I recently returned from a visit to the modern-day land of Israel where I spoke to believers at some messianic congregations, as well as at a youth camp and a student camp. At one of those events someone handed me a few copies of Andrew Lessey’s small booklet “The Heart of Israel”. The following is drawn from that booklet, which I have edited and commented on.
But note, I do not hold to Christian Zionism nor do I believe in the national salvation of Israel and a Millennial kingdom after a 7-year Tribulation. I don’t hold to futurism, separating the last week of Daniel 9 from the rest, nor some AntiChrist arising in Jerusalem’s newly built 3rd Temple. That is a view under the theology of Freemason John Nelson Darby called Dispensationalism, which I totally reject as spurious.
My own comments throughout. The author used the following passage from Jeremiah, which clearly refer to the return from Babylon after the 70 year exile.
14 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD lives, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 15 But, The LORD lives, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave to their fathers. (KJVER, emphases added)
Jeremiah 16:14-15
During the 1990’s about 2 million Jews from Russia and other ex-soviet countries returned (made the Aliyah) to Israel. However, not only have Jews come from the north they have been returning from all countries around the world. The return started in the late 1800’s and has been ongoing ever since. The rise of the Third Reich under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany accelerated arrivals both pre and post World War II.
But as I stated above, this promise was fulfilled in the return from the Babylonian exile.
I note that Lord Rothschild, a Zionist, was instrumental in getting the modern return going. He also was Illuminati and a member of the synagogue of Satan. Nevertheless, like any nation legally constituted by a UN Resolution, I believe Israelis have a right to live in peace in secure borders, just as Australians do in Australia. I don’t know how they could achieve that with the absolute hatred between Jews and Arabs and it seems to go both ways. But I note that there are groups of Jews and Arabs who have tried to build bridges between the two tribes.
As small as it is today one wonders why so much media attention is focused on Israel. The message one hears in the western media, outside the country, is very different from the reality on the ground, inside the country. One American who has spent a lot of time in Israel and who drove us from Modi’in to Jerusalem mentioned that, despite the media to the contrary, Israel is one of the safest places on Earth to live. [JGH: Update 20/11/23 That may no longer be the case with the Israel-Palestinian Gaza war.]
Nevertheless Israel is surrounded by hostile nations who want to annihilate that tiny nation, which has only a few more Jews today than the 6 million Jewish people Hitler is claimed to have murdered with his Final Solution. The rest of the Israeli’s are about 2 million Arabs, who are largely Muslim with some Christians and Druze.
The promises to the Patriarchs
What does the Bible actually record on the promises made to the Jewish forefathers, the Patriarchs, regarding this land?
6 And Abram passed through the land to the place of Sichem, to the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, To your seed will I give this land: and there built he an altar to the LORD, who appeared to him. (emphases added)
Genesis 12:6-7
Here we see the promise was made by God to give the land to Abraham’s (he changed his name from Abram) offspring. At the time this promise was made, Abraham was at Shechem (Sichem) or modern-day Nablus. Nablus (Shechem) is located in the West Bank, in the region known biblically as Samaria. The West Bank (of the Jordan River) is land captured by Israel from Jordan during the six-day war in June, 1967. It was never part of a country called Palestine.
14 And the LORD said to Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever.
Genesis 13:14-15
Again we see God make a firm promise to give all the land that he can see and He gives it to him forever. But where was Abraham when this promise was made?
3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai; … 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelled in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar to the LORD. (emphases added)
Genesis 13:3,17-18
So we can conclude that the land God gave him was somewhere between Bethel and Hebron. (See map above.)
But were there any conditions to the promise of the land? From these verses it does not seem to be. But there are in fact conditions.
To Abraham’s grandson Jacob, who God changed his name to Israel, God promised this land.
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed; (emphasis added)
Genesis 28:12-13
At the time this promise was made to Jacob, where was he?
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Genesis 28:18-19
Thus the Scriptures tell us Jacob was at Bethel. In summary then, Bethel, Hebron and Shechem (Nablus) are all located with the confines of the lands of Judea and Samaria, which are largely encircled by the land that is contested today—the West Bank. These verses while clearly making a claim to the lands of Judea and Samaria as given by God to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, they are not the only verses. But also it shows you why the Israeli Zionists are set on progressively taking all of the West Bank for thier territory.
At no point do the Scriptures state that the lands given by God were along the coastal strip around Jaffa (modern-day Tel Aviv) or Acre (in the north). Even though all the land shown in green in the map above, including the West Bank in yellow, was originally part of the land of the Canaanites given to Israel (through Moses) by God, Judea and Samaria are the heart of Israel. Jerusalem and, for a time, Shechem were the ancient capitals of the nations of Judah (Judea) and Israel (Samaria).
He has remembered His covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: (emphases added)
Psalms 105:8-11
Clearly these verses confirm the promise of the land to Israel. They include the words ‘forever’ and ‘everlasting’ are used. At first I thought that this meant that these promises were not temporary nor conditional. But I no longer believe that that is correct.
From Genesis 17:1-10 we read that God again says the land is an ‘everlasting possession’ but He also says ‘I will be their God’ (Genesis 17:8) and Abraham and his offspring shall keep His covenant (agreement) and be circumcised as a sign (Genesis 17:9-10). But we know that God requires ‘circumcision of the heart’, and not of the flesh, to be truly His children (Romans 2:29). The Jews rejected God’s Son their own Messiah and as such they are not obedient to their agreement with God, then how can they be His children? They can’t be. Their land rights are forfeited!
(This may of course be moot as God will completely renovate the surface of the Earth during the coming wrath period, leaving no trace of anything from this epoch, before He rebuilds the Earth and brings down His heavenly city.)
The book of Ezekiel contains further revelation regarding the Lord’s plans for the Land. In chapter 36 verse 1 the prophet is commanded to speak to the mountains of Israel.
Also, you son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.”
Ezekiel 36:1
As we delve deeper into the chapter we begin to see His purposes for those mountains. The following verses make it clear that the Lord intended that multitudes of His people live on those mountains. These verses are in fact a reference to the return from the Babylonian exile because Ezekiel lived in Babylon during the exile.
8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. 9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown: 10 And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built: 11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better to you than at your beginnings: and you shall know that I am the LORD. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk upon you, even My people Israel; and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no more here after bereave them of men. (emphases added)
Ezekiel 36:8-12
But where are the mountains of Israel? Is the Lord referring to Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel, Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights or is He perhaps referring to the hills of the Galilee? Well, actually the term “mountains of Israel” again refers primarily to the mountains and hills of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
Personally I would be very cautious here because whatever does happen to Israel is God’s will. He scattered them into the nations for nearly 2000 years. The verses claiming a prophetic return Deuteronomy 30:2-3 is their best but the passage most probably is a reference the return from Babylonian exile as the word ‘captivity’ is used there. It also a reference to the spiritual kingdom of God, salvation of those scattered in the nations. Many references to Israel are to spiritual Israel. Same goes for any references to Ezekiel.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them. 28 And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be My people, and I will be your God. (emphases added)
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Through Paul God promised that He will save a remnant and bring them to a saving knowledge of Himself when He wipes away the blindness from their eyes.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is My covenant to them, when I shall take away their sins. (emphases added)
Romans 11:23-27
Of course this does not apply to the whole nation but to the cohort of Jews that God has chosen in the elect, those He did foreknow (Romans 11:1).
There has been a clear increase in saved Jews in Israel. When I first visited in 2006 the estimate of messianic believers was about 7,000, but 10 years later (in 2016) the estimate has grown to about 20,000. I know these numbers are not well known but there is evidence of a decisive increase. There is a small remnant now and it may increase to something like a hundred thousand before the Lord returns.
Nazareth says ‘Yeshua not Yeshu’.
Note the small x denotes the
missing ‘a’ in Yeshua’s name.
Read right to left.
From Romans 11 it would appear that the current saved Jews are only a tiny fraction of the population. Many Jews are atheists and most Jews hate Jesus, Yeshua. The unsaved Jews call Him ‘Yeshu’, recognising Him as an historical figure, but using His name as a curse word. The saved Jews call their Lord, ‘Yeshua’ HaMashiach (the Messiah).
We can expect to see the Lord increase the number of both Jews and saved Jews in the Land of Israel. Quite possibly He will use Aliyah (the return to the Land of promise) along with future events and their consequences to facilitate this before the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment.
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Bible Science Forum 
One response to “Where is the biblical land of Israel?”
Personally, I’ve obtained far better clarity concerning the Covenants when seeing these within a logical framework of understanding how God has dispensed His Will based on the specific Covenants. Yes, Dispensations – in spite of what Scofield, or others, may have said (I’ve not read Scofield)..
In my case, I’ve enjoyed the clarity obtained from A. Fruchtenbaum concerning both subjects (Dispensations and Covenants).
I’ve attached both studies herewith – and you can let me know what parts of it you consider wrong or unsound.
In these it is explained that the dispensations are simply a way in which the Bible can be divided so to understand the parts, as well as the whole. It’s about stewardship, in which God – in separate periods of time – dispenses His Will in a specific and unique way, based on the Covenant upon which a particular dispensation was founded.
Herewith a brief synopsis of the attached studies, from the Jewish Messianic perspective with which I concur (without substantive reason not to).
According to this the Bible can be divided in 7 Dispensations: (1) Innocence or Freedom – Gen. 1:28 – 3:8; (2) Conscience or Self- Determination; (3) Civil Gov. – Gen:15 – 11:31; (4) Promise or Patriarchal Rule – Gen. 12:1 – Ex. 18:27; (5) Law: Ex. 19:1 – Acts 1:26; (6) Grace – Acts 2:1 – Rev. 19:21; and (7) The Kingdom or Millennium – Rev. 20: 1 –10.
* Importantly, it is in the final Dispensation (the Messianic Kingdom) that there will be the fulfilment of all the OT prophesies.
Concerning the covenants, based on this study, the Bible comprises 8 covenants: 6 unconditional (“I will”) & 2 conditional (“if you will, then I will”). Five covenants are exclusively with Israel, three with mankind in general. The Dispensations may come to an end, but – importantly – the covenants often continue.
In short:
Conditional: (1) Edenic (mankind) & (2) Mosaic (exclusively Israel)
Unconditional: (1) Adamic; (2) Noahic; (3) Abrahamic (exclusively Israel); (4) Land Covenant (still very much in effect!); (5) Davidic (with Israel); (6) New Covenant (exclusively with Israel).
Foundational to the New Covenant is Jer. 31:31 – 34, of which the participants are God and Israel (also Rom. 11:26-27) – not made with the Church (v. 31).
The study explains how the relationship of the Church to the New Covenant has often been a topic of confusion, because on one side Jeremiah clearly states it is with Israel, whereas several Scriptures connect the New Covenant to the Church. This has led to the most popular solution of ‘Replacement Theology”, i.e. the notion the Covenants are now all fulfilled in the Church. But because it is obvious the promises are not fulfilled literally, using an allegorical interpretation, it is said the covenants are fulfilled only spiritually (of course in the process ignoring the Land Covenant entirely).
The solution is clearly explained in 2 passages, Eph. 2: 11 –16 (“ and broke down the middle wall of partition”); and Eph. 3:5 – 6 (“the Gentiles are fellow heirs”) – being the ‘partaker’ principle (in stead of ‘taker-over’). Grafted-in (Rom. 11: 17, 24), but the olive tree still belongs to Israel.
In conclusion, the Church enjoys the spiritual blessings of the Covenants (e.g. salvation benefit), not the material and physical benefits. And so the physical promises still belong to Israel, especially involving the Land – to be fulfilled exclusively with Israel, but spiritual blessings now shared by the Church (hence we are also indebted to the Jewish believers – e.g. Rom 15: 25-27).
And – of course – the blood of Christ is the basis of salvation in the New Covenant: ratified, signed and sealed (Heb. 8:1 – 10:18).
The study notes that indeed it is true that the New Covenant is not now being fulfilled with Israel – but neither is it by the Church (p. 39).
Best wishes,
Vic.
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