Over the years, and as a regular blogger, I have often posted on matters concerning Israel. This is understandable given that I see my role both as a watchman on the wall and as someone who is compelled to highlight things that I deem as significant for the few who listen to me, and as an assiduous Bible student, including the subject of end times prophecy, where Israel much features. (Edit: I surprised myself to find that I wrote on exactly the same title over eight years ago (see here), revealing a long held conundrum).

Usually there are axioms and often when I read or listen to what other people have to say on the subject of Israel, I try to figure out what are the beliefs of those whose words I am trying to check out and often I am right in my predictions on the sort of views they go onto offer. Before I shoot from the hip, I suggest you fasten your seat belts. I have thought deeply, studied intensely, e.g. the Bible and current events and written profusely on Israel related matters (a lot of the results of those deliberations can be found on my website).

But four things to begin with: Firstly, I am going to cover a lot of ground and do freely admit that all too often I have yet to come to a fully rounded view. Secondly, what I am going to say will likely upset folk both from the pro-Israel camp and those from the anti-Israel camp. I speak to those who will take offense when their cherished beliefs are challenged, including among sincere Christians, that we put away lies and prejudice and seek only the truth. I think too of my dear late mum’s words (which are best not repeated) when people put her down for the views she held etc. and those of Ricky Gervais that he gave at one of the Oscar ceremonies, to the effect he didn’t care if people got upset over what he said. Thirdly, I am not going to name and shame, nor cite sources – I can but I feel it best I go straight to the crux of what it is I want to say, while I am prepared to engage in future respectful, relevant dialogue. Fourthly, I write specifically for real Christians who have given the Israel matter some thought, still trying to work out where the truth lies. Often, even among the best, there are quite different views to be found.

I often find prior to blogging on a new subject, what might seem to be a series of unrelated events and words come together around the same time that make me wonder if the Lord is nudging me to reflect further and maybe say something, as in the case here. Two of my latest reading assignments have been on a book relating J.N.Darby and dispensationalism (see here for my review and attempts at a definition) and a collection of papers on the theme “Brethren and the Last Things – Studies in Brethren History”, that were delivered at a conference in which I contributed toward, where many of the views in the past included ones around the notion of dispensations, and also of the special place of physical Israel.

A regular experience checking out various media sources is finding Israel related material. In the week just gone, there has been more than is normal concerning Israel. It includes those supporting Israel’s actions in the region and those which condemn. Then there are those, more theologically motivated, which include refuting replacement theology and those which uphold such notions, and with all sources, it so happens, I give a good deal of credence to.

There was one particular posting by a well-known, high-profile Christian leader, with a history of speaking out on issues affecting the culture, whose views for the most part I agree with, who has often been cancelled for his troubles. In his posting, he stated that the dispensationalists are heretics and that the Church is the new Israel. When I took him to task on the matter, he sadly (sad because up to then he was someone who I admired and often agreed with) unceremoniously dismissed and demeaned me as not a brother in Christ, although I had made the point that before criticising someone to whom any label is attached we need to first understand what it is that person actually believes and why. I would argue that the real heresy (sadly widespread right across the eschatological spectrum and has been ever since the early days of the church) is that of insisting the Church has replaced Israel and that Israel has no future other than individual Israelis converting to Christianity.

It happens my current Bible studies, which include leading sessions at my church, are on the theme: “Christ in the Old Testament”, are unavoidably Israel related. One discovery has been the number of prophecies relating Jesus first and second comings and the future kingdom of Israel. I also attended a Bible study this past week under the title “Is God through with Israel”, digging into Romans 11. My own views are represented by the following article: “Will all Israel be saved in the end times (Romans 11:26)?” (see here).  

I have invoked the terms “Ashkenazi Jews”, “Khazarian Mafia” and “Synagogue of Satan” in my previous writings. This has sometimes landed me in hot water, especially among those who accuse those who criticise Israel as being Anti-Semetic. Always in the back of my mind is the question: who are the true descendants of Abraham and the words of Jesus “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did” John 8:39. I don’t dismiss Jewish converts, nor those who are descended from those who have converted to Judaism, nor any who genuinely identify as Jewish and nor do I ignore there is a special place given by God for the Jews.

Ever since Israel regained sovereignty over the land that it now occupies (in 1948), there has been much, I believe often demonic, opposition. Ever since then, Israel has hardly ever been out of the news, especially most recently, with the Hamas led attacks October 7^th 2023, the war in Gaza that ensued and the words and actions of a wide range of (often competing and vested) interests as to what is actually happening and should be happening in the region.

Then there are those on either side of the is Israel good or bad, following the October 7th attacks, debate. On one hand, some claim Israel is committing genocide against innocent Palestinians living in Gaza and, some on the other hand, arguing Israel are taking necessary steps to secure its own safety. This is one debate where I have yet to fully decide where the balance of truth lies. Those who criticize the actions of those in power in Israel and that is supported by their allies, including the Trump administration and other western governments, may or may not be wrong, but it doesn’t in itself make them antisemitic. Yet, I see Jew hatred that is truly antisemitic, everywhere (and fear for my Jewish friends), and ill informed, uncritical support of the likes of Hamas and their supporters, who want to to drive Israelis out of their land.     

These are crazy days, and we are now seeing wars and rumours of wars, just as Jesus had predicted in Matthew 24, on a grand scale, e.g. Ukraine and Russia, China and Taiwan, India and Pakistan and all sorts of happenings in the Middle East where Israel is at the centre, and these are the ones that get reported. It has sometimes been said that the first casualty in war is truth and is replaced by propaganda. Part of the strong disagreements on the rights and wrongs of these wars is that people don’t have the whole truth.

Not a day goes by when we do not see monumental developments, not just on the war and peace front but concerning all sorts of things going on in the world, many of which I believe are related, making one wonder if the end is indeed nigh. As I write, US President Donald Trump has been travelling around the Middle East, doing all sorts of deals with Arab nations and others, often boasting peace through strength, part of which is intended to bring about peace and de-escalate tensions. I don’t say this in order to endorse Trump. Bible prophecy reveals this is something the Antichrist will do.  

So let me say what I think and always I am open to be shown that I am wrong and especially if by God Himself (whose thoughts trump those of everyone else), what the Bible teaches, and what the true prophets (ancient and modern) say. Firstly, I make the distinction between Israel the land, Israel the government along with its elites and powerful and Israel the people (including attempting to figure out who are the good and bad among the Israel people and coming to a view that some of the most powerful are also among the worst). My reading of scripture is that God has promised to Israel (the people) Israel (the land). The promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 15 about his descendants possessing the land He specified, including Israel today and way beyond, awaits complete fulfillment.

The Bible also teaches, e.g. Deuteronomy 28-30, that the promise of being able to keep the land promised depends on Israel’s obedience to Him – and that is not happening. Then there are numerous yet to be fulfilled prophecies (a subject for a future blog) about a time that is to come when Israel will live in peace and will prosper in that land under her Messiah (who Christians believe has come and expect will come again). It is why I am pre- rather than a- or post- millennial concerning my views on eschatology. I believe there will be a turning of Israel to her Messiah, who in the main she has rejected when he came into the world in the person of Jesus and will continue up to the time of His return, when He returns to rescue her from her enemies, as foretold by the Hebrew prophets, e.g. Zechariah 10-14.

While my views on the place of Israel today in God’s plans begs elaboration (I have done so in earlier writings and may well do so again). I do not believe Israel has been replaced by the Church (sadly, the majority view of Christendom) and there remains a special place for Israel (the people) in God’s plans. While we must not fall into the error of specifying dates and precise details, if we take the Bible, and especially end-time prophecy along with happenings in the world seriously, things SHALL fall into place.

Going back to the Romans 11 Bible study, it was pointed out that there are many different understandings of the meaning of text: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” Romans 11:26. I was grateful to one participant for pointing out that a lot of what actually will take place remains a mystery and, while we shouldn’t be “wishy washy” in coming to a view, we need to be humble when it comes to presenting our views to those who may see things differently and recognise there is much we don’t know.

We will let St. Paul have the last word. He ended the “Israel section” (chapters 9-11) of his letter to the Romans: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).