Part of the dispensationalist literal view of Israel parallel to the church is a concept known as replacement theology. Replacement theology was created as a negative connotation against mainstream theology because the understanding for centuries has been that Israel continues to exist through Christ and the church.
A similar expression is fulfillment theology, which purports that the church fulfills all of the prophecies of the Old Testament.
Replacement theology is a strawman and is used to vilify anyone opposed to dispensationalism. In Romans 11:1-24, Paul assures us that Israel is not replaced, so there is no need for replacement theology. It has no foundation in Scripture, thus, attempts by dispensationalists to criticize anyone using replacement theology are meaningless.
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy is Jesus Christ. Christ is both the preserver of Israel and head of the church. God promised David that his descendants would be king forever. 1 Chronicles 17:11-15 David represented the Jews through Judah, and this promise is completed in Christ. Israel is not replaced, and its replacement was never contemplated in Scripture.
We do see, however, a continuation of Israel. Their continuation is in obedience to the Scriptures, which begins with belief on Christ. Israel is also a light to the nations, and its continuation is in taking the message of salvation in Christ to the nations. Deuteronomy 4:6-8, Genesis 28:14, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 13:47, Isaiah 42:6,49:6 1 Peter 2:9
There is no further need, however, for a physical temple, a physical kingdom, and a physical nation. As is contemplated throughout the Old Testament, Israel continues in the kingdom of heaven and its manifestation on earth. Israel also continues through the church, for the church represents salvation having been taken to the nations. However, Israel is not replaced.
Neither fulfillment nor continuation means non-existence. Jesus Christ, we understand, fulfilled the sacrificial law, yet the law remains valid to this day. Everyone must look to Christ as a ready blood sacrifice for sin. Failing to do so results in judgment. David’s descendant remains king to this day through Christ, who established His kingdom on earth as a spiritual kingdom. Thus, prophecy fulfilled does not mean the result no longer exists. On the contrary, Christ eternally spiritualized Old Testament law and the kingdom of heaven, such that physical representations through a temple and animal sacrifice are no longer necessary.
Fulfillment and continuation means we have possession of the result in the present, not that something no longer exists. An order placed for new shoes is fulfilled when you receive the shipment and possess the shoes. All of the components needed to construct a house continue to exist when construction is completed. Both analogies help us understand the purpose of the Old Testament. We today possess salvation through Christ, not through animal sacrifice, thus, there is fulfillment evidenced by possession. What does no longer exist is the anticipation of the fulfillment, for we now possess and do not anticipate that which we already possess. You do not continue anticipating the fulfillment of your new shoes once you wear them because you now possess them. The object of prophecy in the Old Testament is not thrown away once we have possession. Instead, all elements of the prophecy continue to exist, even though we now possess it and no longer await its coming. We need not wait for what we already possess.
If possession through fulfillment and the continuation of what is prophesied are objectionable, then we can also observe how Christ preserves the posterity of Israel. Jesus Christ was born a Jew and heir to the throne of Judah in Israel. Through His resurrection, the posterity of Israel is eternally preserved and continues eternally. Through Christ’s resurrection, Old Testament promises to Israel continue to be fulfilled, eternally preserving the posterity and legacy of Israel. Those who are in Christ are adopted as children. Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5 As adopted children, we are heirs. Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Ephesians 3:6, Titus 3:7, James 2:5 Thus, Israel’s posterity continues through Christ and through all those who are adopted as children and as heirs to His kingdom. Israel is, therefore, eternally preserved through Christ and the church.
While we should agree with dispensationalists that Israel does continue to exist, Christ unifies Israel and the church, so that neither exists independently of the other. The church is both physical in this world and spiritual through the kingdom of heaven. Why do we need a physical kingdom on earth if we already have a better kingdom in heaven?
Any replacement of Israel would essentially do away with Christ, which is blasphemy and a rejection of God-breathed Scripture. Thus, “replacement theology” is nothing more than a straw man to abuse those who trust in the plain reading of God-breathed Scripture.
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