Dr. Bernard, it's interesting to me how there's often an overlap between what's happening in the news and scripture.

And I want to ask you about something that's been really debated fairly hotly on social media and other spots lately. Seems like ever since the October 7th,

2003 terrorist attacks against Israel, there's been this ongoing discussion about what role

does the church play in relation to Israel? Specifically, I think the question comes up, and it really has rekindled

this longstanding debate, the Christians have debated for centuries, is whether or not the church

has replaced Israel in God's plan. So in your view, has the church replaced Israel in God's plan,

this idea of so-called replacement theology, or does God have a

role for the Jewish people in the current time and in the future? Well, let me kind of reframe the

question, or at least put it in different terms. If we're asking, the church, the fulfillment of God's plan today for

everyone, yes. But if we're asking, does Israel still have a role in God's plan? The answer is also yes.

So let me describe it. When we talk about replacement, that seems to imply, well, maybe God changed

his plan or changed his mind.

I would argue that it was God's plan from the very beginning to include the Gentiles.

If you read the book of Romans chapters 9 through 11, you will see this.

And so God's plan, he called Abraham and made of him a nation.

And then through that nation, he brought forth,

or through Abraham, he brought forth the nation of Israel ultimately, gave the law, our Old

Testament, gave the Messiah. And so from the very beginning, it was God's plan to use this

nation a special way. Specifically, God's plan to use this nation a special way.

Specifically, he's wanting to use that nation to be a light to the whole world.

Unfortunately, ancient Israel continued to fall into idolatry and never really fulfilled God's plan as intended.

However, God still brought forth the scriptures and the Messiah,

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