Has God Replaced Israel with the Church?
Most of the "prophets" critiqued on Endtime Prophets teach various forms of Replacement Theology (also called Covenant Theology) i.e., God is done with Israel and is now focused on the Church and the Church will receive all the promises originally meant for Isreal.
This betrays a very serious misunderstanding of the whole plan of God for mankind, from Genesis to Revelation. It also indicates those who teach that God has replaced Israel with the Church have not understood the scriptures.
If you will notice when you read the "thus sayeth the Lord" prophecies of these so-called prophets, they often take Scriptures from the Old Testament specifically meant for Israel and apply them to the Church rather than use Scriptures from the New Testament, i.e., New Covenant.
Why do they use the Old Testament scriptures? Because the scriptures in the New Testament don't fit their theory and in fact speak against it (too much focus on Grace). Also Scriptures in the Old Testament are often Works oriented, which is what these false prophets and false teachers are usually teaching to begin with.
God has promised in several scriptures that He will never give up on Israel
"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." (Psalms 137:5,6)
"again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. " Romans 11:11,12
"As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your [The Church's] sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable." Romans 11:28
The following verse explains what happens when Christ returns in judgement after the Great Tribulation (Armageddon), after the whole world has attacked Israel:
"And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth." (Zechariah 14:12)
So, God is not done with Israel after all, and anyone who is against Israel is going against God's plan.
Many pastors are teaching Replacement Theology (that the Church as replaced Israel or Christian Palestinianism), i.e. Bill Hybel, Rick Warren, John Stott, Steven Anderson (Marching to Zion), Texe Marrs, Martin Luther, John Calvin, many of the Church Fathers, and those teaching Covenant Theology (an offshoot of Roman Catholicism) like Hank Hanegraaff, R.C. Sproul Jr., and many others.
The following video discusses Dominion Now Theology and Replacement Theology (also known as Covenant Theology) and how it drives much of the New Evangelicals today.
Also see a critique of David Wilkerson's River of Life vision claiming the Church has Replaced Israel
Lori Eldridge
© 2005 - updated 1-03-22
All Rights Reserved
Other Websites with Articles On Replacement or Covenant Theology
- Both Rick Warren and John Piper teach Replacement Theology
- A great article on, Israel and the Church: the Differences by Dr, Thomas S. McCall, Th.D. It can be seen at Zola Levitt's website. Click on the link for the Zola Levitt Newsletter and scroll down to articles written by Dr. McCall. The above article explains the nature and character of the Church in relation to Isreal. There are also related articles on the same page.
- Another article pointing out the difference between Isreal and the Church is Israel / Church Distinction: The 4th Foundation by Thomas Ice. This article shows why those that believe in Replacement Theology also get misled regarding when the Rapture occurs.
- The Error Of Replacement Theology by Clarence H. Wagner, Jr., shows how the Church has erroneously claimed that it has replaced Isreal in God's eye. He produces the scriptures they use and explains their error in interpretation.