| Chapter 10 And the Wedding Was Furnished with Guests |
Since the destruction of the original temple at the time of the
Babylonian Captivity, the nation of Israel had been in continuous
subjection to the gentiles. Portions of it were scattered to the
breeze. During it's subjection by the Romans it was again
scattered numerous times.
With the introduction of the Church of God, the few Jews who
believed became the pillars of the early Church ( Peter, Paul,
James etc) . Those who rejected Christ altogether maintained
their old traditions (Rabinical Judaism, Synagogues,the Talmud,
Sabbaths and so on). Further ideological and geographic
scatterings occurred due to the many persecutions of the Jews.
Because of these, the identity of historic Israel has become
obscured by it's embracing of other cultures. Also non-semitic
nations, in times past, have adopted the Judaic religion and later
claimed Hebrew ancestry. Regardless of all this, God will keep
track of the real Israel and will not forsake his promise to them.
Those of Israel who believe Jesus as Messiah and Saviour,
even in this current Grace Dispensation, are part of the believing
remnant of Israel, as expressed by Paul in Romans 11:1 and 5.
"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I
also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of
Benjamin...
Even so then at this present time [Dispensation of Grace] also
there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
In this present age of grace, there is a remnant of Israel called to
the Church of God. Those saved at the original Pentecostal
outpouring are part of this remnant of Israel. The prophecy
given by Peter at that time is significant to this understanding.
See Acts 2:39-41.
"For the promise is unto you [the house of Israel], and your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord
our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify
and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation ["untoward" in that they killed their Messiah]. Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same
day there were added unto them three thousand souls."
All these saved were part of this believing Jewish remnant. Any
Jew from that time on who accepts, the Lord Christ is also
among the elect of the Church of God. After the Dispensation of
Grace closes with the Rapture of all believers there will be a
period of time called the Beginning of Sorrows. See Matthew
24:7 and 8, Jesus says:
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of
sorrows."
The Gospel of Jesus along with all the prophecies concerning
his purpose will become vital for a newly awakened Israel as the
many prophecies begin to unfold. There will be confusion and
speculation surrounding the disappearance of millions of people
(in the Rapture) who, prior to their disappearance, had
confessed Christ.
The nation of Israel at this time will be composed of both
Hebrews and proselytes, as before. Whether or not the
Hebrews can prove their heritage is not significant. What is
significant is that God can keep track of scattered Israel and
reestablish them in these later days.
The population of the biblically reestablished nation of Israel, in
Revelation, will not be a small number. Some of the chosen
remnant, the very faithful elect will be one hundred and forty-four
thousand, a fraction of those called to be Israel during this time.
A comparison of numbers can be done if we look at the Old
Testament during the time of King David. David had Joab
number the people of Israel in I Chronicles 21:5 and 6.
"And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto
David. And all they of Israel were a thousand and an hundred
thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred
threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the
king's word was abominable to Joab."
One and a half million men that were able to draw a sword for
battle populated Israel. There were also those of Levi and
Benjamin, those men who couldn't go to battle, women and
children. A modest estimate of Israel's population would be 5
million people.
About a hundred years later, Elijah made intercession to God for
Israel concerning their rejection of his word. God informed Elijah
that of all the millions of Israel there was still a small remnant
left. There is a reflection of this by Paul in Romans 11:4.
"But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to
myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to
the image of Baal."
These elect would be a ratio of about one believer to every
thousand in Israel. If that ratio stood in the time of the
reestablishment of Israel the numbers of those called out in the
future Israel would be exceedingly great. Suffice it to say that,
as prophesied, many will be called out as the nation of Israel but
few will be chosen to partake in the Kingdom of Heaven.
To briefly glimpse at the great tribulation that most men in the
Day of the Lord will partake of, let's remember Jesus said, in
Matthew 24:7 and 8, that the first part will be the Beginning of
Sorrows. This includes, wars, famine, earthquakes, and
pestilence in various places throughout the world; most
assuredly amplified over even that which we are now
experiencing (at the beginning of the 21rst century).
There will be false Christs and genuine prophets and the Gospel
(Good News) will be preached to all nations by Israel. At this
time the first Four Seals will be opened by Christ in heaven.
Read this in Revelation 6:1-8.
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I
heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts
saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse:
and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto
him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when
he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say,
come and see. And there went out another horse that was red:
and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from
the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was
given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the
third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I
beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair
of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the
four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three
measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil
and the wine.
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of
the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a
pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell
followed with him. And Power was given unto them over the
fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and the with
hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
Represented here, in the Beginning of Sorrows, is the
anti-Christ (the conqueror on the white horse), war, famine
(hence the third seal), and pestilence. This is not a pretty
picture, however it does get worse for this is just the beginning
of sorrows.
The Anti-Christ is well documented in the Bible. It is no secret
that many will look upon his rise to power as a blessing for, in
their minds, he will be the Messiah that had long been
anticipated. But this illusion will be short-lived for he will place
an abomination in the temple area and desecrate Jerusalem in
his utter contempt for the one true God. Tribulation, by the
Anti-Christ, will escalate against believers of the true Christ. All
these will be put to death except for the 144,000 gathered out of
the nation of Israel because God sealed them with protection
against the wrath of the evil one.
Then the table will turn on those people of the world who did not
resist the anti-Christ but rejoiced in his iniquity. The wrath of
God will be poured out on these. This is graphically described in
many places in both the Old and New Testament.
The Resurrection of the righteous dead of Israel will occur at this
time. They, along with the gathered 144,000 and the remnant of
Israel raptured after the Grace Dispensation will all be chosen of
Israel. The anti-Christ is defeated at the battle of Armageddon
and thrown into a lake of fire.
Those of Israel who are rejected because of their unbelief and
hardheartedness are reserved for judgement at the Resurrection
of the Unjust. Incineration awaits those whose names are not
found in the book of life.
Copyright Pete Lounsbury 1994
