A common theme in the vocal Christian community is to endorse the country of Israel often claiming that it fulfills Bible prophecy. This is a case set by a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ that the modern concept of Zionism and the country of Israel is not based on Jesus’ words but a fallacy to satisfy a political narrative.

For anyone who wants to know what the God breathed words of the Bible are stating, make sure you are looking at the consistent message in front of you, and not what your agenda or an authority is leading you to. What is set before you is an effort to do just that. Consider following the Berean model in Acts 17:11 to be “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

I am not the reference, the Lord is! Is what is claimed here true? If not, are you willing to rationally and patiently correct me? (2nd Timothy 4:2)

The political narrative is based on Zionism which has its foundations in the late 1800s, notably with Theodor Herzl, and gives hints of being based on the Tanakh or Old Testament and for some the Talmud. The Christian should keep in mind the words of Christ in Mark 7 when you hear someone following the Talmud

While we can see it in many other ways even today, the Talmud is simply “the commandments of men” Jesus spoke of written down a couple hundred years later.

To have a clear understanding of the word “Israel” we must have an understanding of the word “Jew” from the context of the Bible, not current politics or Zionism. The ESV translation will be used mostly.

In our culture we tend to think of a Jew as someone with certain physical characteristics, language or accent, or simply a claim. But back up that claim. If you claim to be a Jew, as in a descendant of Abraham, prove it! It is going to be more than hard to show any actual evidence.

A case can also be seen that a Jew is a descendant of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. This is not someone from the other 11 sons of Jacob, or the tribes of Israel. Therefore, can a descendant of Reuben or Simeon be called a Jew?

Consider the first chapter of the New Testament, Matthew 1, and you will read the lineage of Christ. The Old Testament is full of examples of documented lineage. Especially post the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD, the lineage records are gone. Many will make a case for the veracity or fallacy of the lineage of the modern day Jew, but that is novelty, not Biblical evidence.

Consider Romans 2

The Bible makes it clear that to be a “Jew” is to be one inwardly, not biologically. It is to have a heart circumcised by the Spirit and not a biological lineage or physical circumcision. Therefore anyone, no matter the biological lineage, who is truly circumcised by the Spirit is a Jew; Period!

In our modern context we see Zionist claiming a lineage from Abraham redefining the word Jew as their own by their political might. We can see the same is done with the word Israel.

The word “Israel” does not have a single meaning as can be clearly seen in Romans 9

Verse 6 is either a logical fallacy or the word “Israel” has two meanings in this verse alone. What does “Israel” mean in the Bible?

It first appears in Genesis 32 when Jacob wrestles with what is initially described as a “man” in verse 24. As we seen in verse 30 Jacob declares “For I have seen God face to face”. So who did he see? I will contend he saw and wrestled with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a long subject itself that I would be happy to explore with anyone.

In verse 28 we read “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel”.  It was not some wise dude or authority of man, but God by His authority who changed the name of Jacob to Israel. Therefore the first meaning of the word “Israel” is the single individual Jacob or now also known as Israel.

We see the term expanded in verse 32 with “the people of Israel”, which is the sons or descendants of Jacob, or the second meaning of the word. The complexity expands in Genesis 34:7 with “an outrageous thing in Israel” or “done against Israel” as seen in the LSV. This might be seen as the descendants, the community, or the area. What should be clear is the meaning is expanding.

We see in Genesis 42:5 “sons of Israel” which has a specific meaning of the first generation descendants of Jacob.

In Genesis 43:8 we see “Israel his father” which is specifically Jacob. Verse 11 has “their father Israel” which is again Jacob.

Genesis 49 has Jacob’s blessing which again shows the individual Jacob is also Israel. Verse 2 states “O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father”. The father is described twice but the same person.

Verse 48 makes clear the idea of the tribes of Israel with “All these are the twelve tribes of Israel”. Numbers 31:4 has “You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.”  A question should arise if “Israel” in these verses is the sons of Jacob, or their descendants.

We have an uncomfortable story in Judges 21 which has in verse 17 “And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.”  Since this is long past the death of the sons of Jacob, being “blotted out from Israel” seems to state that the tribes are indeed a meaning of the word Israel.

Starting with Leviticus 1 we see a repeated phrase “Speak to the people of Israel”. What is being spoken to the people? It is Moses detailing the law. But who is it directed to? We see that answered several times, such as Numbers 9:14 “And if a stranger sojourns among you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native.”  If Moses is speaking to the people of Israel and there is one law for both the sojourner and the native, it opens the door wide to both can be consider part of Israel.

Post Rehoboam's Folly seen in 1st Kings 12, the kingdom is divided. We will then read about kings reigning over Judah and others over Israel which are often described as the Ten Lost Tribes as they virtually disappear starting in 2nd Kings 17:6. Verse 1 states “In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel”. We can see a clear delineation of Judah and Israel, or another meaning of the word Israel being the 10 tribes and perhaps the region.

Then there is the most important definition that like the biological and spiritual definition of Jew will be at minimum uncomfortable for some, that meaning of Israel is the elect. Consider Romans 11

Some take this as a free ticket for the biological Jews, but this is simply untrue as we reviewed what a Jew is. It is reasonable to look at the hardening coming on the descendants of Abraham, but that cannot be used for a loftiness to the Gentiles or nations. But who is “all Israel”? It seems there are at least two options to consider. The descendants of Abraham, either all, or those from the point that the Gentiles have come in, are embrace by Christ in the same way as the Gentiles. Or the second use of “Israel” is simply the elect. The latter option removes the need for some special event to occur or a miraculous influx, but simply stating unambiguously that all that the Lord calls will be saved. This is consistent with John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

The word “Israel” appears thousands of times in the Bible and this is just a review of some to show that what is so loudly proclaimed often is in contrast to what is written in the Bible. What is written is important as we see when Jesus is contending with the devil in Matthew 4. Jesus gives us the example of contending with what is written, not man’s doctrine such as Zionism. Again see Mark 7:7.

During the ascension of Jesus in Acts 1:8 we read “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Do you see those in Jerusalem this day, Israelite or Palestinian, as those the Christian should witness to as an act of love? Do you see Judea and Samaria suggesting the divided kingdoms post Rehoboam, and their descendants today identifiable or not? Do you see those who occupy the ends of the earth worthy of witnessing Christ to, or do you want to wipe them off the face of the earth?

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, perhaps you should consider these verses:

Leviticus 19 17You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Romans 12 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Romans 12 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Matthew 5 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.