JOSEPHUS (born 37ad- died 100ad)- was the son of Matthias, a Jewish Priest. JOSEPHUS also was a Jewish Priest from Jerusalem. He was not a Christian. He fought in the Roman war of 66-70ad. He was Jewish military leader in Galilee. When the Romans invaded and killed thousands, the remaining Jewish soldiers in Galilee who had managed to elude the Romans, and all agreed to commit suicide rather than be taken prisoners. JOSEPHUS was the last man standing and instead of killing himself, he surrendered to the Roman army led by Vespasian and his son Titus, in July 67ad.
JOSEPHUS predicted that Vespasian would later become Ceasar. When Nero committed suicide in 68ad, Vespasian was eventually Caesar. Titus then took command of the Roman armies in the war. Vespasian subsequently gave JOSEPHUS his freedom in 69ad. and commissioned him to write an accurate history of the war without prejudice for either side.
In 71ad JOSEPHUS arrived in Rome with Titus and his victory party. He became a Roman citizen and a client of the Flavian family. He is often referred to as JOSEPHUS FLAVIUS. It was while Rome, under Flavian support, that JOSEPHUS wrote his works. JOSEPHUS was an important apologist in Rome for the Jewish people and culture. He remained a loyal and law-observing Jew.
In his book “The War of The Jews”, JOSEPHUS provided a detailed history of the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by September 70 ad at the hands of the Romans and Jewish zealots. He explained in great detail the actions of both sides that led to mass killings of men, and children. He also depicted the abominations in the temple and the wicked conduct by the Jewish Zealots, who often fought among themselves for power during the years of the war. After the war, mop-up operations by the Romans continued until 73 ad.
In God’s eyes, according to His plans, TRUE JEWS are those who are born-again spiritually. This includes the believing Israelites, (Remnant), along with the believing Gentiles. A TRUE JEW is one inwardly by faith in Christ, not outwardly by fleshly birth.
“For he is NOT A JEW who is one OUTWARDLY, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but HE IS A JEW who is one INWARDLY; and circumcision is that OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, not the letter; whose praise is not from men but FROM GOD.” – Rom 2:28-29
Paul said that he was grieved in his heart because his countrymen according to the flesh. He was referring to the physical Jews, who were unbelievers. He was not referring to the TRUE JEWS (born-again believing spiritual Jews). He said that the physical Israelites by the flesh, to whom pertains the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the services of God, and the promises, of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, CHRIST CAME, who is over all. He is the eternally blessed God. – Rom 9:1-5
Paul said that they are NOT ALL ISREAL WHO ARE OF ISREAL. Neither are they all children because they are the physical seed of Abraham. But TRUE JEWS are those who are children of the promise who are counted as the seed.
“But it is not that the word of God has taken on effect. for the are NOT ALL ISREAL WHO ARE OF ISREAL, nor are they all children because they are the (physical) see of Abraham; but ‘IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD; but the CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE (spiritual Israel) are counted as THE SEED.” -Rom 9:6-8; Gen 21:21
TRUE JEWS are those who are in Christ by faith. This includes believing Jews and believing Gentiles. These are the sons of Abraham to whom the promises have been made. The Jews in the physical nation of Israel are NOT the sons of Abraham to whom God have the promises and blessings. Instead, it is to Abraham and his Seed, who is Christ.
“Therefore, know that only those WHO ARE OF FAITH are SONS OF ABRAHAM. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify THE GENTILES by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand saying, “IN YOU ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED.” So then those WHO ARE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH BELIEVING ABRAHAM.” -Gal 3:7-9; Gen 12:3
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does NOT say, ‘And to seeds’, as many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ WHO IS CHRIST.”- Gal 3:16; Gen 22:18
The physical nation of Israel HAS PASSED AWAY in God’s plan. All of the Old Testament promises to Israel are for His TRUE JEWS, who are in Christ by faith, and we are called Christians. God will not go back to the physical nation of Israel 2000 years after Paul wrote his epistles. To do so would make Christ of no effect. He fulfilled all of the law, and He HAS RECEIVED THE PROMISE! These promises are not for anyone else or a nation. IT IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST BY FAITH! known as TRUE JEWS and are called Christians.
That is why Paul wrote that “ALL ISREAL WILL BE SAVED”. He was referring to all of believing Israel in Christ. Each and every one of His elect believers in Israel will be saved. He quoted what God had said recorded by Isaiah, that the Deliverer or Redeemer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Israel). He said that these words shall not depart from their descendants from that time and forevermore.
He referred to His New Covenant kingdom in which their sins were taken away through Christ’s atonement for his elect people. Jesus brought this New Covenant for HIS PEOPLE, believing Jews and Gentiles, TRUE JEWS or the spiritual Israel of God. – Isaiah 59:20-21; Rom 11:26-27.
The physical nation of Israel is NO LONGER IN THE PICTURE. That does not mean that physical Jews cannot be saved and receive the promises. They are able to, on an individual basis, to become a TRUE JEW in Christ and receive His promises, just like any one of God’s elect does. But it must be through FAITH IN CHRIST and an individual and not a a nation.
“For you are SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have now PUT ON CHRIST. There is NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all ONE IN CHRIST JESUS. And if you are Christ’s, then you are ABRAHAM’S SEED, and HEIRS according to the Promise”. – Gal 3:26-29
“Now I SAW a NEW HEAVEN & NEW EARTH, for the FIRST HEAVEN and the FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY. Also, there was no more sea, Then, I John, saw the HOLY CITY, NEW JERSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold the TABERNACLE OF GOD is with men, and HE WILL DWELL with them, and thy shall be HIS PEOPLE. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things HAVE PASSED AWAY.” -Rev 21:1-4.
“But I saw NO TEMPLE IN IT, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb ARE ITS TEMPLE. The city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God Illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. But there shall be by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.” -Rev 21:22-27
The NEW JERUSALEM is the heavenly home of all of God’s people for eternity. It is where God Himself is headquartered. It is where every believer has personal access to Christ in His Holy presence. It is better, heavenly country for all born-again, elect, saints, who are all holy and righteous in Christ. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a NEW JERUSALEM city for them to be with Him for eternity. – Heb 11:16
All born-again believers goring forward in human history continually enter spiritually through the open gates of the NEW JERUSALEM city. This is positionally or relationally now in Christ while they are alive on this earth, but it is not fully realized for each believer until their death, when they put-on their new immortal bodies and live with Christ forever.
JERUSALEM (Old)
“WOE TO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISESS, HYPOCRITES! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. BLIND GUIDES, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! WOE TO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. BLIND PHARISEE first cleans the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. WOE TO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCTRITES! For you are whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful OUTWARDLY, but INSIDE are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanliness. Even so you OUTWARDLY APPEAR RIGHTEOUS to men, but INSIDE YOU ARE FULL OF HYPROCIRSY AND LAWLESSNESS.” -Matt 23:23-27
Christ condemned OLD JERUSALEM and the unbelieving Jewish leaders. He sent to them prophets, wise men, and scribes; but they killed some of them. They even crucified the Son of God, the Messiah. He found them unwilling to believe in Him as the PROMISED MESSIAH. Christ said that it was upon the OLD JERUSALEM that all the blood of those righteous prophets that He sent would fall. All of His judgments against OLD JERUSALEM would come upon THAT GENERATION of the Jews to whom He was speaking in the first century AD.
“ASSUREDLY, I say to you, all the things WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION. “O JERSUALEM, JERUSALEM, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under wings, but YOU WERE NOT WILLING! See! Your house is left DESOLATE.” – Matt 23:36-38
The city of OLD JERUSALEM, part of the “old earth” made up the non-believing Jews, was destroyed in the wrath of God in THAT GENERATION during the Jewish-Roman war in 66-70ad. THERE WAS NOT ONE STONE LEFT UPON ANOTHER IN THE TEMPLE, which they had committed abominations.
Christ then turned to HIS NEW JERUSALEM which is a heavenly city under HIS NEW COVANENT. It is a city in which only born-again, true Jews, called Christians (believing Jews and believing Gentiles) are located forever. All are indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT and thus only righteous dwells therein. -2 Pet 3:13
God will NEVER AGAIN FAVOR THE OLD JERUSALEM city or the NATION OF ISRAEL AS HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. They have become a rabbinical Jewish religion and are treated by God as any other unbelieving nation on earth. His kingdom is now made of HIS individual elect, born-again, people going forward in human history, not separate nations or groups of people.
With all the ‘support Israel’, ‘pray for Israel’ ‘they are God’s chosen people’ banter going around right now I felt led to share this topic.
What I see is people literally falling for an agenda that is NOT biblical but tends to sound biblely to those that lack unbiased, uninfluenced, unadulterated, unindoctrinated discernment!
It’s this exact undiscerned “prophecy seeking” that has, is and will continue to keep the wiles of the devil (Pharisees tactics) going. All these manmade prophecies create nothing but more pointless tragic wars! Its far time we realize that SATAN (deception) was completely defeated and that WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT UPON HIS SHOLDERS. We need to come to this understanding that we are to simply walk out our salvation and lead others into the NEW JERUSALEM now and for eternity!
Do we realize we are the elect through our born-again status! It is by FAITH IN GRACE THAT WE ARE SAVED AND SANCTIFIED BY WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE so that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! The word of God hides nothing from us, we need to desire the pure truths, without biases keeping us from growing spiritually in the Kingdom NOW! It’s Time to keep it pure folks, keep it pure!
Once again, I am out of alphabetical order, I’m sharing what the Holy Spirit has put on my heart for such a time as this…
ELEMENTS MELTING:
The Day of the Lord CAME as a thief in the night or at an unexpected moment in the time frame of the first century generation of Christ’s Apostles. This occurred in 66-70ad. The first century saints were instructed by Peter to look for and hasten the coming of the day of God. At that time the heavens passed away or were dissolved, being on fire. Also, the ELEMENTS melted away with fervent heat. – 2 Peter 3:10; 3:12.
The word “ELEMENTS” is the Greek word, “stoicheion” (Strong’s #4747), which means element, principle, or rudiment. When used in the plural it primarily signifies any first things from which others in a serios take their rise.
This word is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe: “the basic PRINCIPLES of the World.” -Col 2:8; “the rudimentary of basic PRINCIPLES of religion of the world” -Col 2:20; “the weak and beggarly RUDIMENTS”, constituting a yoke of BONDAGE – Gal 4:3,9; and “the first PRINCIPLES of the ORACLES of God”– Heb 5:12
The ELEMENTS melting with fervent heat of the Day of the Lord clearly refer to the PRINCIPLES of the OLD COVENANT and not the PHYSICAL heavens or physical earth. They all melted away with the destruction of the nation of Israel, city of Jerusalem, and the Temple (old heavens and earth). This was by God’s wrath that was carried out in the first Jewish-Roman war ending in 70ad. “KNOW YOUR HISTORY” [My adding]
ESCHATOLOGY:
The word “ESCHATOLOGY” is traditionally defined as the study of “last things”. It has broad applications that are used by many different people. The last days refer to an end to the Jewish age. Therefore, the “ECHATON” or the “last days” period of correct “ESCHATOLOGY” [Greek – “eschatos”- Strong’s #2078 =farthest, final time, last, uttermost] would fall in the first century between Christ’s first and second comings.
The ESCHATOLOGY would include Christ’s public ministry (26-30ad); His atonement work for His people; including the Cross, the Resurrection, and His Ascension; the covenant to the New Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:8); the transition period form the Old Covenant and to the New Covenant systems; the second coming Parousia of Christ in 66-70ad; the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple; and the resurrection of judgements of the just and the unjust ending in 70ad. Acts 24:15; 2 Pet 2:9; 3:9; Jude 1:6; Rev 20:10-15; 21:12.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come unto you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel; ‘And it shall come to pass in THE LAST DAYS, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Acts 2:16-21.
Therefore, ESCHATOLOGY is NOT the study of FURURE things; but rather LAST things. That includes the Parousia; the Resurrection; the Judgement; the end of the Jewish age; and the passing away of the Old Covenant Jewish system. It is also the time of the full establishment of His New Covenant gospel spiritual kingdom which is within each of His Saints.
Of course, as believers in “fulfilled ESCHAOLOGY”, we are persuaded that these things have all been fulfilled by our LORD JESUS CHRIST in the first century by 70ad. There is nothing left for Him to accomplish for our redemption. It is completely finished and fulfilled. We elect believers are now in Christ and have received all that He has accomplished for us. Our salvation is fully consummated, and our eternal dwelling place is in His presence has been determined.
I am adamantly preaching the fulfilled gospel! I literally have no denomination I follow, nor any “end times” theology, I’ve dedicated almost 20 years to the ministry, I have been licensed and ordained into the Christian ministry since 2011; however, I do not belong to any church or any organized religion. I am a Charis Bible college graduate which is a Andrew Wommack ministry. I absolutely LOVED my time there! I learned who I was in Christ, and discovered my Christ led giftings and was always encouraged and sharpened by all my fellow students and staff. I want to clarify though that my eschatology point of view is nothing I learned there, so this is my beliefs after searching the scriptures to find the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH in CHRIST! I REBUKE ALL ANTI-CHRIST DOCTRINS OF MEN!
So please understand that nothing I do is of man’s influence but only the influence of the purity of the word, and the words of Christ I cherish more than any theology or doctrine mere man can come up with!
So please hear my heart and know that “I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.”- 1Cor 2:2
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