Set in Stone

(by Derek Prince)

If you look at the Bible objectively, you will see that god speaks of two peoples who are special – Israel and the Church. Israel is the main theme – humanly speaking – of the Old Testament. And likewise, the Church is the main theme of the New Testament. So if we are not clear as to the identity of Israel and the Church – and the destiny of Israel and the Church – we will have a very limited and incomplete understanding of the message of the bible. We will be confused and uncertain – and perhaps even incorrect – about two of its major themes.

Also, there is really no way to address this topic without offending somebody’s theological conceptions. It isn’t my business to change anybody. I am quite prepared to leave that to the Holy Spirit, but if you are able to accept what I’m presenting here, then you don’t have to use complicated systems of symbolism to understand the Bible. You can just take it as meaning what it says.

This topic is one that I have investigated and studied for some time. I started to pray that god would make real to me the identity of Israel and the Church. And while I am quite confident I don’t understand all I could, I do know I am a lot less confused now than I was some years ago. The crucial point – which many Christians have either never thought about or simply don’t believe – is that Israel and the Church are two distinct entities.

In the New Testament, “Israel” – the collective name for the nation, occurs 70 times. “Israelite’’, the name for a member of that nation, occurs nine times, which makes a total of 79 occurrences. I want to strongly encourage you to take time to read all 79 occurrences for yourself. I believe that much of the misconception of this issue would never have taken root in the Church if the Church had bothered to do this.

In at least 76 cases there is no reasonable doubt that the word Israel in the New Testament is used in precisely the same way as in the Old Testament. In fact, nine of those cases are direct quotations from the Old Testament. I believe this sets a reliable pattern for interpreting New Testament uses of ‘Israel’ as identical to its uses throughout the Old Testament.

Now let’s look at the three occurrences which require some clarification . The first is in Romans 9, which deals with one of the thorniest theological problems in the bible – predestination. It comes out very strongly on the side of Divine election, which may lead you to conclude that Paul was a Calvinist and not an Armenian. I, however, believe he was both. You see, I believe that in most of the great theological controversies that have separated the Church, there has been right on both sides. Each side quotes the Scriptures that support them and ignores the Scriptures that are against them. I personally believe that it is logically possible to find an interpretation that affirms both truths. I believe it is the inevitable choice you have to make if you believe that whole Bible. Romans 9:6 – which has probably given origin to more confusion than almost any other verse in the Bible says, “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.”

Now historically that has been interpreted many times to mean that there are some people who are Israel who are not descended from Israel. I don’t believe it says that, and I don’t believe it means that. The NIV is clearer: “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.”

By using the words ‘not all’ at the beginning, Paul is not expanding the number of who is part of Israel, he’s limiting it. He’s not adding to those who can be classified as Israel, he’s subtracting. And I believe that is the true meaning. So there are no legitimate grounds for giving the title Israel to anybody not descended from Israel. Romans 9:6 is, in fact, saying there are some who are descended from Israel and still don’t merit the title Israel. Why? Because their descent is only natural. And Paul goes on to quote the statement made by God to Abraham – “In Isaac (the child of promise) your seed shall be called.” He is saying that only those who have embraced the promise have the real right to be called Israel. But he is not suggesting that anybody who would not otherwise be called Israel should be called Israel.

The next Scripture to examine is Galatians 6: 15-16. Let’s look at verse 15 first – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision assails anything, but a new creation.” Paul is saying the only thing that really matters in Christ is being a new creation. Whether you are circumcised or uncircumcised is unimportant. Then in verse 16 he says, “And as many as walk according to this rule (that the only thing that matters is being a new creation) peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

Many Christians believe that the Israel of God are the Church, including all Gentile believers. But if you say, “…peace and mercy upon them” – those that walk according to this rule – “and upon the Israel of God” you’re speaking about two different groups. I believe ‘those that walk according to this rule’ are all Gentile believers. They never got circumcised, they didn’t have to worry about circumcision; they just came in by being a new creation. This Israel of God are the same people spoken about in Romans 9:6 – those who are not merely descended from Israel but have the faith which qualifies them for the title. So Paul is saying “Peace be upon all Gentle believers and upon the Israel of God.” – that is those Israelites who have embraced, by faith, their Messiah.

We can see a similar comparison in Romans 3:30 where Paul says, “since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” There are the same two groups, but mentioned in the opposite order. “The circumcised who are justified by faith: are those Jews who have remained in faith and embraced the Messiah. The uncircumcised are the Gentiles whomever got circumcised and just got to God through faith without circumcision. Paul is saying, it’s not enough t be circumcised. You must be circumcised by faith. And if you are circumcised by faith, the same faith will lead you to recognize and receive the Messiah. Otherwise your circumcision was a mere outward ritual which lacked the true inner conviction. So there are two different ways that Paul uses Israel. The first is exactly the same as in the Old Testament. But he also has a way in which he restricts the use of the word Israel to those Israelites who are believers in the Messiah. He never suggests you should add the use of the term Israel to Gentiles. And even then, he only made that restriction twice in all his uses of the word Israel.

The third Scripture to look at is Revelation 7:4 which says, “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.”

So the question is: Who is the tribe of the children of Israel? Well, your guess is as good as anybody else’s, but there are two other places in Revelation where Israel is used. And in each of the other places, it is used in precisely the same way that it was used in the Old Testament. So if this third use in Revelation is different, it’s the exception, which is unlikely. But whatever way its used, you must find a way that permits you to identify twelve tribes – because the Scripture goes on to name twelve tribes. Admittedly, this is rather deep stuff, so I want to encourage you again to look at the Scriptures for yourself.

I only hope I have opened a way for an understanding of the Scriptures that does not involve calling someone who is not an Israelite an Israelite. I do not believe the Bible ever does that. Once you understand this, you will find the Bible a much easier book to read. A lot of the theological problems dissolve, and a lot of complicated methods being used to interpret Biblical prophecy are no longer relevant. We can take God’s Word as meaning what it says.

“Proclaim God’s Word;’ I will support God’s people, the Jews, for the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great Name’s sake, because it has placed the Lord to make Israel His people” (personalized from 1 Samuel 12:22).