The Jews Will Finally Convert to Jesus of Nazareth

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Neal

Yes it is true that it was prophesied that the Jews would reject their own Messiah, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. Some of the passages are stunning, even blood curdling.

“14 He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 Many shall stumble thereon, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.”
Isa 8:14-15 WEB

By now it is passe that the Jews as a whole have rejected Jesus, and everyone treats this as a permanent case. Even so, Scripture also says that the Jews will finally convert to Jesus!

This is far less widely acknowledged. In fact it is often emphatically disputed. Part of the issued is how wide has been the Jewish rejection, and how stubbornly consistent it has been over the centuries. Many during the centuries have seen that Scripture predicted a final conversion to Jesus, and thinking it was near, tried to turn the Jews to better ways … only to be faced with bitter failures. So many have come to treat their conversion as something that just wasn’t so, and never will be!

But many of the Scriptures are very clear and not at all conditional. For instance,

“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 WEB.

Will the prophets of the Jews finally have the impact on that nation that they should have had all along?

That is not a wishy-washy prophecy, nor are many others. For instance:

“At that time, says Yahweh, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
Jer 31:1 WEB

Now David says that, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” ” Psa 14:1 WEB. Yet there is probably no nation on earth that has a greater percentage of atheist than the Jews. But Jeremiah 31:1 says that there will come a day when “says Yahweh, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Either this is a false prophecy, or it just has not happened yet!

And then there are prophecies like those of Zechariah. He points to day when,

“I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.”
Zech 12:10 WEB

In context this is ALL the families of Israel, Zech 12:11-13. That is to say, “all the families who remain,” Zech 12:14.

That would be an astounding day, an awesome day, which has never happen YET! And it happens during a time of great stress.

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

A Second RETURN of the Jews

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Neal

Then there are prophecies like those of Zechariah. Now Zechariah was from the first return from captivity. He is listed in the book of Ezra concerning a return to fuller devotion to the Lord and completing the rebuilding of the temple Zerubbabel had been working on, Ezra 5:1 and 6:14. Zechariah said in Zech 1:1 that his prophesying had been begun “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, ” which would be about the year 520 BC, well after the beginning of the first return from captivity. Zechariah talked about many things in his much neglected fourteen chapters, including the following.

I will scatter them among the peoples;
And they will remember me in far countries;
And they will live with their children, and will return.
Zech 10:9 nf

So at a time when the Jews have barely just begun their gathering from captivity, Yahweh, the Lord of Hosts is announcing through Zechariah that God is going to scatter the Jews a second time.

The Lord says that He will scatter them. The KJV is “sow them,” and they will be scattered as seed are scattered for sowing, but it does not seem to be describing any blessing that is being talked about in their being forced again into all the nations.

And when did the second scattering of Israel begin, the second sowing of them in foreign countries? No time fits this but the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD! Jesus says of those time,

“23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Lk 21:23-24

But then God says, He will not only scatter them a second time, but that He will also gather them a second time!

I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,
And gather them out of Assyria;
And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; And there won’t be room enough for them.
Zech 10:10 WEB

And a second return of the Jews when they will be so properous that “there won’t be room enough for them. ”

Isaiah writes before the first scattering of the Jews, and says,

“It shall happen in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, who shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”

But this is written before even the first return of the Jews after first scattering.

So a second scattering, and a second return of the Jews is forecast in the Old Testament. You tell me when the second return starts!

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

nf is my own translation of a passage, based on the WEB

Yes, There a Great Tribulation.

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Neal

In fact there are multiple times of severe persecution and stress during the Christian Age.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
2Tim 3:1 KJV.

The word “tribulation” means to be suffering, or under severe pressure. The Greek word is “thlip´-sis,” and it is a word used for being under pressure, much as we speak today. Some translations use the words “affliction” or “oppression.” Paul even says of all Christians,

“…that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22 KJV

So some stress is involved in being a true Christian. Further Jesus says,

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Mtt 24:21 KJV

Jesus associates this period of stress with the end of this present universe.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”
Mtt 24:29 KJV.

Jesus says “then” He will come.

“30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Mtt 24:30-31 KJV

Yes there are two grand subjects in Matthew chapter 24: the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and the Second Coming of Christ. The “problem” (I speak as a man) is how to separate the two subjects. But notice that Mtt 24:30-31 is clearly about a time when “ all the tribes of the earth mourn, and … see” Jesus. And it is the time when Jesus shall gather his “elect” (the saved) “from one end of heaven to the other.” This also is something which clearly has not happened.

Also Rev 7:14 speaks of the “great tribulation.” The Greek here is very emphatic. If you translated it word for word it would be, “the great, the tribulation.”

Some want to maintain that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was the “great tribulation” of Mtt 24:21 which was worse than anything that will ever happen. But that of course makes nonsense of the Second Coming of Christ as clearly described in Mtt 24:30-31 which talks about “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” As bad as 70 AD was, multiple events in history were worse than the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Prophecy Principles discusses this in more detail.

At best, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD is a “type,” symbolic, a prototype, of the end of the world. The end of the world will in some respects “like” the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. A “great” tribulation will precede the Second Coming of Christ.

This Great Tribulation is not some invention of men. This is Scripture.

KJV is the King James Version of 1611

Some Events Toward the End

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Neal

By and large Scripture does not tell us when things will happen. It tells us this or that will happen, assures us that such and such will come to pass, and then leaves us to watch for these things.

At times however there are clues. For instance with the man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2. The Thessalonians are shook up as if the day of Christ had already come, 2Thes 2:1-2. Then Paul reminds them what has to happen before Christ comes again. A special man of sin, man of lawlessness, has to come first.

“he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.”
2Thes 2:4 WEB

This man of lawlessness is one,

“… whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”
2Thes 2:9 WEB

He deceives the whole world, all who “had pleasure in unrighteousness,” 2Thes 2:12. But then comes the purpose of Paul reminding them of these things. This man deceives the whole world just before the end of time, and it is this man,

“… whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nothing by the brightness of his coming;” 2Thes 2:8 WEB

Thus, this man, whom all in sin will worship, comes just before the end of time.

Evidently he the same as the “beast” of Revelation chapters 13 to 10. Of the “beast” also it says,

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.”
Rev 13:8 WEB

Also this beast is destroyed by the Second Coming of Christ right at end of time. For it says,

“The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet … These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
Rev 19:20 WEB

This is no ordinary opponent of Christ during the beginning of the Christian Age, or the middle of the Christian Age, or even at any time before the very end of this universe. He is not an invention of the premillenialist, or some false prophet. This is Scripture.

He is produced by a “mystery of lawlessness” that is already at work in the first century,

“For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.”
2Thes 2:7WEB

And be warned, this agent of Satan will be able to do something the Roman Empire was never able to do.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7 WEB

He is allowed to do these things, “It was given to him…” In fact, God will help him do these things, 2Thes 2:11-12. But it will not happen until right at the end. Thus saith the Lord!

Is this close to happening now? I do not know. However, clearly we should watch.

There are many more details on these times in both Prophecy Principles and in Revealing the Christian Age.

Also if you look at history there have been many attempts down through history to install such a man. Some of these attempts are reviewed in Prophecy Principles, in the section on “Lab Work.” All of these attempts so far have been either outright failures, or at best only limited successes. Paul in fact seems to speak in 2 Thessalonians 2 as if such a man was already in existence in the first century AD, but “… there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.” 2Thes 2:7b WEB.

So this is a Christian Age long threat, that is lurking and working until it can succeed! Thus the warnings are pertinent to the entire Christian age, for we do not know when these things will succeed. “For the mystery of lawlessness already works. …” 2Thes 2:7a WEB.

Thus comes the applicability of the book of Revelation to the entire Christian age.

So as Jesus says, “What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 WEB.

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

A Special “Mark” Never Happened, Revelation 13

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Neal

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. ”
Rev 13:7 WEB.

Many apply this to the Roman Empire, but Rome never ruled the entire world. Rome did not even rule all of the ancient world. Yes Rome was big. Yes it covered more nations and territories than any near eastern or western empire had to date. However, at it’s height the Roman Empire was becoming unwieldy, and the Romans debated whether they should take over anymore territory. They clearly knew, for instance, of Persia and India, which Alexander the Great had conquered, and which Rome never did. So did Rome have “Authority over EVERY tribe, people, language, and nation”? NO! So taken literally, of Rome, this part does not fit.

Later in fact, the unwieldiness of that ancient Empire caused it to be split into Eastern and Western parts, for more efficient administration.

However, bits and pieces of Revelation chapters 13 through 19 did seem to fit Rome. There were terrible battles to force everyone to worship the Roman Emperors. This was to create a sort of international unity based on the worship of the Roman Emperors as “gods.” Many looked for the other parts of Revelation 13 to 19 to be fulfilled in Rome at any time. For instance the requirement of a certain “mark.”

“6 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell,unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. ” Rev 13:16-17 WEB

But it never happened!

For the average citizen, worshipping Caesar meant showing up before the magistrates, grabbing a pinch of incense (which the magistrates would supply), throwing it on the altar fire, and declaring, “Caesar is Lord.”

Then the magistrates would issue to the worshipper a certificate such as you see to the right, which declared that the holder had worshipped Caesar as a “god.” And the certificate was NOT needed for buying and selling! A special “mark” that “ALL” HAD to have for buying and selling NEVER HAPPENED!

And instead of Rome overcoming the saints (as in Rev 13:7 above), “the saints” (the church) overcame the Roman Empire, very much as prophesied in Daniel 2. The ancient Empire even came to be Christian to some extent, and even the Emperors denied their divinity and publicly worshipped Jesus Christ!

SO! Either Revelation is a false prophecy, that failed in the first few centuries after Christ (as many liberals believe), OR it is yet to happen. Rome and the Caesars are at best types or symbols of these final world empires and their rulers.

There is a great deal of just plain NONSENSE sold to us about the book of Revelation, and we often fail to think it through.

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

Time in Prophecy

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Neal

One of the easiest things to misjudge in prophecy is the issue of time. There are no built-in time dimension in prophecy, so it is easy to make naïve assumptions about time.

Prophecy is like a movie or stage play, where there is no built-in time dimension. Sometimes we can gather the passage of time in the change of scenes, and by remarks which are made. We may even have flash-backs to previous scenes. If we are not paying attention to the story, we soon lose any sense of what going on in the story. And so it is also with Scripture.

A dramatic example is in Hebrews chapter one, a quote from Psalm 102.

“10 And,
“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you continue.
They all will grow old like a garment does.
12 As a mantle you will roll them up,
And they will be changed;
But you are the same.
Your years will not fail.” Heb 1:10-12 WEB

It all spoken very close to each other. So these mere three verses cover from the creation of all things, to this universe being rolled up like an old coat and put away. How much time is it from verse 10 to verse 12? I do not know. But clearly the closeness of these verses does not indicate closeness in time.

Or to use another example: Most take Isaiah 2:1-2 as prophetic description of the beginning of the preaching of the good new of God’s salvation and God’s law.

“ It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be raised above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many peoples shall go and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
And he will teach us of his ways,
And we will walk in his paths.
For out of Zion the law shall go forth,
And the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.” Isa 2:2-3 WEB

Assuming that is a correct interpretation, this would be beginning in the early first century AD, with the preaching of Peter in Acts 2. So far, so good.

However look at the of the very next verse.

“ He will judge between the nations,
…
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa 2:4 WEB

If you are thinking even a little bit, then you know that has not happened yet! There are still both physical and spiritual wars. Further you know this will not happen until after Rev 20:8.

So how much time is there between Isa 2:3 and the end of Isa 2:4? The real answer is: we don’t know. We know it will happen, but do not know when.

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

Unfulfilled Old Testament Prophecies?

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Neal

Of course there are, and there are many of them.

And it does not require a degree in Bible or Biblical languages to spot them. It does require believing the Bible, and that is the biggest hurdle for many.

Many do not realize that we have often subtly taught ourselves to not believe portions of the Bible, or to not believe certain passages. When a plainly says something we do not believe, we often say to ourselves, “I am not sure I believe that.” Or if we read a passage which we think contradicts another passage that we clearly do believe, we say to ourselves, that couldn’t be true.

As horrible as it sounds, we are often questioning God Himself in these things.

… He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given … 1Jn 5:10 WEB

Scary but true, and without realizing it we may do such things all along.

Often we form schisms, splits, separations, denominations, as we divide up sides on which verses to believe, or to disbelieve. Actually Scriptures is a consistent body of literature, by a single author, the Lord our God. It is not a matter of deciding which verses to believe, but of giving part it’s due.

Most churches believe in sending out missionaries to preach to a dark world.

And that is entirely proper. There is a need for preaching to those parts of the world which have not heard the gospel. It is a good message of release from sin and death and decay. It is a message that we need not perish in our own foolishness. We can become what we need to become, and should become through Jesus our Lord.

Many throughout the world do not have access to the gospel. There are even many people in the world who do not yet have the Word of God in their own language.

But guess what? Scripture indicates that one day the whole world will hear the gospel.

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Hab 2:14 KJV

Examine the context for yourself. It does seem to be speaking of this present sinful world. It contrasts this glorious result with the present condition of many peoples.

“Behold, isn’t it of Yahweh of Hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for nothing?” Hab 2:13 nf

Or again in the following verse.

“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” Hab 2:15

Yes indeed it is speaking of this present world. Yet it pictures our own degradation as something unnecessary, because “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Hab 2:14

Clearly Habakkuk 2:14 is a failure as a prophecy … or is yet to be fulfilled. An unfulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, is a public domain, copyright free, revision of the original ASV American Standard Version, Version 1.3