Short Answer
Yes, there is continuity. Modern Israel includes the descendants of Abraham and is connected to the biblical promises, though it does not mean everything it does is automatically right.
The Overview
A growing view today claims that the Israel in the Bible has no connection to the modern nation of Israel. However, this perspective overlooks the continuity emphasized in Scripture. The Bible presents Israel not just as a location, but as a people group—descendants of Abraham—whom God promised to preserve.
God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis establishes a lasting promise to his descendants. This promise is not limited to ancient history but extends into the future. The New Testament, particularly Romans 11, reinforces this by describing Israel as a continuing entity in God’s plan, with Gentiles being “grafted in” alongside them.
While modern Israel differs politically from ancient Israel—having a different government structure and leadership—the ethnic and historical continuity remains. Many people living in Israel today are still descendants of Abraham, and they inhabit the same land central to biblical history.
At the same time, recognizing this continuity does not mean endorsing every action of the modern state. Just as ancient Israel was not always obedient or righteous, modern Israel is not beyond criticism. The key point is about God’s ongoing plan, not political approval.
Ultimately, Scripture indicates that Israel continues to play a role in God’s redemptive plan, including future fulfillment of His promises. This continuity connects the biblical narrative with present reality.
Key Takeaways
- Israel Is a People Group
Defined by descent from Abraham. - God’s Promises Continue
Not limited to ancient history. - Modern Israel Has Continuity
Same land and many same descendants. - Not Everything Is Approved
Continuity ≠ automatic righteousness. - Romans 11 Confirms the Plan
Israel remains part of God’s purposes. - Future Fulfillment Is Expected
God’s promises are not finished yet.
Bible Verse Mentioned
- Genesis 12
- Romans 11
- Revelation 7
Read Full Raw Transcript
About Charlie Kirk saying Charlie Kirk apparently has changed his views, talking about when he was alive. Of course, changed his views on supporting Israel. I’ve heard it stated that Israel that was talked about in the Bible is not what is happening here today, not the state of Israel. Is that true? Yeah, that’s been real popular, it seems. If you go back to an interview that Tucker Tucker Carlson had back in June.
I don’t know if I’ve talked about this on the air or not, but Ted Cruz was interviewed by Tucker Carlson. If you’re a fan of Tucker, who’s kind of kind of gone off the rails in my opinion here of the last few years. But anyway, Tucker had Ted Cruz on there. They were talking about Israel, and old Tucker got Ted back on his heels when he, Ted said something about supporting Israel as a Christian.
And of course, Tucker, if you saw that, made a big stink about the fact that the Israel in the Bible is not doesn’t have anything to do with Israel today, over there is nothing to do with the Knesset, has nothing to do with Benjamin Netanyahu, has nothing to do with the IDF in the forces in Israel. And so, you know, it’s silly for us to say, because we’re Christians, we support Israel.
And that is something that seems to be catching on with a lot of people today. And they say there’s no continuity between the Israel in Scripture and the Israel in the Holy Land today or in, you know, Judea and Samaria of today. And so that’s what Melissa, you’re asking here. And I’m going to respond to that by saying there is, of course, a continuity between the two.
And it doesn’t mean by saying that that because I see in Scripture a promise in Genesis chapter 12 of a covenant that God made with Abraham and his descendants, that everything that happens in Israel, either in the 21st century today gets a pass that everything they do is righteous. I’m not saying that, nor in the 10th century BC or in the sixth century BC.
I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that there is a continuity because Israel is been promised to be preserved as a genetic, as a genetic descendants of Abraham, and that that descendants, that nationality, that ethnicity, which literally is the word that is used, the ethnos of Israel in the Greek New Testament is is the thing that is described to continue on, as it says in Romans chapter 11, all the way to the end, and that that natural plan, that olive tree, as it’s called there is going to support the unnatural branches, which is us, the Gentiles leave me at least I’m a Gentile, a non-Jew, and that these unnatural branches will be grafted into the
work of God in the present age, until God graphs back in the natural branches that are the descendants. And the point is that they will be in the land in the time of the end, and that they will then turn to the Messiah, and they will be the descendants of Abraham. Now we’ve got to say that this is more than just a group of people that happened to be in the same piece of real estate, although they are in the same piece of real estate.
And I’ve been to Israel many times, and I know that these are the places where Abraham journeyed through and where David set up his, his, his capital city there in the Jebusites city, which is now Jerusalem. And, you know, it’s where all the disciples walked. And clearly we have the place where Jesus lived and walked and did his ministry, and the place where he was crucified and rose from the dead.
All of that took place in Israel. And course that the place that we have now, and the people that we have now descended from Abraham, and share the same genetic material, are living in the land. Now, obviously, there are plenty that do not that are there, just like we would say, if you move there and I move there, it doesn’t make us a descendant of Abraham.
But yes, there is continuity. And I’m just going to tell you that those that want to make a distinction, simply because we don’t have David ruling on the throne, because we have someone else in a Knesset, in a modern political situation, ruling or governing, we might say more accurately in Israel that there’s no continuity. There may be a change in leadership, structure or polity in the nation, but they are the same because of the prophetic promise of God in Romans chapter 11.
And God has a lot more to do with them. As you can read about in revelation chapter seven. And God is going to fulfill his promise. That’s exactly what he says, not only in the New Testament, but also in the Old Testament. And he’s going to bring back together as the Valley of Dry Bones says in the Book of revelation.
And it’s going to happen. So we have to be have to be ready for this. And we have to absolutely no, that this is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. So, Melissa, don’t be thrown by what you’ve heard, whether it’s Charlie Kirk or whether it’s Tucker Carlson or whoever it might be. In this case, Ted Cruz is right. And all the biblical scholars, I hope that to understand the future promises for Israel would say precisely what I’m telling you right now.
So thanks for that. Good question, Melissa.
