. Bishop Riah, for example, has claimed of Palestinian Christians: ‘We are the true Israel … no-one can deny me the right to inherit the promises, and after all the promises were first given to Abraham and Abraham is never spoken of in the Bible as a Jew … He is the father of the faithful.’ """""
What is wrong with this statement? Jesus came to establish a New Covenent, whereby God's promises to Abraham were extended to non-Jews, to all who believed in Jesus. It takes gall for this writer to tell Christians they can't believe the ancient tenets of their faith.
It seems to me that the idea of Heavenly Israel is inconsistant with claims to be the True Israel" with claims to the eathly kingdom.
Jesus did not say to his followers that they are the true Israelites who must sieze control of Roman-occupied Judea.