Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: HWIS
Program Code: HWIS000024
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00:30 Let's bow our heads for prayer.
00:32 Father in heaven, we gather once again 00:36 to study Your holy Word, the sure word of prophecy, 00:41 for these last days. 00:43 And Father, we ask that as we open that Word, 00:46 that the Holy Spirit will be with us to guide our thoughts. 00:51 Our ways are not Your ways, and Your ways are not our ways. 00:55 That's the reason why in order to understand You 00:59 we need special revelation. 01:01 And so we ask for Your presence. 01:04 And we thank You for hearing our prayer, 01:06 for we ask it in Jesus' name, amen. 01:12 The Holy Spirit had fallen on the day of Pentecost. 01:17 And the Christian movement was growing and extending 01:21 like a grass fire. 01:24 In fact, in Acts chapter 6 and verse 7 01:28 we find a description of the fact that many members 01:33 and priests were leaving Judaism and they were joining 01:37 the Christian movement. 01:39 It says there... 01:57 In other words, clergy and laity were being converted 02:01 to Christianity. 02:03 The Bible tells us that one of the reasons for this 02:06 phenomenal growth was the work of Stephen, 02:10 who was one of the seven deacons. 02:13 In Acts chapter 6 and verse 8 we're told that Stephen 02:16 was instrumental in the growth of the church. 02:19 It says there... 02:29 So fast was the Christian movement growing 02:33 that Judaism was greatly disturbed. 02:37 In fact, there was one particular person 02:41 who was very disturbed. 02:43 It was a young man who was a very promising 02:47 prospect for Judaism. 02:50 It appeared like he had a brilliant future. 02:53 He was young, energetic, and relentless. 02:59 His name was Saul of Tarsus. 03:02 Now Saul had tunnel vision. 03:04 He believed that God had chosen the Jewish nation 03:09 unconditionally and irrevocably, and woe to whoever 03:15 questioned that fact. 03:18 You see, for Saul of Tarsus, the preservation of Judaism 03:23 was number one on his list. 03:27 Judaism had to be preserved at all costs. 03:32 We're told in Acts chapter 22 and verse 3, 03:35 and here the apostle Paul is talking about his heritage, 03:39 he says, "I am indeed a Jew..." 03:49 A great teacher, by the way. 04:02 And so here we find Saul of Tarsus describing 04:05 his Jewish heritage. 04:08 Now Saul wanted to preserve Judaism for the same reason 04:14 that the Jews that led Jesus to the cross 04:18 wanted to preserve Judaism. 04:20 In fact, in John chapter 11 and verses 47 through 50 04:24 we find the high priest, Caiaphas, speaking before 04:29 the Sanhedrin and he was explaining why they needed 04:33 to do away with Christ. 04:35 There was a special reason. 04:37 It had to do with national security. 04:40 In other words, the subsistence of the Jewish nation 04:43 was at stake. 04:44 We find there in John 11:47-50, this is happening just a 04:48 few months before the death of Christ... 05:12 What was the worry of the Sanhedrin? 05:16 That this would grow so great that Judaism would disappear. 05:22 Notice verse 49. It says... 05:33 "...nor do you consider that it is expedient for us 05:37 that one man should die for the people, 05:40 and not that the whole nation should perish." 05:45 So notice that the main argument for destroying Christ 05:48 was the preservation of the Jewish nation. 05:52 The same feeling was in the heart of Saul of Tarsus. 05:57 He said, "This growing Christian movement 05:59 is a menace to Judaism, and it must be destroyed." 06:04 In Acts chapter 26 and verses 9 through 11 06:07 we find a description of Saul of Tarsus, 06:09 the persecutor of the church. 06:11 It says there in Acts 26 verses 9 through 11, 06:15 Paul is reminiscing about his previous life... 06:56 So Saul of Tarsus had the same spirit as the Sanhedrin. 07:00 In his mind, the preservation of Judaism was uppermost 07:06 in his mind. 07:08 And this is the reason why Saul of Tarsus was so intent 07:13 on destroying, not only Christianity, but particularly 07:18 Stephen who was one of those who was leading 07:20 to the phenomenal growth of Christianity. 07:23 In fact, we find in Acts chapter 7 and verses 57 and 58 07:28 that when Stephen was being stoned, Saul of Tarsus 07:32 was present there. 07:34 It says, "Then they cried out with a loud voice, 07:38 stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord. 07:42 And they cast him out of the city and stoned him." 07:54 But not only was Saul present for the stoning of Stephen, 07:58 the Bible gives us the impression that Saul of Tarsus 08:02 was the ring leader and the mastermind behind 08:06 the death of Stephen. 08:09 We're told in Acts chapter 22 and verse 20, 08:13 "And when the blood of your martyr..." 08:15 This is Saul speaking, or Paul at this point. 08:32 So we find Saul of Tarsus actively involved 08:36 and planning the death of Stephen because he was 08:39 one of the instruments in the growth of the 08:41 Christian movement. 08:43 Now we find that after the stoning of Stephen, 08:46 Saul of Tarsus decided to go on an expedition 08:49 to hunt down Christians in the city of Damascus. 08:52 In fact, he would have had to travel a long ways. 08:56 Because Jerusalem is a very long way from Damascus. 09:00 You have to cross all of Israel to the northern border. 09:03 You have to go across Lebanon and into Syria. 09:07 We find a description of this persecution 09:10 in Acts 9 and verses 1 and 2. 09:13 We're told there... 09:32 That's the name of the Christian movement. 09:40 And so Saul of Tarsus was on the way to Damascus 09:44 to arrest Christians and to take them to Jerusalem 09:47 to stand trial, and most likely to be killed. 09:52 But it was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus 09:56 had an experience that not only changed his life 10:02 but also changed his theology. 10:06 On the road to Damascus he had an encounter 10:10 with Jesus Christ. 10:12 He discovered that by persecuting the church, 10:16 he was actually persecuting Jesus. 10:19 Because he heard a voice from heaven that said, 10:21 "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" 10:25 And he says, "Who are You so that I know 10:28 who I am persecuting?" 10:30 And Jesus says, "I am Jesus of Nazareth 10:33 whom you are persecuting." 10:35 In other words, "By persecuting My body, 10:38 you are persecuting Me." 10:41 Let's read about this in Acts chapter 9 10:44 and verses 3 through 6. 11:12 That means that he was kicking against his conscience. 11:23 The Bible says that he was sent to a man called Ananias. 11:27 And Ananias met Saul of Tarsus in the house of an 11:31 individual called Judas. 11:34 And I want you to notice how the story is picked up 11:36 in Acts 22 verses 16 through 18. 11:39 Here, Luke is telling the story of this experience 11:43 on the road to Damascus. 11:45 It says here, "But the Lord said to him," 11:47 that is to Ananias, "Go." 11:50 And the context indicates he was suppose to go 11:52 to the house of Judas. 11:55 "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he,'" 11:58 that is Saul of Tarsus, "'is a chosen vessel of Mine 12:01 to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, 12:06 and the children of Israel. 12:08 For I will show him how many things he must suffer 12:11 for My name's sake.' 12:14 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; 12:17 and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, 12:20 the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, 12:25 has sent me that you may receive your sight 12:29 and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' 12:31 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, 12:36 and he received his sight at once; and he arose 12:39 and was baptized." 12:40 Now listen, he not only received his physical eyesight. 12:44 The scales that fell from his eyes were the 12:47 scales of prejudice. 12:49 He now saw that God's people were those who received 12:54 Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 12:57 Now in Galatians chapter 3 and verses 26 and 27, 13:01 we find a very important concept. 13:04 It says there, "All those who have been baptized 13:09 into Christ have put on Christ." 13:12 Now we know that Saul of Tarsus was baptized. 13:15 So whom did Saul of Tarsus put on? 13:18 He put on Jesus Christ. 13:21 Now there's another important concept. 13:24 In Galatians chapter 3 and verse 15 and verse 16, 13:31 we find that the apostle Paul says that the promises were 13:35 made to Abraham and to his Seed. 13:38 And there the apostle Paul, who's writing later on 13:42 after his conversion, says that the text does not say, 13:47 "'To seeds,' as to many, but, 'To your Seed,' who is Christ." 13:52 In other words, the Seed of Abraham is one solitary Person. 13:56 And that solitary Person is whom? 13:58 Jesus Christ. 14:00 Jesus is the Seed of Abraham. 14:02 But now I want you to notice that those who are in Christ 14:06 through baptism, like Saul of Tarsus, now become 14:10 Abraham's seed through Jesus. 14:12 Notice Galatians chapter 3 and verse 29. 14:18 It says, "If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed 14:25 and heirs according to the promise." 14:27 What does it mean to be Abraham's seed? 14:29 Does it mean to have Jewish blood in your veins? 14:31 No. 14:32 Does it mean that you live in Israel? 14:34 No. 14:36 Does it mean that your last name is Goldberg? 14:39 Absolutely not. 14:40 It says here that those who are in Christ are, what? 14:44 Are Abraham's seed. 14:46 "If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed." 14:48 Which means that if you are not Christ's, 14:51 you are not Abraham's seed. 14:54 That's a very, very important concept 14:56 that we're going to pursue. 14:58 So when Saul of Tarsus was baptized, 15:02 he was baptized into Christ. 15:03 He was incorporated into Christ. 15:05 And through Christ he became Abraham's seed. 15:09 He was not Abraham's seed before joining Jesus Christ. 15:13 Now this experience on the road to Damascus 15:17 totally changed the focus of Saul of Tarsus. 15:21 Notice Acts chapter 9 and verse 22. 15:24 Acts chapter 9 and verse 22. 15:27 Here it says... 15:45 What does the word, "Christ," mean? 15:47 It means, the Messiah. 15:50 In other words, now the purpose of Saul of Tarsus 15:53 was to prove that Jesus Christ was, what? 15:56 Was the Messiah. 15:58 Now later on, in the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul 16:03 describes his conversion experience and his change 16:07 of focus, his change of theology. 16:10 Notice Philippians chapter 3 and verses 3 through 11. 16:13 Philippians chapter 3 and verses 3 through 11. 16:18 Here he says... 16:24 Who is the circumcision? Those who what? 16:28 Worship God in the Spirit. 16:30 "...and have no confidence in the flesh..." 16:32 In other words, you don't have confidence that you just, 16:34 that you're literally a Jew. 16:37 He says... 17:07 You almost think he's bragging a little bit, don't you. 17:10 He's saying, "I was a Jew of Jews. 17:13 I was the seed of Abraham, so I thought." 17:16 But now notice what he continues saying in verse 7. 17:45 "...not having my own righteousness..." 17:47 Which the Jews delighted in, according to the New Testament. 18:15 What was the change in focus of Saul's theology? 18:19 Before, his theology had been Israel centered. 18:24 Now his theology was what? 18:27 Was Christ centered. 18:29 He says, "Everything that I considered important, 18:32 my Jewishness, I consider it a loss 18:36 in order that I may gain Christ." 18:39 In other words, "Christ is all in all. 18:41 And when I received Christ, I became the true seed 18:45 of Abraham." 18:47 And do you know the Bible tells us that the apostle Paul 18:49 fell in love with Christ so much that he was willing to suffer 18:53 intentionally for accepting Him. 18:56 Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verses 22 through 28 19:00 where the apostle Paul describes all of the sufferings 19:03 that came about because if his acceptance 19:07 and preaching of Christ. 19:09 He says, "Are they Hebrews? 19:11 So am I. 19:13 Are they Israelites? 19:15 So am I. 19:17 Are they the seed of Abraham? 19:19 So am I. 19:21 Are they ministers of Christ?" 19:23 And then he says, "I speak as a fool; I am more. 19:27 In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, 19:31 in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 19:35 From the Jews five times I received 19:37 forty stripes minus one. 19:39 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; 19:43 three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have 19:47 been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, 19:51 in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, 19:54 in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, 19:57 in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, 20:00 in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, 20:03 in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, 20:06 in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 20:11 Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: 20:15 my deep concern for all the churches." 20:20 Was Saul truly converted to Jesus Christ? 20:23 Was his theology now Israel focused? 20:26 Absolutely not. 20:28 He said, "Jewishness means nothing outside of Jesus." 20:32 One is not a seed of Abraham simply by his bloodline. 20:37 One is the seed of Abraham by being in Christ through baptism. 20:41 Because if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed. 20:45 Which basically the apostle Paul is saying that the Jews 20:49 that had not accepted Christ were not the seed of Abraham. 20:52 We're going to pursue that in a few moments. 20:55 Now the Bible tells us that not only Saul of Tarsus, 21:01 but also all of the New Testament authors, 21:04 clearly tell us that God does not have two peoples, 21:08 the Jews and the church, and that he has 21:11 one plan for the Jews and He has another plan for the church. 21:14 That is an idea that has come up in the last 150 years 21:19 in the Christian world that God has one plan for the church, 21:23 which is going to be taken away to heaven seven years 21:26 before the tribulation and they're going to go to heaven. 21:30 And then the Jews are going to be left behind. 21:32 They're going to re-establish the sacrifices 21:35 and they're going to suffer terrible tribulation. 21:38 The Bible teaches, and especially the apostle Paul, 21:42 that God has only one true people. 21:45 And that people are defined by their acceptance 21:48 or rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 21:52 Now I want you to notice first of all we're going to go through 21:55 a list of things that show that God has only one people. 21:59 John chapter 10 and verse 16. 22:03 Here Jesus is speaking, and I want you to notice what He says. 22:07 John chapter 10 and verse 16. 22:10 Jesus says here... 22:18 What does He mean, "this fold?" 22:22 What does He mean by, "this fold?" 22:25 He means the Jews, because He was sent to the lost sheep 22:28 of the house of Israel. 22:30 We already read that. 22:31 So He says... 22:41 "...and there will be two flocks and one shepherd." 22:44 No. 22:46 "...one flock and one..." What? 22:48 "...one shepherd." 22:49 Now lest you're wondering whether He's talking about 22:52 the Gentiles when He says that there are other sheep not of 22:55 this fold, let's go to John chapter 11 verses 51 and 52. 23:00 John chapter 11 and verses 51 and 52. 23:04 After Caiaphas says that it's necessary for one man to die 23:07 and that the nation doesn't perish, 23:09 notice what we're told in John 11 verse 51. 23:22 Now listen carefully. 23:24 What nation is that? 23:25 The Jewish nation. 23:41 Was He only going to gather the Jews to Himself? 23:44 No, He was going to gather the Gentiles to Himself as well. 23:48 In other words, God doesn't have two folds; 23:50 a Gentiles fold and a Jewish fold. 23:53 He says, "I'm going to bring the Gentiles, and there's going to 23:56 be one fold and there's going to be one shepherd." 24:01 The Bible also tells us that there is only one Israel. 24:04 And that Israel is defined by your relationship 24:07 to Jesus Christ. 24:09 If you are Christ's, you are Israel. 24:12 If you are not Christ's, you are not Israel. 24:13 You are not a Jew. 24:15 And you say, "Where does the Bible say that?" 24:16 Let's read from the apostle Paul. 24:18 Romans chapter 2 and verses 28 and 29. 24:21 Romans 2:28-29. 24:24 Here the apostle Paul says... 24:30 So is it possible for a Jew to be one outwardly 24:32 and not be a Jew? 24:34 Of course. 24:54 Because the Jews loved the letter, 24:55 but they didn't have the Spirit. 25:01 Is it possible to be an outward Jew and not be a Jew? 25:04 Absolutely, according to the apostle Paul. 25:07 Now notice Romans 9 verses 6 through 8. 25:09 This same idea that there's only one true Israel. 25:12 And that's defined by your relationship to Jesus Christ. 25:15 Romans 9 and verses 6 through 8. 25:19 Here the apostle Paul says... 25:27 Isn't that interesting. 25:28 Are all Israelites Israelites? 25:31 No, the apostle Paul is saying, "Not all Israel is Israel." 25:35 Now who is Israel then? 25:38 Let's continue reading. 25:52 Are all the seed of Abraham the seed of Abraham? 25:56 No, absolutely not. 25:57 He says, "Nor are they all children because 26:01 they are the seed of Abraham." 26:05 Now he explains what he means. 26:13 Who are the children of the flesh? 26:15 The literal Jews who have not accepted whom? 26:19 Christ. 26:20 So he says... 26:27 That is, the promise of the Messiah. 26:33 Are you understanding this? 26:34 In other words, being Israel or being a Jew is not defined 26:38 geographically or ethnically or genetically. 26:41 It's defined by your relationship to Jesus Christ. 26:45 Notice Galatians chapter 3 and verse 16, 26:48 and then we'll go to verses 26 to 29. 26:50 We alluded to this, but let's read it once again. 26:53 It says there in Galatians 3 verse 16... 27:06 So who is the only true seed of Abraham? 27:10 One; Christ. 27:12 You say, "But didn't we just read that 27:13 we are seed of Abraham?" 27:14 Yes, we are. 27:16 But not in a primary sense like Christ. 27:18 Only if we join Christ, then we are Abraham's seed. 27:21 Notice verse 26. 27:58 So how does one become Abraham's seed? 28:02 If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed. 28:06 So my question is, those who are outside of Christ 28:10 who are literal Jews, are they Abraham's seed, 28:12 according to the biblical definition? 28:14 Absolutely not. 28:16 Because we're speaking about a spiritual relationship 28:19 with Christ that makes you a spiritual Jew, 28:23 so to speak. 28:24 Now, the Bible also says that Jesus has only one body. 28:29 He doesn't have two bodies; the body of the Jews 28:31 and the body of the church. 28:32 He has one body. 28:34 Let's read from Ephesians chapter 2 28:36 and verses 13 through 18. 28:39 Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 13 through 18. 28:43 Here the apostle Paul is writing again. 28:45 He says, "But now in Christ Jesus 28:48 you who were once far off..." 28:50 Those are the Gentiles. 29:00 That is Jew and Gentile. 29:15 How many new men? 29:16 "...one new man from the two..." 29:19 That is, from Jew and Gentile. 29:37 That is Jew and Gentile. 29:43 How many bodies does Jesus have? 29:46 One Jewish body and one Gentile body. 29:48 No, He has one body... 29:51 ...composed of Jew and Greek. 29:53 Or Jew and Gentile. 29:54 Notice 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 13. 29:57 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 13. 30:00 Here the apostle Paul writes... 30:18 So how many bodies are we talking about? 30:20 How many Spirits? 30:22 One Spirit. 30:23 Notice Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 6. 30:26 Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 6. 30:28 This is a beautiful message to the Gentiles. 30:30 The apostle Paul is saying to the Gentiles, 30:32 "If you receive Christ, you are Jews. 30:36 You are spiritual Jews, you are Israel. 30:38 Because he who is in Christ is Abraham's seed." 30:41 Notice what is says in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 6. 30:58 How many bodies does Jesus have? One. 31:00 How many folds does Jesus have? One. 31:03 Now I want you to notice that He only has one city. 31:06 You know, He doesn't have the earthly Jerusalem 31:08 for the Jews and the heavenly Jerusalem for the church. 31:11 That's preposterous. 31:12 It's not biblical. 31:14 Notice Revelation chapter 21 verse 2. 31:17 By the way, the New Jerusalem is called, the city of the Lamb. 31:19 The Lamb City, right? 31:20 And the Lamb is its light. 31:22 Now notice Revelation 21 and verse 2. 31:25 It's speaking here about the New Jerusalem. 31:27 And it says... 31:39 So the husband has how many cities? 31:43 Has only one city. 31:45 Now, that city is composed of Old Testament saints 31:49 and New Testament saints. 31:51 Not only New Testament saints. 31:54 Notice Revelation 21 and verse 12. 31:56 Revelation 21 and verse 12. 31:59 Speaking about the city, it says... 32:14 Whose names are on the doors of the city, 32:15 or the gates of the city? 32:17 The twelve tribes. 32:18 So is the Old Testament represented there, 32:21 the Old Testament church? 32:22 Absolutely. 32:23 Now what names do the foundations of the walls have? 32:27 Notice Revelation 21 and verse 14. 32:29 Revelation 21 and verse 14. 32:39 How many cities does Jesus have? 32:41 Only one city, composed of Old Testament saints 32:45 and composed of New Testament saints. 32:47 Because the names of the tribes are on the doors, 32:50 or on the gates, and the names of the apostles are on the 32:53 foundations of the walls. 32:55 Now go with me to Hebrews chapter 11, and I'll 32:57 amplify this thought that Jesus has only one city. 33:01 Notice Hebrews chapter 11, we'll read verses 9 and 10, 33:05 and then we'll read verses 13 through 16. 33:08 This is speaking about Abraham in the Old Testament. 33:12 It says... 33:24 Now listen, this is Abraham. 33:26 Was Abraham an Old Testament saint? 33:29 Was he the founder of the Jewish nation, 33:32 according to the Jews themselves? 33:33 Yeah, they said, "We are Abraham's seed." 33:35 Now notice what it continues saying in verse 10. 33:37 What city did Abraham look forward to? 33:39 The earthly or the heavenly Jerusalem? 33:42 The heavenly. Verse 10 says... 33:50 Now let's go to verse 13. 33:55 It's talking about the Old Testament saints. 34:11 If they're strangers and pilgrims, 34:12 they're seeking a homeland. 34:13 What is that homeland? 34:15 It's that little city over in the Middle East today, right? 34:18 No, absolutely not. 34:20 Notice verse 15. 34:40 Did the Old Testament saints look forward 34:42 to the New Jerusalem? 34:43 Yes they did. 34:44 How about the New Testament saints? 34:46 Absolutely. 34:47 Is there one city for all of God's people from all ages? 34:50 Absolutely. Not two cities. 34:53 Now let's look at it from a different perspective. 34:56 How many wives does God have, spiritually speaking? 35:00 He has one. 35:01 But those who believe that God has two mutually 35:04 separable peoples would make God a bigamist. 35:08 Because He has the church and He's married with the church, 35:10 but He's also married with Israel. 35:12 And so He has two wives. 35:14 The Bible doesn't sustain that. 35:17 God has one bride, and it's the church of all ages. 35:20 Old and New Testament. 35:22 Let's notice that, Revelation chapter 12 and verses 1 and 2, 35:28 and then we're going to jump to verse 5. 35:29 It says there in verse 1 of Revelation 12... 35:45 Now, what does this woman represent? 35:47 We've already studied this. 35:48 It represents the Old Testament church, right? 35:50 Was Jesus born from the line of Abraham and the line of David? 35:54 Absolutely, He was born from the Old Testament church. 35:57 Who is the child? 35:58 The child is Jesus Christ. 36:00 Now when John sees this woman, does he see the woman at the 36:04 Old Testament stage or the New Testament stage? 36:07 It's the Old Testament stage because the child 36:09 hasn't been born yet. 36:11 Does the mother exist before the child? 36:14 So is the mother the Old Testament church? 36:17 Of course. 36:19 So notice that this woman is going to bear the child. 36:23 This is the Old Testament church that's going to bring Jesus 36:26 into the world. 36:27 But now I want you to notice that the very same woman 36:31 flees to the wilderness for 1260 years after the child 36:35 is caught up to God and to His throne. 36:36 Is it the same woman? 36:39 So is the Old Testament church and the New Testament church, 36:42 are they the same woman? 36:44 They're the same woman at different stages. 36:46 Are you understanding me? 36:47 Let's read verse 5 and verse 6. 36:51 It says, "She bore a male child..." 36:53 That is the woman. 36:55 "...who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron..." 37:01 That's the ascension of Christ. 37:02 And then notice verse 6, "Then the woman..." 37:05 Is it the same woman? 37:06 Absolutely, it's the same woman. 37:18 Is that the New Testament church or is that the 37:20 Old Testament church? 37:21 That's the New Testament church. 37:22 Because Jesus has already ascended 37:24 to God and to His throne. 37:25 And now this refers to the period when the church was 37:28 persecuted during the Middle Ages. 37:30 Are you understanding? 37:31 So God has how many brides? 37:34 How many wives does He have? 37:37 One wife composed of Old Testament 37:40 and New Testament church, represented by one woman only. 37:46 Now the Bible also says that God has only one tree 37:51 representing all of His people from Old and New 37:54 Testament; Jews and Gentiles. 37:55 You say, "Now where does the Bible teach that?" 37:57 Have you ever read the story that we find in 38:00 Romans chapter 11 about the tree? 38:02 The tree that had natural branches. 38:05 And then you have wild olive branches that are 38:08 engrafted into the tree. 38:10 Now let me tell you what you have there. 38:12 Because we don't have all the time to 38:13 look at all of the details. 38:15 I'm going to read the passage in a few moments, 38:16 but I want you to get this clear in your mind. 38:19 The tree has natural olive branches that are 38:22 retained on the tree. 38:24 Okay? 38:25 The tree represents Jesus Christ. 38:27 He is the tree and we are the branches, okay? 38:31 So the natural branches are retained. 38:33 Those are the ones who accepted Jesus Christ. 38:36 Then there are natural branches that are cut off. 38:39 Why are they cut off? 38:41 Because they rejected Jesus Christ. 38:43 You can read it there. 38:44 And I'm going to read it in a few moments. 38:46 Then you have natural branches that after they're cut off 38:50 they're grafted in again. 38:52 What would that represent? 38:54 It represents the fact that at first they rejected Christ. 38:56 Like whom? 38:58 Like Saul of Tarsus. 38:59 And then he accepted Christ. 39:01 And he's what? 39:02 And he's re-grafted into the olive tree. 39:04 Then you have wild olive branches, 39:07 which represents the Gentiles. 39:09 And the wild olive branches are grafted into the tree. 39:13 But then the apostle Paul says that if the wild olive branches 39:18 come to reject Christ, the wild olive branches 39:22 will be cut off from the tree. 39:24 Now what is the key in this whole passage? 39:26 The key is who you are attached to. 39:31 What makes you part of the tree? 39:33 Your acceptance or rejection of whom? 39:35 Your acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ. 39:38 Now let's read the passage. 39:40 It's found in Romans chapter 11. 39:41 It's a rather lengthy passage, but let's read it. 39:44 It's verse 17 through verse 26. 39:47 Here the apostle Paul says... 39:54 Speaking to the Gentiles here. 40:04 In other words, don't make fun of the natural branches 40:05 that were cut off. 40:18 Now notice why these branches were broken off. 40:23 Unbelief in whom? 40:25 In Jesus. 40:26 "...and you stand by faith." 40:28 Why were the wild olive branches grafted in? 40:31 Because they had faith in Christ. 40:33 Why were the natural olive branches cut off? 40:36 Because of unbelief in Christ. 40:39 And then he says... 40:58 Are you catching the picture? 41:05 What's the key here? It's Jesus Christ, isn't it. 41:07 You're part of the tree if you accepted Christ. 41:10 You're cut off from the tree if you don't accept Christ. 41:13 But both Jews and Gentiles are grafted into one tree. 41:17 Verse 24. 41:45 So there's blindness among Israel until the fullness 41:48 of the Gentiles come in. 41:50 Now what happens when the fullness of the Gentiles come in 41:53 and join with the Jews in one body? 41:56 Notice what we find in verse 26. 42:05 What does it mean, "All Israel will be saved?" 42:07 What is Israel composed of, according to the context? 42:10 It's composed of Israel, plus what? 42:13 Plus the Gentiles that are grafted into the tree. 42:17 In other words, when Jews and Gentiles are grafted 42:20 into the tree, then all Israel will be what? Saved. 42:24 Now the question is, what is Israel? 42:26 Does the apostle Paul define what Israel is? 42:28 Of course he does. 42:29 It's not literal Israel over in the Middle East. 42:32 It is spiritual Israel. 42:35 Now, we find in the Bible there is also going to be only 42:39 one banquet table in the kingdom. 42:42 God is not going to have one banquet table for the Jews 42:44 and another banquet table for the Gentiles. 42:47 Right after healing the son of the centurion, Jesus spoke 42:54 these words in Matthew chapter 8 and verses 11 and 12. 42:57 By the way, the centurion was a Gentile, wasn't he. 43:00 So now Jesus is going to give the lesson. 43:02 He's going to say this centurion had more faith than Israel. 43:07 And now notice what He says. 43:09 Verse 11. 43:14 Those are the Gentiles. 43:23 Were Abraham Isaac and Jacob literal Jews? 43:26 Yes. 43:27 Were they also spiritual Jews? 43:30 They were because they accepted Christ in promise. 43:33 And so it says... 43:43 Now listen carefully. 43:44 "But the sons of the kingdom..." 43:46 Who are those? 43:48 The literal Jewish nation that rejects Christ. 44:00 How many people are going to eat at the banquet table? 44:02 Only Jews are going to eat at the banquet table. 44:05 No. Jews along with what? 44:07 With Gentiles. 44:08 What about those who reject Christ? 44:11 They will not eat at the table. 44:12 So once again, what is the key? 44:14 Is the key to be a literal Jew? 44:16 Or not be a literal Jew? 44:18 No, the key of this whole thing is your relationship to whom? 44:23 To Jesus Christ. 44:24 Now the apostle Paul also said there is only 44:26 one spiritual temple. 44:29 You know, the temple in Jerusalem has absolutely 44:31 no significance today. 44:33 It could be rebuilt, but it has no prophetic 44:37 significance whatsoever. 44:38 Some people say, "Well, doesn't the Bible say that 44:40 the antichrist is going to sit in the temple of God 44:43 showing himself to be God?" 44:45 Yes, the Bible does say that. 44:46 But we need to understand which temple 44:48 the apostle Paul is talking about. 44:51 Most theologians take it for granted that he's talking about 44:55 that temple over in the Middle East. 44:57 But how does the apostle Paul define the temple 45:00 where the antichrist is going to sit? 45:02 That's the key. 45:03 Allow Paul to interpret Paul. 45:06 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 19 through 22. 45:09 Ephesians chapter 2:19-22. 45:11 And by the way, our next lecture is about the antichrist 45:13 who sits in the temple of God showing himself to be God. 45:16 This lecture today is preparatory to that one. 45:20 We wouldn't be able to fully understand that lecture 45:22 without this background that we're studying today. 45:24 Ephesians 2:19-22. 45:28 "Now therefore," the apostle Paul says, "you are no longer 45:31 strangers and foreigners." 45:32 He's speaking to the Gentiles. 45:38 Are they members of the same household? 45:40 Absolutely. 45:41 And now notice... 45:49 The apostles would be New Testament, 45:51 and the prophets would be what? 45:53 Old Testament. 45:54 "...Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone..." 45:58 The One that holds it all together. 46:01 So are these literal stone foundations or are these 46:04 people foundations? 46:06 These are spiritual foundations. 46:08 Is the cornerstone a literal stone or is it a person? 46:11 It's a person. 46:12 This is a spiritual temple with spiritual foundations 46:15 and a spiritual cornerstone. 46:17 Verse 21... 46:34 We are the stones. 46:35 1 Peter chapter 2 says we are the stones that are being built 46:38 upon the foundations of the apostles and the prophets. 46:40 Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. 46:42 Let me ask you, what is the Shekinah today 46:45 that is in that temple? 46:46 Let's finish reading the text, verse 22. 46:49 "In whom you also are being built together for a 46:52 dwelling place of..." Whom? 46:55 "...of God in the Spirit." 46:58 Does the church have the Shekinah today? 47:01 Does it have God's Shekinah glory? 47:03 Yes, what is the Shekinah glory? 47:05 It is the Holy Spirit. 47:06 We can't see Him... 47:08 ...but He is present in the church. 47:10 Are you with me? 47:12 So for the apostle Paul, what is the temple? 47:14 Is the temple the literal building over in the Middle East 47:18 that's going to be rebuilt and there's 47:19 going to be a third temple? 47:20 Absolutely not. 47:22 For the apostle Paul, the temple is what? 47:26 Is the church. 47:28 Built upon the writings of the prophets and of the apostles. 47:31 Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. 47:34 So when the Bible says that the antichrist is going to 47:36 sit in the temple of God showing himself to be God, 47:39 where should we look for the antichrist? 47:41 We should look for him sitting where? 47:45 In the Christian church. 47:50 Not in the literal temple in Jerusalem. 47:54 Are you with me? 47:55 Now, the Bible also tells us that all of the redeemed will 47:59 sing the same song. 48:01 Literal and spiritual Israel. 48:04 Notice what we find in Revelation chapter 15 48:06 verses 3 and 4. 48:08 Revelation chapter 15 verses 3 and 4. 48:10 Old Testament and New Testament saints are going to 48:12 sing the same song. 48:14 Notice, it's speaking here about the 144,000 and it says... 48:20 That's Old Testament. 48:43 So how many songs are going to be sung by the redeemed? 48:46 There's going to be a New Testament song 48:48 and there's going to be an Old Testament song. 48:50 No, it's one song. 48:52 The song of Moses, he was an Old Testament figure, 48:55 and the song of whom? 48:56 The song of the Lamb. 48:58 That's a New Testament figure. 49:00 In other words, all of the redeemed will sing one song. 49:05 The Bible also says that all of us will have only one Father. 49:10 Notice Galatians chapter 3 and verse 26. 49:13 Galatians 3 verse 26. 49:15 What defines whether we are sons of God or not? 49:20 Listen carefully to what the Bible says. 49:23 It's not me, it's the Bible. 49:24 It says... 49:33 How do we become sons of God? 49:35 Through faith in Christ Jesus. 49:37 What if we don't have faith in Christ Jesus. 49:40 Then we are not sons of God. 49:42 I know that's a harsh statement, but that's biblical. 49:45 Notice John chapter 1:12-13 where this idea is pursued. 49:49 John 1 verses 12 and 13. 49:51 It says there... 49:55 That is Jesus. 50:11 So what makes you a child of God? 50:13 Your physical birth or your spiritual birth? 50:16 Your spiritual birth and the fact that you receive Christ. 50:19 Because it says, "As many as receive Him, 50:22 to them He gave the right to become the children of God." 50:26 Now listen to the way this works. 50:28 The only true son of God is Jesus Christ. 50:32 Because He's the only faithful one. 50:34 The Bible says that we are children of wrath. 50:36 Jesus even went one step further, He says, 50:39 "You are of your father the devil." 50:42 Because we're born alienated from God. 50:44 That we're conceived in sin, according to Scripture. 50:47 And we have to be converted. 50:48 We have to accept Christ, and then we're grafted in 50:51 to the family of God. 50:52 Now, the only one who deserves to be called 50:54 the son of God is Jesus Christ. 50:56 But when I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior, 50:58 I become His brother. 51:02 Or in the case of the women here, you become His sister. 51:05 And so Jesus now comes to the Father and says, 51:07 "Father, I've got a new brother." 51:10 And the Father says, "You do? What's his name?" 51:12 "Pastor Stephen Bohr." 51:14 The Father says, "Well if he's Your brother, 51:16 he's My son too." 51:18 That's what Jesus meant when He said, "I am the way, 51:21 the truth, and the life. 51:23 No man comes unto the Father but by Me." 51:27 So if you're a literal Jew but you've rejected Jesus Christ, 51:31 the biblical definition is that you're not a child of God. 51:34 We're children of God by creation, 51:36 but not by redemption. 51:38 Now let's go to John chapter 8 verses 32 through 44. 51:42 Here Jesus is having a conversation 51:43 with the literal Jews. 51:45 And this is very significant. 51:46 It says here... 51:56 Really, it's Abrahams seed. 51:57 It's the same identical word, "seed," 51:59 as in Galatians chapter 3. 52:21 And then Jesus says, "I know that you are 52:23 Abraham's descendents." 52:24 He's speaking physically now. We're going to see that. 52:27 "I know that you are literally Abraham's descendents," 52:29 is what He's saying. 52:30 "But you seek to kill Me because My word has no place in you. 52:34 I speak what I have seen with My Father, 52:37 you do what you have seen with your father." 52:41 He's not talking about Abraham here, folks. 52:43 "They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.'" 52:48 And he was their father physically speaking, 52:51 but he wasn't really their father. 52:52 Notice what it continues saying. 52:54 "They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' 52:57 Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children...'" 53:01 Which means that they're not. 53:02 "...you would do the works of Abraham. 53:05 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth 53:09 which I heard from God. 53:10 Abraham did not do this." 53:11 "You say you're Abraham's children, 53:12 but you want to kill Me. 53:13 He would have embraced Me." 53:15 Now notice what it continues saying. 53:17 Verse 41, "'You do the deeds of your father.' 53:20 Then they said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication. 53:23 We have one Father; God.'" 53:26 Verse 42, "Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father...'" 53:29 Which is saying He isn't. 53:31 "If God were your Father, you would love Me, 53:33 for I proceeded forth and came from God; 53:36 nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 53:39 Why do you not understand My speech? 53:41 Because you are not able to listen to My word." 53:44 And then notice what He says. 53:45 These are solemn words. 53:46 "You are of your father the devil." 53:49 Who wanted Jesus dead? 53:51 The devil. 53:53 Did the Jewish nation want Him dead too? 53:56 Except for a few exceptions. Yes. 53:58 So whose children were they? 54:00 Jesus said, "Abraham saw My day and rejoiced." 54:03 "If you were Abraham's children, you would be rejoicing," 54:06 is what He's saying. 54:07 "But you want to kill Me, just like your father." 54:10 So He says in verse 44, "You are of your father the devil, 54:14 and the deeds of your father you want to do. 54:17 He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not 54:19 stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. 54:22 When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, 54:26 for he is a liar and the father of it." 54:31 We've also notice that Jesus has only one breastplate 54:33 with twelve stones. 54:36 And those twelve stones represent the twelve tribes 54:38 of Israel and the twelve apostles of the Lamb, 54:41 from which the Old and the New Testament church comes. 54:44 There's only one High Priest with twelve stones. 54:48 There is no such thing like separating literal Israel 54:51 from the church. 54:54 God has only one people. 54:56 And it's defined by their relationship with Jesus Christ. 54:59 You know what the tragic thing is, as we near our close? 55:02 Is that most preachers today believe just the way 55:05 Saul of Tarsus did before his conversion. 55:09 They jump from the Old Testament to the end time 55:14 and bypass Jesus Christ. 55:16 They say that God has elected literal Israel 55:20 unconditionally and irrevocably, no matter whether they 55:24 receive Jesus or not. 55:26 And they believe that prophecy will be fulfilled with 55:28 literal Israel and literal Jerusalem in a literal temple, 55:31 with re-established literal sacrifices, with a 55:34 literal personal antichrist sitting in the literal temple 55:37 for a literal three and a half years. 55:39 And literal enemies will come from the literal north 55:42 and the literal south with literal weapons 55:44 and wage a literal war against literal Jerusalem; 55:48 when Scripture tells us that the war will be against 55:51 the body of Jesus Christ. 55:54 It will be against the church, 55:56 whether they be literal Jews or Gentiles, 55:58 all joined in one body. 56:02 Are you understanding me? 56:05 What has happened today is false prophecy being preached 56:09 from almost every single pulpit in the Christian world. 56:13 They're telling people, "Look to the Middle East 56:15 for the fulfillment of prophecy. 56:18 They're going to rebuild the temple. 56:20 The Russians and the Arabs are coming against Jerusalem. 56:24 There's going to be a nasty antichrist who will 56:26 sit in the temple. 56:28 And he's going to rule there for three and a half years. 56:30 But of course the church will be gone. 56:32 It will be raptured to heaven. 56:33 The church isn't going through the tribulation." 56:36 And meanwhile, the little horn and the beast 56:41 function in Rome. 56:44 And the false prophet, as we will study, 56:48 works in the United States. 56:50 And nobody can see it because they're looking 56:54 in the wrong place. 56:57 Is this a serious matter? 56:59 Listen folks, the solution to the Jewish Palestinian 57:03 problem is very simple. 57:05 If the Jews accepted Christ as Savior, 57:08 and the Palestinians accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, 57:12 the conflict in the Middle East would end instantly. 57:15 Because they would say, "What are we fighting about? 57:17 We're all brothers because we're all in Christ." 57:22 Are you understanding what we've studied? 57:24 Vitally important for what we're going to study in the future. |
Revised 2014-12-17