Category: earthly kingdom / Millennial Reign of Christ

The End of Job, Israel, and the LORD #2

Thursday, April 25, 2013

“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses” (Job 42:12 KJV).

During the Tribulation period, the nation Israel will gain valuable insight from today’s Scripture….

Before Job lost it all, the Bible says he had, “Seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses” (Job 1:3). Compare this with today’s Scripture. As Job 42:10 says, “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” In addition, Job’s deceased seven sons and three daughters (1:2) were replaced with seven new sons and three new daughters (42:13).

The Apostle James, writing to believing Jews experiencing the seven-year Tribulation (see James 1:1-12), draws a parallel between them and Job of old. Both are saints of God experiencing satanic affliction, both are under intense persecution, both are weary, and both have lost family, friends, and/or material possessions. Still, James takes them back to the Scriptures that teach Job’s outcome, the LORD’s mercy and pity on him, and the LORD restoring him twofold. James 5:11 says, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Near the midpoint of the Tribulation, Israel’s “little flock” (Luke 12:32), her believing remnant, will flee for their lives and abandon their homes and material possessions in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-20). But, God will take care of them for the remainder of the Tribulation (42 months; Revelation 12:5,6,13-17). Furthermore, at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming (and His subsequent earthly kingdom), He will restore their possessions “an hundredfold” (Matthew 19:27-30). They will receive 100 times what they gave up earlier—this is much, much more than Job’s restoration!

Although this is Israel’s doctrine, we can remind ourselves that our losses for Jesus Christ are well worth the losing….

Good Riddance! #10

Thursday, April 18, 2013

“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13 KJV).

God’s people have never been welcome here in “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) because He has never been welcome here. In short, if lost people could utter two words to us Christians after we have been raptured out, it would be, “Good riddance!”

Originally, mankind had the spiritual light of God’s Word. Once he fell into sin in Genesis chapter 3, his heart was darkened. When God gave up the unthankful and willfully ignorant Gentile nations in Genesis chapter 11, in chapter 12, He created a new group of people, Israel, through Abraham, who would accomplish His will in the earth (Adam’s original purpose before sin entered). For 2,000 years, as we Gentiles groped in spiritual darkness (Acts 14:16; Acts 26:17,18; Ephesians 2:11,12; Ephesians 4:17-19), Israel had God’s Word and God’s light (Romans 3:1,2; Romans 9:4,5). Alas, Israel too rejected that wisdom!

And so, we come to today, the Dispensation of the Grace of God, which has been operating for nearly 2,000 years. While Israel is temporarily blinded (Romans 11:25), God is forming the Church the Body of Christ, an agency of people who will do in the heavenly places in eternity future, what Israel will do in the earth in eternity future—rule for Jesus Christ’s glory.

As people who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, we are members of the Church the Body of Christ. When we teach God’s Holy Word and the principles found therein, we are actually publishing the original laws and social structure that existed before sin entered. We are not “bigoted” for opposing the sins of the world; actually, they are presumptuous for defending and engaging in activity that never belonged in creation in the first place!

The lost world wishes we members of the Body of Christ were not here—they want to tell us “good riddance” for being hindrances to “progress.” One day, when the Lord Jesus catches us away to be with Him in the heavenly places, as we leave this earth, we can say, “Good riddance!” to this evil world system! 🙂

Christ Liveth in Me

Sunday, March 31, 2013

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

“He is risen” is not a simple blasé cliché!

When Jesus’ disciples came to His tomb on that glorious Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago, they were startled to find it empty! Angels inform them that He has resurrected, but they are still in shock (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8). Jesus Christ Himself must later explain the Scriptures to them regarding what happened those last few days (Luke 24:44-46).

However, until Paul’s ministry, Christ’s finished crosswork is not preached as good news for salvation. Peter and Israel’s other apostles simply preach that Jesus Christ is now resurrected to “sit on [David’s] throne” (Acts 2:30)—that is bad news for much of Israel, for they still reject Him, weeks and months after His resurrection and ascension. Throughout early Acts, Israel’s apostles warn her that Jesus Christ is coming back to judge them.

When we come to the Apostle Paul’s ministry, we learn that we Gentiles can benefit from Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Israel’s rejected Messiah is now our way to heaven! Yes, Israel hated Him, and demanded that He experience the most awful method of execution devised, but God allowed it in order to accomplish His will. Satan attempted to hinder God’s will by having Christ killed, but all that did was provide the method whereby God could save us pagan Gentiles. Calvary’s finished crosswork frees us from Satan’s evil system and gives us a chance to be God’s people (Acts 26:17,18)!

As people who have trusted Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins, that crucifixion is our death to self and sin, and that resurrection is our raising to walk in newness of life—His life (today’s Scripture; cf. Romans 6:1-11)!

Indeed, Jesus Christ is alive, and He lives in and through those who walk by faith in God’s Word to them, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon! 🙂

HAPPY EASTER!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study by the same name. That (2012) study can be read here or watched here.

Messiah’s Joy Amidst Calvary’s Grief #2

Saturday, March 30, 2013

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

Do you ever wonder what our Lord Jesus Christ was thinking about while He hung there on Calvary’s cross?

Jesus knew Bible prophecy had to be fulfilled: He had to suffer in accordance with the Old Testament prophets. Even when He spoke seven times from the cross, He quoted various Old Testament verses. The Old Testament prophets also gave Him comfort: “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (today’s Scripture).

For instance, He remembered that Jonah’s prophecy had to be fulfilled: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). On the third day, He would live again, and be reunited with His heavenly Father!

He knew that His Father would resurrect Him. His spiritual torment and physical death were only temporarily, as David quoted Jesus 1000 B.C., “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10; cf. Acts 2:24-31).

Our Lord thought of reigning over that glorious kingdom that His Heavenly Father would give Him after His resurrection. As the psalmist wrote centuries before Calvary’s crosswork, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2:6-8). “Begotten” refers to Jesus’ resurrection, not His nativity in Bethlehem (Acts 13:33,34).

Jesus Christ, during His torturous crucifixion, thought about and rejoiced in the promises in the Scriptures that applied to Him. Likewise, we, during difficult circumstances, can remember and joy in God’s promises to us—Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon.

We too can share Messiah’s joy amidst grief! 🙂

 

Messiah’s Joy Amidst Calvary’s Grief #1

Friday, March 29, 2013

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

Do you ever wonder what our Lord Jesus Christ was thinking about while He hung there on Calvary’s cross?

Psalm 22:1-21 provides us with a glimpse of Jesus’ thoughts as He endured that awful crucifixion: He is greatly tormented physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Various verses in Psalm 69 provide additional insight, especially as death begins to close in on His soul. Written about 1000 B.C., these and other “Messianic psalms” graphically describe assorted events in our Lord’s earthly life (in this case, His crucifixion)… centuries before they occurred!

What Jesus Christ thought about while suspended on Calvary’s cross was the Holy Scriptures. He had faith in the Old Testament passages that applied to Him. No matter what happened to Him, He knew it was His Father’s will, and His Father would be glorified. As He stated earlier, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup [of Thy wrath; Revelation 14:10] from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36). “…The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29bc).

Do you realize what today’s Scripture is saying? Jesus Christ felt immense physiological and spiritual pain, but He thought about the overall view: “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (cf. Psalm 16:8-11). Yes, the Old Testament spoke of His suffering, and those Scriptures must be fulfilled, but it also testified of His glorious kingdom that would follow, and those Scriptures also were to be fulfilled in due time! “…The sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). While it did not diminish the extent of His distress and suffering, Jesus Christ kept in memory the glory His Father would give Him once He had endured the crucifixion (Philippians 2:8-11). It gave Him such joy. He felt grief unspeakable, but He also had joy unfathomable!

A Papal Prophecy? #5

Monday, March 4, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

2. To deal with the nation Israel: to separate the believing Jews from the unbelieving Jews.

Most Jews today are lost, spiritually blinded, and ignorant of Jesus Christ: they reject the New Testament Scriptures, so they are still waiting for their Messiah to come (the first time) as promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. Israel has already rejected the authentic Messiah (the Lord Jesus) as fraudulent; in the future, the antichrist (the counterfeit Messiah) will come, and ironically, Israel will accept him as genuine. Jesus Christ warned Israel: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43). Jesus is referring to the antichrist!

As in biblical times, the nation Israel today still longs for peace in her Promised Land, for the Arabs, the Palestinians, and their sympathizers still relentlessly hassle her, hoping to “drive [her] into the sea” and possess her God-given land (Psalm 83:1-18). The Jews long for their Messiah to come and rescue them, and usher in that peaceful kingdom promised by the Old Testament prophets so long ago.

One day, the antichrist will come “peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries… and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries” (Daniel 11:21,32). The smooth-talking, double-talking antichrist will promise Israel a peace treaty, just like the Old Testament spoke of (Jesus) Christ’s peaceful kingdom. “He [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” (Daniel 9:27). Halfway through that seven-year Tribulation period, the antichrist will betray Israel’s trust, and he will side with Israel’s enemies by killing those (believing Jews) who refuse to worship him as God (Revelation 13:5-10,15; Revelation 17:12-14). This persecution will sort believing Jews from unbelieving Jews.

A Papal Prophecy? #3

Saturday, March 2, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

1. To be a literal, spiritual, and physical counterfeit Jesus Christ: he is anti(against)-Christ, the ultimate embodiment of Satan’s lie policy aimed at destroying God purpose and plan for creation.

Satan desires worship that only the God of the Bible deserves (Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-8). Before his fall from heaven, Lucifer declared, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Ezekiel 28:17a says to Lucifer, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty;” his sin was pride (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan wants all of creation to ignore Jesus Christ, and worship everything else—him, mankind, nature, and so on.

Daniel 11:21 introduces us to the coming world ruler, the antichrist, the personification of Satan’s rebellion: “And in his [the antichrist’s predecessor’s] estate shall stand up a vile person [the antichrist], to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” When he is to be “revealed in his time” (today’s Scripture), the antichrist will assume his office of global domination by deception and smooth talking—he is a classic politician!

Daniel 9:27 continues: “And he [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven-year Tribulation]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease….”

The antichrist will mimic Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s kingdom is one of peace; the antichrist will speak peace unto Israel by making a seven-year peace treaty. In the middle of that week, the antichrist will turn on Israel, he will desecrate Israel’s newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and he will institute a religion that worships himself (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5-18): like Jesus Christ claimed to be God, so will the antichrist. The counterfeits continue….

A Papal Prophecy? #2

Friday, March 1, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

1. To be a literal, spiritual, and physical counterfeit Jesus Christ: he is anti(against)-Christ, the ultimate embodiment of Satan’s lie policy aimed at destroying God purpose and plan for creation.

The book of Daniel contains three specific prophecies of future world empires (Daniel wrote approximately 600 B.C., so, except for the latter two kingdoms, these empires are history to us). Let us briefly summarize the dreams (and their interpretations) in Daniel 2:31-45, Daniel 7:1-14, and Daniel 8:1-25.

In Daniel’s lifetime, Babylon was the world empire. Circa 539 B.C., the Medes and Persians defeated and replaced Babylon as the world empire. The Greek Alexander the Great defeated and replaced Media-Persia as the world empire circa 331 B.C. Upon young Alexander’s death (323 B.C.), his four generals divided his Greek Empire amongst themselves. Scripture speaks of another coming world empire, one stemming from that ancient (northern) Greek Empire, out of which will come the antichrist’s government. The Bible then discusses yet another world empire, Jesus Christ’s millennial reign, which will overcome and replace the antichrist.

Every world empire that has existed up to the present-day has been one of man’s founding. They have all brought glory to man and Satan instead of to Jesus Christ. None of them were based on the Bible’s teachings. Gentiles whose heathenism and ignorance ruled, instead of Jesus Christ, developed them. Hence, Satan rightly offered to give Jesus Christ the world’s kingdoms and “the glory of them,” if Christ would simply worship him (Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-8). Consequently, the Bible speaks of “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) and Satan as “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ephesians 2:1,2 explains that lost mankind blindly follows Satan’s evil world system. The antichrist will be the ultimate, flesh-and-blood personification of this, everything that Satan’s lie policy promotes….

Often-Overlooked Truth in the Book of Ruth

Friday, February 22, 2013

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried…” (Ruth 1:16,17a KJV).

Ruth did not know it, and (sadly) neither do many church members today, but she was actually uttering what believing Gentiles will say in Christ’s earthly kingdom!

The book of Ruth is usually known for its theme of the “kinsman-redeemer” (a wealthy next-of-kin who willingly redeems [“repurchases”] family property that was lost). It actually pictures what Jesus Christ, Israel and humanity’s “wealthy next-of-kin,” would do over 1,000 years later when He shed His perfect blood on Calvary’s cross in order to redeem them from sin’s penalty, hell. However, today’s Scripture identifies a second type (shadow/prophecy) in the book of Ruth, one often overlooked.

Ruth is a Moabitess (Gentile); her mother-in-law, Naomi, is a Jewess. Naomi, now bereaved of her husband and her two sons (one of whom was Ruth’s husband), wants to leave Moab (east of the Dead Sea) and return to Judah (the area of Jerusalem, northwest of the Dead Sea), now that Judah’s famine is over. Naomi says she will go back to Canaan and instructs Ruth to return to her (pagan) relatives in Moab. Ruth refuses: in today’s Scripture, she renounces her heathen (Gentile) religion and she wants Israel’s God to be her God! Eventually, she accompanies Naomi back to Judah.

Zechariah 8:22,23 describes believing Gentiles in the millennial reign of Christ: “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” Amazingly, this is basically what Ruth had said 3,000 years earlier!

Saved from Hell, But Lost in Tradition #7

Thursday, February 21, 2013

“…God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4 KJV).

Can someone go to heaven without ever learning dispensational Bible study?

Yes, provided that they had faith in the right Gospel message, the Gospel of the Grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:3,4): “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day.” Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:2, and Mark 1:15 are not valid Gospels for us today—they are Israel’s salvation message, and they belong in Israel’s program.

While God wants all people to be saved from hell—that every person trust in the shed blood, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for his or her sins—God also wants every Christian to understand why He saved him or her (today’s Scripture). Although dispensational Bible study does not provide eternal life and salvation from hell—the Gospel of the Grace of God does that!—it does provide salvation from false teaching by explaining the practical implications of our salvation from hell. God has two programs in His Word, Israel’s prophetic program for earth and our mystery program for the heavenly places, and in the end, “in the dispensation of the fulness of times,” these two programs will bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:9,10; Colossians 1:16-20).

Today, there are millions of Christians who are heaven-bound. However, it is unfortunate that the majority have little to no understanding of “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Due to church tradition, they often confuse God’s Word to Israel (Genesis through Malachi, Matthew through John, early Acts, Hebrews through Revelation) with God’s Word to us (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon); they apply Israel’s doctrine to their lives and then wonder why Bible study becomes burdensome confusion! They, ignorant of God’s will for them, are “taken captive by [the devil] at his will” (2 Timothy 2:26).

Beloved, in Christ, we are saved from hell forever. Now, let us remain steadfast in the rightly divided Scriptures, and let us not be lost in tradition.

We are thrilled to have recently launched our ministry YouTube channel. We only have one home Bible study video uploaded at the moment, but we will upload more as time goes by. By next week, we should have three additional home Bible study videos on YouTube next week! 😉 Praise the Lord! You can “meet” me teaching God’s Word rightly divided at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PncTlYsZ9eA.