When Jeremiah spoke of the return of Israel from Babylon after 70 years he used the same language. He spoke of “all nations”. We see from the context that he is speaking of one thing only: the return from Babylon and all the nations of the relevant world at that time, which has been fulfilled. Jeremiah did not speak of a second return to the land.
For thus says the Lord, That after 70 years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place… And I will be found of you, says 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, says the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jer 29:10, 14).
The prophesied return spoken of by Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others meant that they would be returned to their land, which would have its fulfilment in Christ and the New Covenant when the Messiah would come. The prophets showed that Christ was ultimately that land and that they would dwell in this land (Christ) eternally through the New Covenant.
There is no other return spoken of by the prophets or by the New Testament, but the restoration to God through the New Covenant in Christ. This is Israel’s restoration spoken of by all the prophets. The prophets and the New Testament do not say that Israel shall be restored as a nation a second time before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Ezekiel’s Return
Ezekiel prophesied of a return of Israel to the Promised Land (see especially Ezekiel 36). Ezekiel prophesied this while Israel was in captivity in Babylon and the surrounding nations. Some have claimed that prophecies like Ezekiel’s have a double fulfilment. There is nothing in the context of Ezekiel that speaks of a double fulfilment. These prophecies mean:
1. After 70 years in captivity in Babylon God would restore the captivity to Jerusalem as Jeremiah prophesied would happen (Jer 29:10).
2. Some of the Jews scattered to Babylon and to all the nations would be re-gathered.
3. The words “nations” in this context meant all the provinces of the known empires of that day, according to plain biblical usage in that time.
4. The return from captivity included Jews from Babylon and a remnant from all the tribes of Israel scattered earlier through many nations by Assyria. (The Jews also included a remnant from all the tribes of Israel, who returned to Jerusalem when Jeroboam sinned in setting up the idol.)
Therefore, the Dispensationalist’s claim that the return from Babylon was not a return from “all nations” as the prophets said it would be is false. The return was from all the nations of the relevant world in that day, from the north, south, east and west.
1. After 70 years in captivity in Babylon God would restore the captivity to Jerusalem as Jeremiah prophesied would happen (Jer 29:10).
2. Some of the Jews scattered to Babylon and to all the nations would be re-gathered.
3. The words “nations” in this context meant all the provinces of the known empires of that day, according to plain biblical usage in that time.
4. The return from captivity included Jews from Babylon and a remnant from all the tribes of Israel scattered earlier through many nations by Assyria. (The Jews also included a remnant from all the tribes of Israel, who returned to Jerusalem when Jeroboam sinned in setting up the idol.)
Therefore, the Dispensationalist’s claim that the return from Babylon was not a return from “all nations” as the prophets said it would be is false. The return was from all the nations of the relevant world in that day, from the north, south, east and west.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Cyrus
Isaiah called King Cyrus the Lord’s servant (anointed) who would deliver Israel from their captivity in Babylon and restore them to Jerusalem. He was a type of Christ, for Cyrus could not truly deliver Israel. Though they returned to Jerusalem they were still in their sins and would be taken into captivity again.
Only Christ could be the Anointed, the true Servant of the Lord who would follow after Cyrus had restored Jerusalem, and then He would then bring the true restoration in the New Covenant. Jesus is the one and only Restorer and Deliverer of Israel. Israel is not restored by His Second Coming. They are restored by His death for their sin and resurrection from the dead. Those who have faith in the gospel are restored by the New Covenant.
Only Christ could be the Anointed, the true Servant of the Lord who would follow after Cyrus had restored Jerusalem, and then He would then bring the true restoration in the New Covenant. Jesus is the one and only Restorer and Deliverer of Israel. Israel is not restored by His Second Coming. They are restored by His death for their sin and resurrection from the dead. Those who have faith in the gospel are restored by the New Covenant.
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Ezekiel
Ezekiel was told to measure a temple. The measurements Ezekiel recorded do not match Solomon’s temple, or the temple which was rebuilt after the return of the Jews from captivity, with Ezra and Nehemiah. The measurements also do not match those of the temple that king Herod built which was standing in Jesus’ day.
According to Jesus in John 7 the temple of Ezekiel speaks only of the church. Ezekiel was following Isaiah and speaking of the New Covenant age. In chapter 21 he spoke of the coming Messiah, Shiloh. In chapters 36 and 37 he spoke of the new heart and gift of the Spirit to Israel, who are the people of God called from both the Jews and Gentiles.
The prophecy of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37 spoke of God bringing Israel back from their captivity to Jerusalem, after which the Messiah would come to bring them into the New Covenant. In the days of the Intertestamental period Zadok’s descendants were for a time priests in the rebuilt temple, as prophesied in Ezek 44:15.
“Zadok” also is a reference to Christ’s coming. Zadok earlier served David’s tabernacle at Hebron, which was a type of the New Covenant temple and priesthood of the believer. In David’s tabernacle grace and praise were more in view than the law.
Zadok was a type of Christ, the faithful High Priest spoken of by Samuel (1 Sam 2:35). Ezekiel was looking forward to the New Covenant and the priesthood of Christ. All the prophets spoke of the re-gathering of Israel from their captivity when they would have a form of worship restored in Jerusalem, awaiting true worship in Spirit and in truth through the coming of Messiah (Amos 9:11-15).
This is why in Acts the apostles spoke of the restoration of the tabernacle of David and not of Solomon’s temple, which was never God’s purpose (Acts 15:16). So although Ezekiel’s word of instruction served as a shadow for the Intertestamental period after the return from captivity, it had its fulfilment in Christ and in the New Covenant. It was Christ alone who would provide the real restoration from captivity for Israel.
All Ezekiel’s measurements of the temple have a symbolic purpose in relating to true worship in Spirit and in truth in Messiah’s kingdom. Just as the tabernacle of Moses was a type fulfilled by the work of Christ, so Ezekiel’s temple was a prophetic word relating to the work of Christ, as Jesus said. Ezekiel’s prophecy was to encourage the Jews during the Intertestamental period, but was not fulfilled until Christ came.
According to Jesus in John 7 the temple of Ezekiel speaks only of the church. Ezekiel was following Isaiah and speaking of the New Covenant age. In chapter 21 he spoke of the coming Messiah, Shiloh. In chapters 36 and 37 he spoke of the new heart and gift of the Spirit to Israel, who are the people of God called from both the Jews and Gentiles.
The prophecy of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37 spoke of God bringing Israel back from their captivity to Jerusalem, after which the Messiah would come to bring them into the New Covenant. In the days of the Intertestamental period Zadok’s descendants were for a time priests in the rebuilt temple, as prophesied in Ezek 44:15.
“Zadok” also is a reference to Christ’s coming. Zadok earlier served David’s tabernacle at Hebron, which was a type of the New Covenant temple and priesthood of the believer. In David’s tabernacle grace and praise were more in view than the law.
Zadok was a type of Christ, the faithful High Priest spoken of by Samuel (1 Sam 2:35). Ezekiel was looking forward to the New Covenant and the priesthood of Christ. All the prophets spoke of the re-gathering of Israel from their captivity when they would have a form of worship restored in Jerusalem, awaiting true worship in Spirit and in truth through the coming of Messiah (Amos 9:11-15).
This is why in Acts the apostles spoke of the restoration of the tabernacle of David and not of Solomon’s temple, which was never God’s purpose (Acts 15:16). So although Ezekiel’s word of instruction served as a shadow for the Intertestamental period after the return from captivity, it had its fulfilment in Christ and in the New Covenant. It was Christ alone who would provide the real restoration from captivity for Israel.
All Ezekiel’s measurements of the temple have a symbolic purpose in relating to true worship in Spirit and in truth in Messiah’s kingdom. Just as the tabernacle of Moses was a type fulfilled by the work of Christ, so Ezekiel’s temple was a prophetic word relating to the work of Christ, as Jesus said. Ezekiel’s prophecy was to encourage the Jews during the Intertestamental period, but was not fulfilled until Christ came.
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Dispensationalism Refuted
Dispensationalism claims that:
1. The church is not spoken of in the Old Testament.
2. It is the purpose of God that the temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt.
First, the Old Testament is full of prophetic references to the church, which is the whole reason why Christ came. Isaiah 40 to 66 is a complete picture of the church, the redeemed community of the Messiah from the nations of the world.
Secondly, the position of God on the temple once and always is this: He desires a people who are His so that He is our God and dwells within us. This is what Jesus explained in John chapters 14-17 that He came to do.
And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it (of the city of New Jerusalem, the church - Heb 12:22). (Rev 21:22).
This is the church, now.
1. The church is not spoken of in the Old Testament.
2. It is the purpose of God that the temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt.
First, the Old Testament is full of prophetic references to the church, which is the whole reason why Christ came. Isaiah 40 to 66 is a complete picture of the church, the redeemed community of the Messiah from the nations of the world.
Secondly, the position of God on the temple once and always is this: He desires a people who are His so that He is our God and dwells within us. This is what Jesus explained in John chapters 14-17 that He came to do.
And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it (of the city of New Jerusalem, the church - Heb 12:22). (Rev 21:22).
This is the church, now.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Pharisees Knew
Therefore, when Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” the Pharisees knew that He was speaking of His body (John 2:19). They were without excuse. Being scholars of the Old Testament they knew what God had said.
The Pharisees were wilfully ignorant. They had departed from Old Testament faith and scripture and had built themselves a religion of legalism called Judaism, which was a wilful departure from the heart of God revealed in scripture. Sin had blinded them to the clear mind of God.
Christianity is not a new religion added to the Old Testament. Judaism was the new religion, or the departure from the Old Testament. Christianity is the continuation or the fulfilment of the Old Testament. That is, Christianity in its biblical (Hebraic) form, rather than in its Hellenistic/Western form.
It was the rejection of the temple of stone in Jerusalem that outraged the Pharisees so much. When Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name there am I in their midst”, He invalidated the temple in Jerusalem. This is why they crucified Him.
The Pharisees were wilfully ignorant. They had departed from Old Testament faith and scripture and had built themselves a religion of legalism called Judaism, which was a wilful departure from the heart of God revealed in scripture. Sin had blinded them to the clear mind of God.
Christianity is not a new religion added to the Old Testament. Judaism was the new religion, or the departure from the Old Testament. Christianity is the continuation or the fulfilment of the Old Testament. That is, Christianity in its biblical (Hebraic) form, rather than in its Hellenistic/Western form.
It was the rejection of the temple of stone in Jerusalem that outraged the Pharisees so much. When Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name there am I in their midst”, He invalidated the temple in Jerusalem. This is why they crucified Him.
Monday, 26 July 2010
The Temple
Go and tell My servant David, Thus says the Lord, Shall you build Me a house for Me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house…but have walked in a tent in the wilderness…did I ever speak with any of the tribes of Israel…saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar? (2 Sam 7:5-7).
Here we see what the temple is in God’s heart. He wanted a mobile tabernacle, not one of stone. This tabernacle represents a living (mobile) body, a church. God never asked for and never wanted a temple.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. (Heb 10:5).
It is clear therefore that the temple that Solomon built was not the fulfilment of God’s promise to David. The house God promised to David was the house of his Seed Christ, the church.
In whom (Christ) you are also built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph 2:22).
And you also as living stones are built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ…which in times past were not a people…(1 Pet 2:5-10).
Here we see what the temple is in God’s heart. He wanted a mobile tabernacle, not one of stone. This tabernacle represents a living (mobile) body, a church. God never asked for and never wanted a temple.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. (Heb 10:5).
It is clear therefore that the temple that Solomon built was not the fulfilment of God’s promise to David. The house God promised to David was the house of his Seed Christ, the church.
In whom (Christ) you are also built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph 2:22).
And you also as living stones are built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ…which in times past were not a people…(1 Pet 2:5-10).
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