Something that likely became clear from our discussion of the Biblical covenants last week is the special importance of the nation of Israel in God’s purposes for humanity. With the exception of the Noahic covenant, Israel and her progenitors are the focus of God’s covenants with man and His redemptive purposes for creation. Despite this clarity, one of the most common mistakes in the realm of eschatology is the confusion and conflation of Israel and the church in God’s program. Thus, a study of the distinction between the two is necessary in order to build a framework for understanding God’s plan for the end times.