 