Until it is understood who the real Israelites are, the whole end times scenario will be confusion and error.
Agreed, however, we need not worry about identifying the Twelve Tribes of Israel, God will do that Himself when He sends out the 144,000 to be witnesses of Christ. This will begin in the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation, and will correlate with the 3 1/2 year ministry of the Two Witnesses.
So to determine who qualifies as an Israelite person of God, we know:
1/ They cannot be determined by natural descent from Abraham, or more specifically, from Jacob. There are no proofs of ancestry back to Abraham extant today.
2/ They cannot become an Israelite by conversion to Judaism.
3/ Any person can become an Israelite of God by faith in Him, obedience to His Laws and the acceptance of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. John 3:16-17
1) Correct, it is Jacob we must be specific about. Israel consists of his children. Abraham had children through whom the promises were not given.
2) Correct, just as a Gentile cannot be converted and become a member of the Tribes of Israel through salvation. There is neither Jew nor Gentile in the Body. The 144,000 will be of those tribes, making a clear distinction between Jew and Gentile in that day. And this makes sense, since the Seventieth Week pertains to Daniel's People to begin with. THis is a time of judgment for them, and it will conclude in Israel's redemption.
3) I agree when "spiritual Israel" is used in a metaphorical context, but this does not nullify Israel's heritage or their part in the Tribulation. But I would disagree that men become "spiritual Israel" by obedience to His Laws.
That has nothing to do with The Faith of Christ.
We are saved by grace through faith, not by faith through grace.
It will be all the true, righteous Christian people that will inherit the holy Land
Sorry, no: Israel will inherit the Holy Land as promised by God, and the One Fold will inherit the earth. As long as Israel is physical and part of this current Creation, it has already been promised by God to Israel. In an eternal context this applies to all who are of faith, the metaphorical "sons of Abraham," who are the sons of God.
In the Millennial Kingdom Israel will be in Israel. THat doesn't mean there will not be other sheep there as well:
Matthew 8:11 KJV
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Better than an inheritance on the earth is our inheritance in Heaven:
Revelation 22:14 KJV
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 21:23-24 King James Version
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
"The Nations" are not the Ten Tribes of Israel, nor are they Israel, they are all families/nations of the earth.
It is just my view that New Jerusalem will bridge Heaven and Earth in a similar fashion that the Garden of Eden did. Man walked with God in that Garden, and lost that communion through sin. We will have direct physical relationship with God in the Eternal State, and that will far exceed the Garden's bridge between God and man.
God bless.