Ezekiel 36:28

Ye shall be my people. This promise was conditional on the realization of the spiritual purity described above. Had the necessary revival been effected, their residence in the land would have been permanent. Jerusalem would have stood forever. From her would have gone out the dove of peace to bring the whole world under the influence of the true religion (see DA 577; GC 19). The words, “Ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (see Eze. 11:20; cf. Jer. 7:23; 11:4; 30:22), are descriptive of the covenant relationship in which Jehovah stood toward Israel. This covenant included more than national independence and prosperity. It comprehended the whole plan to make Israel the spiritual nucleus of a worldwide missionary program. The rejection of the covenant (see Matt. 21:43) resulted in the removal of this spiritual privilege. It did not necessarily imply that the Jews would never establish an independent political state; the present state of Israel is in no wise a fulfillment of these ancient forecasts. Nor would any mass return of the Jews to Palestine be a fulfillment of these predictions. Jesus positively stated (see Matt. 21:43) that the covenant promise now has been given to another “nation,” namely, the Christian church. Through this body God is now working to evangelize the world (see Rom. 2:28, 29; 9:6; Gal. 3:29; see pp. 33-36).