Category Archives: Christ

The Jews Coming to Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth: The New Testament Points to their Conversion.

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The grand point of the New Covenant is one mercy and grace to ALL. That is literally ALL, both Jews and gentiles, that is to say all of the nations of this world. Even so, it is a powerful sub point that the Jews should have priority, that

The Jews should have priority in the
preaching of the gospel !

Jesus did not come to destroy Moses’ law., Mtt 5:17.

“For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.”
Mtt 5:18

So a special prophet was to come who come who is like, Moses, whom everyone has to listen to, Deut 18:15. And like Moses? One of the most prominent things is He would be one who speaks to God face to face (Ex 33:11, etc.) and who delivers God’s laws.

So what was Jesus agenda?

He told the Canaanite woman,

“I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Mtt 15:24

When Jesus named His twelve apostles in Matthew 10, and sent them out on the limited commission, the emphasis was to be in saving the Jews, and indeed, to not go to ANYONE else. He gave them authority over unclean spirits and every disease (and this group included Judas), and told them,

Jewish Chronicles outlines major breaks in Jewish history that have led to their present situation, and where all of this is leading. Available from your bookseller, November 6, 2020.

5 … “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’”
Mtt 10:5-7

For sure that was so, unless you want to maintain that Jesus badly misunderstood the situation. He clearly knew early in His ministry to the Jews would reject Him (Jn 2:19-22). This was not a surprise. Even so God said,

“It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”
Deut 18:19

So Jesus told this apostles on this first mission of those who would reject the words He was sending,

“Most assuredly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
Mtt 10:15

All through history, Jesus has wanted to unite
the Jews and give them the victory.

Jesus spoke of what He will do during the Christian age in sending the messenger whom they would kill and crucify, Mtt 23:32-35. Jesus mourned their hardness of heart.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!”
Mtt 23:37

Still Jesus pointed to better days.

“For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Mtt 23:39

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth: The Old Testament Points to their Conversion

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The Jews as a nation have been very corrupt throughout history. Both many nations, and also the prophets of God have called the Jews a perverse people. Moses said,

“They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish;
They are a perverse and crooked generation.”
Deut 32:5

This has been an ongoing situation, beginning in early Old Testament times and going on to this very day, as is documented in detail in my new book, Jewish Chronicles, which is scheduled for release in this year. But this situation, of Jewish rejection of God and often of ALL authority is going to change.

Moses Law says the Jews will change to walk in righteousness and peace

These things are discussed in detail in my upcoming book. To be released Friday November 6, 2020, Jewish Chronicles, $19.95, 350 pages, illustrated, outlines the spiritual history of the Jew. See your bookseller.

One of the key issues is circumcision, not of the flesh, but of the heart. Further one of the Jews key problems has been uncircumcision of the heart. Circumcision started with Abraham and his descendants, but Moses made it plain that circumcision was symbolic, and the key circumcision was of the heart. As Moses said it,

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.”
Deut 10:16

However, they did not change any time soon, so the prophet Jeremiah said,

“… for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart. ”
Jer 9:26

In Malachi’s days the Jews were still stubborn and unspiritual as a group, Mal 3:5-6. Then when Stephen preached the history of the Jews before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7, he summarized it this way.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.”
Acts 7:51

But one day all of this will change.

“Yahweh your God WILL circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live. ”
Deut 30:6 (emphasis added)

This is NOT man saying this. This is GOD saying this, and saying that HE is the one who will circumcise the hearts of the Jews, and their seed! That is to say He will circumcise the descendants of the Jews at that time! Also this is NOT a conditional promise, but a statement of what GOD will do!

This will be after the Jews humble their uncircumcised hearts, and accept the punishment for their sins, Lev 26:41, 43, etc.; and they will become the head of the nations, Deut 28:13.

Scripture cannot be broken, Jesus says in Jn 10:35.

Jesus puts it another way in what many call the Sermon on the Mount.

“For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.”
Mtt 5:18

There are many other proofs from the Old Testament, but this is a key one. This surely has not been accomplished YET! But it will! Or did you not really believe God?

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth: The Vineyard of “Israel” is given to the Gentiles

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The Messiah of the Jews, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth, also talks about God’s people as a vineyard. And yes! Jesus is frequently referred to as ““Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher),” Jn 1:38.

A man planted a vineyard and rented it out
to some farmers, Mtt 21:33a

Then he went on a trip “into another country,” Mtt 21:33b The man of course is Jesus, and did He go to another country? Yes! He ascended into heaven in a cloud in Acts 1. Paul says,

“He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.”
Eph 4:10

How far? “Far above all the heavens.” But He is coming back the same way, Acts 1:11.

The master sent servants for His due portion
at the time of harvest, Mtt 21:34

But the sharecroppers renters / the Jews, beat the servants and sent them away empty handed.

“The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.”
Mtt 21:35

Jesus in other passages comments on the Jews mistreatments of what God calls, “my servants the prophets,” 2Kgs 9:7, etc.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!”
Mtt 23:37

He sent other servants, with the same results. Finally the man said, I will send my son, surely they will respect him, Mtt 21:36.

“38 But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.”
Lk 20:14-15a

This last is of course Jesus forecast of how He would be thrown outside of Jerusalem and killed.

“When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” Mtt 21:40

The Jews gave the answer.

These issues are discussed in more detail in this upcoming book. To be released Friday November 6, 2020, Jewish Chronicles, $19.95, 350 pages, illustrated, outlines the spiritual history of the Jew. See your bookseller.

“They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.””
Mtt 21:41

Jesus says that their rejection of the Christ was foreknown from ancient times.

“Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner.
This was from the Lord.
It is marvelous in our eyes?’”
Mtt 21:42

Then He says the Kingdom of God will be taken away from the Jews.

“Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation bringing forth its fruits.”
Mtt 21:43

And it has been. And those in Christ are translated “into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;” Col 1:13.

The true Israel HAS ALWAYS BEEN “those who are pure in heart,” Psa 73:1

The true circumcision is of the heart, Rom 2:29, Deut 10:16, Jer 4:4.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth: God’s Plans Did NOT Fail at the Cross

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Some act as if this was a great mistake. That it messed up God’s plans. God’s Purpose was that His kingdom be established in the days of the Roman empire, as clearly prophesied in Daniel 2. However you can see that it was known that this would happen from the first, as you can see from the previous post.

Jesus could have easily set up a literal earthly kingdom of the Jews in the first century of our age.

Jesus could support an army out of nothing. In John 6 he fed 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with a mere five barley loaves and two fish, and at the end had over twelve baskets of broken pieces left over, Jn 6:9-13.

“14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.” 15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”
Jn 6:14-15

He could have had a literal kingdom in the first century, and such a worldly kingdom would have been accepted, but He rejected such! When He was on trial, He plainly said,

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
Jn 18:36

Almost every line of the gospel emphasizes this purpose.

If He was to be the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, that implies He would be slaughtered, Jn 1:29. He was asked for a sign for His authority for throwing the merchants out of the temple for the first time, early in His ministry.

“19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews therefore said, “Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.”
Jn 2:19-20

The Jews said they had been building this temple of 46 years. Herod’s temple was begun in 20 BC, and was still not completed. So this means this incident happened in 26 AD, very early in His ministry! So no, the rejection of the Jews was not an unanticipated “accident.”

And Jesus repeatedly tried to prepare his disciples for His coming murder at the hands of the Jews and Gentiles, but knowing that He was indeed the Christ, they didn’t understand what He was saying.

This was the determined plan and fore-counsel of God.

“27 For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.”
Acts 4:27-28

The kingdom was established, a kingdom not from here.

And we are translated / transferred into this kingdom, past tense, Col 1:13.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth: A Messiah Would Come, Whom the Jews Would Reject.

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It was clear from the first that Moses law was temporary. It was only to last until the Great Prophet, the Messiah, the Christ, had come. The seed of the woman still had to come and crush the seed of the serpent, Gen 3:15. Further, it was known from Jacob’s time that the Messiah would be of the house of Judah.

“The scepter will not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until he comes to whom it belongs.
To him will the obedience of the peoples be. ”
Gen 49:10

What “peoples”? Those of all the earth!

Moses the Law Giver, said it plainly.

“Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me; to him you shall listen;”
Deut 18:15

If this prophet like Moses was to be of Judah, then He would most certainly be “from the midst of you, of your brothers.” If He is like Moses, would certainly also be a lawgiver, and one whom all would have to listen to.

“18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”
Deut 18:18-19

So God will require ALL to obey Him. There is more to tell, but this will do.

Also this prophet will be rejected by Leaders of the Jews!

“22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.”
Psa 118:22-23

It says plainly that this is God’s doing.

But the Christ was not only to be rejected, but
murdered … by the Jews.

To be released Friday November 6, 2020, Jewish Chronicles, $19.95, 350 pages, illustrated, outlines how the Jews with the gentiles came to kill their own Messiah. See your bookseller.

A judicial murder is outlined by the prophet Isaiah.

“7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he didn’t open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; …”
Isa 53:7-8a

For what purpose?

“he was cut off out of the land of the living for the disobedience of my people to whom the stroke was due?”
Isa 53:8c

He was to be murdered by the leaders, and the Jewish people, … yet survive to live forever.

He was to pierced, Isa 53:5. Psalm 22 tells us His hands and His feet would be pierced, Psa 22:16. Who is that murders Him? It is the “builders” of the Jews, Psa 118:22. It is lions, it is dogs, it is “bulls … of Bashan,” Psa 22:12. It is the Jews who murdered their own savior! Yet,

“He is the ruler over the nations.”
Psa 22:28b

“All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him,”
Psa 22:29b

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Keys to Prophecy: Jesus is the Ultimate Solution to the Politics vs Religion Issues

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In the return from Israel’s Babylonian captivity, at first things were going very slowly. The people were concentrating on their own affairs, and were neglecting the service of God. Then the Lord God stirred up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, and they began preaching, and soon work on a new temple was resumed, Ezra 5:1-2. The date given in Hag 1:1 and Zech 1:1 works out to be our year 520 BC. A series of visions follow in Zechariah. Some of this concerned,

Joshua the High Priest.

In Zechariah 3 Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, is pictured first as in filthy garments, and then is cleansed and is given fresh garments, and promises of a good service, Zech 3:7. Then he is told he is a type, a symbol, a sign,

“Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch.”
Zech 3:8

God’s servant the Branch is big subject in Scripture. Isaiah said way before captivity,

“There shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.”
Isa 11:1

It goes on to say that the Spirit of Yahweh will rest on this “root” or “branch” of Jesse, and of course Jesse was the father of ancient King David. Also there are other links, including: the name “Joshua” in Hebrew is Yehoshua, and in the second century BC Jewish translation of the Old Testament into Greek, it is translated as “Iesous,” which in the New Testament is translated into English as “Jesus.” So it seems that Joshua the High Priest in Zech 3:8 is symbolic of Jesus the Christ, the true Branch of David, even by name.

Other visions follow in the book of Zechariah.

Some of them seem to generally parallel some of the visions in the nearly 600 years later book of Revelation, but that is another story. Then in Zechariah 6 the High Priest Joshua is brought up again

A crown of gold and silver is made for Joshua,
“the Branch,” Zech 6:9-12

Evidently this is symbolic of not only religious authority, but also of royal / civil authority! Then it says of Joshua / Yehoshua / Branch / Jesus,

“even he shall build the temple of Yahweh; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Zech 6:13

Jesus is now building the ultimate temple of the Lord, made of people, of which Christians are living stones, 1Pe 2:4-5. And Jesus is NOW both our high priest (Heb 3:1) and our king (Rev 1:5, 1Cor 15:24-25, etc.). Further, Jesus has received ALL authority already.

“…“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
Mtt 28:18

Jesus resolves the government vs religion controversy,

Because in One Absolutely Good Man is both the head of all government and the head of all religion.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Keys to Prophecy: Christians are to Submit to the Governing Authorities

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After all they are appointed by God Himself. This is truly part of the overall context of prophecy, and is consistently treated that way

“1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.”
Rom 13:1-2

Paul goes on to say that these are, overall,
powers for good.

If you do not want to be afraid of the governing authorities, then do what is right, Rom 13:3

“for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.”
Rom 13:4

“Servant” or “minister” here is diakonos, literally “deacon.” So some “ministers of God” carry weapons. Part of the context is the last part of chapter 12, where we are taught to NOT be involved in personal revenge.

“Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.””
Rom 12:19

So how does GOD take revenge on evil doers? Well part of it is through the civil authorities. Instead of personal revenge, we should wait until the police show up.

“For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.”
Rom 13:6

This is God’s plan for our societies.

Does this mean the government is always right and good?

By no means! They are men who have been appointed to a certain role in society, and will be judged by how well they fulfill their role, as also we will. Some human examples might be useful.

For instance we have bosses at work, and often we are the “servants.” Sometimes this is very literal. For instance if we are “serving tables,” acting as a waiter.

“Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.”
Col 3:22

Does this mean the boss is always right? By no means, but he is still the boss. We should try to help him if we can, but it would be out of line for us to “take over,” or “take him out.”

If rulers are completely out of line, we should
politely decline to obey, and accept
the consequences.

Peter is a good example in Acts 5.

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29

Another example is the soldiers declining to murder the priests at the order of the now evil ruler, King Saul, 1Sam 22:17. Kings and judges are warned to serve Christ with fear and trembling, lest He personally take them out! Psa 2:10-12. And it happens every day!

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Micah and the Christ, Part 12 of 12

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We should always remember two things of prophecy. First,

“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.”
Lk 16:17

Jesus here seems to using the word “law” to be the entire Old Testament. So we may not understand how, but there is nothing we read in prophecy which will fail.

Second, prophecy is conversational, and topical, not sequential

And what will be cut off “in that day.”

It apparently is speaking of the days of the ruler of Mic 5:2, and it says,

“It will happen in that day,” says Yahweh,
“That I will cut off your horses out of the midst of you,
And will destroy your chariots.”
Mic 5:10

Ancient Israel was not to trust in horses and chariot, Deut 17:16 and so on, but in the Lord. Neither should we trust in tanks and fighter jets. But that has been neither ancient or modern Israel. But it will be at some point. Then in this rambling discussion it seems to refer to the first fall of Judah in 586 BC, in Mich 5:11. Then he says,

“I will destroy witchcraft from your hand;

“ And you shall have no soothsayers.”
Mic 5:12

That was a big problem with ancient Israel, and was still a problem in the first century, and is with many modern Jews in the Kabbalistic lore.

The Kabalah (also Cabbala or Qabalah) was a writing down of the ancient Gnostic traditions of the occult, by Spanish Jews of the 12th and 13 centuries AD. It is the fountain head of almost all modern witchcraft and magic and the occult, and is very influential among many Jews even of today. It is even a support for some idolatry.

But one day, when Jesus draws the Jews to Himself, it will all go away.

Also all idolatry will pass away

“13 I will cut off your engraved images and your pillars out of your midst;
And you shall no more worship the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot your Asherim out of your midst;
And I will destroy your cities.”
Mic 5:13-14

The Asherim are images of Asherah, we might call her “mother nature.” Sadly, goddess worship still exists among some Jews and gentiles. These issues are dealt with in Jewish Chronicles, to be released in the fall of 2020. And lastly, Micah seems to deal with,

A Judgment day which is coming.

“I will execute vengeance in anger,
And wrath on the nations that didn’t listen.”
Mic 5:15

Everyone will have to appear before this ruler of Mic 5:2.

“I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
Mtt 12:36

““But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered …”
Mtt 25:31-32

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy Practice: Micah and the Christ, Part 11 of 12

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What this Messiah will accomplish.

Of this ruler whose goings and coming are from everlasting, he says,

“He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land,
And when he marches through our fortresses,
Then we will raise against him seven shepherds,
And eight leaders of men.”
Mic 5:5

Ah! “He will be our peace,” truly even in trial. Assyria had invaded in Micah’s time. In Isaiah chapters 36 and 37 it describes all of Judah being overrun, except Jerusalem. But when this ruler comes, He will raise up shepherds against the Assyrians. Shepherd is often a synonym for rulers in Scripture, as in 1Kgs 22:16-18. Of some later shepherds/rulers of Israel Micah says,

“They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
And the land of Nimrod in its gates.
He will deliver us from the Assyrian,
When he invades our land,
And when he marches within our border.”
Mic 5:6

So from the bounty of this future ruler it will be that Israel will rule Assyria! Now this has not happened yet! Still it should be noted that the Assyria people, though small today, still exist, mainly in Iraq and Syria,

And the remnant of Jacob?

The remnant of God’s people is of course a big subject in both Testaments. It is only a small number who will be saved.

“… “If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, It is the remnant who will be saved;””
Rom 9:27

It doesn’t have to be this way, but we as men frequently make bad decisions, so that often only small numbers survive. Because of the sins of the Jews, they have been scattered all over the world, viewed as “the Dispersion,” as in Jn 7:35. And later,

Two-thirds of the Jews will be killed,

in a Great Distress and persecution of both Christians and Jews which will bring the conversion of the Jews to Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth, Zech 13:8. A remnant! Also something which has not happened YET!

But Micah 5 seems to speak of a dispersion for GOOD

“The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew from Yahweh,
Like showers on the grass,
That don’t wait for man,
Nor wait for the sons of men.”
Micah 5:7

When the Jews are converted to Jesus of Nazareth in Great Distress, Scripture pictures the Jews as leading in the preaching of the gospel to an unsaved world. Could that be this?

Further, Jacob will be like a lion among the nations,
and will rule over many peoples

8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
In the midst of many peoples,
Like a lion among the animals of the forest,
Like a young lion among the flocks of sheep;
Who, if he goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, And there is no one to deliver.
9 Let your hand be lifted up above your adversaries,
And let all of your enemies be cut off.
Mic 5:8-9

Thus two very different outcomes, yet to come, from the ruler of Mic 5:2.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy Practice: Micah and the Christ, Part 10 of 12

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Once again, the order of discussion in Micah is conversational, NOT chronological. So first is discussed Israel regaining her former glory, then about striking the judge of Israel on the cheek, and THEN is discussed this judge’s birth place.

A ruler in Israel is to be born

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Being small among the clans of Judah,
Out of you one will come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Mic 5:2 WEB

Ephrathah is the former name of Bethlehem. Judah itself was compared to especially Ephraim, and Bethlehem is cited as being too small to notice among the main clans in Judah, but a special ruler is to come from her. The word for “ruler” here is mashal and it indicates someone having dominion or authority, is the master of something. It can indicate a king, but whether a king or not it indicates the one who is making the decisions

Notice the immediate context.

“Therefore he will abandon them until the time that she who is in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Israel.”
Mic 5:3 WEB

It seems to be talking about God the Lord abandoning Israel until the one who is in labor with this ruler gives birth, that is until Jesus is born. It seems that “the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Israel.” That is to say that this ruler will once again unite Israel, which would be no small trick, either in ancient or modern times. Also it is not talking about any minor official who is to come, because it says,

“He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of Yahweh,
In the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God:
And they will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.”
Mic 5:4 WEB

And this ruler will be great to the ends of the earth! Jesus did tell his disciples,

“… “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.””
Mtt 28:18 WEB

Clearly this is talking about the Messiah as even the ancients realized.

Notice the curiosities of the Jews accepting Mic 5:1
of the Messiah.

It is clear that when the wise men from the East arrived, that the unanimous answer of the Jews was that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. So they understood this passage as has been pointed out here. But notice the rest of story of this “ruler.” This ruler is one “Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”!!! What does that mean? What does that say?

It seems to say that this ruler exists before His birth! And it seems to say He was even going and coming from times older than Micah and his prophecy.

In New Testament times this tripped up the Jews

He said “Before Abraham was, I am.” Jn 8:58 KJV. And Jn 1:1-2 says in fact that He was with God in the beginning. These things did trip up the Jews, but they should not have! Right?

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901