Participants: Pr. Taj Pacleb
Series Code: ROHB
Program Code: ROHB000005
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00:39 Our message tonight is entitled "Israel in Bible Prophecy."
00:45 Here is the question we're gonna proceed to answer tonight. 00:48 What is Israel's role in end time events? 00:52 Well, friends, listen, 00:53 before we can find out what Israel's role is, 00:56 we first must have to-- 00:57 we first have to find out 00:59 who exactly Israel is to begin with. 01:02 We can't know their role unless we first define 01:05 who exactly they are according to the Bible. 01:07 And tonight we can essentially breakup 01:10 our presentation into two main parts. 01:12 Part number one, 01:13 who is Israel in the Old Testament? 01:16 And part number two, 01:17 who is Israel in the New Testament? 01:19 And essentially the answer we're gonna find 01:21 from the Bible this evening is to the question, 01:25 "Is modern day Israel still the Israel of God?" 01:30 Well, friends, let's, first start 01:34 by studying the origin of this word Israel in the Bible. 01:38 It all began with the man whose name was Abraham. 01:41 And Abraham was the father of faith. 01:43 God called him to be the father 01:45 of a very special group of people. 01:47 And God wanted to bless him and through him 01:50 He wanted to bless His descendants 01:52 and all the other surrounding nations. 01:55 And at the older ripe age of 100 years old, 01:58 Abraham had the promised son Isaac. 02:01 And then Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. 02:04 And of the two God called Jacob to be the promised son 02:08 and the progenitor of the coming Messiah to see Jesus Christ. 02:12 And it was that man whose name was Jacob 02:15 whom God changed to Israel which is the very first time 02:19 we find the word Israel mentioned in the Bible. 02:23 And so I mention you to take your Bible now 02:25 open with me to the Book of Genesis 32. 02:28 Genesis 32 chapter we find the first occurrence 02:33 of the word Israel mentioned in the Bible. 02:36 Before, we can understand who Israel is in Revelation 02:38 we have to first understand 02:40 who Israel was in the Book of Genesis. 02:42 We have to get a good solid foundation 02:44 because remember Revelation is built upon the broad foundation 02:47 of the Old Testament scriptures. 02:50 And so let's get a good contextual study tonight. 02:53 And before we read it let me give you the background context. 02:56 This man who's name was Jacob 02:59 was that one God changed to Israel. 03:01 And friends, that word Jacob literally means write it down, 03:06 deceiver, supplanter or liar. 03:10 That's what the word Jacob means. 03:11 It means deceiver, supplanter. 03:14 And his name was a fit description 03:17 of who he was in this life and who he was in his character. 03:21 In other words, Jacob's name was reflection of his life. 03:26 Because remember he is the one that deceived his father Isaac. 03:31 He lied about his identity 03:33 and he stole the birth right blessing from his brother Esau. 03:36 And so he lived up to his name, 03:39 he was a deceiver, he was a liar. 03:41 You see, in the Bible names represents a person's character. 03:45 The name Jacob meaning deceiver, and liar, supplanter 03:48 this is exactly who he was. 03:50 Now as a result of deceiving his father Isaac 03:52 and steeling the blessing from his brother Esau 03:55 his betrayed brother Esau vowed that he would seek vengeance 03:58 and that he would kill Jacob one day. 04:00 And because of the threat upon Jacob's life 04:03 he had to flee as a fugitive to another land 04:06 where he remained for the next 20 years of his life. 04:09 And friends, even though Jacob had jumped the gun, 04:11 even though he had sin much and did not wait for God 04:14 to fulfill the promise in his way and in his time, 04:17 even though he was liar, 04:19 a deceiver, a supplanter and a thief, 04:22 even though he had sinned much God game him a vision 04:25 of a ladder that touched the earth 04:28 but ascended all the way to heaven. 04:31 And so God gave to Jacob the assurance 04:34 that his sin was forgiven and the assurance 04:36 that he would receive the promise of the blessing. 04:39 And so now Jacob remains away 04:41 from his fathers land for 20 years. 04:44 And after 20 years God now comes to Jacob 04:46 and instructs him to go back home 04:50 to receive the blessing that was promised to him 20 years before. 04:55 And on his way back home at this time in his life 04:58 Jacob is very wealthy and he has a big family 05:00 and so he's going back with his wife's and his children 05:03 and his servants and all of his positions 05:05 he is going back to inherit the promise. 05:08 And as he goes back he sends messengers before him 05:11 to greet his brother Esau with gifts. 05:14 Those messengers come back bearing a message of bad news. 05:18 They tell Jacob, Jacob, 05:19 your brother Esau is still bitter 05:21 from the sin that you've committed 05:23 against him 20 years ago. 05:26 He is still holding this grudge, 05:28 he is still a slave of the past 05:30 and he is now coming, he is coming, Jacob. 05:32 Esau is coming with 400 men of war. 05:35 He is coming to seek vengeance upon you. 05:38 And friends, when Jacob heard the news 05:42 he was so afraid. 05:44 He began to be fearful for his life. 05:47 Because you see, Esau was skilled hunter 05:49 but Jacob was a mama's boy. 05:51 And so fear begins to fill his heart, 05:53 because he is totally helpless and defenseless. 05:57 How in the world he is gonna protect his family 06:00 and all this possessions? 06:02 His brother Esau was coming to seek vengeance 06:04 and now he's past is coming back to haunt him. 06:08 He's reaping the results of the sin 06:11 that he had sown 20 years ago. 06:14 And as Jacob begins to be afraid for his life 06:16 and the life of his family what does he do? 06:19 He separates himself from his loved ones 06:21 and he goes a secret place in the night 06:23 and he begins to pray 06:24 and pour out his heart to the Lord. 06:26 You see, Jacob is not only afraid for his life, 06:30 but more than this his circumstances 06:33 are going against the promises of God. 06:36 Here he is going back home to receive the promise, 06:39 but now Esau is coming it seems like certain death 06:41 and it seems like what God said 20 years ago 06:44 is not going to be fulfilled. 06:45 And so now Jacob begins to struck with doubts, 06:48 was I really forgiven? 06:51 Was that vision that dream was it really from the Lord? 06:55 Did God really promise me the blessing, was it real? 06:59 He begins to battle mentally. 07:01 What kind of battle? 07:03 He engages in him mental battle 07:05 over the wrong decision he had made 20 years ago. 07:09 It seems like Gods promise is not going to be fulfilled 07:11 and now Jacob begins feel 07:13 a deep sense of guilt and remorse 07:15 and regret for the sin he had committed so long ago. 07:19 And while he's praying he's over taken by something. 07:24 He feels strong hand on his shoulder. 07:28 And turning around thinking 07:29 that it might be some thief in that strange land 07:31 or even his brother Esau, 07:32 Jacob begins to fight with his unknown being all night long, 07:36 he begins to wrestle and wrestle. 07:38 He's fighting for his life. 07:40 And now we pick up the story in Genesis 32 notice verse 24. 07:44 The Bible says-- 07:45 if you're there would you please say amen? 07:46 Amen. 07:47 The Bible says, "And Jacob was left alone, 07:51 and there wrestled a man with him 07:53 until the breaking of the day." 07:55 All night long, 07:57 he began to wrestle with this unknown person. 08:00 You see, at first Jacob was engaged in a mental battle, 08:04 a battle of faith wondering whether or not promise was real, 08:09 whether or not, wondering whether or not 08:11 the promise would truly be fulfilled. 08:14 But now the mental battle turns into a physical battle 08:17 and all night long, he wrestles and wrestles, 08:20 and notice what happens during the breaking of the day. 08:23 The Bible says in verse 25. 08:25 "And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, 08:27 he touched the hollow of his thigh, 08:30 and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, 08:33 as he wrestled with him." 08:35 Now Jacob realizes 08:36 who he was dealing with all night long. 08:38 He realize that the one that he was wrestling 08:40 with was a supernatural being, friends. 08:43 Not an ordinary man, 08:44 but a supernatural being that had supernatural power 08:48 and he realizes that this one 08:50 he could not overcome physically. 08:52 He didn't have the strength 08:54 it was too much for him to handle. 08:57 And so now Jacob is physically weakened 08:59 by a night of wrestling. 09:01 He suffers a terrible injury 09:03 that leaves him powerless to fight on. 09:06 Not only that but he's mentally drained 09:08 by the doubts and the fears of his current situation, 09:12 Jacob was at the breaking point. 09:14 He is ready to give up, 09:16 he is ready to tap out throwing the towel just give it all up. 09:21 But now he realizes 09:23 that he has been fighting the very one 09:26 that came to save him. 09:29 He was fighting with the very one 09:32 that could give him the calm rest that he really needed. 09:39 And upon realizing that this was a heavenly messenger 09:43 he now asks for the desire of his heart. 09:48 Notice, what it says in verse 26. 09:51 "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks." 09:55 Notice how Jacob responds. 09:58 "And he said, I will not let thee go, 10:02 except thou" do what? 10:05 Here the angel of the Lord 10:06 the supernatural being says to Jacob, "let me go." 10:10 But Jacob knows that if he lets go, 10:14 for sure all will be lost. 10:17 I mean, how could he go to battle 10:19 against Esau with this terrible injury? 10:21 Jacob knows that if he lets go this supernatural 10:24 being his opportunity gonna pass him by. 10:27 And so Jacob realizes that his only hope 10:30 is to hang on. 10:32 His only hope is to cling tight to this powerful messenger 10:36 and so Jacob says to this supernatural being 10:39 "I will not let you go." 10:43 I'm going to hang on, 10:44 my faith is not going to let go, 10:47 I'm not going to miss out on this opportunity. 10:48 In desperate faith Jacob pleads, please bless me. 10:53 Give me the assurance that I'm struggling with. 10:55 In faith he clings to God in prayer 10:58 over an example for us. 11:02 When you have no strength 11:04 by faith don't let go, friends. 11:09 We can't give up now. 11:10 God has brought us this far not to leave us, 11:13 but to lead us all the way till the end. 11:16 Can you say, amen? 11:18 So by faith I'm not gonna 11:19 let you go, here Jacob is winning 11:21 not a physical, but a spiritual victory. 11:24 A victory of faith and I want us to notice, 11:27 how this heavenly messenger responds to Jacobs cry of faith. 11:32 Notice, what happens in verse 27. 11:36 "And he said unto him, what is thy name?" 11:43 The last time he was asked that by his father, 11:47 he lied about it. 11:49 Well, how is gonna respond now to the Lord? 11:51 Is he gonna lie to God too? 11:54 Is he going to live up to his name once again? 11:57 You see, the way that he answers this question 12:00 is going to determine his eternal destiny? 12:03 You see, his future 12:04 and the future of his family hangs upon the answer 12:07 that he's gonna give to this question, 12:09 eternal destinies are about to determined. 12:12 And what was Jacob's answer? 12:14 He said, "I am Jacob." 12:19 He came clean. 12:21 And friends, we have to understand 12:22 when Jacob acknowledged what his name was, 12:26 it was much more than just the title 12:28 by which he was called. 12:30 In saying "I'm Jacob" 12:32 he was expressing and acknowledging 12:35 who he was in character. 12:37 It was a confession of his sin, friends. 12:39 Yes, I am a liar, I am a deceiver, 12:43 I am a supplanter. 12:45 I acknowledge that I am not worthy. 12:47 Yes, I am Jacob and because I'm Jacob, 12:49 I'm liar I am not worthy 12:51 for the blessing I am asking for. 12:53 I am not worthy of it. 12:55 The confession of his name 12:57 was a confession of his sinful condition 13:00 and now he comes clean, he says, yes, I'm Jacob. 13:03 And I want you notice what the Lord does. 13:05 When Jacob comes clean 13:07 and acknowledges and confesses the sin of his life. 13:10 Notice, what the Lord does 13:11 he does the same for us, friends. 13:12 The Bible tells us in the very next verse, 13:14 verse 28, "And he said, 13:16 'Thy name shall be no longer be called Jacob, 13:20 but Israel, for as prince 13:24 hast thou hast wrestled" with who? 13:27 Who is he wrestling with that night? 13:29 The Lord himself but he prevailed. 13:32 You see as a result of acknowledging 13:34 the sinfulness of his life, 13:36 as a result of acknowledging 13:37 who he was, his name, his character 13:40 God said, okay, Jacob, you've humbled yourself. 13:43 You've experienced true repentance in your heart. 13:46 You're remorseful for the sin you've committed long ago. 13:48 And so Jacob no longer will you be know as Jacob 13:51 a deceiver, a liar, a supplanter 13:53 but from now on you're known as Israel. 13:56 And friends, that would Israel means Prince of God. 14:02 The child of the king is what a prince is. 14:05 You're no longer a liar, you're My child now, 14:08 you're a prince of God. 14:09 You're wrestle with God and prevailed. 14:11 Here we find that Jacob had clung tight to God 14:14 in this time of deepest despair 14:17 and when God change his name from Jacob to Israel 14:19 it was more than just changing the title 14:21 by which he would be called, 14:22 the changing of his name 14:24 represent the changing of his life 14:27 and the changing of his reputation. 14:31 You'll hear a new name, friends. 14:33 And this is the first time we find the word Israel 14:36 mentioned in the Bible. 14:38 It's a name that was given to one 14:41 that held on by faith 14:43 and won a spiritual victory with the Lord. 14:45 You see, Jacob lost the wrestling match. 14:49 Isn't that right? 14:50 He did not win a physical victory, 14:53 but what kind of victory did he win? 14:55 A spiritual, not a physical one friends, a spiritual one. 14:59 Here we find our first essential conclusion, 15:02 to who Israel is in the Old Testament. 15:06 Israel in its original sense. 15:11 "First applies to one man 15:14 that gained a spiritual victory." 15:16 It first applied to how many men 15:19 that gained, a what kind of victory? 15:22 Friends, you might want to write that down. 15:23 This is our first essential conclusion 15:25 of our study tonight. 15:26 Who is Israel in the Old Testament? 15:28 Answer number one, its one man 15:31 not a whole nation yet just one man, 15:33 that gained not a physical but a what? 15:37 A spiritual victory it came from hanging 15:41 onto God by faith and in prayer. 15:43 This is the first time 15:44 we find the word Israel mentioned in the Bible. 15:46 And friends, this is also the law of first usage, 15:50 the law of what, everyone? 15:52 You see, friends, this law of first usage tells us 15:55 that whenever a name or a topic 15:58 is first used or introduced in the Bible 16:02 it sets a president. 16:04 It sets a what? President. 16:05 Of how that name or that topic 16:08 is to be understood 16:10 from that point on in the future. 16:12 So this is the law of first usage. 16:15 Who is Israel? 16:17 Number one, it applies to one man 16:20 that gains a spiritual victory 16:22 and this is how we are to understand Israel 16:24 from this point on in our study tonight 16:27 and in the Bible. 16:28 And friends, as we follow the Bible narrative 16:31 we find that Jacob had 12 sons 16:33 that became the heads of the 12 tribes 16:36 of the children of Israel. 16:38 These are the descendents of Abraham 16:40 and so now the word Israel from first applying to one man 16:43 that gained the spiritual victory, 16:44 now it is broadened 16:46 to include all the genealogical descendents of Abraham 16:50 that gained a spiritual victory in their father Jacob. 16:53 In other words, the word Israel now is a corporate term. 16:57 It is a what kind of term? It applies to a specific nation. 17:00 And amongst the sons of Jacob, 17:02 his youngest and his favorite was the one who name was Joseph. 17:06 Then you follow the history. 17:08 You'll find that 17:09 devastating famine hit all the lands 17:12 and God began to give Joseph dreams. 17:16 He gave Joseph what? 17:18 Dreams that led him to the place 17:22 where he was able to save Israel 17:27 from the wrath of the famine 17:29 that what was hitting all the lands. 17:31 And so Israel the nation now is brought into Egypt 17:36 where they were able to find 17:37 refuge and safety from the famine. 17:40 God gave Joseph dreams that led him to the place 17:42 where Israel was brought into Egypt 17:44 as a place of refuge and safety. 17:46 Friends, keep that in mind it's important 17:49 we're gonna come back to that. 17:50 But as time went on 17:52 there arose another pharaoh that knew not Joseph. 17:55 And as a result he enslaved the children of Israel 17:59 and for generation after generation 18:01 of bitter bondage the Israelites were in Egypt. 18:04 They were slaves to the will of another man 18:07 and after generations of slavery 18:09 God finally sent an, a deliverer 18:11 to call His people Israel to come out of Egypt. 18:15 And what was that deliverers name that God sent? 18:18 Name is Moses. 18:19 Moses was sent to Pharaoh 18:21 to deliver the national Israel from Egyptian bondage. 18:24 And I want you to notice 18:25 what God says through Moses to Pharaoh. 18:27 Notice what it says in Exodus 4:22, 23. 18:30 Please write it down. 18:32 The Bible tells us "Israel is my" what? 18:35 "My son, even my firstborn. Let my" what? 18:42 So I want you to notice, 18:44 God now calls an entire nation, the national Israel 18:47 His son more specifically His firstborn son. 18:52 So now that word Israel from first applying to one man 18:56 it now applies to all the descendents of that one man. 18:59 Israel is called "the first born son of God." 19:03 And friends Pharaoh eventually capitulated 19:05 and set the Israelites free and God took them out of Egypt 19:08 and He brought them through the Red Sea. 19:12 An opponent coming out of Red Sea 19:13 they then spent the next 40 years where? 19:17 In the wilderness. 19:19 And where was their destination? 19:20 Where was God wanted to bring them? 19:22 To the Promised Land. 19:23 So they went through the Red Sea, 19:24 next 40 years in the wilderness, 19:26 they're heading to the Promise Land 19:27 and in their wilderness wandering 19:29 God then made a special covenant 19:33 with the special people the Israelite nation 19:36 His firstborn son. 19:37 Now I wanted you to notice this covenant. 19:39 And we're gonna ask the question. 19:41 Was this a conditional 19:43 or was this an unconditional covenant? 19:46 Well, let's find out. Exodus 19:5, 6. 19:50 Exodus 19:5, 6 please write it down notice what it says. 19:54 "Now therefore, if." what word was that? 19:59 Friends, what is the word "if" mean? 20:01 The word "if" implies that there is a condition. 20:04 Isn't that right? 20:05 So notice God says concerning the covenant 20:08 "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, 20:12 and keep my covenant, 20:14 then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me 20:17 above all people for all the earth is mine. 20:19 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of" what? 20:22 "Priests," and a what kind of nation? 20:24 "A holy nation." 20:26 So we find that the covenant that God made 20:27 with the children of Israel was a conditional covenant. 20:29 He said, if you obey, 20:31 if you listen then you'll be a holy nation, 20:34 a kingdom of priest, 20:35 a peculiar people and I'm gonna bless you, 20:37 I'll make you the head and up the tail 20:39 and through you all nations will be blessed. 20:42 We find that it was a conditional covenant. 20:44 Now here is the next question. 20:45 Did Israel remain faithful to the covenant? 20:48 Did they live up to God's desire and purpose for them? 20:53 Did they allow the Lord to use them as the light of the world? 20:56 Well, friends, as you follow the history 20:58 you'll notice after the reign of King David 21:00 and King Solomon the glorious 21:03 because they did not keep the covenant, 21:05 because they would not listen to the voice of God 21:07 nor the voice of His prophets 21:09 God gave them into the hands of their enemies. 21:12 He withdrew His blessing and His protection 21:14 from the special group of people 21:16 and as a result they went into captivity 21:18 and the 12 tribes of Israel 21:20 essentially were divided into 2 tribes 21:23 the northern tribe of Israel and the southern tribe of Judah. 21:28 And so we see who is Israel in the Old Testament? 21:33 There are two definitions. 21:34 How many? Number one, 21:36 we have found that Israel in the Old Testament 21:39 is first applied to one man that gains a spiritual victory. 21:45 Not physical but spiritual. 21:47 And then number two, 21:48 after that it would apply to the descendents 21:52 of that one man who also gained a spiritual victory. 21:58 But really what we want to find out tonight 21:59 is who is Israel in the New Testament? 22:03 And friends, the New Testament begins with the story of Jesus 22:08 and His ministry here in the world. 22:10 And friends, when you study the gospel carefully 22:12 you notice something amazing that Jesus does. 22:16 He by His own life retraces point by point 22:21 the history of national Israel. 22:24 I want you to notice some amazing parallels. 22:27 When Jesus came into the world 22:29 Herod seek, sought to destroy that little infant babe child. 22:33 And so what happened was 22:34 God gave His earthly father some dreams. 22:37 And what was His earthly father's name? Joseph. 22:41 God gave Joseph dreams instructing Him to go into Egypt 22:48 so that the firstborn Son that is Jesus 22:52 could find refuge from the wrath of Herod. 22:57 Does that sound familiar to you? 22:59 We saw that in the Old Testament too? 23:01 In the Old Testament another man whose name was Joseph 23:04 also had dreams from God that led him to the place 23:07 where the national Israel was also led him to Egypt 23:11 where they were able to find a refuge 23:13 from the wrath of the famine. 23:16 And God called this nation 23:17 that was brought into Egypt my firstborn Son. 23:22 Interesting, after period of time 23:26 God called His son Jesus to come out of Egypt 23:29 in the same way He called His son Israel to come out of Egypt. 23:32 And when the Israelites came out of Egyptian bondage 23:35 God led them to the Red Sea. 23:38 And friends, the crossing of the Red Sea 23:41 was a symbol of baptism. 23:44 It was a symbol of what? 23:46 Going through the water the Apostle Paul applies that 23:49 to that of baptism. 23:50 Write it down, 1 Corinthians 10:1, 2. 23:54 Paul said, that as the Israelites 23:55 went through Red Sea they were baptized. 23:57 It was a symbol of baptism. 23:58 And in the same way God's Son 24:01 when He began His public ministry 24:03 He also went through the waters of baptism. 24:06 In Matthew Chapter 3, we find another parallel. 24:10 Now tell me, friends, 24:11 where did the Israelites go after they crossed the Red Sea, 24:14 where did they go? 24:16 They went into the wilderness 24:19 and how long were they in the wilderness? Forty years. 24:22 Where did Jesus go 24:24 right after He got out of the waters of baptism, 24:26 where did He go? 24:27 He also went into the wilderness for how long? 24:30 Forty days. 24:31 There you have another example for the day 24:33 for year principle and its beginning to dawn upon us 24:36 that the Bible is actually deeper than we thought. 24:39 Can you say, amen? 24:40 What is Jesus doing through His own life? 24:43 He is retracing the history 24:45 of the literal nation Israel in the Old Testament. 24:49 Now as Jesus was in the wilderness 24:51 the Bible tells us He was tempted three times by Satan. 24:54 And every time He was tempted by the devil 24:56 He responded and overcame those temptations 24:59 not by using His own divine power 25:01 otherwise He wouldn't be our example. 25:03 He used the same power that's available to us. 25:05 Jesus quoted the Bible, He said, "It is written." 25:10 He used the sword of the spirit to make war 25:13 against the devils temptations. 25:14 Can you say, amen? 25:15 Oh, friends, if you want to overcome Satan's temptations 25:17 it's right here the word of God 25:19 not your own strength or your own will power 25:21 it's only by the powerful promises of the word of God 25:24 that we can gain victory over Satan's attacks. 25:27 Can you say, amen? 25:28 Bible says 25:30 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, 25:33 that I might not sin against thee." 25:35 There is power in the word of God 25:37 to keep us from falling. 25:39 Can you say, amen? 25:40 So Jesus, while He is in the wilderness being tempted 25:43 He quotes the Bible to overcome. 25:45 Well, friends, would you like to guess 25:47 where and what book Jesus quotes from? 25:51 He quotes from the same book three, times. 25:53 He quotes from the Book of Deuteronomy. 25:56 Friends, do you know 25:57 who the Book of Deuteronomy is for? 25:59 It was to help national Israel, 26:02 overcome the trials and difficulties 26:05 that they would face 26:06 when they were in their wilderness wandering. 26:08 That was-- what the book was all about, friends. 26:11 And Christ chooses to quote from this book 26:14 and He does this intentionally. 26:16 You see, Jesus in His life 26:18 is retracing the history of national Israel 26:22 but the difference is Christ overcame 26:24 spiritually was Israel failed miserably. 26:28 And so we find five amazing parallels 26:31 between Israel and Jesus Christ. 26:35 Write them down incase you miss them. 26:37 Number one, a man by the name of Joseph has dreams 26:40 and both the national Israel and the son Jesus 26:43 is let into Egypt for safety. 26:45 Number two, after a period of time 26:47 God caught His son Israel the nation 26:50 as well as His son Jesus to come up out of Egypt. 26:53 Number three, "Israel goes through the Red Sea 26:55 which is the symbol of baptism. 26:57 Christ when He begins public ministry 26:59 He also goes through the River Jordon the waters 27:02 and is baptized. 27:03 Immediately after that number four, 27:05 Israel goes into the wilderness for 40 years, 27:07 Christ goes into the wilderness for 40 days. 27:09 Then number five, Christ quotes in the Book of Deuteronomy 27:12 and overcomes when national Israel had failed. 27:17 Now friends, I wonder why Jesus 27:20 intentionally did this in His life. 27:23 Do you think there had have to been a reason 27:25 for Him to do this? Yes or no? 27:27 Absolutely, yes, friends. 27:29 Christ did this intentionally. 27:32 Now here is the next question. 27:34 How did the New Testament writers view the Lord Jesus? 27:38 I want you to notice this verse 27:40 that points us to national Israel. 27:42 In the Book of Hosea 11:1, 27:45 the Bible says "When Israel was a child, 27:47 then I loved him, and I called my" what? 27:51 "My son out of Egypt." 27:53 This is a verse that points us back 27:56 to when God called the little national Israel 27:58 to come up out of Egyptian bondage. 28:01 Now I want us to notice 28:02 what the New Testament writers do 28:05 with this verse that applies the national Israel. 28:08 They take it and they apply it to Jesus. 28:12 Please turn with me 28:13 in your Bible to the Book of Matthew. 28:15 Matthew Chapter 2, beginning with verse 13, 28:23 Matthew 2:13. 28:25 Are you enjoying the study 28:26 of God's word tonight, friends? 28:27 Amen. 28:29 Matthew Chapter 2, that's the first book 28:31 of the New Testament 28:33 and that's on page 974 if you're using our seminar Bible. 28:36 Remember, what are we trying to do? 28:38 We're trying to discover 28:39 who is Israel in the New Testament? 28:43 Who is Israel in the New Testament? 28:45 Matthew Chapter 2, beginning with verse 15, page 974 28:50 and if you're there would you let me know by saying Amen. 28:52 Matthew Chapter 2, beginning with verse 13, the Bible says 28:57 "And when they were departed, behold, 28:58 the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph 29:00 in a dream, saying, arise, 29:03 and take the young child and his mother, 29:04 and flee into Egypt, 29:06 and be thou there until I bring thee word 29:08 for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 29:11 And when he arose he took the young child 29:12 and his mother by night 29:14 and departed into Egypt. 29:15 And was there to the death of Herod 29:17 that it might be" What is the next word? 29:20 "Fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord 29:23 by His prophets saying" 29:24 Then Matthew quotes the Old Testament " 29:27 out of Egypt have I called my son." 29:30 Question, which verse did Matthew just quote from? 29:35 He just quoted from the verse 29:36 we just read and Hosea 11:1. 29:39 And we saw that this verse in Hosea 11:1 29:42 applies to who? 29:44 First, it applies to national Israel 29:47 when they came out of Egypt. 29:49 But who does the New Testament writer 29:50 applied in this passage? 29:53 He applies it to Jesus. 29:54 He said, it says that "Jesus came out of Egypt, 29:59 that it might be fulfilled 30:00 what Hosea the prophet wrote about." 30:02 Interesting, here we find the New Testament writers 30:07 looking upon Jesus as the fulfillment 30:11 of the verses that talk about national Israel. 30:15 I wonder why? 30:17 Who is Israel in the New Testament? 30:21 You see, we see this same thing happening 30:23 over and over again in the New Testament 30:25 when it says "that it might be fulfilled" 30:27 the New Testament writers taking an Old Testament verse 30:29 applying to national Israel 30:30 and saying that it's fulfilled in Christ. 30:33 And by the way, Jesus did this to Himself. 30:36 Why does the New Testament writers 30:38 take these verse and apply to Jesus? 30:40 Why does Jesus through His life 30:42 retrace the history of national Israel? 30:44 Because, friends, listen, 30:45 who is Israel in the New Testament? 30:48 It is none other the Jesus Christ. 30:52 In the Old Testament Israel first applied to, 30:56 one man that gained a spiritual victory 31:00 and in the same way Israel in the New Testament 31:03 first applies to one man 31:06 that gains a spiritual victory and who is that? 31:09 It's Jesus, friends. 31:10 The word Israel means Prince of God 31:12 and who is the Prince of peace? 31:14 It's Christ the son of the King, 31:17 Jesus, brothers and sisters. 31:18 Christ is the one that is the true over comer, 31:22 He is the one that overcame and prevailed 31:24 whereas national Israel had failed. 31:26 And when Jesus came to this world 31:28 He did not win a physical victory. 31:31 Well, what kind of victory? 31:33 You see, physically He lost, He died physically. 31:37 The victory the He won 31:39 was spiritual in nature. 31:41 And so who is Israel in the New Testament? 31:43 It's none other than Jesus Christ. 31:46 And if that's clear would you please say, amen? 31:48 So here we find friends, 31:50 in the Old Testament Israel first applies to one man 31:54 that gains a spiritual victory 31:56 but then it applies to the descendants of that one man 32:00 who also gained a spiritual victory. 32:04 In the same way Israel in the New Testament 32:08 first applies to one man 32:10 that gains a spiritual victory and that is, Jesus 32:13 and then it applies to the descendants of that one man 32:16 who also gains a spiritual victory. 32:18 And the question is, how can we be the descendants of Jesus? 32:24 Not by birth but by rebirth. 32:28 Not by being born once, but by being born again. 32:32 Not by our own blood, but by the blood of Jesus. 32:36 You see, Israel in the New Testament 32:38 is simply those who are converted 32:41 by the Holy Spirit, 32:42 those who have experienced rebirth. 32:45 And notice what the Apostle Paul says 32:46 "For ye are all the children of God by" what? 32:50 "Faith in Christ Jesus. 32:53 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ 32:57 have put on Christ." 32:59 The Bible tells us clearly that 33:00 we become the children of God 33:02 the descendants of Jesus by faith in Him. 33:07 And just as circumcision 33:09 the cutting away of the flesh in the Old Testament 33:12 was an outward sign of being a, an Israelite. 33:15 In the New Testament baptism is the outward sign 33:20 of the cutting away of the carnal flesh the old man 33:23 and becoming a spiritual Israelite. 33:27 You see, it happens by faith. 33:29 And then I want you to notice, 33:31 once we were born again 33:33 the Bible tells us in the next verse. 33:35 "There is neither" what? 33:37 "Jew nor Greek," there is no distinction anymore 33:40 between Israel and the Church. 33:43 It's a clear transition. 33:45 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 33:47 there is neither slave nor free, 33:48 there is neither male nor female 33:50 for you are all" what? "One in Christ Jesus. 33:53 And if you are Christ's, then you are" what? 33:56 "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." 34:00 The Bible says that we belong to Christ 34:02 it does not matter you are race or your nationality. 34:05 When you believe in Jesus you become Abraham seed, 34:08 you'll become a spiritual Israelite 34:11 and you now become the heir 34:13 of all the promises of God 34:16 or those covenants that God made those special promises 34:18 now belong those who belong to Jesus. 34:22 Can you say, Amen? 34:24 You see there is a clear transition 34:25 from the literal Israel to now the spiritual Israel 34:28 as you move from the old to the New Testament. 34:30 In fact, notice what Peter said, in 1 Peter 2:9. 34:34 Peter said, "But ye are a chosen generation, 34:38 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 34:43 and a peculiar people." 34:45 He is now calling the New Testament Church 34:47 that was made of Jew and Gentile alike. 34:50 He says now you are Holy Nation, 34:52 you are now the priesthood, 34:53 you are the chosen people, the chosen generation. 34:57 And by the way, when Peter said this 34:58 he was quoting from Exodus 19:5, 6 35:02 because this are the same words the God said to national Israel 35:05 when they came out of Egyptian bondage. 35:07 He now says it to the Christian church 35:09 who have now come out of the bondage of sin 35:11 by the blood of the lamb. 35:13 And now we become His chosen people 35:16 made of Jew and Gentile those who belong to Christ. 35:19 And, friends, if this is making sense, if this is clear 35:21 would you please say, amen? Amen. 35:23 All the covenant promises 35:25 are now transferred to the New Testament Church. 35:27 So we find according to the New Testament, 35:30 the Bible teaches that there are actually two Israel's. 35:33 How many? 35:35 Number one, National Israel after the flesh. 35:39 These are the genealogical descendant of Abraham. 35:42 They're in the Middle East 35:43 and scattered all around the world 35:45 these are national Israel. 35:48 But then we find according to New Testament theology, 35:50 there is a spiritual Israel, the people of God 35:54 made up of every race and nationality 35:57 in the world including Jews. 35:59 Just like their childhood song says 36:02 "Red and yellow, black and white. 36:04 All are precious in His sight. 36:06 Jesus loves the little children of the world." 36:09 Can you say amen? 36:10 You see, because of Christ and the blood of Jesus 36:12 it's not about race, it's about grace. 36:14 Can you say, amen? 36:15 Whoever will can be a part of God chosen people 36:18 and heirs according to the covenant promises 36:20 all by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 36:23 who is the true over comer, the true Prince of God 36:26 Israel in the New Testament. 36:29 And, friends, if this is making sense 36:31 would you please say, amen? 36:33 Now some people ask, 36:34 "Well, didn't God say that all Israel would be saved?" 36:37 "Yes." 36:39 But which Israel was He referring to, 36:42 national Israel after the flesh 36:45 or spiritual Israel after the spirit? 36:48 He is referring to spiritual Israel, friends. 36:51 God will save all those who believe in Him by faith. 36:55 Does this include national Israelites? 36:57 Of course. 36:59 But how? 37:01 How does God save national Israel? 37:03 The same way He saves you and me, 37:06 the same way He saves Africans, 37:08 and Asians, and Americans by faith. 37:11 In fact, notice what says in Romans 11:23 37:15 "And they also" what's the word? 37:17 "If they do not continue in unbelief, 37:22 will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in." 37:26 How? 37:28 What does they say again? 37:29 Because this little nation, this national people 37:32 were a part of the original stock. 37:34 They are the ones that were first caught. 37:36 But they were cut off because of their unbelief, 37:40 but God says don't worry I can graft you in again. 37:43 How? 37:44 If you have faith in Jesus Christ. 37:46 Can you say, amen? 37:47 And so as individuals, 37:49 of course, they can be saved 37:50 just like everyone else. 37:51 You see, brothers and sisters, 37:52 this is not a message of a hate, 37:54 this is the message of love. 37:56 God is trying to save every individual 37:58 and the Bible tells us that God is not respecter of persons. 38:02 Can you say, amen? 38:03 Jew or Gentile, male or female, old or young, 38:06 all are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb. 38:10 Can you say, amen? 38:12 There is no anti-Semitism coming from this place. 38:15 God loves every single nation, every single race. 38:18 The Bible says, "Gods so love the world, 38:21 that He gave His only begotten Son, 38:23 that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, 38:27 but shall have everlasting life." 38:31 Can you say, amen? 38:32 You see salvation has always been an issue of the heart, 38:36 never an issue of race. 38:38 The next question, many people will ask, 38:41 must God fulfill all His promises to National Israel? 38:46 The answer is no, friends, 38:48 because God's promises are conditional. 38:51 I want us to notice 38:52 in the Book of the Jeremiah 18:9, 10. 38:55 The conditional nature of Gods promises and prophecies. 39:00 Jeremiah 18: 9, 10 the Bible says 39:03 "And the instant I speak concerning a nation 39:05 and concerning a kingdom, 39:06 to build and to plant it" what's the word? 39:09 "If it does evil in my sight 39:13 so that it does not obey my voice, 39:14 then I will" what's that word? 39:17 "Relent concerning the good with 39:19 which I said I would benefit it." 39:21 In other words God is saying 39:23 if the nation or a kingdom 39:25 does not listen and obey My voice, 39:27 then I will relent, I will take back those promises. 39:30 God is not obligated 39:32 to fulfill any of His promises or prophecies 39:35 that He gave to a literal nation 39:37 because those were conditional prophecy 39:40 based upon their obedience 39:41 and faithfulness to the covenant. 39:44 So God is not obliged. 39:46 He said, I will relent, I will go back on these. 39:48 He doesn't have to. 39:49 You see, friends, God's promises are conditional. 39:54 Now God's love is unconditional. 39:56 Can you say, amen? 39:58 But his salvation is conditional. 40:00 We have to receive it by faith. 40:02 So God loves all people, 40:04 but not all people are going to be saved 40:06 because not everyone is going to choose to believe 40:09 in the free gift of salvation that Jesus gives. 40:13 Can you say, amen? 40:15 But will His promises be fulfilled? 40:18 Yes. 40:20 But in whom will these promises be fulfilled? 40:23 To the ones that need His condition. 40:26 And who is the only one that met every single condition 40:30 to every single promise of God? 40:33 Who is the only one that's the true over comer? 40:35 It's Jesus, friends. 40:37 And that's what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 40:40 "For all the promises of God in him are yes, 40:45 and in him," speaking about Christ, 40:47 "Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 40:51 The Bible says that all of God's promises 40:53 are fulfilled in Christ 40:55 because He is the one that fulfilled 40:57 every single condition to every single promise. 41:02 And those who belonged to Jesus, 41:04 Jesus now gives that promise to them. 41:06 Can you say, amen? 41:07 In other words, we inherit the promise, 41:10 the promises of the regathering of Israel 41:12 in the Old Testament is now fulfilled 41:15 in the New Testament Christian Church 41:16 as God brings us together 41:18 in unity, in spirit, and in truth. 41:20 Friends, whenever you read the Old Testament 41:22 and you find the promise, 41:23 it's yours by faith in Jesus Christ, 41:26 no matter what nationality you are, 41:28 if you belong to Christ that's your first nationality. 41:31 Can you say, amen? 41:32 Amen. 41:33 Now friends, here's the next question. 41:35 Some people ask, well, wasn't the fulfillment 41:38 of Israel in 1948 a fulfillment of Bible prophecy? 41:43 Friends, listen, the regathering of Israel in 1948 41:47 was as historical event, but it wasn't a prophetic event. 41:51 It was a monumental historical event 41:53 but in no way was this a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. 41:56 And the reason why is because they did not meet the condition 42:00 to the prophecies, 42:02 therefore the reestablishment 42:03 of them in 1948 was not a fulfillment 42:06 of any prophecy in the Bible. 42:09 Further more, they were reestablished not as a kingdom, 42:13 but as a State. 42:16 The promises in the Old Testament says, 42:18 "I am going to gather you as kingdom." 42:20 A king would sit upon David's stone but friends, 42:22 there is no king in Israel today. 42:24 And there will be no king in Israel 42:27 until the King of King's comes the second time. 42:30 And so whatever happened in 1948 42:32 was a historical monumental event, 42:34 but in no way was a fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. 42:38 Well, how do we understand it then? 42:40 Friends, listen, I want to submit to us tonight 42:44 that Satan is using all the attention 42:46 that people giving to a literal nation in the Middle East, 42:50 as a decoy. 42:52 As a what? 42:53 You know what the decoy is? 42:56 Something that diverts your attention 42:59 from where you really ought to be looking. 43:01 And, friends, for every truth that God has, 43:05 Satan has a counterfeit. 43:09 And what is a counterfeit? 43:10 Something that looks real, 43:12 seems real, sounds real but it's fake. 43:17 There is a true Biblical teaching of Israel, 43:19 but in the Christian world there is a counterfeit 43:21 teaching of Israel 43:23 where many of evangelicals are looking horizontally 43:26 instead of looking vertical. 43:28 Instead of looking up 43:29 to what Jesus is doing for them in heaven, 43:31 they're looking around to see the fulfillment of prophecy 43:33 and Satan is using all of his attention 43:35 as a decoy to divert our attention 43:38 from the real issues of the Bible prophecy. 43:42 And so many of you are wondering after that statement, 43:44 what about the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem? 43:47 Doesn't Bible prophecy tell us 43:49 that a third temple is going to be rebuilt on that ground 43:53 and that God will give to Jews another chance 43:55 during a seven year tribulationary period? 43:57 And then the middle of the seven year period 43:59 Antichrist will appear in that temple as Messiah. 44:02 Well, friends, where do people get this idea from? 44:05 They get it from left behind theories. 44:08 But where in the Bible is this found? 44:11 It's found from one verse, or a few verses 44:16 that are read surfacely and taken right off context. 44:20 I want you to notice this prophecy of Antichrist 44:23 sitting in the temple of God. 44:25 We're going to identify 44:27 who the Antichrist is this coming Saturday evening. 44:30 But I want you to notice in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. 44:34 It talks about this Antichrist power in the last days 44:36 and it says "Let no man deceive you by any means, 44:40 for that day shall not come, except there come," a what? 44:44 Falling away first." 44:45 It's referring to the second coming of Christ, 44:47 that day the coming of Jesus will not come, 44:50 until there's falling away 44:51 of great apostasy that will take place. 44:54 And the man of sin be revealed, 44:57 the son of perdition. 44:58 "Who opposes and exalts himself 45:01 above all that is called God or that is worshipped, 45:04 so that he as God sits" in the where? 45:08 "The Temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 45:13 And friends, listen, 45:14 many people have read this verse surfacely 45:17 and they have assumed, 45:18 when the Bible talks about Antichrist 45:20 sitting in the temple of God, 45:21 that temple is referring to a literal building, 45:25 that is gonna be rebuilt there in Jerusalem. 45:28 And entire books and movies and a whole system of theology 45:33 is surrounding this assumption 45:35 that when the Apostle Paul said the temple of God 45:38 that he was referring to a literal rebuilt temple. 45:42 But friends, the question we need to ask is this. 45:45 What was Paul's understanding 45:48 of the temple of the God 45:50 because he was when they wrote about it, right? 45:52 You see, if we built a doctrine based upon on assumption 45:57 of what we think it means, 45:59 a theological house, is not going to be withstand 46:03 because the foundation is sinking sand. 46:05 And so the question is, 46:07 what was Paul's understanding of this temple? 46:11 Was he referring to a literal building 46:13 or was you refer to something else? 46:15 It couldn't have been a literal building, 46:18 and here's the reason why. 46:20 In the Old Testament, God's people was a Literal Nation. 46:26 But in the New Testament Gods people is what kind of nation? 46:29 A Spiritual Nation. 46:31 In the same way, in the Old Testament 46:35 God's temple was a Literal Building. 46:40 But Gods temple in the New Testament 46:42 is a Spiritual Building, a spiritual Household of Faith. 46:48 And this is what Paul is referring to, 46:51 when he talks about Antichrist sitting in the temple of God, 46:54 its talking about Antichrist, 46:55 creeping within the Christian church. 47:00 And Satan has developed 47:01 this counterfeit teaching about Israel, 47:03 to divert the Christian church, away from the Antichrist power 47:07 and turn them on the decoy in the Middle East. 47:11 Now let me prove it to you from the word of God. 47:15 But just a few days before Christ was crucified, 47:18 in worlds of agony, 47:20 he wreath over his chosen nation, 47:22 the nation of Israel, 47:24 I want you notice what He said days before His crucifixion. 47:28 In Matthew 23:37, 38. 47:31 Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 47:35 thou that killest the prophets, 47:37 and stonest them which are sent unto thee, 47:40 how often would I have gathered thy children together, 47:43 even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, 47:47 and you would not!" 47:50 God was weeping friends, 47:52 I wanted to fulfill all the promises 47:54 I've made to your fathers. 47:56 I wanted to gather you from all nations 47:58 and establish you as a glorious kingdom of grace. 48:02 I wanted to make you the head and not the tail, 48:04 I wanted to bless you 48:05 and through you all the nations be blessed. 48:07 I wanted to do all these things 48:08 I want to do it, but you would not, 48:12 why because it was conditional. 48:15 You would not. 48:16 You see, they were more zealous 48:18 for their temple than Him 48:21 in which the temple services would point to. 48:24 They rejected Jesus whom the ceremonies 48:27 and the sacrifices were to teach them of. 48:29 And friends, listen, 48:30 in choosing their ceremonies over the Savior 48:33 now the temple that they adored so much 48:36 became an object of idolatry. 48:39 Because they got caught up in the physical symbol 48:42 and they forget the spiritual significance 48:44 that appointing to the Savior the Messiah 48:47 that was right their in front of them in the flash 48:49 and so now this temple becomes an object of idolatry 48:53 and now what happens to it as a result. 48:56 Jesus says, "Behold your house 49:02 is left" to you how? 49:05 "Desolate." Your house. 49:08 Friends, He was referring to that temple in Jerusalem. 49:11 Before this Jesus claimed to temple as his house. 49:16 You remember when He cleansed temple in Matthew 49:18 or should be Mark 11:17, Jesus said, 49:21 "My house shall be called a house of prayer" 49:24 for how many nations? 49:25 "All nations. 49:27 But you have made it a den of thieves." 49:28 Jesus said, this is My house, this is My temple, 49:31 but when the Israelite nation 49:34 rejected the Messiah 49:35 of which the temple services was to point them to 49:38 now it's no longer His house it's their house. 49:43 Jesus now disowns that temple in Jerusalem. 49:48 It is now left unto them desolates. 49:52 And immediately after Christ pronounced the desolation 49:54 you go to chapter 24:1, 49:56 it says, "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple." 50:00 Ichabod, the glory of God has left. 50:05 And then immediately after He leaves the temple 50:07 He begins to prophesy 50:09 about the coming destruction of this temple. 50:11 In verse 2 He says, "Not one stone shall be left upon another 50:15 that shall not be thrown down." 50:18 And these words were literally fulfilled about 40 years later 50:21 by Tidus and the Roman armies in the year AD 70. 50:25 Friends, this testifies to the danger 50:28 of rejecting the Messiah. 50:30 But it also shows us that God is a gentleman. 50:34 He will never force Himself upon us. 50:37 Can you say, amen? 50:38 If we don't want him, we don't have to have Him. 50:42 God is not a God of force. 50:44 Friends, these scriptures make it clear 50:46 that the distraction of Jerusalem 50:47 and desolation of the temple ended Israel's special standing 50:52 before God as a chosen the nation. 50:54 Their temple is desolate and word of God presence. 50:58 And so when the Apostle Paul spoke about antichrist 51:02 sitting in the temple of God, 51:04 was He saying that the Jews temple would be rebuilt? 51:07 Absolutely not, that would not be the temple of God. 51:09 It would be the temple of Jews. 51:10 And so what was the Paul's understanding? 51:12 What did he view the temple of God as? 51:16 Notice from his own words in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. 51:21 "Know ye not that you are the temple of God, 51:26 and the Spirit of God dwells in you? 51:28 For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." 51:33 Friends, according to New Testament theology 51:35 the temple of God is not a rebuilt building 51:37 any where in this world it's a spiritual building, 51:40 it's the New Testament church. 51:42 We've see clearly tonight that when Jesus came 51:46 there was a horizontal and a vertical transition. 51:50 The cross friends, 51:52 brought about a horizontal transition, 51:54 how from a Literal Nation 51:57 and now in the New Testament a Spiritual Nation. 52:00 And it also brought about a vertical transition 52:03 from an Earthly Temple to a Heavenly Temple. 52:08 This was the clear transition 52:10 between the old and New Testaments. 52:13 And friends, when we focus on a literal people 52:17 and a literal temple 52:19 what covenant was still living under? 52:22 We are living under the old 52:24 but when we understand the significance of the cross, 52:28 it helps us to crossover in this transition 52:31 of a spiritual nation and a spiritual temple. 52:34 Friends, listen, it was the literal 52:36 mindedness of the Jews 52:38 that calls them to reject Christ. 52:42 They wanted something physical, 52:44 something earthly 52:45 and unfortunately many sincere wonderful Christians 52:49 are rejecting the truth for the exact same reason. 52:52 They are looking for something literal and physical 52:55 when it's spiritual. 52:56 And let me tell you friends, 52:57 I believe a temple is going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. 53:01 It's probably gonna happen a third temple 53:04 but even if it does happen 53:06 it can't be of fulfillment of prophecy. 53:08 And here is the reason why reminding 53:10 who did the temple services point us to? 53:13 What was the purpose of it? 53:14 It was teach us about Christ 53:17 and when Christ comes and dies on the cross 53:21 the veil of temple is torn from top to bottom 53:24 signifying that God put an end to the earthly. 53:29 Now Christ fulfills all these sacrifices 53:34 and these ceremonial services. 53:37 And so to built a temple 53:38 after the Christ had already come 53:41 would be a denial of Christ, isn't that right? 53:44 I mean if a temple services points to Christ, Christ comes. 53:47 And then after Christ 53:48 you built a temple it's denying Christ. 53:51 And would God lead any one 53:55 to build something that will deny himself? 53:59 Bible says that God would never deny himself. 54:02 But who do you suppose want 54:04 to lead someone, to built something 54:06 that would deny Christ? 54:08 Satan himself. 54:10 Why would he do it? 54:11 It's called diversionary tactics. 54:14 It's the decoy friends, to lead or mind away 54:18 from where we really 54:20 are to be looking in these last days. 54:22 And friends, did you notice 54:23 here is one of the Satan's greatest deceptions 54:26 in the Christian world. 54:27 Many people are looking for antichrist 54:29 to sit in a little temple in Jerusalem. 54:32 All the while the true antichrist 54:34 has already crept within the Christian church 54:39 right under the noses of many sincere people 54:43 who are looking in the wrong place. 54:46 And so what have we learn tonight 54:48 as we reviewed and closed? 54:51 We learnt that what is popular is not always right 54:56 and what is right is not always popular. 54:59 We've learnt tonight that probation closed 55:01 on national Israel in AD 34. 55:03 They still can be see there's individuals by faith. 55:05 But as far as them been 55:07 in the showcase of grace its finish. 55:09 We've also learnt that Israel in the New Testament is who? 55:14 Jesus and the followers of Jesus. 55:17 The New Testament Church you and Gentile, 55:19 those who believe in Christ. 55:20 Number three, we've also learned 55:22 that the temple of God 55:23 is simply the Christian church, the spiritual house. 55:26 And then number four, we learned tonight 55:28 that the God is calling all to be Israelites. 55:32 Spiritual Israel is only the Israel 55:34 that has end times significance. 55:37 And while this may not save many books 55:39 it was save many souls. 55:43 How shall we respond tonight? 55:45 Friends, in history many people have responded 55:49 with hatchment towards a Literal Nation. 55:53 Because friends when you think about it who killed Christ? 55:58 What was it that put Him on the cross? 56:02 It wasn't a Jew and it wasn't a Roman friends, 56:04 it was humanity that drove the nails through His hands. 56:10 It was humanity that placed 56:11 the crown of thorns upon his brows. 56:14 He looked out upon the crowd and do you know saw He saw? 56:17 He didn't see Jews and Roman's. 56:19 Jesus saw the human race that was rejecting Him. 56:25 And as He looked into the face of His murderers 56:28 Jesus then prayed a prayer 56:30 that embraces every race and every nation. 56:35 Jesus said, "Father forgive them, 56:42 Father forgive them. 56:46 For they know not what they do." 56:49 well, friends, I'm so thankful for Jesus how about you? 56:53 Christ is Israel because like Jacob 56:57 in his time of deep distress 57:00 when it seemed like the promise of God 57:01 was not going to be fulfilled Jesus did not let go. 57:06 On the cross when people said come off the cross 57:09 and we'll believe save yourself Jesus would not let go 57:13 He clung to that old rugged cross. 57:17 It was like, He was saying what Jacob said, 57:18 I would not let you go 57:22 in the time of this deepest distress 57:25 he hailed on to the end 57:28 not only to His father, but to you. 57:33 When Christ said, I will not let 57:35 you go spiritually speaking 57:38 He was refereeing to the human race as well 57:41 because if Christ would have come off the cross 57:43 that would have been letting go the human race 57:45 but Jesus would not let you go, friends. 57:50 He wouldn't let me go and He wouldn't let you go. 57:56 What about you? Are you gonna let Him go? 58:00 Tonight I want to be like Jacob and like Jesus. 58:05 And I want to say Lord, I'm not gonna let You go. 58:10 I'm gonna hang on to a very You. 58:13 Lord, because you didn't let me go 58:14 I'm not gonna let You go. 58:18 And move forward be Your Israelite, 58:21 Your people, Your son, 58:23 your daughter in these last days. |
Revised 2014-12-17