IS CURRENT DAY ISRAEL the same as the BIBLICAL ANCIENT ISRAEL? 
There are many convincing and credible essays, sermons and commentaries asserting, or claiming, that ancient Israel is not the same – and cannot be equated with – the modern nation state and geographical land of Israel.
This can be, and is a controversial topic especially in light of world conditions and the appearance that we may be near the End of Days as spoken of in Bible Prophecy.
I believe these arguments which say modern Israel is not the same as Biblical ancient Israel are correct on many points. However, there is one glaring element that is being ignored which cannot and should never be ignored.(click green text for a detailed Bible reference): The destruction and restoration of Israel, as foretold in prophetic scriptures, which occurred, the first time in 586 B.C., (the destruction of the first Jewish Temple) and served a dual role as a foreshadowing of the destruction of the second Jewish Temple, which also serves as a foreshadowing of the rebuilding of a third temple which is neceeary for the ‘abomination of desolation’ to occur.
Then most importantly was the regathering of Jews from all over the world for the reconstitution of Israel as a nation within the boundaries of their ancient homeland, which occurred in 1948, IN JUST ONE DAY, as was also prophesied in Isaiah 66:8.
(Please note: the colored text contains important links in the matters being put forward or you can read the reprint fronm Biblegateway.com at the end of this article.)
Regardless, neither a temple nor a geographic piece of land proves or disproves that ancient Israel is or is not the same as current day Israel. Besides no Temple, as of this date, has been rebuilt, but scriptures say it will be rebuilt, and when that happens, according to the Bible, the sacrifices will be re-instituted and there is strong suggestion within scriptures that Israel (or at least a part of the population and government) will re-enter a covenant relationship with God – as it was with ancient Biblical Israel as the groundwork for the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah within Israel and the acceptance of the final covenant given by God through the Son.
I am saying that we are seeing the formative stages of (#1), Israel returning to a covenant relationship with God, (#2), the government of Israel will once again become a Covenantal theocracy, and (#3), the nation will come to recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. It would seem this must occur to correctly set the state for the events of the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and specifically the 3 ½ year period (the first half of the Great Tribulation period) prior to the 6th tribulation trumpet which will mark the second 3 ½ years of the Wrath of the Lamb, the blowing of the 7th tribulation trumpet followed by the pouring out of the wrath of the seven tribulation bowls.
Theologians and Bible teachers have often prematurely connected Bible prophecies to current day events, only to revise or recant their predictions as the day of fulfillment drew closer and more facts were known. And, I believe that is the case here.
These things are coming to pass. Where does Israel fit in? Is it just the ‘Bloodline Jews’ who are the Biblical Israel? Or is it the state Nation of Israel? Or is it the Spiritual Israel? Or is it all who have confessed the Name of Jesus and have been grafted into the Olive Tree?
Your Brother and Friend in Christ Jesus,
Mike Young
(I realize that this short essay needs additional citations, footnotes and references, which I have omitted for brevity, but are available upon request. If you have any comments or questions, please use the reply or comment box and let’s talk.
REPRINT of detailed information on the ‘final element’ proving that the ‘current-day Israel will be converted to a Covenantal Theocracy once again:
The Mountains of Israel to Be Blessed
Ezekiel 36:1, “And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. verse 2 Thus says the Lord God, “Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha!’ and, ‘The ancient heights have become our property,’ verse 3 therefore prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “For good reason they have made you a desolation, and they crushed you from every side so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have become the talk and the whispering of the people.”’” verse 4 Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the deserted cities which have become prey and a mockery to the rest of the nations which surround you, verse 5 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Most certainly in the fire of My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with uttermost contempt, so that they might empty it out [and possess it] as prey.” verse 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) and in My wrath because you have endured the [shameful] insults of the nations.’ verse 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘I have lifted up My hand and sworn [an oath] that the nations that are around you will themselves endure their [shameful] insults. verse 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, will put out your branches and bear your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon come [home]. verse 9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you [in favor], and you shall be cultivated and sown. verse 10 I will multiply people on you, all the house of Israel, [indeed] all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt. verse 11 I will multiply on you man and animal; and they will increase and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as you were formerly, and I will do better [things] for you than at your beginning. Then you will know [with great confidence] that I am the Lord. verse 12 Yes, [O mountains of Israel] I will cause men—My people Israel—to walk on you and take possession of you, so that you will become their inheritance and never again bereave them of children.’
verse 13 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Because they say to you, “You [O land] are a devourer of people and have bereaved your nation of children,” verse 14 therefore you will no longer devour people, and no longer bereave your nation of children,’ says the Lord God. verse 15 I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore, nor will you bear disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you cause your nation to stumble [through idolatry] any longer,” says the Lord God.’”
verse 16 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, verse 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their [own] behavior and by their [idolatrous] actions. Their conduct before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman during her [physical] impurity. verse 18 So I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. verse 19 Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the countries. I judged and punished them in accordance with their conduct and their [idolatrous] behavior. verse 20 When they came to the nations wherever they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord; yet they have come out of His land.’ verse 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.
Israel to Be Renewed for His Name’s Sake
verse 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.verse 23 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. verse 24 For I will [foot note a]take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. verse 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. verse 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. verse 27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My ordinances and do them. verse 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your God. verse 29 I will also save you from all your uncleanness, and I will call for the grain and make it abundant, and I will not bring famine on you. verse 30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not suffer again the disgrace of famine among the nations. verse 31 Then you will remember [clearly] your [own] evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your sins and for your outrageous atrocities. verse 32 I am not doing this for your sake,” says the Lord God. “Let that be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated for your [wicked] ways, O house of Israel!”
verse 33 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your sins I will also cause the cities [of Israel] to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. verse 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. verse 35 Then they will say, ‘This land that was deserted and desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ verse 36 Then the nations that are left around you will know that I the Lord have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and will do it.”
verse 37 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This too I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their people like a flock. verse 38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the desolate cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know [with confident assurance] that I am the Lord.”’”
Footnotes:
- Ezekiel 36:24. This prophecy has been in the process of fulfillment since World War II. The Jews have for centuries been dispersed among all the nations with only a few remaining in the homeland. But by a.d. 1960 one-sixth of the Jewish population of the world was in Israel. Already they had been made “one nation” (37:22a)—between sunrise of one day and sunset of the next—“a nation born in one day” (Is 66:8). But the greatest event of all is yet to come (Ezek 37:22b-25). This prophecy will be fulfilled in its entirety.
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