Has The Church Replaced Israel?| Israel, Islam & The Jews | David Shaw | Echo Church

Overview

The speaker argues that Echo Church (David Shaw’s church) is breaking a widespread silence in Christianity about Israel and Jews amid what he describes as rising antisemitism in Australia and globally. He claims that people reacted furiously to the church’s Instagram series, “Israel, Islam and Jews,” interpreting the backlash as evidence that Jews and Israel are widely hated—even by some Christians.

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Israel’s existence is framed as biblical, not political

A central claim is that Israel is a state because God promised it—not because of human decisions such as Zionist leaders. The speaker supports this with multiple Bible references, including:

• God calling Himself the “God of Israel”
• Passages such as Joel 3:2, about judgment regarding God’s inheritance and land

He also counters common Christian objections, including claims such as:

• that Jews rejected Jesus
• that Jesus was “not Jewish”

Instead, he asserts that:

• Jesus was Jewish
• Jesus lived and died Jewishly
• Jesus will return to Israel

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A long “miracle history” culminating in 1948 and ongoing divine protection

The speaker presents a roughly 4,000-year biblical narrative, including:

• Abraham
• the Exodus
• the conquest of Canaan
• successive empires and exiles
• persecutions in Europe
• the Holocaust
• the return to Israel

He describes Jewish survival as miraculous despite repeated cycles of violence, expulsion, and genocide. He then argues that Israel’s re-establishment in 1948 was a divine fulfillment of prophecy, including the claim that after independence, multiple Arab states attacked and Israel prevailed.

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“Has the church replaced Israel?”—rejected using Romans 11 imagery

The speaker explicitly rejects the doctrine that “the church replaced Israel.” He argues there is no direct biblical verse for that idea.

Instead, he relies heavily on Romans 11’s olive tree metaphor:

• Israel/Jewish people remain the “tree” connected to God’s promises.
• Gentile Christians are portrayed as grafted branches who participate in the root rather than replacing Israel.

He urges Christians to avoid arrogance and to support Israel rather than treat Jews as spiritually unnecessary.

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Anti-Jewish hostility as spiritual history repeating

The speaker argues that hostility toward Jews is not new and cites historical Christian figures and church statements—such as references to:

• John Chrysostom
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Martin Luther

He frames these as portraying Jews as enemies or murderers, arguing that such hostility has a long pedigree.

He emphasizes a Romans 11 balance:

• Jews are described as “enemies” for a time (in Paul’s framing)
• while also being “beloved” and chosen by God

His conclusion is not political exclusion but evangelism: preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles and call for repentance.

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Current events as prophecy fulfillment and renewed “spirit of hatred”

The speaker interprets contemporary events as part of prophecy, including:

• antisemitic chants
• reported attacks in places like Australia and Israel
• references such as the “Bondi massacre”

He argues the same “spirit” behind earlier persecutors—mentioned as Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler, and Muhammad—is active now.

He criticizes the church for remaining “silent” on Israel/Jewish issues, comparing it to Christian inaction during the Holocaust. He contrasts that with the “confessing church” and references Dietrich Bonhoeffer as an example of opposing Nazi ideology.

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Warning to Israel and moral critique (LGBTQ festival → “Sodom and Gomorrah” analogy)

He argues Israel is not holy despite its biblical significance and points to an LGBTQ-themed event referred to as “Land of Pride.” He interprets this as moral degradation and compares it to Sodom and Gomorrah, warning that Israel faces impending judgment unless it repents.

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Prophetic timeline and expected Jewish revival

The speaker claims many prophecies about Israel have already been fulfilled, with only a few remaining. He cites figures such as:

• “16 predictions,” with “13 of 16” fulfilled—leaving “three left”

He predicts a future revival in Israel tied to passages such as:

• Zechariah 12
• Ezekiel 37
• Isaiah 53

He also suggests that Jewish recognition of the Messiah (Jesus) will occur, followed by the final return of Christ.

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Holocaust remembrance story used to argue God’s ongoing love for Jews

He tells the story of Corrie ten Boom, focusing on her father’s response during Nazi occupation. The framing emphasizes sympathy directed both toward persecuted Jews and toward the moral/spiritual blindness of those involved.

He concludes with the claim that Jews are God’s “apple of His eye.” In his framing, he states he is not afraid for Jews but fears for those attacking them, including Muslims.

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Presenters or contributors

• David Shaw (main speaker/presenter)
• Martino (mentioned during the delivery as someone who tells the time)
• John MacArthur (mentioned; referenced as an interview example)
• Bonhoeffer (Dietrich Bonhoeffer; mentioned via quotation)
• Corrie ten Boom (mentioned through her historical story; not present)