Link to:
Daniel
Chapter 8 – A prophecy about our day. July
2022
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x8Ge-Fj4aAKTItT-cuSvFpplQytot3CO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110911195458394075036&rtpof=true&sd=true
Restoration
-A
Story Concerning the Restoration of Israel –
D.P.
Weary, Th.D.h.c.
June
2022
Character List
Saul of Tarsus
Tertius of Iconium
Josiah of Jerusalem
The
year is 57 AD. It is winter. The place is Corinth, Greece. Saul of Tarsus is spending
three months in Corinth while on his way to Jerusalem. One chilly, blustery
evening we find Saul and his faithful scribe Tertius gathered around a table
lit by oil lamps in the room Saul rents from his friends Pricilla and Aquila. A
small fire burns in the fireplace warming the room.
Saul
met Pricilla and Aquilla 5 years earlier in Corinth. They became faithful
believers in Jesus at that time and Saul lived with them for 18 months. Now
they are hosting Saul during his journey to Jerusalem. Tertius is Saul’s scribe
and long-time friend. Tertius is one of the original 70 disciples. He is well
educated and a faithful disciple of Jesus. Tertius later becomes Bishop in
Iconium.
Saul
and Tertius are discussing a portion of a letter Saul is writing to the
Believers in Rome. Tertius says to Saul, “I have a great concern for believers
in Jerusalem. The priests have turned the people against our friends and our
message of salvation through our Lord Jesus. And then there is the general
persecution of all Jews by the Romans. Our message of salvation and redemption
through faith in Jesus has become a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to
the people. We see our message going forth to the gentiles and many are believing
and being saved. Even the Church in Rome is growing. But in Israel, the people
are suffering, the Believers are being persecuted, and the people are rejecting
our message. When we get to Jerusalem, what will we find? What words of comfort
and encouragement will we have to give our brothers and sisters in Christ?”
A
knock at the door interrupts their conversation. When Tertius opens the door,
he finds Josiah of Jerusalem standing there looking a bit distraught. Josiah is
a friend of both Saul and Tertius. He is a fellow believer in Jesus who became
a believer along with Pricilla and Aquila 5 years ago when Saul was first in
Corinth. Josiah comes from a wealthy Jewish family of merchants in Jerusalem. He
fled Jerusalem to Corinth in 50 AD leaving behind family and friends.
Saul
greets Josiah, “Come in my friend, come in.”
Josiah
responds, “I trust that I am not intruding, but I have just received a disturbing
word from Jerusalem concerning my family.”
Saul
replies, “You are always welcome here my friend. Come sit with us and tell us
the news.”
Taking
a seat across the table from Saul, Josiah with tears in his eyes begins to tell
his story. “The Romans have destroyed our family business with their taxation and
controlling laws. Now they have arrested my cousin on false charges. The
persecution of Jews not only in Jerusalem but all over Israel is growing daily.
Even in the synagogues, the Romans are harassing and controlling the priests. And
the persecution of our fellow believers is even worse. It seems that God has
abandoned all of Israel. Is there no hope Saul? Has the wrath of God fallen on
Israel and the Jews for their rejection of our Lord and their pursuit of
redemption through the works of their hands and seeking to establish their own
righteousness?”
After
a long pause, and perhaps a tear falling from his eyes, Saul replies. “My dear
brother, I long in my heart and pray to God that the people of Israel be redeemed
and saved. What enthusiasm they do have for God is misdirected zeal.”
Interrupting
Saul, Josiah asks, “Why do they reject God’s way of getting right with Him? The
Way has been prophesied in their own scriptures. Why can’t they see it?”
“They don’t understand God’s way,” Saul
replies. “They cling to their own way by trying to keep the law. They simply do
not understand that Christ accomplished the purpose of the law. He fulfilled
the law for righteousness and He gives His righteousness to all who believe in
Him. Remember that it was Moses that wrote, ‘If you obey all my decrees and my regulations,
you will find life through them.’ Only Jesus obeyed all God’s decrees and
regulations perfectly. This is impossible for mortal men. But through faith in
Jesus, He freely gives His righteousness to all who believe.”
Josiah
sighs, “The Jews work so hard to get right with God. They think they can work
their way up to heaven and somehow get Messiah to come down to earth by their
works. They would even dig their way down to the place of the dead to bring
forth their Messiah.”
“Yes,
it is even written in the law,” adds Saul, “This command I am giving you today
is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. It
is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven
and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea,
so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we
can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your
lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. This message is the very
message about faith that we preach. If you confess that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Anyone who trusts in Jesus will never be disgraced. It was Isaiah that wrote,
‘The Lord is placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a precious cornerstone,
and whoever believes will never be shaken.’”
“Anyone?”
asks Josiah. “What about the Gentiles?”
“Jew
and Gentile are the same, Josiah. They have the same Lord, who gives
righteousness to all who call on Him. It was Joel that wrote, ‘Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
“And
that’s where we come in isn’t it, Saul? How can they be saved unless they
believe in Jesus? And how can they believe unless someone tells them about Him?
And how will anyone go and tell without being sent? That’s why the scriptures
say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’”
“However,
Josiah,” Saul cautions, “Not everyone
welcomes the Good News. The prophet Isaiah said, ‘Who has believed our message?
To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?’ Faith in Jesus comes
from hearing the Good News about Christ.”
“But,
have the people of Israel heard the message?’ asks Josiah.
“Josiah,
King David said this, ‘The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display
his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they
make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the
world.’ Yes, Israel’s own scriptures have proclaimed the message.”
“Saul,
if they heard, did they really understand?”
“Listen to what Moses said,” answers Saul.
“They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God; they have
provoked my anger with their useless idols. Now I will rouse their jealousy
through people who are not even a people; I will provoke their anger through
the foolish Gentiles. Later the prophet Isaiah wrote, ‘I will rouse your
jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger
through the foolish Gentiles.’ But regarding Israel, God said, ‘All day long I
opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and
their own crooked schemes.’ This is the reason the people of Israel are having
so much trouble and tribulation Josiah. This is Israel’s great problem.”
With
great sadness in his voice, Josiah asks, “So, has God rejected his own people,
the nation of Israel? Has God given the covenant promises He gave to Abraham to
others who were not even seeking Him?”
Saul’s
answer is strong and emphatic. “Absolutely not! Far from it! Look at us. We are
Israelites, descendants of Abraham. We are members of the tribes of Benjamin
and Judah. He has not rejected us! No, God has not nor ever will reject His own
people; the people He chose from the very beginning to be His special people.
Yes, some Israelites will be lost and rejected. But not all. There will always
be a faithful remanent. Elijah the prophet spoke about this when he said, ‘LORD, the people of Israel have
killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now
they are trying to kill me, too.’ But
God replied, ‘No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal.’ This
will always to true. God will always have a few people of Israel that remain
faithful because of God’s grace; His undeserved kindness.”
Josiah observes, “Since it is through God’s grace that they
are saved, then it is not by their good works. If it was by their works, then
God’s grace would not be free and undeserved would it?”
“Josiah,
most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they try so hard
to work for. But like us, a few have. At the end of the age, it will be like
this also. But for the rest, their hearts will be hardened and they will be
lost. The prophet Zechariah told us that at the end of the age, two-thirds of
the people in the land will be cut off and die. But one-third will be left in
the land. Just as it is written in the scriptures, ‘God has put them into a
deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed
their ears so they do not hear.’ King David also wrote, ‘Let their bountiful
table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their
blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their
eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.’”
Looking down at the table before him, Josiah laments, “It
all seems so hopeless. Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery?”
“Absolutely
not!” Saul responds. “God’s people, the Israelites were disobedient and
rebellious, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. God’s intent was
to make His own people jealous and claim it for themselves.”
Josiah
asks, “Are you saying that the blessings of salvation are made available to
Gentiles as a means of drawing the Israelites back to God?”
“Yes,
Josiah. And if the Gentiles and indeed the world are so blessed and enriched
because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of free salvation, think
how much greater a blessing the world will share in when they finally accept
it.”
“Saul,
this is a very important message for the Gentiles in Rome. And indeed, for the
whole Gentile world.”
“Yes,
Josiah. Because God appointed me as an apostle to the Gentiles, I need to
stress this. Somehow, I want to make the people of Israel jealous of what the
Gentiles have in and through our Lord Jesus, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest
of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for
those who were dead!”
Josiah,
now gazing into the fire burning in the fireplace reflects, “So God’s promises
and covenant with Abraham and the Israelites still holds, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,
Josiah. It is a blood and unconditional covenant with Abraham and Israel that
God will completely fulfill at the end of the age. Abraham and the other
patriarchs were holy and their descendants will also be holy. It’s like a batch
of dough. The entire batch is holy because the portion given as an offering is
holy. Like a tree, if the roots are holy, the branches will be holy also.”
“But
Saul, you are saying that some of the branches, Israelites, are not holy and
will be lost. I don’t understand.”
Saul
responds, “Yes, some of the branches from Abraham’s tree – some of the people
of Israel – have been and will be broken off. And Gentiles from a wild olive
tree will be grafted in. These Gentiles will then by the grace of God, benefit
from the blessings promised Abraham and his children, being nourished from the
root of God’s special olive tree.”
“Won’t
the Gentiles then say that they have replaced Israel and the promises given to
Abraham given to them?” asks Josiah.
“Some
may Josiah,” responds Saul. “But these Gentiles must not consider themselves
superior to or replacing the original Jewish branches. They must remember that
they are just a branch, not the root. And they must not say ‘those branches
were broken off to make room for me.’ The Gentiles need to remember that those
branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ. And these
Gentiles are saved because they do believe. So, they should not think highly of
themselves, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original
branches because of unbelief, he will not spare them either.”
Josiah
adds, “Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who
disobeyed but kind to those who continue to trust in his kindness. But any who
stop trusting in His kindness, they also will be cut off.”
Saul
elaborates, “Here is the main point for the Gentiles to remember. If the people
of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has
the power to graft them back into the tree! The Gentiles, by nature, are a
branch cut from a wild olive tree. So, if God was willing to graft them into
His cultivated tree, He will be far more eager to graft the original branches
back into the tree where they belong.”
Tertius
looks up from the parchment he is writing on. “When our Jewish brothers and
sisters hear this they will want to know when and how this restoration will
occur. What do we know of it now?”
Saul
answers, “This is a mystery. The Holy Spirit has revealed some of it to me. I
want you to understand this mystery, but we Jews should not get puffed up and
prideful because of it. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this
will last only until all of the Gentiles who are to come to believe in Jesus do
so. There will come a time when God sees that all of the Gentiles that are to
be saved are saved. Then our Lord will come and take them away to be with Him.
It is like when a ship is fully loaded with supplies and crew. After everything
and everyone is on board they cast off and proceed to their final destination. When
this happens, then God will turn to restore Israel.”
“What
will this restoration be like, Saul,” asks Josiah.
Saul
replies, “In the end, it will be like what happens to the Gentiles after their
full number comes in. But, it will be after a time of testing and refining of
the people of Israel. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of these days, ‘In all history,
there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for
my people Israel. It is the time of Jacob’s trouble. Yet in the end,
they will be saved!’ A remnant of Israel will turn and believe in our
Lord and be saved. These will cry out, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of
the LORD.’ As the prophet Isaiah said, ‘The one who rescues will come from
Zion, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my
covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.’”
Josiah spoke up, “With such a great promise, why do the
Jews rage at us who bear such good news?”
“Josiah,” replies Saul, “Many of the people of Israel are
blinded to the truth. The spirit of deception and unbelief is in the land and
these people are now enemies of the Good News. But God still loves them because
of their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s gifts and His call can
never be withdrawn. God’s covenants with Israel are irrevocable!”
“Saul, do the Gentiles share or benefit from God’s
covenants with Israel?” asked Josiah.
Saul answers, “Once, Gentiles were rebels and disobedient
to God, but now they have received mercy because of Israel’s disobedience and
rebellion. Now the people of Israel are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to
the Gentiles so that they too will someday share in God’s mercy. Josiah, God has committed everyone to disobedience, that He might have mercy on
all.”
“God’s
riches of wisdom and knowledge are so great,” Josiah adds. “It is impossible
for me to understand His decisions and ways. As God told the prophet, Isaiah, ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.’”
Saul
leans back in his chair. Looking upward he proclaims, “Everything comes from God and exists by His power and
is intended for His glory. From Him, and through Him, and to Him are
all things. All glory to Him forever!
Turning to look at Tertius, Saul says, “Tertius, you have
been very quiet this evening.”
Tertius responds, “I have been writing all of this down. We
must include it all in your letter to the saints in Rome. And we must carry
this message to Jerusalem and deliver it personally to our brothers and sisters
there. It is a message of truth, encouragement, comfort, and hope to all who
believe in our Lord Jesus, and all that will ever come to Him as their Lord and
Savior!”
Amen!
Scriptures are from the New Living Testament. The story is
from Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11.