Israel

Types and Shadows

by

On May 6,1875, Ellen White published in the Review and Herald an article entitled “The Law of God.” In this article she gave attention to all of the rules and regulations that God (or Christ) gave to Israel through Moses. She divided these rules and regulations into three classes or categories, not only two, as we might have expected. She emphasized that although some are commonly called the Law of Moses, that “Moses himself framed no law,” and that they were all actually given by God (or Christ). She uses the terms God and Christ interchangeably, but emphasizes that Christ was deeply involved in the law-giving experience at Sinai: “Christ was the angel appointed of God to go before Moses in the wilderness, conducting the Israelites in their travels to the land of Canaan. Christ gave Moses his special directions to be given to Israel.”After having stated that Christ, the Angel whom God had appointed to go before His chosen people, gave to Moses statutes and requirements necessary to a living religion and to govern the people of God, she quotes 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, and continues:”Christ, who went before Moses in the wilderness, made the principles of morality and religion more clear by particular precepts….”What are the three kinds of laws, according to her arrangement of them? Two, as we might expect, are the moral law and the ceremonial law. She introduces the moral law, the Ten Commandments, in the first two paragraphs of her article and makes several comments on it later.

Putting these comments together, we can make a list of 10 characteristics which she ascribes to the moral law:

  • It dates back to creation. [Emphasis supplied]
  • It points back to creation.
  • It was worded to meet the case of fallen intelligences.
  • It was repeated at Sinai, where it was spoken and written by God Himself.
  • It is as unchangeable as God Himself.
  • It is based on love to God and love to man.
  • It is binding upon all men in every dispensation.
  • It will exist through time and eternity.
  • It is not a shadow.
  • It is as enduring as the throne of Jehovah.

This agrees with all that we have understood about the moral law, the Ten Commandments, and so we move on.

Next she introduces the ceremonial law and points out that it is “clear and distinct” from the moral law. From her various comments on the ceremonial law, we can also gather a list of its characteristics as she saw them:

  • It was given by Christ in counsel with God.
  • It was glorious
  • It was given because of man’s transgression of the moral law and did not exist from eternity like the moral law.
  • It “consisted in sacrifices and offerings, pointing to the future redemption.”
  • The sacrifices and offerings typified Christ.
  • She calls it a law of types.
  • She calls it the law of Moses.
  • She calls it the Jewish law.
  • She calls it “shadowy types” and “a shadowy ceremony of types.”
  • She emphasizes strongly that it lasted only to the sacrifice of Christ. Thus unlike the moral law, it had an earthly beginning and an earthly ending.

This, again, agrees with what we have understood. Agreement would probably be without exception among Seventh-day Adventists about these descriptions of the moral law and the ceremonial law.

But what of the third kind of law that she describes? Here, unfortunately, our agreement is not full and complete, without exceptions.

What is the third kind of law that she describes? She calls it statutes and judgments, and also sometimes includes it in the more general term, precepts. Let us make a list of the characteristics of these statutes and judgments as she describes them:

  • Christ gave them to Moses.
  • They were not the Ten Commandments, the moral law, but were given to guard it. “These statutes were explicitly given to the Ten Commandments.” “…guarding the sacred law of God….” [All emphasis supplied.] (They could not be part of the moral law if they were given to guard it.)
  • They were not part of the ceremonial law. “They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ.”
  • They were to govern the people of God.
  • They were to govern the everyday life.
  • They were for the purpose of protecting life.
  • They made the principles of morality and religion more clear.
  • They specify the duty of man to God and to his fellowman.
  • They clearly and definitely explained the moral law and were enforced by it.
  • They define and simplify the principles of the moral law.
  • They increase religious knowledge.
  • They applied to marriage.
  • They applied to inheritances.
  • They applied to strict justice in business affairs
  • They were to keep the people from following the customs of other nations.
  • They were to be binding upon all men in all ages as long as time should last

These are the statutes and judgments. She tells us that they are not part of the moral law nor yet part of the ceremonial law. They have an explaining, applying and enforcing relationship to the moral law, but apparently no relationship at all with the ceremonial law. They are not shadowy types, to end at the cross, but will retain their validity as long as time shall last.

Where did she find these statutes and judgments? In Exodus 21:1 and on to 23:11, right after the Ten Commandments in chapter 20.

“Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.” Exodus 21:1 (Compare Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-6, “statues and judgments.”)

Exodus Chapter 21
(Numbers indicate verse where sections begin.)

  • Laws for men servants.
  • For women servants.
  • 12. For manslaughter.
  • 16. For stealers of men.
  • 17. For cursers of parents.
  • 18. For smiters.
  • 22. For a hurt by chance.
  • 23. For an ox that goreth.
  • 33. For him that is an occasion of harm.

Exodus Chapter 22:

  • Of theft
  • Of damage
  • Of trespasses
  • 14. Of borrowing
  • Of fornication
  • Of witchcraft
  • Of bestiality
  • Of idolatry
  • Of strangers, widows, orphans
  • 25. Of usury
  • 26. Of pledges
  • 28. Of reverence to magistrates

Exodus Chapter 23:

  • Of slander and false witness
  • 3. Of justice
  • Of charitableness

Beginning with verse 12, the topic shifts back to the sabbaths, feasts and related things. These do not typify anything. They are not types and shadows. These statutes sometimes fall short of New Testament ideals, but are far in advance of other nations of that time. For example, the “man-servant” (or slave) in other nations had no rights. He could be killed by his master. Under Hebrew law a “man-servant” (or slave):

  • Could not serve longer than six years—then he was free.
  • Was still “Thy brother.” Deuteronomy 15:12
  • Was not to go away empty. Deuteronomy 15:13-14
  • In the year of Jubilee, all went free regardless of term of service.

We must look for the principles of these statutes. We could make some modern comparisons. For example, Ellen White recommends that young girls should be taught how to harness horses. In our time she would say, no doubt, they should be taught how to change a tire on a car. We do not have an ox to gore someone, but what about our dog, horse, or car? The principle of not letting them do damage to someone else still applies. These, of course, are not found in the ceremonial law.

Ellen White writes that these are not “shadowy types.” As we look them over, we recognize that this is true. There is nothing about them that points forward to the sacrifice of Christ, as the types and shadows do.

Now we come to a crucial question. We have seen several statements that define the types and shadows as sacrifices and offerings and affirm that they ended at the cross of Christ, when “type met antitype.” But what about the days upon which these sacrifices and offerings were celebrated? They are called sabbaths. Should we still honor and observe them as holy days, sabbath days, even though we do not make sacrifices?

Perhaps we can find the answer in two ways. According to Colossians 2:14-17, which Ellen White refers to in her discussions, the ceremonial sabbaths are shadows, just as the sacrifices are shadows:

“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. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Clearly then, according to Paul, the days are shadows. Second, we remember that the same law that establishes the sacrifices also establishes the days, and the law, the ceremonial law, is done away. This is the message of Colossians 2:14-17 and of Ephesians 2:11-15. It is also the message of many references in Ellen White’s writings.

“There are two distinct laws brought to view. One is the law of types and shadows, which reached to the time of Christ, and ceased when type met antitype in His death.” Signs of the Times, July 29, 1886

“The Jewish ceremonial law has passed away.” Review and Herald, October 10, 1899

“If Adam had not transgressed the law of God, the ceremonial law would never have been instituted.” Selected Messages, book 1, 230

“While the Saviour’s death brought to an end the law of types and shadows, it did not in the least detract from the obligation of the moral law.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 365

“When Jesus at His ascension entered by his own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon His disciples the blessings of His mediation, the Jews were left in total darkness to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings. The ministration of types and shadows had ceased.” The Great Controversy, 430

“His lessons to His disciples are received by all who would become His disciples, to the end of time. These lessons discharge His followers from the bondage of the ceremonial law, and leave them the ordinance of baptism to be received by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the only One who can take away sin.” Review and Herald, June 21, 1898

“When type met antitype in the death of Christ, the sacrificial offerings ceased. The ceremonial law was done away.” Review and Herald, June 26, 1900

“After Christ died on the cross as a sin offering, the ceremonial law could nave no force.” Lift Him Up, 147

“Peter here referred to the law of ceremonies, which was made null and void by the crucifixion of Christ.” The Acts of the Apostles, 194

“Many in the Christian world also have a veil before their eyes and heart. They do not see to the end of that which was done away. They do not see that it was only the ceremonial law which was abrogated at the death of Christ.” Selected Messages, book 1, 239

“This ritual law, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be performed by the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings were to cease. It is this law that Christ ‘took…out of the way, nailing it to His cross.’ Colossians 2:14.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 365

“But there is a law which was abolished, which Christ ‘took out of the way, nailing it to His cross.’ Paul calls it the ‘the law of commandments contained in ordinances.’ This ceremonial law, given by God through Moses, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be binding upon the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings and services were to be abolished. Paul and the other apostles labored to show this, and resolutely withstood those Judaizing teachers who declared that Christians should observe the ceremonial law.” Signs of the Times, September 4, 1884

There would seem to be no reason for doubt that the ceremonial law is passed away, according to Ellen White. If we put together the various expressions that she used to describe its passing, we are left with no doubts. She writes that the ceremonial law of types and shadows is ended, ceased, has no force, has passed away, is null and void, is abrogated, was nailed to the cross and has been abolished.

It would seem strange to believe that although she argued so forcefully that the ceremonial law had passed away, nevertheless the feast days, the ceremonial sabbaths, that were established by that law yet remain. Such a position would need to be sustained by very strong evidence, since it would contradict Paul’s statement that these sabbaths are “shadows” (Colossians 2:17). And those who advance this proposition should also present a clear explanation as to why Ellen White did not lead the church to observe the feast days while she was alive.

But no such strong evidence is offered. Instead, we are led to Ellen White’s May 6, 1875 article on “The Law of God,” and in particular this paragraph:

“In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts, which were to govern the every-day life. These statues were explicitly given to guard the Ten Commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law.”

We are asked to believe that the words “these statues” in this paragraph are a reference to the feast days of the ceremonial law. This would seem to be a grievous misunderstanding of the intention of the writer.

Our first question would be: How could these words enforce the feast days of the ceremonial law without enforcing the sacrifices of the ceremonial law? Second, why should we ignore her statement that these statutes are not “shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ?” Third, why should we ignore her own definitions and descriptions of the statutes and judgments?

There are five passages in Ellen White’s article in which she discusses the statutes and judgments. Let us place them all together and examine them.

“The statutes and judgments specifying the duty of man to his fellow-men, were full of important instruction, defining and simplifying the principles of the moral law, for the purpose of increasing religious knowledge, and of preserving God’s chosen people distinct and separate from idolatrous nations.

“The statutes concerning marriage, inheritance, and strict justice in dealing with one another, were peculiar and contrary to the customs and manners of other nations, and were designed of God to keep his people separate from other nations. The necessity of this to preserve the people of God from becoming like the nations who had not the love and fear of God, is the same in this corrupt age, when the transgression of God’s law prevails and idolatry exists to a fearful extent. If ancient Israel needed such security, we need it more, to keep us from being utterly confounded with the transgressors of God’s law. The hearts of men are so prone to depart from God that there is a necessity for restraint and discipline.

“In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the Ten Commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law.

“Christ, the Angel whom God had appointed to go before his chosen people, gave to Moses statutes and requirements necessary to a living religion and to govern the people of God.

“God graciously spoke his law and wrote it with his own finger on stone, making a solemn covenant with his people at Sinai. God acknowledged them as His peculiar treasure above all people upon the earth. Christ, who went before Moses in the wilderness, made the principles of morality and religion more clear by particular precepts, specifying the duty of man to God and his fellow-men, for the purpose of protecting life, and guarding the sacred law of God, that it should not be entirely forgotten in the midst of an apostate world.

“Christ, to enforce the will of His Father, became the author of the statutes and precepts given through Moses to the people of God.”

A relationship between the “statutes and judgments” and the moral law is stated eight times. No relationship to the ceremonial law is suggested.

All the way through this discussion she relates the statutes and judgments to the moral law and never to the ceremonial law. Their purpose is made so clear as to require no comment. And let us note in her last paragraph a reference to the mistaken practices of the Jewish people.

“They attach as much importance to shadowy ceremonies of types which have met their antitype, as they do to the law of Ten Commandments….”

When we remember that the Jewish people honor the feast days but make no sacrifices, we are forced to the conclusion that these feast days are the “shadowy ceremonies of types” to which she is referring.

Let us heed the appeal of Paul in Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

The End

Life Sketches – The Only Way

by

Although the New Testament clearly says that all Israel will be saved, the real question that needs to be answered is, Whom does God consider to be part of Israel today?

The prophets in the Old Testament clearly predicted the coming of the Messiah. His birth place, where He would appear as well as when and how He would die were all predicted. When the Messiah would appear, the glory of the Lord would be revealed to all the earth. When these prophecies were fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus, through both His teachings, and His many miracles, the evidence was plain and clear to all the world that God had sent His Son into the world for their salvation. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in the midst of a huge concourse of people, it was an evidence that could not really be gainsaid that here was a miracle that had never been performed before. Here was a person who had the ability to call the dead from their graves.

Jesus demonstrated that He was the resurrection and the life, that He had power over death, that He had come into the world for their salvation. He did not promise the people eternal life immediately. He said, “If you believe in Me, though you die, you will live. The one who believes in Me, I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40, literal translation). The evidence was overwhelming that through a belief in Jesus Christ of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour there was a way out of the tomb. But, the Old Testament prophets also predicted that the Messiah would be rejected by the Jewish people. (See Isaiah 53).

It was predicted that He would be crucified. (See Psalm 22.) He would be resurrected again and would go back to heaven. When Jesus came, and the Jews rejected Him, He told them what was going to happen to them: “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.’ ” (Matthew 21:42, 43).

He said, “You will no longer be God’s chosen people because you have rejected the majesty of heaven. You have rejected the only One who gives you eternal life.” There is only one person in the universe who can give you eternal life. Notice what Jesus said in John 5:40 speaking to the Jews. He says, “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” He is called, “The Prince of Life” (Acts 3:15). The apostle Peter made the following statement to the Jews: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

There is no other way, the New Testament says, to have eternal life. There is no other way to escape death, the grave, except through Jesus Christ. He is the One who is the life-giver, He is the one who created the world (John 1:10). He is the One who upholds everything in the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:1–3). He is the only One who can give you eternal life. If you reject Him, John said, you have lost everything for, “This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11, 12). It’s that simple. The one who has the Son of God has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. There is no one in the universe who can give you eternal life except Jesus Christ.

There are people in heathen countries who are following the voice of the Holy Spirit, perhaps unknowingly, but who are living up to all the light that they know. They will have eternal life, but that eternal life is through Jesus Christ.

When the Jewish people rejected Jesus Christ, they rejected all means of salvation. If you do not know about Christ but are living up to the all the light you have, you can be saved. But if you reject Christ who is “… the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), if you reject truth, you are rejecting all possibility of having eternal life. So Jesus said to the Jews that the kingdom of God was going to be taken from them. It was to be given to a nation that would bring forth the fruits of it.

Even when they crucified Christ, the kingdom of God still was not taken from them right away. They were given even another opportunity to repent. On the Day of Pentecost while Peter preached to the Jews who were gathered in Jerusalem from all over the world, He told them that they were responsible for the crucifixion of the Majesty of heaven (Acts 2:22, 23). They were pricked in their conscience and said, “What shall we do” (verse 37)? “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be converted, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ ” (verse 38, literal translation).

Jesus taught that nobody could be saved if they did not receive the Holy Spirit. (See John 3.) In mercy, the Jewish people were still offered salvation even after that. However, they became so bitter and vehement in their opposition to Christ that eventually they were willing to kill anyone who was a Christian. In fact, the first Christian martyr was Stephen the deacon. The Jews stoned him to death for telling them the truth of the gospel. While giving his last sermon and realizing his death was inevitable, Stephen said to his persecutors,

“ ‘You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.’ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at Him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him” (Acts 7:51–58).

Stephen was stoned for witnessing to them the gospel, and after that, the gospel went to the Gentiles. (See Acts 8.) The Jews could still be saved individually, but as a nation they were no longer God’s chosen people. Jesus was very clear that the kingdom of God was going to be taken away from them because they rejected the One who is the way, the truth, and the life. They rejected the Majesty of heaven.

So, who is Israel now? Who are His chosen people now? It is not the Jewish nation, for they have not accepted the Messiah even to the present day. They are not God’s chosen people, according to the New Testament.

The promises of salvation given to Abraham by God are all conditional on obedience. The Jews are in need of the gospel just like all the rest of us and can be saved.

Who is Israel today? It says in Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” These are the people that have been baptized in the name of Christ. They are now Christians. He says that if you have done this, then you have put on Christ.

Verse 28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek.” Notice, it doesn’t matter whether you are a Jew or Greek or what nationality you are. What matters is, Have you been baptized into Christ? Are you a Christian? “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female.”

A sharp distinction was made in the old covenant in the law of Moses, between males and females, but those distinctions, the apostle Paul says, do not apply anymore. He says there is no distinction between a Jew and a Greek, or between a servant or a slave and a free person. There is no distinction between a male and female.

It is amazing that even with this plain instruction in the New Testament even Christians can’t seem to get it figured out. In the eyes of God all are equal. There are no differences, for all are one in Christ Jesus, whether a Jew or a Greek, a male or a female, slave, free, whatever you may be. All are one in Christ Jesus. Notice verse 29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

O, that is a wonderful verse. Paul says that if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed; you are Abraham’s children; you are Israel, heirs to eternal life according to the promise of God.

John the Baptist tried to teach the Jews this. He said, “Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Matthew 3:9).

Jesus made the same truth clear in John 8. He acknowledged that the Jews were Abraham’s children according to the flesh, but it is not being a child according to the flesh that matters. Notice what the apostle Paul wrote to the Christian church in Rome: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision that which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28, 29).

It is not outward profession that matters. It is the one who has the circumcision of the heart, circumcision representing the cutting away of sin from the life. This is not a new teaching. If you go back to the Old Testament, you will see that the prophets pleaded with Israel continually saying that the children of Israel needed to circumcise their hearts and cut sin out of their lives.

“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he believed— God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:13–17).

So, we may ask the question again, Who is Israel today? Everyone who has been baptized into Christ comprises modern spiritual Israel. They are the new covenant Israel. If you want to become part of God’s chosen people, under the new covenant, then you need to be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You need to acknowledge the sovereignty of Jesus Christ in your life. You need to acknowledge Him as your Lord and Saviour so that you can become part of Israel today.

Notice what Paul says in Romans 9:6–8: “It is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”

Who is Israel today? Israel today are all those Jews or Gentiles who have been baptized into Christ, who have acknowledged Christ as their Lord and Saviour and who are following Him, who acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ, that is, the Lordship of Christ, and that He is their Saviour from sin. Remember, there is nobody else in the universe who can give you eternal life. There is no one else in the universe who can take your sins away. John said, “He that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life.”

But something terrible has happened since these wonderful things were written. Today, most of the Christian world is under a delusion just as big as the Jewish world was in the days of Christ. John predicted in Revelation 12:9 that the devil would deceive the whole world in the last days.

There is a deception upon the Christian world today that is similar to the one that was upon the Jewish world in the days of Christ and the apostles. It is the belief that trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour from sin sets you free from the ordinances or decrees or laws pointing forward to the work of Christ in the Christian dispensation, as the apostle Paul clearly stated in Ephesians 2 and Colossians 2. But, the book of Revelation predicts that the devil will deceive the entire world. (See Revelation 12:9; Revelation 13, 16, 18, and 19.) How does the devil deceive the Christian world today?

The Jewish world was deceived when it refused to accept the Redeemer of the world. The Christian world profess to accept the Redeemer of the world, but then they say there is no more need to keep His law because grace sets you free and you don’t need to worry about that anymore.

The idea that grace sets you free from keeping God’s law is addressed by almost all the apostles. Paul says, “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). Then he says in verse 7, “Because the carnal mind (the unconverted person) is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The apostle Paul is very clear in both Romans 6 and 8 that the Christian is under obligation to keep the law of God. The apostle John talks about it also. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him and does not keep His commandments,’ is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3, 4). John spells out clearly what sin is, who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil.

Notice what John says: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:4–10).

How could you state it any more plainly than that? The apostle Peter talks about the very same thing when he says, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth;’ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:21–24).

Peter says that if you are a Christian, you have died to sin and you live for righteousness. In other words, you do not continue in breaking God’s law, for sin is breaking God’s law.

James is just as clear as any of the other Bible writers. In James the 2nd chapter he not only spells it out, but he says that according to God’s ten commandment law we are going to be judged. The standard of the judgment is God’s law—the ten commandment law—which is not ten separate laws but just one law (Exodus 24:12).

Notice what James says: “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery (the 7th commandment), but you do murder (the 6th commandment), you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:8–12).

The New Testament is clear. Paul, Peter, John and James all said that obedience to the law is necessary for salvation. In fact, it is spelled out in the book of Revelation that at the end of the world the whole world is going to be divided into two classes: those Christians that keep the law of God and those Christians who do not keep the law of God. What class are you going to be in? The class you choose will determine your eternal destiny.

Notice what it says in Revelation 12:17: “The dragon (the devil) was enraged with the woman (the church), and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring (the last church), who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

God’s people in the last days will keep His commandments. In Revelation 14:12, it says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” God’s people in the last days of earth’s history, according to Revelation 12, 13 and 14, will be those who keep God’s commandments. They will not be people that say, “Well, I believe in Christ, therefore I can live any way I please.”

O, friend, what side are you going to be on when the world comes to an end? Will you be part of those who are Christians in deed and not just in name?

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

The Rapture and Israels Future

by Michael C. Wells

The Rapture and Israel's FutureAt the end of World War II, the community of nations was appalled at the genocide that had occurred during the war. Approximately six million Jews had been exterminated during Hitler’s reign of terror. This caused the United Nations to issue a resolution calling for the resettling of the Jewish people back to Palestine. At this time, the British controlled this territory, and were willing to give it to the new Jewish nation. In 1948, the new state of Israel was formed and speculation of fulfilled prophecy went rampant through the Christian community.

It was widely believed that when Israel became a nation again, the rapture and Second Coming of Jesus would soon follow. Was this new floundering nation, called Israel, truly the fulfillment of Bible prophecy? And if so, what is delaying Jesus from coming to get His people? After all, it has been over fifty years since the Jewish nation was set up. We can also ask the question, How will Jesus come back? Will the righteous be secretly raptured away or will the Second Coming be an event of which all are aware.

In this book, we are going to take a trip through Bible prophecy to find the answers to all these questions and many more. We will investigate Bible truth and discard speculation. How important is it that we do this? The Apostle Paul wrote that if we do not seek the truth and hold to it, God will allow us to believe lies, because we did not love the truth. (II Thessalonians 2: 11, 12.) Since none of us would like to be found in this condition, do you think it wise to investigate God’s truth? Jesus said this about the Word of God; “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17: 17. By knowing the truth of God’s Word, we can be sanctified, or set apart from the rest of the world and their false ideas.

Did you know that over one quarter of the Bible speaks of future events? One of the most prominent prophecies is the Second Coming of Christ. Directly or indirectly it is mentioned in 1845 texts in the Old and New Testaments. In the New Testament, it is mentioned 318 times and is the main theme in seventeen Old Testament books. (See Rapture! Is it for Real?, by Ralph Blodgett.) Obviously, this is a very important topic. The Lord gave us all of this information so that we could study and find out about this momentous event.

With so much information, why are there so many different theories about Christ’s second coming? Paul said, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” II Timothy 4: 3,4. Instead of studying out these prophecies, scripture by scripture, people find it much easier to listen and just believe the teachers of today. In Acts 17, we find a group of people who are commended for their actions. Instead of just listening to what Paul said and accepting it as the truth, they “searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” We are told that we must actively search the Word of God to find the truth. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2: 14.

The Rapture Theory

One of the principal beliefs of today is the rapture. There are at least five major views about the rapture, but all have some things in common. All believe that Jesus will come to gather His people in the clouds. All believe that this gathering will be a secret (those who are not raptured will not be aware of it until after it has taken place). All believe that the rapture and Second Coming are two different events, and all believe that after the rapture, Jesus will come again and set up a 1000 year millennium of peace on the earth. At this point, the views start to differ.

Some believe that between the rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus there will be a seven- year period of tribulation. Others believe that it will only be three and a half years. The partial rapture theory contends that there will be multiple “raptures.” Most believe that the rapture will take place before the tribulation. Yet others grapple with the idea that they might have to go through some of the tribulation, while others believe they will experience it all. The most widely believed theory on the rapture is this: After the saints have been mysteriously “snatched” away, the Holy Spirit withdraws His influence and the wickedness of man turns the world into chaos. At this time the antichrist appears and causes the great tribulation. He forces people to take his mark and for seven, three and a half, or ten years (depending on which theory you want to believe) he reigns terror on the earth. During this time, Israel will be converted and at the end of this time, Jesus will return with His saints and rescue all who have turned to Him during this time of trouble, and He will then establish a “Millennial Kingdom” of 1000 years.

What we all want to know is the answer to this simple question. What does the Bible really say about the rapture and Second Coming of Christ? How will it all happen? We do not have to guess. God has given ample evidence of the events to happen. We can know exactly what will occur, but we cannot know exactly when it will occur. We can know by the signs of the times that His coming is near, “but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24: 36. God has given us this knowledge through His Word so that we can be “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2: 13.

The Rapture and Bible Prophecy

In order to understand this subject, we first need to know where the rapture theory came from. The origins of this theory are rooted in the prophecies of Daniel 9, and so we will begin with an in- depth study of that prophecy.

We first notice that this prophecy is a portion of the 2300- day prophecy that Daniel was given in chapter eight. Daniel is desperately trying to understand the vision given him, but he proclaims in Daniel 8: 27, “And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.” For sometime he plead with the Lord to understand this vision, and, one day, as he was confessing his sins and the sins of Israel, he is sent an answer through the angel, Gabriel. Gabriel showed that the 2300- day prophecy and the seventy week prophecy for Israel started at the same time. Gabriel said, “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision [of the 2300 days]: Seventy weeks are determined [or in literal Hebrew, “cut off” from the 2300 days] for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.” Daniel 9: 23,24. Seventy weeks are given here, not sixty- nine or sixty- eight, but seventy. This is one complete time frame. It cannot be divided.

Prophetic Time

Notice that this period of time is set aside for the people of Daniel and his holy city. Daniel was a Jew, so this prophecy is specifically about the Jewish people and their holy city Jerusalem. In Daniel 9: 25, we are told when this prophecy will begin. “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.” The command to “restore and build Jerusalem” is the beginning point of this time prophecy. Let’s first look at what is called “prophetic time.”

When the Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness, he sentenced them to wander in the wilderness for as many days as they had taken to investigate the land of Canaan. He then used this as a rule for prophetic timekeeping. “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know My breach of promise [rejection].” Numbers 14: 34 KJV. The Israelite spies had investigated the land of Canaan for forty days and now each of those days was counted as a year. They were to wander the wilderness for forty years. We can see this same principle applied in Ezekiel 4: 6. So in Bible prophecy, a day equals one year.

1 See Ezra 1: 1- 4 2 2 See Ezra 6: 1- 12 3 3 According to the cuneiform tablets from Ur of the Chaldees and a papyrus discovered at Elephantine, Artaxerxes succeeded Xerxes to the throne in December, 465 B. C.. His “ascension year” according to the Jewish reckoning would be from December, 465 B. C., to the next Jewish new year in the fall of 464 B. C.. The decree was given in his seventh year which would bring the date from the fall of 458 to the fall of 457 B. C., the date of this important decree recorded in Ezra 7: 1- 26.

In Daniel 9, a seventy- week time period is given. In order to determine for how many years this vision will be applied, the weeks must be calculated in days. Seven days to a week multiplied by seventy equals 490 days. A day for a year brings the figure to 490 years. Now that we have the length of time, all we have to do is find the beginning date of the prophecy. Here are some key words that we must look at to determine the proper date. “Know therefore and understand , that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem . . . .” First, we must find the command that not only causes Jerusalem to be rebuilt but also institutes the restoration of civil and religious authority for Jerusalem. Both must take place in order for it to be the correct beginning date for this prophecy.

The events that lead to the re- building and restoration of Jerusalem are described in the book of Ezra. Three decrees were given, and are recorded in this book, but only one decreed both the rebuilding and the restoration of the city and thus meets the criteria given in this prophecy. The three decrees came from Cyrus, Darius, and Artexerxes. Although Cyrus gave his decree in 537 B. C. 1 , there was no restoration of power to the government of Israel. The second decree by Darius in 520 B. C. 2 saw the construction of the temple, but again, Jerusalem was not “restored.” It was not until the third decree that Jerusalem saw the full fulfillment of these commands. In 457 B. C. 3 , King Artaxerxes gave the final command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. The temple was built and the articles of the temple were restored to it. “Magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the region” (Ezra 7: 25) were again set up in Israel. The Jews were once again given civil and religious power and able to execute judgement on those who broke the law. (See Ezra 7: 26.)

The Anointed One

This time period had paramount importance in the events of history. What was prophesied to happen at this time would change the course of history for the entire world. In Daniel 9: 25, we see that the first sixty- nine weeks (483 days/ years) were to continue “until Messiah the Prince.” Figuring from 457 B. C., 483 years would bring us to the year 27 A. D. (accounting for the fact that there was no zero year between B. C. and A. D.). What significant event happened that year? Through historical records we can find that this year coincides with the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar of which it says in Luke 3: 21,22, “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased. ’” The baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of His ministry, and the Father’s acceptance of Him as the “anointed one” or Messiah. Peter confirms this when he preached on “how God anointed [confirmed Him as Messiah] Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10: 38.

Jesus is Messiah the Prince. He is the “Prince of Life” and the “Prince of the kings of the earth,” a “Prince and Saviour” and “Prince of Peace.” Acts 3: 15; Revelation 1: 5; Acts 5: 31; Isaiah 9: 6. As we look back in Daniel 9: 26, we see that after the seven weeks and sixty two weeks (483 years), “Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.” (The term “cut off” means “to sever or to die.” (See Isaiah 58: 3.) Jesus became our Sacrifice. He died for the sins of the whole world. Paul confirms this when he states; “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” I Corinthians 15: 3.

When did this event happen? According to the scriptures, it happened in the middle of the seventieth week. “Then He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” Daniel 9: 27. Jesus brought an end to animal sacrifices which became meaningless. He had become the ultimate sacrifice. “But this Man [Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Now where there is remission of these [sins], there is no longer an offering for sin.” Hebrews 10: 12,18. In the middle of this last week (seven years) of the prophecy, Jesus fulfilled His commission. Jesus was baptized in the fall of 27 A. D. and was crucified in the spring of 31 A. D, exactly three and a half years into the last week of this prophecy.

It is the last week, or seven years, of this prophecy that the supporters of the rapture theory place far into the future. They attribute the events of this last week to the antichrist and seven years of tribulation. They say that it is the antichrist that makes a covenant with many for one week! But wait a minute. How could such a thing be? Didn’t we see earlier that this vision was one continual prophecy, and there could be no separation of time? And what would we do with this last seven years if it did not apply to Jesus and His sacrifice? Did or will the antichrist die for anyone? How could this possibly apply to him? Is it not an abomination to apply this wonderful prophecy that predicts the first coming and suffering of our Lord and Saviour to the antichrist?

One Final Chance

Yet some might ask, “How did Jesus fulfill the last three and a half years of this prophecy if He went to heaven?” We are told that He would “confirm a covenant with many [the Jews] for one week [seven years].” Yet, He died, rose and ascended to heaven before the end of the last week. Let us see how He accomplished this. Before leaving for heaven permanently, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples giving them instructions. He helped them to understand the Scriptures and showed what they said about His suffering and what must take place afterward. “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem .” Luke 24: 46,47. He then gave them the great commission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19,20.

Jesus gave His disciples the authority to finish the covenant to the Jews. He told His disciples to begin in Jerusalem and finish the work and complete the prophecy. They tirelessly worked for their people for the next three and a half years. In 34 A. D., the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the church ended this time period. (See Acts 6– 8.) The new Christian church was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, then to the world. “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8: 4. The time for the Jews “to finish the transgression,” put away sin, and humble themselves before God had past. The seventy- week prophecy of Daniel had come to a close. As a nation, God had turned His back on them as they had continually done to Him. Jesus prophesied about this in Matthew 21: 43. “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”

The prophecy of Daniel 9 is so complete, that it even foretells the destruction of Jerusalem. In verse 26, it tells how the “people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This obviously is not speaking of the coming of the Messiah, for the prophecy has already spoken of His coming and suffering. This is speaking of the one who would destroy Jerusalem and the temple. History describes the terror that was wrought in Jerusalem, in 70 A. D., when Titus, the Roman commander attacked the city, killing thousands and not leaving “one stone on another” in the magnificent temple. The end of Jerusalem was “with a flood.” Great desolation was administered to the people of Israel “till the end of the war.” Jesus prophesied about this when He wept over Jerusalem. He said, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that makes for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19: 42– 44.

A Secret Rapture?

So when will the rapture happen and doesn’t the Bible speak of a tribulation? The word “rapture” will not be found in your Bible. It is a term, which simply means, “to be caught up.” When you are excited about a project that you are doing, you might say that your spirit is “raptured.” Scientists who wait for years for spacecraft to get to other planets in our solar system (such as Voyager I and II) are “raptured” with excitement when the event occurs. They are “caught up” in the excitement of the moment. This term has been applied to our deliverance from this world when we will be “caught up” to Jesus in the clouds. I Thessalonians 4: 17 says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

This text is often used as a proof text for a secret rapture. Let’s look carefully at this scripture, and the ones that proceed it, to see if the Bible supports this view of how the Second Coming will occur. In I Thessalonians 4: 16 we read, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” Does this verse describe a silent or secret event? Jesus will come with a shout , and will speak with the authority and power of an archangel. He will come with the blowing of the trumpet of God. No one should miss this occurrence. In fact, the Apostle John writes straight from the revelation of Jesus, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. . . .” Revelation 1: 7. How can this be a secret coming when “every eye will see Him”?

Also notice that not one of God’s faithful people will be left behind. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.” Mark 13: 26,27. Every eye will see Him, and He will come with great power. Those who are not ready for the King of kings to come will watch the great coming of Christ and will see this “rapture” of His people floating up to meet Him in the air. What an event! Wouldn’t you like to be one of those who meet Jesus in the air? You can be a part of this exciting event. Whether dead or alive at Jesus’ coming, if we are one of His, we will be lifted up to be with Him at the wonderful resurrection of His elect. The dead will be given new glorious, uncorrupted, physical bodies and be caught up to Jesus, and we who are alive will be given the same and will meet them in the air.

You see, the resurrection, rapture and Second Coming of Christ are all the same event. Listen to what Paul said: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [died]. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming . Then comes the end , when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” “Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I Corinthians 15: 20– 24,51,53.

With Flaming Fire

We should also notice some of the events that will transpire when Jesus comes to “rapture” His people. “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation [affliction] those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels , in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.” II Thess.1: 6– 10.

On the day He comes in the clouds to “catch up” His people to Himself, Jesus will, with flaming fire, destroy all who are not His true people. It will be on that Day that His people are delivered from this earth that He will destroy the earth with fire. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [not secretly or silently, but unsuspectingly], in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” II Peter 3: 10.

Jesus tells us that His coming will be as it was in the days of Noah. Now how was it in the days of Noah? Were some people rescued in the ark and some went on living on the earth after the great flood? “Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth . The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man . All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive .” Gen. 7: 17– 23.

Second Chance to be Saved?

Nothing was left alive when the flood came upon the earth. All died. Only those who were in the ark were saved. There was no second chance. Once the door was shut by the Lord Himself (see Genesis 7: 16), no one could reopen it to get in. Their time was up. They had rejected their opportunity to be saved from the waters, and now it was forever too late. And so it will be in that great day when Jesus comes to receive His people to Himself. “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24: 37– 39. The antediluvian world was not prepared for the great event of which they had been warned repeatedly for 120 years. How long have we been warned about the soon coming of Jesus? Have we become complacent about studying our Bibles to find out how Jesus will come?

Some Taken, Others Left

You might be asking, “What about the passages that talk about some being taken and some being left behind? Doesn’t that indicate that there are some who will still be alive on the earth after Jesus comes for His people? And what about all the Israelites who are supposed to be converted after the secret rapture? Won’t there be 144,000 Jews saved?” Let’s first look at those passages that seem to suggest a “second chance.” We will first look in Matthew 24: 40,41, which is speaking of the coming of Jesus, “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” This seems to suggest that some will be left wondering where the others went, yet that is not what it says. Look further on to the next few scriptures. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” vs. 42– 44.

Jesus is giving a command for us to watch. “Pay attention to the prophecies and get a clear understanding of what will actually occur at My coming,” He urges. If you knew that a thief was coming, would you still sleep soundly, or would you be watching for his invasion into your home? “Therefore you also be ready,” Jesus exclaims. There is not a “second chance” to save your home from a thief once he has robbed you, and there will not be second chance when Jesus comes for His people. What, then, does it mean when it says “one will be taken and one will be left?”

The question really is how will they be left? Look how Luke records this same event. “I tell you, in that night there will be two men [people] in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” Luke 17: 34– 36. Jesus has told His disciples that some would be taken and some would be left, and they were confused, too. So they asked Jesus to explain what He meant. “And they answered and said to Him, ‘Where, Lord? ’ So He said to them, ‘Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. ’” Luke 17: 37.

Where will these people be left? When you see the birds flying over them, you will find them. How will they be left? Dead! They will become the supper of the birds. They will be left, but they won’t be saying, “Oh, I missed the rapture, now I will turn my life over to Christ so I can go with Him when He comes again.” No. They will be saying to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand.” Revelation 6: 16,17.

Two Great Suppers

There are two great suppers spoken about in the Bible. They are both found in the book of Revelation. The one you and I want to be part of is the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19: 9 says, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” But the other supper is for the eagles and the vultures. John said, “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great. ’” Revelation 19: 17,18. Here we are given a choice to have supper with our Lord and Saviour, or to be the supper for the birds. Jesus is giving us that call right now. “Behold,” He says, “I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3: 20, KJV.

Rejected!

As we noticed earlier in this book, when the Jews rejected Christ as the Messiah, they gave up their position as God’s chosen people. God does not force anyone to accept Him and obey Him, yet there are always consequences if we do not. After their captivity into Babylon, Israel as a nation was given 490 years to see the gravity of their continued rejection of God and His laws. The prophecy of Daniel 9 was their last chance, as a nation, to be the people to carry forth His righteousness. When, at the end of this time, Israel had crucified Christ and then persecuted His church, God took away their “most favored nation” status. Paul writes, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2: 28, 29.

God wants us all to be Jews in the heart. Spiritual Jews. A spiritual Jew is one who loves the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul. He is one who keeps God’s commandments out of love for God, not because of the consequences if he does not. He shows that he is one of God’s children by his actions, not by his birthright. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8: 14,16,17. The Holy Spirit in our lives proves that we are truly God’s people, spiritual Jews, and that we will be claimed as the children of Israel (children of God).

Only those who are God’s in the Spirit will be considered part of Israel. Those who were part of literal Israel have been severed from the true Vine and must be grafted back on by obedience to His word. This is the only way any of us can be part of the true Israel, that Israel which will inherit the kingdom of God. No one who is just a literal Jew has rights to the kingdom unless, like everyone else, he becomes a spiritual Jew, also. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed , and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3: 26– 29.

No Place in Prophecy

Physical Israel, in Palestine, has no special part in last day prophecy. They gave up their right to be God’s chosen nation. In Ezekiel 36 is found a prophecy about spiritual Israel, not physical Israel. (This does not refer to a nation who has rejected the Saviour of the world.) First God says He will gather them from among nations. This is exactly what He will do when He comes to redeem His people at His Coming. Notice that He says “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements, and do them.” Ezekiel 36: 25– 27.

The Israelis of today do not fit this prophecy. Yes, they have gathered themselves out of other nations, but have their hearts been made clean? Have they started worshipping the Saviour who gave His life for them? Do they today walk in His judgements and keep the commandments of God, or do they still hang on to the “traditions of their fathers?” Jesus reproved the religious leaders of His day for this very thing. (See Mark 7: 6– 13.) In Ezekiel 38: 8,11,14, the Lord says “in the latter days” Israel will live in peace and safety, “having neither bars nor gates, and will not be plundered nor will any go against them,” yet as we look at modern Israel today, we find strife and contention between Israel and many of the nations around her. We do not see peace in the land of Israel or a people living in safety. Obviously, this prophecy is not speaking of the modern day Israel of today but of Spiritual Israel who God is preparing for Himself when He comes in the clouds of heaven.

Will there be many literal Jews in the kingdom of heaven? Certainly, yes! Will there be a time after the rapture/ Second Coming for them to be saved? No! Who are these 144,000 “Israelites” in Revelation 7? Verse 4 gives the answer. “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.” These were those who had become “spiritual Jews” in Christ. These are the ones who, in faith, looked to Jesus for their strength, not to any genealogy. Also notice that the tribes listed in Revelation 7 are not even the original tribes. (See Genesis 49.)

These twelve tribes represent the whole of spiritual Israel. They are those who will go through a time of trouble such as no man has ever seen. They represent the last of God’s people who will be left alive at the Second Coming of Jesus. They will be virgins in their faith, for they will know the Lord and their doctrines will be as pure as a virgin before she is wed. They will be those who “follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” They will stand for truth and righteousness and have a love for the Lord, which will have no boundaries. Their eyes will be fixed upon His goodness and in their mouths no lies, no hatred, no deceit, and no guile will be found. They will portray the character of Jesus perfectly with love, sympathy, kindness, and pity for all they meet. They will not think more of themselves than others, but will work tirelessly for all they encounter. And these last spiritual Jews, these representatives of God’s true Israel will sing a song that no one else can sing, for only they have gone through the special experience which has prepared them to sing it. (See Revelation 14: 1– 5.)

Earth’s Final Generation

God’s people in the last days are truly blessed among all generations, for they will be the ultimate witnesses for God and His Son. They will suffer for Jesus as He suffered (I Peter 2: 21) and will lay their lives on the line for Him. (Revelation 12: 11.) Those who are still alive at His Coming will see the glory of His appearance, and those who have died for His namesake will be honored to be first to meet Him in the sky. He will appear as He left. In a cloud, He will be found. The angels asked the disciples why they stared at the sky when Jesus floated away into a cloud. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven, this same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 11. Jesus points out in three of the four gospels that He will appear in the clouds . He will not touch this earth when He is revealed to receive His people. Every eye will see Him, and those who are not ready will mourn for they know that they are lost. (Revelation 1: 7.)

Two Great Harvests

The great harvest is about to take place. The book of Revelation speaks of this in chapter 14. Here again, we see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven. “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to Him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” Revelation 14: 14– 20, KJV.

As we look at the harvest time of the earth, when Jesus will come to claim all who are His, we see that there are two harvests. In the first, Christ uses His sickle to harvest His precious elect. This is the redemption of God’s people. They are gathered to Him who sits on the cloud, to be with Him forever. (John 14: 2 ,3.) But the other harvest is with fire. This harvest will see the destruction of all that are on the earth. This harvest is the gathering of the tares who are bundled together for burning (See the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13: 24– 30), for this angel has power over fire.

As we meet Christ in the air, we are transported to heaven (John 14: 2,3) to reign with Him as priests and kings for one thousand years. (Revelation 20: 4.) During this time, the earth is laid waste from the consuming fire that proceeds from the Lord at His Coming. It is not until after the thousand years have expired that Jesus brings His people back and executes the final judgement upon the wicked. It is then that the earth will be renewed to a glory that has not been seen since the fall of Adam.

Will You Be Disappointed?

Our time grows short on this earth. Jesus said that we could see the time of His Coming by looking at the signs of the times. Many will be disappointed at the Coming of Christ, because they have placed their hopes in men rather than God. Some will sincerely believe that they are firmly in God’s hand while living out a life not congruent with His law. Many will believe that they have plenty of time to get ready, because they trust in a false theory that teaches two chances for salvation. But the truth of God’s Word is clear. When Jesus comes for His people, His true Israel, He will come with power and authority. He will receive all His people, both dead and alive, and they will meet Him in the clouds of heaven. He will cleanse the earth with fire from the brightness of His coming (II Thessalonians 2: 8), and “by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” Isaiah 66: 16.

We must today seek out God’s truth if we are to be prepared for His soon coming. He says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 13. With the “winds of doctrines” that are ever flying about, we must set our hearts and minds on His truth. Paul gives us warning when he said, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2: 8. What we believe has a vast impact on how we follow Christ. It becomes imperative that we know His truth so that we will not be deceived with the rest of the world. (Revelation 12: 9.) Jesus said before He comes back, truth will lie so close to error that, if possible, even the very elect will be deceived. (Matthew 24: 24.) Our only safety is to receive a love for His truth and daily seek for it as hidden treasure. As we examine ourselves to see whether we are truly in the faith, we must ask ourselves this question. When Jesus calls His saints to Himself, will I be found among them?

Source:

  • Blodgett, Ralph H., Rapture! Is it for Real?
  • All Bible references are taken from the New King James Bible unless otherwise indicated.

Click here to view other exciting posts on prophecy from Steps to Life.

Life Sketches – The Called

by

The New Testament teaches that all Israel will be saved, but the question is, Whom does God account as being part of Israel today? The apostle Paul said that not everyone who thinks he is part of Israel really is.

In the first part of the Bible, the Torah, written by Moses, tells the children of Israel of the curses, the awful things that will happen to them if they are not obedient. We read in Deuteronomy 28, verses 36 and 37, “The Lord will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the Lord will drive you.” He goes on to explain in more detail what is going to happen. These curses that were pronounced by Moses upon the children of Israel, if they would not be obedient, were fulfilled.

“All the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand” (2 Chronicles 36:14–17).

Verses 19, 20: “They burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia.”

The reason for this is that the words of Jeremiah the prophet would be fulfilled. Jeremiah predicted that Israel would be taken captive to Babylon and they would stay there for 70 years, before coming back again. In other words, a whole generation would pass. It would be their children and grandchildren that would be able to return to the land of their fathers, on condition that they would be obedient and not go again into idolatry.

One of the people that was taken from Judah into the land of Babylon was a young man by the name of Daniel, who wrote a book in the Old Testament bearing his name; Daniel lived to be a very old man, until the end of this 70 year period. In Daniel 9:2 it says, “In the first year of his reign,” referring to Darius the Mede, “I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

Daniel knew that these 70 years were about up, and he began to pray a long prayer, starting in verse 4: “I prayed to the Lord … and said, ‘… we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.’ ” He notes in verse 7 that they have been unfaithful. As he continues his long prayer of confession on behalf of the children of Israel, in verses 8 through 14, he prays, “We have sinned against You.” “We have rebelled.” “We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord.” “All Israel has transgressed.” “We have not obeyed His voice.” He concludes in verse 15 with “We have done wickedly.” He makes a long prayer of confession on behalf of all the children of Israel, God’s chosen people, the descendants of Abraham and those that have accepted the faith of Abraham.

In answer to his prayer, an angel was sent from heaven. In the latter part of Daniel 9 it is recorded, “While I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering” (verses 20, 21).

This angel, Gabriel, in answer to Daniel’s prayer, had a special message and prophecy to give to him. He says, in verse 23, “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision” (of the 2300 days). Verse 24, first part, says, “Seventy weeks are determined [cut off] for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression,” or it could also be translated, “to finish the rebellion.”

Daniel mentions several times in his prayer about their lack of obedience and because of this they had been taken captive, Jerusalem was destroyed, and it was a reproach and a byword to all the peoples of the earth. They said that these people claim to be God’s special people and look, they are scattered as prisoners of war, as servants and slaves all over the earth, and their nation is desolate. Their capital city and their temple is desolate. In Daniel’s prayer, he noted that the Lord had promised that their captivity would last for 70 years. Since the 70 years were about up, he wondered what was going to happen.

The angel said, “Seventy weeks are determined,” or cut off, “for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression …” in other words, to bring to an end the rebellion, “…to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness” (verse 24, second part).

It was during this 70 week period that everlasting righteousness was to be brought in. Everlasting righteousness can only be brought in by God Himself. The Bible is very clear that you and I do not have any righteousness of our own. As the result of the sin of our first parents, we have a sinful nature and cannot generate righteousness. The only way that we can have righteousness is if it is brought to us by somebody else who does not have a sinful depraved nature like we do.

In the 70 week prophecy, the angel predicts that during these 70 weeks, that everlasting righteousness is going to be brought in and the rebellion is to be finished. It says, “To bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy” (verse 24, last part). “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times” (verse 25).

This is one of the more astounding prophecies in all of the Bible. The angel says to Daniel, “From the time that the decree goes forth …,” in other words, from the time that the decree is implemented to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince is going to be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks (or sixty-nine prophetic weeks). Sixty-nine weeks is four hundred and eighty-three days. That would be between one and two years of literal time. But when we study the prophecy carefully, by comparing it with Daniel 7 and 8, and the prophecies in Ezekiel and Numbers, we see that the angel is using a common symbolic usage of the word time as is done with other prophets.

For example, Ezekiel is told in Ezekiel chapter 4:4–6, literal translation, “Lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah, forty days. I have laid on you a day for a year.” Notice, every day in the prophecy equals a year of literal time. This is a common symbolic usage of the word time in both the books of Daniel and Revelation. In fact, when we start computing it this way, we find the prophecy works out exactly. If you do not use this measuring stick, then the prophecy not only doesn’t work out, but it doesn’t make any sense.

But when you use the measuring stick of one day of prophetic time to equal one year of literal time, the prophecy works out perfectly. There are differences between calendars among the different nations and ancient nations, but we will convert the time into our time and we use AD and BC. BC was the time before Christ, and AD is the time after Christ. We are living about 2,000 years after the beginning of time when Christ came.

When we go back to when this decree was issued, when it was implemented to go and restore Jerusalem, we find that it was in the later part of 457 BC.

If you are using simply literal time, then you should be looking for the Christ, the Messiah, to come approximately sometime in 455 BC. However, nobody appeared in 455 BC. But, if you use the prophetic measuring stick for prophetic time, and a symbolic time prophecy of a day of prophetic time equaling a year of literal time, you will be astonished at what you come up with, because, in the New Testament, we find in Luke the 3rd chapter, the exact time when Jesus was baptized. It was at His baptism that He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. You can read about it in Acts 10:38.

When we look in Luke 3 we find that it happened in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, which began in the fall of AD 27. If you go from the fall of 457 BC, which was when the decree was implemented to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the time when Jesus was anointed; in other words, when He became the Anointed One, the Messiah, then you have a period of exactly sixty-nine weeks or four hundred and eighty-three years.

Mark 1:14, 15 says, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.’ ” Daniel 9:25 had just been fulfilled. The Messiah had arrived, but for how long? In Daniel 9:26, it says, “After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off.” There were 7 weeks and then 62 weeks, for a total of 483 days, or 483 literal years, which brings us to AD 27 in the fall when Jesus was baptized, recorded in Luke 3.

But then after that time it says that the Messiah was to be cut off, but not for Himself. “Then He [the Messiah] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” That’s the 70th week. “But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (verse 27), a week would be 7 years, the middle of the week would be 3 ½ years.

Did Jesus bring an end to sacrifice and offering, at the end of 3 ½ years after He was baptized? Yes, He did. Notice what it says in Hebrews 10:11–14: “Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

Verse 18: “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” Jesus came and offered one sacrifice. It is by this sacrifice that people are saved. After this, there is no more offering for sin. That one sacrifice is sufficient to take away the sins of all those who believe in Him.

So, when Jesus offered His life upon the cross of Calvary as an offering for sin, that brought an end to sacrifices and offerings. Sometimes the Lord teaches us by what He says and sometimes He teaches us by what He does.

It says, in Matthew 27:50, 51, “Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” “The veil of the temple was torn in two.” What did that represent? Oh, friend, that showed that the way into the holy places of the heavenly sanctuary were now open to the believers, and the earthly sanctuary and the sacrifices of lambs, and goats, and bullocks had no more value, as Paul explains in Hebrews 10. The true Sacrifice had come. That happened in the middle of the 70th prophetic week, exactly 3 1/2 years after Jesus’ baptism. As you follow Jesus’ life there, you will find the first Passover after His baptism would have been the Passover in AD 28 (see John 2).

The 2nd Passover after His baptism would have been the Passover when Jesus went to the Jews and they had the huge argument in John 5. It’s very clear there that it was a feast of the Jews and this feast occurred after John 4, which had occurred just 4 months before harvest time.

Remember, Passover was harvest time. If you go then to the 3rd Passover after Jesus’ baptism, then you are at John 6, the feeding of the 5,000. That would be AD 30. And the 4th Passover after the baptism of Jesus was the time when He was crucified, during Passover time in AD 31, exactly as predicted in Daniel 9.

Jesus is the majesty of heaven. He is part of the Godhead. He is the One that made everything. What is going to happen to the people who won’t accept His lordship? They will not accept Him as the Messiah; they will not accept Him as their religious leader; they will not accept Him at all.

The details of Jesus’ life in this world were predicted throughout the Old Testament by the various prophets. For example, Daniel predicted when He would become the Messiah. We just read about that in Daniel 9. Micah predicted that He would be born, in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). Isaiah predicted where He would have the largest part of His ministry in Galilee (see Isaiah 9). Isaiah also predicted that He would be rejected by the Jewish people (see Isaiah 53; Psalm 69). His death on the cross was also predicted (see Psalm 22). The various details of Jesus’ life were all predicted.

What happens, then, to people, even God’s chosen people, if they reject God Himself, if they reject the Prince of Heaven, the Majesty of Heaven? (See Matthew 21:33–39.) It is a very interesting parable about the wicked vine dressers. The vine dressers represented the Jewish leaders, and the Son of the householder whom they killed represented Jesus Christ. The others that they killed represented the prophets and servants that had been sent to them. Verses 40, 41 say, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will He do to those vinedressers? They said to Him, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to Him the fruits in their seasons.’ ”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected, [He] has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? ‘Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it’ ” (verses 42, 43).

Jesus, talking to God’s chosen people said, because you have rejected the Messiah, the kingdom of God is going to be taken from you, and it is going to be given to somebody else.

Then He says, “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” (verse 44). When would the kingdom of God be taken from them?

The kingdom of God, even after the crucifixion of Jesus, was not taken from the Jews right away. The apostles went first to Jerusalem to preach the gospel to give them even another chance. In fact, at Pentecost, Peter is talking to the people who are responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, and he tells them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). There were many Jews who became Christians at that point in time, but, unfortunately, the majority of the nation did not. The leaders did not. In fact, their opposition to the gospel, their opposition to the idea of Jesus Christ being the Messiah, became so vehement, so fierce, and so bitter, that eventually, they came to the end of the line.

They stoned to death one of the Christian leaders. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. Before His stoning he said to them, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). He accused them of becoming the murderers of the Just One who was sent to them saying, “And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, on whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers” (verse 52).

He was filled with the Holy Spirit and they were so angry that they gnashed their teeth and drew him out of the temple, and out of the town, and stoned him to death. When they were doing this, he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (verse 56)!

O friend, when Jesus is sitting down on His throne, that’s one thing, but when He stands up, that is a time of decision-making, a time of judgment. After that time the gospel went to the Gentiles and the Jews as a nation were no longer God’s chosen and special people.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Question & Answer – Who are “the children of Israel” in Romans 9:27?

by

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved” (Romans 9:27).

“Notwithstanding the awful doom pronounced upon the Jews as a nation at the time of their rejection of Jesus of Nazareth, there have lived from age to age many noble, God-fearing Jewish men and women who have suffered in silence. God has comforted their hearts in affliction, and has beheld with pity their terrible situation. He has heard the agonizing prayers of those who have sought Him with all the heart for a right understanding of His word. Some have learned to see in the lowly Nazarene whom their forefathers rejected and crucified, the true Messiah of Israel. As their minds have grasped the significance of the familiar prophecies so long obscured by tradition and misinterpretation, their hearts have been filled with gratitude to God for the unspeakable gift He bestows upon every human being who chooses to accept Christ as a personal Saviour.

“It is to this class that Isaiah referred in his prophecy, ‘A remnant shall be saved’ (see Isaiah 10:20–22). From Paul’s day to the present time, God by His Holy Spirit has been calling after the Jew as well as the Gentile. ‘There is no respect of persons with God’ (Romans 2:11), declared Paul. …” Gospel Workers, 397.

“When this gospel shall be presented in its fullness to the Jews, many will accept Christ as the Messiah. Among Christian ministers there are only a few who feel called upon to labor for the Jewish people; but to those who have been often passed by, as well as to all others, the message of mercy and hope in Christ is to come.

“In the closing proclamation of the gospel, when special work is to be done for classes of people hitherto neglected, God expects His messengers to take particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the earth. As the Old Testament Scriptures are blended with the New in an explanation of Jehovah’s eternal purpose, this will be to many of the Jews as the dawn of a new creation, the resurrection of the soul. As they see the Christ of the gospel dispensation portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures, and perceive how clearly the New Testament explains the Old, their slumbering faculties will be aroused, and they will recognize Christ as the Saviour of the world. Many will by faith receive Him as their Redeemer. To them will be fulfilled the words, ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name’ (John 1:12).” Ibid., 398.