Question: Jesus said, “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the congregation of Satan” (Rv 2:9; 3:9) Those who believe in amillennialism say that the church is the “New Israel.” Wouldn’t that make them blasphemers?
Response: It certainly makes them deceived and promoters of error contrary to the Word of God. “Blasphemy” is transliterated from the Greek root word blasphem, which sometimes in The New Testament is used for strong insults made against other people (Mk 15:29; Acts:13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
See All...; Eph:4:31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
See All...; 1 Pt 4:4). On occasion, it sometimes is used for unjust accusations (Rom:3:8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
See All...). More often it is used to identify insults against God (Rv 13:6 or 16:9). Even if amillennialists would grant that believing that the “Church is the New Israel” may be in error, they might point out that they are not speaking against God. Nevertheless, they very clearly could be seen as promoting error contrary to the revealed Word of God.
Blasphemy in the Old Testament is demonstrated by passages such as Leviticus:24:10-16 [10] And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;
[11] And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
[12] And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
[13] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[14] Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
[15] And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
[16] And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
See All..., which in turn is defined by the command of Exodus:22:28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
See All.... It states, “Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” Punishment for such blasphemy was death. This ultimate punishment was demanded because to revile God (or those appointed by Him) was an assault upon the integrity and holiness of God himself.
According to Exodus 22, “to revile God” [or those appointed by Him] was an assault upon the integrity and holiness of God himself.” This may also apply to those denying God’s plans towards Israel, whom He has certainly appointed to fulfill the role given to them.