III. The Church and Biblical Zionism

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Zechariah

Chapter Seven

III. The Church and Biblical Zionism

The understanding of prophecy is often like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  When each connecting piece is put in the right place, we are progressively enabled to see the whole picture. 

In Zechariah 2:11, God says, “And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day {at the beginning of the Kingdom Age and the second coming of Jesus}, and shall be my people.”  God said in Hosea 1:10, “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.”  Galatians 3:6-29 is the definitive text explaining God’s prophetic statement in Hosea 1:10, which we know from Romans 9:26 includes Church Age Gentiles saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

“⁶ Even as {in the same way} Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. ⁷ Know ye therefore that they which are of faith {trust in Christ and are “born again”}, the same are the children of Abraham. ⁸ And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify {save} the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham {Gen. 12:3}, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. ⁹ So then they which be of faith {“born again” believers from all nations} are blessed with faithful Abraham. ¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law {The Mosaic Covenant was a suzerain-vassal agreement, meaning it was a bilateral and conditional covenant between God and Israel and, therefore, was a covenant of “works,” unlike the Abrahamic Covenant, which was an unconditional covenant promised “by grace” and received “through faith.”} are under the curse {of the Mosaic Covenant, the ‘curse’ meaning the opposite of God’s conditional blessing; this is not referring to the curse of Hell.}: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them {the Mosaic Covenant was a “blessing and a curse” covenant; Deut. 11:26-32 compared with Deut. 29:1 through 30:20}. ¹¹ But that no man is justified {saved} by {keeping} the law in the sight of God, it is evident {keeping the conditions of the Mosaic Covenant could not save anyone; this Covenant was not about salvation even though Apostate Israel had made it to be}: for, The just shall live by faith. ¹² And the law {the Mosaic Covenant} is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. ¹³ Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: ¹⁴ That the {unconditional} blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit {being “born again” or regenerated} through faith. ¹⁵ Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ {the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant were actually made to Christ and all those expressing faith in the Promised One; i.e., Christ}” (Galatians 3:6-16).

The Judaizers were Jews who had professed Christ to be their Messiah and Saviour but were corrupting local churches by corrupting what was required to be saved.  They believed that faith in Christ was necessary, but also believed it was necessary to keep the moral commandments, observe the Holy Days of the Law, continue under the Levitical priesthood and the sacrifices of the Mosaic covenant, and to be circumcised.  All these things are summed up by the Apostle Paul with the words “works of the Law.” 

In Galatians 2:16, Paul emphatically states, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith {‘finished’ vicarious work of redemption} of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith {‘finished’ vicarious work of redemption} of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”  The “works of the law” were sanctificational in their scope.  They were never intended to be salvational.  The “works of the law” were intended for people already “born again” by having entered the Abrahamic Covenant offered “by grace” and received “through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“¹⁷ And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law {Mosaic Covenant}, which was four hundred and thirty years after {the Abrahamic Covenant}, cannot disannul {the Abrahamic Covenant}, that it should make the promise of {the Abrahamic Covenant} none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law {Mosaic Covenant}, it is no more of promise {the Abrahamic Covenant}: but God gave it to Abraham by promise {the Abrahamic Covenant}. ¹⁹ Wherefore then serveth the law {Mosaic Covenant}? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed {Messiah} should come to whom the promise {the Abrahamic Covenant} was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise {the Abrahamic Covenant} by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept {preserved} under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster {guardian or child-leader} to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster {guardian or child-leader}. ²⁶ For ye are all {Jew and Gentile believers} the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as have been {Holy Spirit} baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:17-29).

          As said, within the above text of Galatians 3:10, the Mosaic Covenant was a suzerain-vassal agreement, meaning it was a bilateral and conditional covenant between God and the nation of Israel (not individuals). Therefore, the Mosaic Covenant was a covenant of “works,” unlike the Abrahamic Covenant, which was an unconditional covenant given “by grace” and received “through faith.”  The Abrahamic Covenant too was a dualistic covenant with both national and spiritual Israel.  To be part of national Israel, one needed to be born a descendant of Abraham.  To be part of spiritual Israel, one needed to be a “born again” descendant of Christ.  The Abrahamic Covenant was typically made with Abraham, but actually made with Christ (see Galatians 3:19, 26, and 29).

          The Mosaic Covenant was a “blessing and a curse” covenant (see Deuteronomy 11:26-32 compared with Deuteronomy 29:1 through 30:20).  The significance of these facts regarding our understanding of Romans chapter nine is that the clear majority of national Israel had been misled by the priesthood of Israel to believe that the “blessing and a curse” covenant was conditions for individual salvation.  In other words, the clear majority of national Israel had been misled into placing their faith in their keeping the conditions of the Mosaic Covenant to be saved, which to them came to mean being part of the Kingdom on earth promises of God. 

          This was a complete misunderstanding of the “blessing and a curse” of the Mosaic Covenant (Galatians 3:19).  Paul introduced the fact that Gentiles were part of the Abrahamic Covenant as early as Romans 3:19-31 correcting the false doctrine that justification came through the “blessing and a curse” Mosaic Covenant. 

“¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law {Mosaic Covenant} saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. ²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. ²⁹ Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: ³⁰ Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. ³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:19-31).

The idea of the two phrases “by” and “through” in Romans 3:30 are best understood by the fact that by the covenant promise of God to Abraham, Jews were brought into a relationship with God as a nation although they may not have been saved individually (Romans 9:6-7).  Each individual Jew still needed to be saved “by” the door of personal faith in the promised “seed” typified in Isaac; that “seed” was Christ (Galatians 3:16).  On the other hand, the Gentiles stood completely outside of this covenant relationship of God with the nation of Israel.  Therefore, the Gentiles needed to enter a relationship “through” the door of personal faith in Christ.  There really is no significant difference in the meaning of the two phrases.  Everyone, Jew or Gentile, can only be saved “by grace” and “through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). 

“¹² For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord {Jehovah; having rested is the vicarious propitiation of God in the crucifixion of Christ Jesus and he gift of God-kind righteous offered in the indwelling Spirit} shall be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

II. The Church and Biblical Zionism

DR. KETCHUM'S BOOKS LINK HERE

Zechariah

Chapter Seven

II. The Church and Biblical Zionism

The context of God’s mercy in Romans chapter nine is determined by the context of God’s mercy in Hosea 2:23. God’s mercy refers to God’s special grace in extending mercy to national Israel in her restoration at the second coming of Christ.  Therefore, contextually, this special grace is to national Israel according to God’s determinant will.  This special grace does not refer to the salvation of individuals.  The point is that national Israel did not deserve to be restored. 

“⁶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all {spiritual} Israel, which are of {national} Israel: ⁷ Neither, because they are the {physical} seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy {spiritual} seed be called. ⁸ That is, They which are the children of the flesh {physical seed}, these are not the children {spiritual seed} of God: but the children of the promise {faith} are counted for the {spiritual} seed” (Romans 9:6-8).

“¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. ¹⁵ For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ¹⁶ So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. ¹⁷ For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. ¹⁸ Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth” (Romans 9:14-18).

          Therefore, what Paul is telling us in Romans chapter nine is that we have two elect Israel’s.  Election is conditional (CHART) in both two elect groups. 

1. We have elect national Israel with earthly and temporal promises conditioned upon being a physical (genetic) descendant of Abraham.  Only Jews can be part of this elect group.

2. We have spiritual elect Israel with heavenly and eternal promises conditioned upon being “born again” through faith in the Promised Seed (Christ).  “Whosoever {of any individual from any nation or ethnic group} shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

          In Romans 9:25, Paul quotes from Hosea.  “Osee” in our KJV is Hosea.  God told Hosea to take a whore for his wife.  Hosea obeys and marries a whore named “Gomer the daughter of Diblaim” (Hosea 1:3).  God uses Gomer to typify national Israel since most Jews were involved with the licentious, pornographic, sexual cultus of Baalism.  It is clear in the prophecy from Hosea 2:1-23 that God is NOT casting national Israel away.  It is clear from the prophecy from Hosea 2:1-23 that God is withdrawing His blessings from national Israel and that, if national Israel did not repent, God would bring about a diaspora; scattering or dispersal of the Jews into the nations of the world.  Although this diaspora was partially fulfilled in the Assyrian conquests, the complete fulfillment did not happen until 70 A.D. when Rome destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem as was prophesized by Christ (Matthew 24:1-2).  This scattering extended beyond national Israel into the faithful remnant of spiritual Israel and also into the Church (Luke 1:5-55, Acts 8:1-4; 11:19, James 1:1 and I Peter 1:1).  This is the contextual substance of Hosea 2:1-23.

“¹ Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah. ² Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; ³ Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst. ⁴ And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms. ⁵ For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. ⁶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. ⁷ And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. ⁸ For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. ⁹ Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness. ¹⁰ And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand. ¹¹ I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. ¹² And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. ¹³ And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. ¹⁴ {beginning during the Tribulation, God will begin to draw Jews to Him with special and miraculous means} Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. ¹⁵ And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁶ And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. ¹⁷ For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. ¹⁸ And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. ¹⁹ And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. ²⁰ I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. ²¹ And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; ²² And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. ²³ 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” (Hosea 2:1-23).

          All that God said He would do in Hosea 2:9-13 has already been fulfilled.  Because Israel credited the Baals (“Baalim”) with their material blessings, God was going to “take away” or take back what He had given them (vs. 9).  God would do this at the very time when Israel expected their harvests to come in.  Although there was a partial fulfillment of this at the time of Hosea as God caused the crops to fail and brought the Assyrians upon them, ultimately and chronologically, this prophecy was fulfilled at the first advent of Messiah.  Israel was expecting deliverance into the Kingdom.  Instead, they were dispersed into the nations of the world.  Therefore, this refers to “the times of the Gentiles.”

      

There are two main New Testament texts connecting the Church Age with “the times of the Gentiles” that are prophesied in Hosea 2:11-13.  These two texts are Luke 21:20-24 and Romans chapter eleven.  We will not take the time to deal extensively with these two texts here because we will deal with them when we look at Romans chapter eleven. 

However, there are certain truths from Hosea 2:11-13 that show us when this prophecy was fulfilled.  “¹¹ I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. ¹² And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. ¹³ And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.” 

Four judgments are described as part of the times of the Gentiles and the Church Age. 

1. “Mirth to cease;” through the institution of the New Covenant, God caused National Israel to be dispersed in all the nations of the world, where since the beginning of the Church Age they have been under the chastisement of God. 

2. “Her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts” would cease;” none of these aspects of the Mosaic Covenant are carried into the New Covenant (Gal. 4:10, Col. 2:16-17).  These days have ceased.  The word “cease” in Hosea 2:11 is actually the Hebrew word shabath (shaw-bath'), the same word translated Sabbath in the Old Testament books.  In other words, these Mosaic times, seasons, and Sabbath days would be put on hold or to rest throughout the Church Age until the beginning of the Kingdom Age.  This is a critical truth for the various types of Sabbatarians of modern day Christianity (Seventh Day Adventists, Seventh Day Baptist, and Covenant Theologians with their Sunday Sabbath replacement). 

3. “And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees;” God would make Israel a wasteland (Jer. 2:15; 4:17; Ezek. 12:20) as opposed to it having been “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8 & 17).

4. “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim;” this refers to the paganism of the Gentiles in “the times of the Gentiles.”  The “times of the Gentiles began with the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 606 B.C.  Jehoiakim reigned in Jerusalem as a puppet of Nebuchadnezzar until 598 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar marched an army to Jerusalem and Jehoiakim immediately surrendered.  The “times of the Gentiles” will continue until the second coming of Messiah (Rev. 19:11-21).

          This leads us to the next text in Hosea 1:9-10 that Paul references in Romans 9:26.  “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.”

“⁹ Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. ¹⁰ 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” (Hosea 1:9-10).

          This next point is critical - Israel would be set aside (not cast away) for the duration of the Church Age.  The fact that this setting aside of Israel would take place over three generations is manifested by the three successive children of “Gomer the daughter of Diblaim” (Hosea 1:3; because Diblaim was a whore, we cannot assume these children were the children of Hosea).  As the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says, the names of each of these children show the progression of God’s chastisement on national Israel. 

“Lo-Ammi--once ‘My people,’ but henceforth not so (Eze 16:8).  The intervals between the marriage and the successive births of the three children, imply that three successive generations are intended.  Jezreel, the first child, represents the dynasty of Jeroboam I and his successors, ending with Jehu’s shedding the blood of Jeroboam’s line in Jezreel; it was there that Jezebel was slain, in vengeance for Naboth’s blood shed in the same Jezreel (1Ki 16:1; 2Ki 9:21,30).  The scenes of Jezreel were to be enacted over again on Jehu’s degenerate race.  At Jezreel Assyria routed Israel [JEROME].  The child’s name associates past sins, intermediate punishments, and final overthrow.  Lo-ruhamah (‘not pitied’), the second child, is a daughter, representing the effeminate period which followed the overthrow of the first dynasty, when Israel was at once abject and impious.  Lo-Ammi (‘not my people’), the third child, a son, represents the vigorous dynasty (2Ki 14:25) of Jeroboam II; but, as prosperity did not bring with it revived piety, they were still not God’s people.”[1]

          God’s chastisement of Israel would come in three stages or phases revealed by the names of the three children of Gomer.

1. Jezreel (yiz-reh-ale'); meaning God will sow.  “In that day” (Hosea 1:5) refers to the God’s breaking up the house of Israel (the ten Northern tribes), which followed shortly after the “overthrow of the house of Jehu[2].”

2. Lo-ruhamah (lo roo-khaw-maw'); meaning not pitied.  The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary translates this name, “not an object of mercy or gracious favor.”  “MAURER translates according to the primary meaning, ‘No more will I have mercy on the house of Israel, so as to pardon them’[3].”  Once the Assyrians took the Northern Kingdom (the ten northern tribes), Israel was never again restored.  Judah (and Jerusalem) was captured by Babylon and restored after seventy years of captivity[4].

3. Lo-Ammi (lo am-mee'); meaning not my people.  Because God’s chastisement did not bring the repentance and the revival as intended, God would set aside Israel until a future day of restoration (see Hosea 2:10-11 below). 

“¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel” (Hosea 1:10-11).

          Clearly the text of Hosea 1:10-11 is referring to the nation of Israel (the ten Northern tribes).  However, in Romans 9:26, Paul by the inspiration of the Spirit of God is including Gentiles saved during the Church Age in with restored national Israel (Romans 9:30; this is what is commonly referred to as a Complimentary Hermeneutic; in other words, new and added revelation by the inspiration of the New Covenant Scriptures completes or clarifies what has been said previously in the Old Testament Scriptures).  Of course, these saved Gentiles will be grafted into the new nation of Israel (primarily the 144,000 sealed Jews from Revelation 7:4-9 along with all other Jews entering the Kingdom Age who will also become saved Jews during the seven-year Tribulation; Romans 11:26-32) as they become part of spiritual Israel, which is the Faith Seed of Abraham.  Church Age believers, including saved Gentiles and saved Jews from the Church Age, will become the new Melchisedecan priesthood (“sons of Zadok,” Ezekiel 40:46, 44:15, 48:11 – to be dealt with extensively later) of Israel during the Kingdom Age.  This fact is primary in the purpose of Romans chapters nine, ten, and eleven. 

[1] Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Sword Searcher Software, 4.8

[2] Keil and Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary, SwordSearcher Software, 4.8

[3] Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, SwordSearcher Software, 4.8

[4] Ibid

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

I. The Church and Biblical Zionism

DR. KETCHUM'S BOOKS LINK HERE

Zechariah

Chapter Seven

I. The Church and Biblical Zionism

What is God’s purpose in giving us prophetic utterances about the future?  God’s purpose in giving prophetic utterances about the future is to inform faithful believers and encourage them by reminding them He is going to do what He says He will do.  Secondly, God’s purpose in giving prophetic utterances about the future is to warn the unfaithful believers and call them to repentance.  If knowing prophetic truth does not get you serious about what is coming, and if it does not change the way you live because of that knowledge, you are merely seeing prophecy as fiction or fantasy.  The Bible word for living unchanged in the light of God’s revealed knowledge about the future is simply – UNBELIEF!

Zechariah 2:8 says, “for he that toucheth you {the nation of Israel} toucheth the apple of his {God’s} eye.”  The intent here seems to mean that any person that sets out to injure or harm the nation of Israel must see himself as trying to harm God Himself.  A person succeeding in touching Israel to harm her will ultimate be held accountable by God Himself in that such ill determinations are viewed by God as attempting to thwart God’s plans for Israel. 

Some commentaries say that the pronoun “his” in the phrase “toucheth the apple of his eye” is referring to someone that touches Israel to harm her is actually harming himself.  However, the phrase must be understood from the context of a previous statement from Deuteronomy 32:9-10 where the pronoun is clearly God.  Scripture interprets Scripture!

“⁹ For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. ¹⁰ He {God} found him {Jacob or Israel} in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he {God} led him {Jacob or Israel} about, he {God} instructed him {Jacob or Israel}, he {God} kept him {Jacob or Israel} as the apple of his {God’s} eye” (Deuteronomy 32:9-10).

Zechariah chapter two is encouraging words to a disparaged and captive people.  The last four verses of Zechariah chapter two confirm that encouragement of the faithful is God’s intent.  In the last four verses of Zechariah chapter two, we see the promise of people of “many nations” “joined to the LORD” in the Kingdom Age.  These are saved Gentiles from many ethnicities and nations of the world.

The “times of the Gentiles began in B.C. 606 with Nebuchadnezzar’s capture of the city of Jerusalem.  Throughout the “times of the Gentiles,” Jerusalem “shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).  The words “trodden down” literally means under foot.  The intent is that they will not regain their sovereignty as a nation completely independent of Gentile authority/occupation until the second coming of Jesus.  Thousands of years have passed since the beginning of the “times of the Gentiles,” but God tells the faithful, believing remnant of Jews that He “will dwell in the midst of thee” (Zechariah 2:10). 

Biblical Zionism in modern theological terminology is most often just known as Millennialism.  Although Biblical Zionism is predominantly Jewish in nature, it does involve the Church at the second coming of the Lord Jesus.  Although the Church is never national Israel, the Church will be grafted into national Israel as a new Melchisedecan Priesthood and the “bride of Christ” under her High Priest Christ Jesus at the beginning of the Kingdom Age. 

The Church Age accounts for most of the time of the gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks of Daniel 9:24. These “seventy weeks” are the “times of the Gentiles” and God’s judgment on the nation of Israel for their breach of their promise to keep the Mosaic Covenant. 

Zechariah 2:10-13 is the consummate statement regarding the one-thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ and Biblical Zionism.  Zechariah 2:10-13 also confirms God’s promise to Abraham; “¹⁷ And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; ¹⁸ Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation {Israel}, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him (because through Abraham’s  generations, ‘thy Seed, which is Christ’ will come; Gal. 3:16}” (Genesis 18:17-18)?  It is through faith in the promised Seed that “all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.”  Zechariah 2:10-13 also confirms a literal Hermeneutic as the only acceptable interpretation, thereby excluding all other theories regarding the Millennial Kingdom on Earth. 

“¹⁰ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. ¹¹ And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. ¹² And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. ¹³ Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation” (Zechariah 2:10-13).

          Since God has said this same thing in so many other portions of Scripture, why does He feel the need to say it again to the faithful remnant of Israel?  God repeats these promises to reaffirm them and reassure the faithful.  These things can be said a thousand times to the unbelieving and they will mean nothing.  However, the believers are encouraged to continue in their faithfulness.  Through the repetition of God’s promises, believers are confirmed in their resolve to persevere to the end.  The “lo, I come” statement of the preincarnate LORD in Zechariah 2:10 is the same confirmation given by Peter to Church Age believers in II Peter 3:10.  It is also clear from II Peter 3:9 that Christ’s delay in His second coming is due to His passion for lost souls to come to repentance and faith. 

“⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ¹¹ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹² Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (II Peter 3:9-14).

          In 2016, Israel and the United States accounted for 83% of the Jewish population of the world.  The total number of Jews in the world in 2016 was 14.4 million.  About 1.5 million of those Jews profess to be Christians of some sort or another.  Only a small percentage of the Jews professing Christianity would be truly “born again” Christians.  Yet, by the end of the Tribulation, God will have a nation of saved Jews that will trust in Jesus and confess Him as LORD.  Only saved Jews and saved people from Gentile nations, surviving the Tribulation judgments and the persecutions of Antichristism, will enter the Kingdom Age in physical bodies.  All other occupants of the Kingdom Age at its beginning will be in glorified bodies.  These glorified believers will return to Earth with Jesus at the battle of Armageddon. 

“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 {Isaiah 10:22}, Though the number of the children of Israel {all Jews from all times} be as the sand of the sea, a remnant {very few; faithful believers} 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 {the seven-year Tribulation}. ²⁹ And as Esaias said before {Isaiah 1:9}, Except the Lord of Sabaoth {a Hebrew military term for the hosts of war; armies; Zechariah 2:8} had left us a seed {believing remnant}, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. ³⁰ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. ³¹ But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. ³² Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; ³³ As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 9:25-33).

Romans chapters nine, ten, and eleven critically explain what Zechariah chapter two means regarding Zionism.  When it comes to understanding the future of Israel and the role that the Church will have in Zionism, our understanding would be greatly hindered without the explanations of these three chapters of Scripture.  It would be irresponsible to look at the future of Israel without carefully evaluating what God says to Christian Jews and all Gentile believers in these three chapters of Scripture.  Romans chapter nine explains God’s election/choosing of the nation of Israel through which Messiah would be born.  Chapter nine also explains which Jews part of true Israel are.  Chapter ten explains to Jews how to become part of true Israel. 

“⁶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: ⁷ Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. ⁸ That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise {faith in the Promised Propitiator of the Abrahamic Covenant} are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:6-8).

Five categories of people that will inhabit the earth during the Millennial Kingdom

1. The Bride of Christ, His Church, who will return with Jesus in their glorified state at His second advent to rule with Him on the earth for one thousand years.  These people will occupy the Kingdom in glorified bodies and rule with Christ.  

2. All the saved of all Ages resurrected from the dead and given glorified bodies (most likely resurrected at the time of the Church Age saints). 

3. All those who were martyred for Christ during the Tribulation time (Revelation 2:26-27 and 20:4-6). These people will occupy the Kingdom in glorified bodies.  

4. All those who have put their faith in Christ for salvation from all the nations of the world during the Tribulation and who have not been killed by Antichrist, or who have not died during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-17).  These people will occupy the Kingdom in physical bodies.

5. The 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe, sealed in heaven in their foreheads with the Name of God, will constitute the protected remnant of Israel; and all the people who will be won to Christ by the two witnesses and this remnant (Revelation 7:2-8, compare Revelation 9:4).  The first group of 144,000 sealed Jews will occupy the Kingdom in glorified bodies, while those Jews won to faith in Christ by them and survive the Tribulation will enter the Kingdom in physical bodies. 

          Romans chapter eleven tells us God will graft a wild branch (Gentile believers of the Church Age) into the Root of the Olive Tree Israel.  The Root of course is Jesus Christ, the Rod out of the stem of Jesse.  This is the Abrahamic Covenant.  Most professing Christians do not possess even the most basic understanding of the connection between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant. 

The Abrahamic Covenant is PRIMARY.  The Mosaic Covenant is secondary.  The Abrahamic Covenant defines salvation by grace through faith.  The Mosaic Covenant defines sanctification for a redeemed nation by God’s enabling grace through works. 

Romans 9:25-33 must be the most ignored verses of Scripture in the Word of God.  Why do I say that?  I say that because these verses seem to be ignored by Covenant Theologians, Reformed Theologians, and even some Dispensational Theologians.  These verses correct the false notions of a Universal Church Theonomically replacing the nation of Israel.  These verses correct the false notion that all national Israel is lost and cast away to reprobation by God.  These verses correct the false notion that Church Age believers are not a partial fulfillment of the New Covenant within the Abrahamic Covenant.  Paul quotes from seven Old Testament texts to show that Church Age saints, made up of “born again” Jews and Gentiles, partially fulfill the prophecy of seven texts and that this new elect group (chronologically) joins with the Faith Seed of Abraham (“born again” believers within national Israel; i.e., the genetic Seed of Abraham) promised within the Abrahamic Covenant.  These seven texts are:

1. Hosea 2:1-23 (Romans 9:25)

2. Hosea 1:9-10 (Romans 9:26)

3. Isaiah 10:20-23 (Romans 9:27-28)

4. Isaiah 1:2-9 (Romans 9:29)

5. Psalm 118:19-29 (Romans 9:33)

6. Isaiah 8:9-15 (Romans 9:33)

7. Isaiah 28:14-22 (Romans 9:33)

Hosea 2:1-23 gives us an expanded context of Paul’s previous statement in Romans 9:14-15 regarding what God said to Moses at Mt. Sinai; “¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. ¹⁵ For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  We must bring the context of the prophecy of Hosea chapter two, from which Paul quotes, into the context of what Paul is saying in Romans chapter nine regarding national Israel (the natural or genetic seed of Abraham) and spiritual Israel (the Faith Seed of Abraham, which is the remnant Seed of Israel). 

(Continued next Week)

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

Biblical Zionism Counterfeited

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Zechariah

Chapter Six

Biblical Zionism Counterfeited

          Zechariah 2:6-9 begins with the “alas, alas, come forth” call of the Messiah to the Jews to regather themselves in Israel.  This call happens at the beginning of the Kingdom Age.  It is important to understand that this is a Kingdom Age call because the Antichrist will counterfeit this at the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation.  The theological position known as Amillennialism pre-programs professing (but still lost) Christianity for the coming of the great Deceiver.  Whatever God plans, Satan counterfeits. 

“⁶ Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. ⁷ Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. ⁸ For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. ⁹ For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me” (Zechariah 2:6-9).

          The Antichrist will rise to power at the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation.  The Antichrist will present himself as the Messiah of Israel through a false peace pact with Israel.  He will impersonate the true Messiah by regathering the Jews to the land of Israel near the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation.  We must remember that the Antichrist is Satan’s counterfeit Messiah presented to the Jews as their theology falsely views Him and why they rejected Jesus at the first advent.  The corrupted Jewish priesthood, and most of the Jews that the priesthood had corrupted, wanted only a conquering King, not a suffering Saviour.  The corrupted, apostate Church wants only the suffering Saviour and does not want the conquering King.  The Jesus of Zechariah is not the Jesus of apostate Christianity and Replacement Theology.  We see this counterfeit Messiah in Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 6:1-2.  All the prophetic books are Messianic in scope.  However, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelations are primarily Messianic. 

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week and in the midst of the week {three and a half years} he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).

“¹ And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. ² And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:1-2).

          Many people will be confused and deceived because of the false end-time view known as Amillennialism.  Amillennialists believe that there will be no literal reign of Christ on Earth.  They believe the Church will usher in a utopian kingdom on earth through what is known as Kingdom Constructionism.  In other words, Ecumenical Christianity will be so effective in its dialogue that peace on earth will be accomplished and poverty will end through the redistribution of wealth. 

Three Theological Positions on the Millennium

          The word Millennium means a thousand-year period.  Another word for it is Chiliasm coming from the Greek word CHILIAS meaning one-thousand.  Chiliasm refers specifically to the teaching that Jesus Christ will reign on earth for one thousand years after His second coming.  This is essentially the meaning of the first theological position on the Millennium called Premillennialism.  This is Biblical Millennialism.

 

          Premillennialism is the outcome of literal interpretation of prophecy resulting in what is known as Dispensationalism.  Dispensationalism sees the Church Age (the sixth Dispensation) coming to a catastrophic end due to the judgment of God upon the earth.  Premillennialists see the redeemed (the saved of the Church Age) removed (raptured) from the earth prior to the judgments (tribulation) beginning.  Almost all historians of early church history agree that Premillennialism was the view held by those of the Apostolic Age.

          Premillennialism also distinguishes between God’s dealings with the Church and Israel in end time prophecies.  It holds to the regathering and restoration of the literal nation of Israel at the beginning of the theocratic Millennial Kingdom under Jesus Christ.

          A second theological position is known as Amillennialism. Central to this position is the denial of the literal reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth. There are two central divisions in this position.  There are those who believe the prophecies relating to the millennium are being fulfilled presently on earth as Christianity subdues the world and ushers in a utopian society (this is the Augustinian position of Amillennialism).

          Then, there are those who believe the saints in heaven are fulfilling the prophecies about the millennium during this period (proposal by Kliefoth).  This requires the spiritualization (allegory) of these prophecies in that they cannot apply to people living on earth.  These two Amillennial positions require an allegorical interpretation of Scripture.  In both cases, they believe the eternal state will happen immediately after the second coming of Christ.  Many do not believe in a literal second coming or an eternal state.  Theological liberals commonly hold this position.

          The third major theological position is known as Postmillennialism.  This position was first proposed by the English Unitarian, Daniel Whitby (1638-1726).  Much of this position is the direct result of the interpretation of the purpose and work of Christ from the Unitarian perspective of salvation and the Church.

          Postmillennialists believe the Church Age will end with the whole earth turning to Christianity (at least their concept of Christianity).  They believe that once this is accomplished, then Christ will return.  Post means after, therefore Postmillennialism means Christ will return after the Millennium, not before it.  This not only requires the allegorical interpretation of prophecy, it requires the rejection of many portions of Scripture regarding the Millennial Kingdom (such as Revelation 20:1-7).

In the middle of all this theological deception and confusion we find the Deceiver lying in wait to deceive.  Fitting right in with Amillennial views, it seems apparent that the Antichrist will make a “covenant” of peace “with many” nations at the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation.  If we understand the “bow” of Revelation 6:2 to represent the power to project missiles over a long distance, we can understand what he may use to procure this peace treaty (“covenant”).  It is also apparent from Matthew 24:5 that he will not come in his own name but pretending to possess power and authority from God.  He will come disguised as God’s Christ and offering a pseudo-peace.  This fact is primary to revealing the Antichrist.

“¹ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ³ For when they {according to Daniel 9:24, this is particularly the Jews, although it includes all unbelievers of the prophetic Word of God} shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. ⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief {the Church is excluded from the Tribulation}” (I Thessalonians 5:1-4).

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5).

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43).

          The opposite is the false peace offered by the rider on the white horse.  Matthew 24:6-7 is speaking about the seventieth week of Daniel just prior to the coming of Messiah to establish the Kingdom Age. 

“⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:5-6).

          As soon as the Antichrist has deceived the world into thinking he is the great peacemaker that the Amillennialists are looking for, he will turn to his real agenda; DESTRUCTION (compare I Thessalonians 5:1-4).  Just as soon as the utopian liberals begin to believe that Ecumenicism will usher in the utopian kingdom of socialism and world peace, “the sudden destruction cometh on them . . . and they shall not escape.”

          Each of these four horsemen of Revelation 6:1-8 offers an illusion of Christ.  They will offer one thing but give another.  Part of the effectiveness of the delusions is that the “delusion” of these four horsemen is probably the fulfillment of II Thessalonians 2:1-12.

“¹ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, ² That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. ³ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴ Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. ⁵ Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶ And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: ¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:1-12).

          The “lie” is that this Antichrist is Christ.  Daniel 11:21-23 adds more to this whole pattern:

“²¹ And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. ²² And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. ²³ And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people” (Daniel 11:21-23).

          The above verses certainly describe the actions of present day world politics, “vile” people, given “honour” or leadership by the populace, by using “flatteries” and “deceitfulness.”  Modern politics is built upon this foundation of deceit.  They use polls to find out what the majority wants and then tell them what they want to hear just to get their following (at least until they are elected).  It is little wonder that the Antichrist will be able to step into that system and be accepted with open arms.  Currently, the best politician is always the best deceiver.  He will come proposing to establish the Kingdom of God on earth knowing full well it is really the Tribulation time. The “rider on the white horse” represents this aspect of the character of the Antichrist.

          Under the counterfeit promise of peace, the Antichrist will bring war (“white horse”).  Under a flag of truce, the Antichrist will conquer the trusting and unsuspecting (“red horse”).  Under the promise of prosperity and re-distribution of wealth, the Antichrist will bring famine (“black horse”).  And under the promise of the great life under the Great Society, will instead come the final awakening to his reality, DEATH (eternal death).

          Daniel 9:24 gives us six reasons for the “times of the Gentiles” and the “seventy-weeks” of years that define the literal chastisement of God on a literal nation of Israel.  

“²⁴ Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people {the Jews, not the Church} and upon thy holy city {Jerusalem, not the Church}”

(1) “to finish {restrict or restrain} the transgression” {Israel’s spiritual revolt against God, the goal of this 70 years of chastisement is to bring the nation of Israel to repentance and acceptance of the Messiah and His finished work of redemption}

(2) “to make an end of sins” {to seal up the sins of Israel like a criminal in a prison cell.  This keeps God’s Name from being blasphemed in that without the chastisement God would be viewed as being acceptable with Israel’s great compromises}

(3) “to make reconciliation for iniquity;” - “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” Isaiah 53:6).  Although Jesus has propitiated the wrath of God for the sins of the whole world (I John 2:2), this statement is specific to the national sins of the nation of Israel in her failure to keep (righteously enforce) the statutes and judgments of the Mosaic Covenant. 

(4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness;” this is the Kingdom Age rule of the “rod of iron” of Jesus and His new priesthood of all faithful Church Age believers.  The first generation of the Kingdom Age will begin with only “born again” people.  The restored nation of Israel will be comprised of only saved Jews regathered to the Promised Land.  Righteousness and justice will be enforced like an unbending “rod of iron.” 

“³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel {Kingdom Age}; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law {Mosaic Covenant} in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

(5) “to seal up the vision and prophecy;” to make an end to the prophecy of the “times of the Gentiles” in the chastisement of the nation of Israel due to her refusal to hear the prophets of God and repent and keep the Mosaic Covenant. 

“²⁵ 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 {this was due the hardness of their own unrepentant hearts, some Jews got saved and accepted Jesus as LORD and Saviour} is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶ And so all Israel shall be saved {the nation of saved Jews that begins the Kingdom Age}: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer {the physical presence of King Jesus in sovereign power}, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins {nation sins}” (Romans 11:25-27)

(6) “to anoint the most Holy;” Jesus anoints of the “most Holy Place” by His presence there.  Jesus’s presence will “anoint” “the most Holy” as the Shekinah of God in the Temple of the Millennial Kingdom.  The “most Holy” place is the “most Holy” because of the abiding presence of Jesus.  God gives two prophetic chapters of Scripture in Ezekiel chapter forty-one and forty-two to tells us that the Kingdom Age Temple will be a literal Temple constructed with exacting detail and specific measurements.  These exacting details and specific measurements are intended to eliminate any possibility for someone to allegorize the text into something mystical. 

         

“²⁵ Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and {plus}threescore and two weeks {7 + 62 = 69 or 483 years}: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times {Jacob’s troubles or the seventieth week of years = the Tribulation}. ²⁶ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off {the first advent and the crucifixion}, but not for himself {vicarious sacrifice}: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷ And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:25-27).

1. The prophecy has to do with Daniel’s people - Israel and the city of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24).  The true Church is not included because she is already in Heaven. 

2. The time specified in the prophecy is seventy weeks (of years) as specified in verse twenty-four.  This period is then divided into three lesser periods:

A. A period of seven (7) weeks (of years) or 49 years (vs. 25)

B. A period of sixty-two (62) weeks (of years) or 434 years (vs. 25)

C. A period of one (1) week (of years) or 7 years (vs. 27)

3. The beginning of this time-period of seventy weeks of years is fixed at “the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” (verse 25).

4. The end of the seven weeks of years and the sixty-two weeks of years - 49 plus 434 years (483 years) will be some event in the life of Messiah, the Prince of Israel (verse 25).  This is what we know as Palm Sunday.

5. After sixty-nine weeks of years (483 years) Messiah will be cut off and Jerusalem will be destroyed by the people of another prince who is yet to come (verse 26).  This is the crucifixion and the Roman destruction of the Temple in the Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

6. After these important events, we come to the last or seventieth week of (7) years, the beginning of which will be marked by the covenant or treaty, which the coming prince (Antichrist) will make with national Israel, the promised duration of this treaty is originally for seven years (see verse 27).

7. In the midst of the seven years (the Tribulation) the treaty will be broken, and the coming prince will cause the Jewish sacrifices to cease and his wrath to fall on national Israel.  This condition will prevail for the remainder of the week, or the last 3^1/2 years of the Tribulation - see verse 27.

8. With the completion of the seventy weeks of years (490 years) a time of great blessing will be ushered in for Israel (verse 24 – the Kingdom Age).

Zechariah 2:8 says, “for he that toucheth you {the nation of Israel} toucheth the apple of his {God’s} eye.”  The intent here seems to mean that any person that sets out to injure or harm the nation of Israel must see himself as trying to harm God Himself.  Such as person that succeeds in touching Israel to harm her will ultimate be held accountable by God Himself in that such ill determinations are viewed by God as attempting to thwart God’s plans for Israel. 

Some commentaries say that the pronoun “his” in the phrase “toucheth the apple of his eye” is referring to someone that touches Israel to harm her is actually harming himself.  However, the phrase must be understood from the context of a previous statement from Deuteronomy 32:9-10 where the pronoun is clearly God.

“⁹ For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. ¹⁰ He {God} found him {Jacob or Israel} in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he {God} led him {Jacob or Israel} about, he {God} instructed him {Jacob or Israel}, he {God} kept him {Jacob or Israel} as the apple of his {God’s} eye” (Deuteronomy 32:9-10).

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.