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“Oh, the unspeakable greatness of that exchange,—the Sinless One is condemned, and he who is guilty goes free; the Blessing bears the curse, and the cursed is brought into blessing; the Life dies, and the dead live; the Glory is whelmed in darkness, and he who knew nothing but confusion of face is clothed with glory.”

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Location: Kingsland, Georgia, United States

A person God turned around many times.

Monday, December 10, 2012

The modern state of Israel

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2Cor. 5:16-19).
 
Yesterday I listened to a peaceful, but spirited, debate between Steve Wohlberg, a pastor and the author of a best selling book, End Time Delusions, and a radio host, Dr. Michael Brown, who is also an author on end time events. Both published from Destiny Image and both are Christian Jews, but both hold polar opposite views with regard to the Jews and the modern state of Israel.
 
Dr. Brown agrees with many theologians today that the Old Testament promises to Israel still hold true to the Jewish state of Israel and that any other biblical construction is rightly called Replacement Theology. He showed from Jeremiah that only if the sun and moon could stop shining will God’s promises to restore Israel be revoked.
 
Jeremiah said,
“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:
If those ordinances depart from before Me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever.
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.” (Jer. 31:35-40).
 
Pastor Wohlberg answered that the ones the Lord was promising were spiritual people, that all the promises were conditional upon obedience to the Lord’s laws of righteousness and justice and His covenant of sacrifice and grace. He quoted,
“And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.
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:
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.” (Exo. 19:3-6).
 
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” (Rom. 9:68).
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.…
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:16,29).
 
Then Dr. Brown countered with Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” But, he used the ESV or the NIV, “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” The Greek ametamelitos, Strong’s G278, translates to this alternate interpretation of “irrevocable” as well as “without repentance”. Irrevocable! That sounds like the last word on the subject!
 
But, Steve brought up Acts 2:38, which answered to the Lord’s curse upon Israel in Deut. 30:2,3. He emphasized that all of God’s promises are conditional upon obedience, or true repentance for disobedience, which leads the sinner back to obedience.
 
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38).
 
“And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.” (Deut. 30:2,3).
 
I don’t remember how the good doctor answered that but he never budged on his original stance, that the Israelis are still God’s favored people and that 1948 is a partial fulfillment of the Old Testament promises to the Jews, with a national revival to come just prior to their messiah appearing.
 
So I’d like to add to the discussion.
 
Moses plainly warned the people 1500 years before the Roman destruction of their temple and scattering them abroad, that rebellion against Yahweh would surely result in certain consequences. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deut. 30:15-20).
 
These words came to them and us in no uncertain terms. But does this nullify the promise to Abraham? “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.
And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Gen. 17:1-8).
 
It sounds like we make God a liar if we interpret His promise to Abraham differently than Dr. Brown and all the evangelical scholars; in fact, that was Dr. Brown’s claim.
 
But, listen to Paul on this promise to Abraham. “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.” (Rom. 4:11-14).
 
I realize that that is called Replacement Theology; nevertheless, it is sound doctrine. Paul’s argument was against the prevailing belief among the Jews that they alone held title to the promises of Yahweh. Christians today do great damage to the promises of God by allowing a secular state of Israel to be recipients of God’s special blessings simply because they are literal descendents of the flesh, not through the faith of their father Abraham, but through is bloodline.
 
Paul makes it clear all through Romans and his other epistles that faith alone gives the right to claim any promise of the Lord. James wrote, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” (Jas. 1:6,7). So did Jesus, when He taught here in person and when He inspired Moses to include the famous motto of the apostolic and reformation churches, “And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” (Gen. 15:6).
 
And John the Baptist clarifies this even more, “Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luk. 3:2-9). John was harking back to God’s message to them through Isaiah.
 
“Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” (Isa. 2:10-17).
 
“And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.…
Therefore My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness….
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against His people, and He hath stretched forth His hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.” (Isa 5:5-7,13-16,24,25).
 
“Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among His fat ones leanness; and under His glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
And shall consume the glory of His forest, and of His fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.
And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.…
Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
And He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” (Isa. 10:16-23,33,34).
 
No one in the Old or New Testaments ever down-played the Law of God and obedience to it, but “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2Cor. 1:20). All the promises always had been dependent upon faith in Christ, the Lord God of the Old Testament.
 
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death…
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; ….
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.…
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.…
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter…
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:4,5,7,8,11-16,24,30-40).
 
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6). Replacement theology? “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves” (2Tim. 4:3).
 
What was Paul’s take on Israel’s promise? He quotes the prophets,
 
“And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory,
Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As He saith also in Osee, I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom. 9:23-33). Of the Jews Paul writes,
 
“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me [the Gentiles].
But to Israel He saith, All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” (Rom. 10:18-21).
 
“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” (Rom. 11:7-10).
 
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them [the Jews].” (Rom. 11:13,14).
 
A part of Israel “stumbled” (Rom. 11:11), were “diminish[ed]” (Rom. 11:12), were “[cast] away” (Rom. 11:15), were “broken off” (Rom 11:17), received “severity of God” (Rom. 11:22), “were blinded” (Rom. 11:7,25). Yet, according to His “mercy upon all” (Rom. 11:32), not all were refused by Him—only a part of the nation was blinded (vs. 25). Who were they? Who was not blinded? All except the elect, which verse 50 described as a “very small remnant.” (Isa 1:9).
 
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.” (2Cor. 4:3-8). Who was fighting Paul? The Jews, as a nation, with exception of the very small remnant who clung to him, and believed.
 
But, they say, look at 1948. Isn’t that a sign of providential favor? Isn’t that proof that God is preparing to receive again the nation of Israel? My answer is that we walk by faith not by sight. We have a more sure work in the scriptures than to follow signs. “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” (Jn. 4:48). “For the Jews require a sign.” (1Cor. 1:22). Interpreting last day prophecies by world events can lead to many mistakes. “For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.… For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:5,24).
 
“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” (Rom. 11:26-28). Note here that “all Israel” refers to Paul’s constant proclamation, “That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory,
Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles [.]
As He saith also in Osee, I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” (Rom. 9:23-26).
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:15,16). The Israel of God is what Paul meant in “all Israel,” that is, both Jew and Gentile who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12).
 
And the “election” is not the original choosing of Abraham and his literal descendents, but by the context of Romans 11, it is the Jews who received the gospel and were not blinded (vs. 7). The election is to have dependent faith in God, repentance, conversion, and a transformation of life, to be hidden in Christ with God and to have a life that measures with the life of Christ. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20).
 
They are not the carnal atheistic modern Israel. Even the modern religious Jews have turned their ear away from the law of God, and for many of them, their prayer is an abomination to God. “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of Him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of Him that framed it, He had no understanding?” (Isa. 29:13-16). “But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt. 15:9).
 
Who are the Israel that Paul speaks of “their fullness,” (Rom. 11:12), who “God forbid” it that they all “fall,” (Rom. 11:11); who will be “received” again? (Rom 11:15).
 
Paul says that those who are “received” are the elect like himself who are “reserved” (Rom. 11:4). Not every Jew is cast away, “For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” (vs. 1). There were some Israelites who had accepted the grace of God. (vs. 6) and many Israelis in the future who will accept His grace throughout the gospel age until all the Gentiles be come into the house of God. The elect comprised all the Gentiles, whoever will surrender to Christ, together with the remnant of Israel who also choose to come to Jesus. Then will come to pass the promise made to Israel but which applies to the whole world,
 
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the LORD; My Spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isa. 59:19-60:2).
 
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:18-20).
 
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1Cor. 15:50-55).
 
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thess. 4:14-7).
 
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (Jn. 14:3).
 
“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matt. 21:42-44).
 
Concerning the restoration of Israel, the rest has become the rest in Jesus. “For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.” (Deut. 12:9). “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Heb. 4:9-11).
 
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19). “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” (Psa. 16:8,9).
 
“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
But ye [Israel] said, No.” (Isa. 30:15,16).

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