Why Israel Matters: A Word from Joel Richardson
Joel Richardson explores the role of the modern nation of Israel in relation to the Abrahamic covenant and end-times prophecy lining up with current events.
What is the Book of Revelation really about? A lot of Christians have wrestled with the eschatology found in the last book of the New Testament. However, author Joel Richardson explores the text through the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis. The end-time prophetic events are progressive steps throughout the whole narrative of scripture building towards the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
Jesus should always be the focus of our Biblical study. But it is still important to understand the role of Israel in the End-Times? Does Israel (as a nation) still have a role in the future fulfillment of Scripture?
“There is a restoration of the kingdom of Israel that is coming!” Joel said, addressing the congregation of Grace Church St. Louis.
The Abrahamic Covenant Has Never Changed
During his address, Joel focused particularly on the Abrahamic covenant God made with Israel in the beginning of the Old Testament:
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
Genesis 15:5-7
God made a direct promise to the father of the Jewish nation, that the Jewish people would grow beyond number. God told Abraham he had been brought out of Ur so that he could take possession of Israel.
On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
Genesis 15:18
Not only did God give the land to Abraham, but to ALL of Abraham’s descendants. The land of Israel was their birthright forever.
“The Lord is not just the God of Israel” Joel continued. “[Salvation] has always been for everybody, however, his original plan: to begin with this piece of land [Israel]…has never changed.”
Israel is Still the Promised Land
In conclusion, we see that Israel was the means by which God reached out to all the other nations and kingdoms of the earth. God’s original covenant remains intact! It was by Abraham’s bloodline that the Messiah came to be born. Israel mattered and will always matter! God offered Salvation to the world by our Lord Jesus Christ through the nation of Israel.
Israel will always be the promised land as promised to Abraham! That is one of the reasons why we hope you get a chance to see it for yourself! Joel Richardson is one of our featured tour leaders and traveling the Holy Land with him is an incredible experience!
Join us on a unique Biblical adventure as we explore the most authentic historical locations in Israel and Jordan!
Our authentic Christian travel experiences offer exclusive historical site access that you’ll only see on a Living Passages tour! Please visit our upcoming Bible tours page and our upcoming Christian cruises page to browse all the available trips we have scheduled for the next few years.
Are you passionate about visiting the most significant places in Biblical history? Join a Living Passages Bible tour and travel the world with some of the best apologetics teachers, leading archaeologists, and most renowned Biblical scholars in the world! Spend quality time with fellow Christians as you study scripture and learn on-site in the historic locations referenced throughout the Word of God.
We offer specialized Christian travel for a variety of interests and purposes! Our most popular trips are the Footsteps of Paul tours which explore the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. For the more adventurous Christian, we recommend our Biblical archaeology-centered travel with Eli Shukron exploring the latest finds in Jerusalem. We also offer Christian African Safaris to inspire and edify your whole family on a creation education vacation! For the intrepid Berean and Christian scholar we offer historical European Reformation tours which explore the rich Christian heritage of Europe.
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