5.16 Supplement 3
Misunderstandings of the role of the Jews in the plan of salvation.
Probably the oldest misunderstanding of the role of the Jews in the plan of salvation is the so-called replacement theology. According to this, the Church is considered to have completely taken over the Jews' role in the plan of salvation, since the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world and as their Messiah. However, it is not this way.
According to the Bible, the Jews will come back into their original calling during the Millennium, when Israel becomes a light for all the peoples of the earth, and instruction in the law of God goes forth from Jerusalem. As a nation, the Jews will return to their original calling in connection with Jesus' visible return as king, when he saves them from total annihilation. (See the text with illustrations 5.10 and 5.11)
Until then, their mission is temporarily carried out in this age by us Christian "gentiles". Our age is also therefore called the church age.
The next misunderstanding is that gentile Christians should therefore not devote time and energy trying to convert Jews now, since Jesus himself will accomplish this in one day at his visible return.
However, in order for the resurrection of those who are dead in Christ to be able to occur at all, in connection with the rapture of the Bride, a forerunner group of Jews must have first come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
Through missions outreach among the Jews, the Church's assignment therefore also includes bringing forth this forerunner group. (See maxi-text, sections 5.7 and 12.1; will be translated later. ) For now, the Jews who are most open and receptive to the gospel seem to be those who have not yet settled in Israel.
The third misunderstanding is somewhat the direct opposite, namely, that the Jews will take over the mission of the Church already in this age's most important final phase.
According to Darby's theory, the Bride is taken away before the birth pains of the end times begin.
The complete evangelization of the world which the Church up until then has not been able to accomplish during the previous 100 years, would then suddenly be carried out in just 7 years, by Jews and Christians who are left behind, who would be transformed into better super-evangelists than Billy Graham.
The worst thing about these three false views is that they have the effect of producing apathy in us Christians, so that we do not fully take the great commission seriously. Furthermore, they conflict with the overall biblical viewpoint.
