It's hard for me to come to a decision as to what I believe Israel is or a Jew is. I probably shouldn't be having this discussion at this moment because I'm very sleepy and surely wont come across very clear. For that I appologize.
I'm still struggling trying to decide if they're still "God's People" or "God's Chosen". Seems to me that was for a time, then they were temporarily blinded until a measure of gentiles believed in Jesus. Then they weren't blinded anymore.
Now they reject the Son of God all by themselves.
Now,,,,, That's a deeper conversation/debate than I have right to even mention. However........ A question comes to mind.
Why are we all talking like us followers of Christ are second class citizens in Heaven?
So, Who exactly are God's people?
If Jesus says if 2 ore more are gathered in my name, there I am among them. So, we claim, we can have "church" anywhere. And we're all happy and thankful for that.
But we separate Israel and People. Without people there is no country only a name of a piece of land.
Now we make further seperations,,,, Jew's, (God's chosen, who should be revered, and hold all the primises of God, who God is more intently watching and caring for than anyone else.) Christians, (those of us who believe in Jesus, but lesser than Jews, and who get no promise from God, and are not part of Israel)
Never mind the fact that the promises to Israel was Jesus' Salvation. All the old covenant has been fullfilled. God has made a new covenant for those who are in Christ, who was the promise to Israel.
Now, Israel was Israel even in Egypt under Pharoh. If all of the United States picked up and moved to another continent with no other people, that would still be the United States, just the land will have a different name.
A nation of people are not bound and tied to a piece of ground. Much less the Children of God being tied to a piece of ground.
We are of the Kingdom of Heaven, We are the nation of Israel, We hold the promises of God. Those who reject Christ are not part of the Kingdom of God, even if their bloodline is Hebrew, and they live in Israel, and keep the Torah to the T.
Not one single solitary one of them are saved. Not one single law or sacrifice can bring them Salvation. Nothing they do regardless how well they follow the OT will bring them Salvation. They have to believe in Jesus Christ.
IMHO, Israel is the followers and Children of Jesus.