Has the Church replaced Israel?
Is Israel (the Jews), the
descendents of Jacob's twelve sons, still part of God's special plan for this
world? Yes, indeed they are. The Bible clearly states that Israel will always
hold a part in
God's plan. God's Word says in many
places, my people, and, his inheritance is Israel. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast
unto me in the wilderness. (Exodus 5:1)
Obviously, God had a great deal to do with Israel, but does he still? Psalm
94:14 reads: For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
These scriptures clearly refute Replacement Theology,
which is what this idea is called.
That the "church" has any doubts whether or not Israel is still part of God's
wonderful plan goes to show how little the average professing Christian knows
about the Bible. We are clearly living in these last days, where men love
darkness rather than light. (see John 3:19)
Now, let us take a look at what
we can see around us in this age. Anyone that can't see God's hand in what
happens with Israel and the Jews just hasn't been looking very hard.
Israel and the Jews have been hated in times past, and
it is no different now. It is likely because they are
very good at everything. God has blessed his people, his inheritance, and has
given them an ability to work hard, and to make money. The world dislikes
people who are more competent or richer than average.
This age has shown that Israel
has been blessed. They were gathered from all around when they became a country
in 1948, fulfilling the prophet Jeremiah's prophesy: Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with
child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return
thither. (Jeremiah 31:8)
Israel has never lost a war
since it became a nation in 1948. Less than a day after Israel became a nation,
it was attacked by many surrounding nations. In its infant hours Israel won the
war against the Arabs. It has fought many wars since, and has one of the most
advanced military forces in the world. It must keep this force in order to
survive. The Arabs wish to annihilate Israel and have wished to do so since
1948. (Even when several Arab nations gang up and try to destroy Israel, God
helps and protects Israel.) Would he do this for a people He has no use for?
God has a use for Israel, and His people, the Jews.
Why would He call the perfect city new Jerusalem? Notice
that the Bible doesn't read new London, new Cairo, or new Baghdad in Revelation
3:12 and 21:2:
...The name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem...
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem...
Israel, the people and the land will and are being used by God, which can be
summed up by the one verse already mentioned before:
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. (Psalm 94:14)
In which his people are the Jews:...My people the children of Israel... (Exodus 7:4)
And thou Bethlehem...out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my
people Israel. (Matthew 2:6)
It is wonderful that the one and only all-powerful
God, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has not, and will not, break his promises to
his people, Israel.
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