Those who teach that the church fulfills the kingdom promises to Israel in no small way diminish what Scripture promises us as New Testament saints.
Why do I make such a claim?
It’s because the Bible specifies “the kingdom” as our inheritance: “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5).
James reveals that we are “heirs of the kingdom.” It’s not just any realm; it’s “the kingdom.”
But are we to believe that the Old Testament promises of a glorious kingdom, rule by a righteous King, are fully realized in the church, albeit spiritually? Is this the realm to which we are heirs? Or is there something far more wonderful that lies in our future?
Let’s examine what the Bible says about our privileged status as heirs and why it matters for how we perceive our future.
It’s a Future REality
The New Testament says that we are “fellow heirs with Christ,” as Paul emphasized in Romans 8:16-17:
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Is that not wonderful news? We do not yet possess the kingdom that’s promised to us. A distinct difference exists between being an heir and possessing what’s promised. Other texts also describe our status as heirs, such as Ephesians 1:14, Titus 3:7, and 1 Peter 1:4. Of course, we are heirs to eternal life and all that will mean for us.
In other words, the kingdom is a future reality for all those in Christ.
Consider the words of 1 Corinthians 15:50-53:
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (emphasis added)
Beyond the multitude of biblical texts that proclaim Israel’s continuing place in God’s prophetic program for our world, these verses also dispel the error of Replacement Theology. How is it possible for the church to have replaced Israel as God’s kingdom on earth when it's impossible for believers in their current state to inherit this kingdom?
The wording is unmistakable: “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” These words eliminate any and all possibilities that we now belong to the realm promised to Israel. It’s a future reality.
Being heirs to the kingdom rather than its possessors is exceedingly good news. Today’s church is full of strife, divisions, and false teaching. Isn't it disheartening to consider that the church is our glorious inheritance of a kingdom ruled by a righteous King? Besides the disharmony, it’s also a time when we suffer affliction from without, aging bodies, and death (unless Jesus appears first). Is this really our inheritance?
Those who say the church is somehow the kingdom promised to Israel throughout the Old Testament tarnish its glory into something totally unrecognizable to those prophecies and, frankly, undesirable as far as kingdoms go.
The Church is Not Israel
The church is not Israel, and that makes all the difference.
Although the millennial kingdom is promised to both Israel and New Testament saints, our future experience of it will differ from that of the Jewish people.
During the Millennium, Jesus will rule over the earth from Zion. Israel will occupy a prominent position in this kingdom, as we read in Psalm 47:1-4:
Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
Not only will the Lord restore a kingdom to Israel and give it a premier place in His worldwide kingdom, but He will also dramatically change the world’s opinion of the Jews. Rather than outcasts, God will make them “renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth” (Zephaniah 3:20). It will be a glorious time for Israel.
As New Testament saints, we will reign with Jesus (Revelation 2:26-27 and 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:2). Along with Israel, we will experience the glories of the coming kingdom, but our roles will differ as we reign with Jesus over all the nations of the world.
All the various “no-Israel” teachings not only negate the glorious future of the Jewish kingdom, but also greatly diminish what it means for us to be heirs of that kingdom as well. As believers, we already belong to God’s spiritual kingdom (Colossians 1:13). But oh, what a day it will be when we return with Christ and watch as He sets up His physical kingdom on the earth (Revelation 19:11-20:4). It’s then that we will truly reign with Him; this is not happening now.
Returning to the earth with our triumphant Savior will be far more exciting than anything we will experience in this life. Can you even imagine the thrill of being with Jesus at His Second Coming, watching Him destroy the last vestiges of the Antichrist’s kingdom, and then participating in His righteous reign over all the nations? The joy of experiencing our Savior’s triumphant return to the earth will exceed any joy we will ever feel in this life.
The removal of Israel from Bible prophecy is far more than just a question about Israel’s future; it also dramatically impacts what Scripture promises us as believers. It makes this vale of tears our inheritance and the promised kingdom a hopelessly divided church.
Thankfully, the promised earthly kingdom lies in our future. Yes, we are heirs to a kingdom, which signifies that we are not yet possessors of it.
Note: In Hereafter, It’s Far Better Than You Can Imagine, Terry James and I describe the future glory that awaits us as believers, beginning with Jesus’ appearing. Throughout, we emphasize the jubilant joy that awaits us in Heaven. The last chapter includes 27 frequently asked questions and answers about Heaven and what it's like to be there.
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