In part 6 of this study, we saw how Jesus put all Israel under the Leviticus trespass offering; in other words, under ignorance, when He hung on the cross. That's why He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
On the third day, His Father raised Him from the dead. During the next 40 days before He returned to Heaven, He was seen by more than 500 people in His resurrected form. As He stood on the Mount of Olives just before ascending to His Father, BODILY, the disciples came and asked Him the question in the verse above.
You can see what was on their minds: The VISIBLE kingdom which we discussed in part 8. They had no clue, not even an inkling, about the Church Jesus intended to establish on earth. That revelation was given exclusively to the Apostle Paul.
Amazingly, none of the other disciples, those who actually walked, talked, ate, slept and lived with Jesus for three years, understood this; not at first anyway. It took quite a while for them to wrap their heads around the idea.
You see, Jewish people were a bit exclusionary in their thinking. They actually believed that the Messiah was only for Israel. No wonder they didn’t understand that Jesus came to save THE WHOLE WORLD. You see, in their minds, Gentiles were like dogs so the concept of Gentiles getting saved was completely foreign to them.
The disciples at this point were thinking, now that the worst was over {after all Jesus had conquered death itself!} that the time was right for Him to set up His visible earthly kingdom. But Jesus said that it was not for them to know "the times and the seasons" which God had put under His Own authority.
Before the cross, while He traveled about, preaching, teaching, healing and blessing, the Jewish people were witness to THE MOST AMAZING THINGS such as the world has never seen, before or since. Yet they did not recognize their Messiah. He was rejected.
He made the above statement because Israel was to be given another chance--post resurrection--to recognize and accept their Messiah.
Fast forward now to the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came in like a mighty rushing wind filling the upper room where they were all gathered. All 120 of them seated in the upper room were supercharged! They were baptized in the Holy Spirit, came out speaking tongues, Peter preached and 3,000 people were saved, ALL JEWISH!
Fast forward now to the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came in like a mighty rushing wind filling the upper room where they were all gathered. All 120 of them seated in the upper room were supercharged! They were baptized in the Holy Spirit, came out speaking tongues, Peter preached and 3,000 people were saved, ALL JEWISH!
In the early part of the book of Acts, Peter preached two sermons. He reached out to his fellow Jews but he never got angry with them or called them rebellious. Instead, he honored them by saying, "You men of Israel." He was giving them another chance to accept Jesus.
He actually said to them, "You murdered the Prince of Life," but then said, "I know that it was through ignorance that you did it, even as your rulers." (The trespass offering again.)
But, lest anyone wants to point fingers at the Jews, remember; the Gentiles are complicit here, too. It was at the hands of the Romans that the deed was accomplished. None of us have cause to boast. We are all there. We are all responsible. We are all guilty.
After telling them this, he {Peter} said, as Jesus did, "Repent and be baptized and God will send THE TIMES OF RESTITUTION." What are the "times of restitution?" THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM when everything will be restored to Israel!
In the very next line he says, "And God will send Jesus Christ."
What does that mean? Jesus would have split the clouds at that moment in time and returned BODILY for His the people if they, but more importantly their leadership through Peter's preaching, said "Baruchaba baShem Adonai--Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord." The second coming would have happened!
Jesus told them they would have to say those words in order for them to see His face again. Sadly, to this day, they are still in unbelief. They have yet to cry out to Him.
The Jewish people returned to their land in 1948 but remain largely in unbelief, an event which is prophesied in the scriptures. Right now; TODAY, if they say those words, "Baruchaba BaShem Adonai," He would split the clouds and return!
Getting back to Peter, He preached on the day of Pentecost, as you know, and 3,000 people were saved. Considering the total census in country at the time it was barely a remnant. Immediately afterward, the Pharisees and Sadducees had Peter put in custody and dragged in front of their tribunal. They demanded to know how the lame man got healed in Acts 3:11. Again he doesn't call them rebels but honors them as the elders and leaders of Israel.
From this point on the persecution of the church began. Peter answered and said to them, in answer to their question, "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.” (Acts 4:10)
Even though Peter didn't say it, the Jews aren't the only ones who were complicit. We are all guilty.
Even though Peter didn't say it, the Jews aren't the only ones who were complicit. We are all guilty.
What did the elders and leaders do? They rejected Jesus AGAIN.
The Jewish people so far have had a chance to accept their Messiah: a) during His earthly ministry, b) post resurrection, and c) via Peter's teaching. Three chances; there times they rejected Him.
So what does God do? Join me for part 10 of Rightly Dividing The Word Of God where we will discuss how God shifts gears again and turns back to the Gentiles.
http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/part-9-of-16rightly-dividing-word-of.html
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