"Matthew 24 - The Rapture Dilemma" (Part Ten)
Replacement Theology
It is a great shame that some groups chose to label those who do NOT hold to 
Dispensationalism, and who DO see the Church in Matthew 24 as thereby holding to "replacement theology". This is entirely wrong and an unwarranted slur on some fine Christians who happen not to agree with the pre-trib rapture.
What is Replacement Theology?
This is the kind of belief held by the Roman Catholic churches and Liberal, or Reformed denominations many of whom historically held to the beliefs of Luther who hated the Jews and wrote them out of scripture. (See Here for Instance)
Useful Reading: "What Is Replacement Theology?"
They believe the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, having rejected and crucified their Saviour, and therefore God does not have future plans for the nation of Israel. (This led to some pogroms and persecutions of the Jews in many nations.)
Replacement theology teaches that the church HAS REPLACED Israel entirely. Thus the promises made to Israel in the Bible are being fulfilled in the Christian Church, not in Israel. Likewise, the prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land, and Israel's future restoration, are "spiritualized" or "allegorized" into promises of God's blessing for the Church.
I Do Not Hold To Replacementism
As a lover of Israel, and one who firmly believes in the prophecies for Israel, I resent the implication that because I'm not pre-trib nor am I dispensationalist, then I must hold to Replacement Theology.
Who is actually closer to Replacementism, the Dispensationalist who denies Israel a part in the blood sacrifice of Jesus and condemns her to a whole seven years of horrific Tribulation and Final Judgement, or the bible-believer who supports Israel's return to the land as a prophetic fulfilment of the scriptures in our day?
While Replacement Theology replaces Israel with the Church, Dispensationalism removes the redemption of Jesus Christ from Israel and replaces it with legalism, trials and executions.
I agree that there IS a measure of distinction in the prophetic future of believers and Israel, but it is not a division of covenants, but a division of those who trust in faith to the Saviour and those who do not. For we are all ONE in Christ, Jew and Gentile.
From this page comes the chart that displays what I believe to be biblical truth, instead of replacementism OR dispensationalism. (Credit goes to Paul A. Hughes.)
SUMMARY
If you have followed through all these pages - first, well done! I realise it was a bit of a Marathon and hard work to understand all the different concepts. But the bottom line is this: Matthew 24 is written as much for the Church today as for Israel in the future (even more so I believe) and contains vital information about the times to come, times into which we are already entering - thus making the message of Jesus very relevant and vital to understand.
I apologise that this whole article is a bit more reactionary than plain explanation, but it does irritate me that so many are being led down a path of complacency, that could end up in deception or worse. That kind of teaching does no good to Christians; it may even be doing them much harm.
In any case, I have no intention of coming against or judging individuals or ministries. It is not my place to judge. All I can do is present what I truly believe is the correct bible interpretation and let God by his Holy Spirit open the minds and hearts of believers to see the truth.
It may well take courage to face up to an interpretation that seems strange, but on the other hand, how sure can you be that what you have read and heard (and adopted) up to now is the right doctrine, IF you do not have the courage to challenge yourself before God, and read the scriptures for yourself, raw and uninterpreted.
So be it, Amen.
- Introduction
- Did the Church Exist in the Day of Jesus?
- Can Prophecies Refer to More than One Event?
- The Rapture or the Second Coming - or both?
- When and What is the Day of Jacob's Trouble?
- Are the Elect Exclusively Israel?
- Is the Tribulation a seven-year Wrath of God?
- Do we Need to Endure, as Christians?
- Are there Distinct and Absolute Dispensations of History?
- Replacement Theology (this page)
© 2016 Tricia Tillin-Booth. All rights reserved. Birthpangs Website: http://www.birthpangs.org/ This document is the property of its author and is not to be displayed on other websites, redistributed, sold, reprinted, or reproduced in printed in any other format without permission. Websites may link to this article, if they provide proper title and author information. One copy may be downloaded, stored and/or printed for personal research. All spelling and phraseology is UK English.