The Israel of God and the False Charge of "Replacement Theology"

[Lysimachus]

I decided to go ahead and post some of my articles on this board, especially seeing how now Truth Files has entered with a lot of his Dispensationalist-Futurist false theologies.

It is my aim that in reading this article, I will help my Adventist colleagues get a better grasp concerning the transfer of the kingdom from the Jewish Nation to the Church.

It may come as a shock to many of you, but I do not believe Israel has been "replaced" by the Church. Now before you all jump on me screaming "heresy!", read my article carefully so that you understand my position thoroughly. lol. But to get your feet wet, I will state that I DO believe something was replaced. The question is, "what" was replaced? Was it Israel? Or was it the Husbandmen or Vinedressers tending the Vineyard?

I believe that once you get a good grasp with the following principle, you should be able to soundly refute any Dispensationalist who accuses you of believing in "Replacement Theology".

It's time to get down to the nitty gritty and brass tacks of what the Bible really has to say on this subject.

Enjoy!

(The following article was originally posted here in the Theology Review forum. Feel free to read further responses to a Dispensationalist's criticisms [an 87 year old Dispensational author and writer who calls himself "Quasar"])

The Israel of God and the False Charge of "Replacement Theology"

by Lysimachus

Does the Church really replace Israel?

Dispensationalism, in contrast to Covenant Theology, teaches that God has two distinct plans to save His people. One for Israel, the other for the Church. It has been argued by many who adhere to Dispensational ideology that those who subscribe to the notion that Israel is now realized in the Church is subscribing to a term they have coined known as "Replacement Theology". The negative connotation behind this term implies that in essence, they are try to accuse us of being "anti-semitic" in nature, that we have "replaced" Israel with the Church and that there is no longer hope for them. In my paper entitled The Romans 11 Problem Concerning "All Israel", I argued the fact that we very much believe there is hope for any Jewish person on an individual basis, but that God has ceased to work with Israel as a national, distinct geopolitical entity in regards to finishing the work and carrying the keys of the gospel commission to the world.

In this paper, however, I will deal specifically with the charge that we believe the "Church" has "replaced Israel".

Contrary to popular opinion, we who believe that Israel is realized in the Church do not believe in "Replacement Theology". Those who truly understand the concept realize it to be "Continuation Theology", as God has always had a people for his name.

Please pay careful attention to the following typology:

The Church is Now the Caretaker of the Vineyard:

- Conditional Type (Israel is the Vineyard):

“(1) Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: (2) And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. (3) And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. (4) What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? (5) And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: (6) And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. (7) FOR THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS IS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. (8 ) Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till [there be] no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!” (Isaiah 5:1-8)

Thus we clearly see that the Vineyard is the House of Israel.

Now let us move on to see what this Vineyard consists of:

- Conditional Type (Vineyard would consist of Strangers):

“And they [the Gentile strangers] shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And STRANGERS SHALL STAND AND FEED YOUR FLOCK, and the SONS OF THE ALIEN shall be your plowmen and your VINEDRESSERS.” (Isaiah 61:4,5, see vs. 1-11 for full context)

As we can see, the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1-11 foretells of a day when the strangers would stand and feed the flock, and they would would be the husbandmen, or "vinedressers" of the Vineyard (Israel).

Now take careful notice to the fulfillment of this prophecy:

- Unconditional Antitype (The vineyard was taken from national Israel and given to another nation):

“Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away…. Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to vinedressers, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the vinedressers took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those vinedressers? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto OTHER VINEDRESSERS, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be TAKEN FROM YOU, and GIVEN to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matthew 21:18, 19, 33-43)

At this point, there should be no doubt whatsoever that Christ in Matthew 21:33-43 is clearly alluding to Isaiah 5:1-8 and 61:1-11.

Now please notice the clear allusion Hosea makes concerning the outcasts of Israel (or strangers) as now becoming the people of God:

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that IN THE PLACE where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God….And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” (Hosea 1:10; 2:23)

In Romans 9:25,26, Paul repeats these words of Hosea!

Let us raise the question: Who then would be the caretakers or operators of the vineyard (the House of Israel)?

Answer: The strangers and aliens in Isaiah 61:4-5 would become the operators of the Vineyard!

We see clearly how non-Jewish people become very much apart of Israel!

Now pay close attention:

Israel has not been replaced, its vinedressers have:

The kingdom (the Vineyard) was to be taken from them and given to a nation (the strangers) bringing forth the fruits thereof! The Church is the new husbandmen for the House of Israel, the Vineyard. We see therefore how “Israel” has not been “replaced”, rather the husbandmen known as the “caretakers”, or the “trustees”, or the “operators” or the “vinedressers” have taken over Israel. That SAME kingdom “Israel” has now been given over to new operators, the Church! This is why it is an absolute fallacy to call this theology “Replacement Theology”. If anything, it is “Continuation Theology”. Israel has not been replaced; just its vinedressers have been replaced. Israel “continues”, but with new caretakers. We now can make perfect sense of phrase in Romans 11:25 that says… “…blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Come into what you ask? Into the “House of Israel”! In essence, before the whole House of Israel can be “saved”, it must be “filled”. Filled with what? Well, its vinedressers! And who are these vinedressers? The strangers. And who are these strangers? The Gentiles!

Another way to describe it is that God does not “replace Israel”, He simply gives the vineyard (Israel) to new vinedressers (the Church). The Church continues to care for the Vineyard. The National State forfeited its chances to continue the vinedressing. It doesn’t hurt to describe it yet another way: Israel was impregnated with the Church. See Micah 4:8-10.

I believe that the unity of the Bible teaches that the 12 Apostles replaced the 12 tribes of Israel, and are the foundation for the Church, which is the Spiritual Israel of God. This is not replacement theology, because only the operators (husbandmen) of the vineyard (Israel) are replaced, not Israel itself, as Israel was a spiritual name given to a literal man from its inception. See Gen. 32:28. The members of God’s true Church are the Operators (husbandmen) of the Vineyard (Israel). Israel has not been replaced by the Church, rather, the Operators or Caretakers (the Jewish nation) of Israel have been replaced.

Summing up the Evidence

Isaiah 5:7 tells you that the vineyard is the “house of Israel”. Verse 4 tells you that God would “take away its hedge”, or [protection]. Isaiah 61:1-11, especially verses 4 and 5, tells you that the Vineyard (Israel) would be plowed by strangers (gentiles), who will be the ones to “feed the flock”. This is the Church. Then the passage tells you that it will be the “strangers” who will be the “vinedressers”. Jesus in Matthew 21:18, 19, 33-43 repeats this concept that the vineyard (Israel) would be let out to other husbandmen (the Church), which would replace the Jewish National Establishment to care for the House of Israel. Jesus says unequivocally, and unapologetically states that the KINGDOM (Israel) would be given (not replaced) to another nation (the Church) bearing fruit. Hosea 1:10 and 2:23 tells us that the children of Israel will be “as the sand of the sea”, which will stand “in the place” of where it was said to them “ye are not my people”. Paul in Romans 9:25,26 repeats this same concept. When all these pieces are put together, suddenly the phrase “until the fullness of the Gentiles come in” makes perfect sense. Come into what you ask? Into the “house of Israel” and operate the vineyard!

The Church is now the Little Flock:

- Conditional Type (Israel was the “flock”):

“As a shepherd seeketh out his FLOCK in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.” (Ezekiel 34:12-14)

“He shall feed his FLOCK like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Ezekiel 40:11)

“Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” (Jeremiah 31:10)

- Unconditional Antitype (The Church is now that “flock”, founded by the 12 Apostles):

“Fear not, little FLOCK; for it is your Father's good pleasure TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.” (Luke 12:32)

“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.” (Mark 3:14,15)

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Truly, one does not need a Ph.D to see that 1. Israel was called “his flock”, 2. The 12 Apostles were now the “little flock”, 3. Beginning with the 12 Apostles, Christ would build His Church, and 4. The “KINGDOM”, meaning Israel, would be given to this “little flock"! This is a CLEAR allusion to Matthew 21:33-37, where Christ said the KINGDOM (meaning, the Vineyard) would be TAKEN AWAY and GIVEN to another NATION bearing forth fruit! In other words, the Vineyard, or the House of Israel, was now given to NEW VINEDRESSERS—the CHURCH! There is absolutely NO QUESTION that the Church began with the 12 Apostles—the Spiritual Israel. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the number of Disciples Christ chose reflected the 12 tribes of Israel! The 12 tribes of Israel were replaced by the 12 Apostles! The Kingdom of Israel (the Vineyard) was GIVEN TO THEM! Once again, this is not Replacement Theology, it is Continuation Theology---Israel now has new operators, caretakers, or vinedressers—and these are known as the Church. Israel has NOT been replaced, its caretakers have.

An Analogy

Imagine a father that entrusts his son with a pair of keys. He says "son, I want you to take good care of these keys", and then he notifies his son that these keys are for all the doors of the house. He also warns his son that if he does not take good care of the keys, the keys will have to be taken away from him. So his son in turn promises to take good care of the keys, and he gives them to him. After enough time transpires, however, the father discovers that his son has damaged the pair of keys, and has even left several doors to the house open. More than once he lost them, and did not take careful heed to his father's instruction. After his son has abused his privileges enough times, the father then says "son, I am going to have to take these keys away from you and give them to someone else I can trust", and so he does exactly that.

This is exactly how it works concerning the promises to Israel. The house of Israel is has been and always will be a spiritual concept. The Jewish nation was given the keys to the House of Israel, but they forfeited their rights to the keys for the house. The key, or trustees, were therefore taken from the Jewish nation--the geopolitical theocratic establishment--and given to the Church, which comprised of Jews and Gentiles. These in-turn have become the "caretakers", the "keepers" of the house of God.

The promises to Israel are never made to an ethnic race, but rather, to the House of Israel, and all those who are filled up in it--whether they be Jew or Gentile.

Recommended Study:

I recommend the following thoroughly researched paper that is related to this topic:

The Israel of God by D.S. Farris

Recommended Audio Series on the Israel of God, by Mike Warren and D.S. Farris:

The Israel of God - Part 1

The Israel of God - Part 2

The Israel of God - Part 3

The Israel of God - Part 4

[Guest]

Excellent!

[Lysimachus]

Excellent!

Thanks Richard. I also encourage all to listen to that 4-part audio/radio series listed at the very bottom on The Israel of God. The issues raised in these radio shows and documents far outdo anything Dispensationalists hear from traditional Covenant Theologians, which, in my estimation, possess far weaker arguments in defending the true concept of Spiritual Israel.

[olger]

Very good. I believe that the church has always been the larger, long-range vision to the old covenant prophecies relating to Israel and its restoration.

True Israel must be oriented to Jesus, not to a piece of land somewhere (Gal. 3:29). "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."