A Voice in the Wilderness |
April 18, 1999 Q/A Topics:
Back to the Law?
Q. People will not get 'saved' during the trib, like you and I during the 'age of grace.' Instead, they will fall under the constraints of O.T. law, once again, populating Abraham's bosom. God will begin looking at nations again, not individuals. The judgement of the nations (in Matthew) is clear that those nations treating Israel with love and compassion will enter into the Millenium with Israel, while the rest will be sent to hell. Is this your understanding, as well?
A. First of all...Salvation has -always- been by grace through faith. Romans ch4 speaks of Abraham (individually) having "believed" (vs2) ...as was the case with David. (vs6) (did you read the April article yet?) As it was with Abel, etc. (Hebrews ch11) Also "in those days" (which is a repeating O.T. phrase indicating the end times of the 70th week and the following millennium) "they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant." (Jer3:15-17) God will set up a "new covenant" with Israel "not according to the covenant that [God] cut with their fathers .." when they came out of Egypt. (Jer31:31-34) And why should the old ways be continued? Jesus fulfilled them all when He was crucified and rose again. (Mt5:17,Rom10:4) But, yes...we know there will be a temple, and there will be sacrifices. But there will also be changes in the way things are done. All those details, I doubt anybody knows in full detail. It is something Messiah will set up when He comes to reign on the earth. During the time of the 70th week people will be saved as they always have. By Faith... as they "call on the name of the Lord" to be saved. (Joel2:32,Rom10:13) Yes...there will be a judgment of the nations, based on what they did regarding Israel. (Mt25) But those details, also...we are only given glimpses. [Top] Yeshua and 'what day of the week?"
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Is66:22-23 New heavens and new earth...the Sabbath
As, also, any N.T. post-Gospels reference to Sabbath involves Jews and synagogues, and Jewish missionaries teaching other Jews. [Top] Kingdom ruled from Jerusalem?
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A. But, this is not a "Christian" kingdom. It is a Jewish one. As He rules over Israel. The "Church" is a spiritual entity as the "Spirit of Truth" abides in the Believer. (Jn16:7,13,Rom8:9,etc.) The Church's citizenship is in Heaven. (Phil3:20) Israel is an earthly entity which also includes covenant -land-. (Gen15:7,18-21,etc.) [Top] Millennial Kingdom not "Christian"?
Q. In view of the fact that Romans 11 clearly says that God has NOT rejected His people Israel and that Gentile believers are wild olive branches grafted into the "good olive tree" (Romans 11:24), why do you say that the Millennial Kingom will not be a "Chrsitian Kingdom"? Are you saying God has a dual program, or that He made two sets of promises? Of course, if you are thinking in terms of Revelation 20 and Revelation 5:9-10, which say that the redeemed, who are resurrected in the first resurrection, will reign on the earth with Christ for 1000 years, and if because these redeemed believers are resurrected and immortal and are no longer physical human beings, you are not applying the designation "Christian" to them, then in a way your comment would make sense. The point I am making is that Scripture says Gentile believers are grated into the olive tree of Israel, not the other way around. If you are Yeshua's at His coming, you will be part of His Kingdom ruling the world from Jerusalem, and you will be keeping the Sabbath and the Feasts in Jerusalem with Him. (see Isaiah 66 and Zechariah 14).
A. Who is the vine, of which Israel was branches? ...of which the Church became grafted-in branches? Jesus said, "I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser." (Jn15:1) Yes...Israel has this elevated notion that -they- are the center of everything. And thus, they reject God. And that's why they were cut away for a time. No...the Church is not grafted into Israel...but into Christ. "If any one is IN CHRIST" he is a new creation. (2Cor5:17) When Jew and Gentile were reconciled...the Gentile was not reconcile to the Jew. They were "both" reconciled TO GOD. (Eph2:16) If you doubt that Israel was originally part of Christ, and then broken off of Christ, hear Paul's words speaking of the wilderness wanderings, "..and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (1Cor10:4) Israel was part of Christ all along, through their sacrifices. Pasach was His redemptive work, the sacrifices His crucifixion, the "wave sheaf" (Lev23:11) His resurrection, the -leavened bread- (Lev23:17) the coming of the Holy Spirit. But when "He came to His own (Israel) as their "Kinsman Redeemer"(Ru3:9)...His own received Him not." (Jn1:11) They rejected the Holy Spirit (Acts7:52,28:26-28) "But as many as received Him..."(Jn1:12) this came to be known as the the grafted-in "Church" ... "Christians" Israel rejected the Vine. But they will be grafted back in again when God gives them a new heart. (Jer31:31-34,Rom11:26) No...the kingdom will not be a "Christian" one...in the sense of the "Church"(Acts11:26b) It will be Israel again, after Rom11:26 has taken place. [Top] Messianism?
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A. If you want a little 'flavor' of how they think, may I direct you to the VW website and check out: -> Commentaries -> June,98 "Returning to Jewish Roots?"However, Paul tackles the Messianist mentality of his day with the book of Galatians.
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