While I reject Replacement Theology, I agree with Philip Church that the New Testament is largely silent regarding modern Israel. And there is good reason for this.

For if the New Testament were a sequel to the Old, today’s anti-Semites could well regard the Almighty as Israel’s Propaganda Chief!

In order for Christianity to appeal to all nations, its founder must be portrayed as The Light of the World and as Lord of All.

So apart from three chapters in Romans, the focus of the New Testament from Acts 2 to Revelation 4 is the Church: a spiritual institution which, as a mystery to the Hebrew prophets (see Colossians 1:26), is vastly different from the Jewish State.

Failure to appreciate this and to accept that modern Israel is not yet the theocracy she is predicted to become can result in two errors. The first is for some Christians to call Replacement theologians anti-Semites and the second is for some Replacement theologians to call their fellow believers closet Zionists.

We acknowledge, with Chris Ward, the “jewishness” of Matthew 24 and see more of the same in Revelation.

While the Holocaust, nationhood and victories over the Arabs are all significant historical events, the eventual recognition by Israel of her Messiah will eclipse all that has happened in recent years.

And it is to this incredible Christ-centred event that the signs of our times are pointing. 

– Brian Chitty
Mangere Bridge, Auckland