Understanding the biblical distinction between spiritual and physical Israel is critical to grasping the fullness of God’s covenant plan. This question is central to the message of the Covenant Israel Message, a movement that firmly holds that the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples of the West and other European nations are literal descendants of the ancient tribes of Israel. In this article, we explore the profound difference between physical Israel (the literal descendants) and spiritual Israel (those who walk in covenant with God), and why both remain relevant under the New Covenant.
The Biblical Foundation of Israel’s Identity
To understand the concept of physical and spiritual Israel, we must first understand who Israel was in Scripture. Israel was originally a man—Jacob—who was renamed “Israel” by God (Genesis 32:28). His twelve sons became the patriarchs of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. This lineage was both genealogical and covenantal. God made unconditional promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, establishing a physical people with a divine destiny (Genesis 17:7-8).
Physical Israel refers to the genetic and national descendants of these patriarchs. According to the Covenant Israel Message, these descendants did not disappear, but migrated over centuries and became the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples of the Western Nations—such as Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Northwestern Europe.
Spiritual Israel: A Covenant Relationship
While physical Israel refers to the bloodline, spiritual Israel refers to the heartline. Spiritual Israel is composed of those who walk in faith and obedience, whether they are Israelites by blood or not. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 2:28-29:
“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly… but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter…”
In other words, being part of spiritual Israel means living in accordance with God’s will. But this does not negate the significance of the physical descendants—rather, it fulfills their calling.
Paul’s Teaching on Physical and Spiritual Israel
In Romans 9:3-5, Paul makes it clear that physical Israel retains a vital role:
“…my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises…”
Here Paul distinguishes his “kinsmen according to the flesh” (physical Israel) and spiritual Israel (those who believe). But both are deeply connected in the redemptive plan.
Are the Western Nations the Physical Israelites?
This is where the Covenant Israel Message speaks with bold clarity. The question arises: Where did the Ten Tribes go after the Assyrian captivity? The Bible and history reveal that they were never truly “lost”—they were scattered and later migrated westward.
Numerous historical and linguistic studies affirm that the tribes of Israel moved into Europe, particularly into the British Isles and surrounding regions. Names such as “Saxons” are believed to derive from “Isaac’s sons.” Over time, these tribes formed the backbone of many Western nations, particularly the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples.
When God promised Abraham that his seed would become “many nations” (Genesis 17:4), He meant it literally. The Western Nations, especially those who have carried the Bible, justice, law, and missionary work to the world, have fulfilled this prophetic role.
Spiritual Israel Includes Believers from All Nations
Under the New Covenant, God opened the way for Gentiles—non-Israelites—to be grafted in spiritually. Paul teaches in Romans 11 about the wild olive branch being grafted into the natural olive tree. This is not a replacement of physical Israel but an expansion of God’s family.
Gentiles who accept Christ and walk in obedience become part of spiritual Israel. Yet the root of the tree—the promises to the physical descendants—remains firm. The Covenant Israel Message emphasizes that spiritual adoption does not negate physical inheritance; it confirms and builds upon it.
Why the Distinction Matters
Some modern teachings claim that the Church has replaced Israel—a belief known as replacement theology. However, this concept is foreign to the Bible. God’s covenants are not discarded; they are fulfilled. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17).
The distinction between spiritual and physical Israel helps maintain theological integrity:
- Physical Israel carries the national and genealogical covenant.
- Spiritual Israel includes both physical descendants and adopted believers who live by faith.
Understanding this balance prevents error and supports a coherent biblical worldview that upholds both grace and lineage.
The Covenant and National Blessings
Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 make it clear that Israel’s obedience would bring national blessings—fruitful lands, strong economies, victory in war, and leadership among nations. These blessings have undeniably been evident in the Western Nations throughout the modern era.
Why? Because God is faithful to His promises. Though the Israelites were dispersed and disciplined, He did not forget them. Hosea 1:10 promises:
“…in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’”
Today, we see the descendants of Israel—the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples—enjoying the blessings foretold in Scripture, not because of their goodness, but because of God’s covenant faithfulness.
Jesus and the Lost Sheep of Israel
Jesus Himself confirmed His mission in Matthew 15:24:
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
This statement was not symbolic—it was literal. The Messiah came first for His covenant people, to awaken them to their identity and purpose. After His resurrection, the Gospel spread quickly through Western Europe, led by apostles who traveled to the dispersed tribes.
Prophecy and Identity Today
Understanding the distinction between spiritual and physical Israel is not just theological—it is prophetic. It clarifies end-time prophecies and God’s plan for the nations. The book of Revelation speaks of 144,000 from the twelve tribes—clearly a reference to physical Israel (Revelation 7).
The Western Nations are not a coincidence of history. They are the modern manifestation of God’s covenant people—Israel rediscovered.
Conclusion: One Body, Two Dimensions
To summarize:
- Physical Israel is the literal, national, genealogical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—today found in the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples of the Western Nations.
- Spiritual Israel includes those—whether Israelites or Gentiles—who walk by faith, have accepted Christ, and live under God’s covenant.
Both are vital to God’s redemptive plan. The Covenant Israel Message affirms the enduring reality of both. It is not about exclusion, but identity. It is not about superiority, but responsibility. It is a call for the West and the modern descendants of Israel to return to covenant obedience and fulfill their God-given destiny as a light to the nations.
