Charles Provan: The Church Is Israel Now (1997)
this is not “Replacement Theology,” it is “Expansion Theology.” The Old Testament prophesied of the Gentile inclusion in several passages, predicting God’s work of taking from among the Gentiles a people for Himself.
The Church Is Israel Now
By Charles D. Provan
1997
During this century, Christians have been told over and over that “God has an unconditional love for Old Testament Israel,” by which is meant that God’s love is directed toward persons racially descended from Abraham, regardless of faith or obedience. Membership in Israel, therefore, is viewed as a matter of race, not faith.
The Church Is Israel Now demonstrates that the Bible totally repudiates this racialist viewpoint. Being a member of Israel in the Old Testament was dependent upon faith and obedience to God. When the Israelites obeyed God, God loved them. But when the Israelites turned from Him, He hated them, stripping them of their Israelite status. After centuries of Israelite rebellion against God, culminating in their rejection of Jesus the Messiah, the titles, attributes and blessings of Israel were transferred to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and to no one else, regardless of Abrahamic descent.
The Church is Israel now.
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the Jewish people: “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it” (Matt. 21:43).
Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
OLD TESTAMENT TITLES AND ATTRIBUTES OF ISRAEL WHICH ARE, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, REFERRED TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
THE BELOVED OF GOD
A) Israel Is Beloved Of God:
– Ex. 15:13, Deut. 33:3, Ezra 3:11
B) Disobedient Israel Is Not Beloved Of God:
– Lev. 3:16, Jer. 12:8, Jer. 16:5, Hos. 9:15
C) Christians Are Beloved Of God:
– Rom. 9:25, Eph. 5:1, Col. 3:12, 1 John 3:1
THE CHILDREN OF GOD
A) Israel Are The Children Of God:
– Ex. 4:22, Deut. 14:1, Isa. 1:2,4, Isa. 1:2,4, Isa. 63:8, Hos. 11:1
B) Disobedient Israel Are Not The Children Of God:
– Deut. 32:5, John 8:39, 42, 44
C) Christians Are The Children Of God:
– John 1:12, John 11:52, Rom. 8:14,16, 2 Cor. 6:18, Gal. 3:26, Gal. 4:5,6,7, Phil. 2:15, 1 John 3:1
THE FIELD OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Field Of God:
– Jer. 12:10
B) Christians Are The Field Of God:
– 1 Cor. 3:9
THE FLOCK OF GOD AND OF THE MESSIAH
A) Israel Is The Flock Of God And Of The Messiah:
– Psa. 78:52, Psa. 80:1, Isa. 40:11, Jer. 23:1,2,3, Jer. 31:10, Eze. 34:12,15,16, Mic. 5:4, Zec. 10:3
B) Christians Are The Flock Of God And Of The Messiah:
– John 10:14,16, Heb. 13:20, 1 Pet. 2:25, 1 Pet. 5:2,3
THE HOUSE OF GOD
A) Israel Is The House Of God:
– Num. 12:7
B) Christians Are The House Of God:
– 1 Tim. 3:15, Heb. 3:2,5,6, Heb. 10:21, 1 Pet. 4:17
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Kingdom Of God:
– Ex. 19:6, 1 Chr. 17:14, 1 Chr. 28:5
B) Disobedient Israel Is Not The Kingdom Of God:
– Matt. 8:11,12, Matt. 21:43
C) Christians Are The Kingdom Of God:
– Rom. 14:17, 1 Cor. 4:20, Col. 1:13, Col. 4:11, Rev. 1:6
THE PEOPLE OF GOD
A) The Israelites Are The People Of God:
– Ex. 6:7, Deut. 27:9, 2 Sam. 7:23, Jer. 11:4
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The People Of God:
– Hos. 1:9, Jer. 5:10
C) The Christians Are The People Of God:
– Rom. 9:25, 2 Cor. 6:16, Eph. 4:12, Eph. 5:3, 2 Th. 1:10, Tit. 2:14
THE PRIESTS OF GOD
A) The Israelites Are The Priests Of God:
– Ex. 19:6
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Priests Of God:
– 1 Sam. 2:28,30, Lam. 4:13,16, Eze. 44:10,13, Hos. 4:6, Mal. 2:2,4,8,9
C) The Christians Are The Priests Of God:
– 1 Pet. 2:5,9, Rev. 1:6, Rev. 5:10
THE VINEYARD OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Vineyard Of God:
– Isa. 5:3,4,5,7, Jer. 12:10
B) Christians Are The Vineyard Of God:
– Luke 20:16
THE WIFE (OR BRIDE) OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Wife (Or Bride) Of God:
– Isa. 54:5,6, Jer. 2:2, Eze. 16:32, Hos. 1:2
B) Disobedient Israelites Is Not The Wife (Or Bride) Of God:
– Jer. 3:8, Hos. 2:2
C) The Christians Are The Wife (Or Bride) Of God:
– 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:31,32
THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM
A) The Israelites Are The Children Of Abraham:
– 2 Chr. 20:7, Psa. 105:6, Isa. 41:8
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Children Of Abraham:
– John 8:39, Rom. 9:6,7, Gal. 4:25,30
C) The Christians Are The Children Of Abraham:
– Rom. 4:11,16, Gal. 3:7,29, Gal. 4:23,28,31
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
A) The Israelites Are The Chosen People:
– Deut. 7:7, Deut. 10:15, Deut. 14:2, Isa. 43:20,21
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Chosen People:
– Deut. 31:17, 2 Ki. 17:20, 2 Chr. 25:7, Psa. 78:59, Jer. 6:30, Jer. 7:29,
Jer. 14:10
C) The Christians Are The Chosen People:
– Col. 3:12, 1 Pet. 2:9
THE CIRCUMCISED
A) The Israelites Are The Circumcised:
– Gen. 17:10, Jud. 15:18
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Circumcised:
– Jer. 9:25,26, Rom. 2:25,28, Phil. 3:2
C) The Christians Are The Circumcised:
– Rom. 2:29, Phil. 3:3, Col. 2:11
ISRAEL
A) Israel is Israel
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not Israelites:
– Num. 15:30,31, Deut. 18:19, Acts 3:23, Rom. 9:6
C) The Christians Are Israel:
– John 11:50,51,52, 1 Cor. 10:1, Gal. 6:15,16, Eph. 2:12,19
JERUSALEM
A) Jerusalem Is the City And Mother Of Israel:
– Psa. 149:2, Isa. 12:6, Isa. 49:18,20,22, Isa. 51:18, Lam. 4:2
B) Jerusalem Is The City And Mother Of Christians:
– Gal. 4:26, Heb. 12:22
THE JEWS
A) Israelites Are Jews
– Ezr. 5:1, Jer. 34:8,9, Zech. 8:22,23
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not Jews:
– Rom. 2:28, Rev. 2:9, Rev. 3:9
C) The Christians Are Jews:
– Rom. 2:29
THE NEW COVENANT
A) The New Covenant Is With Israel:
– Jer. 31:31,33
B) The New Covenant Is With The Christians:
– Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6, Heb. 8:6,8,10
AN OLIVE TREE
A) Israel Is An Olive Tree:
– Jer. 11:16, Hos. 14:6
B) The Christians Are An Olive Tree:
– Rom. 11:24
OLD TESTAMENT VERSES REFERRING TO ISRAEL WHICH ARE QUOTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AS REFERRING TO THE CHRISTIANS
QUOTE #1...
Click for Full Text!
Poster Comment:
Please see the link. Scroll over each verse and the scripture pops up on the page.
See also:
Early Christian History
Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho, a Jew
Written in 150
Chapters Relating To The Identification Of Israel.
CHAP. XXV.--The Jews Boast in Vain That They are Sons of Abraham.
CHAP. LXXXII.--The Prophetical Gifts of the Jews were Transferred to the Christians.
CHAP. C.--In What Sense Christ is [Called] Jacob, Israel and the Son of Man.
CHAP. CXIX.--Christians Are The Holy People Promised to Abraham.
CHAP. CXX. -- Christians Were Promised to Isaac, Jacob, and Judah.
CHAP. CXXIII.--Ridiculous Interpretation of the Jews. Christians are the True Israel.
CHAP. CXXIV.--Christians are the Sons of God.
CHAP. CXXV.-- What Force the Word Israel Has, And How it Suits Christ.
CHAP. CXXXIV.--The Marriages of Jacob are a Figure of the Church.
CHAP. CXXXV.--Christ is the King of Israel, Christians are the Israelitic Race...
http://www.preteristarchive.com/ChurchHistory/0150_justin_trypho-jew.html
King Jesus Christ, the Focus of All Bible Prophecy
JESUS CHRIST IS ISRAEL
"Israel is my son, even my firstborn"
(Ex. 4:22 cf. Hosea 11:1/Matthew 2:15)
THE SUM TOTAL OF BIBLE PROPHECY IS FOUND IN JESUS PROPHECY UNITED BOTH HISTORICALLY (HORIZ) & PERSONALLY (VERT) AT CALVARY:
"For all the promises of God, whatever their number, have their confirmation in Him; and for this reason through Him also our "Amen" acknowledges their truth and promotes the glory of God through our faith."
"The days will come upon you when (B) your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will not leave one stone on another, because (A) you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13
John 10:31 "I and the Father are one"
"Since Christ is the center of all Biblical prediction, there is properly an eschatology to be included in Christology. " Lewis Sperry Chafer (1947) The Second Coming of Christ Incarnate
THE BEST ESCHATOLOGY IS A PROPER CHRISTOLOGY! | Christ, The Surety of the Covenant | The Identification Of Israel | Jesus the Preterist | The Avenging of the Saviour | Ecclesiastical History | Pascal on Prophecies | Proofs of Christ | The Ensign, Christ | Jesus: An Apocalyptic Prophet | Lord's Prayer Spoken in Aramaic | The Jewish Messiah: A Critical History of the Messianic Idea Among the Jews from the Rise of the Maccabbees to the Closing of the Talmud (1877 PDF)
"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment."
"THE MYSTICAL NAME ISRAEL LITERALLY MEANS 'PRINCE OF GOD'"
(University of Cambridge Hebrew Professor Samuel Lee)
PREMISE #1: JESUS CHRIST IS ISRAEL
Jesus/Yeshua is the builder of the tabernacle of David -- He is the great King, both of the temporal and eternal worlds. His supremacy over Jews as well as Gentiles is prophetically seen in Abraham's role as the father of both Ishmael and Isaac. In Jesus Christ alone is the pattern of the Old Covenant body realized in His eternal glorious "One Body" -- The Body of Christ, The House of David (Isaiah 22:22) -- the "Israel of God" (Gal 6:15-16).
•Exodus 4:22 "Israel is my son, even my firstborn"
•Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."
•Matthew 2:15 "And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. "
•Zechariah 6:12 "Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH: and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord."
•Isaiah 22:20,21 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah."
#2: REJECTION OF ISRAEL BRINGS DESTRUCTION
Jeremiah 2:3 "Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord."
There are two sides to the coin of ancient Israel's history. The touch of God upon the pinnacle of Sinai must be balanced against the touch of God upon the pinnacle of the temple in A.D.70. The first was felt at the formation of the nation, the latter at its dissolution. It is important to realize that Preterists don't see the fall of Jerusalem in AD70 as punishment from God for the murder of Christ, as much as the natural consequence of having rejected him. in other words, the Jewish nation destroyed itself by rejecting Jesus as Israel.
Hosea 13:9 "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."...
http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/j/jesus-is-israel.html