On Israel and the End Times

Israel is an incredibly hot topic, but this is nothing new. Israel’s been a hot topic for centuries. The purpose of this specific article is only one-fold on this controversial topic- explain the Biblical positions of the future of Israel in relation to eschatology. When someone asks you “What’s your position on Israel?” we are not covering the political angles of the statement today, but instead preparing you on how you want to answer that in a future Biblical lens.

First, let’s start with the popular views on Israel as a nation in today’s time:

1. Dispensational View (often found in evangelical circles)

What they believe: Israel (the ethnic, national people of the Jews and the modern state of Israel) is still God’s chosen nation in a special sense, distinct from the Church. God has a separate plan for Israel that will unfold in the future, often tied to end-times prophecy.
How they see today’s Israel: The modern state of Israel (established in 1948) is a direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy and a sign that God’s end-time promises are being fulfilled.
Layman’s picture: Think of it as two tracks—one for the Church, one for Israel. God’s not done with Israel as a nation.

2. Replacement (or Supersessionist) View

What they believe: The Church has replaced Israel as God’s covenant people. The promises made to Israel are fulfilled spiritually in Christ and the Church, not in the ethnic nation of Jews.
How they see today’s Israel: The modern state of Israel is politically significant, but not theologically significant. It’s just another nation like any other, not God’s special covenant nation anymore.
Layman’s picture: Israel in the Old Testament was like a “shadow.” The Church is the “real thing” now, so the old national role of Israel is finished.

3. Remnant / Fulfillment View (common in Reformed circles)

What they believe: The promises to Israel are fulfilled in Christ, and all who trust in Him (Jew or Gentile) are the “true Israel.” Ethnic Jews are not automatically God’s people—they must come to Christ like everyone else. But, Romans 11 hints at a future large turning of Jewish people to Christ.
How they see today’s Israel: The modern state of Israel is not the Kingdom of God, but it could be part of God’s providential plan to one day bring many Jewish people to faith in Christ.
Layman’s picture: Jesus is the true Israelite, and the Church in Him inherits the promises. But God hasn’t forgotten the Jews—there may be a great revival among them before the end.

4. Political / Secular View (outside the theological debate)

Some Christians (and many in the world at large) treat Israel simply as a modern nation-state, important because of politics, history, and global conflicts, but with no special spiritual status.

To sum it up:

Dispensationalists: Israel today = God’s chosen nation, central to prophecy.
Replacement View: Israel today = no special theological role, just another nation.
Reformed Fulfillment View: Christ is the true Israel, the Church inherits the promises, but God still has purposes for ethnic Jews.

Here is a helpful table on the views of Israel now, the Jewish people, and the future.

View / Tradition	How It Sees Israel Today	Future of the Jewish People	Role of the Modern State of Israel	View of the Millennium	Summary in One Line
Dispensational Premillennialism	Israel = God’s distinct chosen nation, separate from the Church	Massive future conversion during the Tribulation; restored national destiny	Highly prophetically significant; expects temple rebuild and central End-Times activity	Literal 1,000-year earthly reign from Jerusalem	“Israel becomes HQ for the Kingdom during the final rollout.”
Historic Premillennialism	Israel and Church are related but not identical	Many Jews will come to Christ before His return	Possibly important but not guaranteed; less tied to modern geopolitics	Literal millennium after Christ’s return	“Israel joins the unified Kingdom team without a separate division.”
Amillennialism (Reformed)	Israel fulfilled in Christ; Church is the expanded people of God	Large-scale future turning to Christ (Rom. 11), but not necessarily nationalistic	No guaranteed prophetic role; treated like any other nation	No literal millennium — spiritual reign now	“One people of God; Christ is the fulfillment of Israel’s mission.”
Postmillennialism	Israel’s story is completed in Christ and continues through the global Church	Widespread conversion of Jews in a global gospel expansion before Christ returns	Not required politically; focus is spiritual revival	Millennium = a golden age of gospel influence	“Israel comes to Christ as the world turns toward the Kingdom.”
Supersessionism / Fulfillment Theology	Church = continuation & fulfillment of Israel, not a replacement	Individual Jews come to Christ; no separate national destiny	No unique prophetic role tied to the state	Varies (can be amill, postmill, or historic premill)	“Israel’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus and shared by all believers.”

So, this is a lot of info. Where should you land? That’s up to you through prayer, Bible reading, study, and discernment. The good thing is that we consider End Times positions non-essential, which means your salvation doesn’t depend on where you land with these topics. Of course, do not take a position that stands against the some of the essentials of our faith, meaning: salvation, the deity of Christ, the death and resurrection, or that Christ will one day return as He says in scripture. Exactly how He returns in the End Times is up for discussion!

Here are some key Bible verses behind each view, but not limited to just these:

Dispensational Premillennialism

Daniel 9:24–27
Ezekiel 36–37
Ezekiel 40–48
Zechariah 12–14
Matthew 24
Romans 11:25–29
Revelation 7; 11; 20:1–6

Historic Premillennialism

Matthew 24:29–31
Acts 1:6–7
Romans 11:12–15, 25–27
Revelation 20:1–6
Isaiah 2:1–4

Amillennialism (Reformed Tradition)

Luke 17:20–21
John 18:36
Romans 2:28–29
Romans 9:6–8
Romans 11:11–24
Galatians 3:7, 26–29
Revelation 20:1–6 (interpreted symbolically)

Postmillennialism

Psalm 2
Psalm 22:27–31
Isaiah 2:1–4
Isaiah 11:1–10
Matthew 28:18–20
1 Corinthians 15:22–26

Fulfillment / Supersessionist Arguments

Matthew 5:17
Matthew 21:43
2 Corinthians 1:20
Galatians 6:16
Ephesians 2:11–22
Hebrews 8:6–13
1 Peter 2:9–10