Messiah

Ignorance of Prophecy, Yet Fulfilled

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And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
Acts 3:17-23

Going way back to Moses’s prophecy of a prophet greater than himself and He would be the Messaih who would suffer for the sins of humanity.

Who is this Messiah, also called Christ?  He is the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus.  The only Lord and Savior of the world.

Knowing The Promise Keeping GOD

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And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.  Thus saith the Lord GOD; “When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to My servant Jacob.  And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.”
Ezekiel 28:24-28

When men and false gods make promises they often forget them, failing to keep them, because something happened to prevent it, or perhaps never intended to keep the promise in the first place.  The promises of men and women fail.

The promises of the  LORD God never fail.  Notice the LORD’S promises of to the people in captivity (Israel in Babylon).  The promise is that the Lord GOD will bring them back, and they will have the security for the LORD.

Knowing the LORD God is believing he keeps His promises.  We do realize too, that includes the ones for judgment as well as the ones for good.  One of the promises He has gave Israel/Judah is the promise of the Messiah who will see to it that they are dwelling in the city of Jerusalem is perfect security. That Messiah is Jesus Christ or Jesus Messiah of GOD.  He is the LORD who made the heavens and the earth from nothing.  He  even made the materials men make into false deities.

He is the Lord GOD who sent His Son, the Messiah, to die for the sins of all Adam’s kind (humanity), so that we might believe in Him and be saved.  He conquered sin and death, by his horrible death on a wooden cross, He was buried, and then rose up from the grave alive.  Because He lives forever we can by the grace of God also live forever with Him.  All who come to Him, He in no wise will put him out.

Do you want real security which gives you peace with God and people? Do you want peace with your financial condition? Do you want peace for your marriage and home?  Then you need to know the Promise keeping GOD, and that is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  Call on His  name.  He will hear you, and He will give you peace.

 

 

 

 

Peace For Israel

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They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.
For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.  Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 125:1-5

The place called Mount Zion is Jerusalem, which cannot be removed.  Why because God has said so.  The LORD God is the protector of Israel, and those who try to destroy Israel will themselves be destroyed.

Who better to bring peace to Israel, than the Prince of Peace, who is Christ Jesus.

The LORD still loves and protects Israel.  Believe God’s word.  It shall come to pass.

The Baptizers Testimony of Who Jesus Is

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John the Baptizer was the messenger who introduced the Lamb of God, and prepared the way for the Messiah ‘s coming.  The Jews and some of John’s disciples were asking John about purification, and then asking him about Jesus also baptizing people as if to cause a rift between John and Jesus.  John’s response was who God says He is.

He must increase, but I must decrease.  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.  And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.  He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.  For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:30-36

Notice, that John is not envious about Jesus baptizing others.  “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Then he says that Jesus has given testimony of what He has seen and heard, and no one receives His testimony, and that those who do receive Him seals the proof that God is true.

Jesus speaks the word of because He cannot do otherwise, because He Himself is Truth.

John testifies that Jesus is the Son of God, that the Father loves the Son, and has put all things in His hand. “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not everything made that is made.” John 1:3.

John gives us the testimony also that; the ones who believe on the Son has everlasting life, and that those who do not believe on the Son shall not see life. Those who do not believe on the Son have the wrath of God abiding on them.

When we believe the Father, we believe the Son; when we believe the Son we believe the Father (1 John 2:23-24). Jesus Himself tells us, “I and My Father are One” John 10:30.

Who do you say Jesus Christ is ? Your answer matters for where you will spend eternity.

A Tree For Each Of The Three

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And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.”  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss.”  And he said unto Jesus, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”  And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43

Each of these three were hanging on their own cross, and each cross was made from the wood of a tree.  The man on the right of Jesus was guilty. The on the left of Jesus was guilty, but Jesus the Man in the middle not only innocent of the charges brought against Him, He was innocent in all His living. He never sinned.

It is evident that the Man in the middle was an innocent Man. How?  You may ask. He never, while being nailed to the tree cursed those who had accused Him, neither did He speak vile words to those who nailed His hands and feet to that tree.  Instead He said, “Father forgive them they know not what they do” Luke 23:34.  Another example is in our text for the day. One of the condemned men, who had previously mocked Jesus on the cross, had realized that He [Jesus] was not a sinner, but the Savior.  Now, he is calling on Him to save Him; not from the cross but for the kingdom’s sake, he said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom,.” How do you suppose he expected Jesus to do this since He was hanging on a tree? He recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

The response of the Man on the middle cross was given, and it was one of forgiveness. You could call the mans salvation, “A death bed confession and faith” because that is what it is.  Was that guilty man saved? Will he be in glory with the Lord Jesus Christ?  Most definitely He will. How do I know that?  Because of the  words of Jesus, the Man on the middle cross said to him, “Truly I say unto you, Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” That very day Jesus and that man went to paradise together.

One guilty man wanted Jesus to deliver them from the cross, one asked to be remembered in the kingdom that is coming, and one Man gave salvation to the who asked. It should have been me dying on that old cross, not Jesus the innocent One, who knew no sin. It should have been you who was hanged there, but just as Jesus took murderer, and insurrection leader’s place He took my place and yours.

Two men hanging on a tree on opposite sides of Jesus; one died in peace, knowing his eternal destination, the other died with darkness, and empty expectations, and is in eternal darkness, and burning flames. What made the difference?  The One on the tree in the middle.  His name is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Yes He died on that tree for our sins. He was buried. He rose again and He lives eternally in a new body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).

Back In Their Land Forever

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There is a day coming when Israel will return to their land, all of it, for God has said so, and what ever GOD has said will come  to pass. Yes there has already been a partial fulfillment of His word. The nation of Israel had been all but forgotten except by God, and the Nation of Israel came to be once again in 1948 May of that year. Hear the word of the LORD…

And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them.  And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever.  Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
Ezekiel 37:24-28

God has made everlasting covenants with Abraham, Israel, and David. He has promised Abraham an everlasting  people. He has promised Israel an everlasting land, and He has promised David rule over the kingdom of Israel forever more.

Why does the above verses mention David as king and David as prince. The Messiah of Israel is to rule as King, and the Messiah is a descendant of David, His name is Jesus the Christ (Messiah) the son of God, and descendant of David.  The rightful eternal King, shall reign forever and forever.

It is believed by some that David the prince is speaking of the son of Jesse, who is David the king of Israel with whom GOD made the eternal covenant. David the king of Israel in ancient days, will sit beside King Jesus, in Jerusalem in days yet to come. O what a glorious time that will be.

When you are born again through faith in Jesus Christ and His work or grace on the cross of Calvary, then you will have an eternal spot with Jesus as well. The way to be born again is by receiving God’s gift of grace which is displayed by Jesus, taking our sin, becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) taking the wrath of God in our behalf and dying, and He was buried taking our sins away, and then He rose again, and came out of that tomb alive. Believe Him, and be born again.

The Servant To Restore Israel

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Thus saith the LORD, “In an acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee: and I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that Thou mayest say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth;’ to them that are in darkness, ‘Shew yourselves.’
“They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.  They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them.  And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.
“Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted.”
Isaiah 49:8-13

Chapter 49 is the beginning of the Servants song; a prophecy of the work of the Messiah known to most Christians as the Christ. So here we have a prophecy of the Savior of the world, and what He comes to do.

  1. He came at an acceptable time.
  2. He is helped by the LORD, who is His Father.
  3. He is promised to be preserved.  Could that be a hint of His death, burial and resurrection? I believe so.
  4. He is the covenant with the people.
  5. He is given authority to set prisoners free.
  6. He is the light to those in darkness.
  7. He makes a way through the earth, and for life eternal.
  8. He is the source of sustenance, and strength.
  9. He calls people from all nations to Himself.
  10. He brings joy, and singing to the heavens and the earth.

Because the LORD has comforted His people, and will have mercy on the afflicted.

He is still alive, active and still calling the lost to Himself. His name is Jesus Christ, and He is the Son of God who left the glory of Heaven, to become a Man, to die for our sins on the old rugged cross. He was buried, and He rose again.

The LORD’S Presence – His Glory

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Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.  And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 72:18-19

This Psalm is a Psalm written for Solomon by David while he was the king of Israel. The Psalm is one which is called a Messianic Psalm, which means that is prophetic of the coming Messiah of Israel.

I want to spend a few moments thinking on what verses 18 and 19 are speaking of; the LORD God, the God of Israel. “Blessed be His glorious name,” and “Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.

What is the “Glory of the LORD?” In short it is His presence. This is seen by the events of First Samuel 4 when the ark of the covenant is taken from the Israelites by the Philistines. The warriors of Israel thought that if the ark was with them God was with them, and they found out something else. Phineas’s wife had a son, and as she was dying she named her son Ichabod which means, “the glory is departed.” The ark was gone from Israel, but the Philistines decided after the glory of the LORD was with them awhile that they did not want it any longer.

The glory of the LORD, is His presence. How do we know the presence of God? He is always present with His people, but sometimes not believed to be by that same people. Why would that be? Because sometimes His people have unconfessed, unrepented of sin.

There are many who are turning their backs on God, because they do not see Him, His presence is not real to them. Sin, hanging on to sin, will cause blindness to His presence.

You can see the presence, God’s glory in that storm that came through the night when I was just a boy. You can see the LORD’S glory in that bolt of lightening that may have struck a tree, and killed a family member. You can experience the glory of God by looking down into the vast and beautiful  Grand Canyon; or looking up at the height and majesty of the Rocky Mountains. You can see His glory by standing on a beach in Florida or a beach on the west coast in California, and know that it was He who keeps the oceans of the world from proceeding any further than those beaches.

If you have not experienced the presence of the LORD it is because you do not know Him. There is only one way to know Him, and have His presence with you daily; and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ, His burial, and resurrection. Turn from your life of sin and rebellion against God and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation Of Who The Son Is

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In that hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit, and said,
“I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.  All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.”
Luke 10:21-22

They said That He was Making Himself God

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Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them,
“Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?”
The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God.”       John 10:31-33

There are religious cults who say that Jesus Christ was not God. One even goes so far as to change what they call their version of the scriptures to read that He was “a god,” they would be saying that He was making a false claim about Himself.

One way to properly interpret what the Bible says, and what Jesus says is to study the culture of the time we are studying and the teaching, in this case of the religious leaders.

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’s day knew what Jesus was saying when He said, “I and My Father are One” (John 10:30); and there are many other references in John 8 through 10; as well as other verses in other chapters of the gospels; where Jesus clearly calls Himself Deity.

Jesus tells us in John 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.”  The words Jesus spoke in this verse are clearly of deity. For Him to say that they would die in their sins if the did not believe that He is who He says He is will be their death in their sins; their damnation eternally.

Dear friends, will You receive Jesus Christ for who He says He is? He is the Christ – the Messiah – the Son of God, and the Incarnation of God, God the Son who came to die on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and He came out of the grave with a flesh and bone body (Luke 24:39), and is eternal.

Keeping Watch…

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…There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them,
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.                                Luke 2:8-20

It is that season of the year when Christians are remembering the coming of Messiah; the Lord Jesus Christ; to do His work among His people. It is a very special thing to remember His birth. His birth shows us that He is the incarnation of God; and first of all that God loves the world (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9) .

Though, I do not believe that Jesus was born in December, this is the time His birth is remembered so I will give Him the praise and glory for such remembrances. I believe lambs were born mainly in the Spring of the year, weeks before the Passover, and there would be many lambs offered for the sin sacrifice for each family. I cannot be dogmatic about that, but it seems quite clear in my thoughts and heart.

Jesus was the ultimate Passover Lamb who would die to take away our sins (John 1:29); and He did.

As we think of the shepherds, they were the lowest of the people of Israel. It is said that they could not even testify at trials and such as that. This the people God chose to reveal the birth of His Son to as first witnesses. Who better to reveal the Lamb of God to but the shepherds; and what better place for a lamb to be born than in a stable, laid in a manger.

Let us remember Him as the Baby in a manger; never forgetting He is the crucified, buried, and resurrected; ascended and coming King of kings. No longer a baby, meek and mild, but the Judge of all the earth.

 

What Is Your Answer to His Question?

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And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him: and He asked them, saying,
“Whom say the people that I am?”
They answering said, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.” He said unto them,
“But whom say ye that I am?”
Peter answering said, “The Christ of God.” Luke 9:18-20

Jesus Christ; The Living Word, The Living God

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

The Anointed One

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“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written,
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.’
And He closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say unto them,
‘This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.’ ”  Luke 4:16-21

All Things Must Be Fulfilled

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“And He said unto them, ‘These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.’ ” Luke 24:44

Jesus spoke the above words after walking with a couple of His followers to Emmaeus. He has at this point been seen by others who are His followers, and reminds them of the importance of His life, His ministry and His death, burial and resurrection.

When Jesus speaks of the “law of Moses”, “the Prophets”, and “the Psalms” He is speaking of the whole Old Testament, and every prophecy which was written.

There are many prophecies of Jesus that have not been fulfilled. We can rest assured that since the prophecies of the first coming of Messiah are fulfilled, and He died just as the prophets said (consider Isaiah 53), then we can know and be assured that those concerning His coming again will be fulfilled in every detail.

All things must be fulfilled just as it has been spoken.

The Fulfilling of God’s Word

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“Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
‘The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.’ ”  Matthew 4:12-16

Reading the Gospel of Matthew and the others as well we can see that there is much mention of the fulfilling of the Scriptures. That means all the Old Testament from Genesis through Malachi.

Jesus’s coming at the time He did was according to the plan of God from the beginning. He is the fulfillment of those prophecies and there is much more to come.

My prayer for all who read this is that the word of God be fulfilled in your heart, mind and soul. That you will hear the voice of the Spirit of God through His word, and that you will repent of sin, and trust the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross as your Lord and Savior.

Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – 082020

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“And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple,
‘How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?  For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.’ David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is He then His son?’
And the common people heard him gladly.”  Mark 12:35-37 (KJB)

To Whom It Shall Be Imputed

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“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:23-25 (KJB)

For our understanding of the word impute –

“IMPU’TED, pp. Charged to the account of; attributed; ascribed.” WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN ENGLISH (1828)

Abraham believed God, and it was accounted (or imputed) to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3). The salvation of Adam’s race has never been any different than it is today.

For the people of the Old Testament period of time imputation of righteousness was on credit waiting for the coming of the Messiah to die for the sins of the people, having all our sins imputed onto Him; while on those who will believe He imputes His righteousness.

For those who believe today it is a debt that has already been paid.  All our sins and trespasses were laid on Him, He died for our sins, was buried, and as the Scripture above says, “…was raised again for our justification”.

Being declared “Just” and “Righteous” by God is His work of grace; and that comes only by way of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Without Observation

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“And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, ‘Lo here!’ or, ‘Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.’”  Luke 17:20-21  (KJB)

The coming kingdom of God is more than an event that is celebrated with pomp and circumstance.  For many years the religious leaders of Israel had been pronouncing the coming of Messiah as an event where He would show up in power and glory and give the land of Israel back to the people of Israel.

The Person of the kingdom of God was standing in front of them.  He had done many mighty deeds; giving sight to the blind, making the lame walk, healing lepers, raising the dead, calming storms, walking on water; and yet they could not see.

Jesus tells the disciples in the following verses how it will be.  Even that He will be killed.

The coming of the kingdom of God was without much notice at all.  If they would not believe Moses and the Prophets they would not believe even though One would rise from the dead.

The kingdom of God shows up in the soul that is redeemed.  Do we notice? He is present within us.

I realize that this is so much deeper than I can know.  The whole thought is that Jesus can be missed if those who desire Him are looking for signs rather than Jesus Himself.

Jerusalem… The Throne of the LORD

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The LORD in the previous verses has spoken through the prophet to plead with Israel to return to Him. It will require them to put away their idolatry, to renew their hearts and their lives in Him. The LORD even says, “I am married to you.” (v.14). The promise is for them when they return. The problem is they have not yet returned to Him. They one day will; by God’s own promise and assurances.

“Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,’ says the LORD, ‘that they will say no more, ‘ The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore. At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.” Jeremiah 3:16-18 (NKJV).

If you will note this promise is conditional upon their return to Him, from their state of a backsliding heart. I have stated it before and will state it again here, though this is not my own: I think Charles H. Spurgeon has been credited with this statement, “God will not allow His children to sin successfully.” The southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel, since the reigns of Rehoboam and Jereboam, are the children of God, or the nation of God’s choosing. If you will read all of the Old Testament from the Exodus through the book of Malachi, you will find God’s hand of correction, and discipline on the two kingdoms. In them we have examples of what the Christian’s life should be like and God’s discipline upon us when we rebell and sin against Him.

The LORD’s words spoken through the prophet are spoken as an already completed thing. It is completed in the mind of God. When God says something is going to come to pass it is as good as done. You will notice that He says, “When you are mutltiplied and increased in the land…”. It is an already decided and an already accomplished event; it just needs worked out in the people’s hearts and lives. There would be coming a time when the people were going to be carried away to Babylon, and in 70 years they would return. It this return they would return as one nation once again, but this promise has much more prophetic influence that just that fulfillment. The children of the nation of Israel, are still missing the ark of the covenant; they are even looking forward to the return of the ark of the covenant.

Even when Cyrus king of Persia made proclamation for the “house of the LORD” to be built in Jerusalem, and after Nehemiah was given permission to go and rebuild the wall of the city of Jerusalem, the people were still in bondage to a foreign power. Even in the day of Jesus they were still under the powers of the Roman government. Since the Babyloninan captivity they have not really been free. In our day, though they are supposedly a free nation, they are still under the rule of Gentile governments. The United Nations and the United States of America are pretty much their ruling nations.

There will come a day when Messiah reigns in Jerusalem. That it the time and the day they will no longer be depending on the representative power and presence of the Lord, ie., the ark of the covenant; but they will have the real, full, and glorious power and presence of the LORD in person. He will be their king. How is it that some Christians want to take these promises and spiritualize them, and make them for the church? This promise has not happened yet. It has not been fulfilled. It is yet to be fulfilled and to the letter. The amillennialist would have us believe that these events have already occured and the promise is fulfilled in the Church. The thing is this prophecy had nothing, has nothing to do with the Church. It has to do with the people of Israel. It is dealing with a real people, in a real land, with a real city of Jerusalem; not a figurative one.

The children of Judah and Israel did come back from Babylon, after seventy years, just as Jeremiah had prophesied; but they have never had free rule of the land. It has been ruled by other nations for centuries. When, however, Jesus sits as king on “The Throne of the LORD, then will all the nations be gathered into it. It won’t be so that they can rule, but so that they can worship the King. Jerusalem will be The Throne of the Lord.

-by Tim A. Blankenship