I was asked how we should interpret the wars mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel and the Book of Psalms given that these passages refer to the Church instead of Israel. After I read this request I felt the best way address this request is to write about Replacement Theology, which posits that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan and the promises given to Israel are now intended for the Church. Here I’ll share with you my thoughts on the subject.
I do not believe in Replacement Theology because I do not believe God has abandoned Israel at all. For instance, Romans 11:25 mention that Israel’s “spiritual blindness” is scheduled to continue until the fullness of the Gentiles comes. However, verse 26 onwards mentions that Israel is still scheduled to be eventually saved by a Redeemer; a promise which Paul noted was written about in older scripture.
- Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
- Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
- Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
- Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
God has a plan to save Israel through Christ. Israel is going to be refined during the End Times and the survivors of the refining process will then be saved by Christ.
- Zec 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
- Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
- Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
- Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
(Evidence of Christ’s physical return to Earth to redeem the remnant of Israel can be found in Isaiah 63:1-4 and Micah 2:12-13. This return to redeem the remnant of Israel will take place at the completion of the seventh week of Daniel when it is time to bring everlasting righteousness)
It shall be a very emotion time for the surviving remnant of Israel when they understand that their Messiah is Jesus Christ, the one who their ancestors crucified.
- Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
- Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
- Zec 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
There is still some time before unbelieving Israel is saved. In the meantime, Paul reminded us that Israel still maintains the covenants that have been made despite their lack of faith in Christ:
- Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
- Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Therefore, wars mentioned in Psalms and Ezekiel focuses on Israel rather than the Church. I cannot imagine how a person can get a proper understanding of Bible prophecy if they insist that the prophetic passages of the Bible which mention Israel apply to the Church instead of Israel. I believe taking the Bible at face value instead of allegorizing texts or warping verses to push an agenda.
