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DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Is “divine right of kings” a Scriptural teaching?, Is “divine right of kings” a Scriptural teaching?, THE NATION ISRAEL

Is “divine right of kings” a Scriptural teaching?

IS “DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS” A SCRIPTURAL TEACHING? IS IT DISPENSATIONAL?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Strangely, when people see an elected politician they like, they say, “That person is God’s will for us. God selected him or her to assume the office.” But, then, when they see an elected governmental official whom they do not like, they never claim that “God’s will” was fulfilled in that unwanted politician assuming power! Well, is God selecting our politicians or is He not? It sounds like God’s will only operates sometimes. Surely, this is not God’s current operation with mankind, is it? Does God choose our political leaders? Is there such a thing as “the divine right of kings” in Scripture? In this study, we will search the Scriptures and see what God’s Word really says about it.

We find this instruction in Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” This can be a very difficult piece of Scripture if we do not read it carefully. People claim this verse says that God directly chooses (or chose) our government officials. But, that is not what the verse said. The Bible did not say, “Our governmental leaders are ordained of God.” It did not say, “The people in office are ordained of God.” The Bible says, “…there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” This is talking about the power that government officials exercise, not the officials themselves. What a difference!

Friends, Romans 13:1 is best understood in light of Colossians 1:16: “For by him [the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, of verse 13] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Notice, however, this speaks of offices of government, not people serving in those offices. The offices, not the people, are “ordained of God.” “Thrones” refers not to kings, but the kings’ offices. “Principalities” are the realms over which princes reign; the word does not apply to the princes themselves. Now, we just carry this pattern into Romans 13:1 and the term “powers” is understood with astounding clarity.

Looking back at the opening verses of Romans chapter 13: “[1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. [2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Once more, the “power”—the authority—is what is ordained of God, not the people who exercise that power. Go back to Colossians 1:16. The word “powers” refers to the authority, the offices of the individuals— “The powers are ordained of God.” God established nationalism (national government on Earth) back in Genesis 9:5-6 in order to carry out capital punishment, establish order, deter crime (especially murder), and so on (cf. Romans 13:3-4). Government was originally intended to be good, to glorify Jesus Christ (cf. Colossians 1:16). It is only when sinful man took over did government become evil. Notice in Psalm 82 how God rebukes corrupt human leaders—called “gods.” They were originally meant to fulfill His will while ruling, but they were neglecting their responsibility, and misleading Israel.

When Satan corrupted the governments of Heaven and Earth with sin, God began His plan to restore the Earth unto Himself. That was the primary reason why God formed the nation Israel. Members of Israel—the Jews—were to fill the offices of government in the Earth that Adam and Eve had lost to Satan and sin. Let us look at this in great detail now.

WHEN GOD DID (WILL) CHOOSE EARTHLY GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS IN SCRIPTURE

Note Jesus’ words to Judaean governor Pontius Pilate in John 19:11: “Thou couldest have not power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” God had given Pilate, a servant of the Roman government, governmental authority. The Graeco-Roman government came to rule over the nation Israel because of Israel’s repeated wickedness many centuries earlier. That was prophesied in the book of Daniel about 600 B.C.

Note what the Holy Spirit said through the Prophet Daniel in chapter 4 of his book: “[17] This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men…. [25] That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” These were God’s words to Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, the man God had appointed to rule over Israel and her Holy Land many centuries before Christ. Media-Persia conquered Babylon, and Greek King Alexander the Great overran Media-Persia, with Rome (an extension of Greece) ruling over Israel by the time of the New Testament and Christ’s earthly ministry.

In Israel’s program, God did not merely ordain the offices of government. There are verses in Scripture that explicitly teach that He actually chose the individuals who occupied those offices. Let us look at some examples. Observe, in time past, how God appointed Moses to lead His people Israel out of their grueling Egyptian slavery. We read in Exodus 3:10: “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” God did not just want any leader to guide Israel. He specifically chose Moses. This needs no further explanation. It is quite simple, friends, if we just let the verses speak. This is about the nation Israel, not us! Verses similar to this are numerous. Let us look at others.

Before Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 17:14-15: “[14] When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; [15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.” This was a reference to King Saul, but could also be applicable to his successors—David, Solomon, et cetera. We will talk more about them now.

Centuries after Moses, the LORD God appointed Saul to be king over Israel. Reading 1 Samuel 9:15-17: “[15] Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, [16] To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. [17] And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.” Who is this regarding? The Bible says Israel!

God also appointed David to be king over Israel after Saul. The Bible says in 2 Samuel 7:8, “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:” Solomon repeats what the LORD said: “Since the day that I brought forth my people out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel” (1 Kings 8:16). Again, this is Israel, Israel, Israel!

Read what the Bible says about David and the LORD in 1 Samuel 16:1,12-13: “[1] And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons…. [12] And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. [13] Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”

Paul repeats in Acts 13:21-22: “[21] And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. [22] And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Certainly, God chose Saul and David to be Israel’s kings. Let me remind you that, in Israel’s program, God is attempting to restore Earth’s governments to Himself, so obviously He will pick the individuals to rule. Moses, Saul, David, and Solomon are the primary examples.

Adonijah (Solomon’s brother, and David’s son) says about Solomon inheriting David’s throne, “it was his from the LORD” (1 Kings 2:15). There were various other kings of Israel that God chose—Jeroboam to be king over the 10 northern tribes, taking them from Solomon’s son Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:11-13); Elisha the prophet received divine revelation to anoint Jehu as king of Israel (2 Kings 9:1-10); et cetera. Daniel, speaking of God’s dealings with mankind during Israel’s program, says, “He [God] changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). As we briefly hinted at earlier, the entire book of Daniel deals with the Gentile powers/kingdoms of the world while Israel is in captivity. God gave the Gentiles political power over Israel because of Israel’s incessant wickedness. In the context of Daniel 2:21, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon was the ruler God put into power over the then-known world. Likewise, Nebuchadnezzar previews the Antichrist, whom God will also appoint over Israel to judge her during the seven-year Tribulation yet future (Isaiah 10:5).

By the way, friends, we must comment on a related misunderstood verse: “A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment” (Proverbs 16:10). On the basis of this verse, it is said that when a governmental leader speaks today, it is “God’s voice,” and that that voice is infallible. Kings of history, attempting to justify themselves and their policies/decrees, have tried to use this verse to argue that the God of the Bible was speaking in and through them, and so they should not be questioned or disobeyed. Beloved, the book of Proverbs has a context, and the context is Israel’s program in operation. Proverbs is not talking about God’s heavenly program with us. It is talking about God’s earthly program with Israel. It is not talking about our mystery program and the Dispensation of Grace. It is talking about the prophetic program. God was ruling Israel through her king. Look at the verses we have already cited in this study. King Solomon wrote Proverbs 16:10 in light of the verses we have just examined—Israel was a “theocracy,” God ruling the nation through human leaders He had appointed. Nothing about this is difficult, provided we leave the verse where it belongs on the Bible timeline instead of forcing it onto us.

So, in summation thus far, there was a time when God did choose leaders on Earth; furthermore, He will do it again in the future. This is not true today. Thus, dispensational Bible study is ever so important. Unless we “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), we will never understand the differences found throughout God’s Word. There are Bible verses that say God does choose leaders, but we need to remember that those verses apply to Israel’s prophetic program, not our mystery program that is currently operating. Dispensational Bible study is often ignored, so people will use the following verses to claim God is ordaining leaders today. This is erroneous. We need to leave the verses in their contexts, lest we form wrong conclusions about them. Let us see how our God is currently dealing with Earth’s governments.

WHEN GOD IS NOT CHOOSING EARTHLY GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS IN SCRIPTURE

In our dispensation, the Dispensation of the Grace of God, Father God is restoring the governments of Heaven to Himself. Therefore, He is not choosing earthly leaders today. He is not trying to reclaim real estate on planet Earth. Rather, He has chosen people (He has chosen those who are in the Church the Body of Christ—us!) to one day rule in the Heavenly Places. Remember, God did not only create earth but heaven as well (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16). Today, God is interested in restoring His heavenly authority. This was the mystery (secret) that the risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul.

Ephesians 1:8-12 explains: “[8] Wherein he [God the Father] hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; [9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness 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: [11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Through prophecy—the Scriptures outside of Paul’s ministry—God had revealed how He would restore Earth unto Himself. We looked at a number of those verses in earlier paragraphs. God kept secret His plan to reconcile the Heavenly Places unto Himself. That secret plan of God has now been made known. We find it in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon. The purpose of the Church the Body of Christ is to rule and reign in the Heavens for God’s glory, just as the nation Israel will rule and reign on Earth for God’s glory.

Dear readers, notice the following Scriptures that apply to us today. These verses describe what God is doing with us today, and what He will do with us one day for all eternity:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
  • Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
  • Ephesians 1:20-23: “[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
  • Ephesians 2:6-7: “[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
  • Ephesians 3:10: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”
  • Colossians 1:18-20: “[18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth [through Israel], or things in heaven [through us].”
  • 2 Timothy 4:18: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

CONCLUSION

“Divine right of kings” is Scriptural, for we can find it in Scripture. However, it is not dispensational. We cannot find it in our Dispensation of Grace.

In the future, when Israel’s program resumes, exactly as prophecy declares, God will again appoint leaders to rule on Earth, just as He chose Moses, Saul, David, Solomon, and so on. David himself, resurrected, will rule over Israel (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 37:24; Hosea 3:5). The 12 apostles will each rule over one of Israel’s 12 tribes (Matthew 19:27-28; Luke 22:30) and the rest of the believing Jews will rule over the Gentiles (Matthew 25:14-29; Luke 19:12-27). Jesus Christ Himself will rule over the whole earth (Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 11:15). He is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16) because He will be over all kings and all lords.

Until the Lord Jesus Christ comes back at His magnificent Second Coming, Satan’s evil world system—its politicians, religious leaders, educators, et cetera—will continue to operate. At Christ’s Second Coming, all the kingdoms of the world will become Jesus Christ’s kingdoms. Here, Satan’s world system will be ultimately destroyed. Then, God will ordain His people to lead the Earth’s governments. My, how this corrupt world needs such an arrangement!

Friend, God is not trying to restore Earth’s governments today. That will happen when Jesus Christ returns at His Second Coming to set up His literal, physical, earthly kingdom (see Psalm 2:6-9, Psalm 45:6-7; Isaiah 11; Daniel 2:44, Amos 9:13-15; Zechariah 14; Matthew 25; Hebrews 1:8-9; Revelation 11:15, et cetera). One day, God the Father will personally “anoint” Jesus Christ as King of Heaven and Earth. But, not today. That is not what God is doing today in our mystery program. This is why there is never-ending conflict in the Middle East. Until God Himself gets involved, personally and visibly intervenes, and gets rid of Israel’s enemies, and restores Earth’s governments to Himself, there will be no true peace in the Middle East or in any other part of this fallen world.

Dear readers, there is nothing in Scripture that says that God is selecting our political leaders today. If we do not “rightly divide the word of truth” as 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs us, we are not going to know where to put Bible verses on the Bible timeline. We are just going to mix all the verses together as if they are applicable all at one time. Those verses will butt heads with one another. Ultimately, it will bring nothing but confusion, heartache, and defeat. Just look around at professing “Christianity” if you doubt me.

Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, God is not choosing our leaders. Romans chapter 13 simply means God established governmental powers, and we choose leaders to exercise those powers. God allows us the free will to choose our leaders. We can choose to select leaders who are godly, or leaders who are ungodly. If God chooses our leaders, then it is pointless for us Americans to go vote on Election Day! Think about it, friend.

Enjoy our Bible studies? You can donate securely to us here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. By the way, after much delay, we are almost ready to sell our Bible study booklets. More details next week…hopefully!

Also see:
» How did Satan hinder Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:18?
» How does Satan operate today?
» Where in the Bible did God give Satan domain over the Earth?

“The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and Paul’s “mysteries”—same or different?, “The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and Paul’s “mysteries”—same or different?, “The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and Paul’s “mysteries”—same or different?, BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, THE NATION ISRAEL

“The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and Paul’s “mysteries”—same or different?

“THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” AND PAUL’S “MYSTERIES”—SAME OR DIFFERENT?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“I just want to know the difference between the Mystery which was revealed to Paul and the Mysteries of the Kingdom. And what are the mysteries of the Kingdom?”

Hello again, brother. Thanks for that question. Let us get to answering it. It can get a little complicated but I will keep it as simple as possible.

“THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”

The term “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” first appears in the Bible in Matthew chapter 13, when Jesus introduces parables. In verse 10, His disciples ask Him why He speaks to the multitudes in parables. He tells those disciples, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (verse 11). Was Jesus unfair to hide it from some? Not at all.

Firstly, the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” are actually all the parables that the Lord Jesus uttered during the latter half of His earthly ministry. Remember that He had spent approximately one to two years prior preaching to Israel in plain language. Most of Israel ignored Him, mocked Him, ridiculed Him, and so on. After Israel’s unbelief had reached a certain point, after they had rejected God’s Word to the limit, Jesus introduced parables to hide the truth from the masses who did not want to hear and believe. (Please see our study linked at the end of this article, “Why did Jesus forbid others from preaching that He was Christ?”)

Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds, but, later, in private, He explained those parables to His disciples (see Matthew 13:34-52). So, the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” referred to spiritual concepts that God hid from unbelieving Israel because they refused to learn what had been previously revealed to them in the Old Testament. All of these parables were various facets and principles that were true of Israel, her earthly kingdom hope, her covenants and promises, et cetera—prophecies whose beginnings can be found in Genesis through Malachi. Most of the Israelites of Jesus’ day had not been faithful in teaching their children to look for Messiah as found in the Old Testament. Some believed because they had passed down that sound doctrine, but most did not pass it down to the next generation and so there was great spiritual ignorance in Israel when Jesus showed up.

Note Psalm 78:1-4: “[1] Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. [2] I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: [3] Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. [4] We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.” (By Jesus telling the parables, He fulfilled verse 2, according to Matthew 13:34-35.)

Again, most of the Jews of Jesus’ day were in unbelief, so they did not see the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus. The “kingdom of heaven” is a term used to describe Israel’s earthly kingdom. That is unrelated to Paul’s ministry and God’s heavenly kingdom.

By the way, if you want more details here, please see our related study, linked at the end of this article, that defines the term “kingdom of heaven” more fully.

THE MYSTERIES OF PAUL’S MINISTRY

The mystery and the mysteries associated with Paul’s ministry were not things descriptive of Israel and her kingdom program. These were truths that God had purposely withheld from everybody, until it was time to reveal them to the Apostle Paul. You can search Jesus’ parables to find nothing of the things the Holy Spirit spoke through Paul—Israel’s temporary fall, salvation by faith without the Mosaic Law, the formation of the Church the Body of Christ, a heavenly hope, salvation going to all Jews and Gentiles without distinction, the Rapture / coming of Christ for His Body, and so on (Romans 11:25; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:25-27; Titus 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:4-7; et al.).

Remember, the “kingdom of heaven” was Israel’s earthly kingdom. In Israel’s program, there was a difference between Jew and Gentile. Israel was to be redeemed to minister to Gentiles. Paul preached no such thing as true today. Through Israel’s fall, without Israel’s kingdom, without redeemed Israel, salvation was going to Gentiles, and that salvation message was preached by Paul’s ministry (Romans 11:11-13). In stark contrast, the kingdom of heaven was (and is going to be) God’s way of using restored Israel to reach Gentiles in an earthly kingdom (Romans 11:25-29; Zechariah 8:20-23; Isaiah 60:1-3). Please read and study these passages in your Bible. We will not quote all them for time’s sake.

CONCLUSION

So, the “mysteries” of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the “mysteries” of Paul’s ministry are two different concepts. They should never be confused and conflated into one set of mysteries.

The “mysteries” of Christ’s earthly ministry were mysterious to Israel because she had ignored divine revelation previously given. Hence, Jesus introduced parables—to hide the truth from people who did not want to hear it and believe it anyway. Those who had hearts to believe, Jesus explained the parables to them in private. The “mysteries” of Christ’s earthly ministry were at least revealed to some people—Israel’s little flock of believers. Paul’s “mysteries,” however, were revealed to no one until Paul. The mysteries that Paul preached were secret in God’s mind until He revealed them to Paul in the book of Acts and onward, years after Christ’s earthly ministry in Matthew through John.

Paul’s “mysteries” were “hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9) because God had to let Calvary occur before He could reveal the mystery. Satan had to be caught by surprise (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Although Israel had crucified Messiah, and refused to repent and accept Jesus as Christ in early Acts, God would use Calvary to go to the Gentiles through Paul without Israel. That is what shocked Satan. Satan assumed he had defeated God at Calvary by keeping Israel from becoming a kingdom of priests to reach Gentiles.

Also see:
» What is the difference between “the Kingdom of God” and “the Kingdom of Heaven?”
» Who were the people who followed Jesus before Paul?
» Why did Jesus forbid others from preaching that He was Christ?

Did John 10:16 predict the Church the Body of Christ?, Did John 10:16 predict the Church the Body of Christ?, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, THE NATION ISRAEL

Did John 10:16 predict the Church the Body of Christ?

DID JOHN 10:16 PREDICT THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Apostle John recorded Jesus Christ as saying in John 10:14-16: “[14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Was verse 16 predicting the formation of the Church the Body of Christ? Should we agree with the many who espouse that position in the ranks of Christendom? Let us search the Scriptures.

When we read about the Lord Jesus as “Shepherd” and Him leading “sheep” in John 10:16, our minds should recall Matthew 10:6, when He had previously instructed His 12 apostles, “Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” In Matthew 15:24, He said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Other verses should come to mind as well. For example, Isaiah 40:11, written over 700 years B.C.: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” However, the majority of these parallel verses are in the book of Ezekiel. Its 34th chapter predicts the restoration of the nation Israel; that is, God bringing her out of her Satanic and Gentile captivity, reestablishing fellowship with her, and bringing her into her land and His earthly kingdom. As the verses quoted above suggest, Jesus Christ began to bring this restoration about during His earthly ministry (along with the ministries of John the Baptist and the 12 apostles).

Let us turn to the 34th chapter of Ezekiel and read the words of the prophet. Please note especially the bolded terms and clauses:

“[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? [3] Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. [4] The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. [5] And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. [6] My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”

Israel’s religious leaders—the priests and the other Levites—were unfaithful in communicating God’s Word to God’s nation. This was one reason why Israel disintegrated spiritually, economically, politically, socially, et cetera. They were not faithful to the covenant delineated in the writings of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Without the foundational doctrine of that Mosaic Law, the Jews embraced Satan’s plan for them. They became increasingly idolatrous, unfaithful to the one true God. God was very upset because the men He had placed to guide His people into His truth had driven them so deep into error, false religion, heathenism. His people were lost sheep, scattered and wandering about. No one cared enough to search for them and bring them back to their spiritual Father. Let us keep reading in Ezekiel chapter 34, again noting the bolded words and phrases:

“[7] Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; [8] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; [9] Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; [10] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.”

Divine judgment was coming upon these shepherds, these religious leaders of Israel, who thought more about themselves than about God’s people they were to lead. (Sound familiar?) God would punish these leaders for polluting His people, His nation in the Earth. He would also deliver His people from these apostate leaders, these phonies, these men of Satan. JEHOVAH God would do for Israel what no one else was willing to do for her. He would search for His sheep, seek them out, and do good unto them despite their unfaithfulness! They were so disloyal to Him as a cheating wife would be to her husband, but He was so faithful beyond words. No matter what, He would keep His word to them! The following verses provide greater detail. Again, continuing in Ezekiel chapter 34, we note the bolded words:

“[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. [13] And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. [15] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. [16] I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. [17] And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. [18] Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? [19] And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.”

These phrases resemble the Lord Jesus’ words in the Four Gospels—and now you know He was quoting Ezekiel! The rest of the chapter is just too awesome to ignore, so we will provide it so you can see additional glimpses into the 1000-Year Reign of Christ on Earth. Once again, note the bolded statements: “[20] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. [21] Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; [22] Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. [23] And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. [24] And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. [25] And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. [26] And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. [27] And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. [28] And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. [29] And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. [30] Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. [31] And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.”

Now, with all of that background from the Prophet Ezekiel, we return to the Four Gospels to understand the purpose of Christ’s earthly ministry. In Matthew 10:6, He had instructed His 12 apostles to “go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And, in Matthew 15:24, Jesus said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The Lord Jesus and His apostles were working to fulfill Ezekiel chapter 34, among other prophecies! They were all trying to lead Israel back to faith in JEHOVAH God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were attempting to rescue Israel from the vain religious system (Satanism, idolatry) that had so corrupted them. They were trying to convert Israel so they could become His kingdom of priests and then be able to reach the Gentiles. Then, the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) and the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16) would be fulfilled.

Returning to John 10:14-16, we now better understand Jesus’ words: “[14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

Jesus Christ was the “Good Shepherd”—the Leader of Israel who would do what most of Israel’s religious leaders had failed to do for centuries upon centuries. As we read earlier, the LORD had promised in Ezekiel 34:12: “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” The Lord Jesus was starting to fulfill this in His earthly ministry.

Check Luke 12:31-32, Jesus’ promise to give Israel’s kingdom to her believing remnant: “[31] But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. [32] Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” See also Luke 22:28-30. This “little flock”—John the Baptist’s converts, disciples of Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry, and the converts of the 12 Apostles in early Acts—are those who Jesus Christ has led back to Father God (thus fulfilling Ezekiel chapter 34, for example). They will (future from our day) become the kingdom of priests that God intended to form with Abraham’s descendants!

Returning one last time to John chapter 10: “[14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” When Jesus spoke these words, there were still more lost Jews who needed to be converted by placing their faith in Him and being water baptized. Remember, later, Peter’s preaching led to the conversion of almost 3,000 Jewish souls on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Another 5,000 Jews were saved through the Apostles’ preaching in Acts 4:4. John 10:16 was referring to this. Additional Israelites (“lost sheep of the house of Israel”) were now forsaking their spiritual wickedness and ignorance, and coming to understand Jesus Christ as their Messiah-King. This formation of Israel’s Little Flock continued throughout the rest of the book of Acts until we come to Paul’s ministry, before it eventually fell away. That Little Flock will form the earthly kingdom of priests when Jesus Christ returns (1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 20:6; cf. Zechariah 8:20-23; Isaiah 61:6; Jeremiah 3:17; Exodus 19:5-6).

THE BODY OF CHRIST – A SECRET UNTIL THE APOSTLE PAUL

Friend, now, notice this often-overlooked passage from Ephesians. Chapter 3: “[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. [8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”

The Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to write that God’s people did not always know about the Church the Body of Christ. There was a time when that “fellowship” of believing Jews and Gentiles in one Body was completely unknown to man (verses 3-9). Hence, it is called “the mystery” (secret). These verses say that Paul’s ministry was the “due time” that God finally revealed the secret that He had kept hidden in Himself (see Romans 16:25-26; Colossians 1:24-26; 1 Timothy 2:3-87; Titus 1:1-3). Had Jesus Christ predicted the Body of Christ in John 10:16, then it could not have been “hid in God” until Paul (Ephesians 3:9).

CONCLUSION

Jesus Christ in no way spoke of the Church the Body of Christ in the books of Matthew through John. John 10:16 is certainly not a reference to us, the Church the Body of Christ. God’s purpose in Christ’s earthly ministry was to form believing Israel, not the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ did not speak about the Church the Body of Christ during His earthly ministry (Matthew through John) because it was not time to reveal it. To force us into Christ’s earthly ministry is just another error that causes us to (wrongly) conclude that we are the nation Israel, that we have replaced Israel, that we are a continuation of Israel, and so on. Do not disregard dispensational Bible boundaries and harmonize the Bible passages that are meant to be separated. We are to “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Friends, let us look at verses in context. A failure to do so will just bring about more confusion.

Also see:
» Is the Church the Body of Christ in Matthew 16:18?
» Who is the “nation” in Matthew 21:43?
» Did the Church the Body of Christ begin in Acts 2?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Does Galatians 1:23 disprove dispensational Bible study?, Does Galatians 1:23 disprove dispensational Bible study?

Does Galatians 1:23 disprove dispensational Bible study?

DOES GALATIANS 1:23 DISPROVE DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.” What is “the faith” that Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) preached here in Galatians 1:23? If he preached “the faith” which he once destroyed, does that mean that he was preaching the same message that Peter and the 11 were preaching? (Some claim “yes.”) As long as we do not have a denominational system to defend or a theological speculation to retain, we will define the term “the faith” of Galatians 1:23 as the context defines it.

While Paul certainly preached a different message than what Peter and the 11 preached (see our study linked at the end of this article), there was some overlapping doctrine. Whether in Israel’s program or our program, Jesus was still the Son of God, Christ/Messiah. Whether in Israel’s program or our program, Jesus was still resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:11-12). It is the same Jesus Christ, the same Redeemer, but different ways of viewing Him and differing roles He plays in Father God’s plan of reconciling the heaven and the earth back to Himself.

Let us first read Galatians chapter 1, verses 21-24, which historically, is near the beginning of Saul’s apostolic ministry: “[21] Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; [22] And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: [23] But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. [24] And they glorified God in me.”

In verses 11-20 of Galatians chapter 1, Paul discussed his conversion on the road to Damascus and other events early in his ministry. Luke recorded this in Acts 9:1-29. Now, in verses 21-24 of Galatians chapter 1, Paul begins to describe what Luke explained in Acts 9:30-31. Acts 9:30-31 says: “[30] Which when the brethren knew, they brought him [Saul/Paul] down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus [in Cilicia; cf. Acts 22:3]. [31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” These churches in Judaea were Israel’s Little Flock, those Jewish believers from Christ’s earthly ministry and the early Acts period. They had heard, as Paul wrote in Galatians 1:22-24, that he was now a saved man, a believer in Jesus Christ. Saul, the man who had been leading the Israel’s rebellion against Jesus, was now preaching Him! Israel’s Little Flock was amazed to hear such extreme news.

Since Acts 9:30-31 parallels Galatians 1:21-24, whatever “the faith” was that Paul preached in Galatians 1:23, it would be found prior to Acts 9:30-31. Even a casual scanning of Acts chapter 9 will cause us to see exactly what was “the faith” that Paul was preaching, the same basic information that Peter and the 11 were preaching:

“[19] …Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. [20] And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. [21] But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? [22] But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. [23] And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: [24] But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. [25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. [26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. [28] And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. [29] And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”

What was Paul preaching in the synagogues in Acts chapter 9? Was he not preaching that Jesus was the Son of God, the Christ/Messiah, the Anointed One of God? That is exactly what Peter and the 11 apostles of Israel preached. While Paul preached more than that about Jesus Christ (as his epistles of Romans through Philemon indicate), Jesus’ Messiahship and His resurrection were two points of doctrine common between Peter and Paul. These doctrines meant different things in Peter’s ministry and Paul’s ministry. Please see our related studies linked below for more information.

Also see:
» Did Peter and Paul preach the same Gospel?
» Does 1 Corinthians 15:11 disprove dispensational Bible study?
» Can you compare and contrast Peter’s ministry with Paul’s ministry?

“The fulness of the Gentiles” and “The times of the Gentiles”—same or different?, “The fulness of the Gentiles” and “The times of the Gentiles”—same or different?, “The fulness of the Gentiles” and “The times of the Gentiles”—same or different?, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST

“The fulness of the Gentiles” and “The times of the Gentiles”—same or different?

“THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES” AND “THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES”—SAME OR DIFFERENT?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Romans 11:25: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Luke 21:24: “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Are these two terms—“the fulness of the Gentiles” and “the times of the Gentiles”—the same event on the Bible timeline? Dear friends, let us search the Scriptures for the answer. It helps to read the context, context, context!

When writing to young Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). If we are to understand and enjoy the Bible, we must “study… rightly dividing the word of truth.” What does this mean exactly? We need to make the proper divisions in God’s Word that God Himself has made in His Word, the Holy Bible. Unless we recognize these divisions, there will be unanswerable confusion when we approach the Bible. Just look at the 40,000 denominations in Christendom!

Dispensational Bible study is simply placing verses on a timeline, starting in Genesis (left) and ending in the Revelation (right). Rather than making all verses valid for every moment in human history, as denominational theology does, right division involves placing God’s instructions to man as they were given progressively. For example, God did not reveal all of His will to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Certain instructions were true for them, things that are not true for us. God did not reveal all of His will to the nation Israel. Whatever God revealed to Israel, He expected them to believe and do. That is not what God wants us to do today either.

The Holy Spirit wrote that Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). In Paul’s epistles alone, we find our doctrine, our duty, our walk, and our destiny. These are the Bible books of Romans through Philemon, written to us Gentiles in the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Ephesians 3:2). Whenever we grab verses in Paul’s epistles and try to make them fit with the rest of the Bible, trouble and confusion are sure to arise. Whenever we grab verses outside of Paul’s writings and try to fit them into Paul’s writings, trouble and confusion are sure to arise. These two errors are the primary reasons why Christianity is so messed up today.

Let us now look at these two verses—Luke 21:24 and Romans 11:25—and how right division clears up the confusion and ushers in such clarity.

“THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES”

Luke 21:24: “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” The Lord Jesus picked up on an expression first coined in Ezekiel, chapter 30, verse 3: “For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.” The Prophet Ezekiel served between the first invasion of Jerusalem by Babylon (606 B.C.) and Babylon’s final invasion and destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.). The “day of the LORD” is the time when God has cast Israel out of her land. At the time of Ezekiel’s ministry, Israel is not yet fully deported out of the land of Palestine. But, that time is approaching.

Israel was to be God’s chief nation in the Earth. But, she failed to keep all of His commandments, the Mosaic Law. They broke that Old Covenant. So, God let Israel be scattered amongst the Gentiles, exiled from their Promised Land. You can read about this in Leviticus 26:27-39. We read from Exodus 19:5-6: “[5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” That promise was conditional. God would only make Israel His kingdom of priests if Israel listened to Him without exception. But, as Jeremiah 31:31-32 says of Israel during Ezekiel’s time: “[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:”

As we know, Israel failed to be God’s nation. So, the Gentiles would rule over her instead. Gentile empires would dominate her Promised Land. Satan’s governments would rule over that land of Palestine. For example, see Psalm 106: “[41] And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. [42] Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.” In 722 B.C., the Assyrians took Israel’s northern kingdom captive. In 586 B.C., the Babylonians came in and destroyed Jerusalem, and Israel’s southern kingdom, Judah, was deported. The Medes and the Persians became the dominant Gentile powers once Babylon fell. The Greeks and the Romans then ruled over Israel. Even today, Israel is not the dominant nation in the Earth as God intended. The time of the Gentiles is ongoing. Heathen/pagans/unbelievers still trod Jerusalem’s streets. Gentiles are still trying to take Israel’s land from her.

Still, Satan’s activity in Israel’s land will culminate after our Dispensation of Grace. When the Antichrist appears after the Rapture, Satan will rule Israel’s land with an iron fist, killing any and every person who does not participate in his false religious system. We learn this in Revelation chapter 13, and Daniel chapters 8 and 11. Paul talks about this in some detail in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. The Antichrist will rule during a time period known as “the seven-year Tribulation,” or “Daniel’s 70th week” (Daniel 9:24-27). Approximately halfway through those seven years, the Antichrist will be manifested for what he really is. Unbelieving Israel will learn just how evil and satanic he is, but by that time it will be too late.

Okay, that was little digression, and we need to be getting back to Luke 21:24. Luke chapter 21 (Matthew chapter 24; Mark chapter 13) is Jesus’s famous Second Mount Olivet Discourse. He is giving His disciples a grand summary of the end-times scenario. “Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” (Luke 21:7). In Matthew 24:3, the question is worded, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Verses 20-24 of Luke chapter 21 are Jesus’ comments about the midpoint of that seven-year Tribulation. Gentile armies will come into Jerusalem and walk its streets. They will do so until the seven years finish. Then, Jesus Christ will return and destroy them all, and establish God’s literal, physical, visible kingdom in the Earth! Israel will finally be God’s chief nation in the Earth (see Romans 11:11-29).

“THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES”

Romans 11:25: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Sad to say it, but “ignorant” describes 99.9 percent of Christians today. They could not communicate basic Bible truths if their lives depended on it. But, they still read “Christian bestsellers,” sing and dance in “Christian worship,” and claim to be “filled with the Holy Ghost.” The Holy Spirit through Paul urged us in Romans 11:25 not to be “ignorant” of the fact that Israel is spiritually blinded today. We are not Israel. We have not replaced Israel. God is not finished with the nation Israel. Today, God is forming the Church the Body of Christ, not His earthly people but rather His heavenly people.

The most common theme of Paul’s ministry and message is that salvation and blessing is coming to the Gentiles through the fall of Israel. We receive that Gospel message of Christ’s finished crosswork from the preaching and writing of Paul, our apostle, God’s spokesman to us. The Bible says in Romans 11:11-13: “[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:”

But, as the rest of Romans chapter 11 goes on to say, especially in verse 25, Israel is not fallen forever. She is not blinded forever. God is not permanently finished with her. Israel is only blinded “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” There is a time when Israel will be restored to God. There is a time when Israel’s prophetic program will resume. We read about this in the books of Hebrews through the Revelation, the conclusion of prophecy, the culmination of all the Old Testament prophecies.

“The fulness of the Gentiles” is when God is finished forming (“fulness” = completion of) the Church the Body of Christ, which is composed of Gentiles. (Since Israel is fallen, even Jews are considered Gentiles in God’s mind today.) God will end our Dispensation of Grace one day. He will close our mystery program one day. He will not reach Gentiles without Israel forever. The Church the Body of Christ will not continue on this Earth forever. One day, we who have trusted Jesus Christ exclusively as our personal Savior, we will be taken to heaven, at the “Rapture,” to do God’s will there in the heavenly places. After that, Israel’s program can resume where it paused 2,000 years ago. Again, Hebrews through Revelation document this continuation of Israel’s program. One day, Father God will restore Israel with the New Covenant, cleanse her of her sins, and make her His people. See Hebrews chapters 8 and 10.

CONCLUSION

There is a tendency for people to correlate these verses and terms—“the fulness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:25) and “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). Nevertheless, the language is different, demonstrating that they involve two different sets of circumstances. The Lord Jesus picked up on an expression first coined in Ezekiel 30:3. Paul, however, did not derive his term from anywhere in the Old Testament. This alone shows us that the Lord Jesus and Paul are relating two different events. Paul’s term (Romans 11:25) involved a “mystery,” something not previously known but later revealed by God. If Jesus in His earthly ministry (Luke 21:24) spoke of what Paul would later write, could the Holy Spirit honestly write that Paul’s doctrine in Romans 11:25 was a secret? Of course not, for Jesus Himself would have already told His Jewish disciples in Luke 21:24 years earlier. There would be no “secret” for God to reveal to us through Paul!

“The times of the Gentiles” has been operating ever since the Babylonians began deporting Jews to Babylon. For over 2,500 years now, Gentiles having been ruling over Israel and her land, when Israel was supposed to be God’s chief nation had she not disobeyed Him. “The fulness of the Gentiles” involves God forming the Church the Body of Christ of people without distinction (Jews are considered Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace). This has only been going on for the last 2,000 years (beginning with the Apostle Paul). “The fulness of the Gentiles” will end at the Rapture, when the Body of Christ is complete, while “the times of the Gentiles” will conclude at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming at least seven years later.

Also see:
» What is Replacement Theology?
» Are we “grafted in” to Israel? What does Romans 11:16-24 teach?
» Why was Saul’s name changed to Paul?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Why did Paul write “I lie not?”, Why did Paul write “I lie not?”

Why did Paul write, “I lie not?”

WHY DID PAUL WRITE, “I LIE NOT?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

On four occasions (Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:7), the Apostle Paul wrote, “I lie not.” Why pen such a “weird” statement—especially four times? Was he implying that he was lying all the other times in his epistles? Dear friends, this puzzling phrase is quite easy to understand. Whenever we approach the Bible, God expects us to use a little common sense. It will go a long, long way. (I lie not!)

Let us pause and consider the meaning of, “I lie not.” Think about expressions we often use in our speech or writing. When we say to someone, “I am being serious,” are we implying that every other time we speak we are joking? Of course not! It is just that we want people to pay special attention to the words we have just spoken or the words we are going to speak shortly thereafter. The same is true of the expressions “I am being honest” and “I am telling you the truth.” In that light, we appreciate Paul’s phrase, “I lie not.” The Apostle Paul is endeavoring to tell us some very important truths. Yet, people are calling him a liar. They are not taking his words seriously. They are making light of God’s Word to them. The Holy Spirit is putting great stress on these four instances, so we need to look at them and see why these truths are just so difficult for people to grasp.

ROMANS 9:1-2
“[1] I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”

As Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul had gained a notorious reputation for mercilessly imprisoning and slaughtering Jews who followed Jesus Christ (Acts 9:13-14; Acts 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13,23; Philippians 3:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:13). Once he came to trust Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, he realized just how wrong he had been for all those years. Now, a saved man, he was filled with regret, having killed his own brethren for believing the truth of their fathers’ God. For ever so long and ever so hard, he had fought against the JEHOVAH God he had thought he was serving in killing Messianic Jews. Many years were wasted serving Satan. Saul, a religious leader, was the primary figure for leading Israel’s rebellion against Jesus Christ, probably during the Four Gospels but especially during the early Acts period. We can read the closing verses of Acts chapter 7 and the opening verses of chapters 8 and 9 to see just how ruthless Saul was!

As the Apostle Paul, he was now preaching that Israel had fallen, and that salvation was now going to the Gentiles through his ministry without Israel (Acts 13:46-48; Acts 18:6; Acts 28:28; Romans 11:11-13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). That infuriated unbelieving Israel. No wonder they persecuted him during his Acts ministry. The thought that Israel was no different from the pagan Gentile “dogs” that she had looked down upon for centuries. How offensive! The lost Jews called Paul “anti-Semitic,” some renegade Mosaic scholar now gone insane. They called him a “Jew-hater,” some “crazy man” with an “outlandish message.” (Do they not call us that today when we preach Pauline truths?) So, the Holy Spirit through Paul conducted his ministry during Acts so that unbelieving Israelites could be enticed to join the Body of Christ (Romans 11:13-14). Paul did not hate Israelites. Rather, he hated what he had done to them as a lost man, how he had led them to embrace such error. So, he would passionately preach in their synagogues, hoping to save them from that apostasy. Paul had such a heavy heart that his nation was literally going to hell, and worst of all, he had played a very vital role in it! (The unbelieving Jews were saying Paul hated them, but he reassured them, even saying that the Holy Spirit bore witness, that he was not lying when he said how he felt so sorry for them and felt so sad about their spiritual condition.)

2 CORINTHIANS 11:30-31
“[30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. [31] The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.”

It was very ridiculous. Whenever people ridiculed the Apostle Paul as being a “nobody,” he would defend himself, and then they would call him egotistical. (Sounds just like how people react to us today when we preach Jesus Christ according to Paul’s ministry!) In this chapter, Paul described the immense sufferings he endured to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God to lost and dying Gentiles. He was beaten, imprisoned, stoned with rocks, shipwrecked, and suffered various deprivations (hunger, nakedness, sleepless nights, et cetera). Read it for yourself, in the verses preceding:

“[22] Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. [23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. [24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. [25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; [26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; [27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. [28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?”

So, what are the “infirmities” that Paul found worth in in 2 Corinthians 11:30? It was all his troubles and hindrances delineated in the previous eight verses! He did not find value in being praised by men, receiving religionists’ approval, et cetera. He found value in remembering that Jesus Christ was strong when he was weak (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). In the grand scheme of things, Paul’s suffering was nothing. Gentiles were being saved from idolatry and hell, and God’s grace that was saving them from sin was saving him from misery and defeat! “[30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. [31] The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.”

GALATIANS 1:20
“Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.”

Throughout the first 19 verses of chapter 1, Paul discusses his special apostleship and message. He continued this into chapter 2. We will only focus on chapter 1 here. In verses 1, 11-12, 15-16, 17-18, and 19, we see Paul giving five reasons why his apostleship and message are totally separate from the 12 apostles’ ministry and message.

“[1] Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)… [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. [15] But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, [16] To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: [17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. [18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. [19] But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”

Paul did not have contact with any of the 12 apostles for the first three years of his Christian life. He received divine revelation directly from the risen, ascended, and glorified Jesus Christ. The 12 apostles taught Paul nothing. Rather, he taught them something (Galatians 2:2,6-8). This “lie not” statement is related to the final “lie not,” which we now discuss.

1 TIMOTHY 2:7
“Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

There were various people—especially false teachers in Corinth (see 2 Corinthians chapters 10-13)—who denied Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles. Jewish false teachers would especially try to discredit Paul, since his ministry was so radically different from the Old Testament prophetic program. Whenever Paul would claim that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ, his critics would call him a liar. Hence, he wrote “I lie not” in 1 Timothy 2:7. He lied not in that he was indeed—in faith and in verity—truly “a teacher of the Gentiles.”

CONCLUSION

Regarding these four instances, Paul was being accused of lying. He was affirming that he was telling the truth concerning these four issues. They were important truths that needed to be believed instead of being casually brushed off as falsehoods.

Also see:
» What about Romans 10:9-10?
» Why did Jesus forbid others from preaching that He was Christ?
» Who was Judas’ replacement—Matthias or Paul?

DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Should we “name and claim” Jeremiah 29:11?, Should we “name and claim” Jeremiah 29:11?, THE NATION ISRAEL

Should we “name and claim” Jeremiah 29:11?

SHOULD WE “NAME AND CLAIM” JEREMIAH 29:11?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Jeremiah 29:11 is quoted ad nauseum in Christendom, especially in “evangelical” and “conservative” circles: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Can and does this apply to us in this the Dispensation of Grace? Should we “name and claim” it? What is it really talking about? It does not matter what the preachers say or the denominations say. What matters is what God’s Word actually says. “For what saith the Scriptures?” If we look at the context, it is apparently clear what Jeremiah 29:11 is discussing and to whom it applies.

Today’s lukewarm Christianity mindlessly quotes Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” However, who quotes Jeremiah 21:10, a verse found in the same Bible book? “For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.” Why does religion just select one appealing verse but toss out the verses that do not support the system they are promoting? What dishonesty! What a shameful way to treat the Book of the God of the universe.

THE CONTEXT OF JEREMIAH 29:11

Before JEHOVAH God could have good thoughts toward Jerusalem and the nation Israel, He had to first deal with their sins. Rather than relying on God’s grace—God freely giving them everything they needed—they agreed to enter into a covenant with Him (Exodus chapters 19-24). This was the Old Covenant, the Mosaic Law (part of it was the Ten Commandments). Israel contracted to perform perfectly to gain His blessings and acceptance; to fail in a single point was to merit His wrath and curses. Even today, “Christian” people get hung up on Israel’s works-religion system. They never learned the lesson of Israel’s history. Shame!

Exodus 19:3-6: “[3] And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us” (Deuteronomy 6:25).

Finally, Deuteronomy chapter 28: “[1] And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: [2] And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God…. [14] And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. [15] But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:….”

Israel was doomed to fail right from day 1, but God loves freedom so much that He gave them exactly what they wanted. They wanted religion, and they got just that, along with the consequences of weak human nature.

So, we reach the time of the Prophet Jeremiah. Nine hundred years after the ratification of the Mosaic system, and Israel (technically, the southern kingdom of Judah) is entering the fifth course of judgment. What began in the book of Judges (because of her pagan idolatry) is now in its fifth and final phase—after four previous attempts of JEHOVAH trying to reform them with chastisement, Leviticus 26:27-39 says Israel must now be removed from the Promised Land. Jeremiah 21:10 is Jeremiah’s message from God to warn Judah that the Babylonian armies are coming: Jerusalem will be sacked, its walls burned to the ground, the Temple destroyed, and the Jews will be led away captive to present-day Iraq. The Jews are instructed not to fight but rather capitulate to their enemies’ desires. In 586 B.C., Jerusalem was decimated—the Babylonians cleansed JEHOVAH’S land of idolatry. Jeremiah 29:11 is Israel’s hope in such a hopeless condition!

We read in Jeremiah 29:14: “And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” From 606 B.C. to 536 B.C., Judah was captive in Babylon. JEHOVAH told them that after those 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; cf. Daniel 9:2), He would bring these Jews back to Jerusalem; He would not leave them hopeless, for He still had marvelous plans for them despite their unbelief and disobedience.

Read Jeremiah 29:11 in its context: “[10] For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. [11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. [12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. [13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [14] And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

The Jewish Bible, which ends with 2 Chronicles, concludes with Israel back in her homeland (chapter 36): “[20] And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: [21] To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. [22] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, [23] Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.”

These two Jewish expeditions from exile to Jerusalem are recorded in the Bible books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Nevertheless, many Jews are still scattered worldwide today, and certainly not enjoying God’s earthly kingdom as they should have. Again, Jeremiah 29:11 is Israel’s hope in such a hopeless condition!

We read in Jeremiah 23:5-6: “[5] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. [6] In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

The Old Testament “Major Prophets” (the five “large” books of Isaiah through Daniel) and the “Minor Prophets” (the 12 “small” books of Hosea through Malachi) have two main themes—God’s judgment on the Jews in response to their centuries of pagan idolatry by forcing them out of His land, and God’s forgiving and restoring Israel to return to that Promised Land and enjoy His earthly kingdom forever. Although Jeremiah devoted large portions of his ministry and book to that impending divine wrath, the Holy Spirit moved him to also preach and write verses that declared that God’s Messiah would come to deliver Israel from the religious (spiritual), social, and political mess in which she put herself (see Jeremiah 23:5-6 above).

While Judah was captive in Babylon, JEHOVAH revealed to the Prophet Daniel that in addition to 70 years necessary for the Promised Land’s cleansing, 70 weeks of years (or 490 years) were needed to cleanse the Jewish people (Daniel 9:24-27). After this 490-year period, Messiah would come and deliver Israel from her sins and her enemies. Once Jesus Christ came, Israel had the prospect to be a redeemed people in a cleansed land. Just as that 69th week of years expired, they delivered Him to the Romans to have Him die on an awful Roman cross. He resurrected and returned to heaven rejected.

Now, one seven-year period (Daniel’s 70th week) remains on the prophetic calendar before Jesus Christ can return for Israel and establish her kingdom (Jeremiah 23:5-6). When He comes the second time, He will use His blood shed at Calvary to establish a New Covenant to take away Israel’s sins (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:19; Romans 11:26,27; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:15-17). Yes, Jeremiah 29:11 is still true—God’s wonderful plans for Israel are to be fulfilled in His own time!

Jerusalem, the Babylonians are coming, the Babylonians are coming!
Jerusalem, the Jews are coming, the Jews are coming!
Jerusalem, the Messiah is coming, the Messiah is coming!

JEREMIAH 29:11 AND US IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE

Never once does our Apostle Paul quote Jeremiah 29:11 as applicable to us. It is a good verse, a wonderful verse, but it is not to or about us. It is to and about the nation Israel. The basic fallacy in Christendom today has been the 2,000-year-long practice of grabbing Israel’s verses, completely disregarding the contexts, and making them apply to us. For example, Matthew 28:19-20, Isaiah 45:15, Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 55:11, Matthew 16:18, James 5:14-16, Deuteronomy 8:18, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Malachi 3:8-11, et cetera. Jeremiah 29:11 applies to people who were taken captive to Babylon (verse 10!). Were we ever in Babylonian captivity? No, but Israel was. We cannot claim verse 10 as true of us; therefore, verse 11 does not apply to us either. Let us leave Jeremiah 29:11 exactly where it is in the Bible, and no confusion will result. It really is that simple.

Friend, if you want some positive, uplifting verses, wonderful promises from God, why not believe God’s Word to you rather than stealing Israel’s verses and ignoring their context? Friend, you search the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon, and you see such glorious truths true of us Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace and members of the Church the Body of Christ:

Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

2 Corinthians 5:8: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Colossians 1:13-14: “[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Philippians 1:6,11: “[6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:… [11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

Titus 3:4-7: “[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Also see:
» What are our spiritual blessings in Jesus Christ?
» Must I maintain fellowship with God?
» Should we pray for the peace of Jerusalem?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Have we been “grafted into Israel?”, Have we been “grafted into Israel?”, Have we been “grafted into Israel?”, THE NATION ISRAEL

Have we been “grafted into Israel?”

HAVE WE BEEN “GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

Have we been grafted into Israel? Is that what Romans 11:16-24 teaches? As always, my dear readers, we look at the Bible and let it interpret itself. We should not have a denomination or religious tradition to promote. We should have a Person to exalt, and the Lord Jesus Christ is magnified when His Word is studied and believed no matter whom it contradicts!

No question about it. There is much controversy surrounding Romans 11:16-24. Honestly, there are some very outlandish ideas about what it teaches. Beloved, we should never, ever isolate a Bible passage. This set of verses is especially critical to our understanding as members of the Church the Body of Christ. We must get it right or we will face unanswerable confusion for the rest of our lives on Earth. Remember—Context! Context! Context! There are five preceding verses that lead up to Romans 11:16-24, and we need to heed them, lest we stumble over the verses they precede.

ROMANS 11:11-14

We begin reading Romans chapter 11: “[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”

According to the Old Testament, Israel was to rise to kingdom glory and be the channel of blessing and salvation to the Gentiles/nations (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:3-6; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23). Through Israel (in her literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom), Gentiles were to have a relationship with the one true God. Israel was to be God’s kingdom of priests. That has yet to happen. Something interrupted that prophetic program. It is our Dispensation of Grace, called “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2). In light of Romans 16:25, we can call it “the mystery program.” (Contrasted with Israel’s “prophetic program” of Acts 3:21). This present-day administration or arrangement was a mystery (secret) that God hid in Himself until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:24-29). In Romans chapter 11, we are reading about some truths that make up that revelation the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ gave to the Apostle Paul.

Romans chapter 11 declares that Israel has fallen before God. She has now lost her special status before God, albeit only temporarily Israel is fallen. That was the secret God kept hidden in the Old Testament. That was the mystery that He finally revealed to the Apostle Paul. In our Dispensation of Grace, Israel has lost the opportunity to be the head of the nations. She cannot be God’s channel of salvation and blessing to the Gentiles (nations). Gentiles cannot approach God through Israel and her kingdom. Why? Because Israel herself is in unbelief and Satanic captivity. Yet, we Gentiles have access to God today, and we Gentiles have had access to Him for almost 2,000 years now. How is this possible?

As we read earlier in Romans 11:11-12, Israel is temporarily “cast away,” fallen before God. By God removing Israel from her privileged position, Romans 11:11-12 explains what this means for the whole world: “[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

In our dispensation, “the world” (all people/nations) has been “reconciled” to God. All people (Jew and Gentile) can now approach Him—not through Israel or her kingdom—but through Paul’s ministry (Romans 11:13) and Paul’s Gospel. God no longer makes the distinction between Jew and Gentile—to God, even Jews are “Gentiles.” Unlike in time past, in the but now, there is no “special nation of God” today. God only sees people in His Son (whether Jew or Gentile), and people outside of His Son (whether Jew or Gentile).

Romans 11:13, again: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Paul is our apostle. That is, the risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ commissioned him to preach to us—all nations (Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26)—the good news of Calvary (“the Gospel of the Grace of God;” Acts 20:24). Reading from 2 Corinthians 5:19,21: “[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Now, “the world” (all nations) has the opportunity to be made “nigh” (near) to God by Christ’s shed blood. It has nothing to do with Israel because Israel is not an issue with God today. We have not been “grafted into Israel” because there is no “Israel” to be grafted into! Let us see Ephesians 2:11-13: “[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

“In Christ Jesus,” in this context (verse 13), is a reference to members of the Church the Body of Christ. “The blood of Christ”—the Gospel Message that Paul preached—is the means whereby we approach Father God today. When we trust the shed blood of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for our sins, God credits that to our account as righteousness, and we are fit for heaven forever (Romans 4:1-8). There is no redeemed Israel here. There is no earthly Israeli kingdom here. Our salvation is dependent entirely upon what Jesus Christ did at Calvary, not upon what we do or do not do, not upon Israel, not upon her kingdom, not upon anything else.

While more could be said, for brevity’s sake, we must move on to the rest of Romans chapter 11.

ROMANS 11:15-24

Reading Paul’s words in Romans chapter 11: “[15] For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? [16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. [17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; [18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. [19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. [20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. [24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?”

What Romans 11:16-24 is talking about is that we (“the world,” the nations; see verse 15) have now been given access to God, the access Israel enjoyed before she fell, the access we were to have as Gentiles had Israel not fallen. Because of Christ’s finished crosswork, we can partake of the spiritual things once offered to Israel—eternal life, justification, sanctification, peace, forgiveness, love, acceptance, et cetera. Olive wood is a symbol of access or entry into God’s fellowship/blessings. The Temple, God’s house, had olive doors (1 Kings 6:31-32). Access to God’s glory back then involved passing through olive-wood doors.

One day, God will “cut off” the nations of the world (verses 20-22). They will no longer have access to Him apart from Israel. As Israel’s unbelief led to her fall, the nations’ unbelief (rejection of Paul’s Gospel) will eventually lead to their fall (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Once prophecy resumes, Israel will again be brought to the forefront in God’s dealings with mankind. When our program ends with the Rapture, Gentiles who remain on Earth will have to approach God through Israel as Gentiles did before our Dispensation of Grace began. That is the warning of Romans 11:20-24. (It is not loss of salvation for members of the Body of Christ. People make that mistake here. It is talking about unsaved Gentiles losing their “without-Israel” method of access to the God of the Bible.) God’s grace will not always be offered to mankind as it has been in our Dispensation of Grace. Gentiles who are not part of the Body of Christ are urged not to be prideful, bragging about how Israel fell so they (Gentiles) could enjoy God’s blessings, for one day Gentiles will lose the privilege we as the Body of Christ members now enjoy. Israel will be restored one day, and those Gentiles outside of the Body of Christ will have to bless Israel to fellowship with the one true God (Matthew 25:31-46). Once Israel’s program resumes after our program, those Gentiles who do not bless Israel will wind up in everlasting hellfire (again, see Matthew 25:31-46).

We are not grafted into Israel. Israel is “fallen” and “enemies of God” (Romans 11:11,28). In 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul says, “the wrath [of God] is come upon them to the uttermost.” What advantage is there in being grafted into a nation that God does not acknowledge? It is nonsense. Is it really a privilege to be in a nation that God’s wrath has fallen upon, which wrath caused that nation’s fall? Of course not.

We (Gentiles, the world) have been “graffed in” in that God has paid for our sins at Calvary and He offers us fellowship with Him without Israel’s participation. We have access to Father God by faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. In fact, Jesus Christ’s faith is His trust in God the Father’s Word to send Him to Calvary. Notice again what Paul wrote to us Gentiles. “For through him [Jesus Christ] we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). “[Christ Jesus our Lord] In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Ephesians 3:12). There is nothing about Israel’s involvement. We have fellowship with Father God through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary. Jesus Christ alone is the one Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).

CONCLUSION

Romans 11:15-24 is basically saying that all Gentile nations are “graffed in” in the sense of we having equal access to God through Calvary (Ephesians 2:11-15). All nations can approach God today without Israel. In fact, even Israel is considered as a Gentile nation. Olive wood in the Bible symbolizes access to God: for example, the doors of the Temple were olive wood (1 Kings 6:31-34).

One day, after our Dispensation of Grace, God will resume His dealings with Israel, thus “cutting off” the Gentile nations. At that time, Israel will have preeminence again and every nation will have to approach God through Israel (as prophecy dictates). The Gentiles should not boast about God cutting off Israel today, since God will one day restore Israel and judge and destroy those Gentiles who fail to approach Him through Israel (verses 20-24). This passage, contrary to common belief, is not talking about the Church the Body of Christ being cut off (as in “loss of salvation”), but rather the warning in Romans 11:19-22 is spoken to those Gentiles who do not become members of the Body of Christ. If they do not become members of the Body of Christ by faith in Paul’s Gospel, they will have spurned God’s offer of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-21), and they will be lost in Israel’s program when it resumes under the Antichrist’s reign (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

Also see:
» Can you please explain Paul’s “Acts” ministry?
» What is “Replacement Theology?”
» Is prophecy being fulfilled today in the Dispensation of Grace?

DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER, Should we pray for the peace of Jerusalem?, Should we pray for the peace of Jerusalem?

Should we pray for the peace of Jerusalem?

SHOULD WE PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Some well-meaning Christians—including a few confused “dispensationalists”—press us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They use the book of Psalms: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6). These sincere brethren claim that if we pray for peace to come to Jerusalem, then that will make Jesus Christ come back to Earth quicker. Is this a sound way of looking at Psalm 122:6? To the Scriptures we go, beloved!

Let me tell you right now, upfront, first and foremost. I am not an anti-Semitic Christian. I do not hate Jews. When I study my Bible as a whole, and not just a verse here and there, I see no reason for you or I to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I cannot make God do something He is not doing. You, friend, cannot make God do something He is not doing. No one on Earth can make God do something He is not doing. Probably for the last 2000 years, Christians have been praying for the peace of Jerusalem, and yet, there is still no peace today in Jerusalem. Far from it! Great civil unrest exists in Jerusalem amongst Jews, Christians, Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinians. That ought to tell us that we cannot make God do something He is not doing. If we have been praying for something for decades—yea, centuries—and nothing has happened, the only logical conclusion is that we must be praying outside of God’s will for this dispensation.

Remember, the day is coming when there will be peace in Jerusalem. That is the purpose of the Antichrist, the false Messiah. He will bring a false peace treaty to light in Israel and the Middle East. Daniel 11:21 explains how this Antichrist figure will originate: “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” He will be an over-complimentary character, slowly conniving his way into the Middle-Eastern governmental structures. Consider 1 Thessalonians chapter 5: “[1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” We certainly do not want to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in the Dispensation of Grace. Why? We would be praying for the revelation of the Antichrist! (The Antichrist has to come and usher in false peace before Jesus Christ, “the Prince of Peace,” can come and usher in true peace [Isaiah 9:6-7]).

Actually, Israel has no national status before God today. That startles many people—especially denominationalists—when they hear it, but it is true. Israel has no special relationship with JEHOVAH. She had such a relationship in the past but it is suspended in this the Dispensation of Grace. Paul’s epistles are very clear about that. We would have to ignore the Pauline epistles to conclude that Israel is still the chosen people of God, the nation God calls “My people.” Romans chapter 11 is plain if we are willing to let it say what it says: “[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”

People who urge us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they are not rightly dividing the Word of God as 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs. They do not understand prophecy versus mystery. God is not operating Israel’s program today. We cannot rush Him to continue prophecy. He is operating the mystery program. In His own time, Jesus Christ will return. He is not presently coming to establish Israel’s earthly kingdom. This will change one day, but not today, not while God is forming the Church the Body of Christ. God is focused today on impacting the governments of heaven for His glory. God formed the Body of Christ to influence the heavenly places:

  • Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
  • Ephesians 1:20-23: “[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
  • Ephesians 2:6-7: “[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
  • Ephesians 3:10: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”
  • Ephesians 4:8-10: “[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
  • Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [heavenly] places.”

Once our Dispensation of Grace ends, and Israel’s prophetic program resumes, Israel’s believing remnant most definitely should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. After all, they are praying for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming and the destruction of the evil Antichrist who will be reigning during the seven-year Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th week). The context of Psalm 122 is Jesus Christ’s literal, physical, visible earthly kingdom. In the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” we read in Matthew chapter 6: “[9] Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” During those final seven years, the Tribulation period, Israel’s Little Flock is to pray for deliverance, for Satan’s reign on Earth to end and for God’s reign on Earth to begin. (For more information, at the end of this study, you may see the article we have linked, “Should we pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer?’”)

CONCLUSION

Never once did our Apostle Paul in his epistles, Romans through Philemon, instruct us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Why? That is not what God the Holy Spirit is doing today! Friend, you need to pray in accordance with God’s will, not misquoting Bible verses and repeating them to God all corrupted and muddled up. That is how religion encourages you to pray. Just name whatever you want and claim it as so, and God will give it to you. No, prayer is always about what God is doing, not about what we want God to do. If you want to see and pray for what God is doing today, see what our Apostle Paul prayed and by faith go pray for that. (For more information, you can see our study linked at the end, “How should I pray? What is ‘Pauline’ prayer?”) Friend, you will save yourself a lot of wasted time and heartache. Prayer is talking to God in light about what He is doing, not about manipulating Him to do whatever we want Him to do.

Certainly, peace will come to Jerusalem one day. There will be a false Messiah (Antichrist) first, followed by the true Messiah (the Lord Jesus Christ). That is God’s purpose and program with Israel. We need not be troubled by it. We need not worry about it. Let us read all of the Bible, Genesis through Revelation, but let us remember that Romans through Philemon are the program and the doctrine that Father God currently has in effect. We are living in the mystery program, certainly not to be confused with the prophetic program of Israel. Let us not be distracted by claiming Israel’s verses and promises and making them part of our prayer life. That is sure to bring about unanswerable confusion and misery.

Also see:
» Should we pray “The Lord’s Prayer?”
» How should I pray? What is “Pauline” prayer?
» Are we Israel? Have we replaced Israel?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DENOMINATIONS, CULTS, & FALSE TEACHING, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, What is Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology?, What is Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology?, What is Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology?

What is Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology?

WHAT IS THE “ACTS 9/28 HYBRID SYSTEM” OF THEOLOGY? IS IT SOUND BIBLE HERMENEUTICS, OR THE TRADITIONS OF MEN WITH A “GRACE FACE?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

In recent months, especially within the last several weeks, I have received numerous emails involving a certain type of so-called “grace teaching.” According to these contacts, the proponents of this system do indeed promote Paul’s special ministry. Yet, they attach certain odd doctrines to the Pauline dispensational paradigm. Examples of these “strange and confusing” doctrines were provided. This teaching has become rampant on social media (particularly Facebook and YouTube). For simplicity’s sake, I call it the “Acts 9/28 hybrid system.” This is the term I will use throughout this study to describe the system.

Exactly what is this system? Should we embrace it, or should we avoid it entirely? As always, we do not take anyone’s word for it. We should always look at the Scriptures before we blindly accept any theological position, even if it claims to be “grace” teaching. It does not matter what any grace preacher says, or any grace teacher says—that includes me especially! Beloved, if the King James Bible rightly divided does not support it, forget it, no matter who teaches it!

In celebration of our 200th Bible Q&A article, by special request, we release this massive ministry project! Rejoice with us in Jesus Christ!

A Refutation of Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology (five, one-hour Bible study videos)

A Refutation of Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology (original 60-page full-length article)

A Refutation of Acts 9/28 Hybrid Theology (special 25-page condensed article)

Dispensational Timelines Compared (Diagrams) – Acts 9, Acts 28, & Acts 9/28 Hybrid