ISRAEL

After Jacob had his famous encounter with the "messenger" of Jehovah (Gen. 32:29; cf. Hos. 12:4-5), his name was changed to "Israel," suggesting, "he who strove with God." Later, the name is applied to the descendants of Jacob generally (Gen. 32:32; Ex. 1:9; 12:3). When the kingdom split during the days of Rehoboam, the ten tribes of the northern kingdom became known as "Israel," being distinguished from "Judah" in the south -- though occasionally the southern kingdom is referred to as "Israel" as well (Isa. 8:14). When the Mosaic law was abrogated (Rom. 7:1ff; Eph. 2:11ff; Col. 2:14ff), old Israel was taken away -- the final demise coming with the Roman assault in A.D. 70. The new "Israel" is the kingdom of Christ (Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 3:26-27, 29; 6:16; Mt. 21:43; 1 Pet. 2:9). There is no promise of the "restoration" of Israel, as alleged by dispensationalists and premillennialists. Old Testament promises of restoration pertained either to: (a) a restoration of the exiles from the Babylonian captivity; or, (b) the spiritual restoration to be effected in the church (Acts 3:21-24). Note the connection in this latter passage between "restoration" and "these days," i.e., the days of the Christian age (vv. 21, 24).