4 Reasons Why Israel and the Church Are Not the Same

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 Topic : Prophecy

Some Christians attempt to make Israel and the Church one and the same, suggesting that the Church is now heir of all promises given to Israel. But the Church is not Israel, nor is Israel the Church. Those who await the promises of Israel to be filled in the Church will wait in vain. Consider these unique and distinctive differences between the two living organisms:

1. They have different originators.

The Lord God brought Israel into being in a unique manner not only in the selection of Abraham and Sarah, but also in the choosing of their son Isaac’s wife to preserve their ethnic identity.

Christ Himself, however, founded His Church, as He promised in Matthew 16:13-20, and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell it.

2. They have different foundations.

Jesus Christ is the living foundation of the Church (1 Corinthians 3:11). He had not yet been born on earth at the time of Israel’s foundation. Actually, the Church could not be established until after Christ died, was buried, rose again, and ascended into heaven. As Paul explained in Ephesians 2:20, Christ Himself is the “chief cornerstone.”

Israel was not founded on the finished work of Christ on the cross but on God’s promises to her, which are still in force and have yet to be fulfilled.

3. They have different purposes.

Israel was never given the Great Commission. She was to be the torchbearer of God’s faithfulness to a nation that worshiped Him and would consequently enjoy His blessings. For most of her history, however, Israel was a testimony to God’s judgment upon sinners, yet she was ever His special nation.

The Church, by contrast, is seen as the lampstand which, according to our Lord’s promise, “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against” (Matthew 16:18). The Church was given the promise and presence of the Holy Spirit with which to fulfill Christ’s great commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

4. Their prophetic futures are different.

The promises of God to Israel revolve around the restoration of the kingdom. After the Reformation, as people began to read the Bible again and take it literally, Christians started to look for the restoration of the Jews into the land of Israel according to Ezekiel 36–37 and other passages.

By contrast, the Church does not look for an earthly kingdom. Whereas Israel seeks nationhood, and rightly so, the Church is awaiting the coming of her Lord to take her to the Father’s house as He promised.

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As a general rule, whenever you hear someone preach about Bible prophecy, be sure he uses the two essential keys to understanding Scripture:

1) Interpret the Bible literally (even the prophetic passages of Scripture) unless the context provides good reason to do otherwise.

2) Draw a distinction between Israel and the Church.