Is The Church Spiritual Israel? No…Find Out Why Not.

We often hear the church is spiritual Israel.

However, the Bible never mentions this…not once.

As a matter of fact, the word church is not in the Bible…nor is the phrase spiritual Israel.

Though many Bible translations utilize the word church, the word church is not in the original manuscripts.

The word often translated as church is the Greek word ekklésia.

The definition of ekklésia is an assembly or gathering of people.

During the time of Jesus on earth and following his ascension, ekklésia could refer to people gathering in a synagogue, in a public meeting space, at a home, or any other place for a gathering.

Ekklésia could also be used for those gathering to riot, which is how it is used in Acts 19:23-41 when those who sold silver shrines of Artemis rioted against Paul and his companions. I highlighted in ORANGE the words that have been translated from the word Greek ekklésia.

23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

28When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

The word assembly (ekklésia) used to describe the commotion and the confused crowd gathered for a riot is the same word used for a legal assembly in verse thirty-nine.

It is also the same word translated in most Bibles as church.

Translating ekklésia as church is an incorrect translation.

Youngs Literal Translation accurately translates ekklésia as assembly rather than church.

This important to understand because the church is inaccurately communicated as being spiritual Israel.

Since the Bible does not contain the word church, it is impossible for the church to be spiritual Israel.

Calling the church spiritual Israel actually causes us to miss the plan of God in assembling believers together in what the Bible calls one new humanity.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he explains it was God’s predetermined plan to assemble the people of Israel and the Gentiles together in one body…which is the spiritual body or assembly of Christ, and Jesus cornerstone and is the head of this assembly (Ephesians 1:3-23; 2:19)

Paul called this assembled body the new humanity (Ephesians 2:15).

He writes about this assembly in Ephesians 2:11-22.

Prior to Gentiles being included in the new humanity of God, they were excluded from Israel.

They were not familiar with the covenants and promises contained in the Hebrew Bible.

Consequently, they were without God and without hope.

The covenant of law separated the people of Israel from the Gentiles.

However, Jesus removed the law in his death and brought the Gentiles and the people of Israel together in one new humanity.

This one new humanity is the household of God, meaning the dwelling place of God.

Gentiles and the people of Israel are equal citizens together in the household of God.

The cornerstone of the house of God is Jesus.

As the cornerstone, Jesus brings Israeli believers and Gentile believers together to form the household of God.

In Jesus, the household of God becomes the spiritual temple of God where he dwells by his Spirit.

The temple of God is not spiritual Israel nor is it the church.

There is no such thing as spiritual Israel or the church.

The Bible makes no reference to either one.

The temple of God consists of believers in Jesus from all nations.

It is a spiritual temple that expands all over the world as more and more people place their faith in Jesus and are assembled into the temple.

This is the new humanity…it is not spiritual Israel or the church.

To refer to the church as spiritual Israel is to completely miss God’s plan to create a new humanity and a spiritual temple by assembling believers from all nations to become the dwelling place of his Spirit.

In addition, there is no church age that will one day conclude resulting in God completing his program for Israel.

There can’t be a church age because the word church is not in the Bible.

God’s new humanity…the new spiritual temple he is building…is the eternal age.

If you would like to learn more about this, read my book Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The Statue, The Stone, and The Kingdom of Grace, along with 490 Years Determined For The People of Israel and The City of Jerusalem.

Additionally, you may be interested in my three volume set on Revelation (Volume 1 has been published, and Volumes 2-3 will be published in the Fall and Winter of 2025).

To view these books, CLICK HERE.