In Revelation 7, John hears a roll call: 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he turns to look and sees a crowd from every nation, too big to count. What you make of that moment says a lot about where you think Israel fits in the end times. Joshua Lewis sits down with Michael Rowntree to work through Scripture to better understand the role of Israel in the end times.

ABOUT THE EPISODE
We recorded this episode knowing the subject is tense. Antisemitism is showing up in places we never used to see it, including among professing Christians, while at the same time many believers have also been taught that loving Jesus means signing off on whatever the modern state of Israel does. So before we get to prophecy, Michael separates three things that get lumped together under one word: ethnic Israel, the nation of Israel, and God’s covenant people in Christ. He also explains his thoughts on “replacement theology” and where he stands on supersessionism.

The rest of the hour is Bible. Who are the people of God, and does Romans 9-11 promise a future for ethnic Israel? Did 1948 start a prophetic time clock? Who are the 144,000 in Revelation 7, what is the temple in Revelation 11, and who is the woman clothed with the sun in Revelation 12? Does a third temple have to be rebuilt in Jerusalem before the man of lawlessness appears (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)? And what do we do with Daniel’s seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24-27)? Michael comes at this as an amillennialist, Josh leans a different direction on the temple, and neither of us expects to make either camp happy.

In the end, we hope our discussion drives you back to the Scriptures for further exploration.

0:00 – Introduction
5:05 – Replacement Theology Defined
12:00 – One People of God
19:20 – 1948 Prophetic Time Clock
24:37 – Abraham's Land Promises Expanded
28:37 – Revelation 5: Lion and Lamb
31:53 – Revelation 7: The 144,000
34:08 – Revelation 11 Measured Temple
37:30 – Rebuilt Temple and Antichrist
44:27 – Revelation 12 Woman Explained
59:24 – Daniel's Seventy Weeks
1:04:43 – Dispensationalism's Parenthesis Problem

BOOK:
📖The World Made Right by Michael Rowntree: https://www.michaelrowntree.com/the-world-made-right/