ADVENT AND PREPARATIONS OF THE KING
There is a great lack of understanding in regards to God’s programme and the scheme of things as they relate to Israel and the Church. There is even the belief among some believers today (who often refer to themselves, ‘true believers’); that the Church Age has already ended. But what does the Bible teach concerning these important truths?
God’s plan as seen in the very beginning of Scripture is to make it possible for man to be restored to fellowship with Himself, and for the ruined creation to be restored; that man can again have dominion. The key figure in this plan was the coming of Jesus Christ as the God-Man, who provides redemption and will eventually reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. All enemies will be put down; the curse will be lifted from the creation; all blessings will be restored; and additional blessings will be given. Israel was also one of the instruments that God used to bring about His plan, (though they have been set aside because of their disobedience).
Samuel Andrew in his book; The Life of Our Land upon the Earth – Pg. 125 says:
“The Lord came to a nation in covenant with God – His elect people. He had chosen for them a land in which they might dwell apart from the other nations, and in a wonderful manner had given them position of it. He had given them laws and instructions, which, if rightly used, should secure their highest national well-being. He had established His temple in their chief city, in which He revealed Himself in a Visible Glory, and which was appointed to be “a house of prayer for all nations.” How highly they had been honored and blessed of God is seen from His words (Exo. 19:5, 6)
Ex 19:5-6
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
KJV
Also from among them should the Great Deliverer, the Seed of the woman, come and judgment throughout the earth.”
JESUS CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH
There were enough Old Testament prophecies given that a birth certificate could have almost being filled out for Jesus in advance of His birth. The prophecies and testimonies given before and at the time of Jesus’ birth clearly points to Him as the Messiah, the Saviour King, says Ray E. Baughman in his book; The Life of Christ Visualized.
The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that the child she would bear would be (a) called the Son of the Most High, (b) given the throne of His father David, (c) reign over the house of Jacob forever, and (d) and of His kingdom there would be no end. All these promises were fulfilled by God in the Davidic Covenant (Luke 1:31-33).
The angel appeared unto Joseph in a dream and told him that the child that Mary would bear was conceived by the Holy Ghost (of the seed of the woman Gen. 3:15) and that He would save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:20-21).
Angels announced the Prince of Peace to the shepherds and said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord…..Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:11-14). One of the greatest characteristic of the coming kingdom is peace.
“Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:2) the wise men asked Herod. Herod, the chief priests and scribes, and all Jerusalem were troubled by the arrival of the wise men as they announced that He was to be born in Bethlehem as the prophet Micah said (Mic. 5:2), and that is exactly where the wise men found Him. The giving of gifts to Him by the wise men foreshadowed the worship of the nations of the world in the kingdom as they will come pay tribute to Christ (Ps. 86:9; Isa. 66:23; Zec. 14:16-19). The amazing thing about the birth of Christ is the utter lack of response on the part of “religious” Israel. There is no evidence that the religious leaders journeyed the five miles to Bethlehem to see if the Messiah had been born. With the exception of King Herod’s brief attempt to kill anyone who would be a threat to his throne and the brief Passover appearance when Jesus was twelve years old, the next thirty years slipped by with Israel being un aware that their Messiah had come.
There is a great lack of understanding in regards to God’s programme and the scheme of things as they relate to Israel and the Church. There is even the belief among some believers today (who often refer to themselves, ‘true believers’); that the Church Age has already ended. But what does the Bible teach concerning these important truths?
God’s plan as seen in the very beginning of Scripture is to make it possible for man to be restored to fellowship with Himself, and for the ruined creation to be restored; that man can again have dominion. The key figure in this plan was the coming of Jesus Christ as the God-Man, who provides redemption and will eventually reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. All enemies will be put down; the curse will be lifted from the creation; all blessings will be restored; and additional blessings will be given. Israel was also one of the instruments that God used to bring about His plan, (though they have been set aside because of their disobedience).
Samuel Andrew in his book; The Life of Our Land upon the Earth – Pg. 125 says:
“The Lord came to a nation in covenant with God – His elect people. He had chosen for them a land in which they might dwell apart from the other nations, and in a wonderful manner had given them position of it. He had given them laws and instructions, which, if rightly used, should secure their highest national well-being. He had established His temple in their chief city, in which He revealed Himself in a Visible Glory, and which was appointed to be “a house of prayer for all nations.” How highly they had been honored and blessed of God is seen from His words (Exo. 19:5, 6)
Ex 19:5-6
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
KJV
Also from among them should the Great Deliverer, the Seed of the woman, come and judgment throughout the earth.”
JESUS CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH
There were enough Old Testament prophecies given that a birth certificate could have almost being filled out for Jesus in advance of His birth. The prophecies and testimonies given before and at the time of Jesus’ birth clearly points to Him as the Messiah, the Saviour King, says Ray E. Baughman in his book; The Life of Christ Visualized.
The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that the child she would bear would be (a) called the Son of the Most High, (b) given the throne of His father David, (c) reign over the house of Jacob forever, and (d) and of His kingdom there would be no end. All these promises were fulfilled by God in the Davidic Covenant (Luke 1:31-33).
The angel appeared unto Joseph in a dream and told him that the child that Mary would bear was conceived by the Holy Ghost (of the seed of the woman Gen. 3:15) and that He would save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:20-21).
Angels announced the Prince of Peace to the shepherds and said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord…..Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:11-14). One of the greatest characteristic of the coming kingdom is peace.
“Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:2) the wise men asked Herod. Herod, the chief priests and scribes, and all Jerusalem were troubled by the arrival of the wise men as they announced that He was to be born in Bethlehem as the prophet Micah said (Mic. 5:2), and that is exactly where the wise men found Him. The giving of gifts to Him by the wise men foreshadowed the worship of the nations of the world in the kingdom as they will come pay tribute to Christ (Ps. 86:9; Isa. 66:23; Zec. 14:16-19). The amazing thing about the birth of Christ is the utter lack of response on the part of “religious” Israel. There is no evidence that the religious leaders journeyed the five miles to Bethlehem to see if the Messiah had been born. With the exception of King Herod’s brief attempt to kill anyone who would be a threat to his throne and the brief Passover appearance when Jesus was twelve years old, the next thirty years slipped by with Israel being un aware that their Messiah had come.
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