ISRAEL-PALESTINE SURVEY – SURVEY RESULTS AND BIBLICAL EXPLANATION
Thank you for your interest and/or participation in Teleios surveys. Teleios’ most recent survey explored the Israel-Palestine conflict. There were 146 responses. For full results of the survey please click here https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-857G9WGZL/.
This is a complicated topic. Below is some general information that may help you understand the topic. We hope this information is helpful.
The results are quite interesting! Of course, very few of the answers allow for a response directly from scripture.
The major scriptural issue from this survey is modern Israel, if it is the Israel of the Bible? This is controversial and can be an emotional topic. This is what we know biblically:
- God made promises to Abraham and David to establish an eternal kingdom for the Jews (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:1-16; Deuteronomy 30:1-15; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:20-52; Psalm 132:8-18; Romans 11:26-32).
- Although David’s throne is eternal, God did not state that it would exist continually throughout history (as evidenced by the Babylonian exile starting around 600 BC).
- The “children of Israel” exist in the Millennial reign of Christ and the Jewish temple exists in the tribulation and in the Kingdom.
- The Millennial reign of Christ and the New Jerusalem are the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.
- Israel in the Bible, in which God deals directly (positively or negatively), is evidenced:
- In the Old Testament from Exodus to the Babylonian exile and then the establishment of a new Jerusalem after the exile as described in Ezra and Nehemiah (historically)
- During the time of Christ
- In the tribulation
- During Christ’s reign as King (Revelation 19-20; Ezekiel 40-48)
- In the new Jerusalem where God will dwell forever (Revelation 21-22; Psalm 132:13-14)
- However, God did not always deal with a country called, Israel such as the Hasmonean dynasty between 140 and 37 BC. This Kingdom actually ruled over a land as extensive as King David but had no direct dealings with God, for which we know, and was easily toppled by the Roman Empire.
Modern Israel, since its establishment in 1948 and its recovery of Jerusalem in 1967, has been a huge encouragement to Christians. Many believers have perceived modern Israel as a validation of the truth of the Bible.
Israel stands as a light in the Middle East because it, at a minimum:
- Is a democracy, the only one in the Middle East
- Protects institutions related to scripture
- Is a reliable ally against jihad
- Stands on the forefront of biblical archaeology.
However, modern Israel has no known direct dealings with God or a specific place in the Bible. Whether modern Israel will last in a continual fashion to the tribulation is not known.
Nonetheless, we do know God will keep His promises to Israel and it will exist in the future.
Perhaps even more encouraging than the state of Israel itself is the fact that Jews still exist from the time of Abraham as opposed to other ethnic groups which have become non-existent. There are no ancient ethnic Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Amorites Edomites etc.
Also, modern Israel is a rich site in which to evangelize, where the church began. Teleios hears many recent reports of record numbers of Jews coming to faith in Messiah.
God’s power has kept the Jewish culture for His own purposes. We have an all-powerful God!
Thank you again for taking the survey.
