REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY REVISITED

INTRODUCTION

I am disturbed and distressed by the parlous state of the World and our Nation. With few exceptions, our churches have developed a wishy washy, sit on the fence, don’t rock the boat, non-confrontational form of Complacent Theology.

Where is the conviction, robustness and power of Almighty God? I have a zeal for The Word of God, and truth, which is at odds with the smug wokeness of our time.

I want to focus on Replacement Theology (RT) (also known as Supersessionism), and its manifestation, antisemitism. I have written several papers on this subject and only return to it because it is getting much worse, as a result of the 7th October 2023 atrocities. The “Palestinian Movement” have invented a false narrative that has been taken up by the BBC and other mainstream media platforms, and that narrative has become self-affirming (“it must be right; they are saying it as well”).

First let us look at the historic roots of RT.

HISTORY

In the history of the “Church Fathers”, their encouragement of antisemitism is truly shocking. RT and antisemitism are deeply imbedded in the DNA of the Christian church: it is not just “another point of view”, history records an appalling demonisation and victimisation of the Jews over 1900 years. There are some common themes, through the whole sordid record, three examples follow:

1 “I have endeavoured to show that the Jews … departed from God and lost God’s favour … while the Christians succeeded to their place, deserving well of the Lord by faith …” and “We Christians when we pray say “Our Father” because He has begun to be ours, and ceased to be the Father of the Jews, who have forsaken Him.” (Cyprian of Carthage, c200-258)

2. “We say with confidence that they (the Jews) will never be restored to their former condition. For they committed a crime of the most unhallowed, in conspiring against the Saviour of the human race … It accordingly behoved that city where Jesus underwent these sufferings to perish utterly, and the Jewish nation to be overthrown, and the invitation of happiness offered them by God to be passed to others – the Christians … “ (Origen of Alexandria, 185-254)

3. The Jews are: “A miserable and accursed people”, “Stupid fools”, “Miserable, blind and senseless”, “Thieves and robbers” “The great vermin of humanity” “Lazy rogues” “Blind and venomous” and went on to say that: Their synagogues and schools should be burned. Their houses should be destroyed. Their Talmudic writings should be confiscated. Their Rabbis should be forbidden to teach. Their money should be taken from them. They should be compelled into forced labour. (Martin Luther, 1543, written in ‘Concerning the Jews and Their Lies’).

Along with accusation of deicide (the killing of Jesus), the Jews were called perverse people, accursed of God, their synagogues were destroyed, they were blamed for anything and everything that went wrong, recorded as parasites and braying donkeys, incapable of understanding scripture, and so on, and so on.

It is difficult to encapsulate in a few words, the horrors of many centuries of persecution. Suffice it to say, the repugnant facts are available, through internet search engines, to those willing to investigate the record of the long line of Christian abuse of the Jews.

When looking at church history, we must avoid “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”: the founding fathers undoubtedly did many great things to spread the Gospel and develop the faith. Nevertheless, the church’s attitude towards the Jews is a shocking indictment on Christianity.

TODAY

Today, RT and antisemitism are as strong as ever, and most people don’t even begin to recognise its danger, or they don’t care.

I also need to mention “Christian Palestinianism”, the view that modern Israel has no biblical connection or justification for being in “Palestine”. This contention has well known adherents (e.g. Stephen Sizer, Professor Gary Burge, the late John Stott, Tony Campolo and others).

Their documented views include: “the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is a sin against God and humanity …” and “any theology, seemingly based on the Bible or on faith or on history, that legitimizes the occupation, is far from Christian teaching”. The proponents hold Christian Zionists in contempt.

SPIRITUAL ROOTS

There is another hugely significant factor, which I have covered in depth in earlier papers. Satan knows what the Bible says, knows how to lead mankind astray, and above all, detests the Jews.

Why? Because they are God’s chosen people through whom the Word of God was given and to whom Jesus came.

Furthermore, the Bible is clear: Jesus will return to Israel and take His place as King of the Jews, on David’s throne in Jerusalem.

Satan seeks to thwart that possibility, at all costs – his very existence (outside Hell) depends on that and, so far, all his attempts have failed. So, he is a carefully orchestrating a campaign of antisemitism, in a desperate spiritual attack, knowing the end is near.

[RB: Hence, my postings on satanic strategy, as linked herein]

SCRIPTURE

There are lots of scriptures that make a nonsense of the claims of those who believe in RT.

First and foremost, God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham, and his descendants through Isaac, that they were to be His chosen people. Furthermore, God said He would bless those who bless His people Israel and curse those who curse them (See Genesis 12, Numbers 29.9 and Genesis 49.9).

“May all who hate Zion be put to shame” (Psalm 129:5). The Lord will not reject his people, He will never forsake His inheritance (Psalm 94:14). For the sake of His great name, He will not reject His people” (1 Samuel 12:22).

Much of the detail of God’s covenantal gift of the Promised Land, and the everlasting nature of that covenant, is covered in Psalm 105. (see also Genesis 15:18)

Their “chosen people” status and how He leads, protects and forgives them is clear from scripture. Romans 11:25-32 explains that all Israel will be saved (albeit only a remnant) because:” … they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. “

Let’s now consider how RT believers would answer Romans 3:1-4: “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew” (The RT believer would answer “NONE”) …. (but Paul says) “ ² Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. ³ What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?” (the RT believing church would answer “YES”, But Paul says) “⁴ May it never be! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”

RT views are clearly in conflict with scripture, and that is reinforced in Romans 11:1 where Paul asks: “God has not rejected His people, has He?”. As we have seen above, the RT response for 1900 years has been YES. Paul’s response is the very opposite: “May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew … “

As I have discussed in earlier papers, the survival of the Jewish people, their customs and ethnicity, over thousands of years of dispersion and through numerous pogroms, is miraculous (supernatural).

So why, in their disobedience and unfaithfulness, have they survived?

I believe the answer is in the comments above, and in Zechariah 2:8, where God proclaims that the Jewish people are “the apple of His eye”, and then He warns those who seek to harm them.

This last point is very significant, here and elsewhere in scripture, God emphasises that judgement of, and vengeance against the Jews, is His prerogative. It was not in the gift of the founding fathers, nor is it in the gift of their RT and antisemitic successors. “For I am with you,” declares the Lord, “to save you; for I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 30:11). Yes, they were unfaithful, but the promise is that they would be preserved.

Addressing the question of the rightful ownership of the land of Israel: God promised the land to Abraham as part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 15:18-21) and in Psalm 105 it states that the land promise is everlasting (and awaits total fulfilment). Furthermore, there are numerous clear and unambiguous prophecies relating to the return of the Israelites to Israel (fulfilled in 1948 and ongoing), in which God repeatedly says that He will return His people to the land He has given them. (For 10 examples go to ‘Annex A’ of Stand Your Ground’.)
A further scripture: ^“When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (Ezekiel 39:27-29). It is interesting to note that God says He will not leave any behind. There is no way that these scriptures can be allegorised to indicate that the church is now “Israel”.

CONCLUSION

The concept that the church has become the “spiritual Israel” and taken over the promises of God, to the exclusion of Israel, is not biblical. To suggest that Israel is now theologically irrelevant and all the prophecies, promises and blessings belong to the church (while Israel retains the curses) is an abomination.

The land and the people of Israel have been, and will continue to be, preserved, because God has ordained that He will bring a remnant to salvation (Isaiah 10:20-22). This promise is made repeatedly, and is confirmed in Romans 9-11. When Jesus returns and they “look on the one they have pierced” and they will be saved.

God is in control and will not be mocked!

After-Note: For a more detailed exegesis, with academically referenced information, I recommend: “The Evil of Replacement Theology”, by Dr David R Reagan https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-evil-of-replacement-theology/

RB: The timing of Neil’s article raised a short series of postings on not only the history but also ‘coincidental’ directly relevant news! Click ‘Next’ to scroll through them.