Replacement Theology & The Zionist State of Israel

Jeremiah 31:31-34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Heb10:16
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”

Luke 22:20
"And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."
Matthew  21:42-44

1 Cor 11:25
"In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'”

Hebrews 8:6-8
"But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.  For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,..."

Hebrews 8:13
"In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."

Hebrews 9:11-15
"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant."

Rom 7:6
"But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code."

Romans 2:28-29
"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Romans 4:16
"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all."

2 Cor 3:6
"Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Gal 3:7-8
"Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.'…"

As I read Scripture, God has clearly put an end to the Old Covenant with Abraham, based upon the law and His unilateral efforts on Abraham's behalf; and established a New Covenant with His people thru Christ based on His "finished" work via the cross, His death and resurrection.

What is "Israel"??  Who or what is the "Apple of God's Eye"?

There is a lot of talk today about the State of Israel and its efforts to "maintain its borders" as outlined in the promises to Abraham and as garnered in the golden age of David and Solomon.  And there are believers who support Israel at every turn, no matter the cost to its neighbors, in particular the Palestinians.  They quote the scriptures that God will bless those that bless Israel, and condemn any criticism of Israel and its political dealings (Gen 12:3).

What is a believer to do when the State of Israel practices policies that can only be described as akin to S. African apartheid methods.  That treat non-Jewish people as 2nd class citizens or worse?  Do we "bless" that??

First of all we need to address the oft' cited critique of pro-Israeli believers that any criticism and any hint that the "apple of God's eye" is more than Israel, comes from a heretical belief in "Replacement" theology.

What is that exactly?

From what I can gather, Replacement Theology is criticized for attempting to replace Israel with the Church and to apply the blessings and promises of Israel to the Church, leaving the nation of Israel bereft and inconsequential. 

Those supporting Israel see the nation of Israel as somehow "exceptional" in God's eyes and to be blessed and prayed for in support, no matter what they do...lest we become the target of God's wrath 

Is there a better more balanced biblical view?  I think so.

In my view of Scripture, the Church is the Bride of Christ.  Jews were used by God to bring us the Law, Prophetic and Historical Scriptures and Jesus, thru the Jewish line.  They are an example for us and a precursor or shadow of the reality fully revealed in Christ and the Holy Spirit.  The Church...in particular the Gentile Church...is that new branch grafted into Israel, by faith in Christ, which is that same faith revealed in Abraham.  But, Israel is NOT the root....Jesus is...and ALWAYS has been. 

We all, Jew and Gentile believers alike, are branches grafted into the ONE ROOT, which is Jesus, the Christ.  The Jews, for a little while, have been pruned off that root, as unfruitful and having rejected Jesus.  But, they will be re-grafted back into the root of Jesse at the time of the end, when the veil that presently prevents them from seeing Christ as Messiah, will be removed and a remnant of Israel will be saved.  But, they will NOT be saved as a separate part of the Church.  They will be part of the Church, part of the Bride and no better and no less in God's sighte than Gentile believers.

Let us also look at the historical background of the present day nation of Israel.  Is it a nation born of God and blessed by Him as somehow representative of the Kingdom of God?  I don't see how anyone appraised of the news and understanding what the nation of Israel is doing to the Palestinians that can believe that.

Clearly, God has had His hand in re-establishing the nation of Israel as part of His prophetic word and part of His ultimate end-times plan for the redemption of Mankind.  Just because God had a hand in re-establishing the nation of Israel, does NOT, then, mean that He has blessed all that Israel does.  That's like saying that God clearly blessed and favored Babylon or Assyria or even the Nazis, because they were given power and rule over His people for a short while.

The modern "State" of Israel has its roots in what is called the Zionist Movement...a powerful and influential political and economic entity that has more than establishing the state of Israel as its goal.  Its ultimate goal is the establishment of the State of Israel as THE center of an all-encompassing, global world government, and will stop at nothing to establish it.  One of the best examinations of this "cult" of Zionism was produced by Leonard Ulrich and I recommend taking the time to view his thorough documentary at...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL6v8nzFiUk

You will need to view this documentary more than once to truly soak in the facts about Zionism and the New World Order schemes. But, understand this, if nothing else...there is a vast difference between Judaism and Jews and Zionism and Zionists. One was established by God and will remain. The other is a worldly concoction of extremists who have an appointed purpose in God's end-time plan...but, they will not survive the coming Judgment.

Zionism, in my view, is akin to Ishmael.  It is man's attempt to usher in promises and the Kingdom of God, apart from Jesus, apart from truth, and utilizing every weapon of the world.  It is doomed to fail, as it must inevitably be seized upon by Antichrist, deceived into believing that he is Messiah.  It will come up against the True Kingdom of God in Christ and against His Church, His Bride and the Bridegroom when He returns in glory and as King to wipe out the antichrist and its ilk.

The State of Israel will never become what it hopes to become until it bends the knee to its true Messiah. But, first, they must fall into the pit that the Antichrist is digging for it and bend the knee to a false Christ. These things MUST happen before the end and the Return of THE KING.  And this is why God has "allowed" Zionism to come into being and for the nation-state of Israel to be re-established; not because they are holy and set apart...but, because they must fulfill His plan, falling to their ultimate depths in order to be able to look up and see their true salvation in Christ.

By all means, pray for the people of the modern state of Israel.  But, not for it's peace so much as for it's salvation.  They are LOST without Christ, no matter how secure their borders may be.  And that goes for every nation on earth.

Stop worshipping and serving the flags of the world.  There is only one banner true followers of Jesus raise...the banner of love.  There is only one King we serve...Jesus is His name.   There is only one country we long for...and it has yet to be revealed.