Israel and the Church are both established by God but have different purposes in his plan to reconcile the world to himself.
Israel
The nation of Israel is a distinct ethnic group, chosen by God to do his will in this world. They are descended through their father Abraham whom God’s promise was handed down through his offspring: Isaac and Jacob.
God calls the nation of Israel his chosen people, his possession (Deuteronomy 7:6). The promise (covenant) made to Abraham and his descendants is unconditional and everlasting and is still yet to be fulfilled. However, God has not abandoned the Gentiles. He cares deeply for their salvation too. A great example is the story of Jonah and the Ninevites.
Israel was supposed to demonstrate the way to God’s blessing and salvation. This makes them unique because they are the only nation that God made a covenant relationship with. They were the chosen means by which God would restore sinful mankind and bring them back to himself.
The Church
The Church is distinct from Israel because Jesus said that he is the one who will build it (Matthew 16:18). It is comprised of both believing Gentiles and believing Jews. Because of Israel’s disobedience (as a whole) and rejection of Christ being the Messiah, they have been temporarily set aside as God’s messengers of salvation.
God’s plan is to use the Church, for an undetermined amount of time, to do his will and work in the world. Israel will be restored after God has finished his purpose with the Church and raptured them up to himself during the tribulation (the Seventieth Week of Daniel). For more information on the rapture of the Church, click here.
Does the Church Replace Israel?
There is a view which is called “replacement theology.” This view says that because of Israel’s disobedience and rejection of Christ as the Messiah, God did away with her and replaced her with the Church. The Church will receive all the unfulfilled blessing and promises that Israel was to receive.
However, the covenant between Abraham and God is an everlasting covenant, so there is no time limit between the relationship of Israel and God (Genesis 12:1-2; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 18:17-19; 22:15-18). This means that Israel must remain the unique nation that it is until the end of time. It is through Abrahams’s seed (Israel) that “all the nations would be blessed.” That blessing is realized in Jesus who has opened the door for Gentiles to be part of God’s family too. Jesus has yet to return and rule as king in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:17; Revelation 19-20); so, the nation of Israel must remain for all of God’s promises to be fulfilled.
If you want to know more about God’s plan of salvation for you, check out The Ultimate Guide to Salvation in Jesus Christ.