The great themes of the Scriptures start in Genesis and end in Revelation; where we get in trouble, as a Church, is to start imposing separations and systems that just aren't there. One way that we do this is by placing a great divide between the Old and New Testaments. To not see great continuity between the Testaments one has to contort the scriptures to absurdity - thankfully most in Christendom aren't consistent enough to accomplish that, even though their stated positions do. One such contortion is to read The Great Commission and Evangelism as a completely NEW, and thus unique, call to the Church. However, Evangelism is not new, it has been a part of the plan since the beginning. Here are some examples:
Israel being called to faith and repentance: Deut. 30:8; Josh. 24:15; Lev. 5:5; 16:29-31; Deut 10:16; Ezek. 18:30-31;
Israel being called witness to their children: Deut. 6:7, 20-25;
Israel being called to witness to their neighbors: Jer. 31:34;
David's call to witness to the nations: Ps. 18:49;
David's prayer that salvation would be known among all the nations: Ps. 67;
David's confidence that all nations would be converted: Ps. 22:27;
The missionary work of the prophets: Isa. 2:2-4; 19:25; 40:5, 9; 42:6; 45:22; 49:6; 56:7; 66:19; Zech. 8:23; cf. Ps. 68:31; 85:92;
So, clearly, it is established that Evangelism was prescribed and practiced in the Old Testament; but what does that buy us? It gets us several things:
The consistent Character of God. Same God, same work, same destiny. This means, then that there has always been one plan of redemption, no changes, and no accidents.
More proof that God's Word (and Law) applies to all people, in every time, everywhere. There is a modern error afoot that teaches that all has been abrogated until reinstated in the New Testament. This is a more "palatable" form of Dispensationalism and one that is counter-Scriptural.
It further lends proof to the idea that the New Testament is NOT a starting point, at least not in the same way it is held in the modern church. Now, granted most people would never admit this but practically speaking, especially when they ask the question "where do you see that in the New Testament", they are implicitly relying on this fallacy.
Understanding the above would also lend one to the understanding that God is at work and His work is large and grand - what He started in Israel is now EXPANDING to all the nations, and that's exciting.
In tends to inoculate us against the error that makes "saving lost souls" the primary concern and over-individualizing all things Evangelical.
Personally, I find it incredibility reassuring that Kingdom growth has always been a part of the plan Israel the Church, and that I get to live in the "last days" on the other side of the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 to witness His Kingdom expansion. What a great time to be alive!!
WILL ALL ISRAEL BE SAVED BY THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION??
Luke 21:24: Jesus says, �Jerusalem shall be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are complete.� The Times of the Gentiles was from AD 70 to June 7th, 1967 when the Jews again gained complete control of Jerusalem after 1897 years. In 1948 the Jordanian Gentiles destroyed 34 of the 35 Jewish Synagogues in Jerusalem and kicked out almost all the Jews. Obama would like Israel to return to its 1948 borders.
During the Great Tribulation Moses and Elijah will most likely witness miraculously to people in the uttermost parts of the earth in all 6,000 languages. Presently the Bible has been translated into about 2,000 languages from the inspired Greek and Hebrew manuscripts and faith comes from hearing or reading the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. The Bible still has not been translated into about 4,000 languages and Rev 5:9b and Rev 7:9,13,14 must be completely fulfilled. Surely the courageous tribulation saints will help Moses and Elijah spread God's Word. They will do a fantastic job since according to Rev 7:9,14 there will be a great multitude from EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE who will be �washed in the Blood of the Lamb� during the Great Tribulation.
Rev 6:9-11: When He {Jesus} opened the 5th seal, I saw the souls of those who had been slain {Just like Jesus} because of the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, �How long until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?� The each of them was given a *WHITE ROBE*, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. Rev 7:9,13,14,15a,17a: �After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from *EVERY* NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb {Jesus}. They were wearing *WHITE ROBES*
�Then one of the {24} elders {Rev 4:4} asked me, �These in *WHITE ROBES*�who are they and where did they come from?�� And he said, �These are they who have come out of the Great Tribulation; {Martyrs just like Jesus} they have washed their robes and made them WHITE in the *BLOOD OF THE LAMB* {Jesus}. They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night... The Lamb {Jesus} at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd.� {See Rev 12:11 & Rev 13:8-10}
This passage in Rev 7:9 above shows that the Great Tribulation will be mainly for Christians in *EVERY Gentile nation and not just Jacob�s Jewish trouble which absolutely contradicts the main thesis of the pre-trib fairy tale. Revelation 14:13: Then I heard a voice from heaven say {During the Great Trib}, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Rev 12:11: �They {THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS} overcame him {Satan} by the *BLOOD OF THE LAMB* and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.�
Revelation 7:3,4: The angel said, �Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God,� Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the {12} tribes of Israel.
This event occurred just before the land and sea were harmed by the first 6 trumpet plagues in Rev chapters 8 & 9. Also occurring just before the first 6 trumpet plagues will be the scene in heaven above of martyrs from every nation in Rev 7:9-18. So it is completely obvious that the 144,000 Jews did NOT participate in the evangelizing of the Gentiles from every nation in the world. There are many who believe that the 144,000 Jews will then evangelize Jews through out the world and possibly only Jews will be saved during the rest of the Great Tribulation since Gentiles from every nation of the world will already be saved. According to Zechariah 12;10; 13:8,9: Two-thirds of the Jews will be struck down and perish but one-third will call on my name and will say, �The Lord is our God.�
Presently there are approximately 15 million Jews and about 2 % or 30,000 are Christians. During the Great Tribulation 10 million Jews will die and 5 million will be saved which is and additional 4 million 970 thousand if 30 thousand are now Christians.
Romans 11:25-29: I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part **until the full number of Gentiles has come in **{As per Rev 7:9,14 above}. ***AND SO ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED***, as it is written: {In Jeremiah 31:33,34} �The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob {Israel}. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.� As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned they are loved on account of the patriarchs {Moses, Abraham, David ,Joseph, Isaiah, Elijah etc etc etc}, for God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. {Read Romans 11:11-32 and Hebrews 11:39-40}
Acts 1:6-8: The Jewish disciples asked Jesus, �Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel??� Jesus said to them: �It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth.!!� Matthew 24:14: Jesus says {During the Great Tribulation} �This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to **ALL NATIONS** and **THEN** the **END** will come!�
God also inspired 40 Jewish men to write every Word in God's Word in both the OT and NT. Jesus was 50 % Jewish and is called the King of the Jews 12 times in the NT and the 12 Apostles including Paul were all Jewish who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles in the 1st Century. The Israelites are called Jews 80 times in the OT beginning with the book of Esther about 600 BC and the Israelites are called Jews over 200 times in the NT.
Acts 2:5: �Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.� And on the day of Pentecost 3,000 Jews were saved as per Acts 2:5,14,41. John 4:22b: Jesus says, "Salvation is from the Jews.!" Matthew 2:1,2: Wise men from the East asked, �Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?� Matthew 27:11: Pilate asked Jesus, �Are you the King of the Jews?� �Yes it is as you say,� Jesus replied!
God said to Abraham, in Genesis 17:8: �The whole land of Canaan I will be give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you.�
Quotes from Obama on May 20th, 2011: �Israel must learn do defend itself **BY ITSELF**!!� �Israel must return to **PRE-1967 BORDERS**!!� Nations from all over the world have heartily agreed with King Obama's 2 statements including the European Union, Russia and the United nations. Obama has also stated that he does not have to abide by the War Powers Act or the Constitution in declaring war thus making Obama a King with the power to make war against anyone he desires as long as he desires!
Some today speak as if obeying this part of God's Word will harm our Christian witness or cause division among Christians. Dear brethren, is it not well past time to stand on God's Word and do God's work in God's way?
Evangelism will not be sold short if we obey God's Word to contend for the Faith within the Church, but rather, true evangelism will increase, for God honors His Word and blesses the obedience of His people.
God has decreed that the road to Heaven is indeed very NARROW; it is not broad enough to include any means but Christ alone. Faith in religious works insures death, eternal death, whether such belief is founded upon the official teachings of a group calling itself Christian, or the privately held confidence of an evangelical church member who has been "baptized" yet has never truly trusted in Christ alone. There is but one true Christ, the Christ who is all-sufficient. Any Jesus who needs the religious works of men to help them gain their own salvation is indeed another Jesus. Paul scolded the Corinthian church, saying, "if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. ...such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:4,13)
To have faith in Christ+religious works is to have no Christ at all; to trust in Christ alone is to have all of Christ and in Him, eternal life.
...Would be pleased to leave this site the very moment Christianity removes my holy text from their own. But, as I don't envision that happening, here I am. Can't have Christianity without Judaism. Would have to rip Bibles in half and abandon all concepts about a Messiah as all that comes from us.
As to your ridiculous claim that "...the OT ends with John..." the Tanakh is filled with repeated statements about how God's Laws and ordinances remain binding forever. Judaism continues on just fine regardless of latter works and religious claims, yet interestingly, Christianity can't without previous works like Tanakh. Hmm...Isn't that strange? My religion exists independent of any others, but your's does not. To get a better idea of how co-opting my holy book and pasted it along side yur's make me, and many Jews feel, imagine if the Muslims pasted theit Qur'an to an NT and started calling it the Old Way and their's the New Way.
I don't mind you citing from my book, but making ridiculous claims like you tend to (as with this particular thread) definately gets my attention. In the words of a rabbi mate of mine when I asked what he thought of Bibles co-opting our Tanakh, editing it so Jesus is our Messiah, then saying how it doesn't actually apply any more he said (paraphrasing, this was a while back,) "It's a travesty!"
Be thankful we're not Muslims with fatwahs and jihads and simply roll our eyes when you misuse sacred Scriptures.
Yeshua loves you and died for you, so that you can be forgiven.
Do you acknowledge the NT, or is that just ultra orthodox Jews who do not? I'm sorry that the Jewish people have been subject to so much persecution over the years. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the Jewish people including you to accept that Jesus is the trueMessiah, otherwise, I think the Jews might embrace anti-christ, since anyone who does not believe that G-d came in the flesh is of the spirit of antichrist. I know that the Muslims are of this spirit, I did not realize the Jews were also, all I can do is pray for their salvation.
Time is getting short, how long before a nuclear attack?
Prior to my conversion to Judaism, I was a Franciscan seminarian, so yes, I acknowledge the NT. I simply don't regard it as part of Judaism, because of course it isn't. I don't object to it, it simply isn't part of my faith any more than the Qur'an, Vedic Hindu texts, or Book of Mormon is. I still read it from time to time, but when it comes to the Gospels, if not reading Matthew I actually like the apocryphal texts. Gospel of Thomas, Acts of Paul and Thecla, Infancy Gospels, recently discovered Gospel of Judas to name just a few.
Note how tolerant James is everyone. How much he embodies the teachings of Jesus ordering me off-site. Funny how when it comes to tolerance, what he seems to object to is Judaism. Guess that we tolerate Christians, Muslims, and everyone else saying ya don't HAVE to be like us, believe what we believe, practice how we practice for God to love you and get into "heaven" scares him and his ilk to death. Afterall, if ya don't HAVE to be a particular religion but just follow 7 no-brainer rules like don't steal or murder that'd mean...oh noes! Free thinking! Less tithes in the coffers! ...Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! ;)
Most of the Christians here don't mind your being on this Forum even though you continually criticise Christians and their beliefs. I was a missionary in Israel and love the Jews and want them all to get to heaven with Jesus.
Since it is against the law to preach Jesus as the Messiah to Jewish citizens I unfortunately had to break the law since Jesus commanded us to preach to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. The orthodox Jews make up about 20% of the population in Israel and usually will turn you in if they catch you preaching Jesus. Actually they can put in you in jail if you convert a Jewish citizen under 18 years of age. But if I preached Jesus openly in any one of the 21 Muslim countries I would probably be immediately shot or put in prison.
However 80% of the Jews who are not Orthodox will usually listen to the Gospel if you make friends with them.
So Jeff most of the people on this Christian Forum love you and will try to convert you cause they want to make sure you get to heaven.
Rev 21 1:1-3: "Then I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. {THEN} I saw the NEW JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God...,And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, �Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them!!� {You will note that the New Jerusalem will come only *AFTER the present heaven and earth have passed away.} �They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.!! He who was seated on the Throne said, �I am making **EVERYTHING NEW**!!�:applause::angel::rolleyes:
