Eschatology: Part 3- Covenants

  • Replacement theology (also known as supersessionism) essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. Among the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel are the church has replaced Israel (replacement theology), the church is an expansion of Israel (covenant theology), or the church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism/premillennialism).     

The Covenants: • Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1-3; Gen 15:6-7) • Sinai (“Mosaic”) Covenant (Exod. 20-24) • Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7) • The New Covenant  -Several passages in the prophets, but most explicitly in Jeremiah, speak of a new covenant in the messianic age (Isa. 42:6; Isa 49:6-8; Isa 55:3; Isa 59:21; Isa 61:8; Jer. 31:31, 33; Jer 32:40; Jer 50:5; Ezek 16:60, 62; Ezek 34:25; Ezek 37:26).    

• Purpose of Israel was to be light bearers,  • The covenants all pointed to the regathering of the nations (the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant) • God’s people will inherit the whole world • God has fulfilled his promises (Abrahamic= Nations being regathered, Mosaic= stopgap until Jesus, Davidic=Jesus as king, New Covenant= inaugurated) • The specialness of Israel was that they were the people that Messiah would come through. God’s plan of redemption for the whole world was through them.   • It is a little silly to think that God is blessing those that are hostile towards Him (Non-Messianic Jews) and even hate the Messiah.

NOTE: At 14:35 Reference should be to Jeremiah 3:8