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God's Word Seven

A website for those who wish to digest the "strong [solid] meat,"
not just "the milk or meat," of the Word of God. ~ Hebrews 5:12-14

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For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.

Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.

And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.”

As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:1-6)

(Note that Christ can minister in the sanctuary in this manner today, though not of the Levitical line, because He is not ministering as High Priest to individuals under the Mosaic Economy.  Rather, He is ministering on behalf of those who form the one new man “in Christ.”

But in that coming day when Israel is brought back into the picture, Christ’s priesthood, of necessity, will have to change.  In that day Christ will be the great King-Priest after the order of Melchizedek, a priesthood of an entirely different order.)

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man. (Genesis 9:6)

. . . Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34a)

Men of Israel . . .

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. . . .

Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. (Acts 3:12, 14-15, 17 [12a]).

1) Israel’s cleansing from defilement through contact with the dead body of the nation’s Messiah.

2) A restoration the Jewish people to the land of their possession.

(In the type, this ransom was connected with some aspect of the person and work of the high priest, or of other priests.  For example, this ransom could not be used until the high priest had died.  Then, this ransom had to do with a covering [with atonement] from defilement wrought through contact with a dead body.  And such a work in Numbers 19, where cleansing from this type defilement is dealt with, was performed by a priest.

The high priestly ministry of Aaron and his successors in the camp of Israel, whether in this or in other areas of defilement, was a work on behalf of the saved, not the unsaved.  Their work was for those who had already appropriated the blood of slain paschal lambs, pointing to Christ and His shed blood at Calvary [the slain Paschal Lamb].  This succession of high priests ministered in this manner, on the basis of shed blood, typifying Christ’s present ministry in the sanctuary after this same fashion [a ministry for the saved, on the basis of shed blood].

Thus, that which is being dealt with in Numbers 35 — portending a priestly work — has to do with the cleansing of saved individuals from defilement [defilement wrought through contact with a dead body], not with issues surrounding the death of the firstborn [issues surrounding eternal salvation].

And the Jewish people, for two reasons, find themselves in a position today where they cannot avail themselves of this cleansing [cleansing from contact with the dead body of their Messiah]:

1) The Jewish people today are in an unsaved state.

2) The Jewish people, even if they were in a saved state today, could not presently avail themselves of the ransom [cleansing] because of the nature of Christ’s present priestly ministry.

Cleansing from all defilement during the present dispensation is brought to pass through only one means — through Christ’s present ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, on the basis of His shed blood on the mercy seat.  Though Christ is not of the Levitical line, His present ministry is patterned after the order of Aaron’s ministry; and, because Christ is not of the Levitical line, if God were dealing with Israel on a national basis today, He could not deal with the Jewish people in relation to Christ’s present ministry in the sanctuary [else He would violate that which He Himself established].

The Jewish people, if they were being dealt with in relation to the priesthood today, would have to be dealt with in relation to that which is set forth concerning the priesthood in the Mosaic Economy [as will be seen through the covenant Antichrist will make with Israel during the coming Tribulation, when God completes His national dealings with Israel during Man’s Day].  The priest, within the Mosaic Economy, had to be of the Levitical line.  And Christ is not of this line.  Christ is from the tribe of Judah.

Thus, dealing with the Jewish people in relation to Christ’s high priestly ministry today would be completely out of the question.  They could not go to Christ and receive cleansing, for the Mosaic Economy does not recognize a priestly ministry of the nature Christ is presently exercising [a non-Levitical ministry patterned after the order of Aaron, a Levite].  And any priesthood that the Jewish people themselves could enact today, from the Levitical line, would be completely non-efficacious.

However, as previously seen, note that Christ [though from the tribe of Judah] can conduct a ministry patterned after the order of Aaron for Christians during the present dispensation, for Christians are not under the Mosaic Economy.  Christians form part of the one new man, which is neither Jew nor Gentile [cf. Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:12-15].  Thus, for Christians, Christ’s lineage has nothing to do with the matter one way or the other.

But, before the Jewish people can enter into the picture as matters pertain to the priesthood and the ransom, seen in Numbers 35, Christ must first terminate His present ministry in the sanctuary and come forth as the great King-Priest after the order of Melchizedek.  And, as well, a new covenant [which will replace the old covenant] will be made with Israel at this time [Jeremiah 31:31-34].

In the preceding respect, from the vantage point of the antitype, it is an easy matter to see why the high priest in the camp of Israel had to die before the slayer could avail himself of the ransom and return to the land of his possession.  God had simply established and brought matters to pass after this fashion in the history of Israel in order to form a type, with a view to the antitype.  Christ’s high priestly ministry in the sanctuary has to terminate first.  Only then can the slayer [Israel] avail herself of the ransom and return to the land of her possession.)

(Insofar as Christians are concerned, Christ’s present ministry in the heavenly sanctuary will terminate when the Church is removed from the earth into the heavens, at the end of the present dispensation.  However, Christ’s ministry in the sanctuary will apparently continue for others through the Tribulation, else the saved among the earth-dwellers would have no High Priest.

Christ though will not come forth as the great King-Priest after the order of Melchizedek, appearing to Israel after this fashion, until the end of Man’s Day, the end of the Tribulation.  And it will be only at this time that events surrounding the antitype of the death of the high priest in Numbers chapter thirty-five can occur.)

(A knowledge of the preceding facts will reveal not only truths surrounding Christ’s present and future ministries but also truths surrounding Israel’s present and future status as a nation in the Middle East.  Christ is still ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, with the antitype of the death of the high priest yet to occur; and Israel still remains in unbelief.  Consequently, Israel — being unable to presently avail herself of the paid ransom — will not only continue in unbelief, but the nation, as well, cannot return to the land of her possession during the present day and time.

To equate the present restoration of a remnant of the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob to the land of Israel with the fulfillment of any of the Old Testament prophecies dealing with Israel’s restoration to this land [such as the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37] is to ignore the fact that Israel is the slayer.  And this is an established biblical fact that cannot be ignored.

The present restoration of a remnant to the land can have nothing whatsoever to do with the fulfillment of any of the numerous Old Testament prophecies surrounding Israel’s restoration.  The fulfillment [after any fashion] of such promises today, from a biblical standpoint, is impossible, for Christ is still ministering after the order of Aaron in the heavenly sanctuary.

Thus, the ransom that Christ paid to effect Israel’s cleansing cannot presently be used;  nor can Israel return to the land of her possession today.  These things are reserved for the seventh day, the Lord’s Day, which lies just ahead.

However, a remnant must be present in the land immediately preceding the end of Man’s Day for certain prophecies surrounding Israel and the nations to be fulfilled, though the existence of this remnant has nothing to do with the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies surrounding Israel’s restoration.  Thus, the existence of the nation of Israel in the land today [consisting of almost 6,000,000 Jews] is neither the beginning of nor a partial fulfillment of any Old Testament prophecy surrounding Israel’s restoration to the land.  Rather, this remnant in the land is the result of a Zionistic work among the Jews during about the past century, and this remnant constitutes the existence of an end-time Israeli nation that must be present in the land in order to bring about the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies surrounding Israel and the nations immediately preceding Christ’s return.

In this respect, the remnant in the land today constitutes the nation that will shortly make the seven-year covenant with Antichrist.  And this remnant will, in turn, later be uprooted from the land [something that will never occur after the Jewish people have been re-gathered to the land in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (cf. Isaiah 2:1-4; Jeremiah 32:37-44; Ezekiel 37:19-28; 39:25-29; Joel 2:27-32; Micah 4:1-7)].

In the middle of the Tribulation, when Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, the nation of Israel, as we know it today, will be uprooted from their land; and the Jews dwelling in the land at that time, who do not escape to places of safety out among the nations, or the place that God will have specially prepared for them in the mountainous or desert terrain of the land [Matthew 24:16-20; Revelation 12:6, 14], will either be slain or be sold as slaves throughout the Gentile world [cf. Joel 3:6; Luke 21:20-24; Revelation 11:2].

During the last half of the Tribulation there will be no Jewish nation in the Middle East.  Rather, Jerusalem, the capital of Jewry, will be “trodden down of the Gentiles” until the full end of Daniel’s Seventy-Week prophecy, which marks the end of “the times of the Gentiles” [cf. Daniel 9:24-27; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2].

During this time, the entire world — particularly the center of Antichrist’s kingdom in the Middle East [including the land of Israel as we know it today] — will become like Nazi Germany during the final six years of the Third Reich [1939-1945].  And when the Holocaust of that coming day reaches its darkest hour, Messiah will return, and He Himself will affect the prophesied re-gathering of the nation [Matthew 24:15-31; Luke 21:20-27].

Christ must first complete His present ministry in the sanctuary and return to earth as the great King-Priest after the order of Melchizedek.  Only then can Israel avail herself of the ransom and return to the land of her possession.)

You are My Son, today I have begotten You. (Hebrews 5:5)

And then there is the quotation from Psalm 110:4,

You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:6)

Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6)

The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! (Psalm 110:2)

1) David was to have a Son (2 Samuel 7:12).

2) David’s Son was to sit on his throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

3) The kingdom, under this Son’s reign, was to be established forever (2 Samuel 7:13).

1) He is the One to whom God will give “the throne of his father David.”

2) He is the One who will “reign over the house of Jacob forever.”

3) He is the One who will possess a kingdom of which “there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:18-19).

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).

(Concerning the absence of the mention of a sanctuary and shed blood in connection with Melchizedek, this would not be the case as matters are seen in the antitype, in that future day, when Christ comes forth as the great King-Priest after the order of Melchizedek and a new covenant is made with the House of Israel.  Covenants are, at times, associated with death and shed blood in Scripture, as is the new covenant [cf. Genesis 15:9-21; Jeremiah 34:18; Matthew 26:28].  There is an allusion to this in Hebrews 7:21-22:

The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Then, when Christ deals with Israel in relation to sin at the time of His return [fulfilling that which is foreshadowed by events on the Day of Atonement], of necessity, death and shed blood and a sanctuary, will have to be in view.  And also, of necessity, Jesus will have to be exercising the Melchizedek priesthood at this time.

Thus, in the preceding respect, one could find death and shed blood, along with a sanctuary, associated with the Melchizedek priesthood.  But that is strictly future, it involves Israel alone, and it has nothing to do with Christ’s present priestly ministry on behalf of Christians.)

Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,

though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things that He suffered.

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:7-9).

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

. . . He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:19, 21 [19b]).

(Different words are used in the Greek text for verbs translated the same in the English text of John 1:1-14.  The verb used in John 1:1-2 — “In the beginning was the Word . . . .” — is a verb of being and has no reference to time in relation to a beginning or an end.  Also, there is no article before “beginning” in the Greek text.  The thought is simply, “In beginning [there are different beginnings in Scripture (for the earth, angels, man, etc.)] the Word existed without reference to a beginning or an end [for the Word has neither] . . . .”

Then in John 1:14 different verb is used, which has reference to a definite time of beginning — “And the Word was made [‘became’] flesh . . . .”  There was a point in time when the eternal Word “became flesh, and tabernacled among us,” though the incarnation wrought no change relative to the way in which the Word is presented prior to this time in verses one and two.  The Word was just as much fully God following the incarnation as before the incarnation.)

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

“If I were not God as well as Man, even I would not know the day or the hour.”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

. . . His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. (Isaiah 52:14)

. . . who for the joy that was set before Him [the day when He would rule and reign over the earth] endured the cross, despising the shame . . . . (Hebrews 12:2).

. . . kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider.” (Isaiah 52:15)

(Note that Isaiah 53, set between two Messianic chapters (Isaiah 52; 54), forms Israel’s confession as the nation goes forth as God’s witness to the Gentile nations of the earth during the Messianic Era.)

Who has believed our [Israel’s] report? . . .

. . . He was wounded for our [Israel’s] transgressions, He was bruised for our [Israel’s] iniquities . . . and by His stripes we [the Jewish people] are healed. (Isaiah 53:1, 5 [1a]; cf. Isaiah 1:5-6, 25-2:5)

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)

Behold your King! (John 19:14b)

We have no king but Caesar! (John 19:15b)

(The Jewish religious leaders, through this act, placed the nation of Israel in a position diametrically opposed to the reason for the nation’s very existence.  Israel had been called into existence — as God’s firstborn son — to be the ruling nation on earth, within a theocracy.  Israel was to be the nation through which God would rule and bless all the Gentile nations [cf. Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17-18; Exodus 4:22-23; 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6].

However, the religious leaders in Israel had placed the nation in subjection to a pagan Gentile power by rejecting their true King and, in His stead, claiming allegiance to a pagan Gentile king.  Such an act not only removed the One who must reside in Israel’s midst at the time these blessings would be realized [cf. Joel 2:27-32; Acts 2:16-21; 3:14-15, 19-23; 7:54-56] — affixing Him to the Cross rather than seeing Him seated on the Throne — but it also placed both nations in completely opposite positions from the respective positions that they were to occupy for their well-being in God’s plans and purposes, proving detrimental to both nations [blessings withheld for both, along with further degradation for Israel].)

(Though the Father turned from the Son at this point, leaving the Son to act alone, the Son remained just as much fully God as He had always been and would always be; and, resultantly, it was the blood of God that was shed at Calvary.)

(The same perfect tense is used in the Greek text relative to both Christ’s finished work and man’s salvation.  The perfect tense refers to action completed in past time, with the results of that action existing during present time in a finished state.  This is the tense used in John 19:30, recording Christ’s cry from the Cross, “It has been finished”;  and this is the tense used in Ephesians 2:8, referring to man’s salvation by grace through faith:  “For by grace you are saved [lit., ‘you have been saved’] through faith . . . .”

Both acts involve, in their entirety, divinely finished work;  the latter work [man’s salvation] is based on the former [Christ’s work at Calvary];  and insofar as the state of redeemed man is concerned, one work is just as finished, complete, and secure as the other.  Refer to the author’s book, Salvation by Grace through Faith BOOK, in this site.)

. . . let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without [apart from] sin.

. . . Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”

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 [lit., ‘the sufferings with respect to Christ’] and the glory that would follow.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food [KJV: strong meat].

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

But solid food [strong meat] belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:10-14)

(Blessings of the preceding respect, through Abraham, actually go back to Shem, nine generations preceding Abraham [Genesis 9:25-27].  It is through Abraham, Shem’s descendant, that God brings to fruition His previously-introduced national work in this respect.

That is, a nation emanating from the loins of Abraham, which, following the creation in Jacob [Isaiah 43:1], and the subsequent adoption [Romans 9:4], could be seen as God’s firstborn son [Exodus 4:22-23], the nation in possession of the rights of primogeniture.)

Called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:10; cf. Hebrews 5:6).

(Note in Hebrews 5:6 that Christ is said to be “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”  “Forever” is a translation of the Greek words eis ton aiona, which appear twenty-nine times in the Greek New Testament.  Depending on the context, this expression can be understood either one of two ways — “with respect to the age [one age],” or “with respect to eternity [all the ages].”  It is used both ways in the Greek New Testament [cf. Matthew 21:19; 1 Peter 1:23].  The word aiona [the word aion in a different case form] is the singular noun form of the adjective aionios, which is also used both ways in the Greek text [ref. Chapter 2 in this book].

The four times this expression appears in the book of Hebrews relative to Christ being “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” [Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:17, 21] should, contextually, be understood, as Christ being “a priest with respect to the age after the order of Melchizedek.”  The reference is to the coming age, that with which the book of Hebrews deals.

It might help to note a plural form of this same Greek expression in Hebrews 13:8 — eis tous aionas, “with respect to the ages.”  This verse, literally translated, would read, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and with respect to the ages [all the future ages, i.e., forever’].”  Christ exercising a priesthood “after the order of Melchizedek” in Hebrews chapter five through seven has to do with one age, but Christ being unchangeable [for the Father and the Son are “one,” and God is unchangeable (Malachi 3:6)] has to do with all the ages — past, present, and future.

Christ will continue to reign beyond the Millennium, but matters as they will exist during the Millennium [one age] and beyond the Millennium [the succeeding unending ages, comprising eternity] will be quite different.  Christ’s reign “over the house of Jacob” [Luke 1:33], for example, is expressed in the Greek New Testament by the same words which appear in Hebrews 13:8, eis tous aionas [with respect to the ages]; but there will be differences between His reign “over the house of Jacob” during the Millennium and beyond the Millennium [note that this is the natural man, “Jacob,” not the spiritual man, “Israel.”  The nation will thus evidently dwell on earth in natural bodies of flesh, blood, and bones throughout not only the Millennium but the eternal ages that follow as well].

During the Millennium, Christ will occupy the role of King-Priest after the order of Melchizedek, seated on His own throne in the heavenly Jerusalem and on David’s throne in the earthly Jerusalem.  Conditions during that coming age will necessitate a King-Priest.  There will be sin, resulting death, etc.  And Christ must reign until He has “put all things under His feet.”  “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”  And when “all things” have been brought under subjection, the kingdom will be “delivered up” to the Father “that God may be all in all” [lit., “that God may be all things in all,” i.e., that God may be all things in all of these things (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)].  This is actually the purpose for the Messianic Era — to rectify conditions in the one province in the kingdom of God where ruin, resulting from sin, ensued.

Then, when “all things” have been brought under subjection to the Son, and the Son has delivered “the kingdom” up to the Father, conditions will be quite different.  During the ages beyond the Millennium [the eternal ages] there will be “a new heaven and a new earth,” the New Jerusalem will be on the new earth [probably a much larger earth than presently exists, easily accommodating a city of this size as its capital (a city some 1,500 miles across and in height)], and God Himself will reside on the new earth [ruling the universe, from that time forth, from this new location rather than from the present location].

Sin and death, along with all the former associated things, will no longer exist.  And it will no longer be necessary for God to have a Priest dwelling among men to represent man to God and God to man [Revelation 21:22].  In that day, God “will dwell with them [with mankind, on the new earth], and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” [Revelation 21:1ff].

And Christ, in that day, will continue to reign in a kingly position [which will be of a universal nature rather than restricted to this earth, as during the Millennium].  He will be seated on “the throne of God and of the Lamb [a throne from which universal rule will emanate]” [Revelation 22:1, 3], others will continue to occupy the throne with Him [Revelation 21:5], and Christ will also continue to occupy “the throne of His father David” [Luke 1:32-33].)

Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:11)

(For a detailed discussion of Genesis 1:1-2:3, as these verses pertain to the Christian life [birth, maturity, purpose] within a type-antitype framework, see the author’s book, From Egypt to Canaan BOOK, Chapters 5-8, in this site.)

That you do not become sluggish [nothros, ‘lazy,’ ‘careless’], but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

1) Their present spiritual growth.

2) The “end [goal]” of their faith, the salvation of their souls (James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:4-5, 9; cf. Hebrews 6:11-12, 19; 10:36-39).

. . . you have become sluggish in hearing [because of your carelessness, laziness (as it pertains to the reception of the Word of God and your spiritual growth)].

. . . you have become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (solid food).

(One could take a lesson concerning proper biblical interpretation from Stephen’s address to the Jewish religious leaders in Acts 7.  Stephen began by calling attention to particular historic accounts in the Old Testament.  Then, account by account [Acts 7:2ff], once he had these Jewish religious leaders’ attention properly focused on the letter of the matter, he drew spiritual lessons from the historic accounts.  And, though the lessons were relatively simple, those whom he addressed got the message because Stephen opened the Scriptures to them after the fashion in which they had been written, moving from type to antitype.

And because Stephen opened the Scriptures to their understanding in this respect, allowing them to understand the proclaimed message, “they gnashed at him with their teeth” [an Eastern expression showing deep contempt (which not only showed their attitude toward Stephen but toward the proclaimed Word itself)].

Note that which a proper proclamation of the Word had done — they had been “cut to the heart,” resulting in their action [Acts 7:54].

These religious leaders did exactly the same thing to Stephen that they had previously done to Christ, and for the same reason.  In a vain effort to do away with the whole of the matter, they killed Stephen [Acts 7:57-60].

And, relative to the preceding, the one daring to do this in Christian circles today might want to keep one thing in mind:

The religious leaders today, as the religious leaders during Stephen’s day, or during the previous time when Christ was upon earth, are not going to like that which the Word really has to say when the Word has been proclaimed after the manner in which it has been recorded and structured.)

1) He must relate that which is taught in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110 to Old Testament revelation as a whole.

2) He must study the matter after the fashion in which the Old Testament has been structured, moving, in this respect, from type to antitype.

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

And this we will do, if God permit (Hebrews 6:1-3).

(Note that proper spiritual living and growth is inseparably connected with and dependent on one thing:  a proper diet of spiritual food that comes from one source alone — from the Word.

The reason for this is seen in the very nature of the Word.  The Word is inseparably identified with both the Father and His Son — “the Word was God,” “the Word became flesh” [John 1:1-2, 14].  The Word became flesh in the person of God’s Son, who was/is God manifested in the flesh.

Accordingly, anything connected with true spirituality [spiritual living, growth] cannot exist apart from the Word, for, existing apart from the Word would be synonymous with existing apart from the Father and His Son [along with the Holy Spirit].

Thus, it is either the Word or nothing.  No middle ground exists.)

And this we will do [we will go on unto maturity] if God permits [if God permits us to go on to maturity]. (Hebrews 6:3)

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection [maturity]. (Hebrews 6:1a)

1) “repentance from dead works,” coupled with “faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1b).

2) “doctrine of baptisms,” coupled with a “laying on of hands” (Hebrews 6:2a).

3) “resurrection of the dead,” coupled with “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2b).

1) The beginning point concerns repentance and faith.

2) The middle point has to do with cleansing and identification.

3) The terminal point centers on teachings concerning the end or goal of that which has preceded.

. . . faith comes by [out of] hearing, and hearing by [through] the Word of God.”

(For more information on James 2:14-26, refer to the author’s book, Salvation of the Soul BOOK, Chapter 5, in this site.)

. . . from faith to faith [from the beginning to the end — it is all of “faith”]: as it is written, the just shall live by faith” (cf. Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:36-39; 11:1ff). 

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness [if we say that we have fellowship with Him but have failed to avail ourselves of cleansing through the use of the water in the laver in the courtyard, leaving us in the darkness outside the Holy Place (with its light and bread — the “candlestick” and “shewbread”)], we lie, and do not practice the truth. (John 1:6)

. . . if we walk in the light, as He is in the light [if we avail ourselves of cleansing through the use of the water in the laver, allowing admittance to the Holy Place, with its light and bread], we have fellowship with one another . . . . (John 1:7a)

. . . and the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin.

(For a more detailed exposition of complete and subsequent partial washings as set forth in John 13:2-20, in the light of Old Testament typology, see Chapter 8 in the author’s book, From Egypt to Canaan BOOK, in this site.)

(The section leading into [Hebrews 8:1-10:22], the fourth of the five major warnings in Hebrews 10:23-39, concerns itself more specifically with this overall matter.

Because of Christ’s high priestly ministry [which He performs on the basis of His shed blood on the mercy seat of the heavenly tabernacle], present cleansing is available for a separated, set apart people who are inseparably identified with their Lord.)

(Refer to Chapter 2 of this book, for a discussion of how aionios is used in the Greek New Testament.)

(The Greek word anastasis, translated “resurrection” [e.g., Philippians 3:10], is a compound word meaning “to stand up.”  Ana means “up,” and stasis means “to stand.”  Anastasis appears in Philippians 3:11 with the Greek preposition “ek,” meaning “out of [i.e., ‘from within’],” prefixed to the word [becoming “ex” when prefixed to words beginning with a vowel, as in this case].  Thus, ex-ana-stasis means “to stand up out of.”

This “standing up out of” — the “out-resurrection” of Philippians 3:11 — simply refers to a further separation that will occur at the judgment seat.  The resurrection [anastasis] of Christians will separate all Christians from all non-Christians [Jew or Gentile]; and the subsequent out-resurrection [exanastasis] will separate one group of Christians [the faithful] from the remaining Christians [the unfaithful].)

“For it is impossible . . .” (Hebrews 6:4).

And this we will do, if God permits.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come,

if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:3-6)

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15 ASV; cf. Revelation 10:1-7).

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling . . . . (Hebrews 3:1a).

1) The finished work of the Son at Calvary.

2) The finished work performed by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer — breathing life into the one having no life, performed on the basis of and made possible through the Son’s prior finished work.

1) Be able to understand teachings surrounding the coming Melchizedek priesthood of Christ.

2) Be able to teach others these things as well.

(Note, by way of passing, that an aversion of this nature invariably emanates from two spheres:  1) Ignorance rather than knowledge.  2) Immaturity rather than maturity.)

I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,

that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich” 

except only what the young men have eaten . . . .” (Genesis 14:22-24a).

If anyone want to do [is willing to do] His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine . . . . (John 7:17)

Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it. (Numbers 13:30)

We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. (Numbers 13:31)

(“Repentance” simply means a change of mind.  And in both the type and antitype, the change of mind is on the part of God, not on the part of the Israelites [type] or on the part of Christians [antitype].)

. . . they crucify again for themselves the Son of God [‘afresh,’ as in the KJV, is not in the Greek text, though implied], and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:6).

1) He would first have to come into a mature knowledge and understanding of the things surrounding Christ’s coming reign over the earth.

2) He would then have to apostatize after the same fashion in which the Israelites apostatized (looking away from Moses and the land [an earthly land], back to Egypt; i.e., looking away from Christ and the land [a heavenly land], back to the world).

And this we will do [we will go on to maturity in the things surrounding Christ’s coming reign over the earth], if God permits [if God permits us to go on]” (Hebrews 6:3).

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:7-8)

. . . Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you . . . . (Genesis 3:17-18a [17b])

1) He can only produce works or bring forth fruit in association with the cursed earth, with which he finds himself connected.

2) He can only be active after this fashion within the sphere of the one life he possesses (“natural,” i.e., “soulical” [cf. 1 Corinthians 2:14ff]).

. . . when I see the blood, I will pass over you . . . . (Exodus 12:13)

(Man must be made alive “spiritually,” for “God is spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” [John 4:24 NASB, NIV].  Consequently, in order for man to find himself in a non-alienated state once again, he must, through divine intervention [for he himself is powerless to act], be restored “spiritually”; and this can be accomplished only through the spiritual birth from above.

John 4:24 has nothing to do with God in a physical sense, as the verse is often understood [stating, on the basis of this verse, that God does not have a physical existence].  The word “spirit” is anarthrous [no article before the word] in the Greek text, referring to God’s character [His essence, His being] rather than to His identity.  The expression is used in the same sense as another expression by John, “God is love” [1 John 4:16].  And the latter has no more to do with the physical than the former, or vice versa.  Both refer to God’s character.

The preceding, as well, shows the reason why the natural man finds himself alienated from God.  He, within the framework of his character, acts in the “natural,” for that is the only sphere in which it is possible for him to act.  But God, within the framework of His character, acts in the “spiritual,” never the “natural.”  And one is totally incompatible with the other.  Ishmael cannot act within the sphere occupied by Isaac.  It is impossible.

Thus, the “natural man” cannot worship God “in spirit and in truth”; nor can he exercise “faith,” apart from which it is impossible to please God [Hebrews 11:6].  Only the person having experienced the spiritual birth from above is in a position to do either.

But, such a person may or may not conduct his affairs in the spiritual realm, though Scripture, time after time, exhorts him to so do.  Those things that characterize his life may or may not be in line with those things that characterize God, though they should be.  He still possesses the old nature [the natural (soulical) man, connected with the earth], though he [unlike unredeemed man] also possesses the new nature [the spiritual man, connected with God, another land, etc.].  And a Christian is fully capable of following either nature, going in either direction.

Note that saved man functioning in the realm of the natural, the soulical, rather than the spiritual, can only bring forth exactly the same thing in relation to fruit bearing as unsaved man, for he is operating in connection with a cursed earth, the first birth, etc.  And God will always reject such works.

And for this reason Scripture is filled with spiritual lessons, exhortations, and warnings concerning the overall matter surrounding the Christians’ calling.  And herein, as well, lies the reason for the necessity of proper spiritual growth to maturity, for redeemed man invariably lives within the sphere of which ever nature is cultivated, nurtured, and fed.)

but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven,

a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. (Deuteronomy 11:11-12)

Let My teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass.

(Though the land of Canaan is part of the earth, which is under a curse, it is used in an eschatological sense within the framework of the type [referring to that day when the earth will be removed from the present curse].  In this respect, it is used relative to both the rest set before Christians [to be realized in that coming seventh day, the earth’s coming Sabbath] and a land contrasted with Egypt [always a type of the world in Scripture].  In the latter respect, the land of Canaan would be associated with “the spiritual” and the land of Egypt with “the natural.”)

Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it. (Numbers 13:30)

(In fact, God’s attitude toward anyone standing in Israel’s way was such that He not only completely destroyed the Egyptian army that moved into the sea after Israel [“Not so much as one of them remained.” (Exodus 14:28)], but He pronounced a terminal, annihilating judgment upon the “first of the nations” [Numbers 24:20] to war against Israel in the wilderness.  God said to Moses:

Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. [Exodus 17:14].

The Amalekite nation existed for hundreds of years following the Exodus under Moses [continuing to exist throughout this time because of the failure of the Israelites to carry out their God-appointed task as executioners of the Amalekites (Deuteronomy 25:17-19; 1 Samuel 15:2-26; 2 Samuel 1:1-16; cf. Revelation 3:11)].  But, during the days of Hezekiah, this nation was ultimately destroyed after the fashion that God had stated centuries earlier, at the time of the Exodus [1 Chronicles 4:39-43].  And, as a consequence, the only available record today that this nation ever even existed can be found only one place — in the pages of Scripture.

Secular history knows nothing of the Amalekites, for God destroyed this nation to the extent that man, in his secular world today [archaeology, etc.], can find no trace whatsoever of the people of this nation.)

We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. (Numbers 13:31)

1) That of one day coming into a realization of his calling (Hebrews 6:7), associated with acceptance and blessings.

2) Or, that of one day being overthrown short of the goal of his calling (Hebrews 6:8), associated with rejection and curses.

(One aspect of the preceding type would prevent Lot from entering into these experiences, for he was not of Abraham’s seed.  But the aspect of the type being viewed is that of two saved individuals in Melchizedek’s presence, not God’s covenant dealings and promises to Abraham and his seed.

Note one facet of teaching from this aspect of the type relative to Christians in the coming kingdom.  All will be present when Christ exercises the Melchizedek priesthood, but not all will be blessed.)

Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be destroyed. (Genesis 19:17)

1) “Do not look behind you” (cf. Luke 9:62; Hebrews 12:1-2).

2) “nor stay anywhere in the plain” (don’t remain in the low-lying country [equivalent to Egypt]).

3) “Escape to the mountain” (a “mountain” is used in Scripture symbolizing a kingdom, particularly Christ’s coming Kingdom [cf. Isaiah 2:1-5; Daniel 2:35, 44-45; Matthew 17:1-5]).

(Note:  Contrary to some English translations, the word “mountain” in the Hebrew text is singular, as in the KJV.  The reference is to a “mountain” symbolizing a kingdom, not to “mountains” symbolizing kingdoms.  A distinction between “mountain” and “mountains” in this respect can be seen in Isaiah 2:2-3:

. . . the mountain of the LORD'S house [the kingdom of Christ] shall be established on the top of the mountains [all the individual earthly kingdoms] . . . .”)

But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love that you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:9-12)

But, beloved, though we are speaking this way, we are persuaded better things of you, things that accompany [i.e., things that have to do with] salvation.” (ref. NIV)

1) Confusion concerning the salvation message on the one hand.

2) Corruption, distortion, or destruction of parts or the whole of the salvation message on the other hand.

(The preceding would be comparable to going to God’s work of restoring the ruined creation in Genesis 1 and moving His works from day one into His works in days two through six, or vice versa.

On day one, the earth was entirely passive, for the earth was completely incapable, in and of itself, of effecting restoration.  All was of divine intervention — the Spirit of God moved, God spoke, and light came into existence [Genesis 1:2-5 (2b)].  But once the light had begun to shine out of the darkness [John 1:5; 2 Corinthians 4:6] and the earth had emerged from its watery grave, the earth began to bring forth [Genesis 1:9-11].

And so it is with ruined man.  Divine intervention has to occur first, allowing light to shine out of darkness and man to be removed from his watery grave, so to speak.  Only then can he, as the earth, bring forth.

These things must be viewed and understood in the same divine framework and order in which they were established in an unchangeable fashion in the opening verses of Genesis.)

(For a comprehensive treatment of the overall subject of the saving of the soul, see the author’s books, Salvation of the Soul BOOK and From Egypt to Canaan BOOK, both in this site.)

1) Those exercising faith, with works following.

2) Those not exercising faith, with no works following.

(For additional information on Matthew 25:31-46, refer to the author’s book, The Most High Ruleth BOOK, Chapter 3, in this site.)

. . . from faith to faith:  as it is written.  The just shall live by faith. (cf. Habakkuk 2:4)

Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone [if any of the just, exercising faith] draws back [stops exercising faith], My soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition [‘destruction,’ ‘ruin’], but of those who believe to the saving of the soul [lit., ‘of faith with respect to a saving of the soul’]. (Hebrews 10:38-39)

Now faith [contextually, to a saving of the soul] is . . . .” (Hebrews 11:1)

(For additional information on the preceding, refer to the author’s book, Salvation of the Soul BOOK, Chapter 6, “Hope, Inheritance, Salvation.”)

(One can easily see, from these verses, a parallel problem existing in Christendom today.  Christians involve themselves in numerous ministries — some with “diligence” — but how many of these same Christians know anything about “the full assurance of hope”?  How many exhibit the same “diligence” in this realm?)

In order that you might not remain dull of hearing [Hebrews 5:11 (or ‘slothful’ as rendered)], but . . . .”

. . . through faith and patience [lit., ‘patient endurance’] inherit the promises” (Hebrews 5:12b).

. . . 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.” (Hebrews 11:13)

They exercised faithfulness with respect “to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39b).

Therefore we [Christians] also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [the Old Testament saints in Hebrews 11], let us . . . .

That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

where the Forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:12-20)

1) Man was created to exercise dominion.

2) Satan brought about his fall to prevent him from exercising dominion.

3) And redemption has been provided so man can be brought back into the position wherein he can one day exercise dominion, realizing the purpose for his creation in the beginning.

The central purpose for the entire dispensation, in complete keeping with all things revealed in the Old Testament about the Son, is to acquire the co-heirs who will occupy the throne with the “heir of all things” during the coming day of His power (Hebrews 1:14ff; cf. Romans 8:17).

(See the author’s book, From Egypt to Canaan BOOK, for a more comprehensive treatment of the preceding.)

(More specifically, viewing the type and antitype together, the basis for redemption occurs through the Father offering the Son in Genesis 22 [typifying events surrounding Calvary], with redemption itself occurring throughout the time depicted by events in Genesis 24 [events throughout the present dispensation].

But, the fact remains, events in Genesis 24 do not deal with redemption per se.  Events in this chapter deal with family members [typifying those already saved] and the search for the bride.  And events in this chapter occur between Israel being set aside and Israel’s future restoration, which is where events during the present dispensation occur.)

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.

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

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.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

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;

for all the land that you see I give to you and your descendants forever.

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.

Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” (Genesis 13:14-17)

On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates 

the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:18-21)

. . . “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son 

blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16-18)

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? (Hebrews 3:18)

The LORD has sworn [by Himself], and will not relent [He will not change His mind], “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

(Actually, Israel alone was in view within the original scope of the promise.  The lineal descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob were made the repository for both heavenly and earthly promises.

But the heavenly aspect of the promised rulership and blessings was later offered to, rejected by, and taken from Israel at a time when the kingdom of the heavens was “at hand” [Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17; 10:5-7; 12:22-32; 21:43].

Then the one new man “in Christ” was called into existence to be the recipient of that which Israel had rejected [Matthew 16:18; Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 2:12-15; Hebrews 3:1; 1 Peter 2:9-11].)

where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever [“with respect to the age,” the coming Messianic Era] according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20)

For you have need of endurance [‘patient endurance’], so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition [‘destruction,’ ‘ruin’]; but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. [lit., “of faith with respect to a saving of the soul”] (Hebrews 10:36-39).

“And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7:9-10; cf. Genesis 14:17-15:4).

“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist [‘all things have been established,’ ‘all things hold together’]” (Colossians 1:16-17).

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [‘in the person of’] his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds [‘brought into existence (arranged) the ages’]” (Hebrews 1:2).

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the Beast], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

(How can one son [Israel] be present at a time prior to that son’s existence? That has already been addressed after one fashion, but it can also be addressed by asking, How could the other Son [Christ] have been slain at a time prior to His incarnation and the events of Calvary?

Then, who slew Christ at the time seen in Revelation 13:8 — “from the foundation of the world” [i.e., from the time of events in Genesis 1:2b ff]? Only one person could possibly be seen as the slayer; only the other son could have committed this act, as seen in the typology of Cain slaying his brother, Abel, in Genesis 4.

Christ was the Paschal Lamb, the paschal lamb was given to Israel [Exodus 12:1 ff], and only Israel could slay the paschal lamb. It matters not whether the event occurred at the time of the restoration of the ruined material creation or 4,000 years later at Calvary. The same two individuals — the same two Sons — have to be involved. There is simply no other way for the event to occur at any time in history.

Suffice it to say that “with God all things are possible” [Matthew 19:26].)

(Note how this takes care of a quite-popular, erroneous teaching in Christendom today — the teaching that the Church has supplanted Israel in God’s plans and purposes, with God being through with Israel.

If something such as the preceding has occurred, after any fashion, then Christians can forget about everything, including their very salvation.

God’s work through One Son is not seen, it cannot exist, apart from the Other Son. Apart from a connection with both Sons — a Jewish Saviour, brought forth by a Jewish nation, with Christians seen grafted into a Jewish trunk — there can be no salvation, or anything else, aside from eternal ruin and damnation [Romans 11:1-26].

And the truth of the preceding can be seen throughout the first eleven chapters of Genesis, then continuing with the birth of Abraham in Genesis 11:27 and progressively moving throughout the Old Testament.

Note just one example — that of Shem, in relation to Ham and Japheth in Genesis 9:25-27. Shem was the only one of Noah’s three sons possessing a God. The other two sons, without a God, could only possess a connection with God one way — by going to the son in possession of a God, by going to Shem and dwelling “in the tents of Shem” [the words used in Scripture to denote the only way of partaking of that possessed by Shem].

Shem’s lineage in this respect can be traced through Abraham nine generations later, then through Isaac, Jacob, his twelve sons, and the nation of Israel. All of the other nations on earth can trace their lineage through either Ham, Japheth, or Shem’s lineage through individuals other than Abraham Isaac, Jacob, and his twelve sons.

And, exactly the same conditions exist today in relation to the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth — conditions which can never change. “Israel” is the only nation on the face of the earth with a God, all of the other nations are as described in Ephesians 2:11-13 [without a God (cf. Psalms 96:5)], and the nations are left with only one choice if they would have any connection with or access to God. They must go to the one nation with a God, to a Jewish Saviour Who is God. There is no alternative.

Now, note what would happen if Shem were removed from the picture in Genesis chapter nine, or if the nation of Israel were removed from the picture today [which are two ways of saying the same thing].

That needs to be thought through — thought about long and hard — before giving credence to what so many Christians are stating today about God being through with Israel, seeing the Church replacing Israel in God’s plans and purposes.)

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation [the Tribulation] be overpast.

For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity…” (Isaiah 26:20-21a).

“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17).

“When ye therefore see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16; cf. Luke 21:20-21).

“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days…

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (Revelation 12:5-6, 13-14).

(The preceding would be contrary to much present popular thought in Christian circles. Most Christians today, seeking to deal with and understand things about Israel and the nations in the Middle East — many aligning themselves after some fashion with what is often called “Christian Zionism” — see the establishment of the Jewish nation May 14, 1948 and the continuous migration of Jews back to the land since that time as God restoring His people to the land in accordance with His numerous promises in the O.T. to one day do so [Ezekiel 39:25-29; Amos 9:11-15].  Ref. Zionism in this site.

And many of these see a gradual reclamation of parts of the land, mainly for agricultural purposes, as God also restoring the land as well, again, in accordance with His promises to do so [Leviticus 26:42; II Chronicles 7:14].

A number of other Bible students though would somewhat draw back from the all-inclusiveness of the preceding — because of the Jewish people’s present unbelieving and unrepentant state — and see God restoring His people to their land only in accordance with certain, particular O.T. promises to do so. They would see God restoring His people in accordance with a handful of promises which they look upon as a restoration of the people in unbelief, to then be dealt with by God in or near the land [e.g., in Petra**] relative to their salvation, with the Messianic Era in view [e.g., sections such as Isaiah 11:11-12; Ezekiel 20:33-38; 22:17-22; 36:22-28; Zephaniah 2:1-3 are those usually referenced].

Thus, one might say that there are two groups within the one larger group. Both though are making the same basic mistake, for THERE ARE NO SCRIPTURES having to do with God restoring any of the Jewish people prior to the time of Christ’s return. Both groups take different Scriptures having to do with events surrounding Israel occurring either immediately preceding or following Christ’s return and seek to apply them to events occurring since May 14, 1948.

[The verses previously cited, used by those seeing God regathering a segment of the Jewish people in unbelief, are actually verses pertaining to God dealing with the Jewish people either during or following the Tribulation, mainly with activities following the Tribulation, having to do with a fulfillment of the things depicted by the seven Jewish festivals in Leviticus 23.

These verses, in this respect, have to do mainly with the national conversion and cleansing of the Jewish people, among other related things, at the time of Christ’s return. And these things will occur following Man’s Day, at the beginning of the Lord’s Day].

All of this misunderstanding, misrepresentation of Scripture — resulting in an erroneous teaching of Scripture — could have been prevented had these individuals paid attention to the O.T. types, the Jewish festivals, and the plain reading of Scripture in the light of that revealed by the Prophets concerning the matter. But all has seemingly been thrown to the winds, with the result in the matter where we are today.

The heavens remain closed relative to God’s dealings with the Jewish people today, and they will not again open until He has concluded His dealings with the Church during the present dispensation and has removed the Church.

[Note, for example, the typology of Jacob and Laban, when the heavens remained closed from Genesis 28:15 to Genesis 31:3, during the entire time of Jacob’s exile — extending to a time when he had acquired all of Laban’s wealth (cf. Isaiah 60:1-12). ONLY THEN did God speak to Jacob relative to a return to his land].

Thus, with the heavens closed, the return of Jews back to the land since the establishment of the nation in the late ‘40s can, of course, have NOTHING to do with any type restoration of the people in accordance with any of the O.T. Prophets. God simply is NOT dealing with [speaking to] Israel in such a respect today, which His having a part in any type restoration would necessitate.

Rather, the present migration of Jews to the land has to do with God allowing the Jewish people to rise up and seek to emancipate themselves — apart from their Messiah, in their present unbelieving and unrepentant state — and re-enter an “empty, swept, and garnished” house. And God has allowed this to occur in order to bring about end-time events relative to Israel and the nations [Matthew 12:43-45; 23:37-39].

But, seeking to relate all of this to any type O.T. prophecies concerning God speaking to Israel at a time when the heavens are closed is an entirely different matter. It hasn’t happened and it’s not happening for the simple reason that, from a Biblical standpoint, IT CAN’T HAPPEN!

[For additional information on the preceding, note the author’s pamphlets, “70 years, 490 Years.pdf” (Parts I-III), where this overall matter is dealt with and numerous other related pamphlets, articles, and chapters in books are referenced. Also “70 Years, 490 Years” and other Arlen Chitwood pamphlets are in this site as well].)