The Second Exodus, Part 3.

The Apostle Paul, who is perhaps the most influential early Christian missionary also noticed the resemblances between the first exodus of National Israel and the ministry of Jesus. One of the most interesting things about Paul’s gospels is his Old Testament links to the story of the first exodus of the nation of Israel as well. Through his missionary activity and writings, he eventually transformed religious belief.

During their ministry the apostles did their best to win the hearts and minds of the Jewish people away from the types and shadows that were under the old Mosaic, covenant. The apostles did this by pointing them back to the experience of their ancestors during the history of Israel. (1 Corinthians 10:11)

When the Apostle Paul wrote about the scene at the Red Sea, he recalls, ’their ancestors’ being baptized into Moses. (1 Corinthians 10:2) If you go back to Exodus 14 and 15, you will find where the nation of Israel crossed the sea with Moses there they were baptized into Moses.

The Israelites were not baptized in the sense that they were baptized literally in water, but in the sense that they were literally surrounded by water, though the water did not touch them. In the figurative sense, the children of Israel were submerged in the Red Sea.

This is why Paul uses the figurative language that Israel was baptized into Moses. To be figuratively baptized is to be joined to a head, and devoted themselves to Moses leadership (and law) through him, God’s leadership. In this context, Paul is attempting to show us a certain experience of the Old Testament typological of baptism. Throughout scripture, God points his people to what he has already done in the history of the nation of Israel.

Jews were well acquainted with the concept of baptism prior to Paul using this figurative language. In order to understand Paul’s point we have to go back into the ancient history of the nation of Israel because it is there we will find many of the examples we need to understand this spiritual journey. Water baptism (immersion) was not originally a Christian act.

Many Christians today think that water baptism is something that began with John the Baptist or when the New Covenant began, but water baptism has deep roots in biblical Judaism. All through the (old testament), whenever the children of Israel, come before God, they cleansed themselves.

Although the term “baptism” is not used in the Old Testament to describe the Jewish rituals, the purification rites (or mikvah-ritual immersion) in Jewish law and tradition have many similarities to water baptism that are almost identical. A good example the Priest Washing. Exodus 29:4 "And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water. Leviticus 8:6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

The Israelite Washing. Leviticus 22:6 'the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he washes his body with water. The Jewish law was very strict in this ceremony.

The Jews did not understand these washes to be taken out of a scrub brush and taking the dust and filth off the body. Nor did they understand these washes to be a simple sprinkling of water. The Jews believed that immersion in water was necessary and that the water much touch every part of the body to become ritually clean. The water also has to be “living water” for example from springs or groundwater wells.

So the Jews were well acquainted with the concept of baptism and how Paul was using the term in relation to Moses. 1 Corinthians 10:2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. The entire exodus theme that applied to the nation of Israel devoted themselves to Moses leadership and God’s.

Is now being applied to God’s spiritual Israel under the leadership of Christ. Romans 6-2-3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The dying-rising theme, in, Romans 6-2-3 gave deeper meaning to that allegiance, with Christ, namely that the believer is connected to Christ leadership because the believer has died with his savior and has received Christ’s life in place of his own. Paul is demonstrating a change in the life of the believer (eternal life) with regard to a change in allegiance from the head and leadership of Moses to Christ.

Everything has a parallel, everything in the new covenant can find their physical counterpart in the old testament. The foundational meaning of baptism to Paul is a declaration of the acceptance of Christ’s lordship.

Jesus wanted to be baptized to demonstrate His solidarity with Israel in her need, and thus to “fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) At that moment the first century saint were baptized in Christ it demonstrated their exodus out of the old dying covenant body of Moses into the new covenant body of Christ. They openly devoted themselves to the leadership of Christ and through him, God’s leadership.

In the first exodus out of Egypt the nation of Israel was baptized into Moses who gave temporary deliverance from bondage and slave of sin. The priest of Israel offered up the daily sacrifice (Lev. 8) Daily sins had to be met by the sacrifice of the day. The conscience of sin before God was never at rest.

In the second exodus out of Egypt through God’s Son (Jesus). Spiritual Israel was baptized into Christ, which is eternal deliverance from bondage and slave of sin. Hebrews 7:27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. The second exodus is much greater than the first.

The Second Exodus, Part 2.

Israel’s exodus from Egypt as a type to be fulfilled in the ministry of Christ finds its starting point in the first book of the New Testament. The New Testament gospel writers, have noticed the resemblances between the first exodus of National Israel and the ministry of Jesus. One of the most interesting things about Matthew and Paul’s gospels are there Old Testament links to the first exodus. We will dive into Paul’s later.

In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was called God's son. In the first exodus God called his son out of Egypt. Exodus. 4:22-23 "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. "So I say to you, (let My son go) that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn." (emphasis added)

Matthew records to how Joseph received a warning from the angel about Herod's plan to kill the Child Jesus and how Joseph takes Mary and the baby Jesus and escapes by night into Egypt; (Matthew 2:13-15)

But then Matthew quotes something that would seem to be very odd. Matthew insert when Jesus first went into Egypt? v. 13 he was fulfilling Hosea 11:1? "Out of Egypt I called my Son." Matthew places the quotation of Hosea’s Son coming out of Egypt, before Jesus even goes into Egypt. What is going on here that is really awkward. Believe me, what Matthew has in mind is not awkward. Matthew wants us to see the deeper significance of Jesus' journey into Egypt.

God called the nation of Israel out from under the bondage and slavery of Egypt to serve Him and bring a revelation light to the gentile and His salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) However the nation of Israel did a great evil and abandoned the God of their fathers, and started serving other gods. Judges 2:11-13 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.

How does Jesus descent into Egypt to bring about the second exodus fulfilling the Messianic promise of Hosea 11:1? God could have abandoned His plans when the nation of Israel, He called out of Egypt, failed to serve Him and bear witness to the Gentiles. Yet that is not what He did, as revealed in Matthew 2:13–15 which describes Jesus’ descent into Egypt and return to Galilee as a fulfillment of a prophecy first given in (Hosea 11:1)

Jesus descent into Egypt and return from Egypt is fulfilling the failed mission of the nation of Israel. Jesus is the true Son, who came out of Egypt and serves God. John 14:10 The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jesus also brings a light to the Gentiles as told a devout man named Simeon. Luke 2:32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel. Now do you see what Matthew is doing? Jesus is the true Son, who came from Egypt doing the work God call him to do.

And that is not all. The nation of Israel coming out from under the bondage and slavery of Egypt under the leadership of Moses was a type and shadow of God’s Israel coming out from under the bondage and slavery of sin under the leadership of Christ.

In the times of Christ, there was a great bondage and slave master must like Pharoah. In fact, this bondage and slave master had been oppressing the Israelites and all of humanity since the fall of Adam. The bondage and slave master is sin. Jesus brings this point out when speaking to Abraham’s descendants the members of national Israel who thought they had never been in bondage. Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (John 8:34)

Matthew’s Exodus typology is to strengthen the faith of those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and deliver. Their only hope of going from slavery to freedom was an exodus by the shed blood on the cross. Thus Paul, used the language of bondage in Galatians 5:1 as he admonishes believers to, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." The yoke of bondage Paul speaking of is the old covenant of the law.

There are many comparisons in scripture. Pharaoh and Herod for example. Both sought to destroy God’s delivers of slavery by slaughtering male babies. As Moses escaped Pharaoh, Jesus escapes Herod. Do you see the pattern? Jesus is reliving Israel's history. Matthew wants to assure his reader, that Jesus was the true deliver sent by God and in him is their complete exodus, from the captivity of sin.

We see the “Second Exodus” in the nature of the ministry of Christ. In the fulness of time God sent his Son to deliver the Israelites from the bondage and slavery of sin, so they we might receive adoption as sons.

The story of the Second Exodus.

Have you heard about the Second Exodus? The what? Well, there is a first Exodus that is chronicled in the book of Exodus where the people of Israel had been living in bondage and slavery to the Egyptians for the last 400+ years (cf. Genesis 15:13-14). Then, when it was just too much the Israelites cried out to God and he heard their cry. In response he sent Moses to them to deliver them from Egypt, the land of slavery. Deuteronomy 5:6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Through their slavery, God is working in his people. He chooses Moses to lead his people out of slavery (God Chooses a Leader) (Exodus 3:11).

Before we look at the actual Second Exodus, it's important to know what God will do to rescue His people! For time and space I will just highlight some things. In all of God's dealings with Israel and Judah, and especially regarding the Second Exodus, we see His perfect application of justice and mercy. The Second Exodus would be so incredible and miraculous, the first Exodus would be pale by comparison.

First this would be a time referred to as "Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:5-8). It would also be a time when God would use mighty miracles to gather his people. God would bring physical healing. Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

And God will bring spiritual healing and open their minds to peace and the truth. Jeremiah 33:6 'Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

They would be overwhelmed with emotion and be eager to return to God. Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. See also (Jeremiah 33:11)

The dead of Israel, would Exodus, from the grip of the grave. Daniel 12:1-3 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

Concerning the remnant of Israel God says, Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18)

The Bible also describes a large highway for Israel's return (Isaiah 11:16 35:8-10; 43:19). Whatever obstacles are in the way, God will miraculously remove them. Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth.

Israel would again grow from a small handful to an innumerable multitude (Hosea 1:10). "Yet the number of the children of Israel Shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There it shall be said to them, 'You are sons of the living God.

The Greatest Miracle of the Second Exodus. God would bring salvation to his people Israel. Jeremiah 33:8 'I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.

God says He would put My Spirit (His Holy Spirit) within them and cause them to walk in his statutes, and keep his judgments. (Ezekiel 36:27) "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Individuals would begin receiving God's Spirit. And unlike their ancestors, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David etc. They would have the heart and desire to obey God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,

God says He will send shepherds to this remnant, to feed them and take care of them. Isaiah 40:10-11 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. See also (Ezekiel 34:1:15)

There are also several passages in Isaiah that foretell of the coming deliverance. Isaiah 59:20 "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.

So we see the events of the second exodus was much greater than the first exodus when God brought the Nation of Israel out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I will be going into how God accomplished these great things one by one at the end of our study. Stay tuned in.

Living in the power of the cross. A time of all ready, but not yet.

Because the old heaven and earth Mosaic, covenant had not complete vanished away. (Hebrew 8:13)

The new testament writer “were embryonic ”sons in a halfway as were all Christians of that period. They were in a transition period, of leaving the Old Covenant body of Moses 1 Corinthians 10:2 and entering into the New Covenant body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).

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 in or on the Cross, then what need was there for a further Resurrection of the saints??? - Do you follow?

Did not Paul in his personal ministry years after the cross state before King Agrippa, that the Resurrection was the hope of Israel? "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. "To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? (Acts 26:6-8) The Cross was the linchpin, the central part in securing salvation.

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) emphasizes add.

One must question, "How was Paul preaching, no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come if the old covenant had been superseded by the new, and the old no longer existed?" (Acts 26:22) Obviously, Paul was still waiting for the full inauguration of the new covenant after the cross. Paul’s hope, the hope of Israel, was not yet fulfilled.

Peter also confirms that they hadn’t received all that was to be theirs, at the cross, and his writings reflected that truth 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) emphasizes add.

What last time? The last times of the Old heaven and earth the Mosaic, order. No where does the Bible teach the end of time, however the Bible does teach the time of the end. "In Hebrews 9:26 the KJV says, "But now once in the (end of the world) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Notice is says Christ has already appeared at the end of the world.

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) says, "but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested." It was at the end of the Old Testament ages that Christ appeared. Those were the last days, as the world nears the end” Christ has come to do the work of the Father.

Hebrews 9:26 “Once in the end of the world; the days of Christ's ministry on earth, called the last time, 1 John 2:18, the ends of the world, 1 Corinthians 10:11, the fulness of the time, Galatians 4:4, God's set and best time for his appearance; and it was but once that he appeared in these days, performing this work.”

So the inspired Apostles speak of salvation, ready to be reviled “years after” the cross. Yet after the death, of Christ the faithful “lived in and spoke of their redemption in the perfect tense.”I want you to imagine something. Imagine you are a member of Christ’s own generation. The Messiah had come! Let’s say you heard His words of promise and they felt like sweet music upon your ear. You witness His life, but you also witnessed His death, burial, and resurrection. Now imagine you witnessed His ascension, back into heaven. On the day of Pentecost you were sealed with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4)

What do you believe would be the end result of your experiences? My answer quite simply stated is "faith." A faith so strong most could not conceive of doubting the power of Jesus’ blood on the cross. A faith so strong it enables one to speak of atonement as a finished product. They were so confident in this already but not yet completion.

The Christians who lived at the end of that age/world heaven and earth trust Christ and lived in that trust. In Ephesians 1:13-14 it states, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession." In Christ, through the Holy Spirit, they had the guarantee of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.

So, though they lived and spoken of atonement in the perfect tense, they were indeed still waiting for it. 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." emphasizes add.

They know their salvation was guaranteed, and they know they still had to wait for its completion. They hoped and looked forward to Christ’s coming knowing at that time their salvation would be complete. "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) emphasizes add.

Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." The hope they possessed is not the brand of hope we think of today as in, "I hope I win the lottery" their hope is defined by the archaic definition of the word hope, which means to "place trust, or rely in." To those sealed with the Holy Spirit redemption was a fact they trusted in, and thus they were able to speak of redemption as if it was a present completed reality.

Moses used figuratively and metaphorically language explaining how God created Israel.

In an earlier study, we have seen how Moses used figuratively and metaphorically language explaining how God created Israel. Not only did God make them His own, people in addition, He created for them a world of their own; and covenant called “heavens and earth.” Isaiah. 51:15,16 “But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, (Thou art my people).” (emphasizes, added)

God was speaking of the time when He created Israel’s heavens and the earth. The material creation existed long before Yahweh spoke these words. The Mosaic Covenant was thought of as the heaven and earth. Moses is using metaphorical language when emphasizing rulers of Israel as the heavens and the people as the earth.

In Deuteronomy 32:1, Moses said, “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.” Moses was not speaking to the literal heavens and rocks on earth he was speaking to the people of Israel. In figurative language, the "heavens and earth here are simply the covenant, religious and political authorities in the land of Palestine and the people who lived there.

Matthew 5:17-19 is a favorite passage that often raises discussions and debates. Jesus said he came not to destroy the Law but to keep the Law perfectly. “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets; I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.”

Of special significance to the word “destroy” translates the Greek term kataluo, literally meaning to “loose down.” The word is found seventeen times in the New Testament. It is used, for example, for the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans (Matthew. 26:61; 27:40; Acts 6:14), and of the dissolving of the human body at death. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

It is especially important to note how the word is used in Matthew 5:17. In this context, “destroy” is set in opposition to “fulfill.” Christ came "… not to destroy, but [all — adversative particle] to fulfill. Jesus did not come to this earth for the purpose of acting as an adversary of the law. His goal was to obey it keeps it perfectly, to fulfill it.

Christ fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law, which called for perfect obedience or else imposed a “curse” Galatians 3:10-13 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith. Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree). Christ fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law, which called for perfect obedience or else imposed a “curse.”

Christ also said he came to fulfill all things written of him (Luke 24:44) and he did fulfill all, things. Ever futurist camp will tell you Christ fulfilled all the Mosaic Law and the Law passed away which we agree.

But wait one minute, not so fast. Jesus also said, before the law would pass away heaven and earth must pass away first. Matthew 5:17-19 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Do you get the power of these words? Jesus plainly said that not one “jot or tittle” (representative of the smallest markings of the Hebrew script) would pass away until heaven and earth passed away. If heaven and earth did not pass away the law of Moses was not fulfilled by Christ, and thus remains as an obligatory legal system for today, then it is not a partially binding regime; rather, it is a totally compelling system.

Consequently, nothing of the law was to fail until heaven and earth (the Mosaic covenant) had completely accomplished its purpose. The harmony between Matthew 5:17-18 and Isaiah. 51:15,16 is this. When the old Mosaic covenant known as the heaven and earth have completely accomplished its purpose every “jot or tittle” (representative of the smallest markings of the Hebrew script) has passed away.

It was “easier” for the old Mosaic covenant known as the heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. So the heaven and earth had to have passed away before the Mosaic law in the order that Jesus gives them.

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky,

"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)."

Remember when I gave the allegory of John being suddenly taken from the first century into the 21st century and it is an election year. And there are really big political rallies going on. At one political rallies there are representatives from the Democrats party on one side of the street waving flags with the symbol of a donkey, on it. On the other side of the street there are Republicans representatives waving flags with the symbol of an elephant, on it.

We know these symbols identify two political parties, but what would John think? Remember John was suddenly taken from one world and placed into another world. Would John immediately know these symbols represent two political parties?

Or would John think these two symbols represent a literal donkey and elephant? The point is they are symbols and John would have to do a little study to find out their true meaning to our culture

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 believe that this text is talking about a literal destruction of the world. But let us put out of our minds what we have been traditionally taught about this passage and put ourselves in the mindset of a first century Jew.

The first thing that we must understand is that each particular gospel had a particular audience that the words were for, especially when considering the synoptic gospels. The gospel of Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience, that is why Matthew quotes the Old Testament prophecies so many times in his book.

The problem is we are not accustomed to dealing with such symbolic language like the sun being darkened and the stars falling, etc., without thinking literally. However to the Jews, this was not a new language. Matthew’s Jewish readers were certainly well versed in the sort of symbolic language and imagery and understood the meaning. The sun, darkening and the moon don't give its light; and the stars falling from the sky, represents the ceasing of a kingdom."

The prophet Isaiah is a good example of how this symbolic language is used in Jewish thought. This type of apocalyptic, figurative language, was used to describe 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 (9,10).

Whenever there was an overthrow of the rulers and authorities of a nation, it was represented by the sun, moon, and stars not give their light.

In the judgments of God, through all the prophets, the heaven, sun, moon, stars, and the like represented the overthrow of governments, governors, dominions in political states, as Joel 2:10-11 The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?

The "shaking of the heavens and earth" was used by Haggai 2:6-7 to speak of political overturns. "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land; 'and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.

Notice how the shaking of heaven and earth are associated, with the overthrow of thrones and kingdoms; and the strength of the Gentiles. Haggai 2:21-23 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: 'I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother

"The destruction of the Jews by Antioch Epiphanes, is represented by casting down some of the host of heaven, and the stars to the ground. (Daniel 8:10)

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.

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 verse. 2, 12, 16.

In other contexts, when the stars fall, they fall to the earth, a sure sign of temporal judgment (Isaiah 14:12; And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.

In Isaiah 13:6-13 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. There is no question about when these things would happen. We have literature from the Old Testament that we must read figuratively unless the word demand otherwise.

When Jesus said, "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)." No doubt it is the overthrow and abolition of the Mosaic dispensation, or old covenant; the destruction of the Jewish governments, governors, dominions and political states.
 
In Bible figurative language, when 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 refers to governments and rulers.

The writer of Hebrews borrowed, the language from Haggai 2:6-7 and writes, Hebrews 12:27-28 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

The Jewish readers were certainly well versed in this symbolic language and imagery. Matthews aim is to stare up the memory of his Jewish audience about what was written in their Old Testament scriptures. When the ruling authorities of the nation of Israel passed away, it was said that the sun was darkened and the stars fell from the sky, the moon did not give its light and the passing of the old heavens and earth etc.

Curses and blessing under the law.

Matthew 5:18: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (KJV).

We have been discussing the interconnecting subjects, of how the heaven and earth passed away. In this article we will go back into the old testament to see some of the elements of the law (Torah) (Hebrew: תּוֹרָה, "Instruction"), also known as "The Pentateuch", a.k.a. The Five Books of Moses that had to be fulfilled before heaven and earth passed away.

In these lengthy chapters of Deuteronomy 28 to 31 God describes in great details in (the Torah)  what would happen to the nation of Israel if they obeyed His words, and what would happen if they disobeyed Him.

Contained within the law were curses and blessing.  In this section God set life and death cures or blessing before the nation of Israel.   Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.  Moses implored the people to make a choice.  Choose – The Hebrew verb bahar means “to choose, to pick, to take a keen look at.”

If they wanted to choose life, then they absolutely have to know what the Torah says.   Verses 2-14 point out the specific blessings for obedience. They would include food in abundance (verses 4-5), safety from enemies (verse 7), healthy children and abundant livestock and produce (verses 11-12).

These blessings would also enable Israel to give to many other nations, without having to borrow from them (verse 12).   All in all, Israel would become a "holy" people (verse 9), "the head and not the tail" (verse 13).

On the other hand, disobedience would bring about severe punishment. And that is just what happened. We know from history that ancient Israel later suffered  the specific courses listed, including military attacks, when the Roman  Empire besieged and conquered  Jerusalem and enslaved the nations.   God used this dreadful curse spelled out in Deuteronomy 28 to 31 as well as military attacks and enslavement.

Because of the large amount of curses that were (written in the law) and fulfilled upon the nation of Israel, for time and space we will look at just some of them.   Warning some are given is graph details.

Deuteronomy 28: 49-50  The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,  a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.   Jesus mentioned this coming time in Luke 19:43-43 "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side.  "And level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

The context makes it clear that Jesus is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman  Empire.  Jesus bemoans over the fact that the people of this city are ignorant of what is needed to make peace.  This meaning is supported by Zacharias' prophecy, "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He (has visited and redeemed His people), and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began..." (Luke 1:68-70).  (emphasis added)

Zacharias prophesied two things.  He prophesied that the King of all people would come. From verses 68 to 69, he prophesied with joy that God did not forget His promises and that Jesus, as God promised to Abraham, was born to the Virgin Mary in order to save his descendants from their enemies' hands. (Luke 1:74)    

There would be famine due to food shortages and destruction through locusts, worms and other natural disasters, unhealthy livestock, and droughts (Deuteronomy 28:17-18, 38-42).      Famine in Palestine, is mentioned when Paul and Barnabas went from Antioch to Jerusalem to bring relief to the Believers in Judea. (Acts 11:27-30)    This was shortly before they were sent out on their first evangelistic journey (Acts 13:2-3).

They will be conquered by a foreign power and become slaves-some of them will be sold  as captives of war to distant lands, including Egypt, never to see their country again (verses 32-33, 41, 68)  Josephus tells us everyone over the age of seventeen was sent in bonds to work the Egyptian mines. (Josephus 37:B.C A.D. 70 p. 230)

Some would resort to cannibalism Deuteronomy 28:52-57  "You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you. "The sensitive and very refined man among you will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind, "so that he will not give any of them the (flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege)  and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. "The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter  "her placenta, which comes out from between her feet and her children, whom she bears; for (she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege)  and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.
(emphasis added)

This actually occurred during the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70   One women who had lost everything but her baby to blood-thirsty Jews, then killed her baby son, “and then roasted him, and ate the one half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed.” When the seditious men smelled “the horrid scent of this food, they threatened her, that they would cut her throat immediately if she did not show them what food she had gotten ready. She replied, that she had saved a very fine portion of it for them and uncovered what was left of her son. She said this is my own son and he was killed by my own doing. Come, eat of this food; I have eaten of it myself. The men left, trembling and frightened and the all the city came under distress when they heard about it. (Josephus pp. 443-444.)

So every jot and tittle of the law, was fulfilled by the time all the curses of disobedience came upon the nation of Israel.   The new heaven and earth was in place.

Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together."

In the song of Moses, Moses is talking to Israel and says, "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the (eagle flies), a nation whose language you will not understand, " (Deuteronomy 28:49) emphasis, added

God often used the symbols of birds of prey with coming judgment on the nation of Israel. In Deuteronomy 28:26 Moses warns Israel about the curses for disobedience and says, Your dead body will be food to all birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth; and there will be no one to frighten them away.

This warning is repeated in Jeremiah 6:33 Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

In Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law”

When speaking of this period of tribulation period Jesus also motioned eagles. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. But when the disciples asked the Lord, where the one would be taken? Christ replied, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." (Luke 17:36-37) The language of Luke 17:36-37 ff. is highly figurative.

In the same way a lion is considered the king of the beasts the eagle is regarded as the eminent bird. One of the most striking visual aspects of the Roman army were the symbols that were placed on tall poles. These poles were topped with various insignia and symbols, including many types of animals.

The most important symbol in each legion was the legionary eagle made of a precious metal (usually silver) which was the symbol of power of Rome and the honor of the legion. The eagles were not just for show; they served important practical functions as well. Its presence on a flag during the war was a source of victory and an aid in battle.

It gave courage to the warriors who fought under it and put fear into their enemy. The staff helped to keep the units together, since the soldiers could see them above the action. The eagle was on the soldiers armor and cohorts. It was carried by a special staff bearer who wore a lion-skin headdress. The seal of the eagle was used by the Roman empire to depict power for thousands of years. Roman legions always marched behind the emblem of an eagle.

To lose the legionary eagle in battle was a terrible disgrace. Romans thought the Eagle was a messenger of the Gods. When a Roman emperor died, his body was burned in a funeral pyre and an eagle was ceremonially released into the flames. The Romans believed the eagle would carry the emperor's soul to the heavens.

Getting back to Jesus’ statement Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. The question of who is taken and who is left here is one of my favorite Bible prophecy questions. Our dispensational friends claim this is the rapture of the church at the end of the Christian age. Is a 50% "rapture-rate" the point of the message? To understand this, first we need to be clear just what day and event Jesus is specifically speaking about.

It helps greatly to read the parallel account in context. Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Exactly who will be taken away just like the Days of Noah'? The wicked. Noah and his family were left to start over. Further, Luke says about the days of Lot the wicked were also "destroyed" Luke 17:19 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

The rapture view makes no sense because Noah and his family and Lot and his family were left behind to start a new life. When reading the Bible, we must approach scripture with a Hebrew mindset. The idea of being “taken and left” is a very old concept in scripture. In ancient biblical times when a conquering army invaded another country they kept the smartest, youngest, and strongest.

This historical background is also recorded in scripture. 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 And those who escaped from the sword he (Nebuchadnezzar) carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Any survivor was taken prisoner into exile in Babylon and made a slave to Nebuchadnezzar and his family. Josephus a Jewish historian tells us during the invasion of the Roman army everyone over the age of seventeen was sent in bonds to work the Egyptian mines. (Josephus 37:B.C A.D. 70 p. 230)

Josephus also reckons the number of captives taken during the war at 97,000 and the number of those who perished during the siege at 1,100.000. The number who perished in the whole war is reckoned at the total of 1,337,490 and the number of prisoners at 101,700; but even these estimates do not include all the items of many skirmishes and battles, nor do they take into account the multitudes who, throughout the whole country, perished of misery, famine and disease. (F.W. Farrar. pp 487-489).

Jesus’ words were certainly true, for wheresoever the bodies were, there the eagles (Roman) were gathered together." (Luke 17:36-37)

Till heaven and earth pass, away.

Matthew 5:18: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (KJV).

We have been discussing the interconnecting subjects, of how the heaven and earth passed away. In this article we will go back into the old testament to see some of the elements of the law (Torah) (Hebrew: תּוֹרָה, "Instruction"), also known as "The Pentateuch", a.k.a. the Five Books of Moses that had to be fulfilled before heaven and earth passed away.

In these lengthy chapters of Deuteronomy 28 to 31 God describes in great details in (the Torah)  what would happen to the nation of Israel if they obeyed His words, and what would happen if they disobeyed Him.

Contained within the law were curses and blessing.  In this section God set life and death cures or blessing before the nation of Israel.   Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.  Moses implored the people to make a choice.  Choose – The Hebrew verb bahar means “to choose, to pick, to take a keen look at.”

If they wanted to choose life, then they absolutely have to know what the Torah says.   Verses 2-14 point out the specific blessings for obedience. They would include food in abundance (verses 4-5), safety from enemies (verse 7), healthy children and abundant livestock and produce (verses 11-12).

These blessings would also enable Israel to give to many other nations, without having to borrow from them (verse 12).   All in all, Israel would become a "holy" people (verse 9), "the head and not the tail" (verse 13).

On the other hand, disobedience would bring about severe punishment. And that is just what happened. We know from history that ancient Israel later suffered  the specific curses listed, including military attacks, when the Roman  Empire besieged and conquered  Jerusalem and enslaved the nations.   God used this dreadful curses spelled out in Deuteronomy 28 to 31 as well as military attacks and enslavement.

Because of the large amount of curses that were (written in the law) and fulfilled upon the nation of Israel, for time and space we will look at just some of them.   Warning some are given is graph details.

Deuteronomy 28: 49-50  The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,  a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.   Jesus mentioned this coming time in Luke 19:43-43 "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side.  "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

The context makes it clear that Jesus is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman  Empire.  Jesus bemoans over the fact that the people of this city are ignorant of what is needed to make peace.  This meaning is supported by Zacharias' prophecy, "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He (has visited and redeemed His people), and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began..." (Luke 1:68-70).  (emphasis added)

Zacharias prophesied two things.  He prophesied that the King of all people would come. From verses 68 to 69, he prophesied with joy that God did not forget His promises and that Jesus, as God promised to Abraham, was born to the Virgin Mary in order to save his descendants from their enemies' hands. (Luke 1:74)    

There would be famine due to food shortages and destruction through locusts, worms and other natural disasters, unhealthy livestock, and droughts (Deuteronomy 28:17-18, 38-42).      Famine in Palestine, is mentioned when Paul and Barnabas went from Antioch to Jerusalem to bring relief to the Believers in Judea. (Acts 11:27-30)    This was shortly before they were sent out on their first evangelistic journey (Acts 13:2-3).

They will be conquered by a foreign power and become slaves-some of them will be sold  as captives of war to distant lands, including Egypt, never to see their country again (verses 32-33, 41, 68)  Josephus tells us everyone over the age of seventeen was sent in bonds to work the Egyptian mines. (Josephus 37:B.C A.D. 70 p. 230)

Some would resort to cannibalism Deuteronomy 28:52-57  "You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you. "The sensitive and very refined man among you will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind, "so that he will not give any of them the (flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege)  and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. "The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter  "her placenta which comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears; for (she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege)  and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.
(emphasis added)

This actually occurred during the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70   One women who had lost everything but her baby to blood-thirsty Jews, then killed her baby son, “and then roasted him, and ate the one half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed.” When the seditious men smelled “the horrid scent of this food, they threatened her, that they would cut her throat immediately if she did not show then what food she had gotten ready. She replied, that she had saved a very fine portion of it for them and uncovered what was left of her son. She said this is my own son and he was killed by my own doing. Come eat of this food; I have eaten of it myself. The men left, trembling and frightened and the all the city came under distress when they heard about it. (Josephus pp. 443-444.)

So ever jot and tittle of the law, was fulfilled by the time all the curses of disobedience came upon the nation of Israel.   The new heaven and earth was in place. A Paces of golden nuggets from Bible history.   Matthew 5:18: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (KJV).   Jesus made it clear until heaven and earth passed away.   Not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled"

The word 'Law' in Matthew 5 is a reference to the whole of the Old Testament."Both the Law and the Prophets together (v.17)  were standard Jewish ways of referring to entire Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament)."

What did Jesus mean by till heaven and earth pass, not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled"  When He spoke these words the New Testament had not begun to be written and the Old Testament was all that existed.   He declared that not so much as a stroke of the pen will be altered from the law until all is fulfilled, referring to all prophecies recorded in the Old Testament.

But what did Jesus mean by heaven and earth passing away?   At first glance, it looks as though Jesus was simply saying the physical heavens and earth had to pass away some day.  But is the physical world or universe what Jesus had in mind? Was a literal heaven and earth in His thoughts?

Remember now Jesus was a familiar with the Jewish metaphorical language that was used in Old Testament.  We have to go into the Old Testament to see what "heaven and earth" means in prophetic language. 

In Deuteronomy 32:1, in the song of Moses, God is talking to Israel when He says: "Give ear, 0 ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, 0 earth, the words of my mouth."   The following is another example of where the nation of Israel is being addressed by Moses and metaphorical language is used, with the rulers depicted as the heavens and the people as the earth.   In Bible figurative language, "heavens" refers to governments and rulers, and "earth" refers to the nation or people.

With this in mind, we can look at the verse in which God begins to give predictions of coming invasions and captivities of His people.   In the song of Moses, God is depicting the fate of Israel when He says: "For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains" (Deuteronomy 32: 22).

Is God here talking about burning up the  mountains and earth? No, he is talking about bringing judgment upon the nation of  Israel. He had already told them the type of judgment they could expect. ""The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift  as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, " (Deuteronomy 28:49).

The rulers and their people would face judgment from the Lord.   And God said, as swift  as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, " He used the armies of heathen people to accomplish His purpose.   Jesus later give predictions of this came coming invasion.   Matthew 24:28  "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.  More on this in my next article.

In the song of Moses, God is telling His people that He would delivered them from the oppressor, but if they became disobedient He would bring all sorts of trouble upon them. It was a song of deliverance, but also a song of warning.   The apocalyptic and symbolical language is used in the song of Moses in describing the coming judgment of God.

Every Israelite was familiar with the use of this type of apocalyptic language.    In Haggai 2:21-22 God said, "I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen." Here we see the connection between shaking the heavens and the earth, and the overthrow of kingdoms and powers.

Since the writers of the Old Testament used this highly symbolic language to picture the actions of God, the writers of the New Testament, adopt  the same kind of imagery to describe events of historic proportions.

In Hebrews 12:24-29 we read, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.  See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,  whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may  serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.

This change would involve the passing away of the old Judaistic system with all its ceremonies, rites, rituals, temple, sacrifices, etc. The writer of Hebrews  "borrowed" words from Haggai 2:6, "Whose shook the heavens and the earth, and the overthrow of kingdoms and powers but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven when we receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken.    Here we see the connection between shaking the heavens and the earth, and a kingdom which cannot be shaken.  Both of these writers thus affirm the new heavens and earth are presented in imagery language.

Both passages in Haggai 2:6 and Hebrews 12:24-29  refer to a catastrophe event and employ the very similar figure of speech and we have the authority of our Lord for a fixed time of the event and the period of which He speaks within the limits of the generation then in existence.   The old Mosaic order, was decayeth and waxeth old is READY to vanish away Hebrews 8:13 because the new order of redemption reality has come in a kingdom which cannot be shaken. 

The Messiah was to bring in a kingdom and reign of ever-lasting righteousness, a time of renewal and unprecedented peace, when men and nations were reconciled to each other and to God.   But men teach that Jesus’ ultimate objective is to destroy the whole earth!

How strange that the Old Testament nowhere predicts the destruction of the earth.   In fact,  David said in Psalm 104:5  that God "laid the foundation of the earth, that it shall not be removed forever." And in Ecclesiastes 1:4 Solomon said, "One generation passes  away, and another generation come: but the earth abideth forever."   Where is it ever taught by the prophets that the Messiah would destroy the earth?!!   The Apostle said in Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. KJV.

In Matthew 24:35 Jesus is not anywhere speaking of the passing away of the literal heavens and earth, but of the coming destruction of the Mosaic, old covenant and the Temple and all the rituals and ceremonies involved in their existence and practices.   Out of the ruins of the old heavens and the old earth, and the old Jerusalem, there comes a new heavens and new earth and a new Jerusalem

Isaiah 65:17-19 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem a a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.

Figuratively and metaphorical heavens and earth

Suppose you are the Apostle John and you are suddenly taken from the first century and found yourself in the 21st Century. The year is 2012 and it is the election year. There are two big political party rallies going on. At one political rallies there are representatives from the Democrats party on one side of the street waving flags with the symbol of a donkey, on it. On the other side of the street there are Republicans representatives waving flags with the symbol of an elephant, on it.

We know these political symbols identify two political parties, but what would John think? Would the Apostle John immediately know what these symbols represent? Or would he think these two symbols represent a literal donkey and elephant? The point is, John would have to do a little study of our culture to find out their true meaning. The same applies to us. We need to also spend time studying the figurative and metaphorical language that is so often used in the culture of those in the Bible.

To help you understand how the Jews communicated in terms of symbolic language, open your Bible and turn to (Genesis 37:9-10). This is the way symbolical language is used in the Old Testament. It was adopted for like use later in the New Testament.

This is the story of the family of Jacob. * When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flocks with his brothers; he was an assistant to the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and Joseph brought their father bad reports about them.

Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his brothers, they hated him so much that they could not say a kind word to him. Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, "Listen,"I had another dream, and this time the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

His brothers said to him, “Are you really going to make yourself king over us? Will you rule over us?” So they hated him all the more because of his dreams and his reports. Then he had another dream, and told it to his brothers. “Look, I had another dream,” he said; “this time, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told it to his father and his brothers, his father reproved him and asked, “What is the meaning of this dream of yours? Can it be that I and your mother and your (brothers are to come and bow to the ground before you)?” emphasis, added.

So his brothers were furious at him, but his father kept the matter in mind. As you can see, Joseph dream was related to his father, mother, and brothers, not the universe. Any Jewish readers were certainly well versed in the sort of symbolic language and imagery and understood their meaning.

Since the writers of the Old Testament used such highly symbolic language to picture the actions of God, the writers of the New Testament, and Jesus in particular would use the same kind of imagery to describe the events of historic proportions? The problem is we are not accustomed to dealing with such symbolic language like a new heaven and new earth the sun being darkened and the stars falling, etc., without thinking literally. However to the Jews, using this type of language figuratively and metaphorically was natural as we see in Genesis 37:9-10.

Let explore more definition of the prophetic language of heaven and earth. A good example of how this symbolic language is used and applies to the "de-creation of heaven and earth" is used in Psalm 18:5-16 to describe the downfall of Saul's Kingdom. And in Isaiah 13:6-13 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. There is no question about when these things would happen. The Jewish readers were certainly well versed in this symbolic language and imagery.

It was a very special historical occasion when God chose Israel from all of the nations of the earth to be His own people. Deuteronomy7: 6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Not only did God make them His own, people in addition, He created for them a world of their own; and covenant called “heavens and earth.” “But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people (Isaiah. 51:15,16).”

Clearly Jehovah could not be talking about the formation of the literal heaven and earth, for that had taken place more than 3,000 years before! The verse explains itself. Jehovah is talking about “Zion, my people.” God was speaking of the time when He created Israel’s heavens and the earth. The material creation existed long before Yahweh spoke these words. The Mosaic Covenant was thought of as the heaven and earth.

This form of address is sometimes used when Yahweh is speaking to and admonishing the people of Israel. In this instance, as in other places, the words are being addressed to the rulers and the people of Israel. The following is another example of where the nation of Israel is being addressed by Moses and metaphorical language is used, with the rulers depicted as the heavens and the people as the earth.

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended. (Deuteronomy 31: 28-30)

In Deuteronomy 32:1, Moses said, “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.” ” Moses was not speaking to the literal heavens and rocks on earth he was speaking to the people of Israel. In figurative language, the "heavens and earth here are simply the covenant, religious/political authorities in the land of Palestine and the people who lived there. With these things in mind, lets dig a little deeper.

During the ancient times of Israel the Temple signified the presence of God (the Shekinah of glory) and Israel’s place in election etc. Josephus a Pharisee kept track of the biblical, historical records of Israel. Josephus portrays the first century Jewish understanding of "heaven and earth" in his writings.

He describes how the Jews looked upon their place of worship in the Mosaic Tabernacle and later in the Temple as "a heaven and earth." They believed that their Temple was at the very center of the earth, and saw it as the place where heaven and earth came together, and where God met man.

In a quote Josephus, calls the outer part of the tabernacle "an imitation of the system of the world" and the "sea and land, on which men live." By contrast, the inner Holy of Holies, he terms "heaven peculiar to God." There was a fabric veil that separated these two compartments in the Tabernacle and the Temple, which he describes as being "very ornamental, and embroidered with all sorts of flowers which the earth produces." This last quote is found in Antiquities, Book 3, Chapter 6, Paragraph 4, Section 126.

Moses was told by God to patterned the Tabernacle after heavenly-things (Hebrews 8:5) This clearly illustrates how the Temple was seen as a meeting point between heaven and earth, its service being an earthly representation of heavenly reality. This is why the 1st century Jews saw the destruction of the Temple in 70AD representing Heaven/Earth passing away? (Matthew 24)

In 2 Peter 3:10–13 we must pay close attention to the Greek words that Peter uses as they are of utmost importance in understanding what it is he is saying. Let's look closely at the Greek word he uses which is translated "new." "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for “new heavens and a new earth,” wherein dwelleth righteousness."

There are two words translated "new" in the New Testament. Those words are "neos" and "kainos." "Neos" means new in time, something that has never been before, or that which has recently come into existence/what has only just now arisen or appeared. "Kainos" means new in quality/nature, not in time, different from what is old/distinctive as compared with other things different from the usual, better than the old, superior in value or attraction. The word Peter uses in this verse is "kainos." If Peter meant that God was going to physically destroy the physical heavens and earth and create a replacement, Peter would have used the word "neos!"
 
The new heavens and new earth Peter write about are an echo from Isaiah 65:17-18. "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.

In this chapter we read where God will create a new heaven and a new earth (spiritually, not physically) new heavens and new earth along with a new Jerusalem. This is the very same spiritual Jerusalem, which Paul says is the Jerusalem above and mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)

And John says is descending out of heaven out from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2; 10) More on the heaven and earth later.

New heavens and a new earth.

ISAIAH 65:17-19 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.

I was asked to do some articles on the “heaven and earth.” What does all this mean? There are many misconceptions about the new heavens and new earth mentioned in the Bible. This quotation from Isaiah must be taken in its context. The use of the words heavens and earth as well as the new Jerusalem are often used figuratively and metaphorically in scripture.

The context of Isaiah’s prophecy is the coming new covenant. Notice within this context the Lord speaks of creating a new heaven and a new earth along with creating a new Jerusalem. The new heaven and new earth are synonymous, with creating the new Jerusalem. In other words, one cannot be fulfilled or created without the other. Returning to Isaiah 65: 17-19 there is a clear statement of the location of this new heavens and earth. The new Jerusalem is clearly the location.

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, (I create Jerusalem) a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65; 17-19)

During the time that Isaiah lived, over 2,700 years ago, he lived in a world of rebellion against God and evil was everywhere. There we two sons fleshly Israel and spiritual Israel living in one household.

The older brother fleshly Israel from Jerusalem below was persecuting the younger brother from Jerusalem which is above. Galatians 4:22-29 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, (as he who was born according to the flesh, then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now) emphasis added.

The promise of the new heavens and earth which occurs in Isaiah, where the prophet uses it to describe the happy circumstance of Gods people after the time of tribulation and persecution is past, and their enemies are destroyed and removed. Paul relates to this time in Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of Yahweh's fury being poured out. For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and rebuke with flames of fire.' (Isaiah 66:15)

The Lord will then use `fire' and the 'sword' to plead with all flesh and there will be many slain. We have here a major conflict against the nations, which are subdued. There is not a complete annihilation of the people, as the chapter goes on to show that there will be worship established in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 66 deals extensively with the process by which Jerusalem blow would be changed. As we follow the words of the prophet through this chapter, the destiny of Israel is revealed. Out of tribulation, oppression and conflict, a new Jerusalem will rise again.

'And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto Yahweh out of all nations... to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.' (Isaiah. 66:20)

It is here that the prophet refers to the new heavens and the new earth in Isaiah 66:22. 'For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. From one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh.' Note here that there is a reference to all 'flesh', which suggests that Jews and gentiles in this time of glory in a mortal state.

Isaiah speaks here of the new heavens and a new earth and Jerusalem and how they will not even remember the pain and suffering they endured in this lifetime under the old Jerusalem. With their eyes focused on what is to come, under the new covenant, it was also an encouragement for Isaiah to continue spreading God’s message of the coming Messiah and His glorious kingdom to come.

The new heavens and earth and Jerusalem, describe the changed circumstances of Gods people, in which the former troubles were now forgotten. Whereas they had been under oppression and persecution by their fellow countrymen in the Jerusalem below who refused to heed Gods word, they would see happier times.

The Jerusalem that had suffered siege and famine and weeping would give way to a new Jerusalem that enjoyed an abundance of God’s peace. The new heavens and earth as portrayed by the prophet Isaiah. John also writes about the new heaven and earth in the book of Revelation. He does not change what Isaiah wrote, but adds a few particulars of his own.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation. 21:1-3)

With the defeat of their enemies, John sees the new heaven and earth and New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. It is distinguished from the first heaven and earth only by the absence of the sea.

The absence of the sea points to the fact that all men approach God on equal terms. Seas are natural barriers, separating earths people. The Psalmist also makes a distinction between the sea versus those upon the earth: 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 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. (Ephesians. 2:13, 19)

In Revelation, the sea symbolized the Gentiles; and the earth or land, the Jews are under the new economy, those distinctions are removed and all men have access to God equally. The gates of the city (church) are always open in every direction of the compass, showing that men from all over the world are invited to enter and find salvation and communion with God. (Revelation 21:13, 25)

The fullness of time.

In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul affirms that the Son of God came to this earth at just the right time in the divine scheme of things. He expresses the thought like this: But when the (fullness of time had come), God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive a... Adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5, ESV) If God can't-- or doesn't-- tell time, what in world did Paul mean?

For centuries this time had been in preparation and various elements had contributed to it. The Old Testament Scriptures (with scores of prophecies regarding the Messiah) had prepared the way.

This phrase (the fullness of time had come) is only used once in scripture in specific reference to the birth of Christ. "Fullness of time" has a certain poetic ring, doesn't it? But what does it mean, exactly? It carries with it the idea of the perfect ending of an entire era. The end of the old covenant of the law and the start of a covenant of grace. “That he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:5).

In Ephesians 1:9,10, Paul tells us that in Christ, God is "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose.... as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (ESV)"

What is meant by this "fulness of the time?" It is the great framework of redemptive history, the fulfillment of the time in an absolute sense. The time the old covenant was coming to a conclusion with Christ's advent. Everything changes with Christ individual lives, in a redemptive-historical sense. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

There's a whole new world--a whole new creation--that comes into existence in Christ, and all those who are united with Christ are contained within it. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

It's the dawning of a new day: not a day just like the one it follows, but a day that transforms everything... who saved us and called us to a holy calling which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel... (2 Timothy 1:9,10)

... in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior... (Titus 1:2,3)

Christ's birth, death, and resurrection was the center point of human history. The fullness of time had come, so Christ came to complete one era and usher in the new one of grace.

For many will come in My name.

"Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. Luke 21:8 Why would people want to adhere to another Messiah, when Christ had already come? Because they were still looking for the Messiah to come.

Before Christ came, there were no false Christ. No one else had appeared on the scene claiming to be the Messiah. After His ministry, others began to proclaim that they were the Messiah. But when Jerusalem was destroyed it was the final proof Jesus was the Messiah.

It was only natural in those days, after Christ’ death and while Israel was still under the bondage of the Roman government there would appear false prophets (Messiah’s) who would attempt to deceive the people into following them in the hope of their finding release from the Roman Yoke.

There were many in Jesus’ day that claimed to be the Messiah. In fact, during this period there were many false Christs like no other time in the history of Israel. It was probably due to the prophesies of the Old Testament books such as Daniel established a timeline for the coming of the Messiah. The people of that day knew it was about time for Messiah to make His appearing. And there were many who tried to fulfill the role of the Jewish Messiah.

Not long after Christ's ascension, the Samaritan Dositheus appeared and declared himself the Messiah predicted by Moses. The book of Acts lists a number of these impostors. Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee mentions “Theudas who claimed to be somebody” Theudas persuaded a great multitude to follow him to the river Jordan which he claimed he would divide. (Act 5:36) The Roman procurator, Fadus, with a troop of horse, pursued them; slew the importer, and many others; and dispersed the faction. Josephus, the noted Jewish historian, also mentions Theudas.

At the time of Felix the governor (who is mentioned in the book of Acts 23:24), said the country of the Jews was filled with impostors who Felix had put to death EVERY DAY a statement which indicates that there were "many" of such in those days!

After Theudas another false messiah, rose up named Judas of Galilee, who drew away some people after him (Acts 5:37). There also was an Egyptian impostor, who lead thirty thousand men into the wilderness to be murdered. Thirty thousand followed him, under the persuasion that from mount Olivet they should see the walls of Jerusalem fall to the ground at his command, for their easy capture of the Roman garrison there; and their taking possession of Jerusalem. They were attacked by the Roman governor; four hundred were slain; and the rest dispersed. The Egyptian importer escaped for his life. (Acts 21:38)

Of the false messiahs, Simon is probably the best known. Acts 8:9-11 Now there was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God.’ And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. According to Irenaeus, Simon claimed to be the Son of God and creator of angels. Jerome says that he claimed to be the Word of God, the Almighty. I am the Comforter, I am all there is of God." (Kik, An Eschatology of Victory, 92).

Josephus, the historian, verifies the fact that near the time of Jerusalem's fall, many false Messiahs appeared, claiming to be the Christ. He says these became more numerous before the sieges of Titus such figures played a leading role in the Jewish revolt in late A.D. 66 that led to the Jewish War.

Josephus also mentions one false prophet who urged the people to get up on the Temple and await signs of deliverance. He said, ‘A false prophet made a public proclamation in the city that very day, that God commanded them to get up on the temple, and there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance. Now, there was then a great number of false prophets suborned by the tyrants to impose upon the people, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God... “(Josephus, p. 453)

Menahem Ben Judah was one of several Jewish Messiah claimants around the time of the Jewish War and is mentioned by Josephus. Athronges proclaimed himself a messiah, Athronges led the rebellion against Archelaus and the Roman. How prone are men to deception. 

The waiting disciples remembered the words of Jesus and refused to be deceived by these false leaders; they were waiting instead for Christ to manifest His power and kingdom as He had promised. Matthew 16:28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."