‘His Favourite People’: John Gill on the Jews, National Israel, and the Latter-Day Glory of the Church

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the eschatological perspective of John Gill (1697–1771), focusing on his views regarding the future role of ethnic Jews in God's end-times plan. Gill, influenced by his Reformed predecessors, considered the church to be the “mystical spiritual Israel of God,” comprising both Jews and Gentiles. However, as a Judeocentric interpreter of the Bible, Gill also envisioned a distinct eschatological role for ethnic Jews. He argued that the present unbelief of the Jews, whom he referred to as “his favourite people,” was a continuing reality. This article explores Gill's theological framework, highlighting the spiritual reign of Christ within the church and the significant role played by the calling and restoration of ethnic Jews to the land of Canaan. First, Gill's eschatological perspective and his understanding of a latter-day glory are examined, emphasizing the visible manifestation of Christ's kingly office within the church. Gill believed that as the church returned to a baptistic model resembling the early church, this spiritual reign would be experienced. Secondly, Gill's understanding of God's relationship with ethnic Jews is discussed, focusing on their future conversion, inclusion in the church, and restoration to the land. Finally, the article explores Gill's geopolitical perspectives on the implications of the Jews' restoration, particularly in relation to the undoing of the antichrists of the East (the Ottoman Empire) and the West (the Roman Catholic Church). By delving into Gill's eschatological perspective, this article highlights the central role he assigned to ethnic Jews, suggesting a time of spiritual flourishing within the church. The analysis provides insights into Gill's theology and offers a nuanced understanding of his views on the future of the church and the significance of the Jews in God's eschatological plan.