Posted on 12/29/2005 8:17:39 AM PST by kindred
Note from Bill:
Today there are approximately 100 million American church members who have very little to no understanding of Bible prophecy. These church members are from replacement theology churches that don't teach Bible prophecy and who look at prophetic scriptures as allegorical and not literal. Consequently, they do not understand the importance of Israel to the God of Israel or God's redemptive plan for Israel and the nations. (To Read "The Error of Replacement Theology" - By Clarence H. Wagner Jr. click here.)
These church members also have no understanding of the biblical significance of what is transpiring today in Israel, Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and in other Middle East nations. They are also not aware of the significance of the formation of the European Union, new ID technologies and much more.
I have shared the biblical significance of our times with some of these people and almost all of them can't process the information mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And due to fear they do not want to hear more. They also have no point of reference in which to start if they had interest.
The good news is those who understand Bible prophecy are fully aware of the significance of Israel, God's time clock, and are watching the times with great interest and expectancy.
We will continue to post articles under Update and Commentary and under the Error Exposed category under Page Two News to inform you of the official church positions, their recent statements calling on Israel to leave her land, and writings and statements that speak against pro-Israel Christians.
Below is a list of the 25 largest churches in America. The churches that are highlighted in bold are confirmed replacement theology churches. We are still attempting to confirm a few of the smaller church positions.
The Church
U.S. Membership Denominational Ranking: Largest 25 Denominations/Communions --2004 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches
1. The Roman Catholic Church - 66,407,105 2. Southern Baptist Convention - 16, 427, 736 3. The United Methodist Church - 8,251,042 4. The Church of God in Christ - 5,499,875 5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 5,410,544 6. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - 5,038,006 7. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. - 5,000,000 8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. - 3,500,000 9. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - 3,407,329 10. Assemblies of God - 2,687,366 11. The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - 2,512,714 12. African Methodist Episcopal Church - 2,500,000 13. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America - 2,500,000 14. Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc. - 2,500,000 15. The Episcopal Church - 2,333,628 16. Churches of Christ, Corsicana, Texas - 1,500,000 17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - 1,500,000 18. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. - 1,500,000 19. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. - 1,484,291 20. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - 1,430,795 21. United Church of Christ - 1,330,985 22. Baptist Bible Fellowship International - 1,200,000 23. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, Joplin, Mo. - 1,071,616 24. Jehovah's Witnesses - 1,022,397 25. Church of God, Cleveland, Tenn., - 944,857
This isn't too surprising since many Americans claim to be Christian, but haven't a real clue as what it means. Without Christ, all are lost.
If I recall correctly, Mormons teach that American Indians are the 10 lost tribes of Israel. A different kind of replacement??
"Thanks. As I unerstand the term, "replacement theology" is not taught by the Mormons."
On the other hand, to treat the Southern Baptists as not reformed is to ignore both history http://www.grace.org.uk/faith/bc1689/1689bc00.html and modern reality http://www.biblestudyguide.org/study-resources/denominations-sb-calvinists.htm
Not quite. You are thinking of the Book of Mormon, which describes how two small groups migrated from Judea to the Americas about the time of the Babylonian Captivity (ca 600 BC). These groups mixed with other people in the Americas; some of their descendants are among the American Indians today.
The Ten Tribes were carried away captive by the Assyrians earlier (722 BC). The present location of the Ten tribes is unknown to us; however, Mormonism teaches that God will restore them in time.
Isn't the book of Mormon used by Mormons for the basis of their belief system?
I forgot to mention that the Book of Mormon also speaks of another small group that migrated to the Americas about the time of the Tower of Babel. They were not Israelites. Some of their descendants likely exist among the American Indians today.
The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price are considered as scripture.
Better I believe, to love God and look to repairing the world, than to dwell on this stuff.
LOL the Mormons.They think they are replacing all of Christianity.
"Mormons.They think they are replacing all of Christianity."
Another example of replacement theology?!
I would like to know where believers in the rapture find scriptural support for this doctrine.
Chiliasm leaves me cold.
Study Things to Come by Dwight Pentecost. Its a seminary textbook past used at the Dallas Theological Seminary. Tends towards dispensationalism, but is well balanced in explaing the basis of some other interpretations in eschatology.
Some folks would disagree with your statement here....about not knowing where they are today, but I can tell you from scripture that these ten tribes were known as "Israel", the northern kingdom. The Biblical history of Israel ends in [2Kings 17] except for the prophets. The people occupying the middle east nation called "Israel" today are descendants of the southern kingdom of Judah, [2 Kings 17:18] and became known as Jews.
All throughout the rest of the Old Testament....and the New, you will see prophecy directed to or against both "Israel and Judah". To understand this prophecy make sure you only apply prophecy about "Judah" to the present day, misnamed country of Israel. The rest of the prophecy regarding "Israel" is directed to or against some other group of folks.....to be named later.
There is a very broad distinction in the Bible between these two nations. In fact the very first place you will find the word Jew mentioned in scripture is 2 Kings 16:5-6 and Israel is at war against the Jews. This is one reason why so many folks cannot understand simple prophecy. They are trying to place the wrong events on the wrong people at the wrong time.
Mat 22:39 And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Are you saying that literal Isreal has a place in the end time prophecy? Please elaborate...
You asked rhetorically, "How many scholars in his day expected the Messiah to come as the Suffering Servant?"
Upon what do you base your belief that a lot or most Jewish "scholars" (scribes?) "expected the Messiah to come as the Suffering Servant"?
NO - you misunderstood what I said. They read the suffering servant passage as being about the people of Israel as a whole, rather than being about the Messiah.
They thought, according to what I have read, the Suffering Servant referred to the experiences of exile, then restoration.
The idea I was saying is:
God fulfills prophecies the way God fulfills prophecies. It is possible to have an entire concept that makes sense put together, but that doesn't mean that's the way God reads it.
God is the master, and we are here, doing his will, if we love him. You can be sure He will fulfill the prophecies exactly the way he has in mind, and don't be surprised if that's not exactly the way others thought it ought to have been done.
I use to think I understood the end times, but now it really is mysterious to me. I don't see it as allegorical, but as truth. I avoid taking too much interest in it, but that doesn't mean that I don't believe it to be truth.
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