Is the Jewish Calender a Indicator of Our Lord's Return?

Israel’s Calendar Discrepancy

Q. If the age of man is supposed to be 6,000 years and we expect the Lord to return soon, Why is the Hebrew calendar only at 5770 years? This seems like an odd number if indeed we are so close to the end?

A. First of all, 6,000 years is not a number that came from God. It’s an approximation originating with mankind that appears to be accurate in the general sense. Second, while Israel’s calendar is thought to have begun at the Creation, some scholars believe that when ancient Israel was under subjugation by a foreign nation or out of the land entirely their calendar didn’t advance. They disagree on the exact number of years that might have been lost, but if their opinion is correct it’s at least 181 and may exceed 200. Whatever the actual number, Israel’s official calendar is probably not a reliable indicator of our closeness to the Lord’s return.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Ezekiel 38

The Mountains Of Israel

Q. When the Gog/Magog war occurs and the armies of the Russian coalition attack Israel and are destroyed by God in the “mountains of Israel”, what mountains are they?

A. Israel has a prominent “mountain” range running through its mid-section like a spine. This range reaches from the Jezreel valley in the north and extends past Hebron in the south. Much of this area falls within Judea and Samaria, called the West Bank by many, and is the location to which Ezekiel was referring (Ezekiel 39:4.)

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The message to a man and a nation

The Strangest Miracle

This Week’s Feature Article by Jack Kelley

The first three Gospels are so much alike that people accuse Matthew and Luke of borrowing heavily from Mark, who supposedly wrote His gospel first. But no so with John. His gospel is different from all of the others.

None of the Gospel writers penned strictly historical accounts. But among them, John was least interested in preserving the chronology of events, positioning them more to contrast with one another than to keep them in their proper order. A good example is John 2 where the water into wine miracle is followed by the cleansing of the Temple. The former took place at the beginning of the Lord’s ministry while the latter happened at the very end. John placed them side-by-side to contrast the purity of the gospel Jesus taught with the corrupt practices of the religion of the day.

From all the miracles Jesus performed, John chose to include only seven in his Gospel, along with seven “I am” statements and seven discourses. Out of the Lord’s 3 ½ year ministry John focused on only 21 days, devoting 10 chapters to the last week and 1/3 of the book’s 879 verses to one day.

Each of the seven miracles in John also symbolized a greater truth and frankly, to my mind a couple of them are a little strange. The water into wine miracle is a good example. But of all the miracles Jesus performed, perhaps the strangest one is the healing at the Pool of Bethesda in Chapter 5. It was so out of character for Him. Let’s read it. (If you want to read more about all seven, click here.)

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed (and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease he had.) Note: Some manuscripts don’t have the parenthetical portion of this passage, but its inclusion makes the following clearer.

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ “

So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. (John 5:1-15)

What’s Going On here?

A look at the anomalies will help us decode this strange miracle. For instance, usually upon encountering a group of people, Jesus healed all the sick among them, regardless of His personal plans. You can see what I mean in Matt 4:23-24;

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

And Matt. 14:13-14 says;

When Jesus heard what had happened, (the death of John the Baptist) he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

But at the Pool of Bethesda, where the place was littered with the sick and handicapped and where one sweep of the Lord’s hand could have taken care of everyone, John mentioned only one man being healed. And that one didn’t approach Him. Jesus made the initial contact after learning something about the man. “Do you want to get well?” He asked.

Then there’s the man’s story, a real Catch 22. Because he was crippled, he couldn’t get to the Pool in time to be healed. Someone else always got there first. But if he could have gotten to the pool first, he wouldn’t have needed healing. He needed someone to heal him right where he was.

And he never asked Jesus to heal him. In fact he didn’t even know with whom he was speaking. The Lord said, “Pick up your mat and walk,” and without hesitation the man did just that, for the first time in 38 years.

Then there’s the fact that this happened on the Sabbath, so by carrying his mat he drew the attention of the priests who told him it was illegal. The ex-cripple said he was obeying the man who healed him but he couldn’t tell them who the man was.

Later Jesus found him again and warned him to “stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Was that a threat?

The Story Behind The Story

With these facts in view, it appears that the healing at Bethesda is meant to convey much more than meets the eye. The first clue to what that might be comes with the fact that the man had been an invalid for 38 years. The only other time the phrase thirty-eight years appears in the Bible is in Deut. 2:14 describing the length of time the Jews had spent in the wilderness where they received the Law.

This little hint tells us the cripple by the pool in his Catch 22 represented Israel in theirs. Because they were sinners, they couldn’t keep the Law to be saved. But if they could have kept the Law they wouldn’t have needed saving. They needed someone to save them just as they were.

Bethesda means House of Mercy. Like the cripple, Israel needed someone to show them mercy in their hopeless condition. The Lord showed His mercy to the cripple and offered to do the same for Israel.

Though Jesus came to the pool specifically to heal this one cripple, the man didn’t recognize his healer and didn’t know with whom he was speaking. Though Jesus came to Earth specifically to save Israel (Matt. 15:24), they didn’t recognize their Savior and didn’t know with whom they were speaking. “If you’re the Christ,” they said, “then tell us” (Luke 22:67). This after He had fulfilled hundreds of prophecies from their scriptures concerning His coming.

Jesus told the healed cripple to stop sinning lest something worse should happen. He couldn’t have been speaking generally because He knew that if man could stop sinning altogether, he could save himself and wouldn’t need a Savior. The Catch 22 wouldn’t exist. So He must have had a specific sin in mind.

By working to keep the Law in an effort to save themselves, the Israelites were relying on their own righteousness, a sin. The Law was never meant to be a means of salvation, but to reveal the need for a Savior (Romans 3:20). In admonishing the cripple, He was also telling Israel to stop committing the sin of self-righteousness lest something worse should happen. And because they refused, it did. In the Lord’s time on Earth Israel was subordinate to Rome but still existed as a nation. 38 years after the crucifixion Jerusalem was destroyed and soon after that Israel ceased to exist altogether.

So it looks as if this one crippled man was chosen to send a message to Israel, joining the Lord in acting out a parable.

But the Lord and the cripple were also sending a message to us. For which of us has not claimed to be our own Savior at some point in our lives? Which of us has not been proud in our self-righteousness?

Each of us is in the same Catch 22 as the cripple, helpless to save ourselves and therefore hopelessly lost. We’re destined to carry our sins to the grave unless God extends His mercy. And so meeting us right where we are, He asks us just like He asked the cripple, “Do you want to get well?” Selah 02-20-10

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Rapture?

Is The Rapture Still 300 Years Away?

Q. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your website. I pray for you, that you always teach God’s Truth with love in your heart. Thank you for so kindly answering my questions. I have another:

Today (a writer on another website) said that in Ezekiel God promised the Jews that in 3 days they would get their kingdom back and a thousand years is as a day and this was in about 600 BC so we’re halfway thru the 2nd millenium and the 3rd will be the promised millenium after the Tribulation – I think I’m explaining that right – so he says there should be about 300 more years til the rapture.

I like his articles, he seems like a knowledgeable and sincere Christian – I’m just a common saint. I look to people like you who are more learned than I to explain scripture – and I’ve read a lot of your articles including the ones about why the rapture is imminent. What do you make of what he said. His thinking is flawed, right? Could you explain why he’s wrong?

A. There are several errors here. First of all the passage is from Hosea and here’s what it says.

Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 5:15-6:2)

When you look at the whole passage it says that the Lord was going to go back where He came from until they admit their guilt. This can’t refer to the Babylonian captivity which began in 586BC because its duration was fixed before hand at 70 years and wasn’t dependent on them admitting their guilt.

No, it was fulfilled when the Lord left the Earth after His Resurrection. He confirmed this in Matt. 23:39 when He said, For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ He’s not coming back until they admit that He is who He claims to be. So the count began with the Resurrection, not the Babylonian captivity which began about 600 years earlier.

Then Hosea’s prophecy continued, saying that after 2 days God would revive them. If a day is as 1000 years that means 2000 years after He left, He would revive them, bring them back to life. The reviving began in 1948 and will be complete after the Battle of Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 39:28)

Then on the third day they’d be restored. Not after the third day but on the third day, at it’s beginning, after they’ve admitted their guilt (Zechariah 12:10). This refers to the Davidic Kingdom which will be restored at the beginning of the Millennium, the third thousand years after the resurrection.

Finally, we should note that in this passage the concluding event is the restoration of the Kingdom for Israel. It has nothing to do with the Rapture of the Church which can happen at any moment. Using his calculations and beginning at the Resurrection, Hosea’s prophecy of Israel’s restoration will be fulfilled around 2032, within the window of time I’ve previously established of 2018-2037.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

How is it that Jesus is called as 'the Son of David'?

The House And Lineage Of David

Q. Since Joseph & Mary were not a married yet & God said that Jesus would come from his (Joseph) lineage, wouldn’t that mean that it had to be Mary’s lineage? or did Joseph & Mary really get together to fulfill what God said? Also I did watch a documentary that said Mary was a virgin when the two got married, but then did their wedding thing that would fulfill what God said? Thank you for this chance to ask a question.

A. The complete phrase is “house and lineage of David”. Comparing the genealogies of Matthew 1 (Joseph’s) and Luke 3 (Mary’s), you can see that both Joseph and Mary were descended from King David. Therefore both were of the House of David. But Matthew’s account shows that unlike Mary, Joseph was also in the royal line of succession through King Solomon and therefore of David’s lineage as well. (Luke 2:4) Mary was a descendant of Solomon’s brother Nathan.

Just before the Babylonian captivity God had cursed the royal line, saying that no King would ever come from them again (Jere. 22:28-30) and yet He had promised David that descendants of Solomon’s would rule over Israel forever. (1 Chron. 17:11-14)

Jesus was a blood relative of Mary’s, and therefore of the house of David. When Joseph married Mary, Jesus became his legal son and therefore entered the Royal line. Now He was of the house and lineage of David. But since He and Joseph were not biologically related, He escaped the blood curse. Thus Jesus became the only man since 600 BC qualified to become the King of Israel and sit on David’s throne, something Gabriel had promised to Mary (Luke 1:32-33) and that will be fulfilled in the Millennium.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Gentiles

Who Are The Gentiles?

Q. When the Bible mentions Gentiles, I believe that it is speaking specifically to a certain race of people. For example, in Genesis chapter 10, it talks about the sons of Noah and their offspring. The Bible states that one of Noah’s sons Japheth, is where the Gentiles originated. And when the gentiles are mentioned in the New Testament, I believe that they were referring to the Romans. What’s your thought on this?

A. Gentile comes from the Hebrew word that means “nations.” Before the cross, all the people on Earth who weren’t Jews were called Gentiles. (Japeth was the father of the Caucasian peoples, most of whom are Gentiles. The descendants of his brother Ham settled Africa and they are also Gentiles.) Since the cross members of the Church are no longer Gentiles, so now there are three classifications of human, Jews, Gentiles, and the Church. (1 Cor 10:32, Galatians 3:28)

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The Mystery of the Church

Why Was The Church Hidden?

Q. Given the “peak to peak” view of End Times prophecies, why is it that the Church Age is always omitted from the clear statement of prophecy? Also, given the importance of the Church in God’s scheme, why did He fail to tell mankind about it?

A. Remember when God told Abraham He was giving him the Promised Land but Abraham couldn’t have it for 400 years because the sin of the Amorites was not yet complete? (Genesis 15:12-21) . God had given the Amorites some unknown amount time to repent and return to Him, and there were 400 years remaining. He knew they weren’t going to do it, but He kept His promise to them anyway.

It’s the same with Israel and the Church. God promised Israel a Kingdom, and sent His Son to be their King. He knew they would reject Him, but He kept the offer open anyway because He had made a promise. Even after they had put Him to death, Jesus gave them 40 more days to accept him before returning to Heaven. When they didn’t, the Church was born, and the Kingdom came to us in fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy of Matt. 21: 43-44.

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

He spoke this a few days before the crucifixion, at the end of the Parable of the Tenants, where He prophesied His death at their hands.

But they’re not the only ones who didn’t know what the Lord would accomplish through the Church. In 1 Cor. 2:7-8 Paul said that if the rulers of this age (Satan & Co.) had known what was coming they would never have crucified the Lord.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Gospel in Genesis

Cain and Seth

The birth of civilization.

Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city and he named it after his son Enoch (Gen. 4:17). Technically this account is not a children’s story but a fascinating continuation of Cain’s life from which we can draw much insight.

There is a principle in Biblical interpretation called “first mention.” It’s not a big deal but when you go to the place where important ideas first appear and read the passage in context, you’ll often pick up additional understanding. For example the first appearance of blood (Gen. 4:10) is in connection with Abel’s murder and introduces the idea that the blood is the life. In Gen. 9:4-6 this is expanded into instruction on proper meat eating (another first mention) and capital punishment (still another). Placing the blood of the lamb on their door posts preserved life for the Israelites at the first Passover, and the ultimate importance of this idea lies in the phrase “saved by the Blood of the Lamb.” His life exchanged for ours.

My Three Sons

The idea first mentioned in Gen. 4:17 is that of building a city. Disregard the fact that Cain married his sister (who else could she be) and focus on the parallel lines of Cain and Seth because that’s where the real story is. The seventh man from Adam in Cain’s line was Lamech, whose name comes from a root meaning “despairing.” He had three sons; Jabal a livestock breeder, Jubal a musician, Tubal-cain a toolmaker, and a daughter Naamah. We’re not given Naamah’s vocation, but her name comes from a root meaning pleasure. Maybe she founded “the Oldest Profession.” From these children came animal husbandry, manufacturing, the arts and music, and entertainment. In just 7 generations we see a recognizable civilization; cities in which to live, leisure and entertainment, and industry.

By the way, don’t be fooled into thinking of families as they are today with a mom and dad and two kids. These people had 800 year life spans. If on average they only bore children during 200 of these years and only had one every 5 years they would have died with over 2 million descendants each. Multiply that by just the number of people the Bible names and you have a huge population. Remember, they were told to be fruitful and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28).

I’m convinced this early civilization was the result of Cain’s efforts to find a way around the curse the Lord had pronounced on him. Since the ground would no longer yield crops, he and his descendants turned to livestock for their sustenance, wearing their skins and eating their meat, and banded together in cities for protection.

What’s My Line?

Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted (appointed) me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him (Gen. 4:25).” This verse takes us back in time to introduce the line of Seth. His name means appointed and he assumed the role of redeemer since Cain and Abel had both been disqualified. The seventh man down Seth’s line from Adam was Enoch (Gen. 5:18). His name means teaching, and in Gen 5:24 we read that “Enoch walked with God then he was no more, because God took him away.” Three generations later came Noah and the Great Flood; 10 generations from Adam, 1656 years after the creation.

The story of Cain’s line is the story of unregenerate man. Exalting himself in defiance of God’s commandments (Gen. 4:23-24), using God given talents to build an Earth centered civilization in an attempt to glorify himself and defeat God’s plan. The line of Seth tells a story of the faithful (see for more info). Due to man’s sin nature (ever notice how cities are always more sinful than rural areas?) Cain’s line attracted many converts while Seth’s dwindled to a small remnant.

When the Great Flood came all the line of Cain perished along with all the accomplishments of their Earth centered civilization. From the line of Seth only Noah and his family were found faithful. They were preserved through the flood to begin again and the line of Seth ultimately fulfilled God’s promise and brought forth The Redeemer; the Son of God, born of Mary a descendant of Seth through Noah’s son Shem.

What About Enoch?

What we have in the story of Cain and Seth is nothing less than a model of the age of man. At the End of the Age the Great Tribulation will judge humankind according to spiritual lines. Those who have rejected God’s ways in favor of an Earth-centered life will perish (the spiritual line of Cain). A small remnant will be preserved through this judgment to begin again (faithful Israel descended from Seth through Shem). But as it was with Enoch, another group in the line of Seth will be taken by God before the judgement comes. That group is the Church. One body, as Enoch was one body, and like Enoch born at Pentecost, charged with teaching the Gospel (Enoch means teacher) and commanded to walk with God in an unbelieving world. The Church will be taken by God and spared the Great Tribulation just as Enoch was taken by God and spared the Great Flood.

And that’s the adult version.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Israel & Damascus

Damascus’ Date With Destruction

Q. Is there a specific Agricultural season mentioned as to the timing of the Destruction of Damascus? “It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain.” Is that the Bible’s way of making a General statement about Harvesting or can we take that as Literally WHEN the wheat is actually harvested in Israel?

By the way,the insight this website has been given is a gift from God. You are definitely Watching as the Lord Commanded. Thanks.

A. You’re referring to Isaiah 17:4-5 “In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away. It will be as when a reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the grain with his arm—as when a man gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.”

The object of the passage is Jacob, the name God called Israel when they were out of fellowship. Isaiah’s explaining that in the days when Damascus is destroyed, Israel will sustain serious damage as well. So serious that it will look like a wheat field after the reapers have gone through, only a few stalks of grain left standing here and there. This doesn’t mean that the destruction will take place at harvest time, he’s only using a familiar analogy to help them picture the extent of Israel’s damage.

This passage was partially fulfilled in 732 BC when the Assyrians swept through the Aramean capital of Damascus before going on to conquer the Northern Kingdom in 721. Most of the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom (Jacob in the reference above) were resettled to the North and East of Israel leaving behind only those Jews who the Assyrians believed posed no threat to their rule. People from other regions conquered by Assyria were resettled in Israel, and the resulting inter-marriage produced the Samaritans, a people hated by the Jews.

I say partially fulfilled because Damascus didn’t cease to exist as a city and the Assyrians didn’t turn to God or abandon their cities because of the Israelites as verses 7-9 indicate. This is one reason that scholars look to a future fulfillment of Isaiah 17.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Millennium Goverment

Governing Earth In The Millennium

Q. In the Kingdom, who will sit on the throne in earthly Jerusalem? Will it be Jesus or David? As I understand it, God will be present in Jerusalem, but also in the New Jerusalem where the Church will live, as will Jesus. Who will be charged with day-to-day governance of the natural humans in Israel — who will be the “cops”?

And, in the rest of the world — the believing Gentile survivors — who will run things? Does the Bible address this, or are these more of the things we are not told about and will simply have to wait to see what develops?

A. When He comes back, the Lord will be King of the whole Earth. (Zech. 14:9) and will occupy David’s throne. (Luke 1:32-33) There will be someone called “the Prince” who seems to be in charge in Israel (Ezek. 44:3), although God the Father will have His Throne there (Ezek. 43:7). This prince will be a human because he’ll offer sacrifices for his own sins (Ezek. 45:22) and have children (Ezek. 46:16). I believe that in Israel at least, the day-to-day administration will be handled by the priesthood as it was in Old Testament times.

The Gentile nations will be governed by kings (Rev. 21:24) although it’s not clear who they’ll be. The Church will hold the titles of King and Priest, so there may be a role for us in this. Since Jesus is the King of Kings, all who govern on Earth will report to Him.

Who’s On Earth During The Millennium?

Q. I have a question about Isaiah 65:17-25. I know that Isaiah 65:1-16 is about Israel and their rebellion against God, but a friend told me that verses 17-25 are not about Israel, but about the people who will inhabit the earth after the Tribulation, not necessarily Israel. We are having a discussion about who exactly will inhabit the earth at that time.

The question also arises that the raptured Church won’t actually live in heaven, in mansions, but will live on the earth. So, in a nutshell: (1)who lives on the earth after the Tribulation, but before satan is released for 1,000 years, (2) who will live in heaven and will there be mansions, and (3) who will populate the earth after Satan is released?

A. Isaiah 65:17-25 clearly mentions Jerusalem and its people. There’s no justification for thinking of this as anything other than a passage pertaining to Israel in the Millennium. Remember, for Israel the Millennium is the promised Kingdom Age, so it doesn’t make any sense to have a Millennium without them in their land.

Jewish believers who survive the Great Tribulation will live in Israel during the Millennium while believing Gentile survivors will populate the nations. They and their children will live on Earth during the Millennium.

The Church will inhabit the New Jerusalem, and that’s where the mansions are that Jesus spoke of in John 14:1-2. It’s seen coming down from Heaven in Rev. 21 but is never described as actually landing here. Truth be told, it wouldn’t really fit anywhere. Far bigger than all of Israel it will have a foot print as big as western Europe, or all of the Eastern US from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River and Maine to Florida. Besides that it’s 1400 miles tall. Compare that to the tallest building on earth today at 1800 feet. In volume it’s 1/6th the size of Earth.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about what happens after the Millennium following Satan’s release. Its chronological end is in Rev. 20:7-15. Rev. 21-22 take us back to the beginning of the Millennium to show us the New Jerusalem and the restored Israel.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Fig Tree

Question: "Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?"

Answer: The account of Jesus cursing the barren fig tree is found in two different Gospel accounts. First it is seen in Matthew 21:18-22, and then also in Mark 11:12-14. While there are slight differences between the two accounts, they are easily reconciled by studying the passages. Like all Scripture, the key to understanding this passage comes from understanding the context in which it happened. In order to properly understand this passage, we must first look at the chronological and geographical setting. For example when did this occur, what was the setting, and where did it happen? Also, in order to fully understand this passage, we need to have an understanding of the importance of the fig tree as it relates to the nation of Israel, and understand how the fig tree is often used in the Scriptures to symbolically represent Israel. Finally, we must have a basic understanding of the fig tree itself, its growing seasons, etc.

First, in looking at the general chronological setting of the passage, we see that it happened during the week before His crucifixion. Jesus had entered Jerusalem a day earlier amidst the praise and worship of the Jewish people who were looking to Him as the King/Messiah who was going to deliver them from Roman occupation (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11). Now, the next day, Jesus is again on His way to Jerusalem from where He was staying in Bethany. On His way, both Matthew and Mark record that He was hungry and saw a fig tree in the distance that had leaves on it (Mark 11:13). Upon coming to the tree expecting to find something to eat Jesus instead discovered that the fig tree had no fruit on it and cursed the tree saying, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” (Matthew 21:19; Mark 11:14). Matthew records the cursing and the withering of the fig tree all in one account and includes it after the account of Jesus cleansing the Temple of the moneychangers. Mark explains that it actually took place over two days with Jesus cursing the fig tree the first day on the way to cleanse the Temple, and the disciples seeing the tree withered on the second day when they were again going to Jerusalem from Bethany (Mark 11:12-14 and Mark 11:19-20). Of course upon seeing the tree “withered from the roots up,” the disciples were amazed as that would have normally taken several weeks.

Having reviewed the general chronological setting of the story, we can begin to answer some of many questions that are often asked of it. First of all is the question: Why did Jesus curse the fig tree if it was not the right season for figs? The answer to this question can be determined by studying the characteristics of fig trees. By doing that we learn that the fruit of the fig tree generally appears before the leaves and because the fruit is green it sort of blends in with the leaves right up until it is almost ripe. Therefore, when Jesus and His disciples saw from a distance that the tree had leaves, they would have expected it to also have fruit on it even though it was earlier in the season than what would be normal for a fig tree to be bearing fruit. Also, from studying about the way fig trees grow in Israel we learn that each tree would often produce two to three crops of figs each season. There would be an early crop in the spring followed by one or two later crops. In some parts of the area, depending on climate and conditions, it was also possible that a tree might produce fruit ten out of twelve months. This also explains why Jesus and His disciples would be looking for fruit on the fig tree even if it was not in the main growing season. The fact that the tree already had leaves on it even though it was at a higher elevation around Jerusalem, and therefore would have been outside of the normal season for figs, would have seemed to be a good indication that there would also be fruit on it.

As to what the significance of this passage is and what it means, the answer to that is again found in the chronological setting and in understanding how a fig tree is often used symbolically to represent Israel in the Scriptures. First of all, chronologically, Jesus had just arrived at Jerusalem amidst great fanfare and great expectations, but then proceeds to cleanse the Temple and curse the barren fig tree. Both had important significance as to the spiritual condition of Israel. With His cleansing of the Temple and His criticism of the worship that was going on there (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17), Jesus was effectively denouncing Israel’s worship of God. With the cursing of the fig tree He was symbolically denouncing Israel as a nation and in a sense even denouncing unfruitful “Christians.” (That is people who profess to be Christian but have no evidence of a relationship with Christ).

The presence of a fruitful fig tree was considered to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. Likewise, the absence or death of a fig tree would symbolize judgment and rejection. Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, were spiritually barren because of their sins. By cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig tree, causing it to whither and die, Jesus was pronouncing His coming judgment of Israel and demonstrating His power to carry it out. It also teaches the principle that religious profession and observance is not enough to guarantee salvation, unless there is the fruit of genuine salvation evidence in the life of the person. James would later echo this truth when he wrote that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), not just give an appearance of religiosity. God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8).

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Website: www.GotQuestions.org

The Temple

More On The Temple

Q. I seem to remember the Bible speaking of the Jews having had two “Temples.” Was one David’s tabernacle like the one in the Wilderness, and the other Solomon’s Temple.

Is it possible, in the great scheme of things, that the first to be raised will be a portable tabernacle, and that it is there that the AC will declare himself to be God? That would considerably advance the nearness of End Times since there would be no need to wait to resolve the political aspects of actually building a Temple of stone? Are we sure that it is the formal stone Temple that is referred to in prophecy of the End Times?

A. The Jews actually built two permanent stone buildings on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The first was built by Solomon in about 900 BC and was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The second was built by Nehemiah after the Babylonian captivity and was substantially remodeled by King Herod in the time of the Lord’s first Coming. It was destroyed by the Romans in 68-69 AD.

The next Temple to be built is described in Ezekiel 40-47 and is likewise a stone building. I suppose there could be a temporary structure in the mean time, but the Bible doesn’t specifically describe one.

By the way, the tabernacle used by the Jews up to the time of the first Temple was the same one Moses built in the wilderness. It lasted 400 years.

Third Temple Or Fourth?

Q. To quote from your recent Revelation study; This Temple (The one the Jews will build for use in the tribulation) will be the source of the living water that begins flowing on the day the Lord returns (Zech 14:8). After a cleansing and re-dedication similar to the one memorialized in the Feast of Hanukkah, it will be used during the Millennium. It’s purpose will be to recall the Lord’s work at the cross and provide the perspective for children born during the Kingdom Age to choose salvation. Acts 15:14-16 confirms that after the Lord has chosen a people from among the gentiles for Himself (the church) He will return and re-build David’s fallen Tabernacle (the Temple). This is the Third Temple, so vividly described in Ezekiel 40-48.

So reads one paragraph from your recent newsletter but there seems to be some discrepancy here, if the temple built by the Jews is to be (used during the millennium) what is the purpose of Jesus building the temple which you call “The third” ? [Surely the one Jesus builds is the fourth!] Where does the bible say when it will be destroyed so the final one can be built?

A. You’re reading the passage from Acts 15 as if would the Lord would personally come and build the temple. But that’s never been the case. He didn’t personally build any of the temples. The full context of the passage means that He was pausing to take a people for His name’s sake from among the Gentiles after which He would return His attention to Israel and cause a Temple to be built. It’s the third Temple.

And as far as it’s destruction goes, that was my point. The Bible never describes it’s destruction, only its defilement. It will be cleansed and rededicated for use in the Millennium.

Where’s The Temple Going To Be?

Q. Your article “the Coming Temple” mentions it being where a Tabernacle once stood in Shiloh but I don’t see how this can really take the place of where the Temple of Solomon came to be built. There is no doubt that God dwelt in King Solomon’s temple and while God is not confined to one place I really don’t see the any push for other sites to be considered.

In doing some key word searches and such regarding King Solomon’s Temple, the second Temple (of which Herods’s renovations are considered part) and the “third temple” some questions come up. All references, to include the Temple Institute in Israel, put the location of the temple where the current Muslim site is. There is no mention of Shiloh or another possible location off that mount. There are three variants as to its position on the “temple mount” but they are all on the Temple Mount.

While it is puzzling how the temple would not be destroyed in the ensuing splitting of the Mt. of Olives could the valley not extend all the way there in a straight line, rather veer off on a tangent?

A. You’re taking the same approach as many others, and that’s the problem. The Jews call the next Temple the 3rd Temple and Ezekiel’s Temple, but no one looks in the Book of Ezekiel to see where it will be. Instead they focus on where the previous two temples were. Some Christians even add another Temple into the mix, calling Ezekiel’s temple the 4th one, and build their new 3rd Temple in one of the three possible locations on the Temple mount.

I’ve attended several Temple conferences in Jerusalem, with leadng Jews and Christians in attendance, and heard all the arguments for this. They make some reasonable human assumptions, but in my opinion there’s nothing in Scripture to support them.

Some years ago Clarence Larkin wrote a book entitled Dispensational Truth. On page 92-93 of that book is the best map I’ve seen for locating Ezekiel’s Temple. It’s based on instructions given in Ezekiel 48 that you can even plot yourself if you’re of a mind to. Either way, you’ll see that it’s in Shiloh, not Jerusalem.

A Question About Ezekiel’s Temple

Q. Can you explain more about Ezek 40-47 representing the tribulation temple and not the millennial temple and the nation of Israel being in the land during the kingdom?

A. Actually I believe the Temple described in Ezekiel 40-47 will be for both the Tribulation and the Millennium. I think it will be defiled by the anti Christ and then cleansed just like the 2nd Temple was defiled by Antiochus and then cleansed by the Maccabees. I take this view from the fact the the river flowing out from under the Temple mentioned in Ezekiel 47 is said to begin flowing on the day of the Lord’s return (Zech 14:8) and the earthquake mentioned earlier in chapter 14 will have destroyed the current temple mount.

I think that the anti Christ, in enforcing His covenant with Israel, will use Ezekiel 48 to point out to the Jews that their own Scriptures call for the 3rd Temple to be built north of Jerusalem in Shiloh, not on the current Temple Mount. This will make the Moslem presence on the current Temple Mount irrelevant.

Ezekiel 43 contains specific references to God dwelling in the Land with Israel forever. Ezekiel 48 describes the Nation of Israel as occupying all the land west of the Jordan River and extending from about 100 miles north of Damascus to about 100 miles south of Jerusalem during the Kingdom Age, what we call the Millennium. If you plot this on a map of the Middle East, you can see which area each tribe receives, and you’ll also see that the Holy City and Temple area are to the north of the current city of Jerusalem. My study called the Coming Temple will give you more detail on this.

http://www.gracethrufaith.com/ikvot/the-coming-temple

The Coming Temple

Most people believe a new Jewish Temple would require destruction of the Dome of the Rock. What does the Bible say?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

According to Prophecies in Daniel 9:27, Matt 24:15 and 2 Thes 2:4, a Temple will exist in Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. This is confirmed by Revelation 11:1 which describes John measuring a Temple during the Tribulation. Its location is the “Holy City.” Chapter 11 also introduces the 2 witnesses who preach in the “Great City” and are ultimately killed there, their bodies left lying in the street. The Great City is identified as the place where the Lord was crucified: Jerusalem. But is Jerusalem also the Holy City?

According to Zechariah 14:6-9 on the day of the Lord’s return an earthquake will split the Mt. of Olives in two along an East-West line that creates a great valley through the center of Jerusalem. Immediately a river will fill the valley creating a waterway from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. If the Lord returns to the same area of the Mt. of Olives from which He left, as suggested by Acts 1:11, the earthquake creating this East-West valley will destroy the current Temple mount and anything that may be standing upon it.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 describes a great river flowing from under the south side of the Temple and then eastward to the Dead Sea during a period of time that most scholars believe has not occurred yet. Revelation 22:1-2 confirms this. If as it appears, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Revelation all describe the same river, then an interesting scenario begins to emerge.

This scenario requires a Temple to be present on the day the Lord returns, but since the current Temple mount will have been destroyed by the earthquake mentioned above, this Temple must be somewhere else. Since the river originates under the Temple and flows from its south side before heading East and West, the Temple must be north of the newly created river valley.

Where Are The 12 Tribes?

Plotting the land grants for the 12 tribes given in the 48th chapter of Ezekiel on a map of Israel places the precincts of the Holy City somewhat north of the current City of Jerusalem. This new location is the ancient City of Shiloh, where the Tabernacle stood for nearly 400 years after the Israelites first conquered the Land. This is the Holy City and its name is Jehovah Shammah according to the last verse in Ezekiel. The Hebrew translates as “the LORD is here.”

If accurate, this location would meet all the requirements for the Temple mentioned in the above references. The current Temple Mount in Jerusalem would not.

According to Ezekiel 44:6-9, this Temple will have been defiled in a way never seen in history, therefore at a time yet future to us. A foreigner un-circumsized in heart (neither Christian) and flesh (nor Jewish) will have been given charge of the sanctuary while offering sacrifices. If we understand the chronology of Ezekiel, this event will have taken place after both the 1948 re-gathering prophesied in 36-37 and the national wake-up call prophesied in 38-39 but before the Millennial Kingdom begins. The only event we know of that fits that chronology is the Great Tribulation. This is confirmed by Paul’s prophecy of 2 Thes. 2:4 where the anti christ sets himself up in the Temple proclaiming himself to be god.

Here then is a rough outline of events. Following Israel’s return to God after the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the Jewish people will re-establish their covenant (old not new) with Him. This will require a return to Levitical practices and so a Temple will be built. This is the Temple spoken of by Daniel and Revelation. Following instructions given by Ezekiel and needing to avoid the enormous problems a Jerusalem Temple would create in the Moslem world, this Temple will be located north of Jerusalem in Shiloh. It will be defiled in the middle of the last 7 years as outlined in Daniel 9:24-27, Ezekiel 44:6-9, Matt 24:15 and 2 Thes 2:4 kicking off the Great Tribulation, but will be cleansed by living water that begins flowing on the day the Lord returns (Zech 14:8). This temple will be used during the Millennium to memorialize the Lord’s work at the cross and provide the perspective for children born during the Kingdom Age to choose salvation just as you and I have had the perspective of the Lord’s Supper in making our choice. Remember, He said, “Do this in memory of Me until I come.” Acts 15:14-16 confirms that after the Lord has chosen a people from among the gentiles for Himself (the church) He will return and re-build David’s fallen Tabernacle (the Temple). This is the Millennial Temple so vividly described in Ezekiel 40-48.

The New Jerusalem

The Ezekiel passage also solves the Jerusalem / New Jerusalem problem. For as long as I’ve been studying these things, there has been debate over the issue of the New Jerusalem. Some wonder how the Lord could permit redeemed believers and non- believing natural humans to co-exist in the Millennium. (The rotten apple spoiling the barrel theory) Others wonder how a city with a foot print 1400 miles square and tall could be located in Israel when the whole country won’t be that big.

Carefully examining Rev 21 and 22, we notice that John never actually says the city arrives on earth. We are only told he sees it coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride. (Not that the city IS the bride, but that as with a bride on her wedding day, no effort has been spared to make it look its absolute best.)

I don’t believe the city ever rests on the Earth’s surface, but rather orbits in the proximity of Earth, like a satellite or perhaps another moon.

Also comparing the descriptions of New Jerusalem with Jehovah Shammah we see some similarities but enough differences to refute the notion that John and Ezekiel described the same place. Compare the following:

New Jerusalem (All verses from Rev.)	Jehovah Shammah (All verses from Ezekiel)
12 gates named after Israel (21:12)	12 gates named after Israel (48:30)
12 foundations named after Apostles (21:14)	Foundation not described
1400 miles square and tall (21:16)	One mile square (48:30)
Coming Down from heaven (21:2)	Located in Israel on Earth (40:2)
No Temple … God and the Lamb are its Temple (21:22)	Temple just north of the city (40:2)
No sin; nothing impure will ever enter (21:27)	Daily sin offerings in the Temple (45:13-15,17)
No more death (21:4)	Still death (44:25 also Isa 65:20)
No natural beings … only the perfected (21:27)	Natural Beings (46:16)

With the differentiation of these two Holy Cities, the apparent conflict between Jewish and Christian eschatology is resolved. Israel was promised that one day GOD would come to Earth to dwell among them forever, while the Church is promised that Jesus will come to take us to heaven to live with Him there. Both promises come true.

Since Ezekiel specifically quoted the Lord’s promise to dwell among the Israelites forever (43:7) and then described the new Holy City, while Jesus promised to return for the Church to take us to be with Him (John 14:1-3), they must have been talking about two different destinations. They were. Heaven is the New Jerusalem where we will dwell with the Lord forever, while the Holy City on Earth is Jehovah Shammah where God will dwell in the midst of His people Israel forever.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com