The Jewish Remnant Then - The Gentile Remnant Now
The last seven verses of the Book of Acts are some of the saddest to me and yet it was the most significant for me. Specifically, these three verses
This was the day that the nation of Israel was condemned from the mouth of Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 6:9-13). Paul repeated the words of Isaiah and blindness and deafness came upon the nation of Israel for the prescribed time. The majority of the Jews would be unable to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ their own Messiah. However, there was and always has been a remnant of Jews who were allotted to retain the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of who their Messiah is. It was those Jews who carried the gospel into the known world at that time. And so it has been their labor that has carried forth the gospel through the centuries to the entire gentile world. It was by their efforts and perseverance that the Gospel of Jesus Christ came into my life and I HEARD IT and received my salvation.
The allotted time of blindness and deafness to the Jew is expiring. More and more Jews are having their eyes and their ears opened. Jews are receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ their Messiah. Once again Jews are carrying the gospel into the earth. The day is coming quickly when 144,000 Jewish men; 12,000 from each tribe of Israel will be sealed and carry the gospel through the tribulation (Revelation 7:4-10).
So, what has happened to the Gentile church? Romans Chapter 11 is the discourse on the natural olive tree and the wild olive tree. It makes a very interesting statement
The Gentiles, who are the wild olive branches, have been entrusted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the fullness of God's Word. Unfortunately, we have boasted against the natural olive tree, the Jews. Many of our modern denominations have replacement theology (the gentiles have replaced the Jews) as the central backbone of their doctrine. Those that don't embrace replacement theology have departed from the Word of God and major in life sermons. Touchy, feely messages on how to have a better life permeates our churches. Many churches no longer teach the reality of hell, the singularity of the cross as the only way to salvation, the person of Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father and to Heaven. Many churches have embraced sensationalism and a weird political dominion theology.
What do I see? Gentiles, and it is those who claim to be Christians, no longer embrace the truth of the Word of God. Gentiles are embracing and replacing the Word of God with the words of fallen man and pagan practices that have no place in Christianity.
What do I hear? I hear the echo of Isaiah's prophecy and Paul speaking that prophecy to the Jews being transferred to the Gentiles --
There are many in the Gentile Christian Ranks that hold to the belief that there will be a great end time revival before the Rapture of the Church. I do not hold to that belief. In the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24 Jesus told them that the love of many would wax cold and that many would be deceived by the false prophets. He said it would be like the days of Noah and everyone ignored Noah's warning and only eight people were saved from the flood.
I do believe there will be a great revival after the Rapture of the Church during the Tribulation period. The revival of that time period translates into martyrdom for those Saints much like the early church. The apostles died martyrs death and the Christians of the day were fed to the lions for sport and entertainment. It will surely be the same during the Tribulation.
The Gentile Remnant today are hanging on to the Word of God with an iron grasp. We watch as our ranks shrink but I am thankful the Jews receiving their Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus Christ) are growing. I would say that time has polarized. Reversal has taken place. The natural olive branches are being grafted back in and the wild olive branches that are contrary to God's Word are being removed.
Are you a Christian? Has your love waxed cold? Have you apostatized into a pagan follower of false prophets? Do you believe you've replaced the Jews in God's plan? Examine your heart in light of Gods Word. Repent and be saved. Time is quickly expiring. The flood waters are lapping at your door!
Acts 28:26-28 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
This was the day that the nation of Israel was condemned from the mouth of Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 6:9-13). Paul repeated the words of Isaiah and blindness and deafness came upon the nation of Israel for the prescribed time. The majority of the Jews would be unable to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ their own Messiah. However, there was and always has been a remnant of Jews who were allotted to retain the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of who their Messiah is. It was those Jews who carried the gospel into the known world at that time. And so it has been their labor that has carried forth the gospel through the centuries to the entire gentile world. It was by their efforts and perseverance that the Gospel of Jesus Christ came into my life and I HEARD IT and received my salvation.
The allotted time of blindness and deafness to the Jew is expiring. More and more Jews are having their eyes and their ears opened. Jews are receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ their Messiah. Once again Jews are carrying the gospel into the earth. The day is coming quickly when 144,000 Jewish men; 12,000 from each tribe of Israel will be sealed and carry the gospel through the tribulation (Revelation 7:4-10).
So, what has happened to the Gentile church? Romans Chapter 11 is the discourse on the natural olive tree and the wild olive tree. It makes a very interesting statement
Romans 11:17-21 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.The Jewish nation of Israel was entrusted with the knowledge and laws of God. They were the natural olive tree. By the time their Messiah came at His first advent they had so perverted and burdened themselves with that knowledge, they couldn't recognize the truth of Jesus Christ. So, God cut them off for refusing to repent and receive the truth of His Word.
The Gentiles, who are the wild olive branches, have been entrusted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the fullness of God's Word. Unfortunately, we have boasted against the natural olive tree, the Jews. Many of our modern denominations have replacement theology (the gentiles have replaced the Jews) as the central backbone of their doctrine. Those that don't embrace replacement theology have departed from the Word of God and major in life sermons. Touchy, feely messages on how to have a better life permeates our churches. Many churches no longer teach the reality of hell, the singularity of the cross as the only way to salvation, the person of Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father and to Heaven. Many churches have embraced sensationalism and a weird political dominion theology.
What do I see? Gentiles, and it is those who claim to be Christians, no longer embrace the truth of the Word of God. Gentiles are embracing and replacing the Word of God with the words of fallen man and pagan practices that have no place in Christianity.
What do I hear? I hear the echo of Isaiah's prophecy and Paul speaking that prophecy to the Jews being transferred to the Gentiles --
Acts 28:26-27 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.I have no doubt that we have reached the time God declared in Romans
Romans 11:25 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 is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.Can you still be saved if you aren't a Jew. Of course you can. It is the religious Gentiles that are at risk, just like the religious Jews of the days of Jesus and the apostles. Religious does not equate into Salvation.
There are many in the Gentile Christian Ranks that hold to the belief that there will be a great end time revival before the Rapture of the Church. I do not hold to that belief. In the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24 Jesus told them that the love of many would wax cold and that many would be deceived by the false prophets. He said it would be like the days of Noah and everyone ignored Noah's warning and only eight people were saved from the flood.
I do believe there will be a great revival after the Rapture of the Church during the Tribulation period. The revival of that time period translates into martyrdom for those Saints much like the early church. The apostles died martyrs death and the Christians of the day were fed to the lions for sport and entertainment. It will surely be the same during the Tribulation.
The Gentile Remnant today are hanging on to the Word of God with an iron grasp. We watch as our ranks shrink but I am thankful the Jews receiving their Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus Christ) are growing. I would say that time has polarized. Reversal has taken place. The natural olive branches are being grafted back in and the wild olive branches that are contrary to God's Word are being removed.
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