DISPENSATIONAL DILEMMA

Through and under the gospel we are saved by grace through faith, not by Law.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Galatians 3:11 “But that NO MAN is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

Through and under the gospel men worship Christ in Spirit and in Truth and are not limited or mandated to worship at a specific geographic location or building.

John 4:20-24 “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:17 “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Ephesians 2:21-22 “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Through and under the gospel all men in Christ are one. There are not to be any ethnic, social, political, economic, or other barriers between us.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:11 “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
Revelation 14:6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”
Ephesians 2:11-16 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: BUT NOW in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

Through and under the gospel man is free from the restrictions of the Old Law and being judged in regard to meat, drink, new moons, feast days, and the observance of days, weeks, months and years Colossians 2).

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Galatians 2:19 “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.”
Galatians 3:11 “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
Colossians 2:16-17, and 20-23 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Through and under the gospel the law of circumcision as a characteristic identifying mark of the child of God is removed, for we receive the circumcision of the heart, a circumcision not made with hands, in faith and baptism (Galatians 6 Colossians 2:11-12)

Galatians 5:2-6 “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you NOTHING. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Galatians 6:12-16 “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
Colossians 2:11-13 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

Through and under the gospel all believers are priests unto God, to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

Matthew 27:51 “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”
Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
1 Peter 2:5-9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light"
1 Peter 2:5 “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Through and under the gospel, because we have the forgiveness of sin, animal sacrifices have been abolished because, “where there is remission of sin, there is no more sacrifice for sin”

Hebrews 10:16-18 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. “

Through and under the gospel, we memorialize the deliverance from sin and death through his sacrifice, in our Communion Supper. The Communion Supper is the memorial of deliverance. It is not “for atonement,” but a celebration of atonement.

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”

But look at the contrast between what we now have in the Gospel through Christ and what the teaching of premillennium dispensationalism says will occur during the 1000 year millennium.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no geo-centric pilgrimage worship, but then, in the millennium, geo-centric, pilgrimage worship will be restored (Ezekiel 43-44).

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no Temple worship mandated, for the church is the Temple of God, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, Temple worship will be restored.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no genealogically based priesthood, with exclusive rights to offer liturgical sacrifices, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, the Levitical, exclusionary, genealogically based priesthood will be restored.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no animal sacrifice, since Christ’s blood has brought remission of sin, but, then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, animal sacrifices will be offered “for atonement.”

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no mandate to observe new moons, feast days, and Sabbaths, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, all men will be required to observe the feast days, new moons and Sabbaths.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no Jew and Gentile distinction, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, Jew and Gentile distinctions will be restored.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no theologically mandated practice of physical circumcision, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, physical circumcision will once again be mandated by God (Ezekiel 44:9).

Here is what Dispensationalism actually does.
--Dispensationalism would replace the spiritual temple as the body of Christ, with a physical edifice.
--Dispensationalism would replace the spiritual priesthood of all believers, with the Levitical/Zadokite priesthood.
--Dispensationalism would replace equality in Christ, with the Jew/Gentile discriminatory practices.
--Dispensationalism would replace the spiritual circumcision of the heart, with physical circumcision.
--Dispensationalism would replace the atonement of Christ with the offering of bulls and goats for atonement.

Is dispensationalism insisting on a literal millennium after the character that they are teaching actually undermines the gospel?
In order to have the millennium as described by dispensationalism you have to overthrow, abrogate, abolish the gospel of Jesus Christ. The eternal gospel of grace through the blood of Christ has to be thrown out in order to establish the dispensational idea of a literal millennium. If a person loves the gospel, how can they in good conscience believe such a Christ dishonoring view of a time when the gospel is trashed?
I think it is time to ask, who is it that teaches a dangerous replacement theology?

101 NEW TESTAMENT TIME-INDICATORS

By David Green

1. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2)

2. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Matt. 3:7)

3. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Matt. 3:10)

4. "His winnowing fork is in His hand." (Matt. 3:12)

5. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17)

6. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 10:7)

7. "You shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes." (Matt. 10:23)

8. "...the age about to come." (Matt. 12:32)

9. "The Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds." (Matt. 16:27)

10. "There are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." (Matt. 16:28; cf. Mk. 9:1; Lk. 9:27)

11. "'When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?' '...He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.' '...Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.' ...When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them." (Matt. 21:40-41,43,45)

12. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matt. 24:34)

13. "From now on, you [Caiaphas, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the whole Sanhedrin] shall be seeing the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matt. 26:64; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 22:69)

14. "The kingdom of God is at hand." (Mk. 1:15)

15. "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. ...They [the chief priests, scribes and elders] understood that He spoke the parable against them." (Mk. 12:9,12)

16. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Mk. 13:30)

17. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Lk. 3:7)

18. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Lk. 3:9)

19. "His winnowing fork is in His hand..." (Lk. 3:17)

20. "The kingdom of God has come near to you." (Lk. 10:9)

21. "The kingdom of God has come near." (Lk. 10:11)

22. "What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others." ...The scribes and the chief priests...understood that He spoke this parable against them." (Lk. 20:15-16,19)

23. "These are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Lk. 21:22)

24. "This generation will not pass away until all things take place." (Lk. 21:32)

25. "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'" (Lk. 23:28-30; Compare Rev. 6:14-17)

26. "We were hoping that He was the One who is about to redeem Israel." (Lk. 24:21)

27. "I will come to you. ...In that Day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.' ...'Lord, what then has happened that You are about to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?'" (Jn. 14:18,20,22)

28. "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?" (Jn. 21:22)

29. "This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 'And it shall be in the last days...'" (Acts 2:16-17)

30. "He has fixed a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness..." (Acts 17:31)

31. "There is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:15)

32. "As he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment about to come..." (Acts 24:25)

33. "Not for [Abraham's] sake only was it written, that [faith] was reckoned to him [as righteousness], but for our sake also, to whom it is about to be reckoned." (Rom. 4:23-24)

34. "If you are living according to the flesh, you are about to die." (Rom. 8:13)

35. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us." (Rom. 8:18)

36. "It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand." (Rom. 13:11-12)

37. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Rom. 16:20)

38. "The time has been shortened." (I Cor. 7:29)

39. "The form of this world is passing away." (I Cor. 7:31)

40. "Now these things ...were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (I Cor. 10:11)

41. "We shall not all fall sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." (I Cor. 15:51-52)

42. "Maranatha!" [The Lord comes!] (I Cor. 16:22)

43. "...not only in this age, but also in the one about to come." (Eph. 1:21)

44. "The Lord is near." (Phil. 4:5)

45. "The gospel ...was proclaimed in all creation under heaven." (Col. 1:23; Compare Matt. 24:14; Rom. 10:18; 16:26; Col. 1:5-6; II Tim. 4:17; Rev. 14:6-7; cf. I Clement 5,7)

46. "...things which are a shadow of what is about to come." (Col. 2:16-17)

47. "...we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord... We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds... ...You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief." (I Thess. 4:15,17; 5:4)

48. "May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess. 5:23)

49. "It is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire." (II Thess. 1:6-7)

50. "Godliness ...holds promise for the present life and that which is about to come." (I Tim. 4:8)

51. "I charge you ...that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Tim. 6:14)

52. "...storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for that which is about to come, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." (I Tim. 6:19)

53. "In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self... ...Avoid these men. For of these are those who enter into households and captivate weak women... ...These also oppose the truth... ...But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all..." (II Tim. 3:1-2,5-6,8-9)

54. "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead..." (II Tim. 4:1)

55. "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son." (Heb. 1:1-2)

56. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation?" (Heb. 1:14)

57. "He did not subject to angels the world about to come." (Heb. 2:5)

58. "...and have tasted ...the powers of the age about to come." (Heb. 6:5)

59. "For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near a curse, and it's end is for burning." (Heb. 6:7-8)

60. "When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." (Heb. 8:13)

61. "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way of the [heavenly] Holy Places has not yet been revealed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation." (Heb. 9:8-10; Compare Gal. 4:19; Eph. 2:21-22; 3:17; 4:13)

62. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things about to come..." (Heb. 9:11)

63. "Now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin." (Heb. 9:26)

64. "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things about to come..." (Heb. 10:1)

65. "...as you see the Day drawing near." (Heb. 10:25)

66. "...the fury of a fire which is about to consume the adversaries." (Heb. 10:27)

67. "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." (Heb. 10:37)

68. "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is about to come." (Heb. 13:14)

69. "Speak and so act, as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty." (Jms. 2:12)

70. "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. ...It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!" (Jms. 5:1,3)

71. "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord." (Jms. 5:7)

72. "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (Jms. 5:8)

73. "...salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:6)

74. "He ...has appeared in these last times for the sake of you." (I Peter 1:20)

75. "They shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (I Peter 4:5)

76. "The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." (I Peter 4:7)

77. "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God." (I Peter 4:17)

78. "...as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is about to be revealed." (I Peter 5:1)

79. "We have the prophetic word ...which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the Day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." (II Peter 1:19)

80. "Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (II Peter 2:3)

81. "In the last days mockers will come. ...For this they willingly are ignorant of..." (I Peter 3:3,5)

82. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God." (II Peter 3:10-12)

83. "The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining." (I Jn. 2:8)

84. "The world is passing away, and its desires." (I Jn. 2:17)

85. "It is the last hour." (I Jn. 2:18)

86. "Even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour." (I Jn. 2:18; Compare Matt. 24:23-34)

87. "This is that of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world." (I Jn. 4:3; Compare II Thess. 2:7)

88. "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. ...About these also Enoch ...prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly...'" (Jude 1:4,14-15)

89. "But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.' These are the ones who cause divisions..." (Jude 1:17-19)

90. "...to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place." (Rev. 1:1)

91. "The time is near." (Rev. 1:3)

92. "Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come." (Rev. 2:25)

93. "I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole world." (Rev. 3:10)

94. "I am coming quickly." (Rev. 3:11)

95. "And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron." (Rev. 12:5)

96. "And in her [the Great City Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth." (Rev. 18:24; Compare Matt. 23:35-36; Lk. 11:50-51)

97. "...to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place." (Rev. 22:6)

98. "Behold, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:7)

99. "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." (Rev. 22:10; Compare Dan. 8:26)

100. "Behold, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:12)

101. "Yes, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:20)

THE "FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES”

The “Fullness of the Gentiles”

I attach this phrase to Daniel for the reasons below. It is clearly linked to Daniels prophecy by way of Luke 21 and its parallel passages in Mark 13 and Matthew 24. Consider how each of these three passages are linked and evaluate the content of each as being a part of the other two as well as standing on its own.

Matt. 24:15-22 + 34
'When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL THE PROPHET, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

'And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 34 “Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS, TILL ALL THESE THINGS BE FULFILLED.”

Mark 13:14-20 + 30
'But when ye shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL THE PROPHET, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take anything out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

'But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 30 VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS, TILL ALL THESE THINGS BE DONE.

Luke 21:20-20 + 32
'And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

'Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. FOR THESE BE THE DAYS OF VENGENCE , THAT ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED.

'But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be TRODDEN DOWN OF THE GENTILES, UNTIL THE TIMES OF THE GENTILED BE FULFILLED. 32 “Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION NSHALL NOT PASS AWAY , TILL ALL BE FULFILLED.”

The end of the time of the Gentiles is when the destruction of Jerusalem is complete in 70 A.D.

"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." (Luke 21:32)

The times of the Gentiles has to be kept in it's proper historical context. Jesus said that "all", including the times of the Gentiles, would be fulfilled before his contemporary generation had passed. Some go outside the box of "this generation" in order to teach a futuristic view of Christ's coming. To do that they have to redefine both "the times of the Gentiles" and "this generation". Needless to say, the "1948 generation" has proven to be more than just a little embarrassing.
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh . . . and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20, 24)

The times of the Gentiles referred to the treading down, or desolation, of first century Jerusalem, which Jesus called "the days of vengeance". In other words, it was God's mission for the Gentiles to bring judgment upon Jerusalem. This is consistent with past judgments upon Israel, when God brought Gentiles armies into their land to desolate it.

The whole controversy centers on the duration of the treading down of Jerusalem. The Greek for "trodden" is pat-eh'-o (#3961 in Strong's Concordance), and it means "to trample down underfoot". The parallel to Lk.21:24 is seen in Revelation 11:2, which says:

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot (pateho) forty and two months."

Could it be any plainer? The times of the Gentiles, or treading down of Jerusalem, entailed no more than a forty two month period of time, the exact duration of the Jewish-Roman War. This is in perfect harmony with Daniel 12:7, where the defining characteristic of "the time of the end" is said to be "the scattering of the power of the holy people", which we are told would be accomplished during "a time, times, and a half", or forty two months.

Furthermore, when we consider the mountain of evidence for a pre-70 dating of Revelation, in addition to the statements of imminence in the book itself (1:1, 3; 22:6, 7, 10, 12), then the forced conclusion is that the forty two months was fulfilled in the 66-70 A.D. Jewish-Roman War.

In the ancient Near East, the ultimate image of triumph over an enemy was the positioning of the enemy "under the feet" of the conqueror. This was a literal custom in Biblical times read Joshua 10:24; 2 Kings 7:17, 20, 9:33; Isaiah 14:19 as well as a metaphor for dominion, conquering, possession, judgment, shame, defilement, oppression, and victory read Deuteronomy 11:24; Judges 20:43; 1 Kings 5:3; Joshua 14:9; Psalms 18:38; 47:3; 74:21; 110:1; Lamentations 1:15; 3:34; Isaiah 14:25; 41:2; 63:6; 66:1; Jeremiah 25:30; Daniel 8:7; Joel 3:13; Amos 2:6-7; 4:13; Micah 1:3; 5:5-6; Malachi 4:3; Matthew 7:6; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:35; Romans 16:20; I Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 1:13; 2:8; 10:13; Revelation 19:15. The Greek word for "tread" in Revelation 11:2 is the same word Luke used for "trodden" (pat-eh'-o) in Luke 21:24.

Jerusalem's first century desolation represented the time when Christ put his enemies (read I Thessalonians 2:15-16) under his feet. This was accomplished during a forty two month period which Jesus called "the times of the Gentiles".

Miztah

RESTORATION TO THE LAND AND THE SIGN OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

In Genesis 17 we have the Abrahamic Covenant established by God with Abraham and his seed. The sign of that covenant was circumcision. Many times covenants are accompanied with signs. The sign of the Noahic covenant was the rainbow in the sky. This “Token” or sign of the Noahic Covenant was intended to remind God of his promise to not destroy “all Flesh” ever again.

Genesis 9:8-17 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

The sign of the Mosaic Covenant was the Sabbath:

Exodus 31:13-17 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Leviticus 24:8 Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.

In setting out the Sabbath we see in this passage from Exodus that the Sabbaths were for a sign. And those who did not observe this sign were subject to the death penalty. God even goes as far as to state that the Sabbath was on a par with the covenant itself, “…to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant.” If you violated the sign of the covenant you were guilty of the whole covenant and subject to death. When Moses went to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, God was prepared to kill Moses in the way because he did not circumcise his own son. How can he represent God before the seed of Abraham and not have his son bearing the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Exodus 4:24-26 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, surely a bloody husband art thou to me. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

Then while the nation of Israel was wandering the desert, a man was found picking up sticks on the Sabbath, they inquired from God what should be done to this man. God was very clear, he was to be stoned to death outside the camp. So, this being the sign of the Mosaic Covenant, violation of this sign brought the death penalty.

Numbers 15:32-36 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

We can see the same thing with the New Covenant. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul said that many were sick and many were asleep (DEAD) because they ate the Lord’s supper unworthily. The Lord’s supper is the sign of the New Covenant. Violation of this New Covenant sign carried the death penalty, but it was carried out directly by God.

In Genesis 17 we see the Abrahamic Covenant laid out for us in great detail. Again, he gives with the covenant, a covenant sign. The sign of the Abrahamic Covenant is circumcision. He ties the sign so closely with the covenant that he says if you do not bear this sign, you are cut off from the covenant relationship. This sign of the covenant will be required upon every generation that participates in the Abrahamic Covenant without exception. In Exodus 12 God goes so far as to make circumcision a requirement to partake in the Passover feast. No circumcision, no passover. No circumcision, No covenant. Since the Abrahamic Covenant included the promised land, you could also say, No circumcision, No Land.

Genesis 17:8-14 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Genesis 17:23-27 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

Genesis 21:4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Exodus 12:42-44 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

Exodus 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Leviticus 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

In Joshua chapter 5, God emphasizes the restrictive nature of this covenant sign. No Circumcision, No land. As Joshua was about to lead the nation into the promised land, God made them stop and circumcise all the males of the nation because the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant had been neglected during their 40 years of wandering. God was not going to let them inherit the Covenant blessing of the land without the sign of the Covenant; circumcision.

Joshua 5:2-9 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

What happens when the sign of the covenant is abolished? It can only mean ONE THING. It means that the Covenant that the sign signified is no longer in force. Paul in Galatians declares to us the END OF the sign of Circumcision. The reason is because we are NOW in the New Covenant, and the Abrahamic Covenant can only move forward into the New Covenant by way of FAITH. It cannot have ANY STANDING based on circumcision. And we in the church who are the seed of Abraham by FAITH have inherited all the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant. Of course we have not inherited the literal promises of land, etc, but we have inherited all of the blessings through Christ. In Abraham’s SEED (Singular) all the nations of the earth are blessed…that is through his seed Jesus Christ. But what about circumcision. Paul says that if we insist on circumcision “we are still a debtor to the law”; “Christ will have become of NO EFFECT”; and we will have “fallen from grace”. But as many as walk according to the rule of FAITH, they are the ones who are the Israel of God, to whom belong Peace, and mercy. For in Christ circumcision avails nothing. But we in the church are the new creation.

Galatians 5:1-6 & 11Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:12-16 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

You might ask at this point; “So What?” I will tell you. If the sign of a covenant is no longer in force, the covenant is not longer in force. Christ has set up in his own blood, a New Covenant, vastly superior to the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant. In doing so he has abolished the signs of those covenants, Circumcision and the Sabbath. See Colossians for the New testament statement doing away with Sabbath observance.

Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Since this is the case, in order to restore Israel as a physical nation back to a physical land in a physical kingdom, you MUST re-institute physical circumcision. The Abrahamic covenant promise of the land DEMANDS IT. If you do not bear the sign of the circumcision you are to be cut off from the people and from the covenant itself. If you are cut off from the covenant, NO LAND, NO KINGDOM. So how is it you can establish a physical kingdom in a physical land without re-establishing the physical circumcision. I propose that you CANNOT. But if you can, and if you do, you must reverse the Gospel freedom of no circumcision. When you go back to circumcision (according to Paul, not me) you have made Christ to be of no effect and have fallen from grace. So in effect, you must abrogate Christ’s work on the cross. This kind of teaching I cannot and I will not consent to. And any teaching that has a plan that requires us to set aside the work of Christ when he established the gospel of the New Covenant in his own blood I will oppose.

Paul has declared, by inspiration of God’s own Spirit, that the rite of circumcision is abolished. And to re-iterate;

---No Circumcision, No Abrahamic Covenant
---No Abrahamic Covenant, No Land
---No Land, No future Israelite kingdom.

THE KINGDOM LION...ARE YOU LYING?

It is the position of many dispensational teachers of our day that Isaiah chapter 35 is depicting Israel's restoration to the land in the future Millennial kingdom. A leading dispensationalist, John MacArthur makes this abundantly clear in his MacArthur
study bible. Particular verses that seem to support that are posted for your evaluation.

Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isaiah 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isaiah 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isaiah 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

I find this particularly fascinating when I read verse 9

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

While MacArthur and others claim that this is in the Millennium, yet future, they stumble when they also declare the following two verses from the same book of Isaiah to be a part of the same Millennium.

Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

How can the same kingdom be described as having "NO LION" and "NO RAVENOUS BEAST", and at the same time having lions lying down together with a calf, and the lion that eats straw. And yet they insist that this is the same future Millennial kingdom.

THE BODY

In a discussion on 2 Corinthians 5:10 with a friend, I suggest to him a paradigm shift that I thought would give him additional insight. The passage speaks about “be(ing) recompensed for his deeds in the BODY…” May I suggest that here, Paul is using figurative language in his use of the term “BODY”. We read in Jude of the angel Gabriel disputing with the Devil over the “BODY” of Moses. I believe what is being referred to; is the BODY of Mosaic Law, the Old Covenant (OC). This OC was in its last throes of death and was at the time of the writing of the New Testament, “passing away”. This OC BODY of law was a trap to those trying to live in the New Covenant (NC). I believe Paul was trying to teach that if we continue to labor in the BODY of law that is the OC, we will fall into judgment since the “BODY” of Christ is the only place to be to avoid judgment. There are many places in the New Testament where the context of Paul’s teaching on the BODY fits this paradigm.

We have been translated from the BODY of Moses into the BODY of Christ. Other references you may like to check out are Romans 7. Here Paul is struggling with those things he does in the BODY (OC) and those done outside the BODY (NC). He concludes by saying “Who shall deliver me from this BODY of death (the BODY of OC law which was death to all who did not keep it perfectly). If you look at the context of 2 Corinthians 5, you will see going back to chapter 3 that Paul is arguing for the replacement of the OC with the NC. When he begins chapter 5 he speaks of the tent folding. I believe that this tent is a reference to the temple worship of the OC that was finally and completely terminated in 70 A.D when the Roman General Titus destroyed it and all vestiges of the Hebrew religion. Paul’s whole approach throughout the epistles is to help people struggling with the life in the OC to forsake that old way and come fully into the NC. He argues this almost the entire letter of Galatians, and concludes by saying (allegorically) “cast out the bondwomen and her son”, (the OC law). As well, I believe that the contrast in Gal chapter 5 between Spirit and Flesh is a contrast between living in the BODY of OC law and living in the BODY of Christ in the NC by way of the Spirit. In Acts we see that even Paul was not immune to this struggle of coming out from under the BODY of Moses and coming completely into the BODY of Christ: we read of him making a Nazarite vow, shaving his head and offering his hair at the temple in Jerusalem. Paul is never praised for this and he never makes reference to it again (as if he were shamed by his lack of faith in offering an OC sacrifice).

Perhaps you do not see things as I have outlined them, but let my comments be to you…an encouragement to study even deeper for yourself. Do a study on the BODY of Moses and the BODY of Christ. Look at how the BODY is used figuratively in the New Testament.

Luke 17:37 “and they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, where ever the BODY is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.” The context of Luke 17 is the judgment of Israel and the OC.

I believe the context of most passages will give the hints as to how to see the word BODY. I do not believe it is to be taken figuratively every time it is used. but I do believe that the context will guide us.

I believe that the BODY of OC law is what is in danger of judgment and is the BODY of Mosaic Law that has been judged. It is not a universal judgment that is being spoken of. It is a limited judgment; limited to that which is refusing to come out of the BODY of the OC, and that which refuses to be united with the BODY of Christ.

Just a few thoughts to chew on…let me know what you think, and or what you discover in your own study.

Here are a few New Testament passages where I feel the term “BODY” is being used figuratively. If you don’t agree, that’s fine. But take a look at the context of these and see if it may not fit. There are many more, but I feel I have given enough to make the point.

Any comments, corrections, critiques, condemnations and criticism are welcome.

Happy studying, and keep in touch.

Grace in abundance to you.

For many folks, a conclusion is simply the place where they got tired of thinking.

John 2:21

But he spake of the temple of his body.

Romans 6:6

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Romans 7:24

O’ wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 8:10

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 12:4 & 5, 4

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member’s one of another.

1 Cor 5:3

For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed

1 Cor 10:16

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

1 Cor 10:17

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1 Cor 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Cor 15:44

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

2 Cor 5:6

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

2 Cor 5:8

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2 Cor 12:2

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

2 Cor 12:3

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth).

Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel

Ephesians 4:4

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling

Col 1:24

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church

Jude 9

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

JESUS COMING IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER

"Jesus coming in the glory of His Father, the angels with Him and rewarding every man according to his deeds. "

The above items are prophetic descriptions of what event:

A. The Second Coming
B. The Resurrection of Christ
C. The Transfiguration
D. The Ascension of Christ

If you picked “A” you might be shocked to learn that most commentators disagree with you. Strangely enough, they can’t seem to agree on what the correct answer is, but they all agree on what it’s not. Why? Because of the time indicator in the verse which follows that description:

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Matt 16:27-28

Jesus told His listeners that some of them would not taste death until they saw the event He had just described. This, according to most commentators, rules out the Second Coming. Although all of the other options have their proponents, the majority favor The Transfiguration as the fulfillment because it immediately follows the prophecy in all three synoptic Gospels. Jesus said that only some of them would not taste death, which implies that most of them would die before the event occurred.

Even by the time of The Ascension only one of the disciples (Judas) had died!

Since The Transfiguration occurred only about one week after Jesus made this prophecy, we feel compelled to ask: who died in that week?

"THE THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE"

"Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
knowing that shortly I must put off my tent,
just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me." 2 Pet 1:13-14

The most likely interpretation of this passage is that Jesus had revealed to Peter that:

A. Peter was about to die
B. Peter’s home was about to be destroyed
C. Peter would live for many more years
D. Peter is still alive today

The majority of people are most likely to choose option “A,” and least likely to choose “D.” That being the case, consider another passage in which Jesus revealed something to an apostle which was to shortly take place:

Rev 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place;"

So here we have Jesus revealing two events to two different apostles, and each event is to shortly take place.

In the case of Peter, if we were to say that event would take place at least two thousand years later, we would be laughed at. And yet, many laugh at the suggestion that the events of Revelation did indeed take place shortly after it was written.

Can we have it both ways?
---If we don’t believe that Peter is still living today, why are we looking for the events of Revelation to be fulfilled today, instead of shortly after the book was written?

"BE DILIGENT TO COME TO ME QUICKLY"

"Be diligent to come to me quickly" (2 Tim 4:9)

In the above verse Paul:

A. Wants Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
B. Doesn’t care when Timothy comes, he just wants Timothy to travel rapidly once he departs.
C. Is thinking that Timothy might make it in about 2000 years, give or take a couple hundred.

Without doubt, Paul desired Timothy to join him as soon as possible. In fact, the second and third options appear laughable and not really an option at all. But isn't this exactly how some want us to understand the following?

He who testifies to these things says...
---“Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Both instances of “quickly” in these verses come from the same root in the Greek. Yet, in order to avoid the obvious implication that Jesus claimed He was coming soon, there are those who would have us believe that Jesus was not proclaiming when He was coming, but how—rapidly.

His Second Coming might not occur until centuries after He spoke these words, but once it commenced it would not be a drawn-out affair—it would occur rapidly! Would we accept that meaning for quickly in Paul’s request of Timothy? If not, then perhaps we should question that meaning for Jesus’ statement in Revelation.

YES...WE BURNED A PIANO

Yes we did!!! We burned that piano.

Believe it or not, this is a long standing military tradition. Particularly an Air Force tradition. It comes from World War II. In England a gentleman who had played the piano at the officer's club had been on a mission over Germany. Well the bad news is, he did not come back. The Brits being somewhat morbid, got a little too many pints in them, and decided that if Ole "So-and-so" could not play the piano...then nobody would. So in honor of "So-and-so", they burned the piano to the ground.

We at the Air Force Academy did not need so many pints, just some lighter fluid, a road-side flare, and permission from the base fire chief.

It really was a lot of fun.

Oh yeah...and we did eat a whole bunch of good Chicken!!

THE 70th WEEK OF DANIEL

Below is my A T & T position…(my At This time position). I am still learning and I intend to continue to study even more. But if you can show me where I have missed something, please let me know.






Luke 3:1-2 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of
1 --Tiberius Caesar,
2 --Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and
3 --Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
4 --Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and
5 --Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
6 --Annas and
7 --Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

This is the most concisely dated event in the entire bible. And the ONLY dated event in the New Testament. Many dozens and even perhaps hundreds of events are dated throughout the old testament, why is this the ONLY dated event in the New testament?

I propose that we are better off to let the scripture define the times for us. In the passage in John 12, there is no textual link to the prophecy of Daniel. The only connection is the extrapolations of men who attempt to figure out the dates, years, calendars etc. Many of these who attempt to try to define the 483 years from the decree of Cyrus to the coming of Messiah redefine the years as 360 days, some say we must use only 30 day months, others insist on using Jewish calendars while yet others insist on the calendars of the gentile nations. I think this is folly. Why would we rely on the scholarship of men when God gives us times and seasons in the text of scripture.

The seminal event of ALL of history is the coming of the Messiah, Daniel’s prophecy is intended to define exactly that. 70 weeks of years or 490 years are determined upon THIS PEOPLE and the city of JERUSALEM. The prophecy concerns God’s dealing with the nation of Israel and Jerusalem and their relationship to their coming Messiah. If we see the first 7 weeks where the wall and temple are rebuilt in troublesome times, we can date the beginning of the prophecy from the historic decree of Cyrus. These troublesome times are recorded for us in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Then we have 62 more weeks of years until Messiah. This takes us not to the entrance of Messiah into the city in the week of his crucifixion, but it takes us to the coming of the Messiah. His entrance into public ministry. At the age of thirty, also recorded for us in Luke three, he entered into his public ministry. And the fore-runner John the Baptist made no small matter out of this. Why such a big deal if this was not the time of God’s revealing of Israel’s Messiah. This was indeed a Grand revealing, where all the people were in expectation…They knew that the timing of Daniels prophecy was at hand, at the door, in the words of John the Baptist, the ace is even now laid at the root of the tree.

Luke 3:15-17 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Why were the people in expectation? Did they understand the timing of Daniels prophecy? I think that they did. And what was it they were expecting? They were expecting their Messiah, and that is why they asked John if HE was the Christ (Messiah). He of course admitted that he was not…but that the true Messiah was about to show up…that was John’s express purpose, to announce Messiah. And he did.

Luke3:21-23 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

So Jesus was baptize in this text, and it is clear that the dating of the event was intentional. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, and corresponding to the time or the ruling of 4 other national and local political leaders, and 2 other religious leaders, I think that this narrows the timing of the event to a preciseness that only God could have intended. Why such preciseness? We may have trouble with the exact year of the decree of Cyrus, or the exact year of Christ’s birth or crucifixion. But in God’s mind, there are no lost years, weeks, days, hours or minutes. In John chapter 12 we have Jesus for the first time declaring… “The hour IS COME”. John 12:23, & 27-28 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Not only do we have Jesus declaring the time of his glorification (his crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection) but we have God endorsing his statement with words directly from heaven. But this is not the time of the beginning of the week, it is the time in the midst of the 70th week when Messiah would be cut off. Throughout the New testament God is always right on time, never a second late or early.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Clearly Daniel 9:26 Is describing the crucifixion. Or else, where was Messiah cut off other than at the cross? Daniel continues counting the time of his prophecy.

Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Jesus was crucified in the midst of the week in the language of Daniel. I say this because the sacrifice ceased to be the sacrifice recognized by God immediately after Jesus said from the cross, “It is Finished”. God immediately rent the veil from top to bottom signifying that the way into the holy of holies was made open. As Hebrews indicates, there was “no more offering for sin” once Christ’s offering was “FINISHED”. Now we have boldness to enter and have had since God rent the old veil. Now we enter through the veil of his “flesh”, “Rent” for us.

So we see the ending of the sacrifice dated by Daniel and God as in the “Midst of the 70th week” (not the beginning or end of it) and by necessity the sacrifice ended in correspondence to Christ’s sacrifice being “FININSHED”.

Hebrews 10:18-20 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

We have already been told in verse 25 by Daniel that it would be 69 complete weeks and then Messiah the Prince would come. So when we proceed to verse 26 we are told that AFTER the 69 weeks Messiah will be cut off. After 69-comes 70. We know that Messiah was cut off 3-1/2 years (or half of a prophetic week) after the 69th week ended. So he was cut off in the midst of the 70th week.

Remember that this is a prophecy that is specifically intended for the people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city”. With that in mind, what occurred 3-1/2 years AFTER Messiah was cut off is very instructive.

Acts 10:1-5 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

Here we see that a Gentile was addressed by God in a vision. Why would God go to a gentile man if he was not finished with the Jews. The gospel went first to the Jews and then to the gentiles. I think that it is absolutely amazing that this occurred 3-1/2 years after the cutting off of Messiah. The timing on this is uncanny. How would God have described it any better if he intended to illustrate for us the events of the 70th week?

Acts 10:9-16 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Not only did God address Cornelius about this covenantal change, but he also ensured that the chief apostle would understand that from now on there is nothing special about the clean or unclean. This was a clear illustration of God’s intent to fulfill his purpose with the gentiles.

Acts 10:19-28 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Here by inspiration of the Spirit of God we have Peter declaring that the vision of the clean and unclean animals was intended by God to teach both Peter and us that the gospel is now going to the gentiles.

Acts 10:34-48 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Here at the end, God confirms His intention of going to the gentiles by the indication of the gift of tongues signifying that Cornelius (a gentile) had the very same Holy Spirit as the Jews did from the day of Pentecost. The fact that this can be shown to be 3-1/2 years after Messiah was cut off is very revealing that this is intended to show the end of the 70th week of Daniels prophecy.

1. "To finish the transgression,"
- This was fulfilled. (Luke 11:47-51 ; Matt 23:29-32; Matt 21:33-45)
2. "Make an end of sins,"
- This was fulfilled. (John 1:29; Matt 1:21; Acts 10:43; Hebrews 9:26)
3. "Make reconciliation for iniquity,"
- This was fulfilled. (II Cor 5:18-21; Hebrews 2:17; Col 1:20; Romans 5:10)
4. "Bring in everlasting righteousness,"
- This was fulfilled. (Romans 3:25,26; Hebrews 9:12; II Thess 2:16; II Cor. 9:9)
5. "Seal up vision and prophecy,"
- This was fulfilled. (Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1; II Peter 1:19-21)
6. "Anoint the most holy (or holy place)."
- This was fulfilled. (Matthew 3:15-17; Luke 4:18; Acts 4:26,27; 10:38)

THE LION LYING DOWN WITH THE LAMB

Often a cross reference is made between Isaiah 65:25 and Isaiah 11:6-9 with which I fully agree with.

Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD.
However, while I agree with the cross reference, I do not think the cross reference supports the stated position. The case was made that this passage refers to the 1000 year millennium period. But using the context of the cross reference, this is hard to see.

The part that certainly ties the two texts together is clear. In verses 6-9 of Isaiah 11 we see the very same theme declared in Isaiah 65:25.

Isaiah 11:6-9, 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

But then we read in verse one

Isaiah 11:1, A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

This is a clear reference to the coming of Christ. This is further elaborated in verse 10 where Isaiah uses the phrase, “In THAT DAY”. Which “DAY” is he speaking of? Clearly he is speaking the day in which the wolf will lie with the lamb and the wild animals become docile and tame, and a child will play with snakes and lead around large wild formerly carnivorous animals. It is also (based on the context) clearly a reference to the day when the root of Jesse is revealed, for that is what he says in verse 10.

Isaiah 11: 10-12, 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. 12 He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

When is it that the root of Jesse is revealed? We know that this is a reference to his first coming because it declares that in this same day he will “Raise a banner for the nations (that is gentiles). Even Paul under inspiration of the spirit, writing in Romans 15 uses this verse (Isaiah 11:10) to confirm that Isaiah was speaking of Christ’s first coming. Not only that, but he reaffirms his application of this passage to the gentiles 6 times in the context of Romans 15:9-12

Romans 15:9-12 And (1)that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause (2) I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. (3) And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. (4) And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. (5) And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles;(6) in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Notice also that in Isaiah 11:11 he includes in the, “In THAT DAY”, statement; the re-gathering of the “Remnant” “of His People”. This is the promised re-gathering of the children of Israel…but only of the remnant of them, not in any way a re-gathering of them en masse.

Isaiah 11: 11, 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.

This re-gathering is not in the “millennium” but it is, “In THAT DAY” referring to the same day as the revealing of the “Root of Jesse”, and the same day as the wild animals becoming docile and tame. This particular re-gathering of the people of Israel is a re-gathering of the remnant into the body of Christ wherein the wall of partition has been broken down and the formerly two men have been made one through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as is explained by Paul very clearly in Ephesians chapter 2.

Ephesians 2:11-19 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making PEACE; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached PEACE to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

This is the joining of Jew and Gentile into one body…that had formerly been at enmity with one another. In other words, they were like a lion and a lamb. Left alone, the lion would devour the lamb, but now in Christ in one body, the lion lays peacefully with the lamb. BUT NOW, in Christ, we (Jew and Gentile/Lion and Lamb) are “Made Nigh”, Are “One New Man”, are at “PEACE”, “We Both Have Access”, and “Are No More Strangers and Foreigners” but are “Fellow-citizens”. This is the picture intended by Isaiah in his wild-to-tame illustration.

So, what do we have, in Isaiah 65:25? We have the description of wild animals being changed so that they are docile and tame. Then in Isaiah 11:6-9 we have the very same description of wild animals being transformed. Then in the context of Isaiah 11 we have the time frame clearly laid out for us as the time of the revealing of the Root of Jesse. Paul Then in Romans 15 confirms for us without any doubt that this revelation of the Root of Jesse is clearly the first coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God’s intention to bless the gentiles. How then can this in any way be placed in a time period of a literal 1000 year future millennium? By the clear context of the passages, this must only be the church age beginning with the appearing of Christ in the first century continuing on even until today.