I bring to you our beliefs and why we believe them. I urge you follow Acts 17:11 and search the scriptures to see if what we say is true.
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"Return, O backsliding children," says the Lord; "for I am married to you".( Jeremiah 3:14-15)
The Holy Bible is the story of two weddings; where God (the Father) has chosen a nation, a people (Israel) not because they were stronger or prettier or better that everyone else but because it was in His power to do so. He becomes a husband to her (Jer 3:14-15), then divorces ( Jer 3:8) her because of her idolatry, fornication, adultery and wickedness but not before they have a SON.
This Son (Jesus Christ) through his sacrifice at the Cross, Burial and Resurrection from the grave will forgive the sins of believers and give them eternal justification and glorification. He will build His Church as He had once told Peter (Mat 16:18) where He will be the Head and the Body will be the members (believers) of His Church. They, the members will also become His bride elect and prior to His 2nd Advent, His bride (Rev 19:7).
During Daniel's 70th Week (1), Jacob's Trouble (Jer 30:7), the Great Tribulation (Mat 24:21) and the Millennium to come, Jesus will mediate between his Father and his wife (All of Israel/Remnant of Israel), bringing them back together eternally.
Jacob's Israel
From those first words God spoke to Abram (Gen 12), a nation is born. At a later date, the Lord made a covenant with Abram for a piece of land that lay between two rivers. "In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:" (Gen 15;18)
Jacob was born into controversy (Gen 25,24-26) yet wrestled with GOD (32:24-30) and became Israel. )(Gen 32:28). Through Jacob, the Tribes of Israel were born through the names of his children and are until this day and beyond. (Rev 7:4-8)
The Laws of Moses (including the Ten Commandments), written by the finger of GOD happened around 1550 BC. at Mt Sinai. Theses Laws were for the Israel people to follow in both Religious ceremonies and to be used for Civil laws and regulations. From this time forward, Israel falters many times and God saves, protects and punishes them over the next 1500 years. Around 4 BC, a child is born of the Spirit of GOD and a virgin mother. He will grow up largely unknown except in prophecies that speak of him as Emanuel.
In the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the Laws of Moses were discontinued (Mat 11:13) and the Kingdom of GOD (Gospel of Jesus Christ) (Luke 16,16) was preached to all until Daniel's 70th week begins. After four years of ministry, Jesus Christ will ride into Jerusalem on April 6, 32 AD (2) on a colt of a female donkey. During the next 7 days, He would be Crucified, Buried and Resurrected according to scriptures that were the WORD of GOD. (1 Cor 15:1-4).
In the year of 135 AD, God divorces His Wife and sends her into diaspora. The Roman Emperor Hadrian puts down the Bar Kokhba revolt (3) and forces all Jews to flea to the other nations on earth fulfilling a prophecy, Jesus authored in Matthew 24:9-10. One year later, the city of Jerusalem was effectively plowed under and the Roman city of Aelia Capitolina was built on top of Jerusalem.
Since those early years, the Jews have been despised, hated, murdered and killed. In addition, they have been partially blinded(4) until the Gentiles is fulfilled. Even today, most of the Jewish nation of Israel have rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and are still Hated by a majority of the population of the earth. From prophecy of Daniel(5) this will continue and get worse until the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.
The 'Church' (body / bride elect) of Jesus Christ
From the beginning of the Period Of Grace (32 AD), anyone who believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to scripture will receive Salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, teach and protect them from the daily horrors of sin.
1 Cor 15:1-4..KJV.."Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; v2..By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. v3..For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; v4..And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
At forty days after His resurrection, Jesus was ascended to heaven to sit on the hand of GOD.....Before He left this earth, He told His apostles and Disciples not to leave Jerusalem for; "John Baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit"(6)
At fifty days after His resurrection, His prophecy of His Church(7) was fulfilled with His Apostles and 3,000 Jewish disciples received Justification(Salvation) and the Holy Spirit. ..Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:(in the name of Jesus Christ) and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41) (emphasis added)
A little later another 5,000 Jews were subsequently saved and received the Holy Spirit "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand." (Acts 4:4) To roundout His Church, Cornelius, a gentile receives salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit.(8) His 'Church' has been growing throughout the years with people from all nations of the earth.
Conclusion:Why does all this matter?
Mark tells us in Acts 10:28.."And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."
Jesus' 'Church' (His body/bride elect) is for everyone, Gentile and Jew alike.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
The 'Church' is spoken 74 times in the King James Edition from Acts 2 to Rev 3:14. Yet, from Rev 3:15 forward to the end of the book of Revelation the Church is only spoken of once more by way of the 'Marriage Supper of the Lamb'.(9)
Jesus spoke of 'Kingdom of Heaven' in the early days of his ministry. The Gospel was rejected by the Jewish people and shortly thereafter, the 'Kingdom of GOD' was preached through the land.
The 'Kingdom of Heaven' known as the Millennium will be the future 1,000 years of peace over all the earth with Jesus Christ ruling all nations with an iron fist.(10).
While His 'Church' has been spared from going through Daniel's 70th week, the rest of humanity including Israel will have to go through these last days. During these dark days, over one half of the earth's population will have died prior to the second half of Daniel's 70th week. There are no numbers of deaths announced during 'the Great Tribulation" but according to Jesus the events of this time period will be terrible."For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Mat 24:21)
During Daniel's 70th week, the Gentiles of the earth will be punished for their inequities. Also during this time a great evangelical restoration will happen and many will finally turn to Jesus as their savior. They will be known as the Tribulation Saints(11)
Israel will be purified by fire of Daniel's 70th week and only one third of them will live to become the Remnant (All of Israel)) in the Millennium to come. (12,13)
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*The Authorized King James Edition (1611, 1769) was used exclusively as other versions are somewhat different depending upon the year of their printing.
*All verses in the Bible are: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (Note: we have placed all scripture in RED for your convenience)
*Thus God is considered the author of all 66 books through 40 writers including those of Psalm 2.
**We welcome your comments and questions..Please keep them precise and clean.
1 Cor 15:3-4.."For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
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Sources:
1. Anderson, Robert, The Coming Prince, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1894
chap. 10
2. Ibid., chapter 12
3. Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 3, p.936.
4. Romans 11:25
5. Daniel 9:24-27
6. Acts 1:5
7. Matthew 16:18
8. Acts 10
9. Revelation 19:7-9
10. Ezekiel 20:23
11. Revelation 7:9,14
12. Koinona House,The ten Lost Tribes, Chuck Missler
13. Zachariah 13:8-9
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Up-Coming articles of Interest
The Book of Revelation
Rightly Dividing the Bible
The Harpazo (Rapture)
The Jewish Wedding
Not a Day to Spare
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This article was originally published in the
5/12/2020, 'Sharing God's Word' @ Justifiedends.blogspot.com
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