The promises to Israel are earthly, while the promises to the Church are heavenly.
Les Feldick teaches that God has divided everything between two groups: Israel, His earthly people with earthly promises, and the Body of Christ, His heavenly people with heavenly promises. He says, "Everything concerning the nation of Israel is earthly; everything concerning the Body of Christ is heavenly" (Clip 1). Keeping these two separate unlocks the meaning of Scripture.
Romans 9:4 — Paul lists the promises and privileges given specifically to Israel.
1 Corinthians 15:48 — Paul distinguishes the earthy and the heavenly, matching Les's division.
Genesis 15:5 — God promises Abraham a seed as the stars of heaven, a heavenly counterpart to the earthly dust.
Scripture presents Israel as a distinct people to whom God gave the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the service of God, and the promises (Romans 9:4). God told Abraham that his seed would be as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16) and as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15:5). The Apostle Paul likewise describes two categories of people: as is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:48). And as believers have borne the image of the earthy, they shall also bear the image of the heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:49).
Les Feldick emphasizes that God has divided everything in Scripture between two areas: the nation of Israel, which is earthly, and the Body of Christ, which is heavenly. He says, "Everything concerning the nation of Israel is earthly; everything concerning the Body of Christ, or you and I as Grace Age believers, is heavenly" (Clip 1). He reminds his students that Israel is God's earthly people with earthly promises, while the Church is God's heavenly people with heavenly promises (Clips 2, 3, 7). Les also notes that Old Testament believers did not expect to go to heaven; they looked for a kingdom on earth. Only in the Church age do believers have a heavenly prospect (Clip 4). He stresses that there is not a single prophecy given to the Church; all prophecies are directed to Israel (Clip 5).
Les points to Genesis 1:1 as an early clue that God divides everything between heaven and earth. As soon as Abraham is called out of Ur, God separates a distinctive race and nation — Israel — and all its promises are earthly (Clip 0). He uses Genesis 13:16 and Genesis 15:5 to show the two analogies: dust for the earthly people and stars for the heavenly people (Clips 2, 7).
The Church is the Body of Christ, a heavenly people with all promises heavenly. Les says, "You and I are citizens of heaven, all of our promises are heavenly" (Clip 2). There are no material or financial promises for church-age believers (Clip 3). In the resurrection, we bear the image of the heavenly (Clip 6).
Les stresses that Israel is earthy and the Church is heavenly; they are "so totally different" (Clip 6). Mixing them causes confusion in Bible study. He also notes that all prophecy is directed to Israel, and there is not a single prophecy given to the Church (Clip 5). Recognizing the difference resolves apparent contradictions.
Heaven/Earth Division from Genesis 1:1
Les sees in Genesis 1:1 a clue that God will constantly divide human history between heaven and earth — a division later seen in Israel (earthly) and the Church (heavenly).
Israel Earthly, Church Heavenly
Les states directly that everything concerning Israel is earthly and everything concerning the Body of Christ is heavenly.
Dust and Stars
Les pairs the dust of the earth with Israel and the stars of heaven with the heavenly people, showing the two categories in the Abrahamic promise.
No Material Promises for the Church
Les contrasts Israel's earthly material promises with the Church's lack of material promises, while allowing that God may still bless believers.
Israel's Earthly Hope
Les explains that Old Testament believers did not expect to die and go to heaven; they looked for an earthly kingdom, showing how different the Church is.
Prophecy Belongs to Israel
Les says all prophecy in the Old Testament is directed to Israel and there is not a single prophecy for the Church.
Heavenly Image of the Church
Les says Israel is earthy and the Church is heavenly, and that believers will bear the image of the heavenly in resurrection.
Earthly and Heavenly Seed
Les uses Genesis 15:5's stars to identify the heavenly people and the dust of the earth to identify the earthly people.
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Les uses this verse to show God's early heaven/earth division that underlies the separation of Israel and the Church.
Genesis 13:16: And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
The dust analogy points to Israel as the earthly people.
Genesis 15:5: And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
The stars analogy points to the heavenly people, which Les distinguishes from Israel.
Romans 9:4: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
This verse lists the distinct promises and privileges belonging to Israel.
1 Corinthians 15:48: As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
Paul contrasts the earthy and the heavenly, supporting the two categories Les teaches.
1 Corinthians 15:49: And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
This verse shows the Church's heavenly hope in resurrection.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that Israel is God's earthly people, and all of Israel's promises are earthly, including the land and material blessings promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants (Clips 1 and 3).
Yes. The Church, the Body of Christ, is God's heavenly people. All of our promises are heavenly—we are citizens of heaven, and we have no earthly promises as part of church-age doctrine (Clips 1 and 2).
Les Feldick says they are "so totally different" — Israel is earthy, the Church is heavenly. Mixing the two leads to confusion in Bible study and blurs God's separate purposes for each (Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: Who Really Created the Universe? (Genesis 1:1 Explained)