Tucker Carlson’s False Statements about Israel
Tucker Carlson seems to be his own work in progress on the meaning of Israel as “the chosen people.” He interviews many various conflicting positions on this issue. To see his situation in a generous way, I think he’s confused. This is what he said in a now popular youtube reel or short from his program:
There is no ‘chosen people.’ The chosen people are people who choose Jesus. That is the Christian message right there. It is not an antisemitic message by the way. It’s the Christian message. It’s the core Christian message, and yet there are many self-described representatives of the Christian faith who are daily sending a different message. And we should be very clear that whatever this is, it is not Christianity. It is heresy. . . . .
The Christian message is universal. That’s the whole point of it. The chosen people in Christianity are those who choose Jesus. The entire New Testament is that story and anyone who says otherwise has not read it or is lying.
So that’s a very strong statement by someone who just recently began himself even to read the Bible. His statement itself is false though.
I’m not going to call what Carlson says, heresy or lying, as strong as he said it, because I believe he’s just ignorant. Instead, I would like to help him and others in their understanding as to what the Bible says. I’m only guessing in saying that Carlson understands that Israel at least was at one time “the chosen people” of God in the Old Testament, but lost that status in the New Testament. He is likely thinking that Israel was replaced by the church in the New Testament. I’m not assuming, like Carlson asserts about others, that he has not read the Bible. He doesn’t get what’s happening in the Bible that he’s read.
The Chosen People Language
It is not as though this concept of Israel as “the chosen people” just arose out of a vacuum. It’s actually a long time, historical position, that thousands, when they were growing up, heard in their Sunday Schools in Bible believing and teaching churches. This would, therefore, involve a lot of people in this conspiracy against what Carlson speculates is the truth Here, however, is a more thorough version than the simple Sunday School version that children still hear.
The Bible declares Israel’s status as God’s chosen people through divine election, irrevocable covenants, and promises of future restoration, emphasizing that God’s faithfulness persists despite Israel’s temporary unbelief. God’s election of Israel in the Old Testament is unconditional, rooted in His sovereign love rather than Israel’s merit. His election of Israel then serves as a channel for global blessing. Romans 9–11 show that Israel’s privileges (adoption, covenants, promises, and the Messiah) remain intact, with a remnant always preserved and a national salvation awaiting (Romans 9:4–5; 11:1–2, 5).
Israel’s Unbelief Cannot Nullify God’s Unconditional Promise
Genesis 12:3 promises that Abraham’s descendants (Israel) will bless all families of the earth, a pledge that God upholds eternally, as unbelief cannot nullify divine faithfulness (Romans 3:3–4; 11:29: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”). Romans 11:28 reinforces this: Israel is “beloved for the fathers’ sake,” ensuring their future grafting back into the olive tree of promise (Romans 11:23–24).
Deuteronomy 7:6 declares Israel a “holy people” chosen by God out of all nations “to be a special people unto himself,” not for their greatness but His love and oath to the patriarchs (Deuteronomy 7:7–8). This is foundational, echoed in Acts 3 where Peter addresses Israel directly as God’s elect, urging repentance for restoration.
The Reaffirmation of God’s Covenant with National Israel
Jeremiah 31:35–37 declare Israel’s descendants will stand as a nation before God as long as the sun, moon, and stars endure, that is, forever, linking their perpetuity to creation’s order. Romans 9:4 lists Israel’s unique possessions: adoption as sons, glory, covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New), giving of the law, temple service, and promises. The Apostle Paul reaffirms this in the New Testament in Romans 15:8:
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
Jesus was a minister or a servant of the circumcision, which means that He came as a Jew. Jesus Himself was circumcised as a baby and then He comes to Jews, saying (Matthew 15:24, cf. 10:6):
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus was a circumcised Jew sent to the Jews for the purpose of the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the fathers. Therefore, Jesus came then to fulfill prophecy. If He hadn’t come to fulfill the promises made to the fathers, then God would not be true, God would be a liar.
The “fathers” were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord Jesus Christ came as the perfect minister of the Jews to fulfill those promises made by God to those fathers, that is, reiterated to them in the multiple repeats of that covenant initially to Abraham. Jesus came for the truth of God, because the truth of God is at stake. As God, Jesus verified what God (Jesus Himself) had said to these Patriarchs. This parallels what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, coming to fulfill the Old Testament, which also means that He verified the promise of God, saying that God speaks the truth.
Mary and Zacharias in Luke 1
Jesus came to save, but He also did for other related reasons, such as proving God true, confirming or ratifying His covenant, including with His own blood on the cross. When Jesus’ earthly mother Mary spoke in what people call the “Mangificat” in Luke 1, because she says, “My soul doth magnify the Lord” (verse 46), she ends that declaration in verse 55:
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
She is saying that God was doing what He had told Abraham that He would do for Abraham’s descendants — Israel. In the same chapter, Luke 1, Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, having heard of the birth of his own child, says (verses 68-70):
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zacharias reaffirms this same teaching, that Jesus came for the reiteration and confirmation of the truth of God, which reiterated in the chain from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob, and then to the prophets about the salvation of Israel. Jesus is another in that chain.
Regathering and Conversion of Israel
Deuteronomy 30:1–6 promise that after an exile for curses (Deuteronomy 28–29), God will regather Israel, restore fortunes, circumcise hearts, and enable obedience. This extends then also to Ezekiel 36:24–28, which expresses Israel’s gathering from nations, cleansing from idols, and their new heart or Spirit for covenant-keeping, and Ezekiel 37:21–28, which promises the regathering of Israel as one nation under Davidic rule, with an everlasting covenant of peace. The Apostle Paul again provides confirmation of this in Romans 11:1–2 and 11:26 in fulfillment of Zechariah 12:10–13:1 when Israel repents at the time of Christ’s second coming.
Romans 11:26 prophesies, “All Israel shall be saved,” which is ethnic or national Israel experiencing mass conversion at Christ’s return, fulfilling prophecies like the Deliverer coming from Zion to remove ungodliness (Romans 11:27, quoting Isaiah 59:20–21). This ties to Old Testament regathering promises, such as Ezekiel 36:24–27 (God gathers Israel, cleanses them, and gives to them a new heart and Spirit) and Zechariah 12:10 (they mourn for the pierced Messiah, leading to a cleansing fountain in Zechariah 13:1).
Zechariah 13:8-9 describe a future purification and salvation of Israel as a nation, where two-thirds of the population perishes but one-third is preserved, refined, and brought into covenant relationship with God. The “one-third” represents a faithful remnant of the nation preserved through trial, symbolizing God’s mercy amid judgment. It aligns with broader biblical themes of remnant theology (Isaiah 10:20–22; Romans 9:27). “Israel shall be saved” means the nation, not every individual Jew.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel
Matthew 19:28 is an instance of what one might call a minor detail validating God’s continued fulfillment of His promises to ethnic or national Israel. It’s very clear in its language.
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The twelve tribes of Israel is ethnic or national Israel. They have a future where the apostles will sit over them on thrones as future kings of leaders.
The “regeneration” is the Millennial Kingdom, the one thousand year (Revelation 20:4-6) reign of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, over the earth. “Regeneration” is “rebirth,” which is the rebirth of the earth. The twelve tribes of Israel are in fact, the twelve tribes of Israel. Why are they there? Because they are His chosen people. New Testament saints are grafted into Israel’s root (Romans 11:17–18). They do not supplant Israel, as God’s plan includes Israel’s kingdom role. Among other places, Revelation 7:4–8 attest to this, where you can see 144,000, 12,000 from each of Israel’s tribes.
The Modern State of Israel
As all of the above relates to the modern state of Israel, their existence now is at least a partial fulfillment of Amos 9:14–15. Those verses say that Israel shall build the waste cities and inhabit them and shall no more be rooted up. This is also seen in Isaiah 62:2–4, where Gentiles [nations] shall see Israel’s righteousness, who is renamed “delighted” ones and “married” there.
The current global Jewish return is preparatory. The modern regathering from dispersion is a physical phase, awaiting spiritual fulfillment. Israel’s confession of iniquity (Isaiah 52-53, Zechariah 12:10) leads to remembering the covenant, so repentance triggers full restoration, but modern events demonstrate God’s ongoing commitment to the land and people.
Rejection of Supersessionism or Replacement Theology
Even though, yes, God chooses those who choose Him, scripture speaks of this choosing not as a replacement of ethnic Israel. Instead, New Testament saints, are grafted into Israel’s spiritual blessings (Romans 11:17-24). The saints do not take Israel’s inheritance and cancel God’s national promises to Israel. By no means has God rejected His covenant people (Romans 11:1). This replacement theology or supersessionism dishonors God’s character, making Him unfaithful to His Word, fuels anti-Semitism historically (from Augustine to Luther), and weakens evangelism toward Jews by implying God’s plan shifted.
Tucker Carlson calls the actual truth, “heresy,” in his youtube presentation. He warns that the people speaking scripture actually haven’t read it and are lying. In fact, his statements or teaching are the lies. I’m not saying he’s lying, but that he’s repeating the false teaching that arose centuries after Jesus started His true church in Jerusalem. Unbelievers perverted by allegorical interpretation and neo-Platonic philosophy began this heresy Carlson now espouses. Instead, the Bible calls true believers to bless Israel (Genesis 12:3) and anticipate its salvation as part of God’s glory (Romans 11:11-12).
More to Come
Just tell me your eschatology. If you are not pre-millennial and pre-tribulational, then you are following a Catholic doctrine of replacement theology which is part of that apostate system that will help usher in the kingdom of Satan. From there, you’ll naturally drift into a Christian Nationalist mindset, which can fall on either side of the political aisle, whether for or against Israel.
In the end, you will corrupt the Bible with “cunningly devised fables” and doctrines full of holes. You’ll find yourself aligned with apostates and the carnal, worldly false church that blinds the minds of the simple.
Though Charly was saved and a decent Christian man, his political zeal was influenced at least in part by a poor understanding of the church, its purpose, and God’s revealed goal for the body of Christ. That all stems from bad eschatological doctrine and a refusal to believe the King James Bible as the final authority.
As a false believer in religion, Tucker is ignorant of biblical eschatology that will usher in the antichrist by the apostate church through the ungodly Catholic whore.
I am thankful, I will watch from above!
Anonymous
I disagree with Carlson, but some dispensationalist Christians seem to act as if Israel is more God’s chosen people than those in the church are in this current age, which is contradicted by many Scriptures.
I can understand why some people are confused about it because of some teachers who overemphasize Israel and God’s love for her while she is set aside as if she has not been set aside. The church is without equivocation called the chosen people of God. It seems that we should also be clear about that.
Hi Bro,
Except for Jews themselves, I don’t know anyone who thinks Israel is more God’s chosen people than in the church. Israel can’t be less the chosen people though, because God’s promises to Israel buttress His promises to the New Testament saints. Because of that, I don’t get your point here.
I don’t believe the confusion comes from some kind of overemphasis on Israel. It comes because of amillennialists or postmillennialists, who allegorized huge chunks of scripture. The other part of it is a Satanic against Israel.
Israel was bad in the Old Testament. None of the kings of the Northern kingdom were good and only a few in the South. The election of Israel is based on the nature of God and His veracity.
1. All believers are Abraham’s seed (Israel) because we are in Christ (Abraham’s Seed). “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“ -Galatians 3:29.
2. The abrahamic covenant was made while Abraham was outside of circumcision, so it applies to all those of faith. “ How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.” -Romans 4:10.
Therefore, all those of faith (Jews and gentiles) are Israel.
Anonymous (why remain anonymous? Generally, I don’t accept anonymous comments and they bother me here),
That’s true. But it also does not alter God’s promises to ethnic Israel. I will write more about this, because my post was part one, as seen in the bottom, “More to Come.”
Even though it is true, when someone writes to me these verses, which are true, that believers are Israel, now it seems that it accompanies an attack that Israel itself is not Israel. Only believers are Israel. Of course, Roman Catholics, amillennialists, who believe replacement theology, think they have replaced Israel too, and would categorize themselves as believers. This fuels antisemitism, because it rejects the promises to national/ethnic Israel.
Hello Anonymous. Why are you equating being Abraham’s seed and being Israel? Abraham had other children besides Isaac and others besides Jacob. Abraham did not have the same covenantal promises given to Israel through Moses. Being the spiritual people of God does not mean being Israel. God had His people before He founded Israel and also after He founded Israel He had Gentiles who believed who were not Israel.
The word “Israel” appears 2,565 times in the Bible. Can you please point me to some unambiguous ones that say something like, “the church is Israel”? Thanks.
Kent,
Though we may disagree on some doctrinal issues, I respect you as a brother in Christ. The comment section is not the best place for an in-depth discussion.
KJB,
You, on the other hand, need to be addressed.
“Why are you equating being Abraham’s seed and being Israel?”
Because Christ is Abraham’s Seed (Gal. 3:16) and Christ is Israel (Hos. 11:1, Matt. 2:15).
“Abraham had other children besides Isaac and others besides Jacob.”
Nobody presenting a syllogistic argument, including the fact that the Abrahamic covenant (including land promises) was made to Abraham outside of circumcision, would forget about Ishmael and Esau. “Abraham did not have the same covenantal promises given to Israel through Moses.”
Correct, because Israel’s covenant through Moses, as you’re referring to, was the old covenant. The Old was replaced by the New Covenant (Heb. 8:8-13), and is now vanished.
“Being the spiritual people of God does not mean being Israel.”
So you’re saying that saved Jews aren’t Israel (Rom. 2:29)?
“God had His people before He founded Israel and also after He founded Israel He had Gentiles who believed who were not Israel.”
Obviously, because Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, not Adam’s.
“The word “Israel” appears 2,565 times in the Bible.”
That’s not the exact number, though I know you didn’t count it yourself, seems you have a habit of repeating what others say instead of getting your information straight from the Bible.
“Can you please point me to some unambiguous ones that say something like, “the church is Israel”?”
I reject your premise. The church is not Israel, so why would I look for it to say that? Ekklesia means congregation/assembly, not a universal invisible unassembled group. I suggest you read the Bible (and repent) before you spew out your opinion.
Hello Anonymous, this will be my last response. It is usually not worth speaking to someone who hides behind anonymity but is happy to speak about someone else “spewing out” his “opinion.” I don’t have a lot of confidence this will help you, but it may help someone else.
Christ is Abraham’s ultimate Seed and Christ is in one sense true Israel. Christ is also the Almighty and the True Vine, etc. That does not prove that Christians are the true Vine, the Almighty, Israel, etc. Your argument is totally invalid.
I never said saved JEWS were not Israel, which is what Romans 2:29 says. Saved GENTILES are not Israel. Spiritual Israel = saved Jews.
Let’s say that Accordance Bible Software is wrong and the word Israel actually doesn’t appear 2,565 times in the OT/NT, but 2,563 or 2,567. That does not change the fact that Gentiles are never called “Israel.”
I am glad you recognize the church is local-only, unlike the vast majority of people who equate Israel with all Christians, including Gentiles.
Thanks for recommending that I read the Bible. The one that I read does not seem to countenance the type of language that you are using.
“Anonymous” may not know that “KJB” is Thomas Ross (a former contributor here).
Anonymous, Thomas’s website is faithsaves.net.
Proverbs 18:13