Monthly Archives: October 2018

Israel in Bible Prophecy, Prophecies for Our Time

490 Years of Opportunity Ended-Israel and End-Time Events-Part 3

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There are many books and Hollywood-type movies about the rapture and end-time events.  This material is impressively presented using modern entertainment production methods, but the producers take liberties with the truth of God’s word.  It has led many Christians to believe and put their faith in books and movies rather than the plain teachings of God’s word.

The modern scenarios taught regarding the return of Jesus, the time of trouble, the anti-christ, the millennium are new to the Christian church.  These popular teachings of Jesus return we not taught until recently.  The early church and teachers since the availability of the Bible to the public have not taught anything but the simple Biblical teachings concerning the return of Jesus and the end-time events

Today’s movie producers include a 7 year period of tribulation initiated by the “rapture” of the church being “caught up” to heaven and Israel’s agreement with the Anti-Christ.  It gives the Christian the warm feeling of avoiding any uncomfortable situations on earth before Jesus comes.

Contrary to the Bible the authors and producers split the coming of Jesus into two parts. According to them, the unprepared (including the Jewish nation)  remain on the earth to endure the “time of trouble” for a second shot at salvation. During this time there are terrible events on earth, unlike anything that has ever been seen. At some point of these several years, the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” finally accept Jesus as a nation and go about evangelizing the world in preparation for the return of Christ. They present a part “A” of the return of Jesus.  Part “A” is Jesus coming for His church before the 7 years of tribulation.  Part “B” is the “glorious return” at the end of the 7 years where “every eye” will see Him.

These popular views are based on erroneous interpretations of  Daniel, particularly Daniel 9, the plain teachings about the return of Christ; and a misunderstanding of most of Revelation.

When Jesus was asked about the signs of His coming, the first words out of His mouth were a warning to watch out for deception:

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

Matthew 24: 3-4

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In this study, we will look at the 70-week prophecy of Daniel and the core message which is primarily a warning to Israel to prepare for the first coming of Jesus.  This is a wonderful study that gives historically accurate times lines for the coming and mission of Jesus.

As I studied my way out of atheism, this prophecy helped me understand Jesus was all that the prophets, the disciples, and Jesus Himself claimed to be. It will reveal the mercy and love extended to rebellious Israel and give evidence for your faith in Jesus.  The events proclaimed here were made hundreds of years before Jesus appeared on the banks of Jordan to be baptized by John and begin His earthly ministry.

  As we read the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 and compare it with actual history and Biblically documented historical dates. We will discover the power of this prophecy written almost 500 years before Jesus and we will understand more about Israel and end time events!

Please follow closely.  When we are finished, I recommend you verify the dates at your local library or other resources.  Beware of the confusion of the internet.  Also, I have included a chart at the end in the “Appendix” to make these dates easier to see and follow.  There are also other helpful references.

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Let’s start by reading Daniel 9: 24-27

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

 And after threescore (60) and two weeks (2) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (1): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Daniel 9: 24-27

If you count up the number in parenthesis, you will have the 70 years mentioned at the start.  There is a reason why they are split up that way.  I will not go into those historical reasons in this writing.

The setting for these verses is important in understanding the prophecy.  Daniel and his people (The Jews) had been taken captive by Babylon and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and lay desolate as prophesied by Jeremiah.  It was predicted by Jeremiah that they would be in captivity for 70 years!

“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

Daniel 9:2

As the 70 years drew near to the end, Daniel began to pray and confess his sins and the sins of the people (Verses 4-20). Then Gabriel (an angel) came and informed Daniel that he had come to

“give thee skill and understanding.” 

Daniel 9:22

Then Gabriel gives the vision as stated in Verses 24-27 above.  This is the skill and understanding Daniel needed other than simply knowing the Jews would soon be freed after 70 years of captivity.

From Daniel 9: 24-27 above, we observe the following:

70 weeks was given to Daniels people (Israelites) and the city of Jerusalem to:

  1. Finish the transgression
  2. Make an end of sins
  3. Make reconciliation for iniquity
  4. Bring in everlasting righteousness
  5. Seal up the vision and prophecy
  6. Anoint the most Holy
So God was giving the Jewish people 70 weeks or 490 days to do all those things; ending with anointing the most Holy.  We shall see that the anointing of the most Holy is not in regards to the apartment in the sanctuary necessarily, but the Holy One of God-Jesus
The  70 weeks given to the Jews are calculated in the verses in sections:
threescore (60) and
two weeks (2)
7 weeks (7) and
1 week (1)
Quick addition shows this is 70 weeks or 490 days (7 X 70).  But in Bible prophecy, the day = year principle should be used to unlock the timelines for history.  The verses that support this principle can be found in the passages below:
 “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”
Numbers 14:34
  “And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.”
Ezekiel 4:6
God gave the Jewish people 490 years for their assignment.  During this time, he sent prophets and others to inspire and help keep them close to him.  But as one reads their story, it is quickly seen that they often went after other gods and forsook the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob…the one and only true Creator God!
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city…”
Daniel 9: 24
If we can determine where the 490 years began (with certainty) we can understand the other parts of the prophecy.
The timelines start here:
“….from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem”
Daniel 9: 25
This chart should help in the understanding of the prophecy lines.
The glorious temple of Solomon had been leveled by the Babylonians when they conquered Israel.  King Nebuchadnezzar’s army took captives to Babylon including young  Daniel and his friends. But, at the end of the literal 70 years, a command would be given to restore and build Jerusalem. The actual command is found in Ezra Chapter 7 when Artaxerxes gave the commandment in 457 BC (See the **notes at the end).
So, now that we have a starting date, let’s see where it takes us:  The first stop is the coming of the Messiah the Prince
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince…
Daniel 9: 25
The Messiah the Prince can refer only to Jesus himself.  He is both the Messiah and a Prince
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 1:41
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
John 1:45
“For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
So we know that from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Jesus would be a certain length of time.  How long?
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7), and threescore (60) and two weeks (2): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
From 457 to Jesus is 69 weeks or 483 days or 483 prophetical years.  Let’s do some math:
Starting at 457 BC and moving through history 483 years brings us to the fall of 27 AD
This is the date Jesus was baptized by John (anointed) and he began his ministry as the prophecy predicted. Here is an important verse in connection with Jesus’ baptism:
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:“
Matthew  3:16
A dove represents anointing.
Another interesting passage that makes sense in the light of Jesus beginning his ministry exactly on time according to Daniel’s prophecy some 500 years before Jesus is this one:
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son…”
Galatians 4:4
The time was “full.” In other words, Jesus came to this earth and began his ministry right on time.  It may be possible that this quote is in reference to this particular prophecy.  Whatever the case, we know that God knows the future  and will not do anything unless he reveals it by his prophets:
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7
69 weeks or 483 years of the 70 weeks or 490 years has been explained.  Isn’t it comforting to know that God, through the prophet Daniel let the world know when Jesus would come on the scene?
 Now let’s look at the last week or 7 years.  This is where Hal Lindsey and his followers use the 7 years as a period of tribulation.  They disconnect it from this timeline and attempt to run it down to the end of time after Jesus “raptures the church.”  But we are going to let the verses speak for themselves.  We will keep the last week on the timeline as intended.  If we do, we learn the most interesting part of this prophecy.
Daniel tells us after Jesus began his ministry that Jesus would be cut off:
“Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:….”
Daniel 9: 26
But before He is cut off he would do the following:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
Daniel 9:27″
Jesus was to “confirm the covenant with many for 1 week or 7 days which is 7 years in prophecy. But He is “cut off” in the middle of the week or 3 1/2 days or 3 1/2 years
Jesus ministry was exactly that long (3 1/2 years) before He was “cut off” or crucified on a Roman cross in 31 AD.  He ministered from 27 AD to 31 AD.
As Daniel 9:27 stated, the sacrifices and oblations also ended at the time of Jesus’ death.  The law of ceremonies had served their purpose of teaching the Jewish nation about the price of sin, the sacrifice for it, and the plan of salvation.  Those ceremonial laws were the School Master to bring people to Jesus and help them understand the lesson of sin, forgiveness, and grace.  The School Master died forever the day Jesus died on the cross as the true Lamb of God.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:24, 25

All the festivals, drink and meat offerings, and special Sabbath days (Not the weekly Sabbath) were shadows pointing to the body of Jesus.   All those had served their purpose and were fulfilled in Christ:

“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Colossians 2:17

On the other side of the cross, the people looked forward in faith to Jesus (the Messiah) and what He would do for them.  All of us on this side of the cross look back in faith at what Jesus has done for us.

 Something extraordinary occurred at the crucifixion of Christ to demonstrate the truthfulness of the two verses above:

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Matthew 27: 50, 51
Thus ended the rounds of ceremonies and the laws put in place by Moses to teach about Jesus.  Please note:  These laws did not include the 10 commandments as some would assert.  A study for another time.
Jesus told His disciples this:
 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.“
Matthew 15: 24
Jesus was “confirming the covenant” with the children of Israel during His ministry.  With them, he spent most of His time.  His plea of the coming Kingdom of God was a message primarily to the Jews.
He also told His disciples to do the same:

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 10: 5, 6

This the disciples did for 3 1/2 more years after Jesus was “cut off” or crucified in 31 AD.

This takes us 3  1/2 years forward to the end of the 70 weeks or 490 years.

In the year 34 AD some interesting things happen to mark the end of the 490 years “determined” or given unto the Jewish nation:

In this year Stephen was martyred and Paul was converted to be the teacher to the Gentiles

“I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” 

2 Timothy 1:11

A very interesting passage of scripture also marks the end of 70 weeks given to the Jews to do all those things of the covenant listed in Daniel 9.  It is a point where the burden of carrying the gospel to the entire world is taken off the shoulders of the Jews and given to the Gentiles. It is the point where God determines who is a real Jew or seed of Abraham.

Paul and Barnabas were preaching to a large group but were interrupted by the Jews because of the large following of the two disciples.  Those religious leaders who were interrupting contradicted Paul and Barnabas and actually blasphemed God!  But it is what Paul and Barnabas say that marks the transition from Jew to Gentile or Spiritual Jew:

 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:  45, 46

The appointed people of God had failed to keep the covenant (agreement) and God turned to the Gentiles and made them heir to the promises of God:

“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“

Galatians 3:29

No longer was there a distinction between literal Jew and the God’s chosen people simply identified as belonging to Christ:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.“

Galatians 3:28

 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Romans 2:28, 29

Thus the 70-week prophecy came to an end! There is no room or context in the prophecy for 7 years of tribulation or the Anti Christ. It is simply not there.  To try to force it takes away from a beautiful and important part of the ministry of Christ.

While Hal Lindsey has everyone looking at Jerusalem for the rebuilding of the temple to mark the soon return of Jesus, the Anti Christ is at work elsewhere in the world.  this we will see in future studies.  This is so deceptive that almost the whole world is taken in.  What a great diversion by the enemy of mankind!

In conclusion, the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9 is mishandled to try and support 7 years of tribulation at the end of time and the work of the Anti Christ.  If the prophecy is kept in its context, it becomes a prophecy to support Jesus as the Messiah, his crucifixion, the spread of the gospel, and God’s long-suffering with the lost sheep of the house of Israel!

Again, the summary chart of the dates demonstrate the accuracy of the events we have discussed above:

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APPENDIX

Below is information if you want more detail otherwise I hope this prophecy helped you see how God is in control.

*Notes about the dates described above:

Ezra has three decrees with different dates that could be used.  Nehemiah has a date also.  But the decision as to which one to use, you must keep in mind the key words of the prophecy: “the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”

The four decrees are :
The decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4)
The decree of Darius I (Ezra 6:1-12)
The decree of Artaxerxes I (Longimanuus) (Ezra 7: 12-26)
The decree of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2)
Let’s eliminate some of the dates  based on the guiding verse of Daniel 9:25
Ezra 1-gave instruction only for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Said nothing about the whole city.  We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 6-simply the endorsement by Darius of the decree of Cyrus.  Only mentions the building of the “house of God.” We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 7 makes provision for complete restoration of the Jewish state, including the right to appoint magistrates and judges, hold trials, and pass and execute sentence upon violators of the own national laws. This is the date that fits the idea of “restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem.” 
Nehemiah 2-Wording has not been preserved, but was simply a reinstatement of Artaxerxes original authorization to Ezra recorded in Ezra chapter 7.
Determination of the date of the decree: It was in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:7,8)
Biblical evidence for the 457 BC start date:
The dates for Artaxerxes reign are well documented in the ancient sources: Greek historians, Ptolemy’s Canon
The Babylonian business tablets
Elephantine papyri from Egypt
From the above documents, we know that Xerxes was killed in late December of 465 B.C. and the reign of Artaxerxes began at the time.

Artaxerxes Reign

Fall to Fall
First year 464/463 B.C.
Second year 463/462 B.C.
Third year 462/461 B.C.
Fourth year 461/460 B.C.
Fifth year 460/459 B.C.
Sixth year 459/458 B.C.
Seventh year 458/457 B.C.

 

Therefore, the seventh year of Artaxerxes, according to Jewish reckoning, extended from the fall of 458 to the fall of 457 B. C.

Note: the references in this prophecy to the destruction of the city and temple and desolations:

“….the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined… for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”

Daniel 9:27

This is not referenced to a small historical character called Antiochus or a future Anti-Christ, but to the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD as predicted by Jesus himself when he told the disciples.  There has never been a temple since then and never will be!

“Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Matthew 24:2 

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath.   For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

Matthew 24: 15-22

The total destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman soldiers was horrible.  Many who tried to escape were crucified outside the city.  At one time, the number of crosses outside the city almost made it look like a forest of trees.  Those who heeded the advice of Jesus escaped the city and remained alive.

Israel in Bible Prophecy

Rejection of the Schoolmaster’s Message-Israel and End Time Events Part 2

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IF you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth….

“But it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

Deuteronomy 28:1,15

Last time, we learned that the promises of God are either conditional or unconditional. Whether conditional or not can be determined by the context and the statement itself and through the historical record of God’s word and secular history.

When the promise begins with the word “if,” we can know with certainty that there is a condition to the reception of the promise.  Here are a few examples that are well-known by Christians:

IF My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

What is the promise?  God will “heal their land.”

What are the conditions?  “humble themselves,” “pray and seek My face.” “turn from their wicked ways.”

What happens if God’s people fail the conditions?  Should they expect the land to be healed?

Here is another conditional promise:

Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 7:12

What is the promise? “God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.”

What are the conditions?  “…listen to these judgments, and keep and do them.”

Again, what happens if God’s people fail the conditions?  Should they expect to receive the promises of the covenant and mercy that was sworn to their fathers?

There are many other such conditional promises, but the point is God’s promises will not be received by everyone because they fail the conditions as did the children of Israel who were described as a stiff-necked people.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

Acts 7:51

The story of the children of Israel is a lesson in what happens when the conditions of the promise are not met. Their story is recorded for us succeeding generations.  We have the opportunity to learn and do the things they did not. This will lead to blessings and hope.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

They constantly rebelled against God. They were heavily influenced by the pagan gods and their followers.  Many times, they changed religions and began to worship Baal

So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.

Numbers 25:3

But, because of God’s love, he sent prophet after prophet to get them to repent and turn back to the true God.  A perfect example is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

1 Kings 18:21

When the fire came down from heaven and “licked up” every element of the altar, the people fell on their face and returned to the God they had left for another god.

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

1 Kings 18: 38-39

There on Mount Caramel, Elijah demonstrated the power of the true God.  But before the demonstration, he rebuilt the broken down altar of the Lord. There was a “breach” in the covenant, but it would be rebuilt.  Does this mean only those of Jewish descent would be part of the remnant that would return to the Lord? This we will see as we study on…

Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

Isaiah 58: 12

The story of the children of Israel (God’s people) is not pretty.  A reader of the events of their day is one of constant rebellion, repentance,  revival,  returning to the Lord then back to rebellion to start the cycle over again.  They could never seem to get it right. Rather than obey out of love and acknowledging their weakness to obey, they relied on their own strength.  When entering a covenant with God, they would illustrate this by their own words:

And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has said we will do.”

Exodus 24:3

Their promises were faulty and therefore the covenant they made with God was faulty because it was based on human effort rather than love for their Creator.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them

Hebrews 8:7-8

But their part of the agreement WAS faultless…not because God was at fault, but because God found “fault with them.“

Captivity by their enemies taught them the need to follow the only true God, but their faithfulness was often short-lived.  They learned after hundreds of years of searching out strange gods, that disobedience to God would lead to captivity.   So the leaders put heavy meticulous burdens upon the people to make sure there was no disobedience in the camp.   But, their religion became cold and legalistic, lacking personal faith and trust.  They viewed obedience as a requirement for acceptance and salvation, despite the fact that they had a cloud of witnesses from the past who “believed God and it was accounted to them as righteousness.”  Here is where they often failed: “believing God.”

By the time, Jesus arrived, after 400 years of no prophets, the religion created by the leaders had gone too far the other way from disobedience. They were now “good at religion” but bad at understanding the will of God and a relationship based on faith.  Because of their own view of how the Messiah would come and His nature, many failed to recognize Jesus as the prophesied Messiah.  They failed to see that God sent His Son as the true lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  The sacrificial laws and ceremonies all pointed to a religion of faith and the coming of Jesus to die as the spotless lamb of God for the sins of the world..  It would end just as a shadow ends when the literal form comes close. They had not learned from the schoolmaster. It had become a means rather than an end.

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Hebrews 10:1

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

 But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3: 24-25

When Jesus took his last breath on a harsh wooden cross, He said,

It is Finished.

The schoolmaster’s shadows in the sacrificial system (e.g. spotless lambs sacrificed by the sinner) were now fulfilled in Christ.  The Jewish nation as a whole did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, because they looked for a temporal king to rescue them from their enemies rather than from their sin.  They could not see or understand a slain Savior even though their daily sacrifices described perfectly the great sacrifice of an innocent One to die for the world’s sin.

Image result for images of cross and sacrificial system

Now there was no need for the daily sacrifices and rounds of ceremonies because the shadow was gone and absorbed in the actual body of Christ.  They now had a new schoolmaster in the actual form of the slain Son of God to teach them about sin, repentance, forgiveness,  God’s grace, and faith. This end of the shadows contained in ordinances was dramatically illustrated by the tearing of the veil between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place at the time of Jesus death.  It signified an end to those teaching ceremonies (See footnote:  The moral law did not end at the cross. It is eternal)

 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom

Matthew 27: 50-51

having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances (see footnote)

Ephesians 2:15

The ministry of Jesus after His baptism was short.  It was only 3 1/2 years, but during that time, He taught and did so much that John said,

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

John 21:25

Jesus gave his disciples clear instructions that they were to go only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” which they did for 3 1/2 more years.

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10: 5,6

By instructing the disciples to focus on the Israelites (who were “lost”), Jesus was keeping a covenant ordained by God through the prophet Daniel as we will see in the next study.

During another 3 1/2 years after Jesus’ death, the disciples stayed close to home and taught almost exclusively to the Jewish people about Jesus.  That is not to say that the Gentiles was overlooked. Also during this time, Paul was raised up to become the teacher to the Gentiles, but not before the time ordained by God.

All this focus on the Jews led to thousands being converted, but as a nation, they rejected the gospel and eventually, the disciples turned to the willing Gentiles to finish the work and will of God on earth.  These gentiles became the new “people of God” and were now the recipient of the conditional promises.  The promises neglected through disobedience by the Israelites.

That moment of transference was outlined by Daniel.  Next lesson we will study it closely. This moment can also be identified in the book of Acts through the appeal of Paul and Barnabas to the Jews and the rejection of the gospel just as they rejected Jesus.  Look closely at what is happening in the city of Antioch as the Jews become jealous and begin to argue and blaspheme:

 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us:

‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 13: 44-48

The time had run out for the rebellious Jews. They had blasphemed the work of the Holy Spirit.  The disciples then began to preach and build Christ’s church through the receptive believers whether Jew or Gentile.  But as a nation, Israel rejected Jesus and the promises pledged to their ancestors were given to the Gentiles.

 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3: 26-29

Notice the conditional promise.  “…If you are Christ’s…

Now the people of God are identified not by their literal heritage, but by belonging to Christ.  If you belong to Him, you become Jewish in a spiritual sense.  You are then Abraham’s seed…Abrahams offspring…his child.  This makes you an heir to the promises given to Abraham and his descendants.

The literal flesh of Israel means nothing if the circumcision is not of the heart. God’s people are indeed identified by circumcision, but it is the cutting away of the foreskin of sin in the heart that identifies a true son (or daughter) of God.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 2: 28,29

As we will see next time, there is a big mistake by those who expect literal Israel to do certain things in the last days such as rebuilding their temple.  The first question is why would the Jews (or God) want to revive the system of sacrifices?

While eyes are being directed to Jerusalem, the real end-time events will come from a place not expected.  These events and places were predicted by Daniel and many other prophets including John the Revelator.

The last day people of God are a holy nation. They are made up of people where once in darkness, but now in the light. They were not the original people of God, but are made to be His people by the blood of Jesus and God’s mercy. All of this was demonstrated in the schoolmaster of the sacrificial and priestly services.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

1 Peter 2: 9-10

Therefore the law was our schoolmaster (tutor) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3: 24, 25

Faith and trust demonstrated through obedience was the failure of literal Israel, we will make the same mistake?

 

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footnote:  Confusion between the sacrificial law and the moral law:

It is important to note that the "commandments" mentioned here are not the 10 commandments for more than a couple of reasons:

1.) It would make no sense that the 10 commandments ended at the death of Jesus.  He died because we had all broken them, which is the classic definition of sin.  "sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.  If the law could have been changed or abolished, Jesus would not have had to die for sins.  Further, we know from the New Testament that it is still a sin to lie, steal, kill, have other gods, etc.

The 10 commandments were not a shadow of good things to come.  They didn't point forward to Jesus coming.  The 10 commandments remain the will of God to this day.  This law is eternal.  

2.) Jesus said,

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

Matthew 5:17

Many stop here and say, "He fulfilled it, so it has been abolished." But lets continue to read the next verses:

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 18, 19

We still have heaven and earth so not one letter of the 10 commandments are not "pass(ed) from the law." God's will is to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourself.  Under these two principals hang the 10 commandments (Matthew 22:37-40)