| A STUDY ON THE
RAPTURE
Section
2 - God's Different Operations
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The
Different Evangels of Scripture
God's
Different Operations
Scripture shows that God
operates differently at different times and with different people. He reveals
Himself to His creation in strategic stages, each phase requiring a different
procedure to reveal another facet of Himself.
God's
Operation Among The Circumcision
Throughout
the ministry of Jesus and that of the twelve apostles, God dealt mercifully
with individuals from
within the chosen nation - the lost sheep
of the house of Israel - with only a conspicuous few from outside it who
were allowed to have the crumbs of Israel's table (Mt.15:27).
Mt.15:24
I
was not commissioned
except for the lost sheep of the house
of Israel.
Mt.10:5-7
These
twelve Jesus commissions, charging them, saying,
"Into
a road of the nations you may not pass forth,
and
into a city of the Samaritans you may not be entering.
Yet
be going rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Now
going, herald, saying that `Near is the kingdom of the heavens!'
For its
track record of obstinacy and unbelief during His ministry on earth, Jesus
Christ denounced that generation of Israel, as a nation, as 'wicked and
an adulteress'.
Mt.12:38,39
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him saying,
"Teacher,
we want to see
a sign from you." Yet He, answering, said to them,
"A
generation, wicked and
an
adulteress, for a sign is seeking,
and
a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Note:
the Greek 'moichalis'
should be translated an adulteress,
and not adulterous as most versions have it. See Mt.16:4;
Mk.8:38; Rom.7:3; Jas.4:4.
This was
a reference to Yahweh's figurative marriage to Israel and to her subsequent
waywardness. See Isa.54:5; Jer.3:14; Ezek.16:8,14; Jer.3:20, 5:11, etc.
Israel of old had been guilty of a recognisable idolatry in going after
other gods, preferring to worship and obey these false deities instead
of the True God. This generation of Christ's ministry, however, were
caught up in the more subtle form of it that is less realised for what
it really is. These preferred to obey the dictates and doctrines of men
rather
than the directions of God.
Isa.29:13
KJV Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch
as this people draw near [me] with their mouth,
and
with
their lips do honour me,
but
have removed their heart far from me,
and
their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Mk.7:6-9
KJV He answered and said unto them,
Well
hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as
it is written,
This
people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is
far from me.
Howbeit
in
vain do they worship me,
teaching
[for] doctrines the commandments of men.
For
laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men,
[as]
the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
And
he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God,
that
ye may keep your own tradition.
Mt.15:6-9
KJV
Thus
have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
[Ye]
hypocrites,
well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth,
and
honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from
me.
But
in
vain they do worship me,
teaching
[for] doctrines the commandments of men.
But it
was to these very same people that message of salvation was re-issued.
At Pentecost Peter’s address was to 'Men! Jews!’ (Act:2:14), 'Men!
Israelites!’
(Act.2:22), 'Men! Brethren!’ (Act.2:29), and 'all the house of
Israel’ (Act.2:36). To these people of the Circumcision Covenant,
to whom the Law was given in the further covenant at Sinai, Peter’s evangel
established
the formula for their salvation.
Act.2:38-40
Now Peter is averring to them, "Repent and
be
baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the pardon
of your sins,
and
you
shall be obtaining
the gratuity of the holy spirit.
For
to you is the promise and to your children, and to all those afar,
whosoever
the Lord our God should be calling to Him
Besides,
with more and different words, he conjures and entreated them, saying,
"Be
saved from this crooked generation!"
Individuals
were called out of the nation to become believers while Israel, as a
nation, rejects His message. Blessings to individual non-Jews are incidental
to this ministry (Mt.15:22-27).
God's
Operation Among The Nations
But,
with the call of Paul (Act.9:1-6), a crossroads is reached. God commissions
him to minister, not only to those of Israel, but also to
kings as well as to the nations! The emphasis in his ministry, as
Scripture reiterates, is to be to the nations.
Act.9:15
Yet the Lord said to him
"Go,
for he is a choice instrument of Mine,
to
bear My name before both
the nations and kings,
besides
the
sons of Israel,…
Act.22:21
He said to me, `Go! For I shall be delegating you afar
to the nations.'
Act.26:15-18
Now I say, `Who art Thou, Lord?'
Now
the Lord said, `I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.
But
rise and stand on your feet, for I was seen by you for this,
to
fix upon you before for
a deputy and a witness
both
of what you have perceived and that in which I will be seen by you,
extricating
you from the people
and
from the nations,
to whom I am commissioning you,
to
open their eyes, to turn them about from darkness to light
and
from
the authority of Satan to God, for them to get a pardon of sins
and
an allotment among those who have been hallowed by faith that is
in Me.'
This is
a radical change in God’s operations. There is now a distinct ministry
among the individuals of the other nations who all this time have been
left aside by God. We should be prepared, therefore, to look for major
changes
in the processes
within this revelation.
To
Israel God had been revealing Himself, giving to her distinctive privileges
which included that of an elaborate system of approach to Him.
Rom.9:3-5
…
my brethren, my relatives according to the flesh,
who
are Israelites,
whose
is the sonship
and
the
glory
and
the
covenants
and
the
legislation
and
the
divine service
and
the
promises;
whose
are the fathers,
and
out
of whom is the Christ according to the flesh,
But it
was not so for the nations. To the people of the nations God had not previously
revealed nor identified Himself. They had no way, therefore, of knowing
Him or of approaching Him even for worship. In fact, to them, He was until
then ‘the Unknowable God’ and a totally new experience.
1Cor.12:2
You
are aware that when you were of the nations,
you
were led away to the voiceless idols, as ever you were led.
Gal.4:8
But then, indeed, having no perception of God,
you
were slaves of those who, by nature, are not gods.
Col.1:21
And
you, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension,
by
wicked acts,
Eph.2:12
you were, in that era, apart from Christ,
being
alienated
from
the citizenship of Israel,
and
guests
of the promise covenants,
having
no
expectation,
and
without
God in the world.
Act.17:23
For, passing through and contemplating the objects of your veneration,
I
found a pedestal also, on which had been inscribed,
`To
an Unknowable
God.'
To
Whom then, you are ignorantly devout, This One am I announcing
to you.
The revelation
given through the ministry of Paul among the nations initiates an administration
of Grace which is now in effect. This evangel lays aside confidence
in the self as well as personal effort and accomplishment as qualifications
for God’s favour. It speaks of God’s gracious gift of salvation,
of
His achievements, of His will and counsel, of His
intention in all things (Rom.9:19-24)!
Eph.2:8,9
For
in
grace, through faith, are you saved,
and
this is not out of you; it is God's approach present,
not
of works, lest anyone should be boasting.
Eph.2:10
For
His achievement are we,
being
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which
God
makes ready beforehand,
that we should be walking in them
Eph.1:11
…the
One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of
His will,
Rom.8:28-30
Now we are aware that God is working all together
for
the good of those who are loving God,
who
are called according to the purpose that,
whom
He
foreknew,
He designates beforehand, also,
to
be conformed to the image of His Son,
for
Him to be Firstborn among many brethren.
Now
whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also,
and
whom He calls, these
He justifies also;
now
whom He justifies, these
He glorifies also
Nothing
qualifies, and nothing
disqualifies, anyone from being a recipient
of God’s calling and justification! It is only a matter of
God's
grace,
of His Own choice and determination. Under this evangel,
grace is defined in contrast to works of any sort.
Rom.11:6
Now
if it is in grace, it is no longer out of works,
else the grace is coming to be no longer grace.
Now, if it is out of works, it is no longer grace,
else the work is no longer work.
Rom.9:15,16
"I shall be merciful to whomever I may be merciful,
and
I shall be pitying whomever
I may be pitying."
Consequently,
then, it is
not of him who is willing, nor of him who is
racing,
but
of God, the Merciful.
Partly
because of ambivalence in the translation of an often-used word, an important
part of our understanding of revelation has been inhibited, and even distorted!
The Greek 'eua(n)ggelion' is variously translated as 'gospel', 'glad
tidings', 'good news', and 'good tidings', often within the same version
(such as the King James). Such arbitrary deviations in rendering cloud
a very importnt revelation. A consistent translation, however, reveals
that there are a number of different
good messages that are
addressed to different people.
a.
The Evangel (KJV: Gospel) which God brought to Abraham
said that in him would all the nations be blessed. It did not speak of
the birth, life, death, burial, or
resurrection of Jesus, nor of the necessity to 'accept the Lord Jesus'
as personal Saviour for the
salvation of the individual.
Gal.3:8
Now the scripture, perceiving before that God is justifying the nations
by faith,
brings
before an evangel to Abraham, that In you shall all the nations
be blessed.
b.
The Evangel (KJV: Glad tidings) which Gabriel brought to Zechariah
spoke of the greatness and mission of John the baptist rather than of the
essential, axial, position
of Jesus Christ in God’s scheme of salvation.
Lk.1:13-19
Now the messenger said to him,
"Fear
not, Zechariah, because hearkened to is your petition,
and
your
wife Elizabeth shall be bearing you a son,
and
you shall be calling his name John. And there will be joy for you,
and
exultation, and many shall be rejoicing at his birth,
for
he shall be great in the sight of the Lord.
And
wine and intoxicant may he under no circumstances be drinking,
and
with holy spirit shall he be filled while still of his mother's womb.
And
many of the sons of Israel shall he be turning back to the Lord their God.
And
he shall be coming before in His sight in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to
turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and
the stubborn to the prudence of the just,
to
make ready a people formed for the Lord."
And
Zechariah said to the messenger, "By what shall I know this?
For
I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days."
And
answering, the messenger said to him,
"I
am Gabriel, who stands before God,
and
I was dispatched to speak to you and to bring you this evangel.
c.
The Evangel (KJV: Good tidings) brought by a messenger to the shepherds
spoke only of the birth of Jesus, and not of the sufferings, death and
resurrection through which
salvation is effected.
Lk.2:10-12
And the messenger said to them, "Fear not, for lo!
I
am bringing you an evangel of great joy which will be for the entire
people,
for
today was brought forth to you a Saviour, Who is Christ, the Lord,
in
the city of David. And this is the sign to you:
you
will be finding a Babe, swaddled and lying in a manger.
d.
The Evangel (KJV: Good tidings)
which Timothy brought to
Paul
informed him of the faith and welfare of the Thessalonians. This good message
cannot, for obvious
reasons, be the very same message that Paul himself had first preached
to them.
1Thes.3:6
Yet
at present, because of Timothy's coming to us from you,
and
bringing us the evangel of your faith and your love,
and
that you have a good remembrance of us always,
longing
to see us even as we also you—
e.
The Evangel (KJV: Gospel) of the Circumcision contrasts directly
with
the Evangel (KJV: Gospel) of the Uncircumcision
as ‘a different
gospel which is not another’.
Gal.2:7,8
But,
on the contrary,
perceiving
that I have been entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision,
according
as Peter of the Circumcision
(for
He Who operates in Peter
for the apostleship of the Circumcision
operates
in me also for the nations),
Gal.1:6-9
I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred
from
that which calls you in the grace of Christ, to a different evangel,
which
is not another, except it be that some who are disturbing you
want
also to distort the evangel of Christ.
But
if ever we also, or a messenger out of heaven,
should
be bringing an evangel to you beside that which we bring
to you,
let
him be anathema!
As
we have declared before and at present I am saying again,
if
anyone is bringing you an evangel beside that which you accepted,
let
him be anathema!
f.
The Evangel of the Untraceable Riches of Christ preached by Paul to the
nations
and through it revealed secrets, hitherto not even hinted at in revelation,
not even to the celestial
hosts of heaven.
Eph.3:8-12
To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace:
to
bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations,
and
to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret,
which
has been concealed from the eons in God, Who creates all,
that
now may be made known to the sovereignties and the authorities
among
the celestials, through the ecclesia, the multifarious wisdom of God,
in
accord with the purpose of the eons, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our
Lord;
in
Whom we have boldness and access with confidence, through His faith
g.
The Eonian Evangel (KJV: everlasting gospel) announced by a messenger
over the earth to warn people to worship God (as Creator and not
as Redeemer) or face His further
wrath. It counters the declaration of the Antichrist who demands worship
for himself
(Rev.13:15-17). It is specifically for that particular eon.
Rev.14:6,7
And I perceived another messenger flying in mid-heaven,
having
an
eonian evangel to bring to those situated on the earth,
and
to every nation and tribe and language and people,
saying
with a loud voice, "Be ye afraid of God and give glory to Him,
for
the hour of His judging came; and
worship
the Maker of heaven and the land and the sea and the springs of water."
(Adapted from 'The Gospel Of Our Salvation' by Adlai Loudy)
The
Different Evangels of Scripture
The
Contrasting Evangels
What
is most relevant from the above facts for our present consideration is
that of the two contrasting evangels as in (e) above. Here, again, inaccurate
translation of a small word has hindered the correct cutting of Scripture
for the truth. The Greek definitely has the preposition in the genitive,
'of the Circumcision', and 'of the Uncircumcision'!
This tells us that these are two messages, one an evangel 'belonging
to' the Circumcision, and
another
an evangel 'belonging to' the
Uncircumcision! When we observe this distinction, we are alerted to further
differences in detail and in character of the two evangels.
The
Different Commissions
In
juxtaposition as they are in the passage above (e), they bring to our notice
that there are two
separate commissions corresponding to the two
separate
evangels. Peter, James, and John were directed to carry the evangel that
belongs to the Circumcision to those of the Circumcision. On the other
hand, Paul is to carry the evangel
that belongs to the Uncircumcision
to those of the Uncircumcision. Each commission and its corresponding evangel
was to remain intact. Because both parties at that meeting recognised
God's hand in the situation, rather than competition, there was true fellowship
and understanding.
Gal.2:7-9
But,
on the contrary,
perceiving
that I
have been entrusted with the evangel
of
the
Uncircumcision,
according
as Peter
of the Circumcision
(for
He Who operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision
operates
in me also for the nations),
and,
knowing the grace which is being given to me,
James
and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars,
give
to me and Barnabas
the right hand of fellowship,
that
we, indeed, are to be for the nations, yet they for the Circumcision--
The
Different Positions on Circumcision and the Law
The
Covenant of Circumcision, for the people of Israel, is to be observed throughout
their generations. For them, participation in this rite is essential!
Gen.17:9-11
And
saying is the Elohim to Abraham,
And
you shall keep My covenant,
you
and your seed after you for their generations.
This
is My covenant, which you shall keep between Me and you
and
your seed after you for their generations:
Circumcise
to yourselves every male.
And
circumcised shall you be in the flesh of your foreskin.
And
it comes to be for
a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
It is
abundantly clear in Scripture that God's covenant with Israel through Moses
at Sinai, termed the Old Covenant, and the observance of the law in its
codes and clauses, is just as essential to the salvation of the Circumcision.
For them it has not been abrogated, it still holds!
Mt.5:17,18
"You should
not infer that I came to demolish the law
or the prophets.
I
came not to demolish,
but to fulfill.
For
verily, I am saying to you, Till heaven and earth should be passing
by,
one
iota or one serif may by no means be passing by from the law
till
all should be occurring.
It is
clear that these two covenants are tied together and hold together for
those of the Circumcision. The law is looked on as a whole, as one
unit.
There is no freedom to accept parts of it and omit others.
Gal.5:3
Now
I am attesting again to every man who is circumcising,
that
he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Jas.2:10
For anyone who should be keeping the whole law,
yet
should be tripping in
one
thing,
has become liable for all.
Mt.5:19
Whosoever,
then, should be annulling one of the least of these precepts,
and
should be teaching men thus,
the
least in the kingdom of the heavens shall he be called.
Yet
whoever should be doing and teaching them,
he
shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.
And, long
after the Ascension of Christ, after years of preaching of the apostles,
this principle still held true for the Circumcision. Paul was suspect of
teaching the Jews who lived amongst the nations against this tenet.
Act.21:20,21
"You are beholding, brother,
how
many tens of thousands there are among the Jews who have believed,
and
all
are inherently zealous for the law?
Now
they were instructed concerning you
that
you
teach all the Jews among the nations apostasy from Moses,
telling
them not to be circumcising their children,
nor
yet to be walking in the customs.
This charge
he, of course, truthfully denied! He did not teach any abrogation of the
law to the Jews! But, because it was an integral part of their evangel,
this is exactly what he taught those of the nations!
1Cor.7:18
Was
anyone called having been circumcised?
Let
him not be de-circumcised.
Is
anyone called in uncircumcision?
Let
him not circumcise.
Gal.5:6
For
in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is availing anything,
nor
uncircumcision,
but
faith,
operating through love.
Gal.6:15
For in Christ Jesus
neither
circumcision
nor
uncircumcision is anything,
but
a
new creation.
Problems
arose when believers of the Circumcision attempted to impose the clauses
of their evangel on those of the nations who were believing in Christ.
This issue was firmly settled by the assembly of believers in Jerusalem
at the first Council held.
Act.15:1,2
And some, coming down from Judea, taught the brethren that,
"If
you should not be circumcised after the custom of Moses,
you
can not be saved."
Now
as Paul and Barnabas come to have no slight commotion and
questioning
with them,
they
prescribe that Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them
are
to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this
question.
Act.15:4,5
Now
coming along into Jerusalem,
they
were received by the ecclesia and the apostles and the elders.
Besides,
they inform them of whatever God does with them.
Yet
some from the sect of the Pharisees who have believed rise up, saying
that
they
must be circumcised, besides charging them to keep the law
of Moses.
The outcome
was an affirmation of the fact that those of the nations who were coming
into the fellowship were not subject to the law and were not
to be burdened by its observance. In order to facilitate fellowship among
both parties of believers, however, certain concessions on the part
of the Uncircumcision were recommended.
Act.15:10
Why, then, are you now trying God,
by
placing
a yoke on the neck of the disciples
which
neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear?
Act.15:19,20
"Wherefore I decide not to be harassing those from the nations
who
are turning back to God, but to write an epistle to them
to
be abstaining from ceremonial pollution with idols,
and
prostitution, and what is strangled, and blood.
Act.15:24
…we hear that some coming out from us disturb you
with words,
dismantling
your souls, whom we gave no assignment,
Act.15:28
For it seems good to the holy spirit and to us
in
nothing to be placing one more burden on you save these
essentials:
to
be abstaining from idol sacrifices, and blood,
and
what is strangled and prostitution;
from
which, carefully keeping yourselves, you will be well engaged. Farewell!"
It must
be noticed that this judgment was not directed to those of the Circumcision.
There was no change in their position with regard to these factors
of circumcision and the keeping of the law..
Herein,
then, is one of the major differences between the two contrasted evangels!
Though circumcision and obedience to the law were an integral part of the
evangel of the Circumcision, these were totally alien to that of
the Uncircumcision!
Different
Positions on Faith and Works
The
evangel of the Circumcision holds that faith by itself is inadequate for
salvation. It had to be accompanied by works.
Jas.2:14
What
is the benefit, my brethren,
if
anyone should be saying he has faith, yet may have no works?
That
faith can not save him.
Jas.2:21-24
Abraham, our father,
was
he not justified by works when offering up his son Isaac
on the altar?
You
are observing that faith worked together with his works,
and
by
works was faith perfected.
And
fulfilled was the scripture which is saying,
Now
"Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness,"
and
he was called "the friend of God."
You
see that by works a man is being justified, and not
by faith only.
The evangel
of the Uncircumcision, on the other hand, asserts that we are saved by
faith - yet not by our faith, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ which is given to us by God. Out of this given saving
faith arises our own faith. Our faith is then the evidence
that we have been saved!
Rom.3:27
…For we are reckoning
a
man to be justified by faith apart from works of law.
Eph.2:8,9
For
in
grace, through faith, are you saved,
and
this is not out of you; it is God's approach
present,
not
of works,
lest anyone should be boasting.
Gal.2:16
having perceived that a man is not being justified by works
of law,
except
alone
through
the faith of Christ Jesus,
that
we may be justified by the faith of Christ and
not
by works of law,
seeing
that by works of law shall no flesh at all be justified.
Rom.4:2,3
For
if
Abraham was justified by acts, he has something to boast in,
but
not toward God. For what is the scripture saying?
Now
"Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to
him for righteousness."
Rom.11:6
Now if it is in grace, it is no longer out of works,
else the grace is coming to be no longer grace.
Now, if it is out of works, it is no longer grace,
else the work is no longer work.
Rom.4:4,5
Now
to the worker,
the wage is
not reckoned as a favor, but as
a debt.
Yet
to him who is not
working,
yet
is believing on Him Who is justifying the irreverent,
his faith is reckoned for righteousness.
Rom.4:10,11
How
then, is it reckoned? Being in circumcision or uncircumcision?
Not
in circumcision, but
in
uncircumcision.
And
he obtained the sign of circumcision,
a
seal of the righteousness
of the faith which was in uncircumcision,
for
him to be the father of all those who are believing through uncircumcision,
for
righteousness
to be reckoned to them,
It is
not that we do not have good works to do, but that these are not
qualifying
factors for salvation. They are the outcome, the outpouring, of our
salvation!
Phil.2:12,13
… with fear and trembling,
be
carrying your own salvation into effect,
for
it
is God Who is operating in you
to
will
as well as to work for the sake of His delight.
Eph.2:10
For
His achievement are we,
being
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which
God
makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.
Where
the evangel of the Circumcision demands an evidence of good works as qualification
for salvation, that of the Uncircumcision insists that God's grace through
His gift of faith is more than adequate!
What
we have considered so far should be sufficient to establish the fact that
the two evangels are two different messages from God to two different
sets of believers! We should, therefore, be alerted to revealed differences
in operation and in expectation, as well as in the schedule that leads
to its fulfilment!
November 2001
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....Section
1 - Introduction
Proceed to:
....Section
3 - The Different Operations of Holy
Spirit
...................
- The Nations Are Being Called Now
...................
- What Lies Ahead
....Section
4 - Post-Rapture Operations
....Section
5 - The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
...................
- Comparison Between Rapture and Second Coming
....Section
6 - Conclusions
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