Does modern day “physical Israel” (1 Corinthians 10:18 JNT) fulfill Bible prophecy? Many claim that it does.

THE CLAIMS

They often cite Old Testament prophecies of restoration of the promised land to Israel, asserting that modern Israel does fulfill Bible prophecy. Frequently, they cite verses that seem to indicate fleshly Israel would have this land forever, such as:

“They will live on the land I gave to Jacob my servant, the land where their ancestors lived; they shall live on it always”—Ezekiel 37:25 NAB

Many also claim that all or most Jews will accept Jesus as the Messiah, or that God will never forsake his people, meaning fleshly Jews of the nation of Israel. Are these views correct? More importantly, are they scriptural? Let’s examine this issue in light of the Bible.

THE COVENANT WITH ISRAEL WAS CONDITIONED ON ISRAEL’S OBEDIENCE

“So now, if you are really prepared to obey me and keep my covenant, you, out of all peoples, shall be my personal possession, for the whole world is mine... and the people all replied with one accord, ‘Whatever Yahweh has said, we will do.’ Moses then reported to Yahweh what the people had said.” (Exodus 19:5-8 NJB) It was clear that the Sinaitic or Mosaic Law Covenant that God entered with the ancient nation of Israel was conditional, dependent upon their obedience to God. They agreed to obey all that Yahweh had commanded them.

“Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of Yahweh and all the judgments, and all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words Yahweh which has spoken we will do!’ And Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh’s. Then he arose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offering to Yahweh. And Moses then took half the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, ‘All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!’ So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘Behold,  the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has cut with you, in accordance with all these words'” (Exodus 24:3-8 LSB) This covenant was officially ratified by animal sacrifices, and officially accepted by the nation. It was a very serious and responsible contract into which they entered, conditioned upon the obedience of the people of Israel.

“When a foreigner lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must regard the foreigner who lives with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34 HCSB) Thirty-six times in the Old Testament, God warns Jews to be compassionate to strangers and aliens.

“Very well, tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says this: You eat blood, you raise your eyes to your foul idols, you shed blood; are you to own the country? You rely on your swords, you engage in loathsome practices, each of you defiles his neighbour’s wife; are you to own the country?’ Tell them this, ‘The Lord Yahweh says this: As I live, I swear it, those in the ruins will fall to the sword, those in the countryside I shall give to the wild animals for them to eat, and those among the crags and in caves will die of plague. I shall make the country a desolate waste, and the pride of its strength will be at an end. The mountains of Israel will be deserted and no one will pass that way again. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I make the country a desolate waste because of all the filthy things they have done.'” (Ezekiel 33:25-29 NJB) Murdering innocent people, etc., meant forfeiture of the God-given land, a denial of Abraham’s faith. (Jeremiah 17:4)

“But if you do not obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and do not keep and observe all his commandments and laws which I am laying down for you today then all these curses will befall and overtake you. You will be accursed in the town and accursed in the countryside.” (Deuteronomy 28:15-16 NJB) “Just as Yahweh used to delight in making you happy and in making your numbers grow, so will he take delight in ruining you and destroying you. You will be torn from the country which you are about to enter and make your own. Yahweh will scatter you throughout every people, from one end of the earth to the other; there you will serve other gods made of wood and stone, hitherto unknown either to you or to your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 28:63-64 NJB) “You must keep my laws… if you defile the land, it will vomit you out.” (Leviticus 18:24-28 NIV) It is clear that the Israelites’ claim to the land was conditioned on obedience to God’s laws and commandments.

COVENANT WITH FLESHLY ISRAEL BROKEN

“Then I took my staff called Favor and cut it in pieces, to break the covenant which I had cut with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day” (Zechariah 11:10-11 LSB). “Revoking the covenant . . . It was revoked on that day” (Zechariah 11:10-11 NIV). Yahweh foretold long in advance that he would break. or revoke, the covenant with Israel.

“He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (John 1:11 NAB). Why are the Israelites “his own people”? “They are the Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever” (Romans 9:4-5 NAB). The rejection of God’s Son was the final straw. God canceled the covenant with Israel.

“The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. When they heard his parables, the chief priests and the scribes realized that he was speaking about them” (Matthew 21:43-45 NJB). The Jews in the Jerusalem area were deported from the land in the first century because of their rejection of the Messiah. The nation of Israel broke the Law covenant; therefore, God “canceled” (Colossians 2:14 NIV) the covenant with the nation of “Israel according to the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18 NAB) at the murder of his Son, Jesus.

“God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11 NIV). Privilege never cancels responsibility.

THE OLD TESTAMENT MUST BE INTERPRETED IN LIGHT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Often those who claim modern Israel fulfills Bible prophecy are interpreting the Old Testament independently of the New Testament.

Luke 24:27,44 – “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures about himself . . . ‘Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms'” (NIV). Jesus set the “example” for us by interpreting the Old Testament in the light of his coming.

“Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of them, it can never make perfect those who come to worship by the same sacrifices that they offer continually from. year to year” (Hebrews 10:1 NAB). Under the New Covenant, Old Covenant laws and patterns are generally fulfilled in various spiritual ways. “The term “shadow” suggests that the law was a preliminary representation, not the full reality. In biblical context, the law given to Moses was a guide and a tutor (Galatians 3:24) leading to Christ. The “good things to come” refers to the new covenant and the salvation brought through Jesus Christ. The law’s rituals and sacrifices pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17). This concept of shadow versus reality is also seen in Colossians 2:17, where Paul describes religious festivals as a shadow of things to come, with the substance belonging to Christ. The “realities” are the fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus. The law’s sacrifices were temporary and symbolic, unable to provide true redemption or a clear conscience (Hebrews 9:9). The reality is found in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice, which provides complete atonement and access to God (Hebrews 9:12). This distinction emphasizes the superiority of the new covenant over the old.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). “In Galatians 5:2-6, Paul argues that circumcision is not necessary for salvation, emphasizing faith in Christ over adherence to the Law. This reflects the theological shift from physical signs of the covenant to spiritual faith in Christ.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).

There is no way to accurately understand how the Old Testament applies today, without analyzing it in light of the New Testament.

IS THE MODERN ISRAELI LAND SEIZURE BLESSED BY GOD?

The assertion that the founding of the Republic of Israel in 1948, and the capture of Jerusalem in 1967, means that God ordained and blessed the modern nation of Israel, has no basis in scripture, and does not fulfill Bible prophecy.

Based upon what we read in the scriptures, the Israeli seizure and colonization of Palestine in the 20th century is equivalent to Ahab’s theft of Naboth’s vineyard:

“Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, ‘Give me your vineyard so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.’ But Naboth said to Ahab, ‘I will never give my fathers’ inheritance to you.’ So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, ‘I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.’ He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and didn’t eat any food. Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, ‘Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat?’ Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,’ he replied. ‘I told him: Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place. But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!” Then his wife Jezebel said to him, ‘Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. In the letters, she wrote: Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people. Then seat two wicked men opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death. The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had commanded them, as was written in the letters she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, ‘Naboth has cursed God and the king!’ So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent word to Jezebel, ‘Naboth has been stoned to death.’ When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, ‘Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver, since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.’ When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Get up and go to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. You’ll find him in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick your blood!” Ahab said to Elijah, ‘So, you have caught me, my enemy.’ He replied, ‘I have caught you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will sweep away your descendants: I will eliminate all of Ahab’s males, both slave and free, in Israel; I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin. The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land at Jezreel: He who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and he who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.” Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him. ” (1 Kings 21:1-25 HCSB) Illegal seizure of land by one who has no right to it, especially by force, violence and murder, is condemned by God, and the perpetrators will be punished. God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6), and the example of God’s dealing with land-grabbing Ahab is notably instructive for modern-day Israel.

“JEW” REDEFINED

“One is not a Jew outwardly. Tue circumcision is not outward, in the flesh. Rather, one is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not the letter; his praise is not from human beings but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 NAB). Under the New Covenant, fleshly circumcision no longer matters. What qualifies one to be a spiritual Jew is the circumcision of the heart by the holy Spirit.

“ISRAEL” REDEFINED

“They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel . . . That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as seed” (Romans 9:6,8 LSB). Those who are of Israel are redefined as “children of the promise”.

The “new covenant” (Hebrews 9:15) is with the Christian “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15,16 NIV), which “replaced” the “old covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:11,14 NLT). “Israel according to the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18 NAB) no longer is “Israel”.

The scriptures are clear that modern Israel doesn’t fulfill Bible prophecy, and has no place in god’s purpose any longer.

THE “LAND” REDEFINED

“These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. Now you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now But what does the Scripture say? ‘Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” (Galatians 4:24-25, 28-31 BSB). Jerusalem – dependency in the Christian era is criticized as being unscriptural. Thus, modern Israel does not fulfill Bible prophecy, and no longer counts with God. Now it is “the Jerusalem above” that counts with God. 

“‘So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?’ Jesus replied, ‘Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.'” (John 4:20-23 NLT) Access to God no longer has anything to do with earthly Jerusalem or Israel. Notice the key phrase in verse 21: “It will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.” Why?

“For we do not have here a lasting city, but we are seeking the one to come” (Hebrews 13:14 LSB). Christians back there were told that earthly Jerusalem wasn’t the one to seek. What was, or is?

Christians “have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem . . . and God the judge of all . . . and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 12:22,23 NAB).  “The covenant in Christ gives us direct access to God” (NAB footnote). Now it is “the heavenly Jerusalem” that counts with God. 

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the modern day nation of Israel does not fulfill Bible prophecy

For more information about this subject, see the following articles on this website:

“Should We Pray for Israel?” https://bibleauthenticity.com/should-we-pray-for-israel/

“Are Restoration Prophecies about Israel Literal — or Symbolic?”

“Spiritual Use of ‘Israel’ in the Bible”

“Restoration Prophecies — Israel of God”