This blog was created to show scripture in view of it's first century historical context. The key to understanding any passage of Scripture has always been a good grasp of the language, culture, politics, and historical setting in which Scripture was originally written. Too few are willing to look at what History and Scripture has unveiled together.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Mark Of The Beast.
Revelation 13:16-18 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
The first thing one must understand about the book of Revelation is that it is a book composed almost entirely of symbols that a first century Jew would find immediately recognizable. These symbols were used before in such books as Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah.
Jesus, Paul, and John used a lot of metaphors from Old Testament scripture. John more than any other disciples uses metaphors. And because we have all been ironically taught “not to flow” the first principles of sound biblical hermeneutics to let scripture interpret its own, many have found the book of Revelation hard to understand and given up all together.
However, in Revelation also, we are to study the passage or verses in question, and see how the “words are used” in other related situations throughout scripture. In this way, we have God, interpret His Word. The Jews in the first century were very familiar with figurative language and they surely understood the language Jesus and the disciples used in the same way it was used in Old Testament scripture.
The "mark" received upon the right hand or the forehead, is a Jewish symbolic picture (as is virtually all of Revelation). It is not a "physical" mark on a person's body. The first century Jews were familiar with this Jewish thought and they know (exactly where John was coming from). But how did one, receive "the mark" and what did it mean in Jewish thought? It means that those who "took the mark" willingly, on their "right hand"did whatever they did under the control of an ungodly religious and they acted in accordance.
The "mark" on the foreheads, was referring to the fact that Rome and their ideologies religions, etc., were controlling the "minds and thoughts" of those who willingly followed this mind set. A perfect picture of this action in see in John. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold your King!" But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priest answered, "We have no king “but Caesar!" (John 19:14-15)
In John 11:48 we read, Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priest and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, What shall we do' For this Man works many signs. "If we let Him alone like this everyone will believe in Him, “And the Romans will come and take away both place and nation.” This is the meaning of the "mark of the beast. Those who "took the mark" in the foreheads, were referring to the fact that Rome and their ideologies religions, etc., were controlling the minds and thoughts of those who willingly followed this mind set. All the Jews understood this typological picture.
The metaphors that John used from the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when we have not been taught to look for them. A good example of this is when a "mark" is spoken of, it should bring to mind as it did the Jews a previous reference to a mark, found in another place in the Old Testament.
The very same language about a “mark” is spoken of in a previous reference. It is found in Ezekiel 9:3-8. 3Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side; 4 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." 5 To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 "Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple 7 Then He said to them, "Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" And they went out and killed in the city. 8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?"
In this context, Jerusalem was also about to be besieged and destroyed (by the Babylonians). The Lord commanded an angel to place "a mark on the foreheads" of those that lamented the wickedness of the city. This angel is described as having "a writer's inkhorn at his side" (9:3), with which he was to mark the righteous.
It is clear from the context that this was not to be taken literally, as if an angel needed to carry a pen around with him and an inkhorn in which to dip it. This was a figurative, symbolic way of showing that there was a specific class of people within the doomed city that were being set apart for preservation (9:6). We must allow Scripture to interpret itself whenever possible.
Since John was a Hebrew he used numerous Jewish metaphors out of the Old Testament in his book of Revelation. John thinks in Hebrew, and his writing naturally affected the vehicle of express.
In Revelation, a similar "mark" is placed on those whom God wishes to preserve. Revelation 7:2-8 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD ON THEIR FOREHEADS. 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: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
A "mark" is also received by those loyal to the beast, one which sets them apart for destruction (14:9-11) The mark is an emblem of ownership and submission. The mark is said to allow some to purchase, and others not to purchase (That's MONEY) it is said to bear the name, number image of the beast. Remember when Christ asked: "Whose superscription is this"? Roman currency bore the “image of Caesar.” It is a well recorded fact that within the Roman Empire, nobody bought, sold or traded without Roman currency. This was the purpose of the moneychangers on the court of the gentiles. Since Rome paid tribute from the Temple treasury, it had to be Rome coinage!
No one "can buy or sell" describes the ban the Pharisees put on Christian Jews who were considered apostates see Acts 21:21 where they accuse Paul of teaching apostasy against Judaism). In fact the law is still in the Tosefta: "We do not sell to them, nor do we buy from them. We do not take from them, nor do we give to them." (t Hullin 2:20). Having any interaction whatsoever with Christians back then could land a Jew in big trouble. A Rabbi b. Hyrkanos was put on trial for his life in the latter first century just because he "enjoyed" an interpretation of a scripture that came from a Christian Rabbi (b Abodah Zarah 16b-17a). Apparently the Christian heretics were considered "harlots" and Jews were stay "far from them."
The thorn in the flesh, which Paul testified of in 2 Corinthians 12:7
Over the years I have read where many in our day have made the assumption that the thorn in the flesh, which Paul testified of in 2 Corinthians 12:7, was some physical ailment. These theories are made on the assumptions that we can't really know from the scriptures what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was.
Has biblical hermeneutics digressed so far that comparing scripture with scripture is not longer considered an option? One of the first principles of sound biblical hermeneutics is that the scripture is its own interpreter. i.e., they are not subject to private interpretation. We must carefully examine the passage in question, and then see how the language is used throughout scripture.
In this way, we have God, Word, interpret His Word. In the case of Paul like the rest of the disciples and Jesus, he was very familiar with the figurative language and he surely used it in the same way it has been used throughout Old Testament scripture.
God is the author of these scriptures, and we would "expect" there to be consistency in the use of the word, in like situations. For example, Joshua 23:13 "Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you".
This is not a literal scourge in their sides and thorns in their eyes to signify any bodily disorder (as a man would assume today.) God is using this to illustrate that the people of other nations will be His instrument to trouble them and cause them to fall. In the book of numbers, God uses the same language, but switches the use of the thorn to the side, and scourges to the eyes.
Numbers 33:55 "But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell".
A thorn in your side "is" a metaphor thorn in the flesh. And contrary to popular belief, it's not physical. It's people who were if left among the people of Israel, would trouble them. This is what the thorn in the side "signifies" in God's Word. Paul, being a Hebrew of Hebrews and a man of knowledge of scripture would be very familiar with these terms and how God used them in the Old Testament. Another good example is Judges 2:3 "Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you." These men were to be a thorns in their side and their gods shall be a snares and trouble to Israel.
The fact is, we use very similar language to describe people today. For example, we would say someone is, "a pain in the neck." Does this convey that we have literally pains in our necks? No. This phrase conveys the exact same meanings as Paul's thorn in the flesh. He was simply using a common expression of those days, just as we do in our day.
It is a common mistake to assume that the thorn in the flesh was a disease or ailment that Satan gave him. But it is obviously that metaphors, are involved here “since it's not a literal thorn” and when metaphors is involved, we have to let God's Word itself interpret the metaphors. We don’t have to make assumptions, or guess at what it might mean. We compare scripture with scripture to discern God's truth.
Now that we have seen consistently seen what the metaphor thorn represents throughout the Old Testament scripture, we can take what we've learned and see if it will fit consistent with other scriptures. The first thing that we notice is that God further defines the thorn in the flesh as, "The Messenger of Satan!"
This holds true consistently in the New Testament scriptures as well. Jesus speaking to the Jewish leader had this to say. “You are of your father the devil, and the “desires of your father you want to do.” Notice Jesus said they desired to do the will of their father.
Literal disease's and sicknesses are "not" messengers of Satan that come to “BUFFET” Paul. God's scriptural metaphor of thorns in the old testament is totally consistent with the messengers of Satan, and totally consistent with the Judaizers who Jesus said desired to do his will. Thorns in the bible never signify an illness or sickness.
What was Paul’s Thorn in the side? The adversaries of God and his servants who come to trouble them. The Judaizers, who were the enemies of God, and “the saints” were a “thorn in the side of Paul,” because they hated him for teaching against their doctrines. These thorns which were sent to buffet Paul were not of God, but messengers of Satan. Their defining characteristic is that they are thorns and “brier” bushes, not a tree from which to get good fruit. Luke 6:44 "For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of (thorns men) do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes".
As an apostle who was teaching against their doctrines Paul was imprisoned, flogged, and many times was near death. Five times he received the forty lashes minus one. Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked and for a night and a day he was adrift at sea. He was frequently on dangerous journeys, in danger from rivers, bandits, from his own people and also the Gentiles. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
An ancient Jewish writing describes the procedure for receiving stripes in a Jewish court: “The two hands of the criminal are bound to a post, and then the servant of the synagogue either pulls or tears off his clothes till he leaves his breast and shoulders bare. A stone or block is placed behind him on which the servant stands; he holds in his hands a scourge made of leather, divided into four tails. He who scourges lays one third on the criminal’s breast, another third on his right shoulder, and another on his left. The man who receives the punishment is neither sitting nor standing, but all the while stooping; and the man smites with all his strength, with one hand.” (Mishna, fol. 22, 2; cited in Clarke)
Paul speaks of being in prison several times, even though Acts only tells us of one instance to this date (in Philippi, Acts 16:20-24). We know Paul was close to death when an angry crowd tried to execute him by stoning in Lystra (Acts 14:19), but there were many other times as well.
He was in danger in the city, in the wilderness, at sea, and from the falsehood of certain brothers and sisters. He was always working hard, through many sleepless nights, he was hungry and thirsty, many times without food, he suffered cold and was naked. Besides all these things he was also under pressure because of the anxiety he fell for all the Churches. These thorns are totally consistent with the messengers of Satan, and totally consistent with the Judaizers who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9)
The same Judaizers that persecuted and BUFFETED Christ, Matthew 26:67 BUFFETED Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:10-11 "We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are BUFFETED, and have no certain dwelling place;"
Likewise, they were a thorn in Paul’s side. They made Paul's life very difficult. Being human, just like the rest of us, Paul wanted to have this thorn, removed yet God would not extract them from him
God's Grace was enough! 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Notice Paul ties his infirmities, here with persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.
In Paul's weakness, he learned to surrender his own will to the will of God. Paul says He would "gladly Glory in his infirmities (2 Corinthians. 12:9)". Yes, rather than somber in his troubling circumstances, he will glory in them, for in them, he has the opportunity to experience the power of Christ. He says "I take pleasure in infirmities, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10)."
In Ezekiel 2:6 we read where God is talking about the house of Israel. "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though “briers and thorns” be with thee, and thou dost dwell among SCORPIONS: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." Sound familiar?
Only the people of Israel are ever called a “ rebellious house” in scripture. The briers, thorns, and scorpions are all symbolic of Israel, which come against the Lord and his saints.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Compleat Salvation.
Long before I heard of fulfilling eschatology and started studying the Bible for myself. I often hard the viewpoint that assumed salvation was completed and done at the cross. Yet the more I studied Scripture, the more clear it became that the writers were saying complete salvation was ready to be revealed to the first century saints. The cross was a process of salvation which started at the cross.
The inspired Apostles Paul “know” they hadn’t received all that was to be theirs, at the cross, and his writings reflected that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for “now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” The night is far spent, the day is at hand.. (Romans 13:11-12) Quoting a dear friend of mind Arthur Melanson. The new testament writer “were embryonic sons in a halfway as were all Christians of that period. End quote. Salvation, i.e., "deliverance" was inaugurated in the ministry of Jesus. It was ratified or confirmed through His Cross (not at the Cross). Think about it if salvation was all in all secured at or on the Cross, then what need was there further for the Resurrection of the saints??? - Do you follow? The Cross was the linchpin, the central part in securing our salvation.
Paul confirms this in his epistle as well. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith “for salvation ready to be revealed” in the last time. ( 1 Peter 1:3-5)
The inspired Apostles speak of salvation, ready to be reviled “years after” the cross. Who is correct the inspired writers of the Bible or to days teaching of men? The expectation for the complete salvation of the believers in the "last days" of the Old Covenant "age" had not yet been realized. They had not yet been "clothed upon" with the redemption for which they were waiting (2 Cor. 5:2-4).
Weren’t Paul and Peters and their converts already saved? Yes, they were, but not in the fulness of salvation that was consummated at the Parousia of Christ. Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Complete salvation had an out working to completion in that generation. This point is evident throughout the New Testament. Numerous verses relative to the believers "enduring to the end to be saved", and the like (Matt. 10:22; Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20- 22, etc.),
We must be careful not to divide the language and teaching up between the two testaments to such an extent that we make them totally disconnected from each other. The New Testament was not written to introduce a new concept of the work of Jesus our “High Priest” into salvation that is totally alien to the teaching of the old testament. God introduced his plans of salvation, to Israel in the types and shadows of the High Priest under the old covenant system. First, notice how the work of the High Priest is described in the Old Testament by Moses, then how the writer of Hebrews associates that work with Jesus as our High Priest unto complete salvation.
In Leviticus we read where Moses called Aaron the High Priest to going into tabernacle to make atonement for yourself and for the people sins. So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. Then Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do, and the glory of the LORD will appear to you. "And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Leviticus 9:5-7)
According to the pattern of the Old Testament, forgiveness of sins (did come when the High Priest went into the tabernacle) but when the (High Priest came out of the tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel). In Leviticus 9: 22-23 we read. Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering, the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
Notice here that Israel's did not know their sins were forgiven until Aaron the High Priest (came out of the tabernacle to bless the people). Question how could the people of Israel have known their sins had been forgiven if the High Priest Aaron had not come out of the tabernacle to bless them with the good news that God had accepted their atonement for sin another year? No one is dear going into the tabernacle to see what happen because they know they would die on the spot. So Aaron had to come out of the tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel.
These types and shadows are of vital importance, to understand how complete salvation was accomplished by the antitype our High Priest Christ Jesus in the New Testament. All the Apostles understood this simple Old Testament concept bout the High Priest and their writings reflected that truth.
In Hebrews 9:24-26 we read, For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another. This is a picture of Christ our High Priest (going into the Holy place, to appear in the presence of God for us. This fulfilled the type and shadows of Aaron the High Priest is going INTO the earthly tabernacle. (Leviticus 9:5-7)
Then we read in Hebrews 9:27-28 where it says, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28) This fulfilled the type and shadows of Aaron the High Priest (coming OUT of the earthly tabernacle to bless the people. (Leviticus 9: 22-23)
They understood the Parousia or reappearance of Christ was simply our High Priest comes out of the Holiest of all during the same generation unto salvation. The writer of Hebrews as we see shows Christ Jesus fulfilling the type and shadow of Leviticus 9 placing the return of the High Priest in the same generation.
There is no distinction in the language made by the writer of Leviticus 9 and Hebrews 9. The language used closely connects both appearing The disciples never had a concept of our High Priest Jesus coming out of the Holy place over two thousands years away. They saw one short fulfillment period with two phases to it. An atonement for sin phases 9:24-26 and a complete redemptive/salvation phases 9:28. And they're writing reflects that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; (for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed). The night is far spent, the day is at hand.. (Romans 13:11-12)
If we are still waiting for our High Priest, Jesus to come out of the Holy Place we don’t have complete salvation according to scripture.
The inspired Apostles Paul “know” they hadn’t received all that was to be theirs, at the cross, and his writings reflected that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for “now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” The night is far spent, the day is at hand.. (Romans 13:11-12) Quoting a dear friend of mind Arthur Melanson. The new testament writer “were embryonic sons in a halfway as were all Christians of that period. End quote. Salvation, i.e., "deliverance" was inaugurated in the ministry of Jesus. It was ratified or confirmed through His Cross (not at the Cross). Think about it if salvation was all in all secured at or on the Cross, then what need was there further for the Resurrection of the saints??? - Do you follow? The Cross was the linchpin, the central part in securing our salvation.
Paul confirms this in his epistle as well. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith “for salvation ready to be revealed” in the last time. ( 1 Peter 1:3-5)
The inspired Apostles speak of salvation, ready to be reviled “years after” the cross. Who is correct the inspired writers of the Bible or to days teaching of men? The expectation for the complete salvation of the believers in the "last days" of the Old Covenant "age" had not yet been realized. They had not yet been "clothed upon" with the redemption for which they were waiting (2 Cor. 5:2-4).
Weren’t Paul and Peters and their converts already saved? Yes, they were, but not in the fulness of salvation that was consummated at the Parousia of Christ. Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Complete salvation had an out working to completion in that generation. This point is evident throughout the New Testament. Numerous verses relative to the believers "enduring to the end to be saved", and the like (Matt. 10:22; Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20- 22, etc.),
We must be careful not to divide the language and teaching up between the two testaments to such an extent that we make them totally disconnected from each other. The New Testament was not written to introduce a new concept of the work of Jesus our “High Priest” into salvation that is totally alien to the teaching of the old testament. God introduced his plans of salvation, to Israel in the types and shadows of the High Priest under the old covenant system. First, notice how the work of the High Priest is described in the Old Testament by Moses, then how the writer of Hebrews associates that work with Jesus as our High Priest unto complete salvation.
In Leviticus we read where Moses called Aaron the High Priest to going into tabernacle to make atonement for yourself and for the people sins. So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. Then Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do, and the glory of the LORD will appear to you. "And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Leviticus 9:5-7)
According to the pattern of the Old Testament, forgiveness of sins (did come when the High Priest went into the tabernacle) but when the (High Priest came out of the tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel). In Leviticus 9: 22-23 we read. Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering, the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
Notice here that Israel's did not know their sins were forgiven until Aaron the High Priest (came out of the tabernacle to bless the people). Question how could the people of Israel have known their sins had been forgiven if the High Priest Aaron had not come out of the tabernacle to bless them with the good news that God had accepted their atonement for sin another year? No one is dear going into the tabernacle to see what happen because they know they would die on the spot. So Aaron had to come out of the tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel.
These types and shadows are of vital importance, to understand how complete salvation was accomplished by the antitype our High Priest Christ Jesus in the New Testament. All the Apostles understood this simple Old Testament concept bout the High Priest and their writings reflected that truth.
In Hebrews 9:24-26 we read, For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another. This is a picture of Christ our High Priest (going into the Holy place, to appear in the presence of God for us. This fulfilled the type and shadows of Aaron the High Priest is going INTO the earthly tabernacle. (Leviticus 9:5-7)
Then we read in Hebrews 9:27-28 where it says, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28) This fulfilled the type and shadows of Aaron the High Priest (coming OUT of the earthly tabernacle to bless the people. (Leviticus 9: 22-23)
They understood the Parousia or reappearance of Christ was simply our High Priest comes out of the Holiest of all during the same generation unto salvation. The writer of Hebrews as we see shows Christ Jesus fulfilling the type and shadow of Leviticus 9 placing the return of the High Priest in the same generation.
There is no distinction in the language made by the writer of Leviticus 9 and Hebrews 9. The language used closely connects both appearing The disciples never had a concept of our High Priest Jesus coming out of the Holy place over two thousands years away. They saw one short fulfillment period with two phases to it. An atonement for sin phases 9:24-26 and a complete redemptive/salvation phases 9:28. And they're writing reflects that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; (for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed). The night is far spent, the day is at hand.. (Romans 13:11-12)
If we are still waiting for our High Priest, Jesus to come out of the Holy Place we don’t have complete salvation according to scripture.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Jewish Imagery
"Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Matthew 24:29)."
This text has been the subject of all sorts of speculation and wild theories about the end of time and the events that will happen at the return of Christ. Many this text is talking about a literal destruction of the world. But let us put out of our minds what we have been taught about this passage and let the scripture speak for its self.
The first thing we must understand here is this Jewish Imagery was used before in books like Genesis, Joel, Isaiah, Ezekie, Haggai, and Nahum. And since the writers of the Old Testament used such highly symbolic language to picture the actions of God, is it not likely that the writers of the New Testament, and Jesus in particular would use the same kind of imagery to describe the events of historic proportions? Why should Jesus not have used the same Jewish symbolic language from the Old Testament to describe events at the destruction of Jerusalem?
The problem is that we are not accustomed to dealing with such symbolic language like the sun being darkened and the stars falling, etc., without thinking literally. To the Jews, this was not a new language. When the rulers of a nation that God destroyed passed away, it was said that the sun was darkened and the stars fell from the sky, etc.
To help understand how the Jews communicated in terms of symbolic language, open your Bible and turn to (Genesis 37:9). This is the way language is used in the Old Testament. It was adopted for like use in the New Testament.
This kind of language in relation to Israel began in the Bible in Genesis 37:9. When Joseph told his brothers, his dream, He said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."
His father understood the meaning of that dream and asked,"What is the dream that thou haste dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth" (vs.10)? As you can see, Joseph dream was related to his father, mother, and brothers, not the universe.
Another biblical example is the fall of Babylon by the hands of the Medes. This type of apocalyptic, figurative language, also describes the desolation and the judgment of God by invading forces. Take for example the prophesied fall of Babylon to the Medes in 539 BC.
"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil..." (Isaiah 13:9-11)."
This is applied to Babylon, as mentioned in verse 1. The fall of Babylon is represented by the stars and constellations of heaven withdrawing their light, and the sun and moon being darkened (xiii. 9,10).
Now note the prophecy of Ezekiel against Egypt: "And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 32:7-7). This applied to Egypt, as mentioned in vs. 2, 12-16.
And further note Amos 8:9, "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day." This had reference to the northern kingdom.
Such "decreation of heaven and earth" language is used in Psalm 18:5-16 to describe the downfall of Saul's Kingdom. In Isaiah 13:6-19, we see that destruction of the heavens and earth pertain to when the Medes broke up the Babylonian empire. Nahum applies this earth-shattering metaphor to Yahweh's judgment of Nineveh (Nahum 1:1-5). Isaiah applies this language to Edom of 703 BC (Isa 34:3-8). Ezekiel applies this language to Babylon's victory over Egypt (572 BC) in Ezekiel 32:7-11.
The sun, moon, and stars speak of the downfalls of rulers and authorities. Rev 12:1-4; and Rev 8:10-9:2 use the casting down of stars to speak of rulers. Isaiah 14:12 calls Nebuchadnezzar the Morning Star cast down to earth. In Rev 1:20, the stars are rulers/messengers of the Churches. The "shaking of the heavens and earth" was used by Haggai in 2:7 and 2:21-23 to speak of political overturnings when the great Persian empire was all aflame with rebellion and conflict and the Jews were expecting this to work in their favor as they were being restored to Palestine and rebuilding the Temple.
Another good example is the prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. ("And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood,) Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass. That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:28-32)"
Peter used similar ancient language on the day of Pentecost when he quoted from Joel 2: and said (this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel) "And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord comes" (Acts 2:17, 19-20). Peter said those were the days. These events happened at Pentecost. This is not language that signifies an absolutely literal, materialistic, or natural fulfillment, as can be discovered by anyone who honestly studies these things.
There is no question about when these things would happen.
We have literature that we must read figuratively unless the words demand otherwise. We must do this with all passages in the Bible that tell us the things we are reading are in symbols.
This text has been the subject of all sorts of speculation and wild theories about the end of time and the events that will happen at the return of Christ. Many this text is talking about a literal destruction of the world. But let us put out of our minds what we have been taught about this passage and let the scripture speak for its self.
The first thing we must understand here is this Jewish Imagery was used before in books like Genesis, Joel, Isaiah, Ezekie, Haggai, and Nahum. And since the writers of the Old Testament used such highly symbolic language to picture the actions of God, is it not likely that the writers of the New Testament, and Jesus in particular would use the same kind of imagery to describe the events of historic proportions? Why should Jesus not have used the same Jewish symbolic language from the Old Testament to describe events at the destruction of Jerusalem?
The problem is that we are not accustomed to dealing with such symbolic language like the sun being darkened and the stars falling, etc., without thinking literally. To the Jews, this was not a new language. When the rulers of a nation that God destroyed passed away, it was said that the sun was darkened and the stars fell from the sky, etc.
To help understand how the Jews communicated in terms of symbolic language, open your Bible and turn to (Genesis 37:9). This is the way language is used in the Old Testament. It was adopted for like use in the New Testament.
This kind of language in relation to Israel began in the Bible in Genesis 37:9. When Joseph told his brothers, his dream, He said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."
His father understood the meaning of that dream and asked,"What is the dream that thou haste dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth" (vs.10)? As you can see, Joseph dream was related to his father, mother, and brothers, not the universe.
Another biblical example is the fall of Babylon by the hands of the Medes. This type of apocalyptic, figurative language, also describes the desolation and the judgment of God by invading forces. Take for example the prophesied fall of Babylon to the Medes in 539 BC.
"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil..." (Isaiah 13:9-11)."
This is applied to Babylon, as mentioned in verse 1. The fall of Babylon is represented by the stars and constellations of heaven withdrawing their light, and the sun and moon being darkened (xiii. 9,10).
Now note the prophecy of Ezekiel against Egypt: "And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 32:7-7). This applied to Egypt, as mentioned in vs. 2, 12-16.
And further note Amos 8:9, "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day." This had reference to the northern kingdom.
Such "decreation of heaven and earth" language is used in Psalm 18:5-16 to describe the downfall of Saul's Kingdom. In Isaiah 13:6-19, we see that destruction of the heavens and earth pertain to when the Medes broke up the Babylonian empire. Nahum applies this earth-shattering metaphor to Yahweh's judgment of Nineveh (Nahum 1:1-5). Isaiah applies this language to Edom of 703 BC (Isa 34:3-8). Ezekiel applies this language to Babylon's victory over Egypt (572 BC) in Ezekiel 32:7-11.
The sun, moon, and stars speak of the downfalls of rulers and authorities. Rev 12:1-4; and Rev 8:10-9:2 use the casting down of stars to speak of rulers. Isaiah 14:12 calls Nebuchadnezzar the Morning Star cast down to earth. In Rev 1:20, the stars are rulers/messengers of the Churches. The "shaking of the heavens and earth" was used by Haggai in 2:7 and 2:21-23 to speak of political overturnings when the great Persian empire was all aflame with rebellion and conflict and the Jews were expecting this to work in their favor as they were being restored to Palestine and rebuilding the Temple.
Another good example is the prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. ("And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood,) Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass. That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:28-32)"
Peter used similar ancient language on the day of Pentecost when he quoted from Joel 2: and said (this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel) "And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord comes" (Acts 2:17, 19-20). Peter said those were the days. These events happened at Pentecost. This is not language that signifies an absolutely literal, materialistic, or natural fulfillment, as can be discovered by anyone who honestly studies these things.
There is no question about when these things would happen.
We have literature that we must read figuratively unless the words demand otherwise. We must do this with all passages in the Bible that tell us the things we are reading are in symbols.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Paul and the Mosaic Law.
When Paul taught the gospel to the Jews in the first century, he was under a set of unique circumstances than when we preach the gospel today. The problems Paul faced was unique to his day and age. The Jews loved the Mosaic Law and were absolutely convinced they could keep the righteousness of the Law in their own strength, and self-effort. They believed they could keep all the requirements of the Law unto salvation in their self righteousness.
It is also important for us to recognize that Paul had a high regard for the law. He tells us that the "law is holy, and the commandments are holy and just and good" (Roman. 7:12). He described himself as a strict observer of the law, "a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee." There was no one who tried harder to be justified by the law than Paul. He understood the purpose of the law (Galatians. 3:24-25) and was devout concerning the law before he was a Christian as well as after he became a Christian.
Paul was not against the law. His own words bear witness to this fact. So what was he against? He was against those who would teach the law as a means for salvation. That was the unique difference how Paul taught the gospel in his day. In Galatians 5:4-5 Paul says “You have become estranged from Messiah, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”.
Paul never teaches that the Mosaic Law is bad he was against those who would teach you had to keep the Mosaic Law in order to have salvation. Paul taught (justification by faith). This was definitely Paul’s downfall with the Jews salvation without works of righteousness. Paul got himself into double trouble when he preached against not only the works or self- righteousness but
keeping the Mosaic Laws for salvation.
Paul's problems came because people believed false rumors about him. These rumors also got Paul in trouble with Jewish Christians. James the physical brother, of Jesus was a key pillar of the mother church and tells Paul rumors had been told about him. “They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs” (Acts 21:21)
Although Paul had not taught these things, many of the zealous Jews were distressed, thinking that he had. Yes, Paul taught the Gentiles, that it was not necessary for them to circumcise their children as a necessity for salvation. However, he never said the Jews could not circumcise their children out of respect for their Jewish heritage. In fact, Paul circumcised the half-Jew Timothy in order that he might win some Jews (Acts 16:3; 1 Corinthians. 9:20-21).
He refused to circumcise Titus, because the Judaizers were trying to bind circumcision upon him and others as necessary for salvation. Therefore, in order to teach the Judaizers that circumcision was not necessary for salvation, Paul did not give in to them for one minute (Galatians. 2:3-5).
To alleviate these fears, James encouraged Paul to go to the Temple, and take a Hebrew vow according to the Torah. (Acts 21:22-24) Under such a vow they would let their hair grow, not eat anything from the grape moist or dried; they were not to come near any dead body, nor to make themselves unclean for their father, mother, brother, or sister when they died (Numbers. 6:3-7). They were to present an offering when the days of the vow were completed (Numbers. 6:13-21). Taking the vow was not intimated to Paul. (Acts 18:18)
By accepting James and the elders proposal, Paul is simply becoming a Jew to the Jew that he might win some (1 Cor. 9:20-21). For the sake of others, he acted. After all, that was what he was encouraged to do, "that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing" (Acts 21: 24). The book of Acts offers several examples of Paul’s practice of Torah: in 18:18, he cuts his hair in order to complete a (Nazirite?) vow; in 21:21-26, he performs rites of purification to counter the charge that he is encouraging fellow-Jews to abandon the law; and in 24:17-19.
So Paul never teaches that the Mosaic Law is bad he was against those who would teach keeping the Mosaic Law in order to have salvation. The coming of Christ and the arrival of the eschatological age of salvation had brought epochal changes with regard to the role and function of the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law was no longer the regulating code for behavior. Christ had delivered them from the curse of disobedience to the law. Galatians 3:10–14 (ESV) For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."
For reasons of culture, conscience, and testimony, Jew and Gentile fellowship in the early church was made possible and peacefully coexist. The Gentile Christians were given the freedom to not practice the Torah observance, while Jewish believers were given the freedom to continue to practice many aspects of their former heritage, and culture, and lifestyle. Paul encourages believers to remain in the condition to which they were called. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
So when Paul taught the gospel to the Jews in the first century, he was under a set of unique circumstances than when we preach the gospel today. The problems Paul faced was unique to him and the people of his day and age. Paul has to do a balancing act between not looking as though he is against the former Jewish heritage, and culture, and lifestyle. And yet against the works of righteousness under the Mosaic law for salvation.
Paul had a lot on his plate.
Paul used the metaphor “ body ” in scripture.
In order to truly understand how Paul used the metaphor “ body ” in scripture, we must think like a Hebrew. All scripture is written from a Hebraic perspective and we must understand how Paul used that method to describe the corporate covenant identity. For example, Paul tells us how all Israel was united with Moses by baptism. 1 Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
"Baptized unto Moses" what does this mean? It is not talking about physical be baptized in WH2O. Rather, Israel had submitted to Moses, "sphere of authority" as God gave him. The Israelites by this event, left Egypt, escaped from Pharaoh, and entered upon their march, in a corporate "body of Moses." The term, "baptized into Moses" gives us a lucid idea of what Paul meant by being covenant.
During the transition period when the Old Covenant was fading away. At this time, the saints were being Baptized in the corporate "body of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) This is speaking about position, not only practice. This is a corporate body of believers wherein Christ is the head. We must read the Bible and think in terms of covenants.
This is very important to understand in order to get past the false idea of a physical bodily resurrection in scripture . By and far most commentators say and assume that Paul is talking about the physical body. It's kind of crazy to me how many commentators don't even deal with the “corporate body of Moses” and “corporate body of Christ" in scripture they just assume Paul is always addressing a physical body. Often, in the things, that are overlooked God expresses deep truths.
With that thought in mine before we get into how Paul used the metaphor “ body” let see how he used another metaphor “house” in relations to covenants. Hebrews 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward. Moses was faithful in all His house or covenant as a servant. Now notice what is said about Christ is the head over his house or covenant. Hebrews 3:6 NIV But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Notice here it says, WE ARE HIS HOUSE. The house is made up of a corporate body of believers. It is NOT a literal house. It is NOT a physical body. It is a spiritual house of believers.
I don’t believe Paul change the subject when he address a tent or house in (2 Corinthians 5:1-4) Acts 18:3 tells us that Paul was a professional Tentmaker. What does Paul mean when he writes about living in a tent or a house? Is he talking about a real literal tent or house? No, so why is it assumed Paul jumps into talking about our physical human body. I believe he is talking about the same corporate “house of Moses.” The old "tent or house of Moses was being made useless, and being torn down. Peter also used this same corporate language in 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The Bible never contradicts itself. To declare (a proposition, statement, etc.) opposite of (a proposition, or statement), made somewhere else in the Bible. The Bible is clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalms. 146:4.
Therefore, Paul never contradicts what was written in ECC 12:7 and Psa. 146:4 which was his Bible at the time. With this thought before us, lest look at 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NASB For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. In Paul's argument in this chapter he has been talking about two bodies. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB)
Now lets see what two bodies Paul was talking about here. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NASB) Here again Paul is using CORPORATE BODY language. The body of Adam and the body of Christ. Because of Adam’s sin all humanity was in the mortal corporate body of Adam. In the corporate body of Christ all humanity was made alive and put on immortality.
All that are in the first Adam put on immortality in the second Adam Christ. Notice what is swallowed up. And when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up to victory; (1 Corinthians 15:54 YLT) This is the death that came from Adam. So in the context of chapter 15 mortal is connected with the corporate body of Adam, as opposed to the immortality corporate body of Christ.
Alright, let's look at how Paul uses this word glory or glorious in terms of covenant change. For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9 NASB) This verse is much clearer in YLT. for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:11 YLT)
And in Romans 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And in Philippians 3:12 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. This should be clear that Paul is contrasting the two covenants.
If it be argued that the creation here is the earthly creation. When did the earthly creation eagerly waiting to be called the sons of God? (Roman 8:19) The earthly creation was never in bondage of corruption and waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body. The corporate body of Moses was and they were waiting the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21-26)
The Bible never contradicts itself. To declare (a proposition, statement, etc.) opposite of (a proposition, or statement), made some where else in the Bible. The Bible is clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalms. 146:4.
Therefore, Paul never contradicts what was written in ECC 12:7 and Psa. 146:4 which was his Bible at the time. With this thought before us, lest look at 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NASB For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. In Paul's argument in this chapter he has been talking about two bodies. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB)
Now lets see what two bodies Paul was talking about here. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NASB) Here again Paul is using CORPORATE BODY language. The body of Adam and the body of Christ. Because of Adam’s sin all humanity was in the mortal corporate body of Adam. In the corporate body of Christ all humanity was made alive and put on immortality.
All that are in the first Adam put on immortality in the second Adam Christ. Notice what is swallowed up. and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up to victory; (1 Corinthians 15:54 YLT) This is the death that came from Adam. So in the context of chapter 15 mortal is connected with the corporate body of Adam, as opposed to the immortality corporate body of Christ.
Alright, let's look at how Paul uses this word glory or glorious in terms of covenant change. For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9 NASB) This verse is much clearer in YLT. for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:11 YLT)
And in Romans 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And in Philippians 3:12 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. This should be clear that Paul is contrasting the two covenants.
If it be argued that the creation here is the earthly creation. When did the earthly creation eagerly waiting to be called the sons of God? (Roman 8:19) The earthly creation was never in bondage of corruption and waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body. The corporate body of Moses was and they were waiting the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21-26)
Paul has been talking about the change of covenants. Now let's look at how he used the"metaphor body" to speak about the change of covenants. He hasn't switched his topic between the corporate body of Adam and Moses and Christ to a physical, biological bodies, he is still talking about covenant identity. Now, lest look Phil. 3 21 a little deeper. who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
The first thing that should be obvious is the statement “our vile body” or our body of “humiliation,” which is the true meaning of the word vile. "Body" here is singular, he is not talking about plural bodies. The "our bodies" plural, but "our body" singular the corporate body of Moses. If Paul were talking bout the transformation of individual bodies Paul would have said “our bodies plural.” The fact is that in this text the body is one or singular, and it was composed of as many members waiting for the body of humiliation “corporate body of Moses” to be transformed into the glorious “corporate body of Christ.” The vile body singular, (not bodies) was waiting to be transformed into the glorious body singular, of Christ (Philippians 3:12)
The purchased possession was the body of humiliation waiting for the change, manifestation of the sons of God. (Roman 8:18:23) The redemption of our body (not bodies) in Roman 8:23 is equated with our vile body (not bodies) in Philippians 3:21 and corresponds to the redemption of purchased possession in Eph 1:14. We today ARE the sons of God and HAVE redemption and we are waiting for it so these things do not apply to us today.
Certainly, if Paul wanted us to understand that he meant bodies plural in the above verses he would have used it as he did in Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. And in Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
When Paul talks about being baptized in Moses and in Christ. This shows us that the physical people of Israel who made up the Old Covenant were the corporate body of Moses. And those who put their trust in Christ become part of the corporate body of Christ. In Romans 7:4 Paul is telling these believing Jews not to put themselves under the Law now that they are part of the body of Christ.
Paul uses this language all over the New Testament, it is mostly ignored.
However, Paul uses the metaphor “ body ” as a corporate body of Adam and corporate body of Moses. We are the corporate body of Christ, and members individually 1Cr 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. Could Paul concept of the corporate body with many individuals be made any more clear than what he says in this verse?
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A bodily resurrection of Christ
People sometimes ask me if Preterist believe in a bodily resurrection of Christ? I have no reason why? The answer is firmly and solidly based in the Scriptures! In this article I would like to show one very important reason why Jesus appeared in such a state that he was easily recognizable to the saints after his resurrection.
There never has been an event in history more important than when Jesus rose from the dead. But there was a problem. There was increasing tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders until it reaches its climax in connection with his death and burial. Thus the unbelieving Jews, had a plan to conceal the truth that Christ had risen.
The chief priests and the Pharisees had gone to Pilate and had asked for guards to be placed around the tomb of Jesus, for they remembered that our Lord had said He would rise again after three days.
Pilate granted their request, and gave them guards “four men who watched for three hours, then relieved by four men for the next three hours, etc., for the next three days”. They also put a seal on the stone. A seal consisted of placing a cord across the stone and securing the ends with clay stamped with an official seal of Rom. If the seal was broken it would be readily apparent.
The problem was that in spite of all these precautions they now had an empty tomb and no explanation except the truth of the resurrection. WHAT TO DO? The watch reported to the chief priests what had happened. (Matthew 28:11?)
Let’s stop here and educate ourselves a bit about the REAL Roman guard. The total number of the guards would have been from ten to thirty men. The soldiers did not get scared, deserted their post, ran back into the city, and reported to the Jewish priests. They were not the kind of men to jeopardize their Roman necks by sleeping at their post they were Roman soldiers, not merely Jewish temple guards...
The soldiers had very strict training the punishment for deserting one’s post or falling asleep while on guard duty was death. The fear of punishments produced faultless attention to duty, especially in the night watches. Since the penalty for falling asleep while on guard duty was DEATH, the last thing “all the soldiers guarding the tomb” would do was jeopardizing their necks by falling asleep or admitting to anybody that they had fallen ASLEEP. Roman soldiers would have NEVER used falling asleep on duty as an excuse. These were soldiers, Roman soldiers, and if they had “run away” to ANYONE, they would have been put to death.
Based upon these facts, let’s go back now and analyze Matthew 28:12-15 The only solution that makes sense was to make up a lie. The ruling Jews were evil, not stupid. It was at this juncture that the ruling Jewish leaders came up with a plan to destroy the faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When the chief priests met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. (Matthew 28:12-15 NIV). We see the lie that the disciples stole the body of Jesus was commonly reported among the Jews.
Let’s see what really happened on Resurrection Day:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:1-10 NIV)
And in verse 16 were read. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; “but some doubted”. (Matthew 28:16 NIV) Please keep in mind that some doubted.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. (Mark 16:12-13NIV)
It is here that we read about the doubt of Thomas, who was indeed also a believer of Jesus.. Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:23-28 NIV).
It is very important to see that Thomas also did not believe until he saw with his eyes that Jesus was indeed alive. Thomas was a real believer but had his real doubts about the resurrection of Christ. We are not told if he had his doubts because of the false lie that was commonly reported among the Jews. However, he had real doubts, none the least.
The Jewish believers struggled with a physical resurrection of Jesus so how could they ever understand (a resurrection of Jesus in the unseen realm)? “Unless Jesus’ body had been resurrected, His disciples would have had no assurance that His soul had been to Hades and had been resurrected.
How could the saints, or we, “see or comprehend’ what God accomplished in the spiritual realm, if Jesus did not REAPPEAR and show Himself in a physical bodily form in the physical realm? How could God have shown us the resurrection of His Son without the physical bodily aspect? The physical resurrection of Christ was essential to verify the spiritual to which it was tied.
Remember Matthew said, there was a reported among the Jew that the disciples came at night and stole the body of Jesus. The Jewish leaders were trying to cover up the resurrection as if it never happened. Jesus proved he had indeed been resurrected it by eating broiled fish and a honeycomb in their presence! “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39) The concocted lie was weak and had more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese.
Everything Jesus did in His earthly ministry was a type, or shadow, of a greater spiritual truth. He fed five-thousand because He is the Bread of Life. He calmed the stormy sea because He is the Prince of Peace. He forgave sin because He is the Savior of the world. He raised the dead and showed with his own resurrection that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
Paul understood that Jesus physical body resurrection pointed to greater spiritual truth and he writes. "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 2Cr 5:16 In other words Christ existed as a complete and a living personality before his birth in the flesh, the same can be said after his ascent back to where he was before. (John 6:62)
Our physical body is a compilation of an entire recipe consisting of DNA, RNA, electrons, neurons, atoms, cells, blood, tissue, intellect, consciousness and your blueprint as an individual. A physical resurrection of our bodies would have NO POINT since we will not continue living on this planet, breathing earth’s oxygen and eating earth’s food, after we die physically.”
It is interesting to note. Have you ever thought of how the corpses of the first century saints could be put back together when they were eaten by lions and other animals, and digested into countless other human bodies. How will those that were set on fire and their ashes, scattered be put back together? After death, various body particles return to dust, get assimilated into plants, and other kinds of life.
The Bible is really clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecc 12:7 The Bible states clearly the physical body RETURNS to the earth - not to heaven. In discussing man's plight on earth the Psalmist said: "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts PERISH [cease]" (Psalms. 146:4).
John also understood is simple truth. Notice John said. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2)
The beloved John who leaned back on Jesus' breast during the Last Supper, and the only male disciple present at the crucifixion. (John 13:23) Certainly John knows what Jesus looked like before and after his resurrection yet he says it has not yet been revealed what they shall be like. Our spirits or spiritual bodies will not be something that was changed or made over from our physical bodies because we are NOW COMPLETE in Christ. Our spirits or bodies ARE suited to the heavens and the spiritual realm.
There never has been an event in history more important than when Jesus rose from the dead. But there was a problem. There was increasing tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders until it reaches its climax in connection with his death and burial. Thus the unbelieving Jews, had a plan to conceal the truth that Christ had risen.
The chief priests and the Pharisees had gone to Pilate and had asked for guards to be placed around the tomb of Jesus, for they remembered that our Lord had said He would rise again after three days.
Pilate granted their request, and gave them guards “four men who watched for three hours, then relieved by four men for the next three hours, etc., for the next three days”. They also put a seal on the stone. A seal consisted of placing a cord across the stone and securing the ends with clay stamped with an official seal of Rom. If the seal was broken it would be readily apparent.
The problem was that in spite of all these precautions they now had an empty tomb and no explanation except the truth of the resurrection. WHAT TO DO? The watch reported to the chief priests what had happened. (Matthew 28:11?)
Let’s stop here and educate ourselves a bit about the REAL Roman guard. The total number of the guards would have been from ten to thirty men. The soldiers did not get scared, deserted their post, ran back into the city, and reported to the Jewish priests. They were not the kind of men to jeopardize their Roman necks by sleeping at their post they were Roman soldiers, not merely Jewish temple guards...
The soldiers had very strict training the punishment for deserting one’s post or falling asleep while on guard duty was death. The fear of punishments produced faultless attention to duty, especially in the night watches. Since the penalty for falling asleep while on guard duty was DEATH, the last thing “all the soldiers guarding the tomb” would do was jeopardizing their necks by falling asleep or admitting to anybody that they had fallen ASLEEP. Roman soldiers would have NEVER used falling asleep on duty as an excuse. These were soldiers, Roman soldiers, and if they had “run away” to ANYONE, they would have been put to death.
Based upon these facts, let’s go back now and analyze Matthew 28:12-15 The only solution that makes sense was to make up a lie. The ruling Jews were evil, not stupid. It was at this juncture that the ruling Jewish leaders came up with a plan to destroy the faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When the chief priests met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. (Matthew 28:12-15 NIV). We see the lie that the disciples stole the body of Jesus was commonly reported among the Jews.
Let’s see what really happened on Resurrection Day:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:1-10 NIV)
And in verse 16 were read. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; “but some doubted”. (Matthew 28:16 NIV) Please keep in mind that some doubted.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. (Mark 16:12-13NIV)
It is here that we read about the doubt of Thomas, who was indeed also a believer of Jesus.. Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:23-28 NIV).
It is very important to see that Thomas also did not believe until he saw with his eyes that Jesus was indeed alive. Thomas was a real believer but had his real doubts about the resurrection of Christ. We are not told if he had his doubts because of the false lie that was commonly reported among the Jews. However, he had real doubts, none the least.
The Jewish believers struggled with a physical resurrection of Jesus so how could they ever understand (a resurrection of Jesus in the unseen realm)? “Unless Jesus’ body had been resurrected, His disciples would have had no assurance that His soul had been to Hades and had been resurrected.
How could the saints, or we, “see or comprehend’ what God accomplished in the spiritual realm, if Jesus did not REAPPEAR and show Himself in a physical bodily form in the physical realm? How could God have shown us the resurrection of His Son without the physical bodily aspect? The physical resurrection of Christ was essential to verify the spiritual to which it was tied.
Remember Matthew said, there was a reported among the Jew that the disciples came at night and stole the body of Jesus. The Jewish leaders were trying to cover up the resurrection as if it never happened. Jesus proved he had indeed been resurrected it by eating broiled fish and a honeycomb in their presence! “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39) The concocted lie was weak and had more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese.
Everything Jesus did in His earthly ministry was a type, or shadow, of a greater spiritual truth. He fed five-thousand because He is the Bread of Life. He calmed the stormy sea because He is the Prince of Peace. He forgave sin because He is the Savior of the world. He raised the dead and showed with his own resurrection that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
Paul understood that Jesus physical body resurrection pointed to greater spiritual truth and he writes. "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 2Cr 5:16 In other words Christ existed as a complete and a living personality before his birth in the flesh, the same can be said after his ascent back to where he was before. (John 6:62)
Our physical body is a compilation of an entire recipe consisting of DNA, RNA, electrons, neurons, atoms, cells, blood, tissue, intellect, consciousness and your blueprint as an individual. A physical resurrection of our bodies would have NO POINT since we will not continue living on this planet, breathing earth’s oxygen and eating earth’s food, after we die physically.”
It is interesting to note. Have you ever thought of how the corpses of the first century saints could be put back together when they were eaten by lions and other animals, and digested into countless other human bodies. How will those that were set on fire and their ashes, scattered be put back together? After death, various body particles return to dust, get assimilated into plants, and other kinds of life.
The Bible is really clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecc 12:7 The Bible states clearly the physical body RETURNS to the earth - not to heaven. In discussing man's plight on earth the Psalmist said: "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts PERISH [cease]" (Psalms. 146:4).
John also understood is simple truth. Notice John said. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2)
The beloved John who leaned back on Jesus' breast during the Last Supper, and the only male disciple present at the crucifixion. (John 13:23) Certainly John knows what Jesus looked like before and after his resurrection yet he says it has not yet been revealed what they shall be like. Our spirits or spiritual bodies will not be something that was changed or made over from our physical bodies because we are NOW COMPLETE in Christ. Our spirits or bodies ARE suited to the heavens and the spiritual realm.
The man of sin.
The identification of Paul's "man of sin" is mentioned 2 Thessalonians 2:4-7. First of all, let me say these studies are NOT all about who is right and who is wrong. These studies are all about, what does the Bible really say. Paul told Timothy, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, (rightly dividing the word of truth). 2 Timothy 2:15
Over the centuries, a variety of people were identified as the "son of perdition or man of sin” Attila the Hun, Napoleon, the Pope, Mohammed, Hilter, Mussolini, Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Kissinger; and Mikhail Gorbachev. Virtually every unpopular public figure has qualified. Unfortunately, it's a tradition that has not died.
The truth is as we will see. Paul was talking about something present while he was writing, and which would come out into the open within his generation. Paul wrote during the time when the literal, Temple was still standing. There is no need for us to wish for the building of a third temple when these things have already been fulfilled in the time when the second Temple was standing.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:4 it says, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. The first thing that should be noticed in this verse, that goes against the teaching that the man of sin or son of perdition is the Holy Spirit is that he opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God. How does God oppose and exalts himself above all that is called God?
I propose that Paul's "man of sin" was, a specific person who set himself up in the Temple that was standing when Paul was writing. Paul gave no hint to the Thessalonians that this event would occur centuries later in some other "rebuilt temple.” Why would he be addressing a rebuilt temple when there was already a literal temple standing then? His first readers expected this fulfillment in their lifetime as we will see.
Since we are over 2000 years removed from this historical event, it is not important to us to know exactly who the “son of perdition,” was. So (take your pick.) Nero, a Zealot leader; the corrupt chief high priest. Paul never called the “son of perdition.” the Antichrist, he called him the “son of perdition” or “man of sin.”
Date the fall of 66. Josephus records that John of Gischala, the son of Levi, was established as the Zealot leader in control of the Temple area (there were three Zealot factions). This John physically entered the Temple, presented himself to the Zealots as a God-sent ambassador; and persuaded them to defy the laws of Rome and go to war to gain independence. He also instigated the calling in the Idumaeans to keep the Jewish sympathizers from submitting to Rome. He ordered the death of Ananus and the removal of the priesthood. After these atrocities, he became the official leader of the Zealot group in control of the Temple area. In short, this John established himself in the Temple, the one standing when Paul wrote.
Touching on the corruption of the chief high priest. The people of Jerusalem were in such a state of fear that they allowed the robbers to get away with appointing the high priests themselves. The zealots as they called themselves made the temple their one personal refuge. Casting lots to decide who should be appointed high priest. The lot fell to Phannias the son of Samuel, from the village of Aphtha, a man not only unworthy of the office but so ignorant he didn’t even know what the high priesthood was. (Josephus, 37 B.C A.D. 70)
Nero Caesar declared himself god incarnate (the god Apollo). Nero order an idol (a statue) of himself to be set up in the Temple. While Nero never entered the Temple in Jerusalem in person nevertheless a case could be made that it was his seat in the sense of the Jews having given him their worship for a season.
Point two. Paul wrote this letter (between A.D. 51 - 52). Paul reminded his first readers the Thessalonians, that they already knew what was restraining the "son of perdition." 2 Thessalonians 2:6 And now YOU KNOW what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. Paul did not have to tell them. And he didn't. Nor was it necessary; for they had discussed these matters before in many a private conversation verse 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? They know his identity and what was restraining him, according to the inspired Apostle Paul. This is not Paul’s opinion, this is inspired writ, i.e, God’s opinion.
No hints were necessary to the Thessalonians, for they had a key they know what reminded him. And since THEY KNOW what reminded him he could not possibly have been someone that would exist in our future centuries later. This language plainly indicates that the apostle and his readers were well acquainted with the name "son of perdition’ and knew what was restraining him.
The Character of the Canaanites cult Justifies the Command to Destroy Them.
We know from the Bible and from experience that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgives rebellion and sin. The Bible tells us that again and again.
A question I’ve seen asked here on Facebook goes like this. “Why the heck would we want to believe in a God who commanded his chosen nation to annihilate the other nations and a savior who promised to come back with a vengeance to destroy those who did not believe in him?
The divine command to exterminate from the face of the earth all men, women, and children belonging to Canaan is one of the most frequently raised objections to seeing God as just and loving in the Old Testament. How can God's fairness and mercy be seen in such blanket and wholesale condemnation of entire nations? It’s important to be able to answer to this question.
In Deuteronomy 20:16, 17 God gives these instructions to Israel. In the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Read also Deuteronomy 7:1-6.
First of all God gave the Canaanites 400 years to repent while Israel was in Egypt and 40 more years while Israel wandered in the wilderness. The point is that the Israelites' possession of the Promised Land had to wait. It had to wait more than four hundred and forty years, because that was how much time God gave the Canaanites and Amorites to turn back from their evil ways. God was not impatient. The characteristic of God is seen in the patience and the long suffering of God.
Second the Canaanites had access to the truth. The Canaanites knew about the complete destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They knew Sodom was a warning to the nations that God would judge evil. (2 Peter 2:6) They were wicked not ignorant people. We know that they had heard of these events, for Rahab confessed that some of these events had terrorized her city of Jericho and that she, as a result, had placed her faith in the God of the Hebrews (Joshua 2:10-14).
What was going on in Canaan that was so bad that God singled them out and even ordered the children killed? The judgment on the people in Canaan, was similar to the Flood or Sodom and Gomorrah. The Canaanites were not everyday people. God told Moses that the nations that the Hebrew were replacing were wicked. (Deuteronomy 9:5)
How "wicked" were these people? The text tells us that they were burning their own sons and daughters in sacrifices to their gods. The victims were not only infants; children as old as four were sacrificed. (Deuteronomy 12:3) When a person starts to burn their children in honor of their gods and practice sodomy, Incest, bestiality, the land itself begins to "vomit" them out. (Leviticus. 18:23-25, 20:3) Probably the ultimate sexual depravity is intercourse with animals.
The religion of these people was a fertility cult. They turned their women into temple prostitutes. Canaanite religion, was a fertility religion that involved temple sex. The Canaanites broke every moral law. In other words, they put their false gods before the well being of their wives and children.
The Canaanites worshiped other gods, which the Old Testament frequently denounced as no more than sticks or pottery made by human hands that could not “see or hear or eat or smell” (Deuteronomy 4:28 NIV). The Canaanites were literally destroying themselves with their sin. They were doing things that were just awful and hideous. They were cut off to prevent Israel and the rest of the world from being corrupted (Deut. 20:16-18).
Moses spoke these 'Last Words' to the Israelites before he hands over the leadership of Joshua, and then dies. Notice particularly what Moses says. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
The Canaanites become a Snare to Israel After Not Being Fully Destroyed as commanded. Israel's failure to fully exterminate all the Canaanites is a good object lesson in the fact that they should have been removed. Because they came back time and time again to haunt the children of Israel until the Canaanites led them to idolatry and pulled their hearts away from God.
Israel’s failure to fully exterminate all the Canaanites as God commanded them empowered them to adopt the sin of the Canaanites and thereby procure God’s judgment on them. For God does not show favoritism. Israel was warned not to let the Canaanites live in their land, but to completely destroy them (Exod. 23:33; Deut. 20:16–18), lest the Israelites learn the Canaanite ways (Exod. 34:15–16). If they did not destroy them, the land would “vomit” them out just as it had vomited out the Canaanites (Num. 33:56; Lev. 18:28; Deut 4:23–29, 8:19–20).
Instead, the Israelites worshiped the Canaanites’ gods and “did evil” (Judg. 10:6; 1 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 17:10). They had “male shrine prostitutes” (1 Kings 14:22), committed acts of “lewdness,” adultery, and incest (Jer. 5:7; 29:23; Hos. 4:13–14; Ezek. 22:10–11; Amos 2:7), and even Solomon set up an altar to Molech (1 Kings 11:5, 7–8). But instead of repenting when things went badly, they concluded in their way.
In Judges 3 we read of the Jews falling away from God through relations to the Heathen Canaanites. And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. (Judges 3:5-6)
Because the Israelites were not zealous about carrying out our Lord's commands it cost them dearly. The Psalmist has this to say. They did not destroy the peoples, Concerning whom the LORD had commanded them, But they mingled with the Gentiles, and learned their works; They served their idols, Which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons And their daughters to demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood. Thus, they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them. (Psalms 106:34-4)
The nation of Israel was familiar with the history of Canaan and why God commanded them to completely destroy them and they still adopted their customs after God warned them not to go after other gods. Deuteronomy 6:14 "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you
God strongly warned the nation of Israel and they still played the harlot with other gods, (Judges 2:17). They were backsliders and the fear of God was not in them" (Jeremiah 2:19-20) Please read all the chapter.
So the Lord said that Israel became “like Sodom to me” (Jer. 23:14). In short, Israel was canonized. God sent prophets to warn Israel of their coming destruction, but they didn’t repent and He visited destruction on Israel for committing the same sins. So now we understand from scripture, why the destruction of Israel was more than just the rejection of their Messiah.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, we don’t fight with “the weapons of the world,” but “we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (NIV). In other words, in knowing the truth about God, we are now waging war in the realm of ideas that says God is not a just God. Because when all the evidence is gathered in a good attorney has a closed case.
God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithful, to his words even in the times of judgement.
A question I’ve seen asked here on Facebook goes like this. “Why the heck would we want to believe in a God who commanded his chosen nation to annihilate the other nations and a savior who promised to come back with a vengeance to destroy those who did not believe in him?
The divine command to exterminate from the face of the earth all men, women, and children belonging to Canaan is one of the most frequently raised objections to seeing God as just and loving in the Old Testament. How can God's fairness and mercy be seen in such blanket and wholesale condemnation of entire nations? It’s important to be able to answer to this question.
In Deuteronomy 20:16, 17 God gives these instructions to Israel. In the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Read also Deuteronomy 7:1-6.
First of all God gave the Canaanites 400 years to repent while Israel was in Egypt and 40 more years while Israel wandered in the wilderness. The point is that the Israelites' possession of the Promised Land had to wait. It had to wait more than four hundred and forty years, because that was how much time God gave the Canaanites and Amorites to turn back from their evil ways. God was not impatient. The characteristic of God is seen in the patience and the long suffering of God.
Second the Canaanites had access to the truth. The Canaanites knew about the complete destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They knew Sodom was a warning to the nations that God would judge evil. (2 Peter 2:6) They were wicked not ignorant people. We know that they had heard of these events, for Rahab confessed that some of these events had terrorized her city of Jericho and that she, as a result, had placed her faith in the God of the Hebrews (Joshua 2:10-14).
What was going on in Canaan that was so bad that God singled them out and even ordered the children killed? The judgment on the people in Canaan, was similar to the Flood or Sodom and Gomorrah. The Canaanites were not everyday people. God told Moses that the nations that the Hebrew were replacing were wicked. (Deuteronomy 9:5)
How "wicked" were these people? The text tells us that they were burning their own sons and daughters in sacrifices to their gods. The victims were not only infants; children as old as four were sacrificed. (Deuteronomy 12:3) When a person starts to burn their children in honor of their gods and practice sodomy, Incest, bestiality, the land itself begins to "vomit" them out. (Leviticus. 18:23-25, 20:3) Probably the ultimate sexual depravity is intercourse with animals.
The religion of these people was a fertility cult. They turned their women into temple prostitutes. Canaanite religion, was a fertility religion that involved temple sex. The Canaanites broke every moral law. In other words, they put their false gods before the well being of their wives and children.
The Canaanites worshiped other gods, which the Old Testament frequently denounced as no more than sticks or pottery made by human hands that could not “see or hear or eat or smell” (Deuteronomy 4:28 NIV). The Canaanites were literally destroying themselves with their sin. They were doing things that were just awful and hideous. They were cut off to prevent Israel and the rest of the world from being corrupted (Deut. 20:16-18).
Moses spoke these 'Last Words' to the Israelites before he hands over the leadership of Joshua, and then dies. Notice particularly what Moses says. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
The Canaanites become a Snare to Israel After Not Being Fully Destroyed as commanded. Israel's failure to fully exterminate all the Canaanites is a good object lesson in the fact that they should have been removed. Because they came back time and time again to haunt the children of Israel until the Canaanites led them to idolatry and pulled their hearts away from God.
Israel’s failure to fully exterminate all the Canaanites as God commanded them empowered them to adopt the sin of the Canaanites and thereby procure God’s judgment on them. For God does not show favoritism. Israel was warned not to let the Canaanites live in their land, but to completely destroy them (Exod. 23:33; Deut. 20:16–18), lest the Israelites learn the Canaanite ways (Exod. 34:15–16). If they did not destroy them, the land would “vomit” them out just as it had vomited out the Canaanites (Num. 33:56; Lev. 18:28; Deut 4:23–29, 8:19–20).
Instead, the Israelites worshiped the Canaanites’ gods and “did evil” (Judg. 10:6; 1 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 17:10). They had “male shrine prostitutes” (1 Kings 14:22), committed acts of “lewdness,” adultery, and incest (Jer. 5:7; 29:23; Hos. 4:13–14; Ezek. 22:10–11; Amos 2:7), and even Solomon set up an altar to Molech (1 Kings 11:5, 7–8). But instead of repenting when things went badly, they concluded in their way.
In Judges 3 we read of the Jews falling away from God through relations to the Heathen Canaanites. And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. (Judges 3:5-6)
Because the Israelites were not zealous about carrying out our Lord's commands it cost them dearly. The Psalmist has this to say. They did not destroy the peoples, Concerning whom the LORD had commanded them, But they mingled with the Gentiles, and learned their works; They served their idols, Which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons And their daughters to demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood. Thus, they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them. (Psalms 106:34-4)
The nation of Israel was familiar with the history of Canaan and why God commanded them to completely destroy them and they still adopted their customs after God warned them not to go after other gods. Deuteronomy 6:14 "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you
God strongly warned the nation of Israel and they still played the harlot with other gods, (Judges 2:17). They were backsliders and the fear of God was not in them" (Jeremiah 2:19-20) Please read all the chapter.
So the Lord said that Israel became “like Sodom to me” (Jer. 23:14). In short, Israel was canonized. God sent prophets to warn Israel of their coming destruction, but they didn’t repent and He visited destruction on Israel for committing the same sins. So now we understand from scripture, why the destruction of Israel was more than just the rejection of their Messiah.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, we don’t fight with “the weapons of the world,” but “we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (NIV). In other words, in knowing the truth about God, we are now waging war in the realm of ideas that says God is not a just God. Because when all the evidence is gathered in a good attorney has a closed case.
God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithful, to his words even in the times of judgement.
No more sea.
It has always amazed how God used Paul and John to teach the same message of salvation, but in a different, languages that the Gentiles and Jews could easily understand. Paul wrote as a gentile that he might win the gentiles. And John uses... Symbolic, language from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience wound relate to.
Paul writes to his gentile audience, and describes how the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-19 Wherefore remember, that you 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 you 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 you 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. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Easy language that any gentiles could understand.
The apostle John writes to his Jewish audience. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the “sea was no more”. (Revelation 21:1) John also writes that the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ. However, John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience would easily recognize?
Many of the deeper meanings of the Old Testament are missed because symbolic, language is used so extensively. There is probably no greater symbolic, language which related to the gentiles in the Old Testament then the metaphor of the sea. John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the Old Testament that a first century Jew would have found immediately recognizable. The metaphor sea was used before in such books as the, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. They are all closely associated with the book of Revelation.
The metaphors in the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when they are only alluded to. They can be used so subtly that it is easy to miss the real message. Lest consider the uses of some of these metaphor, about the sea from the Old Testament and to whom it refers.
Isaiah 60:1-5 we read. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. {2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. {3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. {4} Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. {5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
The sea here is obviously referring to the Gentiles. The abundance of the sea that are being converted are the forces of the Gentiles according Isaiah. This passage speaks of a uniting of Gentiles, and Jehovah (Yahweh).
The Psalmist speaks of the prophecy that God would gather the Israelites that were scattered among the nations or the sea: Psalms 68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: This cannot be talking about the literal sea H20 because the nation of Israel was never literally under the depths of the sea. However, Israel was scattered among the nations, her enemies that were described by the prophets as the sea. Throughout her physical existence, Israel was plagued by the captive captivity of the sea, particularly being taken captive into Babylon.
The Psalmist also tells us of Yahweh’s righteousness and salvation who’s confidence are at the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness, wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
It is interesting here how the Psalmist describes those upon the sea as "afar off." That is how Paul describes the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:12 That at that time you 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 you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14
Zephaniah pronounces how the Messiah would bring peace unto the heathen nations and reign over them from sea to sea. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. {10} And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Daniel describes the four beasts (Beasts are symbols of Nations & their Governments gentile nations) Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, and Rome) as the beasts of the sea. The "sea" symbolizing "heathendom.” Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. In John’s time, they were in the age of Rome, Empire the fourth period
John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the rest of the Old Testament that was his Bible. The language "land/earth" is generally associated with the Jews in Revelation and the sea is associated with the Greeks/Gentiles.
In the church age, there is no more sea, that is, no more Gentiles. The Jew/Gentile distinction of the old covenant has been destroyed by Christ. There is no more distinction between Israel and the Gentile nations: Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It was predicted that the heavenly Jerusalem would be the worship center for all the nations: Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Paul writes to his gentile audience, and describes how the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-19 Wherefore remember, that you 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 you 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 you 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. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Easy language that any gentiles could understand.
The apostle John writes to his Jewish audience. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the “sea was no more”. (Revelation 21:1) John also writes that the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ. However, John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience would easily recognize?
Many of the deeper meanings of the Old Testament are missed because symbolic, language is used so extensively. There is probably no greater symbolic, language which related to the gentiles in the Old Testament then the metaphor of the sea. John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the Old Testament that a first century Jew would have found immediately recognizable. The metaphor sea was used before in such books as the, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. They are all closely associated with the book of Revelation.
The metaphors in the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when they are only alluded to. They can be used so subtly that it is easy to miss the real message. Lest consider the uses of some of these metaphor, about the sea from the Old Testament and to whom it refers.
Isaiah 60:1-5 we read. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. {2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. {3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. {4} Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. {5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
The sea here is obviously referring to the Gentiles. The abundance of the sea that are being converted are the forces of the Gentiles according Isaiah. This passage speaks of a uniting of Gentiles, and Jehovah (Yahweh).
The Psalmist speaks of the prophecy that God would gather the Israelites that were scattered among the nations or the sea: Psalms 68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: This cannot be talking about the literal sea H20 because the nation of Israel was never literally under the depths of the sea. However, Israel was scattered among the nations, her enemies that were described by the prophets as the sea. Throughout her physical existence, Israel was plagued by the captive captivity of the sea, particularly being taken captive into Babylon.
The Psalmist also tells us of Yahweh’s righteousness and salvation who’s confidence are at the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness, wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
It is interesting here how the Psalmist describes those upon the sea as "afar off." That is how Paul describes the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:12 That at that time you 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 you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14
Zephaniah pronounces how the Messiah would bring peace unto the heathen nations and reign over them from sea to sea. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. {10} And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Daniel describes the four beasts (Beasts are symbols of Nations & their Governments gentile nations) Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, and Rome) as the beasts of the sea. The "sea" symbolizing "heathendom.” Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. In John’s time, they were in the age of Rome, Empire the fourth period
John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the rest of the Old Testament that was his Bible. The language "land/earth" is generally associated with the Jews in Revelation and the sea is associated with the Greeks/Gentiles.
In the church age, there is no more sea, that is, no more Gentiles. The Jew/Gentile distinction of the old covenant has been destroyed by Christ. There is no more distinction between Israel and the Gentile nations: Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It was predicted that the heavenly Jerusalem would be the worship center for all the nations: Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
The house of Israel the vineyard of the Lord.
During the Old Covenant Israel was like a vine planted in the land. In Psalm 80:8-11 a summary of the history of Israel is record that goes on to describe how this vine spread across the country from Jordan to the Mediterranean which opens with the words. You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. You prepared room for it, And caused it to take deep root, And it filled the land. The hills were covered with its shadow, And the mighty cedars with its boughs. She sent out her boughs to the Sea, And her branches to the River.
Yahweh as John the Baptist used metaphor from the culture of Israel that they would immediately recognize. Grapevines and vineyards were critical to the life of the people of Israel, and they were highly valued. (1Kings 21:2-3)
Psalm 80:8-11 archaeology shows very clearly how Israel subsequent entry into the Promised Land, their "planting." God's planting became a wild vine, a vine in short which rejected its Husbandman. It ran wild and produced wild grapes, or as Isaiah put it, Isaiah 5:1 Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3: And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5: And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
It is clear from these verses that the house of Israel is the vineyard the men of Judah are his pleasant plant. The output of a vineyard depends basically on three things: climate, soil quality and work. Notice that after Yahweh had done the initial preparatory work of digging, planting clearing out the stones and hedging He expected good grapes. Yahweh had done more than His share in these three areas. What turned out? Isaiah 5: He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. All vineyards, orchards and gardens must be given time to come to fruition. Now the time had come and Yahweh expects results in proportion to the input He has made in the vineyard.
Many centuries later, Jesus used this metaphor of a vineyard in Mark 12:1-12 that would immediately bring to mind the figure of a vineyard referring to Israel in (Isaiah 5:1-7) What then does all this mean? God expected them to produce spiritual fruit. After all, this is the main produce of every spiritual vineyard. But notice the language Jesus used as he speaks the Pharisees and scribes. Matthew 23:15 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. The nation of Israel was to be a light to all the other nation and lead them to God, but instead they shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. Those who produced wild fruit wound deeply regret it on the Day of Judgement.
Isaiah says the hedges of protection is removed. Isaiah 5:5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. This picture is repeated again using the same metaphor.
Notice language of the Psalmist about the hedges of protection Psalm 80:12-16 Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? The boar out of the woods uproots it, And the wild beast of the field devours it. Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, And visit this vine, And the vineyard, which Your right hand has planted, And the branch that You made strong for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Did they perish by fire after God removed his hedges of protection? You bet they did.
Some years later, after John the baptist and Jesus made their predictions about the harvest. The apostle John writes about the very same harvest in Revelation. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. (Revelation 14-15)
There are some very important things here that must be understood in context of these verses. One the language of a sickle, cutting into a ripe harvest is always used by God before about His judgment in (Joel 3:1-13) Two a winepress is used to separate the seed from the wine. Pressing - The skins and seeds and stems are separated from the juice This metaphor of separating is used by John the Baptist and Jesus as well making a reference to flesh Israel.
Three the word “earth” is often used in our translations of the book of Revelation. The Greek word γη would often be better translated “land.” Its definition is given by various Greek Lexicons as land, earth, soil, or dirt. This word does not have a “planet” meaning as does our term “earth.” This Greek word is translated “earth” only 65 % of the time when it appears outside Revelation. However, the word is translated 97% of the time “earth” in the book of Revelation. This makes many passages appear to be world-wide when the context indicates a localized action or condition.
The land or earth is the land of Palestine clearly under discussion here by John. Notice how it is normally translated “land” as in Matthew 10:15, 11:24.
Forth the distance of the blood flowing out of the winepress is 1,600 stadia. They were wild grapes of the vine of the land who would be trampled. The blood flowing as high as the horses’ bridles would portray the gravity of this judgment. The distance of 1,600 stadia (about 180 miles) just happens to be the approximate length of the land of Palestine. The judgment would be in the land of Palestine not the planet “earth.”
John the baptist timing about God’s judgment on that very generation was right on. However, there is a 40 year period called the all ready but not yet. God waited another 40 years for his judgment, not willing that anyone should perish.
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