Nuggets from "Judgment Day: Islam, Israel, and the Nations" by Dave Hunt
Another idea gaining popularity among Christians today is the false teaching that the church has replaced Israel. This Roman Catholic doctrine, which is a form of anti-Semitism, is also promoted by evangelicals. It declares that Israel has been cut off because of her sins, and the prophecies concerning her restoration are no longer valid. If that were so, then the "everlasting coventant" promised to Israel eleven times in the Old Testament and the everlasting possession of the land promised twice were not everlasting at all, and God has lied. Again, Satan has won, and this world belongs to him....
Why did God choose Israel? He had to choose a people through whom the Messiah would come into the world as a man to pay the penalty for our sins. It was not a matter of favoritism, but selection of someone named Abraham, who, like Noah, "found grace" in His eyes (Genesis:6:8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
See All...) and would be obedient to Him. He is given the amazing designation in the Bible as "the Friend of God" (James:2:23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
See All...). Abraham was promised a land that would be an "everlasting possession" for his heirs. The present conflict in the Middle East involves the question of who those heirs are today.