Daniel
September-10-2011
There’s a God-given time line in the Bible; the word of God, more specifically in Ephesians 2. This time line consists of 3 time periods: the past: “time past”, the present: “but now” and the future: “ages to come”.
Time past:
Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now:
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ.
Ages to come:
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in
his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
This makes a lot of sense, if we take heed at the instructions given to us in…
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There are divisions in the Bible, so studying the word of truth rightly divided has to do with distinguishing between those divisions and different time periods. All of the Bible is written for us; for our learning (Romans 15:4), but not all of the Bible is written directly to us! Not everything is our mail.
The “but now” period we live in is called the dispensation of the grace of God, or the body of Christ program. It started with the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus, in Acts 9. Saul was later called Paul, and made the Apostle to and of the gentiles: our Apostle. The ascended, glorified Jesus Christ, from his place in heaven, revealed the mystery to him. That’s why Paul’s epistles are called “the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery” (Romans 16:25-26). One of the main differences between the “but now” period and the 2 other time periods; “time past” and “ages to come”, is that God today (“but now”) isn’t recognizing any nation above any other nation. Today he’s dealing with mankind as a whole; individually, not nationally. During the Kingdom program; in “time past” and “ages to come” the focus was, and will again be, His chosen nation; Israel. There was, and will again be, a distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles (the heathens, the non-Jews).
We who live during the dispensation of the grace of God, Jew or Gentile…makes no difference, are not under the law of Moses, but under grace:
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Does this mean that we, Gentiles, once were under the law?! Absolutely not, and this is where the confusion starts…
Let’s take a closer look at Ephesians 2:11-12:
Ephesians 2:11-12
11Wherefore remember, that ye beingin time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time [time past] ye [Gentiles] werewithout Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
In time past a Gentile (a heathen or a non-Jew) was “called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands”; the Jews. Someone who was uncircumcised was considered unclean, a dog (Matthew 15:26-27). The gentiles 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:”. What a position to be in!!!
What about the Jews?
Romans 9:4-8
4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. Forthey are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
What a contrast compared to what we just read about the gentiles!
We know that God made a covenant (the old covenant) with Abraham:
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This nation was called Israel.
Abraham-Isaac-Jacob
Genesis 17:1-8
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
Abraham had two sons initially: one by his wife’s handmaiden, Hagar, the other by Sarah. The first, Ishmael, was of the bondwoman (Hagar), and the second, Isaac, of the freewoman (Sarah). The first, Ishmael, was not of the Lord, but rather the labor of the flesh, so it was to be cast out.
Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Abraham was to cast out Ishmael and his mother, for he was not to be heir even after Abraham pleaded for him.
Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Notice it doesn’t say in “all thy seed”, but rather in “thy seed”, a particular seed line, the one the Lord gave of the freewoman. The seed which came of Sarah: Isaac. This is the seed with which God would establish His covenant.
Genesis 17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
Now Isaac has two sons of the same wife. One, Esau, operates in unbelief, has little regard for his birthright and sells it (Genesis 25:27-34) to his brother Jacob. The seed line now passes through Jacob.
Genesis 28:13-14
13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
The seed and the blessings now come through Jacob’s seed. However, not all Jacob’s seed operates in faith. This is the real issue, this is why not all Israel is Israel! The real seed of Abraham are those of the faith of Abraham.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham responded by faith to what God had to say “and it was counted unto him for righteousness”. It made him right in the eyes of God.
Only the children of the promise, the Jews who took God at his word were and will be true Israel, when God sets Israel at the forefront again, after the dispensation of the grace of God comes to an end. That’s why Paul, in Romans 9:6, says that; “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”
Romans 9:4-5
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
The work of the law?
Romans 2:12-15
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Notice it says “the WORK of the law written in their heart”, not the “law written in their heart”, as many change it to mean. When Paul is talking about the gentiles having the work of the law written in their hearts, he’s talking about those who were never placed under the law contract, who supposed their righteousness was coming from their personal goodness. It was ‘the moral code’ the Gentiles supposed was their ‘key to righteousness’. Whether man sets a moral code for himself (his own set of standards), or whether it be God’s moral code called the law of Moses, the fact is, no man can merit a righteous standing before God by ‘what he DOES’. Salvation is of grace, through faith, and has always been by grace, through faith. This is what Israel never understood, and the religious people of this world don’t understand it either.
Circumcision
Let’s continue where we left off, in Genesis 17:
Genesis 17:9-14
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Circumcision wasn’t optional, it was mandatory! It was a token of the covenant between God and Abraham.Those who weren‘t circumcised were cut off from Israel. Being cut off from Israel, was the same as being cut off from God…one and the same thing. Everything God did was through his chosen nation; Israel.
What about all the gentiles who ”were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world”?!
They had to proselyte to Judaism; become a Jewish proselyte. They had to take hold of Israel’s covenant. Today there are no proselytes, because there’s nothing to proselyte to. The Kingdom program; God’s program with Israel, is put on hold in favor of the the body of Christ program, in the dispensation of the age of grace, where God is forming the one new man in Christ…in the person of His Son.
Ephesians 2:13-18
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Colossians 2:10-14
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Salvation
The second a lost person believes the Gospel (good news) of Christ they’re baptized BY (not with) the Spirit into the body of Christ. The good news of Christ is that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son; the God-man. He died for ALL our sins, was buried and rose again the third day. This resolved the sin issue ONCE and for ALL, where the entirety of the world’s sin debt was concerned, in the mind of the one to whom the payment for their sins was made; God the Father! To believe this good news is to be reconciled in your mind (Colossians 1:21, 2 Corinthians 5:20), not God’s. It’s a SON issue today, not a SIN issue. The issue isn’t forgiveness of sin. The issue is believing what the cross work of Christ accomplished in your behalf, in order to be identified with and joined to Christ himself: having His test scores (His righteousness and His faith) written on your paper.
What about the 10 commandments? Have the gentiles ever been under those? Are we under the 10 commandments today? The answer is NO!
The 10 commandments were a part of the law, which in fact contained 613 commandments, not just 10. Some interpret the Bible to make a distinction between the moral and ceremonial law. They claim that while we are not under the ceremonial law, we are under the moral law. The problem with this view is that the Bible never makes a distinction between moral law and ceremonial law. Those who are under the law are bound by every statute; they cannot choose certain parts of the law to obey. Had you broken 1, you had broken all:
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
This is where the nation Israel was in error. They thought they had righteousness in and of themselves, and that they were meriting a righteous standing before God by law-keeping. That’s not why God gave that nation the law! The law was given them to show them who they were: sinners. Perfect righteousness is the only righteousness God could and can recognize, and He had to provide it for them, and He would do that if they’d simply recognize that, change their mind (repent), and take Him at His word. We know they didn’t. They rejected God the Father through John the Baptist. They rejected the Son: Jesus Christ, and at last they rejected the holy Spirit through Stephen, a man filled with the holy Spirit, in Acts 7. This resulted in the fall of Israel, where God set them aside for a season, and here we are…almost 2000 years after, and the age of grace continues on!Thank God for that!
Today salvation is readily available to all…Jew or gentile…makes no difference: we’re all saved the same way. The law-The middle wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles is broken down. Once someone is in Christ they’ve put on Christ, and they’re a new creature.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Colossians 3:10-11
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
ROMANS thru PHILEMON 
De
September 10, 2011 at 07:04
Excellent read, Daniel. I posted this article on DR.
I do have one question. When you write the following, what exactly is your understanding?
There was, and will again be, a division between the Jews and the Gentiles (the heathens, the non-Jews).
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 10, 2011 at 13:41
Thank you very much!
Division wasn’t the right word, so I changed it to distinction. What I mean by that is that Israel will be set at the forefront again, and there will again be Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles will have to come thru Israel for salvation.
Isaiah 60:1-3
1 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.
cincyscott
September 10, 2011 at 07:32
Great post, Daniel! You kept us waiting long enough ;D
I was thinking about this today. I know in America, many give God the credit and claim that he is “blessing America”. The President ends his national speeches with “God bless America.” But, as you pointed out, God is not dealing with folks according to their nationality. He sees mankind as a whole. When Peter has to go see Cornelius, Peter tells him that he “perceives” that God is no respecter of persons (I believe he says “perceives” because he still wasn’t sure what was going on until Paul explains it to him in Galatians 2). If God is blessing one nation above another, wouldn’t that be respecting of persons? It most certainly would. I know this wouldn’t be well received by Christians in America to say that God has had no part in guiding the nation. After Genesis 11, the only Nation God would recognize was Israel. In the “but now” time period, God only recognizes mankind.
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 10, 2011 at 12:12
Thanks, Scott! =) Yeah, I did, lol…I’ve been working on it for a couple of weeks.
Amen, your spot-on about God not blessing any nations today. God made a world which runs itself… It’s not like God has to help nations to pick the right president, lol.
cincyscott
September 10, 2011 at 15:42
How is it in Norway? Do people give credit to God for the formation of their nation?
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 10, 2011 at 16:03
They say the constitution is based on christian values, whatever that means lol, but they don’t give credit to God for the formation of Norway. Rightly so.
Norway is as religious as the Vatican really, so I’m kinda surprised they don’t give God the credit. Religious people love to do thatIt’s tricky to share Paul’s gospel with people here, because 80% are members of the Lutheran church. Everyone who has been water baptized as an infant is automatically a member of the Lutheran church. Confirmation is very popular among teens, because there’s a lot of money/gifts involved. So, there’s a huge percentage who THINK they’ve heard the Gospel or who THINK they’re saved, because they’re water baptized or because they went thru confirmation. Then, when you share Paul’s gospel with them, they think you’re preaching the same false gospel like the Lutherans….
De
September 10, 2011 at 16:51
Thank you Daniel, I appreciate your answer, and agree. The reason I asked the question was because some Gracers teach that the middle wall of partition goes back up once the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and the Body of Christ is caught up to Jesus. Yes, there is definitely a distinction that God makes in the ages to come, as you stated in your reply, – but I don’t see Scripture supporting enmity between circumcision and uncircumcision in the ages to come – which was the case with the middle wall of partition up in times past.
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 10, 2011 at 19:27
I used to believe that as well, but I don’t see it like that anymore. We know that we’re in a mystery, and not under the old or the new covenant. The old covenant was Israel’s failure to recognize the purpose of the law. The new covenant (ages to come), will make them able to follow the law to a T; perfectly.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
The same scripture passage is quoted by the author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 8:9-13. Shouldn’t come as a big surprise to us who know that Hebrews-Revelation deals with the kingdom program =) So we know the new covenant won’t start until the 2nd coming of Christ, after the great tribulation.
As far as I’m concerned, the old covenant will continue on during the great tribulation. Israel will have to make the confession Leviticus 26:40-42 called for, which is a part of the old covenant:
Leviticus 26:40-42
40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
This is what they’ve should’ve done from the beginning.
Colossians 2:13-14
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Maybe there will be enmity between circumcision and uncircumcision in the great tribulation? I mean, we have all forgiveness up-front, but Israel doesn’t until the 2nd coming of Christ (Acts 3:19-21). Same sacrifice (Jesus Christ), different rules, or “ways” to get there. Technically speaking they’re already forgiven, but they won’t have it, legally speaking, until the 2nd coming. Same could’ve been applied to the law. Just because God blotted “out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” doesn’t have to mean that it, legally speaking, will apply to the kingdom program/Israel in the great tribulation. This is an interesting question study, and I’m definitely going to keep it in mind, as I study the word of God!
Derek
September 11, 2011 at 02:09
Great article Daniel, my Dad was here visiting so I have just gotten to read your article just now. I will re-read over a few times to let it sink in.
“Maybe there will be enmity between circumcision and uncircumcision in the great tribulation?”
I agree Daniel but it won’t be maybe… Valley of Jehoshaphat “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 11, 2011 at 10:18
Thanks for sharing, Derek! I didn’t remember this excellent vid and those scripture passages.
De
September 11, 2011 at 05:46
Daniel you wrote: “So we know the new covenant won’t start until the 2nd coming of Christ, after the great tribulation.”
I agree, the New Covenant will not be realized in it’s fulness until after Christ returns, that is after the 70th week of Daniel – but remember there was a firstfruit, a remnant according to the election of Grace, the foolish nation, the little flock – spoken of in Paul’s letter to the Romans. The firstfruit was made holy, as will the entire lump upon Christ’s return.
Let me try to understand. Are you and Derek saying that the Middle Wall will be back up once the Body departs to go be with the Lord at the catching up? I watched brother Curt’s video above and before I watched it this evening I was pondering this very thing all day. Seeing the But Now as an entirely different purpose of God never before made known until Paul. And that, had this dispensation not been realized the prophetic purpose of God would have gone forward. So, now I have to visit this some more. These subjects are indeed interesting, are they not? Nothing to cause division and strife among us but hopefully cause us to get closer in understanding.
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 11, 2011 at 10:45
Yeah, I believe the Middle Wall will be back up once the Body of Christ is caught up, and the old covenant resumes where it left off: during the great Tribulation, before it ends at the 2nd coming of Christ. I see the dispensation of grace of God as a parenthetical time period. I don’t see it change any aspects of the kingdom program, unless it’s written down in Hebrews-Revelation. It’s an interesting study, for sure.
cincyscott
September 11, 2011 at 11:36
I’ll admit that the “what happens next” after the dispensation of grace closes is still somewhat fuzzy to me.
Daniel 9:27 – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
(Jesus echos this in Matthew 24:15). Note it says that the abomination of desolation will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. This would indicate that these two activities will be happening during the Tribulation. These activities are in accordance with the Old Covenant. (But, just because they are happening, does that mean that the Old Covenant will be recognized by God at that time?)
However, then we go to Hebrews, which is instruction for Israel during said Tribulation, and we find the writer of Hebrews telling Israel how much “better” Christ is and how much better his sacrifice is than the Old Covenant. I could be wrong (I haven’t reread the entire book as I type this), but I don’t know that the writer of Hebrews ever encourages Israel to follow the Old Covenant.
Heb_7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (note “since” the law)
Heb_10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect – (the law having a shadow of good things to come – Galatians 3:24-25 – the law was to be a schoolmaster to Israel to point their need for a Messiah, but after the Messiah came, they are no longer in need of the schoolmaster.)
Now, the tricky verse is Hebrews 8:13 –
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
What makes this tricky is the phrase “is ready to vanish away.” But, I’m not so sure the writer of Hebrews is saying this because the Old Covenant is brought back by God. I believe that Israel will re-institute their Old Covenant (and why wouldn’t they? Israel LOVED trying to obtain righteousness by the Law. Luke notes Israel’s fondness for the Law in Acts 21:20, And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:).
I’m not convinced that it will be God’s intention for the Old Covenant to be reestablished. God wants to enter into the New Covenant with his people – he doesn’t want to go back into the Old Covenant because God is interested in having Israel walk in his statutes and the only way they WILL do that is for God to put his Spirit in their inward parts and CAUSE them to do so (The New Covenant). This is the same for the folks of Pentecost. They were operating under the power of the world to come (the New Covenant). (Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come). It wasn’t a mixture of Covenants. Peter was operating under the power of the New Covenant.
There is also a consideration of what the content of “the Law” will be under the New Covenant. God says that they will be made to walk in his statutes. I think it is safe to conclude that the sacrificial system will not be a part of the New Covenant statutes. But, what will be? Will it be the same Law, just administered through different terms/conditions? Or, will it be completely overhauled?
Like I said, I’m still weighing all of this in my mind…and there is a lot to consider. But, you all keep posting – it helps me to study the issue better!! 😀
Derek
September 11, 2011 at 18:44
(But, just because they are happening, does that mean that the Old Covenant will be recognized by God at that time?)
I do not believe God will recognize the Old Covenant or an animal sacrifice BUT there are a lot of Jews, even as we speak trying to reinstitute that very thing, even a Red Heifer. I believe the anti-christ is going to bring this about as an attempt to keep them under the Old Covenant. (***note. I remember a couple Acts 2 teachers saying that animal sacrifices will resume during the Millennial reign of Christ , SAAAAAAY WHAAAAAAAT !!!!!!! That flies in the face of Hebrews. Dr. McGee and the other guy ???? can’t remember his name … taught this.
De
September 11, 2011 at 19:07
What I see brethren is that the Israel that was recognized by the UN back in 1948 is a political and a religious state not much different than it was in Peter’s day. The religious Jews, having no temple, go to what’s left of the wall and pray, they wear phylacteries as a reminder to keep the LAW. Many of the religious trappings of the Old remain – even the Sanhedrin council with all that is religious is part of that religious system.
So, what I see is that the religious system will be in effect during the 70th week of Daniel. The man of sin sees to that, and the religious Jew will enter into that seven year covenant with him. Even so, a faithful remnant of Israel will be safely cared for by the Lord there in the wilderness while God’s wrath is issued.
Let us not forget what the 70th week is all about. Those final seven years will bring the fulness of the five courses of punishment. It is through those seven years of chastisement that a saved remnant will come forth to realize the kingdom of heaven come to earth in the land covenant, promised to Abraham.
On another note, the middle wall that separated was what God Himself did. But: Ephesians 2:15 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;
The religious system will do everything they can to initiate separation between religious Jew and Gentile dogs as that very thing exists today over there. That is not to say that God goes backwards. Religion is backwards, man attempting to be righteous by their own works, never works, and it won’t work during that final seven years. We know how it ends.
So for me, a physical middle wall can be erected by the religious system, the man of sin, or whomever, but God Himself through Jesus Christ abolished forever the enmity that God placed between them, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances. The Old was made old to make room for the New.
Just yesterday I read the Hebrews letter again. It’s chocked full with much that will help us tack this down. The letter speaks of that which is better in the NEW. Better hope, better testament, better covenant, better promises, better sacrifices, better and enduring substance, better country.
BETTER – the New is better than the Old because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God – the blood of the New Covenant, an everlasting covenant between the Father and His Son.
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
This is fun. I love to see the saints discussing, so that together we may gain the proper understanding.
Derek
September 11, 2011 at 19:20
I love these discussions also De 🙂 I learn so much and it get the gears working, sometimes to the point of smelling smoke 😉 Great observations .. I used to believe that the Israel there now was a fulfillment of prophecy until I was taught right division. Time to go rake campsites.. 20 days to go then we are closed.. then on the road again 🙂
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 11, 2011 at 19:31
You made a lot of good points, De!
Derek
September 11, 2011 at 19:12
Just a thought… Satan wants to hide or confuse the pure gospel of grace in this present dispensation by keeping their congregations in the gospel of the kingdom or mixing the prophecy program with the mystery program therefore giving the illusion that they are doing God’s will (Denominationalism is doing a god job of that.. hybridization, part Kingdom saint /part BOC saint) then it only makes sense that satan will try and keep the New Covenant hidden from the Jews by providing them the illusion that they are keeping the Old Covenant.
jerry Moore
September 11, 2011 at 22:35
Great study my man!
Daniel / romansthruphilemon
September 13, 2011 at 13:24
Thank you! =) Glad u like it.