Spiritual Israel vs The state of Israel

[dtealer]

What is the role of spiritual Israel and the state of Israel in end times? I attened a end time bible class and what was spoken throughout the entire class is that there will not be a third jewish temple. The temple thats mentioned in the book of Dan. speaks of a spiritual temple not a physical temple as I though and still think. And everything thats spoken in Rev. petains to spiritual Israel and not the state of Israel.

[antitox]

I think that if it says that he will cause sacrifice and offering to cease, then there has to be a temple where these offerings are being made. That is what Israel is attempting to do. Once they build the temple, they will start the sacrifices again.

[Hootmon]

I think that if it says that he will cause sacrifice and offering to cease, then there has to be a temple where these offerings are being made. Yeah.

How do those verses make any sense in a 'Spiritual Temple' interpretation?

[ATYCLB]

This link may answer some of your questions:
http://www.beginliving.com/israel/

[goinghome]

This spiritual Israel teaching sounds a little like the Bible Answer Man's theories. May I ask what kind of church is hosting this Bible study? There are many churches that teach that Christians are the new Israel, or other unbiblical ideas. The Catholic church thinks they are the new Israel. There are some great resources on this Rapture Ready website that explain the differences. You should poke around and read some of their articles. They're excellent to get you up to speed and maybe witness to your study group.:wave

[His Bride]

This sounds like it could mean Dominion Theology. Check it out. If so, then I wouldn't attend that class. They believe that Israel is no longer in a covenant relationship with God, that the Church has now become the true Israel. It's becoming very popular, and is not biblical.

[Timothy Long]

What is the role of spiritual Israel and the state of Israel in end times? I attened a end time bible class and what was spoken throughout the entire class is that there will not be a third jewish temple. The temple thats mentioned in the book of Dan. speaks of a spiritual temple not a physical temple as I though and still think. And everything thats spoken in Rev. petains to spiritual Israel and not the state of Israel.

In Daniel 9:27 we're are told the antichrist will put an end to sacrifices and offerings - it is assumed there must be a temple for this to occur.

[LaMontre]

What is the role of spiritual Israel and the state of Israel in end times? I attened a end time bible class and what was spoken throughout the entire class is that there will not be a third jewish temple. The temple thats mentioned in the book of Dan. speaks of a spiritual temple not a physical temple as I though and still think. And everything thats spoken in Rev. petains to spiritual Israel and not the state of Israel.

There are indeed two groups within Israel.

Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Rom 9:27 Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Rom 9:29 And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.

Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?

Rom 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

[CarolLyn]

Hi LaMontre! It looks like these verses you posted are comparing Israelites who are believers (in Jesus as Messiah) with Israelites who are not believers. But whenever I've heard the phrase 'spiritual Israel' used, usually they were referring to the 'universal church', consisting of all believers in Christ, including Jews and Gentiles. Usually, when 'spiritual Israel' is used, it is with the idea that national Israel rejected their Messiah and therefore forfeited their position as God's people (represented by the branches that were broken of in Ro.11:17). According to this view, they were replaced by the church, which they call spiritual Israel (represented by the branches that were grafted into the olive tree in Ro. 11:17). This is the view of covenant theology. I personally don't agree with this view, but I think that's what dtealer is talking about.

[1angel4u]

Hi LaMontre! It looks like these verses you posted are comparing Israelites who are believers (in Jesus as Messiah) with Israelites who are not believers. But whenever I've heard the phrase 'spiritual Israel' used, usually they were referring to the 'universal church', consisting of all believers in Christ, including Jews and Gentiles. Usually, when 'spiritual Israel' is used, it is with the idea that national Israel rejected their Messiah and therefore forfeited their position as God's people (represented by the branches that were broken of in Ro.11:17). According to this view, they were replaced by the church, which they call spiritual Israel (represented by the branches that were grafted into the olive tree in Ro. 11:17). This is the view of covenant theology. I personally don't agree with this view, but I think that's what dtealer is talking about.

Agreed. This is also called "Replacement Theology," where incorrectly, certain churches or denominations think they are replacements for the Jews. :rolleyes