Still the Chosen People? The Theological Significance of the People of Israel in the History of Salvation in the Light of the Apocalypse of St. John

Tomasz Siemieniec

doi:10.18290/rt2025.18

Published : 2025-12-30

Vol. 72 No. 3 (2025)

Still the Chosen People? The Theological Significance of the People of Israel in the History of Salvation in the Light of the Apocalypse of St. John

Tomasz Siemieniec

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5835-8908

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rt2025.18

Abstract

This article attempts to answer the question concerning the theological role of the chosen people in the history of salvation on the basis of the Apocalypse of St. John. The author, analysing the text of the Apocalypse, concludes that Israel’s primary task was to bring the Messiah into the world. With the coming of the Messiah, the role of the people of Israel as the chosen people comes to an end. However, the completion of this role does not mean the rejection of Israel. Although the reason for which it became the chosen nation ceases to exist, God’s offer of salvation is still valid, and the promise of protection still remains in force, but to the same extent as the offer made to other nations. According to the Apocalypse, Israel rejected God’s invitation, which was expressed in the persecution of Christ’s witnesses in cooperation with Rome. St. John regards this action as equal to rejecting God, resulting in Jerusalem (which embodies Israel) being called the Great Harlot. For this reason, the people who had previously been chosen lost the right to call themselves the true Israel (Rev. 2:9; 3:9). This role is now taken over by a new people, depicted in the Apocalypse by means of the same imagery that referred to the people of Israel in the Old Testament. There are the image of the multitude of 144,000 and the motif of the Bride.

Keywords:

Book of Revelation, Israel, Chosen People, Great Harlot, Church, history of salvation

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