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his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast heart be given unto him, and let seven times pass over him” (Daniel 4:14-16).
If we study carefully the dream of the king, the first part appears to be passive in its contents,whereas the second part is negative. The conclusion of the dream comes only after the assessment of the surface evaluation.Since the interpretation was not yet done at this stage, we cannot conclude anything correctly. But the accuracy of the dream appeared to be certified solemnly by two watchers.First, the matter is by the declaration of the watchers (two angels).Secondly, the demand of the dream by the word of the holy ones. Then the main purpose of giving the dream is revealed so that the living may know the most high revealed in the kingdom of men and it will be given to whosoever that sits upon it.The king once again said the following words – “This dream I King Nebuchadnezzar have seen, Now thou O, Belteshazzar (Daniel) declare the interpretation, thereof for as much as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me, the interpretation but thou art able for the spirit of the holy god is in thee”(Daniel 4:18).
DanielInterpreted the Dream
Nebuchadnezzarwholeheartedly acknowledged the wisdom and perfect interpretation of Daniel regarding his dream, and at the same time the inefficiency of his own advisors.This particular incident made the king praise the answer of Daniel more and abuse his advisors for their incorrect answer.The real answer is very simple, and God says in His word, “As for these four children (Daniel and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Azariah) God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel (only Daniel) had understanding in all visions and dreams”(Daniel 1:17). Daniel made use of the gift of God to share four points related to the king’s dream.
The first point was that it made him surprised when he was told about the dream. He was amazed for one hour and his thoughts troubled him. He was also disturbed and said that the dream shall be for those who hate the
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king and to those who were his enemies. According to Daniel, it was a terrible and most uncommon dream. The second point is that the tree in the dream represented the king himself, and Daniel made it clear. The tree the king saw was very strong and grew so high that it reached unto heaven. The leaves of the tree were very fair, the fruits of the tree were like meat to the animals that moved in the fields and for the fouls that fly over the sky. And also the fouls of heaven had their habitation on the branches of that tree. As the tree was strong, the king was also strong. His name and fame reached unto heaven, and his kingdom would survive until the end of the earth. The tree represented the king, but he was inseparable from the Babylonian empire which he was ruling. The third point according to God’s plan was that the king would become insane for seven years. Prophet Daniel, while interpreting the dream, said, “O king and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my Lord, the king, That they shall drive thee, from men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field and they shall make thee eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, ‘till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Daniel 4:24-25). The insane condition of the king would take him into the form of a beast and literally live like that for seven years. Then he would realize and repent that the most High God is the sovereign over all the earth. The fourth point is that the angel gave the command to cut down the tree and destroy it. But the stump of the roots was to be left in the earth, and the band of iron and brass was to remain maybe for the purpose of providing strength to the stump. After seven years, the insanity would go away from the king. But the kingdom would be like a stump and roots.
The glory and name of Babylon was still there waiting anxiously for the coming of its ruler, Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, the chief advisor of the king, managed the nation politically during his seven-year insanity. In the absence of the king, Daniel not only safeguarded the nation but also made necessary
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arrangements for the safe return of the king. The king said, “And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me and I blessed the most High, and praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34). In this context, we have another debatable point for correct assessment of the mind of the king, whether he came to know the God Almighty through belief, or in a redemption way. But one thing is quite clear, the king acknowledged and accepted the God of heaven as the sovereignty of the most High God of his life. As time passed on, Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, became the king of Babylon. By that time, the king of Persia, Darius, already seized the walls of the city of Babylon and waiting for the appropriate time to enter into the city. But Belshazzar, without paying any attention for what was going on outside the city walls, engaged himself in a drinking party with his officials. For that party, he used the gold cups that his father brought from the Temple of God in Jerusalem during the captivity.
He completely immersed himself in the party and was enjoying himself. Just at that time on the walls of the royal palace, the fingers of a man had come and wrote something on it. The young king was amazed at that strange writing and immediately called for the astrologers, sooth-sayers, and others for the interpretation of the writing. But nobody could explain the meaning of those unfamiliar words. Then, the mother of the king remembered how, a long time ago, one young man came and correctly interpreted the dream of his father. Belshazzar, at once, sent somebody for that man who was no other than Prophet Daniel.
Then Daniel came, and first he said he did not want any gift. And if he desired, he might give it to anyone. With those few words, he began to interpret the strange writing in the following manner. He told the young king that the most High God of heaven gave to his father Nebuchadnezzar a great kingdom, mighty majesty, glory, and honor. With the God given majesty, the king was
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able to control all people, all nations, and all languages. The people also trembled and feared at his very presence. All these God given gifts made him to behave like a dictator before others. If he wanted to kill anyone, he did not hesitate to do so. And if he wanted to save anyone from any problem, he did that also wholeheartedly. That was the temperament of the king Nebuchadnezzar when he ruled the nation. Finally, he became unrivaled among the nations. There was no change in his attitude. He lifted up his eyes, his heart, and mind because he became hard-hearted towards the people due to his pride. “As pride goes before one’s fall,” he became proud of himself. So, the result of his pride was immediate. He was deposed from his kingdom and his kingship. His enemies took away his glory and kingdom. He was driven out of his kingdom and from his people. His heart was made like the heart of a beast. God changed his dwelling palace as the living place for asses and other animals. He was destined by God to eat grass like that of an ox. His body was made wet with the dew of heaven. He was forced to live this kind of life by the most High ‘till he understood Him clearly.
God is the real ruler of the kingdom of men, and whenever any change is necessary, He would appoint whomsoever He likes. So, the venerable Prophet Daniel opened the eyes of the king Belshazzar with mild rebuke, and with brief interpretation about his kingdom. Daniel further said to the wicked Belshazzar, the descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, “And thou his son (son is used in the sense of their successor, descendant) O Belshazzar hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knowest all this” (Daniel 5:22). Prophet Daniel interpreted that abnormal handwriting pretty well, and the translated matter was best suited to the situation. Daniel further said, “God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it” (Daniel 5:26).
According to historical background, Belshazzar fully engaged himself in the drinking party with his near and dear ones. He forgot his condition totally and began to boast of himself and the past glory of his kingdom, achieved by his father. He was under the impression that he was quite safe and secure
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inside the great wall, which was surrounding the spectacular city of Babylon. The king was in the fool’s paradise. Just at that time, the soldiers of King Darius of Mede, Persia wonderfully succeeded in diverting waters of the Euphrates River, which ran under the great wall. Then the soldiers could enter through the dried-up riverbed. That critical situation was described by Greek historians like Herodotus and Xerophon in the following way. They said when the Mede soldiers gained the entrance into the city, they found that the people were completely in a drunken stage. And the probable date must be October 11 or 12, 539 B.C.
This remarkable incident was mentioned in the Bible in a very casual way. “In that night, the king Belshazzar of Chaldeans was slain.” And Darius, the king of Medians, occupied the Babylonian kingdom. Belshazzar had ridiculed the truth of the noble words that his father had painfully learned….. the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will. As interpreted by Prophet Daniel, the stump that remained after the tree was cut down, represented the Persian Empire in the image of Daniel, as mentioned in Chapter 2. The band of iron and brass that were put around the stump represented both Grecian and Roman empires, which followed and which were made of iron and brass. As the four empires Babylonian, Persian, Grece, and Roman were represented in the statue, or image, the same four kingdoms were represented in the big tree also. According to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, a great image in Chapter 2 and the dream of a great tree in Chapter 4 are closely associated with each other.
Daniel described in Chapter 2 that a stone (Christ) would smite the image into pieces (which means all nations). That means all pagan nations would be destroyed by Jesus Christ, and he would establish His Millennial Kingdom where people can have perfect peace and tranquility, and Christ would sit on the throne of David. And in the fourth chapter, at the end of the king’s seven years imposed of insanity, he said-
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“And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou” (Daniel 4:34-35).
This concluding para can be taken as the brief message of Nebuchadnezzar to all humanity. Finally, we find a wonderful change in the king. He abandoned all ego and pride. He accepted the greatness of God. He also said that we are nothing before God, and we cannot say anything against Him because He can do and undo things according to His will and pleasure. So, in conclusion, Nebuchadnezzar said, “I pledge my allegiance without reservation to ‘EL ELYON,’ the most High God, the possessor of heaven and Earth.”
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How the Millennial Kingdom Would be?
The word “millennial”, according to the Bible reference, is a period of 1,000 years. There are many pages from the Old Testament that spoke about the promises made by God regarding this Millennial Kingdom to Israel who were His chosen people from the seed of Abraham, the father of righteousness. God expected them that they would live with faith in their Messiah. God reminded them time and again that they would thrive and live in perfect peace and happiness with faith in God. Prophet Isaiah said, “It shall happen the mountain of the Lord, be established at the top of the mountains. Then all nations and many people would say, ‘Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, the house of the Lord, and He will teach us how to walk in His path.’ When the law and the word of God go out from Jerusalem, then the Lord will judge the nations. God will rebuke many people, and they shall use their swords as ploughshares, and the spears as pruning hooks. No nation shall raise the sword against another, and there shall be no more wars.”
The above saidpassage of Prophet Isaiah and his book on the whole lead people toward the Millennial Kingdom, which is going to be established by Jesus Christ after His second coming, because people have been taught about the dangers and consequences of war, and the advantages of God’s kingdom. The promise of Israel has not yet been fulfilled because it is referred to future Millennial Kingdom. For all the radical changes among Israelites, they need to study theology and attend churches regularly so that they would be in a position to understand how that Millennial Kingdom would be through the preaching in churches. Then, regarding that kingdom, Prophet Isaiah said, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed their young ones, shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw, like the ox. And the nourishing child play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his
How the Millennial Kingdom would be ?
hand on the vipers den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6-9).
The above quoted passage clearly tells us about the wonderful and peaceful Millennial Kingdom of God, especially regarding how the wild and mild animals live together in that great kingdom. This example clearly gives us the true picture of peace and tranquility in that kingdom. This new kingdom shall be established and ruled by Jesus Christ after His second coming as the lion of the tribe of Judah. As described already, the life in that Millennial Kingdom shall be like that of the life in the Garden of Eden before “sin” entered and polluted the entire atmosphere. Keeping in view the peaceful life in the Garden of Eden, God wants to create a new universe with the same congenial atmosphere.
Apostle Paul also tells us that the whole creation is longing for such a time (Romans 8:22). Many events are mentioned in the book of Isaiah about the Millennial Kingdom, and the would-be king, Jesus Christ, and also how the life is going to be there. Let us see what is said in the New Testament about the Millennial Kingdom. In the gospel of Luke 1:32, the angel Gabriel came to young virgin Mary, who was in utter confusion, and said about the birth of Jesus Christ, “He shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest, and the Lord God give unto him the throne of his father David.” This brief reference is about Mary, her son Jesus, and His future destiny. The angel Gabriel also promised Mary that Jesus would become the king of Jews, the rightful person as the descendant of David. In Matthew 16:28, Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you. There will be some standing here which shall not taste of death, ‘till they see the son of man coming in His kingdom.” We can remember how Jesus was transfigured before His three disciples, and showed Himself how He would be when He returns to His new kingdom to rule for a thousand years.
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We can recollect also what Jesus said to His disciples, Peter, James, and John before whom He was transfigured that thy kingdom was anything but literal. He knew the Jewish people were expecting a literal kingdom, and Jesus speaks very briefly in the following passage. In the gospel of Matthew 19:28, Jesus tells His disciples, “Verily I say unto you, That ye’ which have followed me in the regeneration, when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye’ also shall sit upon 12 thrones, judging upon the 12 tribes of Israel.” Here, Jesus was speaking about the real throne of His own, and twelve thrones of His disciples, and twelve tribes of Israel. The thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when he comes to His kingdom. If death is inevitable, we shall not give any importance to the words of the thief. He must have spoken about the literary kingdom where one can have the citizenship only through redemption.
Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:24, “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the father, when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” These words rule, authority, and powerare literal and reflect the reign of Jesus Christ during a 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom of God, His father. Whenever Jesus entered into a discussion of a kingdom, or responding anyone regarding the kingdom, He would have always had the real kingdom in His mind. All of us know, according to the Bible, that Jesus was the true descendant of the real Jewish people, who was returning as the lion of the tribe of Judah to a real world, a real people, living in a real geographical region, to rightfully climb the real throne of Israel and of this world.
History Behind
According to historical background, man’s quest for peace will take him to the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem because Jerusalem is called the “house of peace”. It is a 36-acre plateau, and that place is called Mount Zion, one of the mountain ranges of Mount Moriah. It is just north of Mount Sinai
How the Millennial Kingdom would be ?
desert along the ancient patriarchal highway, and it is between Egypt and Assyria. Infuture as it is happening in other places, we may speculate a division of both the city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. They may be divided with a wall as east and west. The Dome of the Rock and the Mosque (ALAQSA) will remain for Muslims as their places of worship. Then on the other side of the wall, a modest temple already designed by the temple authorities. There shall be an altar for animal sacrifices, which was stopped by the Roman rulers about 1,900 years ago.
According to prophecy, we are very close to the end of the age and also we’re very close to the introduction of the Anti-Christ. There is no doubt the curtains will go up, and the four horsemen of the apocalypse will gallop on the stage of human history. It is the real life, and God said through Zechariah, “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people round about when they shall be in the seize both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth, be gathered together against it” (Zechariah 12:2-3).
Above all these things and for the present information, Jesus Christ is the central figure to talk about. With faith in Him and obedience to His commands, people can face any kind of difficulties that take place in the Holy City. Some destructive things will occur in the world ‘till Jesus Christ comes for the second time with healing spirit as the son of righteousness. Until then, Israelites will be in search of shalom (peace). For the fulfillment of prophecy, Israelites will be victorious at the end of times through their Messiah, and some events have to take place in the meantime. A caliphate will arise and call all Islamic nations to join together. He will possess religious as well as political powers, and give suggestions to Middle East confrontation. This caliphate is also called Anti-Christ who will enter into covenant with the Israelites, and it is called in the Bible, “a covenant with death, and with hell” (Isaiah 28:15; Daniel 9:27).
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Why should many Israelites make a covenant with Arabs and Muslims, even though their population is very small compared with Muslims and Arabs? At the same time, Muslims were afraid of minority Israelites for their superiority in military and nuclear capability. The Arab Muslims realized the fact that if they go to war against Israelites, they will be devastated with heavy loss. Along with Muslims, Israelites would also experience too much loss. Apart from that, Israelites happened to indulge in many wars for 65 years and completely exhausted. So, at this stage, they have been longing for permanent peace only, but not wars. It is said in the prophecy that the Anti-Christ will plant Tabernacles of his palace between the seas (the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea), and in the glorious holy mountains in Jerusalem. Then, he will stop the reestablishment of the sacrificial system, and keep the image of his god in the temple and put a mark of his god. This is also referred to in the Bible as the “time of Jacob’s troubles,” or “Israel’s darkest hour,” or God calls it, “Great Tribulation Period”. Then all the nations will join together and persecute Israel. At that critical situation, God will come and fight for His people. Then, naturally, God will win the battle and permit His people to live happily and peacefully in Jerusalem (Israel). So, let us wait for that precious time and pray for everlasting peace in the holy city Jerusalem.
What is Replacement Theology?
It is mentioned six times in the Book of Revelation about a 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom. Israelites had openly rejected Christ because of God’s plan and purpose. So, the present state of Israel had no room in God’s end times, and the returning of Jewish people from different countries in 1948 was only the working of humanity, but not God. Therefore, none of the biblical promises made to Israelites becomes ineffective, and all these promises are transferred to the Church. The Church, quoted here, has a long history. It is not the biblical church in broadest sense, nor the church of Bible-believing Christians, nor the church where Jewish persecution has been taking place. Some notable personalities have different opinions about Jews during the 2nd
How the Millennial Kingdom would be ?
century and beyond. Many great fathers of the Church referred Jews as rejected people who were doomed to the life of unimportance and misery. They were treated as despised people in the society, or public. This image of Jewish people, how and why they were hated, has been continued in Christian preaching and popular teachings also for centuries. Some other Christian leaders who vomited venom against Jewish people, like Saint Jerome, who commented that the Jews grew like worms in repopulating certain areas from which they were expelled and later, they returned to their homeland. A famous bishop by name Saint Ambrose of Milan happened to rebuke the emperor Theodoreus because he warned him to rebuild the burned synagogue in Callinicum in Babylonia. Another famous man, Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, expelled the Jews from the ancient community. So, the Jews who were scattered into many countries in the world happened to be humiliated and persecuted for centuries, because of God’s curse on them.
During the Middle Ages, among the European countries, the people formed a different opinion about the Jews. According to their understanding, the Jews were accused because they were responsible for killing Jesus Christ on the cross brutally. This was the main reason why the Jews were hated and more ill-treated by the Europeans. The church people scolded the Jews for having a blood-sucking attitude. It was also believed that the Jews used to kill the innocent heathen children and use their blood for religious rituals. These were all the main reasons for the church authorities to persecute the Jews during the Middle Ages. In addition to that, some Jews were expelled from their countries. Some were forced to convert themselves into Christian religion, and many were massacred. Some more Jews in Western as well as Eastern Europe were murdered in Christian programs? Why were the Jews facing that kind of punishment for centuries? The only blunder they committed was they were born in Jewish community. With this adverse historical background in the past, the Church considered herself a suitable replacement for Israel and the Jewish people.
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This replacement theology wants to find out something in the character of God Himself. It deals with one of the most dangerous and unimaginable teachings confronting the true church in the present days. It is undoubtedly painful to say that most of the people who embarrassed this teaching are believers. And also it is believed that some denominations and the world council of churches are behind this replacement theology. Their approach clearly shows that they are Pro-Palestinians and Anti-Israelites. According to their plan, they want to pursue all the Bible believers to stop their moral support to Israelites.
1.)This replacement theology openly rejects the terms of God’s, and regarding
the plans of Almighty God for in His plan of the redemption of the
earth.
2.)This replacement theology attacks the very character of God, His
faithfulness towards His word, His omniscience to know all things, and
His omnipotence to fulfill His covenants and promises.
3.)Through the teachings, the Church replaces Israel because of her “sin”.
This teaching and replacing Israel totally ignores the real fact of history
that has been revealing her secrets for centuries. They also say
Christendomis as sinful as Israel herself. Then, these teachers feel proud
of themselves and go forward for the blessings of God, and that He gave
to Israel and the same blessing for them also. At last, they allow the
curses remain with Israel.
4.)Then the old Anti-semitism remains in the new attire. It was unbiblical
in the past, unbiblical in the present, and unbiblical in the future also.
But the word of God does not change, and it is quite clear on this subject.
Jesus will return finally at the earliest as the lion of the tribe of Judah and heir to Davidic throne. He will try to replace Israel with Christendom, which is planning to put herself into the hands of Anti-Christ. Jerusalem shall one day be called the city of peace, and it will be ruled by the king of righteousness. Due to that reason, Jerusalem shall be at the center of history’s final conflict
How the Millennial Kingdom would be ?
and the “great tribulation”. As true believers in Christ, we are to participate in a war and call by our commander-in-chief as the soldiers of cross. God will not save us if we simply remain as spectators of war, but our responsibility and privilege is to put on the whole the armor of God and fight tooth and nail the wonderful battle of faith. Our sovereign king will be triumphant, and He will be glorified through this victory. Then, as true believers, we will also become victorious in Him.
How Israelites Inhabited Their Land
The passage mentioned below can throw more light on the promises made by God to His chosen people, Israelites, and show those promises were transferred to the churches. But there is not even an iota of truth or evidence supporting this statement. As a matter of fact, what is said in these lines has not yet been fulfilled. God chose Israelites as His own loved ones, in spite of their ungrateful attitude. So, it is said, “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all that are upon the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6). God promised eternal salvation for Israelites. They shall be saved in Lord with an everlasting salvation. He said, “Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end, o, I being near my righteousness. It shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry, and I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory” (Isaiah 46:13).
God wants to bless Israelites abundantly. He addressed Jacob as His servant and Israelites as His chosen people. He called them and said He formed them in the womb itself. He would pour waters upon him (Jacob) if he is thirsty and flood upon the dry ground. He also said that He would pour holy spirit upon his seed and bless his descendants. After many blessings, God wants to try to implement His redemption plan. “For the Lord hath thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wastrefused saith thy God, for a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee for a
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moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer” (Isaiah 54:6-8).
Israelites’ Future Salvation
Jesus Christ was very much grieved at the stiff-necked attitude of Israelites. If we go deep into the history of the rulers of Davidic dynasty and the miserable condition of God’s temple during their reign, there are no words to give the real picture. Being Jewish kings and descendants of David, how they ill-treated God’s temple is really heartbreaking and beyond comprehension. So, Christ said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest prophets, stonest them that are sent unto thee, when they were scattered in desolation and depression, God gathered them together as hen gathers her blood (her chicks) under her wings. God finally said they would not see His face anymore until they repent and say blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Quote)
According to some biblical scholars and historians, the Book of Romans, written by Apostle Paul, was considered to be the greatest of all books he wrote. This book is, as a matter of fact, an extraordinary assessment of Israelites and the Church. In Romans Chapter 11, Paul penned a statement: “I say then Hath God cast away His people?”God forbid,” for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people which he foreknew” (Romans 11:1-2). Here, Apostle Paul was asking whether God has really cast away His people.
The immediate answer from replacement theology is “yes”. But Paul’s answer was negative, and he said, “God forbid”, which means absolutely not. What Paul wanted to say here is that God would never cast away His people. But God abandoned them just by transferring their promises to the Church. To be more clear, Paul felt that Israelites were kept aside like a vehicle through which salvation comes to the world. The vehicle here is compared to the Church. The setting aside of Israelites is a blessing to the world. So, the original means of salvation is Israelites themselves. In such case, they returned to favor means blessing after blessing. Finally, God’s promises to Israelites
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would lead to bless the whole world. Paul firmly believed that Israelites being kept aside was purely temporary, and they would be restored at any time. The ultimate manifestation of the glory of God shall be the reconciliation of the Jewish people. At this moment, God wants to fulfill His promises to Israelites. The opinion of Apostle Paul about Israelites is crystal-clear. He said, “Casting away or setting away of Jewish people is not a permanent decision of God, but He will allow them one day for restoration. God is still walking with them and molding them into common people. He will one day redeem them as how things are going on nowadays is the proof”. Paul’s 13 letters, called Epistles, are a great contribution to the New Testament.
Some biblical scholars commented that without the thirteen books of Apostle Paul, there is no New Testament. His pre-mature death made the contemporary writers spell-bound. It is very surprising that replacement proponents are doing something which is against the saying of Paul. He calls the first fruit Israel holy, and her holiness is spread to the Church, not the other way around. In addition to that, the Church has been grafted in God’s redemption plan for humanity and can partake of some of Israelites’ promises. Anyway, Paul’s wish is that the Church should not be with high-mindedness and feel proud of Israel. But whatever is done by the replacement adherents, they are in their ego, proclaim themselves that they are the Church, they are the promised ones, but God has cut off Israelites.
In such case, we may be exalted because it is no more. So, the position of Israelites may prompt to request replacement proponents to think about the wonderful statement of Apostle Paul. His impression is that if God does not heed to the natural branches, we can take it for granted, He will not spare.