Featured Israel and the Church Contrasted

When contrasting Israel and the Church, the differentiation between them should never be understood within the concept of favoritism concerning God’s love and promises towards both, for “God is no respecter of persons” (Job 34:19; Act 10:34; Rom 2:11; 1Pe 1:17). Therefore, though the eternal authoritative position of both vary (Mat 19:28; Luke 22:30), neither vary in His love for them.

As it is well known, prayerful and studious research must be exercised when reading Scripture, esp. when there is increased obscurity concerning certain subjects and issues. At present it is my speculation that God’s plan for eschatological Israel (Israelites saved after seeing Christ during the Millennium—John 20:29) is to “inherit the earth” because it corresponds to the Jewish promises.

God give us to apply patience and persistence towards our receiving what and when He desires to give us understanding concerning that which is contained within His “Word of Truth.” God be blessed!

Risen With Him

-NC (Bob)

Israel and the Church Contrasted​

Extent of Biblical Revelation – Israel occupies nearly four-fifths of the text of the Bible. As to primary application, the Church occupies slightly more than one-fifth of the Word.

The Divine Purpose – Every covenant, promise and provision for Israel is earthly, and they continue as a nation on the earth when it is created anew.

Every covenant or promise for the Church is for a heavenly reality, and she continues in heavenly citizenship when the heavens are recreated.

Birth – Israelites become what they are by physical birth. Each one is begotten of human parents and their inheritance is transmitted by human generation.

Christians become what they are by physical birth. They are begotten directly by God and are therefore His legitimate offspring. Their inheritance is immediate in that each is a child of God.

Nationality – Israel belongs to the earth and to the world-system. Though above all nations in Jehovah’s reckoning, they are still in the world as one of its nations.

The Church is composed of all nations, including Israelites, and sustains no citizenship here, but instead the believers are strangers and pilgrims.

Ministry – Israel was appointed to exercise an influence over the nations of the earth, and this she will do perfectly in the coming kingdom age. Previously she undertook no missionary work, and proclaimed no gospel. She maintained her self-centered worship*—she faced inward toward the tabernacle or temple, and all her benevolence was consumed on her own worship.

Immediately upon her formation, the Church is constituted a foreign missionary society. It is her obligation to face outward, and to those of her company is given the task of evangelizing the people of the world in each generation.

The Death of Christ – That nation which demanded the death of Christ and who said by their officials, “His blood be on us, and on our children,” is guilty of that death; yet they will be saved as a nation on the ground of that sacrifice.

A present and perfect salvation to the praise of God is the portion of the Church through the offering of the Lamb of God.

The Father – To Israel God is known by His primary titles, but not as the Father of the individual Israelite*.

The Christian is actually begotten of God and has every right to address Him as Father.

Christ – To Israel, Christ is Messiah, Immanuel, and King.

To the Church, Christ is Savior, Lord, Bridegroom, Head and Life.

The Holy Spirit – Only in exceptional instances and for unusual service did the Holy Spirit come upon an Israelite, and He withdrew as freely as He came, when the purpose was accomplished.

The Christian is permanently indwelt by the Spirit of God; and actually, he is not saved apart from this relationship to the Spirit (Rom 8:9).

Governing Principle – For fifteen centuries the Law of Moses was Israel’s rule of daily life (Ps 103:17, 18).

Members of the Body of Christ, being wholly perfected in Him, are under the beseechings and directions which grace provides.

Divine Enablement – The Law system provided no enabling power for its achievement. There was constant failure because of the weakness of “the flesh” to which it was addressed (Rom 8:3).

To the Church is provided, by the indwelling Spirit, enablement for every requirement. The Apostle Paul could say, “Sin shall not have dominion over you”; the reason being, “Ye are not under law, but under grace” (Rom 6:14).

Christ’s Return – He returns as King to gather Israel into the land (Deu 30:1-8; Jer 23:7, 8; Mat 24:31).

The Lord Jesus Christ returns for His Bride and takes her with Him into heaven’s glory (John 14:1-3).

Position – Isaiah declares, “But thou, Israel, art my servant” (Israel 41:8). Though individuals in Israel attained to great usefulness, as did the prophets, priests and kings, yet they never reached a higher distinction than that they were the servants of Jehovah.

Christians compose the Church, forever in Christ, and are members of the family and household of God (the believers services are no longer as “servants” - John 15:15—NC).

Christ’s Earthly Rein – Israelites are appointed to be subjects of the King in His earthly kingdom.

Members of the Body of Christ are to reign with the King as His Consort in the kingdom.

Priesthood – Israel has a priesthood. The Church is a priesthood (1Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).

Judgments – Israel must yet come into judgment (Mat 25:1-13). The Church has been judged, and will not come into judgment (John 5:24; Rom 8:1).

-- L S Chafer


(Notations are poster’s comments and are to be considered opinions as such)

* “self-centered worship”: worship that centered on what the individual was required to do to secure their right standing with God (Num 15) during the prior dispensation, which involved “a worldly sanctuary,” wherein the practices were performed contained “carnal ordinances” (Heb 9:1, 10; Eph 2:15).

Now, only Christ-centered worship is accepted for son-ship, which is centric of what Christ did (unlike contingency on the obedience to the Mosaic Law) for our right standing with God in the present dispensation.

* “Father of the individual Israelite”: there is God being father of mankind, as in being creator of us all, similar to Abraham being a “father of many nations” (Gen 17:4, 5); there is God being fatherly, as in caring “as a father,” i.e. father of a nation and not necessarily of an individual, as is the present relationship of the believer through Christ; there is God being Father of His children, as in being their Father by their relationship with the Lord Jesus, which also relates to the Lord Jesus’ instruction concerning prayers of the Christian to be addressed to “our Father.”

 

Hi MC - I believe the Israel of God consists of all the Hebrew and Jewish believers, not those of these posterities who were unbelievers. The Church consists of posterities from believing Jews (Israel of God) and Gentile believers. The unbelieving posterity of Abraham in the prior dispensation perished.

I also believe there will also be those saved among Israel who will be the last surviving generation of Jews on the earth during the Millennium era.

 

Scripture is obscure concerning certain passages, which require further research, prayer and time. This is significantly so concerning Biblical teachings related to prophecies of Israel, chiefly in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36, which contains that which God has yet to perform with Israel, and is not clearly identified within the eschatological doctrines of Scripture.

Good applicable inquiry! Presently, many of Jewish faith believe in God but are disbelieving concerning the gospel of Christ, hence they are not completely in disbelief, as much of the world is who are not of Jewish decent.

I believe the last generation of Jews are the prophecies of Jer 31 and Eze 36, and since they have yet to occur it stands reasonable to speculate it will be during the end times (Millennium).

Again, due to certain Scripture obscurity I conceive much of Eschatology as speculation, of which I am learning more all the time.

 

Hid TA - Thanks for you encouraging expectation, of which I also anticipate learning more from postings, in seeing other's concepts, and by answering questions from what I've learned and which to share.

Those who believed in God prior to Abraham are of Hebrew posterity and are within the same dispensation as the Jews.

 

All from among Israel who continued in disobedience within the prior dispensation did not enter God's "rest" (Heb 3:18, 19), but ended in hell, i.e. rich man (Luke 16:22), same for the unbelieving Gentiles (remaining world). This excludes believers such as Abraham and others who were, "carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom" (paradise--heaven).

Those from among Israel and the Gentiles, who believe in Christ in the present dispensation, will be the Body of Christ. The primary subject in much confusion concerns those from among Israel who will be the last surviving generation of Israel. These are the ones concerning whom God said, "I will put My Spirit within you" (Eze 36:27), which is what He presently does for all believers (Phil 2:13). It’s my speculation those within this group will be separate in a position and authority than those of the Body, and I believe this is the intention of Romans 11:26, e.g. all among the last surviving Isrealites will be saved.

It’s also my speculation is that the Body will be eternally ruling (Mat 19:28; Luke 22:30) with Christ over these people (last of the Isrealites) who've inherited the new earth.