Category: The Nation Israel

Note the Horizon! #14

Monday, October 21, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

What the God of the Bible is currently doing is but temporary. As He has not always done it, so He will not always do it. To the absolute shame of Christendom, most church members understand this to the same degree as those outside of church do—not at all! Christian and non-Christian alike never cease to ask such juvenile questions as, “Where is God’s wrath against sin? Was not Jesus allegedly coming back 2,000 years ago? Where is He then?” The Bible already answered these concerns, for the Apostle Peter was facing the same mockers (at that time, Christ had been gone only about 30 years).

Second Peter chapter 3: “[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] 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. [5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: [6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: [7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Peter replies to the scoffers who doubt Jesus’ return was ever real, those who are deliberately ignorant of the Scriptures and keep delighting in their sin as though they have escaped justice. John the Baptist, Jesus Christ Himself, and others had long foretold of God’s impending judgment against sinners (Matthew 3:7-12; Matthew 13:38-42; Matthew 21:44; Luke 3:7-9,15-17; Luke 20:18; Acts 2:19,20,34-36; Acts 7:55,56; cf. Psalm 110:1). Where is this Divine wrath, Peter? Let us see if Peter offers a valid explanation….

Note the Horizon! #13

Sunday, October 20, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

Let us again remind ourselves of what the Scriptures teach in Ephesians 1:8-10: “Wherein he [Father God] hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:….” The sister epistle of Colossians defines “the things… in heaven… on earth.”

Colossians 1:16-20: “For by him [God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ; verse 13] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Father God purposes to bring “all things”—all offices of government (“thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, mights, and every name that is named”) (cf. Ephesians 1:21)—under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ. These offices are in both Heaven and Earth. Using Christ’s shed blood as the forgiveness of sins, Father will sanctify or set apart two groups—one for Heaven and another for Earth. Israel is His earthly people (Matthew 5:5; Revelation 1:5,6; Revelation 5:9,10), and we the Church the Body of Christ are His heavenly people (Ephesians 1:19-23; Ephesians 2:6,7; 2 Timothy 4:18). Whether in Heaven or on Earth, Jesus Christ is glorified in both realms in the ages to come….

Note the Horizon! #12

Saturday, October 19, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

Denominationalism or Christendom abounds with people (ministers and members alike) who are extremely hostile toward dispensational Bible study. Why? Frankly, dispensational Bible study releases souls longtime chained to the traditions, speculations, and superstitions of men—the very traditions, speculations, and superstitions that denominations simply could not survive without! One of their lame objections to Pauline dispensationalism is that it encourages people to discard the Bible Books that Paul did not write. Allegedly, all we ever study is Romans through Philemon. This is but absurdity and falsehood. It is totally untrue, baseless slander, designed to keep church members shackled to manmade theological systems, institutions, and organizations.

Paul himself definitely did not throw away any Scripture. How do we know? For instance, in today’s Scripture, the very first verse of the very first Pauline Book situated in the Bible canon or layout, we read, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” Now, if all we ever read was Paul—that is, if we never read Matthew through John or Acts—then how could we be expected to know who “Jesus Christ” is? Or, unless we knew (read/studied) the Books of Exodus and Numbers, how could we ever hope to appreciate 1 Corinthians 10:1-14? Without some knowledge of Genesis, would Galatians 4:21-31 make any sense? How can we pray to comprehend Romans chapters 9–11 if we are not acquainted with the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament? Paul expected us to study the whole Bible, Genesis through Revelation.

In Greek, Paul’s name is “Paulos” (it was transliterated as such in Acts 13:7, though this is another man). A related word is “pauo,” which means “cease, quit, desist, come to an end, pause.” (See it translated “ceased” in Luke 8:24, Luke 11:1, Acts 5:42, Acts 20:31, et al.) Whenever we see that name “Paul,” we should immediately think of the prophetic program being stopped—because it is, so the mystery program can be in progress. However, though they have to be divided, prophecy and mystery form one whole plan of God spanning the ages….

Note the Horizon! #11

Friday, October 18, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

Ephesians chapter 2: “[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: [17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. [18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

In the prophetic program, whether before or after our Dispensation of Grace, there is a difference between Jew and Gentile. However, in Paul’s ministry, our mystery program, this distinction concerning “circumcision” and “uncircumcision” has been removed. All believers in Paul’s Gospel (“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4) are one Church the Body of Christ. As God has an earthly people (Israel), so He has an heavenly people (us). Ephesians 1:8-10: “Wherein he [Father God] hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:….”

Let us see how Pauline revelation fits with the Bible overall….

Note the Horizon! #10

Thursday, October 17, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

As God was unfolding prophecy, He was also withholding mystery… for the best way to overcome Satan is to keep a secret! For which reason, the Bible explains in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8: “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

“Mystery” in the above passage is defined as “the hidden wisdom.” Ephesians 3:5,9 adds, “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;… the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:….” Please make sure you appreciate how the events of Calvary were not a secret. For centuries prior to Paul, God through His prophets foretold various aspects of how Jesus would die. Christ Himself made frequent references to His crucifixion (Matthew 16:21-25; Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 9:31,32; Luke 18:31-34). Yet, the full scope of Christ’s finished crosswork—all that it would accomplish—was God’s secret!

In Ephesians chapter 3, verses 4-9, we read of “the fellowship of the mystery,” how “that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:….” This is the formation of the Church the Body of Christ, the group of believers God kept secret. It was totally unknown to the Old Testament prophets that God would take believing Gentiles and believing Jews and create one agency, the Body of Christ, an entity separate and distinct from the nation Israel. Isolating the Body of Christ from other churches in Scripture is critical to Bible understanding….

Note the Horizon! #8

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

When we come to Paul’s ministry, there is not simply good news about Jesus Christ—but good news that extends beyond Israel and out to all the world without Israel’s rise to kingdom glory. See Paul’s “all-nations” apostleship in Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:25,26.

Calvary’s cross was indeed preached in early Acts, yet Christ’s crucifixion was bad news because Israel killed Him in unbelief (Acts 2:22-24,36; Acts 3:13-18; Acts 4:10-12,24-28; Acts 7:52,53). They did not crucify Jesus in faith, as sufficient payment for their sins. No, as the Apostles proclaimed in early Acts, Israel wanted Him dead and out of the way so they could continue unopposed with their works-religion! One religious fanatic who was thrilled in this regard was Saul of Tarsus. As pious as he was, he was headed for Hell at a breakneck speed!

Whereas God would use Christ’s blood in the prophetic program to cleanse Israel of her national sin problem (“my [Isaiah’s] people” of Isaiah 53:8; “give his life a ransom for many” in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45), Paul (formerly lost Saul of Tarsus) learned a secret from the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ in Acts chapter 9. Christ died not for Israel only, but for all people without distinction: “[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity” (1 Timothy 2:3-7).

Paul is the “due-time testifier”—the apostle or preacher who proclaims according to God’s schedule—how Christ died as “a ransom for all.” Let us see why God kept the secret, a secret….

Note the Horizon! #7

Monday, October 14, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

Going all the way back to when God placed man on the Earth, Adam’s creation, He has always had some Gospel (good news) to share with man (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:16,17; Genesis 3:15; and so on). Father God has spoken about His Son Jesus Christ in some capacity, as Peter preached in Acts 3:20,21: “…Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

Christ would reign in an earthly kingdom—the very earthly kingdom Adam and Eve would have enjoyed but lost because of sin in Genesis chapter 3 (Matthew 25:34, “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”). This was the same earthly kingdom that was passed on to Israel, the one at the heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom preached during Matthew to John and early Acts (see Matthew 3:1,2; Matthew 4:17,23,24; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:5-7; Mark 1:14,15; Luke 10:9; Acts 2:29,30; Acts 3:21; Acts 5:31).

The above earthly kingdom, however, was contingent upon Israel’s rise to kingdom glory in accepting the King, Messiah Jesus—whom they refused and crucified in unbelief because they were too self-righteous to admit their sin problem (see Romans 9:30–10:4). After prolonged national unbelief in early Acts, resulting in Stephen’s murder, Israel loses her special status before God and Paul’s apostleship now begins. “I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:11-13).

With Israel’s fall comes a new Gospel, the Gospel of Grace….

Note the Horizon! #5

Saturday, October 12, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:31,32). Though Israel spoke against the Son of Man (“We have no king but Caesar!;” John 19:15), Christ’s crucifixion was forgiven them (Luke 23:34) and Israel was given a renewed opportunity of repentance during early Acts.

Yet, Israel opposed the Holy Spirit’s ministry through the Little Flock, climaxing with the Prophet Stephen’s sermon (“ye do always resist the Holy Ghost;” Acts 7:51) and his death by stoning (verses 58-60). This blasphemy of the Holy Ghost could not be forgiven. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (verses 55,56). Christ, once seated, was now standing to return and make His enemies/foes His footstool (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:32-36).

Present at Stephen’s murder is a young man, Saul of Tarsus, who also holds the clothes of Stephen’s killers (Acts 7:58). Saul consents to or approves Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1). Years later, now as the Apostle Paul, he recounts for us: “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles” (Acts 22:19-21).

With Israel in obstinate unbelief, God raised up a new Apostle, Saul of Tarsus (the leading self-righteous, Christ-rejecting Jew!)….

Note the Horizon! #4

Friday, October 11, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

When we look out to the horizon, we see a clear boundary between earth (bottom) and sky (top). Primarily a gas, the sky suspends small solid particles and water droplets, plus ice crystals in its higher layers. It reflects blue light. Most of Earth’s surface is liquid (water); the rest is solid (rock, soil, and ice). Earth and its vegetation reflect green, yellow, and brown light. Blending sky and earth results in confusion or disorientation (knowing neither where you are nor where you are going). Put the horizon back where it belongs and all becomes clear.

The Greek word for “separated” in today’s Scripture in “aphoridzo,” derived from “apo” (“from, away, off”) and “horidzo” (“mark out, limit, specify”). “Horion” means “border, coast.” Such is the basis for the English “horizon.” As there is a physical horizon, so there is a spiritual horizon that we dare not overlook. It is Paul being “separated” from the other Apostles, isolated from the rest of mankind. The beginning of his ministry marks a clear boundary: it is a break in prophecy, a departure from God’s prior dealings with man.

In prophecy, Israel is first: God saves Israel nationally to use redeemed and converted Israel as His kingdom of priests, His channel of salvation and blessing to the world/Gentiles/nations. “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:25,26). This is the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23).

Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ and His 12 Apostles were sent to Israel first (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24). Once all of Israel was converted via this Gospel of the Kingdom (Jesus is Christ), Israel would preach to the Gentiles (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). Yet, as the Books of Matthew through John and the opening seven chapters of Acts show, all Jews did not believe….

Note the Horizon! #3

Thursday, October 10, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Indeed, Christendom recognizes a difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament—how the Hebrew/Aramaic Books of Genesis to Malachi differ from the Greek Books of Matthew to Revelation. Also, to some measure, they distinguish Israel and “the Church” (though the latter is a pitifully deficient term!). They do tell us, “We ought to divide truth from error!,” but seldom do they actually do that.

To solve our problem, we must define it first. Our fundamental error in Christendom is a failure to see two distinct programs in the Bible, two sets of information that outline God’s overall dealings with man. To state it another way: God has one series of planned events that should never be confounded with another series of planned events. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever should we mix them!

Firstly, read an excerpt from what the Apostle Peter preached: “[Jesus Christ] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). Secondly, read excerpt from what the Apostle Paul wrote: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:…” (Romans 16:25,26).

God was speaking prophecy “since the world began” (Acts, Peter’s ministry)—and He was keeping mystery “secret since the world began” (Romans, Paul’s ministry). As the heaven and the earth were and are divided (Genesis 1:1), so the prophetic program and the mystery program must be rightly divided….