To anyone who will listenHave you ever wondered why the different views on different Bible doctrine. Rapture, salvation, baptism,etc. Do you think it might be because we do not listen to the right spokesman? I am going to briefly explain what I mean.This is a very short but solid study. There is plenty of evidence and verses used to prove my point to the one who has ears listen!Without quoting a lot of verses on the Old Testament, I think most of us will agree that the things that were required of them was a lot different than what we are required.For Example Moses was a spokesman in the Old Testament.(He was not the only one but I will use him as an example) God used him to lead the people of Israel. Notice just one of the many things required in the Old Testament.Leviticus 1:1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
Leviticus 1:3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Moses was also given the Ten Commandments which we all know. But look at some other things that were required.
Exodus 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exodus 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Exodus 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
And we all know there is many more requirements in the Old Testament for the JEWS. And we all know the outcomes.But God changed the way he deals with the Jews and the Gentiles.
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
So fast forward to Matthew and we have another spokesman
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John the Baptist was the spokesman preparing the way for Jesus. Who did Jesus come to speak to? Now we know Jesus came preaching a Gospel. But what Gospel was he preaching?
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
And who did Jesus send the Apostle to go and preach to? The Jews. He specifally said NOT to go to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
And fast forward to Mark 16 and notice Jesus tells his apostles to go and preach the Gospel to whole world. We know that later the apostles were going to the Jews through most if not all of their ministry.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Notice all things that would follow the person who believed. He was talking to the Apostles. Peter and the Apostles were to be the spokesman for the Jews.They could handle deadly snakes and drink poison. Now today because some groups are not listening to the correct spokesman for their group they will quote this verse and claim the gift of talking in tongues and laying on hands for healing. These same people will ignore the serpents and the poisnous drinks. You cannot have one without the other. Maybe this is the verse Jim Jones used when he got all those followers to drink cyanide.The point is God appointed different spokesmen for different groups..He had given the apostles the gifts for a "sign" that the Gospel they were preaching was from God. Then the last 7 years will start and God will turn his attention to the Jews. The spokesman will then be the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 virgin Jews.The book of Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2,3 John, Jude, and Revelation are all for the people going through the tribulation.
So the apostles are the spokesman for the Jews. Paul came along and God made Paul the spokesman for the Gentiles with a new Gospel called "my gospel" or the Gospel of Grace.He first went to the Jews and then they were blinded and his ministry was then to the Gentiles. This will go on until the rapture
Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Acts 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles
. Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Acts 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
God chose Paul as our spokesman today. When a Christian reads the 4 Gospels and Hebrews through Revelation that person is reading letters sent to the Jews and for their understanding. We as Christians can get some good from what was said but it is meant for another time. The time of Tribulation. You see the Apostles were looking for Jesus to set up his earthly Kingdom immediatley. When Israel rejected Christ then God chose Paul to spread the "mystery" Of the salvation by grace. Thank God we live during the time of Grace!! This is where God postphoned dealing with Israel.
Thanks
Mike W