The War in Israel: Reformed Thoughts | Theocast

The events in Israel in recent days have sparked a lot of theological debate. Here at Theocast, we have gotten a number of questions from listeners. How should we think about the horrific terrorist attack on Israeli citizens and the turmoil that rages on? Are these events the fulfillment of end-time prophecy? What do these events mean for the mission of the church? Jon and Justin respond to these questions and more in today’s episode.
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#endtimes #israel #palestine

[@ATippingBarn]

Guys, thank you for the clarity and calmness regarding a very tumultuous time. Regardless of eschatology, Christ told us no one knows the day of his return, so we are to always be vigilant and faithful to the work assigned to us in the meantime and not fear. Something I’m dealing with myself nowadays.

[@Angie-lw8vl]

Wow this is really good examination of covenant theology! You guys have a lot of godly wisdom. I pray evangelicals will catch up with the truth.

[@youaresomethingelsereally6260]

Perfect explanation. Palestinian christian here!

[@evo2girl]

Many years ago I started studying the book of Revelation. And what a revelation it bacame for me!! I don't know why I wasn't seeing what my church was teaching. I was asking questions first, but was told that I am a nobody, and that I should trust our church leaders. I don't ask them questions anymore, I ask God to show me, explain to me. And I am happy. I work among Christians, just recently expressed my belief on Israel, now they tell me that I need to confess, repent, and bless Israel. I was wondering if my belief is shared by anyone else and found you. I praise our Lord from Whom my help comes.

[@angela.5708]

Wow! This has been the best explanation I’ve heard so far!! I agree 100%. Thanks guys and keep up the good work 😊

[@carlgobelman]

Thank, brothers! This was a balanced, pastoral response to a very touchy subject. I have been saying these same things to the people at my church.

[@kennethramirez114]

thank you, this brings so much clarity!

[@Andrewjphoto]

A much needed episode. Good stuff!

[@terrytube777]

Good stuff. You put all this in proper perspective.

[@jeanettewilson4591]

Such a helpful and shareable discussion. Thank you.

[@_HomewardBound]

Just subscribed, I look forward to viewing your previous videos. ☝🏁❗

[@scottmcloughlin4371]

What does Scripture write? Plain as day? “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” - Luke 17:20-21. Plain as day.

[@rickb4915]

Good stuff guys 👍

[@marisolmagana9644]

In war there´s no right and wrong, everything is wrong, there's no winners and losers, everybody loses 😢😢😢

[@heartofalegend]

Okay, so the purpose of today's Theocast was to help center our thinking, theologically. I suppose that makes sense since this is theologically driven at its core. But I'm wondering if you might be willing to provide some guidance for those of us who are seeking clarity on what we should expect from our leaders, in response to what is happening. Militarily and politically speaking, are there some good biblical guidelines or examples to follow, as to what is the proper way for our government to proceed, assuming we should get involved at all?

[@bowinghearts]

Great conversation brothers

[@AgeDeo2009]

Focusing more on ethnic Israel than our Lord Jesus Christ, has made even the most devout of Christians easily manipulated by the enemy. May we focus instead on the Lord Jesus and carry out the Great Commission.

[@JesusIsKing-109]

This statement is so true! I had to write it down.

[@christophercatiller2422]

Thank you for this discussion. A refreshing listen separate from the doom and gloom everywhere else in media.

[@CFCMahomet]

The difficulty is that there are victims and perpetrators on both sides.

[@ManassehJones]

Amen. Word. It's not replacement theology. It's continuation theology. The elect sons of God, Jews and Gentiles, born again from above by the will and grace of God alone, through the faith OF, and shed blood OF, Jesus Christ alone.....is Israel. Also, there are NOT two "Israels."

[@MyLifeShortFilms]

Thank you! I’ve been waiting for someone with sound understanding to make a video! You have so much misinformation and misunderstanding of end time things.

[@MyLifeShortFilms]

I mean, in general misinformation… I didn’t mean “you” as personal, I meant as in “you” as in the other sources…(in general)

[@jordancda]

I would love to see a whole episode focused specifically on rebutting and addressing replacement theology.

[@THEOCAST]

Replacement theology does not exist. It’s made up from people who don’t understand covenant theology.

[@jordancda]

@@THEOCAST Absolutely! I 100% agree. It's a slander against baptistic covenant theology.

[@BrotherInChrist]

Regarding the concept of Replacement Theology there are really two distinctly separate issues: 1) Did the new testament ekklesia replace the old testament ekklesia? 2) Is the nation of Israel elect and restored to God at the return of the Son of man as King? Both covenant theology and dispensationalism have elements of Biblical truth, and both have grievous error. I believe the Father's heart is sorrowed by sons and daughters who place their faith in ~isms and ~ologies.

[@goodshorts]

I am not reformed (I do not think the L of TULIP is biblical) however I appreciate your perspective on end times. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shines through and THAT is what this world needs.

[@cindymonk6994]

How are we to understand the “rapture” passages? I am making the journey into reformed theology and I never heard of any eschatology other than premillennialism. Thank you for helpful pods like this one!

[@jhawkins723]

What would you like to understand I can help ?

[@jenniferr7361]

One of the best resources for end times eschatology would be to listen to Kim Riddlebarger. He gives an awesome overview of the Reformed/confessional view on the topic

[@mattyT618]

As you look into this, consider that historic premillennialism views the "rapture" and the second coming of Christ as the same event, occuring after tribulation and before the millennium. The view that the rapture would occur before the tribulation wasn't really formulated until the early 1800s as a part of Dispensational theology that was popularized by the Scofield bible. Also, note that the amillenial view held by the guys in the video and promoted in the above comments was the more popular view during the Reformation. I'm currently looking into amillenialism having grown up in dispensationalism.

[@benjaminhoward4630]

​@@mattyT618That's a good synopsis, it's mostly a matter of timing. The earliest Church was pretty split between what would eventually be termed Amillennialism and what is now called Historic Premillennialism, in order to differentiate from the modern dispensational theology that borrows the name. Few people are aware of it, and I could see it going either way.

[@mattyT618]

@@benjaminhoward4630 I got Charles Hill's book to check out the extent to which the early church held amil views, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I also wasn't sure how solidified scholarship is on the issue. I have a ways to go!

[@SSNBN777]

The Nation of Israel already received the promise of the land. They cheated on Him repeatedly. He divorced the Nation in 70 AD and has left the land desolate until He Returns (Dan 9:26-27). Joshua 21:43-45 KJV *_And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein._* [44] *_And the LORD gave them rest round about,_* according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; *_the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand._* [45] *_There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass._*

[@philiptweet5970]

Yes, I just see that his coming was in AD70, and now his people called the church have the new covenant that is forever, no earth burning event in our future, The earth is forever Psalm 78:69, Christ was the true vine ie. Israel. That’s why it’s so important to be in Christ. All the promises are yes and amen in Him. 2 Corinthians 1:20 and longer a land promise, that’s why the New Testament Christian’s were selling their land in the book of Acts.

[@mikeheath8318]

Yes! @15:07 "fulfilment theology". Thanks for being clear.

[@NotCalvinist777]

Aka replacement theology which is a latent form of antisemitism

[@mikeheath8318]

@@NotCalvinist777 The only thing which has been replaced is the old covenant, the Mosaic covenant. In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Heb8:13.

[@carlgobelman]

I know you guys know this, but we need to distinguish between eschatology as a doctrine and eschatological views of the end times. Vos believed that eschatology preceded soteriology. In other words, our eschatological hope was in view in the garden before the fall and the need for redemption. This is a much broader view of eschatology that just various millennial views or our interpretation of the Book of Revelation. As I said, I know you guys know this. I wonder how many others actually know this. Love the pod!

[@jhawkins723]

Wow facts

[@benjames1497]

Where’s the call to justice for all the Palestinians that have been tortured, imprisoned, raped, etc for the past 50 years under occupation & blockage. Educate yourselves brothers.

[@biblehistoryscience3530]

What would you say if Israel not only survived enemy attacks but started building a new temple?

[@esmemacfarlane7665]

In modern parlance they are called Israelis. Thanks for your good work and teaching . 🙏

[@mkshffr4936]

I gave been amazed at the hateful genocidal talk from many claiming the name of Christ all based on an eschatology that has been widely accepted in the US for a century or so.

[@mikekayanderson408]

👍👍👍

[@indigatorveritatis7343]

Not sure these people who hold to this replacement idea reject the term, though I don't even consider it an actual theology, necessarily

[@robinsheffield1140]

Love what you are doing here BUT Jesus also said he would return with the kingdom before his disciples tasted death. But thank you so much for clarifying that biblically the "prophecy" people associate with Israel already happened and the modern state of Israel is not needed or associated with what believers think is going to happen. "It is finished"

[@cbwilson2398]

For Justin and me, please.

[@michealferrell1677]

That is just to biblical for most Christians

[@jakerinehold9697]

What is Israel today? Most people I know assume they are the actual descendants of the ancient Jews. I don't believe so. Certainly there were Jews after the 70 AD massacre and even after the Bar Kokhba rebellion in and around year 136. But the remaining Jews proselyted very heavily in Europe and even adopted entire pagan nations such as Kasaria in about the year 800. The blood line would have been diluted quickly. Today, Israel is the only Western nation in the Middle East, but they are not descendants of ancient Israel.

[@ReformedBelieverSince96]

Wow, very interesting and helpful. Thank you!

[@mikevigilance6914]

Question are these pastors Calvinist?

[@soteriology1012]

I actually like this particular message and agree with it. We need to pray for justice on both sides. The horrible injustice on both sides is appalling. I would hate to have to live in Palestine which is an open air prison. We should also pray for peace lest this whole conflict like also in Ukraine too and in a new Armenia genocide also erupt into a global thermonuclear war. Also China and the US are a potential powder keg over island China. A new Armenian genocide has taken a back seat in our news also. The Armenians are heavily a Christian people. US Christians do not seem to care about them as much as Israel. As far as eschatology goes I often wonder if there is an abomination that makes desolate it might involve the resumption of animal sacrifices in Israel. The book of Hebrews is written in the light of Jesus having been made the final sacrifice for sin, Israel in spite of the signs that God was no longer accepting their sacrifices and traditions continuing under the Jewish sacrificial system which brought on the Holocaust of AD 70. In the light of AD 70 would it not be an abomination itself if Israel restored a system of sacrifice that was rejected by God's wrath? I mean if AD 70 was an abomination because it was a rejection of the blood of bull and goat sacrificial system after the Lamb of God which took away the sins of the world, what then might God's response to a full restoration of it some day in the near future? I mean maybe that third temple sacrifices might be the very abomination that brings down all the horrible judgments of the book of revelation on the world with of course Christians driving it along. Gods people in our churches cheering on national israel to re establish a system of sacrifice that was so violently rejected in AD 70?? Just what might that look like? Sometimes I wonder if what brings on the great tribulation is not some pagan setting up some idol in a re built third Jewish temple but rather the very reestablishment of an institution that was at one time established by God but later superseded by Jesus Christ and rejected by God. As I am often told that If I were to go out and sacrifice an animal on an altar after the blood of Jesus has been established it would be a blasphemous abomination in the sight of God TODAY.

[@Bythegraceofgod1646]

3:54 What is the video?! Come on now.

[@johntaylor5652]

88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988.......you missed it!! 😉

[@cynthiahunter2570]

I agree with Joe Morecraft, author of the 8-volume commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism titled “Authentic Christianity” who said that Israel should wipe out Hamas just as God commanded Israel to do to the Amalekites.

[@SSNBN777]

That's not "their" land. They lost it in 70 AD after rejecting their Messiah. Joshua 21:43-45 KJV *_And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein._* [44] *_And the LORD gave them rest round about,_* according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; *_the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand._* [45] *_There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass._*

[@maryheiman4091]

God was protecting his seed, Jesus that is why he was so good to Israel, not on their account because somehow they were holier than other people but just because God is good Jesus is Israel

[@greengateacreshomestead4324]

I know you guy are Americans right? I am not but you did use the word - transition - at minute: 17:08 from the OLD to the NEW, do you know what a synonym is? if you do, you will find the word replacement, hence you do teach replacement theology. Being grafted in does not have the same meaning as transition, you guys fail English 101 forget the theology part. A synonym for grafted is union, meaning is added.

[@toolegittoquit_001]

Keep your misguided English lessons to yourself

[@jackdrusus2226]

Are both Calnvinists Please?

[@christgiveslife2302]

Yes they are, have admitted as much, and they hold to the 1689 Confession of Faith, also known as the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, or the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, a Reformed confession. It was written by English Baptists who subscribed to a Calvinistic soteriology. Calvinism is just a bad philosophy based on the misuse of cherry-picked sentences from the Bible such that God’s character is maligned and God didn’t mean what He actually said-which is exactly what Satan said in the garden. Gentiles are grafted in, they do not replace nor do they fulfill. Read Rom 10:16 thru 11:29. God still has a plan for “traditional Israel/His people” as named in that section.

[@jackdrusus2226]

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; Aramaic Bible in Plain English Because all of them have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God, Contemporary English Version All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. The Wages of Sin (1 Peter 3:14-22) What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Predestination: So what would you say in light of the follwing 9 verses? which are all from the King James Bible. Predestination Rom: 2- 11 Acts 10-34…1 John 2-2….2 Cor: 5 13-15. 2 Peter 3 -9…1 Tim 2 3-6….John 3-16 John 1-19.1 Tim: 2 3-6. Romans 10:11-13. So you must either conclude that either Bible is wrong/or that it contradicts itself/or the Calvisim is wrong. So what is it to be? A study of each thought that opposes Calvinism is appropriate, and well worth the effort. So with that in mind. I offer 1 Peter 1:13-25 in which Peter completely refutes the notion that one must be regenerated before believing, and instead clearly states that regeneration is the work of the Word of God. alvinism is a false doctrine that teaches God only choses some people to be saved and damns the rest to hell. The scriptures listed below teach otherwise. These are just some of the scriptures that refute Calvinism. There are many, many more. "WHOSOEVER that shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter in" Luke 18:17 "WHOSOEVER that believes in him should not perish" John 3:15. "WHOSOEVER that drinks of this water that I shall give to him shall neve thrist" John 4:14. "WHOSOEVER that lives and believes in me shall never die" John 11:26. "I am come a light unto the world, that WHOSOEVER believes in me should not abide in darkness" John 12:46. "And it shall come to past that WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" Acts 2:21. "That through his name WHOSOEVER believes in him shall receive remission of sins" Acts 10:43. "WHOSOEVER that believes in him shall not be ashamed" Romans 10:11. "For WHOSOEVER that shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13. "WHOSOEVER shall confess that Jesus is the Son Of God, God dwells in him" 1 John 4:15. "WHOSOEVER believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" 1 John 5:1. "Come unto me ALL OF YOU that labor and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28. "WHOSOEVER Shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father" Matthew 10:32. "For WHOSOEVER will save his life shall lose it" Matthew 16:32. "WHOSOEVER shall receive a little child in my name receives me" Matthew 18:4. "And WHOSOEVER shall do the will of God, the same is my brother and my sister, and my mother" Mark 3:35. "Which you have prepared before the face of ALL PEOPLE" Luke 2:31. "WHOSOEVER that will come after me" Luke 6:47. "The same came for a witness of the light that ALL MEN might believe" John 1:7. Romans: 10: 9-13/John 3. 16/John 1-19/ They you quote more scriptues which support Calvinism. So in the light of the above would you say that Bible contradicts itself? If so, there is no hope for of us? Or does it just come down to personal interpretation and if so how do you know which interpretation is right?....So you have to bend the meaning of Scripture to support their theology, it that not so? Two men are downing on which basis does God decide (in light of His Own Word and will not contradict it self) chose one above the other given that He shows no partiality? Yes God is Sovereign. But he can't contradict His won word. Predestination Rom: 2- 11 Acts 10-34…1 John 2-2….2 Cor: 5 13-15. 2 Peter 3 -9…1 Tim 2 3-6….John 3-16 John 1-19.1 Tim: 2 3-6. Romans 10:11-13. So you must conclude that either Bible is wrong/or that it contradicts itself/or that it just comes down to personal interpretation... which is subjective? So what is to be done? Dead Right...Many thanks .@@christgiveslife2302 Hoewwould they refute these verses?? The can't handle Revelation Becuase their founders could not handle it.... If the foundations are wrong this will have comdpounding effect/affect

[@SSNBN777]

Yes. Their fall back statement is always "God can do whatever He wants." But He "wants" (even guarantees), He'll never break His Word. Otherwise, how could He ever be trusted? Which is why Calvinists are always filled with doubt.

[@mkshffr4936]

​@@christgiveslife2302Yes, they admit that they believe the scriptures.

[@toolegittoquit_001]

@@SSNBN777Tell us you don’t know about Calvinism without saying I don’t know anything about Calvinism

[@philiptweet5970]

It’s all over and you don’t see it, The new heavens and earth is the New covenant in Christs blood. The Olivet discourse is not divided or in multiple horizons like dispensational or your teachings.

[@NotCalvinist777]

“Replacement theology doesn’t exist… That’s just a bogeyman somebody made up” Says the replacement theologians Of course you’re going to say that replacement theology is a bogeyman that somebody made up

[@anonomus3696]

I drink that ol tequila maybe once or twice a year

[@THEOCAST]

Hahhahaha yup

[@johndodson8464]

Judaism is that theonomy heresy that teaches that the Messiah has not yet come, but will come via political power. Theonomists can garner their own country. That's fine. But in recognizing a country, we are not thereby obligated to buy into their heresy.

[@robertdavidson9674]

Theonomy has nothing to do with Judaism. Theonomy means God's law. So you are calling God's law heresy?

[@johndodson8464]

@robertdavidson9674 I wonder why Jesus didn't accept Kingship?? Did Jesus hate God's law, too?

[@bsusie1]

@@johndodson8464, Because as He said, His kingdom is not of this world. No, He kept the feasts and obeyed the Mosaic law, but upon His death and resurrection the old was replaced by the new.

[@johndodson8464]

@@bsusie1 Amen.

[@maryheiman4091]

The problem with those who believe those who bless Israel God will bless focus on the Jewish people like God favors them above any other believer, and that when he comes again, it’s going to be all about being for the Jews and he’s gonna set up his kingdom and we’re all gonna serve the Jews That just doesn’t make sense. Jesus wants all men to come to salvation Israel is Jesus and anyone who is in Christ is true Israel. that’s where I have trouble with Zionist Christians and a lot of Jewish believers

[@dungeoneering1974]

If you can't see the part Israel plays in the End Times and how miraculous it is that Israel exists again, gathered from all the nations, I don't know what more will convince you.

[@ed0078]

70 AD tearing down the wall ended the old covenant, that was the end time for ethnic jews related to covenant. Since the resurrection the church has been the new covenant or jews at heart gathered from ALL nations. Are you a christian from another nation then you are a jew according to Paul. As for today and the nation of Israel it is nothing more than any other nation with peoples. The jews of Israel in no way can they pinpoint their heritage as a jew. The blood has been watered down to the point we must ask what makes a jew a jew? What percentage? Today we have DNA but this still proves the point at what percentage of jewish heritage do we say you are a jew. Where is the line. YOU CAN’T!. It is the church who are the chosen and this alone. Israel is a nation created in 1947-1948 just like any other nation which had a time stamp. Also, are Americans who have an Israeli passport and citizenship, Jewish? Who were born and have heritage from Scotland?

[@Camilodocan-ek1ls]

Not the physical Israel but the true Israel of God, Jewish and Gentile believers of Christ (the Church), plays the big role, as the end time is approaching, as the object of the coming wrath from the man of lawlessness. Read Matt. 24-25 and Revelation.

[@toolegittoquit_001]

There has always been a spiritual Israel. The ‘nation’ of Israel really doesn’t matter since they rejected Christ.

[@CFCMahomet]

The current situation is centered on secular Israel, not spiritual Israel. But Netanyahu (who I met in 20013) knows the power of using scripture (and evangelicals) to his ends. There is a reason why the Israeli government subsidizes pastor trips to Israel and funds John Hagee’s ministry CUFI.

[@darleneperetto1117]

I don't think GOD made covenant with a "spiritual" Isreal. HE made covenant without Abraham who slept through the whole thing!! Isreal has not ceased to exist. This makes NO sense to me at all.

[@greengateacreshomestead4324]

You say you have clear understanding but I doubt that. As said before you preach replacement theology, I know you don't like it but is what it is. Since you think you have the " right " understanding can you explain Romans 11:25-27 (LSB) 25 For I do not want you, brothers, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation-that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” 27 “AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” It looks to be clear that the Covenant with Israel is not over yet. Is simple hermeneutics, clear text. Paul is referring to the OT as the promises are still standing , so yes we are commanded by God to bless Israel and not Ukraine.

[@jaysonb.6669]

What do you consider a blessing beyond sharing the truth & love of Jesus Christ? If the State of Israel elects an official who makes himself dictator & kills anyone who opposes his military aims, would you still bless Israel in the same way?

[@Mrtellitlikeitis]

This area will always have problems. Preach elsewhere

[@STARSILVER117]

I really cant support either side. They are both horrible and have done horrendous things to each other.

[@kevintopalian3754]

Not that simple: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGGolJR4YqueZ9E