Posted on 10/26/2007 9:00:59 PM PDT by topcat54
Replacement theology has become dispensationalism's latest prophetic boogeyman. If you want to end a debate over eschatology, just charge your opponent with holding to replacement theology. What is “replacement theology,” sometimes called “supersessionism,” and why do dispensationalists accuse non-dispensationalists of holding it? Here’s a typical dispensational definition:
Replacement Theology: a theological perspective that teaches that the Jews have been rejected by God and are no longer God’s Chosen People. Those who hold to this view disavow any ethnic future for the Jewish people in connection with the biblical covenants, believing that their spiritual destiny is either to perish or become a part of the new religion that superseded Judaism (whether Christianity or Islam).1
“Replacement theology” is dispensationalism’s trump card in any debate over eschatology because it implies anti-semitism. Hal Lindsey attempted to use this card in his poorly researched and argued The Road to Holocaust.2 He wove an innovative tale implying that anyone who is not a dispensationalist carries the seeds of anti-semitism within his or her prophetic system. This would mean that every Christian prior to 1830 would have been theologically anti-semitic although not personally anti-semtic.
As Peter Leithart and I point out in The Legacy of Hatred Continues,3 it’s dispensationalists who hold to a form of replacement theology since they believe that Israel does not have any prophetic significance this side of the rapture! Prior to the rapture, in terms of dispensational logic, the Church has replaced Israel. This is unquestionably true since God’s prophetic plan for Israel has been postponed until the prophetic time clock starts ticking again at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week which starts only after the Church is taken to heaven in the so-called rapture. Until then, God is dealing redemptively with the Church. Am I making this up? Consider the following by dispensationalist E. Schuyler English:
An intercalary4 period of history, after Christ’s death and resurrection and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, has intervened. This is the present age, the Church age. . . . During this time God has not been dealing with Israel nationally, for they have been blinded concerning God’s mercy in Christ. . . . However, God will again deal with Israel as a nation. This will be in Daniel’s seventieth week, a seven-year period yet to come.5
According to English and every other dispensationalist, the Church has replaced Israel until the rapture. The unfulfilled promises made to Israel are not fulfilled until after the Church is taken off the earth. Thomas Ice, one of dispensationalism’s rising stars, admits that the Church replaces Israel this side of the rapture: “We dispensationalists believe that the church has superseded Israel during the current church age, but God has a future time in which He will restore national Israel ‘as the institution for the administration of divine blessings to the world.’”6
Dispensationalists claim that their particular brand of eschatology is the only prophetic system that gives Israel her proper place in redemptive history. This is an odd thing to argue since two-thirds of the Jews will be slaughtered during the post-rapture tribulation, and the world will be nearly destroyed. Charles Ryrie writes in his book The Best is Yet to Come that during this post-rapture period Israel will undergo “the worst bloodbath in Jewish history.”7 The book’s title doesn’t seem to very appropriate considering that during this period of time most of the Jews will die! John Walvoord follows a similar line of argument: “Israel is destined to have a particular time of suffering which will eclipse any thing that it has known in the past. . . . [T]he people of Israel . . . are placing themselves within the vortex of this future whirlwind which will destroy the majority of those living in the land of Palestine.”8 Arnold Fruchtenbaum states that during the Great Tribulation “Israel will suffer tremendous persecution (Matthew 24:15–28; Revelation 12:1–17). As a result of this persecution of the Jewish people, two-thirds are going to be killed.”9
During the time when Israel seems to be at peace with the world, she is really under the domination of the antichrist who will turn on her at the mid-point in the seven-year period. Israel waits more than 2000 years for the promises finally to be fulfilled, and before it happens, two-thirds of them are wiped out. Those who are charged with holding a “replacement theology viewpoint” believe in no inevitable future Jewish bloodbath. In fact, we believe that the Jews will inevitably embrace Jesus as the Messiah this side of the Second Coming. The fulfillment of Zechariah 13:8 is a past event. It may have had its fulfillment in the events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Contrary to dispensationalism’s interpretation of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus' disciples warned the Jewish nation for nearly forty years about the impending judgment (Matt. 3:7; 21:42–46; 22:1–14; 24:15–22). Those who believed Jesus’ words of warning were delivered “from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10). Those who continued to reject Jesus as the promised Messiah, even though they had been warned for a generation (Matt. 24:34), “wrath has come upon them to the utmost” (1 Thess. 2:16; cf. 1 Thess. 5:1–11; 2 Pet. 3:10–13).
Before critics of replacement theology throw stones, they need to take a look at their own prophetic system and see its many lapses in theology and logic.
Read Part Two of this article...
2. Hal Lindsey, The Road to Holocaust (New York: Bantam Books, 1989). The address for Bantam Books is 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
3. Gary DeMar and Peter J. Leithart, The Legacy of Hatred Continues: A Response to Hal Lindsey’s The Road to Holocaust (Powder Springs, GA: American Vision, 1989).
4. Inserted into the calendar.
5. E. Schuyler English, A Companion to the New Scofield Reference Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1972), 135.
6. Thomas Ice, “The Israel of God,” The Thomas Ice Collection: www.raptureready.com/featured/TheIsraelOfGod.html#_edn3
7. Charles C. Ryrie, The Best is Yet to Come (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1981), 86.
8. John F. Walvoord, Israel in Prophecy (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1962), 107, 113. Emphasis added.
9. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, “The Little Apocalypse of Zechariah,” The End Times Controversy: The Second Coming Under Attack, eds. Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2003), 262.
That’s an interesting question. If binding has to do with the spread of the gospel among the ethnos, and the effect of this unfettered spread is that the elect will come to faith in Christ, then certainly the binding can be viewed on a case by case basis, as far as individuals are concerned.
However, I think what Jesus was getting at was that there is something that gets the ball rolling, so to speak, and that is outlined in Matthew 12. I believe it has to do with the very real personal confrontation between Jesus and the forces of darkness.
One interesting fact seems to be that the sort of intense demonic activity we read about in the NT has all but vanished from the world. (There may still be pockets here and there.) As the gospel goes out, the forces of darkness flee from its influence.
But they lived by faith.
I think part of the problem is the definition of "Christian". All the patriarchs had a hope in the redeemer of God’s people. That redeemer we know as Jesus Christ.
Regarding Abraham, the father of the faithful, Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56)
In whatever sense Abraham saw the day of Jesus Christ he was a "Christian".
The problem I think is with the tripartite view of humankind; Jew/gentile/ Christian, vs. the more prevalent biblical view of two groups, the righteous and the unrighteous.
Messianics don’t like to be called "Christian" because it is too gentile. Do we now need a fourth category; Jew/gentile/ Christian/Messianic? When are we going to stop dividing the people of God among various unimportant labels?
Are believing Abraham and David my brothers in the faith, or is their faith so radically different from mine that we do not both share the same adoption as sons of God? I think the implications of the latter position on soteriology are enormous.
If Jesus did this how did Moses and Elijah appear to him at the transfiguration?
Nothing that has any bearing on my question to you.
I’m trying to help you figure this out for yourself.
And I'm trying to just get a simple answer to a simple question from the preterist answer man.
By arriving at the correct conclusion you can take ownership and feel a sense of victory over this carnal theology.
LOL --I don't want to own it -- just rent it long enough to get the answer to my question: When was Satan bound and the Millenium begun???.
Asking for straight answers
from a crooked, convoluted theology . . .
has to be . . . a lot like asking
for a ball of writhing snake to flick their forked tongues and becoe ivory chopsticks instantly.
Please let me know if you arrange such a feat. I’ll bring popcorn.
Amen, dear Quix. Happy Thanksgiving.
Are you saying that no Christians were Jews in the first century?
Why would Christians be concerned about fleeing on the sabbath?
Well for one thing, Jewish Christians in and around Jerusalem would have had to contend with all the Sabbath restrictions placed on the citizens of ancient Israel. For example, the NT speaks of things like "a Sabbath day’s journey" (Acts 1:12). According to rabbinic tradition based on multiple OT texts, this distance was only about 2000 cubits (1000 yards). It would have been very difficult to "flee to the mountains" to escape the armies of Rome given this restriction.
However, to counter your futurist perspective, looking at modern secular Israel today, why would anyone care about whether or not they were traveling on the Sabbath? These OT commands are largely ignored in modern times. Certainly no one in Israel today is limited to traveling only 1000 yards on the Sabbath. Jesus’ words were obviously meant for an ancient time.
And that is your problem. If you won't help yourself, noting I can say will have any positive effect on bringing truth to bear on the issue.
And I'm trying to just get a simple answer to a simple question from the preterist answer man.
And I’m trying to get you the correct answer, which you do not seem interested in.
BTW, Hank Hanegraaff is the official preterist answer man.
LOL --I don't want to own it
Therein lies your problem. You are content with the meager offerings of Scofield and his ilk.
It seems that “binding” in Matthew 12 has more to do with the faith (growing/maturing) of the saint than the actual binding of Satan since he is already under authority and the word of God will accomplish whatever He desires. God wants the saints to wield it offensively with confidence, born of exercise and obedience, not diffidently.
The promise:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
The Exercise and Discipline:
Hbr 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Hbr 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The Warfare:
2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you:
Mar 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1Pe 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
You’re right, Quix — They mock dispensationalists for their futurist interpretations but when asked for specifics about their preterism, they have none. They are clouds without rain —
In whatever sense Abraham saw the day of Jesus Christ he was a "Christian".
The problem I think is with the tripartite view of humankind; Jew/gentile/ Christian, vs. the more prevalent biblical view of two groups, the righteous and the unrighteous...
When are we going to stop dividing the people of God among various unimportant labels?
Are believing Abraham and David my brothers in the faith, or is their faith so radically different from mine that we do not both share the same adoption as sons of God? I think the implications of the latter position on soteriology are enormous.
AMEN! "All one in Christ Jesus."
This understanding makes complete sense to me and ratifies the ultimate truth of Colossians 1...
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." -- Col. 1:16-17"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Now, if Colossians 1:16-17 is true, then every particle of history points the way to Jesus Christ and all righteousness resides by God's grace through faith in Him alone.
Yes, there certainly are and we need to be careful, but you can’t put down everyone who disagrees with your way of thinking and I think Hank does that sometimes.
“Just because we disagree on eschatology does not mean we should resort to name calling.”
Well said. And you’re right, of course.
Thanks.
Likewise.
7 X’s back at you.
LUB,
BLPH,
I knew that you wouldn't put forth your answer to the question -- but I had to give you a chance anyway. Atleast Scofield was confident enough in his beliefs to provide specifics and answer questions --
Though perhaps the Replacementarians are travel challenged.
Perhaps they have not been to Jerusalem, as I have.
Perhaps they have not been to the Orthodox quarter of Jerusalem.
I guess my perspective would be . . . constrained, mangled, twisted, thoroughly out of touch with current, historical and Biblical realities if I spent all my time tied up in twisted gordian knots; packed like a sardine in a tiny little black box without windows . . .
Is there no end of the Replacementarian's silly assumptions so brazenly out of touch with commonly shared tangible time/space realities so familiar to the rest of us? A post to be up shortly is yet another shocking example of the same phenomena.
A brazen statement is made that is THOROUGHLY FALSE. JUST OBJECTIVELY INACCURATE, WRONG, NOT TRUE, FALSE, . . . and so much so a grade schooler would know it in a flash. Yet the Replacementarians seem to think we should think of their offerings of such BRAZEN FALSEHOODS as
evidence
FOR
their perspective!???
That's kind of like O.J. Simpson in the midst of the trial pulling a bloody glove out of his pocket with his blood on it mixed with DNA from his victims and offering it as evidence and insisting it should help prove his INNOCENCE!!!
Mind boggling.
If you say that I'm incapable of answering the question, you are quite wrong. All I have asked is that you demonstrate even a rudimentary ability to exegete the Bible for yourself. You could do that by explaining what Jesus was saying in Matthew 12:25-29. You could then compare that with what I would say (which I’m happy to do). You choose not to do that. There is no sense in me trying to explain a position if you lack the biblical skills to appreciate what I’m saying, which is all you have consistently demonstrated in our conversation.
You think this is future? then Jesus never came in the flesh and if you all deny this are you denying that Jesus came in the flesh? Is all prophecy re Jesus still future?
I guess Replacementarians must live their whole lives in their dark, tiny, pretend tidy, little boxes.
Ask any minister routinely ministering in deliverance ministry . . . Things have worsened. Some say they have worsened seriously since we went into iraq—something about hoards of stuff being loosed from the pit at that time from that region.
I certainly know from my own life and observations in foreign lands as well as in the usa that the demonized individuals have !not! Become fewer nor mildly demonized.
It is still incredulous to me that even secular folks watching the news the last 10 years alone would think that demonization had decreased! Shocking. My keys really are currently stuck on all caps. And i don’t have time to use replace case on every paragraph.
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