Biblical prophecy is a lot like aging, the closer one gets to the end the more intense the signs get that a big change is coming; that things are not going to continue, indeed cannot continue as they have been forever indefinitely.
There are all kinds of ways that people deal with the ageing process and it's interesting, even amusing to see how different folks handle it, or don't handle it well at all.
We all know about the midlife crisis syndrome and the attempts to regain ones lost youth through buying stuff, like a new car or new cloths; or by getting "work" done on the hair, or face or body; maybe changing partners or whatever.
It all boils down to an attempt to deny the inevitable.
It's really nothing more than whistling past the graveyard.
Funny and sad at the same time.
As I said, prophecy is a lot like aging; the human heart and mind tend to respond to the unfolding signs of end time events in the same way that they do to the signs of aging; mainly denial and incredulity.
But, just like mortality and death are facts of life; no amount of whistling, diversion or denial can change the inevitable future concerning the doom of the current world system.
It is coming to an end; and by the way, that's a good thing.
All the signs are in place; the convergence of events in our day is a one time, like never before perfect storm; foreordained and foretold by God as part of the process of bringing in a new and better world.
This is the topic of our current Bible study; it's a topic that I have been following for three and a half decades and I never cease to be amazed at the lack of interest in, or concern for, the signs of the times in our day that are unfolding before our very eyes.
II Pet.3:3-4 – Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
4. And saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
So many in the Church are concerned with prosperity, with health and wealth; with feel good worldly music and worldly messages about reaching their best potential for success in this world; promises of attaining ultimate happiness here and now.
These are all false promises and they are a distraction from reality.
This world is not the best that there is; it is only a step on the way.
The best is yet to come, for those who will seek it and who are willing to wait for it.
Yes this world can be beautiful and God has created it for our enjoyment and for our wellbeing and we should be thankful for that; but this is not all that He has promised; not by a long shot!
We look forward to a new heavens and a new earth in which there is no more sin, suffering and death; a world that is spoken of in
II Pet.3:13 - "wherein righteousness dwells."
Don't settle for second best.
Trust Christ for salvation and believe His word for the promised coming of a better world.
He has conquered sin and death and soon He will put away it's consequences forever.
Maranatha!
Monday, September 1, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
Jesus and Apocalyptic Expectations
Jesus and Apocalyptic Expectations
It is a widely held opinion among so called modern scholars
that Jesus and His 1st century followers were just one among many
Jewish apocalyptic cults or sects that have come and gone over the centuries;
consider the Essenes, “the sons of light” for example.
And so students in institutions of higher education are regularly
exposed to pontifical drivel such as the following.
“There is nothing special or unique about the bible; yes,
yes, isn't it amusing and quaint; just move along now, there is nothing to see
here.”
This is the smug attitude of the eschato-phobic skeptics (eschato-phobic is my word meaning; holding to an unsubstantiated, unwarranted and biased
rejection of Biblical prophecy concerning the end times).
As we know; the thing that separates Biblical prophecy from
all non canonical so called prophecy is accuracy.
The Bible has proven to be 100% accurate concerning all that
was predicted to take place so far and so we have confidence that what remains
will come to pass literally as well.
Not so with the others; such as the Essenes for example.
However, the blind guides in the ivory towers are not the
only unbelievers concerning a literal understanding and acceptance of Biblical
eschatology; the nominal Christian church is loaded with them; consider the
dominance of the Amillennial position held by so many of the main line
denominations.
This brief outline will deal with the topic of the “Signs of
the Times” as predicted in scripture for the days leading up to the “End of the
Age” and the “Second Coming of Christ.” It is intended to be an overview and to
help eliminate confusion.
II Pet.3:3-10 – Know this first of all, that in the
last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their
own lusts,
4. And saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever
since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning
of creation.” (Aforementioned skeptics and non-literalists)
5. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice
that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the
earth was formed out of water and by water,
6. through which the world at that time was destroyed,
being flooded with water.
7. But by His
word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day
of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8. But do not let this
one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like
a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count
slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all
to come to repentance.
10. 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. (Sounds pretty Apocalyptic to me!)
10. 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. (Sounds pretty Apocalyptic to me!)
I Tim.4:1 – The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith
and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (Cults and schisms
allegedly begun by angelic visitation or through revelation by spirits; Islam,
Mormonism, New Age, etc.).
Apocalyptic Expectations page 2
II Tim.3:1-5 – But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will
come.
2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money,
boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. unloving,
irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of
good, 4. treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God, 5. holding to a form of godliness,
although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (Ya think?)
II Tim4:1- 4 – I solemnly charge you in the
presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom (yet future):
2. Preach the word; be ready in season and out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort,
with great patience and instruction (Lord give us strength!).
3. For the time will
come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will
accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (Evolution,
Amillennialism, etc.)
Mt.16:1-3 – The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and
testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
2. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It
will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
3. “And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm
today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the
appearance of the sky, but cannot discern (recognize)
The Signs of the Times?
Is.11:10-12 – Then in that day the nations will
resort to the root of Jesse (Jesus),
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.
11. Then it will happen on that day
that the Lord Will again recover the
second time with His hand (there will be no third or fourth time; this is
it.) The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros,
Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea.
112. And He will lift
up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel , and will gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
Ezek.36:24-25 – “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring
you into your own land. 25. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your
filthiness and from all your idols.
Ezek.37:1-14 – The rebirth of the end times nation of
Israel
is a process; it began as a small rattling of dead bones, as it were, vss. 1-7;
and then the nation will be “fleshed out” and be ready to be brought to life
spiritually, vs. 8 (this is the current state of Israel);
vs.11 identifies the vision as being about “the whole house
of Israel ”,
in other words, the nation as a whole.
Ø Notice the sequence again laid out for us in
vss.12-14; first the gathering
together of dead Israel out of the grave; followed
by the peoples recognition of the fact that it was God who brought them
back into their land; and finally
God will breath His Spirit into them bringing new life to the nation, Spiritual
life when they recognize their Savior!
Apocalyptic Expectations page 3
Amos 9:13-15 – “Behold, days
are coming,” declares the LORD, “When the
plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed;
When the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved.
14. “Also I will restore the captivity of
My people Israel ,
and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also
plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their
fruit. (Israel today is the
leading exporter of produce in the Middle East ).
15. “I will also plant
them on their land, and they will not
again be rooted out from their land which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God. (Once they are back, they are back
to stay.)
Zech.12:2-3 – “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples
around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem ,
it will also be against Judah .
3.
“It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples;
all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will
be gathered against it. (This is the exact situation that the world is facing
today; surely this is the Lord’s doing!)
Mt.24:5-8 – The Birth Pangs; 1.False Christs, 2. Wars, 3. Rumors of wars, 4. Nation against nation
(ethnic conflicts), 5.
Kingdom against kingdom (political wars), 6. Famines, 7. And Earthquakes. [It is the increase in the
frequency and in the intensity of these conditions (as with actual birth pains)
along with their convergence with all of the previous signs mentioned that indicate,
without a doubt, that we are living near the end of the last days.]
Mt.24:32-34 – “Now learn the
parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts
forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;
33. So, you too,
when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the
door. 34. “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take
place.
The generation that witnesses these end time signs will be
the terminal generation.
Just as Israel
will not be returned to the land over and over or many times; the message is
clear these signs that produce these conditions will only converge like this
once.
Lk.21:29-36 – Then He told them a parable: “Behold
the fig tree and all the trees;
30. As soon as they put
forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now
near.
31. “So you also, when you see these things happening,
recognize that the kingdom
of God
32. “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.
33. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not
pass away.
34. “Be on guard,
so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness
and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a
trap;
35. For it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth (this is a technical,
theological term for unbelievers; see Rev. 3;10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8).
36. “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you
may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and
to stand before the Son of Man.”
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The Rapture and The Tribulation Period
Here is the next section of our prophecy outline.
Why the Tribulation and Why the Rapture?
I. What is the purpose of the Tribulation Period and who is it for?
To purify Israel and to call them to God; to punish and eliminate sinners.
Dan9:24 – Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people (Jews) and your holy city.
(69 weeks are completed and one week remains to be fulfilled to accomplish the following),
1. to finish the transgression, 2. to make an end of sin, 3. to make atonement for iniquity,
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. to seal up vision and prophecy and 6. to anoint the most holy.
Jer.30:7 – Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it (Jacob is Israel, not the Church).
Is.13:9 – Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
Dan.12:27 – I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
(The purpose of the Tribulation Period in addition to that which is listed in Dan.9 and the punishment and elimination of sinners; is to eliminate the spirit of self- reliance from the Jews and to cause them to turn to God for deliverance. See Zech.12:7-14).
II. Is there a difference between general tribulation and the Tribulation period? Most definitely.
Mt.24:21-22 – For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! (Dan.12:1; Joel 2:2)
Jn.16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (II Tim.3:12; I Cor.10:13; Jas.1:2)
III. Does the Bride of Christ require chastening or further purification; is the Church destined to suffer the wrath of God or the wrath of the Lamb (Christ)? No, the Church is made righteous through the finished work of Christ on her behalf.
Jn.3:36 – "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (The wrath of God is released upon the entire world from the very beginning of the Tribulation Period, not just the 2nd half – Rev.6:16)
I Thes.1:9-10 – you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
10. And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
I Thes.5:9 – For God has not destined us to receive wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,
I Jn.5:4-5 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Rev. 3:10 – Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from (Gk. ek – out of; not dia – through) the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (A technical phrase used throughout Rev. for unbelievers – 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8).
Lk.21:34-36 – But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
35. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth (unbelievers).
36. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength (Mt.26:41; Jn.17:24)
to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jn.14:1-3 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (Where believers will stand before the Son of Man; in heaven).
4. “And you know the way where I am going” (Jn.7:33).
IV. What are the birth pangs all about and who or what is about to be born? (The restoration of the Kingdom of Israel).
Jer.30:4-11 – Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: (the Jewish people).
5. “For thus says the LORD, ‘I have heard a sound of terror, of dread, and there is no peace.
6. ‘Ask now, and see if a male can give birth. Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale?
7. ‘Alas! For that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
But he will be saved from it.
8. ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. 9. ‘But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10. ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar and your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid.
11. ‘For I am with you,’ declares the LORD, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished.’
Rev.12:1-2, 5-6, 13-14, 17 – A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; (Israel).
2. And she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
5. And she gave birth to a son, a male child (Christ), who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne (The ascension).
6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Last ½ of the Tribulation).
13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
14. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children (Jews), who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Why the Tribulation and Why the Rapture?
I. What is the purpose of the Tribulation Period and who is it for?
To purify Israel and to call them to God; to punish and eliminate sinners.
Dan9:24 – Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people (Jews) and your holy city.
(69 weeks are completed and one week remains to be fulfilled to accomplish the following),
1. to finish the transgression, 2. to make an end of sin, 3. to make atonement for iniquity,
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. to seal up vision and prophecy and 6. to anoint the most holy.
Jer.30:7 – Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it (Jacob is Israel, not the Church).
Is.13:9 – Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
Dan.12:27 – I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
(The purpose of the Tribulation Period in addition to that which is listed in Dan.9 and the punishment and elimination of sinners; is to eliminate the spirit of self- reliance from the Jews and to cause them to turn to God for deliverance. See Zech.12:7-14).
II. Is there a difference between general tribulation and the Tribulation period? Most definitely.
Mt.24:21-22 – For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! (Dan.12:1; Joel 2:2)
Jn.16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (II Tim.3:12; I Cor.10:13; Jas.1:2)
III. Does the Bride of Christ require chastening or further purification; is the Church destined to suffer the wrath of God or the wrath of the Lamb (Christ)? No, the Church is made righteous through the finished work of Christ on her behalf.
Jn.3:36 – "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (The wrath of God is released upon the entire world from the very beginning of the Tribulation Period, not just the 2nd half – Rev.6:16)
I Thes.1:9-10 – you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
10. And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
I Thes.5:9 – For God has not destined us to receive wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,
I Jn.5:4-5 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Rev. 3:10 – Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from (Gk. ek – out of; not dia – through) the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (A technical phrase used throughout Rev. for unbelievers – 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8).
Lk.21:34-36 – But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
35. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth (unbelievers).
36. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength (Mt.26:41; Jn.17:24)
to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jn.14:1-3 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (Where believers will stand before the Son of Man; in heaven).
4. “And you know the way where I am going” (Jn.7:33).
IV. What are the birth pangs all about and who or what is about to be born? (The restoration of the Kingdom of Israel).
Jer.30:4-11 – Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: (the Jewish people).
5. “For thus says the LORD, ‘I have heard a sound of terror, of dread, and there is no peace.
6. ‘Ask now, and see if a male can give birth. Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale?
7. ‘Alas! For that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
But he will be saved from it.
8. ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. 9. ‘But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10. ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar and your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid.
11. ‘For I am with you,’ declares the LORD, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished.’
Rev.12:1-2, 5-6, 13-14, 17 – A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; (Israel).
2. And she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
5. And she gave birth to a son, a male child (Christ), who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne (The ascension).
6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Last ½ of the Tribulation).
13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
14. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children (Jews), who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
The Church Age
The Church Age - The Dispensation of Grace
Prophecy part 3
Mt.16:16, 18 – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Upon this Rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus Christ is the Rock and He alone is the only foundation upon which His Church is built. He and He alone has established and is building His Church.
He founded it upon Himself and it stands securely upon the surety of His immutability and His steadfast righteousness.
No other foundation will do; no other could suffice or endure.
He purchased it with His precious blood; He keeps it through His almighty power; and He is building it through His Spirit by His grace; according to His loving-kindness and His mercy.
There is a confusion that has persisted for a time among some Christians concerning the preposition
“of” , in Eph.2:20; there is no way to explain it or sort it out other than to get a little technical with the grammar; forgive me, but it is important.
The words “Apostles and Prophets” are the objects of the preposition “of”, and they are in the genitive case in the Greek; the genitive in the Greek is the same as the possessive in the English; so; “of” is to be correctly understood as, “belonging to”, as in “The word of God.”
The Apostles and Prophets are not the foundation; the foundation is Christ, the Cornerstone, and He is their foundation, just like He is yours and mine.
Ps.31:1-2 – In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue;
Be my Rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Ps.62:1-2 – For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
I Cor.3:11 – For no man can lay a Foundation other than the One which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The Church age was not foreseen by the Old Testament Prophets; it was hidden from them
in the valley, as it were, between the mountain tops of the first and second coming of Christ.
As we have noted previously in our study; this is known as a Gap or more specifically a Parenthesis. A correct understanding of prophecy absolutely depends upon this principle.
Is.9:6 – “A Son will be given to us... (Gap) ...the government will rest upon His shoulders.”
Is.11:4 – “With righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth ... (Gap) ... He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and the breath of His lips will slay the wicked.”
Other names for this Dispensation of time known as the Church age are;
“The Day of Grace” – The specific period of time between Pentecost and the Rapture; when God offers salvation to all men by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ; through the agency of the Church by means of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation (II Cor.5:18-20; 15:3-4).
“The (Day) Year of our Lord’s Favor” – Is.61:2a – This is a beautiful foreshadow of the work of Jesus Christ and the gracious offer of salvation that He brought to mankind at His first coming. This is a fine example of veiled prophecy; the scriptures are filled with them.
Other prefigures and foreshadows of this “Day/ Year” (see Is.63:4; day + year are synonyms in this context)
The year of the Lord's favor can be seen in:
Lev.25:10-11, 13; Ezek.46:17 – The Jubilee, The Year of Liberty, The Release; the return of property and the releasing of slaves every 50 years; after 7 times seven Sabbaths.
Deut.15:1; 31:10 – The Remission – “The Shemitta”; the forgiveness of debts every 7 years.
Events During the Church Age
I. The judgment of sin of all believers; the payment of the sin debt for all of mankind.
Jn.5:24 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Col.2:13-15 – When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
I Tim.4:10 – For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Heb.2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
II. The birth of the Church.
Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Ro.8:9 – But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. (This is the definition of a Christian; this is how one becomes a member of the Church of Jesus Christ)
III. The cleansing of sin in the daily life of the believer.
I Jn.1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
IV. The Birth Pangs.
Mt.24:4-8 – And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
V. The Rapture of the Church; The Day of Christ.
I Cor. 1:8; II Cor.1:14; Php.1:6, 10; 2:16;
Jn.14:1-3; Lk.21:36; Ro.5:9; I Cor.1:7; 15:51-58; Gal.5:5; Eph.4:30; Php.3:14;
I Thes.1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; II Thes.2:1-3, 14; I Tim.6:14; II Tim.4:8; Titus 2:13; I Pet.1:7, 13.
Prophecy part 3
Mt.16:16, 18 – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Upon this Rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus Christ is the Rock and He alone is the only foundation upon which His Church is built. He and He alone has established and is building His Church.
He founded it upon Himself and it stands securely upon the surety of His immutability and His steadfast righteousness.
No other foundation will do; no other could suffice or endure.
He purchased it with His precious blood; He keeps it through His almighty power; and He is building it through His Spirit by His grace; according to His loving-kindness and His mercy.
There is a confusion that has persisted for a time among some Christians concerning the preposition
“of” , in Eph.2:20; there is no way to explain it or sort it out other than to get a little technical with the grammar; forgive me, but it is important.
The words “Apostles and Prophets” are the objects of the preposition “of”, and they are in the genitive case in the Greek; the genitive in the Greek is the same as the possessive in the English; so; “of” is to be correctly understood as, “belonging to”, as in “The word of God.”
The Apostles and Prophets are not the foundation; the foundation is Christ, the Cornerstone, and He is their foundation, just like He is yours and mine.
Ps.31:1-2 – In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue;
Be my Rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Ps.62:1-2 – For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
I Cor.3:11 – For no man can lay a Foundation other than the One which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The Church age was not foreseen by the Old Testament Prophets; it was hidden from them
in the valley, as it were, between the mountain tops of the first and second coming of Christ.
As we have noted previously in our study; this is known as a Gap or more specifically a Parenthesis. A correct understanding of prophecy absolutely depends upon this principle.
Is.9:6 – “A Son will be given to us... (Gap) ...the government will rest upon His shoulders.”
Is.11:4 – “With righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth ... (Gap) ... He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and the breath of His lips will slay the wicked.”
Other names for this Dispensation of time known as the Church age are;
“The Day of Grace” – The specific period of time between Pentecost and the Rapture; when God offers salvation to all men by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ; through the agency of the Church by means of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation (II Cor.5:18-20; 15:3-4).
“The (Day) Year of our Lord’s Favor” – Is.61:2a – This is a beautiful foreshadow of the work of Jesus Christ and the gracious offer of salvation that He brought to mankind at His first coming. This is a fine example of veiled prophecy; the scriptures are filled with them.
Other prefigures and foreshadows of this “Day/ Year” (see Is.63:4; day + year are synonyms in this context)
The year of the Lord's favor can be seen in:
Lev.25:10-11, 13; Ezek.46:17 – The Jubilee, The Year of Liberty, The Release; the return of property and the releasing of slaves every 50 years; after 7 times seven Sabbaths.
Deut.15:1; 31:10 – The Remission – “The Shemitta”; the forgiveness of debts every 7 years.
Events During the Church Age
I. The judgment of sin of all believers; the payment of the sin debt for all of mankind.
Jn.5:24 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Col.2:13-15 – When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
I Tim.4:10 – For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Heb.2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
II. The birth of the Church.
Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Ro.8:9 – But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. (This is the definition of a Christian; this is how one becomes a member of the Church of Jesus Christ)
III. The cleansing of sin in the daily life of the believer.
I Jn.1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
IV. The Birth Pangs.
Mt.24:4-8 – And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
V. The Rapture of the Church; The Day of Christ.
I Cor. 1:8; II Cor.1:14; Php.1:6, 10; 2:16;
Jn.14:1-3; Lk.21:36; Ro.5:9; I Cor.1:7; 15:51-58; Gal.5:5; Eph.4:30; Php.3:14;
I Thes.1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; II Thes.2:1-3, 14; I Tim.6:14; II Tim.4:8; Titus 2:13; I Pet.1:7, 13.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The Prophetic Parenthesis
Eschatology 101 - the Prophetic Parenthesis
As we consider Biblical Prophecy from an objective point of view,
it is clearly the case that concerning eschatology (the study of last things),
that a literal reading of the Bible concludes to Premillennialism.
In order to avoid this obvious conclusion it is necessary to willfully alter the plain meaning of common
language, to set aside proper hermeneutics and
to ignore the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that I have your attention; let’s think this through together.
Jesus said concerning the Kingdom of God that it was future; and that when it came it would be literal, it would be unmistakably recognizable and that He Himself would be visibly, physically, bodily, that is to say, literally present.
Lk.4: 14-18 – When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
For I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
Jesus was clearly saying that the Kingdom of God was to be understood as literal and future, and that He will be there in person. Only an agenda driven and willfully obstinate individual would deny this obvious truth.
Jesus’ use of the title “The Son of Man” as His favorite when referring to Himself and His mission is another unmistakable indication that Jesus was a Futurist and a Premillennialist.
Dan.7:13-14 – “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.”
“And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”
Obviously, when properly taken literally, this must be still future.
Jesus embraced and employed the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in His teaching concerning the fulfillment of prophetic passages concerning Himself and His mission.
Lk.4:14-21 – And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written:
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus was very intentional in His actions and in His ceasing to read the prophecy in mid verse. He was making the statement that only this first section of the Scripture was being fulfilled at that time and in doing so He was clearly leaving the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled at a future time; at His second coming when He will reign in His Kingdom and complete the rest of the prophecy.
Is.61:1-9 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
(Parenthesis; Jesus broke off reading here)
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3. To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
5. And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6. But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.
7. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their
portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
Jesus taught the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in His parables as well, such as in the parable of The Talents found in Mt.25:14-30 (see verse 19 – “After a long time”);
And, again, in the one following; the parable of The Pounds.
Lk.19:11-27 – While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
“And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’
“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
“When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.
“The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’
“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’
“The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’
“And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
“Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;
for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’
“He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?
‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
“And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’
“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
Clearly a duration of time passes between appearances of the King.
When the Disciples questioned Jesus concerning the establishment of the Kingdom, Jesus did not rebuke them for assuming that there would be a literal Kingdom.
He told them that it would take place in God’s time and in the proper season;
That in the mean time they were to be about the business of making disciples, and teaching them all that He had commanded; and they should share all that they had personally witnessed concerning Him with those that they were teaching (Mt.28:19-20; Acts 1:6-8).
The attending angels told the disciples the Jesus would one day return literally, Just as they had seen Him go (Acts 1:11).
Jesus had told them that He would be with them, in Spirit (Mt.28:20; Acts 1:8) even unto the end of the Age; the culmination of the current Dispensation.
Jesus, in a statement recorded for us in Mt.24:15 declared that Daniel, the author of the Old Testament book that bears his name, was a prophet; and that his prophecies concerning the end of days were to be understood and to be expected to come to pass in the future.
I mention this because Daniel is not listed among the prophets in the configuration of the Hebrew Scriptures (The Tanakh).
But, Daniel was indeed a prophet and the significance of his contributions to the overall understanding of the entirety of Biblical prophecy cannot be overstated.
With a clear grasp of the importance of understanding and accepting the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in mind; let us take a brief look at some examples of this feature as it is found in Daniels very important writings.
Dan.2:40 - gap – 41- 45 – We know from history that there is a gap in time between the reign of the old Roman Empire and the establishment of the future 10 region confederation of the revived Roman Empire that has yet to come; it will be the last of the gentile kingdoms on earth just prior to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom. Obviously, still future.
Dan7:7 – We encounter the same scenario here at the end of verse 7; a gap in time between the description of the historical old Roman Empire and the future rising of the 10 region confederacy that will come up in its place; immediately followed by the events that will take place at the end of days leading up to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom on earth (Verses 8 – 14).
Dan.9:24-26 – gap – 27 – This section of Scripture, when properly understood in light of the Christ sanctioned principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis, is one of the most important prophetic passages in the Bible.
Here we discover a detailed outline of future history, complete with historical keys as to starting and stopping points for the prophetic time clock; these are called out for us and can be identified and calculated precisely; and indeed they have been (see Sir Robert Anderson’s fine work “The Coming Prince” for example, among others).
The events of verses 24 – 26 are well documented as having taken place exactly as described by the Prophet.
While some may quibble about the exact dates of the starting and stopping points, it is clear that the culmination of it all took place at "the cutting off of Messiah"; the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; and that that undeniable historical event was shortly followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God as predicted.
What follows in verse 27 must take place in the 70th week because 7 weeks plus 62 weeks are already completed; as stated within the text, these future events are for the duration of the one week of years remaining; or more simply stated, a period of 7 years (based upon a correct understanding of the previous 69).
Notice that the very event that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15 is found within our passage.
Jesus placed this event in the future from the time that He was speaking, was He confused?
Paul placed it in the future in II Thes.2:3-5; it will be an unmistakable event.
Anyone who would deny that there is a parenthesis in time between the events of the 69 weeks and the rest of the prophecy as recorded in verse 27 will be forced to abandon the literal method of interpreting the text and must come up with some kind of allegorical or so called spiritual meaning for remaining 70th week, and that is exactly what has been done by men like Augustine and Calvin.
This is the untenable Amillennial position.
To deny the validity, the proper application and the significance of the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis, is to remain forever ignorant of the truth concerning the future and the pending fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
As we consider Biblical Prophecy from an objective point of view,
it is clearly the case that concerning eschatology (the study of last things),
that a literal reading of the Bible concludes to Premillennialism.
In order to avoid this obvious conclusion it is necessary to willfully alter the plain meaning of common
language, to set aside proper hermeneutics and
to ignore the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that I have your attention; let’s think this through together.
Jesus said concerning the Kingdom of God that it was future; and that when it came it would be literal, it would be unmistakably recognizable and that He Himself would be visibly, physically, bodily, that is to say, literally present.
Lk.4: 14-18 – When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
For I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
Jesus was clearly saying that the Kingdom of God was to be understood as literal and future, and that He will be there in person. Only an agenda driven and willfully obstinate individual would deny this obvious truth.
Jesus’ use of the title “The Son of Man” as His favorite when referring to Himself and His mission is another unmistakable indication that Jesus was a Futurist and a Premillennialist.
Dan.7:13-14 – “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.”
“And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”
Obviously, when properly taken literally, this must be still future.
Jesus embraced and employed the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in His teaching concerning the fulfillment of prophetic passages concerning Himself and His mission.
Lk.4:14-21 – And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written:
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus was very intentional in His actions and in His ceasing to read the prophecy in mid verse. He was making the statement that only this first section of the Scripture was being fulfilled at that time and in doing so He was clearly leaving the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled at a future time; at His second coming when He will reign in His Kingdom and complete the rest of the prophecy.
Is.61:1-9 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
(Parenthesis; Jesus broke off reading here)
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3. To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
5. And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6. But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.
7. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their
portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
Jesus taught the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in His parables as well, such as in the parable of The Talents found in Mt.25:14-30 (see verse 19 – “After a long time”);
And, again, in the one following; the parable of The Pounds.
Lk.19:11-27 – While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
“And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’
“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
“When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.
“The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’
“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’
“The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’
“And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
“Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;
for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’
“He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?
‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
“And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’
“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
Clearly a duration of time passes between appearances of the King.
When the Disciples questioned Jesus concerning the establishment of the Kingdom, Jesus did not rebuke them for assuming that there would be a literal Kingdom.
He told them that it would take place in God’s time and in the proper season;
That in the mean time they were to be about the business of making disciples, and teaching them all that He had commanded; and they should share all that they had personally witnessed concerning Him with those that they were teaching (Mt.28:19-20; Acts 1:6-8).
The attending angels told the disciples the Jesus would one day return literally, Just as they had seen Him go (Acts 1:11).
Jesus had told them that He would be with them, in Spirit (Mt.28:20; Acts 1:8) even unto the end of the Age; the culmination of the current Dispensation.
Jesus, in a statement recorded for us in Mt.24:15 declared that Daniel, the author of the Old Testament book that bears his name, was a prophet; and that his prophecies concerning the end of days were to be understood and to be expected to come to pass in the future.
I mention this because Daniel is not listed among the prophets in the configuration of the Hebrew Scriptures (The Tanakh).
But, Daniel was indeed a prophet and the significance of his contributions to the overall understanding of the entirety of Biblical prophecy cannot be overstated.
With a clear grasp of the importance of understanding and accepting the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in mind; let us take a brief look at some examples of this feature as it is found in Daniels very important writings.
Dan.2:40 - gap – 41- 45 – We know from history that there is a gap in time between the reign of the old Roman Empire and the establishment of the future 10 region confederation of the revived Roman Empire that has yet to come; it will be the last of the gentile kingdoms on earth just prior to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom. Obviously, still future.
Dan7:7 – We encounter the same scenario here at the end of verse 7; a gap in time between the description of the historical old Roman Empire and the future rising of the 10 region confederacy that will come up in its place; immediately followed by the events that will take place at the end of days leading up to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom on earth (Verses 8 – 14).
Dan.9:24-26 – gap – 27 – This section of Scripture, when properly understood in light of the Christ sanctioned principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis, is one of the most important prophetic passages in the Bible.
Here we discover a detailed outline of future history, complete with historical keys as to starting and stopping points for the prophetic time clock; these are called out for us and can be identified and calculated precisely; and indeed they have been (see Sir Robert Anderson’s fine work “The Coming Prince” for example, among others).
The events of verses 24 – 26 are well documented as having taken place exactly as described by the Prophet.
While some may quibble about the exact dates of the starting and stopping points, it is clear that the culmination of it all took place at "the cutting off of Messiah"; the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; and that that undeniable historical event was shortly followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God as predicted.
What follows in verse 27 must take place in the 70th week because 7 weeks plus 62 weeks are already completed; as stated within the text, these future events are for the duration of the one week of years remaining; or more simply stated, a period of 7 years (based upon a correct understanding of the previous 69).
Notice that the very event that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15 is found within our passage.
Jesus placed this event in the future from the time that He was speaking, was He confused?
Paul placed it in the future in II Thes.2:3-5; it will be an unmistakable event.
Anyone who would deny that there is a parenthesis in time between the events of the 69 weeks and the rest of the prophecy as recorded in verse 27 will be forced to abandon the literal method of interpreting the text and must come up with some kind of allegorical or so called spiritual meaning for remaining 70th week, and that is exactly what has been done by men like Augustine and Calvin.
This is the untenable Amillennial position.
To deny the validity, the proper application and the significance of the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis, is to remain forever ignorant of the truth concerning the future and the pending fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
Prophecy
Prophecy
It has been estimated by various Bible scholars that somewhere between 25% – 33% of the entire Bible is prophetic; a few estimate an even higher percentage.
The main reason that there are differing opinions is that different guidelines for identifying what is a prophecy and different approaches for counting them are employed.
For one thing, many of the prophecies are repeated more than once and by more than one author (the Greater Son of David motif for example); some people count the individual prophetic theme or event only once, while others include every mention separately.
Also, some prophecies are recorded as types and foreshadows contained within historical incidences (the life of Joseph, the offering of Isaac, the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, the Bronze Serpent, etc.); while still others are prefigured in rituals (the Passover Lamb, the Scapegoat, etc.).
Prophecy is found in the Law, the Prophets and the in the Psalms (at least 16 of the Psalms are Messianic and still others are prophetic in other ways); again; there are differences of opinion as to what should be counted as prophetic and how.
The “Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy” states that there are 1,817 prophecies in the Bible comprising 8,352 verses out of 31,124 for a total of 26.8%.
One thing is for sure; the Bible contains prophecy; it is filled with claims to be able to predict the future (Is.46:10; etc.) and it makes hundreds of bold predictions.
Secondly; it can be demonstrated that many (if not most) of the predicted events have already come to pass with incredible accuracy (Ezek.26:3-14, 19; etc).
In fact, the Bible sets the required standard of accuracy at 100% for itself (and for others) concerning the fulfillment of prophecy; far above the realm of probability or the capacity of human reason.
No other so called prophet or prophetic source comes close to achieving that level of accuracy; the Bible does.
The Old Testament contains over 1,000 prophecies (some say 1,239). As stated before, a great number of them have already been fulfilled; many concerning ancient Israel and the gentile nations.
The remaining ones, yet to be fulfilled, concern the end of the age and the second coming of Christ. They will be literally fulfilled just as accurately in their time.
Over 300 of the O.T. prophecies were fulfilled at the 1st coming of Jesus Christ; 29 in just one day (Good Friday). This statement is not a matter of opinion; it is documented history.
Contrary to popular anti-christian myth, many of the events and details concerning the life and times of Jesus Christ are recorded by others outside of the Bible.
At least nine secular historical sources can be cited that verify the Biblical outline of the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.
They agree with the essential facts concerning His life, His travels, His teachings, His disciple’s beliefs concerning Him, and His crucifixion.
Many of these extra Biblical historians (while they may not accept prophecy or recognize Christ for who He Is), record details of Jesus’ life that were prophesied hundreds of years before His birth (where He lived, His popularity, His death on Passover, etc.).
No other book is like the Bible. Inerrant prophecy is exclusive to the Bible.
The New Testament contains over 500 prophecies (an estimated 578).
As with the O.T. many of the N.T. prophecies have already been fulfilled; more than 50 of which concerning the 1st coming of Christ and the events surrounding His life and death were fulfilled literally during His lifetime (not allegorically or spiritually or in some secret coded kind of way that requires special definitions or re-definitions for common terms; Jesus is Jesus, Israel is Israel, Jews are Jews, the Church is the Church, is is is).
The remaining prophecies, like those yet to come to pass in the O.T., concern the end times and the 2nd coming of Christ; these too will be fulfilled in like manner, literally as predicted.
We will look at these over the next few weeks as we take an overview of prophecy.
It has been estimated by various Bible scholars that somewhere between 25% – 33% of the entire Bible is prophetic; a few estimate an even higher percentage.
The main reason that there are differing opinions is that different guidelines for identifying what is a prophecy and different approaches for counting them are employed.
For one thing, many of the prophecies are repeated more than once and by more than one author (the Greater Son of David motif for example); some people count the individual prophetic theme or event only once, while others include every mention separately.
Also, some prophecies are recorded as types and foreshadows contained within historical incidences (the life of Joseph, the offering of Isaac, the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, the Bronze Serpent, etc.); while still others are prefigured in rituals (the Passover Lamb, the Scapegoat, etc.).
Prophecy is found in the Law, the Prophets and the in the Psalms (at least 16 of the Psalms are Messianic and still others are prophetic in other ways); again; there are differences of opinion as to what should be counted as prophetic and how.
The “Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy” states that there are 1,817 prophecies in the Bible comprising 8,352 verses out of 31,124 for a total of 26.8%.
One thing is for sure; the Bible contains prophecy; it is filled with claims to be able to predict the future (Is.46:10; etc.) and it makes hundreds of bold predictions.
Secondly; it can be demonstrated that many (if not most) of the predicted events have already come to pass with incredible accuracy (Ezek.26:3-14, 19; etc).
In fact, the Bible sets the required standard of accuracy at 100% for itself (and for others) concerning the fulfillment of prophecy; far above the realm of probability or the capacity of human reason.
No other so called prophet or prophetic source comes close to achieving that level of accuracy; the Bible does.
The Old Testament contains over 1,000 prophecies (some say 1,239). As stated before, a great number of them have already been fulfilled; many concerning ancient Israel and the gentile nations.
The remaining ones, yet to be fulfilled, concern the end of the age and the second coming of Christ. They will be literally fulfilled just as accurately in their time.
Over 300 of the O.T. prophecies were fulfilled at the 1st coming of Jesus Christ; 29 in just one day (Good Friday). This statement is not a matter of opinion; it is documented history.
Contrary to popular anti-christian myth, many of the events and details concerning the life and times of Jesus Christ are recorded by others outside of the Bible.
At least nine secular historical sources can be cited that verify the Biblical outline of the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.
They agree with the essential facts concerning His life, His travels, His teachings, His disciple’s beliefs concerning Him, and His crucifixion.
Many of these extra Biblical historians (while they may not accept prophecy or recognize Christ for who He Is), record details of Jesus’ life that were prophesied hundreds of years before His birth (where He lived, His popularity, His death on Passover, etc.).
No other book is like the Bible. Inerrant prophecy is exclusive to the Bible.
The New Testament contains over 500 prophecies (an estimated 578).
As with the O.T. many of the N.T. prophecies have already been fulfilled; more than 50 of which concerning the 1st coming of Christ and the events surrounding His life and death were fulfilled literally during His lifetime (not allegorically or spiritually or in some secret coded kind of way that requires special definitions or re-definitions for common terms; Jesus is Jesus, Israel is Israel, Jews are Jews, the Church is the Church, is is is).
The remaining prophecies, like those yet to come to pass in the O.T., concern the end times and the 2nd coming of Christ; these too will be fulfilled in like manner, literally as predicted.
We will look at these over the next few weeks as we take an overview of prophecy.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The LORD’S Passover - Good Friday
The LORD’S Passover
Good Friday
V
It
has been rightly said “The Bible is a book with the answers at the back,” Zola
Levitt.
All of the stories, events and rituals that are recorded for
us in the Old Testament are there for our instruction, and are explained in the
principles and applications found in the New Testament. Also, the “Pictures”, “
Shadows” and “Types” that are portrayed in the Old are fulfilled in the
New.
Jesus
Christ explains and applies the principles and truths that are enfolded
in the Law and the Prophets, and He is the fulfillment of many of the
foreshadowed Pictures and Types that are represented throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
The Type and Antitype
(fulfillment) that we are considering today, concerning Good Friday, is
“The
Passover Lamb.”
John 1:29
John saw Jesus coming toward him,
and said, "Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1 Cor 5:7
Therefore purge out the old leaven,
that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover,
was sacrificed for us.
1 Peter 1:18-19
knowing that you were not redeemed
with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct
received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot.
Heb 10:1-10
For the law,
having a shadow
of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never
with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make
those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be
offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more
consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins
every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You
did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--
In the volume of the book it is written of Me--
To do Your will, O God.'
"
8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt
offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in
them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said,
"Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first
that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1 Cor 10:1-6
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be
unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same
spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with
most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the
wilderness. 6 Now
these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust
after evil things as they also lusted.
1 Cor 10:11
These things happened to them as examples and were
written down as warnings for
us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
The Passover
Y
The
story of the first Passover is recorded for us in Exodus chapters eleven and
twelve. It has long been understood that the story of Israel ’s bondage in Egypt is a picture of mankind’s
enslavement to sin in the world. The symbolism is as follows. Egypt is a type
of the world. Pharaoh is a type of Satan.
Israel
is a type of mankind. The slavery of Israel under the bondage of Pharaoh
is a type of man’s slavery to sin (leaven is a type of sin). The blood of the
Passover lamb is a foreshadow of the blood of Jesus Christ. The Exodus from Egypt
is a picture of the deliverance from the bondage of sin that is only possible
through the “covering “ of the sinner with the blood of Christ.
Ex 11:1
And the LORD said to Moses, "I
will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt . Afterward he will let you go
from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here
altogether.
Ex 11:4-5
Then Moses said, "Thus says the LORD:
'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt ;
5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt
Ex 11:7
But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man
or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the
Egyptians and Israel .'
Ex 12:1-4
Now the LORD spoke to Moses and
Aaron in the land
of Egypt Israel , saying:
'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to
the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Ex 12:5-8
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may
take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the
fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation
of Israel
shall kill it at
twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on
the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on
that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they
shall eat it.
Ex 12:11-20
And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your
waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat
it in haste. It is the
LORD's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land
of Egypt
on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt , both man and beast; and against all the
gods of Egypt
I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the
houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall
not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt Israel . 16 On the first day there shall
be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No
manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat--that
only may be prepared by you. 17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on
this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt Israel ,
whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing
leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.' "
Note the specificity with which
the LORD instructed Moses regarding the meal and the activities
surrounding it. In order to insure that all subsequent generations of Jews in
all lands where they have been scattered would be able to follow the order of
service correctly, a book of directions was produced in Hebrew. The book is
known as The Haggadah. It has remained
virtually unchanged throughout the ages.
Ex 12:21-28
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said
to them, "Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb.
22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike
the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go
out of the door of his house until morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to strike
the Egyptians; and when
He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over
the door and not allow
the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall observe this thing as an
ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 It will come to pass when
you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that
you shall keep this service. 26 And it shall be, when your children say to you,
'What do you mean by this service?' 27 "that you shall say, 'It is the Passover
sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians
and delivered our households.' " So the people bowed their heads and
worshiped.
The
feast of Passover has been celebrated and kept now for over thirty five hundred
years by the people of Israel .
The term “Passover” is used in several ways in the scripture and is still
today. First of all it refers to the historical event that took place on that
momentous night in Egypt
those thousands of years ago. As we have read it also refers to the one-day
festival, instituted by God, to be held every year by the children of Israel , on the
15th of Nisan. Next it can mean the entire eight-day festival which
includes Passover (Lev.23: 4-5), Unleavened Bread (Lev.23: 6-8) and the Feast
of First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-14). These three memorial celebrations all speak
clearly of the work of Christ in providing redemption to mankind. The Passover
speaks of His sacrificial vicarious death. The Unleavened Bread speaks of His
sinlessness. The feast of First Fruits speaks of His resurrection (He is the
firstfruits from the dead, 1Cor. 15:20).
He was crucified on Passover, He was
buried on Unleavened Bread and He rose on the day of First Fruits!
Next, the term
Passover can be used to mean just the ceremonial meal that is eaten in commemoration
of that night long ago, which meal has come to be known as “The Seder” which
literally translated means “order of service.” This is the meal that our Lord
ate with His disciples as recorded in Jn. 13 + 14. It is from this ceremonial
meal, the Seder, that the Lord took the emblems of “The Lord’s Supper.”
Lastly, the word
Passover can be used to refer to the lamb that was the centerpiece of the feast, whose blood was used
to protect the people. This meaning was finally fulfilled as is specifically stated
in 1 Cor.5: 7 to mean the true “Sacrificial Lamb”, “The Lamb of God”, Jesus
Christ.
One last comment
about Passover is in order. Our Lord Jesus Christ indicated in Mt.26: 29 that
there would be a time when He will once again partake of “this” festival cup in
His Fathers kingdom (the use of the pronoun this indicates He was not just speaking
of wine in general). (By the way, just a mention in passing, obviously Jesus is
not an Amillennialist; He believes that the Kingdom of God
Matt 26:29
“But I say to you, I will not
drink of this fruit of the vine from now
on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”
Luke 22:14-21
When the hour had come, He sat
down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, "With
fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God kingdom of God
1 Cor 11:25-26
“This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
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