Does God still have a plan for Israel?
Question 10067
Absolutely. God’s plan for Israel is not finished – it is ongoing and will reach its climax when Christ returns to establish His kingdom with Israel at the centre. Despite Israel’s current unbelief, God’s covenant promises remain valid, and Scripture is clear that Israel’s greatest days are still ahead. Understanding God’s continuing plan for Israel is essential to understanding biblical prophecy and God’s faithfulness.
The Unbreakable Covenant
God’s plan for Israel is rooted in His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These were not conditional on Israel’s performance but on God’s unchanging character. God swore by Himself – the highest possible oath – to keep these promises (Genesis 22:16-18, Hebrews 6:13-18).
The covenant included specific promises: descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5), the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18), and that through Abraham’s seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). These promises were confirmed to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15, 35:9-12).
When God reaffirmed the covenant, He used powerful imagery to emphasise its permanence: “Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the LORD of hosts is his name: ‘If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD.'” (Jeremiah 31:35-37)
Think about what God is saying. Israel will exist as a nation as long as the sun, moon, and stars continue their courses. Only if you can measure the heavens or explore the foundations of the earth will God cast off Israel. This is God’s way of saying: Never. It is impossible.
Israel’s Current Position
Israel is currently in a state of partial hardening. They are physically back in the land, fulfilling prophecies of regathering (Ezekiel 36:24, 37:21), but remain largely in unbelief, rejecting Jesus as Messiah. This is exactly what Scripture predicted.
Paul explains: “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11:25) The hardening is partial (not all Jews, and not complete even in those who are hardened) and temporary (only “until” the completion of God’s purpose for the Gentiles).
This hardening serves God’s purposes. It allowed the gospel to go to the Gentiles: “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:13-15)
Israel’s rejection opened the door for our salvation. Their future acceptance will bring even greater blessing – “life from the dead.” But this rejection is not permanent.
The Tribulation and Israel
The seven-year tribulation period (Daniel’s seventieth week) is primarily about God dealing with Israel and preparing them to receive their Messiah. Daniel 9:24 states that “seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city” – that is, about Israel and Jerusalem, not the Church.
During the first half of the tribulation, Israel will make a covenant with the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). Many Jews will be deceived, accepting the Antichrist as their messiah. Jesus warned: “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.” (John 5:43)
At the midpoint, the Antichrist will break the covenant, desecrate the temple (the “abomination of desolation” – Matthew 24:15, Daniel 9:27), and launch terrible persecution against the Jews. This is “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), a period of suffering for Israel worse than any previous persecution.
Jesus warned Jewish believers: “Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.” (Matthew 24:16-20)
During this time, God will preserve a remnant. Revelation 12 describes Israel (symbolised by a woman) fleeing into the wilderness where she is protected for “1,260 days” (Revelation 12:6) or “a time, and times, and half a time” (Revelation 12:14) – three and a half years, the second half of the tribulation.
The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11 describes two witnesses who will prophesy in Jerusalem for 1,260 days (the first half of the tribulation). These witnesses, given power to perform miracles reminiscent of Moses and Elijah, will call Israel to repentance and prepare a believing remnant to receive Christ at His return.
Many believe these witnesses are literally Moses and Elijah – both appeared at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:3), both are associated with the miracles described (turning water to blood, calling down fire, causing drought), and Malachi prophesied Elijah’s return “before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes” (Malachi 4:5).
These witnesses will be killed by the Antichrist, but after three and a half days will be resurrected and ascend to heaven (Revelation 11:7-12). This dramatic vindication will impact Jerusalem: “And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” (Revelation 11:13)
National Salvation at Christ’s Return
Israel’s salvation as a nation will occur at the return of Christ. Zechariah describes this moment: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)
When Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) to rescue Israel from the armies gathered against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3, 14:2), the Jewish people will recognise Him as the Messiah they rejected and pierced. They will mourn in repentance, and God will cleanse them: “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)
This is when Paul’s prophecy is fulfilled: “And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.'” (Romans 11:26-27) The phrase “all Israel” (πᾶς Ἰσραήλ, pas Israēl) does not mean every individual Jew who ever lived, but Israel as a nation – the believing remnant who survive the tribulation and enter the millennium.
Israel in the Millennium
After Christ’s return, Israel will be the head nation in the millennial kingdom. The promises of the Davidic covenant – that one of David’s descendants would sit on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16) – will be fulfilled when Jesus, David’s greater son, reigns from Jerusalem for a thousand years.
The land promises will be completely fulfilled. God promised Abraham land “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). Israel has never possessed all this territory, but they will during the millennium.
Jerusalem will be exalted: “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-2)
Israel will be the channel of blessing to the nations. The twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). The nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the King (Zechariah 14:16). Israel will finally fulfil its calling to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6), mediating God’s blessing to the world.
The curse on the land will be lifted. Amos prophesied: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the ploughman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them, says the LORD your God.” (Amos 9:13-15)
Why This Matters
Understanding God’s continuing plan for Israel is not just academic theology. It has practical implications for us today.
First, it demonstrates God’s faithfulness. If God keeps His promises to Israel despite their unfaithfulness, we can trust Him to keep His promises to us. Our security does not depend on our performance but on His unchanging character.
Second, it helps us interpret current events. When we see developments in the Middle East, tensions over Jerusalem, nations aligning against Israel, we recognise these as movements towards prophesied events. We are not confused or fearful; we understand God’s sovereign control over history.
Third, it should motivate prayer and evangelism. Paul said, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1) Whilst Israel will be saved as a nation at Christ’s return, individual Jews can come to Christ now. We should support Jewish evangelism and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
Fourth, it protects us from antisemitism. If we understand that God loves Israel and has an unfinished plan for them, we cannot harbour hatred or indifference towards Jewish people. Paul warns Gentile believers: “Do not be arrogant towards the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” (Romans 11:18)
Conclusion
God absolutely has a continuing plan for Israel. Despite their current unbelief, God’s covenant promises remain valid. Israel will go through the tribulation, be refined through suffering, and recognise Jesus as Messiah at His return. They will then be restored to the land, blessed beyond measure, and serve as the head nation in Christ’s millennial kingdom. God is not finished with Israel – their greatest days are ahead. This demonstrates God’s faithfulness and gives us confidence that He will complete everything He has promised.
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29