63. When will ALL THINGS be fulfilled?
Jesus words are what we should rely on rather than the opinions of men claiming to have interpretations. Jesus and the apostles tell us in the New Testament which of the Old Testament prophecies were still to be fulfilled ...and how and when the fulfillment would occur.
'ALL THINGS WRITTEN' refers primarily to the promises in the scriptures of a Messiah ...a savior for mankind who was to come... and who would be rejected, killed and then ressurected. BUT this phrase also refers to other associated events which the prophetic scriptures promised would happen at the time of Messiah's coming. Firstly there was to be tribulation...followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple...followed by judgment of the wicked. And when we look at both Isaiah and Daniel and Jesus (Mat 13:36-43, Mat 24:31 and Luke 21:28) these events were also to include the resurrection and the reward of the saints.
Luke 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." NKJV
Jesus confirms that not only will the crucifixion occur... but also the resurrection ... and ALL THINGS written by the prophets concerning the Christ. The next passage clearly shows that this is also to include the 'days of vengeance'... where Israel would be judged for her apostacy as demonstrated by the destruction or desolation of Jerusalem and the temple.
Luke 21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. NKJV
The things written refers clearly to the OLD TESTAMENT scriptures because the New Testament had not yet been written at that time. 'THESE days' refers to the times that Jesus came to earth...it clearly does not refer to us today now almost 2000 years later. The temple was destroyed as was Jerusalem in AD70 and the "you" generation Jesus addressed right then and there SAW this unfold in their lifetime. Let us be clear ...in saying that the things written were all to be fulfilled IN THAT GENERATION ... Jesus is telling the church that post AD70 there will be NO further vengence (or wrath or judgment or great tribulation) which is based on Old Testament prophecies.
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. NKJV
ALL THINGS WRITTEN CONCERNING ME being fulfilled means that ALL the prophecies of the Old Covenant regarding Jesus would be fulfilled at that time...the time shortly after Jesus was raised from the dead...rather than a time some 2000 years later.
Brethren, this cannot exclude the battle of Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 37-39 as some claim because it was part of the 'things written concerning Jesus'. According to Jesus the prophecies concerning Messiah and His second coming (on clouds) and His judgment and His ruling in His Kingdom were ALL to be fulfilled prior to AD73 (if we take a typical 40 year period for a generation as per Matthew 1:17). Please note that this battle is also referred to in Rev 20 and is sometimes known as Armageddon which Jesus (in Rev 22) said would be happening SOON and was 'at hand' (in the first century). Surely 2000 years later we can agree that this cannot still be a 'future event'? This must also then have been prophetically fulfilled in the prophetic manner GOD had intended by AD73 (i.e. before THAT generation who lived on earth when Jesus ministered had passed away) because it deals with matters which were to occur before the resurrection and judgment of apostate ISRAEL (Ezek 39:8-33 compared to Rev 19:11-21). BOTH of these prophecies are 'CONCERNING JESUS' ... Jesus being the 'first fruits' of the resurrection and the JUDGE of all the Earth (Gen 18:25, Jn 5:22)
Brethren let us be clear. According to the scriptures Jesus work was completed BEFORE that generation ...the one He spoke to in AD33 passed away. "It is FINISHED". After the ascension Jesus was then seated on the throne next to the Father (i.e. His place of REST) while His enemies were crushed. (Rom 16:20)
Acts 3:24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. NKJV
Peter even elaborates on this in his epistle
1 Peter 1:10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into.
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ NKJV
Peter confirms that not only had Jesus 'First Coming' as a suffering Messiah occured but also that there was soon to be a glorious Revelation of Jesus at His 'Second Coming' ...one which the CURRENT generation he was writing to would also soon witness. This is what THE Revelation of Jesus (ie the book of Revelations) is all about.
In light of the above passages we can see that the apostle Peter tells us that Ezekiel's prophecies SPOKE about the same LAST DAYS ...just as Joel did in Acts 2:17...the time when Messiah would come and the New Covenant of grace He would bring to Israel and the Gentiles would be instituted in His blood. This passage makes it clear that Ezekiel (latter days ... Chapter 38:16) and Zechariah (in that day ... the day of the Lord ... Chapters 12-14) as prophets ALSO spoke of THESE same days. This passage tells us the prophets were NOT speaking about events another 2000 years or so ahead or at any time after the destruction of the temple in AD70. (1 Pet 1:10-12, Dan 12:8-10)...because they were ALL TO BE FULFILLED in their days and before the generation who Jesus had addressed right then and there in AD33 had passed away.
(For some historical context please realise that Ezekiel prophecied in approx 590BC ....BEFORE Jerusalem and the SECOND temple were rebuilt in 515BC during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Brethren, the prophecies regarding the future restoration of Israel and the new temple which some believe is still to happen in our future, have been literally FULFILLED in history past....AND they have also been spiritually fulfilled in the coming of Christ and the New Covenant)
Yet some claim that this and other prophecies are still to be fulfilled today and this now more than 2000 years later? Surely it can be seen that this view contradicts Jesus words (ie Mat 24:34) and the book of Revelations with it's emphatic opening and closing didactic time constraints?
(Those proposing this interpretation of some Old Covenant prophecies however usually link these prophecies to issues which very few born again Christians who know the scriptures would in anyway consider acceptable ...
ie that the Old Covenant which Christ made obsolete and which has vanished is to be restored again with Israel after Christ has previously fulfilled it?
ie that sacrifices should be recommenced after Jesus came as the once for all sacrifice? (Heb 7:27, Heb 9:12 and Heb 10:10)
ie that the temple should be rebuilt when Jesus Himself and the church are the fulfillment of the temple? (1 Pet 2:4-9)(Rev 21:22)
ie that Jerusalem will be restored as a physical centre of worship for the world contrary to Jesus very clear words (John 4:21-24)
God had forecast in the scriptures that Israel under the Law would reject her Messiah...and the consequential destruction and judgment were propecied in detail as far back as Deuteronomy 31:24 - 32:45 as soon as the Law was first given. The coming day of judgment was then confirmed by many of the prophets thoughout the centuries. Please note that 'heaven and earth' in this context are defined as the Book of the Law and the ark of the covenant or the OLD covenant with ISRAEL (Deut 31:26, 28 and 30 with 32:1 and 45). This are the same scriptures the new testament quotes from about the soon coming judgment.
BUT further than this JESUS in three of the gospels where He taught his disciples about what was to come as part of 'the END' times frequently quotes from the prophets (Isaiah, Daniel, etc.) He tells the disciples of the end of the age which THEY were about to face. Please note that He was speaking to THEM and lets THEM know EMPHATICALLY that this was to occur in THEIR GENERATION. (ie 'this generation' and not to a future or the far demonstrative 'that generation')
Luke 21:32 (and Mat 24:34 and Mark 13:40) Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all (these) things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. NKJV
Please remember that 'heaven and earth' passing away is NOT speaking of the end of the physical world but of the end of the Law of Moses and the Old Covenant with Israel. (see refs above). This explains what Jesus meant in Mat 5:17-18 ... the law would only end when all the prophecies concerning Jesus coming in judgement on Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple were fulfilled. This passage is certainly was not telling us that we today are still under the Law of Moses because the physical heaven and earth continue to exist. Israel knew that this end and fulfillment was imminent when Jesus came as a man and died in AD 30 from their scriptures.
These three references are all in the context of all of the events which Jesus said would occur as part of the end times. 'All things' in these three passages in context refers specifically to the great tribulation (vs12), the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (vs20), the return of Christ on the clouds (vs27), THAT Day (of the Lord) (vs34)... and the resurrection (Mat 24:31) ...and the judgment (vs36).
It was the generation that KILLED the Messiah and said..."his blood be on us and our children" ....that would be judged. AGAIN please absorb that the word 'THIS' generation specifically refers to the HEARERS right then and there......and it is not 'THAT' generation which would have been used if it were to apply to a future generation. The time frame of 40 years for 'this generation' expired in AD73 (Num 14:33). Those who choose to believe that the book of Revelations was written around AD95 have no events they can point to which come close to the events Jesus said would SOON come to pass (many times in Rev 1 and Rev 22)...and which history independently records DID happen in AD70. It seems clear that a person must choose if they are a late date believer or a believer in Jesus and the scriptures.
Note that Irenaeus who most late date believers quote as the 'authorative' church source for support of an AD95 date of writing of the book of Revelations, made an ambiguous statement which has clearly been misunderstood. This same so called 'authoritive source' also claimed that Jesus lived for 50 years and ministered for 15 years which also is patently wrong according to the scriptures and all other historical records. Refer to Kenneth Gentry's 400 page book "Before Jerusalem Fell"...on dating of the Book of Revelations which provides powerful external and internal proofs of a pre AD70 date. And why should Irenaeus be believed rather than JESUS own words? (other than by those who do not believe in God) ...and rather than the FACTUAL independant Roman historical records preserved for our confirmation and verification.
Note Jesus said 'Heaven and earth will pass away ... but my words would not pass away'. Yet many today would rather doubt Jesus words and believe the convoluted theories of men.
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. NKJV
Brethren, Jesus coming on the clouds in glory was something most of the prophets wrote about ....as was the Day of the Lord, the tribulation, the resurrection and the judgement. Jesus said ALL things written about Him would be fulfilled...INCLUDING the fact that the timing was SOON!
AND THE WAR OF GOG AND MAGOG in Ezekiel is also something that 'the Prophets wrote concerning Jesus'. We should believe Jesus words rather than nebulous, convoluted and contradictory interpretations of those seeking to write the restoration of Judaism back into the bible as a future event. Ezekiel 37:1-14 speaks of the resurrection... which the scripture tells us HAS happened. (Mat 27:50-52)
Jesus is the FULFILLMENT and END of the Law.... The end is NOT that the Law should be reinstated after Jesus perfect work ... as those pushing this view seem to believe.
Those who say there are prophecies about Jesus still to be fulfilled after the end of that generation and that these somehow now apply to us today as Gentiles who have NEVER been 'under the Law' (and this some 2000 years later).... are saying that JESUS and the apostles GOT IT WRONG! (perhaps demonstrating that they too need to have their understanding opened so that they too can comprehend the scriptures? as vs 45 above)
Jesus quoted from and refers readers to Daniel 12:1-3 in Matthew 24..... but few read to the END of Daniel about the timing of these events.
Dan 12:6 "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?"
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. 8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. NKJV
It is important to note that this scripture says that ALL that was revealed to Daniel would be fulfilled and finished when the power of the holy people (Israel) was destroyed. Brethren this happened when the temple which represented Israel's covenant relationship with God...the physical place where God dwelt in their midst... was destroyed. The sacrifices ceased...and the priesthood was destroyed...and Israel was cast out of its promised land. Sacrifices were made OBSOLETE (Heb 8:13) ...and the whole system of the Law vanished when the temple was destroyed. The OLD covenant can NEVER be 'restored' because Jesus sacrifice on the cross has FULFILLED it. (once for ALL) (the Lamb that God himself provided)
Brethren the '70 weeks' prophecy of Daniel is NOT 70 weeks plus approximately 2000 years as many today are teaching. This interpretation makes a mockery of the scriptures. The seventy years were FACTUALLY the time of the exile in Babylon....there was no 'pause or intermission' in the duration of the exile. Therefore prophetically there CAN BE NO DELAY in the seventy weeks determined for Israel. (The type dictates the shadow.) This is the book Jesus refers us to concerning the end times events.
Dan 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins... NKJV
Brethren Jesus CAME first as a MAN in the 69th week as prophecied......and was killed as the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE within the 70th week (Dan 9:26-27) ....and after that the abolition of the Old Covenant was DEMONSTRATED in AD70 by the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel's temple.
Please note that Eusebius in his work 'Proof of the gospel' written in the third century places this same PRETERISTIC interpretation on the Olivet Discourse. This WAS also in line with the early church fathers understanding that the book of Revelations related to the AD70 destruction of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem and ISRAEL .... ie YOUR people ... were the ones to be judged for rejecting Jesus. This is the whole focus of Daniel 7-12. These prophecies have NO RELEVANCE to the church age. (other than that they were to announce the end the Old Covenant and usher in the New Covenant which is NEVER ENDING)
The resurrection and judgment on Old Covenant Israelites...Dan 7:10, Dan 12:1-3
The NEW everlasting kingdom Jesus would usher in... Dan 7:13-14
The rejection of the gospel by godless Israel ...and the persecution of the early church saints...Dan 7:25-26
The destruction of Jerusalem and godless Israel... Dan 8:24, Dan 9:26, Dan 10:10, Dan 12:7
The desolation of the temple ...Dan 8:11-14, 9:26-27, Dan 12:1
The book of Daniel also gives another undisputed timing for the end of the mosaic age....
Dan 2:40-44
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. NKJV
The legs of iron are accepted by all as referring to the Roman Empire...but suddenly futurists would have us believe that there was a 1600 year gap till the European Common Market was established over 10 nations. Brethren in the times of Christ, Rome had already expanded its reign to include ten major European nations or people groups ..(including Spain, Britian, Germany, France, Italy Greece, Hungary, etc.) These are without doubt the 10 toes as it was ...
in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed
Jesus, as the God of Heaven (or the Stone not cut with human hands) told us that the kingdom of heaven was at hand in AD30. At His death in AD 33 the kingdom was established....and in AD70 when Jesus returned on the clouds as the Son of Man in judgment on apostate Israel, the enemies of Christ and His church were destroyed...
Dan 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed. NKJV
In the Book of Revelations the words which were sealed to Daniel in his vision (Dan 12:4) were UNSEALED for John by Jesus (Rev 5:9)....and as we look back over history from the vantage of almost 2000 years later we should now be able to see that ALL THESE THINGS WERE INDEED FULFILLED (Dan 12:7) in AD70.
The book of Revelations contains 550 references to the events and judgments which the prophets of the OLD COVENANT said were coming UPON apostate ISRAEL. Many of them are the same scriptures Jesus quoted and said would be fulfilled within the lifetime of the very generation who heard his words and rejected Him and then killed Him. Most of what Jesus spoke of as events surrounding the END times came from what the prophets had already told Israel! ...and the apostles quotes on these matters mainly came from the same source ... which according to Jesus and the prophets and apostles were all to be fulfilled around AD70. AND then on top of this we have secular history verifying the fulfillment of many of the events IN A MANNER ANTICIPATED BY THE JEWS though the testimony of Flavius Josephus and other secular historical sources.
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. NKJV
The mystery of God was that the Gentile nations would now also be able to enter the Kingdom ...without first becoming Israelites or proselytes to the Law ...God could now be KNOWN directly by those of all nations. The gospel going to the Gentile nations was something the prophets foretold ... but apostate Israel and the Jews hated it and refused to see it.
The apostles ALL wrote between AD50 and AD65 to warn of the IMMINENT return of Jesus...and quoted these same prophets.
Scripturally there is only ONE viable interpretation which is that the wrath of God was poured out on Jerusalem in the AD70 destruction WAS the destruction of Babylon the harlot city of Revelations and the associated ABOLISHMENT of the Old Covenant including the temple and the sacrificial worship system. The IMMINENT time frame for His coming as spoken of by Jesus and the apostles and prophets was thereby actually fulfilled in AD 70.
Historically there has not been and neither can there ever be a future repetition of these events as were so accurately prophecied by the prophets (Dan 12:1) and Jesus in the scripture below.
Matt 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. NKJV
If you disagree then...
You open yourself to legitimate claims by the sceptics (and even some supposed believers) that Jesus could not be God because He 'got the prophecies regarding the timing of His return wrong'. Did He make prophecies which were not fulfilled?... CERTAINLY NOT!
and
You are doubting that Jesus as God IS now the One who rules this world in HIS Kingdom (especially if you believe He is still waiting to win a future final victory over Satan in the battle of Armageddon ... one which scriptures in the sections below on this issue tell us He won at the CROSS and then within one generation He saw His enemies mopped up in the judgment demonstrated by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD70)
What is meant by 'to seal up vision and prophecy'
Dan 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy. NKJV
Many fail to honour the context of this passage as they seek to apply it to to new covenant prophecy and visions ... but others fail to see the full extent of the ramifications of this phrase.
Brethren, this passage applies to the prophecies given TO ISRAEL i.e. 'your people'.... not to the church. These prophecies and visions encompased the ENTIRE range of events which were to occur at the END of the JEWISH Age...the age of the Law of Moses.
These events include the sacrifice of Jesus for sins and bringing in the new covenant with everlasting righteousness, the end of sins, etc. ... the anointing of Jesus and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple....which followed the abomination of desolation ... the great tribulation ...the day of the Lord... and the resurrection and judgment (Dan 12:1-3). Scripture is emphatic ...and history verifies ... that these events ALL unfolded by AD70.
When we read other verses where the phrase 'seal up vision or prophecy' is referred to we can see what is meant. The scriptures interpret scripture. It does NOT support claims that many today make about its meaning.
Dan 12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." NKJV
Dan 12:9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. NKJV
God simply said to Daniel...."this stuff does not apply to you...but to a generation about 490 years ahead. So don't worry about it ...your future is secure ...you can rest and you will arise to your inheritance at the due time" (todays version of Dan12: 8-13)
Prophecy was UNSEALED at the time of the end (of the old covenant age) ...ie in AD 70 that generation of Israel SAW and finally understood that they were the END time people who were to be judged. These words were ALL fulfilled (Mat 5:17-18) on the generation who rejected and killed Jesus ...saying 'His blood be on us and our children'.
Look at what Revelations tells the believers of that very time in approx AD 67....
Rev 22: 10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. NKJV
In unsealing the words the events prophecied by Daniel (and all the prophets Acts 23:24) and Jesus and the apostles were all shortly to be fulfilled ON THAT VERY GENERATION (Mat 12:39-45, Mat 13:40, Mat 16:4, Mat 16:28, Mat 17:17, Mat 23:1-38, Mat 24:34)
TODAY almost 2000 years later, when we realise this, we as believers today are set FREE because NONE OF THESE END TIMES EVENTS OR JUDGEMENTS APPLY TO US as the Church under the New Covenant. .
These prophecies and visions are now sealed up again simply because they do not apply to the church after AD70 .... in the same way as they did not apply to Daniel in 490BC!
These events are for proof to the world that what God promised through Daniel and as confirmed by Jesus actually happened. ...OUR GOD KEEPS HIS WORD!
(So how on earth could this phrase today legitimately be used to imply that Paul's exhortations to the church to prophesy (1 Cor 14: 1-5) are no longer applicable today? How on earth can prophecy and visions for the express purpose of 'exhortation, edification and comfort' suddenly be ended after AD70?)
NB When that which is perfect has come does NOT refer to the 'bible' being completed ... as some teach. How can we know this? Simply because the bible tells us what the result will be when that happens ....then we will see 'face to face'...and then 'we will know (Him) just as we are known'
Let us be real for a moment ...NO LIVING human being other than Jesus has walked in the fullness of this promise! This is the fullness of the revelation which we as believers will receive when we pass from our mortal bodies at death ...into the glorious presence of our God and Saviour. Our mortal and human bodies could not handle this!
AND till then ...FAITH, HOPE and LOVE still abide as the basis for salvation. (1 Cor 13:13)
So what does 'when that which is perfect has come' refer to?
1 Cor 13:19 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Is this referring to the fullness of the canon of the New Testament being completed? ... this is certainly NOT the context.
The context is a time when only LOVE remains. A time when there would be no further need for prophecy or need for tongues or need for KNOWLEDGE. Brethren let us be real we certainly have not reached this time yet. (How could we then explain why there are still so many bible teachers and or authors with books for sale?)
OR Does it rather refer to the point in time where we as believers will have access to such an intimate personal relationship with Jesus and be so fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit leading us that we are experiencing the fullness of what the Father has provided for us IN Jesus ....under the New Covenant?
I would suggest this is the most likely intent of the passage from the context and other verses like Heb 8:13 and 10:1. But brethren then I think we could all agree that very few on earth other than Jesus to date have ever lived in this reality. However this is certainly what it IS like in eternity with God for believers.
The scriptures below tell us what the New Covenant will be like for believers after AD 70 when all MOSAIC prophecy was fulfilled and we as believers realise that we are totally FREE of the Law? The time when we are no longer divided as Jews and Gentiles...but all are simply 'the children of God'. We see that we are all no longer under the law as a guardian (Gal 4) and we have put away our own self righteousness and live out of the righteousness Jesus died for us to have. At this time we can now see our Father God 'face to face'...ie we are welcome into the Holy of Holies with Jesus as our high priest (the curtain has been torn in half). We will through eternity in this intimate relationship finally come to know God more fully (but I can only conclude that it would still us take beyond eternity here to know Him as we are known)
This is the thrust of the Hebrews 7:19-28
vs 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
vs 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
vs 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
vs 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
vs 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. NKJV
and Hebrews 10:1-14
vs 1 For the law, ..... can never with these same sacrifices .... make those who approach perfect.
vs 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
vs 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
vs 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. NKJV
This shows us that because of the PERFECTION of Jesus and His death and work for us ...which is the New Covenant .... the real goal for us as believers 'to walk in the glorious liberty of the children of God'. God wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him. He wants us to have a heart like David who wanted to know what made God's heart beat.
The 'perfect' was "someone bringing something" which the apostles were all waiting to see fully manifested. This happened when Jesus came in judgment on Israel in AD 70. The Old covenant which was made obsolete at the cross .... was then finally 'vanished' (Heb 8:13) (ie no more sacrifices, no more temple, no more priesthood = no more Law). This event is the theme of Revelations.... Jesus destroying his enemies and ushering in the full glory of the New Covenant and our intimate personal relationship with God.
If taken literally and consistently the teaching that this phrase refers to the cannon of scripture being complete would also raise significant problems for ALL other ministries ....
Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. NKJV
Brethren, does anyone still want to tell me the united body of Christ is 'there yet'?
(This can also be understood in a similar way as we see John's words ...1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. NKJV)
If 'the perfect has come' means what some teach today we would then ... (in addition to terminating the license of so-called apostles and prophets and those who have visions for the church) ... also have to get rid of ALL EVANGELISTS, PASTORS AND TEACHERS!
(Strangely this logical conclusion is almost never raised)
So what we are left to conclude is that verse 13 above ... "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" ... is not going to happen until we pass from our mortal state into the glorious unfettered state of believers AFTER our DEATH
This I can only see as being our fully experienced reality when we become part of the 'great cloud of witnesses' of Hebrew 12:1.
When was Satan bound in chains...and when was he destroyed (along with his works)
Many believe that Satan is not yet bound as that happens only at the beginning of the milleneum... some time in the future.
Rev 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. NKJV
But Jesus told us that Satan was BOUND when He came to preach the Gospel... (Mat 12:28-29, Luke 10:18-19, Acts 26:17-18, Jude 6, 2 Pet 2:4)
Matt 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. NKJV
The proof that the devil was bound was that Gentiles were being saved
Acts 26:17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' NKJV
Many will say that the devil is still at work today deceiving the nations
BUT the scriptures tell us that Satan was destroyed by the work of the cross ... i.e. in AD 33
John 12:31-32 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself. NKJV
1 Cor 2:8 ...which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. NKJV
Heb 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. NKJV
Some ask why if Satan was destroyed are people then not all coming to Christ? ... but Jesus has told us this would be the case.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. NKJV
2 Tim 1:9 ... given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, NKJV
Death HAS BEEN abolished for the believer (John 11:25-26) ... Brethren, read this in conjunction with Rev 20:14 where death and Hades were cast into the lake of Fire. The graves were emptied in AD 33 and AD70...and for believers today there is no death or separation from God again ever.
Note that the apostles taught the early church in AD33 - AD 65 that a further and final judgment on Satan was to be served on the devil shortly after the cross. This happened in AD70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. This event destroyed harlotrous Israel and the evil rulers who killed Jesus ...and brought the Law of Moses to an end. (ie no more temple, no more sacrifices, no more priesthood of man). Judaism which had become SATAN'S tool was decimated....
When the Law was abolished SIN, which brought DEATH, was ended!
1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. NKJV
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. NKJV
Paul wrote this in approx AD 55 of something that was still about to happen ...SHORTLY....not 2000 plus years later! This refers to the promise of a seed, (Jesus) which God gave Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This seed they were told would be bruised (on the cross) but would then crush the serpent.
This was demonstrated to have happened when the devil's minions ..the Jews ...were mopped up (ie smashed / judged) by God who used the Roman armies to fulfill His purposes. Note The word 'NOW' does not allow us to stretch the time out for a 2000 year time delay.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. KJV
Heb 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. NKJV
Brethren we know that Satan was BOUND when Jesus commenced His ministry ... this is described in Revelations also as something that ocurred at the beginning of the '1000' year period...or the milleneum.
Rev 20:2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. NKJV
Revelations which was written in approx AD65 tells us of what was to happen next....and 'SOON' and of that which was 'at hand'. Satan was JUDGED at the cross and cast into the Lake of Fire in AD70 with his minions. This event ocurred at the end of the "1000 year" period. AFTER THIS Revelations tells us that the resurrection and the "White throne judgment' are to take place. Daniel tells us that the resurrection and the judgment were to ocurr before AD70...and Jesus said these events were to ocurr before AD73 ('this generation')....and these events were also all to be done at the time of the temple and Jerusalem being destroyed (as promised by many of the prophets). Amazingly this is historically verified for us by independent secular Roman sources in great detail.
Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NKJV
Brethren THIS is what AD70 was all about....smashing the enemies of Christ. The battle was won in the heavenly realm at the cross in AD33 ... but in AD70 it was won on the earth when Satan and his minions were smashed...and fire from heaven certainly played it's part.
Col 2:14 And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. NKJV
This PUBLIC SPECTACLE is recorded graphically for all to see on the Arch of Titus in Rome TODAY. God preserved this for the world to see.
This timing for the destruction of satan is also confirmed in the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah 25-29. IN THAT DAY (27:1)...the day when Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed (25:12)...the day of great tribulation (26:17)...which is also the day of the vindication of the martyrs (26:21)...and the resurrection of the dead (26:19)
Isa 27:1 In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong,
Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
Leviathan that twisted serpent;
And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea. NKJV
Tie this to Gen 3:15....and Romans 16:20 ...and then consider AD70 as recorded by Josephus...it is mind blowing to most who read it.
Revelations chapter 22 (which follows AFTER Rev 20 which deals with the war of Gog and Magog.. or Armageddon) contains powerful literal didactic TIME CONSTRAINTS ....i.e. vs 6 'things which must shortly take place' ... vs7 'I am coming quickly'... vs10 'the time is at hand' ... vs12 'I am coming quickly' ... vs20 'surely I am coming quickly'. Brethren, this was written to seven real churches in Asia in approx AD65 to warn them of the of real danger coming soon to THEM in approx AD67.
These phrases do not allow for a delay of up to 2000 years between Rev 20:1 and Rev 20:10 as some, who refuse to accept what these scriptures emphatically state, still choose to believe.
Taking away ...or even trying to explain away ... words like 'I am coming QUICKLY'...'things which must SOON take place' ... 'the time is AT HAND' ...from the book of Revelation as MANY 'prophecy teachers' are doing when they apply this prophecy to the church today almost 2000 years later surely constitutes 'TAKING AWAY WORDS from the book of this prophecy'....and this comes at a great risk. (Rev 22:19)
Why is there still sin in the WORLD if Satan has been cast into the Lake of Fire? ... and ...
What is the New Jerusalem if it is not heaven?
Brethren the continuation of SIN in the 'nations' of the world that live OUTSIDE of the kingdom in the New Covenant is taught in the scriptures ...even AFTER the devil is cast into the lake of fire. Jesus tells us that it is because we as humans want to reserve our right to do evil (John 3:19-20). James also confirms this...
James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted , "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. NKJV
Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NKJV
This is followed by the 'White Throne Judgment'
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJV
Then we go to the New Covenant...where the New Jerusalem... and the kingdom of God are no longer restricted to Israel.
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying,"The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" NKJV
This is the event prophecied by Daniel 7:13-14, Isaiah and Jesus Mat 24:30...Jesus NOW rules the world!
In this NEW JERUSALEM... the heavenly city (which is the NEW COVENANT according to Gal 4:22-26 and Heb 12:22-24)... will be all those from EVERY NATION who are part of the 'bride of Christ'....those who are God's people and have become 'children of God' by faith.
But note that this CANNOT BE a physical 'HEAVEN' on earth where we will dwell eternally with God 'like the angels' according to the scriptures because there are still many classes of sinners living on earth with us at the same time! These are those who refuse to believe in Jesus.
These verses tell us that AT THIS SAME TIME there are still people around living 'outside' who are excluded from the kingdom BY their own sinful choices...
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices A LIE. NKJV
Rev 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. NKJV
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE VERSES almost single handedly BLOW THE UNIVERSAL SALVATION DOCTRINE RIGHT OUT OF THE WATER
In the INVISIBLE kingdom are ONLY those who are born again by the Spirit of God ... those who have been transformed by the indwelling Spirit ...where ever and when ever this happens. If you decide you do not want to follow Jesus... or believe in Him ... then you will NEVER enter the kingdom of heaven. If you want to reserve your rights to do life your own (sinful) way ...you need to realise that God reserves the right to determine who HE adopts and allows into HIS HOUSE or family.
Rev 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said,"Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
6 And He said to me,"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." NKJV
Unbelievers, those who would rather continue in SIN (John 3:19-20) ... and all liars are excluded..... and continue to live on the 'outside' of the New Jerusalem.
Also excluded are the following ...
the COWARDLY... those in false religions who are too afraid to investigate TRUTH
the ABOMINABLE.... those who do heinious deeds
the MURDERERS... those who persecute and kill christians and do not cherish the LIFE of others
the SEXUALLY IMMORAL... yes those of deviant sexual persuasions who seek to corrupt others The world legal systems are free to condone whatever behavior they choose...BUT it is what God defines as immorality that determines your access to the kingdom.
the IDOLATERS...those who would rather serve other so-called gods (including Atheism and secular Humanism)
the LIARS... those who deny that Jesus is the Son of God and that God is a Father (1 John 2:22)
These passages confirm that 'sin and sinners' still continue to exist in the world AFTER the new Jerusalem or New Covenant comes into force on earth.
(Gal 4:24 ... which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar — 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children — 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. NKJV
Brethren the scriptures tell us that the Jerusalem above (or the heavenly Jerusalem of Heb 12:22-24) IS the NEW COVENANT... the place where we as believers each have a direct relationship with JESUS in whose blood the New Covenant is mediated.
Brethren, the seven churches were almost all instructed to OVERCOME false teaching/doctrine of some sort in their midst (Rev 2-3)...from the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, the synagogue of Satan, the doctrine of Balaam, the false teaching and seduction of Jezebel, self righteousness and luke-warmness, etc
Jesus is TRUTH and wants His bride free of heresy and lies and all false doctrine.
Jesus tells us that it is the OVERCOMERS (those of the seven early churches named in Rev 2-3) who are God's sons and who would inherit ALL things (Rev 21 vs 7)(Rom 8:16-17), ...those that did not overcome deception remained OUTSIDE the kingdom....they were relying on their own works and choices to achieve access rather than Christ's work for them.
Brethren, the fate of the unsaved is that they PERISH (Jn 3:16)....and are then disposed of...symbolically in the lake of fire (a bit like cremation of bodies).
Brethren, the new heavens and new earth are the New Covenant realm, the bride is the church, the tabernacle of God being with men is a great promise of the the new Covenant...we do not have to go and worship God in a temple in Jerusalem...WE are the temple (1 Pet 2:4-5) on earth while in heaven God Himself is the temple (Rev 21:22) ... the Law which bought death and pain is gone. The 'former things' having passed away refers to the Mosaic Law with its sin and death, guilt and condemnation being passed away/obsolete and vanishing (Is 42:5:9, Heb 8:13). The statement 'also there was no sea' refers to the fact that the nations and peoples are now no longer divided by the waters (Rev 17:15, Gen 11:4-9, Eph 2:14) ... we are now all one in Christ.
The new covenant is a place of TRUTH only..... Jesus warns the seven churches to avoid deceivers and tells them to overcome deception and heresies ... this should be our passion today.
Rev 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars NKJV
JESUS is the fulfillment of the SON OF David
Many still think that there will be a physical descendant of David ruling over the world from Israel in the future....
But the Old testament tells us that Messiah would be David's seed
Ps 89:35 Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David:
36 His seed shall endure forever,
And his throne as the sun before Me;
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky." NKJV
Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. NKJV
The angel promised Mary that her child would be the long awaited 'Son of David'
Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." NKJV
Jesus told them HE was the one who would usher in the new kingdom
Matt 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' NKJV
And in the New Testament Jesus indicates that these prophecies WERE to be fulfilled in a way they were not anticipating
Matt 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?"
They said to Him, "The Son of David."
43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying:
44'The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'?
45 If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore. NKJV
The multitudes were expecting a 'warrior or worldly' leader as a national saviour.
Matt 21:9 (Quoting Ps 118:26)
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Hosanna in the highest!" NKJV
These prophecies ACCORDING to Jesus were NEVER about David's descendant ruling over a physical or worldly empire...but about the Messiah ruling over 'the new worldwide Kingdom of God' ... one set up by God Himself at the time of the Roman empire (Dan 2:44) ...one which rules over those who believe that Jesus is king.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"
Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." NKJV
The apostles also preached it this way...
Acts 2:25 For David says concerning Him:
'I foresaw the LORD always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'
29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
'The LORD said to my Lord,
'Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." NKJV
And the first church council at Jerusalem confirmed this understanding also ...
Acts 15:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16'After! this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David , which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the LORD who does all these things.'
18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works. NKJV
The Gospel going out to the Gentiles is the sign that the tabernacle (ie the HOUSE or family line) of David is NOW again RULING over Israel ('the Israel of God' and not 'natural Israel according to the flesh' .. Rom 9-11). It is NOT a physical rule which revolves around obedience to laws but a realm where God rules in the hearts of His children....it is about His new heavenly spiritual and eternal and universal kingdom where Christ NOW reigns. (Dan 7:13-14) (John 4:24)
Please note that this scripture has NOTHING to do with musical instruments being played in church as some claim. The temple in Jerusalem was the physical fulfillment of the tabernacle. David's fallen tabernacle refers to the promised future DESCENDANT of David's family line ruling over the Israel of God...and Christ will rule on this throne ETERNALLY! (Dan 7:13-14)
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." NKJV
Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David , the Bright and Morning Star." NKJV
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying,"The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" NKJV
Brethren Jesus has fulfilled ALL the prophecies given to David....and the destruction of harlotrous Jerusalem and the physical temple and THE GOSPEL TO GOING TO THE GENTILES...were the signs to Israel to confirm this.
Jesus NOW rules over His eternal and world-wide kingdom!
But what about the 'Abrahamic Covenant' and the Promised Land?
Gen 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." NKJV
This is enhanced in the following later passage and 15 other passages
Gen 13:14-17
14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are — northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever . 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." NKJV
So was the promised land they waited for the physical land? Yes, it was physical in the first instance....but the scriptures tell us it was MORE than this. Yes they were seeking a 'homeland'...but they also knew this was to be a 'HEAVENLY' COUNTRY.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. NKJV
Abraham and his descendants KNEW that physical land was merely a hint of the reality which would follow for those who believed God. How did Abraham and his descendants know you ask? Simply they believed God literally when He said...'I give this land to YOU ...FOREVER' (i.e. even after you die). If you do not understand tie this to Jesus statement in Mat 22:31-32 where God says 'I AM the God of Abraham' .... not I was his God. This was fulfilled in the NEW COVENANT where believers would enjoy ETERNAL LIFE which is a direct and personal relationship with God. The book of Hebrews tells us this is what the promise was KNOWN to refer to...
Heb 11:8-10
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. NKJV
Heb 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. NKJV
(John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. NKJV)
Brethren they were NOT looking for a physical or earthly country.... but "a heavenly country"
Brethren they are NOW in heaven (Post AD 33)...and part of a the great cloud of witnesses.
Brethren Paul tells us in Galatians chapter 4 vs 22-26 that the Jerusalem above is FREE...and that this is referring to the NEW Covenant. This is the same as the ''New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven" of Revelations 21:2 .... or 'the city whose builder and maker is God!'
Paul tells us that we as believers are ALL heirs of Araham's promise ...
Gal 3:26-29
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NKJV
Heb 11:39-12:2
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV
Jesus victory is our victory...and the reward is that which ALL believers can receive today ... ETERNAL LIFE.
Are you seeking an Earthly kingdom... or a heavenly or spiritual one?
Heb 4:9-10 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. NKJV
Have you come to FAITH in the completed work of Christ on the cross for you? ..or are you still labouring?
John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NKJV
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." NKJV
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. NKJV
Brethren the kingdom of God or heaven itself cannot even be seen by the natural man ...let alone entered. God is SPIRIT...so is His eternal Kingdom.
The promised land is entered when we stop working to try and earn our salvation....because we have come to the realisation that salvation is THE GIFT OF GOD!
THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT .... one of salvation by grace ... through faith ... which is THE GIFT of GOD.
All of Jesus ... and none of me.
So what about the rights to the physical land?
Well practically the land has NOT always belonged to the Hebrew nation. They first lost Jerusalem for 70 years in the Babylonian exile. The prophetic scriptures also tell us that when 'Israel after the flesh' apostacised by rejecting her Messiah, that the consequence would be the LOSS of the land.
This was historically played out again in AD 70 ..... and continued until AD 1948. So the naturalistic interpretation of the land 'forever' belonging to Israel factually includes a major hiatus of almost two millenium!
The right to the occupy the land again after such a long period was not given by God but by the United Nations (or at least its predecessor the League of Nations). What is given by man can ...and possibly will be removed by man in the future.
What about 'the times of the Gentiles'?
Much is made of the scripture in Luke 21:24 'and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled'
Let us look first at where this phrase or its closest similar use is found to get enlightenment as to its meaning.
Ezek 30:3 'the day of the Lord is near. It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.'
The clear contextual meaning here is that this phrase refers to a PROPHESIED EVENT eg when the judgment of God was poured out (in this case at the hand of the Babylonians) upon a nation (Egypt) ...and NOT to a new 'era' or period of time.
The AD70 destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman armies certainly was a prophesied judgment of God against Israel and Jerusalem. (Dan 9:24-27). The duration for which Jerusalem was to be trampled underfoot is given in Daniel 8:14 as being 2300 days. Please note that in the above passage (Dan 8:13-19) there is not even the slightest hint or suggestion of a future for Israel after the time for which Jerusalem or the temple was to be 'trampled under foot'. Verse 14 ... 'then the sanctuary shall be cleansed' does not in any way refer to a new temple being built but simply what it states ... that the sin/wickedness for which the temple was destroyed would take 2300 days to be cleansed.
However we must consider why Jesus refers to 'times' which were to be fulfilled ... rather than the singular time. God had also made numerous PROPHETIC promises in the Old Covenant about a time when the Gentiles would freely come into the kingdom under the future New Covenant. These promises concerning the Gentiles were fulfilled in the first instance when the gospel went to the Gentiles and also when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the Levitical priesthood records wiped out. From that point on all future generations of Gentiles had full and equal access with the believing Israelites to the New Covenant (as one new man Eph 2:14-16) because the obsolete old covenant had vanished (Heb 8:13). When this happened believing Jews were forced to acknowledge that the Old Covenant was over (ie no temple means no sacrifices which means no Law of Moses) ...and many would have repented and turned to Christ. So all (spiritual or believing) Israel were saved (Rom 11).
This is the scriptural explanation of what 'the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled' refers to ... rather than one based on unsupported speculations of a future restoration/re-establishment of the Old Covenant with Israel. The scriptures are very clear that the New Covenant kingdom that Jesus death ushered in is an everlasting kingdom and one which will have no end.
The often linked scripture Romans 11:25 about the time when 'the fullness of the Gentiles has come in' refers to the situation where Jews were blinded until the time when the gospel was fully established and thriving among the all the known Gentile nations of the civilized world at that time (Col 1:6 & 23). Romans 11:11-12 shows beyond doubt that the word for 'fullness' is not quantitative but qualitative. The fullness comes with the revelation of who Jesus IS and what He has accomplished for us as believers. The alternate view espoused would have Israelites blinded to the gospel until the last Gentile was saved. This is factually not correct as Israelites have been getting saved throughout history ever since their blindness was lifted after AD70 destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. (2 Cor 3:14-16)
So what happened to the rapture?
The rapture theory (which I had passionately held to for over 30 years) got blown out of the water as I learned how to read the scriptures properly. Scripture must interpret scripture...not the speculations of our modern Greek mindset. Many of the things Jesus spoke about concerned the same judgment the prophets of the Old Testament had warned were to come on ISRAEL. To understand the Book of Revelations we must start at Genesis and not just read the New Testament.
.
Firstly, the early church demonstrated that they knew what Jesus meant in the verses which are interpreted to refer to the 'rapture'
History records that when the tribulation came the church was NOT 'caught up' and taken away. All those that fled to Pella just as Jesus had told them to do (Luke 21:20).... were saved. Those that hung around in Jerusalem waiting for a 'rapture' all got killed.
Secondly, the timing of the Tribulation in Matthew, Mark and Luke are ALL said to be 'Before THIS generation passes away'
How could an event which Jesus promised would happen prior to AD73 be in any way relevant to us today?
The timing is also confirmed to have happened during the tribulation between AD66 and AD70 by independent historical records... just as Jesus said it would.
The book of Revelations ALSO confirms that ALL the events it described were to have happened SOON, QUICKLY, SHORTLY ...and to be AT HAND in AD66 (Not 2000 or so years later)
Thirdly, Jesus said the tribulation would never be repeated to the same scale (Mat 24:21: Dan 12:1)
Yes, there have been times where many Christians have been killed (Islamic invasions of the Middle East and Europe and even in more recent times there have also been genocide of Christian nations such as the Armenians) ....and yet no group has ever been 'raptured'). NB In many of these historic events there were prophecies given to those involved warning them to flee (Mat 10:23).
Fourthly, the primary scripture in 1 Thess 4 and 5 describing this so-called special and separate event is almost identical to the description Jesus used of HIS COMING in AD70 in Matthew chapter 24 -25. The following detailed comparison shows how the supposed 'rapture text' of Thessalonians lines up with these verses from Matthew ... both in context and detail.
1 Thess 4:13- 1 Thes 5:6
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
(#1 This refers to those killed in the TRIBULATION that the Thessalonian church was experiencing at that very time ... 2 Thes 1:4&7, the same tribulation Jesus had promised Mat 24:29...and Dan 12:1...to their generation)
13b lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
(#2 The hope of Israel was the resurrection which Jesus spoke of Mat 24:31 quoting Daniel 12:2-3 which would follow the great tribulation...ie resurrection of the Old Testament saints and reward of eternal life Act 24:14-15, Mat 25:34 & 46 which was promised to Israel)
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
(#3 Their concern was not for the Jews under the Law who died and would be resurrected...but their own brethren who were being killed in their persecution by the Jews. Note that their fate under the New Covenant is different. They ARE with Jesus the moment they die... and would be with Him at His return)
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
(#4 This is not a new teaching from Paul or a different event being described or one which Jesus did not teach on ...it is Paul quoting JESUS 'by the word of the Lord' ... i.e Mat 24 and 25 being THE Olivet discourse. Where did Jesus EVER teach that there was to be a separate 'secret' coming at the time of a rapture? ... and then another final coming some 2000 years later?)
14b that we who are alive and remain
(#5 Paul expected the believing Jews among them ...the 'we' who he addressed in approx AD60 ..the same people as Jesus addressed as 'you' in His teaching in the Mt Olivet discourse...to be alive and remain until the return of Christ as Mat 24:34)
14c until the coming of the Lord
(#6 Brethren, check every scripture on this topic and you will find that JESUS only ever taught about ONE 'Coming of the Lord' which was to happen in the lifetime of His hearers in AD33...and it was all from the Law and prophets ... Mat 24:27-30, 37, 44, 25:6, 13, 31 and Acts 3:21-24. There is never a distinction drawn between a 'secret coming' for the rapture...and the powerful and dramatic coming in judgment)
14d will by no means precede those who are asleep
(#7 The event includes 'the dead' Israelites who had died in faith being gathered from the grave (sheol) as descibed in Mat 24:31...but the believing Gentiles who were martyred in the interim would not be left behind as they would be brought there WITH Jesus).
16 For the Lord Himself
(#8 it is Jesus as the Son of Man..ie as the LORD of Dan 7:13-14 and Mat 24:27)
16b will descend from heaven
(#9 coming on the clouds of heaven Mat 24:30, Dan 7:13)
16c with a shout, with the voice of an archangel
(#10 send forth His angels Mat 24:31),
16d and with the trumpet of God
(#11 great sound of a trumpet Mat 24:31, Is 27:13...to gather His elect).
16e And the dead in Christ will rise first
(#12 The elect who were gathered were the dead Israelites from throughout history who had died in faith... these would be raised first before they were gathered Mat 24:31...those who have fallen asleep in Christ pre AD70 (ie Gentiles under New Covenant) would be there too as they were already UNITED with Jesus)
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together
(#13 'caught up together' is part of being gathered together Mat 24:31. Some teach that this will be a physical event BUT Paul himself only EVER used this phrase to describe a SPIRITUAL experience he had with Jesus (2 Cor 12:1-4). Paul PHYSICALLY REMAINED on earth during and after this event. John uses similar terminology in Rev 1:10... "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day". This speaks of the spiritual event which happened to living SAVED Israelites who continued living under the Law until AD70...the Law of sin and death was removed from them when the temple was destroyed...and they received eternal life and the fullness of their salvation when the 'veil' was removed. They then no longer served a shadow but encountered the fullness or reality of the new covenant in their relationship with Christ Himself ...and they were brought up into the throne room of Grace when the law vanished. This is the "transition" event from the Old to the New Covenant which will never be repeated)
17b with them in the clouds
(#14 being in the clouds links this to Dan 7:13 and the Son of Man in Mat 24:30). 'In the air' below also refers to the spiritual realm.
17b to meet the Lord in the air
(#15 The word used for 'meet' the Lord is the word used to describe the elders and people of the city going out to meet a newly arriving ambassador or govenor...and then returning with him so that He can rule over their city. It is not used to describe the situation where people go out to meet someone and leave with Him! (Luke 19:11-27... the judgment came on 'those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them'...THAT generation who said 'we have no king but Ceasar'). The 'air' brethren is the SPIRIT REALM...Eph 2:2 // Mark 4:15 'the birds of the air' refers to Satan's work in the spiritual realm).
17c And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
(#16 For the Jewish believers they would from that time onwards never again be separated from Jesus ... ie sin would no longer result in spiritual death (John 10:27-30, Rom 8:38...and John 14:3 and John 17:24)
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
(The Jews who believed would receive eternal life... never again to be separated from God... this was a great comfort to all. AND ALL believers who had died were then with Christ also...No believer would be fogotten. How could a 'rapture' be of comfort to you if others believers you loved were being 'left behind' to face horrific tribulation?)
Chapter 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons
(#17 The times and seasons are like the leaves on the fig and other trees which Jesus used as an illustration Mat 24:32),
1b brethren, you have no need that I should write to you
(#18 because you know what I told you that Jesus had said about this... and you have heard this from others too... so "Watch and stay alert").
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
(#19 the day of promised judgment of Israel which takes place at the coming of the Lord as per Mat 24:27 and all the OT prophets)
2b so comes as a thief in the night
(#20 the coming is linked to the thief Mat 24:43).
3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them
(#21 just as Jesus illustrated in Mat 24:38-42),
3b as labor pains upon a pregnant woman
(#22 this links to Mat 24:19 and John 16:21).
3c And they shall not escape
(#23 This links to Mat 24:39 to 41...about being 'taken' ...this is not speaking of being 'raptured' but of those who were to be JUDGED and killed or taken as slaves. Note that those taken away were those drowned in the flood!).
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober NKJV
(#24 This links to Jesus warnings of Mat 24:39-42 and Mat 25:5&13)
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath
(#25 The wrath was the 'great tribulation' of Mat 24:21 and Mat 3:7 promised for Israel who rejected their Messiah - Acts 3:23)
The whole purpose of God in the New Covenant is revealed in the following passage ...
1 Thess 5:9-10 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. NKJV
(God's plan for HIS children is that they LIVE life with Him on earth rather than waiting till they die to be with Him. God wants us to be allow Him into our lives all day and every day. John 4:23, Rev 21:3)
In the light of all these similarities and the words specifically used to describe this event, there is no possibility that Jesus was speaking of a different return or coming to the one Paul taught about in 1 Thessalonians...especially as Paul specifically refutes this interpretation in his introduction to this passage (ch 4 vs 15)
(Brethren, note that those in Mat 24:39 who were taken away, were the same ones taken by the flood waters and drowned....and in the same way those in Mat 24:40 and 41 who were also 'taken' were the ones KILLED. There has not been any group in history who have been 'raptured' away out of tribulation. Those who did not flee to the mountains of Pella as instructed were in the same way the ones KILLED in history!)
Jesus commanded his disciples to FLEE persecution.... not to wait around like sheep for the slaughter.
Matt 10:23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. NKJV
Please note that those who were watching for the sign of the abomination of desolation (the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem Luke 21:20) were the ones who history records as fleeing the city and being saved. The others who did not watch ...and did not flee (maybe because they were hoping to be "raptured")... were the ones taken and killed!
For those who are concerned that the 'preterist' view contradicts the 'Apostles Creed'
Please note that the apostles creed is correct as it matches what the apostles wrote PRIOR to AD70 when the cannon of the scripture was effectively CLOSED.
The Apostolic Creed states...
"I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of Heaven and Earth; and in Jesus Christ His only (begotten) Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen."
Please note that the APOSTOLIC Creed does NOT assert that Jesus 'bodily' now sits at the right hand of the Father. It simply states the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead in a physical body. It does not deny that Jesus is now glorified. (John 17:24). The new testament also does not teach that we will all be resurrected with a new physical body (refer Third point below)
The apostles creed is based on the New Testament scripure AT THE TIME it was written. This should not preclude the legitimate fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of Jesus about His imminent return and the destruction of the temple and the judgment that would come before that very generation who condemned and murdered Him had passed away which as we now know from various independant secular historians was FACTUALLY FULFILLED in AD70.
The Westminster Confession tell us what takes priority concerning perceived differences between the creed and bible
10. The highest judge that can settle any religious controversy is none other than the Holy Spirit speaking through the Bible. We’re to trust His judgment fully. Statements by church councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and private revelations – all these should be judged by this Highest Judge.
Brethren, the scriptures speak of Jesus coming on the clouds in judgment as a 'SECOND coming. There is no suggestion in the scriptures that there is to be a third coming which many now suggest we should believe is still to happen in our future today almost 2000 years later. However, the scriptures which speak of Jesus coming again are ALL emphatically described as relating to the events in the first century which were to be fulfilled in AD70. This INCLUDED the coming of Christ on clouds, the Day of the Lord and the resurrection and the judgment of Israel which are all related events. Examine all the scriptures for yourself...NONE of them give any indication of a separate later coming not related to the judgment of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
Other problem areas with the Creeds are...
Firstly, Your bible tells you in historical narrative that the (first) resurrection of the dead HAPPENED 3 days after Jesus death at the time of His resurrection (Mat 27:51-53). Those who believe that the prophetic and apocalyptic language of Revelations 20 where it speaks of the 'milleneum' is referring to a literal 1000 years, are then forced to accept that this view requires that the final (or second) resurrection and white throne judgment must have occurred in AD1033. Brethren although 'the end of the world' was widely anticipated, nothing of special significance happened then. There was certainly no world wide war or any major international city destroyed. Now almost another 1000 years later in AD2020 surely we can admit this interpretation and associated speculation is not correct either?
Secondly, Jesus makes unbreakable promises to New Covenant BELIEVERS which the Creeds simply appear unable to absorb in regard to us ALREADY having ETERNAL LIFE, NEVER DYING ...and NEVER BEING JUDGED AGAIN. We as believers either believe Jesus promises below ...or we hold to the creeds.
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" NKJV
(Both the judgment of Mat 25:31-46 and the 'white throne' judgment of Rev 20:11-15 are are judgments where the sheep and goats or the dead are judged according to their works ... and not to their FAITH and whether they have believed in Jesus as Lord or not ... i.e. those judgments are limited to those who were under the Law)
Thirdly, The New Testament describes emphatically that our resurrection and our new birth is SPIRITUAL and not of one of a physical body. Yes unquestionably Jesus was PHYSICALLY raised from the dead (John 20:19-27, Luke 24:39) and ascended into heaven ...but He was THEN highly exhalted (Eph 4:8-10, Phil 2:9-11, 1 Cor 15:45) and glorified (John 17:5)
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot (SEE vs 3 or) enter the kingdom of God. NKJV
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit . NKJV
Brethren our rebirth is NOT a material or physical event.... especially under the New Covenant ... where we NOW sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus...
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. NKJV
... and as regards Old Covenant believers who died in faith we are told
Matt 22: For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. NKJV
Brethren angels in heaven do NOT have physical bodies....as we do today. The scripture is emphatically clear that believers were not going to have physical or natural bodies after the resurrection ... but spiritual bodies instead.
1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. NKJV
... and when in your theology was the time that Jesus as 'the last Adam BECAME (past tense) a life-giving spirit'.
2 Cor 3:17-18 NOW the Lord is that Spirit ...
When in your theology was Jesus glorified with the glory He had with the Father before the world was? (John 17:5) ... and when did He become 'NOW the Lord (who) is that Spirit'?
Eph 4:10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill ALL THINGS.
How in your theology can you reconcile the belief that Jesus today is still limited to a physical body ... when the scripture tells us that He has (past tense) 'ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill ALL things'. This is not describing a Jesus who is limited to the form of a physical body.
Brethren, God is SPIRIT and Jesus is God (John 4:24).
Are you waiting to go to a physical place as your 'heaven' when you die or are you now living in awareness that the spiritual world IS the eternal reality?
Fourthly, The independent secular HISTORICAL RECORDS of the first century historians (Josephus, Tacitus, etc) along with church fathers historical records and comments on the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple show that the prophecies of Jesus were fulfilled in the way they expected. Josephus particularly as a JEW who defected to the Romans describes this in prophetic terms regarding the judgment of Jews and Jerusalem being FULFILLED. Jesus emphatically said His return would happen at the SAME TIME.
Yet an out of date creed is still quoted in many churches... effectively denying that Jesus did WHAT and WHEN He promised He would!
Read the HISTORY brethren ...it confirms undeniably that Jesus got it right.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS was fulfilled in AD70 and the fulfillment of His prophecies about the timing of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem and the judgment of Israel proved to the world that He was GOD.
This answer alone explains the EXPLOSIVE growth of the heavily persecuted church which occurred throughout the Roman Empire at that time. The scattered Jews who had opposed the gospel would all have KNOWN that this was God's wrath poured out on their nation...and that the destruction of the temple signified the end of their unique relationship with God. The typical Roman citizen would know that a massive judgment from 'the gods' had taken place in this event. Gentile believers would have been LOUDLY proclaiming the incredible DIVINE intervention on their behalf which ALL knew had occurred at the time promised. There was now freedom to preach the gospel to all ..."The God I serve did this to His enemies....you might want to get to know HIM"
... this is exactly what Jesus promised to the persecuted Philadelphian church...
Rev 3:9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. NKJV
Do you believe that Jesus fulfilled this promise to the Philadelphian church or do you think they are also still waiting?
This event historically for Old Covenant Israel was like the devastation which resulted after the nuclear bombs landed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War Two ... all dispute and debate was over ...'Give me the surrender forms to sign please'.
'Your God is God Almighty and I submit to His authority'
...and even Gentiles would have responded like Nebuchadnezzar after his encounter with the only true God in Daniel 4:34-37.
Dan 4:34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him,"What have You done?" NKJV
Have you done what Nebuchadnezzar did yet? ...and surrendered yourself to the sovereignty and love and mercy of the Only True God?