The findings of this study reveal that Christians who understand and experience the historical geography of Israel enjoy a clearer comprehension of the Bible, clearer direction to its application, and more effective communication of the text. In the realm of the spiritual life, historical geography provides a greater confidence in the Bible as God’s Word and instills a greater love for God and the Bible. Those who study historical geography, coupled with a study-trip to Israel, experience even greater benefits than those who study in the classroom alone.

The state of geographic apathy in the American church and seminary simply reflects the geographic illiteracy of its culture. Out of ten leading evangelical seminaries, seven offer only occasional elective courses on historical geography (some have not taught it for years), and not one seminary requires the subject. In addition, historical geography has not played a major role in our popular Bible study methods even though it offers a sizable contribution to biblical understanding.

Interpreting a passage in context remains a basic rule of Bible study for evangelicals, but Scripture’s geographical context remains underrated. For evangelicals who believe in interpreting the Bible in context, historical geography must be considered basic to that context. The research in this study has demonstrated that historical geography is indispensable to biblical interpretation and to a comprehensive understanding of biblical history.

Since there was no literature to date expressly researching the benefits of understanding and experiencing historical geography, this study contributes to the need that existed as far as evaluation of how historical geography affects Christians. A full 98% of survey respondents noted that historical geography helps their memory of biblical events and applications, while 87% agreed that the study better directs them toward biblical application. In relation to the spiritual life, 96% have increased in their love for God and the Bible through the study of historical geography. And 99% agree that experiencing the land of Israel has strengthened their spiritual life.

The New Testament revelation about the coming of the person of Christ begins with the gospel accounts of his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. However, the formation of the church and the church age did not begin until Acts 2 with the coming of the Holy Spirit when He began to indwelling all believers, forming the body of Christ—the church—by baptizing all believers into Christ (cf Acts 1:5; 2; 10:44-48; 11:15-18; 1 Cor. 12:12-13). In Acts 11:15f, Peter equates the Lord’s promise of Acts 1:5 with the coming of the Spirit in Acts 2. Further, 1 Corinthians 12:13 shows us that the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit is that which joins us into the body of Christ, the church. It is at this point that the church began and consists of both Jew and Gentile in one new man. This was a truth that was unrevealed in the Old Testament (see Col. 1:25-29).

From the standpoint of the dispensations or the various economies by which God governs the world, the Old Testament economy actually continued through the gospels. Acts is a transitional book moving from the Old Testament economy into that of the church age, the body of Christ. However, Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises—at least those that dealt with His first advent. With His death, Christ brought an end to the Old Testament covenant as seen in the tabernacle/temple, the sacrifices, and the Aaronic priesthood. It was for this reason that the veil of the temple was torn in two (Matt. 27:51). Hebrews gives further witness to this fact as did the institution of the Lord’s supper when He also observed what was in reality the last legitimate Passover because that very evening He would be arrested and die the next day as our Passover Lamb Himself (1 Cor. 5:7).

Thus, Acts was not the beginning of the New Testament, but it records the beginning of the church as the body of Christ. The gospels also contain much information that is pertinent to the church as the body of Christ as with John 13-17.