Given the historic Israel's prominent place in the Bible, whenever modern Israel is attacked or attacking others, many wonder what it might mean for the end times. For some, modern Israel is the lodestone for eschatological events and should receive undying attention and support. For others, modern Israel is an enemy of the gospel and should be protested. As Christians, it's important that we land where the Bible lands rather than culture or loud voices in the media.
So, where does the Bible land on these things? Some will disagree with me, but let me walk you through how I think about Israel when they are in the new undergoing difficult days.
Remember God's Plan
God's dealings with Israel began with the call of Abraham (Genesis 12). He would be the vehicle through whom God's blessings would come to the world. Moreover, the father of many nations. Biologically, he would the father of Israel—all those who came as his descendants. But the other nations were not far from God's mind. Paul pictures Israel as an olive tree with Gentiles being grafted on like branches (Romans 11:11–24).
But Gentiles were not saved by keeping the Israelite law or sacrifices. These were gracious gifts to Israel but ultimately shadows of the substances that is Jesus Christ (Col 2:16–17). In fact, Jesus is shown to be the true Israel in which all find their salvation.
- Jesus is God’s true Son, obeying all that his Father asks of him whereas Israel repeatedly failed to keep their covenant obligations (Hos 11:1; Matt 2:14–15; 3:17).
- Jesus is the true vine which not only produced the righteousness in his life, but is the source of life and spiritual fruit for this people (John 15:1–11; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; 12:10; Ezek 15:1-8).
- Jesus is the true Servant of God. Jesus's life reenacts Israel’s history, succeeding where they failed: the exodus from Egypt (Matt 2:19-20), the crossing of the Red Sea (Matt 3:13-17), the temptations in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11), and the arrival at Mt. Sinai to receive the law (Matt 5:1-2), and He receives the expected out-pouring of God’s Spirit (Matt 3:16; cf. Isa 44:2-3; Ezek 36:25-27). All of this reveal that Jesus is truly the Son with whom God is pleased (Matt 3:16).
- Jesus is the true Seed of Abraham. In Galatians 3, Paul says that to be a part of the people of God, you must be a child of Abraham. All who trust God like Abraham are united to Jesus, the true seed of Abraham. Thus, “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise” and part of God's true covenant people (Gal 3:29).
God does not have two plans of salvation, one for the Jews and one for Gentiles. No, all who will be saved are saved through faith in Christ. We are all united together as one new humanity in Christ (Eph 2:10–18). While some believers disagree, I do think the culmination of Paul's argument in Romans 9–11 shows that the partial hardening on the Jewish people will be lifted and many will put faith in Christ before he return (Rom 11:25–27)—not apart from the church's gospel witness but through it.
Consider the Differences with Modern Israel
So, what about the modern political nation of Israel? The current state of Israel is not the same as old covenant Israel. Their covenant given through Moses has come to fulfillment in Christ (Rom 10:4; Heb 8:13). Now, they have a president and a prime minister, rather than a king. They do not follow the old covenant law as their governing document. By and large, they do not worship Yahweh. For all intents and purposes, they are a secular nation.
In part, this means that we need not commit to them in any special way as "God's chosen people." We need not sanction or justify everything that modern Israel does. If they do something wrong, we should condemn just as we would condemn any other nation who did the same, including our own.
At the same time, that doesn’t mean that we should despise them. There's no biblical justification for anti-semitism any more than there is for any prejudiced or racist mindset. Going further, we can fully support the right to defend their border and just-war actions they take against their enemies, as we would any other modern nation.
Pray for Eternal Peace
Going back to Paul's promise that in the end, “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26), we should pray. Even if we disagree on how God will keep that promise, we "pray for the peace of the Jerusalem" (Ps 122:6). Specifically, we pray for their peace with God. Surely, we long for an end to physical fighting as well. We want the war, bloodshed, and collateral damage of civilian deaths to end! But in light of eternity, Israel needs refuge in the Prince of Peace who will fully and finally reconcile them to Yahweh with an everlasting salvation; not by the blood of bulls and goats, but one secured by the precious blood of Jesus (1 Pet 1:19; cf. Isa 9:6).
Thus, as we pray for the peace of a political nation state, let us all the more pray for the grace of the gospel of Christ to permeate the land and people of Israel. Let us long for the people who brought forth the God’s Messiah, to trust him to shepherd their lives now and in the life to come that they might experience a peace that never ends (Rom 10:1).
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