Is the identity of Israel Important?

This past Thursday, Mr. Michael Heykoop shared a forum on the identity of modern-day Israel. He explained that this church doctrine is strongly frowned upon by many outside of the church and potentially misunderstood by those inside. This doctrine can and has been misused throughout history. People can take it to argue their superiority over others if they are descendants of the ancient tribes. Mr. Heykoop encouraged us to see the importance of this doctrine and how it dramatically impacts our job as Christians, but does not determine our salvation. 

Mr. Heykoop said learning Israel’s modern-day identity is crucial to understanding prophecy. Jeremiah 30 calls the last days the time of Jacob’s trouble. Understanding who these people are helps us prepare for the approaching times. The second key is that it assists us as we preach the Ezekiel warning. This understanding is vital to doing the work and mission God has commissioned us to do. 

Mr. Heykoop came to a close by reminding us that God does not judge our salvation on nationality but on character. Acts 10 shows that God gave the Gentiles His Spirit before baptism, showing how He works with all people. We have been covering this topic in our Biblical Doctrines class for the past few weeks, allowing us to appreciate Mr. Heykoop’s lesson. He said that learning the identity of Israel is of utmost importance, but whether we are direct descendants does not. What matters is that we are citizens of Christ through our baptism.