MasterTruth

Kingdom Secrets Revealed

Talk about God’s secrets, He readily divulged His future plans to the Old Testament prophets, revealing all kinds of mysteries. These prophets lived in various locales at various times of history, so they didn’t compare notes. And much of the time, they didn’t fully understand the events they wrote about, because those events were (and still are) future.

But there’s one event mentioned in nine of the prophetic books. It has to do with the theme of the Bible, which is the establishment of Christ’s kingdom and Him finally reigning over all and getting the glory that is due Him. It is called the day of the Lord. How do I know that? I did a Bible search on the phrase day of the Lord. Then I read all those 29 verses. The day of the Lord is the second coming of Christ. It’s not the rapture. It is when Christ returns and stands on the Mount of Olives and splits the mountain and all hell breaks loose with the Battle of Armageddon, because He has come with vengeance to wipe out all the ungodliness that He’s been patient with—up until then. And then He rules.

The reason all this is such a secret to most of us is because we don’t read the Old Testament prophets very much. It’s not the low-hanging fruit devotionally. But study this out. The wrath of God carried out by Jesus Christ and the saints who come with Him arrives on the day of the Lord. That and its immediate aftermath of incredible millennial peace with Jesus ruling is called that day. If you’d like just one spot to visit in the Old Testament that discusses this, go to Zechariah 14. Actually, the whole book is heavy on the second coming, but that day appears seven times in that chapter, and we know it refers to the day of the Lord from 14:1. It’s a study for you to do on your own.

We think of a day as 24 hours. That day is 1,000 years. This should not mystify us. After all, Peter wrote, But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8) And by the way, the context is the second coming of Christ—the Day of the Lord. Peter tells us not to be ignorant of that time equation. So let’s not be ignorant of it. That day is the 1,000 year reign of Christ, and it’s a day God is looking forward to.

As believers, we are looking forward to the rapture, when we will be delivered and be with Jesus. God is looking forward to that day when Christ will get the victory and glory and will reign in His Kingdom.

Let me quote from Mark Trotter, a great Bible “studier” and expositor. (I think he would hate to be called a theologian. That’s too snooty of a word for him.)

“There is a day on God’s ‘calendar’ that He has circled, underlined, starred, exclamation pointed, and ‘smiley faced.’ It is the most important day in history. It is NOT, however, the day most Christians think. It is NOT the day God watched His only begotten Son brutalized on the cross. It is the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns in all of His glory to set up His kingdom on the earth, and for the first time since man sinned in the Garden, He will finally receive the glory that is due His name! The theme of the Bible is Christ’s Kingdom Glory or the day of the Lord.”

With this understanding, let me close with two New Testament verses that might have deeper meaning to you now.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat 6:33)

And then, the Lord’s Prayer… And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come… (Luke 11:2a)

Let’s make His kingdom desire our desire. Start glorifying Him now. Let’s not keep Him and His splendor a secret from those around us.

Jody

Sons of God for the Kingdom of God

I remember a little tune I learned as a teenager containing a phrase I’ve heard repeatedly since then. “We win, we win, Hallelujah we win. I read the back of the book and we win!”

I’ll use this little song to float a secret that will rock your world, if you get it. Here it is: When you read the back of the Book, we don’t win. Jesus wins. You respond, “OK, of course. What’s the big deal?”

What I point out might smack a little of “holier than thou,” but this brings up a huge perspective shift that will affect how you view the Bible and your Christian walk. Ask most Christians (even Bible college educated) what the theme of the Bible is, and what do you think their answer will be? Many will say something like “salvation by Jesus Christ.” That is certainly a theme and prominent message to which many prophesies point. But it’s part of a bigger, broader picture that puts God’s kingship and kingdom at the center rather than us and our salvation.

Now… back to the back of the book. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 11:15) Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords eventually reigning forever and ever over all kingdoms in His kingdom—that’s the theme, from the first to the last of the Bible. (Ex. 15:18, Ps. 146:10, Isa. 49:6-7, Eze. 37:25, Dan. 7:14, Matt. 6:13, Luke 1:33, Rev. 11:15)

In eternity past, God ruled on His throne, unchallenged until His highest angel, Lucifer, rebelled. Lucifer’s pride led to his fall (Isa. 14:12-14), and he took 1/3 of the angels with him. (Rev. 12:4)

God’s complete kingdom was now incomplete.

Enter Adam and Eve created as perfect beings and told to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. (Gen. 1:28) With what? Sons of God. The first sons of God were angels (Job 38:7), and some of them fell with Lucifer. God’s plan was to replenish His kingdom with replacement sons of God.

As we know, from the beginning to the end of the Bible, there’s an enemy fighting for that kingdom. He’s the prince of the power of the air right now.

Satan entices these first perfect human sons of God, Adam and Eve, to sin by disobeying God and eating of the fruit of the tree from which God told them not to eat. (Gen. 3:11-15) God has a prophecy for Satan. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (3:15)

The seed referred to in this passage that would destroy Satan’s head is Jesus. From the beginning, God set a new “son of God” plan in place to redeem sinners and turn them into sons of God to replenish his kingdom. (John 1:12)

Watching that seed line come up through Bible history is a nail-biting read. Just go to the genealogy of Christ in the first chapter of Matthew and review some of the characters, recalling some of their harrowing stories from the Old Testament. Notice how that seed line was constantly in peril.

• Abraham is promised the seed will come through him (Gen. 22:17—compare the “stars of heaven” addition with the “stars of heaven” loss in Rev. 12:4), but he’s not having a child any time soon, so Sarah his wife tries to devise a plan to come up with a seed herself through Hagar. Nope that wasn’t the one.
• Isaac is the one, but God asks Abraham to sacrifice him. Isaac is inches from having his body sliced up when God intervenes. (Gen 22:12)
• Isaac’s first son Esau should be in line for the seed blessing, according to tradition, but Rebekah prefers their other son Jacob and manipulates to get the family blessing passed on to Jacob instead. It works. And surprise: God wanted Jacob to be the line from which Christ came anyway. (Rom 9:13)
• Later, God reveals David is the one through whom the seed will come, but Saul tries desperately to kill him. Fortunately, he’s a bad aim with the javelin. (1 Sam. 19:10)
• Eventually the Seed, Christ, is born, but King Herod wants him dead, so he orders all small children to be killed. Joseph and Mary run away with baby Jesus to Egypt until Herod dies. (Matt. 2:13-14)
• But alas, at the right time, the Seed dies His intended death on the cross, partly because one of Jesus’ 12 disciples gets a plan from Satan to betray him and have him killed. (John 13:27) Satan thinks he won. But no, because Jesus, the perfect Son of God, rises again from the dead, and now those who receive him have the power to become sons of God. (John 1:12)

Now do you see through a new lens what the plan of salvation is about? It’s not as much about God’s plan for you as His sovereign rulership over His completed kingdom, of which you get to be a part if you’ve accepted His only begotten Son, the promised seed, and become a son yourself.

When you look at it this way, do you think your salvation by faith in Christ is all about you living your best life now? The phrase, “Jesus would have come and died for just one (me, you),” seems ill-informed now, doesn’t it.

We are living in the last days, and the pervasive perspective, even among the church, is a “me” focus. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves… (2 Tim. 3:1-2a)

This focus has become lost: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Rev 22:13)

For a parting thought (that I’ll expand on next time)—when we get saved, we become part of His spiritual kingdom (the kingdom of God) where He rules. After the second coming, we become part of the actual physical kingdom (the kingdom of heaven) where He will rule over all.

Jody

 

Is God Finished With the Jews?

Paul was pointed. The Jews wouldn’t accept the gospel message, so he turned to the Gentiles.

Here’s when it happened: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth (Acts 13:46-47)

While his position may have been abrupt, it was God-advised. His visions and revelations, as we’ve learned, were that the Gentiles would receive the gospel. And it’s these verses that lead some to believe that God was and is finished with the Jews. How would you respond to someone who said that?

We simply compare Scripture with Scripture. It helps to have a perspective of God’s overall plan, which is for Jesus Christ to be glorified and to reign forever and ever (Exo. 15:18; Psa. 146:10; Dan. 2:44; 7:14; Mic. 4:7; Matt. 6:13; Luke 1:33; Rev. 11:15). Do we think for a minute that when He reigns eternally, it will only be over the Gentiles? As much as you read about Him reigning, you read that it includes all nations (Ps. 22:27-28; 72:17; Mic. 4:1-2; Rev. 7:9; 11:15). If God had not opened the door of the gospel to the Gentiles, how would all nations become a part of His eternal kingdom over which He will reign that was first promised to the Jews?

Since Paul received the full revelation of God’s purposes with the Gentiles and Jews, let’s look briefly at one of his explanations in Romans 11. Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. (11:25b).

The fullness of the Gentiles that ends at the conclusion of the Church Age at the rapture hasn’t come, and the Jews nationally are still blind.

But then, God does something different with the Jews that is hard for us to comprehend, because He has not done it yet and has never done it before. Here we go with what Paul said next in Rom 11:26-27  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  (27)  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

He’s quoting from Isaiah about something still future, and there’s going to be a new covenant with Israel to take place after the rapture of the church. It’s going to be a covenant of mercy with Israel.

Isa 54:6-10  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.  (7)  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  (8)  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.  (9)  For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.  (10)  For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed (in the tribulation); but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

What does that mean?  It means just what it says. So read it again and believe it. He’s talking to Israel. Maybe you’re questioning this covenant and wondering if it’s a new one or an old one revived.

Let’s go to a rule of Bible study. Don’t run to commentaries on this. Compare scripture with scripture. Another prophet discussed the same topic and sheds more light. Jer 31:31-34  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  (32)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:  (33)  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, (those days = tribulation) saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (34)  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Back to where we were in Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. It’s still future as of Paul’s writing. This is likely to blow your mind, but He’s going to take away their sins, not because they received the gospel of Jesus Christ. He’s just going to take Israel’s sins away—by grace and mercy—apart from anything else but His promise. Paul said, regarding Israel in our study passage: As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your (Gentiles) sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. Rom 11:28 They are an elected nation, per His promises to their forefathers. The Gentiles (Americans and other nations) receive God’s mercy and grace by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Israel as a nation gets a new covenant.

All this leads up to a better understanding. In our present church age, we, through the gospel, receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This wasn’t available to folks in the Old Testament, and they wondered about it.

After the rapture, Israel won’t get the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That mercy will be over. But Israel will get the indwelling of God’s law. Read this verse again: “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer 31:34)

Both groups, Jews and Gentiles, get their sins blotted out miraculously. Us through simply believing the gospel of Christ. Them, simply through God’s future act on their behalf. And the following prophesy applies to them before it applies to us: I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isa. 43:25)

We ask, “Why would He blot out their sins automatically apart from Christ’s shed blood?” They ask, “Why would He blot out the Gentiles’ sins through simply trusting Christ?” Neither makes sense. But it’s God’s mercy that does it in both cases.

Rom 11:33-36  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  (34)  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?  (35)  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  (36)  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

All this begs for an understanding of another secret…the theme of the Bible. It’s not what you may have been taught, and when you understand it, this difference between how God deals with the Jews and Gentiles will become much clearer. Stay tuned.

Jody

To Wish You were Paul

The Apostle Paul was someone God entrusted with secrets—in a unique way. In fact, you know the thorn in his flesh he discussed in 2 Cor. 12? The reason he got that affliction, which many believe was an eye problem, was so that he wouldn’t get proud over the many revelations God gave him.

Even Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was a dramatic, direct revelation from God. Paul’s salvation wasn’t a result of the disciples’ witness or of reading the parts of the Bible available at that time. He had a God-orchestrated encounter with the Almighty.

Later, in the 2 Cor. 12:1-7 account that ends with his thorn in the flesh, Paul talks about being caught up into paradise and hearing amazing revelations. What he took away from that life-altering experience was not the beauty he saw, but the words he heard (12:4). He had a message from God.

This shouldn’t surprise us. After all, the Old Testament prophets received secrets from God in dreams. They recorded them by inspiration from God for us to read, though they didn’t understand them. It was a matter of progressive revelation in which God didn’t make His whole plan plain all at once. His design was to build understanding on the prophets’ truth by the apostles. (Eph. 2:20) Enter the Apostle Paul.

Paul was God’s choice to open up some of those Old Testament hidden secrets, which he revealed in the New Testament books he wrote, and most notably the book of Ephesians, as far as mysteries are concerned. How did I figure that out? Did I read a commentary? No. I went to my Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) via my eSword app and typed in the word mystery. You can do it too. You’ll see the word shows up in 22 verses, all in the New Testament. Ephesians is the book with the most mystery mentions. (And interestingly, all but five of the 22 verses show up in the books Paul wrote.)

Now, just what were those mystery revelations? Anyone can look them up and be amazed, but I’ll just focus on the ones from Eph. 3:3-10 and its companion verses in Col. 1:25-27.

Before I share the secret, it’s important to understand that up to this point, everyone’s understanding was that the promises of God were for the Jews. He made kingdom promises to their forefathers Abraham, (Gen. 13:15-16) Isaac, (Gen 26:24) Jacob (Gen. 28:13-3) and David (2 Sam. 7:12-13).  

What hidden mystery was revealed to Paul for such a time as that (and now)? “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” (Eph. 3:6) That’s the simple answer. He expands it a bit by naming that body the church.

I hope that I don’t need to explain another mystery we know somewhat. That is that us humans aren’t all there is. There are spiritual beings out there called principalities and powers in heavenly places. They aren’t omniscient. They also marvel at the revelation of God’s mysteries as they unfold in progressive revelation. That secret revealed about the Gentiles being fellowheirs and of the same body and partakers of God’s promises in Christ by the gospel was equally news to them. “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” (Eph. 3:10)

The body of Christ, the church, is a witness of the gospel truth to the world and a witness to powers and principalities.

Paul expounded on this previously enshrouded mystery in Col. 1:25-27. Remember, to these first readers and to the powers and principalities, this was novel. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27)

Here’s an exercise. If you do a TSK search on Col. 1:27, you’ll find that in many ways, when Jesus was on earth, he told his followers that He would be in them. Here’s just one: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  (17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

The gospel, Christ in you, the body of Christ—it was all a revelation given to Paul that is now common to us.

Let me end with this. Does this mean God’s promises to the Jews transferred to Gentiles and that He is finished with the Jews? We’re living in an age that increasingly believes that’s the case. They even have an elevated name for the false teaching—replacement theology. But a good Bible student sees another secret that shows how God will deal with the Jews in the future. It’s fascinating, and it’s progressive revelation with elements still enshrouded in a bit of mystery because it hasn’t happened yet. Stay tuned.

Jody

Why Jesus Hid Wisdom

When I first came to know the Lord and was reading the gospels, one thing bugged me—for years. Maybe it bugs you too. The parables. If Jesus wanted folks to know Him, why did He speak in parables? If you were trying to communicate something important, wouldn’t you want to use the plainest, simplest explanation? Why enshroud your message in mysterious parables?

His disciples wondered the same thing, and after Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes from a ship, they asked Him privately, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables?”

Even after reading Christ’s response, I didn’t get it as a new Christian, and for many years. He said, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it is not given.” (Matt. 13:11) Could you explain that to someone? Why did He make His message a mystery to some and not to others?

For the answer to that, you don’t need to go to the original Greek and Hebrew. You don’t even need a pastor to explain it. The Bible explains it. I found the answer by looking up cross references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK). But first, tuck this truth away: God chose to hide and reveal secrets in what has been called progressive revelation. That is, God has a master plan that He didn’t choose to reveal to all of humanity in one period of time. Much of what the prophets wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they didn’t understand. It was for future generations to grasp. We’re talking about the birth, life, death and second coming of Christ. That plan unfolded over time through the pages of Scriptures. So we understand it now. The revelation of that plan of God was progressive.

The reason for parables ties into this, and you can see it by following the cross references found easily in the TSK. So let’s go on that journey quickly here, starting with something repeated many times in the Bible that starts in Isaiah:

“And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” (Isa 6:9-10).

For context, Isaiah is a book of prophecy in the Old Testament written to the Jews, You must always ask yourself when studying a passage, “who was it written to?” God wanted the Jews blind to the clear truth of the kingdom of God. Note, hiding this mystery from them was so important that Jesus spoke in parables so the average listener wouldn’t get it. He wanted that blindness to continue. Might seem odd, but God’s ways aren’t ours, and He has a grand plan we will see as we progress through Scriptures.

God, through Isaiah, reiterated the fact that He wanted to hide the kingdom truth from the Jews by actively shutting their eyes to it in Isa. 44:18 “They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.”

Don’t stop studying and get mad just yet. Let’s jump ahead from Isaiah to what Jesus said further when He explained to his disciples why He spoke in parables. “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matt 13:14-15)

He was deliberately perpetuating this blindness the Jews had to the kingdom truth.

You’re a curious person, and you want to know why. Keep following the cross references.

Later, after Jesus had performed many miracles and was wrapping up his time on earth, before his death approached, we read this: “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” (John 12:37-41)

National restoration for Israel wasn’t due yet. It was a future thing, so He shut them off through unbelief for the time being until His greater purpose was accomplished. What was that master purpose? He gave the Apostle Paul that information, which he passed along as he was seeking to be released from prison at Rome.

“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” (Acts 28:23-28)

Now we’re getting somewhere. That national blindness was to flip a switch eventually to allow the kingdom to open to the Gentiles. They would hear it, believe it and receive it while the Jews continued to be blind to it and reject it.

Later, to the church in Rome, Paul explained further the mystery of the kingdom of God and the Gentiles’ ability to be part of that, “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.” (Rom. 11:25) We’re in that time period right now, waiting for the fullness of the Gentiles to be complete. That is the church age we’re in. God is dealing with us Gentiles now. The Jews are on hold during this dispensation with a vail to the truth over their eyes that remains to this day.

Paul later revealed more of this. “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” (2 Cor. 3:14-16)

Later, God will deal with the Jews in a different way, and that’s a topic of discussion for another time. But here we see why blindness was perpetuated. It was so the message could go beyond the Jews to the Gentiles—to give us a chance.

I’ll conclude here: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Cor. 2:7-8) I’ll leave you to your thoughts on this.

Jody