Tag Archives: New Covenant

Israel or Christ?

Posted on 14/12/2025 | 1 comment

Recently I read an article by Dr Tim Orr who rather than exult the Lord Jesus focuses on a relationship with Israel and the nation, modern Israel. He believes Israel is still God’s chosen people. See his article here: https://dailydeclaration.org.au/2025/11/21/reclaiming-israel/

This author is not true to the New Testament. I sent the following comments to this publication.

God’s promise to Abraham came true for us Christians down to this very day. For we who follow Jesus are the true people of God. We are Abraham’s descendants. Not fleshly Israel. Not earthly Jerusalem.


This author has cherry-picked the scriptures to claim that Israel is the chosen people of God. He has ignored much evidence in the NT for example:


Galatians 6:16. We are the Israel of God. The ὅσοι [‘as many as’] refers to the individual Christians, Jewish and Gentile; and ‘Israel of God’ to the same Christians, seen collectively and forming the true messianic community.” (Word Studies in the New Testament vol. 4, p. 180).

Paul cannot be pronouncing a benediction upon persons who are not included in the phrase “as many as shall walk by this rule” (i.e., the rule of boasting only in the cross). The entire argument of the epistle prevents any idea that here he would give a blessing to those who are not included in this group. And Paul also wrote: “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”. (Galatians 3:29). See also Galatians 3:6-9, 12.


Galatians 3:26-29: For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you (Gentiles).


1 Peter 2:4-10: . . . . . . for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

These terms, chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession, reflect Deuteronomy 7:6, 10:15, 14:2.

Under the New Covenant the same applies to all believers in Christ both Jew and gentile.


Matthew 8:11-12. Jesus said to unbelieving Jews: “I tell you this that many Gentiles will come from all over the world –from east and west–and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites–those for whom the Kingdom was prepared–will be thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”


Replacement theology’?  Nonsense.

Israel has not been replaced. Israel was transformed at Pentecost, with the remnant, Jews from all nations of the Dispersion. From then on these Jewish believers were persecuted by the Jews who rejected their Messiah, as Jesus said would happen in the Olivet Discourse.


And see 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16. And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.


1 Thessalonians 1:3-4. We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.


Romans 11:30–36 does not teach about a kingdom with both Jews and Gentiles as distinct populations within the people of God. That would be a totally abhorrent idea for Paul (Galatians 3-6, Ephesians 2-3).

Many commentators have adopted Israel as their focus. It’s idolatry.

No matter how much New Testament scripture is quoted they don’t want the truth. So brainwashed. 

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Posted in Bible Study, Covenant, new, old, Eschatology, Israel

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No One Can See God

Posted on 17/10/2025 | Leave a comment

Jesus said: “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. . . . . .  because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer . . . “. (John 16:7-10).  

He said this surprising thing “where you can see me no longer”. He said that he would send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was better for them than his physical presence!

Can you grasp how incredible that is?

The truth that many people miss is that no one can see Christ in bodily form and live.

But instead, Jesus told them he would send what could not be seen: the Holy Spirit. That gift enables the multiplication of the works of Christ by his followers in the world. Those works will be seen.

Many people are obsessed with the idea that Jesus will come and they will physically see Jesus. They will be disappointed. We already have what is for our good that he went away!

He will not come back to rule physically from an earthly Jerusalem. If you believe that you have believed a lie.

The New Testament tells us that when the Son of Man comes he comes hidden in the clouds of God’s splendour and glory! (e.g., Mat 24:30, 26:64) 

His coming is often called a ‘Parousia’ (1 Thes 2:19,3:13, 4:15). In Jesus’ day parousia meant ‘visit’, typically of the visit of a king who leaves his palace and visits a city but then returns to his home.

His coming will not be physically ‘seen’ but understood. He could never be seen by human, physical eyes in His exalted, glorious, state, “whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Tim 6:16).

The NT says when he comes it will be in judgment and the fulfilment of all that is written (Luke 21:22), not to be gazed at. See also judgment passages in 1 Thes 1:10, 2:15-16.

The Holy Spirit is with them from the Day of Pentecost until He comes again and beyond to this our day—the experience we have now!

See Acts 1:9. “And after He had said these things, he was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received him out of their sight.” He was hidden from their eyes by a cloud (Grk. nephelē). Just as he was hidden from their eyes as he went into heaven, so when he comes He will be hidden to human eyes by the clouds of glory (Mat 24:30).

Since then, Jesus has never been physically seen by human eyes. nor will he ever.

Do you see? Do you understand? Many stumble over this, thinking that because he would not be seen by human eyes, then he has not yet come.

Paul wrote: we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour. (Titus 2:11f.) The blessed hope of Paul was the appearing of his glory, not his physical presence.

That appearance of his glory has already come and been seen by the first generation of believers according to Mathew 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:30-34, as I have written in my many posts on my blog.

Let’s rejoice that he has come to dwell by his Spirit among his people, His ekklesia, and to empower us to be his witnesses as he did with the first apostles!

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Posted in Bible Study, Covenant, new, old, Eschatology, Famous persons, Make disciples

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The End: What You Cannot Deny

Posted on 05/09/2025 | 3 comments

This article discusses what is meant by the biblical term ‘the end’ and in its Jewish context  We will also discuss various beliefs about when, how and what the coming of the end means for believers. Many mistakes and assumptions made by modern Christians will be exposed and hopefully corrected.

We find the phrase ‘the end’ in many eschatological contexts. But, just what is it the end of?

This is the end of an age, a long period of time. It is the end of the Mosaic age, Judaism. It’s the end of the Jewish sacrificial system, of the whole of the Jerusalem Temple and priesthood mediation. 

It is a mistake to think that the end of the age means the end of the world or the end of history. For the Jews it meant the end of the ‘current’ Jewish age, the beginning of the new age of the Messiah.

Jesus charged the disciples with the Great Commission, promising He would be with them “until the end of the age”. Some people think Jesus meant that before the end comes that the gospel must be preached to all nations. The degree of completion of this task is seen by many as a significant indicator of the approaching end times. That is also a mistake.

One of the most notable references to the End is found in Matthew 24. Verse 14 says:  this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 

This convinces many readers that the end occurs after the gospel has been preached to all nations.

But in fact, the single Greek word Jesus used for the phrase ‘all the world’ meant something else to the disciples. It meant the Roman world or the known civilised world.

Jesus did not say ‘all would hear about the kingdom’. He said that the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth. This ‘world’ was all reached within the lifetime of the apostle Paul. See the evidence at for this in Romans 10:18, 15: 10, 16:18, Colossians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:8). 

That, my friends, is sensational. The End has come already. That is undeniable.

Another reference to the End is found in Paul’s 1 Corinthians 15:22-25 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.  For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that will be abolished is death”.

 This ‘End’ passage is centred around Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of the dead. It shows the end comes after Jesus has completed his mission and handed over the kingdom to God the Father.

Jesus was the ‘first fruits’—He was the first to rise from the dead. Others follow! Jesus has certainty completed His mission and returned to the Father long ago.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 accurately foretells that after the last trumpet has sounded, believers are consequently and quickly raised to new life after their physical death! This continues to the present day.

It is undeniable that Christians celebrate this wonderful fact at every funeral of our fellow believers!

The sound of the trumpet is a powerful biblical image associated with significant divine announcements, such as the giving of the Law at Sinai, and the call to assemble the Israelites. 

Here the “last trumpet” is the call for people of God to gather to meet the Lord also described in Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. What could be a more significant divine announcement?

Revelation describes various events to unfold during the last days: Revelation 1:1-3; 22:6-7, 12,20.

Sure, Jesus said that no one knows the exact day or hour of His return (Matthew 24:36). But He did not say ‘years, centuries or millennia’. And He added it would be in the lifetime of many of the people He spoke with face to face. (Matthew 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:34). See, that is undeniable.

Then The End Will Come.

So when do you expect “the end’ to occur? And how do you expect Him to appear?

There is an error which the famed scholar C S Lewis made. Lewis blatantly said Jesus was mistaken! He said Jesus failed to come back in the End times as he said he would. (See his book “The World’s Last Night”). That is also the mistaken view of many liberal scholars, atheists and Islamic writers. They have assumed that since Jesus was never seen by human eyes optically, that He never appeared.

But why should any human eyes see the Lord who after His ascension and glorification dwells in unapproachable light at the Father’s right hand? No one in human flesh can see Him and live.

The first Christians expected Jesus to return within their lifetimes. Exactly how they would experience His coming they were not told. So we must be cautious in what to expect, not assuming things.

The apostles wrote 100 times in the NT letters of Jesus’ imminent coming. It is undeniable they could possibly all been mistaken.  See Romans 13:11-13; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 4:5; 10:6; Philippians 1:6; 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10-10  for undeniable evidence.  The apostles referred often to the “last days,” urging believers to be ready:  See 1 Peter 1:20; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 1:2).

Many theologians in their blindness cannot see. So they adapted teachings to explain the apparent delay, making false assumptions. So they claim that Jesus did not mean in His current generation It must be some future generation—a nonsense assumption. Please see my article on this issue here.

Others offer the absurd explanation that the word ‘generation’ meant ‘race’ i.e., the Jewish race. We must stick to the plain words of Jesus. He consistently attacked “this evil generation” the Jews of His own generation.

It is another mistake to believe the End will be a worldwide event seen optically, quoting Matthew 24:23–30 literally. But Biblical prophesies of the collapsing of cosmic entities were a common motif in judgment prophecy, e.g. Isa 13:10, 19:1,24:18-20, 34;8-15, Ezek 32:7–8; Joel 2:28; Nah 1:3; Pss 18, 104:3). This would be understood by informed Jews familiar with the prophets and as Jesus taught His disciples.

Jesus said His return will come with speed, brightness, and power, as lightning! Jesus is not seen in the sky but ‘seen’ seated in the heavenly places at the Father’s side! Stephen said to the Sanhedrin, at his trial, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56).

It is a huge mistake to think you could see Jesus’ second coming optically.  He sits at the right hand of power. He “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16).

The scriptures are plain. How clearer can we get?  It’s time for your denial to end, the brainwashing, the cognitive dissonance to be recognised and truth to prevail.

Truth is demanded by the Lord from us all. Jesus is the truth. He seeks those who want to worship God in spirit and in truth, not those who seek fantasies, like some imagined rapture.

Instead, as He said to the disciples before they killed Him: I do not ask {Father} to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  John 17: 15-18

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The Age to Come

Posted on 16/07/2025 | Leave a comment

As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples came along and wanted to take him on a tour of the various Temple buildings. 2 But he told them, “All these buildings will be knocked down, with not one stone left on top of another!” 3 “When will this happen?” the disciples asked him later, as he sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. “What events will signal your return and the end of the age?” 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone fool you. 5 For many will come claiming to be the Messiah and will lead many astray. 6 When you hear of wars beginning, this does not signal my return; these must come, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:1-6

The Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition referred to a future era of divine fulfilment, the Messianic Age. This period was envisioned as an age of universal peace, harmony, and the reign of the Messiah, where evil will be eradicated, and the knowledge of the Creator will be widespread.

That’s why Jesus and the disciples along with the Jews expected a future era which was referred to as ‘the age to come’, contrasting with their current age.

In Christian tradition, the “age to come” is similarly associated with the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.  

For Jews, the idea of the Messianic Age is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of the prophets. Isaiah speaks of a time when “nation will not lift sword against nation” and “they will no longer study warfare. Isaiah 2 speaks of a time when the Mount of the Lord’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains, and all nations will stream to it, seeking peace and learning the ways of the Lord.

Isaiah 11 describes the Messianic Age as a time when a shoot will come forth from the stump of Jesse (David’s father), and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

This figure, the Messiah, will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, bringing wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.

The Messianic Age is also described in Isaiah 32, where the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out on the people, leading to a time of peace, security, and prosperity. The passage emphasizes that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

In addition, Isaiah 42 highlights the Messiah’s role in bringing justice to the nations. He will not falter or be discouraged until he establishes justice on earth, and the nations will look to him for guidance and hope.

Isaiah 65:17-19. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.

These Old Testament passages collectively paint a picture of the Messianic Age as a time of peace, justice, and the presence of God’s Spirit, where the Messiah will reign and bring about a new era of harmony and righteousness.

Now consider these passages from the New Testament:

Now consider these passages from the New Testament:

Matthew 12:32. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Luke 18:30. . . . . . receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

 

1 Corinthians 2:6.  we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away

 

Ephesians 1:21. Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

 

Hebrews 6:5.  . . .tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come

 

Revelation 21:4  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, . . . . .  nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away

Jesus would have expounded to the disciples many Old Testament scriptures that pointed to end times. Also He would have given them His own direct teachings. Matthew recorded many of these He gave them before the Olivet discourse. See Matthew 4:17, 5:17, 10:23, 16:17-18,  9:36-43, 13:47-50, 22:2-14.

It is a huge mistake to think that the End in the Bible means the end of everything. But that’s what a surprising number of Christian people believe.

              That’s an error which the famed scholar C S Lewis made. Lewis blatantly said Jesus was mistaken! He said Jesus failed to come back in the End time as he said he would. (See Lewis’ book “The World’s Last Night”).

That is also the mistaken view of many liberal scholars, atheists and Islamic writers.

So, please do not make this mistake.

Jesus was not mistaken and he cannot lie. But true to his promise, he returned as he said he would before many of his followers passed away (Matthew 10:23, 16:17-18 and 24:34.

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Why Jesus Had To Come Again

Posted on 15/06/2025 | Leave a comment

Most Bible-believing Christians wait Jesus’ second coming after 2000 years.

We are told that Jesus’ return will be unexpected. People point to Matthew 24:36, which states, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” 

But in that same discourse to the same disciples, Jesus said I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Matthew 24:34.

Jesus’ words are precisely why the early Christians expected Jesus to return very soon, even within their lifetimes. As we read the letters of the apostles, we see that evidence repeatedly.

How could the apostles be so sure? The answer is they believed Jesus.

There are over one hundred passages in the apostles’ letters. These passages show how the first believers were more than confident of his return in their lifetime.

Just as these ‘timing’ passages confine Christ’s Second Coming to the first-century generation, they saw the end of the age squarely in that generation as well. See e.g.

-Phil 3:20.  . And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

-Titus 2:11f. . . . . we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior

-2 Thes 2:1.  . .  about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.

James 5:8-9. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

But when his Second Coming did not appear to happen, how could the delay be explained? Some scholars suggest that early Christians misinterpreted Jesus’ words, leading to disappointment when the Second Coming did not occur as anticipated. Even C S Lewis blatantly said Jesus was mistaken! He said Jesus did not come back as he said he would. (See his book “The World’s Last Night”). That is also the view of many liberal scholars, atheists and Islamic writers.

He failed to show up?

But is there any biblical reason to believe anyone would optically ‘see’ him coming in his glorified resurrected body to earth? Paul described the ascended Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. 

(1 Timothy 6:13-16).

This demand for him to be seen optically is a grave mistake. It discredits Jesus. These teachers fail to look at the rest of the New Testament. The evidence is there. The disciples believed him. He had to come on time. If not, Christianity would be falsified. Yet we know it is true.

It further appears that Jesus intended the disciples to believe in His imminent return. He often urged His followers to whom he spoke face to face to “be ready”. These passages show this:

Mark 13:33. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert[

Luke 12:40.  You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Luke 21:36. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

These passages must be seen in their historical context—Jesus was speaking to Jewish disciples not to us.

Paul hoped to see the resurrection before he passed away, see:

Philippians 3:11, I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

And 1 Corinthians 15: 51-53.  But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!  It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. That is resurrection!

And most importantly, the author of Hebrews wrote:

    For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come a second time, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.  Hebrews 9:24-28.

Did you catch that?

It is a fact that Jesus’ sacrificial death assures us of sins forgiven. He has effectively dealt with our sins by his death on the cross, as the apostles’ letters in the New Testament attest. We believe this today.

However, there is more!

The Jews in the Old Testament eagerly awaited the high-priest’s coming out of the temple on the Day of Atonement each year. His emergence alive from the Holy of Holies meant their sins were atoned for.

In like manner, Jesus would come to bring completed salvation to all believers, eagerly awaiting His coming a second time.

Without his return, those First Century believers would have expected to pass away and go to Sheol. There they would await the resurrection.

That’s why he had to come a second time.

Of course, few today believe we go to Sheol, but to Heaven. That’s what we hear and sing about at every funeral of a Christian!

Now because of his return we will enjoy the resurrection and Heaven!

I am not saying here that you, dear reader, lack complete salvation today.

Why?

Because He has already come and completed your salvation—even if you don’t believe that!

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The Disciples’ Two Big Questions

Posted on 08/06/2025 | 2 comments

When Jesus’ disciples pointed out the temple buildings, He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”  Matthew 24:1-2.

This temple complex had taken 46 years to build (John 2:20). It was one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was built of stones weighing up to 400 tons. The entire complex, with its multiple courts, was capable of accommodating up to one million people. 

The temple was the epicentre of the entire Jewish religion.

Think about that. Jesus declared it would be totally destroyed! Torn down.  

For the disciples to hear such words from their Master would have shocked them to their care.

Jesus often used the phrase truly I say unto you when about to say something extremely surprising and unbelievable. He used this phrase as if to warn them they were about to be shocked. He used this expression again in verse 34.

This event was the most shocking and tumultuous thing any Jew could imagine would happen. This struck at the very heart of Judaism, their religion, God’s house. This was unimaginable, incredible, beyond belief.

The Jerusalem temple was everything to them.

The destruction of the temple will happen because it was now no longer God’s house, but ‘desolate’ (Matthew 23:38). In a few days, Jesus would make the sacrifice once for all (Hebrews 10:9, 12, 14, 18). See also Jesus’ words recorded in Luke 21:24. We know today that the Roman army under Titus destroyed the temple in 70 AD along with the city of Jerusalem.

In this shocking announcement, Jesus provoked the disciples to ask questions. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? (v3).

The first: ‘Tell us, when will this happen?’ The ‘when’ question.

The second: ‘What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?’ The ‘what sign’ question.

Some people say there were three questions. But there are only two questions. The disciples understood his return would coincide with the end of their current age. The Jews believed there were two ages. First the age of the whole sacrificial and temple system. And second, the age to come when their Messiah would come and reign.

Verses 14-26 and 32-44 deal with the ‘when’ question and 27-31 deal with the ‘what sign’ question.

Jesus said (v14) And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world so that all nations [peoples] will hear it; and then the end will come.

Please note that the word ‘whole world’ translates the Greek oikemene, i.e., the Greco-Roman world, the inhabited world, not the whole planet.

History shows us how this actually happened in the 1st century. Paul wrote that the Good News had been proclaimed throughout the Greco-Roman world—see Romans 1:8, 15:19; Colossians 1:6.

Does this not show that “the End” has already come? The age to come has arrived along with Jesus’ return long ago.

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Dispensationalism and John Nelson Darby

Posted on 06/06/2025 | Leave a comment

People who follow dispensational and ‘rapture’ teaching invariably believe the teachings of Darby.

John Nelson Darby was born in 1800 to a prominent family in London. First, he became a lawyer, then he became a priest in the Church of Ireland. However, he became concerned over the prevailing condition of the church, which he saw as deadened by formality. The style of work,” he wrote, “was not in agreement with what I read in the Bible concerning the church and Christianity; nor did it correspond with the effects of the action of the Spirit of God” (Letters of J. N. Darby, Oak Park, IL: Bible Truth Publishers, 1971, III, 297–298).

The Darby family owned the most haunted castle in the country, Leap Castle. There 150 dead bodies were found in the cellars, and where satanic masses were held. Darby used all kinds of occult terms in his religious writings. He was involved in many secret societies and occult groups.

During the time of his predecessor Jonathan Charles Darby there, séances were held in the castle by the latter’s wife Mildred Darby. She was a writer of Gothic novels, leading to publicity about the castle and its ghosts. The claims of paranormal activity include the putative existence of a Red Lady ghost, the ghosts of two girls, and an “elemental spirit” associated with Mildred Darby. The castle describes itself as “the world’s most haunted castle.” 

You can read about this at https://www.thestandingstone.ie/2009/08/leap-castle-co-offaly.html

And at https://www.ciaranmchugh.com/gallery/the-bloody-chapel-at-leap-castle/ 

Darby marked his doctrinal works with Masonic and Theosophical terms. See here

https://libertytothecaptives.net/darby_writings_occult.html.

See Darby’s Pre-Trib Rapture ‘Christ’ compared to Alice Bailey’s Theosophical/Luciferian Christ here: https:libertytothecaptives.net/darbychrist_newage.html 

His teachings

Darby taught the separate economies in God’s redemptive purpose. He separated Israel and the Church. There were two distinct groups, two distinct identities, and two distinct futures. He viewed Acts 2 in the New Testament as a pivotal moment in God’s dealings with Israel. He claimed that began a new dispensation, the ‘church’. This period would last until what he understood as the ‘rapture’.

He taught seven dispensations: Paradise, Noah, Abraham, Israel, Gentiles, the Spirit and the Millennium. He held a hermeneutic of “literal interpretation” to all areas of scripture including Old Testament prophecies.

Darby toured many times through the United States and Canada from 1859 to 1874, widely spreading his theological perspectives. His dispensational teachings were further made popular by C. I. Scofield in his notes for the highly influential Scofield Reference Bible.

The Logos.com website ‘Got Questions?’ claims that “today premillennialism and a modified form of Darby’s dispensationalism are held by the majority of evangelicals”. Some estimate half a billion evangelicals, chiefly in America. Logos appears to support this theory.

But is this teaching true? Is it Biblical?

The Bible holds to its unity, both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The Bible always stresses the unity of the people of God. The one covenant, the covenant of grace, is the overarching structure. But the dispensationalist structure cuts up the Bible into 7 parts. This is mere presupposition.

Darby proposed the ‘church age’. But as things would get worse, Christ would come back to ‘rapture his church’. Then he says we have seven years of tribulation (misquoting Revelation 16-19). Then Christ comes back as the second coming. Then finally, the thousand-year reign, the millennium.

Dispensationalists think several scriptures show the distinct roles of Israel and the Church and the progressive revelation of God’s plan. They cite Genesis 12:1-3, God’s covenant with Abraham, promising descendants, land, and blessings for all nations through his seed. Dispensationalists interpret this as a literal promise that will be fulfilled within the people of Israel. Again mere presupposition.

The New Testament absolutely explodes this theory.

Paul wrote that gentiles are “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 3

Dispensationalists hold that the seed of Abraham is just the physical offspring of Abraham. But in Galatians 3:16, Paul explains that “the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.” He then explicitly identifies the offspring (seed) as Jesus Christ. Then in verse 29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Christ is a literal physical descendant of Abraham. But because believers, both Jew or gentile, are united to Christ. Thus we too are Abraham’s offspring if we belong to Christ. This is the true gospel.

Dispensationalists cite Ephesians 3:2-5 and 3 other scriptures. They claim that Paul’s term “dispensation” is used to describe God’s progressive revelation of the mystery of the Church.

But Paul says that the church is part of God’s eternal purpose. It will endure forever into the future: “so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, “ (Ephesians 3:10-11)

God will be glorified in the church for all future eternity: “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. ” (Ephesians 3:21)

Dispensationalists believe the church is a temporary stop gap measure. They fail to comprehend that the church is the bride of Christ and that the wedding day is the second coming. “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. ” (Ephesians 5:27)

Dispensationalists teach that the church ends at the second coming, when in fact the church continues forever as the bride of Christ. They believe the church was thought up at the last minute when the Jews rejected Jesus as their king! I kid you not! They fail to realise that our salvation is within the Body of Christ and will continue forever.  God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Dispensationalism, the rapture and premillennialism? All heresy invented by John Darby in 1830 AD.

Conclusion

I challenge all dispensationalists: Show me what I write here is incorrect OR admit your own errors. We cannot both be right. One of us is wrong—seriously wrong. Okay?

If you hold Dispensationalism you are preaching a false gospel, according to the scriptures.

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What is Dispensationalism?

Posted on 04/06/2025 | 2 comments

Dispensationalism originated in the nineteenth century in the teaching of John Nelson Darby. It is that recent. It was popularized in the United States through Its growth was spurred on through the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible. <Scofield’s Bible (published in 1909) contributed further to the spread of dispensationalism. This ‘bible’ included study notes written from a distinctively dispensationalist perspective. 

This is a religious system which claims to be Christian while actually emptying Christianity of that which is essential to it. If dispensationalism does this, then it is a cult. It cannot be considered a section of Christianity.

It is as serious as that. It is impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the situation.

Dispensationalism can lead to a misunderstanding of key biblical teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount, which is binding on Christians today. 

Critics of dispensationalism argue that the system misinterprets the Bible. This leads to a fragmented understanding of God’s plan for humanity.

The doctrine of salvation is indisputably and uncompromisingly essential to Christianity.

Dispensationalism has departed from the only way of salvation which is faith in Jesus. If so, then it has departed from Christianity.  It empties Christianity of its essential message.

According to the Scofield Study Bible “A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect to some specific revelation of the will of God” (Scofield note on Genesis 1:28).

2. With this definition Christians are introduced to the concept there are “seven such dispensations which are distinguished in the Scripture” (Scofield’s note on Genesis 1:28).

3. The seven dispensations are declared by Scofield to be as follows:

1. Dispensation of Innocence
2. Dispensation of Conscience
3. Dispensation of Human Government
4. Dispensation of Promise
5. Dispensation of Law
6. Dispensation of Grace
7. Dispensation of the Millennial

According to the Scofield Study Bible each dispensation has “a character exclusively its own,” being “wholly complete and sufficient in itself,” that it “is in no wise exchangeable for the others, and cannot be commingled.”

There are four passages in the Bible where the word “dispensation” occurs. Time is not a factor in these. The word means “administration” or “stewardship” and in context has reference to the Gospel being dispersed. Paul was entrusted with the Gospel in order to dispense it to the Gentiles.

Here are the four passages:1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10,Ephesians 3:2, Colossians 1:25. 

Next, the Bible never distinguishes between the seven dispensations suggested. The very names of the dispensations are also man-made.

In Scripture, the distinctions suggested by the system among these dispensations are not there. For example, in scripture grace is found under the Law and the Law is also found under grace.

The practical implication of Dispensational thinking also becomes alarming. The System teaches the Sermon on the Mount is not binding on Christians today.

Their System says the age of the Law lasted until the Day of Pentecost. The Bible says:

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. Luke 16:16

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:26). The King has come to His kingdom to tell His subjects of free grace and mercy. The spiritual nature of the Kingdom confused the Jews many long ago. It continues to confound those today who walk by sight and not by faith. Among these are today’s Zionists and their adulation of the state of Israel. Many have been deceived. Lied to.

They accuse us of “replacement theology”. We gladly accept!  The truth in the New Testament is that there is total replacement theology!

There is no such thing as the nation of Israel today. That nation was totally replaced as God’s wife by Jesus Christ. In Him, the true Vine, is the true assembly of believers, His New Bride. The only way, truth and life.

The people of God in the Old Covenant, the Jews, was replaced by the Body of Christ in a New Covenant! There is only one people of God, not two.

The Jerusalem temple and the entire Mosaic religion were replaced by the Body of Christ in AD 70!

The parables of Matthew 13 show that Jesus’ emphatically taught that there is no other kingdom but His kingdom and its spiritual nature. For example Matthew 13:47-50:

“the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.  When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Under the New Covenant everyone can come by faith to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God (The letter to the Hebrews. 12:22). Let the Dispensationalist and the Jewish Zionist be incensed. The sacred precinct of their literalism is invalided.

We can find rest in His city. There “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: but the Lord shall be unto you an everlasting light, and your God your glory” (Isaiah 60:19).

Conclusion

Look, this is my charge to all you who are dispensationalists—either show me the errors in what I write here or admit your own errors. We cannot both be right. One of us is wrong—seriously wrong. Okay?

If you are wrong, you are preaching a false gospel.

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The Replacement of the Jerusalem Temple– Part 2

Posted on 28/05/2025 | Leave a comment

In our last post we looked at John’s Gospel, chapter 1 and discussed Jesus’ extraordinary statement about the Jerusalem temple would be replaced and its meaning. In this post we look further into the New Testament and discover more about this.

On the first ‘Palm Sunday’ when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and entered the temple complex, he was not acting as a religious radical. He was acting as God’s replacement temple, the reality to which the temple pointed all along. The shadow of the real thing.

When Jesus died on the cross an extraordinary phenomenon occurred. The temple curtain was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This supernatural thing signified the end of the need for a physical temple and the whole sacrificial system.

Jesus’ Body now serves as the dwelling place for God’s presence: the ekklesia, the Body of Christ.

All that the temple had meant for Israel for almost one thousand years was now to be found in Israel’s Messiah. The presence of God which human beings longed for was found through a personal connection with Christ, not in a building in Jerusalem. 

The first followers of Jesus could see that the Jerusalem temple was actually ‘overthrown’ and replaced for them at Jesus’ death and resurrection. From that time, around AD 30, the early Christians, understood a new temple was established for all believers, both Jew and Gentile.

They remembered Jesus’ words the night before he was betrayed:

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 

 In the following verses the apostle Paul highlights the idea that believers collectively form the body of Christ, with each member playing a unique role:

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Romans 12:4-5.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

And Paul saw Jesus’ body as the head over everything to do with the whole ekklesia. His fullness:

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:23

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16

All who wish to experience the Lord’s presence, learn his teaching, and enjoy his forgiveness can do so by embracing Jesus the Messiah, the new temple. There is no other way but Jesus’ way!

This is so clearly emphasised in the whole New Testament.

Yet, astonishingly, there are many Christians who have embraced a deadly heresy which fails to do any justice to our Lord’s majesty and headship. They have embraced dispensational theology, which originated only 200 years ago. They aggressively denounce the idea that Jesus’ body has replaced Israel, disparagingly calling it “Replacement Theology”. Thus, they become virtual Christ-deniers.

Of course, the fact that Jesus replaced the entire Mosaic system is undeniable. As we saw in John 2:13-17,  Jesus saw himself replacing the whole Jewish system with its central temple worship. Replacing all that with a community. A worldwide family of brothers and sisters.

The state known today as “Israel” is NOT God’s chosen instrument. Of course, under the Old Covenant through Israel all the nations would be blessed by the seed of Abraham.

Christians believe in his seed, i.e., Jesus (Mat 3:9, Rom 4:13-25, Gal 4:28-31), we enjoy living in the New Covenant inaugurated by the Lord Jesus.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29 

In the New Covenant documents the people of God are those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 2:4-10 , Titus 2:14, Heb 3:6, 8:13).

Just before his passion, Jesus said to the people of Israel their end had come. In the parable of the wicked tenants (Mat 21:43)

 “And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

Yahweh will replace the wicked tenants with ‘others’, namely the ekklesia. Pentecost.

And then to the hypocritical Jewish leaders he said

“37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.[j] 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ (Mat 23:29-38).

From the time of Christ’s crucifixion in 30 AD to 70 AD, it seems God gave the disobedient Jews 40 years to repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. Then 40 years later many multitudes of unbelieving Jews perished when the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem.

But today, these deceived people say that someday Jesus will come back and reign on earth for 1000 years. And many even think God will accept sacrifices in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem! They cite Revelation chapter 20. But Revelation chapter 20 says absolutely nothing about this claim.

Such a temple where animal, and other sacrifices would be carried out would deny our Lords’s once-for-all perfect sacrifice on the cross was sufficient. The whole of Hebrews chapter 9 makes that clear. A reinstated building in Jerusalem that is like the Old Testament temple is not God’s plan.

Such activity in a third, earthly temple will require a legitimate priesthood. That also nullifies the perfect priesthood of Christ and makes his to be insufficient. Men of flesh and blood would have to be appointed to go back to a sacrificial system that Hebrews chapter 8 says was imperfect and could never make those who approached cleaned of sin.

It also denies the one Mediator between God and men being the risen Christ. In conclusion, let’s be glad and thankful for what Jesus has done. He has made obsolete all that came before him. He is the only one who could replace the whole Jewish system Including the Jerusalem Temple.

It also denies the one Mediator between God and men being the risen Christ.

In conclusion, let’s be glad and thankful for what Jesus has done. He has made obsolete all that came before him. He is the only one who could replace the whole Jewish system Including the Jerusalem Temple.

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Receiving Jesus

Posted on 25/04/2025 | Leave a comment

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John we read about the coming of Jesus into the world  . . .

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:9-13.

Despite his amazing miracles, outstanding teaching and divine claims, Jesus was rejected by ‘his own’, the unbelieving Jews. All four gospels in the New Testament tell the constant story of his rejection.

At first, vast crowds from all over Judea and Galilee followed him, attracted by his words and deeds. But the religious leaders hated Jesus because He was so full of the love of God, while they were full of love for themselves and their religious system. His own did not receive him—they will be left behind and replaced by the real people of God in the last days.

But not every Jew rejected him. Some received him.

To all those who did receive him, i.e., those who actually believed in him, there was a sensational result—they had the authority to be children of God. Jesus was fulfilling what the prophets had predicted . . . .  

Isaiah 62:4.  Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.

Zephaniah 3:16-17. On that day, the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Now let’s consider the ramifications of people receiving the authority to become “children of God”. This means to bring in a completely new people of God!

Those who received Jesus had the authority to be called people of God. But those who refused to receive Jesus do not have the right to call themselves the people of God. Here is the beginning of a new people of God altogether! The whole Gospel story is all about how Jesus’ followers have replaced those who were thought to be the people of God.

This was fulfilled by Isaiah and many Old Testament prophets, including Jeremiah 31 and Hosea   . . . .   

After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God. “Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’ Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together. They will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together. Hosea 1:8-11.

Then Peter, quoting Hosea and writing to congregations of Jews and Gentiles, declares . . .  

. . . .  for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy, now you have received God’s mercy. 1 Peter:2:9-10.

Now let’s see what the gospels record about receiving Jesus. Gospel of Matthew 10:40-42 . . . . . .

“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

Here is the Jewish principle of the shaliach—his agent is like himself – שליח shaliach is the Hebrew word for “apostle”.  It literally means “sent one”.  Strongs 7971. Pronounced shuh lee akh.  Plural “shlichim“.

This usage also appears in John 13:20.

I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

And in Luke 10:16.

Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

New Testament theologian R T France wrote: “the reception afforded Jesus’ disciples becomes the test of one’s relationship to God, as is spelt out more thoroughly in Jesus’ parable Matthew 25:31-46.”

It was a privilege for those who carry the word of God. Such acts of hospitality from the lost sheep of Israel made the preaching of the gospel possible.

This fits in perfectly with Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:37. It would have been solid comfort for the disciples under persecution. Thus comparing Matthew 10:42:

if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

With Matthew 25:37-39:

“. . . . .  “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Note who really are the ‘least of these my brothers and sisters’ –not the disadvantaged or poor—but those who follow Jesus—see Matthew 12:27.  

For us today, it is indeed a privilege to carry the word of God to others. To all of us who received him, we who actually believe in him, there is a sensational result—we have the authority to act as the children of God, his brothers and sisters.

We have the wonderful authority as his children to be his messengers and those who welcome us with the gospel will be welcoming Jesus and the Father who sent him.

Let us take that authority every day!

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