One of God promises in the Old Testament was the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel. He had allowed them to be conquered again and again because of their disobedience. But, consonant with their future national salvation would come a restoration of their kingdom as well. Again, there are a multitude of verses that promise this restored everlasting Kingdom (Jeremiah 23:5,6; Ezekiel 37:24-28; Daniel 2:44; Amos 9;11-15; Obadiah 1:17-21; Zechariah 14:9-17)

The New Testament also reiterates the restoration of Israel’s kingdom. When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary, and told her that she was to have a child by the Spirit of God coming upon her, he said of this child “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end”. (Luke 1:32, 33). What would these words have conveyed to Mary? Undoubtedly that her son will rule the nation of Israel, as her ancestor David did.

Later in His ministry Jesus promises His twelve disciples that, “…in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). What could this mean except a restoration of the Kingdom of Israel?

In His Olivet Discourse recorded in Luke 21, Jesus spoke of the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the dispersion of the Jews. He said, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). This is a prophecy of the destruction by Rome of literal Jerusalem and its subsequent domination by Gentile powers. However, a time limit is placed on this domination by the word, “until”. Jesus says that one day the domination will end. What can this refer to but the restoration of Jerusalem to Jewish rule?

And finally, after the resurrection of Christ, His disciples asked him a pressing question: “…Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). It would had been simple for Him to say, “No. You don’t understand. My kingdom is spiritual, not physical”. But how did He answer His disciples? “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7). Had they misunderstood? Hardly. Jesus in no way diminishes their hopes of a restored kingdom; rather He says that the restoration of the kingdom to Israel will come in God’s own timing.

Conclusion

Replacement Theology does a disservice to the church, Israel and the word of God. The substitution of the church for Israel runs contrary to the expectation of the prophets, the expectation of Jesus’ disciples and the clear teaching of both the Old and the New Testaments. If God will not fulfill His promises to Israel, what guarantee do we have that He will fulfill His promises to the church? Has God rejected Israel? May it never be!