A Biblical, Theological, and Political Apologetic for the Church: Why Christians Should Support Modern Israel

I. Is the Modern Nation of Israel the Same as the Ancient Nation of Israel?

• Yes — Geographically, Ethnically, & Prophetically
  • Geographically: Modern Israel was reestablished in 1948 in the very land promised to Abraham. Cities like Jerusalem, Hebron, and Bethlehem are the same places where biblical history unfolded.
  • Ethnically: Today’s Jewish population—whether Ashkenazi, Sephardic, or Mizrahi—retains a direct cultural and ancestral link to the 12 tribes of Israel. Despite 1,900 years of exile, they preserved Hebrew, the Torah, and their identity. This endurance is without parallel in world history.
  • Prophetically: The Bible describes two major returns of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. The first occurred after the Babylonian exile, and the second—prophesied in several passages—is widely interpreted by many scholars and theologians as being fulfilled in the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948.

A. The First Return — After the Babylonian Captivity (6th century BCE)

• Historical Context:
  • In 586 BCE, the Babylonians (under King Nebuchadnezzar) destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the Jewish people to Babylon.
  • After 70 years, the Persian king Cyrus the Great issued a decree (Ezra 1:1-4) in 538 BCE allowing Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
• Key Scriptures:
  1. Isaiah 44:28 – 45:1 — Isaiah predicts Cyrus by name as the instrument God will use.
  2. Jeremiah 29:10 — “After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you.”
  3. Ezra & Nehemiah — Historical narrative of the return, rebuilding of the Temple and walls.
• Characteristics of the First Return:
  • A relatively small remnant returns.
  • It was under Gentile (Persian) permission and protection.
  • The return was from one geographical region: Babylon (modern Iraq).
  • Focus was on Temple restoration and reinstituting Mosaic law.

B. The Second Return — The Eschatological (End-Time) Return (1948 and ongoing – still unfolding in modern times)

• Historical Context:
  • After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE by the Romans, and especially after the Bar Kokhba Revolt (135 CE), the Jewish people were dispersed across the world (the Diaspora).
  • For nearly 2,000 years, Jews remained scattered, facing persecution but preserving their identity.
  • In 1948, the modern State of Israel was established, and Jews began returning from all corners of the globe—not just from Babylon.
• Key Scriptures and Prophecies Indicating a Future Return Beyond Babylon:
  1. Isaiah 11:11-12 (Second Return): “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people… from the four corners of the earth.”
     • “Second time” implies a return beyond the Babylonian one.
     • From “the four corners of the earth” directly indicates a global regathering. That regathering began in 1948 and is currently ongoing.
     • It is both solemn and profound to consider that a primary catalytic driving force for this ongoing return has been the ongoing conflict involving the Israeli fight for survival as Jews decided to return to Israel to help fight for their nation at various points since 1948 (most recently after the horrific events of Oct 7th).
  2. Isaiah 66:8: “Who hath heard such a thing? … Shall a nation be born at once?”
     • Yes—it happened May 14, 1948.
  3. Ezekiel 36–37:
     • Chapter 36: God promises to restore Israel’s land and people, not for their sake but for His holy name.
     • Chapter 37: Vision of the valley of dry bones—symbolizing a scattered, “dead” nation being revived.
     • The “dry bones” vision speaks of a physical return before spiritual revival.
     • “I will take you from among the nations… and bring you into your own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24) — This is global, not regional.
     • “And I will put My Spirit within you…” (Ezekiel 36:27) — Also includes spiritual/moral revival. Occurring now (Messianic Jews accepting Jesus as Messiah and being filled with the Holy Ghost).
  4. Jeremiah 16:14-15: “It shall no more be said, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but… ‘from all the lands where He had driven them.’”
     • This return is so great, it will eclipse even the Exodus!
  5. Amos 9:14-15: “I will bring back the captives of My people Israel… no longer shall they be pulled up.”
     • Permanent settlement—they will “never again be uprooted.”
• Characteristics of the Second Return:
  • A return that is distinct from the first return.
  • A large return to eclipse even the exodus.
  • The return is a global regathering.
  • While part of the focus is moral and spiritual, it can be argued that this, much like the regathering itself, is an ongoing process yet to be fulfilled.

C. Return Comparative Summary

Feature	First Return (Babylon)	Second Return (Modern Israel)
Timeframe	~538 BCE	1880s–present (esp. 1948 onward)
Exile Origin	Babylon (one region)	Worldwide Diaspora
Nature	Spiritual, Temple-focused	Physical and prophetic, state-building
Leadership	Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah	Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, etc.
Permission	Persian king (Cyrus)	International recognition (NATO, Balfour, UN)
Scale	Tens of thousands	Millions (from 100+ countries)
Fulfilled Prophecies	Jeremiah, Isaiah	Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 36–37, Amos 9, etc.
Temple Rebuilt?	Yes	Not yet—third Temple awaited by some
Spiritual Restoration	Mosaic Law re-established	In progress, many see a secular return preceding spiritual revival (Ezekiel 37 order: bones → breath)

D. Correlations & Conclusions Regarding the Prophecies

• Key Prophetic Correlations:
  • Gathered from All Nations: Israel today includes Jews from Europe, Africa (Ethiopian Jews), Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East—fulfilling the “from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12).
  • Agricultural and Technological Renewal: Israel’s land has “blossomed like a rose” (cf. Isaiah 35:1–2), fulfilling imagery in Ezekiel 36:8.
  • A Secular Return Precedes Spiritual Revival: In Ezekiel 37, the bones are gathered before the Spirit enters them. Many interpret this as a physical regathering first, followed by national spiritual awakening in the end times (cf. Zechariah 12:10).
  • Political Sovereignty: For the first time in ~2,000 years, Israel is again a sovereign Jewish state—a detail that was not true in the first return, which was under Persian rule.
• Conclusion: The First Return from Babylon was partial, regional, and temporary. The Second Return is global, prophetic, and—according to biblical promises—permanent. The establishment of modern Israel matches the scope and sequence of many Old Testament prophecies more fully than the earlier return.
• So, is the modern nation of Israel the same as the ancient nation of Israel?
  • Answered in the affirmative with regard to Geography, Ethnicity, & Prophecy.
  • However, we should also consider two other elements: the Spiritual and Theocratic components of the second return.
• Spiritually, and Theocratically (Not fulfilled…At Least Not Yet…):
  • The current State of Israel is a secular democracy, not a reconstituted theocracy. The Sanhedrin does not sit, and Temple worship has not resumed…yet.
  • Many eschatologists believe that the theocratic element will not be completely fulfilled until after the revelation of the Anti-Christ and the battle of Armageddon.
  • Many Israeli Jews today are secular, agnostic, or atheist. This is the partial blindness Paul spoke of (Romans 11:25), which is temporary.
  • There is an ongoing revival among Jews with regard to orthodox Jewish beliefs, the Messianic Jewish movement (accepting Jesus as the Messiah), and Messianic Jews receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost. So, one might say that an ongoing threefold revival is occurring morally and spiritually within the people of the Nation of Israel.

II. Should Christians Pray for and Support Israel?

• Yes — Scripturally Mandated and Theologically Sound
  1. Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you…”
     • This Abrahamic promise extends through Isaac and Jacob and was never revoked.
  2. Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
  3. Romans 11:28-29: “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
     • Even in unbelief, they are still beloved—still chosen.
  4. Romans 15:27: “If the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.”
     • To support Israel is to honor the very root from which our faith sprang.

III. Is America the “New Israel”?

• No — This Is a Dangerous and Unscriptural Delusion
  1. The Church is the Body of Christ, not a political nation-state. It is transnational, transcultural, and includes both Jew and Gentile.
  2. Gentile believers are grafted into Israel, not the other way around (Romans 11:17–24). There is no biblical warrant for any nation—including America—to be the “new Israel.”
  3. The “Wilderness Refuge” theory, which identifies America as the woman’s hiding place from Revelation 12, is symbolic and cannot override the plain promises made to ethnic Israel. Furthermore, even if interpreted literally it is described as a “wilderness” and NOT a nation. One can argue that this wilderness is indeed America… However, the wilderness in this passage is never described as the location for New Israel.
     • The reinterpretation of America as New Israel often serves only one purpose: to provide a theological out for abandoning Israel politically.

IV. Why This Matters Politically: Secular Reasons to Support Israel

• While Christians are compelled by Scripture, even non-religious individuals should see Israel as a vital ally for the following reasons:
  1. National Security & Counter-Terrorism Partner
     • Israel is one of the top five global cyber powers and works closely with the U.S. in cybersecurity, counterintelligence, and military defense technologies.
     • The famed Iron Dome missile defense system was co-developed with U.S. support, and its innovations have influenced American military applications.
     • Intelligence agencies like Mossad have provided critical early warnings about terror threats to both Europe and the U.S.
  2. A Democratic Outpost in a Volatile Region
     • Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, with a free press, women’s rights, and protection for religious minorities.
     • It serves as a stabilizing force between Western interests and authoritarian regimes like Iran and Syria.
     • Its presence checks regional powers that seek to spread jihadist ideology and destabilize the West.
  3. Scientific and Economic Innovation
     • Israel leads in medical, agricultural, and tech innovation—from cancer treatments to water desalination, from drip irrigation to high-tech start-ups. It has more companies listed on the NASDAQ than any country except the U.S. and China.
  4. A Proven Ally
     • Unlike many “allies” who vacillate in times of crisis, Israel has been a consistently loyal partner to the U.S.—militarily, politically, and morally.
     • Joint military training, intelligence sharing, and technological cooperation with Israel bolster American military readiness and help deter adversaries.

V. The Danger of Turning Away

• If the Church begins to echo secular or political voices that delegitimize Israel’s existence, we risk:
  1. Ignoring God’s Word and Covenant
  2. Abandoning our elder brothers in the faith (Romans 9:4–5)
  3. Participating in the deception of the nations Zechariah 12:2–3: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling… a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces…”
     • If God warns the nations not to burden themselves with this “stone” by being “gathered together against it” let us not be found in the wrong company lest we too be “cut in pieces.” In light of this scriptural prophecy, it is particularly interesting to note the results of the current cultural political division regarding this issue and the individuals going so far as to even suggest a course that would metastasize this division into internal second Civil War.
  4. Conclusion: A Call to Prayer and Clarity
     • Let us reject theological arrogance, resist political expedience, and root our support for Israel in both biblical fidelity and geopolitical wisdom.
     • To Americans, Israel represents stability, innovation, and democratic values in a hostile region.
     • To Christians, Israel represents a living covenant, a people beloved for the sake of the patriarchs, and a promise yet to be fulfilled.
     • So, we should pray—for her peace, for her repentance, and for her full redemption.
     • And we should stand—knowing the God who keeps His promises has not forgotten His people.