Calling
A Written compostion of the Heavenly Calling Network Study Group
Chapter 7
God hath spoken, and with all His words being genuine and
true, understanding that the scriptures do not only hold the very words
of our Father, but is the actual word of God itself. Also understanding
this all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness (2Timothy 3:16). Also understanding this, that this
inspiration is equally applied to all the books in scriptures from
Genesis to Revelation. Every word is equally inspired from Moses to
Luke, from Peter to Paul, they were all equally and fully inspired. So
if all the words in scripture are inspired by God then there can be
only one thing for us to do, right? Obedience to His word. For all
those who believe that God hath spoken then their could never be a case
presented that would allow for us not to obey. And that is our
conclusion, With 2 Timothy 3:16 which makes the scriptures our only
guide for our faith and walk, and requires our hearts to follow in
obedience.
We open up our books, we read along and read the wonderful story of
Adam and Eve, and creation and Noah and then we come upon Abram who has
his name changed to Abraham. God then commanded upon Abraham the
TESTAMENT of Circumcision, with words speaking loudly the very
importance of this TESTAMENT. Gen 17:14 And the
uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised,
that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
The translators chose the word covenant here which really makes no
difference here but then chose to use the word Testament in a lot a
places in the New Testament. Old Covenant, New Covenant. So for those
of you have not thought about it, they the very same word. The Hebrew
word is b@riyth ber-eeth' which means a cutting, in the sense of
creating, a Testament, Which is a pledge of a future promise. The Greek
word is diatheke dee-ath-ay'-kay which means simply a Testament. The
problem that we, you and I, have is that we have a confusion in our
midst. We like to use a bible that is translated from Two separate
languages. Take for instance the King James, a wonderful book, but
since it is translated from two separate languages, Hebrew, and Greek,
we get an unseen full picture of things. We can get the gist of this
when we go and read what was written above our Saviors head on the
Cross. Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his
accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then in Mar
15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was
written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then again THIS IS THE KING OF THE
JEWS in Luk 23:38
Three slightly different sayings for superscription above our Saviors
head. Is this a problem in the word of God? No, by no means, it is
explained to us in that the reason for this is in the language it self.
Again in Luk 23:38
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and
Latin, and Hebrew,. Each one wrote what it said in their own languages.
This makes a huge difference, as it does in the translation between
what is used in the bibles, like the King James. One way we can get a
better and clearer understanding is by reading a translation that is
from the very same language, either Hebrew in the Old and New
Testament, or Greek in the Old and New Testament.
So we really need to search the scriptures, not only in the same book,
but compare them in the same language. We will get a even closer look
at this later on.
In Exd 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a
memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your
generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. And
again Exd 12:19
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever
eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the
congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
For another simple example Exd 20:8 Remember the
sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all
thy work: 10 But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God:
[in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that [is] within thy gates: Then we keep on reading and we
come to Num 15:32 And while the children of Israel
were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the
sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him
unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34 And they put
him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all
the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36 And
all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with
stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Then later when the
commandments, which are a marriage decree of sorts, were given in Exd
31:13
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths
ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your
generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] the LORD that doth sanctify
you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it [is] holy unto you:
every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever
doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his
people. There are many more that you can search out for your self, try
for instance Leviticus 17:14 The shall be also for eating flesh with
the blood. Leviticus 23:29 This shall be also for not observing the day
of atonement. Numbers 19:13-20 This shall be to any who are not
sprinkled by the water of separation, after touching a dead body, or
even a bone, or a grave.
Now if we all can agree that if the first paragraph of this chapter is
true then it should be apparent that what we have before us is a
sequence of truths which are very grave in manner. Lets look a little
more before trying to understand the perplexity which is clearly
visible. Gal 5:2
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall
profit you nothing. Remember that in Gen 17:14
it said, And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is
not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath
broken my covenant. And also what about Col 2:16
where it says, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or
in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
Right before our eyes Paul puts aside the previous commands by God
which were given in the law! He does it in again in Gal 4:10
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of
you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
So what is the problem here? There is no doubt that Moses and Paul were
in the same degree inspired, but why can Moses give us one command from
God and Paul saying the exact opposite, setting it aside? A quandary
indeed. But God does give us an answer doesn't He. Hbr 1:1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past...
Our Father did speak to His people 1) at differant times 2) with
different communicated messages.
So how do we be obedient to God's word if there is a difference in the
communication? We all know for sure that our Father never changes. Ah,
and He doesn't, but you and I must gain a knowledge on how to
distinguish between stewardships. Stewardship just simply means an
office of the steward, so what does steward mean? A person who is
employed to manage the concerns and superintends all the other servants
or family members. The scriptures even uses the word dispensation or
administration, depending on which English version you use, for the
entire calling. And these stewardships, or dispensations, or
administrations are the difference. But before we can get in to those
distinctions we really need to take a look at something else.
There is one big separation, and the scriptures call it Law and Grace.
And I would imagine that many who might read this already have a clear
picture of the distinction between Law and Grace, but we should really
take a little time to understand it even so. Lets let the inspired word
teach us. Jhn 1:16
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For
the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
What a big change, this change of stewardship, or dispensation, or
administration we move from grace which is in types and shadows the
real grace that only comes from Jesus Christ. Hebrews is a wonderful
epistle that shows this clearly. Get ready now, for this is what it
said, Hbr 7:19
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope
[did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God. For the priests were sinners
as well, and died, because you know why? Because the sacrifices did not
take away sin, and since it did not take away sin it could not draw
near the internal judgment that is inside. Our Father even found fault
with the Old TESTAMENT, (Covenant), and by Christ's earthly arrival and
His work possessed it and place it out side from us. What? Sure its
true, Hbr 7:11
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it
the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that
another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be
called after the order of Aaron? If that is not enough how about Hbr
7:21
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by
him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art]
a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was
Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many
priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable
priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the
heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up
sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this
he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high
priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since
the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. So even
here it makes it absolutely true, and there is more, for instance in
the fifth chapter of Galatians it says, Gal 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul
say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that
he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect
unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from
grace.
As you can see it is not good for anyone to just open the bible to find
a verse for any point of our trust, as momentous as that is, you and I
should also be positive that the scripture we cite is expressed to the
stewardship, or dispensation, or administration that is employed to us.
The Apostle Paul had ministry that was in such a manner. The Apostle
Paul said it best in 2Ti 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. You can find this
amazing aspect in the Lord's ministry itself. For it is said in Luk
4:16
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. 17 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, 18 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, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 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. 21
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in
your ears. Oh He just read from Isaiah 61:2, and it was fulfilled that
very moment, but something is missing, He stopped, for in Isaiah it
continues on to say, and the day of vengeance of our God, which is a
day that is connected with the millennial blessings of Israel. The time
when they become priests of the Lord, and receive twice as much for
their shame Isa 61:7
For your shame [ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall
rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess
the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. You have realize that
this was undoubtedly not fulfilled during Christ's earthly ministry.
Many years have passed that divides this one sentence. In most English
versions the two prophecies are separated just by a comma. [[[verified
in these translations are A Conservative Version, American King James
Version, 1901 American Standard Version, 1949/1964 Bible in Basic
English, 1889 Darby Bible, Hebrew Names Version of the World English
Bible, Jewish Publication Society Old Testament, Joseph Smith
Translation, King James Version of 1611, King James Version of 1769,
Green's Literal Translation, Revised Standard Version, Restored Name
King James Version, Revised 1833 Webster Version, The Emphasized Bible
by J. B. Rotherham, World English Bible, Webster Bible, 1898 Young's
Literal Translation]]] This is very important then, to understand right
division. Right division of the word of truth recollects all scripture
and does not cut out unpopular doctrine but divides all scripture
according to God's purpose.
The Apostle Paul gives a division of mankind in 1Cr 10:32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the
church of God: The Jew was absolutely unconditionally selected for
blessing when our Father called Abram and gave him an unconditional
stipulation to make him a great nation. For it even acknowledges that
fact in Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, [they
are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are]
beloved for the fathers' sakes. Oh, but what is added for us to see
concerning this election or calling Rom 11:29
For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. So it is
very good for us to never ignore the divine purpose when it comes to
this elect or called nation, which is the restoration of their land,
and through them the blessing of the Gentiles. Now the blessing in a
total perception for the Gentiles awaits this elect nations restoration
because it is made clear that the Testament given to Israel includes
all the families of the earth. But you know the scriptures that speak
of either Jew or of the Gentile do not in such a manner have the will
of God for the Church.
What is the Church any ways? The word church is actually a translation
of a Greek word which is ekklesia, which means a called out company or
collection of individuals. It is this word that gives many the
difficulty of observing the Scriptural usage of the word church, and so
much confusion is then brought about. When we think of the word church
we often think of a building or A group of buildings. Maybe we think of
a church as a denomination. And how come this word church just popped
up in the New testament? Where did it come from? There was no mention
of it in the Writings of the Law and the prophets. Or any where in the
Old Testament. It just popped up out of no where. Ah, but it did, in
fact it is in the Old Testament 102 Times. That's right! That is
considerable, but you don't remember it do you? You see the word Church
is in fact, as this study has just stated, is a translation of the
Greek word ekklesia, which does definitely mean a called out group or
company, and since our English translations use Hebrew transcripts for
the Old Testament there is simply no word that is translated as Church.
But what happens if we take the lesson learned from scriptures that was
shown to you at the beginning of this chapter. What would happen if the
Old Testament and the New Testament were translated from the very same
language. Whether you translate the Old Testament and the New Testament
from either the Greek or the Hebrew is not so important but you would
get a much clearer picture if they were translated from the exact same
language. Do we have the ability to do this, sure we do. Most of us use
the bibles that have the New Testament translated from the Greek. And
so that is where we get the word church from. So lets look at the Old
Testament from the Greek. The oldest known manuscript around is
actually in the Greek. It is called the Septuagint, which means 70.
Seventy whom translated it to the Greek. This translation was done
approximately 275 years before our Savior was even born. And the
Apostles read from it, and Christ Himself used it.
For your perusal here are the 102 verses with the word Church, or
called out group, ekklesia in the Greek Old Testament.
Lev 8:3
; Lev 8:4
; Num 20:8
; Num 20:10
; Deut 4:10
; Deut 9:10
; Deut 18:16
; Deut 23:1
; Deut 23:2
; Deut 23:3
; Deut 23:8
; Deut 31:12
; Deut 31:28
; Deut 31:30
; Josh 8:35
; Josh 18:1
; Judg 20:1
; Judg 20:2
; Judg 21:5
; Judg 21:8
; 1Sam 17:47
; 1Sam 19:20
; 2Sam 20:14
; 1Kgs 8:1
; 1Kgs 8:14
; 1Kgs 8:22
; 1Kgs 8:55
; 1Kgs 8:65
; 1Kgs 12:21
; 1Chr 13:2
; 1Chr 13:4
; 1Chr 13:5
; 1Chr 15:3
; 1Chr 28:1
; 1Chr 28:2
; 1Chr 28:8
; 1Chr 29:1
; 1Chr 29:10
; 1Chr 29:20
; 2Chr 1:3
; 2Chr 1:5
; 2Chr 5:2
; 2Chr 5:3
; 2Chr 6:3
; 2Chr 6:12
; 2Chr 6:13
; 2Chr 7:8
; 2Chr 10:3
; 2Chr 11:1
; 2Chr 15:9
; 2Chr 20:5
; 2Chr 20:14
; 2Chr 23:3
; 2Chr 24:6
; 2Chr 28:14
; 2Chr 29:23
; 2Chr 29:28
; 2Chr 29:31
; 2Chr 29:32
; 2Chr 30:2
; 2Chr 30:4
; 2Chr 30:13
; 2Chr 30:17
; 2Chr 30:23
; 2Chr 30:24
; 2Chr 30:25
; Ezra 2:64
; Ezra 10:1
; Ezra 10:8
; Ezra 10:12
; Ezra 10:14
; Neh 5:7
; Neh 5:13
; Neh 7:66
; Neh 8:2
; Neh 8:17
; Neh 13:1
; Esth 4:16
; Job 30:28
; Pss 22:22
; Pss 22:25
; Pss 26:5
; Pss 26:12
; Pss 35:18
; Pss 40:9
; Pss 68:26
; Pss 89:5
; Pss 107:32
; Pss 149:1
; Prov 5:14
; Eccl 1:1
; Eccl 1:2
; Eccl 1:12
; Eccl 7:27
; Eccl 12:8
; Eccl 12:9
; Eccl 12:10
; Jer 26:9
; Jer 36:9
; Lam 1:10
; Joel 2:16
; Mic 2:5
For
you who don't have an easy way to read the Septuagint these102 verses
are at the end of this chapter with concordance numbering so that you
can do your own research and you will appreciate it so much more.
As you think about it and your read the scriptures, perhaps in the King
James version you might see something's that might get you saying,
hmmm, especially now that you understand what the meaning of the word
church is. You might want to understand its usage. One of the strange
things that you come across is in Acts of the Apostles chapter 7:38
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel
which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who
received the lively oracles to give unto us: Church in the wilderness?
The King James and most of all the English versions never mentions a
church in the wilderness when we read the Old Testament. What Church is
this. I thought the first Church was perhaps at Pentecost or perhaps in
Matthew 18. There was a Church way back in Moses day? Yes! If we use
the exact same language that the New Testament was translated from, in
the Old Testament we would have known as the Holy Spirit who spoke
through Stephen. But since we have this great hint we can go back and
search the scriptures. And we can compare the Hebrew and the Greek to
find where this church is spoken of.
We look at the Septuagint and it tells us that in Leviticus chapter 8:3
And all the synagogue all the church upon the door the tabernacle which
is testimony. Compare this to the King James And gather thou all the
congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. By the way the word synagogue means an assembling
together of men, so don't get to confused with that words usage. What
the Greek is saying is basically the same thing as the King James and
the Hebrew is saying except, we can now see clearly with our own eyes
that the word ekklesia in the Greek, translated to English as a church,
has a comparable word in the Hebrew. And your probably thinking it is
the word congregation, and you would be partly correct. Congregation is
the translated Hebrew word that is used in the English, In fact there
are two words that has the basic same meaning except one is translated
as synagogue and the other as the word church. The word here in the
Hebrew is edah ay-daw' which means a assembling of witnesses which is
translated as congregation, company, assembly, people. Which is
comparable to the word synagogue. A group called to be a witness. But
the very next word that is translated from the Hebrew in to English in
this verse as together is qahal kaw-hawl' and is the actual one that is
comparable to the word church. And is in two forms, both spelled the
same, and basically means the very same thing. So the Hebrew word means
a called together group, and the Greek means a called out group. Very
similar.
There is a called out group or church that is in every part of
geometry. So Israel is a called out group or church from other nations,
the church in the wilderness which is mention in Acts of the Apostles
7:38. This church or called out group is fully connected with all the
promises of the kingdom of heaven and to its geometry its where abouts
in upon the earth in the millennial kingdom. The giving of the law and
Stephen calls them the church in the wilderness. That is so very
important to see since Israel is a very good picture of the bible
meaning of this word Church. A separated called out company of people.
We should understand that Israel in the Old Testament were not purely
just redeemed, oh no, there were set apart, that is they were
sanctified which means set apart. The meaning in the scriptures is
separation. Separation from and separation to. The best picture of
sanctification is in the book of Genesis where God made the creation in
seven days. On the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, He rests and what
was the word He used, He sanctified it. And that could not have meant
that God made that day more Holy than the other days because simply
they are all Holy. Why are they all Holy? Because sin had not yet come
in, so they were all perfect. The seventh day was sanctified which
means it was set apart for a particular intention. It was separated
from those other six days.
If there was a nation that was set apart it was the nation of Israel.
The church of Israel. They were set apart in their law in which God
gave them. Which contained commands to even the food they ate and the
clothes they wore. It made them totally different that all other
nations in every way. They were truly separated. They were a scriptural
ekklessia, which again means church. The were called out from all
nations as the scriptures says, to be a peculiar treasure of God, and
to be a kingdom of priests. To be an access for Him in which through
them the whole world could be obtained, touched, and reached. That was
God's plan, for He did not pick this nation just to have His mind on
them alone forgetting all others, even thought it sure did seam that
way for a while that He was forgetting everybody else. It was a part of
His plan to use them as a made ready access so that the light of His
truth could be seen through out the world. So this is what we need to
understand. God said, they were not to be reckoned among the nations.
So they, this nation, this church were they. And also this church was
to be above and not to be beneath, they were to be the head and not to
be the tail. They were called to be the principle separated nation of
the earth. A kingdom of priests and a Holy nation. Stephen then was oh
so right when he spoke calling them to be a church in the wilderness.
This is just the first way that this word is used for our learning and
understanding.
Lets look at the 18th chapter of Matthew where Christ Jesus Himself
uses the word concerning a called out people in His very own day.
Mat 18:15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him
his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast
gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with
thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every
word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell
[it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be
unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Here was a company that
existed in Christ Jesus' day, before Pentecost mind you, that He
Himself called the Church, a lawful assembly in which any one could
refer to if they could not get in conformity from their brother. This
is another way in which this word Church is used.
Lets also look at Matthew again. Here is a revelation that Jesus made
Himself to Peter after asking about the current gossip about what the
people are saying He is. After getting an answer from the twelve from
that question Jesus asks Peter for his own thoughts on who He is. That
does matter doesn't it, what is your estimate of me. He had the right
estimate didn't he. Jesus then saying, Mat 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. This is something which follows what Peter had. You are the Christ,
you are the anointed, the Son of God. This is a divine revelation that
the Father Himself revealed to Peter. Jesus say, now you are Petros,
which is a play on words. Petros is a small moveable stone and that was
Peter wasn't it. Peter apart from the grace of God was no rock to build
on. But Jesus said upon this Petra, Oh He is the rock of ages. And upon
this acknowledgement your right judgment of Me giving Me My rightful
place. I am going to build a assembly. A group of called out people, a
church, and the gates of the grave, the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. Now we have to ask our selves, because this certainly comes
up often, what is this church? Who belonged to this church? And to what
was Jesus alluding to? And the hope is that you realize that what ever
it was it wasn't going to be built on Peter. That would have been
insufficient for a foundation. The man who was yet going to speak as
though he had no knowledge of Christ and deny Him three times. It was
going to be built on something proceeding from God upon which the gates
of the grave, the gates of hell could not prevail.
To purely understand it we should go on further to Mat 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Oh,
this church has something to do with the kingdom of heaven doesn't it?
Oh yes, and Peter you have the keys to it, I'll give you those. Now
keys of course are for unlocking doors. When your doors are locked you
have to unlock it so that you can open the door. This is a figurative
way of a door being opened in to this church. "I'll give you the keys
Peter, your the one who is going to open the door". Do we see Peter
using the keys? Yes we do. Later on we find Peter in the Acts of the
Apostle not as a poor wavering man, but one that is endowed with the
Holy Spirit. We read that he has been taken hold of by God with a
special revelation that he can now open the doors of the kingdom to the
Gentiles. And yes, let the Gentile in. Now it is known that there are a
whole bunch who think this is just giving what they term as Church
truth. They think this is just a development of the Church which is the
body of Christ. But is it? It is forgotten which that church was linked
with a secret, a Mystery as the King James translates it, which God
said that He kept HID where? In the scriptures? In the stars? In the
minds of men? In the law? No, He kept it in Himself. He kept if from
all the past ages and stewardships, dispensations, or administrations.
Col 1:26
[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
And Eph 3:9
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:
This is tossed out to you as a hunter of truth, when God hides who can
find? And if your a person of truth you would acknowledge that none
can. There is an exception, except the He chooses to reveal it. So do
you find anything about a secret in Peter's ministry in this context?
Can you search and see it in his epistles any where? Can you find it in
the Acts of the Apostles? You can not. If you study the early chapters
of the Acts of the Apostles you would find that is setting together
with the Old Testament. Instead of being something hid it is something
that has been revealed all the way through. You know, God never hid the
fact that He was going to bless the Gentiles through Israel. Everyone
of us should know and understand the promise that was given to Abraham.
When He grabbed that man who was just like the rest of the world, an
Idolater of Chaldees, He told him that through his seed all the
families of the earth shall be blessed. It was never ever hidden. He
made it always perfectly clear that this was His intention. It was
shadowed by Solomon when he said in1 kings 8:41 : Moreover concerning a
stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far
country for thy name's sake; 42: (For they shall hear of thy great
name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he
shall come and pray toward this house; 43: Hear thou in heaven thy
dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to
thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee,
as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which
I have builded, is called by thy name. Do you realize that Solomon was
speaking to the church of Israel? Well lets look at part of this
chapter to get the feel of it from the Septuagint. Using the Septuagint
will make it more clear, because by using the language that the New
Testament uses, it might make a little more sense.
14:And turning away which the king did with his face, and blessed by
the king all Isreal, and all the church of Israel stood.
15: And speaking blessings of the Lord which the God of Israel this day
did say in with the mouth himself concerning David which is the father
of me, and in with hand himself fulfil, saying
16: from the day bringing forth that people myself which is Israel out
of Egypt, not choosing in a city in among the clan's of Israel which to
build a house that is to be so that a name of myself is there; and the
choice in Jerusalem exist that name of Myself is in that place there,
and choosing that David which is to be over that people, mine, which is
Israel.
17: And be upon the heart of David the father of me, to build an house
(for) the name Lord God of Israel
18: And speaking the Lord did unto David the father of me; for which
come upon that heart, you which build a house of the name for myself,
beautifuly did do which be upon that heart of yours.
19: Moreover your not to build a house; but what the son of you which
is brought forth out of the side of you, this (one) will build that
house which name is of myself
20: And arise did the Lord, a word himself whom spoke, and arise for
David who's father is mine and sit upon the throne of Israel as spoken
by the Lord and build the house which is named for the Lord God of
Israel.
21: And lay there a place which is for the ark, in which exists in that
place a testament of the Lord, which is to be placed seperately, which
the Lord did before the father of me by these (who were) bought forth
by him they out of yet Egypt.
22: And stand Salômê did accordingly, to face the alter of
the Lord in the presence of all the church of Israel and brought forth
the hands of himself into which is heaven:
23: And speaking, Lord, the God of Israel, no other exist that is you
God in which is heaven above and on this yet down beneath, keeping the
testaments and mercy where servants of you which go before you in all
their hearts for him:
24: Whom keeps the servant, your David, the father of mine, and speaks
in the mouth, yours, and by hands, yours, fulfills those things this
day.
25: And now Lord, the God of Israel, keep the servant, yours, which is
David, the father of mine, which (you) spoke to him saying, not to be
cut off from you a male who is an extension of you out from my face to
sit upon throne of Israel; but if keep isolated the children of you to
their way, he which go before me as (you) go before me.
26: And now, Lord, the God of Israel, make faithful moreover this a
word, of yours, to David, that father of me.
27: How that, if in reality (can) an inhabitation (of) the Godhead be
with mankind upon the land if the heaven and the heaven of the heaven
not be sufficient for you? Never the less also this house, this which
is built (for) the name (of) you?
28: And regard upon the prayer, that are mine, (Oh) Lord the God of
Israel hear the voice of weeping that the servant, yours, offers in
this prayer before you to the advantage of you this day;
29: Which exist in the eyes of you (which is) open toward that house
this day and night into the place which is spoken to be with the name
of mine, there which is for the hearing of request, a place set apart
for prayer, where offering prayers by this servant, yours, toward that
place this day and night.
30. And the hearing of request of the prayers which is of the servant,
yours, and of the people, your Israel, when whosoever offers prayers
towards the place, this, and you hear of request in that place, the
dwelling, yours, in heaven and do and be ready to forgive as it is to
be.
31. As many of whosoever sin against any one when there are two
concerned, he (the sinner), which also in this case recieved upon
himself a cursing, that to take up against him and go also
ezagoreusê toward the face of the alter, which is yours, in that
house this,
32. And you hearing the request out of the heaven and do, and judge the
people, your Israel, those acting unrestrained without law, give that
way of him upon the head of him and then justify the righteous giving
him according to the righteousness of him.
33. In these offences the people, your Israel, are before the hated
because of the sin against you, and return back and confess in full the
name of you and pray and put back under the obligation in the house,
this:
34: And you hear out of that which is heaven and being merciful to the
existance of which is sin of that people, your Israel, And turn away
him towards that land which is given to the fathers of him.
35: In the holding together with constraint the heaven and myself to be
no rain because of sin (against) you, and if (the) offering of prayers
towards the place, this, and confess in full the name of you and
separate from sin, him (then) turn away when humbling him,
36: And hear out of the heaven and let mercy be existant for the sin of
the servant, yours, and these people, your Israel, since the
declaration to him of the way which is good in going in him and give
rain upon the land which is given to that people, yours, in an
inheritance.
And it continues to say more about the Church of Israel in this very
chapter. So when Peter turned the keys and opened the doors in the Acts
of the Apostles, he wasn't doing something that was hidden. No he was
doing something that God revealed all along and let the Gentile in. It
was done in a minute way admittedly to begin with. It was like the
first fruits, a minute start and had that nation not rejected their
King Priest and their Savior the whole thing could have continued on to
a rejoiceful ending. Israel then could have been the passage of
blessing for the whole world. The kingdom then could have been set up
and the Lord's prayer, as some call it, could have been answered and
the Kingdom could have come. But as you can search the history you
understand that they simply were not ready. They were obstructed with
unbelief, and their hearts became hard, and their ears became dull in
hearing, and their eyes became blind. And they not only crucified their
Savior and their King but refused the offer of Grace as they had in the
Acts of the Apostles which was given to them and they thrust it off
from them. He was going to go back to them if only they'd repent, but
they even rejected that. So we find that division of God's purpose is
temporarily delayed. Only temporarily since God's plans can not be
defeated.
So remember and understand that the church that you have in Matthew 16
has to do with the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven if you look
at Matthew's gospel closely, which is the only gospel that uses that
grammar, has to do with the setting up of the kingdom that is heavenly
in its qualities but its geometry is on the earth. And it is proved
with out any doubt with the so called Lord's prayer. Many brethren are
saying it week after week and they miss the point. thy kingdom come thy
will be done in earth as it is in heaven. That is either going to be
true or it isn't. You choose. But we know it is true don't we. It is
coming at God's direction. There is no other direction. It is coming
through this church of Israel and no other way. That is why still our
Savior has got to take them up. That is why still they have to look
upon Him that they pierced and crucified. And they have got to repent.
They have got to be redeemed actually. Then once they acknowledge Him
as their Savior and their King then they will be a nation born in a
day. And let me remind you what the receiving of them be. Rom 11:15
For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what
[shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead? There now
blindness in part but what will the receiving of them be but life from
the dead. That is what this world is really waiting for. A restored
Israel. So this church that the Savior is going to gather out is a
church that has to do with the earthly kingdom, the kingdom of heaven
to which He gave Peter the Keys.
Some of us know and understand that to the church which is His body the
earthly principal was not Peter, it was the Apostle Paul. And if we are
very diligent and we do as the King James states in Philippians 1:10
that ye may approve things that are excellent which in the margin reads
try the things that differ Or as the 1901 American Standard Version so
that ye may (1) approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be
sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; (1) Or distinguish
the things that differ ) Here is a few other witnesses to show that
this is so .Green's Literal Translation for you to distinguish the
things that differ, that you may be sincere and without blame for the
day of Christ, or Green's Modern King James Version that you may
distinguish between things that differ, that you may be sincere and
without offense until the day of Jesus Christ, or Montgomery New
Testament for testing things that differ, so that you may be pure and
blameless until the day of Christ, The Emphasized Bible by J. B.
Rotherham To the end ye may be putting to the test the things that
differ, in order that ye may be incorrupt and may give no occasion of
stumbling, unto the day of Christ, 1898 Young's Literal Translation for
your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and
offenceless--to a day of Christ, If we do this then we will not confuse
these two things. Well someone might ask, when did it actually start?
When you read the Acts of the Apostles you meet this man who is well
furnished for his ministry by the Holy Spirit. This one whom the keys
of the Kingdom had been given. So it is likely that the purpose started
right there as what the majority call the Pentecostal church.
So lets just look at the Acts of the Apostles in the second chapter and
see what we find. Oh, what does Peter himself say here. It is very
important for your understanding that the church of the Body of Christ
which was taught by Paul the prisoner as the Lord Jesus Christ using
him in the Roman prison, was definitely a secret Hid in God. Every
thing that is connected with Peter's ministry was connected with the
Old Testament. This church that were going to be gathered out at
Pentecost was no mystery company. No secret church at all because Peter
speaking at the direction of the Holy Spirit, says Act 2:16 But this is
that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; How many who reads this ever
bothers to turn back to Joel's prophecy? God just put the keys in your
hands, so go and look. If you want to know and understand what is
happening now you'll have to go and get a understanding of the prophecy
of Joel. You should really do that. So lets just go back and just graze
over it to get at least a little touch of understanding. You can read
chapters 1 and 2 to your self. These are very important chapters. But
before we go on to chapter 3, being the prophecy that is fully joined
with Acts 2:16, lets just look at Joel 2:16. If we opened the
Septuagint, which is the oldest manuscript that is available and is in
the very Greek language the New Testament uses you would find something
very interesting. It doesn't differ from the renderings of your bibles
but only opens up its meaning to you. Joel 2:16 Gather the people,
sanctify the church, call out the elders, gather the children, and
those who suck from the nipple of the breasts; bring forth the
bridegroom out of the bridal chamber, his, and the bride out of the
bridal chamber, hers. Now these first two chapters of Joel are dealing
with warnings from God and His judgments upon this people who had
forsaken Him. Israel's blessings were mainly material blessings, God
said, I won't bless your harvest for you will have all things that will
spoil your harvest. The caterpillar, the locust will ruin the harvest
and will be a sign to you that I am not blessing you. Your out of favor
with me. Then you'll see that the other side comes in too. Judgment if
they forsake the Lord. Restoration and blessing after a time of
judgment. But not in any words do we find Israel cast off forever. That
is a popular sentiment thought by many brethren today. And they teach
that Israel as a nation are done with. But you never find that to be
the case in the Old Testament and you never find that to be true in the
New Testament either if you are truthful. Go ahead, look up everything
that God has spoken about them.
So then continuing on to down the chapter to Joel 2:23 and you will
find a change, instead of Judgment you will find what is given is
restoration and blessings. Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain
moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former
rain, and the latter rain in the first [month]. These are material
blessings that in fact over flow in the very next verse. Joel 2:24 And
the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with
wine and oil. Now notice this, Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the
years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller,
and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye
shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD
your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall
never be ashamed. Restoration is given and judgment for the Nation of
Israel is ended. They are now His people. When they are in judgment He
says, your not my people and I will not be your God. And as you can see
that has all be reversed afterwards. He says, your now my people and I
will be your God. Joel 2:27 And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst
of Israel, and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else: and my
people shall never be ashamed. That makes it very clear that they are
not going to be cast off forever. He says, I am right in the very
middle of you. I am Jehovah your God and you will never be ashamed.
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out
my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions: This being the very words that Peter quotes under the
direction of the Holy Spirit. This is that which is spoken by the
prophet Joel. These twelve had a 40 day bible training with Christ
Jesus Himself. Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
himself. Which gave them a unsealed understanding. And you know the
first thing they asked after all that, Acts 1:6 When they therefore
were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this
time restore again the kingdom to Israel? He said, I will restore it to
you. They never ever questioned Him about not restoring it, but when,
for it never entered their minds that He wouldn't restore the kingdom
to them. But what is shameful is that this thought has entered in to
the minds of some modern brethren today. The kingdom will be restored
to Israel, and there is no denying that. But whether it was going to be
restored at that time or at a later time Christ Jesus just simply
answered, It is not for you t know the times or the seasons, which the
Father hath put in His own power. For if He had done so He would have
brought forth to light Israel's second refusal of this mercy that was
literally brought to them. He knew and understood all things. He knew
the end from the beginning. He knew Israel's would refuse this mercy in
the Acts of the Apostles. They refused Him therefore refusing the
kingdom. But He kept their refusal a secret from them and just said, I
won't tell you the times or the seasons.
Israel's rejection and their restoration are in total harmony with the
Old Testament and its prophecies. If you want even more witnesses go
ahead and read the 15th chapter in the book of the Acts of the
Apostles. It was there at that great called out company, the Church
which was at Jerusalem, that James spoke and talked about Peter's
ministry and the door being opened for the Gentiles. James said all
this is in line with the prophets. This isn't something that was
secret. Oh on the contrary, it was very much revealed before, it wasn't
something new that was heard about. It's all harmonizing with the
prophets and what they have already revealed. So the body of Christ,
with its blessing of Jew and Gentile can not be the same as what was
happening through Peter's ministry where the Gentile was being let in
along with and through Israel.
The Pentecostal church was then joined with miraculous gifts that was
promised by Christ Jesus in Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow
them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall
speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover. Some believers say that these are in
existence today, it might even be agreed that one or two them might
exist today, but are they all in existence today. That is really the
point. They were all in existence in the Acts period. You can read the
12th chapter of 1 Corinthians and Galatians chapter 3:5. Galatians is
such a fundamental epistle which also talks about he that does miracles
among you, which are tongues, interpretation of tongues, raising the
dead, immediate healing, oh but lets be honest these things are not all
every one of them in existence today. Unless someone is going to
pervert events that are going on around us to make these things fit.
But they were in existence with this church that was linked with
Peter's ministry in the Acts of the Apostles. There was a Gentile
portion of this church which were blessed by Paul's earlier ministry
since his ministry was along the length of the New Testament of New
Covenant, which ever way you want to call it. And so he addresses his
epistles of the Acts period to the local churches.
In the Acts of the Apostles you will find the word church connected
with a location and the epistles written during that period. When your
read the first verses of Corinthians your are in fact told that, to the
church at Corinth. Or in Romans it states the churches of Christ salute
you. He was looking at them all as a group in their different
locations. He summed them up as the churches of Christ. Or 1
Thessalonians 2:14 became followers of the churches of God, local
churches. But when you get passed the Acts of the Apostles where Israel
goes off in their darkness and becomes not my people becoming blind
with a hardness of heart, you have no more local churches. Now you have
come to its meaning in its highest discernment in scriptures. The
church which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.
You can't locate that to one location or to any one company. Oh no,
this is a mystical company which is a spiritual company of called out
children of God that the bible knows anything about.
Back to the Pentecostal church and its hope, which has been fully
determined in the epistle to the Romans. In the epistle of Romans Paul
takes them back to Isaiah chapter 11. He said, in Him the Gentiles
should trust and connects it with the root of Jessie. If people weren't
so concerned with blending and making foul all these companies that the
scriptures talk about they would only be happy to go back and notice
these things which would give the key to them. Romans chapter 11 is not
ministering to the secret church which is the fullness of Him that
filleth all in all. It is concerning Millennial conditions. Almost all
students of prophecy would agree that Isaiah chapter 11 concerns the
Millennium. Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and
the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young
lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down
together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking
child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put
his hand on the cockatrice' den. All the blessings and peace will be on
the earth, and that is one thing that needs to be understood. It is
earthly in its geometry for blessings. And the Apostle Paul links that
without pause with the hope of the Church of the Acts or Pentecostal
church. Can you answer that the church which is the body of Christ has
anything to do with the earth? Definitely not, if you have a scriptural
sense of it. It is a heavenly company with a very heavenly hope.
The church of the first born is said about in Hebrews. This is really
in a difference between what was given at Mount Sinai and New Testament
or New Covenant truth. He said, you haven't come to Mount Sinai with
its blackness Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto
the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an
innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of
the firstborn,.. here is another church. The church of the first born.
You know in the Old Testament the idea of the family the first born had
a very special portion of privilege. The church of the first born are
all those who are under a portion of privilege. They are all prize
winners. You have a list of them in Hebrews chapter 11. From Abel down
words. They are all those whom have gone on to perfection as Hebrews
uses its definition as gone on to the goal. Maturity, they all entered
in to the race and busted the tape at the end. They haven't fallen by
the side, they got there. And God has special prizes or rewards for His
children who go on in that way. Not just saved, but who over come. Who
press on in spite of all the difficulties. Oh yes you have to keep
reward in connection of the various calling of the redeemed. The Church
of the first born are all rewarded ones. They are those who have gone
on to the full end. They are likened in the book of the Revelation to a
bride. John saw the Holy City, the Heavenly Jerusalem, prepared as a
bride. Twice it is linked with the Bride of Christ. So the church which
is the Bride is the Church of the first born. Abraham will be there.
Abel will be there. Every overcomer in Hebrews chapter 11 will be
there. Those who will be strangers and pilgrims and give up and go as
the last part of the chapter says, naked and destitute and afflicted
and suffering. In their utter faithfulness they go right on no matter
what it costs. This is a better thing, a better country. This is the
privileged geometry for those who belong to that class. And the
completeness of it will be the overcomers book of the Revelation. The
churches of the book of Revelation, don't forget that the messages are
not addressed to the simply saved people, but every one is addressed to
the over comer. Every one is addressed to those who hold fast and don't
give in. Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which
thou hast, that no man take thy salvation. It doesn't say that, oh no
it says, take thy crown! He has a crown for the faithful. 12 Him that
overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall
go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the
name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down
out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Well there it is, these overcomers will form a completion of the Bride.
And the same geometry, the heavenly city, that Hebrews chapter 12 talks
about that Abel and the rest are connected with. Over comers, a special
privileged company. Its just not an ordinary church but a called out
company espoused to one husband. The Church of the first born. And they
connected to a higher geometry than the earth with the heavenly city.
In Paul's prison ministry when Israel is put on one side then at last
we have the great secret revealed that God never told anybody what He
was going to do. When this nation failed and here is a church with in
the description given by God the Holy Spirit that eclipsing everything.
For not even the bride is called the fullness of Him that fills all in
all. Think of Christ being the fullness of God, for He is that, for in
Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Then think of this
company called the fullness of Christ. They are going to be an
habitation for God. Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Look, not
on the earth, not in the Heavenly city that is one day coming down out
of heaven. But seated where He is seated at the right hand of the
Father. That is a church that we should be concerned about.
You see this word church is not used in one uniform way in the
scriptures and what we got to do is rightly divide. We have to try the
things that differ. We got to keep these companies at the place the
scriptures keep them. It is only common sense. It is only fair handling
of the word of God, that's all.