Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.
Welcome to part 8 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.
The body of Jesus Christ (the church) and Israel are two distinct, separate entities with two different destinations.
Every Old Testament prophet except Jonah discusses the restoration of the nation of Israel. This promise is not made to the church. The Abrahamic Covenant is for Israel. Keep in mind, the church was not on the scene when the prophets spoke to their people, Israel and their city Jerusalem.
Isaiah 65:9 “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants will dwell there.”
Jeremiah 30:3 For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, “when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.” The Lord says, “I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.”
Ezekiel Chapter 34
Daniel 7:14 And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
Hosea Chapter 2
Joel 2:19 The Lord will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied in full with them; and I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.”
Amos 9:14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.”
Obadiah 1:17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
Micah 2:12 “I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold; like a flock in the midst of its pasture they will be noisy with men.”
Nahum 2:2 For the Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, even though devastators have devastated them and destroyed their vine branches.
Habakkuk Chapter 3
Zephaniah 3:20 “At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
Haggai 2:9 “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts, “and in this place I will give peace,” declares the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah Chapter 8
Malachi 3:12 “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.”
I would challenge any one to show one place where God states He replaced Israel with the church. Examine the Scriptures. Where is it?
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This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed.
Many believers assume the Kingdom of God is either entirely present or entirely future. Scripture presents a richer picture.
Jesus reigns today. Yet Satan is still called “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Christ sits at the Father’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3), yet wars continue, nations rage, and creation groans under the curse (Romans 8:22).
How can both be true?
The answer is that the Kingdom unfolds in stages. What Cotton Mather observed centuries ago is still worth considering today: the Kingdom is not a single moment in history but a divine program moving toward its climax in the reign of Messiah.
❖ The Kingdom Within
The Kingdom first appears in the hearts of those who trust Christ. Jesus declared, “The kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). Paul wrote that believers have been transferred “into the kingdom of the Son” (Colossians 1:13).
Every conversion is a kingdom victory. Every transformed life demonstrates the authority of the King. Yet no one could honestly look at today’s world and conclude that God’s will is being done on earth as perfectly as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
Something more remains ahead.
❖ The Kingdom Growing
Jesus compared the Kingdom to a mustard seed that grows from small beginnings into something far larger (Matthew 13:31-32). Through the spread of the gospel, Christ is gathering people from every tribe, language, and nation (Revelation 5:9).
Yet this present phase exists alongside rebellion. Peter warns that the devil prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). John says “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). The King reigns, but His enemies have not yet been publicly subdued.
As Paul explains, Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). The word until points forward to a future manifestation of His rule.
❖ The Kingdom Coming
The prophets consistently describe a future earthly reign of Messiah.
Isaiah foresaw a day when the nations would stream to Jerusalem and learn God’s ways, while weapons of war would be transformed into tools of peace (Isaiah 2:2-4). Zechariah declared, “The LORD will be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9). Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would receive “the throne of his father David” and reign over the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:32-33).
David’s throne was never located in heaven.
It was in Jerusalem.
Daniel saw the same future. After the succession of Gentile empires represented by the great statue, a stone cut without human hands strikes the kingdoms of this world and becomes a mountain filling the entire earth (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45). The stone does not gradually improve the kingdoms of men.
It crushes them.
John describes the fulfillment after Christ’s return: “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
The Millennium is necessary because God’s covenant promises require it. Abraham was promised a land forever (Genesis 17:8). David was promised an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7:16). Israel was promised a future national restoration (Ezekiel 36:24-28; Amos 9:14-15). The Millennial Kingdom is where these promises become visible history.
As John Walvoord observed: “The premillennial interpretation is the only one that provides a literal fulfillment of the Old Testament promises concerning the kingdom.”
❖ The Common Objection
Amillennialists often ask: “Why would there need to be a future earthly kingdom if Christ already won the victory at the cross?”
Because victory and implementation are not the same thing.
Christ defeated Satan at the cross (Colossians 2:15), yet Satan still deceives the nations (Revelation 12:9). Christ conquered death through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:54-57), yet people still die. Christ is King today, yet the kingdoms of this world have not yet become His visible kingdom (Revelation 11:15).
Others argue that Revelation 20 is symbolic. Yet the sequence remains remarkably straightforward: Christ returns in Revelation 19, Satan is bound, the saints reign, Satan is released, final judgment occurs, and then the New Heaven and New Earth appear. The burden of proof falls on those who would collapse these events into a purely symbolic present age.
❖ Why Is Satan Released?
Perhaps the most fascinating question in prophecy concerns Satan’s release after a thousand years (Revelation 20:7-10).
Why allow one final rebellion?
Because God demonstrates forever that humanity’s deepest problem is not environment, politics, education, wealth, or government. During the Millennium, the world experiences perfect justice under the direct rule of Christ (Isaiah 11:1-9). Yet when Satan is released, countless people still choose rebellion.
As Jeremiah wrote: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
The final revolt proves that the problem has always been the human heart. Even paradise cannot save a person. Only regeneration can (John 3:3).
❖ The Kingdom Consummated
After the final rebellion comes the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Death itself is abolished (1 Corinthians 15:26), Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10), and God creates a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).
The Kingdom reaches its eternal form. No curse. No death. No rebellion. No tears. God dwells with His people forever:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” Revelation 21:4
The Kingdom began in hearts. It grows through the gospel. It comes in glory when Christ returns. It endures forever in the new creation.
The prayer Jesus taught His disciples has not yet been fully realized: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
March 2021, Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA): It has been 60 years since there have been archaeological finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Research in the Judean Desert has unearthed Greek translations of the Bible prophets Nahum and Zechariah.
The scroll was found in the “Cave of Horror”. The cave got its name when discovered in the 1950’s. There were skeletons from over 40 people found in the cave. The cavern is tucked away 80 meters below the top of the ridge.
Other finds include a woven basket with a lid. Archaeologists estimate the basket to be over 10,500 years old per carbon dating provided by Professor Elisabetta Boaretto of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. The basket has a volume of up to 100 liters.
Ofer Sion, IAA
A mummified child was discovered. Data suggests the child was aged from 6 to 12 years in age and lived approximately 6,000 years ago.
Coins from the Bar Kochba revolt were found. This historic event occurred in 133 to 135 A.D. Other artifacts from the same era included: arrow and spear tips, woven fabric, sandals, and lice combs.
For those interested in more detail, click on the link below.
Archaeologists and journalists are intrigued and excited about the material finds in the cave. However, not much has been written about the message of the Scripture discovered.
Granted, critics and naysayers would disagree. But, these are two passages from two prophets. A prophet or a nabi in the Hebrew is a spokesman or a speaker on behalf of God. These prophets are delivering instructions and a warning to us in the 21st century.
Zechariah penned these verses about 2,500 years ago.
Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.
Nahum wrote these words about 2,680 years ago.
Nahum 1:5-6 The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him.
For those who are willing to read one more verse in Nahum.
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Are these verses for our world today and a message from God? So what do you think? God’s providential timing or mere chance and coincidence?
Every single Old Testament prophet except Jonah states Israel will be restored to future glory.
Granted, Jonah did not promise of Israel’s restoration in the book of Jonah. But Jonah was noted to proclaim Israel would be restored in 2 Kings.
2 Kings 14:25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.
Jonah observation compliments of a viewer from Twitter. Iron sharpens iron. Way to go Johnna!!
Isaiah 65:9 “I will bring
forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; even My chosen
ones shall inherit it, and My servants will dwell there.”
Jeremiah 30:3 For behold,
days are coming, declares the Lord, “when I will restore the fortunes of My people
Israel and Judah.” The Lord says, “I will also bring them back to the land that
I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.”
Ezekiel Chapter 34
Daniel 7:14 And to Him
was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His
dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is
one which will not be destroyed.
Hosea Chapter 2
Joel 2:19 The Lord will
answer and say to His people, “Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and
oil, and you will be satisfied in full
with them; and I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.”
Amos 9:14 “Also I will
restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities
and live in them; they will also plant
vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.”
Obadiah 1:17 “But
on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house
of Jacob will possess their possessions.
Micah 2:12 “I will surely
assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put
them together like sheep in the fold; like a flock in the midst of its pasture they
will be noisy with men.”
Nahum 2:2 For the Lord
will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, even though devastators
have devastated them and destroyed their vine branches.
Habakkuk Chapter 3
Zephaniah 3:20 “At that
time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I
will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore
your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
Haggai 2:9 “The latter
glory of this house will be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts, “and
in this place I will give peace,” declares the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah Chapter 8
Malachi 3:12 “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.”
Passing judgement on a person’s sin, makes you an equal sinner. God didn’t make a list of sins & say one was worse than the other. He did however say that the greatest thing we can do is love. Let’s all love more…
James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Matthew 22:37-40 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” -Jesus
