Shalom brothers and sisters,

The well-known Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "I cannot understand how you theologians and preachers can apply to the Church Scripture promises, which, in their plain meaning, apply to God's chosen people, Israel, and to Palestine [the common name for the land of Israel in centuries past]; and which consequently must be future…The prophetic books are full of teachings which, if they are interpreted literally, would be inspiring, and a magnificent assurance of a great and glorious future; but which, as they are spiritualized, become farcical…as applied to the Church they are a comedy."

I agree except that I would change "a comedy" into "an anti-Semitic tragedy" because that is exactly what this theology of replacement has produced. This was clearly seen in Hitler's referring to Martin Luther's view of the Jews as justification for the Nazi's "final solution" to the "Jewish problem."

Even today as far too many – one would be far too many – Western evangelical churches still cling to this anti-God theology, the Jews are viewed as "the bad guys," "white European colonizers," but their Islamic terrorist murderers gain the sympathy – if not the outright support – of multitudes of born-again, yet biblically illiterate, Christians.

Shalom friends,

I want to mention again that this newsletter cannot cover the up-to-date current events surrounding Israel. For that type of input please see the Intercessors for Israel - Friday Payer Alerts that I write weekly. You can sign up to receive them or read them online on the IFI website. Thank you all who have supported this ministry over the decades with your prayers, encouraging notes and donations. It is greatly appreciated!

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