I was recently accused by a Facebook friend of posting replacement theology. It all started when I said that the name 'Israel' refers to a person or a people, not to the land. I do not believe that the present land and nation of Israel are a fulfilment of prophecy for I see God's prophetic promises are contingent upon the repentance of the covenant people. Israel today, whether in the land or diaspora, is a Messiah rejecting people so the establishment of the state of Israel is not a fulfilment of promise. The promises are for the spiritual, Israel the church. Israel according to the flesh is I believe, in lines with Rom 11, simultaneously an elect nation because of covenant promises and a cursed one because their messiah is rejected.Please do not take the last sentence as antisemitic. One can speak against Zionism but not dislike Jews. After all not all Jews are Zionist. But this morning I read this passage and it registered in a way I had not seen before.
“‘And gI will give you shepherds after my own heart, hwho will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, iand all nations shall gather to it, jto the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 kIn those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land lof the north to mthe land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.- Jer 4:15ff ESV
Those who want a rebuilt temple are in error. No ark to be restored means no temple. Yet God is to be present in Jerusalem and worshipped by all nations. There has never been a reunification or return of the two kingdoms. I do not expect one as the church is the spiritual recipient and fulfillment of these promises now.
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