THE ROCK of (the) AGES...CHRIST; THE REJECTED STONE

In reading through the bible we come across a theme surrounding the “Stone”. Often this “Stone” is a personification of the (Messiah) Jesus Christ. Many errors can be avoided in biblical doctrine if we were to identify clearly the usage of the term “Stone” by asking the following questions about each particular stone passage. It is really no more complicated than “Who”? “What”? “When”? “Where”? “Why”? Or in an even simpler form it may be just as easy to show the Old Testament declaration of the Stone, and then show how the New Testament writers identified the who and the when of the fulfillment of those stone passages.

I have sought to highlight some fairly obvious messianic prophetic uses and fulfillments dealing with the “Stone” and I have attempted to answer those questions in the text surrounding the place where it is used.

“But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)” Genesis 49:24

Who? - The Shepherd of Israel. This is the messiah. Jesus is the good shepherd. In 1 Peter 4:5 jesus is identified as our Chief Shepherd.

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

When? - For the when of this passage you must go back to the introduction of this passage. We see in Genesis 49:1 Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes of Israel, the one in the line of Abraham and Isaac preparing to give a blessing to each of his 12 sons. He begins his blessing by giving the time frame of the fulfillment of the blessings.

“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.”

So the “when” is during “The Last Days”. Does the New Testament tell us when these last days are or will be? Yes they clearly do. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that the last days are the days where “God… has spoken unto us by His Son.” There was ONLY ONE time in the history of the world where God spoke through His Son that was in the first century.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Hebrews 1:1-2

In the previous verse (23) “The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:” This could be a reference to the mistreatment that Joseph received at the hands of his brothers. He was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery, but then in Potiphers house he was lied about and falsely accused. Then finally when he was in prison he was mistreated by the prison keeper. In answer to this mistreatment Jacob gives the promise that “His bow will abide in strength…” He will be strengthened by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. This is the why. Why is the stone going to come? He will come to give strengthen to the weak.

This is exactly what Paul says occurred in his day in the first century.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong”. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So, the “Stone of Israel” who makes strong the hands of Joseph is the Messiah who came in the first century. This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ at his incarnation.

This next “Stone” passage is from Psalm 118:22. This is a very famously understood messianic passage and it is quoted directly by Jesus and by Peter and alluded to by Paul. This is about the “Rejected Stone”.

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.” Psalm 118:22-26

This is pretty obvious, the who is Jesus Christ, he is the rejected stone. In Matthew 21 Jesus is speaking in the temple when the chief priests the Pharisees and the rulers of the people begin to challenge his authority. He tells them a parable about a man who planted a vineyard. His conclusion is that when the husbandman comes to collect what he is due from the murderous abusive tenants, he will ultimately and utterly destroy those wicked men. And then Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22. Jesus saith unto them,

“Did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

Jesus quoting this passage to the leaders of the nation of Israel is an explicit declaration that the time of the prophesy is here. The scribes know full well that Jesus is referring to them as the rejecters of the stone and it angered them so much that they sought to lay hands on him and kill him.

“And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.” Matt 21:45-46

So in answering the question about who and when it is clear that the stone in Psalm 118:22 is Jesus, and he is being rejected by first century Israel as represented by it leadership. This is all happening in the first century in the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem.

In the context surrounding the promise of the rejected stone from Psalm 118:22 we find in verse 24 the statement 24;

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

This sounds an awful lot like 1 Peter 4:13

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

In this same book Peter had much to say about the stone (see chapter 2). In Revelation 19:7 we read;

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

In a call to worship in light of the marriage of the Lamb, we see the allusion if not a direct quote of this passage from Psalm 118.

As well in Psalm 118:25

“Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD:”

During the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem the people were celebrating the salvation of God and laying palm branches in the way of Christ, riding on the donkey (Another fulfilled messianic prophecy). As he rode in, they chanted

“Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the Highest.” Matt 21:9.

You guessed it; this is a direct quote from Psalm 118:25. The word Hosanna is a contraction of the words “save now”. So we see in each of the verses following the “Stone” verse in Psalm 118 that each one of them was fulfilled in the first century in direct connection with Jesus Christ. So the text is a fulfillment of the promise to reveal Jesus Christ to Israel?

“And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Isaiah 8:14

In this text from Isaiah we have an interesting twist on the activity of the Stone. We read that the stone would be for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. For this we can refer back to the parable Jesus was telling the leaders in Jerusalem as he taught in the temple in Matt 21. In the response to the Chief Priests and Pharisees he told them that the stone would do the following. 1. Whoever will fall on this stone shall be broken. 2. But on whoever it shall fall upon, it will grind him to powder.

“Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

This stone has a two-fold purpose; to break or to crush into powder. Neither one of these sounds good at all; does it? What Jesus is telling these Jewish leaders is in the form of a warning. He is giving them two choices. One Fall upon this stone and be broken. That is, repent! This has been Jesus message from the beginning. Even before Jesus entered public ministry the message of John the Baptist was;

“Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 3:2.

Jesus after being tempted in the wilderness for forty days began his public ministry with the message;

“Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 4:17.

And when Jesus sent the apostles out 2 by two to the cities of Israel, he told them to preach the message;

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt 10:6-7.

The message of the Kingdom of Heaven has always been to; Repent. This is what is meant by “falling upon the stone”. We are to fall before our savior in repentance, and this is an indication that we have been broken over our sin. So we can fall and be broken, or the other option; let the rock fall upon us and be crushed. This option involves judgment. This is very clear to the Chief Priests and Pharisees for they immediately recognize their predicament and they want to kill Jesus. This is the snare that the Jews find themselves. Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand –or be destroyed when the stone that you have rejected falls upon you in judgment. In Romans Paul quotes this passage from Isaiah directly.

“As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 9:33

Paul quotes this passage in a very clear teaching of how God is dealing with Israel. He leaves no doubt that it is Christ that is causing the first century Jews to stumble. In the two verses just prior to Pauls citiation of Isaiah he clearly sets the context.

“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;” Romans 9:31-32

Israel was stumbling in their attempt to live by law, and they were stumbling because they had rejected Christ the stumbling stone. The stone that the builders rejected. So clearly the stone in this passage is Christ-the Who. He is also the judge, He is going to judge in the first century nation of Israel in Jerusalem. And finally he will judge because of Israel’s rejection of their messiah. This again shows a first century fulfillment of the Old Testament Isaiah passage of the Stone.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” Isaiah 28:16

This one is pretty easy to identify. In Acts chapter 4 we have Peter quoting this verse directly. After healing the lame man at the gate “Beautiful” in the temple, Peter and John were called before the Jewish leaders to explain themselves and they were told to stop preaching.

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

Peter in no uncertain terms states that this Jesus Christ of Nazareth…IS the stone which was set at naught of YOU builders, and that he has become the head of the corner…and from then on there will be NO OTHER NAME by which men must be saved. Peter does not give us the option to postpone this into the future. Peter is saying that this is a done deal. Christ is in fact (in the first century while Peter is still living) the rejected stone already laid as the foundation of the New Covenant church. We are not waiting for “Become” the stone, He is already the stone and fulfilled this prophecy in the days of the Apostles.

Peter is not the only Apostle to recognize this fulfillment. Paul as well indicates the the cornerstone, Jesus the Messiah has come and has set the foundation of the church, Himself being the “Chief Cornerstone”.

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 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.” Ephesians 2:20

Again, Paul writes indicating that this is a done deal, a completed prophecy, not waiting for any other thing. It is here and now, and it was here than in the first century.

Lastly, Peter again makes it clear that this “Stone” is Christ Jesus and he has fulfilled all that was written in the Old Testament. In 1 Peter 1:10-12 Peter is declaring that those things that the prophets wrote were testimonies of Chist and that it is “Unto US” (the first century Apostles) that these things have been revealed., and now reported and preached in the gospel.

“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12

After Peter declares that these prophecies are coming to pass in his day as he is declaring the gospel he affirms in the next chapter the reality of the stone in the lives of believers.

“To whom coming, as unto a living STONE, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively STONES, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion A CHIEF CORNERSTONE stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the STONE which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a STONE of stumbling, and a ROCK of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:4-8

Here Peter really brings it all together. Jesus is that stone, the chief cornerstone, the stone of stumbling, etc. There is no part of the stone motif that is left unfulfilled. Jesus has completed all of the figures and types as the fulfillment of the stone.

One last passage to consider: Since Jesus is the first century once for all fulfillment of the prophetic stone passages found in the Old Testament, consider Daniel’s use of the Stone motif.

“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Daniel 2:34-35

Here is the stone “Cut out without hands”, again this is pretty much universally recognized as the Messiah. He comes and he smites Nebuchadnezzar’s statue on the feet. Keep in mind that this statue by way of Daniels interpretations represents four kingdoms. They are: Babylon, Medes and Persians, Greece, and finally Rome. The stone strikes the statue at that place in the timeline of the statue that is Rome. There is no escaping the fact that this stone is the same messianic stone of Genesis 49, Psalm 118, and of Isaiah. All these stone references came to pass in the first century. When did Rome rule the known world? It was in the first century. This stone cut out without hands is crushing the empires of the world at the point in time that Rome is ruling…in the first century.

“Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Daniel 2:45

So, in the final analysis, we are partakers of the blessing of this stone today because all of the prophetic fulfillment of the stone motif was finished in the first century. We are not waiting for another stone. We are not waiting for a second stone. Christ has fulfilled all the types, shadows and pictures of the Stone. It is for us to but Speak to the ROCK and to eat and drink of the fullness of the blessings of our union with that stone, Jesus Christ.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.” 1 Corinthians 10:4

"A LITTLE WHILE" A Word Study

----How long is “A Little While”? Can “A Little Wile” be an “elastic” term that can mean any amount of time? Does the bible use the term “A Little While” with any consistency that we can at least allow scripture to interpret scripture? ...I think if we look at the uses in the New Testament we can gain some confidence in how to interpret and apply this elusive term.

“Then said Jesus unto them, Yet A LITTLE WHILE (μικρόν χρόνον) am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.” John 7:33 μικρόν χρόνον (micron chronon)—Literally, A Little Time.

----Jesus was informing his disciples that he would only be with them, that is present with them for “A Little While”. We know that from this point in John it is months or maybe a little more than a year that this time frame refers to.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet A LITTLE WHILE (μικρόν χρόνον) is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” John 12:35

----Here in John 12:35 Jesus was warning them that the time which they would have access to the “light” was short. Darkness was soon to overtake them. Here again, however, Jesus is speaking of his presence. His presence is light, and when he leaves the opportunity to behold “That” light would be gone. This little while is again a reference to Christ’s bodily presence on earth. From this passage it is a matter of days-even hours that this “Little While” would elapse.

“Little children, yet A LITTLE while (μικρόν) I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.” John 13:33

----This is similar to the previous two, it gives the disciples warning that Christ would not be with them for much longer. Only a “Little While” would he be with them.

“A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall not see me: and again, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall not see me: and again, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, what is this that he saith, A LITTLE while (μικρόν)? We cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall not see me: and again, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall see me?” John 16:16-19

----Here are two different “Little While’s”. Tthe first one is that Jesus would not be in the presence of his disciples but for a “Little While”. “A Little While” and they would NOT see Him. But then the next “A Little While”, they (ye) SHALL See me because I go to the Father. This brought no light confusion to the disciples. What??? We shall not see him, but then we shall see him? And they were baffled. But Jesus explains simply that He (Jesus) would be going back to His Father (in “A Little While). Then, in another “Little While” they would see him again at His return.

----Jesus uses the term “A Little While” to describe the time from His last evening prior to His departure to His (at the ascension). Then He uses it again to describe the time between his departure and his return. So from the last supper evening until His ascension would be, “A Little While”, and then from his ascension to His return would be “A Little While”.

“For yet a (very very) LITTLE while, (μικρόν όσον όσον) and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:37

----In Hebrews, the author modifies the micron (Little while) adding to it a repeated word, “Very Very”--μικρόν όσον όσον -- micron oson oson Here the greek is emphasizing the shortness of the time, but adding oson oson (very very) the repetition of the word adds emphasis to the shortness of the Very Very Little while in which the first century audience should have expected his coming. So the return of Christ cannot be 2000+ years after his ascension unless you can twist, distort, and warp the biblical language in order to stretch it that far. Truly the biblical authors knew nothing of “A Little While” meaning a very long period of time. In each case (at least) the phrase had its application to events that were to take place in the lifetime of the hearers and authors of those words.

"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING...RIGHT?

FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW (PART II)

In Part one of "From The Old To The New" we left off looking at the seen and the unseen.

2 Cor 4:17-18 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Here the transition is to faith..."look(ing) at the things which are NOT SEEN." How do we look upon that which is "NOT SEEN"? The only way to do that is by faith.

Again this is speaking of the contrast between the Old Covenant, Shadows, types, figures, etc., all which were seen. The temple, the priesthood, the sacrifice. These were constituent elements of the Old Covenant, ALL which could be seen. Paul says, do not look to those things, but look to the truth and reality of the New
[CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR BETTER VIEW]
Covenant that cannot be seen with the human eye, but MUST be seen by FAITH.

Paul gets to the concept of "FAITH" very soon in 2 Cor 5:7, (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

But before he gets there he says some very interesting things...

Starting chapter five of 2nd Corinthians, Paul continues his progression of his logical argument using the term "FOR". Continuing to build on what he has said prior, his use of this transitional term indicates that he is NOT changing topics but rather building on the already stated topic. This already stated topic is the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked." 2 Corinthians 5:1-3

Many theologians and preachers at this point find reason to change the topic from Covenant transition to the believers death. Funny, Paul does not mention the believers death here and the "FOR" clearly ties his allegory about the body to the topic of covenant transition.

For a more extensive look at the use of the term "Body" see my post from 4 April , 2008

http://prosthero.blogspot.com/2008/04/body-2-corinthians-510.html

Moving from the end of chapter 4 having stated that we look to those things that are NOT seen, and our focus is on the eternal New Covenant, Paul is not changing the topic. He is declaring, that Because of the focus on the unseen..."FOR"..."We will put off the earthly tabernacle, the building of God". The tabernacle here is not the believers physical body, but it is the Old Covenant tabernacle, temple, building of God that was going to pass away in 70 A.D. as a physical manifestation that the Old Covenant had completely passed away.

But we have a building from God. A house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. This is speaking of our New Covenant tabernacle which is Christ himself.

In the heavens:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Ephesians 1:3

"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places," Ephesians 3:20

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" Ephesians 2:6

"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God," Ephesians 3:10

Where are these heavenly places of which he speaks. It must be a place where we are sharing the presence of Christ right now. This is evident because the Apostle declares that both Christ and the believer are occupying that same place at the same time.

The Heavenly places Paul is speaking of is the place of the New Covenant, for where Christ (the master) is, there will his servant (the believer) be.

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;" Hebrews 9:11

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:" Hebrews 9:24

This is the same temple or city not made with hands that Abraham was looking for by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8-10

For further reading on the typology of "The Body - The Building - The Bride - The Wife - The City - The Temple (or Tabernacle)" and how each of these literary pictures are all used to describe the church read my post from 12 June. 2010. Or just click on the link.

http://prosthero.blogspot.com/2010/06/body-building-bride-wife-city-temple.html

So here in 2 Corinthians 5 1-3 we find that Paul is building on the theme of the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant...and he has not begun a new topic, but through his transitional phrases (FOR), he is continuing the same theme. This theme is highlighted elsewhere with Abraham and Christ in Hebrews.

To be continued...

FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW (PART I)

To break a paradigm you must be willing to look at something from a different, maybe not so obvious, new perspective. In my bible study I try to do this as often as I can. I have found that a great deal of what I have heard from the pulpit in the last 30 years of listening to preachers has been a party line or a denominational position.

In trying to live a berean life and wanting to be able to hear God's spirit for myself, I have had to throw off much of the "Christian Party Line" and the denominational dogma.

Another passage that has confronted me lately in my paradigm shift is 2 Corinthians. After an extended introduction in chapters 1 and 2 Paul begins in Chapter 3 to highlight the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant.

2 Cor 3:3 "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."

Here contrasts the Old Covenant written in stone and the fulfillment of the prophecy of the New Covenant coming to pass by the Spirit of the living God writing the epistles of Christ (the teachings of Christ--the Law of Christ) on our fleshy tables of the heart.

2 Cor 3:4-7 "And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:"

Paul next declares our full sufficiency to be found in God, and then elaborates on the nature of the Old Covenant compared to the New. The "Letter", or "Ministration of Death", or that which is "Written and engraven in stone", brings about "DEATH".

But the "Spirit", or the New Covenant brings "LIFE". He declares the Old Covenant as possessing some form of "Glory", but that Glory was being done away with. The Glory of the New Covenant was however superior to that of the old.

2 Cor 3:8-11 "How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."

Here we see that the Old Covenant was being done away with in Paul's day and the New Covenant was to remain. The New Covenant is referred to in Hebrews as an "Everlasting Covenant".

Hebrews 13 20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

2 Cor 4:1 "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;"

Here in 2 Corinthians 4 Paul begins a series of logical arguments based on this covenantal transition in chapter 3. He uses terms like "Therefore", "Wherefore", and "For" All purpose clauses intended to point us back to the previous point of the argument for substantiation, but all of them finding their root and context in the covenantal change that Chapter 3 reveals.

Let's follow this logic trail of Paul's.

"Therefore seeing we have this ministry...: What ministry Paul? It is the ministry of the New Covenant.

Since we are now ministers of a New Covenant we "have received mercy", "we faint not", "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Cor 4:1-2. In verse 3 we have not "hid the gospel", but others have blinded the minds of those who do not believe (The New Covenant).

2 Cor 4:5 "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." At the center of this New Covenant Gospel is Christ.

2 Cor 4:6 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

In the New Covenant, it is God who commands the light (the truth of the New Covenant) to shine in our hearts by way of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 4:6 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

Having this treasure of the New Covenant in Earthen vessels allows the praise to go to God, but in verse 7 we see that those in the first century who participated in the transition from the Old to the New will be misunderstood and persecuted because of this New Covenant.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." 2 Cor 4:8-10

2 Cor 4:11-14 "For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you."

So the New Covenant will bring persecution that will lead to death, but Paul encourages those who will be faced with that death to recognize that their death will result in the bringing of life to others, just as the death of Jesus resulted in resurrection. This is following the pattern of putting away the Old Covenant of DEATH in favor of the New Covenant of LIFE.

2 Cor 4:15 "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." This suffering and possible death results in the grace of God toward those ministering the New Covenant, and ultimately gratitude.

2 Cor 4:16 "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Because Grace is promised the ministers of the New Covenant can move forward without fainting, knowing that the New Man of the New Covenant will be renewed day by day.

2 Cor 4:17-18 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Here the transition is to faith..."look(ing) at the things which are NOT SEEN." How do we look upon that which is "NOT SEEN"?? The only way to do that is by faith.

Again this is speaking of the contrast between the Old Covenant, Shadows, types, figures, etc., all which were seen. The temple, the priesthood, the sacrifice. These were constituent elements of the Old Covenant, ALL which could be seen. Paul says, do not look to those things, but look to the truth and reality of the New Covenant that cannot be seen with the human eye, but MUST be seen by FAITH.

Paul gets to the concept of "FAITH" very soon in 2 Cor 5:7, (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

But before he gets there he says some very interesting things...

To be continued.

AS THE SEASONS TURN

My friend Steve in Buena Vista, CO took this picture this morning. The snow has begun to accumulate in the Rockies, what a beautiful time of year.







Click on the picture for a larger display.

RIDING ON A "SWIFT CLOUD"

Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. (Is 19:1)

The above verse is describing:

A. Every Egyptian seeing God on a literal cloud as He rides in judgment against their nation.

B. God’s judgment of Egypt described in figurative, apocalyptic language.

Few, if any, students of the Word believe that God was actually seen on a cloud by anyone during His judgment against Egypt. In fact, most have no difficulty in acknowledging that while there was a literal judgment against Egypt, this apocalyptic description is not to be taken literally. Why, then, do we insist on a literal interpretation for the following verse?

Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Matt 26:64)

When the high priest heard Jesus say this, he tore his clothes and accused Jesus of blasphemy.

Why?

Because he knew what coming on the clouds of heaven meant—that Jesus was claiming to be God, and would come in judgment against them.

The Jewish Council, before whom Jesus spoke these words, knew that cloud-comings were woven throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. Did they deem Him deserving of death because He claimed He could ride on a cloud, or because He had just stated, in language which all Jews understood, that He was God and would return to judge them? Surely the latter is the case.

Why, then, do we insist on interpreting this cloud-coming judgment of Christ in a literal fashion, instead of in the manner of Old Testament cloud-coming judgments?

ALL THE LAND...

The bible predicts and history clearly records that Israel was given all the land that God promised.

--God kept every promise that he ever made to the physical literal nation called Israel.

--That nation Israel rebelled against God in every possible way for years and years.

--God's ultimate purpose for this nation was to bring forth his Son, Messiah. Born under the law. THIS CAME TO PASS.

--Once The nation had fulfilled God's ordained purpose, God was free to keep the rest of his promises...Promises of Judgment and destruction.

--Read Deuteronomy 28-30 you will see the many many promises of God's justice and judgment to come on that nation.

--History records in the Jewish Roman wars of63 AD-70 AD the complete fulfillment of these promises of Judgment. God utterly destroyed this rebellious nation. In his destruction of this nation he showed that he was finished with them. They served their purpose and they received what they deserved for their rejection of God's son and their messiah.

Utter destruction is what was predicted by the prophets...Utter destruction is what happened to the nation of Israel in the first century.

Not all who are of the physical seed of Abraham are Israel...but those who are the sons of Abraham by faith.

SO..."FOR ME, there is an Israel"...but it is not the physical literal nation that was destroyed in AD 70. It is the remnant of that group mixed in the one body with the wall of partition being broken down. It is those who are the seed of Abraham BY FAITH. They are the Israel that I recognize. NOT a physical literal nation attached to a physical literal land. Those physical literal promises were all fulfilled in Joshua's day.

We now live in the greater reality of the Spiritual. The church, the elect, the bride of Christ, the new Jerusalem...we (believers in Christ) are all the spiritual Israel that Paul wrote about.

"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28-29

"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." Galatians 3:28

"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." Galatians 6:15-16

Who did Paul say are the "Israel of God"??? "As Many as walk according to THIS rule". Which Rule are you talking about Paul? The rule that Circumcision no longer counts for anything, but a NEW CREATURE. Paul do you men that the Israel of God are all those who are NEW CREATURES in the NEW COVENANT? That is exactly what Paul means.

There is no longer a physical literal nation attached to a land that God has any obligation to. He has obligated himself through his son and by faith to those whom he has redeemed out of every kindred tribe tongue and nation. The Church!

WHY POLISH THE BRASS ON A SINKING SHIP?

In doing an honest look at history, we can trace our social welfare system to the time when the church gave up its role to care for the poor and the widows and the fatherless.

When did this trend begin?

It began at the same time that "pre-millennial Dispensationalism took a choke-hold in the churches of this country. We had leaders in the church declaring; "Why polish the brass on a sinking ship?"

Once I heard a preacher declare that it would be foolish to make improvements to rental property.

The teaching continues.

Until the Church takes back its God ordained responsibility to care for those among us who cannot, the government will continue to insert themselves where the church belongs. Pre-mil Dispensationalism,being the first of the excess baggage that needs to go by the way-side.

EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM

When people share their belief that all Bible prophecy has been fulfilled, listeners routinely protest with a short phrase from Rev. 1:7: “…every eye will see Him…” (NASB throughout). This response is almost always offered without regard to the context or even the rest of the verse. Here is the complete quotation:

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Most see this verse as a major problem since there is no evidence Christ’s second coming in the clouds was ever seen by anyone, let alone everyone in the world. However, we will demonstrate that it is actually the popular futurist view of the second coming that cannot be reconciled with Rev. 1:7.

Popular scenario difficult to imagine

Many Christians would consider the following an accurate description of the second coming:

1. Jesus returns bodily on the clouds riding a white horse (Matt. 24:30; Rev. 19:11);
2. He streaks across the sky from east to west like a flash of lightning (Matt. 24:27);
3. Everyone in the whole world sees it take place (Rev. 1:7).

Popular author Max Lucado envisions a somewhat more serene return, evidently, minus the lightning:

Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns—and there he is. Jesus. Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. (Max Lucado, When Christ Comes [Nashville: Word Publishing, 1999], xvi)

Although Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18) and is certainly able to perform amazing feats, the descriptions above raise some puzzling questions:

1. If Jesus and his horse are on top of the clouds, how will anyone see them? Won’t they actually be hidden by the clouds? Who hasn’t strained without success to see an airplane flying over that was above the clouds? Perhaps they might be visible on top of a cloud in the distance, but then, they would probably be too far away to be seen without a telescope.
2. When a lightning bolt strikes, we are usually looking somewhere else, and by the time we turn our heads, the flash has disappeared. So if Jesus races around the world like a streak of lightning, won’t most people miss it? Won’t everyone in the world need to be looking up at precisely the right moment and all at the same time? Does that ever happen? What about people in buildings, or millions looking downward to read or do their work? What about miners working underground, or sailors in submerged submarines? What about half of the world’s population on the dark side of the globe who will be sleeping? At any given moment, only a small fraction of humankind is looking toward the sky.
3. If Jesus were to orbit the earth at the equator for example, he would be visible to only a relatively small number of people living within a narrow strip of land. How would people in other parts of the globe manage to see him? Can you see clouds over the equator from your house?

Even with a loud trumpet blast to get everyone’s attention (Rev. 11:15) it seems impossible to imagine how “every eye” in the world could witness the second coming as most seem to understand it. Of course, some will argue that although we don’t have a complete understanding of Christ’s return, it will all work out, and we don’t need to be concerned with the details. Nevertheless, we think our questions indicate something is seriously wrong with the popular scenario. We will further suggest that the commonly held interpretation of Rev. 1:7 completely misses the intended meaning.

Zech. 12:10-11

Rev. 1:7 refers to Zech. 12:10-11:

10“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. 11In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem… (Zech. 12:10-11)

The “house of David” refers to the nation of Jews under the Old Covenant. In the first century, God ceased working through this physical nation because under the New Covenant, we are all spiritually one in Christ (Rom. 10:12). Today, the church is God’s “holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:9). Therefore, this prophecy must refer to something within the bounds of the Old Covenant era which came to its complete end when Herod’s temple was destroyed in a.d. 70. Jerusalem became irrelevant at this time as well. God will never again use a physical temple in a physical city for animal sacrifices because Jesus has been sacrificed once for all (Heb. 10:10). Today, we have come to the “heavenly Jerusalem,” the church (Heb. 12:22-23). Sometimes, the church is described as God’s “temple” (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21). Therefore, since earthly Jerusalem with its physical temple is now irrelevant, the “great mourning in Jerusalem” can refer only to the city’s destruction in the first century.

Matt. 24:30

Jesus referred to Zech. 12:10-11 in Matt. 24:30:

…all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

We have already seen that the original prophecy referred to the first century. Now, immediately after referencing Zechariah’s prophecy, Jesus confirms the time of fulfillment:

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (v. 34)

“Tribes” is translated from the Greek word φυλή (phule). It is the same word used in Jas. 1:1:

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

This refers to the 12 tribes of Israel, not all nations of the world, in which case the Greek would be ἔθνος (ethnos).

“Earth” is an unfortunate rendering since this English word has several shades of meaning. Most have assumed it refers to the entire globe here. However, a clump of earth can be held in one’s hand. A gardener might plant a seed in the earth and then, cover it with earth. The gardener would not have the globe in mind at all.

The word “earth” in Matt. 24:30 is γῆ (ge) in the Greek. It is translated “land” in other places:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah… (Matt. 2:6); Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel… (v. 20); The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali… (ch. 4:15); Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. (ch. 27:45)

In every case above, ge refers to the land of Israel or Judah, not the globe.

That the original prophecy refers to God’s Old Covenant people has been firmly established. Now, with additional support from the Greek in Matt. 24:30 we reconfirm that conclusion: “all the tribes of the earth will mourn” should be understood to mean all the tribes of the land of Israel will mourn.

Rev. 1:7

It is abundantly clear that Zech. 12:10-11, restated in Matt. 24:30, refers to the first century. So, when we find it referenced again in Rev. 1:7, the timing of its fulfillment is simply not open to question; the verse must refer to the first century; and once again, this is corroborated by the surrounding text:

1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Rev. 1:1-3)

The “soon” theme is carried right on through to the end of the vision:

And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. (ch. 22:6); And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” (v. 10)

It is unnatural and unbelievable that “near” could mean almost 2,000 years. However, most futurist expositors either read right over all this or attempt to redefine “soon” and “near” with questionable appeals to the Greek and some rather creative interpretive techniques.

We can now begin to illuminate Rev. 1:7. The verse appears to contain three statements:

1. behold, He is coming with the clouds,
2. and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him;
3. and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.

However, there are really only two declarations here; everything before the semi-colon, i.e., items one and two, belong together.

1. “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him;”

This combines an allusion to Zech. 12:10 (“pierced”) with a reference to Christ’s trial. The High Priest demanded Jesus answer this charge: “…tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matt. 26:63). Jesus gave him the answer he wanted: “…hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (v. 64). To some, this may not seem like a very direct response. However, it was, in fact, quite clear to those attending the trial; they knew exactly what Jesus meant. They mocked him saying, “Prophesy to us, You Christ” (v. 68). They knew he was claiming to be the Christ because he was identifying himself as “the Son of Man” mentioned in Dan. 7:13:

I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

Christ’s answer was “blasphemy” to the Jews (Matt. 26:65) because they knew that only God or the Son of God could be coming on clouds. But Jesus was not suggesting they would actually see him coming in the clouds; rather, he was simply identifying himself as the Christ: the “Son of God” (Matt. 26:63). This was the purpose of his slightly oblique reply.

God is sometimes figuratively pictured as coming on clouds. For instance, when David was delivered from his enemies, he praised God for things that never occurred literally:

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10 He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire. (Ps. 18:9-12)

God didn’t literally “come down” in “thick clouds,” and no one saw him. This is imagery portraying God as all-powerful. Christ used this same device to answer the High Priest who understood it immediately. Today, we know that looking up into the sky actually peers into outer space. However, in the past, the sky was simply viewed as heaven. Anyone coming down through the clouds was coming from God’s throne.

We often use the word see to mean understand or perceive. Such usage is not new. Jesus did the same thing. So did Isaiah:

13“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14“In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’
16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
17“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matt. 13:13-17).

Jesus used “eyes” as a metaphor for the mind, and by “see” he meant “understand”: “…blessed are your eyes, because they see.” When he told those present at his trial they would “see” him coming with clouds, he meant they would finally understand he was the Christ. He meant the same thing in Rev. 1:7 and even mentioned “those who pierced Him,” a clear reference to his accusers. They and the mob who demanded his crucifixion were the ones ultimately guilty of his murder (Matt. 27:1-2; Acts 2:23; 3:14-15), not the Roman soldier who pierced his side (John 19:34). So “see” in Rev. 1:7 means many people, including those guilty of his murder, would finally comprehend who he was.

The word “every” is common hyperbole. It was just as prevalent in ancient times as it is today. We use it all the time, but don’t expect people to take us literally. (Incidentally, the phrase all the time is hyperbole too.) One might say, “Oh, everybody knows that.” This just means a fact is well known, not that every living soul on earth knows it. It is not necessary to include every eye on the entire planet when interpreting Rev. 1:7. The point is Christ’s return would be dramatic, and his true identity as the Christ would be perceived by many.

Therefore, “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” in Rev. 1:7 does not require a literal interpretation. It simply predicts that the Jews who handed Jesus over to the Romans for crucifixion would finally understand who he was. This pronouncement should be understood to mean many will perceive that Jesus is the Christ, even those guilty of his murder.

2. “and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.”

This has already been covered. In Zech. 12:10-11, it was “the house of David” and “the inhabitants of Jerusalem” who would mourn over the one they had pierced. In Matt. 24:30, it was the tribes of the land of Israel. The Greek is the same in Rev. 1:7: “tribes” is phule; “earth” is ge. Therefore, “all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him” should be understood as all the tribes of the land of Israel will mourn over Him.

The full meaning of Rev. 1:7 is now evident:

Many will perceive that Jesus is the Christ, even those guilty of his murder; and all the tribes of the land of Israel will mourn over Him.

Enormous implications

Since Rev. 1:7 clearly refers to the destruction of the Jews in a.d. 70, the book of Revelation must have been written no later than the late sixties. Furthermore, since this one verse from Revelation was fulfilled in a.d. 70, then all of Revelation must have been fulfilled by that time. And since all of Revelation has been fulfilled, then all eschatological events including the second coming, resurrection of the dead, rapture and judgment must have come to complete fulfillment as well.

We marvel at the tremendous power packed into Rev. 1:7. The proper understanding of this solitary verse is enough to prove that all Bible prophecy has been fulfilled. The verse most often quoted to refute the first century fulfillment when it actually supports it.

Conclusion

1. When Jesus returned in a.d. 70, many perceived that he was the Christ, even those guilty of his murder; and all the tribes of the land of Israel mourned over him;
2. The book of Revelation was written before a.d. 70;
3. All Bible prophecy came to complete fulfillment in a.d. 70.

Objection

Objection: In Acts 1:9-11, we see Jesus ascending into a literal cloud. The “men in white clothing” said he would return “in just the same way.” Doesn’t that demand a literal cloud?

Answer: Yes. However, we must be careful to distinguish between two groups of people: the loyal followers of Jesus and the unrepentant Jews. It was Christ’s disciples who witnessed the ascension. The promise that Jesus would return “in just the same way,” i.e., in a cloud, was made to them only. They eventually rose to meet Jesus in the clouds at which time their bodies were transformed in the “twinkling of an eye” to be conformed to his glorious body (1 Thess. 4:16-17; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:50-54).

The unrepentant Jews experienced nothing like this. They received only vengeance, fire and death (Luke 21:22; Matt. 13:41-50; 22:7). Granted, they were predicted to “see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky” (Matt. 24:30), but this should no more be taken literally than other similar Old Testament descriptions of God taking vengeance on his enemies at which times he was not literally seen on clouds (Ps. 18:9-12; 97:2-3; 104:3; Isa. 19:1).

Who knows? Perhaps those punished by God actually do see him in the clouds as they meet their doom. However, since they are always being destroyed, they never leave behind a record of their experiences. We cannot prove this occurs; however, neither can anyone prove it doesn’t. So ultimately, we are not stating categorically that Jesus was not seen on the clouds; we are simply saying that references to coming with clouds do not require a literal interpretation. They are best understood as symbolic, indentifying Jesus as the Christ.

CONSIDER THE FIG TREE

What about that tree putting forth leaves...is that the modern nation of Israel becoming a Nation?

Look at the passages that seem to indicate this.

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves,... ye know that summer is nigh:" Matthew 24:32

Here we see that Jesus is declaring a sign of a tree indicating by its leaves being put forth that summer is near. I do not see anything about a nation. Is he not just saying that sometimes there are undeniable and irrefutable signs of a coming event...(Any coming event...even summer).

We should probably let all the words of Jesus come to bear on this topic before we make conclusions...so...

The parallel passage for the Matthew one is Luke 21. Here

"And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand." Luke 21:29-30

If the tree in Matthew 24 is representative of the Nation of Israel then in the parallel passage that is speaking of exactly the same event in both the Matthew and Luke passage, then we should carry that figurative representation over into the Luke passage...RIGHT?

Here we are told to consider the fig tree, (ostensibly representing Israel), But then he includes "ALL THE TREES" If the Fig tree in this story is representing the nation of Israel, then ALL THE TREES must be representing all the rest of the nations of the world. Note what it says about ALL THE TREES. "When THEY SHOOT FORTH".

SO if the fig tree bearing leaves is Israel in the future becoming a nation...then ALL THE TREES--SHOOTING FORTH, would have to be all the rest of the nations of the world becoming a nation.

What other nations have become nations in conjunction with Israel becoming a nation in 1948? The Chinese became communist about that time...but that is only one nation. Did the United States, Britain, Mexico, Canada, Germany...did any of them BECOME nations in 1948?

The whole thing breaks down. The fig leaves blooming can in NO WAY be representative of Israel becoming a nation in anyway.

Is there another explanation?

WHO ARE WE GOING TO BELIEVE?

Really, Who are we going to believe? The words and teaching of the Apostles...or the words of our favorite theologian.

The esteemed C.S. Lewis said that the return of Christ was an embarrassment to Christianity because it did not happen.

Problem is, C.S. Lewis should be embarrassed, for Christs return happened EXACTLY as He and his apostles taught...In the first century.

To declare and teach anything else is to make Christ and his divinely inspired apostles to be liars. I prefer to conclude that the theologians who do not see the truth of the first century parousia are wrong.

"Say what you like," we shall be told, "the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And He was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else. It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible."

Essay "The World's Last Night" (1960), found in The Essential C.S. Lewis, p-385.

SIGNS OF A DYING OR DECAYING CHRISTIAN

Signs of a Dying or Decaying Christian



By George Burder (June 5, 1752—May 29, 1832)






1. When you are so indifferent to public worship, or frequenting the church of God, that you can be satisfied to come, or not come, at your own pleasure.
2. When, in your most solemn worship, you are quickly weary without warrantable cause.
3. When few sermons will please you; either you like not the matter, or manner, or man, or place.
4. When you think you know enough.
5. When a small occasion will keep you from Christ’s table, or communion with the church of God.
6. When you have usually no great desire for prayer.
7. When reading the Holy Scriptures is more burdensome than delightful.
8. When you are very inquisitive after novelties or new things, rather than wholesome doctrine.
9. When you are so little prepared for the solemn assemblies, that they come before you think of them, or long for them.
10. When you come to the assembly more for fear of the brethren's eye, than Christ’s omniscient and all-piercing eye.
11. When you will rather betray the name of Christ Jesus and the credit of his gospel by your silence, than appear for it to your own suffering and disparagement.
12. When, at a small offence, you are usually so impatient that you commit great sin.
13. When you are more careful to get the words of Christ’s people than the spirit of Christ’s people, the form than the power.
14. When you are not much troubled at your own miscarriages, while they are kept from public view.
15. When you love least those Christians that deal most faithfully with you, in showing you your faults and pointing you to the remedy.
16. When you pray more that afflictions may be removed than sanctified.
17. When under God's calamity you find neither the need nor the benefit of humbling yourself by fasting and prayer.
18. When the thought of your bosom-lust, or any other sin, is more prevalent with you than pleasing God.
19. When you are curious about the lesser matters of God's law, and careless about the weightier.
20. When the Holy Spirit’s help to the great work of mortification seems not of absolute necessity to you.
21. When you are so ignorant of your spiritual standing that you know not whether you grow or decay.
22. When great sins seem smaller, and small sins seem none at all.
23. When a watchful care of a godly life and a Christian conversation is more accidental than habitual.
24. When care for your body is usually most pleasant, and care for your soul usually most irksome.
25. When you are much a stranger to the practical part of meditation on the word and works of God.
26. When the thoughts of a dying Jesus for your sins little dissuade you from an unchristian conversation.
27. When you can commit sin without pain, and reflect upon it with indifference.
28. When you find greater satisfaction in the company of the world than with the people of God.

George Burder (June 5, 1752—May 29, 1832) was an English Nonconformist divine. In his youth he was an engraver, but in 1776 he began preaching, and was minister of the Independent church at Lancaster from 1778 to 1783. Subsequently he held charges at Coventry (1784 1803) and at Fetter Lane, London (1803-1832). He was one of the founders of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Religious Tract Society, and the London Missionary Society, and was secretary to the last-named for several years. As editor of the Evangelical Magazine and author of Village Sermons, he commanded a wide influence. A Life (by Henry Forster Burder) appeared in 1833.

SIGNS OF A LIVING OR GROWING CHRISTIAN

Signs of a Living or Growing Christian

By George Burder (June 5, 1752—May 29, 1832)


THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALMTREE;
HE SHALL GROW LIKE A CEDAR IN LEBANON." PSA. 92:12




1. WHEN your chief delight is with the saints, especially them that excel in virtue. Psa. 16:3.
2. When the smitings of the righteous are not a burden to you, and you can hear of your faults with affectionate attention. Psa. 141:5.
3. When reproach for Christ makes you not ashamed of Christ. Mark 8:38; Heb. 11:26.
4. When wandering thoughts, in time of duty, find less entertainment than formerly. Psa. 139:23; 1Cor. 13:11.
5. When length of standing in the profession of Christianity, works increase of hatred to all sin. Psa. 119:104-113.
6. When you carry about with you a constant jealousy over your own heart, that it turn not aside from God and goodness. Prov. 18:14.
7. When every known mercy begets new thankfulness, and that with delight. Psa. 145:2.
8. When known calamity in God's house begets deep sorrow in your heart. Neh. 1:4.
9. When, under deep distress or languishing, the word of God is precious to you. Psa. 119:92.
10. When any condition in the world, though in itself mean, as it comes from God is most welcome. Job 1:21; Hab. 3:17,18.
11. When your chief care, to avoid all sin, is as truly occasioned through fear of dishonoring God and incurring his present displeasure, as of the wrath to come. Neh. 5:15; Gen. 39:9.
12. When every company is burdensome to you, that is not designing your Father's glory, but derogating there from.
Psa. 120:5; 2 Peter 2:7,8.
13. When the sins of others come so near your heart that you walk sadly to see such persons transgress God's commandments. Psa. 119:136.
14. When the company of the pious poor is preferred to that of the ungodly rich.
15. When it is truly painful to you to see sinners going heedlessly on in the broad road to ruin.
16. When you are willing to part with all for Christ.
17. When the yoke of self-denial, as imposed by Christ Jesus, is not grievous, but pleasant to you.
Matt. 11:29,30 ; Mark 10:28.
18. When increase of time in Christ's acquaintance, works increase of delight in communion with Christ. Psalm 92:12-14.
19. When the majesty of the great God, considering how visible you are in his sight, has an awful prevalence upon your heart. Job 31:4.
20. When you are at open war and constant hostility with bosom sin, as displeasing to God, and forbidden by his law.
Psa. 18:23.
21. When you have a thirsting desire to get the power of godliness in your heart, rather than the form of godliness in the head, or outward profession. 2 Cor. 1:12.
22. When the worship of God, agreeable to his word, is highly prized and faithfully practised in the worst of times.
Mal. 3:14-16.
23. When the soul is more hungry for the word of God, than the body is for temporal food.
Job 23:12; Psa. 119:72,162.

George Burder (June 5, 1752—May 29, 1832) was an English Nonconformist divine. In his youth he was an engraver, but in 1776 he began preaching, and was minister of the Independent church at Lancaster from 1778 to 1783. Subsequently he held charges at Coventry (1784 1803) and at Fetter Lane, London (1803-1832). He was one of the founders of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Religious Tract Society, and the London Missionary Society, and was secretary to the last-named for several years. As editor of the Evangelical Magazine and author of Village Sermons, he commanded a wide influence. A Life (by Henry Forster Burder) appeared in 1833.

WHO ARE THE 144,000 OF REVELATION

Who are the 144,000 of Revelation? It is interesting to note that they are mentioned twice in the book of Revelation, seven chapters apart. The two references are in Chapters 7 and 14, they are as follows.

Revelation 7:4 "And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."

Revelation 14:1 "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:3-4 "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

One thing we learn from the passage in chapter 14 is that these are the "Firstfruits" unto God and to the Lamb.

What does that mean?

Does the New Testament define in further detail who the "Firstfruits" are, or is Revelation 14 the only passage.

Romans 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Here Paul is saying that they in the first century had the firstfruits of the Spirit. This is something that they possessed in the first century not something they were going to have to wait thousands of years for.

Romans 16:5 "Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ."

Here again, Paul using the term "Firstfruits" is describing Epaenetus, a first century Roman believer in Jesus Christ. One of the FIRST in
Rome to come to faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:15 "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"

Now in the church of Corinth, Paul calls Stephanas, a person who lived in the first century as the "Firstfruits of Achaia".

It is interesting that Epaenetus was a Gentile and Stephanas was a Jew. So we have representative firstfruits from both Jew and gentile.

James 1:18 "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

James also uses the term Firstfruits to describe..."We who were begat of his own will, by the word of truth". Is he talking about "WE" in the 21st century? No, he is writing to a group of Jews in the first century who had been dispersed by first century persecution. James was chronologically the first epistle of the New Testament to be penned. It is instructive that so early in the church history, James says that there were those who were considered by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be the "Firstfruits.

So let's apply this expanded definition of Firstfruits to the passages in Revelation. Using this definition, we would be hard pressed to produce textual evidence that the 144,000 could be a group of people that John is describing that exist 2000+ years after his writing.

On the contrary, based on the use of the word "Firstfruits" by the apostles Paul and James, John is describing a group of believers, (probably mostly Jewish) that existed in the first century.

In dispensational futurism, the teaching is that these 144,000 Jews do not come to exist until during the end of the tribulation period and they go through the last of the tribulation and then are ushered into the kingdom where they populate the Millennial kingdom.

How is that a legitimate use of the word Firstfruits when in actuality that teaching is identifying them as the LAST fruits. In that way of thinking, they are the last fruits to come unto God and to the Lamb. It really does not make sense. The only thing that makes sense is that these 144,000 are the first believers to come to faith in Jesus Christ in the first century.

BUT I SAY UNTO YOU

Moses declared in Deuteronomy chapter 18

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Then God reiterates the same thing, stating it himself:
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.


Here it is prophesied that God would send another prophet, like Moses, who coming out of the midst of the nation of Israel (Of thy brethren) will speak the words of God himself. This prophet is to be OBEYED. And those who will not obey this prophets words, will be judged, (I will require it of him).

This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and one of the first sermons he preached, the Sermon on the Mount, had in it the declaration from Jesus that He was indeed that prophet who would speak God's words. And he proceeded to declare himself as a superior prophet to Moses.

His use of the phrases; "Ye have heard that it was said",...(Speaking of Moses)
and then following with; "But I say unto you", was his way of showing that He was THAT prophet that Moses spoke of. And He (Jesus Christ) is the New Covenant law giver. He would also become the fulfillment of the old covenant priest, king, sacrifice. Jesus is declaring that he was superior to all of the types shadows and prophecies of the old covenant. Behold a greater than Moses is here...Hallelujah.

The following text in Matthew 5 is all about magnifying Christ's role as the New Covenant law giver.

***Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

***Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

***It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

***Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

--But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

***Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

--But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

***Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

--But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;


What has Jesus said unto you?