The way I used to understand the Bible was based on this faulty foundation:
Which caused me to then think this:
“Well, if OT times were about the Jews, then OT books are for/about the Jews. And if NT times are about the Church, then NT books are for/about the Church. Although some NT books might be in a Jewish setting (i.e., the Gospels), they apply to us regardless. For example, (1) the Beatitudes are ours. (2) The parables are ours. (3) The gospel of the kingdom/gospel of repentance is our gospel. (4) When Jesus spoke to the disciples, it’s like He’s speaking to us.”
Then if I found a discrepancy/disagreement between a passage I was reading and a different passage I already knew was for me, I’d say this:
“No problem. Any hard sayings that don’t match up with what I believe is true just need to be clarified. That’s all.”
Did I have the right foundation? Let’s take a look at the four examples mentioned above and see.
(1) The Beatitudes…
Matthew 5:13
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
I would think: “Well, since I know God would never treat me like that, it must mean He can’t use me if I’m not walking the Christian walk. That’s all.”
Matthew 5:17-20
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
I would think: “Oh, Jesus means all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags and I need to ask Him to save me.”
Though it’s true I need Him as my Savior, that passage has nothing to do with me. Jesus meant EXACTLY what He said! WHAT?? See Qualifying for the Kingdom.
^^^^
(2) The parables…
In Matthew 13:3-9 the parable of the sower is given. This follows 12:22-37 wherein the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan. That passage in 12 is the reason for the parables in 13.
Matthew 13:10-13
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
So now Jesus speaks in parables, giving knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His followers via the explanations – abundance. Versus those that might have had a little understanding would now have even that taken from them – left with nothing.
Now for His explanation in 13:18-23.
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
I would think: “Well, my two commentaries agree that this parable is to us because we’re the mystery kingdom (v.19) but they differ on whether all four hearers are saved or not. One says all four are saved Church Age believers but only the fourth is walking properly. The other says the first hearer is unsaved but two through four are saved, just with different rewards in heaven.”
Do you see where I’m going here?
Since we, the Church, are clearly not the kingdom God promised the Jews throughout the OT, we must make up a term (mystery kingdom) in order to be able to apply this passage to us. Why, when the truth is so much simpler?!?!
V.19 is exactly what He’s just been speaking about. They hear and don’t get it.
V.20 hearers are just as lost because they cannot maintain under persecution.
V.22 hearers are just as lost because they are unfruitful.
And why is the v.23 hearer saved? Because after having understood he bore fruit.
Disagree? Let’s ask Luke.
Luke 8:15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
This is not Church Age doctrine — and you know it! This is KINGDOM doctrine. Same thing Jesus was speaking of in the Beatitudes.
The topic has not changed! Jesus isn’t speaking of the Church or to the Church. Let’s just read what’s written and take ourselves out of the picture. These books are not for us or to us, Church.
^^^^
(3) The Gospel of the Kingdom/Gospel of Repentance. So you think Jesus, John the Baptist and the disciples were preaching our Church Age gospel? Please read The Synoptic Gospels for an abundance of info on that.
^^^^
(4) When Jesus spoke to the disciples, it’s like He’s speaking to us. The Eleven and Paul and John’s Books should help on understanding our relationship, if any, to the disciples.
All that for this.
So here’s what I’m trying to say. Let’s stop rewording passages that don’t fall in line with our Church Age beliefs. Let’s, instead, go back to the drawing board by tossing out our faulty foundation!
…And replacing it with a solid foundation:
What kind of mess is that, you say?
If you’re not familiar with Daniel’s 70 Weeks, download the free book on the Book tab. Chapter 4 explains the Daniel 9:24-27 prophecy that lays the solid foundation that correctly divides the Bible. (I also explain it in some of my earlier videos on YouTube under BibleChartDaniel if you prefer visuals.)
You can see by the legend that the purple oval is this prophecy. Anything within that purple ‘balloon’ is a time when God has Israel in the forefront of His plan. The Church is a totally separate, unique body outside of that balloon. While we’re here, the vast majority of Jews are spiritually blinded and those that aren’t became what? PART OF US, the Church! While we’re here, WE’RE at the forefront of God’s plan. When the Rapture occurs and we leave, what’s next? Back to finishing off the tail end of God’s Jewish balloon – the Tribulation — which we were sitting on/preventing from occurring while we were here!
And you build upon that foundation like this:
First, the 7-year Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week) is outside the CA. Therefore NO Rapture debate is needed. The Church must leave before God can finish His dealings with the Jews as His ‘forefront’ people. We cannot be here at the same time. Pre-Trib Rapture is the only option.
Next, we can see that there is no eternal security in the Tribulation by reading in Revelation what happens to those who take the mark of the beast. (I’ll let you look it up.) Therefore, since the Tribulation is just the final part of the balloon, the entire balloon must have no ES.
This confirms that there IS a difference between when God’s focus is on the Jews and when it’s on us in the CA because we have eternal security and THEY DON’T! Remember the examples from the beginning!
I could sit here and type page after page on the doors that open up with this correct foundation. But no need for that. I already did! The entire purpose of this site is to show you those differences.
Some questions answered are: Are the Gospels speaking to the Church? Does Paul preach the same gospel as the other apostles? How many Kingdoms are there? Are we the Mystery Kingdom? Why does James talk about salvation and works? What kind of faith did Abraham have? How do we know what books to get doctrine from? Etc….
So simple. No confusion OR rewording. No reason to try to apply stuff to us that’s written for others!
Sounds crazy, I know. Disagrees with your/my commentaries, I get it. But this solid foundation allows us to read the Bible as is! Our earlier examples (1-4) need no clarifying!
Now watch the VIDEO!