What is replacement theology?

[Rick]

What is replacement theology?



Question: "What is replacement theology?"

Answer: Replacement theology essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. All the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel can be divided into two camps: either the Church is a continuation of Israel (replacement theology / covenant theology), or the Church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism / premillennialism).

Replacement theology teaches that the Church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the Bible are fulfilled in the Christian Church, not in Israel. So, the prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land are "spiritualized" or “allegorized” into promises of God's blessing for the Church. Major problems exist with this view, such as the continuing existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries and especially with the revival of the modern state of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God, and there is no future for the Jewish nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2000 years despite the many attempts to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1900 years?

The view that Israel and the Church are different is clearly taught in the New Testament. In this view, the Church is completely different and distinct from Israel, and the two are never to be confused or used interchangeably. We are taught from Scripture that the Church is an entirely new creation that came into being on the Day of Pentecost and will continue until it is translated to heaven at the Rapture (Ephesians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The Church has no relationship to the curses and blessings for Israel. The covenants, promises, and warnings are valid only for Israel. Israel has been temporarily set aside in God's program during these past 2,000 years of dispersion.

After the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), God will restore Israel as the primary focus of His plan. The first event at this time is the Great Tribulation (Revelation chapters 6-19). The world will be judged for rejecting Christ, while Israel is prepared through the trials of the Great Tribulation for the Second Coming of the Messiah. Then, when Christ does return to the earth at the end of the Tribulation, Israel will be ready to receive Him. The remnant of Israel which survives the Tribulation will be saved, and the Lord will establish His kingdom on this earth with Jerusalem as its capital. With Christ reigning as King, Israel will be the leading nation, and representatives from all nations will come to Jerusalem to honor and worship the King—Jesus Christ. The Church will return with Christ and will reign with Him for a literal thousand years (Revelation 20:1-5).

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament support a premillennial / dispensational understanding of God's plan for Israel. The strongest support for premillennialism is found in the clear teaching of Revelation 20:1-7, where it says, six times, that Christ's kingdom will last 1,000 years. The Church has not replaced Israel in God's plan. While God may be focusing His attention primarily on the church in this dispensation of grace, God has not forgotten Israel and will one day restore Israel to His intended role for the nation He has chosen (Romans chapter 11).


http://www.gotquestions.org/replacement-theology.html

[rodger]

Christ is the church of God and those who believe in him have eternal life and don't see death as the Holy Spirit is our helper and guidance forever.
As we are cousins to Israel and children of God who created us in Adam loins through eve. As lord Jesus has other flocks as well as Israel’s there is no replacement but additions.

Yes Israel is first and the first in resurrection with lord Jesus as according to,

Matt 27;52;53

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

John 11; 25; 26
Jesus said to her, "I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

Thankyou God in Jesus name.

[Randy]

Good subject Rick,
and you make some very good points. Mis-applying any Scripture is not just dangerous but bears bad fruit. And (I think) this 'thelology' (replacement) has been vehicular in bearing very bad fruit (so to speak) in the world.

One example might be the fact that, Hitler gained some support from the Lutheran church in WWII Germany with this bad teaching lending to those atrocities.

Martn Luther himself for that matter; had his 'little black book' of infamy. I believe that Rome was also instrumental along with her other writer, Augustine_ (City of God) with allegorizing Scripture to this erroneous end ... Replacement

It's also central in other aberration like Jehovah's Witnesses' ( their evangelizing door bell ringing) due to a wrong understanding of (who is) Israel's end time 144,000 remnant

Please don't be offended, but; I (from a mid-Acts perspective) also see God still dispensing to Israel at Pentecost. I don't believe she was yet 'broken off' for a while so that we (gentiles) could be graft in... even though our Lord was ascended..

the mystery was not yet revealed through the Apostle to the Gentiles

(that may be subject matter for a different string tho)

anyhow, Praise God.. I'm just enjoying posting a bit as I just found this board

Lord bless (big time)

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Randy

Good subject Rick,
and you make some very good points. Mis-applying any Scripture is not just dangerous but bears bad fruit. And (I think) this 'thelology' (replacement) has been vehicular in bearing very bad fruit (so to speak) in the world.

One example might be the fact that, Hitler gained some support from the Lutheran church in WWII Germany with this bad teaching lending to those atrocities.

Martn Luther himself for that matter; had his 'little black book' of infamy. I believe that Rome was also instrumental along with her other writer, Augustine_ (City of God) with allegorizing Scripture to this erroneous end ... Replacement

It's also central in other aberration like Jehovah's Witnesses' ( their evangelizing door bell ringing) due to a wrong understanding of (who is) Israel's end time 144,000 remnant

Please don't be offended, but; I (from a mid-Acts perspective) also see God still dispensing to Israel at Pentecost. I don't believe she was yet 'broken off' for a while so that we (gentiles) could be graft in... even though our Lord was ascended..

the mystery was not yet revealed through the Apostle to the Gentiles

(that may be subject matter for a different string tho)

anyhow, Praise God.. I'm just enjoying posting a bit as I just found this board

Lord bless (big time)

Hello Randy,

My wife and I have been moving in recent days so I apologise for the untimliness of my response. I enjoyed reading your remarks and you raise a topic that I am interested in exploring further which is the breaking off of the branches.

Sometime next week I will be back at this website on a regular basis and we will have a look at your issue.

For the record I believe the breaking off of the branches, the pruning of the vine is an ongoing process that never stops. As it pertains to Israel I believe the key event was the destruction of the temple and the scattering of the Jews in 70AD and I will discuss my reasons for believing that when I return.

Blessings
Rick

[larry]

Dear Brother Rick, I left one forum because of their adamant stand against Israel using Replacement Theology, and it comes out very subtle at first. In the Bible we are told that we are fellow heirs with Israel, not replacements of them. Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

Now did Jesus turn from the Jew unto the Gentile during this present time until the fulness of the Gentiles come in? Yes, but Paul, a Jew said that he was one born out of due time in 1 Corinthians 15:8. He was born again ahead of his countrymen that God is going to graft back in when God turns back to Israel during the tribulation. Is there a remnant of Jewish believers among us this very day? Of course, and let us not brag against them.

Thanks

[Dave Sargeant]

Larry, I am one of the new kids on the block. I believe that Jesus is the head of the church., believers are the body. Jew and Gentile Christians are joined together as one in Christ. The end can be difficult. I once heard R.T. Kendall say that he was right at some time in his christian walk on this subject. There are alternative oppinions and we ought to respect fellow believers who do not think as we do. We are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus, the Blood that was shed, that to me includes the salvation of Jew and Gentile. Not replaced, blended, grafted, Gentiles, re-grafted, Jews. Dave.