The term “Israel” appears 2,574 times in the Bible. Any student of the Scriptures can attest to the towering role the people and land of Israel play therein. A large majority of biblical events—including the life of Jesus—took place in Israel. Moreover, the gospel message went forth from Jerusalem and has since spread across the whole world (Acts 1:8; Revelation 7:9). Jesus will return to Jerusalem to establish His kingdom over Israel and the nations (Revelation 21).

Many Christians wonder what this emphasis on the land of Israel, in both Old and New Testaments, means today. We often receive questions like:

• Should Christians support Israel?
• Is modern Israel a fulfillment of prophecy?
• Are the Jewish people still God’s chosen?
• What does ministry in Israel look like today?

The Biblical History—and Future—of Israel

Thousands of years ago, God appeared to Abraham. He promised to give him land, make him into a great nation, and bless all the earth through him (Genesis 12:1–3). God confirmed these promises to Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob, whom He renamed Israel (Gen 32:28). Over the course of Scripture, the Lord continues to affirm the nation of Israel will inhabit the land “from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates” (Gen 15:18). God brought the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to Canaan, but they never fully possessed the land. Moreover, idolatry and rebellion wreaked havoc on Israel’s spiritual state and physical security.

The prophets called the people to repent and warned of God’s discipline, which came to pass when Israel endured exile at the hands of Assyria and Babylon. Nevertheless, these prophets also gave hope. They pointed to a glorious future for Israel, when God will regather all the Jewish people to the land. Then, the whole nation will dwell in peace and righteousness under the reign of one of David’s descendants (Isaiah 11:1–10). Drawing on these Scriptures, the New Testament presents Jesus as the son of David who will fulfill God’s promises to Israel (Isa 53; Philippians 2:1–11). He died to atone for sin, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat at God’s right hand. From there He will return to rule Israel and the nations. He freely offers forgiveness of sin and eternal life to whoever trusts in him (John 3:16).