"What is replacement theology / supersessionism?"

[mikhen7]

From Bible Questions Answered I am posting because I thought they handled this very well!!

Answer: Replacement theology (also known as supersessionism) essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. All the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel can be divided into two camps: either the church is a continuation of Israel (replacement/covenant theology), or the church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism/premillennialism).

Replacement theology teaches that the church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the Bible are fulfilled in the Christian church, not in Israel. So, the prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land are “spiritualized” or “allegorized” into promises of God's blessing for the church. Major problems exist with this view, such as the continuing existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries and especially with the revival of the modern state of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God, and there is no future for the Jewish nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2000 years despite the many attempts to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1900 years?

The view that Israel and the church are different is clearly taught in the New Testament. Biblically speaking, the church is completely different and distinct from Israel, and the two are never to be confused or used interchangeably. We are taught from Scripture that the church is an entirely new creation that came into being on the day of Pentecost and will continue until it is taken to heaven at the rapture (Ephesians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The church has no relationship to the curses and blessings for Israel. The covenants, promises, and warnings are valid only for Israel. Israel has been temporarily set aside in God's program during these past 2000 years of dispersion.

After the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), God will restore Israel as the primary focus of His plan. The first event at this time is the tribulation (Revelation chapters 6-19). The world will be judged for rejecting Christ, while Israel is prepared through the trials of the great tribulation for the second coming of the Messiah. Then, when Christ does return to the earth, at the end of the tribulation, Israel will be ready to receive Him. The remnant of Israel which survives the tribulation will be saved, and the Lord will establish His kingdom on this earth with Jerusalem as its capital. With Christ reigning as King, Israel will be the leading nation, and representatives from all nations will come to Jerusalem to honor and worship the King—Jesus Christ. The church will return with Christ and will reign with Him for a literal thousand years (Revelation 20:1-5).

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament support a premillennial/dispensational understanding of God's plan for Israel. Even so, the strongest support for premillennialism is found in the clear teaching of Revelation 20:1-7, where it says six times that Christ's kingdom will last 1000 years. After the tribulation the Lord will return and establish His kingdom with the nation of Israel, Christ will reign over the whole earth, and Israel will be the leader of the nations. The church will reign with Him for a literal thousand years. The church has not replaced Israel in God's plan. While God may be focusing His attention primarily on the church in this dispensation of grace, God has not forgotten Israel and will one day restore Israel to His intended role as the nation He has chosen (Romans 11).

Recommended Resource: Bible Answers for Almost all Your Questions by Elmer Towns.

[mattfivefour]

Excellent post, Mike. I might also add that there are many OT references to God's restoration of Israel and the fulfillment of His promises to them. Not the least of which is Zechariah 10:6— "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them."

[livin_in_the_Son]

Thanks for posting this...it was one (of the many) items in my notebook that I didn't understand. Now I can cross it off and move on to the others! Excellent!

[mikhen7]

Thanks for posting this...it was one (of the many) items in my notebook that I didn't understand. Now I can cross it off and move on to the others! Excellent!

That is AWESOME!!! Glad that it helped you! A thorough study of the Scripture reveals that the allegorical interpretation of Scripture torments the Word of God. So many things--so many blessings--so much wisdom--so much understanding--so many joys are lost when we try and interpret scripture as allegory. We are told to only do so if the context uses words such as: like, like as. likened to, such as, figurative of, etc.. you get the point. Jesus never used the allegorical method and, to borrow a phrase, --as for me and my house ...we will not either! Hallelujah!!

Allegory makes the Bible fit the interpretation of the teacher but not the "Holy Teacher."

Praise God!!

[mikhen7]

Excellent post, Mike. I might also add that there are many OT references to God's restoration of Israel and the fulfillment of His promises to them. Not the least of which is Zechariah 10:6— "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them."

Oh my precious brother, how many verses there are that we could shoot back at each other on this. How about this gem:

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also." (

Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.'

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." ' " Zechariah 8:20-23 (NKJV)

May His praises never cease to lift the roof!!!

PTL

[ANY MINUTE]

mikhen7- Thanks for starting this thread, great information.

Have you or anyone else noticed R/T also seems to take on a strange mix of both law and grace?(of course it would though if one confuses the Church with Israel) Some people that I encounter have never admitted to replacement theology but after awhile and probing with certain verses, they certainly fit the description. It's a hard one to nail down sometimes, it took about a year and a half sitting under my last Pastor to realize when he taught on prophecy (rarely) that although he would never admit to such and preached against it, he held to a form of R/T.

Btw not meant to derail, after studying the J.W's beliefs since my brother is devout to them, they are full on supersessionists(sp) among other misguidings IMO.

[mikhen7]

It's a hard one to nail down sometimes, it took about a year and a half sitting under my last Pastor to realize when he taught on prophecy (rarely) that although he would never admit to such and preached against it, he held to a form of R/T.

If it is a church you need to find info on, usually, you can ask and find out their position or look at the covenant and beliefs. If still coming up empty, ask the pastor point blank. You can also explain your position. If anything it will make him a little more aware of the things he says if he does not believe it. If he is not willing to listen as in will not let you speak, pray for him and consider finding another church body where the truth is taught. You will never hear proper eschatological messages in a R/T church. By proxy they are inable to deliver them. All they can say is one day we will all go to be with Jesus. Duh!!! Yep!! we will. But there will be no urgency in the delivery.

Just prayed for your brother!

Lord God please open his eyes to truth. In Jesus name, amen

God Bless

[ANY MINUTE]

Just prayed for your brother!

Lord God please open his eyes to truth. In Jesus name, amen

God Bless

Thank You for the prayer for my brother, it means a lot! I pray often for him and the rest of those who are lost with out Jesus.


I hope others will contribute more to your thread on Replacement theology as it appears to be wide spread and growing.

[FaithInChrist]

It's 100% wrong that's what it is, and boy is it is big miss.

Thanks for posting this, I didn't know what this was until my preacher friend tried convincing me that this whole "rapture thing" was made up in the early 1900's. He's got a lot of things wrong :(

[Robert]

As I posted in another thread, the reason they buy into this stuff is "Cafeteria Christianity"; they take the parts they like and leave the rest.

Unfortunately for them, Paul makes it VERY CLEAR in the book of Romans that the Church has not replaced Israel

"I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? 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. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." (Romans 11:1-6, NASB, emphasis mine)


Paul states here that God has not rejected His people ONE BIT. In fact, the fact that Paul was chosen to be an apostle to the Gentiles refutes this assumption. That the Lord would choose from the chosen nation those He would have be representatives to the Gentile world says clearly that God has not rejected Israel.

But then we read the following:

"What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.” (Romans 11:7-10, NASB, emphasis mine)

We would ask after reading this passage "wait, it clearly says 'but those who were chosen obtained it,and the rest were hardened'. Doesn't that mean God has rejected Israel?" No, it doesn't; scripture reassures us that God's nation has not been abandoned forever:

"I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be![/B] But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too." (Romans 11:11-16, NASB, emphasis mine)

Paul explains in these two passages that the Lord has not rejected Israel, but has instead rejected the hearts that have hardened themselves against Him. As we have read in Romans chapter 1, God merely turns us over to what we have already chosen in our hearts. In their hardness, Israel had chosen God, but they had chosen to come to Him in their own way instead of His: the Messiah. Because of this, God has not rejected them, but has instead offered salvation to the Gentiles after they rejected it. God is using this to make His people jealous and turn to Him, and while it was always His plan to save the whole world Gentiles and all, He crafts His plans to have maximum effect! As we can see, He has not left Israel to rot, but instead has set His nation aside so that He could reach out to the Gentile world. God has not abandoned His nation, but is expecting that they will return to Him. And not only so, but that He has promises yet to keep to them:

"For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” (Romans 11:25-27, NASB, emphasis mine)

It does not say in scripture "God will remove Jacob's ungodliness by merging the nation into the Church"; instead, scripture tells us:

"The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.“It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘A strong support for us are the inhabitants of Jerusalem through the LORD of hosts, their God.’ In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem again dwell on their own sites in Jerusalem. The LORD also will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be magnified above Judah. In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves; all the families that remain, every family by itself and their wives by themselves." (Zechariah 12:1-14, NASB, emphasis mine)

In Zechariah 12, the Lord makes it clear that when the nations of the earth have all come against Jerusalem and the nation of Israel has no hope of surviving, they will realize their hardheartedness and mourn for the Messiah they rejected. This then ties in with the previous passage in Romans 11, and indeed on that day, the House of Israel will be saved. For this reason, the church has NOT replaced Israel, and Israel and the church are not one in the same. Yet, anyone who repents before this dispensation is over will be of the church, and thus part of the Bride of Christ.

Frankly, I consider it "spiritual coveting" for someone to think that the Church "replaces" Israel. That would mean that in believing so, they are coveting the promises God made to Israel and thus seek to take what is not theirs.

[livin_in_the_Son]

Robert I think you hit the nail on the head with your statement about "spiritual coveting". Well done brother!

[JIMMY]

Hal Lindsey Has a good program this week that talks about this subject. Its online now at HisChannel - HAL LINDSEY - Christian Video on Demand

[mikhen7]

Hal Lindsey Has a good program this week that talks about this subject. Its online now at HisChannel - HAL LINDSEY - Christian Video on Demand

Jimmy, Hal wrote a book on this few years back called "Road to Holocaust." It was one of the best books I ever read, no joke. He knows the doctrine well and its tentacles of confusion. BTW, when Luther got old and senile he wrote a tract called "On the Jews and their Lies" It was used as a catalyst to spark hatred toward the Jews during the Holocaust. It was this doctrine of Replacement Theology that was at the heart of the tract for which 6,000,000+ Jewish men, women, and children were murdered in cold ruthless blood by the Nazi's.

It is amazing how so many so-called Christians think so lightly about false teaching!! Is it any wonder God calls us to be faithful with His word!! Christianity's witness has suffered much because of it!

See Below taken from wikipedia. Warning Luther was graphic in his hatred when he became senile. He was also influenced by another anti-semite of whose book he read just before he published this. He wrote this 3 years before his death. MODERATORS - feel free to edit this if you think it is too offensive. I am only posting it because it is history--a sad spot in history and Christianity--but nevertheless history.

1543_On_the_Jews_and_Their_Lies_by_Martin_Luther.jpg

The following comes from wikipedia:

On the Jews and Their Lies (German: Von den Jüden und jren Lügen; in modern spelling Von den Juden und ihren Lügen) is a 65,000-word antisemitic treatise written in 1543 by the German Reformation leader Martin Luther.
In the treatise, Luther describes Jews as a "base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth." Luther wrote that they are "full of the devil's feces ... which they wallow in like swine," and the synagogue is an "incorrigible ***** and an evil ****".

In the first ten sections of the treatise, Luther expounds, at considerable length, upon his views concerning Jews and Judaism and how these compare against Christians and Christianity. Following this exposition, Section XI of the treatise advises Christians to carry out seven remedial actions. These are

• (1) for Jewish synagogues and schools to be burned to the ground, and the remnants buried out of sight;
• (2) for houses owned by Jews to be likewise razed, and the owners made to live in agricultural outbuildings;
• (3) for their religious writings to be taken away;
• (4) for rabbis to be forbidden to preach, and to be executed if they do;
• (5) for safe conduct on the roads to be abolished for Jews;
• (6) for usury to be prohibited, and for all silver and gold to be removed and "put aside for safekeeping"; and
• (7) for the Jewish population to be put to work as agricultural slave labor.

The prevailing scholarly view since the Second World War is that the treatise exercised a major and persistent influence on Germany's attitude toward its Jewish citizens in the centuries between the Reformation and the Holocaust. Four hundred years after it was written, the Nazis displayed On the Jews and Their Lies during Nuremberg rallies, and the city of Nuremberg presented a first edition to Julius Streicher, editor of the Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer, the newspaper describing it as the most radically antisemitic tract ever published. Against this view, theologian Johannes Wallmann writes that the treatise had no continuity of influence in Germany, and was in fact largely ignored during the 18th and 19th centuries. Hans Hillerbrand argues that to focus on Luther's role in the development of German antisemitism is to underestimate the "larger peculiarities of German history."


Since the 1980s, some Lutheran church bodies have formally denounced and dissociated themselves from Luther's discriminatory writings on the Jews. In November 1998, on the 60th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Lutheran Church of Bavaria issued a statement: "It is imperative for the Lutheran Church, which knows itself to be indebted to the work and tradition of Martin Luther, to take seriously also his anti-Jewish utterances, to acknowledge their theological function, and to reflect on their consequences. It has to distance itself from every [expression of] anti-Judaism in Lutheran theology."

[mattfivefour]

Pastor, I have no objection to this aspect of Luther's theology being brought out. There is no doubt that as a young man God used him to kickstart the Reformation. Nor is there any doubt that in his declining years he became a vocal anti-Semite. The latter does not in any way cancel out the former.