The Replacement Theology Theory – by Jack Kinsella
I was reading, with considerable disgust, the thread in the commentary forum headed “Another Day in the Land of the Bizarre” from an unregistered ‘guest’ who is an adherent to what is called ‘replacement theology’.
Most of this individual’s posts were vile and crude, which is pretty typical of the kinds of responses that come from those who hold to this particular interpretation of Scripture.
Actually, it isn’t really an ‘interpretation’ of Scripture, it is more like a rewriting of it, allegorizing away any references to God’s continued interest in Israel and deciding instead that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan for the ages.
It’s a bit of a screwball way to look at it, since it requires throwing out all of the Old Testament and most of the New. Except for the parts of both that they can spin to fit their anti-Semitic worldview.
Replacement theology is the ‘opinion’ that Israel, having failed God, has been replaced by the Church. The Church is now seen as spiritual Israel and spiritual Jerusalem. This theology claims that all the promises and blessings, in fact Israel’s entire inheritance, now belongs to the Church. (Israel, however, gets to keep the curses.)
We’ve already noted that God’s covenant with Abraham was unconditional, since God signed on both lines.
(See “Why Did Jesus Have To Die” http://www.omegaletter.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=1512)
Replacement Theology was first established at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, but the idea was preached as early as the late first century AD by some of the ‘Church Fathers’.
During the last 1600 years, Reformations and Revivals have come and gone, new denominations have sprung up, but this root of Replacement Theology which continues to produce its antisemitic fruit, has not been cut off.
Replacement theology is heresy — pure and simple, but it enjoys a wide following. Why? Because hating Jews is something some people are simply genetically predisposed towards.
The mere existence of the doctrine of replacement theology is a fulfillment of one of the curses God imposed on Israel, which as we have already noted, do NOT transfer to the Church with the blessings.
“And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.” Deuteronomy 28:37
“Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:” 1 Kings 9:7
“Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.” 2 Chronicles 7:20
“Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.” Psalms 44:14
The ‘byword’ that God prophesied would attach to the children of Israel is ‘Christ-Killer’ and under that banner, Jews have been murdered by the millions in mass pogroms for centuries.
It was under the banner of ‘Christ-killer’ that the Nazis shoveled six million Jews into ovens during the Holocaust.
Replacement theologians have to completely ignore large parts of the New Testament in order to advance their poisonous heresy.
Romans 11:1 asks rhetorically, “Hath God cast away His people” before answering, “God forbid.” And just so there is no doubt of whom Paul calls ‘His people’ Paul continues, “For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
Paul explains the reason for the Jewish rejection of the Messiah, explaining, “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” (Romans 11:11)
Paul answers replacement theology directly in Romans 11:25-26, some three hundred years before it was invented, saying, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”
How can you get from there to believing that God has rejected the Jews and replaced them in His Covenant agreement with the Church?
It takes work. And a real hatred for Jews. How does the replacement theology answer these verses? By saying that Paul was a Jew, and so his testimony is biased.
Since every book of the Bible was written by a Jew, about Jews and from the perspective of the Jews, you see the difficulties involved for the replacement theologian.
Which explains the nastiness of the tone in the commentary forum I referenced at the beginning of today’s OL. I dusted much of it because it was just too disgusting to be displayed.
Replacement theology ‘proselytizes’ by promoting hatred of the Jews and then degenerates into personal attacks against anyone who points out that the Bible doesn’t say that.
But this is what the Bible DOES say about God’s covenant relationship with Israel.
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:28-29)
Replacement theology collapses under the weight of just these Scriptures. If I listed all the Scriptures that deny this heresy, I’d have to cut and paste half the Bible into this morning’s Omega Letter.
But replacement theology is part and parcel of the whole end times’ scenario foretold by Scripture. According to Revelation 13:11, the religion of the antichrist will have “two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” — indicating some form of counterfeit Christianity.
The theme of Revelation is the persecution of the Jews and the Tribulation Saints during the last half of the Tribulation Period.
The signs of the times are all around us. Even in our own forums.
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)
The King is coming! Tell your friends.
And keep the faith.
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by Jack Kinsella