Is Israel still God's nation and will it one day be the apple of God's eye?
Yes. The nation in the east is still Israel, still God's covenant people, though presently in unbelief, set aside, and spiritually blinded as a nation. God is not through with them; He will pick up where He left off, and one day they will be the apple of God's eye and enjoy the future covenant promise.
Les teaches that this little nation in the east tonight is still the nation of Israel and one day yet will be the apple of God's eye. He cautions not to expect Jerusalem's government to be godly or righteous; it is secular and ordinary, under the god of this world, just like Washington D.C. But there is an exception: they are still God's covenant people. Right now they are set aside and spiritually blinded for the most part as a nation, but God is not through with them. He will pick up where He left off, and the covenant promises, including the final covenant in Jeremiah 31, are as yet future; it is not appropriate to put Israel under that covenant promise tonight, but they will one day enjoy it.