Category: The Nation Israel

Tokens #5

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

Israel’s two spies sent into Jericho to scout the city arrived at a (former) harlot’s house. Rahab, recognizing the Jews deserved the land of Canaan, lodged these spies and asked for mercy when Israel would come back to destroy Jericho. Read Joshua chapter 2: “[9] And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. [10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. [11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

“[12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: [13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” That “token” or sign (verse 12) turned out to be a rope of scarlet-red cloth the spies gave her to hang from her window to identify her location when Israel returned to Jericho: “[18] Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee…. [21] And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.”

Still, there are more “tokens” in Scripture….

Tokens #4

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

In Numbers 16:1-11, Korah led a group of men to revolt against God’s leaders, Moses and Aaron. Read chapter 17: “[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod. [3] And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. [4] And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. [5] And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings [complaints] of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.”

“[6] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. [7] And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. [8] And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. [9] And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. [10] And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. [11] And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.”

Aaron’s rod that budded was a “token,” a sign, of his God-given authority and of Israel’s wickedness….

Tokens #3

Monday, June 17, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

Go to Exodus 12:13, where another “token” appears in the Bible. Read the verse in context: “[11] And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover. [12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. [13] And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. [14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” The Passover lambs’ blood was a “token,” representation, or symbol of redeemed Israel—which blood the Egyptians did not have upon their houses. It spared Israel from God’s wrath on Egypt.

As touching the “token” of Israel setting apart their firstborn male animals and firstborn human sons for God’s purposes (corresponding to how the LORD had sanctified Israel, His “firstborn son” nation, from Egypt; cf. Exodus 4:22,23; Hosea 11:1), see Exodus 13:16 in context: “[15] And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix [womb], being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. [16] And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.”

There are still more references to “tokens” in Scripture….

Tokens #2

Saturday, June 15, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

After today’s Scripture, the next reference to a “token” is introduced in Genesis 17:10-14: “[10] This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. [11] And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. [12] And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. [13] He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. [14] And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”

The above “Abrahamic Covenant” had an accompanying “token” or sign. Physical circumcision was a cutting off of the flesh, representative of how Abraham was dead to the flesh (separated from his performance, his Adamic or sin nature). God’s nation (Israel) would result from His works (the promised son Isaac) rather than Abraham’s efforts (his son Ishmael).

As touching Exodus 3:11,12 several centuries after Abraham, the LORD reassured skeptical Moses with a “token” or indication during his commissioning: “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he [God] said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” How would Moses know God sent him? Moses would lead Israel out of Egypt and right back to Mount Sinai where he was standing in Exodus chapter 3 (cf. Exodus 19:1-3)!

Once more, we gain the sense of “token….”

In order to bring you a special study tomorrow, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #12

Thursday, June 13, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Someone will surely inquire, “Where is Jesus? Is He coming back or not? When? Does not God care about justice? Why are crime and evil still unpunished?” The Bible already answered these questions centuries ago—but gross ignorance prevails because people spend more time studying theology, denominational commentaries, and other distractions than actually reading pages of rightly divided Scripture. It is not God’s fault!

The pause in prophecy and the commencement of mystery allowed the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ to come back to save His chief enemy in the Earth. This is the salvation of Saul of Tarsus and the commissioning of the Apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9), whose ministry has lasted 2,000 years. Never should we confuse “prophecy” (“[that] which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began;” Acts 3:21) with “mystery” (“[that] which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest;” Romans 16:25,26). To believe prophecy is still in effect now is to fail to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

If God could and did save wicked Saul of Tarsus (His chief enemy!), and place him into the Church the Body of Christ, He can and still is saving sinners and putting them into the Body of Christ. This Christ-rejecting world has never deserved grace and will never deserve it—but, through Calvary, God has temporarily granted all people a chance to come by faith in Christ before His wrath does fall. Maybe, just maybe, like Saul so long ago, some of those self-righteous sinners will realize their lost estate and trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour too (see 1 Timothy 1:12-16). Surely, this “Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24)—Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)—is beyond human comprehension. Yet, as long as it is preached, as long as Paul’s apostleship continues, there is a pause of prophecy. In God’s own timing, He will stop mystery altogether and resume prophecy.

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #11

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Responding to the Thessalonians who were suffering great persecution for their faith, the Holy Spirit through Paul composed these words in 2 Thessalonians chapter 1: “[3] We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; [4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

“[6] Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; [7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

It is just, fair, or right that God “take vengeance on” or “pay back” those who harm His children, the believers in Christ. He has reserved that judgment for the final years leading up to and at Christ’s Second Coming, but those days cannot be fulfilled while He is doing something else. He is currently dispensing grace to an undeserving world… and this has been true for some 2,000 years now. However, we must remember this message of “grace and peace” is only temporary. Prophecy has been paused, not cancelled—postponed or delayed, not abolished or nullified. Mystery is for now, not forever.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #10

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Turn now to 2 Corinthians 5:14-16: “[14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. [16] Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” Not only is this the Lord Jesus’ finished crosswork, but it is His finished crosswork seen from the Pauline perspective. Whereas the crucifixion was bad news in early Acts (Israel murdered Messiah in unbelief! [Acts 2:22-24; Acts 3:13-15; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 5:30,31; Acts 7:51-53]), it became good news starting with Paul’s ministry.

Keep reading 2 Corinthians chapter 5: “[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Through Calvary as revealed in Paul’s Gospel, God has changed the status of the nations from being His enemies to being His friends (“reconciliation”). For 20 centuries now, He has been offering sinners the chance to place their faith in Christ alone as the fully-satisfying payment for their sins. This is the method whereby the God of the Bible postpones the wrath and war, and extends grace and peace to the world….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #9

Monday, June 10, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Wrath delayed should never, ever be confused with wrath nonexistent (imagined) or wrath abrogated (canceled). Just because God’s current attitude toward the world is grace and peace does not mean it has always been true or will always be true. The Holy Spirit through Paul reminded self-righteous, proud, hypocritical, unsaved Jews during the Acts period of this fact.

Romans chapter 2: “[3] And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? [5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;….”

Concentrate on verse 4: “…despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering….” For 2,000 years now, God has had mercy upon all—Jew and Gentile alike. Anyone and everyone can approach Him through faith alone in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for their sins (the Gospel of Grace, or Paul’s Gospel, of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Yet, many still smugly clung to their self-righteousness, believing they are “decent” or “good enough” without Christ. How pitifully ignorant they are of “the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:… unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;….”

The pause will now cease….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #8

Sunday, June 9, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Doubtless, the religious fanatic leading the Jewish people to hate and reject the Son of God most vehemently, the man in Israel most opposed to Jesus Christ during early Acts, was Saul of Tarsus. Saul held the clothes of Stephen’s murderers (Acts 7:57-60; Acts 22:19,20)! He viciously persecuted the Messianic Church (cf. Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-6,13,14; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13,14,22,23; Philippians 3:6). Had Christ come back in prophecy, God’s wrath would have easily consumed him. Instead, Christ returned in Acts chapter 9 in mystery. The God of the Bible had kept a secret, and he revealed it only when He was ready. He would spare Saul of Tarsus, save his pitiful soul through Christ’s finished crosswork, and send him out as the Apostle Paul with this new Gospel of Grace.

First Timothy 1:12-16: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

Instead of wrath and war (as prophecy foretold), Christ came back in Acts chapter 9 to save His chief enemy in the Earth. Saul of Tarsus was delivered because of mystery truth. As per 1 Timothy, his salvation is a “pattern” of how God deals with sinners via “grace and peace.” This is the “longsuffering… salvation… wisdom given unto Paul” to which Peter referred in 2 Peter 3:9,15,16. God’s longsuffering that saved Paul is now being extended to all sinners, including apostate Israel mocking believing Israel in 2 Peter chapters 1 and 3….

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Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #7

Saturday, June 8, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

By the time he composes his epistle of 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter is near the end of his earthly life (2 Peter 1:13-15). The Holy Spirit leads him to write the following inspired commentary: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (verse 16). Why would it be necessary to pen this statement?

Peter and the rest of the Little Flock, Israel’s believing remnant, have been accused of believing fairytales or fallacious arguments (nonsense, faulty reasoning). Just where was their Jesus? After all, it had been some 30 years since He had ascended and promised to come back in flaming fire and vengeance to punish unbelievers! Now, these very unbelievers were gloating that they had gotten away with their sins. They were even mocking or making fun of believers who were still “waiting for Christ.”

Focus on 2 Peter chapter 3, verses 3 and 4: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” Now, verse 9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Peter’s explanation for the prophetic delay is to appeal to Paul.

See verses 15 and 16: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

Now, let us appeal to Paul….