Key Concepts
+ The Preserved Word
+ Sense and Sequence
+ Right Division
+ The Gospel of the Grace of God
+ The Mystery
+ Road Sign Passages
+ Sonship Curriculum
Bible Studies
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Level 1: the adopted son > the simple [Prov. 1:2-3] Phase 1 = “to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of wisdom” Phase 2 = “to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, equity” Level 2: the simple > the young man [Prov. 1:4] Phase 1 = “to give subtilty to the simple” Phase 2 = “to the young man, knowledge and discretion” Level 3: a wise man > a man of understanding [Prov. 1:5-6] Phase 1 = “a wise man will hear and will increase learning” Phase 2 = “and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” = “to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings” Sonship curriculum in the Pauline Epistles: Level 1 = Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians Level 2 = Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (or) Level 3 = 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon The Godhead and Sonship in the Church of Grace: The Son = redeems, models, shares His inheritance and glory The Spirit = adopts, provides the inspired curriculum The Father = fathers; imprinting His thoughts and ways; inviting us to work alongside of Him, in His business The New Covenant and Sonship [Jer. 31:31-34; Rom. 12:1-2]: God will put His law inside of sons = “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (happens third)
God will be their God, they shall be His people = “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (happens second)
They will all know God, for He will forgive and forget their sin = “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God” (happens first) Our heavenly Father has spoken to us through His concrete, written, and preserved Word. If we want to correctly understand what He has said, I believe we must accurately handle His Word. We accurately handle God’s Word when we ‘rightly divide’ His Word according to the 2 comprehensive programs He has chosen to work through and He has written about . . . How do we understand God‘s Word correctly? 1. Read it like a newspaper; different sections have different purposes. + one section will tell us what has happened = history + another will tell us what will happen = prophecy + another will tell us about government and laws = legal notices + another will instruct on functional life = living section + another may feature positive news = good news * To best benefit from reading a newspaper: read one that is written to you and for your time 2. Understand literal language literally, figurative language figuratively 3. Rightly divide the Word of God 2 Tim. 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” Historically, the Bible has been divided into 2 major sections: = the Old Testament (Genesis - Malachi) = the New Testament (Matthew - Revelation)
This man-made division generally recognizes the old contract or testament between God and man (Law) and the new contract (Grace). That division also recognizes the period of silence between the earlier Jewish prophets (850-400 BC) and the coming of the Forerunner, John. However, the Scriptures also divide themselves - and they do 2 so at two other points, between the two larger, more compre-hensive programs God has instituted!
Genesis - Acts 8 = Jewish program Acts 9 - Philemon = Gentile program Hebrews - Revelation = Jewish program * Our Apostle Paul uses the word ‘dispensation’ [1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10, 3:2; Col. 1:25] instead of program; this Biblical word means administration, distribution, or economy. According to Ephesians 2, the two major dispensations (programs) entail: 2 times = “in time past” and “but now” [2:11,13] 2 peoples = “circumcision” and the “uncircumcision” [2:11] 2 proximities = “far off” and “made nigh” [2:13] 2 entities = the nation of “Israel“ [2:12] and the “body” of Christ, the predominantly Gentile church [2:16] Under the former program the Gentiles were [2:12]: - “without Christ” - “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” - “strangers from the covenants of promise” - “having no hope, and without God in the world” (The Gentiles were considered ‘unclean’ and were uncommunicated to) > “But now . . .” the uncircumcision + have been made nigh [2:13] + are saved by grace through faith [2:8,9] + have become the church, the body of Jesus Christ [2:16; 4:12] + and are specifically communicated to by God through Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles [3:1-10]
In fact, God interrupted His Jewish program to initiate His Gentile program. This is detailed in Rom. 9-11 with the Jewish nation in view, while Eph. 2-3 details this change of dispensation with the Gentiles in view. The argument of Romans 9-11; 3 + God’s children are not just Jewish descendants but Jewish believers + Believing Gentiles are now also regarded as God’s people + God will save a remnant of believing Jews + God will later finish His work with the nation of Israel + God will provoke the nation to jealousy by the Jewish remnant + God has not cast away His people (Israel); the remnant endures + God has grafted in the Gentiles while “blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” [11:25] + God will later save and deliver Israel by His mercy
God’s Jewish program was interrupted for the age of Gentile grace, which was kept hidden as a mystery until revealed to Paul [Eph. 3:1-10] The age of Gentile grace concludes with the rapture of the church, the body of Christ, into the heavens. Then the Jewish program resumes. So, how do we rightly divide the Bible ? All of the books of the Bible were written by Jews about Jews - except the 13 books written by a Jew about Gentiles > INITIATION OF JEWISH PROGRAM < Genesis - Esther = Jewish history
Job - Ecclesiastes = Jewish poetry, literature
Isaiah - Malachi = Jewish prophets speak God’s messages to Jews
Matthew - John = Jewish history (the coming of the Messiah/Savior)
Acts 1-8 = Jewish remnant witnesses to the nation
> INTERRUPTION OF JEWISH PROGRAM <
> INITIATION OF GENTILE PROGRAM <
Acts 9-28 = history of the Gentile Church
Romans - Philemon = the doctrines and practices of the Church
> GENTILE CHURCH IS RAPTURED TO THE HEAVENS <
> RESUMPTION OF JEWISH PROGRAM <
Hebrews - Revelation = Jewish instruction for the Last Days
We might say that God has published three newspapers:
‘The Jewish Chronicle’ = Genesis 12 - Acts 8
‘The Gentile Times’ = Acts 9 - Philemon
‘The Jewish Sentinel’ = Hebrews - Revelation 20
Remember: + Jesus was born under the Law [Gal 4:4] + Jesus was sent to fulfill the Law [Matt. 5:17] + Jesus was sent only to Israel [Matt.15:24] + Jesus advocated keeping the Law [Matt. 8:1-4; 19:17; 23:2-3; 26:17-19] + “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached . . .” [Luke 16:16] + The gospel of the Gospels by John the Baptist and Jesus, the Christ = “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” [Matt. 3:2; , Mark 1:15] + “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” [Rom. 10:4] + After His resurrection, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” [Acts 1:6] + Peter continued to announce the coming of the kingdom, the Day of the Lord, and Christ’s return [Acts 2:17-20; 3:19-21; 10:36-43] + The Jerusalem leaders “saw that the gospel of uncircumcision 5 was committed unto me (Paul), as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter” [Gal. 2:7] + Peter’s apostleship was “of the circumcision” while Paul’s apostleship was “toward the Gentiles” [Gal. 2:8] + James, Peter, and John agreed concerning Paul and Barnabas that “we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” [Gal. 2:9] + Paul publicly rebuked Peter for hypocritical legalism [Gal. 2:11-14] + Paul was at odds with James and 1,000s of remnant believers in Jerusalem who were zealous for the Law; he was teaching Jews “to
forsake Moses, saying they ought not to circumcise their children,neither to walk after the customs” [Acts 21:20-22] + By the end of the Acts, Paul states, “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” [Acts 28:31] + Peter acknowledged Paul wrote Scripture, “in which are some things hard to be understood” [2 Pet. 3:15-16] Note: These last seven items exemplify the clash of the two overlapping programs; the Jewish program is being set aside while the age of Gentile grace is being established We are Gentiles, in the church, the age of grace - we must intentionally read and put into practice the ‘Gentile Times’ = Paul’s epistles! + God has not changed His plan; the church was predestined [Eph. 1] + We need to know about the Jewish program, but we need to specifically put into practice the Gentile program = the Church, the body of Christ + We must distinguish what was said under one program, time, 6 people, proximity and entity; from what was said concerning a different program, time, people, proximity, and entity Paul’s epistles = our constitution; our gospel, our doctrine, our revelation and authority for all things pertaining to faith and practice (our newspaper) The rest of Scripture is for us to know and understand but not for our practice . . . The church becomes compromised when it obeys Jewish directives, claims Jewish promises, and assumes the role of the Jewish nation in present day practice! We then err not only by commission (what we adhere to and practice) but also by omission (what we fail to adhere to and fail to practice). [Some examples: tithing, fasting, feasts, legalism, baptism] Furthermore, Scripture becomes absolutely ‘generic’ and diluted unto non-specificity. It is thought of as a whole to the exclusion of it’s parts. It becomes very general, vague, indefinitive and almost mystical. I believe God purposely wrote His Word in a knowable form and expects us to ‘know’ it and believe it - and thereby put into practice the particular section written to the Church, the body of Christ by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. The Lord Jesus Christ, who instructed the 12 concerning the kingdom gospel, is the very One who revealed the mystery of this dispensation to Paul and gave him a different commission, a different gospel, and a very different audience. Note: One can further observe that Scripture actually distinguishes 5 people groups. The two major entities, Israel and the Church, and 3 others. + the nation of Israel + the Gentile nations + the believing Jewish remnant + the Gentile church + ‘this generation’ (Jewish) Usually, God is working through one people group in contrast to or in opposition to another people group: ~ With Israel in contrast to the Gentile nations (Genesis - Malachi) ~ With the Jewish remnant in opposition to ‘this generation’ (Matthew - Acts 8) ~ With the emerging Gentile church in tandem with the declining Jewish remnant (Acts 13-21) ~ With the Gentile church in contrast to the Jewish nation (Acts 9 - Philemon) ~ With the Jewish remnant in opposition to the Gentile nations (James - Revelation)
*Our comprehension of God’s Holy Word greatly increases when we perceive to whom God is writing and working with, keeping in mind those who are not being written to and therefore not being addressed. Consider the following: One of the very earliest newspapers ever published was: - the “Daily Universal Register” in England - it was founded in 1785 by John Walter - it 1788 it became “The Times” (the original ‘times’ newspaper) Can you imagine its perspective on the American revolution in the colonies? Would the paper have been pro-England or pro-America? Should the revolutionary Americans have read The Times and put into practice its perspective? Should Americans today put into practice the perspective of “The Times” from 18th century England? NO! That newspaper was for a different people and time. 8
But, how about the U.S. Constitution printed in early American newspapers? Should the newly independent Americans have followed it? YES! Should Americans today follow it? YES!
God’s Word directs us as to how to properly handle and understand it.
{See Romans 15}
> we must divide it according to His dispensations <
- Jesus came under the Law to fulfil the Law - Jesus came only to Israel and preached a kingdom gospel - Paul ministered in contrast to James, Peter, and John - Paul went to the Gentiles, and preached the hidden mysteries of God
Parts of Scripture are like the 1788 Times from England (Jewish program) and part of Scripture is like the U.S. Constitution (Gentile church program)
This is God’s Word. He tells the church (not the nation of Israel, nor the Jewish remnant) to ‘rightly divide’ the Word of truth. Why us? Because we share many critical items: + the one true God + the Jewish Scriptures + the coming of our Lord through the Jews + the foundation of justification by faith from Abraham + the new covenant (celebrated in the Lord’s table) But we are a different entity in a different dispensation with specific revelation given through a specially called apostle. We must rightly divide; we must accurately handle the Holy Scriptures in order to be ‘sound in doctrine‘ in all things pertaining to our faith and practice in this age of Gentile grace! Jewish Scripture: Genesis - Esther = beginnings, history of Israel Job - Song Of Solomon = wisdom literature for Israel Isaiah - Malachi = prophecy to and for Israel Matthew - Acts 12 = the 1st coming of the Messiah Gentile Grace Scripture: Acts 13-28 = the history of Paul’s ministry Romans - Philemon = instruction to Grace-age believers Jewish Scripture: Hebrews = the New Covenant In Christ Jesus James - Jude = instruction for the Last Days Revelation = prophecy of the Last Days Jewish Scripture: The Patriarchs of Israel [Genesis] [Job] = Abraham, Isaac, Jacob The Children of Israel [Exodus - Deuteronomy] = deliverance out of Egypt, the Law [Exodus] = cleansing, worship, service [Leviticus] = wandering [Numbers] = review for a new generation [Deuteronomy] The Nation of Israel [Joshua - Ruth] = conquest of Canaan [Joshua] = cycles of disobedience and deliverance [Judges] = personal story of a kinsman redeemer [Ruth] The Kingdom of Israel [1 Samuel - 1 Kings 11] = Samuel, judge and prophet; Saul, 1st king [I Samuel] = David, 2nd king [2 Samuel] = Solomon, 3rd king [1 Kings 1-11] [Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song Of Solomon]
The Divided Kingdom [1 Kings 12 - 2 Chronicles] = Israel kings and Judah’s kings [1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings] = Review of Adam - Jacob, Saul - David [1 Chronicles] = Review of Solomon‘s reign, Judah’s kings [2 Chronicles] {The Old Testament Prophets ministered after Solomon and to Nehemiah, 845-420BC; mostly writing of rebuke, judgment, the terrible Day of the Lord, and the Kingdom} 845-730 [Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea]
Assyria conquered Israel in 722 700-607 [Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk] Babylon conquered Judah in 586 570 -537 [Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel]
The 1st Return of Judah = to rebuild the temple; 536 [Ezra] 520 [Haggai, Zechariah] The Preservation of the Jews in Exile (in Persia) 485-465 [Esther] The 2nd Return of Judah [Nehemiah] = to rebuild the walls and Jerusalem; 445 > 420 [Malachi (prophesies of the Forerunner)] The Silence of God - 450 years The 1st Coming of the Messiah (The Jewish Gospels) [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] The Witness to Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria [Acts 1-12] {Then blindness in part happened to Israel} Instruction: the New Covenant in Christ Jesus [Hebrews] Instruction: the Last Days (Jewish Epistles) [James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude] Prophecy: the Last Days [Revelation] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Observation: the progressive story of Israel ~ the patriarchs > the children of Israel ~ the children > the nation of Israel ~ the nation > the kingdom of Israel ~ the kingdom > divided and then conquered ~ the conquered > foreign subjects > remnant ~ the remnant > return and rebuild the temple, the walls ~ the silence of God ~ the Messenger and the Messiah > warn the remnant ~ the remnant witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria ~ the 12 instruct concerning the Tribulation and the Kingdom Gentile Grace Scripture Beginning Instruction Foundation: Basic Grace Doctrine [Romans] Correction: Reprimand For Carnality [1 Corinthians] Confirmation: Paul’s Apostolic Credentials [2 Corinthians] Correction: Legalism Be Damned [Galatians] Intermediate Instruction Destiny: The Heavens Connection [Ephesians] Perspective: The Mind Of Christ [Philippians] Dogma: The Preeminence Of Jesus Christ [Colossians] Calendar: Resurrection Before Rapture [I Thessalonians] Calendar: Apostasy Before Tribulation [2 Thessalonians] Advanced Instruction Preserve The Trust [1 Timothy] Pass On The Trust [2 Timothy] Command The Trust [Titus] A Model Of Sonship [Philemon] (Introduction for the website) Statement of doctrinal confusion = the Scriptures are assembled in an often non-chronological and random order; this is not a problem as all of Scripture is for the faith and practice of everyone, everywhere, and for all times. Statement of doctrinal clarity = the Scriptures are thoughtfully arranged to assist the reader to understand the history of the world and of Israel, to develop the Jewish program, to separate and distinguish the interruptive Gentile grace program, and to return to the com- pletion of the Jewish program. The sense and sequence of the Scriptures demonstrate ‘right division’, whereby we in the age of grace view Paul’s Epistles as specific instruction for all things pertaining to our faith and practice Road Sign Passages - New Testament Statement of doctrinal confusion = God has one initiative throughout the Bible, gaining believers from all peoples of the world; He is not concerned about ethnicity but rather about reaching any who would believe and beneficially claim His promises. He prophesied of the kingdom in the O. T., announced the coming of the kingdom in the Gospels, and now is calling people to join His kingdom. Statement of doctrinal clarity = God indicates in His Word that He has two programs, one Jewish and the other Gentile; these function under different times and expectations, and with a view to different destinies. God’s distinction of these programs in the text, evidences our need to pay attention to the differences in the substance of the faith and practice of the nation of Israel under Law - and the substance of the faith and practice of the Church, the body of Christ, in the age of Gentile Grace. All will conclude with the dispensation of the Fullness of Times. Let’s imagine you jump in a car and take off on a trip. Immediately, you begin to pay close attention to the road signs along the way, for they indicate your:
Similarly, in reading the Bible, certain passages stand out as road signs showing:
=> God tells us where we are as we journey through the Biblical narrative according to His timetable and His preplanned itinerary of big events
Let’s set the stage before we open the New Testament: - Israel, due to its disobedience, has experienced 4 courses of punishment and has entered the 5th course, having experienced the first 3 installments = captivity, return to the land, and the silence of God. The next 2 installments, the warning of wrath, and then the Tribulation and Kingdom, will begin with the coming of the Forerunner and the Christ. (See Lev. 26 for the courses of punishment) - The Jewish religious leaders should be fully aware that according to the Prophet Daniel, the Messiah should appear in only 30 years – during the 69th week of years; Dan. 9:22-26. It is conceivable that young Jewish women might be wondering at this time if they could be the ‘virgin’ of Isaiah 7:14. - Malachi was the last prophet to speak to Israel at about 420 BC. He prophesied God would send His “messenger . . and the Lord” before “the great and dreadful day of the LORD” [3:1-3; 4:5-6] - Israel has experienced 400 years of silence from God [Micah 3:5-7; Amos 8:11-12]
New Testament Road Sign passages: (in chronological order / or meaningful sequence) 3 Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law” Matthew 1:17 “So all the generations from Abraham to David are 14 generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are 14 generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are 14 generations.” Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Luke 3:2-3 “the Word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness; and he came unto all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Luke 3:4 “ . . The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight’” [the Messenger announcing the Messiah’s coming] Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea . . ‘Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Matthew 3:7 “But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” (Israel = vessels of wrath; Romans 9:22-24) Mark 1:14-15 “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came unto Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye and believe the gospel” 4 Luke 4:43 “And He (Jesus) said unto them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.” Luke 8:1 “And it came to pass afterward, that He (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.” Matthew 15:24 “But He (Jesus) answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel’” Matthew 16:19 “I (Jesus) will give unto thee (Peter) the keys of the kingdom”
Matthew 19:28 “when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye (the disciples) also shall sit upon 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel” Luke 12:32-33 “Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have and give alms” Luke 16:16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it” Luke 17:22-25 “”And He said unto His disciples, ’The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man (the Kingdom), and ye shall not see it . . . but first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.” Luke 19:11 “And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because 5 He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” (the disciples) John 6:15 “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king . . .” (the disciples or men of the 5,000) Matt. 23:1-3 “Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to His disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do . .” Matt. 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” Mark 16:17-20 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover . . and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Acts 1:3 “To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:6 “When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, ‘Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?’”
Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in these last days, saith God, I will pour out My 6 Spirit upon all flesh” Acts 3:24 “Yea, all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” Hebrews 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son” Hebrews 6:1-3 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” Hebrews 8:6-13 “He (Christ) is the mediator of a better covenant . . . He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 9:10 “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” Hebrews 9:26 “in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” 1 Peter 1:20 “but was manifest in these last days for you” 2 Peter 1:16 “we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (firsthand experience of the Lord’s earthly ministry) 1 John 1:3 “that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you” 1 John 2:18 “whereby we know it is the last time” Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who 7 believeth.” Romans 11:5, 7 “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. . . Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” Romans 11:8 “According as it is written, God hath given them (Israel) the spirit of slumber” (quoting Isaiah 29:10) Romans 11:25 “blindness in part is happened to Israel” Romans 11:31 “Even so have these (Israel) also now not believed”
The New Testament began with:
We have just seen God working with Israel at a very critical time in their 1500 year history. The Messenger, the Messiah, and the disciples have announced it is the ‘last days’ according to the writings of the O. T. prophets. We will now learn that God’s working with Israel will be interrupted by His working with another group under another economy for another purpose. This new working of God will conclude with a very special event. then the Jewish program (calendar) will resume with:
Road Sign Passages - Gentile Program 9 Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Romans 7:4 “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the Law” Romans 11:11 “. . . through their (Israel’s) fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” Romans 11:25 “ . . . that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” Romans 11:28 “As concerning the gospel they (Israel) are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Fathers‘ sakes” Romans 11:30 “as ye (Gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these (Jews) also now not believed” Romans 16:25 “according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 21 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 10 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.” 2 Corinthians 5:16 “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no longer”; Paul does not teach Gentiles of Jesus’ earthly ministry, but of Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry = reconciliation of the world (the Gentiles) to God. Ephesians 1:20-23 “and set Him (Christ) at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion . . hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body” Ephesians 2:11-13 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh . . . that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world; but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh . . .” Ephesians 1:3 the Father “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:11 “In Whom we have also obtained an inheritance (in the heavens)” Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Ephesians 3:2-9 “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is 11 given me (Paul) to you-ward:
Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation (behavior, way of life, interaction) is in heaven . . .” Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God . .” 2 Timothy 1:13 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me . .” 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me . . . the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” 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” 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall 12 rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord “ 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath . . .” 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 “That ye be not soon shaken . . that the day of Christ is at hand . . for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 “only He who now letteth (hinders) will let, until He is taken out of the way . . then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth . . .” Romans 8:19-21 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God . . . because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption . . .” Ephesians 1:10 “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” The Gentile Grace program on earth begins with:
The Gentile Grace program on earth concludes with: apostasy and then rapture (preceding the Day of Wrath and the Kingdom) The Gentile Grace program in the heavens will involve:
* God has written His Holy Word with indication in the text of:
Heeding the road signs, leads one to handle God’s Word with understanding.
Note where Israel is in their courses of punishment [Lev. 26:14-33] 1st course [26:14-17] Judges, Ruth, 1 Sam. 1-16 {1360-1015 BC}
2nd course [26:18-20] 1 Kings 12-22 {926-852 BC}
3rd course [26:21-22] 2 Kings 1-10:31 {851-814}
4th course [26:23-26] 2 Kings 10:32-16:20 {813-722; 813-587}
5th course [26:27-33] 2 Kings 17:1-25:30
1st installment = conquest (721 BC, 586 BC) [2 Kings 17; 25] 2nd installment = returned to the land (536-445 BC) [Ezra, Nehemiah] 3rd installment = silence of God (430 BC - 26 AD) [Micah 3:5-7; Amos 8:11-12] 4th installment = warning of wrath and kingdom (27-30 AD) [Matthew – Acts 7] 5th installment = Tribulation, Kingdom (postponed) |