If you think amill & posttrib both are replacement theology. Then, amill and posttrib both believe btoh Jews and Gentiles are reconciled together into one by the Calvary 2,000 years ago - Eph. 2:12-16, there is the only one family of God. I do not believed in divided among the household of God. I believe in the unity of the household of God. Both Jews and Gentiles are unity together on the same one olive tree - Romans 11:25-26. Church does not replace Israel. Israel IS Church.
Church is
not: religion, organization, society, building.
Church is God's people throughout all ages from Adam to the end of the world. Church means called out, assembly together, congregation. Also, church is the rock.
Apostle Paul wrote 1 Cor. 10:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the SAME SPIRITUAL MEAT; And did all drink the SAME SPIRITUAL DRINK; for they drank of that SPIRITUAL ROCK that followed them: and
that ROCK WAS CHRIST."
Christ was already there in the wilderness with Moses and Hebrews. They followed Christ, He is their rock. Same as we follow Christ, he is our rock.
While Stephen preached at the council of scribes and priests. He told them of Acts 7:38 "This is he, that was in the
church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:"
Church was already there with Moses in the wilderness. Church means congregation.
Often, the word - church defines congregation while it was in the original manuscripts. During Authorized Version translation in year between 1604 to 1611. King James told them, he want word, 'congregation' removed and chnage to 'church'. 'Church' appeared only in the New Testament. No 'church' appears in the Old testament. Actually, 'church' does appear in the Old Testament lot. I would like you to look at article -
http://the hidingplace.net/topic.cgi?forum=54&topic=28. David Taylor does a very good job research on Old Testament for 'ekklesia', show it proved 'ekklesia' was penned down in the O.T.
I read 1611 Authorized Version. In the introduction, at the page 8, talks about word 'church'. It says: "
Lastly, wee haue on the side auoided the scrupulostitie of the Puritanes, who leaue the olde Eccelesiasticall words, and betake them to other, as when they put washing for Baptisme, and congregation in stead of Church: as also on the other side we shunned the obscuritie of the Papists, in their Azimes, Tunike, Rational, Holocausts, Prxpuce, Pasche,(I have difficult to read tiny words in 1611 A.V. on Introuction, I hope this spelling is correct)and a number of such like, whereof their late Translation is full, and that of purpose to darken the sence, that since they must needs translate the Bible, yet by the language thereof, it may bee kept from being vnderstood.".
Obivously, church- 'ekklesia' was in LXX Greek Septuagint long before 1611 A.V. chnaged it to 'congregation'.
Actually, church was already there in the Old testament period long time before Christ came to earth for Calvary. Church does not begin at Pentacost Day. Christ already start church long time ago before Pentacost Day.
About 2 years ago, I found there is another referance verse for Matt. 16:18 in the Old Testament. It refers in Genesis 32:28.
While Christ wrestled with Jacob. Christ asked him, what's his name. He said, "I'm Jacob". Then, Christ said to him, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
There are three key words of Gen. 32:28: 'power', 'men', and 'prevailed'.
Please look to Matt. 16:18-19, Christ said, "And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
There are three important key words of Matt. 16:18-19: 'church', 'prevail', and 'keys'. I understand what Christ talked about. He told Peter, that He is the rock. He is built his people(church), that the hell shall not overcome them, because He gaven the power to the church to spread the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to earth, Satan and hell cannot stop them.
Now back to Gen. 32:28 again. Notice three important words - 'power', 'men', and 'prevailed'.
Israel means, a Prince have power to built his people with sucessful. Who is the Prince? Jesus! - Dan. 9:25; Isa. 9:6; Acts 3:15; and 5:31.
Christ does not saying to Jacob, 'a prince hast thou power with God and with Jews..." He said, 'men', simple mean people. So, tehrefore, Christ told Peter, He is built his church, means, He is built his people.
Church already there in the Old Testament long time ago before Pentacost Day.
Church does NOT replace Israel. Israel is Church. Both are same. Gal. 4:26 tells us, "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is
the mother of US ALLLL." Obivously, all Old Testament saints and New Testament saints are now live in the heaven with Christ, they are the children of Jerusalem. Rev. 21:9 tells us, that the angel shows John, the Christ's bride. New Jerusalem IS the Christ's bride! Same as New Jerusalem is Isreal. New Jerusalem is Church. Simple, no complex.
Gal. 6:15-16 - "For
IN Christ Jesus NEITHER cicumcision availeth any thing, NOR uncircumcision, but
a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and
upon the ISREAL OF GOD."
It is very clear, no matter which Jew or Gentile, circumised or without cicumised, both are IN Christ, as they are a new creature, they are the ISREAL OF GOD.
Simple, no complex.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen.
