What is the church in contrast to Israel?
The church is God's heavenly people, in contrast to Israel, which is His earthly people. In God's dealings with the human race, there must be a division between His dealing with Israel, His earthly people, and the church, His heavenly people. This distinction is essential for reading and studying the Bible.
Les explains that everything in God's dealing with the human race must be divided between His dealing with Israel, His earthly people, and the church, which are His heavenly people. He tells his audience to always remember that distinction as they read and study the Bible. In his review, he adds that all through the Old Testament the prophets spoke this way—for example, when God said to Daniel, "Thy people," He was referring to Daniel's people.