Focus on Israel

Laurie Cardoza-Moore: I'm Laurie Cardoza-Moore, and this is Focus on Israel. Hello, and thank you for joining me today on Focus on Israel. My name is Laurie Cardoza-Moore, a wife and proud mother of five wonderful children. Like most Americans, I began to ask a lot of questions about what happened to our country following 9/11. As I read and talked to experts, the issues of radical Islam and the attacks on America and Israel became extremely personal to me. In response, I founded Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and sharing the message of Christian biblical responsibility to the people and land of Israel against the rise of a new anti-Semitism.

In this series, Focus on Israel, I wanted to share with you what I've learned through my research and meetings with experts in their respective fields. The mission of this series and PJTN is to educate and equip you so that you can share this information with your family and friends. We'll present information you'll not see in the mainstream media, and with your financial support, we can reach Christians around the world with our message to stand against the growing threat of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel propaganda. After studying the scriptures, I realized that God had not forsaken his covenant with his people, Israel.

Unfortunately, there is a growing trend in Christianity to spread an age-old false doctrine and tradition called replacement theology. This heretical doctrine suggests that because the Jews denied Christ, the covenant promises given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants now belong to the church. That is why during the Holocaust, many Christians turned a blind eye to the Nazi death camps. Many felt justified in their passive and active involvement because they believed the Jews were the Christ killers. For this reason, we must learn and spread the truth. It is so very important that at this critical time in history, we must turn our focus on Israel.

Now, if you've missed any of our past programs, I highly recommend that you purchase the DVDs of our past programs. Every lesson covers a specific topic and contains a wealth of information. Plus, each one features interviews with numerous experts, including theologians, rabbis, pastors, political leaders, historians, and prominent archaeologists, many of them from Israel. Each program makes a great group study source to share with your family, friends, home group, or church. So please consider how you can make a difference and spread the word. Today we're going to look deeper into the controversial subject of replacement theology, an age-old false doctrine that began with Constantine and still persists to this day.

While some of you may not be familiar with the term replacement theology, unfortunately, all of us have been affected by its negative influence coming through many centuries of church history. It began as a very serious doctrinal error, the lie, the false belief that the church had replaced Israel in the plan of God. In short, replacement theology suggests that because Israel rebelled and fell away, she forfeited her promises and covenant blessings, and therefore the church has replaced her and become the new Israel. Many pastors have rejected this false doctrine, and we'll hear next from one such man, David Hudson.

David is the pastor at Riverside Ministries Church in Morgantown, West Virginia. He has ministered the Word of God worldwide in 55 countries on five continents. He knows the truth, and he speaks it.

David Hudson: Laurie, replacement theology, simply put, to me at least, is the fact that many people believe that the church is going to replace Israel as the position in the earth. I absolutely, 100%, unequivocally do not believe that. I do not believe it's Bible based. Anybody that believes that is misguided, misinformed, don't know their Bible. we have the Presbyterian Church, and even now the Methodist Church is leaning in that direction. again, I would say that, God does have a plan for the church, and it's not to replace Israel. Israel is God's chosen people. They have always been God's people, and they will remain so even until the very end.

God will see them through and will be on their side. So that is absolutely something that is not even in the wildest imagination of whoever would think that, correct.

Laurie Cardoza-Moore: Next, we'll hear from David Brog, the executive director of Christians United for Israel, an American pro-Israel Christian organization. He is the author of a book called In Defense of Faith: The Judeo-Christian Idea and the Struggle for Humanity. As an American Jew, Brog is an active proponent of stronger Jewish-Christian relations, particularly with regard to support of Israel. He worked in the United States Senate for seven years as chief of staff to the late Senator Arlen Specter, and is a graduate of Harvard Law School. As a Jew, he offers tremendous insight into the pain many Jews have experienced due to the false doctrine of replacement theology.

David Brog: The initial problem Jews encounter when they're confronted with Christians who tell us how much they love us is we know this history of Christian anti-Semitism. So the first thing that comes to our mind is, how can Christians persecute us for 2,000 years and then on a dime decide that they love us and want to support us and want to stand with us? It is, it is an historic, what I call a stark historical dissonance. And until we understand what's changed, we're very skeptical because if they could change from hate to love on a dime, maybe they could change back immediately. What I found is that what led to this 2,000 years of Christian anti-Semitism was a Christian theology towards the Jews known as replacement theology.

Replacement theology held that when the Jews failed to recognize Jesus as their Messiah, God rejected the Jewish people as his chosen people. In effect, God said, I'm going to cast aside my chosen people, Israel, and replace them with the church, the people who got it right, the people who recognized Jesus as Messiah. Replacement theology was very dangerous on a number of levels. First of all, just the literal level of the Bible. If the church is now the chosen people, the church is the Israel to whom so much is promised in the Bible, then the Jews are disinherited from their own Hebrew Bible.

All of the promises in Genesis that Israel will inherit the land of Israel simply mean that the Church will inherit the land of Israel. It has nothing to do with the Jews. In Genesis 12:3, that powerful statement that he who blesses Israel will be blessed, and he who curses Israel will be cursed, simply means one must bless the Church of Christ. It has nothing to do with the Jewish people. Secondly, when you focus on this act that supposedly led to the Jewish rejection by God and the Jewish replacement by the church, you tend never to get beyond it. People who embraced replacement theology saw Jews as Christ killers.

They saw Jews as the people who are responsible for deicide. They could never get beyond that negative view of the Jews. And finally, look at the example. If God Almighty, a merciful and loving God, could reject and cast aside the Jewish people, then certainly it would be all right for man to follow God's example and likewise cast aside and reject the Jewish people. And that is exactly what generation after generation of Christians did. That is the negative history we all know, and that's why we're so suspicious of Christian support. After the Reformation, there were some small groups of Protestants in Europe who decided to reject replacement theology.

They read their Bibles literally. They rejected this concept that you must spiritualize the concepts in the Bible. And when these biblical literalists came across the word Israel in their Bible, they decided it did not mean the spiritual descendants of Abraham, the ones who recognized Jesus as Messiah. They interpreted that word Israel literally as the biological descendants of Abraham through Isaac, as a real flesh and blood people, the Jewish people. Look at the enormous difference it makes, this change in interpretation of one word in the Bible. If Israel means the Jewish people, then all of a sudden we are back in the Bible.

We've reclaimed our inheritance. When it said Israel will inherit the land of Israel in Genesis, this means the Jewish people will inherit the land of Israel. The Bible thus read encourages Zionism. It says the Jews inherit the land of Israel. And look at Genesis 12:3. He who blesses Israel will be blessed, and he who curses Israel will be cursed. If Israel means the Jews, the Bible becomes an exhortation to Philo-Semitism. It is nothing less than a commandment to bless the Jewish people. Also, when you focus on the fact that the Jews are still in covenant with God, that God never broke his covenant with the Jews, that the Jews will still inherit the blessings of Israel.

You tend to get past seeing the Jews as simply a people that have been rejected, as a deicide people. You get past this obsession with the alleged Jewish crucifixion of Jesus. You begin to recognize that the Jews have given great gifts to the Christians, that the Jews have given the Christians their Savior Jesus, the apostles, the Hebrew prophets, the Bible, every word of which was written by Jews, you tend to get beyond this narrow obsession and see that Jews have done a great deal to give Christianity everything that is crucial to their faith. And finally, and most importantly, look at the example.

If God Almighty still loves the Jewish people, God Almighty is honoring covenant with the Jewish people, then a Christian wanting to do God's will on earth will likewise seek to love and bless the Jewish people. And that's exactly what we see throughout history. Christians who have rejected replacement theology, Christians who believe that Israel means the Jewish people, have always blessed and loved the Jewish people. I'll give you just a couple of examples. The Puritans in England were a group of Christians who rejected replacement theology. They believed Israel meant the Jewish people. When Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, seized power in England, one of the first things he did was to let the Jews come back to England.

They had been expelled centuries earlier. And you look at the Holocaust. While a continent of Christians schooled in replacement theology was busy killing Jews or standing by and letting it happen, there were some Christians who stood up for the Jewish people, who risked their lives to save the Jewish people. Now, not all of these righteous Gentiles were religious Christians. Some, like Oskar Schindler, were secular people who somehow had this moral compass and the bravery to do the right thing. But the fact is, most righteous Gentiles were religious Christians. And when interviewed after the Holocaust and asked why they did this, why they risked their lives to save Jews, the answers they gave made it crystal clear that they were Christians who rejected replacement theology.

Laurie Cardoza-Moore: From studying history, it's very clear that what starts with the Jews never ends only with the Jews. We must strongly stand against any anti-Semitic trends, for if not stopped, they'll cause harm to all of us, and we'll witness the downfall of our Judeo-Christian Western culture. Jewish tradition in Israel grants full rights for women and people of all races, faiths, and gender. This tradition is what often makes Israel among the first countries to send doctors and field hospitals to any place where a natural disaster occurs, utilizing their medical advances to save lives worldwide. Muslims, Christians, and people of every faith or those of no faith have the freedom to worship or not worship as they choose.

For Muslims, the Jewish state goes out of its way to provide this freedom. For example, every Israeli university gives students the option of deferring their exams during the month of Ramadan. The Knesset calls off all sessions at sunset during Ramadan to ensure that Muslim Knesset members can break their fasts with the traditional iftar dinner. In an open and democratic manner, opportunities for education, advancement, and careers exist for all citizens in the Jewish state. Sadly, such rights and opportunities do not exist in any of the Muslim Arab states. For example, in neighboring Jordan, Jews cannot become citizens, and in Saudi Arabia, no non-Muslim can become a citizen.

Saying that Israel must cease to exist as a Jewish state while accepting that other countries define themselves as Muslim is pure hypocrisy. In most of these countries, no rights exist for non-Muslims, women, and the LGBT community. Muslims, Christians, and all people of conscience should stand proudly and show respect for a country that gives so much to the world in so many ways. Do your part, do your research, and do what you can to make a difference. Because what happens in Israel does affect us all. This is not just a Jewish or just an Israeli problem. This is a problem for all humanity, for each and every one of us who believe in freedom and human rights.

Learn more about what you can do at pjtn.org. We as believers know that our Heavenly Father authored the Bible by inspiring the holy men and prophets of old, and it is comforting to know that he foresaw the deceptions and heresies that would befall the church in these last days. Thankfully, he used the Apostle Paul as well as others to protect us from the sinister lies of the enemy regarding his true intentions of ongoing faithfulness toward Israel. We see in the New Testament where the Apostle Paul teaches on this in Romans 11 and verses 1 and 2. I say then, has God cast away his people? Certainly not, for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Paul goes on in verse 11 saying, I say then, have they, Israel, stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not. Continuing in verse 12, now if their fall is riches for the world and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? And in verse 18, Paul warns us, do not boast against the branches. Remember the root supports you. And although Paul did not use the literal phrase replacement theology, he was speaking to the attitude and false belief that is behind it, the attitude of arrogance coming from the belief that because Israel fell away, the church is supreme.

We as last day believers in Yeshua, would do well to meditate on the warnings of Paul in order to shield ourselves from the very subtle deception that has infiltrated the church through various expressions of replacement theology. The authority of Scripture is truly the bedrock from which all doctrine must be evaluated and analyzed, and in order to ascertain with accuracy the message and meaning of the scriptures, it is imperative to go to the original languages in which they were written. As the late Bible scholar Derek Prince stated, in order to recover the true identity of the church and the true identity of Israel, one must examine the apostles' teaching in the New Testament.

Prince was educated as a scholar of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Aramaic, and held a fellowship of philosophy and logic at King's College. In his research, Prince discovered 79 times in the New Testament where the words Israel or Israelite occur, and after examining them all, he concluded that the apostles never used the term the new Israel, suggesting that the church replaced the covenant God made with the Jews as a synonym for the church. And he goes on to point out that the phrase the new Israel is never used in the New Testament. The term the new Israel is not in the Bible. So how has the modern day church gotten so far off, so far into error?

We know that the beginning of the church was Jewish from its inception when the Apostle Peter stood up to preach on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 were converted, as is revealed in the book of Acts. Peter is later instructed by a heavenly trance to go to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, and the scripture records the Holy Spirit falling upon them. Jew and Gentile believers alike enjoyed growth and rich fellowship for a season until seeds of division began to erupt. Replacement theology was spawned and intertwined with the vile darkness of anti-Semitism. Various heresies and false teachings began to surface in the early church, with numerous leaders heading it up.

Unfortunately, others in that time period began to adopt and promote the same error and false beliefs along with teaching that the Bible was not true literally, but that it was allegorical. Things deteriorated as doctrine became corrupt, and the church went through the dark ages. From about 400 AD, the term New Israel has regularly and mistakenly been used by Bible teachers, commentators, and even translators as a synonym for the church. So what are the dangers of replacement theology? First, it discredits God by implying he does not keep his word nor know the future. It discredits Israel and seeks to cancel her true destiny.

And finally, it causes the church to self-destruct. The thinking behind replacement theology suggests that God fouled up and made a mistake, that he did not know what he was doing when he made an everlasting covenant with Israel. The assumption is made that he did not know the future and therefore did not know that Israel would fall away. Replacement theology totally undermines God's faithfulness and sovereignty, suggesting he either cannot or will not keep his word. These false beliefs imply that he is making things up as he goes along, that he tried plan A for Israel, but that failed, so now he has to move to plan B in replacing her with the church.

That line of thinking paints a picture of a weak, confused God who cannot be trusted. The false claims of replacement theology are supported neither by the Bible nor by the record of history. As replacement theology suggests, is it true that God was indeed surprised by Israel's falling away? No, to the contrary, he revealed it in scripture again and again, many times through the prophets over many years. He foreknew the details of their future as revealed through Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Isaiah, David, and others. God's foreknowledge of Israel is revealed in detail thousands of years ago through the prophet Ezekiel, with the culmination in chapter 36, as the Lord says, "Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate.

I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it. So shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. The foretelling of Israel's future through the spirit of prophecy in Ezekiel leaves no doubt as to whether God knew the future of Israel, and it leaves no doubt regarding his intentions of ongoing faithfulness to her. The message is straightforward and completely nullifies the false beliefs of replacement theology. So can God be trusted to finish what he started with Israel? There are 16 major prophecies regarding Israel in the scriptures, and 13 have already been fulfilled exactly according to scripture.

The last three prophecies have to do with the fulfillment and culmination of God's plan for Israel. Replacement theology suggests that God neither knows the future nor keeps his word. But the living proof of these historical facts demonstrate otherwise. The homecoming of the Jews starting around 1900 is yet more proof of the error of replacement theology. If the church has replaced Israel, why is this supernatural phenomenon occurring? Why would multitudes of Jews feel a stirring to return to their homeland at the same time? Against all odds to survive, why are they still here? The homecoming of the Jews and the ongoing existence of their nation is literal and tangible eyewitness proof to all nations of the world that God does keep his word to his people.

The countdown has begun, and as the battle for Israel intensifies, the battle for truth is magnified. We as believers must continue to come before our Heavenly Father that we might see and discern truth and be spared from destruction. Let us cry out for protection and deliverance from the deceptions and distortions of all forms and expressions of anti-Semitism and replacement theology. Let us cry out for genuine love of the truth that we might be saved, and let us hold fast to the one who is the truth, Yeshua. I wish we had more time to discuss this, but I'm afraid that's our show for today. I want you to know we appreciate hearing from you, so please send your comments and questions to comments@pjtn.org.

The time to stand up is now. Be a leader in your community and in your church. One person can make a difference. Get involved with and support pro-Israel organizations such as PJTN. Call your elected officials. Let your leaders hear from you. Visit our website to learn more. Sign up to receive free newsletters, action alerts, daily blogs, and order our films to share with family and friends. I want to thank you for watching our program today. Be sure to join us again, and encourage your family and friends to tune in, and check the PJTN website for scheduled showings of Focus on Israel. God bless you, and thank you for all you do on behalf of our Jewish brethren and all Israel.

We'll see you next time on Focus on Israel.

Announcer: To support this program, send your tax deductible gift to Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, PO Box 682711, Franklin, Tennessee, 37068. You can also support PJTN online. Visit pjtn.org or call 1-877-873-9020.

Laurie Cardoza-Moore: Antisemitism has reached epic proportions, and Israel is now surrounded by nations who seek its destruction. For Israel to lose just one battle would mean losing everything. As Christians, it is our biblical responsibility to stand with our Jewish brethren and Israel. PJTN needs your help to reach more Christians with this urgent message. Please visit our website to become a member today and order our award-winning documentaries. You must decide that you won't be silent. Sign up now at pjtn.org. God bless you, and thank you for your support and prayers.

Announcer: Focus on Israel is now available on DVD. Each program DVD contains a wealth of bonus materials, including the premier program that started it all, Focus on Israel, program number one. Also, bonus interview cuts with experts in their respective fields, informational videos from PJTN documentaries, plus the award-winning music video, The Forgotten People. Focus on Israel program DVDs, great educational tools to combat anti-Semitism. Arm yourself and order today. Please go online to pjtn.org. To order, just click on the store tab.