Betrayed by Your Speech.

33 "Either make the tree good and it's fruit good, or make the tree bad and it's fruit bad; for the tree is known by it's fruit.

34 "You brood of vipers, how can you bring evil speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgement.

37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt 12:33-37 NASB)

Jesus, in His rebuke of the Pharisees, sets forth an important principle which is just as valid for us today as it was for the people in Jesus' day. We can claim to be godly, to even be a Christian, but the truth of our salvation will be ultimately be shown by our actions. In this case it is our speech which either confirms or denies our faith. 

What Jesus says here is true. A tree is known by the fruit it produces. Years ago we had an apple tree that produced wormy apples. We tried various things to fix this, but after a few years we cut it down and started over with a couple of new ones. It was an infested tree; it was no good, and the bad fruit was the proof.

Consider two individuals who both claim to be Christians. One of them speaks kindly of others, does not tell dirty jokes and use foul language. He avoids slandering others and is always truthful. The other one curses, is vulgar, and quite often seeks to make others look bad, even if he has to lie to do it. Whose faith is real? According to Jesus the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart. An evil person cannot speak what is good. It is sobering to consider that our words either justify or condemn us.

In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul writes this,

29  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

30  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.

31  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.

32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you. ( Ephesians 4:29-32 NASB)

We must guard our mouths! Our purpose is to build others up, not tear them down. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we speak out in anger or hatred, or when we slander someone else. Of course there are times when we need to be honest with someone who is in error, or perhaps has fallen into sin, but we must be careful to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) instead of in a judgemental way. The point is to give grace to those to whom we are speaking with.

So much of what we hear in everyday talk is evil. From dirty jokes and profanity laced tirades to juicy gossip and outright slander, what we are hearing tends to drag us down. I know it often grieves me, and the passage above affirms that it grieves the Holy Spirit. I understand that the world talks like this, this is what Jesus said comes out of their hearts. But to hear this from a professing Christian should not be. Let us all be careful to guard our hearts, and then our speech will be right also. One day we will answer for it.

    

The Marks of a Christian: Obedience

In the last several posts I have discussed several different marks or characteristics that identify one as a Christian. I identified love, true repentance, and faith in Christ, as indispensable qualities found in the lives of those who are born again. In this post I would like to look at  righteous living, a life of consistent obedience. I admit there is some overlap between these individual points, but I believe it is important to turn these things around in our minds and look at them from various aspects, to gain a thorough understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

We see a relationship between repentance, submission to Christ, and a faith that finds its expression in loving obedience. All of these points are necessary parts of the whole Christian life.

     And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 

     The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 

     but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 

     the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB)

That is pretty simple to understand. If we know Christ in a salvific way, if we have a relationship with Him, we will keep His commandments. The one who abides in Christ will walk in the same way Jesus walked. This is what a disciple, or one who follows Jesus does. As it states above, one who claims to know Jesus, who says that they are a Christian, yet they live in disobedience, is a liar. That is not my statement, it is taken right out of this scripture passage. 

Again we read this,

     Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 

     And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

     Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

     And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 

     No one who abides in Him sins;  no one who sins has seen Him or known Him.

     Little children, let no one decieve you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

     the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

     No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in Him; and he cannot sin because He is born of God.

     By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

     For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 

(1 John 3:2-11 NASB)

As children of God, we have a hope of an eternity with Jesus. When He appears we will be transformed. The cares and burdens of this life will be over. Every tear will be wiped away. As Christians we should long to see Jesus, the one we love and follow (2 Timothy 4:8). This being the case, a true child of God purifies themselves now in this lifetime in preparation of the day we see Jesus face to face.

Like a bride dressed in beautiful white dress gets ready to meet her groom, a Christian keeps themselves from spiritual defilement. Anything that would bring shame on that day we meet Jesus must go (see 1 John 2:28). 

Jesus came to take away sins. Not only did He provide an atonement for sin, but He also destroyed the power sin holds over our lives. We don't have to sin if we are in Christ. An inner transformation has taken place in one who has been born again. The Holy Spirit abides within us, the power behind the New Covenant ( Jeremiah 31:33). He whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). This is why John can say that no one born of God sins. He is not implying some form of sinless perfection, but a consistent obedience as opposed to habitual sin. The Greek construction of these verses is speaking of an ongoing practice of either sin, or righteousness. A Christian may fail under temptation, but he will get up and confess that sin and keep moving forward with Christ. On the other hand, someone who claims to be a Christian but shows no real life change has no real assurance of their salvation at all. You are known by your fruits. The children of God and the children of the devil are known by how they live. That is the proof of whom you follow. 

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1John 2:29)

The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:24)

This is not something we do to earn our salvation. No amount of obedience or righteous acts will ever tip the scales in our favor. As I have previously written, this obedience flows out of our salvation in Christ. When we turn from our sinful lives and embrace the call to follow Jesus we will, by His grace and strength, obey Him. Righteousness is much more than being right with God, it is also doing what is right as well. If our repentance is real and our commitment to follow Christ is real, then our obedience will be real as well. It will be selfless, an outflow of love for God, and our fellow man.

The Marks of a Christian: Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

My previous post dealt with the idea of repentance. In short, repentance is a change from one course of life to another. Something is the driving force behind this change. Biblical repentance is a change of mind and action brought about by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In repentance then, we turn from our unbelief and sin to submission to God. 

This is where faith comes in. Theologians differ on the question of what comes first: repentance or faith?

Regardless of what their opinions might be, they are basically two sides of the same coin. Again, we turn from sin to God. If one is not moved by a godly sorrow to confess and renounce sin and self it is impossible to exercise faith in Christ. Jesus died to set us free from a sinful lifestyle. Discipleship demands His Lordship over our lives. This we embrace in and by faith. To believe in Jesus is to follow Jesus. It cannot be anything less.

In the above verse we read that we cannot please God apart from faith. If you do not believe in His existence you will see no need to submit to or obey Him. You will not seek after Him.

This seeking after God is vital. A half hearted pursuit is no pursuit at all. Jeremiah called Israel back to God during their captivity in Babylon. He prophesied this,

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NASB)

This is just as pertinent to us today as it was to Israel in the days of her captivity. It's all or nothing. Do we kind of want God, or are we all in? Are we committed with all of our heart, or is our allegiance divided?

To seek God in the sense of these verses is to seek Him. We often seek God in prayer to meet a need, but what we see here not that. God Himself is the object of our seeking. We must believe that He rewards those who, as the KJV puts it, diligently seek Him. Our reward is the presence of God in our lives. A relationship with Him is what we must be after. And it involves the whole heart, a sincere passion to know and have God.

Faith is more than an intellectual knowledge of God. Many individuals have a head knowledge of biblical things.They believe historical facts about Jesus, but that's as far as they go. That is not faith. Faith is a confident belief in God that moves us into action. A person who has a firm conviction that Jesus indeed has died for him or her, and has been raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of God, will embrace the Lordship of Christ over their lives and yield to Him in loving obedience. 

Jesus said that those who love him will obey Him (John 14:21-24). Faith expresses itself in love (Gal 5:6), so if we are not obedient to the words of Christ our faith is dead. James tells us that faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:14-26). It is useless.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7 ESV)

So, just as we began in faith, we are to continue our walk with Christ in the same way. We are to grow and become established in the faith. Christ is to be our lives, the one we live for on a daily basis. This is what faith is. A vibrant and growing faith is a mark of a Christian.

The Marks of a Christian: Repentance

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB)

This passage mentions two kinds of sorrow. Godly sorrow, and worldly sorrow. One leads to salvation, while the other leads to death. It is vital that we understand the difference between the two. Our salvation depends upon it. 

Jesus exhorts us to enter by the narrow gate. This is a narrow path that few find, while the majority find and travel upon the broad path to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). I'm afraid many miss the narrow gate because of an insincere repentance.

Our text above mentions the sorrow of the world. Two things come to mind when I think about this.

1. The sorrow at being caught 

2. The dread of punishment 

Many individuals who have come to "repentance" are sorry because they were caught in some type of sin. Their sin might have been hidden from everyone around them, and now it has come to light, bringing perhaps shame or embarrassment. This type of person now has a change of mind about their sin. They give it up because it has come to light, but they would never have stopped if they still could have gotten away with it. They are not really sorry, they just want to save face.

Then there are those who fear the consequences of their sin. Perhaps their sin might lead to jail time, or a divorce. Of course all sin leads to eternal separation from God, ultimately spent in torment. That should strike fear in all of our hearts. But to give up our sin to avoid prison, avoid divorce, or even avoid eternal torment in the lake of fire is a selfish repentance that does not touch upon the hurt and offence our sin has brought upon God, and the individual we have sinned against. 

Think about it. You have been caught shoplifting. It's embarrassing, you are afraid of going to jail, so you give your word that you will never do it again. Deep inside however you are not sorry about your crime, and you would still do it if you could get away with it. Is that real sorrow? Is this true repentance? 

Or you feel guilty about sin in your life. You know you are a sinner, and you know that someday you must give an account to God for your sin. You know hell awaits you and you are terrified. Understand, it is wise to know and understand that sin has consequences, and that should cause us to think about sin and our standing before God. However, if our motivation for repentance is the avoidance of punishment we fall short. How does it sound when we tell God we are sorry for our sin, and we will now obey Him, when deep inside we are not concerned as much about God's honor and our offense against Him, as we are about avoiding punishment?

A man says some mean things to his wife. She is very hurt, and now things are strained in their relationship. After a few painful days he goes out and buys some flowers and a nice necklace. He gives her these things with an abstract apology hoping that somehow things will smooth over and go back to how they were. He has only made things worse. Now his wife feels deeper pain, a wedge is driven deeper into the separation between them. 

This is worldly sorrow. Trying to fix things and patch things up between man and God without a heartfelt grief over our sin because it is sin. Worldly sorrow actually leaves God out, we only want Him for what He can do for us. There is no sorrow for what we have done to Him. This kind of repentance is selfish, it still leaves us on the throne. We might give up something sinful, and pick up some moral habits, but it is all for us and our well being, not for the honor of God.

To confess our sin (1 John 1:9) is to agree with God about our sin. Daniel confessed his sin and the national sin of Israel while they were held captive in Babylon,

     "We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to you, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day -to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. (Daniel 9:5-7)

Daniel takes God's side in the matter. As does Ezra (Ezra 9:4-15). The Jews had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but now it was discovered that they had began to intermarry with the foreigners living among them, in violation of God's command. Ezra was ashamed. He confesses that they had been given into captivity justly, on account of their sin, yet now God had shown them mercy in allowing a remnant to return to rebuild the temple. Now they had fallen into sin once again. He is grieved, not because they were caught, he prays, not to avoid punishment, but he confesses the unfaithfulness of his people to God because it was a grievous offense against a holy, yet gracious God.

This is what godly sorrow looks like. This sorrow at sinning against God causes us to be ashamed of ourselves, our sin, and admit we deserve the penalty due us for our sin. We must take God's side against us, and see ourselves and our sin as He does.

Repentance is a change of mind. This is not a fickle change of mind such as what may be produced by a worldly type of sorrow, but a change of mind brought about by a view of ourselves through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we see sin for what it is we will give it up.

Repentance also carries with it the idea of restitution. A thief will return what he has taken, a wrong will be righted as far as possible. Restoration between God and man is not possible without an honest attempt at restoration between the offender and the party offended. In other words, a thief who does not restore what he has taken is a thief still. One who will not go to an offended brother with a sincere confession shows that he has not yet experienced that godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Sadly, many relationships are never truly mended because true restoration has never been attempted. Often people go on like nothing has happened, but deep inside a disconnect remains.

Repentance is a turning point. We turn from sin to obedience. It carries the idea of surrender and commitment. We give up our right to control our lives, and in an act of faith we transfer control to God. In the next post I would like to look at another mark of a Christian, which is faith.

The Marks of a Christian: Love

A Christian is an individual who has been transformed from the inside out. An inner change has taken place that works itself out visibly in the life and actions of one who has experienced regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4). Anyone in Christ is a new creation. The old way of life is gone, and a new way has now begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Scripture sets forth certain identifying characteristics of the believer that must be present if the new birth has taken place. While it is true that a Christian has not immediately "arrived," we should be consistently maturing in our faith. Our lives must show the evidence of the reality of our salvation.

Jesus commands us to love one another, just as He has loved us. By this, all men will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). In fact, this goes beyond a mere command that we externally obey, but is an outflow of the very nature of God Himself, who has given us spiritual rebirth.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1John 4:7-8 NASB).

So here we have a litmus test. Our love for others is proof of our relationship with God. Therefore it is important to define love; to understand what is required if we are to love others, and to determine who we are expected to love. 

While the term love is used in various ways in everyday thought and conversation, what I want to look at is the sacrificial love that is portrayed throughout the scriptures. This is the kind of love that should mark the life of a believer.

In Romans 13:8-10 we read this,

     Owe nothing to anyone except to live one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does not wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Jesus puts it simply as treating others in the same way you would want them to treat you (Luke 6:31). We would not want to be wronged by someone, therefore, love forbids us to wrong another human being.

We have a description of love's attributes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,

     Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

By this we see that arrogance and self seeking do not belong in a Christian's life. Love is patient, puts up with a lot, and looks for the best in others. Love upholds the truth. This is in opposition to the way the world operates. 

In Romans 1:29-31 we read of a list of grievous sins. Envy, murder and strife, deceit, malice, gossip and slander, arrogance, those who hate God, those who disobey their parents, the unloving and unmerciful. We can look at murder or hating God and recognize those things as wicked indeed. But how about gossip or slander? This list of sins are in a passage of Scripture dealing with a people who have been given over to a depraved mind. Gossip is just as evil, just as unloving as murder or sexual sin in the eyes of God. Yet how easy it is to pass on that story, or to slander someone. Again, treat others the same way you would have them treat you. Love does no wrong to a neighbor.

Love looks out for the best interest of another. Love sees a need that it can meet, and then does it. In James 2:15-16 we are warned that it is not enough to give our best regards to someone in need, we must meet that need if we are able. We must go beyond words to actual deeds for our love to be real (1John 3:17-18).

Ultimately love is self sacrificing. Jesus states, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). Jesus loved us all the way to the cross. This stands as the ultimate example of sacrificial giving. John repeats this theme in 1John 3:16,

     We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

I think that the weight of these words is lost on most of us in the west. We haven't really experienced persecution for our faith like Christians in other countries have. History is filled with the stories of martyrs who have counted the cost and literally laid down their lives for their brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe that as the age closes upon us that many of us will be faced with this possibility as well. In the meantime however, the sacrifice is as great as the need that confronts us. That is the biblical portrayal of love.

So who are we to love? Are some people exempt from this requirement to love one another? For starters, Jesus has this to say, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:32)

If we stop there, and only love our little circle of friends and family, we fall woefully short of God's purpose for our lives. Even the worst of sinners are capable of loving a few friends or family members. That by itself cannot differentiate us from the world. It is not a sign of a true disciple. Of course we should love those around us whom we consider as friends or family (see Ephesians 5:25-28, 1Timothy 5:8) but there is more to love than that. 

We have already looked at verses pertaining to the love of the brethren, but here is one more,

     We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He do does not love abides in death. (1JOHN 3:14 NASB)

In this context the brethren are fellow believers. As followers of Christ we should love each other deeply. We are all members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). As such, we are too be fervent in our love for one another (1Peter 4:8). As Christians we are called to serve one another, to look out for each other, to meet any needs a fellow believers may have. As Christians we are to be kind, compassionate, humble, gentle and patient with one another. Quick to forgive, and eager to preserve unity within the body (Colossians 3:12-14). 

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons if your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

(Matthew 5:43-45 NASB)

Jesus confronts what must have been a common belief in His day. "While the law commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, we still have the right to hate our enemies." That would be convenient for most, and it is easy to see how an unsaved individual could apply this reasoning to their lives. However Jesus came to shake up the religious hypocrisy of the day. What was applicable two thousand years ago is just as applicable today. We are not exempt from loving those who we consider our enemies. On the contrary, we are called to meet their needs as well.

"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:20-21 NASB)

We are called to be different from the world. The kingdom of God operates in a complety different way than that if this world. Where the world is quick to judge, condemn and hate, Christ calls us to love and forgive. History records instances of Christians who have practiced loving their enemies and doing good to their persecutors.

Make sure your motives are pure. Many Christians look at "heaping burning coals" on the heads of their enemies as a "divine way of getting revenge." If I do something nice for my enemy it will get under his skin and drive him crazy. That is not love, but a subtle way of getting some revenge. In ancient times people who needed fire would go around with a container looking for coal. A kind neighbor would place burning coals in this basket which was carried upon the head of the needy individual. This was a blessing to a person in need. This is what Paul has in mind in this passage.

Jesus was confronted by a teacher of the law who wanted to know what he should do to receive eternal life (see Luke 10:30-37). When asked by Jesus what the law said, the man answered, "You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 

Jesus told the man that he answered correctly, and then told him to do this, and he will live. Now comes the tricky question, "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus answers this with a parable that hit right at the root of ethnic division. I'm sure this was as shocking to His listeners as was His command to love our enemies. You see, the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). They were despised by the Jews, and no doubt, the feelings were mutual.

A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers and left half dead. A priest came along, crossed the road to avoid this man and walked on. Likewise, a levite did the same. A Samaritan was the one who stopped, bandaged up the man and brought him to an inn for help. This Samaritan, who was despised by the Jews, was the one who had compassion, who went out of his way to save this man's life at his own expense. This is the kind of love we are called to exhibit.

Love knows no ethnic or racial boundaries. It goes beyond economic and social class. James rebuked individuals within the church who were despising the poor among them while catering to the rich. This was a violation of the royal law to live your neighbor as yourself (James 2:1-13). 

It is interesting how James uses the commandment prohibiting murder as an example in this passage. Is he implying that the partiality taking place in this congregation was akin to murder? Jesus would think so. He warns that murder begins in the heart. You may not actually kill your brother, but unchecked anger is just as evil in God's sight. In 1John 3:15 we read that Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

These are sobering words. As I stated above, love is a natural outflowing of God's divine nature through us as believers. As people who have been renewed by the Holy Spirit we now have a new nature. I would like to clarify however that we must walk in this new nature. Our cooperation with the leading of the Spirit is necessary if we are to see love flow out of our lives toward others. In this world we will find ourselves in situations where our patience is tested. We will come across individuals who are hard to love. We must continue to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, always ready to forgive, and love, which binds all of these things together (Colossians 3:12-14).

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 8, God Vindicated).

29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

30. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

31. (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

                   Deuteronomy 4:29-31KJV

God is a covenant keeping God. He swore an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning a piece of land that they and their descendants were to possess. The land was given to them with no strings attached. However, covenant obedience is required to remain in the land, as I wrote in my first post in this series. You can read it here.

This proves to be a dilemma of sorts. God is bound by a solemn oath made to the patriarchs, yet how can a nation expect blessing if they turn from Him? And so, He has warned them that if they are disobedient, they will be driven off the land, and scattered throughout the nations.

We encounter this in the affair of the golden calf. The LORD desired to destroy the people after they made a golden calf to worship. However, Moses stood in the gap on behalf of Israel. His plea was based upon two points.

1. What would the Egyptians think of God, who brought Israel out of the land of slavery with great power only to slay them in the desert ( Exodus 32:11-12).

2. Remember the covenant that you made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses tells the LORD that He swore by Himself that He would multiply them like the stars of heaven, and give them the land as an eternal inheritance (Exodus 32:13).

God relented and did not destroy them as a nation. Yet, about three thousand were killed that day on account of their sin. God is holy, and as such, He will not let sin go unpunished (Exodus 32:26-35).

This was the dilemma that Habakkuk faced. He understood that God was holy, and the rampant sin of the nation had to be punished. One gets the idea that God's honor is at stake if He just lets sin go. Yet when Habakkuk realizes that God's answer to Judah's sin is the Babylonian captivity, he struggles at first with the idea that a nation "more wicked than they were" could be used as a tool of divine judgement ( Habakkuk 1:1-17). Yet we see Habakkuk submit to God's sovereign will regardless of what may come. He understood that God's honor must be upheld no matter the cost (Habakkuk 3:16-19).

Daniel, in his intercession for his captive people, takes God's side against the nation (Daniel 9:4-29). He recognizes that they have sinned and deserve all of the evil that has befallen them. He recognizes the absolute justice in God's dealings with them, and can only plead for mercy. Again, he also recognizes that God's honor is at stake if Jerusalem as well as the people are not restored, as they are now a reproach before the nations in their desolation (Daniel 9:26).

And finally the apostle Paul agonized over the "scandal" of fallen Israel. The people who had been given the adoption, the glory, the covenants, and the law, the patriarchs, and ultimately Jesus Christ, had fallen into apostasy. Here in Romans 9-11 we read of his great burden over his lost brethren; of their partial hardening; the branches being broken off, yet when we reach the end of these chapters we see that the broken branches will be grafted back in, and all Israel will be saved. 

Paul makes it clear that it is Israel in question here. Many scholars throughout history have symbolized Israel or Jacob to refer to the "Church", and Zion to refer to heaven. This is inaccurate however. Throughout scripture, Israel refers to three things: Jacob, who is also known as Israel (Gen 32:28), the ethnic people of Israel, and the land of Israel. Zion is used biblically to refer to the land of Israel, and more specifically as a reference to a hill in Jerusalem, and  Jerusalem itself. When these terms get interchanged with the Church or heaven it becomes hard to make sense of a lot of prophecy. Promises made to, and events foretold pertaining to Israel are thought to belong to the Gentile Church, causing a lot of misunderstanding and confusion within the body of Christ.

Paul speaks of the great sorrow he feels for the lost condition of his brethren, the people of his own race (Romans 9:1-4). He has ethnic Israel in view in this treatise that covers the next several chapters. Many theologians use this section of Romans as a proof text for their views on election and predestination. However, they miss the point that God's corporate election of Israel is what is in view here. Ironically many who champion the doctrine of predestination replace Israel with the Church. This is not what Paul has in mind however.

He asks the rhetorical question, "Has God cast away His people?" To which he immediately answers, "God forbid. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." (Romans 11:1-2).

He goes on to state that he himself is an example of God's grace, and even now there is an election of grace. In other words there are Jews being saved even up to the present time. Yet scripture is not content with a few saved here and there, but looks forward to the day when Israel as a nation has a day of national repentance as they "look upon Him whom they pierced" (see Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

Paul asks another rhetorical question, "Have they stumbled so that they should fall?" And the answer is once again, "God forbid" (Romans 11:11).

Through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, but God is not done with Israel. They are referred to as branches that are broken off because of unbelief, but yet if they turn from their unbelief God is able to graft them back into the root again (Romans 11:16-24).

25. For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery - so that you will not be wise in your own estimation- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 

26. and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

   "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."

27. "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

28. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

29. for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

                      Romans 11:25-29 NASB

Paul refers to this as a mystery, yet something that we must, and can understand. As I wrote previously, we are now living in what is commonly called the Church age. For almost two thousand years now the majority of individuals who follow Christ have been Gentiles. However, we read here that at a certain point in time, that will be it. Then Corporate Israel, as a nation, will be saved. The blinders will come off, and they will recognize Jesus as their Messiah and turn to Him in repentance. Notice here that one of the purpose statements in Daniel's prophecy is mentioned: to make an end of sin. 

We read this in Isaiah 59:20-21,

"A redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD 

"As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "From now and forever."

This is the entry of Israel as a nation into the new covenant. The Spirit has been poured out upon them never to depart again. In Jeremiah 31:31-37 we read of this covenant initially made with the whole house of Israel. The day would come when they enter into it and receive the Spirit of the LORD to enable them to walk in obedience to Him. In language that holds God to deliver this nation as His people forever, we read that only if the fixed order of the sun, moon, and stars cease, and the heavens above, and the depths of the earth below can be measured, will Israel cease to be a nation before Him. Then and only then will He cast all of them off for what they have done (see Jeremiah 31:35-37).

As I have stated before, if God cannot fulfill His word concerning the salvation of Israel, and their permanent dwelling in the land promised to their forefathers, can we be sure of our salvation? I don't mean to be flippant here at all. God, who cannot lie, has made some promises concerning Israel. As a holy and trustworthy God, He must, and will fulfill His word.

The Bible is filled with these promises of restoration. I always say "By the mouth of two or three witnesses let a matter be established." 

God will act to vindicate the holiness of His great name. We read in Ezekiel,

22. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

23. " I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the LORD GOD, "When I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

24. "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

25. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols.

Ok

26. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

28. "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God."

                         Ezekiel 36:22-28 NASB

 Notice the language of the new covenant in this passage of Scripture. The new heart and spirit; God's Spirit living within, causing obedience to His laws. Notice how this ties in with the land. Now walking within covenant faithfulness to God, they return to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The great "scandal" is over. God has been vindicated in the sight of the nations. On the one hand, he did not totally destroy a nation as Moses feared would happen when they made the golden calf. He was concerned that the Egyptians would take notice that God brought a people out of bondage only to destroy them in the wilderness. And God was true to His covenant promise concerning Israel's status as His people, and their right to dwell permanently in their land. Any controversy over the land of Israel will be ended in that day. 

They will live in the land forever, and not only that, but the LORD Himself will live in their midst, vindicated in the sight of all the nations.

25. "They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons' sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever.

26. "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.

27. "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

28. "And the nations will know that am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."

                          Ezekiel 37:25-28 NASB

All of these passages that I have quoted are all speaking of prophetic events yet to come. While on the one hand the new covenant was inaugurated by Jesus during His last passover supper the night before His arrest and crucifixion, corporate Israel has not entered into it yet. As Paul stated in the above passage, a partial hardening is now in effect until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. To be sure, there have been many Jews saved throughout history, even many now today, but their day of national salvation is yet to come. 

Ezekiel 38 -39 describe the invasion of a Middle Eastern and North African coalition led by an individual referred to as "Gog." This is the Antichrist's invasion of Israel three and one half years into a covenant he has confirmed with many ( Daniel 9:27). After a time of intense tribulation, this individual is destroyed at what is referred to as the battle of Armageddon. This is the context of Ezekiel 39 where we read this,

21. "And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them.

22. "And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward 

23. "The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword.

24. "According to their uncleaness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."

25. Therefore thus says the LORD GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name.

26. "They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid.

27. "When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations.

28. "Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer.

29. "I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the LORD GOD."

                          Ezekiel 39:22-29 NASB

At this present time Israel is living in the land given them by God. After nearly two thousand years they returned from the nations where they had been scattered by the Romans in 70 AD, and then again in 135 AD. But it is obvious that they are not living securely in the land at this time in history. Ezekiel 38:8-12 mentions a period of time when Israel will live in security without walls or gates. You can't say that is true right now. This initial security that leaves them "defenseless" is a result of a covenant that is broken by the Antichrist whose armies cover the land like a cloud  (Ezekiel 38:16). So there is one more great scattering to come before Israel's final restoration. The passage quoted above refers to the peace and security that Israel finally receives after the destruction of the "beast." There will be one final regathering of the nation back to their own land. This time the nation is turned back to the Lord their God. They have looked upon the one they have pierced and mourned for Him. They have had their national day of atonement, and have made their peace with God (Zechariah 12:1-14). A fountain of cleansing has been opened up for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zechariah 13:1), and the iniquity of the land has been removed in one day (Zechariah 3:8-9). They have experienced the new birth, the receiving of a new heart and Spirit.

As Gentile believers, we have had access to that very same fountain of cleansing by the offering of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins. However, this verse makes it very specific in its application to ethnic Israel. We must not make it symbolic and therefore confuse the meaning. Once again, Israel means Israel; Jerusalem means Jerusalem, and here the house of David is referring to corporate Israel, and not the predominantly Gentile Church. There are many who get this wrong. Again as Paul admonishes in Romans 11:25, "I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..."

"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. 

"Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

                                         Isaiah 40:1-2

We read in Isaiah 60:1-22 of a glorious time yet to come when Jesus will reign from Jerusalem,

1. "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 

2. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and his glory will appear upon you.

3. "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

                              Isaiah 60:1-3 NASB

This will be the ultimate security. The world will experience peace; the wolf will lay down with the lamb as nations beat their swords into pruning shears (Isaiah 2:4-1-5, 11:6-10). 

The ultimate answer to the anguished pleading of Daniel can be summed up in Isaiah 60:18-22,

18. "Violence wii not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

19. "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory.

20. "Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over.

21. "Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.

22. "The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."

Here we find the fulfillment of Daniel's seventy week prophecy. It covers the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the arrival of the Messiah and His crucifixion, a long period of wars and desolations up to to the present time. We are now waiting for a covenant that perhaps recognizes Israel's right to live in their land, and allowing them to build a temple and begin the daily sacrifice. This is something that has not occured since 70 AD. Then comes the abomination of desolation which begins a time of tribulation unlike anything that has ever happened before. This will lead up to the return of Christ, the salvation of Israel as a nation, their regathering to the land of promise, and usher in the final Jubilee, as we enter the millenial age. 

  

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 7, The Time of Jacob's Trouble)

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

                                   Daniel 9:27 KJV

As I explained in my previous post, Israel has been lulled into a false sense of security by an individual who confirms a covenant with her enemies. What will this covenant look like? Look for something that guarantees Israel's right to exist in the land, and to restart the sacrificial system, and build a temple. However this plays out, Israel will be found living securely without walls or gates. This is something that is hard to imagine today (see The Seventy Weeks of Daniel Part 6). 

We do know from scripture that at the mid point of this final seven year period something changes, and catches Israel completely off guard. Two things happen, an invasion of Israel by a coalition of Middle Eastern and North African nations (Ezekiel 38:1-16), and the placing of what is referred to as the abomination of desolation. This event is foretold by Daniel in several places, as well as the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, and John in Revelation 13:6, 12-15. For the sake of time and space I will not quote all of these passages. Please read them for yourself. I have linked all of these passages so you can read them as you read this post.

In Daniel 8:9-11 we read of a little horn, another term for the Antichrist, who stops the daily sacrifice, and desecrates the newly built temple. As Gabriel explains the vision recorded in this chapter we discover that this little horn will be a king of fierce countenance, who will have a power outside of himself that will enable him to destroy the holy people, and prosper in what he does for a season. This king will magnify himself in his heart, even standing up to the "Prince of princes" who we know as Jesus (Daniel 8:23-25).

And in Daniel 11:21-31 this same "little horn" is referred to as a vile person who gains a kingdom through flattery. This individual makes a league with others, but afterwards works deceitfully in building a coalition of nations. Just as the term "little horn" is representative of a small leader, this man, starts small and gains power as he goes along.

He reaches a point where he becomes enraged at the "holy covenant" (Daniel 11:30), and at this point he invades Jerusalem, takes away the sacrifice, and places the abomination of desolation, the beginning of a period of intense persecution leading up to the time of the end.

Just as we read in Daniel chapter 8, this king will magnify himself above every god, even God Himself. He will do as he wills, and prosper until the determined time set by God to accomplish His divine purpose (Daniel 11:36).

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.

                                    Daniel 12:1 KJV

Compare to Jeremiah 30:6-9

6. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Therefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

7. Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

8. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

9. But they shall serve the LORD their GOD, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Jesus refers to this time of Jacob's trouble in Matthew 24:15-21. He warns that when the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet takes place, those in Judaea must flee. This is the time of Jacob's trouble, or in the words of Jesus, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the begining of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

We have the witness of three men, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Jesus. They are all speaking of the same event, which starts with the invasion of Jerusalem ( see also Luke 21:20-22), and the placing of the abomination of desolation. This time of tribulation will be unlike anything that the world has seen up to now. As Luke records, For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled (Luke 21:22).

This unequaled time of tribulation will last for a "Time, times, and a half" until the scattering of the power of the holy people is accomplished (Daniel 12:7)

In Revelation 12:2-17 we read that the dragon ( Satan) persecutes the woman (symbolic of Israel), who flees into the  wilderness for 1,260 days (Rev 12:6), and verse 14 refers to this same time period again as a "Time, times, and half a time. Revelation 11:2 tells us that Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles for forty-two months, and we read in Revelation 13:5-7 that the beast ( Antichrist) will have power to rule for forty-two months. During this time he blasphemes God, and makes war with, and overcomes the saints. 

All of these passages are speaking of the same event. The invasion of Israel beginning with the placing of the abomination in the temple will start a reign of terror that the world has never seen the likes of. This period of time will last three and one half years. During this time period the nation of Israel will face incredible devastation. Zechariah records that in the land of Israel, two third of the Jewish people will be cut off and perish, with one third left who will be refined as silver is refined and gold is tried. This is what is referred to as the scattering of the power of the holy people, what is meant by the saints being overcome. At the point of their absolute helplessness and hopelessness, when rock bottom has been reached, they will call on the LORD, and he will hear (Zechariah 13:8-9).

I am emphasizing the persecution of the Jewish people during this period of time. By no means do I intend to leave the impression that Christians will be gone from the earth at this time in history. Revelation 7:9-27 records that a great multitude comprised of people of every nation will come out of the great tribulation. How do they come out? They are martyrs, they were killed for their faith. My intention here is to dig into the seventy week prophecy of Daniel, which refers primarily to his people, the Jewish race, and what they will go through to bring them back into covenant relationship with their God. 

If we look back at the purpose statements found in Daniel 9:24, we see that the restoration of Israel is the conclusion of this prophecy.

1. Finish the transgression.

2. Make an end of sins.

3. Make reconciliation for iniquity.

4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.

5. Seal up vision and prophecy.

6. Annoint the most holy place 

At the conclusion of the seventy weeks, we must see the national salvation of Israel, and the triumphant reign of Christ. There is a thread throughout scripture that foretells this. As I finish up these posts on Daniel's seventy weeks, I would like to look at the future restoration of Israel to the bond of the eternal covenant.