Replacement Theology essentially teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of Replacement Theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. Oh, but how wrong they are. Paul makes it perfectly clear in Romans Chapters 11:
I say then, has God rejected and disowned His people? Certainly not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His [chosen] people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left [of the prophets], and they are seeking my life.” But what is God’s response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too then, at the present time there has come to be a remnant [a small believing minority] according to God’s gracious choice. I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]–so that you will not be wise in your own opinion–that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in; and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture], “The Deliverer (Messiah) will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel, the Jews [at present] are enemies [of God] for your sake [which is for your benefit], but from the standpoint of God’s choice [of the Jews as His people], they are still loved by Him for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call]. (Romans 11:1-5, 25-29 AMP)
Not only are the Jews so dear to God’s in His End Times plans…..
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. (Daniel 10:14 KJV)
…..but, so is the land of Israel itself which was prophesied to of how it would once again have Jewish inhabitants in the End Times:
Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. (Ezekiel 36:1 and 37:1, 5 KJV)
The Church is no longer mentioned after the 3rd Chapter of Revelation because the Church has been Raptured (Revelation 3:10). God now moves His attention from the Gentile Christians, back to His chosen people the Jews. Revelation Chapter 7 tells us how the Lord will seal and protect 144,000 Jews (12,000 from each Tribe) to be great witnesses for Him during the Tribulation. We see the fruits of their witnessing in Revelation Chapter 14.
But, as Gentile Christians who are overcomers and who are waiting for the Rapture to take place, how should we react? Paul tells us that we need to be rejoicing not only because we were included in God’s great salvation plan, but we need to be rejoicing because of God’s great plan for the salvation of His beloved people the Jews, in these End Times:
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant and a minister to the circumcision (Jews) on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm and verify the promises made to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy [to them, since God had no covenant with them]. As it is written and forever remains written (Ps 18:49), “Therefore I praise You among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.” Again it says (Deut 32:43), “Rejoice and celebrate, O Gentiles, along with His people.” And again (Ps 17:1), “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him!” Again Isaiah says (Isa 11:10), “There shall be a root of Jesse, He who arises to rule [as King] over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.” (Romans 15:8-12 AMP)
Let us never forget that we Gentile Christians were grafted into God’s cultivated tree and the original branches, the Jews, will soon be grafted back in during the Tribulation:
You (Gentiles), by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into His cultivated tree, He will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. (Romans 11:24 NLT)
Here is something to think about as I finish up. Ezekiel Chapters 40-48 covers a very detailed description of a Temple that will be built during the millennium. Most scholars agree that the purpose of animal sacrifice during the millennial kingdom in this temple is memorial in nature. As the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the death of Christ to the Church today, animal sacrifices will be a reminder to the Jews during the millennial kingdom. This is just one more confirmation that the Lord has not replaced Israel with the Church. I have included the following PDF that gets into further detail:
Annointing 