Seemingly Exclusive to the 2nd Advent Albeit Partially Foretelling the 1st Advent

The prophecies of the 1st Advent were accomplished in a purposefully short timeframe. Jesus died an atoning death via the Cross (Isa. 53:1-12, Ps. 22:12-18), and was gloriously resurrected (Ps. 16:8-11, Acts 2:25-28), and finally ascended (Ps. 110:1, 24:7-10). Yet, now it remains to be that He shall descend and conquer the world in the glories foretold in Biblical Prophecy. If all things would have continued as they should have, the 2nd Advent would have been accomplished upon and following 70 A.D. However, having not yet descended, Jesus Christ is still moving to accomplish the prophecies that pertain to the mighty working of God in the 2nd Advent, …only in a way least expected. In other words, during the chasm of time in between the beginning (when the Lord moved to accomplish all in the 1st Century) and the end (when the LORD will accomplish all in the Last Century), the Messiah isn’t doing something else other than the foretold acts of Biblical Prophecy.

Long before the coming of Christ in the 1st Century, Isaiah foretold: a Voice in the Wilderness (Isa. 40:3-5; Mal. 3:1, 4:5-6), the coming of Christ (Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-2), the Good Tidings of the Kingdom of God (Isa. 40:9, 41:27, 42:1, 4, 6-7, 13-14, 52:7, 61:1), the Day of Salvation (Isa. 25:9, 26:1, 33:2, 6, 45:8, 17, 46:13, 49:6, 8, 51:5, 6, 8, 52:7, 10, 56:1, 59:11, 16, 17, 60:18, 61:10, 62:1, 11, 63:5 [Isa. 49:8, 61:2]), Judgment to the Gentiles / Babylon (Isa. 42:1-4, 2:4, 11:4), a Light to the World (Isa. 42:6-7, 49:6, 60:1-3, 66:18), Living Water in the Wilderness (Isa. 32:15, 35:7, 41:17, 44:3-4 [Zech. 13:9], 48:21, 49:10; Joel 2:28-32, Ezek. 39:29), Healing (Isa. 57:18-21, 41:17-20, 45:6-12, 55:12-13, 51:3, Ezek. 36:35, Isa. 25:1-4, 32:1-4, Ps. 110:7), and much more.

Take, for example, the Gospel according to Isaiah pertaining to the 2nd Advent of Christ. Remember, the original plan of God was to accomplish both Advents in one generation. Therefore, Jesus wasn’t authoring a new or different Gospel than the one first declared by Isaiah in Isa. 40:9, 41:27, 42:1, 4, 6-7, 13-14, 52:7, & 61:1. Contrary to popular opinion, the Gospel Message is not exclusive to the New Testament. Isaiah coined the term later proclaimed by John the Baptist & Christ (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 11:5, 24:14, Mk. 1:1, 14-15, 8:35, 10:29, 13:10, 16:15, Lk. 2:10, 4:18-19, 7:22, 9:6). However, in every instance the message was declared by Isaiah, the Good Tidings was the coming of the Kingdom of God in worldwide sovereignty. Therefore, contextually, the Gospel of Isaiah is the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in what believers of the New Covenant would reckon to be the 2nd Advent of Christ.

This is exactly why John the Baptist & Christ came preaching the Gospel, by proclaiming, “Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:1-2), or, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (Mk. 1:15). Harmonious with how Isaiah defined it of old, Christ was preaching Good Tidings to the Jewish Tributaries of Rome. Literally, the Gospel is the Kingdom. This was and is the most biblical way to preach the Gospel; and, if the Kingdom of God was going to come in the foretold manner declared by Isaiah, this has radical implications upon the Kingdoms of Men as a whole and especially Rome. Why? Because Rome was currently the oppressive conqueror of the Jews, and had the prophecies of Christ in Matthew 24, Luke 21, & Mark 13 completely come to pass as was planned, the Jews would have been in the sorry estate prophetically described by Isaiah. In this circumstance, the Gospel would mean the liberation of all Captive Jews, their regathering unto Jerusalem, and the restoration of the glory of the Kingdom to Israel in righteousness.

Isaiah foretold the meaning of this message in no uncertain terms. According to Isaiah 40, He prophesied that a forerunning Messenger would come (a Voice in the Wilderness – Isa. 40:3-5; Lk. 3:4-6, Matt. 3:3-4; Mal. 3:1) proclaiming the “Good Tidings” of the coming Kingdom of God (“Behold your God!”, “Behold, the Lord God will come…” – Isa. 40:9-11); namely, that in the coming of the King / Christ the world would be utterly consumed in a fiery overthrow of “all nationsand “princes” or “judges” until everything was reduced to “vanity” and “nothingness” (Isa. 40:3-5, 15-17, 23-24). This would, in turn, liberate the Jews from those who warred against them and took them Captive (Isa. 41:11-12). Herein, and upon the regathering and restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem (which will be the refuge of the Kingdom of God), the Jews will have experienced the salvation that the Gospel of the Kingdom descends to accomplish.

Come 70 A.D., this would have meant the accomplishing of these things for the Jews dispersed in the Roman Empire. I repeat, according to the Gospel of Isaiah, the accomplishing of these things is the expressed act of “salvation” in the coming of the Kingdom of God (Isa. 25:9, 26:1, 33:2, 6, 45:8, 17, 46:13, 49:6, 8, 51:5, 6, 8, 52:7, 10, 56:1, 59:11, 16, 17, 60:18, 61:10, 62:1, 11, 63:5 [Isa. 49:8, 61:2]). Definitively, the happening of these events on behalf of the Jews is, “the Acceptable Year of the LORD” (Isa. 61:1-3; Lk. 4:19, 2 Cor. 6:2), or, the Year of My redeemed” (Isa. 63:4), all of which is the combined effect of a “Day of Salvation” (Isa. 49:8) and a “Day of Vengeance” (Isa. 61:2), because to liberate, regather, and restore the Jews God must judge the Gentiles. This is also why the Gospel of the coming Christ & His Kingdom is explicitly foretold in the Messiah acting to “bring forth judgment to the Gentiles” (Isa. 42:3).

Jesus, being the “One that bringeth Good Tidings” (Isa. 41:27), does “judgment” upon the Gentiles (Isa. 42:1, 2:4, 11:4) in a consummation of all Adversarial Kingdoms. As originally planned, this would have been Rome; albeit, because the 2nd Restoration Generation fell short, Jesus will ultimately accomplish these things in the future upon Babylon’s World at the close of the Gentile Church Age. Moreover, the chasm of time in between the original intent and the ultimate conclusion doesn’t change the contours of Biblical Prophecy. Despite the chasm spanning 2,000 years, the ideals of Biblical Prophecy remain unchanged. Despite all human failure or generational shortcoming, the same prophetic “word” uttered originally powers redemption currently, and the same “word” that powers redemption currently will perform redemption ultimately.

So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” – Isa. 55:11

Ultimately, in bringing judgment upon Babylon’s World (which means WAR!) in fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1 on Day 1,290, the Captive Jews of Babylon will be liberated exactly as foretold; and, their liberation by this means is the expressed message of the Gospel according to Isaiah, while the proclamation of their soon liberation in Babylon’s desolation in the coming of Christ & His Kingdom is Gospel Preaching. Currently, during the Gentile Church Age, things remain unchanged. The same word of divine foretelling that powers the other events does power the Gentile Church Age. The ongoing progress of the performance of Biblical Prophecy hasn’t suddenly grounded to a halt. In the chasm, now called the Gentile Church Age, the prophetic purposes of God haven’t paused. Rather, the foretold Messianic Acts of Jesus do flourish among the Gentiles in this age! However, as stated before, it’s in a way least expected. It is a mysterious work, and therefore it is highly unexpected, howbeit it is thoroughly biblical.

Jesus, being a fulfillment of the message (“the Word was made flesh” – Jn. 1:14), lived-out and preached the Gospel in the same terms as Isaiah: a Voice in the Wilderness (Matt. 3:3-4, 11:9-15, Luke 1:17, 3:4-6, 7:27), the coming of Christ (Jn. 1:27, 4:25, 41-42, 9:35-38, Matt. 22:42-46), Good Tidings & the Kingdom of God (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 11:5, 24:14, Mk. 1:1, 14-15, 8:35, 10:29, 13:10, 16:15, Lk. 2:10, 4:18-19, 7:22, 9:6), the Day of Salvation (Lk. 4:16-21, 2 Cor. 6:2), Judgment to the Gentiles (Matt. 12:17-21), a Light to the World (Matt. 4:15-16, Lk. 1:78-79, 2:32, Acts 13:47-48), Living Water in the Wilderness (Jn. 4:14, 7:38; Acts 2:16-21, Heb. 6:4-8), Healing (Matt. 11:4-6), and much more.

Jesus fully intended to accomplish the whole record of the foretold Gospel in the same generation as the 1st Advent, but seeing that the original intent of God was frustrated from physical manifestation, the LORD is accomplishing the same prophetic scheme in a spiritual manifestation. The aforementioned aspects of Biblical Prophecy, all of which were supposed to culminate physically in in the 2nd Advent, are being spiritualized in the accomplishment of redemption in the Gentile Church Age. Even though the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ were all foretold beforehand, the vital components of redemption in what we call the Gentile Church Age were unspoken for in Biblical Prophecy. According to Paul, such details were “hidden” or unrevealed (“hid in God” – Eph. 3:9). Thus, by way of Biblical Prophecy, it was virtually unthinkable to assert that a vast chasm of time would exist between the two Advents of Christ, or, that salvation would flourish among the Gentiles at the expense of the Jews. As formerly stated, the only reason redemption is currently underway in this manner is because the 2nd Advent didn’t come in the 1st Century as was planned as a result of the shortcoming of the 2nd Restoration Generation of the Jews (as is duly accounted in the Gospels, the Book of Acts, & the Epistles).

Though mysterious, the work of redemption currently at hand is thoroughly Biblical. The Messianic Acts of Jesus currently being accomplished during the Gentile Church Age are spiritualized fulfillments of redemption on behalf of the Gentiles, when the original or ultimate word of prophecy foretold a physical fulfillment of redemption on behalf of the Jews. Speaking in terms of the actual words of Biblical Prophecy, the Messianic Acts of Jesus being accomplished during the Gentile Church Age are partial fulfillments of the word spoken, when the performance of the original or ultimate intent of God will be a complete fulfillment of the word spoken. Therefore, however mysterious, the plotted course continues as foretold in increasingly glorious degrees of fulfillment for all the world to behold the unsearchableness of God’s plans (Isa. 40:13-14, Rom. 11:33-36). Look, for example, at the course of redemption plotted in Isaiah 42:1-4 as it would have originally been fulfilled, or as it will ultimately be fulfilled, and behold how it is currently being fulfilled in the Gentile Church Age according to Matthew 12:14-21.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a Light of the GentilesTo open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” – Isa. 42:1-7

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” – Matt. 12:14-21

As is often the case, like in Malachi 3:1-4 (Elijah: Matt. 11:10, Lk. 7:27), Malachi 4:1-5 (Elijah: Matt. 11:14-15, Lk. 1:17), Zechariah 9:9-17 (The Triumphant Entry: Matt. 21:4-5), & Zechariah 13:1-9 (The Crucifixion of Jesus: Matt. 26:31), Isaiah 42:1-4 is an indecipherable blending of the two Advents.

 

According to Matthew 12:14-21, it is apparent that Isaiah 42:1-4 powered a real fulfillment in the 1st Advent of Christ. Perhaps the most pronounced 1st Advent fulfillment of this passage is portrayed in verse 3, as this depicts the extraordinary behavior of the Messiah that led to His death. It was foretold that [Christ] shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street” (Isa. 42:2). Contextually, according to Matthew 12:14-21, He will behave thus while the Jews conspire His murder. To the shock and astonishment of Christ’s followers, this was a calculated response of no retaliation in the suffering of death uncontested. Therefore, instead of fighting injustice with sword-in-hand, as all former Kings of Israel were anointed to do (Ps. 18:32-501 Chron. 20:11 Kings 10:9Jer. 23:5Psalm 72), Jesus forbade the use of swords and surrendered to the criminal plot. Or, instead of verbally contesting lies and slanders, Jesus remained silent before the blasphemers (Matt. 26:62-63, 27:14, Isa. 53:7)! Ordinarily, such behavior for a King would be cowardice and criminal negligence, but this undying Man had greater battles to fight (Jn. 18:36-37). Therefore, quoting Isaiah 42:1-4, Matthew was compelled to put the Jews in memory of this profoundly descriptive prophecy of the Messiah’s unexpected behavior [for more information, see: “What His Deeds Preached” in a Commentary on Matthew’s Gospel].

As for verse 1 & verses 3-4 of Isaiah 42 being fulfilled in the 1st Advent, Matthew’s interpretation follows suit with the whole scheme of prophecy existing in the Gentile Church Age. These verses speak of Christ doing “judgment” upon the Gentiles, or, establishing judgment in the Earth (not just in Israel) insomuch that the Gentiles (the inhabitants of the isles) will trustingly wait for Christ’s Law. The full meaning in this application should be searched out and established, but it will be difficult to do so without understanding the more supreme fulfillment of this text in the 2nd Advent of Christ. When reading Isaiah 42:1-4 in line with Isaiah 42:5-7, the choice terms of the prophecy are aligned with the whole tenor of Isaiah’s testimony of the Gospel.

“Behold, My Servant…I the LORD…will…give Thee [Jesus Christ] for a Covenant of the people, for a Light of the GentilesTo open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison houseIsa. 42:6-7

Physically speaking, in the 2nd Advent, Christ will “bring forth judgment to the Gentiles”, or, “set judgment in the Earth” (Isa. 42:1-4), which means He will physically destroy all who refuse to surrender to the sovereignty of Christ in the invasion of the Kingdom of God. This interpretation aligns with scores of prophecies in Isaiah. As can be observed in Heaven Besieging Earth (the Vials), The Gathering (6th Vial), The Shaking (7th Vial), The Winepress, The Armies of Heaven in Worldwide Battle, & Day 1,290: the Defeat of the Antichrist & Babylon, Jesus will be unrelenting in wrath upon all who refuse to acknowledge His Lordship insomuch that the world itself will be physically consumed with fire (2 Thess. 1:7-10, 2 Pet. 3:10-13). What Christ will physically do to Babylon’s World to liberate the Jews from Captivity is the Gospel according to Isaiah, and therefore this news will be loudly proclaimed to the Jews while in Captivity as Good Tidings Before Liberation. Then, upon their liberation (“…all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” – Rev. 1:7), the dispersed Jews will be gloriously converted as they physically endeavor the Treacherous Journey back home.

My Servant”, Christ: Isa. 42:1, 44:26, 49:3-6,
52:13, 53:11
 

My Servant”, Israel: Isa. 41:8-9,
42:19, 43:10, 44:1-2, 21, 45:4, 48:20

Herein, and increasingly, the Jews will be given Joy for Mourning as they, in conversion and through restoration, become a Light to the Gentiles! Literally, and physically, whether speaking of the in-flight glorified Jews (Dan. 12:3, Matt. 13:43), the dispersed regathering Jews (Isa. 42:16, 58:8, 10), or the Jewish inhabiters of the City of Jerusalem (Isa. 4:5, 60:1-5), light with shine from, among, and upon them! Moreover, while the Jews are being liberated, converted, regathered, and restored, so great a light will shine unto the Gentiles that vast portions of them will be converted to Christ and join the Jews in the happy beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ on Day 1,335! In other words, herein, what God will do in physically coming near in the 2nd Advent of Christ to save the Jews, will in turn result in the saving conversion of Gentiles as the “abundance of the sea” in quantity (Isa. 60:1-5); moreover, the LORD will continue to save the elect posterities of both Jews & Gentiles all throughout the next 1,000 years from generation to generation. Increasingly, during these momentous events of the last 75 Days, the prophecies of Isaiah concerning Christ will be fulfilled. After all, this is what was ultimately foretold & echoed in Isaiah 42:1-7, Isaiah 49:5-10, and Isaiah 61:1-4, the latter two passages declaring,  And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his Servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My Salvation unto the end of the Earth. Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Thus saith the LORD, In an Acceptable Time have I heard thee, and in a Day of Salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.” – Isa. 49:5-10 (Lk. 1:78-79, 2:32, Matt. 4:14-16, Acts 13:47-48)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach Good Tidings unto the meek; he hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the Acceptable Year of the LORD, and the Day of Vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” – Isa. 61:1-4 (Lk. 4:16-21)

Spiritually speaking, in the 1st Advent, Christ will “bring forth judgment to the Gentiles”, or, “set judgment in the Earth” (Isa. 42:1-4), by spiritually destroying the adversarial government of Earth, the Kingdom of Hell (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 6:12, James 3:6), by the ushering in of the Kingdom of Heaven within the souls of men (“the Kingdom of God is within you” – Lk. 17:21). This requires a real vanquishing of Satan’s spiritual reign over the souls of men (Eph. 2:2-3). Thus, in describing the spiritual invasion of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20) in the setting up of the Kingdom of God in men (Lk. 17:21) through the overthrow the of the Kingdom of Satan, Jesus said, Now is the judgment of this world” (Jn. 12:31). Elaborating further, Jesus said,

“And when He [the Holy Ghost] is come, He will reprove the World of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin… Of righteousness… Of judgment, because the Prince of this world is judged.” – John 16:8-11

This judgment was the real and substantial overthrow of Satan’s Dominion over fallen man as it had never happened before, not even in the Old Testament (Rom. 3:25Heb. 9:15; for more information on the legal / substantial redemption of mankind in Christ, see: “Romans Ch. 3 Commentary”). Signifying what was accomplished by the death of Christ, which was, in turn, a judgment upon the Dominion of Satan which existed in the World (“the god of this world”-2 Cor. 4:4), the Lord said, “Now is the judgment of this worldnow shall the Prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31)! By means of death the Lord Jesus substantially spoiled fallen man from the Dominion of Satan and Fallen Angels (Col. 2:15) because He, through death, destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14-15).

Indeed, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn. 3:8)! This is a spiritual destruction wrought in a spiritual war waged by a victorious spiritual Kingdom against an opposing spiritual Kingdom, and in accordance with Isaiah this destructive warfare is a judgment from God. Speaking of this, the Lord said, “the Prince of this world is judged” (Jn. 16:11). Literally, though in a spiritual realm, Jesus of Nazareth said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Lk. 10:18)! Yet, what are the implications of this crushing defeat of Satan, except that it was to the end that “He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles” (Matt. 12:18), as foretold in Isaiah 42:1-4. Indeed! God judges him for them, and in judging him He will do judgement among them (for more information, see: “A Diversity of Judgments & the 1st Advent of Christ).

Therefore, evidently, because “God so loved the World” (Jn. 3:16), it was written, “He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles” (Matt. 12:18). Manifestly, this is God’s love. The spiritual allegiances of the Gentiles will not stop the Messiah from saving them! Even though, from ancient times, they walkedaccording to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2), now they are freely and abundantly able to receive and walk in the Holy Spirit of the Living God! The spiritual relocation of a soul from the Dominion of Satan to the Dominion of Christ is an act of judgment upon the captors of the imprisoned soul; and, Christ, who “led captivity captive” (Eph. 4:8), has now become their KING “who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens” (Heb. 8:1).

The act of spiritual adoption is in the banishing of unholy spirits and the giving of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:25-30, Acts 2:33). This being the case, that all true converts to Jesus Christ are such through this dominion transfer (“To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…”- Acts 26:18), they become willing subjects to a reigning King and Judge in a bona-fide governmental Kingdom (Ps. 2:612Heb. 4:13Isa. 9:6-7). Isn’t this implied in what Jesus Christ said when He went about Israel doing good, affirming, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matt. 12:28)? Truly, this is the Gospel.

This is the Gospel first declared by Isaiah. Then it was echoed and enlarged by Christ, only things are overwhelmingly spiritualized during the Gentile Church Age. Jesus is harnessing the power of Messianic Prophecy in the performance of what was supposed to come next in the 2nd Advent of Christ. I repeat, what was calendared to come next did indeed come next! To the shock and astonishment of the Jews, it is happening now during the in-between-time of the two Advents, only this time the prophetic words are being fulfilled in a purely spiritual operation of redemption. There is no better explanation for why this is happening among the Gentiles to the overwhelming exclusion of the Jews, except, matter of fact, “God so loved the World…” (John 3:16).

It is Good News that the Kingdom of God is brought near to the souls of men worldwide. Ordinarily, as demonstrated in the Old Testament, the Kings of Israel were appointed to uphold the Law of God at pain of death; and, extraordinarily, Jesus of Nazareth is no exception to this rule! The sins of the whole world were so thoroughly judged at the Cross of Christ (“the propitiation” – 1 Jn. 2:2) that, instead of physically killing the demon-possessed or the adulteress, as is the normal behavior of Israelite Kings who acted as the letter of justice demanded (demon-possessed: Ex. 22:18Lev. 20:62719:31,Deut. 18:10-12; adulteress: Lev. 20:10Deut. 22:21-24), Jesus spiritually cast out demons from the possessed and pardoned the adulteress. Likewise, as is the normal behavior of Prophets, instead of calling down actual fire from Heaven to the consummation of unrelenting sinners (Lk. 9:55), as Christ is foretold to do in the 2nd Advent (Zech. 14:12, Isa. 66:15-16), Jesus sends the Holy Ghost unto men as an Outpouring of Spiritual Rain upon all flesh (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18) turning the spiritually dry ground into a pool of water (Isa. 41:18). Instead of bringing a physical famine upon the earth to the punishment of the wicked (Deut. 11:1728:23-24), as Christ is foretold to do in the 2nd Advent (Zech. 14:16-19), Jesus is scattering the spiritual seed of the Gospel in the spiritual soils of all mankind worldwide (Matt. 13:3-9).

In other words, in the 1st Advent, Christ isn’t physically judging the World like He will do in the 2nd Advent (“I came not to judge the World…” John 12:47), according to the Gospel of Isaiah (Isa. 42:1-4, 61:1-5), but He is certainly spiritually judging the World in saving it (“…but to save the World” – John 12:47)! Instead of physically returning in the 2nd Advent to physically exact the penal justice of God upon sinners and therein do judgment, Christ became a sinner and absorbed the wrath of God and therein exacted judgment (2 Cor. 5:21) to wit, meanwhile, Christ is spiritually abiding among Christians for the proliferation of the Kingdom in the furtherance of this judgment wherein sinners find mercy. This manner of spiritually progressing the Kingdom is exactly what is intended for the meantime, as Christ openly professed, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth” (Matt. 28:18). It’s not that Christ is in Heaven refusing to return to the Earth. On the contrary, Christ said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the End of the World” (Matt. 28:20). After all, according to Isaiah 41:1-4, Christ is the one who will not fail nor be discouraged in the establishment of judgment in the earth. Therefore, professedly, Christ is with the Gentiles in the spiritual advancement of the Kingdom of God every step of the way.

Christ’s coming in the 1st Advent was not to enact the curse and/or physical justice of the Law upon sinners, but to bear it, absorb it, and take it upon Himself in becoming a curse for us (Gal. 3:13); therefore, gloriously, the constraint of penal justice toward the world in the exacting of wrath upon Christ, and the subsequent administration of unmerited mercy, was yet again another judgment! Effectively, in another judgment, this lawfully disempowers Satan from proliferating his diabolical rule over lost mankind (Rev. 12:7-11). According to the Law, all sinners on earth justly deserve to be publicly nailed to a tree for the suffering of a gruesome and horrific death (Gal. 3:10); albeit, justice is duly served and sin is abundantly judged in Passion of Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:13-14, Rom. 3:24-26)! Christ’s atoning redemption on the Cross is to the satisfying of real justice and judgment, for the pacifying of real wrath in the heart of God, insomuch that if the LORD didn’t freely forgive all believers in Christ, He would be unjust (1 Jn. 1:9).

Mystery #1

Everything God said the Messiah would do in judgment to Babylon 
is being used for the salvation of Babylonians.

Gloriously, in confirmation of all the above, Jesus stood in the synagogue of the Jews, and declared, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”, upon reading Isaiah 61:1-4. However, the stated purpose of divine vengeance upon the Gentiles was left out in the reading. Why? Of course, because this very prophecy is powering a redemptive purpose of salvation in the Gentile Church Age!

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach Good Tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the Acceptable Year of the LORD, and the Day of Vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” – Isa. 61:1-4

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” – Lk. 4:16-21 (2 Cor. 6:2)

The phrase, “and the Day of Vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2), was intentionally left out in the reading (Lk. 4:16-21) to indicate the redirecting of God’s vengeance for the meantime to wit mercy & acceptance is showered upon the Gentiles instead. Considering the circumstances, the Messiah chose this path for the glory of His Namesake (Rom. 11:19-25). For, at the redirecting of God’s vengeance from the heathen to Christ for the satisfying of God’s wrath at the Cross, combined with the Jews outrightly rejecting the Messiah by and large (Rom. 11:20), it pleased the Christ to accomplish a course of redemption that would confound all and convert as many as possible (For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.” – Rom. 11:30-32)! A profoundly different plan is now underway in what we now call the Gentile Church Age, yet only inasmuch as the plan currently being accomplished is a spiritualized fulfillment of the original plan outlined in Biblical Prophecy pertaining to the 2nd Advent of Christ. Therefore, in reality, the current plan of redemption is the same plan, only one must give Biblical Prophecy its full latitude of divine fulfillments.

Rightly so, the 1st Century Jews would have understood, “and the Day of Vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2), to indicate the overwhelming death of all adversarial Gentiles. Therefore, cunningly, Jesus read in foresight of the coming Gentile Church Age. Nevertheless, according to the Gospel of Isaiah, the original meaning and ultimate intent of Isaiah’s prophesying is abundantly clear as it pertains to the 2nd Advent of Christ. A simple reading of Isaiah 61:1-4 bears witness of this. Therefore, just so no one misunderstands, Jesus left out the saying, “and the Day of Vengeance of our God”, when declaring the Acceptable Year of the LORD that He would author on behalf of the Gentiles to the overwhelming exclusion of the Jews (Rom. 11:1-36, 2 Cor. 6:2).

Therefore, Jesus is spiritually enforcing what was declared, in preaching, “the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mk. 1:15), by overthrowing the spiritual dominion of Satan from its residence over Gentiles (Eph. 2:1-3). Herein, in accordance with Isaiah 42:1-7, 49:5-10, & 61:1-4, we have observed how 2nd Advent Messianic Prophecy foretelling Christ’s judgment of Babylon (which would be to their overwhelming physical destruction) is being employed to power a redemption resulting from 1st Advent redemptive exploits in operation during the Gentile Church Age, only this time in the spiritual destruction of the Kingdom of Satan, and, the spiritual death of the wretched men therein, results in their spiritual resurrection into the Kingdom of God to walk in a reborn newness of life! In other words, the coming of the Kingdom of God to the Gentiles destroys the spiritual imprisonment of Babylon around souls, and, mortifies the perverse spiritual nature of Babylonians within mankind. In short, Babylon in and around “YOU” must die! Indeed, herein, in a partial & spiritualized fulfillment of ultimately physical prophecies, the Gentiles are brought to trust in the Arm of the LORD (Isa. 42:1-4, 51:4-5, 53:1). Therefore, shockingly, what God said the Messiah would in judgment do to Babylon is being used for the salvation of Babylonians.

An Epistle to the Babylonian Christians

[The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans]

For the Jews, this is hard news to hear (Jn. 6:60). Even for believing Jews, this message is kin to an ancient doctrine that was notoriously unbelievable (Hab. 1:5). For, even if one’s expectation is entirely captured by the foresight of Biblical Prophecy in the Old Testament, the current Gentile Church Age was unspoken for and unseen (hidden). It is therefore highly unexpected! Paul goes so far to say that this “mystery” was “kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25)! Furthermore, it is virtually impossible for patriotic Jews to imagine the God of Israel preferring Babylonians above Hebrews. Therefore, in general, the Jews would be bewildered to hear about the shocking reversal of order presently underway in respect to Messianic Redemption working among the Gentiles at the overwhelming expense of the Jews. Yet, nothing new being under the sun, this was the all-too-often sorry estate of the Jews in history when Covenantal Purposes were temporarily breached, altered, or prolonged. However, graciously, whether in history or futurity, God ordains voices to speak to the bewildered souls and abate the worldly sorrow. In other words, God raises up prophets & apostles to clarify the unclear and justify the seemingly unjustifiable acts of God, and this occasion is no exception: hence, “An Epistle to the Babylonian Christians”.

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” – Rom. 11:13

Therefore, we, the recipients of such apostolic clarifications, are without excuse if we allow these mysteries to confound our understanding of the Messiah. Through the appointment of apostles, God means to disclose the hiddenness of these wonders of redemption. Therefore, God appointed an apostle on behalf of the Gentiles to declare the working of these mysteries among the Gentiles, one called, “the Apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13), and, “a Teacher of the Gentiles” (2 Tim. 1:11). Therefore, fellow Gentiles, hearken to your apostle!

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” – Rom. 11:25

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” – Eph. 3:1-12

Who can explain it better than Paul, “the Apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:14)? Foremost of all, Paul explains the mystery of how and why the Lord can or would save the Gentiles in this extraordinary era of redemption. Moreover, on behalf of all the apostles, Paul’s explanation justifies the extraordinary interpretations and applications of Biblical Prophecy being practiced during this age: namely, in the spiritualizing of 2nd Advent prophecies that will find ultimate fulfillment literally and physically. However, notably, Paul is careful to dogmatically affirm that none of the current employments of prophecy nullify God’s work among the Jews. Through the Book of Romans, Paul adds to the former conclusion heretofore observed and, in so doing, further explains the mystery of redemption at work in the Gentile Church Age. If there was a thesis of Paul’s initial argument that was written, it could be:

Mystery #2

Everything God said the Messiah would do in judgment through Babylon 
is being used as a means of salvation for Babylonians.

ROMANS: Romans 1:17 (Babylon: Hab. 2:4), 2:24 (Babylon: Isa. 52:5), 3:4 (Ps. 51:4), 3:10-12 (Ps. 14:1-3), 3:13 (Ps. 5:9, 10:7, 140:3), 3:14 (Ps. 10:7), 3:15-17 (Isa. 59:7-8), 3:18 (Ps. 36:1), 4:3 (Gen. 15:6), 4:7-8 (Ps. 32:1-2), 4:17 (Gen. 17:5), 4:18 (Gen. 15:5), 7:7 (Ex. 20:17), 8:36 (Ps. 44:22), 9:7 (Gen. 21:12), 9:9 (Gen. 18:10, Heb. 11:11), 9:12 (Gen. 25:23), 9:13 (Mal. 1:2-3), 9:15 (Ex. 33:19), 9:17 (Ex. 9:16), 9:20-21 (Isa. 29:16, 45:9, 64:9), 9:25 (Hosea 2:23, 1:10), 9:27-28 (Isa. 10:22-23), 9:29 (Isa. 1:9), 9:33 (Isa. 8:14; Gentile Church Age: 1 Pet. 2:1-10), 10:6-8 (Deut. 30:12-13), 10:11 (Isa. 28:16, 49:23), 10:13 (Joel 2:32), 10:15 (Isa. 52:7, Nah. 1:5), 10:16 (Isa. 53:1), 10:18 (Ps. 19:4), 10:19 (Babylon: Deut. 32:21), 10:20-21 (Isa. 65:1-2), 11:3 (1 Kings 19:10, 14), 11:4 (1 Kings 19:18), 11:8 (Isa. 29:10, 6:9-10), 11:9-10 (Ps. 69:22-23, Isa. 8:14-16), 11:26-27 (2nd Advent: Isa. 59:20, 45:17, 25, Ezek. 39:28), 12:19 (Deut. 32:35), 14:11 (Isa. 45:23), 15:3 (Ps. 69:9), 15:9 (Ps. 18:49), 15:10 (Deut. 32:43), 15:11 (Ps. 117:1), 15:12 (Isa. 11:10), 15:21 (Isa. 52:15).

Given the audience of the Epistle, it is only meet for Paul to begin the letter by quoting Habakkuk 2:4 (Rom: 1:17). Habakkuk’s words are choice and perfectly suited for the burden of proof at hand. While surveying the work of God among the Gentiles prior to and going into the Gentile Church Age, as depicted in Romans 1:13-32, Paul cites Habakkuk 2:4 (Rom. 1:17). There could be no better verse for such an occasion. For, by this point, the Jews were astonished like Habakkuk was of old. Therefore, I say, this is a fitting introduction to an Epistle to Roman Christians.

For, essentially, this was an Epistle to Babylonian Christians, then called Romans (Dan. 2, 7, 9, Rev. 17), because as of the 1st Century Rome assumed the mystical mantle of ancient Babylon. Herein, Rome became an instrument in God’s hand to chastise the Jews like Babylon of old. Therefore, likewise, the dispersion of the Jews & Christians throughout the Roman Empire effectively became another Babylonian Captivity. Indicating this, Peter bade greetings to other fellow dispersed saints, saying, “The Church that is at Babylonsaluteth you” (1 Pet. 5:13), when writing to “the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Pet. 1:1). This being the case, my reader, do you remember why Habakkuk was offended in the prophetic scenario he beheld of old?

Firstly, Habakkuk was in disbelief that God would turn from the Jews and join the Babylonians in the manner described in the Book of Habakkuk. Secondarily, Habakkuk was bewildered at how it was at all possible for salvation to flourish in the foretold circumstance of what God was going to do through Babylon. Thus, in directing the reader of Romans to Habakkuk 2:4, Paul is giving an exact answer to a contextually parallel situation.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” – Hab. 2:4 (Rom. 1:17)

It is meet for the Apostle of the Gentiles (Gal. 2:7) to magnify the work of God among the Romans by quoting this precedent set of old, starting with Romans 1:17 quoting Habakkuk 2:4. In fact, this is how salvation can and will flourish in the most unlikely circumstances brought about by Babylon. This is a straightforward answer: “the just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4)! Yet, practically speaking, the performance of this promise is profoundly miraculous. Originally, and ultimately, Habakkuk 2:4 (Rom. 1:17) promisedlife” amidst the deadly onslaught of Babylon’s rise by war and conquest. Therefore, in this case, “life” meant physical survival exactly as declared by God in Ezekiel 3:16-21 & 18:1-32 [for more information, see: “The Doctrine of the Majesty of the LORD”]. Even though God’s promises are sure and steadfast, Habakkuk wondered how he would physically survive the war (Hab. 3:16-19); one reason being, he knew that Babylon was raised up by God to punish the backslidden Church (Hab. 1:2-4). As a lesson to us all, Habakkuk struggled with the Doctrine of Babylon (the divine purpose of God through Babylon) and overcame his personal offences as he humbled himself before God (Hab. 1:12-2:3).

Paul had similar hopes for the personally offended folk of his generation. Paul’s intention in highlighting the principle of life & death is made abundantly clear in comparing Romans 1:17 with Romans 1:32. Only this time, God isn’t using Babylon to punish the backslidden Jews to wit only the righteous believers would physically survive the deadly onslaught. Rather, using the same promise of old, God is spiritually saving the Babylonians in an unprecedented act of mercy toward the Gentiles. Secondarily, and inferiorly, as it applies to the Gentile Church Age, Habakkuk 2:4 (Rom. 1:17) bears witness of redemption among the Gentiles through faith in that God is granting spiritual life to the spiritually dead Gentiles (Eph. 2:1-3)! Literally, the unbelievable work of God through Babylon of old is equated with the redemptive work of God among / through the Gentile Christians in the current age (Hab. 1:5 & Acts 13:40-41, Deut. 32:21 & Rom. 10:19). Therefore, boldly, as is the case in Acts 13:40-41, the Gospel Preachers of the New Testament declared the equation in no uncertain terms, saying,

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” – Acts 13:40-41 (Hab. 1:5)

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.” – Hab. 1:5-6 (Acts 13:40-41)

Sadly, most Jews wouldn’t hear. For, how hardly were they made to hear Habakkuk of old when speaking of historical Babylon? In order to survive of old, the Jews had to believe what God was doing through Babylon on behalf of the Jews. Similarly, and yet contrastingly, only this time spiritually, the Gentiles have to believe what God is doing through the Gentiles on behalf of the Gentiles and at the overwhelming expense of the Jews; and, in this Epistle, Paul is writing to contemporary believers who are essentially Babylonian Christians! Therefore, what was originally designed to kill unbelieving Jews is saving believing Gentiles. The promise of physical survival offered to believing Jews of old is now spiritually enlivening the dead-to-God Gentiles in this current age.

Certainly, this was a cause of blasphemy among the unbelieving Jews in the 1st Century. Speaking of this, Paul quotes Isaiah 52:5 in Rom. 2:24, saying, “…the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through [the Jews]”. Paul is speaking of a current problem of blasphemy resulting from hypocritical & heretical Jews. However, Isaiah 52:5 originally speaks of the blasphemy of God’s Name coming from the Jews being overrun in war and dispersed in the Assyrian & Babylonian Captivities. In reality, this is the historical circumstance in which Habakkuk himself needed to learn faith (Hab. 1:12, 3:1-2, 16-19). In these shocking instances of history, God departed from the Jews and joined the heathen to make war against the Jews, thus making the heathen miraculously undefeatable in the conquest.

Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.” – Isa. 52:5 (Rom. 2:24)

I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men: Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.” – Deut. 32:26-27 (Rom. 10:19)

 

Apostolic Methods of Interpreting Messianic Prophecy

1. Everything God said the Messiah would do in judgment (WAR) to Babylon is being used for the salvation of Babylonians.

2. Everything God said the Messiah would do in judgment (WAR) through Babylon is being used as a means of salvation for Babylonians.

Messianic Prophecies foretelling war against Babylon do now power the salvation of Babylonians. Similarly, Messianic Prophecies foretelling war through Babylon do now power the salvation of Babylonians. In both cases, the act of war is being redeemed for the salvation of those originally and ultimately targeted or utilized for destruction.

Of course, this was a cause of blasphemy among the heathen as they boasted in victory to the defamation of Jehovah, as foreseen in Deuteronomy 32:26-31. The loss of God on the part of the Jews and the gaining of God on the part of the Heathen in respect to war (Deut. 32:28-31) made provision for blasphemy, while the root cause of it all was the sin of the Jews (Isa. 52:5, Rom. 2:24; Note: God acted to silence the unsound boast of unlearned Gentiles of old in accordance with Deut. 32:26-27 & Isa. 48:9-11 [Ezek. 20:9, 14, 22, 36:21-23], and God will act to silence the unlearned boast of Gentiles anew in accordance with Romans 11:16-32). No doubt, being abandoned by God in respect to war was a cause of bewilderment and shock among the self-righteous and patriotic Jews in ancient times. For, even righteous men like Habakkuk or Jeremiah were hardly able to grasp the justice of it (for more information, see: “Jeremiah Backslid”). Likewise, when God abandoned the Jews and joined the Gentiles in the 1st Century (this time in saving power!), the sense of shock and astonishment continued among the Hebrews. Considering the circumstances, in the general turning of God’s face from the Jews to the Gentiles (Rom. 2:1-29), the Jews were made wonder what advantage or profit comes from being Jewish. Knowing this, Paul poses the question:

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” – Rom. 3:1-3 [Rom. 9:1-7]

 

Division, controversy, and violence prevailed in the wake of Paul’s missionary journeys as he preached to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. At the hearing of what Paul called, “my Gospel” (Rom. 16:25), the misunderstood Jews complained. Paul’s use of messianic prophecy and the way he explained the experience of salvation pertaining to Jews and Gentiles in respect to the Law was particularly troubling to the Jewry of every place. Paul taught that one’s personal experience of salvation is when the “uncircumcision” is enabled by God to “fulfill the Law” “inwardly” and “by nature” (Rom. 2:25-29), and therefore if those of the “circumcision” are breakers of the Law then their “circumcision is made uncircumcision” in the sight of God (Rom. 2:25). Truly, such a message was intolerable and aggravating to pharisaical Jews! Therefore, eventually, the general public of Judaism believed that Paul taught all the Jews that lived among the Gentiles to “forsake Moses” (Acts 21:21), and worse: that he “teacheth all men every where against the people [the Jews], and the Law, and this place [Jerusalem]” (Acts 21:28). Can you believe it?

In the fallout of such rampant slander against the apostle Paul, the sentiments of more reasonable Jews would identify with the objection, “What’s the point of being Jewish?”, at the hearing of Paul’s Gospel. Knowing this, Paul poses the question and answers it in Romans 3:1-4, yet not to the satisfaction of 1st Century Pharisees who believed they were better than Gentiles in the flesh. Thus, Paul endeavors to prove from the Old Testament Scriptures how Jews are “in no wise” better than Gentiles morally speaking (Rom. 3:9-20); and, therefore, both Jews and Gentiles need the same redemption (Rom. 3:21-28). For, after all, the God of Israel is the God of the Jews and the Gentiles (the circumcision and the uncircumcision) through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:29-31), as is easily demonstrated in the justification of Abraham of old (a Babylonian called out from Ur of the Chaldees and justified while uncircumcised – Gen. 11:31-12:3, 15:7, Acts 7:2-4, Rom. 4:1-25); or, as is easily demonstrated in the source of damnation since the fall of humanity in Adam the first, and, the source of human redemption in Adam the second (Rom. 5:1-7:6; 1 Cor. 15:21-22, 45).

Yet, with the method of redemption via the Gospel in the 1st Advent of Christ being thus clarified – namely, that it is being impartially & freely offered to both Jews and Gentiles worldwide – the learned Jews of the 1st Century would object on the basis of how the Gospel is declared in Isaiah. As stated according to Isaiah, Jews cannot be largely forgotten in respect to the foretold redemption of the Gentiles but, on the contrary, the Gentiles will be saved in the salvation of the Jews (for more information on the Gospel according to Isaiah, see: Exhibit #1, Exhibit #2, Exhibit #3). While this assertion of the Jews in respect to the originally intended flow of redemption is true according to Messianic Prophecy in the Gospel of Isaiah, this order is temporarily reversed during the mysterious working of redemption in the Gentile Church Age. Paul will directly address objections to this unforeseen flow of redemption in Romans 9-11, but first he is moved to commend himself to the Jewish People. For, the Jews are inclined to be personally offended with Paul. They were mistakenly believing that Paul was prejudice against the Jews and somehow preferential of the Gentiles. Combatting this assumption, Paul pleads,

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 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. 9:1-8

Of course, Paul proceeds to prove this very point; that, indeed, all these things pertain to the Jews (Rom. 9:4-5); and, indeed, all things were originally intended for the Jews (Rom. 9:4-5)! Therefore, certainly, the Jews cannot be forgotten. Paul is affirming that a remnant of the Jews must be saved (Rom. 11:1-5). However, while acknowledging this, Paul clarifies “whois & isn’t a Jew in actuality of old or anew (Rom. 9:6-13) so as to discern the identity of the remnant in the current age (Rom. 9:1-19, 11:1-5); while, at the same time, Paul argues that God is not obliged to accomplish all things as originally declared or ultimately intended during the Gentile Church Age. Divine wrath authors highly unacceptable plans for the abjects of every generation. Howbeit, much more so for those to whom Isaiah speaks in Isaiah 6:9-10.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.” – Acts 28:23-29 (Isa. 6:9-10)

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” – Rom. 9:20-21 [Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, & 64:5-9]

Paul, being a Jew, affirms that they have no right to question the God of Israel about what He is doing through the Gentiles during the Gentile Church Age, just as the Jews of the Captivities had no right to question God (Rom. 9:20-24, Isa. 6:9-10). Unquestionably so, as a divine assertion of absolute sovereignty, what God said He would do to or through Babylon is being utilized for the salvation of Gentiles in this age. Undoubtedly, these are strange, unbelievable, and marvelous acts (Hab. 1:5, Isa. 28:21-22, 29:14), even as the Lord wrought through the Gentiles in the empowerment of historical Assyria & Babylon, or how He will do likewise and much more in the future throughMystery Babylon” in the End of the World (Rev. 17:5). This is exactly why Paul had Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, & 64:5-9 in mind while writing Rom. 9:20-21, all of which are certainly in fulfillment of Isaiah 65:1-2 as stated later in Romans 10:20-21. These marvelous acts of God are unquestionably for the greater good of the most people possible.

The Flow of Redemption

Divine deception, as illustrated in Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, & 64:5-9, is a vital part of God’s plan of old to save a remnant of the Jews through Babylon – and not without Babylon – as depicted in Isaiah 57:15-21 & 65:1-16 [Ezek. 20:33-38]. Come hell or high water, God simply wants souls to be righteous, pure, and holy, even as He is holy. Originally, and supremely, these verses demonstrate the power of God’s election in selecting specific Jews among the general population of Jewry to wit the blinded majority were unable to acknowledge what God was doing through the Gentiles on behalf of the Jews, and consequentially they perished in the fires. However, in a remnant acknowledging God’s work in the Captivities of old or anew, the Jews were or will be regarding Babylon as a redemptive purpose & just desert, and consequentially they will be purified in the fires. “The just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17). Right?

However, because so many Jews die in the process, Paul is endeavoring to justify the greater scope of God’s purpose through Babylon as it pertained to the eventual conversion of the Gentiles in the flow of redemption Jew-to-Gentile. By focusing on the flow of redemption, Paul is bringing into view the portions of Messianic Prophecy that foretell the mass conversion of Gentiles. Gloriously, such references dominate Paul’s argument in Romans 9:25-29 & Romans 10:18-21. Using the same apostolic method of interpreting prophecy, these verses prove the mass conversion of Gentiles in the current age. Indicating a pivot in this direction of argumentation, howbeit after establishing the ancient, current, and future relevance of God’s power in election or predestination, Paul says, “not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Rom. 9:24).

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 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?” – Rom. 9:22-24

After providing scriptural proof of God’s unquestionable purposes in election or predestination (Rom. 9:6-21), and upon affirming how both Jews and Gentiles are a part of the divine scheme of redemption at hand in the Gentile Church Age (Rom. 9:24), Paul goes on to quote Hosea 2:23 (Rom. 9:25) & Hosea 1:10 (Rom. 9:26), and then Isaiah 10:22-23 (Rom. 9:27-28) & Isaiah 1:9 (Rom. 9:29).

Romans 9:25-29

[25] As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 

[26] 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. 

[27] 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: 

[28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 

[29] 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

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” – Hos. 2:23

 

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” – Hos. 1:10

 

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.” – Isa. 10:22-23

 

Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” – Isa. 1:9

 

Originally, and ultimately, Hosea 2:23 & 1:10 refer to the converting Gentiles who will repent and believe the Gospel (according to Isaiah) as a result of the Jews being converted. They, being grafted in because of those who were broken off (to the shock and astonishment of the Jews - Isa. 49:14-21, 56:1-8, 60:1-22, 65:1-16), fill the void of lost Jewish Children during the Great Tribulation (the Jews who perished in the Spiritual Wilderness of Babylon and/or in the Physical Wilderness existing in the aftermath of Babylon’s Consummation from Day 1,290 onward - Zech. 13:8-9). Harmoniously, the reduction of the Jews is foretold in Isaiah 10:22-23 & Isaiah 1:9 (Isa. 48:18-19), while their multiplication via a sudden replenishment is foretold in Hosea 2:23 & Hosea 1:10. Though highly unexpected, this is the manner in which the ancient word will be fulfilled, God promising, “the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea” (Promise: Gen. 13:16, 32:12, Heb. 11:12; Key Comparison: Hosea 1:10 & Isa. 10:22-23; Fulfillment: Isa. 49:14-21, 56:1-8, 60:1-22, 65:1-16; for more information on the Gospel according to Isaiah as it depicts the flow of redemption, see: Exhibit #1, Exhibit #2, Exhibit #3). Evidently, this ancient promise to the Jews is fulfilled in God turning Gentiles into Jews at the mass conversion that takes place during the Treacherous Journey and onward when, statedly, “the abundance of the sea shall be converted” (Isa. 60:5), as the flow of redemption goes from Jew-to-Gentile. Notwithstanding, however mysteriously, according to the unforeseen & undeclared Gospel of the Apostle Paul (Rom. 16:25-27), lo and behold:

Mystery #3a

The foretold conversion of the Gentiles through the conversion, regathering, & restoration of the Jews is equated to the Gentiles being converted through the fall of the Jews, or, their failure to be converted, regathered, & restored.

My reader, this is the case and point for why Paul goes on to quote Hosea 2:23 (Rom. 9:25) & Hosea 1:10 (Rom. 9:26), and then Isaiah 10:22-23 (Rom. 9:27-28) & Isaiah 1:9 (Rom. 9:29) in Romans 9:25-29. Can you perceive his argument and the apostolic methods employed to interpret Messianic Prophecy? Heretofore, we have observed Messianic Prophecies foretelling redemptive operations in the accomplishment of exploits to & through Babylon, and now we are observing Messianic Prophecies speaking of what God will do through the regathering & restoration of the Jews. Originally, and ultimately, these are three distinct stages of one ongoing chain of events. In other words, these are three distinct stages of one ongoing redemptive operation. These events, being related, are synergistically intertwined like the links of an iron chain are bound together. Being rendered in numerical order as they will ultimately manifest, the events are as follows:

1. War through Babylon (what God will do in judgment through Babylon) will disperse the Jews in Captivity and will eventually enable their conversion, regathering, & restoration because of their humiliation / purification during the Great Tribulation.

2. War against Babylon (what the Messiah will do in judgment to Babylon) will liberate the dispersed Jews and enabled their conversion, regathering, & restoration.

3. The Gentile Church Age through the conversion, regathering, & restoration of the Jews (what the Messiah will do in judgment for Babylon). [Hosea 2:23 (Rom. 9:25) & Hosea 1:10 (Rom. 9:26); Isaiah 10:22-23 (Rom. 9:27-28) and Isaiah 1:9 (Rom. 9:29); Joel 2:28-3:1 (Rom. 10:13); in Isaiah 52:7 or Nahum 1:15 (Rom. 10:15); The Arm: (Isa. 53:1, Rom. 10:16); Isaiah 65:1-2 (Rom. 10:20-21); Deut. 32:21 (Rom. 10:19); Ps. 18:49 (Rom. 15:9), Deut. 32:43 (Rom. 15:10), Ps. 117:1 (Rom. 15:11), Isa. 11:10 (Rom. 15:12)]

However, in an inferior application, Paul was inspired to affirm a partial fulfillment of these verses (Rom. 9:25-29, Hos. 2:23, 1:10, Isa. 10:22-23, 1:9) to wit, the same prophecies that originally aimed to convert the Gentiles at the End of the World are powering the current influx of Gentile converts to Christianity in this age. In respect to the conversion of the Gentiles, the same objective is currently being fulfilled. However, other ultimate objectives are currently unfulfilled, nor will they be until the End of the World; objectives like, the conversion, regathering, and restoration of the Jews and the flow of redemption transitioning from Jew-to-Gentile. The shock and awe of this reversal of order in the flow of redemption cannot be understated! Originally, and ultimately, the voice of prophecy foretold a Gentile Church Age (the mass conversion of Gentiles) through the conversion, regathering, & restoration of the Jews. Now, reversing the flow of redemption, the word of prophecy is being fulfilled in a Gentile Church Age (the mass conversion of Gentiles) through the fall of the Jews. I repeat, this is the case and point of how Paul is applying Messianic Prophecy in Romans 9:25-29. This staggering reversal could otherwise be emphasized,

Mystery #3b

The foretold conversion of the Gentiles existing to the credit of the regathering & restoration of the Jews is equated to the Gentiles being converted at the expense of the Jews in that they came short of the regathering and restoration.

To the astonishment of the Jews, a Gentile Church Age is underway wherein the Gentiles are converted and by and large the Jews aren’t (Rom. 11:25)! Therefore, in the Book of Romans, Paul is explaining the mystery in defense of the Babylonian Christians in the 1st Century, arguing, had not the Jews squandered their opportunity of conversion to the Messiah in the 2nd Restoration Generation, the Gentiles wouldn’t even be converted on this wise (Rom. 11:11).

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. 9:30-33 (Isa. 28:16)

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 [the Jews], and given to a nation [the Gentiles] 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 (Ps. 118:22-23)

Paul proves the legitimacy of the Gentile Church Age by citing the same prophetic metaphor quoted by Christ during His earthly ministry, though they quoted from two different texts of Messianic Prophecy (Isa. 28:16, Ps. 118:22-23). Both passages employ the same profoundly important metaphor interwoven in the tapestry of Biblical Prophecy, but Isaiah is inspired to add, “whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed” (Isa. 28:16), in the passage that Paul quotes (Rom. 9:33). Of course, the Gentile Church Age was foreseen by Christ and plainly declared beforehand; and, consequentially, the teaching of the apostles followed suit (Acts 4:11). However, which Gentile Church Age Christ refers to in Matthew 21:42-44 is a mystery. It could be a double-sensed prophetic referenced to the inferior & superior Gentile Church Age.

Most would read Matthew 21:42-44 and infer it as a reference to the current Gentile Church Age, not understanding how the prophecies which power the current Gentile Church Age are only partially fulfilled and inferior to a greater fulfillment in the future. For, as originally intended & supremely fulfilled, all unworthy Jews will be killed off while the converting Gentiles will be grafted in to fill the room of those broken off (Isa. 49:14-21, 56:1-8, 60:1-22, 65:1-16). At the death of two thirds of all living Jews during the Great Tribulation (Zech. 13:8-9), the radically reduced Jewish People will be suddenly replenished with Gentiles during the Treacherous Journey of converting Jews and increasingly thereafter as Jerusalem becomes the Light of the World. This is the flow of redemption: the Gentiles will be converted in masses by beholding the conversion & glorification of a remnant of the Jewish People. Herein, in the momentous glory of the Gentile Church Age as it was supremely intended and originally authored, the words of Jesus will be fulfilled, when He said, “The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you [the impenitent Jews], and given to a nation [Gentile nations] bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:43). Literally, as depicted in Isaiah 19:16-25, Egypt & Assyria will be converted and become the people of God insomuch that a network of highways will be built between Egypt, Israel, & Assyria during the Millennial Reign.

The Jews of many centuries have deserved the likes of historical Assyria & Babylon of old and/or Rome of the 1st Century, to name two instances, just as the Jews will deserve the likes of Mystery Babylon in the Last Century. This constancy of stumbling and falling is the principle reason why the Gentiles are converted in their room. It must needs be that the word of God is fulfilled. Thus, through prophecy, the LORD has been increasingly expounding divinely planned countermeasures that will be undertaken in the event of persisting rebels of the Jewish Race, countermeasures that include redemptive purposes. This is exactly what God has authored in naming Christ the Stumbling Stone of Zion.

Of old, because of the stumbling stone of the Jewish People’s own iniquities warranting a strong delusion (observe the divine powers of delusion in Ezek. 3:20, 14:1-9, Isa. 8:13-22, 28:5-22), the people stumbled in being offended at the righteousness of God and fell into the punishing snare of God’s divine instrument, Assyria & Babylon (Jer. 6:21). In the 1st Century, because of the stumbling stone of the Jewish People’s iniquities warranting a strong delusion, the people stumbled in being offended at Christ (Rom. 9:33, 1 Cor. 1:23, 1 Pet. 2:8, Matt. 21:42-44) and perished as they fell into the punishing snare of God’s divine instrument, Rome (Lk. 23:28-31). Consequentially, according to Jesus in Matt. 21:42-44, Mark 12:10-11, & Lk. 20:17-18 (the Cornerstone metaphor warranting the building of the Spiritual Temple of the Gentile Church Age), the LORD foretells the fall of the Jews and the salvation of the Gentiles in the Gentile Church Age. Though this metaphor implies a massive undertaking among the Gentiles (a Spiritual Temple), let the reader understand the multi-sensed possibilities of what could be called a Gentile Church Age in fulfillment of prophecy: as originally planned, temporarily permitted, radically prolonged, & ultimately fulfilled.

As originally planned, following the 70 Weeks of Daniel, there would be no intermediate inferior Gentile Church Age had the 70th Week of Daniel begun right after the Crucifixion and counting 7 Years. Presumably, as Christ prophetically perceived the sin of the Jews in the 2nd Restoration Generation, the Lord temporarily prolonged the 70th Week of Daniel for 37 Years unto 70 A.D. (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15). Therefore, this ≈37 Year Period is a legitimate howbeit inferior Gentile Church Age. Therein, the totality of prophecy pertaining to the building of a Spiritual Temple during the Gentile Church Age could have been fulfilled. Things need not tarry any longer. However, at the utter breach of the 2nd Restoration Generation of the Jews, lo and behold: the Gentile Church Age is radically prolonged 1,950 Years and counting. Yet, transcendently, in accordance to what was originally planned and in fulfillment of what was ultimately intended, the Gentile Church Age is yet to come.

Therefore, in the Last Generation, because of the stumbling stone of the Jewish People’s iniquities warranting a strong delusion (insomuch that they will be romanced by the Antichrist - Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:9-12), the people will stumble in being offended at the righteousness of God in Christ (at the Cross of old, at present among the Gentiles, and at last in the Day of the LORD through & upon Babylon) and will fall into the punishing snare of God’s divine instrument, Spiritual Babylon (Zech. 13:8-14:2, Rev. 17:1-18). However, this time the LORD isn’t going to forsake the Jews by turning to the Gentiles like in the 1st Century (Rom. 11:1-25). Much, the rather, God is turning to them by rearing an unprecedented Beast that will savingly humiliate the Jews to wit, upon judging Babylon, and upon the Jews being liberated, every living Jew on earth will be savingly converted (Rom. 11:26-27, Isa. 59:16-60:3)! And, in the beholding it, an unprecedented mass of Gentiles will be converted (for more information on the Gospel according to Isaiah, see: Exhibit #1, Exhibit #2, Exhibit #3)!

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” – Rom. 10:1-3

My reader, considering the shocking reversal of the flow of redemption, in addition to all other the mysterious workings of redemption in fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy in the current age, can you see how the unconverted Jews of the 1st Century could easily be offended at what Paul calls, “My Gospel” (Rom. 16:25)? Whether of old or anew, the Jews were being deluded and annihilated physically, spiritual, or both, whether by Assyria, Babylon, Rome, or Mystery Babylon. Thus, at the opening of Romans 10, Paul further proves the folly of heretical Judaism as it existed in the 1st Century (self-righteous misinterpretations of the Law, like the commonly misunderstood and notoriously abused verses being referenced in Romans 10:5 found in Lev. 18:5 & Ezek. 20:11). Contrastingly, in Romans 10:6-8, Paul proves the righteousness of true Judaism in quoting the Law in Deuteronomy 30:12-14, namely because the Law is not contrary to faith (Rom. 3:31, 9:30-10:3). All true Jews know this.

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” – Deut. 30:14 (Rom. 10:8)

“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” – Rom. 10:11 (Isa. 28:16)

Whether of old or anew, in a time of Covenantal Idealism or during the tribulation of the Captivities, the Jews were only and always saved by faith (Rom. 10:5-8, Deut. 30:12-14). Likewise, for their unbelief the 2nd Restoration Generation of the Jews fell short of the promised work of the Messiah (Heb. 4:1, Rom. 11:7-25). Fearfully, this unbelief was in the face of divine pleas by the greatest Man to walk the earth as He genuinely attempted their restoration in the 1st Century. In other words, in a sense, the tribulation periods could have been avoided. Hypothetically speaking, all this trouble could have been avoided. Contrastingly, how satisfied and secure is the man who forsakes his own righteousness and believes on Christ? This is Paul’s emphasis.

After proving the folly of the Jew’s unbelief in Romans 9:33 in quoting Isaiah 28:16, Paul emphasizes the security of those who truly believe as described in the latter part of Isaiah 28:16, which states, “…he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16), or, “…whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed” (Rom. 10:11). In other words, those who savingly embrace the Man (over whom others stumbled and fell) do know Him to be a sure and dependable Cornerstone for the building of redemption. Paul repeatedly proves that salvation is by faith and not of works to show how it is received and enjoyed by men of faith, both Jews or Gentiles, no matter their origin of flesh and blood. Thus, Paul directs the eyes of the reader to Joel 2:28-32, quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), specifically that it states: “whosoever [Jew or Gentile] shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32, Rom. 10:13).

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” – Joel 2:30-32 (Rom. 10:11)

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring Glad Tidings of good things!” – Rom. 10:15 (Isa. 52:7 & Nah. 1:15)

Here, in quoting Joel 2:32 (Rom. 10:13), just like in former occasions, Paul uses a promise that originally and ultimately foretells the mass conversion of the Gentiles as a result of the regathered and restored Jews, rather than at their expense as in the case of the current Gentile Church Age (Rom. 11:11). Simply observe the greater context of Joel Chapters 2-3; more specifically, observe the foretold situation of the “whosoever” believers in Joel 2:30-32. Or, consider Paul’s use of Isaiah 52:7 in Romans 10:15 in the greater context of Isaiah 52. Certainly, Paul’s intent is to prove the necessity of hearing and believing the Gospel as the sole means of righteousness for all men during the Gentile Church Age (Rom. 10:12-15), but the description of divinely sent Gospel Preachers in Romans 10:15 (Isaiah 52:7) prophetically illustrates the ultimate moment when every living Jew is made to “know” the verity of the loudly proclaimed Glad Tidings upon being freshly loosed from Babylonian Captivity (Isa. 52:1-2) and subsequently, according to the promise, they’ll experience the glory of God in the Treacherous Journey back home (Isa. 52:6-12; Zech. 13:9, Joel 2:32, Zech. 10:1, Ezek. 39:29, Isa. 41:17-20, 32:15-20, 44:3, 55:3-7, 58:8-9).

If the divine purpose of the 1st Advent of Christ was strangely unbelievable to the most devout believers of the 1st Century (Lk. 9:44-45, 24:25-26), and now we boast at having come to the knowledge of it, what can be said of our readiness to believe the 2nd Advent of Christ? Or, consider how our knowledge of salvation in the current Gentile Church Age is unduly eclipsing the greater glories of “the salvation” to be accomplished at the 2nd Advent of Christ (The Gospel: Isa. 40:9, 41:27, 42:1, 4, 6-7, 13-14, 52:7, 61:1; Salvation: Isa. 25:9, 26:1, 33:2, 6, 45:8, 17, 46:13, 49:6, 8, 51:5, 6, 8, 52:7, 10, 56:1, 59:11, 16-17, 60:18, 61:10, 62:1, 11, 63:6 [Isa. 49:8, 61:2]; for more information on the Gospel according to Isaiah, see: Exhibit #1, Exhibit #2, Exhibit #3). Whether in Isaiah 52:7 or Nahum 1:15 (Rom. 10:15), or in all the former prophecies used in like manner, the prophetically illustrated scenario foretells the conversion & glorification of the Jews in their regathering and restoration resulting in an unprecedented Gentile Church Age, not the conversion of the Gentiles at the expense of the Jews being regathered and restored (Isa. 49:6)! Therefore, I ask, should we expect anything different when Paul quotes Isaiah 53:1 in Romans 10:16?

“But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” – Rom. 10:16 (Isa. 53:1)

Sadly, we live in a day when the highchair of spiritual infancy is preferred above the wisdom of God. Consequentially, men wish to learn nothing more than Christ & Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2, 6). Being interpreted, men wish to know nothing more about Isaiah’s Gospel than Isaiah 53:1-12. The atoning death of Christ wasn’t all that was reportedly foretold by Isaiah when speaking of “the Arm of the LORD(Isa. 53:1, Rom. 10:16). Readers of Isaiah’s Gospel would understand the acts of God through “the Arm of the LORD” in Isaiah 53:1-12 as inextricably connected to the acts of God through “the Arm of the LORD” in Isaiah 30:30, 40:10-11, 48:14, 51:5, 51:9, 52:10, 53:1, 59:16, 62:8, & 63:5. However, sadly, unlearned Gentiles of today read “the Arm of the LORD” in Isaiah 53 and shout eureka as if all is said and done. According to the Gospel of Isaiah, the exploits of “the Arm of the LORD” do amount to nothing less than what we know to be the 2nd Advent of Christ performing the consummation of Babylon’s World and the restoration of the Jewish People resulting in the mass conversion of Gentiles worldwide! Knowing this, Paul’s argument on behalf of the Gentiles looks beyond the 1st Advent work of the Messiah. In doing so, as follows, Paul moves to punctuate the ongoing arguments.

Romans 10:18-21

[18] 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. 

[19] 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. 

[20] 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. 

[21] But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” – Ps. 19:4

 

They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” – Deut. 32:21

 

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;” – Isa. 65:1-2

 

 

The point of emphasis in the Gospel according to Isaiah is belief, as stated in Isaiah 53:1 (which Paul quotes in Romans 10:16), and of course this means that true believers will believe all that is reported of “the Arm of the LORD” in Isaiah, not just what was written in Isaiah 53:1-12. In emphasizing this point, Paul says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Isa. 53:17), because he aims to hold both Jews and Gentiles accountable to what is being revealed in the Gospel of Christ. As for the Gentiles, speaking of times prior to the Gentile Church Age, they’ve heard the witness of God in creation as described in Psalm 19:4; therein, they are obliged to believe what they have heard. In contrast, however, the Jews of past ages have been the sole recipients of “the Oracles of God” (Rom. 3:1-2); and, being such, they are much more obliged to believe what they are hearing; or, in being such, the LORD is moved to jealousy at their indifference and unbelief as described at length in Deuteronomy 32:1-21. As a result, God promises to move the Jews to jealousy in what He promises to do with the Gentiles. Therefore, punctually, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21 & Isaiah 65:1-2 back-to-back in Romans 10:19-21. Thus, and thus, Paul endeavors the conclusion of two threads of argument penned heretofore.

In quoting Deuteronomy 32:21 in Romans 10:19, Paul is explicitly finishing the point begun early on; which is, namely, how everything God said the Messiah would do in judgment (war) through Babylon is being used as a means of salvation for Babylonians. In this thread, we’ve observed Habakkuk 2:4 (Romans 1:17), Habakkuk 1:5 (Acts 13:40-41), Isaiah 52:5 (Rom. 2:24), and more. However, clarity is conclusively provided in the explicit use of this profoundly important prophecy. Of course, Paul is seeking to get the attention of the obnoxiously indifferent Jews who’ve been hearing of the Messiah for ages. Speaking of them, God says, “I have spread out My hands all day unto a rebellious people…” (Isa. 65:2)! Paul knew such a text as Deuteronomy 32:21 would get the ear of the Jews. Granted, Paul’s use of Deuteronomy 32:21 is mysterious; for, it is highly unexpected that such a prophecy would be spiritualized to accomplish redemption on behalf of the Gentiles in the current age. Yet, as warned in Habakkuk 1:5-6, we dare not deny the statedly unbelievable work of God through the Gentiles!

However, in quoting Isaiah 65:1-2 in Romans 10:20-21, Paul endeavors the conclusion of another thread of argument. Punctually, Paul is seeking to complete the points raised in Romans 9:24-29; namely, to prove how everything that God said the Messiah would do for the Jews has, in reverse, become a mighty working of redemption for the Gentiles in that: The foretold conversion of the Gentiles through the conversion, regathering, & restoration of the Jews is equated to the Gentiles being converted through the fall of the Jews, or, their failure to be converted, regathered, & restored. In other words, the foretold conversion of the Gentiles existing to the credit of the regathering & restoration of the Jews is equated to the Gentiles being converted at the expense of the Jews in that they came short of the regathering and restoration. If God was pleased to provoke the Jews of old, is He not warranted to do it again?

With due cause, and now conclusively, Paul proves his point in quoting Isaiah 65:1-2. Historically, originally, and ultimately, Isaiah 65:1-2 (Rom. 10:20-21) speaks of the near annihilation of the Jews during the Captivities of old and anew (in the past & the future), and, the salvation of a remnant of the Jews; and, as a result of the Jews being converted the Gentiles are converted! I repeat, Isaiah 65:1-2 isn’t ultimately speaking of the salvation of the Gentiles at the expense of the Jews, but the salvation of the Gentiles because of the Jews, and even for the Jews, and they will fill the void of perished Jews who died in the Great Tribulation. The greater context of Isaiah 65 details such. Yet, in the current reversal of the flow of redemption, the Jews will ask, “Hath God cast away His people?” (Rom. 11:1).

“I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid.” – Rom. 11:1

Lest anyone misunderstands Paul’s use of Isaiah 65:1-2 in Romans 10:20-21, further elaboration is given in Romans 11. Paul anticipates misunderstandings. Therefore, Paul clarifies, the LORD will not cast away the Jews in accordance with Romans 11:1-10. Evidently, as depicted in God’s answer to Elijah in Romans 11:4 (1 Kings 19:18), a remnant of the Jews has or will be converted and preserved in every age (Rom. 11:1-10, 1 Kings 19:10, 14, 18; Isa. 29:10, 6:9-10; Ps. 69:22-23, Isa. 8:14-16). Yet, that being the case, one wonders why the current Gentile Church Age exists at all. To all such wonderings, Paul reiterates the point that it’s “to provoke [the Jews] to jealousy” (Rom. 11:11, Deut. 32:21; Rom. 10:19). From the vantage point of the Gentiles, they speak rightly when they say, “The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in” (Rom. 11:19), because, “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:11). However, they speak wrongly if, in speaking, they boast themselves against the Jews. For, their engraftment into the Tree of Salvation cannot and will not permanently replace the Jews (Rom. 11:16-24). For, if salvation came to the Gentiles, “much more” it will come to the Jews (Rom. 11:24), even as it was originally planned for the Jews!

The records don’t lie. Never, at any place in Biblical Prophecy since the world began, does any scripture indicate an age of redemption that would flourish among the Gentiles at the expense of the Jews as described in Romans 11:25. In fact, this is only happening at the frustration of the original intent of God foretold in Biblical Prophecy (Rom. 11:11-25). Remember, this is why Paul is so bold to declare the current Gentile Church Age as an unrevealed “secret” that was kept back form the archives of Biblical Prophecy even from the beginning of time until the 1st Century (Rom. 16:25-27). For, indeed, through the fall of the 1st Century Jews the LORD has temporarily changed His mind and begun a new work among the Gentiles; yet, according to the wisdom of God, even this work will inevitably work together with the former, original, and ultimate purpose of God to save the Jews and therethrough begin the ultimate Gentile Church Age (Rom. 11:11-36; “3-Stage, Multi-Sensed, Synergistic Prophecies”); which, of course, means the conversion of the Jews at the close of the current Gentile Church Age in the formerly plotted course of things according to the 70 Weeks of Daniel, only this time the LORD will strategically use the currently converted Gentile Christians in the process of turning back to the Jews, to wit, God will win the greater part of the Gentiles thereafter (Rom. 11:30-31)!

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 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.” – Rom. 11:25-27 (Isa. 59:20-21)

And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompence. 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.” – Isa. 59:16-21

Therefore, just as “the Gospel” was originally foretold (Rom. 11:28), the LORD will save all of Israel (Rom. 11:26-27, Isa. 59:20 [Isa. 45:17, 25]). In saving Israel, the LORD will save the Gentiles in a new era of redemption that extends into the Millennial Reign of Christ! Striking terror in the hearts of God’s enemies, the LORD said of old, “Vengeance is mine” (Deuteronomy 32:35, Rom. 12:19); and, supremely, He meant what is illustrated in Isaiah 59:16-21. In this circumstance, “vengeance” is “salvation” (Isa. 59:16-17). Remember? Even as Isaiah 45:22-23 describes, the surviving Gentiles will enjoy the Lordship of the newly stationed King of Earth.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” – Isa. 45:22-23

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” – Rom. 14:10-12

Speaking to the Christians of Rome, this threat could not be more appropriate. For, historically, this was a threat to the Gentiles at large, and more supremely to Babylon of old or anew. Therefore, strikingly, it applies to the Romans of the 1st Century in that Rome was shouldering the mantle of Babylon in their lifetime. Thus, it’s a sure warning to any contentious or disobedient countrymen of Rome, be they Christian or non-Christian (Rom. 2:7-11). For obvious reasons, as described in Romans 14, and for a great chasm of differences in thought or understanding in the flesh, the Gentiles and Jews found it difficult to be unified in the mystery of these workings of redemption during the current Gentile Church Age. Thus, it behooved Paul to continually clarify the constancy of God’s purpose to save Gentiles despite a dominant love for the Jews throughout time.

Mystery #3c

What God said the Messiah would do for the Jews is, in reverse, for the Gentiles in the current age; notwithstanding, in the coming age, when redemption flows in order to wit all things are done for the Jews, the Gentiles will be saved for the Jews.

Can you believe it? In other words, what was for the Jews is for the Gentiles in the current age, and what will be for the Jews will be for the Gentiles also in the coming age because God will save the Gentiles to make up for lost Jews. Remember? Therefore, evidently, God’s lovingkindness toward the Gentiles doesn’t decrease in the coming age of redemption during the Millennial Reign. No! Exclaiming the constancy of this intent in a series of bold illustrations depicted in Romans 15:7-13, Paul writes in defense of Babylonian Christians who dwell in an increasingly volatile relationship with the Jews. On this wise, Paul pleads for mutual respect, humility, and unity among the two peoples.

Romans 15:7-13

[7] Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 

[8] Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 

[9] And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 

[10] And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 

[11] And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 

[12] And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 

[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.” – Psalm 18:49

 

Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.” – Deut. 32:43

 

“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.” – Ps. 117:1

 

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.– Isa. 11:10

 

Even though the current work of redemption is inferiorly backwards, Paul still points the reader to the ideals and soon-to-be reality of the Messiah’s Reign in Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1, & Isaiah 11:10. Unsurprisingly, diverse inferior fulfillments of these verses were accomplished in history, while the superior fulfillments remain to be accomplished in what we know to be the 2nd Advent of Christ; yet, being so late in the Epistle to the Romans, and having been consistent and harmonious in both reasoning and application heretofore, Paul’s intent in using these prophecies is clear. May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!

Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world beganBut now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” – Rom. 16:25-27

Incorporating the Inferior for the Accomplishment of the Superior in the Converging of Every Sense of Biblical Prophecy at the End of the World

As Paul argued, the current Gentile Church Age does not usurp the ultimate Gentile Church Age of the future. Thus, for the meantime, with 1,950 years and counting, the Gentile Church Age continues in sync with a spiritualized fulfillment of 2nd Advent Prophecy. However, in the foregoing events prior to the 70th Week of Daniel, the current spiritualization of Messianic Prophecy will be working simultaneously with the ultimately physical manifestation of Messianic Prophecy. Come time when Mystery Babylon makes its rise by war and conquest (Revelation 8-9), and, thereafter, the Antichrist makes the Covenant of Peace at the beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel, the final countdown has begun in which the Lord will finish His work among the Gentiles of the current age while turning to the Jews for the accomplishment of all things.

So as not to confuse the current Gentile Church Age from its superior manifestation in the future, lo and behold: the LORD will remove every living Gentile Christian from earth just prior to the coming exploits of the Messiah that will save the Jews! Of course, I speak of the blowing of the 7th Trumpet at which all Christians will be raptured into Earth’s Sky. This divine signal indicates God’s transition from the Gentiles to the Jews via a total cessation of the mystery of the current & inferior Gentile Church Age. Being minded thus, the Messiah descends for war to rescue the Jews from Captivity in the Empire of Babylon. The rapture of Christians in the current Gentile Church Age is a timely prelude to this turning point; for, in beholding the salvation of the Jews, the originally intended & ultimately fulfilled Gentile Church Age will come to birth. Therefore, the rapture a transition into the beginning of a new era of redemption during the Millennial Reign of Christ, a time in which 10 to 12 generations of unborn Jews & Gentiles have the opportunity to be converted like no other time in the history of redemption.

However, in leading up to the rapturous removal of the current Gentile Church Age, and, before the intervening salvific warfare of the 2nd Advent that will indirectly begin another Gentile Church Age, the LORD ingeniously incorporates the current Gentile Christians in the divine scheme of the 70th Week of Daniel. Sadly, the current Gentile Church Age will be fallen by this time, even as it is this day but worse, and therefore we need the likes of Babylon to humble us just as much as the Jews. Through Babylon, and not without Babylon, the Spiritual Temple of the Gentile Church Age will be perfected & glorified; and, therein, a verbal witness of the Church will be amplified and a biblical testimony will be sanctified, and hereby the Gentiles will strategically impact the yet unconverted Jews prior to the 7th Trumpet. This, too, is a fulfillment of unfulfilled prophecy pertaining to the current Gentile Church Age. Why? Because the Gentile Christians of the Gentile Church Age are legitimate inheritors of the full scope of Biblical Prophecy.

The only means of mysteriously expanding the reach of redemption to the otherwise unreachable Gentiles is if God, through Christ, turns the Gentiles into Jews and thus incorporates them into the prophecies belonging to Israel. Of course, this mysterious act of redemption which legally turns the Gentiles into Jews would need to be justified in the Old Testament scriptures, and thus the Holy Ghost came upon the apostles to write and record sufficient doctrinal explanations to this wondrous feat in the Epistles. Through understanding how the Gentiles are incorporated into thoroughly Jewish prophecies and Covenants in the legal transformation of their spiritual nationality (Gal. 3:28-29, 6:15-16, Eph. 2:11-13, Rom. 2:28-29, Php. 3:1-3), one is enabled to realize how the very promises and prophecies that were aiming to regather and restore the Jews to the Land of Israel have captured the Gentiles! For example, Jeremiah 31:31-34 was spoken to the Jews and for the Jews, and yet through Christ it is applicable to the Gentiles but not in its entirety (“The Multi-Sensed Fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34”). Just as Jeremiah 31:31-34 is multi-sensed so as to distinctively apply to both Gentiles and Jews respectively, one must be careful not to oversimplify the full scope of Biblical Prophecy speaking to the Jews. One must allow all prophetic texts to have their full latitude of divine fulfillment.

Multi-sensed applications of Restoration Prophecy originally and ultimately intended for the Jews do inferiorly justify the current Gentile Church Age while superiorly declaring a Jewish Restoration & a subsequent Gentile Church Age, the inferior-to-superior transition of differing fulfillments going from a spiritualized manifestation of salvific glory to a materialized manifestation of salvific glory. Even so, we must coherently understand all the prophecies that are inferiorly and superiorly yet to be fulfilled in the Gentiles and the Jews in the Last Days. Multi-sensed fulfillments of Restoration Prophecy prove true concerning nearly all relevant subjects directly addressed by the Prophets: such things like, the Latter Days, the Latter Rain, & the Latter House, the prophecies directly delivered to Zerubbabel & Joshua concerning the Latter House of Glory in the 1st Restoration Generation, and also how these prophecies were recalibrated for the 2nd Restoration Generation and, yet again, for the 3rd Restoration Generation. In other words, what God foretold concerning all these things and people bears significance in the current Gentile Church Age (being partially fulfilled therein) even though these words were originally spoken to the Jews for an ultimate fulfilment in the Jews in the next age of redemption, called, the Millennial Reign of Christ (being completely fulfilled therein). Thus, with all things considered, and for the fulfillment of every word spoken in every Restoration Generation in an unrepeatable finale of redemption, the original words spoken are realized to be 3-Staged, Multi-Sensed, and Synergistic in the recourse of divine wisdom to perform all things.

Remember, the categorically defined segment of time called, the Last Days, has been going on for 2,000 years and counting, and the prolonging thereof is an act of mercy to the Gentiles, a divine extension of salvation to the ends of the earth during the current Gentile Church Age. Yet, the current Gentile Church Age must come to a close as the flow of redemption reverses into the due order of things (Rom. 11:25-36). The incorporation of the Gentiles heretofore gloriously complicates things insomuch that now God will instrumentally use the Gentiles for the salvation of the Jews in the End of the World (hence the synergism; Rom. 11:30-32); albeit, before this critical turning point, the current Gentile Church Age itself needs reviving (Matt. 25:1-13)! For, how else can prophecy be fulfilled as declared in the New Testament?

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” – Rom. 11:30-32

Meaning, both the Gentile Christians and the Jews of the Last Days need a salvific intervention, the former for backsliding and the latter for conversion, and God has a plan to accomplish all no matter the cost. How? BABYLON. God will use Gentile Christians as a witness to the Jews, fulfilling the word spoken, and use it for the Jews as He segues into the events of the End of the World that are dedicated to the salvation of the Jews. In other words, God will accomplish all things pertaining to the converted Gentiles of the current age in the Day of the LORD through Babylon (Day 0-1,260 of the Great Tribulation; Dan. 9:27, Rev. 11:3, 12:6, 14), and, likewise, all things pertaining to the Jews in the Day of the LORD upon Babylon (Day 1,260-1,335; Dan. 12:11-12). In an ultimate fulfillment of things, all things climax hereunto in one event (what God will do through and to Babylon) during a specified number of Days (1,335 Days), and through multi-sensed & synergistic applications of ancient prophecies converging in one generation wherein the LORD will bring about the “restitution of all things” as it was declared of old and anew (Dan. 9:27, Acts 3:21, Rev. 1:1-3). With this in mind, and in due consideration, this brings us to a sufficient lookout point to trace the conclusion of all mysteries pertaining to the current Gentile Church Age according to Messianic Prophecy.

Restoration Messianic Prophecy | Light, Water, & Life

Messianic Acts of Redemption in the Restoration Period from Day 1,290 to Day 1,335

Even though the 2nd Advent has been stalled for the past 2,000 years, Jesus is meanwhile acting in fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy. The attitude and composure of Christ to fulfill the Word of God hasn’t changed. How could it? While abiding in Heaven since the ascension (despite the prolonging of the 2nd Advent), the Lion of the Tribe of Judah hasn’t transitioned to some other agenda than what was written of old and foretold by the Prophets (Rev. 5:1-14). For, even though Christ didn’t imminently return via the 2nd Advent in the 1st Century as originally planned to physically accomplish all, the LORD is accomplishing these prophecies spiritually. This is the Apostles Doctrine (Acts 2:42). Illustriously, the LORD is conducting the Gentiles down the same path He will conduct the Jews in fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy.

Heretofore, we have observed how everything God said the Messiah would do in judgment to & through Babylon is for the Jews, while all the above is for the Gentiles if they are for the Jews. We have explored this message in terms of the Voice in the Wilderness, the coming of Christ, the Good Tidings of the Kingdom of God, the Day of Salvation, and Judgment to the Gentiles, while carefully contrasting how this message applies to the 2nd Advent and the 1st Advent and/or the current Gentile Church Age. Hereunto, the plotted course of futurity ushers us into the final boulevard of Messianic Redemption.

2nd Advent

Light of the World: Isa. 42:1-7, 16-21, 45:5-8, 49:6, 51:4-11, 58:8-9, 60:1-5, 66:18; Judgment: Isa. 42:1-7, Rev. 15:4, Isa. 51:4-5; Righteousness: Isa. 62:1-7

Living Water in the Wilderness: Isa. 32:15, 35:1-10, 41:17-20, 43:15-21, 44:1-8 [Zech. 13:9], 48:20-22, 49:9-13; Latter Rain: Zech. 10:1, Joel 2:28-32, Ezek. 39:29, Isa. 32:15-20, 44:3

Healing: Isa. 57:18-21, 41:17-20, 45:6-12, 55:12-13, 51:3, Ezek. 36:35, Isa. 25:1-4, 32:1-4, Ps. 110:7

1st Advent

Light of the World: Matt. 4:15-16, Lk. 1:78-79, 2:32, Acts 13:44-48, 22:21-22, 26:16-18

Living Water in the Wilderness: Jn. 4:14, 7:38; Acts 2:16-21, Heb. 6:4-8

Healing: Matt. 11:4-6

In accordance with the supreme intent of Messianic Prophecy in the Gospel of Isaiah – with the flow of redemption running its course in due order – the converting Jews are increasingly glorified enroot on the Treacherous Journey back home. Thereon, visibly, the Light of the World increases in its brightness, even as converting Gentiles are drawn to its otherworldly likeness, while Living Water in the Wilderness assuages the thirst of the righteous, and, miraculous feats of healing bring the dead and dying to life at the direction of the Messiah’s kindness.

Light of the World in the 2nd Advent

Isa. 42:1-7, 16-21, 45:5-8, 49:6, 51:4-11, 58:8-9, 60:1-5, 66:18;
Judgment: Isa. 42:1-7, Rev. 15:4, Isa. 51:4-5; Righteousness: Isa. 62:1-7

Originally, and ultimately, a light of justice increasingly shines in the Messiah’s judgments upon the wicked during the consummation of Babylon’s World; for therein, judiciously, God takes away the peace of the wicked. Contrastingly, in principle with the purpose of light in creation (Gen. 1:3-4), only now in the new creation, the light of justice increasingly shines in the Messiah’s judgments of the righteous in the regathering and restoration of the Jews wherein, judiciously, God gives peace to the righteous. Justly, God reduces the wicked to mourning and awakens the righteous to joy & rejoicing. The moral righteousness of God is on display at the radical rearrangement of the morally distinct peoples of the earth. Yet, because all the world is morally wicked (seeing that the Jews are yet unconverted) at the destruction of heaven during the consummation, the whole earth is made to sit in physical darkness. However, astonishingly, the Jews become righteous in conversion as they endeavor the Treacherous Journey by faith in the Gospel and, behold, physical light shines upon and around them; not only physically, but in the opening of Rivers in the Wilderness for the thirsty Jews, or, in the widespread Healing of the environment within their general vicinity during their pilgrimage, thus and thus does the illuminous judgment of the Messiah shine forth to enlighten the eyes of darkened souls!

Mystery #4a

The Light of the World, or, the physical illumination of the Earth with light, is equated to the spiritual illumination of the Earth with light; likewise, the physical darkness of the world is equated to the spiritual darkness of the world.

Light of the World in the Gentile Church Age

Matt. 4:15-16, Lk. 1:78-79, 2:32, Acts 13:44-48, 22:21-22, 26:16-18

As an ongoing partial fulfillment of what is ultimately 2nd Advent Messianic Prophecy, lo and behold: upon hearing and believing the proclamation of the Gospel – a declaration of liberation from the Ruler of the Darkness of this World (Eph. 2:2-3, 6:12) – the newly converted souls are freed by the brilliant Light that shines from the Face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:17-4:6). This transformation is an inward regeneration, an ushering of the soul from spiritual darkness to spiritual light. Literally, souls are spiritually liberated from the dark powers of deception in which they were bound by the shining countenance of the Messiah’s Face as it spiritually illuminates them like the sun in its brightness (Rev. 1:16). However, those who reject the Gospel, also called “the children of the night” (1 Thess. 5:5), need to see and feel their own enslavement to wickedness so as to stop relishing in the delusion of false peace. God being gracious to them, He will show them their current situation of neediness and helplessness, like those needy souls in the aftermath of the 2nd Advent War who roam the Earth as it sits in physical darkness. Hopefully, in the spiritual exercise, they will feel their need for God like a blind man helplessly gropes in darkness.

Mystery #4b

The illuminous display of judgment in the giving & withholding of peace to the righteous & the wicked, effectively separating them, is equated to the spiritual illumination of judgment in the giving & withholding of spiritual peace to the righteous and the wicked – even as the righteous, acting as a spiritual light in the darkness, suffer physical persecution & ongoing tribulation or death because they actively reprove the unfruitful works of darkness.

Contrastingly, in the 2nd Advent, light enables & sustains the physical life of the righteous while, in the Gentile Church Age, light enables & sustains the spiritual life and indirectly causes tribulation, suffering, and physical death.

Statedly, God is seeking the salvation of an elect generation at the 2nd Advent. Right? Therefore, in a comparable circumstance, but of lesser magnificence, consider the dealings of God with the elect souls of the current Gentile Church Age. I mean, the souls of backsliders who are in a state of spiritual darkness. God hopes to make such men feel endangered and abandoned (Ps. 10:12, 13:1, 74:19, 31:12, 42:9, 77:9, 28:1; Eph. 5:11-17, Rev. 2:4-7, 3:1-6). This is because they are engrossed in the spiritual darkness which comes from God turning away His face, from whence cometh spiritual light (Ps. 27:8-9, 30:7, 51:9, 69:17, 102:2, 143:7). In feeling the darkness, the soul is made to realize God’s wrath (Ps. 32:4, 31:9-10, 16), only that each one might come to the light and repent of outstanding sin and/or scornful disbelief (Ps. 27:8-9, 30:7, 51:9, 69:17, 102:2, 143:7). As divinely intended, the people are humiliated before a Sovereign God (Ps. 39:9, Isa. 63:17, Ps. 19:12-13) so that, if or when they are delivered from the clutches of darkness, lo, they will give glory to God as He turns His Face… that upon them, suddenly, Light shined (Ps. 67:1, 80:1-3, 7, 19, 119:135, Num. 6:25, Ps. 4:6, 11:7, 42:5, 44:3, 89:15, Ezek. 39:29)! Yet, if backsliders ignore the darkness and happily proclaim false peace as they enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season, lo, God will use the darkness to maneuver the blind people into a head-on collision with the wrath of God (Matt. 5:13-16).

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matt. 5:13-16

Indeed, the world is already in darkness; but, much more so, at the rise of Babylon to worldwide dominance. This Beast is what the darkness of night brings to the doorstep of sleepy and backslidden saints (Watchman, what of the night?” – Isa. 21:11). In other words, this is the judgment of God through Babylon upon the backsliders of the Gentile Church Age. Thus, at the sounding of the 4th Trumpet, the darkened souls of unconverted and backslidden men will be maneuvered into position for the rise of Babylon. Additionally, at the 5th Trumpet, the alarm is sounded in declaration of a coming threat, namely that earth’s inhabitants would look up and behold the thickening darkness that is gathering overhead! Yet, God using the evil for good (through the purifying apparatus of Babylon), the backslidden Gentile Church will be recovered (Rev. 7:14) to shine as the Light of the World in the dark night of Babylon’s cruel regime; even as they face tribulation, persecution, and death, they’ll abide in otherworldly peace as a sign and wonder to an increasingly peaceless world of chaos (Jn. 14:27, 16:33; Rev. 12:11, 14:1-5).

Living Water in the Wilderness in the 2nd Advent

Isa. 32:15, 35:1-10, 41:17-20, 43:15-21, 44:1-8 [Zech. 13:9], 48:20-22, 49:9-13;  
Latter Rain: Zech. 10:1, Joel 2:28-32, Ezek. 39:29, Isa. 32:15-20, 44:3

Originally, and ultimately, fountains of water will supernaturally open in the desert to flow as Rivers in the Wilderness, namely because the earth has been utterly destroyed in the consummation to wit it is impossible to survive. The divine provision will be granted in response to the prayers of notoriously impenitent Jews who, in the experience, will finally be gloriously converted to Christ. It’s all a part of the masterplan of God as foretold by Isaiah. For, come Day 1,290, when the Messiah has effectively taken away peace from the earth for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the confounded infidels will gaze with wonder upon the Jews as they obey the voice which compels them yonder to make the Treacherous Journey back to Jerusalem. In a world that is totally destroyed and virtually deserted of life, and while all current survivors are hardly alive, the Jews will venture onward on the brink of terminal dehydration. Herein, the elect generation of Jews will repent and believe in the Messiah and be gloriously converted as they call upon the LORD in their distress and drink of the newborn brook along the way (Ps. 110:7)! The nearly dead bodies of the Jews will be refreshed in their thirst being assuaged, even as newborn springs cause waters to flow as Living Water in the Wilderness (1 Cor. 10:1-5).

Like God answered the cry of the truly converted Israelites in “the Church in the Wilderness” (Acts 7:38; The Church Defined), only this time without any murmuring backsliders among the people, the Jews will realize the faithfulness of God like never before. Like the original and definitive Wilderness Experience, only far exceeding it, the glory of God will be manifest before all! However, this time, not in some private location or limited desert region on the outskirts of Egypt, but as a spectacle for all the world to behold! Not for Israel only, but for droves of converting Gentiles who’ll join the mighty pilgrimage to Jerusalem! Thus, the final and ultimate Wilderness Experience will have the desired effect.

Mystery #5

Living Waters in the Wilderness, or the physical hydration of Deserts by Rivers, is equated to the awakening of Spiritual Fountains of Water in the bodies of redeemed souls who, through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, become a mouth of outflowing Spiritual Rivers in a world deserted of the Presence of God.

Living Water in the Wilderness in the 1st Advent

Jn. 4:14, 7:38; Acts 2:16-21, Heb. 6:4-8

Upon hearing and believing the proclamation of the Gospel – a declaration of liberation from Satan’s Captivity via the Cross – the newly converted saints must spiritually sojourn as wayfaring men in a treacherous journey through a world that is not their home (1 Pet. 1:1-2, 2:11, 4:1-4, 12-14, 5:13, Heb. 4:1-11, 11:13-16, 12:14, 13:10-14). Therefore, like a Wilderness is dry, hot, and without water, and harsh to all travelers, the present world is spiritually deserted by God and indwelt by Satan as the resident Ruler of the Fallen System (2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 2:2-3, 6:12). However, the among-dwelling Christians of any given area are carriers of Christ and transformational to society like rivers of water to the ecosystem of a Desert (Jn. 4:14, 7:38). Yet, in the case of backsliders, the roaring fountain of spiritual water is largely quenched. Consequentially, the souls of backsliders become spiritually desertified like the surrounding spiritual environment. Then, if this doesn’t get the attention of the backsliders, a distinctly harsher Wilderness Experience will be ordained for the adulterous people. Like the Church of the Old Testament suffered Babylonian Captivity, only worse, the Christians of the Gentile Church Age must brave the Spiritual Wilderness of Mystery Babylon in the future by enduring the Great Tribulation (Rev. 12:6, 13-17)! Nevertheless, however harsh the spiritual environment, the deserted terrain will be graced with spiritual fountains ushering Rivers of Living Water whither the freshly revived saints do roam (Jn. 4:14, 7:38)!

 

The Doctrine of the Wilderness

There are two categorically different ways of defining the Wilderness in Scripture. One way is individual and purely spiritual regarding one’s personal experience with God (Definition #1). The other way is corporate and can be physical or spiritual, or both; and, whatever the case, it speaks of the revival of a special operation of glory for the establishment of Church Purity (Definitions #2, #3, #4, #5, #6).

Definition #1: Personal Spiritual Wilderness (Spiritual Desertification / Spiritual Famine / a Divine Plague) – backslidden believers of all ages are made to individually experience a wilderness via the evaporation of spiritual water (the Spirit of God) resulting in soul bareness or fruitlessness (this is the experience of individual backsliders rather than the corporate body of believers, thus it is not to be mistaken with the following definitions).

Definition #2: Wilderness Experience #1 in a Corporate Physical Wilderness to the body of Israelites in the Exodus Generation, called, “the Church in the Wilderness” (Acts 7:38), the people collectively experienced the glory of God in a Physical Wilderness as a definitive precedent of the Rule of God among His chosen people (1 Cor. 10:1-12, Ps. 91; for the righteous, the Wilderness was a land flowing with RIVERS of WATER and raining the BREAD OF HEAVEN, while for the wicked it meant certain death).

Definition #3: Wilderness Experience #2 in a Corporate Spiritual Wilderness to the body of Israelites, the national regions of Israel & Judah were invaded, conquered, taken captive, and dispersed by Assyria & Babylon of Old (Hos. 2, Ezek. 20, Hab. 3; for the righteous, the Wilderness was the wooing of LOVE in ROMANCE & the scaling of HIGH PLACES in RESTFULNESS, while for the wicked it meant certain death).

Definition #4: Wilderness Experience #3 – in a Corporate Spiritual Wilderness to the body of Israelites, the Jews / Christians collectively underwent the war-wrought captivity and/or a systematic persecution of Rome (Matt. 24, Lk. 21, Mk. 13; 1st Century Spiritual Babylon according to Revelation 17:1-11; Christian Doctrine of spiritual prosperity in the current age of the New Covenant was forged in the parameters of this Wilderness Experience. Accordingly, loss is gain, death is life, poverty is riches, and humiliation is exaltation!).

Definition #5: Wilderness Experience #4 in a Corporate Spiritual Wilderness to the body of Israelites, the Jews / Christians will collectively experience the war-wrought captivity and/or systematic persecution of future Babylon (Rev. 12:6, 14; Rev. 17:12-18; for the righteous, the Wilderness will be a FEEDING or NOURISHING in a divinely prepared place, or, it will be a place of safety and freedom comparable to a MOUNTING UP on the WINGS OF EAGLES, while for the wicked it will mean certain death).

Definition #6: Wilderness Experience #5 – in a Corporate Physical Wilderness to the body of Israelites, like the Exodus out of Egypt, only now out of Babylon’s World in the aftermath of the fiery consummation, lo and behold: the surviving Israelites will voyage across a Physical Wilderness on their journey back to Jerusalem for the commencement of the Millennial Reign of Christ (and by this time every wicked Jew is already dead!).

Healing to the Dead & Dying in the 2nd Advent

Isa. 57:18-21, 41:17-20, 45:6-12, 55:12-13, 51:3, Ezek. 36:35, Isa. 25:1-4, 32:1-4, Ps. 110:7

Originally, and ultimately, because of the physical hydration of the wasted world that was reduced to a Wilderness in the fiery deluge, it is to be expected that, in due time, the physical hydration will cause the ecosystems of nature to revive & flourish once again. Implicitly, with the awaking of Rivers in the Wilderness, the harsh or otherwise dead environment will come alive over time. However, that’s not the case in this situation. During the Treacherous Journey of the Jews the earth will suddenly and instantaneously be healed in the general vicinity of converting Israelites. This healing will be miraculously accomplished. Physical Healing for the Jewish People is necessary, no doubt, but the main emphasis of Messianic Prophecy speaks in respect to the miraculous revival of creation round about the Jews for their aid and physical sustenance. At least the Jews are physically alive, but the environment round about them will be totally destroyed and completely dead in the aftermath of the fiery consummation. None but God, the Creator, could command physical creation & effectively resurrect the nature & habitat of earth into a living and sustainable environment once again (“…what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” – Rom. 11:15)! Therefore, in beholding it, Gentiles will come running to join the Jews in their pilgrimage to Jerusalem – this marks the beginning of the ultimate Gentile Church Age that will span for 10 to 12 generations of Gentiles during the Millennial Reign of Christ!

Healing to the Dead & Dying in the 1st Advent

Matthew 11:4-6 (Lame: Isa. 35:6; Blind: Isa. 43:8; Deaf: Isa. 35:5; Dead: Hos. 6:2, 13:14, Isa. 25:8, 26:19, Jn. 5:28-29; Casting out Devils: Gen. 3:5, Rom. 16:20, Heb. 2:14-15, Isa. 24:21, Lk. 10:18, Rev. 12:7-8, 17, 1 Jn. 3:8, Col. 2:15, Rev. 20:1-3, 10; Preaching to Poor: Isa. 61:1, 11:4, Ps. 72:13, Zeph. 3:12)

Upon hearing and believing the proclamation of the Gospel – a declaration of liberation from Satan’s Captivity via the Cross – the newly converted saints experienced the most radical and comprehensive spiritual healing possible: a spiritual resurrection. This is the healing of the whole soul, or an enlivening of the entire being, not the healing of any single member of the body. The souls of lost men are dead to God and alive in sin. God means to make them dead to sin and alive in God. Thus, in the drawing process that precedes conversion, the LORD makes men to see their spiritual deadness and wretchedness, not unlike the dying inhabitants of Babylon’s World are made to feel… only spiritually. Likewise, in the conversion experience, the LORD makes dead men live in a spiritual resurrection.

Mystery #6a

The Physical Healing of dead creation via a physical resurrection for its near proximity to converting Jews is equated to the Spiritual Healing of dead souls via a spiritual resurrection for their conversion to Christ; or, the physical regeneration of dead creation via a physical resurrection for its near proximity to converting Jews is equated to the spiritual regeneration of dead souls via a spiritual resurrection for their conversion to Christ.

God’s objective hasn’t changed in the prolonging of the 2nd Advent. The same goals that will be accomplished in the 2nd Advent are being accomplished in the current age. Therefore, what will be a physical regeneration of creation in the 2nd Advent during the Treacherous Journey of the Jews is now a spiritual regeneration of the souls of men during the Gentile Church Age (Titus 3:5). For, come Day 1,290, the earth cannot be resuscitated. Upon being totally destroyed in the fiery deluge of the consummation during the 2nd Advent War, creation is dead. Only the power of resurrection could bring creation to life again! Therefore, just as the Messiah will physically heal the nature of a dead world via a physical resurrection, the Messiah will spiritually heal the nature of dead souls via a spiritual resurrection. Accordingly, as we have observed heretofore, what will be a physical light in creation is now a spiritual light in the soul, or what will be a physical water in creation is now a spiritual water in the soul, and what will be physical eternal life on earth (2 Cor. 5:1-4, 1 Tim. 6:12) is now spiritual eternal life in the soul (1 Jn. 3:15, 5:12-13).

However, let the reader understand, this isn’t to say that there’s no spiritual healing in the mighty working of the Messiah in the 2nd Advent Restoration Period (Day 1,290 to Day 1,335). For, the Jews will need to be spiritually resurrected in a conversion experienced exactly like the Christians of the current age; namely, because the LORD forbids their physical resurrection for the meantime. The Jews will not be physically resurrected until the 2nd Resurrection, specifically because they will miss the 1st Resurrection foretold in Revelation 20:1-6. Only those (dead or alive) who were converted prior to the sounding of the 7th Trumpet will be caught up into the clouds via a physical resurrection. Therefore, once the 1st Resurrection is passed, no one (saved or unsaved) will be physically resurrected until the 2nd Resurrection after the Millennial Reign (Rev. 20:7-15). This means that everyone who will be converted after the 7th Trumpet, including those of the 10 to 12 unborn generations of Jews and Gentiles during the Millennial Reign, will live as we do in the current age throughout their lifespan in the 1,000-year period (Isa. 65:20).

The healing of the Jews via a spiritual resurrection is described as the miraculous provision of sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, leaping-legs to the lame, and singing-tongues to the dumb (Isa. 29:18, 35:5-6, 42:7, 16, 18-19, 43:8). Again, this is not the spiritual healing of any solitary body part, as if that is the spiritual problem, but this is the healing of the whole spiritually dead person. The spiritual healing of every body part coexists with the spiritual resurrection of the dead soul, as is the case of the Jews in the Treacherous Journey from Day 1,290 to Day 1,335. In context, and in accordance with the Gospel of Isaiah, the Jews are the “poor” (Isa. 11:4, 14:32, 25:4, 26:6, 29:19, 41:17, 66:2), “humble” (Isa. 57:15), and “contriteones (Isa. 57:15, 66:2) to whom the Messiah will come preaching & performing the Good Tidings (Isa. 40:9-11, 41:27, 52:7, 61:1-3). However, in the 1st Advent these prophecies are fulfilled in accordance with the mystery of the current Gentile Church Age. As observed heretofore, when 2nd Advent Messianic Prophecy speaks of a physical manifestation of salvific glory, such and such is fulfilled spiritually in the current Gentile Church Age; however, in this case (the first of its kind), the 2nd Advent Messianic Prophecy speaks of a spiritual manifestation of salvific glory, therefore the mysterious inverse of the prophecy does accomplish a physical fulfillment in the current Gentile Church Age.

Mystery #6b

The Spiritual Healing of the dead souls of the Jews in their conversion to Christ is equated to the Physical Healing of the bodies of both converting & non-converting Jews or Gentiles for their near proximity to Christ. (Lame: Isa. 35:6; Blind: Isa. 43:8; Deaf: Isa. 35:5; Dead: Hos. 6:2, 13:14, Isa. 25:8, 26:19, Jn. 5:28-29; Casting out Devils: Gen. 3:5, Rom. 16:20, Heb. 2:14-15, Isa. 24:21, Lk. 10:18, Rev. 12:7-8, 17, 1 Jn. 3:8, Col. 2:15, Rev. 20:1-3, 10; Preaching to Poor: Isa. 61:1, 11:4, Ps. 72:13, Zeph. 3:12)

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” – Matt. 11:1-6

No more proof is necessary. Nothing more needs to be said to John or his disciples. Herein, on display, Jesus of Nazareth is proven to be the foretold Messiah of the Jews. In a profound demonstration of harmony in the protocol of the mystery, the spiritual healing on display in the 2nd Advent is inversely communicable in physical healing in the current age, even while the Messiah targets the spiritual & physical poor of both ages. Majestically, the Man who will eradicate the rule of Satan and expel the Devil from earth to hell (Rev. 20:1-3), demonstrates authority in the expulsion of devils from the bodies of individual souls He encounters. Who else could this Man be but the foretold Seed who would crush the head of the Serpent (Gen. 3:5)? Strikingly, this is the intentional message being communicated by Christ in the 1st Advent and/or during the current Gentile Church Age. Truly, nobody except the Messiah – in an ongoing ministry of spiritualized Messianic Exploits (or in one occasion where the inverse is a physicalized exploit) – could possibly demonstrate that He is indeed able to accomplish the full fruition of Messianic Prophecy when the current age transitions into what was originally physical in Messianic Prophecy. Therefore, when the course of His Majesty is finished and all is said and done, the exploits of the Messiah will have transitioned from physical-to-spiritual and then from spiritual-to-physical at the allowance and finish of the current Gentile Church Age.

The Physical-to-Spiritual Transition of Messianic Prophecy Currently Being Accomplished

What was originally or ultimately intended to be physical at the 2nd Advent of Christ is now spiritual in the current Gentile Church Age; hence, the Messiah has neither failed nor become discouraged (Isa. 42:4) but is in fact spiritually accomplishing the word of prophecy foretold of old. Therefore, what will be a physical resurrection (Isa. 25:8, 26:19, Rev. 20:5, 1 Cor. 15:50) is now a spiritual resurrection (Rom. 6:1-7). What will be a physical defeat of death (1 Cor. 15:54-57) is now a spiritual defeat of death (Rom. 8:2, 6, Eph. 2:5). What will be a demonstration of physical power (1 Cor. 15:42-57) is now one of spiritual power (Eph. 2:5, 1 Jn. 5:4). Herein, what will be a physical adoption (Rom. 8:23) is now a spiritual adoption (Rom. 8:15). What will be a physical redemption (Php. 3:14, Rom. 9:23) is now a spiritual redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). What will be a physical Kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1, Rev. 3:21, 20:4, Lk. 19:11-27) is now a spiritual Kingdom (Lk. 17:21, Col. 1:13, Eph. 2:6). What will be a physical revelation of Christ (1 Jn. 3:2, Rev. 1:1) is now a spiritual revelation of Christ (Gal. 1:12, 16; 2 Cor. 3:17-18, 1 Cor. 13:12, Heb. 11:27). What will be a physical conformity to Christ (1 Jn. 3:2, Rev. 2:27) is now a spiritual conformity to Christ (1 Jn. 2:4-6, 4:17).

Awaiting a Spiritual-to-Physical Transition of Messianic Prophecy in the Future

Even so, whatever physical limitations we currently possess that hinder us from knowing Christ more perfectly, will be removed in the perfection of the body that we will have in the physical resurrection (1 Cor. 13:10, 12, Php. 3:12). For this ultimate end of the Gospel we, the Gentiles, have been called (1 Cor. 1:26), elected (2 Jn. 1:1, 13, 1 Pet. 1:2), & chosen (1 Pet. 2:9) via the experience of conversion in the current age. Therefore, in keeping the faith (Php. 3:10-16), we strive for a spiritual-to-physical increase of glory as promised in the 2nd Advent and, therein, we await the ultimate calling (Php. 3:14) & election (2 Pet. 1:10) of the chosen (Matt. 22:14, Rev. 17:14). We are spiritually partaking in the victory of Christ’s death; however, the ultimate victory over death will not be actualized until after the fullness of the Gospel of Christ’s Kingdom is physically manifest. We have been spiritually resurrected (Rom. 6:4) & regenerated (Tit. 3:5), and therein we have spiritually overcome death (Eph. 2:5) in the spiritual inheritance of the Kingdom of God (Lk. 17:21), but we await a final & ultimately physical resurrection (1 Cor. 15:42-50), regeneration (Rom. 8:18-21Php. 3:12-14), defeat of death (1 Cor. 15:54-57), and inheritance of the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50). In this manner we await a “SALVATION to be revealed” (1 Pet. 1:5), which is not yet full, and we strive for the calling of this final liberation (Php. 3:14; for more information, see: “The Partial Completion of the Gospel”).

Nevertheless, for divinely stated reasons (Rom. 10:19, 11:11, 13-14, 30-32), when SALVATION does finally come at the descent of Christ in the 2nd Advent, lo and behold: the Christians of the Gentile Church Age (with redeemed Jews of every age) will be physically resurrected into glory as a testament to the tardy generation of Jews still in Babylonian Captivity. Wondrously, upon the Jews being liberated, converted, regathered, & restored, the divinely orchestrated spectacle continues!

“…I will provoke you to jealousy” – Rom. 10:19 (Deut. 32:21)

“…for to provoke them to jealousy.” – Rom. 11:11

“…If by any means I may provoke to emulation” – Rom. 11:13-14

There’s only one explanation for why the Christians of the Gentile Church Age will be physically resurrected before the Jews: JEALOUSY. According to divine wisdom, the physical resurrection of Gentile Christians will be the ultimate provocation to jealousy, one far exceeding all former provocations in history. Do you agree? The Jews, remaining unglorified for a thousand years, will gaze with longing on the eternal bliss of a glorified body and the sinlessly perfect relationship with the Messiah produced therein.

In conclusion, I bid the reader to continue onward in the exploration of these doctrines. For, at having established a framework of Biblical Reasoning as revealed in Scripture, we are prepared to realize the implications of these doctrines as they bear practical significance in our lives. More specifically, and most importantly, I speak of the Age-Ending Revival that is soon to take place in the Gentile Church Age.