The Church is NOT EQUAL to Israel!

A Comparison and Contrast Between

Israel and the Church​

Israel is a nation chosen by God and sustained by covenant promises (Deut. 7:6-9). Not all individuals in this chosen nation are saved (Rom. 9:6; 11:28).

The Church is a called out assembly of believers who have been baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Every member of the body of Christ is saved, though there are multitudes of professing Christians who may not be saved (2 Tim. 2:19).
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Israel traces its origin to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Jacob being the father of the twelve tribes).

The Church traces its origin to the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) when believers were first placed into the body of Christ.
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In God’s program for Israel, His witnesses comprised a nation (Isaiah 43:10).

In God’s program for the Church, His witnesses are among all nations (Acts 1:8).
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God’s program for Israel centered in Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37) and will again center in Jerusalem during the Tribulation (Matt. 24:15-20) and during the Millennium (Isa. 2:1-5).

God’s program for His Church began in Jerusalem and extended to the uttermost parts of the earth (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). The Church is identified with the risen Christ, not with any earthly city.
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The hope and expectancy of Israel was earthly, centering in the establishment of the Kingdom of the Messiah foretold by the prophets (Jer. 23:5-8; Isa. 2:1-5; 11:1-16).

The hope and expectancy of the Church is heavenly, centering in the glorious appearing of Christ to take His people to heaven (John 14:1-3; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
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God’s purpose and program for Israel was revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures.

God’s purpose and program for the Church was not revealed in the Old Testament, but was revealed by the New Testament apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:5).
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Israel’s history which is in view in Daniel 9:24 (the 70 weeks or 490 years) involved animal sacrifices. These years will include the tribulation. Israel’s millennial history will involve the same (Ezek. 43:27).

The Church’s history does not involve animal sacrifices. Messiah’s sacrifice is commemorated by means of the Lord’s Table.
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Israel’s history which is in view in Daniel 9:24 (the 490 years including also the Tribulation) involves a temple in Jerusalem. The same will be true in the Millennium (Ezek. chapters 40-48).

During most of the Church age there is no Jewish temple in Jerusalem. In this age God manifests His glory in His believers, both individually and collectively, designating them as His temple (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20; Eph. 2:21-22). This is accomplished by the indwelling ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
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Israel’s history which is in view in Daniel 9:24 (the 490 years) involves a priesthood limited to the sons of Aaron, and excluding most Israelites. The same applies to the Millennium when Zadokian priests (also sons of Aaron) will serve in the temple (Ezek. 40:46; 43:19; 44:15).

During the Church age every true believer is a priest and able to offer spiritual sacrifices to the Lord (Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6). Whereas Israel had a priesthood, the Church is a priesthood.
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Israel’s history which is in view in Daniel 9:24 (the 490 years) will terminate with the coming of the Messiah to the earth to establish His Kingdom reign.

The Church’s history will end at the Rapture of the Church when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rom. 11:25).
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During Israel’shistory (the 490 years of Daniel 9:24 which also includes the Tribulation) the ethnic makeup of the world is bipartite: Jews and Gentiles. This division of all people into Jews and Gentiles will also apply to those in the Millennial Kingdom in natural bodies.

During the Church age from Pentecost to the Rapture the ethnic makeup of the world is tripartite: Jews, Gentiles, and the Church of God (1 Cor. 10:32), the Church being composed of saved Jews and Gentiles united together in one Body (Eph. 2:15; 3:6).
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During Israel’s history, from Sinai to the Millennial Kingdom (excluding the Church age), Israel’s role in the world will be characterized by PRIORITY [that is, they will have a leading role as God’s chosen people]—see Deut. 4:6-8; Isa. 43:10; Matt. 10:5-6; Zech. 8:23.

During the Church age, Israel’s role in the world will be characterized by EQUALITY—Jew and Gentiles united together in one body to bear testimony to a risen Christ (Col. 3:11; Gal. 3:28).
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Male Jews were circumcised as a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Believing Jews were circumcised in the heart (Jer. 4:4).

Believers of this age enjoy an internal circumcision not made with hands (Col. 2:11; Phil. 3:3). Physical circumcision is not required.
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Israel was under the law of Moses as a rule of life.

The Church is under the “new creature” rule (Gal. 6:15-16). See our study: What is the Believer's Rule of Life?
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Unbelieving Jews were physical children of Abraham and spiritual children of the devil (John 8:37-44).

Every believer in Christ (every true member of the Church, whether Jew or Gentile) is a child of Abraham and a child of God (Rom. 4:11-12; Gal. 3:326-29). This statement does not mean that Church age believers are Israelites. See The Use of the Term "Israel" in the N.T.
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Israel was to observe the Sabbath Day (Exodus 20:8). Sabbath observance will also take place in the Tribulation (Matt. 24:20) and in the Millennium (Ezek. 46:1,3).

The Church is to be diligent and make every effort to enter into God’s rest (Heb. 4:9-11). This is a daily duty.
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Membership into the Jewish nation was by birth or by becoming a proselyte (a convert to Judaism).

Membership into the Church is by the new birth accomplished by the baptizing ministry of God (1 Cor. 12:13).
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Believing Jews prior to Pentecost, believing Jews during the tribulation, and believing Jews during the Kingdom reign of Christ are not members of the body of Christ.

Believing Jews and Gentiles from Pentecost to the Rapture are members of the body of Christ.
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Israel’s place of worship centered in Jerusalem (Dan. 6:10; John 4:20) and this will also be true in the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27) and in the Millennium (Isa. 2:1-5).

The Church’s place of worship is “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name” (Matt. 18:20; John 4:21-24). Christ is in the midst of His Churches (Rev. 1:13, 20).
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Israel is likened to the wife of Jehovah, often an unfaithful wife (Hosea).

The Church is the beloved Bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7-8) to be one day presented blameless and spotless (Eph. 5:27).
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The Middletown Bible Church
349 East Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-0907

http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/dispen/israelch.htm

 

Interesting, I believe this says it all because ALL of the Church are redeemed. Not all of Israel, God's chosen people, "The Elect???" are redeemed.

 

The Church is composed of born agan, blood washed believers (Jew and Gentile). Israel is God's chosen people (Deut. 7:6-9).

Israel still exists as a nation just as prophecy foretold it would. The nation Israel is back in its land in preparation for the literal fulfillment of all the prophecies pertaining to it. This supports the belief that God has not permanently rejected the nation Israel, but has only temporarily set them aside until He is ready to fulfill His promises to them.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5)

"Remnant" often refers to God's preservation of a portion of Israel through the centuries of judgment. He has promised through His covenants with Abraham and David that a remnant will be preserved to inherit the Messianic kingdom.

Election comes after redemption--NOBODY is "elected" or "predestined" to be redeemed/saved.

 

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

 

Election is based on God's foreknowledge

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)

Election means God planned man's salvation before the creation. It means God, by his foreknowledge, has predestinated the Christian to a glorious future. It is not who is predestinated, but what we are predestinated to.

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:5)

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3-4)


For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)


Election does not mean God arbitrarily chooses who will be saved and who will not be. He has revealed that He wants all men to be saved.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

No, I didn't get that from Middletown Bible Church--I got that from God's Word. I am NOT a Calvinist who believes in this "double predestination" stuff. God foreknows, then He predestinates. The Bible is clear that men are not elected to destruction. Men do not go to hell because of election, but because they reject or neglect the gospel. God does not "elect" some to be saved and some to be lost.

BTW, Middletown Bible Church does not teach Reformed/Calvinist Theology--which means they don't teach "double predestination".

 

With all due respect my sister, historic calvinism does not teach double-predestination (if we are defining the term the same) or what some of the divines called pre-damnation. Men who are ignornant of the truth and seem (in my estimation) to have an agenda concernign the doctrines of grace have characterized calvinism in general as either hyper-calvinism (John. R. Rice) or as double-predestination.

Its like Dave Hunt trying to prove Spurgeon didn't believe/teach particular redemption. In their zeal for what they believe is truth they end up distorting it and teaching un-truth.

 

I have no problem reading what each side writes concerning their position. If we are to discuss the issues and seek to correct an error where we think there is one, we need to understand what the other person really believes so we can accurately represent it.

My problem with reading is I am so scattered. Since my Scripture study brought me to Romans 11 and so I pulled out the Puritan Hope by Iain Murray to see what he said about the passage too. I will definitately check out the book recommendation you have. I probably won't right away because I want to first make a careful study of the Scirptures. I am peeking into to other writings on these subjects, but I want to be sure I have a firm grasp on the relevant Scriptures for this subject.

 

Well said. I have trouble fitting into molds myself.

 

rjprince said:

Yes, probably a bit overstated, but nevertheless it does basically represent why I find CT a better choice than Dispy. It seems to me that the NT writers (Paul especially) speaks of "revealing mysteries which were hid", "the things written before were written for our learning", "which things were an allegory", etc. Therefore, the NT is an explanation of the OT, not visa versa.