God’s Covenantal Promise or Replacement Theology

Replacement Theology and those who are at the forefront of this Biblical interpretation of God’s plan believe that the “Church” has replaced and is Israel. R. C. Sproul, according to James A. Showers in his article printed in the September / October 2010 issue of Israel My Glory, states, “ We believe that the church is essentially Israel. We believe that the answer to ‘what about the Jews?’
is ‘Here we are.’”

There are two main views of the millennial period in Replacement Theology. The two are:
1) Postmillennialism, which understands the reference to a 1,000 year period as symbolic of a golden age of spiritual prosperity. It will be ushered in by the spread of the gospel during the present church age and brought to completion when Jesus returns. This return is believed to be a “spiritual” reign in the hearts of believers in the church – leaving the Jews nowhere in the plan of God!
2) Amillennialism, which understands the reference to a 1,000 year period to be merely symbolic of a long period of time. This “symbolic” long time they propose is prophesied in the Old Testament and has been fulfilled spiritually now in the church, either on earth or in heaven. This interpretation would keep us from understanding any prophecy as being literal and trusting its fulfillment in real time! This interpretation of Scripture also removes any purpose for the Jewish people in God’s plan for the end times.

Our view is premillenialism, which, according to many Old Testament prophecies, is that Jesus will not only reign on the earth, but takes away the sins of those Jews who remain, and sets them back in their land. Many O.T. prophecies had been literally fulfilled in the 1st coming of the Lord, leading to the assurance that the rest will be literally fulfilled, such as: Micah 4:1-8; Zeph. 3:14-20; Amos 8:11-15; Hosea 3:5; Joel 3:18-21. God’s covenant to Abraham states, “And the Lord said to Abram….look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” Genesis 13:14-15. There is no BUT after verse 15! The Nation of Israel is a sign of God’s faithfulness!