Q (comment)
To miss God's purpose in this time with the restoration of the Nation of Israel is to missunderstand God's Covenant promise to the Nation of Israel and be no better than Iran's President who believes in the same Replacement Theology, except substituting Moslems for Christians.
To be ignorant or unbelieving of these Truths is to miss 'the sign of the Times' and be part of Satan's plan which is to try to prevent Jesus's return and reign on earth.
Your Replacement Theology somehow suggests that God has annulled His Covenant with His people
My biggest concern for those who follow the 'Replacement Theology' is that they are judicially blind
A (response)
Replacement Theology is a bad description of what we believe
There are multiple definitions of Israel in the NT
1. General Israel
2. Believing Jews (true Israel)
3. Unbelieving Jews
We don't believe the 'church' replaced 'general Israel'
We don't believe the 'church' replaced 'believing Jews'
We don't believe the 'church' replaced 'unbelieving Jews'
So why call it 'replacement' theology
We believe that unbelieving Jews were broken off of Israel
We believe that believing Jews became 'true Israel'
We believe that believing gentiles were added to believing Jews (true Israel)
We believe that the COLLECTIVE believing Jews (true Israel)2 is the church
So if the church is made up of believing Jews & gentiles, why would 'replacement' theology be a good term? Did the believing Jews replace themselves? Only in one sense was anyone 'replaced.' Unbelieving Jews were, in a sense, replaced by believing Gentiles. But that's not the church replacing Israel since believing gentiles don't monopolize the term 'church' and unbelieving Jews don't monopolize the term 'Israel.' Plus, 'replacement' is a bad term b/c unbelieving Jews are welcome back into 'true Israel' at any time!
It is a Jewish belief that when Messiah comes it will be to restore them to the land - not to deliver them from sin. To them redemption is possession of the land and the power to rule it. But if this is not the Christian hope, then why do we insist it must be God's plan for them?
The Jew also believes that sin is dealt with under law and keeping the law is how they will reach heaven. This is antithetical to the Christian understanding as well. We know that redemption must be from sin if one is to be reconciled to God and that no law was ever able to accomplish this.
The Abrahamic covenant was sealed with the sign of circumcision. This sign represented by a cutting off of the flesh, pictured the need to circumcise the heart. It was a blood covenant in that sense. The shedding of the blood of a man which also symbolizes death. The everlasting nature of this covenant was fulfilled in the New Covenant by Christ's death on the cross, according to the plan of God for Israel to be reconciled to Him for all eternity.
The New Covenant is what will restore the kingdom to Israel which was always a spiritual kingdom. The kingdom of God, who is Spirit, is where He presides. No Caananite can enter that kingdom - nor can flesh and blood.
These truths are revealed in their fullness in the New Testament, to which the OT provides the picture, but which understanding of it is spiritual in nature. There is no other covenant given to Israel by which she must be saved. Christ confirmed it to Israel by signs and miracles and the word of God. This testimony of Jesus as the Christ was according to Moses & the Prophets. His death provided the blood to initiate this covenant. And because He lives, the life that is in His blood from His sacrifice is everlasting and will not be repeated. The Spirit was sent into the world at Pentecost to seal those who entered into this covenant by faith. These are the ones who have part in the kingdom of God. The kingdom belongs to Jesus who paid the price and Israel is welcome to come into it at anytime she chooses to repent.
The Jews think Messiah will come and bring them the kingdom when the nation as a whole repents. But the covenant promise was never dependent upon national Israel's faithfulness. Christ has done it all because He is the faithful Son who alone perfectly does the will of the Father. This should be good news to every Jew who hears the gospel. The kingdom is now, however repentance is the requirement to enter into it. Jesus has restored the kingdom to Israel and it is more glorious than the one in which they desired. God is dwelling among His people and has brought them peace with Him, and gathers others daily and accepts them as His children.
Ethnic Israel however, does not think they need to be reconciled to God. Even though the temple has been gone almost 2,000 years. This is what unbelief does to a people who forsake the promise given to them. God delivered but they refused the kingdom Jesus brought and now look for another. Their hope is in vain as long as they continue in their unbelief.
There is only one kingdom that is coming visibly upon the earth and the eyes that will see it must first be opened to the presence of that kingdom now.