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SO, IT’S THOSE WHO OBEY YOU WITH A HEART OF FAITH – THEY ARE ISRAEL?

You got it.⁸⁹  That’s my Israel, the only one – always has been.  Of course, my son got it too.  When told that his own mother and brothers were trying to get through the crowd in order to see him, he asked the rhetorical question, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”  Taking full advantage of the teachable window, he supplied the answer as well.  Whoever was hearing from me and obeying my voice from a faithful heart was his real brother or sister or mother.⁹⁰  Many continue to stumble over that bedrock of truth.⁹¹

Paul had no idea that he was contributing to the introductory remarks when he wrote to his various charges about these foundational matters.  Remember, we’re talking covenant here.  That remains foreign to the thinking of a majority of our own troupe.  Discernment is a wonderful thing.  Abraham knows that I haven’t lied to him.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RAPTURE AND THE THOUSAND-YEAR REIGN? 

HOW DO THOSE FIT WITH WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME?

We’ve been talking about prophets, so I’ll answer the thousand-year question first.  Prophets of old had a way with words that is even referred to by some as “the language of the prophets.”  What if I declare that a play will run for two years and then fold, having completed its purpose?  I can see the headline now if a prophet predicted its run.  GREAT NEW PLAY IN TOWN – WILL RUN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. Remarkably, because of his particular lingo, we both have described the same situation.

The so-called “thousand-year reign” began when my son received his anointing for ministry at the Jordan River.  It ended at his appearing at the fall of Jerusalem.  In the language of the prophets “a thousand years” means a completed period of time.  The return in judgment marked a completion of all that he was sent to accomplish for us.  “The age to come” had come.⁹²  Conversely, a literal interpretation of the prophet’s time words spring from the revolving door of endless circular reasoning by those in error when it comes to these matters.⁹³

89 “. . . to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22b).  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17).  “Bondservants, be obedient . . . in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service, but . . . doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5, 6).

90 “Then His mother and brothers came to see Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.  And it was told to Him by some, who said, ‘Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it’” (Luke 8:19-21).

91 “(Either) He (and what He says) will be as a sanctuary (or as) a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense  . . . “ (Isaiah 8:14a).

92 “Then I saw an angel (Christ) coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished (at the end).  But after (at the end of) these things he must be released for a little while (Spring of A.D. 66 to late autumn, A.D. 70*, the “Great Tribulation”). And I saw the thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was comitted to them.  Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.  And they lived and reigned (were reigning) with Christ for a thousand years.  (See Revelation 2:7, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, and 21.)  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This (those I just saw) is the first resurrection.  (Reborn “over-comers” translated at physical

     death into the heavenly realm.)  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign (were reigning) with Him a thousand years.  Now when the thousand years have expired (are at an end), Satan will be released from his prison (for the “Great Tribulation” time period; see above*)” (Revelation 20:1-7).         

93 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from (such) evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).