The Fallacy of Israel being an End-time Sign

In 1947 the modern state of Israel was born as the result of a United Nations mandate. For many in the Christian world this was the prophecied event that signaled the second coming of Christ. The end-time wars against Israel as supposedly detailed in Revelation 16.16, the so-called battle of 'Armegeddon' could not take place if Israel did not exist. Along with the return of Israel, the world would be racked with terrible end-time signs, wars, famines, earthquakes, and the like that would take place, according to Mark 13.30, within a generation. This generation is understood by many to mean the generation alive at the founding of modern Israel. This founding is the key that sets of the end-time signs that results in Christ's second coming.

Israel plays an important part in some contemporary theologies because of the promises that were made to this nation in the Old testament. God made an 'everlasting' covenant with them. Gave them the Promised Land forever, and they became 'The Apple of His eye' (Deuteronomy 32.10). It is sometimes insinuated that Israel is still at the center of God's plan for the world because of his supposed eternal promises to befriend and exalt Isarel as a witness to the world.

There are some very serious problems with these views with a main one being that the New Testament has completely superceeded the Old Testament as to its authority for the believer. There is also the issue of the promises made to Israel being fulfilled through the actions and ministry of Jesus. Jesus becomes the 'new Israel' or Israel personified. This is seen in his temptations accounts in Mathew and Luke. Just as Israel was tempted in the Exodus wilderness account, so Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, but the difference is that Jesus succeeds and completely obeys his father whereas Israel utterly fails. They,in fact, break the covenant made at Mt. Sinai and come under the curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28.15-68. It could be said that the whole history of Israel in the Old Testament is not only a history of their failure, but also a history of the curses being carried out. In spite of every advantage that God gives the nation, they are unable to obey. Malachi, the last book of the Bible, basically states that Israel has failed and now God has to step in and do something or all is lost. Jesus, however, as the new Israel obeys and wins all the blessings promised to Israel which extend to his followers. Israel was meant to a light to the nations (Isaiah 42.6), but Jesus and his followers become the fulfilled light to the world (Matthew 5.14 & John 8.12). Israel was meant to a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19.1-5), but now the followers of Jesus ARE a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2.9). Clearly the Promised Land in the New Testament becomes heaven or the new city (the New Jerusalem) in Hebrews 11.10. Those who claim that Israel is still the center of God's program and that the ancient promises will still be fulfilled to Israel today miss the fact that all the promises have been fulfilled in the new Israel which is Jesus and the Church. God HAS fulfilled his promises. There is no need to repeat them again with the modern state of Israel.

Some believe that Romans 11 seems to prophecy an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel in the last days and that this will (in part) fulfill the ancient promises. Romans 11.25-26 is said to mean that Israel has rejected Jesus and their rejection will continue until the full number of Gentiles enter the Church (throughout the ages) and then at last the door will be opened to Israel and an end-time Jewish revival will occur and 'all Israel will be saved' (v.26). It is probably better to read this as saying that the Church will primarily switch from being a Jewish Church to being a Gentile Church that certainly will include Jewish believers. Both the Jewish and Gentiles believers become the 'new Israel', thus all Israel, Jew and Gentile, will be saved. This is what Paul seems to imply in Ephesians 2.14. Jews and Gentiles become one in Jesus and there will never again be a separation.

There is no doubt but that Israel today is a unique nation with all that the people have done to overcome difficult odds since 1947, but it is a mistake to believe that Israel has God's special attention or that they are a sign of the end. Jesus and the Church have God's special attention and according to Scripture, there is no definite sign of Christ's coming, He could come at anytime.