Jesus Warned Israel of the Times of the Gentiles in Luke 4

In this current period between the advents it is mostly Gentiles and not Jews who are being saved by coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The cardinal passage on this age is found in Romans 11:25: Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of […]

Calvin Said That the Apostle’s Question in Acts 1:6 Was Foolish. Was it?

John Calvin was a theologian par excellence and a brother in Christ that this author deeply admires.  However, like anyone else, Calvin was not free from bias when interpreting Scripture. So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6 (ESV) As part of Calvin’s […]

Being a Son of Abraham Does Not Make You a Son of Jacob

Scripture allows for those who have not physically descended from Abraham to nevertheless be referred to as sons of Abraham.  This has led many to conclude that Gentiles in Christ become Israelites or even constitute the true or, “spiritual Israel.”  The cardinal verses are Galatians 3:6-9: just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him […]

The Jews Were Supposed to Return to the Land in Disobedience

Those who question or deny that the return of the Jews to the Promised Land beginning in 1948 was a fulfillment of prophecy often appeal to the people’s continued rejection of God.  After all, the returns from the Babylonian captivity under Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah were done out of national obedience to God.  And there […]

J.C. Ryle Challenges You on the Meaning of ‘Israel’

The great 19th century theologian and Anglican Bishop John Charles Ryle issued a simple challenge that has never been satisfactorily answered.  Below is the question in bold and the context in which it is found: The word ‘Israel’ is used nearly seven hundred times in the Bible.  I can only discover three senses in which […]

The Song of Moses Makes a Distinction Between Israel and the Church

There are a myriad of ways to clearly demonstrate from the Bible that Israel and the Church (i.e. Body of Christ) are not to be understood as the same entity. Here let us consider the example rooted in the Song of Moses: “They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked […]

“Covenant” Theology Really is Replacement Theology

The term, “Replacement Theology” is most commonly used by the critics of those who believe that the Church (or Body of Christ) has replaced Israel in God’s prophetic plan.  The promises made to Israel in the covenants are now transferred to the Church. Those who are accused of holding to, “Replacement Theology” (especially those in […]