Israel’s Final Restoration

eternally-gratefull · May 21, 2016

I made it easy for you. I highlighted specific events in ezek 37. And asked you to show how they were fulfilled in acts 2.

That's why I posted the part of the chapter I spoke of. And bolded the specific events I would like you to show me occurred in acts 2

If your going to attack me, at least back it up with proof.

Oh and by the way, The same can be said for you not taking any time to consider what I say,

One thing you should consider, when what you post can come right back and be used against you. It is probably not a good thing to say.

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

eternally-gratefull said:

I read you post and am quite familiar with Ezek 37. Are you sure you want to see this proof? This is a lot of material and I am not sure I want to waste my time doing this if you are not going to read it. Don't ask for answers if you are not willing to listen to the answers.

eternally-gratefull · May 21, 2016

oldhermit said:

I am going to be honest, I have written and erased a response multiple times now. And nothing I seem to say sounds very good,

I have asked you three times now, If your going to make an accusation. Back it up with words. We all know not everyone will agree with us here, ones mans (or woman's) "proof" is another persons "further reason to not believe what the person is trying to say) it happens to everyone. My so called proof is your laughter and so forth.

What is so hard?

Ezek said...

Ezek 37:[SUP]21 [/SUP]“Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;

So when did God take the children of Israel (the nation) from all these lands and bring them back into the land of their fathers to live in peace as God said here

[SUP]22 [/SUP]and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.

and bring them back in a state where they have turned from their transgressions, and serve the one true god, as the prophet said here

[SUP]23 [/SUP]They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions;

Just as paul said in romans 11 he would do in the future, here

See also rom 11:

[SUP]26 [/SUP]And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; [SUP]27 [/SUP]For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”[SUP][/SUP]

in Acts 2? Especially when the events of Acts 2 long preceded paul when he wrote romans 11.

Can you answer those questions are can you not? If you can, Please do. I am open.

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

eternally-gratefull said:

Very well. These are very good questions that deserve an answer. Because of the amount of material, this will be divided into eight separate posts. Just remember, you requested the answer to these questions. Here is the fulfillment of Ezk 37 and other OT prophecies in Acts 2. Please consider these things and don't just dismiss them out of hand.

By oldhermit

I. The Prophet Joel, 16-21

The judgment history of Judah is outlined in the book of Joel beginning with God's pre-exilic warnings of impending destruction. “Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near,” 2:1.
He has already warned them in chapter one that their destruction would begin with the desolation of their land, their crops, and their livestock through plagues. Then in chapter two, he warns them that they would be destroyed as a nation and carried off into captivity.

A. This destruction was characterized by the use of imagery. The image of cosmic chaos in verse ten was used to show that God was about to bring their world to an end. This depicted the destruction of the nation of Judah in 606 BC when Nebuchadnezzar took them away captive to Babylon.
“Before them the earth quakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and the moon grow dark and the stars lose their brightness. The LORD utters His voice before His army;Surely His camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?”
B. In 12-27 God promised he would bring Judah back from captivity and heal their land and restore their blessings if they would repent. This was fulfilled under Ezra some seventy years later when Judah was released from Persian rule in 536 BC. This was the First Regathering of the nation.
C. In 28-32 God said that “after this,” Judah would once again face the judgment of God and the same metaphor of cosmic chaos is used to illustrate the end of the nation. Yet, this time their destruction was to be preceded by God “pouring out his Spirit upon all flesh.”

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhermit

II. The Nature of the Second Regathering Confirmed by the Prophets.

A. Both houses of Israel were to be regathered.
In Isaiah 11:11-12 Isaiah is told by the Lord that their gathering would be comprehensive. “Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
B. They were to be re-gathered back into their own land – Jerusalem.

1. Zechariah 8:7-8 – “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.”
2. Ezekiel 36:24 – “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”
3. Isaiah 27:13 – “It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.”

C. God would again unite them as one nation under one King.
Ezekiel 37:15-23 – “The word of the Lord came again to me saying, and you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. When the sons of your people speak to you saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’ say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand. The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.”

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhermit

III. The Fulfillment of the Second Regathering

What do we find happening in Acts 2:5-11? “Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” Now, we see the return of the remnant of both houses back into their own land into Jerusalem. “From every nation under heaven” is qualified by the corresponding passage of Isaiah 11:11 which directly represents the scattered remnants of Judah and Israel. “Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.” God is bringing back to Jerusalem representatives of the remnant from every nation that was occupied by the dispersed Jews from the time of the captivity until the time of the events in Acts two.

A. Peter first addresses the nation of Judah in 14-21 and binds the beginning of the fulfillment of all these things spoken by their own prophet Joel concerning the nation of Judah and he links the things in Joel two to the things that were taking place in Acts two. “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.”

1. Joel represented the time in which these events would occur as the last days, “and it shall be in the last days.” “The Last Days” represented the close of an era involving four things, the close of the Jewish economy, the fulfillment of the prophets’ message, the beginning of the reign of Messiah, and the destruction of the nation.

a. The close of the Jewish economy. The last days brought the fulfillment of the Law of Moses. Everything that the Jews held dear is now changed.

* All of their sacrifices were now rendered null and void. These sacrifices saw their realization in the sacrifice of Jesus, Hebrews 9:11-15. He has now put an end to sacrific.
* The earthly tabernacle with its altar and sanctuary is now empty of the presence of God, 8:1-2.
* The Law of Moses was fulfilled and taken out of the way, 8:6.
* The priesthood which served as the mediator between God and man is now obsolete, superseded by the High Priest of a new order, 9:11,15.

b. The end of the prophetic era
The message spoken through the prophets has now become reality. There is a now a new spokesman, Hebrews 1:2.
c. The beginning of the reign of Messiah
The scepter of the kingdom has now passed to the true King of kings, 1:8. This is the beginning of the reign of Messiah. As a nation, Israel and Judah had been divided for about 950 years since the reigns of Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Now, under Messiah, these two nations would find unity again as one nation under a new King.
d. The end of the Israel as a nation. In less than forty year, this nation would be destroyed and Jerusalem leveled.

2. These people were witnessing the fulfillment of the promise to “pour out My Spirit upon all mankind.” This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is God making the Holy Spirit available to all mankind.
3. Peter binds the fulfillment of the promise of the empowering of the Holy Spirit. “And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on My bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of my Spirit and they shall prophesy.” We can see the confirmation of this in throughout the rest of the book of Acts as well as in such passages as 1Corinthians 12 and others.
4. Peter pronounces the judgment of God upon the nation of Judah that was spoken by Joel, “And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. ‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.” These are judgment figures commonly used in scripture to speak of the destruction of a nation.
5. Peter binds the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord to provide a means of salvation from this destruction. “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” 21.
6. It needs to be understood that what Peter is confirming in this presentation is the fulfillment of the words of John in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” In Acts 2:17-18 is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that John promised. The recipients of this promise were those whom John was addressing – the Jews, the same people he himself was baptizing with water. In Acts 2:19-20 is the baptism of fire. Fire is widely used in scripture as a judgment figure. This is God's judgment upon the nation. This is stressed by John's continued exegesis of this baptism of fire in Matthew 3:12, “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” God's judgment is represented as a baptism of fire that was about to come upon them and consume them as a nation. This is precisely the same thing Peter is telling the hearers in Acts 2. Yet, both John and Peter confirm that in the midst of all of this judgment the Lord is providing a way of escape. “He will gather His wheat (the saved) into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff (These are the condemned, the lost, the cursed. These are the spiritually worthless) with unquenchable fire.” This is unrelenting destruction.

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhemit

B. Peter then addresses the northern nation of Israel, 22-35.

1. Peter accuses them of culpability in the crucifixion of Jesus.“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know. This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”

a. The boldness of Peter in the public acknowledgement of the name of Jesus the Nazarene while standing in the temple is rather astounding. It has only been fifty days since many of these same people crucified Jesus. The edict of the Sanhedrin had already been issued that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Messiah would be thrown out of the synagogue, or temple. Now, Peter stands in the midst of them in the temple declaring that Jesus is both Lord and Christ and no one even challenges him. Remarkable! This cannot be explained from the rational perspective. This is certainly a testimony to the fact that the Holy Spirit, not man, is in command of these proceedings.
b. Some translations such as KJV use the word “approved” here for ἀποδεδειγμένον. It is okay but unfortunately this word as we use it today does not convey the full meaning of ἀποδεδειγμένον. A better understanding of this would be 'has' proven, attested, born witness to, set forth, verified, or demonstrated. I think the best rendering of the idea conveyed is probably that offered by the International Standard Version which renders it as “authenticated.” This is more to the point that is being set forth by Peter. God has authenticated the Messiahship of Jesus through the uses of miracles, wonders, and signs, not the least of which was his own resurrection. All among this crowd who were from Jerusalem and not merely strangers from other lands KNEW the body was no longer in the tomb and they also know it had not been stolen. Now, they are being confronted with the evidence that authenticates God's partnership with Jesus in everything that had taken place to which they are all witnesses.
c. These three words – miracles, wonders, and signs, are not talking about three different types of manifestations of power. Rather, they present three different aspects of a particular act or collection of acts. A miracle as the act itself is the demonstration of extraordinary power. Wonder represents the response of man to that demonstration of power and sign shows the significance or the meaning behind the act. It shows that this act has a revealed meaning or implication that is greater than the act itself.
d. Peter reveals the crucifixion of Jesus as part of a predetermined plan of God. Jesus was not delivered over by man but by God himself. This makes his listeners nothing more than mere incidentals in the plan of God for the redemption of humanity. This does not however dismiss their culpability. They are still confronted with the guilt of their actions – “God authenticated Him and you killed Him!” The statement “by the hands of godless men” is exact in its representation of the facts in the case. They were not the instrument of his crucifixion, they were merely the instigators. The instrument of the crucifixion was the Roman soldiers. No power in heaven or on earth could take Jesus' life from him had he not been will to give it. All the power of the Jews and the combined legions of the Roman army could not have even so much as arrest Jesus much less kill him if he had not permitted it to be so. His life could never have been taken it had to be given, Isaiah 9:6.

2. Peter offers two Psalms as testimony of God's predetermination of the resurrection of Jesus. The crucifixion of Jesus was no accident nor was it an unexpected debacle in the plan of God.

a. Psalms 16:8-10, “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. For David says of Him, I saw the Lord always in my presence; for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. Therefore My heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover My flesh also will live in hope; Because You will not abandon My soul to hades, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. ‘You have made known to Me the ways of life; You will make Me full of gladness with Your presence.’

* Peter declares the fact of the resurrection, “But God raised Him up again.” Peter, for the first time, makes a public declaration of the resurrection of Jesus. This was something the Jewish leadership had tried hard to keep quiet. In Matthew 28:11-15 they had attempted to cover up the resurrection by paying off the guards. But, like most scandals, I am sure this had been whispered widely among the populace. Since it was to have been top secret information quite naturally everyone knew about it.
* The result of the resurrection was to put an end to the agony of death. The word λύσας, from the root λύω can suggest a number of words that point to the same outcome. According to Strong's it can mean to loose, untie, release, break, destroy, to set at naught, to contravene, or to annul. Personally, I like the idea of contravene because it suggests the power to oppose a proposition. God had by the resurrection of Jesus opposed the proposition of death by overturning its power to hold its victim. This tells us that death in and of itself has no power of determinacy. Death only has whatever power God gives it. It cannot hold that which God has determined to release. This is the idea behind contravene
* The word used here for agony is the word ὠδῖνας which is usually associated with the pain of child bearing to stress the severity of the agony.
* The power of death has been overturned. Death could not restrain him. It could hold no power over him. What power can death have over the God who created it? Death, as with all created things, exists to serve the purposes of God. God is never restrained of constrained by anything created. In the sacrifice of our Lord, death served to satisfy the demands of God's justice against sin. It was simply not possible that death could hold the “Living One.”
* The reason for this is found in the very next statement of the psalmist, “I saw the Lord always in my presence; for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.” This expresses the surety and confidence in the Father over the power of death. When the Lord stands with us, not even death has power over us. When faced with the inevitability of the cross it was Jesus' determination to follow through with his assignment of death. This is “setting the Lord always before his face.” This was the confidence of Hananiah, Azariah, and Misha'el. Their confidence in the Lord God to sustain them whether in life or in death was greater than the threat of the furnace. This is why Jesus could say, “I will not be shaken. Therefore My heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover My flesh also will live in hope.”
* His flesh would not decay nor would his soul be confined to the Hadean realm. Both the flesh and the soul would triumph in this victory over death

- For all of us, death, no matter how extended in relation to time, is still bound by the limitations God has set upon it. Death is still a temporary state of being but regardless, the decay of our bodies is certain at death. Jesus body, unlike our own would not be allowed to begin the decaying process which, under normal conditions, begins as soon as death occurs as the bacteria in the stomach begins to move through the body breaking it down at the cellular level. Within twenty-four hours after death occurs cells cease to reproduce and begin to decay. This process was refused in the death of Jesus. His body was not permitted to even begin the process of decay.
- Also, his soul would not be abandoned to the Hadean realm. This is simply the world of the ᾅδην– the unseen. This is the realm of disembodied spirits. This is the world we find illustrated by Jesus in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Jesus would not be restrained to reside among the disembodied. The resurrection of Jesus was the reunion of the body and the soul in defiance of the power of death. So shall our resurrection be.

b. Psalms 110:1, “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

* That David had not been speaking of himself is confirmed in the fact that David is still dead and buried. He has not yet been resurrected.* This confirms Jesus' right of Davidic ascendency to the throne of Israel because it fulfilled the promise of God to sit one of David's descendants upon the throne of David. The right hand of God is the place ascendency. This is the vision of Daniel 7. This is the rule by invitation from Psalms 110:1“Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

- To "sit" is synonymous with rule and the place of rule is at the Father's right hand.- Who are his enemies? In verses five and six they are described as kings, the nations, and the chief of men.- "Until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."ὑποπόδιον
- to subject, to reduce under one's own power, Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, p. 644. It was the practice of conquering monarchs after having defeated another king in battle, to have the defeated king brought before him and placed at the feet of the conqueror. The victor would then place his foot on the neck of his enemy after which the prisoner would either be slain or enslaved. (See Joshua 10:24-26 as an example). The symbolism then of our text is that Jesus is the sovereign conqueror of the nations. All those who rule in unrighteousness and rebellion, suppressing the truth, and opposing the righteous will ultimately be crushed under the feet of our Lord.

* The Father's promise of the Holy Spirit has been now realized. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” “Having poured out” is aorist indicative active which emphasizes the fact that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was an act that was completed in the past (At the beginning of this event) and continues to be poured out on all flesh. This confirms that the pormise from Joel was fulfilled in this event.

C. Now, Peter addresses the entive nation collectively, 36.“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

1. In Psalms 2, the drama unfolds of the conflict between the enemies of God and his anointed One. These enemies are the nations, the people, the kings of the earth, and the rulers. These have assembled themselves together against their Messiah not willing to accept his rule. After having done all they could do at Calvary to "tear their fetters" and "cast their cords," the roles are now reversed, In verses four through six it is now the One who sits in heaven who laughs. The Lord now scoffs at them. His anger is displayed and he terrifies them in his fury. In spite of everything the Jews could do to free themselves from the rule of Messiah, God says, "I have installed My King!" In verses seven through twelve, he declares the preeminence of the Son saying:

a. "I have begotten You."
b. "I will be to him a Father."
c. "I will give You the nations..."
d. "The ends of the earth are Your possession."
e. "You will break them with the rod of iron."
f. "You will scatter them."All of these serve to stress the certainty of God's purpose. It will be done! Now, the warning is given to the kings and judges of the earth to submit to the sovereignty of Messiah. What must then follow is God's required response form man.
g. "Worship Jehovah with reverence."
h. "Rejoice and tremble."
i. "Do homage to the Son."
j. "Take refuge in him."This is God's ultimatum to man. If they refuse,
k. "He will become angry."
l. "You will perish in the way."
m. "His wrath will may soon be kindled."The fulfillment of this prophesy is again confirmed in Acts 4.

2. In verses 22-36 Peter has confirmed five facts from scripture regarding this Jesus whom they had crucified.

a. God authenticated him.
b. God raised him from the dead.
c. God seated him at his right hand.
d. God seated him on the throne of his father David.
e. God appointed him as LORD, the anointed One. The one you crucified is your Messiah.
f. Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophets. Peter's indictment was “God authenticated him and you killed him.”

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhermit

IV. Realization, Remedial Recommendation, and Response, 36-40

A. Realization, 37 – “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart.” There is a sense of realization and desperation among the listeners; Realization of the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, desperation in the fact that they had killed him. This generates the question, “Brethren, what shall we do?” This question reflects two things.

1. Their realization that this is the Messiah we have been waiting for these many centuries. Now, he has really, finally come and we killed him. “Now, what do we do?”
2. Although the text does not say that they asked what to do to be saved as we often interpret this question it is very clear that this is precisely how Peter responds to the question and his response takes us back to verse 21 where Joed said, “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

B. Remedial recommendation, 38 – “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”
C. Response, 39-40
“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

1. The promise is that which Peter related from Joel in verses 17-21. This promise includes:

a. Baptism of the Holy Spirit – the pouring out upon all flesh.
b. The empowering of the Holy Spirit – represented in prophesy, visions, and dreams.
c. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit himself is the gift of verse 38.
d. Judgment upon the nation – represented in judgment figures of blood, fire, and vapor of smoke, the sun turned into darkness and the moon into blood.
e. Salvation – A provision of the Lord for escape of judgment, “who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What does calling on the name of the Lord involve? Peter explains in verse 38 “repent and be baptized.” The end result is forgiveness of sin and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

2. The promise was comprehensive in scope, “for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call...? Thus it is not just a Jewish exclusive. The method of course that God uses to call them unto himself is the preaching of the gospel.
3. Peter continues his discourse. The are words of this discourse have not been preserved for us but what we are told is the overall message they conveyed, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So this extended exhortation by Peter seems to be directed to the state of the nation, this perverse generation, and the fact that judgment from the Lord was about to befall that specific generation; also that God had provided a way of escaping their impending judgment.

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhermit

V. Characteristics of the Reunification of a Once Divided Nation, 41-47.
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”

A. The natural order of conversion and the growth of the Church.

1. They received the word. In other words they accepted as truth or believed the message that Peter delivered.
2. They were baptized. Obedience to the imperative command
3. This resulted in their being added to the Church which demonstrated the fact that the existence of the Church preceded the conversion of these 3000 people on this one day. They were added to an already existing group of believers. One cannot be added to something that does not yet exist.

B. Devotion to the apostles teaching – The apostles are universally accepted by the respondents as authoritative and whatever they taught was recognized by the people as being from God. The justification for this devotion was reinforced by the wonders and signs done by the hands of the apostles. The signs done by the apostles served as divine credentials for their message and the response by the people was one of awe. So, the people were convinced of the gospel message on three fronts.

1. By the force of the argumentation of Peter from the prophet Joel and from the testimony of David.
2. By the resurrection of Jesus.
3. By the signs done by the apostles. This would seem to serve to convince some of the more hesitant among them.

C. Demonstrations of unity between these once divided nations, 42-47
What is being experienced by these Jews was the restoration of the all the tribes into one nation, into one kingdom. For the first time in over 950 years since the division of the nation, both Judah and Israel find solidarity under a common King. This solidarity manifests itself in three forms – fellowship, eating, and worship. The description of these forms are then expanded upon in the following verses.

1. A common sharing – “And all those who had believed were together (Both Judah and Israel) and had all things in common;” There is no more division. Their commonality is rooted in their common relationship with Christ. This manifested itself in the sharing of possessions for the common needs of the body. “And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.” THIS is true fellowship. This is self-motivated generosity, not coercion and not communistic philosophy. This does not appear to be commanded by the apostles neither here nor anywhere else in the New Testament. This generosity lends credibility to the genuineness of the conversion of these hearers and the unity they now jointly share. All of the old animosities are gone. This generosity is mutually acceptable.
2. Common worship “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple.”
This was not a short lived existential experience that was only brought about by the heightened emotional experience of the moment and forgotten once the experience had passed. This was continued from day to day. Not only had it continued as time began to pass but as we will see from later examples, it intensified. Israel is no longer worshiping at Dan and Bethel while Judah worships in Jerusalem. There is no more Dan and Bethel for Israel. God has taken the “remnant” of both houses and brought them back into Jerusalem to worship the Lord together in the Temple as one nation under one King – Messiah, just as the prophets said he would. They are now worshiping God together in common.
3. The common table
“And breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.”
This is a sharing of common meals. This kind of fellowship was never extended to anyone who was considered an enemy, or an infidel, or unclean, or anyone who was otherwise undesirable. This was a manifestation of a common acceptance of one another as brothers because of the common faith factor.
4.The message of the gospel continued to be spread now from house to house with favorable results. “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This is where Church growth happens; not in the pulpit but in living rooms and across kitchen tables.

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhermit

VI. Peace is Restored in the Kingdom of God.

This is what both Isaiah and Micah had prophesied.

A. Edinic conditions are restored. “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” In other words, the are not devouring one another. Isaiah. 11:6-9This is not to be understood as literal language. Compare with Isaiah 35:9, “No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there.”

1. This a symbol of natural enemies existing in peace with one another.
2. It is only “In all My holy mountain” that these conditions exist. The holy mountain of God is Zion – the Church, Hebrews 12:18-23.3. This would happen when “the whole earth is full of the knowledge of Jehovah.” The filling of the earth was the commission given to the apostle and jointly to us, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:19-20. It began here in Acts 2 and continues still.

B. These peaceful conditions would be then extended to the Gentile nations.“And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations.” Micah 4:1-8 and Isaiah 2:2-4

1. All the nations would stream into the mountain of the house of the Lord. Here is the exclusive place of peace.
2. The purpose of the assembly of the nations was to learn his ways so that they could walk in his paths.
3. It is only here that men will abide in peace. “Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. Though all the peoples walk each in the name of his god, as for us.” Only in the Church do all the nations of men dwell in peace with one another for it is only here that the nations “will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

oldhermit · May 21, 2016

By oldhermit

VII. The Sanctuary (temple) of God is Now Among Men.
“I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. “My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. “And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” Ezekiel 37:26-27A. Acts 2 is the fulfillment of the covenant initiated to Abraham in Genesis 17:7-8 and repeated some 17 times in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament in which God says, “I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
B. The defining attribute of this covenant would be the fact that God had set his sanctuary (temple) in the midst of them forever and that they have become the dwelling place of Jehovah because now, the Church, represented here in the restored remnant of the nation of Israel, has become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The Church is the temple of God made without hands. The Church is the New Jerusalem where God has placed his name. (Jeremiah 33:16)

trofimus · May 21, 2016

garee said:

Hi Trofimus. Thanks for the reply.

Sorry in advance for the length of my opinion I am offering .Its hard for me to make appoint without going into what it seems at times to much information. My writing skills suffer, but my goal is to lift up the word of God .

The similarities are in respect to the false authority by which men claim to know God . In both cases the restoring had to do with men seeking the approval of men (fathers, elders, apostles ) in respect to men and their oral traditions that in effect made the word of God without effect. It was Christ’s nemesis. He called them a brood of vipers because they measured faith (not seen) in respect to their oral traditions of men (as that seen) and not the word of God the authority of that not seen .

It alone is the Christian's or inward, born again Jew source of faith by which men can believe God, who has no form.

We can see Christ applying his principle of a parable/proverb...not to answer a fool according to His folly, Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.By answering a question with a question.

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? Mat 15:2

The traditions of men as the body of precepts, especially the fleshly rituals as ceremonial laws which were mere shadows, which in the opinion of the outward Jews(non converted) were orally delivered by Moses and orally transmitted in unbroken succession to subsequent generations, which precepts, both illustrating and expanding the written law, as they did were to be obeyed with equal reverence. Adding to the law of God by expanding the written law clearly violated and therefore offended the invisible things (faith) of God.

Saul who formally persecuted, all things which are written in the law and in the prophets(sola scriptura) He performed that persecution by killing what he thought was the outward fleshly completion because they did walk by sight as the things of men, looking to the fathers as the final authority. This is shown as Paul now defending what he did previously try to destroy as it reads in Acts 24:13-14 below

Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:13-14

In that statement we can see the oral traditions of men are completely removed.

In effect as a new creature Saul worshiped the God of his fathers rather than worshiping the God of the fathers..(upside down) The improper manner of spirit. called the confederacy.

Paul previously worshiping the fathers (as that seen) as if they were in the place of God. That law of the fathers (not a law of God, our Father ) came by a misguided zeal .

All of the qualifications to include an official letter from the high priest like the Pope along with a promise they would be rewarded by God for getting rid of what they thought was the outward completion. That in which they thought was the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, became their demise .Again it was the wrong, upside down manner of spirit making men the gods in the likeness of men as to what they worshiped . Saul had all the right credential the best theological schools.

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. Act 22:3

You could say they turned things upside down, as a wile of the father of lies, Satan, as if the Potter had no spiritul understanding to offer, so then rather men must seek the understanding of the clay.

The law of the fathers,Kings and princes as the things of sinful men with its misguided zeal,it began when the time period of Judges ended. It was the cause of the change .

The apostate Jew at that time had becomes jealous of the surrounding pagan nation who did have an outward body, as kings, princes and fathers in whom they could place their miss guided faith in according to a foundation of necromancy .

They gathered themselves together (not moved by God )and demanded a king. They no longer desired to walk by faith in respect to an invisible King, our living God . God gave them over temporally to do what they should not.(2 Samuel 8)

I think the first century reformation restored the kind of faith back to the period of Judges with no external representation. The fifteenth century reformation followed.

Therefore because of the refomation the things of men were made to no effect by the unseen, eternal things of God in stead of vice versa .

This was in respect to Elias who came in the Spirit of and power of Christ,the anointing Holy Spirit of God, acting as a Judge, like Samuel

Matthew 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Just a thought but I believe Isaiah could be speaking of the first century reformation.

Isa 1:21-27 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. “Zion” shall be redeemed with judgment, and her (bride)converts with righteousness.

The words: “and thy counsellors as at the beginning” They are not connected to anything seen, again men under Judges were walking by faith the unseen will of God through the scriptures. It was not the counselors of men in view. It was the counselors of men that had become jealous of the surrounding Pagan nations to begin with by which God as King of kings reining from heaven gave them over temporally to do that which they should not of. Therefore sending them a strong delusion to believe the lie. .

David in respect to that which is against God as misguided zeal (kings princes and fathers ) spoke of those kind of counsellors as in the beginning, in Psalms .

Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.leth. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psa 119:23-28

Looking again at Isaiah 1, the words: “afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

In respect to that new name for Zion’s sake (the heavenly Jerusalem not seen) . In chapter 62 of Isaiah because of the reformation, when the gentiles shall be given the authority to hear God with no division between a born again Jew or Gentile(all the nations) . He again speaks of a new name he will call His born again people.

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Isa 62:1

That new name which the mouth of the LORD shall name I believe is found in Act 11:26, as it reads below.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Again focusing in on Isaiah 1, the words: “afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness

We know that God uses architectural metaphors in various parables through out the scriptures to represent his bride, the church, made up of many lively stones as the spiritual house or temple, of God, in respect to Zion.

It would appear that the meaning of the word Christian has lost most of its ability to relate to a righteous city as the b ride of Christ made up of Jews as well as Gentiles(no difference) . . It is defined in different ways but usually in as followers of Christ, which is true, but I think the original meaning loses some value when reconciling the word city. This is because the meaning in respect to city metaphor is put on the back burner. He named us Christian for that very reason. The word Christian without adding another meaning simple means ; residents of the city of Christ, as His bride. that which is also called Zion..

The ian suffix is used along with the founders name . Just as Corinthians denotes the residents of that city whose founder is Corinth. Or the Philippians as to the residents who founder is Philippi. The same applied to the new name he called His people, Christians residents of our heavenly city Zion, whose founder is Christ. . Or in a negative way those who are called Nicolaitanes resident of the city whose founder in Nicolos.

One more example to emphasize the false authority of the fathers, kings and princes as outward source to place their faith in. the same kind of authority the Catholic must use in the necromancy doctrines in regard to what they call Mary, as the queen of heaven, same queen, different name.

As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, (my addition, in regard to own mouth, the oral tradition of men) to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. Jer 44:16

Much to look at. I hope what I am trying to say does not cause confusion.

Thanks again. Your thoughts?

There are many places in your post I do not understand or connections between sentences that are not clear to me (it is because English is not my native language, probably, I am from Europe), but I think I got your point.

Yes, as you describe it, I agree that the first century and the 15th century reformations have the same ground/idea/goal.

The only difference I can see between these two are that the 15th century reformation did not want to bring anything new, but to restore the original old. Christ did bring something new (new revelations, new promises, new forgiveness etc), but again, I agree that part of his service was the restoration of "what was in the origin" and "what was declared by God, not by men". Which is the similarity with the reformation later in Europe.

crossnote · May 21, 2016

When the literal is turned into symbolism then anything can be interpreted any way one wants.
It all depends on who defines and assigns the symbols.

eternally-gratefull · May 21, 2016

oldhermit said:

I knew you were going to do this, That's why we always get into these fights, Because you can not just keep things simple. (By the way, You have posted this once before, or have you forgotten?)

Why is it so hard to answer simple questions with simple answers?

However, I will not bite, and just judge or attack, I will try my best to response to the post. Only as EVERYONE in the room can see. That will be quite hard to do since it is so long and drawn out.

The question I must ask, Is are you open to hear my discussion. or are you the very thing you called me?

trofimus · May 21, 2016

eternally-gratefull said:

All these can be applied to church very easily. And is, throughout the New Testament.

God rescued His real nation, the spiritual children of Abraham, both from Israel and other nations. He gave the life to the dry bones (we were dead in sins). We were brought back the to land (heaven) we were sent away from.
You said you accept that the OT symbols (land, Jerusalem, sabbath etc) were fulfilled in NT, i.e. spiritually. So why now you dont accept that?

Promise made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, even to Adam are fulfilled in us, in church, in the real meaning (which is spiritual).

It seems to me that you see the spiritual, eternal fulfillment as lesser to the physical fulfillment. But the opposite is true. What is better, to live 70 years in land somewhere in the middle east or to live eternally in heaven?
It is much more better fulfillment of promise Jews could ever imagine.

eternally-gratefull said:

I must say I dont understand you.
What is the salvation of nation? How can it be without the salvation of individuals in that nation? I dont get it.
Or do you by "salvation of the nation" mean only that they will return to the land in the middle east and get united like they are today? Thats all? Paul is certainly talking about something more, about the real salvation of people.

eternally-gratefull said:

I dont understand the meaning of your response.
Jesus said that who is in Him can be cut off like a branch and burnt. Paul says very similar thing. Branch can be cut off from the olive tree.
Sure its about unbelieving people.
Not getting the point of your answer-question, sorry

trofimus · May 21, 2016

eternally-gratefull said:

Why do you keep going back to romans 9? When Paul says in romans 11 the exact opposite.

rom 11: They (Isreal) Are enemies concerning the gospel. but beloved because of the election.

Your making Paul contradict himself by saying the exact opposite things in romans 9 and romans 11.. He is not. the context of each chapter are not the same..

Romans 9 is speaking to the fact that just being a jew does not mean you are automatically saved (as many jews thought) so of course paul would use that in his reasoning.

Romans 11 is not directed to that context. it has a completely different context.

There you go with romans 9 again.

being a child of Abraham does not make me a child of Isreal. Abraham had many children, and was told he would father many nations..

even then it does not matter, Rom 9 can not coincide with romans 11. The context of both chapters are not the same. so can not be used to interpret each other.

What?

Can you please explain why you used these examples. when I clearly said that you can not interpret prophecies like you can certain symbolic events. In fact, we are told in the NT about how they are symbols..

That is a slap in the face!

I disagree, This prophesy has not been fulfilled yet, When did Christ return?

James is simply etting these people know a fact, When CHrist returns, Gentiles will not be force to become jews (via circumcision) why would we force them to become jews now.

Deuteronomy 18:22
when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

This is the test of a prophet. Spiritual interpretations of prophesy would make this command of God invalid, Because a prophet can speak a word. and it not come to pass (only spiritually, which can not even be proven it is the true interpretation, but only a persons viewpoint)

Because of her sin the church had its high places and land completely destroyed, and its people were scattered all over the world because of her sin, and she became the slaves of her enemy? who treated her badly?

Please. I will take this as a joke since we are trying to be civil, I hope and pray that is what this was..

When Christ returns, Whoever has endured to the end wil be saved (matt 24) Whether they are Jew or gentile.

The repentance of the nation of Israel is just ONE OF THE MANY events which take place.

Again, Stop trying to make me into an Israel centered theologian, I am nothing of the sort.

Study Daniel much? The heads are symbolic, and represent 7 literal kings, or heads of state.

Do you really want to get into this?

7 head are seven things, a thousand years is a thousand years.

He is ruling? Who is CHrist ruling? Hitler? Sadaam? All these brutal dictators all over the world. Jesus own people being beheaded for their faith. Obama? I can go on and on..

Jesus is ruling the nations with a rod of iron? The lamb and the lion are sleeping together in peace. The nations are coming to worship the king once a year? There is peace on earth? (a few of the many things prophets tell us will be the sign of king messiah ruling on his throne)

Please. Your looking at things through an amillinial view. Try setting that view aside for just awhile, and start taking gods word literally. You will see a whole new world.

Nope. In his reign he most hold rain back from nations who do not visit him once a year (rebellion) even after his reign, Satan is losed and gathers an army which God must strike down, So even then there is evil and sin.

So, no, that is not what I am talking of.

I will respond in short, because these large posts are getting to be really exhausting

Let us make it faster and simpler, if you agree.

Romans 9 - it is contradiction only for your view

I use that examples to show you, that if these images are fulfilled in the church, there is no need to wait for prophecies containing these images to be fulfilled in other way than in church. Its connected.

The heads in Revelation are symbolic - that is my point, exactly. Because Revelation is the book of symbols. So there will be no literal 1000 years of something, its - again - a symbol of something

Who is Christ ruling - Hitler, Sadam, Stalin, Napoleon, Nero etc etc - of course he is ruling them, NT says clearly that all government is from Him and that He is in the control of all events in the universe.

New world when taking words literally - as I said, I was grown up in a dispensational church, so this Israel-world view is not new to me. Literal fulfillment is lesser than the eternal/spiritual one.

trofimus · May 21, 2016

crossnote said:

Complain to apostles, they started it.

eternally-gratefull · May 21, 2016

oldhermit said:

I will start here, Since this is a direct answer to my question.

Remnant. Where in the OT does any prophet say this prophesy will be fulfilled by a remnant? There has always been a remnant, God prophesied that there always would be, So how is something that has ALWAYS been be considered a remnant?

2. Not all of the nation of Israel returned to Jerusalem.

People who were in Jerusalem were there to celebrate pentecost. They had done this to celebrate Pentecost every year. This is not god bringing them back and this is not the first time they came back since the were allowed back into the land after the Babylonian exile.

3. the jews who were there may have been dwelling in Jerusalem, But it does not say they were returned by God at that moment after they repented. In fact, Most still had not repented. which was the reason they were still under gentile rule

4. the day of Pentecost is seen in lev 23 16, After 50 days (Pentecost) an offering was to be given) it was also called the feast of harvest, or the day of first fruits. (ex 23 with numbers 28) and it is logical to conclude that many jews from many nation were in attendance who may not even have lived there.. But were their to visit for this Jewish tradition.

3/ These people were not there because God brought them back to live in the land in peace. But because they were their celebrating a jewish tradition, In fact, they were not living in peace (they were slaves of rome) and were utterly cast out just a few years later (70 AD)

more to come, will be slow.. bear with me

eternally-gratefull · May 21, 2016

crossnote said:

Amen, that is why spiritualizing prophesy gives God a bad name, and makes him no pore a prophet that nostrodomus (it brings me to remembrance that nostrodomous said the name hissler. and said this man would do some things, so they translated this prophesy to hitler and the German 3rd reich.

When God says such and such will happen, there will be no question, because he got the made right, the date right, the event right, and nothing can be questioned. It happened exactly the way God said it would..

eternally-gratefull · May 21, 2016

More to come.. I just took a break from my yardwork, need to get back to it before it starts raining again..

Israel’s Final Restoration

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