Israel

Christian Zionism, a response to James Perloff

/ grace country pastor / 1 Comment

James Perloff is one of my favorite authors and speakers.  I have a great deal of respect for the man.  Understanding the personal history he shares with his readers, he and I share some remarkable commonalities in life.  I’d cherish the opportunity to meet him someday but I don’t get out much.  His book “Tornado In a Junkyard” I recommend to, and purchase for, many people, along with “Truth Is A Lonely Warrior” right in its wake.  Next to the King James Bible itself, I believe that “Tornado” is one of the most important books believers and especially unbelievers alike ought to read.  It demonstrates clealy, in an easy to read package, the total lie which is Darwinian evolution.  How’s that for a recommendation…?

Mr. Perloff recently wrote an article (linked) entitled “The War on Christianity, Part II: The Abomination and Blasphemy of Christian Zionism” which I read carefully and once again found myself in near complete agreement with the conclusions established therein.  I recommend subscribing to James blog posts and I recommend reading that article before continuing on here (it too is long but well worth your time).  I do however find a tragic error of assumption contained in this particular writing.  James assumes he understands correct dispensational theology when in fact he understands false dispensational theology.  In this sense, herein is my reply which hopefully he will examine as thoughtfully as I examine his writings (and not require too many aspirin afterward).

A conundrum James.  I am a dispensationalist, yet I agree with your conclusions regarding the current nation state of Israel.  By your article, such is impossible.  Dispensationalists, according to you, are by nature deceived into supporting the nation state of Israel.  They are, as you state, Christian Zionists.  I do not support the Israel of today, I am not a Christian Zionist.  How is this possible?  This entity (Israel) was created by man for the exact reasons you put forth in your article.  It is a satanic enterprise leading to one world government.

I will not attempt to explain the whole of dispensational theology in this one post as that is the basis of what this entire site teaches; what I will say is that Darby and Scofield are very much mistaken in their views of dispensationalism.  Dispensational theology takes three starting positions, all from the book of Acts.  They are; Acts 2, Mid Acts and Acts 28 (or hyper-dispensationalism).  The Biblially and doctrinally correct position is Mid Acts which is NOT the position of Darby or Scofield.  Darby and Scofield ARE liars and deceivers as they hold to the blatantly incorrect and scripturally illogical Acts 2 position.

My intent here James, is to prove your conclusion entirely correct (as we are in agreement) NOT by blaming some nebulous, unspecific and incorrect definition of dispensationalism, but by actually rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15) between the mystery (that which was kept secret since the world began – Rom 16:25-27) and prophesy (that which was spoken since the world began – Acts 3:21).  What you understand correctly is exactly “what” Israel is up to.  What you can’t know, what you fail to understand thoroughly, because you have been told lies regarding dispensational theology, is “why” Israel is doing what she is doing.  It is not just because they are “unrepentant sinners”.  God had a plan for the nation.  And still does!  Allow me to elaborate.

I’ll try to provide the scriptural explanation for the “Jewish problem” from the Mid Acts dispensationalist position (as I said, without getting into the basics of dispensationalism itself, start at “What Mystery?” for that). Please pardon the length of this post but all scripture is needed to construct the argument.

Talmudic Jews, those who run Israel today are inherently satanic by nature. The Talmud is, very simply, (Jewish) mans perversion of the Torah and other OT prophetic writings. Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah, in His earthly ministry came specifically to Israel to teach them their true nature and purpose, which was to be the channel of blessing from God to the whole Gentile world. This is the reason God set up His own nation in the first place, beginning with Abraham; to reach the rest of the world with the knowledge of Himself (see Why Israel?).

Gen 12:1-3… “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: AND IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED.”

Deut 7:6… “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be A SPECIAL PEOPLE unto himself, ABOVE ALL PEOPLE that are upon the face of the earth.“

Exodus 19:5-6… “Now therefore, IF ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me ABOVE ALL PEOPLE: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.“

Note carefully the covenantal IF / THEN nature of this agreement entered into between God and His nation Israel.  Israel failed to keep their end of the bargain.

The book of Acts demonstrates the fall of the nation Israel.  It opens with the twelve asking Jesus a question, as throughout the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the promised (prophesied) Kingdom is “at hand”.

Acts 1:6… “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?“

To which Jesus replies:

Acts 1:7… “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.“

The book ends with Paul providing the answer; reminding the Jewish leaders of the timeline when they rejected God the Father (books of Exodus – Malachi), Jesus the Son (books of Matthew – John) and the Holy Spirit as physically manifested in the Apostles (book of Acts):

Acts 28:28… “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.“

Israel is at this point cut off from God.  God no longer recognizes them as His own.  The Kingdom didn’t come.  This world is still evil.  This is a temporary situation as God has unfulfilled promises to keep with them and God is no liar.  We call this “Time Past”.

Christ came to this world with “two purposes“, one prophesied since the world began, having to do with redeeming the earth (Acts 3:21) and one kept secret since the world began, having to do with redeeming heaven; in order to once and for all defeat satan utterly (Rom 16:25).  Both the earth (human realm) and the heaven (angelic realm) are fallen, both require redemption back to God via Christ.  His earthly ministry (specifically) to the nation Israel was prophesied since the world began. This is the purpose which concerns this post; Israel and the earth.  Christ Himself claims:

Mat 15:24… “But He answered and said, I am not sent BUT to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Christ did not manifest Himself physically in the world for the Gentile nations. (That was Christ’s unprophesied, “secret heavenly” function via the Apostle Paul – compare Rom 15:8 with Rom 15:16.)

John 1:11… “He came unto His own (Israel), and His own (Israel) received Him not.”

Currently, the Israel which now exists, counterfeit Israel, is a curse to all nations; they are as unGodly as any nation on earth but this is a temporary condition.

Zechariah 8:13… “And it shall come to pass, that as ye WERE a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; SO WILL I save you, and ye SHALL BE a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

They have blasphemed the name of the Creator God who formed them throughout the world and God will not allow His name to be blasphemed.

Ezekiel 36:19-23… “And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to THEIR way and according to THEIR doings I judged them.  And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land.  (What horrible representatives of the Living God!  How well do we represent Him?)  But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.  AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”

Notice carefully that God scattered them according to THEIR OWN ways.  Specifically, it is the nation Israel who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of THEIR OWN messiah, the anti-christ and will introduce him onto the world stage as “savior-god”. Speaking to the religious leaders of the country over 2,000 years ago Christ Himself said of them:

John 8:44… “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Absolutely nothing has changed. God did however promise them control over the world; to raise them above all people, IN ORDER TO BE A BLESSING TO IT.  In order that the heathen (you and me) would know the True and Living Creator God!  In the ages to come they will rule the world in Godly wisdom from the “world capitol” Jerusalem.

Zechariah 8:22-23… “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Mat 19:27-28… “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The twelve tribes will then judge the Gentile nations with Christ on His rightful earthly throne.

Rev 21:10-12… “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:”

Rev 19:15-16… “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.”

The critical difference in understanding WHY Israel is the way it currently is, lies in the difference between the old and new covenants made specifically with the nation Israel. Covenants are NOT made with Christians today. Christians today who believe they are under covenant agreements with God are in effect messianic Jews.  They have the right idea but in the wrong dispensation.  God NEVER made a covenant with any nation or people BUT those of Israel. Gods grace today, as opposed to the former if/then covenant relationship with Israel, is 100% freely offered to all people.

Romans 5:13-19… “(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.  But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the GIFT BY GRACE, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the GIFT: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the FREE GIFT is of many offences unto justification.  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

THEREFORE as by the offence of one judgment came upon ALL men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the FREE GIFT came upon ALL men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.“

The old covenant, the Law, God gave BECAUSE of Israel’s worldly blasphemous transgressions.

Gal 3:19… “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added BECAUSE of transgressions (Israel’s near complete unbelief as God miraculously brought them out of Egyptian captivity), till the seed should come to whom the promise was made (promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from whom came the twelve tribes); and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator (that mediator was Moses).”

They “covenanted” with God to keep the Law by their own efforts…

Deut 6:24-25… ” And the Lord commanded us to do ALL these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And IT SHALL BE our righteousness, IF we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.”

…but could not. No human can. It was meant to be that way. The perfect Law was established to prove to man that he was a hopeless sinner.  Israel never understood that the purpose of the Law was to prove to them that they could not possibly keep it.

Rom 3:20… “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.”

Jews today reject this utterly (as do many so called “christians”). If one is to keep the perfect Law, one must perfectly keep it.

Gal 3:10… “For as many as are of the works of the law ARE UNDER THE CURSE: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

Since failure to keep the Law (appropriate sacrifices notwithstanding) resulted in many curses, Israel was punished severely throughout history (Leviticus 26:14-39). I highly encourage any “law keepers” out there to read the above curses which came upon the nation Israel for failure to keep it. Today’s “law keepers” can not claim the blessings promised to Israel and reject the curses… such is absolute hypocrisy; aside from the fact that the Law was never meant to be “kept”, it was given to demonstrate that man, working “righteousness” by his own efforts, was a complete and total failure.

Unbelieving Israel today is one very angry, sick, self-righteous, satanic nation.  (Sounds rather familiar…)  They intend to utterly destroy and corrupt as much as possible before Christ returns in wrath to utterly destroy them and those which serve them. These are the people who will welcome and introduce anti-christ to the rest of the world as “god”!  The deception is extreme!  Those at the very top understand exactly what is to come.  The devil is their father BY CHOICE.  None at the bottom do and for them I feel extremely sorry.  We are to be witnesses unto these people of the free grace of God offered to ALL men everywhere.  We believers today are ministers of reconciliation.

2 Cor 5:18… “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;“

In the future, the new covenant, begun in early Acts and then temporarily ceased, will supernaturally put the Law into believing Israel’s hearts by way of Holy Ghost “possession” (if you will permit the term) and cause FUTURE “believing” Israel to be able to keep the Law perfectly (miraculously) as the few (the little flock of Luke 12:32 – given the “great commission”) began to do in early Acts (and will during the ages to come when the books of Hebrews through Revelation come into effect).

Ezekiel 36:23-28… “And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. (THIS HAS NOT YET HAPPENED. The Israel of 1948 is counterfeit anti-christ Israel because God did not miraculously cause it, men and therefore satan did.) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGEMENTS, AND DO THEM. And YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

This is a future (ages to come) occurrence. It has not happened in the past and it is clearly not happening today.  God said very clearly that it would occur and God is no liar.  It will therefore occur.

Heb 8:7-11… “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT (with whom?) WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH (this is not us, we are NOT Israel, there is no Israel of God today): Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I WILL MAKE WITH (who?) THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL after those days, saith the Lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall NOT teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

If the book of Hebrews is for believers today, why does Paul instruct us to study the scriptures as in 2 Tim 2:15?  We would not require study as God would have supernaturally provided us all the knowledge of Him we needed; if, that is, we were Hebrews entering into the time of Jacobs trouble… which we ain’t.  We are NOT grafted in to Israels earthly program nor have believers today replaced Israel.  Believers today are Gods heavenly people… we are of the mystery program (dispensation) revealed to the Apostle Paul.  Nearly the entirety of Christianity today does not recognize the separate and distinct Apostleship of Paul.  As Moses was to the Jews, so too OUGHT Paul be to today’s believers.  But he is not…  😦

Romans 11:13… “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:“

1 Corinthians 11:1… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.“

2 Tim 1:15… “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”

Currently and clearly, Israel is still unbelieving. They missed their true Messiah. They ARE of their father the devil as God Himself pointed out to them. (No wonder Jews today hate Christ and the Apostles who tried to show them the truth of their condition so vehemently!)

HOWEVER (and here is the WHY of the situation), they are STILL OPERATING under the currently (dispensationally) FALSE pretense that God has given them authority over the world. As they tried (and failed; they refuse to acknowledge this: read Acts) to keep the Law by their own efforts, which WOULD HAVE BEEN their righteousness (if they could have kept it), providing them their promised and prophesied authoritative position above all nations being a blessing to them; they currently by THEIR OWN misguided (satanic) efforts, are in fact trying to control the world, taking for THEMSELVES the authority only God can grant.  Doing such by THEIR OWN efforts is in fact playing right into satan’s hands. God is not behind them, satan is. They are currently NOT Gods people.

Hosea 1:9… “Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.”

They one day will, when the dispensation of free grace is ended at the translation of the church the body of Christ (ambassadors of reconciliation – 2 Cor 5:17-21) who are not appointed unto wrath (1 Thes 5:9) and no longer needed on earth to preach free grace; once again be Gods people BY SUPERNATURAL MEANS.  Post rapture (which absolutely MUST occur, as grace and peace rightly preached today are the polar opposites of wrath and judgement, rightly preached when the Kingdom is at hand…) the Kingdom will once again be supernaturally “at hand”.  Christ returns with His Holy Angelic Armies to clean this earth up BEFORE the Kingdom is established.  Judgement and wrath (not grace and peace as is today) will be poured out on a most deserving world.  Believing Israel will be Gods people once again!  They will be a blessing to the nations which survive the great tribulation.  The twelve WILL sit on twelve thrones, or God is a liar.

Hosea 1:10… “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.“

Romans 11:26-27… “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.“

Israels sins are not yet “blotted out”.  That occurs when the Kingdom comes.

Acts 3:19-21… “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, (why?) that your sins may be blotted out, (when?) when the times of refreshing shall come (what are the times of refreshing?) from the presence of the Lord (Christ with us here on earth).  And he shall send Jesus Christ, (not here now, must come again for second time) which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive (He is there now) until the times of restitution of all things, (thy Kingdom come post tribulation) which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (whole of prophesy).“

Note:  Any man alive today can be saved by the gospel of grace freely offered as God has reconciled Himself to the whole world.  Christ was made to BE SIN for us and paid the penalty we owe (2 Cor 5:17-21).  Any man of Israel (any man anywhere) can reconcile himself back to God immediately and experience complete and total forgiveness as I have.

Those who bless “Israel” today are in fact blessing the anti-christ world economic, political and religious “one-world” system as Mr. Perloff describes. There are very few true Christians who understand what is going on here. Christian Zionism, as James points out, is one of, if not the most dangerous error in Christian theology today.

At some point, when this dispensation of grace is ended, God will once again (I personally believe it will occur in the same way as He saved Paul in Acts 9, the Bible is not specific on this) miraculously save 144,000 Jews and send them into the world, speaking in tongues (all languages simultaneously) to once again preach that the earthly Kingdom is at hand. As in early Acts they will once again be able to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, drink deadly things, etc… (Mark 16:15-18) as the anti-christ will be walking physically among the world trying to wipe them out.  Most of the world will be on his side.  It is at this time that the Gentile nations will once again be required to bless Israel as they will desperately need such blessing as food and shelter, clothes and money.  I fear not many will.

Notice very carefully that the nations (sheep (good) and or goats (bad)) do not know how or why they are entering into (or not) Gods Kingdom “come on earth as it is in heaven…”

Mat 25:31-46… “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, WHEN saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? WHEN saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? OR WHEN saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye HAVE done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (the 144,000), ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, WHEN saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it NOT to one of the least of these (the 144,000), ye did it NOT to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

This is Genesis 12:1-3 come to full fruition in the world in the last days (which we are not yet in – we are living in the dispensation of free grace). “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee.”

Amazing how much sense the Bible makes when its overall construction is understood. It is a book of progressive revelation with Paul (not John) as the final human that God revealed His ultimate plans to.

Colossians 1:25-28… “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the DISPENSATION of God which is GIVEN TO ME for you, to FULFILL the word of God; Even the MYSTERY which hath been HID from ages and from generations, BUT NOW is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:“

Prophesy plus mystery equal satan’s utter destruction from earth (prophesy) and from heaven (mystery).  The manifold wisdom of God has utterly exposed, utterly condemned and utterly destroyed satan’s evil plan of utter corruption of heaven and earth, utterly and openly!

1 Corinthians 2:7-8… “But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, even the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they WOULD NOT have crucified the Lord of glory.“

Colossians 2:13-15… “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY, triumphing over them in it.“

The Kingdom has not been “at hand” for some 2,000 years, though it will be again as Daniel’s 70’th week has yet to be fulfilled.  The end of which the LORD GOD will establish HIS Kingdom on earth with ZERO human assistance.

Daniel 2:44… “And in the days of these kings SHALL THE GOD OF HEAVEN SET UP A KINGDOM, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall NOT be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.“

Grace and peace (words from the Lord with which Paul opens his every epistle) is currently “at hand” where God does NOT recognize Jew or Gentile (Gal 3:28). All men have been judged guilty and condemned equally (Rom 3:23). Faith and trust in the atoning death, burial and resurrection of Christ alone is the payment for that guilty verdict (Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Rom 4:25).

When one does not understand the Bible dispensationally, that is, God (who does not change) dealing with mankind in different (changing) ways during different time periods (dispensations), one has only a partial clue as to what is actually happening in the world around them, and no comprehension as to WHY. To understand the world fully one MUST understand the King James Bible dispensationally.

I hope this makes sense to one and all but especially to you James.  I would consider it an honor to entertain any questions or comments you may have as I understand fully this is a great deal to digest and contrary to what you have up till now learned about the Bible.  I know you have been taught that dispensational theology is fundamentally wrong.  Much of it is.  Correct dispensational theology however, is the only way the entire Bible makes complete and total sense.  As the Bible is full of seeming contradictions (Christ said follow the Law, Paul said we are not under the Law – Rom 6:14) we absolutely must know who is speaking to whom, when and why.

Correct dispensational theology does not lead to Biblical and scriptural error; it clears up every single seeming contradiction within the Bible.  James, I would HIGHLY encourage you to read the little white book I sent you by Justin Johnson titled “Start Rightly Dividing“.  It is not the error laden nebulous illogical dispensationalism you likely expect it to be.  It is clear, concise, utterly logical, contextually scriptural, remarkably simple and stunningly beautiful.

grace and peace to you and yours…

Next Post:  “Thoughts On Christmas.“

Israel’s future; but first rapture, anti-christ…!?!

/ grace country pastor / 1 Comment

We cannot speak of the future of Israel without first speaking about the end of Gods longsuffering dispensation of free grace to His creation.

Romans 11:32… “For God hath concluded them ALL in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.”

God; to Paul and through Paul, informs Jew and Gentile alike, that ALL have been concluded by Him to be in complete and total unbelief; that in complete and perfect justice He might have complete and perfect forgiveness toward all.  When once a small group of people were concluded IN belief in order to fulfill Gods purpose for the earth…

Deuteronomy 7:6-7… “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.  The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:”

…and, that God has now concluded them in unbelief; Israel are no longer Gods people…

Hosea 1:9… “Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.”

…has God “gone back” on His Word to what were once His chosen?  Has God’s plan for the earth been altered?  Well that just can’t be, since God is true and every man is a liar. Continuing along in Hosea, we learn;

Hosea 1:10… “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it WAS said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it SHALL BE said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.“

Israel will once again be Gods chosen!  God has not altered His plan for the earth, it is simply postponed while the mystery kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25) plays out… and we now know what that is; God’s plan for the heavens – the body of Christ.  All are currently concluded equally in unbelief, therefore all have equal opportunity to take part in the “new creature” which God has reconciled to Himself via the blood of Christ.

There remains still a problem though.  God has reconciled the world to Himself, forgiving us our trespasses, yet sin still exists in the world and God’s ultimate plan for both the earth and the heavens call for the complete and total eradication of sin in creation.  God is currently “at peace” with the world, toward any and all who accept the gift of the blood of His Son; but that does not mean He is finished with the world.  He cannot be, as the majority of the world will not be reconciled to God because of human pride, and God must still deal justly with these, as well as with those angels which fell, satan at the helm.

So how does God then return to fulfilling His plan for the earth if that plan has been temporarily interrupted?  This heavenly program must somehow come to an end, as an “interruption” implies a subsequent “re-start” of the previous thing.  Most professing Christians have heard of the “rapture” of the church and most (correctly) complain that the word rapture does not appear in the Bible; but because of that, incorrectly assume the rapture cannot be.  The rapture MUST occur however, and is a resurrection (of those dead IN Christ) and a physical alteration (of those alive IN Christ) of all those saved in this dispensation of the free grace of God.  It is a radical and remarkable physical transformation of His body of believers from corruptible to incorruptible (only God can accomplish such!) which will occur at some point in the future that only God can locate.  Paul describes this event in:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18… “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

…and…

1 Corinthians 15:51-53… “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

These verses describe the Lord Jesus gathering His “body of Christ” saints together to Himself “in the air” and NOT “on the earth” where the Jews will be regathered.  This is a graceful and peaceful gathering for those who have no hope of Kingdom resurrection (blaspheming Jews – Mat 12:31-32 – and Gentiles which did not bless Israel), as we have our own hope in the “air” or heavens.  This is NOT the second coming of Christ TO the earth which will be in vengeance and war, as Paul describes in:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9… “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

The mystery, the dispensation of free grace to Gods enemies (blaspheming Jews like Saul/Paul and all us Gentiles) must come to an end before God can and will once again establish the nation Israel in accordance with its intended purpose; to be the channel of blessing from God to the world.  If this dispensation did not end then 2 different gospel messages would be available to mankind and they would contradict one another as Eph 2:8-9 contradicts James 2:24.

“Wait a minute”, you say, “God re-established Israel in 1948 so obviously they are His chosen people still”.  To which the Bible says, “Not so fast…” if  you will pardon my paraphrase.  If believers today are still present in the world as Christ’s ambassadors for grace and peace, that MUST mean that Israel as a nation is still concluded in unbelief, as Israel’s function was to teach and preach God, and to inform the world that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand.  The Kingdom is NOT currently at hand (with this comes judgement and war), as God HAS declared a period of grace and peace through the apostle Paul.  The “Israel” currently occupying the land God promised His earthly people ARE NOT, indeed CAN NOT BE, the Israel of God as they are not preaching Christ nor His Kingdom.  They are still awaiting their “messiah” who WILL be the false or “anti-messiah”.  God, in Christ, has NOT returned to the earth in the flaming fire of vengeance as of yet.  Christ is NOT seated on His earthly throne.  Israel is still blind to God’s ultimate truth.  Let us see what scripture says…

Romans 9:6… “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.  For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”

Not all Israel which are of Israel?  Huh?

Romans 11:7-8… “What then?  Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.”

Who then is this “election”?  It is NOT us, or simply ALL those who believe in Christ today, Jew or Gentile.  What the first coming of Israel’s Messiah accomplished was not “peace on earth”, as “christmas” cards proclaim, no.  Division was accomplished, but what needed dividing?  See Christ’s own words in:

Luke 12:51… “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?  I tell you NAY; but rather division:”

Matthew 10:34… “Think NOT that I am come to send peace on earth: I came NOT to send peace, but a sword.”

Swords divide things.  Christ divided believing Israel from unbelieving Israel as He was sent to do.  The “election” or “believing Israel” (Peter and the rest) obtained the keys to the Kingdom and the remainder, the religious leaders and the majority of the nation were blinded to truth, and still are to this day.  Thus; are not “all Israel” which were “of” Israel.  Only a small portion of Israel in time past was Gods.  They have all since physically died and await their own Kingdom resurrection.

Gods longsuffering to all the world MUST come to an end before His Righteous Vengeance can be poured out upon it and His earthly Kingdom established for 1,000 years (peace on earth).  When this dispensation of longsuffering has run its course and His ambassadors have been recalled (raptured), God will once again be dealing with the earth as He was in time past with men consisting of Jew and Gentile; with Christ no longer seated but STANDING on the right hand of God (read all Acts 7) ready and prepared to return with the baptism of flaming fire prepared for unbelieving Israel (Mat 3:11, Luke 3:16); whose future Kingdom saints are supernaturally empowered to endure in the ages to come!  Examine the Bible Chart for a pictorial representation of this.

Man in 1948, walking the course of this world, following the god of this world (Ephesians 2 – please read) established a “government” which then took possession of land (land which God HAS in fact promised to His earthly people) and called that land Israel.  satan, pretending to be God, wants the world to believe that today’s Israel is “of God” so the “believing” world is on his side (Isaiah 14 – satan is God’s counterfeit and we require the KJB to discern between them as satan is very good at what he does; more in next post) as this is where and to whom anti-christ will appear… Israel.  Yes, anti-christ will “look” exactly like Jesus Christ and come to Israel doing great signs and wonders just like Jesus did.  (This time, the wrong time, they will believe.)

2 Thessalonians 2:8-10… “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

Israel, and most of the world, will be (ARE) fooled, as they do not have a love for Bible Truth.  satan even entered INTO Judas Iscariot who then became the son of perdition (the anti-christ, “that wicked”, as in 2 Thes 2:3), who then went to the “chief” priests who were not only glad to speak with him, but paid him for his efforts!  Had they loved their own scripture, they would have known their Lord was present among them (John 5:39); but they do not.  Like most men, they love themselves, the world and the religious system they created.

Luke 22:3-5… “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.”

Jesus said these were of their father the devil…!

John 8:44… “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

My point, the point the Bible is making, is that nothing at all has changed in 2,000+ years in Israel (the Jewish religion) or the world at large.  Therefore, the Israel of today along with most of the world, blinded to the Creator God Jesus Christ (John 1:1-14), is still of their father the devil, and therefore, his coming son.  Ouch…

The difference between satan’s Israel (that which we see today walking the course of this world, Eph 2, which is satan’s) and God’s however, is stunning.  When God establishes HIS Israel, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, it will be more special than any man alive can currently imagine (and far larger).  The land will be returned to Edenic-like splendor and all men shall seek God (if they are wise) therein.  Examine Gods description of His coming Holy Land:

Isaiah 11:5-9… “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 35:1-10… “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

This very thing was just beginning in early Acts.  The blind were given sight, the deaf could hear; the lame man leaped as an hart (Acts 3:1-11)!  Amazing prophesy fulfilled (but interrupted)!

Isaiah 65-66 (read all)

Zechariah 8:20-23… “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.  Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Jerusalem will be the capitol of the world from where Christ will rule with a rod of iron.  The twelve will sit on twelve thrones.  Indeed Peter, after selling and forsaking all he had, wants to know what’s in it for him!  He questions Jesus in:

Matthew 19:27-29… “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

The Jews will be the worlds religious leaders they were always intended to be… the nation of royal priests:

1 Peter 2:9-10… “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were NOT a people, but are NOW the people of God: which had NOT obtained mercy, but NOW have obtained mercy.”

No, that’s not us, that’s Israel!  God will once again bless those that bless Israel and curse those which do not (Gen 12:3), for another 1,000 years; at which point satan will be loosed upon the earth one last time to gather Gods enemies in one last ultimate battle.

Is this what is honestly going on in the world today?  For anyone with eyes, the answer is clearly no.  Make no mistake however, what God has promised, will absolutely and surely come to pass.  Things are going to get far uglier in this world before God makes them better.

Next Post: “The god of this world.“

Deceived…

/ grace country pastor / 5 Comments

I’d like to expound upon the statement in my last post, namely, that the VAST majority of churches in the world are teaching the wrong gospel.  Sure, they are teaching Jesus Christ, the “object” of our worship (and what He’s done for Israel); but they are NOT teaching correct “content” or what that “object” has done on our behalf.  We are NOT Israel.  The salvation message from God to man is the single most important message a man can receive.  Failure to recognize what God requires us to recognize (no matter how simple and beautiful) spells eternal doom, as we are all eternal creatures.  Israel was required to recognize Christ their Messiah and follow His instructions (content) to them.  Believers today are required to recognize what Christ our Savior has done for us!  Is your church guilty of deceiving you?

Anything other than: “Christ died for your sins” (period, end of discussion) is MORE than the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and therefore, deception.  Deception can be remarkably subtle.  Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 11:3… “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

The simple and personally stunning realization a man (hopefully) comes to in his life; that he is actually no good whatsoever and can not do a single thing to save himself; is what I call facing Biblical reality.  Facing this ultimate reality is a difficult thing to do as we humans, generally speaking, are very prideful creatures.  The local church is almost always where people go in order to obtain that “feel good/you are good” reinforcement about themselves (which we all do crave); therefore the local church (professing christian or otherwise – “churches” come in many flavors, some secular) is the underlying support mechanism by which “good and polite society” operates.  “Atheists” simply believe in the inherent “goodness” of creation creating itself with man somehow (more and more) guiding his own “evolution”.  The university is his church and the religion of evolution (as opposed to a more formal deity) says he gets “better and better”.

The Bible, however, says otherwise.  How do I know God wrote the Bible?  Because it is ultimately critical of mankind.  Man would never say such things as these about himself:

Jeremiah 17:9… “The heart is DECEITFUL above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Romans 3:10-18… “As it is written, There is NONE righteous, NO, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God.  They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, NO, NOT ONE.  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:23… “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23(a)… “For the wages of sin is death; …” (continued below)

All means all.

“Ouch…”

You yourself must be perfect to be in the presence of a Perfect God.  A single sin negates that perfection.  What is a man to do under these circumstances?  He can lie to himself as most do.  Or… he may realize what God in Christ has done on his behalf and place his trust in that and that alone for his eternal salvation.  “Christ died for your sins.”  What else can there possibly be for a man to do?  “HE took YOUR place on the cross.”  There is only universal hopelessness outside of Christ who is the Creator God.

John 1:1-3, 14… “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  (object)

Romans 6:23(b)… “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Accept Gods ultimate gift!  “HE… God Himself, died YOUR death, the death you deserved to die, FOR YOU!”  (content)

Is your church finding good in you outside of Christ?  Your church is deceiving you.  Is your church instructing you to “do good” in order that you may somehow obtain Gods favor and therefore (hopefully) salvation?  With the above verses observing you, can you honestly say that you are even remotely capable of doing good outside of Christ in you?  Read about Gods book before you answer…

Hebrews 12:4… “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Who knows the human heart, Jeremiah?  God does.  He made it and gave it free will, knowing it would fail, also knowing exactly what He would do to make it perfect in the end!

Does your church teach grace; BUT you then have something to contribute?  Something like baptism, attendance, tithing, cleaning up your act, dressing appropriately, praying a prayer, coming to the alter, making Jesus “Lord of your life”, speaking in tongues, confessing sin, or any such religious man centered activity?  If so, your church is deceiving you away from the simplicity that is in Christ.  Can a man who is asking for forgiveness have already received it?  I think not…

Colossians 2:13… “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses.”

All means all…!

No “ouch” here  🙂

If Christ did not pay it all, now and forever, what hope is there for you, besides you?  Recall what you are!

John 19:30… “When Jesus had therefore received the vinegar, he said, IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”  It is either finished, or… your church is deceiving you.

A church, as the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15), IF it be in the will of God for this dispensation of free grace in which we live today, should be teaching you first and foremost the truth about yourself, which is very hard to hear.  Without knowing the truth about your own condition, true salvation is NOT possible.  It is only after coming to the ultimate realization of our inherently lost condition, can we subsequently be “found”.  It is only after we are found that we can be of any use to God.  The only way we can be of any use to God is to try and show others their inherently lost condition and what God has done to remedy it.  People, very unfortunately, do not want to know.  Mostly… they are proud, knowing nothing.  Ouch.

1 Timothy 6:3-5… “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

If your church is growing (gaining) by telling people what they want to hear; “you are good”?  From such, withdraw thyself.  If your church is not teaching Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (the doctrine) given specifically unto the Apostle Paul by the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ Himself, you are being deceived.  From such, withdraw thyself.  Is your church is teaching Jesus Christ according to prophesy of Israel?  Are they teaching Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (Hebrews, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, James, Jude, Revelation) as if these are instructions for believers today?  If so, you are being deceived.  While there is precious truth in these books, they contain Israel’s promises and instructions, not ours.  The Apostle Paul alone has the Truth for believers today as given him by Jesus Christ specifically for us.  Our truth is contained in the 13 books of Romans through Philemon.

Ephesians 3:1-5… “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given ME TO YOU-WARD: How that by revelation he made known unto ME the MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand MY knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was NOT made known unto the sons of men, as it is NOW revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

Is your church guilty of deceiving you?  The answer is VERY likely, yes.  From such, withdraw thyself.  Learn what Christ has done for you specifically, outside of His promises made to Israel.  Learn YOUR Truth from YOUR Apostle, given YOU by Christ Himself… Paul.

Next, we examine the basic and fundamental difference between what Christ instructed Israel via the twelve, versus what Christ instructs you and I, via Paul; as Christ has a job for Israel (earth) and a job for us (heaven).

Next Post: “Peter… following Christ and the Law.“

God created the heaven AND the earth…

/ grace country pastor / 3 Comments

Okay… logical exercise today (and pardon the length of this post).  IF satan tempted Eve in the garden, we THEN must conclude that satan was in a fallen state prior to that event.  If satan was on Gods “good side” at that moment, he would not have encouraged the worlds first two human beings to disobey the God who created them and forfeit their perfect and eternal existence.  If satan was in a fallen state, then his abode in heaven was also therefore in a fallen state… it was made imperfect by the prideful iniquity found within him (Ezekiel 28) and the legion of angels who left their first estate to follow him (Jude 1:6).  As God cursed the earth due to Adam’s sin, so too is heaven cursed by satans.  If heaven was not cursed there would be no need for war there (Rev 12:7).  All existence; the physical which we are able to perceive in these terrestrial bodies (1 Cor 15:40), and the angelic (celestial) which we cannot; are therefore spoiled by sin and are thus in need of redemption if they are to ever be made perfect again, as God declares in Ephesians 1:10…

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

There is therefore a future dispensation wherein all things will be gathered together in the perfection that is Christ Jesus.  Nearly 90% of our King James Bible tells the tale of this earths redemption (along with its inhabitants) through Gods dealing with the nation Israel.  “Thy Kingdom Come” is the prayer heard throughout the encampments of Christ and the twelve (Mat 6:10).  “Thy Kingdom Come” is the (seriously misplaced) prayer heard throughout myriad churches around the world on Sunday mornings.  The tale of the nation Israel from Genesis to Revelation is the implementation of earths redemption.  As Israel is future redeemed, so too will be the Gentile nations who bless Israel (Gen 12:3) and so too will the land be made like unto Eden once again (Isaiah 35).  But not yet…

Question…  heaven too is fallen, so how will heaven be redeemed?  Prophesy says absolutely nothing about this and there is a precious good reason why.  In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul is explaining to these believers that he did not come to them with mans worldly wisdom or “smooth talking”, but in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and the power of God Himself.  It is Gods own words of wisdom he delivers unto them… Paul is aware that he is writing Holy Writ!  He is preaching Christ crucified and the totality (prophesied and unprophesied) of what that means to these believers.  And herein lies the mystery we teach once again…

1 Cor 2:7-8… “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

The hidden (mysterious/secret) wisdom God ordained unto “our” glory.  Ours, not Israel’s.  This mystery is then something that, had the princes of this world understood, they would not have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ.  The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished everything it was prophesied to accomplish PLUS something that was a mystery or a secret kept hidden in God Himself and therefore NOT heretofore revealed to man nor angel in scripture.  If God wanted to keep a secret, that secret will be kept!  Paul writes in…

Romans 16:25-27… “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, BUT NOW is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

Paul is revealing something brand new about the crucifixion; information now given to man (and angel, as we will see) that was kept secret since the world began.  The coming of Christ was not kept secret since the world began, His coming, death and resurrection was prophesied since the world began (Acts 3:20-21).  The redemption of earth was prophesied since the world began… indeed it is the story of prophesy itself.  The redemption of heaven was not however.  The church – the body of Christ is the instrument that God will use to “set heaven right” as He will use Israel to set the earth right.  This is magnificent, profound and not taught in denominational churches at all.  Mention it, as a matter of fact, and you will find it is taboo.  It is however what the Bible demonstrates.

The very plan of satan, to kill the Lord Jesus Christ, was the very method by which the God of Glory destroyed him completely.  Now that is Wisdom!  satan thought he had won the battle on Calvary and become like the Most High (Isaiah 14); yet it was his ultimate defeat.  satan knew Christ would resurrect (this was prophesied) but had no idea his dominion (heaven) would be made ultimately clean BY A NEW CREATURE (something the world had not yet seen) – the body of Christ where there is neither Jew nor Gentile!

2 Cor 5:17…”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Gal 6:15…”For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

It is believers today, the new creature; neither Jew nor Greek, bond or free, male or female (Gal 3:28); that will take up the places made void by satan and those fallen angels which followed him.  Paul writes to the same Corinthian believers…

1 Cor 6:3… “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”  As the twelve will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes in “Thy Kingdom Come” (Mat 19:28), believers today will “sit” in heaven and “judge” angels.  wow, Wow and WOW!!!

The reason there are two gospels to two groups of people is because there are two realms that require redemption in Christ.  One group is assigned to earthly things (Israel) and the other group (us), to heavenly.  Paul is therefore the Apostle to heavens redemption and thus the Apostle sent for us, whom we should follow, if we as believers are to be inside the Will of God.

There is a very, very profound problem with the teachings of today’s churches… they are teaching the wrong gospel.

Colossians 3:1-3… “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Amen!

Next Post – “Deceived…“

Christ, not sent for me?

/ grace country pastor / Leave a comment

The first advent of Jesus Christ was prophesied since the very beginning of time… since before Israel was on the scene.  In Genesis 3:15 God speaking to satan says… “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

The Bible, thereafter, states clearly that the prophesied Christ was sent specifically to the nation Israel that the nation Israel would be Gods Holy Light to the rest of the world.  The entire “old testament” (and much of the new) is of and about the nation Israel.

Speaking to the Jewish leaders in John 5:39 Christ proclaims… “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”  Moses prophesies to the twelve tribes in Deuteronomy 18:15… “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 harken;”  The Jewish leaders did not recognize their prophesied Messiah who was the end (or fulfillment) of the Law that they were trying to pridefully keep by their own abilities, but could not.

Romans 10:4… “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe.”  Paul here is recounting that all Israel had to do was to believe that Christ was the prophesied Messiah come to the nation, and the righteousness of God would be imputed judicially unto them.  Read verses 1-5 for full context.  Who exactly does Paul say that Christ was?

Romans 15:8… “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:”  The circumcision are the Jews.  Who does Jesus Christ Himself say that He came for?

Speaking to the twelve regarding the woman of Canaan He says, in Mat 15:24… “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Who does Jesus lay down His life for?  John 15:13-14… “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

These verses make abundantly clear that Jesus Christ came specifically for the nation Israel; and not only that, but only to those in the nation who would do whatsoever He commanded!  That is a mighty big IF in that verse!  Not many did what He commanded.  During His time on earth He was still commanding that the Law be followed; moreover, He magnified the Law greatly in the sermon on the mount by saying that not only must men physically conform to the Law, but our very thoughts as well must conform to the ideal of the Law.  Is this even honestly remotely possible for a man today?  The answer is no, it is not at all possible.  By setting the bar so impossibly high, God was saying to His people simply that they required Himself if they wanted to be righteous.  They, like most men throughout history, choose themselves over God.

Clearly then, Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry to Israel, did not have we Gentiles in mind, except that we would be blessed by His chosen nation Israel.  That is their stated purpose.  Speaking to the same woman of Canaan Jesus exclaims in Mat 15:26… “But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.”  Sweet, kind and mild Jesus just called you a dog!  Ah, but you say: “Christ in the next verse blesses the woman He just called a dog, so He did come for her!”  The only reason He blessed her is because she recognizes her place in the grand scheme of things; as a subordinate to those above her, the nation Israel.  She (a lowly Gentile) recognizes the Lord that Israel failed to recognize, and answers in verse 27… “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters table.”  She realizes that Israel is to be something very special and accepts her place under them.  The faith she was required to demonstrate to receive a blessing from God (Gen 12:3… “I will bless them that bless thee…”) was sure.

Christ came and died (initially – at least what we know by way of prophesy) for the nation Israel and Israel alone; and only those in the nation who would faithfully keep His commandments.  It is only later when Saul is saved on the road to Damascus in Acts 9 that we learn fully what the death of the Savior of all mankind actually accomplished.  The implications of this are stunningly profound and will be examined in the next post.

Next Post – If not Christ (John 3:16), then who?

Why Israel?

/ grace country pastor / 7 Comments

In the last post I identified something mostly unknown to professing Christians… a “mystery” or secret God withheld from His creation until He chose to reveal that information to the Apostle Paul.  In attempting to determine what that information is, let us first examine Gods intent for the nation Israel.

In Genesis 12:1-3 God calls Abram out of Ur (Babylon) unto a new location that remained undisclosed to Abram.  Abram believed what God was saying to him and, following the Lords instruction, left his fathers house.  God made a promise to Abram (because of that belief) that He would make of Abram a great nation which would in turn be a blessing to those who would bless Abram.  I think we can fairly identify a nation as a large group of people.  Key words to my point are located in Gen 12:3(b)… “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  This is the very beginning of the nation Israel and defines their very purpose; that they should somehow be a blessing to others (all families).  Many years later, the covenant of circumcision comes into play.  It is the wall of partition which separates out those whom God has a covenant agreement with (a covenant is an agreement between parties) from those He does not.  God has a covenant agreement with Israel and no other nation.  See Genesis 17:11-14 (KJV…Only).

Still later (I am passing over much history here) as Moses is leading captive Israel (they were bad and God was punishing them) from Egypt, God establishes the Law with the nation.  Exodus 19:5-6… “Now therefore, IF ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”  Notice carefully the “If/Then” nature of this covenant agreement.

A nation of priests… what then is a priest?  A priest is a mediator between God and man; one who was to perform the sacred rights on behalf of the people to make things “right” between the nation and God.  Therefore the nation Israel, as a nation of priests, was to be the channel of blessing from God to the rest of the peoples (nations) of the world.

The nation responds to that covenant in Deut. 6:25… “And it shall be our righteousness, IF we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us.”  The following of Gods Law then, will be the righteousness of Israel.  Clearly, Israel is under the impression they will be able to follow Gods Holy Law.  Could they; did they?  Clearly they did not as the only man who could ever perfectly follow Gods Perfect Law was “God As Man” Jesus Christ.  It was subsequently revealed (by Paul) that Jesus Christ was the “end” of the Law (Romans 10:4) to them that believed.  Israel did not believe (and still does not yet see).

Jesus Christ Himself commanded the nation in what has become known collectively as the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:45-50 and Acts 1:1-8) to go into all the world and preach the Kingdom of God!  They (the nation as a whole) did not, because they did not believe Christ was who He said He was.  They did not believe Christ was God.

Since Israel failed to live up to their end of the covenant agreement, did God establish the nation as that nation of priests to the world (1 Peter 2:9)?  Clearly, He did not.  The world is not looking to Israel as Gods channel of blessing; nor should the world seek such in Israel today, as they failed to keep that which God commanded and failed to recognize their Messiah.  (At least thus far.)  Now the question must be asked: what are the Gentile nations (all nations “below” Israel) to do, now that Gods channel of blessing is (temporarily) “cut off” as they currently are?  How was a lowly Gentile supposed to come to know God?  As Paul writes to the Jewish leaders in Acts 28:28… “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”

Herein lies the essence of the mystery made known to Paul… that Gentile believers might receive some portion of Gods blessing apart from the nation Israel.  But is Paul’s message therefore different then that which the twelve were proclaiming?  Did Paul not simply continue the twelves Kingdom message?  Israel, Gods channel of blessing to Gentiles, is “cut off” at this moment.  If we read Gods Word rightly divided as the Holy Spirit through Paul instructs, we observe clearly that Paul’s message (gospel – good news) is vastly different from the message (gospel – good news) given to the twelve.  Paul’s good news is “apart” from the nation Israel’s good news.  It is here we begin to understand how and why Paul claims such ownership over what he teaches.

Next Post – “Paul, not one of the twelve!“