A Refutation from the Bible of Replacement Theology (10 January 2017, 13 Tevet, 5777)
Contents:
1. Introduction: Demographic Islamic and Other Dangers Ahead
2. Replacement Theology
3. Bruce McKerras
4. Bruce Disembraced
Replacement Theology in a Nutshell by Bruce McKerras
5. Brit-Am Replies:
(1. The sceptre shall not depart
(2. cease from being a nation before me
(3. Were Other Nations Later Called by "My Name"?
(4Â Hosea Speaks of Israel being Disowned
(5 Select Sources concerning Judah
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1. Introduction: Demographic Islamic and Other Dangers Ahead
These days we are faced with the high birthrate of Muslim immigrants in Europe.
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Craig White tells us:
World's Changing Demographics | 23Ago2011 19:58:25
http://wake-up.acordem.com/blog/22830/
Extracts:As the population shrinks so does the culture. As at 2007 the fertility rate in France was 1.8, England 1.6, Greece 1.3, Germany 1.3, Italy 1.2, Spain 1.1.
.... Yet, the population of Europe is not declining, why? Immigration, Islamic immigration. Of all population growth in Europe, since 1990, 90% has been Islamic immigration. ...
In the last 30 years the Muslim population of Great Britain rose from 82.000 to 2.5 million, a 30-fold increase. There are over 1.000 mosques, many of them former churches.
In the Netherlands, 50% of all newborns are Muslim and in only 15 years half of the population of the Netherlands will be Muslim. In Russia there are over 23 million Muslims, that's 1 out of 5 Russians. 40% of the entire Russian army will be Islamic in just a few short years.
Currently in Belgium 25% of the population and 50% of all newborns are Muslim. The government of Belgium has stated 1/3 of all European children will be born to Muslim families by 2025, just 17 years away.
.... Â The fall in the [German] population can no longer be stopped. Its downward spiral is no longer reversible... It will be a Muslim state by the year 2050.
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A similar scenario applies concerning the Anglo populations of Canada and the USA.
Who is to blame?
A lot of factors BUT especially moral degradation and lack of belief of former Christians and Jews.
One would think in the light of this that true believers would want to strengthen belief in the Bible.
But no, Christian functionaries seem to prefer to attack the State of Israel and the Jewish people instead of their real enemies.
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2. Replacement Theology
Replacement Theology is also known as Supersession. It says that God not longer cares for the Jewish People but instead in their place has installed believers in Christianity.
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Supersessionism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersessionism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Supersessionism, also called replacement theology or fulfillment theology, is a Christian theological view on the current status of the church in relation to the Jewish people and Judaism. It holds that the Christian Church has succeeded the Israelites as the definitive people of God or that the New Covenant has replaced or superseded the Mosaic covenant. From a supersessionist's "point of view, just by continuing to exist [outside the Church], the Jews dissent" This view directly contrasts with dual-covenant theology which holds that the Mosaic covenant remains valid for Jews.
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We are against Replacement Theology but usually would not concern ourselves with it.
Nevertheless a message promoting the nefarious doctrine was sent to us so we decided to answer.
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3. Bruce McKerras
Bruce McKerras with his wife came to our office in Jerusalem several years ago.
They said they were Christian emissaries and going to live in the Arab Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Over the years he sent us notices with his insights into Scripture.
We do not remember anything exceptional about these but neither on the whole was there anything unduly offensive.
We therefore published some of the messages to our mailing list since such is our policy.
Here and there Bruce later sent us missives showing that he both wished to convert Jews and also considered them impostors and not original Israelites. This is a common phenomenon. Missionaries often hate the Jewish people and if they cannot destroy them spiritually will try to do so otherwise.
They may pretend to be friendly to the Jewish people when they think that this enables them to mislead Jews.
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4. Bruce Disembraced
Recently, in answer to a query,
RE
Brit-Am Now no. 2699. Ten Tribes Studies
http://hebrewnations.com/features/now14/2699.html
#2. Queries from Simon:
c) Why does the Church not investigate this and promote it?
We said:
# It seems to be contrary to mainstream Christian theology.
# Believing Christians are supposed to be born again Israelites replacing those who were descended from Israel.
Subsequently Bruce McKerras sent us extracts from the New Testament and from Scripture justifying in his eyes the Replacement Doctrine.
The arguments from Bruce from the New Testament do not concern us. There are other groups that may well be more than happy to deal with them.
Those passages however from translations of the Hebrew Bible that Bruce quoted are given below.
First there is an extract from what Bruce sent us, then come our answers:
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Replacement Theology in a Nutshell by Bruce McKerras
Many claim to this day that the Christians are by no means the "replacement of the Jews" as the chosen people. But the Bible actually confirms in writing that they are.
It was prophesied:
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Jeremiah 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Jeremiah 31:37 Thus says the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done.
It was prophesied long ago in Amos 9:11-12 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:Â That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name.
Most fail to realize that it was prophesied that those "outside the camp" would become worthy to seek the Lord.
Hosea 1:9, 5:5, 6:8, 2:4, 9:15-17 Then said God; Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. And the pride of Israel does testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their leaders deny Me. Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
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 5. Brit-Am Replies:
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(1. The sceptre shall not depart
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
McKerras is implying that when Shiloh (the Messiah?) comes then Judah will no longer have the scetre and no more be the lawgiver. Â Since he holds that the messiah has already come then such is the situation at present!
The explanation of this verse however depends on its interpretation.
The word translated as "sceptre" in Hebrew is "SHEVET" meaning Tribe. Judah will always be recognizable as the Tribe it is, i.e. the Tribe of Judah, i.e. the Jews.
"Shiloh" is understood to be the Messiah BUT this is not certain. Nevertheless we shall accept it at least for the time being though it is not unequivocal.
The word translated as "until" in Hebrew is "ad" which also means (Commentary quoted by the Shelah and others) "forever" : Â The expression should be re-read as saying:Â
"... nor a lawgiver from between his feet forever, Shiloh shall come and unto him...
We understand the verse according to the explanation given above together with that by Rabbi Manasseh ben Yisrael.
The Tribal Identification shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, forever, Shiloh [the Messiah?] shall come and he shall bring together [Hebrew: yikhat] the Peoples [of Israel].
Judah will always be recognizable as a people, the ability to decide the Law will remain with Judah forever. The Messiah (Shiloh) will come, and he shall bring all the Tribes of Israel together and identify who belongs to them.
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(2. cease from being a nation before me
Jeremiah 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Jeremiah 31:37 Thus says the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done.
These verses were quoted as if to say that it was prophesied that Israel and Judah would cease to be the Chosen Nations before the Almighty. When however we look at these verses TOGETHER WITH THE VERSE PRECEDING THEM a different picture emerges.
Jeremiah 31:
35 Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for light by day
And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar;
The LORD of hosts is His name:
36  If  this fixed order departs
From before Me, declares the LORD,
Then the offspring of Israel also will cease
From being a nation before Me forever.
37 Thus says the LORD,
If the heavens above can be measured
And the foundations of the earth searched out below,
Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel
For all that they have done, declares the LORD.
In other words Israel will remain before the LORD as long as the stars and heavens exist, i.e. forever.
This shows the opposite of what Bruce tried to say.
The almighty says HE will never abandon the Jewish People.
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(3. Were Other Nations Later Called by "My Name"?
Amos 9:
11 Â In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David,
And wall up its breaches;
I will also raise up its ruins
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom
And all the nations who are called by My name,
Declares the Lord who does this.
Bruce understands "and all the nations that are called by My name" to refer to non-Israelite Christians who will have replaced the Jewish and Israelite Hebrews as the Chosen People.
The verse in question is translated as:
Amos 9:
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom
And all the nations who are called by My name,
Declares the LORD who does this.
It should be read:
12 That they, may possess the remnant of Edom
And all the nations, who are called by My name,
Declares the Lord who does this.
i.e.
12 That they [i.e. Israel] who are called by My name may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations, Declares the Lord who does this.
"and all the nations" are the object. They together with the remnant of Edom shall be possessed by Israel.
This interpretation is in line with the Commenators (Targum Yehonatan, Radak, etc) and with the grammatical structure of the Hebrew and with common sense consistent with the rest of Scripture.
The verse needs to be seen in its context:
Amos 9:
8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Nevertheless, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,
Declares the Lord.
9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
God will raise up the House of David and heal Israel who are called by the Name of God IN ORDER that they may possess the whole of Edom and all the heathen peoples.
The Commentary of Daat Mikra (by Amos Chocham) on Amos says, in free translation:
# The intention is that as long as Israel remained the "sinful kingdom" (Amos 9:8) there was division between the Two Houses of Judah [i.e. the Ten Tribes and Judah]. The children of Israel were unable to overcome their enemies who neighbored them. Nevertheless when the Tribes of Israel unite into one Kingdom they will have the ability to defeat their foes and to enlarge their borders. #
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(4Â Hosea Speaks of Israel being Disowned
McKerras quotes Hosea but evidently has misunderstood it.
The prophet Hosea says in effect that the Ten Tribes (represented by Gomer and her sons) have been temporarily disowned.
Judah (i.e. the Jews however) remains together with the Almighty.
Hosea 1:
 7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen.
Hosea 11:
12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
We see that Hosea says the opposite of what McKerras claims it does.
So too with all the other such claims.
Scripture shows that Judah will always belong to God and so too in the End Times will the Ten Tribes.
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(5 Select Sources concerning Judah
25 Jewish Identifiers. Proofs that the Jews of Today are Judah of the Bible
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/jew/judahjews.html
Brother Judah
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/bro.html
Through Judah. We Live because of Religious Jews!
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/inme.html
Israel and Judah
Historical Outline and Biblical Demographics
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/outline2.html
Different Tasks. Each Tribe has its own peculiar mission to fulfill
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tasks.html
  Â
List of Articles Concerning Judah
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/jew/
Articles in List:
Why The Jews Are Judah!
Judah and Prophecy by Bert Otten
Jewish Denial?
The Task of Judah
Jews and Joes
Scriptural Reality
The Roman Eagle
The Message to Judah
The Message from Judah to Joseph
Keeping the Law
Terminology
Israel and the Sabbath
Traitors
25 Jewish Identifiers