Thanks to NASA we definitely
can take in the big picture.
00:00:05.03\00:00:09.90
And from space
we all look united,
00:00:09.93\00:00:13.26
but get a little closer
and we get a different picture.
00:00:13.29\00:00:17.85
We have divided ourselves into
00:00:17.88\00:00:19.75
many different ideologies
and faith communities.
00:00:19.78\00:00:23.58
Those who take
the name of the Christ
00:00:23.61\00:00:25.26
as there moniker
comprise the largest group,
00:00:25.29\00:00:28.10
if taken as a whole.
00:00:28.13\00:00:30.18
But the group I want us
to consider for a moment
00:00:30.21\00:00:32.67
is that little red sliver
just to the left of Christians.
00:00:32.70\00:00:37.86
This group accounts for not
even one half of one percent
00:00:37.89\00:00:41.82
of the earth's
population, just a mere 0.3%.
00:00:41.85\00:00:47.82
This little red
wedge represents the Jews.
00:00:47.85\00:00:52.36
At less than 13.5
million people worldwide.
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It wouldn't seem
possible for them
00:00:56.37\00:00:58.15
to have a
started their own nation.
00:00:58.18\00:01:00.62
But this is just one
amazing statistic among many.
00:01:00.65\00:01:05.81
While just under 6
million live in Israel
00:01:05.84\00:01:08.89
comprising 75%
of the population,
00:01:08.92\00:01:11.77
over 6 ½ million
live in the United States.
00:01:11.80\00:01:16.78
The Jews in the U.S.
00:01:16.81\00:01:18.31
only account for
2% of the population.
00:01:18.34\00:01:21.75
But they comprise
almost half of all
00:01:21.78\00:01:24.47
its billionaires
and money still talks.
00:01:24.50\00:01:29.13
It is reported that the
chief executive officers
00:01:29.16\00:01:31.99
of the three major
television networks
00:01:32.02\00:01:34.37
and the four largest
films studios are Jews.
00:01:34.40\00:01:38.08
As are the owners of the
nation largest news paper chain
00:01:38.11\00:01:41.38
and the most
influential single news paper,
00:01:41.41\00:01:44.75
The New York Times.
00:01:44.78\00:01:46.95
The role and
influence of the Jews
00:01:46.98\00:01:48.71
in American
politics is equally marked.
00:01:48.74\00:01:52.77
The single biggest
donor to American politicians
00:01:52.80\00:01:56.20
is Israeli billionaires
and media mughal Haim Saban.
00:01:56.23\00:02:01.08
Why do I share this information,
00:02:01.11\00:02:03.14
because in the
world of nation building
00:02:03.17\00:02:05.46
many Protestants believe
that the establishment of Israel
00:02:05.49\00:02:08.99
as a nation is a direct
fulfillment of prophecy?
00:02:09.02\00:02:13.75
While I be the first to affirm
00:02:13.78\00:02:15.27
that God certainly
allowed this to transpire,
00:02:15.30\00:02:18.79
I have yet to see a
prophecy in Scripture
00:02:18.82\00:02:21.88
that calls for the present
day restoration of an Israel
00:02:21.91\00:02:25.37
that is overwhelming secular
and resistant to the truth.
00:02:25.40\00:02:30.57
In Christ's day the
Jews mistakenly apply
00:02:30.60\00:02:33.12
the prophecies of
Christ's second coming
00:02:33.15\00:02:35.95
to his first appearance.
00:02:35.98\00:02:38.38
Now they along
with the Protestants
00:02:38.41\00:02:41.08
are applying the
prophecies of His first coming
00:02:41.11\00:02:44.18
to His second coming.
00:02:44.21\00:02:45.95
But a careful study of
the prophecies of Daniel 8, 9
00:02:45.98\00:02:49.39
where scripture
interprets scripture reveals
00:02:49.42\00:02:52.43
a remarkable parallel
00:02:52.46\00:02:53.84
with the teachings
of the Jesus Himself
00:02:53.87\00:02:55.74
in the four
gospels and in Revelation.
00:02:55.77\00:02:58.59
But I am afraid those
sane teachings are causing
00:02:58.62\00:03:01.37
as much thunder today
00:03:01.40\00:03:03.29
as they did 2000
years ago in the Holy Land.
00:03:03.32\00:03:06.93
Our thunder team
spent over four months
00:03:59.32\00:04:01.88
traveling around the
fascinating country of Israel.
00:04:01.91\00:04:05.47
While it truly is the
desire of most people there
00:04:05.50\00:04:08.83
to live in peace,
00:04:08.86\00:04:10.62
the walls, the check points,
00:04:10.65\00:04:13.09
the military presence
are constant reminders
00:04:13.12\00:04:15.72
that Israel is not at peace
with it neighbors or itself.
00:04:15.75\00:04:21.24
The question they are wrestling
with is who gets Israel?
00:04:21.27\00:04:25.70
Who has the
right of inheritance?
00:04:25.73\00:04:28.99
The Israelis believe the land
belongs to them by divine right.
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After all God promised
to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
00:04:33.50\00:04:37.96
The Palestinians
believe the land is theirs
00:04:37.99\00:04:40.30
because they were
the last ones who had it.
00:04:40.33\00:04:42.98
And they have been there,
00:04:43.01\00:04:44.38
every bit as long if
not longer than the Jews.
00:04:44.41\00:04:47.35
But if we consider
with the Bible teaches
00:04:47.38\00:04:49.48
in both the Old and
New Testament about,
00:04:49.51\00:04:52.11
who will inherit Israel?
00:04:52.14\00:04:54.35
We might be surprised to
learn that these teachings
00:04:54.38\00:04:57.30
exactly mere those of Jesus in
the four gospels and Revelation.
00:04:57.33\00:05:03.20
And if we consider
the teachings of Jesus,
00:05:03.23\00:05:06.14
I think we would also learn that
00:05:06.17\00:05:07.54
just about
everyone's opinion regarding
00:05:07.57\00:05:10.17
who will inherit Israel
is just that, an opinion.
00:05:10.20\00:05:14.94
For who will inherit
Israel has already been decided
00:05:14.97\00:05:18.93
and clearly spelled out.
00:05:18.96\00:05:21.01
And despite any thunder that
teachings of Jesus may cause,
00:05:21.04\00:05:25.13
the truth is
the still the truth.
00:05:25.16\00:05:28.71
Let's check it out, Stephen.
00:05:28.74\00:05:31.95
Thanks Charles, I
think we've been here
00:05:31.98\00:05:33.86
in Israel long enough to know
00:05:33.89\00:05:35.26
that this is
certainly a heartburning topic.
00:05:35.29\00:05:37.68
But this topic is
also totally misunderstood
00:05:37.71\00:05:39.88
by many churches in
the United States as well.
00:05:39.91\00:05:42.60
In fact, I would dare to say
00:05:42.63\00:05:44.15
that most of our
nation's support of Israel
00:05:44.18\00:05:46.52
has been based on a misguided
understanding of prophecy.
00:05:46.55\00:05:49.74
So today we are going
to look at a lot of verses
00:05:49.77\00:05:52.03
that will focus the spotlight
of truth on this subject.
00:05:52.06\00:05:55.26
So let's start with
Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 5:5,
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"Blessed are the meek for
they shall inherit the earth."
00:05:58.56\00:06:02.08
Tell me at what
point in history,
00:06:02.11\00:06:04.45
at what point in business or
politics have the meek ever won?
00:06:04.48\00:06:08.10
And the economy of this world
might makes right not humility.
00:06:08.13\00:06:12.61
So this teaching cannot be
about earth as we now know it.
00:06:12.64\00:06:15.50
And really who would want
to inherit the toxic waste,
00:06:15.53\00:06:18.23
the nuclear trash, the
plastic and aluminum garbage
00:06:18.26\00:06:20.85
strewn around the globe.
00:06:20.88\00:06:22.36
Who would want to
own the polluted water
00:06:22.39\00:06:23.89
in the broken down cities.
00:06:23.92\00:06:26.05
So what earth is
Jesus talking about?
00:06:26.08\00:06:28.37
The Bible interpreted
itself in Isaiah 65:17,
00:06:28.40\00:06:32.01
"For, behold, I create
new heavens and a new earth
00:06:32.04\00:06:35.49
and the former
shall not be remembered,
00:06:35.52\00:06:37.41
nor come into mind."
00:06:37.44\00:06:39.60
And this was the same
teaching of Jesus sent to John
00:06:39.63\00:06:41.80
in a vision in Revelation 21,
00:06:41.83\00:06:44.90
"And I saw a new heaven and a
new earth for the first heaven
00:06:44.93\00:06:48.41
and the first
earth were passed away."
00:06:48.44\00:06:51.31
So here's the
first problem solved.
00:06:51.34\00:06:53.72
Everyone who was trying
to establish a present day
00:06:53.75\00:06:55.71
earthly kingdom
with Christ at its head
00:06:55.74\00:06:57.90
is trying to do something
00:06:57.93\00:06:59.30
that God has never once
promised in the Scripture.
00:06:59.33\00:07:02.38
The Jews believe
that Jesus would set up
00:07:02.41\00:07:04.11
a present day earthly kingdom
00:07:04.14\00:07:05.70
and made it part
of their doctrine.
00:07:05.73\00:07:08.00
Because Christ didn't
set up their desired kingdom,
00:07:08.03\00:07:10.28
they rejected
Him as the Messiah.
00:07:10.31\00:07:12.75
Even the
disciples kept expecting it.
00:07:12.78\00:07:15.32
After He was
resurrected from the dead,
00:07:15.35\00:07:17.29
they asked Him again.
00:07:17.32\00:07:18.69
"Lord, wilt thou at
this time restore again
00:07:18.72\00:07:21.91
the kingdom to Israel?"
00:07:21.94\00:07:23.96
But Jesus' kingdom
is not of this world
00:07:23.99\00:07:26.35
and make no mistake,
00:07:26.38\00:07:27.75
He said so
Himself in John 18:36.
00:07:27.78\00:07:30.87
So the first
thing in our study today
00:07:30.90\00:07:32.34
that we all need to grasp
00:07:32.37\00:07:34.02
is that the true
inheritance is not the Israel
00:07:34.05\00:07:36.09
that you see
right here, right now.
00:07:36.12\00:07:38.80
We are still on pilgrimage.
00:07:38.83\00:07:40.26
Like father Abraham we
are just passing through.
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Nice takeaway, Stephen,
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because we need to
talk about Abraham,
00:07:45.64\00:07:47.95
the father of the Jewish nation.
00:07:47.98\00:07:50.37
Jews here in Israel believe
that God gave Abraham this land,
00:07:50.40\00:07:54.13
so it doesn't
matter who gets this place,
00:07:54.16\00:07:56.21
whose lives are uprooted.
00:07:56.24\00:07:57.85
After all God owns
everything by right of creation.
00:07:57.88\00:08:01.93
So God chooses to
give this land to the Jews,
00:08:01.96\00:08:05.20
it's His prerogative
and who can argue with God.
00:08:05.23\00:08:09.52
Unfortunately, this
misguided philosophy ignores
00:08:09.55\00:08:12.64
the rest of the inheritance
teaching in Scripture.
00:08:12.67\00:08:15.97
If you read it all you
would find that promises of God
00:08:16.00\00:08:18.62
to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
are not without conditions.
00:08:18.65\00:08:23.93
So let's stop and take
a look at what the Bible
00:08:23.96\00:08:26.30
actually teaches
in Genesis 12: 1,
00:08:26.33\00:08:30.14
"Now the Lord
had said unto Abram,
00:08:30.17\00:08:32.32
Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred,
00:08:32.35\00:08:35.05
and from thy father's house,
00:08:35.08\00:08:36.91
unto a land that
I will shew thee."
00:08:36.94\00:08:40.26
I want you to notice something
when God chose father Abraham,
00:08:40.29\00:08:44.37
He didn't choose a Jew.
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Abraham's home land
was Ur of the Chaldea.
00:08:46.31\00:08:49.35
That would make him a
Chaldean or a Babylonian.
00:08:49.38\00:08:52.75
Don't miss this.
Abraham wasn't Jewish.
00:08:52.78\00:08:57.06
Today we would
call him an Iraqi.
00:08:57.09\00:09:00.24
So the question comes,
00:09:00.27\00:09:01.75
why did God choose
someone from present day Iraq
00:09:01.78\00:09:04.32
to become the
father of the faithful?
00:09:04.35\00:09:07.09
The answer is
right in the question
00:09:07.12\00:09:09.78
because Abraham was faithful.
00:09:09.81\00:09:13.20
He believed in the one true God.
00:09:13.23\00:09:15.77
He worshipped the one true God.
00:09:15.80\00:09:17.80
He obeyed the one true God.
00:09:17.83\00:09:20.47
They had a relationship.
00:09:20.50\00:09:23.48
And this is not just
my own interpretation
00:09:23.51\00:09:26.10
this is the
reason God Himself gave
00:09:26.13\00:09:28.71
for choosing Abraham to
receive His covenant promise
00:09:28.74\00:09:31.42
of an inheritance of this land
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and the surrounding countries.
00:09:33.56\00:09:35.66
"Because Abraham obeyed
my voice and kept my charge,
00:09:35.69\00:09:39.72
my commandments, my
statutes, and my laws."
00:09:39.75\00:09:44.53
Verse 4 tells us that the reason
00:09:44.56\00:09:46.32
that Abraham would be a blessing
to all the nations on earth
00:09:46.35\00:09:49.44
is that he would leave
an example of a human life
00:09:49.47\00:09:52.58
connected with divinity.
00:09:52.61\00:09:54.77
Obeying the will of God
and receiving His blessings.
00:09:54.80\00:09:58.60
Perhaps, the
first test of obedience
00:09:58.63\00:10:00.66
was leaving his home
land and going to a new place,
00:10:00.69\00:10:03.64
he would not have been faithful
to God if he had stayed home.
00:10:03.67\00:10:07.69
But the real
test, the big one came
00:10:07.72\00:10:09.80
when God told him to offer
up Isaac as a human sacrifice
00:10:09.83\00:10:14.73
that was terribly
hard, but he obeyed.
00:10:14.76\00:10:19.59
He traveled two days and in
the morning of the third day
00:10:19.62\00:10:22.72
he saw the place God has chosen.
00:10:22.75\00:10:25.61
He would have killed
Isaac in obedience to God,
00:10:25.64\00:10:28.66
but was stopped by
the angel of the Lord.
00:10:28.69\00:10:31.87
All this obedience
was proof of his faith
00:10:31.90\00:10:34.13
in an all powerful
promise keeping God.
00:10:34.16\00:10:37.89
Now if Abraham had told God
00:10:37.92\00:10:39.61
that he would go to the
land of Canaan, but never did.
00:10:39.64\00:10:43.01
If he told God that he would
offer up his son, but never did.
00:10:43.04\00:10:47.44
One, he wouldn't be an example
of what God wanted in obedience
00:10:47.47\00:10:51.79
and two, he wouldn't have been
00:10:51.82\00:10:53.38
in a covenant
relationship with God
00:10:53.41\00:10:55.44
and thus he would not have been
the inheritor of the promise.
00:10:55.47\00:10:59.52
He could not been the
father of the faithful
00:10:59.55\00:11:02.87
and that was the
teaching of Jesus as well.
00:11:02.90\00:11:06.20
"Not every one
that saith unto me,
00:11:06.23\00:11:08.19
Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven,
00:11:08.22\00:11:11.80
but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven."
00:11:11.83\00:11:16.59
Jesus went on to say,
"And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord
00:11:16.62\00:11:19.99
and do not the
things which I say?"
00:11:20.02\00:11:23.12
The Apostle James said,
"Abraham was a friend of God."
00:11:23.15\00:11:26.32
Because he was
willing to offer up Isaac
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.58
and it is no
different for us today,
00:11:29.61\00:11:31.92
the only people
who are friends of God
00:11:31.95\00:11:34.66
are those who do what He
says and that is the doctrine,
00:11:34.69\00:11:39.10
the teaching of Jesus Himself.
00:11:39.13\00:11:42.48
"You are My friends, He said,
00:11:42.51\00:11:44.46
if ye do
whatsoever I command you."
00:11:44.49\00:11:48.64
It wasn't because
Abraham was a great person
00:11:48.67\00:11:50.74
or smarter or
richer or even holier
00:11:50.77\00:11:53.52
that God chose him
and his descendants
00:11:53.55\00:11:56.16
to receive a special blessing.
00:11:56.19\00:11:58.13
It was because Abraham responded
00:11:58.16\00:12:00.19
in obedience to
God's unparalleled love.
00:12:00.22\00:12:03.87
As a result, God made
this promise to Abraham
00:12:03.90\00:12:07.17
in Genesis 12: 7,
00:12:07.20\00:12:09.04
"And the Lord
appeared unto Abram, and said,
00:12:09.07\00:12:11.80
Unto thy seed I
will give this land
00:12:11.83\00:12:14.87
and there builded he
an altar unto the Lord,
00:12:14.90\00:12:17.73
who appeared unto him."
00:12:17.76\00:12:19.83
The Lord promised to
give Abraham this land
00:12:19.86\00:12:22.63
and that promise He also
gave to Isaac and to Jacob.
00:12:22.66\00:12:26.02
This promise was given to Isaac
00:12:26.05\00:12:27.94
even though he wasn't
Abraham's first born son.
00:12:27.97\00:12:30.85
It was passed on to Jacob
00:12:30.88\00:12:32.25
even though he wasn't
Isaac's first born son.
00:12:32.28\00:12:35.01
And it's passed on
to those who of promise,
00:12:35.04\00:12:37.56
and to those who
would follow in a humble,
00:12:37.59\00:12:39.81
obedient relationship with God.
00:12:39.84\00:12:42.59
And the promise
grew from just inheriting
00:12:42.62\00:12:44.43
the land of Canaan
to inheriting countries.
00:12:44.46\00:12:47.66
Genesis 26: 4, "And I
will make thy seed to multiply
00:12:47.69\00:12:52.22
as the stars of heaven,
00:12:52.25\00:12:54.11
and will give unto thy
seed all these countries,
00:12:54.14\00:12:57.92
and in thy seed
shall all the nations
00:12:57.95\00:13:00.35
of the earth be blessed."
00:13:00.38\00:13:02.77
Now for some
there's a contradiction here
00:13:02.80\00:13:05.38
between Genesis
26: 5 and Romans 4: 3.
00:13:05.41\00:13:09.62
And Paul taught,
"Abraham believed God,
00:13:09.65\00:13:12.14
and it was counted
unto him for righteousness."
00:13:12.17\00:13:15.69
On the other hand, Moses wrote
00:13:15.72\00:13:17.66
that Abraham entered a
covenant relationship with God.
00:13:17.69\00:13:21.09
"Because that
Abraham obeyed my voice,
00:13:21.12\00:13:23.26
and kept my
charge, my commandments,
00:13:23.29\00:13:25.58
my statutes, and my laws."
00:13:25.61\00:13:28.63
So which is it?
00:13:28.66\00:13:30.03
Do we just believe or do
we obey and solve the dilemma.
00:13:30.06\00:13:34.68
Actually there is no dilemma.
00:13:34.71\00:13:36.42
And then here is why because,
00:13:36.45\00:13:38.23
"True belief
always causes one to act."
00:13:38.26\00:13:42.48
The proof that Abraham
believed was he left home
00:13:42.51\00:13:45.92
and he offered up his son Isaac
00:13:45.95\00:13:48.01
and in this regard
nothing has changed
00:13:48.04\00:13:50.27
in the Old Testament people
were saved by faith in God
00:13:50.30\00:13:53.11
looking forward to the cross.
00:13:53.14\00:13:55.28
In the New Testament
people are saved by faith
00:13:55.31\00:13:57.79
looking back at the cross.
00:13:57.82\00:13:59.94
The only way to be
saved is through Jesus
00:13:59.97\00:14:02.87
and His sacrifice on the cross.
00:14:02.90\00:14:05.31
People in every generation
have only been saved by grace.
00:14:05.34\00:14:10.76
And true believers in
every generation have followed
00:14:10.79\00:14:13.72
and obeyed God else
they were not true believers.
00:14:13.75\00:14:19.32
Let's review.
00:14:19.35\00:14:20.77
What we have learnt so far is,
00:14:20.80\00:14:22.88
first, Jesus will
create a new earth
00:14:22.91\00:14:26.71
and only those who are meek
00:14:26.74\00:14:28.16
or teachable
will be allowed there.
00:14:28.19\00:14:31.20
That Abraham the
father of the faithful
00:14:31.23\00:14:34.13
is an example to the believers
00:14:34.16\00:14:36.21
because if you truly believe God
you will do whatever God says
00:14:36.24\00:14:40.72
and let Him take
care of the outcome.
00:14:40.75\00:14:43.67
And three, we learned
that there is no contradiction
00:14:43.70\00:14:47.73
between faith and works
00:14:47.76\00:14:50.05
because true
belief always causes
00:14:50.08\00:14:52.23
one to act in
obedience to his faith.
00:14:52.26\00:14:55.75
I suppose when most people
think of a relationship with God
00:14:55.78\00:14:59.24
the first word that
comes to mind is not friend,
00:14:59.27\00:15:02.80
but three times
the Bible records
00:15:02.83\00:15:05.00
that Abraham and
God were friends.
00:15:05.03\00:15:08.49
And I don't think that
was just hyperbole either
00:15:08.52\00:15:10.61
because God actually
stopped by Abraham's tent
00:15:10.64\00:15:13.75
and ate with him.
00:15:13.78\00:15:15.57
You can read about
it in Genesis 18: 8.
00:15:15.60\00:15:18.72
According to verse
19 one of the things
00:15:18.75\00:15:21.35
that makes you a friend of God,
00:15:21.38\00:15:23.49
according to God Himself
00:15:23.52\00:15:25.51
is when you do
exactly what He says.
00:15:25.54\00:15:29.59
"For I know him,
that he will command
00:15:29.62\00:15:32.26
his children and
his household after him,
00:15:32.29\00:15:35.27
and they shall keep
the way of the Lord,
00:15:35.30\00:15:37.60
to do justice and judgment,
00:15:37.63\00:15:40.46
that the Lord may
bring upon Abraham
00:15:40.49\00:15:43.17
that which he
hath spoken of him."
00:15:43.20\00:15:46.24
This is the very same message
in the teachings of Jesus
00:15:46.27\00:15:50.05
in John 15: 14.
00:15:50.08\00:15:52.64
"You are my friends, Jesus said,
00:15:52.67\00:15:55.39
if you do
whatsoever I command you."
00:15:55.42\00:15:58.95
Now don't miss
this, if we're going to be
00:15:58.98\00:16:01.58
in a covenant
relationship with God
00:16:01.61\00:16:04.17
then we have to do what He says
00:16:04.20\00:16:05.92
or else the covenant is broken.
00:16:05.95\00:16:07.72
It's no longer binding.
00:16:07.75\00:16:09.66
This concept is
everywhere in Scripture
00:16:09.69\00:16:12.30
in both the Old
and the New Testament.
00:16:12.33\00:16:15.02
But time and
tradition had changed
00:16:15.05\00:16:17.32
what God clearly taught
to something else entirely.
00:16:17.35\00:16:22.28
Check this out.
00:16:22.31\00:16:23.71
According to Judaism 101,
00:16:23.74\00:16:26.22
a person born to
non-Jewish parents
00:16:26.25\00:16:29.08
who has not undergone the
formal process of conversion,
00:16:29.11\00:16:32.09
but who believes everything
that the orthodox Jews believe
00:16:32.12\00:16:35.84
and observes every
law and custom of Judaism
00:16:35.87\00:16:38.99
is still a non-Jew.
00:16:39.02\00:16:41.28
Even in the eyes of the most
liberal movements of Judaism.
00:16:41.31\00:16:44.99
While a person
born to a Jewish mother
00:16:45.02\00:16:47.67
who is an atheist
and never practices
00:16:47.70\00:16:50.53
the Jewish
religion is still a Jew,
00:16:50.56\00:16:53.79
even in the eyes
of the ultra orthodox.
00:16:53.82\00:16:57.36
So you see being a Jew today
00:16:57.39\00:16:59.61
does not
necessarily have anything to do
00:16:59.64\00:17:01.88
with faith or obedience.
00:17:01.91\00:17:04.10
It is more akin to a nationality
than it is to other religions.
00:17:04.13\00:17:09.23
Being Jewish is
more like a citizenship.
00:17:09.26\00:17:12.61
John the Baptist
rejected this prevalent
00:17:12.64\00:17:15.29
and on going misconception
and so did the foretold Messiah.
00:17:15.32\00:17:21.21
While Jesus
acknowledged that in bloodline
00:17:21.24\00:17:23.55
the Jews were physically
descendants of Abraham
00:17:23.58\00:17:26.88
by their rejection of Him,
00:17:26.91\00:17:29.05
they had an actuality become
00:17:29.08\00:17:30.90
spiritually the
children of Satan.
00:17:30.93\00:17:35.23
"Ye are of your
father the devil,
00:17:35.26\00:17:37.79
and the lusts of
your father ye will do.
00:17:37.82\00:17:41.19
He was a murderer
from the beginning,
00:17:41.22\00:17:43.25
and abode not in the truth,
00:17:43.28\00:17:45.32
because there
is no truth in him.
00:17:45.35\00:17:47.95
When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own,
00:17:47.98\00:17:51.00
for he is a liar,
and the father of it."
00:17:51.03\00:17:55.73
In contrast, the followers
of the one true God listen,
00:17:55.76\00:18:00.76
believe and obediently
follow where He leads.
00:18:00.79\00:18:05.39
"My sheep hear My voice."
00:18:05.42\00:18:06.89
Jesus said, "And I know
them, and they follow Me."
00:18:06.92\00:18:12.18
Which brings us
to the exciting truth
00:18:12.21\00:18:14.43
about who will actually
and in fact, inherit Israel.
00:18:14.46\00:18:20.40
The God of Abraham said,
00:18:20.43\00:18:22.12
"All the nations of the earth
shall be blessed in Abraham."
00:18:22.15\00:18:26.22
The blessing that
Abraham left for every nation
00:18:26.25\00:18:28.50
was a blessed example of faith
00:18:28.53\00:18:30.38
and obedient belief
in the God of creation.
00:18:30.41\00:18:33.80
As a type of Christ,
00:18:33.83\00:18:35.20
Abraham showed us a path
to the promised inheritance
00:18:35.23\00:18:38.20
which is the new earth.
00:18:38.23\00:18:39.99
The only way to be
saved is to say, yes,
00:18:40.02\00:18:43.07
to the Lord with
all your known choices.
00:18:43.10\00:18:45.92
When we follow that example,
00:18:45.95\00:18:47.32
when we embrace that experience
00:18:47.35\00:18:49.79
something very special happens,
00:18:49.82\00:18:52.05
we get a new father
according to Galatians 3,
00:18:52.08\00:18:55.36
"Even as Abraham believed God,
00:18:55.39\00:18:57.22
and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.
00:18:57.25\00:19:00.26
Know ye therefore that
they which are of faith,
00:19:00.29\00:19:03.18
the same are the
children of Abraham."
00:19:03.21\00:19:06.18
Now that's too cool.
00:19:06.21\00:19:07.70
Paul, a Jew, a Pharisee got it.
00:19:07.73\00:19:10.92
He made it absolutely
clear that if we have the faith,
00:19:10.95\00:19:14.24
the belief that
causes one to act
00:19:14.27\00:19:16.05
in obedience to
the lordship of Christ
00:19:16.08\00:19:19.41
we are adopted
into the family of God
00:19:19.44\00:19:21.67
and thus Abraham
becomes our father.
00:19:21.70\00:19:26.19
What does that mean?
00:19:26.22\00:19:27.63
Paul explains
starting in verse 28,
00:19:27.66\00:19:30.49
"There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free,
00:19:30.52\00:19:34.58
there is
neither male nor female,
00:19:34.61\00:19:37.21
for ye are all
one in Christ Jesus.
00:19:37.24\00:19:40.37
And if ye be Christ's,
then are ye Abraham's seed,
00:19:40.40\00:19:44.05
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:19:44.08\00:19:46.97
And what promise
are we talking about?
00:19:47.00\00:19:49.10
The promise of
inheriting this land
00:19:49.13\00:19:51.90
and the nations round about.
00:19:51.93\00:19:54.16
I want you to look once
again at the original promise
00:19:54.19\00:19:56.30
in Genesis 13: 17,
00:19:56.33\00:19:58.74
"Arise, walk through the land,"
00:19:58.77\00:20:00.77
'God told Abraham'
"in the length of it
00:20:00.80\00:20:03.48
and in the breadth of it,
for I will give it unto thee."
00:20:03.51\00:20:07.26
This land wasn't merely promised
00:20:07.29\00:20:09.34
to the descendants of Abraham.
00:20:09.37\00:20:10.90
It was promised
to Abraham himself,
00:20:10.93\00:20:13.34
but he never
inherited this land.
00:20:13.37\00:20:16.28
He could never
claim Canaan as his own.
00:20:16.31\00:20:19.83
Hebrews 11: 9,
"By faith" 'Abraham'
00:20:19.86\00:20:22.83
"sojourned in
the land of promise,
00:20:22.86\00:20:25.44
as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles"
00:20:25.47\00:20:27.98
'or tents'
"with Isaac and Jacob,
00:20:28.01\00:20:31.18
the heirs with him
of the same promise."
00:20:31.21\00:20:34.33
'Abraham, Isaac and Jacob'
00:20:34.36\00:20:36.34
"all died in faith, not
having received the promises,
00:20:36.37\00:20:40.46
but having seen them afar off,
00:20:40.49\00:20:42.14
and were persuaded of
them, and embraced them,
00:20:42.17\00:20:44.40
and confessed that
they were strangers
00:20:44.43\00:20:47.10
and pilgrims on the earth."
00:20:47.13\00:20:49.17
Now notice
something here don't miss it,
00:20:49.20\00:20:51.83
even though God told Abraham
that he would inherit this land
00:20:51.86\00:20:56.51
he was not told when.
00:20:56.54\00:20:59.60
Hebrews is clear.
00:20:59.63\00:21:01.00
Abraham, Isaac nor Jacob,
00:21:01.03\00:21:03.12
ever saw a fulfillment
of the promise not yet.
00:21:03.15\00:21:08.68
The important issue that
Levi is alluding to here is,
00:21:08.71\00:21:11.74
does God keep His promises?
00:21:11.77\00:21:13.58
The good news is He does.
00:21:13.61\00:21:15.66
They may not be kept
at all on our timetable,
00:21:15.69\00:21:18.33
but He definitely
keeps His promises.
00:21:18.36\00:21:20.07
You see, father
Abraham is not just looking
00:21:23.94\00:21:26.66
for a new land to inherit,
00:21:26.69\00:21:29.09
"For he looked for a
city which hath foundations,
00:21:29.12\00:21:31.99
whose builder and maker is God."
00:21:32.02\00:21:35.42
The inheritance is not
merely a place, it's a presence.
00:21:35.45\00:21:39.83
This new heavens
and new earth is a place
00:21:39.86\00:21:42.18
where we can dwell together
in the presence of God Himself.
00:21:42.21\00:21:47.17
That's what John
said in Revelation 21: 3,
00:21:47.20\00:21:50.40
"And I heard a great
voice out of heaven saying,
00:21:50.43\00:21:53.06
Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men,
00:21:53.09\00:21:57.32
and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people,
00:21:57.35\00:22:01.75
and God himself shall be
with them, and be their God."
00:22:01.78\00:22:06.53
You see, the inheritance
is wrapped up in a new earth
00:22:06.56\00:22:09.73
that our Creator God
will recreate for those
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.72
who love Him and
love His appearing.
00:22:11.75\00:22:14.39
Israel as it now stands
is nice enough in many ways.
00:22:14.42\00:22:17.75
This is the first
time I've been here
00:22:17.78\00:22:19.15
and I've been
talking about staying,
00:22:19.18\00:22:21.21
but this place or any
place on earth cannot compare
00:22:21.24\00:22:23.41
with the earth made new
00:22:23.44\00:22:24.81
in all its hidden glory.
00:22:24.84\00:22:26.30
And once again this inheritance
can belong to anyone,
00:22:26.33\00:22:29.53
it doesn't matter if
you're Jewish or Palestinian,
00:22:29.56\00:22:32.07
doesn't matter
what country your from,
00:22:32.10\00:22:33.99
it doesn't matter
if you're rich or poor,
00:22:34.02\00:22:35.99
it doesn't matter if
you're educated or not.
00:22:36.02\00:22:38.66
"Because if you are Christ's,
00:22:38.69\00:22:40.95
then you are
Abraham's offspring,
00:22:40.98\00:22:42.49
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:22:42.52\00:22:44.57
To be Christ's means to
accept the gifts of love,
00:22:44.60\00:22:47.48
forgiveness,
repentance and faith.
00:22:47.51\00:22:49.55
To be Christ's means
to then walk with Him
00:22:49.58\00:22:52.20
in newness of life
saying, yes, to Him
00:22:52.23\00:22:54.60
with all our known choices
00:22:54.63\00:22:56.77
and this new life
doesn't have to wait
00:22:56.80\00:22:58.17
till He recreates this
earth, it can start now.
00:22:58.20\00:23:01.72
It must start now.
00:23:01.75\00:23:04.82
You're right,
Stephen, it must start now
00:23:04.85\00:23:08.17
and the way it starts now for
each individual is to follow God
00:23:08.20\00:23:12.05
just like faithful Abraham.
00:23:12.08\00:23:14.06
Abraham had to leave his
old life and family in Ur.
00:23:14.09\00:23:18.02
In the same way if
we're going to walk with God
00:23:18.05\00:23:20.78
and be His friend, we
have to leave families,
00:23:20.81\00:23:23.76
churches and friends
and the world behind.
00:23:23.79\00:23:27.21
"Come out from among them,
00:23:27.24\00:23:28.61
and be separate, says the Lord.
00:23:28.64\00:23:30.62
Do not touch what is
unclean and I will receive you."
00:23:30.65\00:23:35.36
In the teachings
and doctrines of Jesus,
00:23:35.39\00:23:37.31
He explained why we
have to be separate.
00:23:37.34\00:23:40.18
Matthew 6:24, "No man
can serve two masters,
00:23:40.21\00:23:44.07
for either he will hate the one,
00:23:44.10\00:23:45.88
and love the other, or
else he will hold to the one,
00:23:45.91\00:23:48.88
and despise the other."
00:23:48.91\00:23:51.13
But if anyone
chooses to love and serve God
00:23:51.16\00:23:54.99
then they are
adopted into His family.
00:23:55.02\00:23:57.94
Everyone is
invited to inherit Israel
00:23:57.97\00:24:00.75
recreated as the new earth,
00:24:00.78\00:24:03.35
but there's one more
part of this inheritance
00:24:03.38\00:24:05.47
you must not miss.
00:24:05.50\00:24:07.54
The inheritance will not be
00:24:07.57\00:24:09.38
the present
Jerusalem and the old city.
00:24:09.41\00:24:11.76
There will only
be the New Jerusalem.
00:24:11.79\00:24:15.96
Revelation 21: 2, "And
I John saw the holy city,
00:24:15.99\00:24:20.05
new Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven,
00:24:20.08\00:24:23.95
prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband."
00:24:23.98\00:24:27.71
That Holy city,
the New Jerusalem
00:24:27.74\00:24:30.26
will be coming right
here to planet earth.
00:24:30.29\00:24:32.76
And Israel in particular,
God will reside in this city.
00:24:32.79\00:24:37.34
His presence will be with all
His faithful, obedient people.
00:24:37.37\00:24:42.42
Verse 16 opens a prophetic
window on this colossal city.
00:24:42.45\00:24:46.56
"And the city lieth foursquare,
00:24:46.59\00:24:48.89
and the length is as
large as the breadth,
00:24:48.92\00:24:51.44
and he measured
the city with the reed,
00:24:51.47\00:24:53.87
twelve thousand furlongs.
00:24:53.90\00:24:55.73
The length and the breadth
and the height of it are equal."
00:24:55.76\00:24:59.77
A furlong is
about 1/8th of a mile,
00:24:59.80\00:25:02.61
so 12,000 furlongs
is about 1,500 miles.
00:25:02.64\00:25:06.86
The question is did the
angel measure the whole city,
00:25:06.89\00:25:09.92
all the way
around or just one side?
00:25:09.95\00:25:12.85
I'm not sure, but I
can say with confidence
00:25:12.88\00:25:15.81
that the smallest possible
size for the New Jerusalem
00:25:15.84\00:25:19.47
is 1,500 miles in circumference.
00:25:19.50\00:25:23.89
There is no city
on earth that large,
00:25:23.92\00:25:27.23
but this will be God's
capital city for the universe,
00:25:27.26\00:25:31.07
so why not be accommodating.
00:25:31.10\00:25:33.37
This is the inheritance
that anyone can possess.
00:25:33.40\00:25:37.00
A new world with
God's personal presence
00:25:37.03\00:25:41.54
now that's the birth right,
the patriarchs were waiting for.
00:25:41.57\00:25:46.44
During these 26 studies
00:25:46.47\00:25:48.14
regarding the
teachings of Jesus,
00:25:48.17\00:25:50.27
we have learned many things.
00:25:50.30\00:25:52.69
We have learned that
we can trust this book,
00:25:52.72\00:25:54.76
replete with
fulfilled prophecies.
00:25:54.79\00:25:57.53
This book indeed
gives us ample evidence
00:25:57.56\00:26:00.02
upon which to
build a rational faith.
00:26:00.05\00:26:03.72
And that's why I
have chosen to believe
00:26:03.75\00:26:05.96
and embrace the
teachings of Jesus
00:26:05.99\00:26:08.20
even though there is
still as much to learn
00:26:08.23\00:26:11.23
and why wouldn't I
believe in a Creator God
00:26:11.26\00:26:13.88
who loved me
enough to die for me,
00:26:13.91\00:26:16.20
one who promises me
an eternity of happiness,
00:26:16.23\00:26:19.78
joy and peace in His presence.
00:26:19.81\00:26:23.17
So what about you,
friend, are you ready to embrace
00:26:23.20\00:26:26.62
the teachings of Jesus,
00:26:26.65\00:26:28.88
are you ready to
be a part of His fold,
00:26:28.91\00:26:31.52
His remnant
church, the body of Christ,
00:26:31.55\00:26:34.56
will you choose to
love and obey Jesus?
00:26:34.59\00:26:38.92
If your answer is, yes,
then you too are a child of God.
00:26:38.95\00:26:43.55
It doesn't
matter if you're Jewish,
00:26:43.58\00:26:45.14
Palestinian or otherwise.
00:26:45.17\00:26:47.59
Your country of
origin or your ethnicity
00:26:47.62\00:26:50.04
or your gender is irrelevant.
00:26:50.07\00:26:52.93
It doesn't matter how
many mistakes you have made
00:26:52.96\00:26:55.63
or how many sins
you have committed.
00:26:55.66\00:26:58.27
When you make God first and
accept Jesus as your Saviour,
00:26:58.30\00:27:02.54
He has promised that
you are a child of Abraham
00:27:02.57\00:27:06.94
and one who will
inherit the ultimate Israel,
00:27:06.97\00:27:10.27
God's kingdom and this world
recreated by the Master Himself.
00:27:10.30\00:27:15.94
Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone
00:28:00.50\00:28:03.39
who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have.
00:28:03.42\00:28:07.34
Did you know that
"Thunder in the Holy Land"
00:28:07.37\00:28:09.17
is a Bible study series that
gives you the ability to share
00:28:09.20\00:28:13.08
the hope you have in
Christ at a moment's notice?
00:28:13.11\00:28:16.73
These interactive,
engaging and clear Bible studies
00:28:16.76\00:28:20.14
on the teachings of Jesus,
00:28:20.17\00:28:22.02
thrive on group discussion
and individual thought.
00:28:22.05\00:28:25.42
Learn more at www.QLP.tv.
00:28:25.45\00:28:28.49