The Word for Today – Knock

 

The Word for Today – Knock

D.P. Weary

December 30, 2025

The Promise

[Mat 7:7 ESV] "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

[Mat 7:8 ESV] For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

[Mat 7:9 ESV] Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

[Mat 7:10 ESV] Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

[Mat 7:11 ESV] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

In context, there are conditions for this promise.

[Mat 7:1 ESV] "Judge not, that you be not judged.

[Mat 7:6 ESV] "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

We are warned against judgmental attitudes and self-blind criticism, but we are not to suspend all discernment. There are some good, precious things that should not be given to those who will receive them with contempt and speak evil of the Way.

 “The gospel is to be preached to every creature, Mark 16:15. But when the Jews were hardened, and spoke evil of that way before the multitude, Acts 19:9, the apostles left preaching them.” (Poole)

[Act 19:9 ESV] But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

[Mat 7:12 ESV] "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

[Mat 7:15 ESV] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Believing in false prophets, false doctrine, and distorted teachings can void the promise.

[Mat 7:21 ESV] "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Our prayers of asking must be consistent with the will of the Father.

[Mat 7:22 ESV] On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

[Mat 7:23 ESV] And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

The promise is null and void for those who live lives of unrepented lawlessness.

Lawlessness - ἀνομία, -ας, ἡ, (ἄνομος);
1. properly, the condition of one without law — either because ignorant of it, or because violating it.
2. contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness:

[Rev 3:19 ESV] Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

[Rev 3:20 ESV] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

[Rev 3:21 ESV] The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

[Rev 3:15 ESV] "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

[Rev 3:16 ESV] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

[Rev 3:17 ESV] For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Conquers are overcomers, those who are overcoming their old sinful ways and overcoming the sinful call and ways of a fallen world.

[Rev 3:22 ESV] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

People whose prayers are answered are those that hear what the Spirit is saying.

[Luk 13:22 ESV] He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

[Luk 13:23 ESV] And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,

[Luk 13:24 ESV] "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

[Luk 13:25 ESV] When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'

[Luk 13:26 ESV] Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

[Luk 13:27 ESV] But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'

Those that are rejected are unrepentant workers of evil.

Perhaps one of the most abused use of words to get prayers answered is “in the name of Jesus.” Just uttering the name Jesus is not a magic word to get prayers answered yet the promise is:

[Jhn 14:13 ESV] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

[Jhn 14:14 ESV] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

[Jhn 15:7 ESV] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

[Jhn 15:16 ESV] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

[Jhn 16:23 ESV] In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

[Jhn 16:24 ESV] Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

If a law enforcement officer says he comes in the name of the law, he is saying that he has the full authority and power of the law behind him and he has orders to enforce the law, often with specific instructions or orders to follow.

Praying, asking, or to do anything “in the name of Jesus” to be effective means one has the delegated authority and the power from Jesus to do so. The delegated authority comes by being “born again.”  Someone is born again when they confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead. [Rom 10:9 ESV] Jesus gave His disciples authority in John 20:22-23.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." [Jhn 20:22-23 ESV]

The power to enforce this authority comes when the Holy Spirit comes upon the born-again believer.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." ... 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." [Act 1:4-5, 8 ESV]

Praying in the name of Jesus also means that the prayer is consistent with His character, is in unity with His mind [a unity of aim and of motive]. Effective prayer comes spontaneously from those who abide in Jesus. Unanswered prayers often are caused by something not being right in one’s relationship with the Godhead [With the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit]. It is in and through the “abiding, the relationship” that one gets the authority, the power, the right aim and motive, and the right implementation instructions for asking, seeking, knocking prayers.

[Jas 1:5 ESV] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Asking for wisdom first is always a good practice.

[Jas 1:6 ESV] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

[Jas 4:2 ESV] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

[Jas 4:3 ESV] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

[1Jo 3:22 ESV] and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

[1Jo 5:14 ESV] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

[Col 3:1 ESV] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

[Heb 11:6 ESV] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Lack of faith and doubting are always hindrances in getting answered prayers.

Asking for the wrong reasons and asking based on our own passions leads to unanswered prayers. Asking to do what pleases God, asking according to His will, seeking the things that are above, and asking in faith are keys that lead to answered prayers.

 

But, the first step to answered prayers is seeking Him, seeking Jesus, and establishing a relationship with Him - knocking on His door!

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” [Mat 7:7-8 ESV]

11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. [Jer 29:11-13 NLT]

For all who do not know the Lord Jesus, who do not have a relationship with Him, who have not made Him their Lord and Savior, now is the time! The prophetic clock is very near the zero hour. The time is coming when one will knock and the door will not be opened. Do not be one of those. Seek Him now! Knock now! And the door to His heart and His Kingdom will be opened to you. Find Jesus and you will find freedom from fear, peace in a troubled world, freedom from guilt and shame, a hope and a future, and freedom from death [eternal life] as a son or daughter of God the Father and the Bride of Christ Jesus.

 

 

WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM

 

WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM

D. P. Weary

December 2025

[1Co 15:35 NKJV] But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?"

To get a glimpse of the answer to this question let us look at what the Lord Jesus [Yeshua] was like after His resurrection because for those who are born again believers in Jesus will be like Him.

In the very beginning God made mankind in His image.

[Gen 1:26 NKJV] Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

[Gen 1:27 NKJV] So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Image - צֶלֶם tselem, tseh'-lem; from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol:—image, vain shew.

Likeness - דְּמוּת dᵉmûwth, dem-ooth'; from H1819; resemblance; concretely, model, shape; adverbially, like:—fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.

Mankind fell from this exalted state because of sin. But God did not give up on mankind. God the Father sent His only son to the earth as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin which is death. For all who accept this free gift of cleansing of sin and salvation, this is our destiny; we shall be like Him!

[1Jo 4:9 ESV] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

[1Jo 4:10 ESV] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[1Jo 3:1 NKJV] Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

[1Jo 3:2 NKJV] Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Like - ὅμοιος hómoios, hom'-oy-os; from the base of G3674; similar (in appearance or character):—like, + manner.

 

So, what was the resurrected Yeshua like?

[Luk 24:13 NLT] That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem.

[Luk 24:15 NLT] As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them.

[Luk 24:16 NLT] But God kept them from recognizing him.

Jesus’ appearance was not that of the Jesus they knew. He could change His appearance.

 

[Luk 24:30 NLT] As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them.

[Luk 24:31 NLT] Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

Jesus’ appearance suddenly changed to the form they knew. Then He just disappeared. Jesus came into and went from the human, physical world at will.

 

[Luk 24:36 NKJV] Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."

[Luk 24:37 NKJV] But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

[Luk 24:38 NKJV] And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

[Luk 24:39 NKJV] "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

Jesus just suddenly appeared. He had a body of flesh and bones that could be touched. Resurrected humans will have bodies and can be touched.

[Luk 24:40 NKJV] When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

[Luk 24:41 NKJV] But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?"

[Luk 24:43 NKJV] And He took it and ate in their presence.

Jesus ate fish. Resurrected humans will be able to eat.

 

[Mar 16:10 NLT] She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.

[Mar 16:11 NLT] But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn't believe her.

[Mar 16:12 NLT] Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country.

Jesus could appear indifferent forms. The appearance of resurrected humans apparently can vary.

[Mar 16:13 NLT] They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

[Mar 16:14 NLT] Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

 

[Act 1:9 NKJV] Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

[Act 1:10 NKJV] And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

[Act 1:11 NKJV] who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Jesus rose from the ground into a cloud. Earthly environments like gravity apparently do not affect resurrected humans.

Born again, resurrected believers in Yeshua the Messiah will be like this. They will be like Him.

 

The apostle Paul directly addressed this question.

[1Co 15:35 ESV] But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?"

[1Co 15:36 ESV] You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

[1Co 15:37 ESV] And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.

[1Co 15:38 ESV] But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.

[1Co 15:39 ESV] For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

[1Co 15:40 ESV] There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.

[1Co 15:41 ESV] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

[1Co 15:42 ESV] So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.

[1Co 15:44 ESV] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

[1Co 15:45 ESV] Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

[1Co 15:46 ESV] But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.

[1Co 15:47 ESV] The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

[1Co 15:48 ESV] As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

[1Co 15:49 ESV] Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

[1Co 15:50 ESV] I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

[1Co 15:51 ESV] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

[1Co 15:52 ESV] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

[1Co 15:53 ESV] For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

[1Co 15:54 ESV] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

[1Co 15:55 ESV] "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

[1Co 15:56 ESV] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

[1Co 15:57 ESV] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[1Co 15:58 ESV] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

 

To all those who know, love, and have made Yeshua [Jesus] their Lord and Savior, this is our destiny!  

[1Jo 3:2 NKJV] Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

 

 

God’s Covenants with Mankind

December 2025

 

The material in this teaching is material primarily taken from teachings by Dwight J. Pentecost, Paul E. Billheimer, and Hal Lindsey. Though written years ago, these teachings have never been so relevant and important to understand and deal with events in our world today.

 

1  The Covenants (The Abrahamic Covenant) March 2014

Material from “Things to Come” by Dwight J. Pentecost, Zondervan Publishing House, 1958.

1.1      Overview

Basically, these covenants are agreements between God and men.  There are five major covenants, four are unconditional and one is conditional (i.e. I will If you will).  These covenants are literal and eternal.  The unconditional covenants depend upon God’s integrity and they are made with a covenant people, the Jews.  It is important to note that gentiles are not a covenant people (Rom. 9:4; Eph. 2:11, 12).  We as gentiles can partake in the covenant promises only by being adapted into God’s covenant people through Jesus.

            The covenants are of great importance to us in this study because they are the basis of the eschatological program of God.  They guarantee Israel a permanent national existence, perpetual title to the land of promise, material and spiritual blessing through the Messiah, and through the Messiah they guarantee gentiles a share in these blessings.  The land promises or blessings are given in the Palestinian covenant.  The promises of a perpetual kingdom are given in the Davidic covenant and the redemptive and spiritual blessing are given in the New Covenant. Taken together these constitute the Abrahamic covenant.  

The Palestinian covenant promises a National Land forever (Gen 12:1; 13:14-15, 17; 15:18-21).  This redemption is national and universal (Gen 12:3; 22:18; Gal. 3:16; Rom. 11:25, 26; Zech. 13-1).

The Davidic covenant promises Israel, the Jews, a dynasty (Kingdom of no end), a nation (the house of Jacob), and a throne (the throne of David, 2 Sam 7:11, 13, 16; Jeremiah 33:3-26; 31:35-40; 1 Chron. 7:12; 22:10; Isa. 55:3; Ezek. 37:25; Hosea 3:4-5; Ezek. 37:21-28; Amos 9:11-12; Jer. 30:7,11,18).  God promised Abraham numerous descendants who would form a great, everlasting nation (Gen. 12:2; 13:16; 17:2-6).  This is the essence of the Davidic covenant. 

The Mosaic Covenant is the one conditional covenant.  Basically it is the Law.  If the house of Jacob and the sons of Israel would obey God's voice and keep the Law God gave to them through Moses, then God promises that Israel would be His special possession or treasure, a kingdom whose citizens were all priests with access to God, and a holy nation, separated from all other nations and devoted only to God (Exodus 19:5-6). The basic commandments are given in Exodus 20. The New Covenant replaced the Mosaic covenant.  The New Covenant is based on better promises, and on Christ's blood.  It is no longer conditional on keeping the law, but only on accepting the atonement offered by Christ Jesus.  It is to be with the house of Judah and of Israel, and includes writing His laws upon their minds and hearts and forgiving their sins (Heb 8:6-13; Jeremiah 31:31-40).

The new covenant promises Israel spiritual blessings and redemption (Isa. 61:8; Jer. 31:31-40; 32:40; 50:5; Heb 8:6-13; 13:20).  It is unconditional (Jer. 31:31:34, i.e. "I will") and everlasting (Isa. 61:2).  It promise’s a renewed mind and heart (Jer. 31:33), favor and blessing of God (Hosea 2:19-20), forgiveness of sin (Jer. 31:34), indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:27), the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and that the will of God to be known by obedient hearts (Jer. 31:34).  It promise that Israel will be blessed materially (Jer. 32:41; Isa. 61:8; Ezek. 34:25-27), that God’s sanctuary will be in the midst of them for evermore (Ezek. 37:26-27) and that wars shall cease and that peace shall reign (Hosea 2:18).   The Blood of Jesus is the foundation of all these blessings (Zech. 9:11).  Some features are already in effect.  The Lord no longer remembers or holds against believers, sins and lawless deeds because Jesus the Messiah has permanently atoned for our sins. He has also put His laws in our hearts, and writes them in our minds through the Holy Spirit who now dwells in every believer.

1.2      General characteristics of the Abrahamic covenant

The general provisions of the Abrahamic covenant included promises to Abraham himself (Gen 12:2; 17:6), promises to Abraham's seed (Gen 12:2; 13:16; 15:5) and promises to the Gentiles (Gen 12:3).  If we take these promises literally, then Israel must be preserved, converted and restored. 

These promises did depend on Abraham's act of obedience (leaving the land).  But once in place through Abraham’s obedience and faith, the promises were eternal and unconditional (Gen 17:7, 13, 19; 1 Chron. 16:17; Ps. 105:10). The covenants were confirmed repeatedly by reiteration and enlargement.  They were solemnized by the shedding of blood and the ritual of passing between the parts of the sacrifice solemnized the covenants (Gen 15:7-21; Jer. 34:18).  Exact boundaries of the land were given (Gen 15:18-21).  Even the N.T. declares the Abrahamic covenant immutable (Heb 6:13-18; Gen 15:8-21), confirmed by the oath of God (Heb 6:13, 14, 17).  These covenants depend on God’s integrity alone (Abraham was put to sleep and God walked through the parts of the sacrifice alone).  In the O.T. circumcision was the act of faith and obedience that enabled an individual to participate in and enjoy the blessings of the covenant.  Esau forfeited the blessing due him under the covenant.  An act of faith and obedience is required of us to enjoy the blessings of God already given us. 

For us the eschatological implications of these covenants is the issue of Israel.  Will Israel literally be restored and saved (Rom. 11:26, 27; Deut. 28:63:68; 30:1-7; Ezek. 16:59-60; 36:17-27; 37:21-28)?  Some of the provisions of the New Covenant are in place but most of the promises to Israel are yet unfulfilled.  We believe God.  They will be fulfilled.  This then leads us to look at the unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible as fulfilling these covenant promises.  The “end Times”, The Day of the Lord deals with Israel!

 

2   Dealing with The Issue of Israel (Rom. 9, 10, and 11) - Material from “The Road to Holocaust” by Hal Lindsey, Bantam Books, 1989.

The first 8 chapters of Romans teach God's saving work through Christ that is given on the basis of grace through faith alone.  Paul taught that once we are born as a child of God and put into living union with Christ, nothing in heaven, nor on earth nor in the future, nor any created thing can separate us from the love of God (8:38-39).  This brought up the issue of Israel’s status.  God made the same sort of promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants as He makes here to the Christians.  In spite of this, Israel as a people and nation is now in apostasy.  The question is has God's Work become ineffective?  If God couldn't keep His covenant people from falling away into unbelief, how do we know that He can keep us?  If indeed the Lord failed to keep His solemn word to Israel, will He keep His word to the Church and with me as an individual?

2.1 Israel in the past Elected (Micah 7:18-20)

Rom. 9:4-5 clearly presents ten advantages of being an Israelite. 1) The Jews were entrusted with the living words of God.  2) They are called Israelites by God, meaning "prince of God".  3) To them belongs the adoption as sons.  Christians are adopted individually into God's family through union with Christ. But Israel was adopted as a nation.  4) Israel alone was given the visible, continuing manifestation of "the glory" of God, the Shekinah Glory.  5) The Covenants were made to only one people on earth, Israel.  6) God's Law, the Law of Moses, was only given to the Nation of Israel. 7) Israel was given the Temple service, a Divine order of worship with the only God-given provision of sacrifice in the world for the forgiveness of sin.  8) To Israel alone was given the unique promise of the Messiah and of direct blessings through Him.  They were also promised a land, a city, and a kingdom on an earth from which the original curse would be removed.  9) Only Israel had as its fathers Abraham (friend of God), Isaac (born by supernatural power) and Jacob (who wrestled with God and prevailed).  10) Only about Israel is it said, "From whom is the Messiah, according to the flesh, who is God overall, blessed forever.  Amen."

There has always been and will always be a remnant, a spiritual Israel within physical Israel.  This remnant came through the line of Isaac and not Ishmael (Rom. 9:6-9) and through Jacob and not Esau (Rom. 9:10-13).  Paul declares, “only the remnant will be saved” (Isa. 1:9; Rom. 9:27-29). The believing remnant of Israel can be traced down through the ages from Abraham to those that are saved at the last day as they “look upon Me Whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:9; Deut. 4:27, 30-31; Isa. 11:11, 16; Jer. 23:3; Micah 5:6-7; Zech. 8:3-8; Ezek. 50:20; Micah 7:18-20; Hosea 5:15-6:3).

2.2   Israel in the present Rejected (Hosea 5:14-6:2)

The nation of Israel is rejected today because they did not understand the true purpose of the Law of Moses.  They did not understand the righteousness of God (Isa. 8:14, 28:16; Rom. 9:30-10:21; Deut. 29:4; Isa. 29:10; Ps 69:22,23; Rom. 11:7-10).  The purpose of the law was to show what sin is (Rom. 3:20). It was not to make man sin more (Rom. 5:20; 1 Cor. 15:56) or to drive man to despair (Gal. 3:10-12; Rom. 7:24).  It was to lead mankind to faith in the Messiah (Gal. 3:24; Acts 15:5-11; Rom. 8:2-4; 7:9-10; 13:8-10; Gal. 3:1-5; 5:3-6).  Israel's present rejection is a warning to all who would seek to approach God by the law (Gal. 3:12; Rom. 4:15; 10:19; Deut. 32:21).

 

2.3  Israel in the future Accepted (Jer. 31:34-37; 33:23-26)

The MYSTERY of Israel’s future as a nation is addressed in Romans chapter 11.

Their present rejection is not total (Rom. 11:1-10).  God has not rejected His people, has He?  Paul says, "ME GENOITO - may such a thing never be".  The dilemma is Israel's present rejection and God's unconditional promises concerning Israel's national future.  God cannot undo His own choice of Israel (Rom. 11:2).  God has always kept a BELIEVING REMNANT from the seed of Abraham (Rom. 11:2-4). The remnant of Israel is the present age (Rom. 11:5-6).  The only reason that Israel has a believing remnant is because of God's sovereign grace.  Their election has always been on the basis of grace alone.  Today Israel is still in a rejected condition as a nation because they did not understand the nature of God’s righteousness.  That righteousness is a gift appropriated by faith and not earned by works (by keeping the law). 

Though Israel is in a rejected condition Paul clearly tells is in Rom. 11:11-32 that this rejection is not final.  He has an everlasting covenant with them. God has promised them a land, a kingdom, a King and to take away their sin (Rom. 11:27).  At question is God’s veracity (Rom. 11:11). God reveals His overall purpose and strategy in history (Rom. 11:11).  "Salvation has come to the Gentiles for the purpose of making Israel envious".

Rom. 11:12 give us some logical reasons why Gentiles should have an attitude of grace toward the Israelites.  Israel's fullness (pleroma), the full measure of all that God has promised to the nation of Israel will bring with it great ‘riches’ or blessings for the Gentiles.  Great numbers of Gentiles will be saved (Rev. 7:9-17; 20:4-6; Dan. 12:1-3).  The curse on nature and the animal kingdom will be removed (Isa. 11:6-8; 65:17-25).  The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9).  The Messiah will reign over all the earth from Jerusalem (Zech. 14:9-21; Ezek. 37:24:28; Jer. 33:14-16; Micah 4:7).  Life will be greatly extended (Isa. 65:20-22).  There will be world peace (Micah 4:3).  There will be justice for all (Isa. 42:1-7; 11:3-5).  There will be permanent prosperity for all (Isa. 65:21-23).

As God once again turns to deal with Israel, to make good on His promises to them, it will be nothing short of life from the dead, rejection to resurrection (Rom. 11:15).  This process has already begun.  Israel is in the process of being regathered in our day.  Israel is being regathered but with no breath (spiritual life) in them (Ezek. 37:1-8).  But God promises to put breath into them that they may live (Ezek. 37:9-10; Rom. 11:15).  This will be a spiritual rebirth after the physical rebirth.  God's interpretation of the allegory is given in Ezek. 37:21-27 and Jer. 23:5-6.  Their acceptance will be life from the dead (Ezek. 37:12-14).  Israel is still considered Holy by the Lord (Rom. 11:16).

 

2.4  The mystery of all Israel’s future salvation (Rom. 11:25-32)

The Bible tells us that the world will reject Israel as a nation (Micah 7:8-10; Ezek. 37:11; Jer. 33:24).  However, we are warned about having anti-Semitic attitudes (Rom. 11:17-21). We are warned, "Do not be ARROGANT, but be afraid," (Rom. 11:20-21).  We are also warned not to be IGNORANT of one of God’s great mysteries (Rom. 11:25-27).  The mystery concerns how Israel's future salvation is contingent upon the coming in of the full number of the Gentiles first.  It is a mystery to be known through the prophetic writings by the command of God (Rom. 16:25-26).  These writings reveal that there are certain things that must happen or conditions met before God will fulfill His covenant promises to restore Jerusalem, to bring Israel to full repentance, and to bring about a national conversion. 

Jerusalem’s restoration is to be contingent upon the end of Gentile world dominance (Luke 21:24).  The “Times of the Gentiles” speak of a period of Time during which the Gentile kingdoms have dominion over the earth, and particularly over God's land, God's city, and God's people.  The Times of the Gentiles began when the Neo-Babylonian Empire took the Davidic dynasty captive and destroyed the nation of Israel.  Daniel predicted that it would be the Messiah, the Stone cut without human hands, who will suddenly destroy gentile power, rule, and world dominance (Dan. 2:44-45).  The events of the Second Coming of Jesus will end the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:25-28).

Jesus said, “You will not see me again UNTIL the time when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’ (Matt. 23:39; Zech. 12:10; 13:1, 8-10).  Israel’s national repentance is contingent upon their recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah.  Israel’s national conversion is contingent upon their repentance and the closing of the Time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24).  All Israel will be saved after the full number of Gentiles has come in (Rom. 11:25-27), the time when God completely fulfills His covenants when them. The nation will be “saved in a day” (Zech. 3:9).  Zechariah tells us “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced ---On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity  (Zech. 12:10; 13:1; 13:8-19).   About that day it is written “Then you will know that I am the Lord (Isa. 49:13, 22, 23); you will be comforted over Jerusalem (Isa. 66:10, 12, 13); you will do no wrong; the Lord has taken away your punishment; the Lord will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered; and you will be given honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth.  Israel's distinct and exalted position after her spiritual rebirth promised is prophesied in Zeph. 3:11-15 and 19-20.

"From the standpoint of the gospel the Jews, Israel, are enemies for your sake ---" (Rom. 11:28).  But from God's perspective - "but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Rom. 11:28).  God's promises are IRREVOCABLE (Rom. 11:29).  To challenge these promises challenges God's character and attributes of IMMUTABILITY, VERACITY, and OMNISCIENCE.  God’s immutability says once God makes a sovereign unconditional promise it cannot be changed.  His veracity says that God must always be true to Himself and His Word.  God's Word is the basis of all reality and certainty in the universe.  God’s omniscience says that God has always known all things.  Above all is God’s mercy and love.  To challenge God’s promises to Israel is to challenge God Himself.  If God will not be true to Israel, why would we think He would be true to us?  Why is the issue of Israel important?  One's whole approach and understanding of prophecy is related to the understanding of the scriptures with respect to the Nation of Israel, the Church, and the Gentiles.  If we approach scripture recognizing that God deals with mankind through the Nation of Israel and the Church, each with its own special promises, purpose, and destiny, then the confusion and lack of understanding of the prophetic Word concerning unfulfilled prophecies can be resolved.

 

  3  Understanding the Church

Material from “Destined For The Throne” by Paul E. Billheimer, Bethany House Publishers, 1975.

What is the Church?  When did the Church begin?  What is the Church's primary mission in the world?  What is the Church's ultimate goal?  What is the Church's hope and destiny?  To understand the ‘Day of the Lord’ it is necessary to know the answer to these questions.  It will be difficult for the Church to reach its goal if Christians don't know what that goal is; or worse, if they are striving towards the wrong goal.  It will be impossible for the Church to really be effective if Christians don't even know what the Church truly is.  Without an understanding of the Church and its destiny Christians will be ill prepared to face the events that are rapidly coming together into the prophetic pattern that precedes the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus.  What lies close ahead is going to take a clear understanding of where present world events are headed coupled with a strong personal faith.  Of primary concern are the Church’s nature, mission, goal, and hope.

3.1  What is the Church?

The Church is A MYSTERY:  the mystery of Christ now revealed to the apostles and prophets by the Spirit is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Eph 3:3-6, 8, 9).  The Church is new and unique, and was not understood in the OT.  Jews and Gentiles placed as equal heirs of the promises concerning salvation and the Holy Spirit through UNION WITH CHRIST.  This personal union with Christ is the essence of what the Church is in her most foundational sense.

The Church is not Israel (Rom. 11:1-25; 1 Cor. 10:32).  Gentiles are not Israel (Acts 3:12; 4:8; 21:28; Rom. 10:1).  Gentiles are related to the covenants based on "NEW BIRTH" not physical birth (faith).  Jesus (his seed, Gal. 3:16) inherits the land.  The Church receives the promises by being “IN CHRIST” (Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:16,28-29; Gen 22:18).

 

The Church is also THE BODY OF CHRIST.  His body, His physical presence on earth at this Time is the Church (Col. 1:24).  "We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bone." (Eph. 5:30), "one body, made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:12-14).  Finally, and most profoundly Church is THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9; Eph 5:32).

 

3.2  When did the Church begin?

The church is first mentioned in Matt. 16:17-18:  "I will build My Church."  The church was yet future.  Those who were to make up the church were to drink of one Spirit.  This speaks of a spiritual rebirth and a baptism with the Spirit (Matt. 3:11-12).  To baptize (baptizo) is to be so identified with something that a change is produced.  When someone is baptized in water after believing and confessing the Lordship of Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit after believing, he is so identified with Jesus that he is not the same person as he was before. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into an eternal union with Christ. In the Lord Jesus' first coming He initiated the baptism with THE HOLY SPIRIT for all who believe in Him, which began the church age. In His second coming, He will baptize all who have rejected Him with fire, which ushers in the Millennial Kingdom (Matt. 3:12). 

"In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:5-6). On the Day of Pentecost (a Jewish feast of the early harvest exactly 50 days after the feast of Passover), the Holy Spirit was first given. This baptism was an empowerment of the believers to enable them to be witnesses of Christ, first in Jerusalem then on to the ends of the earth. On the Day of Pentecost, AD 32, the Holy Spirit took 120 Jews and baptized them with the fire, the power of God.  In John 20:21-23 Jesus gave His disciples authority on earth.  In Acts 2 He gave them the power to be exercised with this authority.  This was the beginning of the Body of Christ, The Church!

Church did not exist in the OT. In the Church, Jew and Gentile are united in One New Man (Eph 2:14-16).  In the OT, racial segregation of Israelites from the Gentiles was an essential part of the law of Moses, the Mosaic Covenant which was the only conditional covenant thereby enabling it and only it to be broken.  The Christian today is a spiritual seed of Abraham through our union with Christ (i.e. we share Christ's lineage from Abraham and in His inheritance rights of the promises) (Gal. 3:7,26-29; Eph 5:30). We Gentiles as the "wild olive branches," have been grafted into Israel's cultivated Olive tree (Rom. 11:17). While there are advantages of being an ethnic Jew (Rom. 3:1-2), no ethnic Israelite has ever been a "True Jew" by mere outer ritual.  In all ages men have had to come to God by faith (Rom. 2:28-29).

 

3.3  What is the Church's Mission?

One of the main purposes for Christ's atonement is “to rescue” us from this present evil age (Gal. 1:4). The Church’s mission is to RESCUE as many as possible out of this evil age through our witness.  Then we are to take those who believe and disciple them for God's spiritual kingdom (Eph 4:12-13).

The present world-system is under Satan's control.  Jesus called Satan "the prince of this world" (John 14:30) and Paul called Satan "the god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:3-4).  The "rulers of this age " are demonically blinded to God's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6-8). The whole world (kosmos) is under the control of the Evil One (1 John 5:19).  Satan and his demons are the spirits who are now at work in those who are disobedient (Eph 2:2).

So what is the course of this age?  The characteristic of this present age is the development of “the mystery of lawlessness” (2 Thes. 2:1-7).  This lawlessness is destroyed by the "splendor of His coming." (2 Thes. 2:8).  The "tares" are being allowed to grow alongside the "wheat" until "the harvest", which is the Second Coming of Christ.  In the last days evil will go from bad to worse, there will be perilous Times of great stress, self-centeredness will increase greatly, people will be lovers of sensual pleasures and money, deceivers and false prophets and teachers (spots and blemishes -2 Pet 2:13; Jude 12) will arise within the Church (2 Tim 3:1-13; 2 Pet 2:1-10).

It is into this world; this age that Jesus sent His church.  Mark recorded this commissioning like this. "Go into all the world and PREACH the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16).  Luke's view was:  "—and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-48).  Matthew's version was: (Matt. 28:18-20) "--- go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them --, teaching them--. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."  From the early Church's view their mission was given in Acts 1:8; "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will by my WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Luke's two accounts stress the worldwide proclamation of:  1) to believe in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and 2) to repent for the forgiveness of sins in His name.

In John's account (John 20:21-23) Jesus taught that forgiveness of sin was the result of belief in the Gospel.  If a person believed, they were to confirm to him that his sins were forgiven.  If a person did not believe, they were to warn him that his sins were not forgiven.  The Holy Spirit was given for the purpose of EMPOWERING the disciples to effectively preach this salvation message to the ends of the earth.  The church’s mission is to be His witnesses, to preach the Gospel, to make disciples of people to the ends of the earth.

 

3.4  What is the Church's hope and destiny?

First of all, we need to recognize that we are citizens of Eternity not this earth.  Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20-21).  Jesus himself will come for us to take us to be with Him (John 14:1-3) so we are not to let our hearts be troubled. He comes not to earth, but "IN THE AIR" to snatch us up to meet Him in the clouds.  He comes suddenly and secretly for all of us who believe in Him, and in an instant, we are caught up with Him and will return with Him to His Father's House where He has prepared a Place for us (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).

To natural man, all history, all existence is just a grand mystery.  Philosophers and historians alike can only speculate as to the meaning of life and many scientists claim it is only a grand cosmic accident.  Eat and be merry for tomorrow you die (1 Cor. 15:32; Isa. 22:13) is the philosophy of the natural man at best.  Often it is more the despair expressed in Ecclesiastes 1 and 2; “all is vanity, all is futility”.

To the Christian, the center of all history is Calvary and the man called the Messiah, Jesus.  He is the starting point of all history, He made all things (Col 1:17; John 1:3), and He regulates the universe (Heb 1:3).  But the eternal question is why?  Was there a purpose for the creation of mankind?

1 Cor. 3:21-23 tells us that all things belong to the Church and are for her benefit.

Rom. 8:28 tells us that all things (the cosmos) are for the good of them that love God (the Church), who are called according to His purpose.  The universe was created solely for the human race, mankind, created in the image of God, to ultimately provide an eternal companion for God the Son.  Romance is the heart of the universe; God providing His Son an eternal companion, a Bride, the Lamb's wife (Rev. 21:9), one to share His Throne (Rev. 3:21).

All things serve and are for the Church, the climatic goal of all history, and the purpose of existence.  The finished product of the ages is the Bride of Christ, the Church, the key and explanation of all history (Rev. 19:6,9; 21:7,9,10; Acts 17:26).

The Church is also the beginning of God's eternal enterprise.

It is His pleasure (purpose) to give you the Kingdom (to be made a king), (Luke 12:32).

The Church is to sit with Him upon His throne, to be invested with His authority (Rev. 3:21).

It is to judge the world and angels (1 Cor. 6:2-3).  It is to share His Glory (John 17:22).

The Church is to be a joint heir of all things (Rom. 8:17).  The beginning of God's ultimate and supreme enterprise for all eternity is the Marriage of the Lamb.  All history, the entire universe, was created, and is being manipulated and controlled by God for one purpose, to prepare and train the Bride.  When she is on the throne with her divine Lover and Lord, then begins a new and ultimate journey where first she will rule and reign with Him upon the earth for a thousand years, then rule with Him over the new heavens and a new earth for all eternity; a new adventure, the ultimate and supreme enterprise (Rev. 21:1).

 

3.5  God’s Purpose for the Church - Supreme Rank

Man, created in the image of God; separated from God by disobedience; redeemed by means of a divinely conceived genetic process (the new birth); legally enabled by God who took on Himself the seed of Abraham (Heb 2:16) by becoming a man called Jesus, the Messiah, the savior, the redeemer.

God could not have become incarnate in angels in that they are created, not generated and are not in the "image" of God, i.e. not of His kind.  Only the death of a real man, and a sinless man who owed no debt due to sin, could atone for or pay the legal debt all the rest of mankind who are guilty and legally bound to pay the penalty for their sins which is death.  Satan's legal right to accuse you and I of sin and demand our death as the just and legal penalty was broken when by taking Jesus' life "illegally", he allowed Jesus to pay our penalty for us, thus breaking forever the power of sin and death over our lives, if we will just believe.

·         Redeemed, regenerated mankind:

·         The sons of God - Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26.

·         We shall be like Him - 1 John 3:1,2.

·         Of one origin with Him - Heb 2:11.

·         His brothers and sisters and mother – Matt. 12:48-50.

·         One with the Son and with the Father - John 17:21-23.

·         His Body - Eph 1:23.

·         Flesh of His Flesh - Eph 5:30.

·         Joined to the Lord in one spirit, an organic relationship of personalities - 1 Cor. 6:17.

·         Members of the original cosmic family - Eph 3:15.

·         Generated sons of God - 1 John 3:2.

·         Partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pet 1:4.

·         The "seed" of God, next of kin to the Godhead - 1 John 5:1,18; 1 Pet 1:3,23.

·         Destined to rule, judge and govern the world, and judge and reward angels - 1 Cor. 6:2-3.

·         God's own family; a genetic family, incorporating His own seed or genes, or heredity.  Born not of man, but of God - John 1:12-13.

·         His very own - Eph 1:4; 5:25-27,32.

·         Creation plus redemption, a divine plan to bring "many sons to glory" - Heb 2:10.

·         The Son first, with many brothers – Rom. 8:29.

·         Power given to become the sons of God, born of the will of God - John 1:12-13.

·         Princes of the Realm of God, sharing His glory, blood brothers of the Son - 1 John 3:2; John 17:22.

·         The New Man - Eph 2:15.  A new, unique, exclusive order of beings.  The aristocracy of the universe, a new royalty of kings and priests (1 Pet 2:9).  The Bride of the Son, the Lamb's Wife, co-ruler, co-sovereign, co-administrator, a judicially equal partner to the throne by virtue of redemption and wedlock to The King of Kings; Jesus.

·         Declared to be only a little lower than God - Psalm 8:4-5; accepted into the bosom of the Father - John 1:18; Eph 1:6; John 17:23.

·         And even knowing these things, eye has not seen, ear heard, man ever imagined the things God has prepared for them that love Him - 1 Cor. 2:9.

·         What is this current age, this earthly life all about?  It is the gathering and training of The Bride of Christ, The Church! It is learning to love, please and serve our Lord.  It is learning to "overcome", to "rule and reign" with Christ, practical, on-the-job training for our ultimate destiny.  It is developing God's character in us.

·         Promises to the Church: ([2Pe 1:4 NKJV] by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust.)

·         We will eat of the fruit of the tree of life, in the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).

·         We will not be injured by the second death (Rev. 2:11).

·         We will eat of the manna that is hidden, and He will give us a new name (Rev. 2:17).

·         He will give authority and power over the nations; we shall rule them with a scepter of iron like that which Jesus himself received from the Father (Rev. 2:26-27).

·         We shall be clad in white garments, and our names not erased out from the Book of Life and Jesus will confess our names openly before His Father and His angels (Rev. 3:5).

·         He will keep us safe from the hour of trial (testing) that is coming to try those who dwell upon the earth (Rev. 3:10).

·         He will make us a pillar in the sanctuary of His God and He will write on us the name of His God, the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, which descends from His God out of heaven, and His own NEW NAME (Rev. 3:12).

·         He will grant us to sit beside Him on HIS THRONE, AS He sat down beside the Father on His Throne (Rev. 3:21)

·         We are to be His Bride! (Rev. 19:7-10).

·         We are not DESTINED FOR THE WRATH OF GOD! (1 Thes. 5:9) - The RAPTURE; THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH

·         Our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing is that we are in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming (1 Thes. 2:19).

·         With the trump of God, we who are alive shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:16-17).

·         He has not appointed His Church to wrath (1 Thes. 5:9).  The Great Tribulation is defined as the Time of the wrath of God beginning with the breaking of the sixth of the seven seals in the book of Revelations (Rev. 6:12-17).  Also we see the church gathered out of every nation before the throne and before the Lamb in the seventh chapter of Revelations (Rev.. 7:9).

·         He shall keep us from the hour of trial that is to come upon the whole earth (Rev. 3:10).

·         The Lord Himself will come for the Church (1 Thes. 4:16-17), but angels will gather the Elect, or Remnant of Israel at the coming of the Lord (Matt. 24:30-44).

·         Other indications supporting the rapture of the Church.

·         The Church is mentioned 19 Times in the first 3 chapters of Revelations.  From chapter 4 to 19, there is not one mention of the Church.  From 19 on the Church is described as participating in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and as being the Bride of Christ, with Him in heaven.

·         God has not appointed the Church to wrath (1 Thes. 5:9; 1 Thes. 1:10).

·         The Man of Lawlessness, Antichrist, cannot be revealed until He who restrains is taken out of the way (2 Thes. 2:1-9).  The true satanic nature of the antichrist is revealed when he seats himself in the Temple of God, claiming to be God and demanding to be worshiped.  This restraining is related to "our gathering together unto Him" (vs. 1) and the "He" is the Holy Spirit residing within the believers (the Church) and functioning as the restrainer of lawlessness (John 16:8-11).  Since Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would never leave the Church (John 14:16-17), then the Church must be removed before Antichrist can be revealed.

·         Jesus taught the rapture of the Church.  Jesus said, "Whoever believes is me, although he may die, yet shall he live.  And whoever continues to live and believe on me shall never die at all (John 11:25-26).

·         Paul taught that:  1) Not all Christians will die.  2) Before those who are alive are raptured, Christ will raise the dead in Christ up into incorruptible new bodies.  3) It will be an instantaneous event.  4) The rapture will probably occur at the blowing of the last trumpet, Rosh haShanah.  5) All believers will be changed, their mortal earthly bodies changed into incorruptible, immortal bodies.  (1 Cor. 15:51-54).

·         Old Testament promises of protection in the Day of Trouble or Wrath:  Ps. 27:5; 91:8; Noah, Gen 6; Zeph. 2:3; Isa. 26:20; Lot, Gen 19:15-19.

 

This is a Time when every Christian should be so thankful to God that He has revealed the future course of history to us. We are possibly entering the most fearful and at the same Time the most wondrous period in human history. Only those who know and believe the prophetic Scriptures in a plain literal sense will be able to have the inner strength, peace, and stability in the days ahead to seize the opportunities to evangelize.

  Prophecies concerning the days that precede the Lord Jesus’ return to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords [called the birth pains of the Messiah] began in earnest on May 14, 1948 when the nation of Israel was literally born in a day [Isa. 66:8]. Since that day the prophecies of the last days began unfolding. Now in 2025 and about to enter 2026, the stage is being set for the fulfillment some of the prophecies [like Ezekiel 38] dealing with the days just before the days of the seven years of great tribulation before Christ’s return. And the “signs of the times” just before the Lord’s return that Jesus Himself taught us in Matthew 24 are all around us.

 We are truly in the days of the last stages of the birth pains of Messiah, Jesus’ return to the earth. It is time for the true Church and true believers in Jesus Christ, Yeshua Mashiach, to insure that we are very busy implementing the great commission - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. [Mat 28:19-20 NKJV]