Recall that in our last Dispensations teaching, we explained that after the Church, God will no longer be focused on one spiritual nation (Church), but on physical ones; Jews and Gentiles. The following verse covers a Tribulation gospel, which gives us the context of who it applies to; Jews and Gentiles.
The Tribulation Gospel
Revelation 14:6-7 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,“
Notice that this particular gospel is preached unto every physical nation at the time, meaning that these are Gentiles.
“Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.“
Notice that this gospel is different from the one we Christians believe in. Paul himself even warned Christians that if there were another angel or being preaching another gospel other than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins, then they are damned.
That being said, what are we going to do with the angel of the previous verse, which preached a different gospel? What we have to understand from this is that this gospel does not apply to the Christian Church because of this contradiction. Even if the Christian Church were in the Tribulation, their gospel contradicts what is being preached by the angel.
This is why it makes more sense that the Church has to be raptured before the beginning of the Tribulation through a pre-tribulation rapture. Otherwise, this is a false gospel when you apply it to Christians to prove that they are not really saved unless they follow what the verse says. This is why it is important to use dispensationalism, it puts everything in its correct place for the correct group of people.
Now, let’s take a look at the gospel of the Jews. Their gospel, as we will see in the following verses, is to have faith and fear God. As they are also the enemy of the Gentile nations during the Tribulation, they will have to fight against the world, refusing to compromise their beliefs until their Messiah comes down from Heaven to rescue them.
Hebrews 4:1-2 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.“
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached,“
Which gospel is being preached? The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the cleansing of our sins?
“as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
Notice that fear is mentioned in the first verse and is later accompanied by faith. Only by meeting these conditions, the Jews are able to enter into rest. Now, what is this rest that is mentioned here? It is in the context of the nation of Israel when God brought them out of Egypt and we know this because of the later verses in this passage. This means that this gospel has to be something the Jews have heard before.
Recall that the book of Hebrews is for Jews as stated in the title, and that it is connected to the Tribulation, which makes everything come together.
Now, what is it that the nation of Israel failed to do to secure their rest?
Numbers 14:5-14 “Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.“
“Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.“
Notice that the children of Israel were fearful of the Gentiles they had to conquer in order to get to the promised land (rest). Because of this, we see the connection this has with Hebrews 4:1, they did not fear God more than the surrounding nations so they fell short of the promised land.
Notice that belief was also a condition to find their ‘rest’. Again, we see the connection this verse has with the gospel of the Tribulation found in Hebrews 4. Because they did not fear God and doubted His power, they, again, fell short of the promised land. Now, to fully bolster the connection between this verse and Hebrews 4, we need to visit one more verse. This is why scripture with scripture is important to finding correct doctrine throughout the Bible.
Zachariah 12:1-9 “The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
“And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God.”
Notice again, that the nation of Israel has to have faith in God that He will protect them from the other nations which is something that will also occur during the Tribulation. So, if they do not fear God and do fear the Gentile nations, they will be more likely to join the side of the Antichrist (Gentiles) in the future.
This is the same problem that the Jews had in Numbers 14, they feared the other nations and did not have faith in God’s power to protect them so they fell short of their rest. Numbers 14 required the exact thing from the gospel mentioned in Hebrews 4 so the writer is warning future Jews that a fear of God and faith in Him are required if they want to be saved. Now we see that this gospel is vastly different from the Christian gospel, as it is a gospel of armed warfare.
The Millennium Gospel
Now that we have covered the salvation plan, God’s physical dealings, and the focus on Jews and Gentiles (not Christians) during the Tribulation, let’s cover the period after the Tribulation; the Millennium.
Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Notice here that Jesus Christ will be on earth, reigning and judging the nations for 1,000 years, hence the name of the time period.
Now, if you are familiar with the covenants you know that the Jews have been waiting for their physical kingdom on earth, the kingdom of heaven for a long while and it will not begin until Jesus is physically here. The following verse lets us know the location of God’s kingdom on earth, Jerusalem.
Isaiah 33:17 “Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.“
“Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.”
Jesus will physically be with His people because the Jews describe His appearance here.
“Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. Look upon Zion,”
This will take place in Jerusalem.
“the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.“
Again, we see that the Lord Jesus will literally be on the earth to rule His people and judge the nations during the Millennium. Now, taking into consideration that the Jews will literally see Jesus during this time, faith will no longer be necessary because the definition of faith is to believe without seeing.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
This verse proves that salvation by faith is not valid in the Millennium, because Jesus will physically be on earth ruling. That begs the question then, if not by faith, then how does one go about being saved during the Millennium? Through good works. Because these people will literally be around the living God, they will have to live their best life for the Lord. We Christians, however, who have died and gone to heaven have already received our sinless bodies so we will not rely on good works but those who are alive during this time period will have to be perfect in their works.
Isaiah 33:14-16 “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.“
“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”
This describes the fate of those who sin during this time; damnation.
“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing
of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.“
These verses all describe work for salvation but no faith, meaning that the Millennium’s salvation plan is work without faith.
Now, keeping in mind that the Jew’s physical king will be in their capital and nation, this means that the Jews will be the superior race and the Gentiles will have to turn to the Jews. If the notion of a superior race is uncomfortable to you, know that currently, because the Bible says so, we Christians are the superior spiritual race of Jesus Christ. In the future, this will change as God’s focus is redirected toward the Jews.
Zechariah 8:23 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew“
Gentiles will turn to Jews, literally grabbing onto their clothes.
“saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
The Gentiles will do this in the Millennium, acknowledging that the Jews are God’s people and we know this through our knowledge of the covenants. God made a perpetual covenant with Abraham and his seed so it makes sense that the Jews will be God’s physical nation.
Now, if a holy King is to live among the people, they will have to follow His law pertaining to the kingdom. So what exactly are the laws of this kingdom? Recall the sermon on the mount that Jesus preached concerning the kingdom of Heaven, which if you are familiar with your covenants, know that it is an earthly and physical kingdom. And when will we see a physical kingdom on earth? During the Millennium. Thus, when Jesus preaches the Kingdom of Heaven and mentions rules and regulations He is referring to those relating to the Millennium.
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.“
These rules and regulations, commonly known as the Beatitudes, are all tied to an earthy kingdom under the Kingdom of Heaven, which applies to the Millennium.
Matthew 5:19-22“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.“
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.“
Notice how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of Heaven. This makes sense if you know that these rules pertain to the Millennium time period and that they will be living among a Holy God on earth.
“Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.“
How many times have we been guilty of this as Christians? If we are honest with ourselves, too many to count. Does that mean we lose our salvation then? Of course not, because given the context of these verses, we know that this applies to the kingdom of Heaven which is a physical kingdom during the Millennium. We may be living among fools in today’s age but not during the Millennium where everyone will have to be on their best behavior because of God’s literal presence.
Now, if we continue reading the chapter we will see that the rules get stricter and stricter, which, again, makes sense given the time period it pertains to; the Millennium.
Matthew 5:27-30 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
How many of us have committed sin with our body and how many of us would have to do as the above verses said because of it? This lets us know that this is not applied to us Christians but to the Millennium kingdom in which no sin shall be found. This is, again, why dispensationalism and knowledge of the covenants are important in identifying the correct doctrine for each group of people throughout time.
Matthew 5:43-45 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.“
Here we see that you become a child of God if you treat those you don’t like well. This makes sense in the context of the Millennium.
Now, because God is reigning among physical Jews and physical Gentiles, their worship of God will have to be physical as well. Because of this, the physical worship of the Old Testament will have to be restored and if they do not do these things, they will be damned to Hell. Keeping this in mind, Seventh-Day Adventists will use it to prove that because you are not a Jew you will have to observe Old Testament practices. What they fail to realize, however, is that these verses are in the context of the Millennium.
Jeremiah 33:17-21 “For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.“
“For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;”
Then mention of David means it is in relation to the Kingdom.
“Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.“
This passage mentions the Levitical priesthood as being unbreakable otherwise God’s covenant with the day and night is also broken. This means that God’s covenants are unbreakable.
Zechariah 14:16-21“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The Lord; and the pots in the Lord‘s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.“
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations“
This includes Gentiles.
“which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
The feast of Tabernacles has to be observed.
“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
“
Everyone will have to worship like the Jews.
“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The Lord; and the pots in the Lord‘s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.”
Because things will be returning to Jewish observances during the Millennium, you have to argue in favor of Dispensationalism.
Paul shows us through dispensationalism that Jewish physical observances apply to the Millennium not Christians. You can use this against Seventh-Day Adventists if they wrongly apply Millennium doctrine to Christians.
Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.“
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon , or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.“
Paul states that currently, in the Church Age, things such as food, beverages, observance of holidays, etc. are not to be enforced because they are for a later time, which in this case we know is the Millennium. Instead, to focus on Christ.
Isaiah 66:15-21,23-24 “For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh“
“For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.”
Notice all the physical things that will happen when Jesus descends upon the world.
“They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.“
Everyone will see God.
“And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.”
Everyone, Gentile and Jew, will observe the physical Jewish ordinances with the consequence being the following verse.
“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
They will be cast to Hell.
Now this poses a question: Because Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for the cleansing of our sins, animal sacrifices should no longer be necessary, right? We know that animal sacrifice cannot take away sin, only Christ’s blood. This is why during the Tribulation, the saints wash their garments in Christ’s blood through their physical works and do not rely on the blood of animals. Well then, as we have been mentioning up until this point, wouldn’t animal sacrifices be restored if other Old Testament Jewish observances were restored as well? The answer is yes but not as sin offerings but as a memorial to God.
Hebrews 10:1-4 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.“
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.“
This passage shows us two things. One, animal sacrifice cannot take away sin, and two, it is done as a memorial. So the sacrifices done during the Millennium are done in memorial to God. Because these saints are physically worshipping God, He deserves a physical offering in the form of a sacrifice.
During Jesus’ reign on earth, the seed of Jesse’s son, David, is uplifted and the curse over the earth is done away with.
Isaiah 11:1,4-9 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:”
Recall that the seed that comes out from Jesse is his son David. We also know that Jesus comes from the line of David. Through this, we see that God’s promise to restore the kingdom is upheld.
“But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
Notice that the curse, which if you recall was put over the earth in Genesis due to the sin of man, is uplifted during the reign of Jesus.
Now, we will see another promise that God made during David’s reign, that he would be a ruling prince in Jesus’ kingdom. This kingdom is the physical kingdom that the Jews have been looking for where their Messiah will rule over them and is in nowise replaced by something spiritual, as some cultists today will have you believe.
Ezekiel 37:25-26 “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”
“And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt;”
The term ‘fathers’ is a term tied to the Jews, thus, we know that the intended recipients of this physical kingdom are Jews.
“and they shall dwell therein , even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.”
David is going to be a prince in the Millennium and forevermore. This proves that the replacement theory is false.
“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”
Because those living during the Millennium are Jews and Gentiles, they will physically continue their lineages through children.
Now, the nation of Israel is restored and all of those that were cast out will come together. Their sins will be forgiven based on God’s physical dealings with the physical nation of Israel. Notice how this differs from the gospel of salvation for the Christians who are based on spiritual dealings, whose sins are forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice.
Daniel 9:24,27 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 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.”
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
It is interesting that God puts a time frame on this group of people, the Jews, in which their transgressions will be fulfilled and will receive forgiveness. This is based on the coming of their Messiah at the end of the Tribulation, hence the 70 weeks. Now, as you will read in verses 25 and 26, 69 out of the 70 weeks have already been covered by the first coming of Jesus Christ. Verse 27 mentions a final week missing, as is the only verse in the Bible that could support a seven-year Tribulation. Knowing that the last week has to be the Tribulation.
“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.”
The end of the Tribulation is the fulfillment of the transgression, meaning the nation of Israel will be forgiven of their sins and saved at the end of the Tribulation.
Now, some people will deny that there is a difference in the forgiveness of sins (Church Age and Tribulation) but you can argue that if they believe they will go through the Tribulation, they cannot ignore the last week of the fulfillment of transgressions which will take place during the Tribulation. This, as we know, is tied to the Jews, not Christians because this contradicts our faith without works gospel. It also helps to note that this salvation at the end of the Tribulation is a national one, we Christians come from different nationalities, meaning it can only be for the Jews.
Romans 11:25-28 “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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.“
“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.“
The time of the Gentiles (Christians) needs to be fulfilled.
“And so all Israel shall be saved:”
Before Israel can be saved as a nation. This is during the Tribulation.
“as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them,
The covenant that was preached in the Old Testament.
“when I shall take away their sins.“
Notice the forgiveness of sins as a nation is applied to the millennial time period for the nation of Israel. Notice the clear difference between the Christian gospel and the salvation of the Jews.
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes:”
The Jews today are our enemies, but only concerning the Christian gospel (spiritual dealings) from an individual standpoint.
“but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.”
However, as a nation, God has not forsaken His people.
Notice the difference between the Christian gospel in which our sins are forgiven by the gospel through the blood of Jesus Christ whereas the Jews are forgiven at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus comes down and fulfills their transgressions.
Now that we have discussed the new covenant, let’s cover the last covenant, the eternal covenant.
The Eternal Covenant
The terms of the eternal covenant are to live in a pure paradise without sin while the lost live within a lake of eternal fire, which can be found in Revelations 21 and 22. Now, this happens after Christ’s Millennium kingdom. God will burn up all of heaven and earth and have a Great White Throne judgment and will consequently, throw the lost into the lake of fire. After that, the eternal covenant begins.
2 Peter 3:10 “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.”
“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.”
Here we see that the earth will be burned up.
Revelation 20:9,11 “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”
This is the medium by which the earth is burned up.
Now, if you read verses 7-9, you will see that Satan gets loosed at the end of the Millennium and deceives the nations. Satan will accomplish this by showing the nations that he was powerful enough to escape from God and this will drive others to rebel as well. Now, going back to verse 9, this is when God burns everything on earth. Verse 10 depicts the lake of fire.
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”
Recall that heaven and earth are gone by the time the Great White Throne Judgement occurs as described in 2 Peter 3. This happens in Revelation 20, where God burned up heaven and earth. Verse 12 is where God casts His judgment and where the lost are separated from the saved, the lost go to the lake of fire while the saved live in a pure paradise for all of eternity.