Participants:
Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000013S
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00:21 So we pray.
00:24 Our Father, we come before Your throne boldly, 00:27 because we come in the name of Jesus. 00:29 And we know that when we pray in the name of Jesus, 00:33 You answer our prayers. 00:35 So we ask that You will be with us 00:37 through the Ministry of Your Holy Spirit. 00:40 Enlighten our minds to understand, 00:43 open our hearts to receive, 00:47 and, Lord, through Your power, 00:49 make us obedient children. 00:52 We ask that as we study this very important lesson, 00:55 that You will guide us, 00:56 and we claim the promise of Your presence, 00:59 because we ask it in the name of Jesus. 01:02 Amen. 01:04 After Jesus described the order of end time events, 01:09 beginning in Matthew 24:4-31, 01:14 Jesus used an illustration of nature 01:17 that would indicate to His followers 01:19 when that coming would be near. 01:24 He also stated that 01:25 before that generation passed away, 01:27 all of these things would be fulfilled, 01:30 and they were in the destruction of Jerusalem. 01:33 He also stated that 01:35 heaven and earth might pass away, 01:37 but His Word would never pass away. 01:41 In other words, Matthew 24 01:43 would be fulfilled, just as He said. 01:47 So let's read Matthew 24:32-35. 01:51 Here is the lesson from nature 01:55 so that we can know how near the coming of Jesus is. 01:58 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: 02:02 When its branch has already become tender 02:06 and puts forth leaves, 02:08 you know that summer is near. 02:11 So also," now comes a comparison. 02:13 "So you also, when you see all these things, 02:19 that is everything that he said in Matthew 24, 02:22 know that it is near at the doors! 02:27 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation 02:29 will by no means pass away, 02:31 till all these things take place. 02:34 Heaven and earth will pass away, 02:36 but My words will by no means pass away." 02:42 So he uses the analogy of the fig tree 02:46 to teach the soon coming of the Lord 02:51 in power and glory. 02:54 Now dispensationalists, 02:57 those who believe that Israel, 02:59 literal Israel is being reestablished by God, 03:03 according to His plan, 03:05 believe that the fig tree of Matthew 24 03:09 is a symbol of Israel, 03:11 and that the budding of the fig tree 03:14 represents the reestablishment of the nation of Israel 03:18 in the year 1948. 03:22 According to those who have this view, 03:24 the reestablishment of Israel as a nation in 1948, 03:28 is the greatest sign 03:30 that the coming of Jesus could come at any moment 03:33 that is, is even at the door. 03:36 Therefore, we must examine this passage more carefully 03:41 to see if this concept is true. 03:45 Now it is true that in the Old Testament, 03:48 The fig tree and the vineyard are symbols of Israel. 03:53 Notice as one example Hosea 9:10, 03:58 God speaks about Israel. 04:00 And he said, "I found Israel like grapes," 04:04 there's the vineyard, 04:05 "in the wilderness, 04:07 I saw your fathers as the first-fruits 04:10 on the fig tree in its season. 04:13 But they went to Baal Peor, 04:16 and separated themselves to that shame, 04:19 they became an abomination like the thing they loved." 04:24 The New Testament also uses the fig tree 04:27 and the vineyard as symbols for Israel. 04:33 What we want to do in the next few minutes 04:35 is examine three passages 04:37 that refer to the tree 04:41 in the gospels. 04:43 And so let's go to the first one. 04:46 It's found in Matthew 3:8-10. 04:51 And after we examine Israel as a tree in the New Testament, 04:55 we will examine Israel 04:56 as the vineyard in the New Testament. 05:00 John the Baptist began his ministry 05:03 six months before Jesus began His. 05:08 In his message he compared Israel to a tree. 05:14 Matthew 3:8-10. 05:17 Here John the Baptist preaches, 05:19 "Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, 05:24 and do not think to say to yourselves: 05:27 'We have Abraham as our father.' 05:30 For I say to you 05:32 that God is able to raise up children to Abraham 05:34 from these stones. 05:36 And even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. 05:40 Therefore every tree 05:42 which was does not bear good fruit is cut down 05:46 and thrown into the fire." 05:49 So he calls to repentance. 05:52 He rebukes them for claiming to be children of Abraham 05:55 when they didn't have his spirit. 05:57 He compares of them with a tree 06:00 that is supposed to produce good fruit. 06:03 And if it doesn't produce good fruit, 06:05 it will be cut down and cast into the fire. 06:08 And he also told them, 06:10 you know, God can raise up children 06:13 of Abraham from these stones if He wants to. 06:15 Now the stones that Jesus mentioned here 06:18 were not literal stones. 06:20 He wasn't pointing to literal stones. 06:23 The ax in this verse, on these verses is symbolic. 06:27 The trees are symbolic, the fruit is symbolic. 06:32 And the cutting down of the tree is symbolic 06:35 and the burning of the tree is also symbolic. 06:37 So the stones also are symbolic of something. 06:41 John the Baptist is saying, 06:43 donâ t think to say you know, we are children of Abraham, 06:46 God can raise up children of Abraham from these stones. 06:49 What do the stones represent? 06:51 In The Desire of Ages, page 107, 06:54 Ellen White wrote the following. 06:56 Speaking about the Gentiles and the soldiers 06:58 who were gathered there to listen to John preach, 07:01 and some of them to be baptized. 07:04 "Their hearts might now appear 07:07 as lifeless as the stones of the desert, 07:11 but His Spirit could quicken them 07:13 to do His will, 07:14 and receive the fulfillment of His promise." 07:19 So the first passage that we notice 07:21 concerning the tree is John the Baptist, 07:25 calling Israel to repentance, 07:27 saying, don't boast 07:28 because you're children of Abraham, 07:29 God can raise children of Abraham from these Gentiles, 07:33 and you better produce fruit, 07:35 because if you don't produce fruit, 07:37 you will be cut down and cast into the fire. 07:42 Now we go to the second episode 07:44 that refers to the tree. 07:49 This is about two and a half years 07:51 after Jesus began His ministry. 07:54 He told a parable 07:55 that has many of the same common elements 07:58 that the message of John the Baptist had. 08:00 Let's read the parable in Luke 13:1-9. 08:06 "There were present at that season 08:08 some who told Him about the Galileans 08:12 whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 08:16 And Jesus answered and said to them, 08:18 'Do you suppose that 08:20 these Galileans were worse sinners 08:22 than all other Galileans, 08:24 because they suffered such things? 08:26 I tell you, no, but unless you repent," 08:30 remember, that's a word that John the Baptist used, 08:34 "unless you repent, 08:35 you will all also, 08:39 you will all likewise perish." 08:42 Then he gives another example. 08:44 "Or those eighteen 08:45 on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, 08:49 do you think that they were worse sinners 08:51 than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 08:54 I tell you, no, but unless you repent," 08:58 again, the same word that John the Baptist used, 09:00 "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish," 09:04 which is the same as cutting down the tree 09:06 after it withers. 09:07 Verse 6, "He also spoke this parable." 09:10 Now he's going to give a parable. 09:12 "A certain man," this is God the Father, 09:15 "had a fig tree, Israel, 09:18 planted in his vineyard," that is the world, 09:22 "and he came seeking fruit on it." 09:25 That's the fruit of the Spirit, 09:27 "and found none." 09:29 Verse 7, 09:31 "Then he said to the keeper of the vineyard, 09:33 that's Jesus, 'Look, for three years.'" 09:37 The timing is important. 09:38 John the Baptist had preached six months. 09:41 Jesus was two and a half years into His ministry. 09:43 That's three years. 09:45 "Look, for three years. 09:47 I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree 09:51 and find none." 09:52 So in three years 09:54 since John the Baptist began preaching, 09:56 the fig tree Israel had borne no fruit. 10:00 And so the owner of the vineyard says, 10:02 cut it down. 10:03 That's just what John the Baptist said, 10:05 if the tree doesn't produce food, 10:06 cut it down and cast them into the fire. 10:09 So cut it down. 10:10 Why does it use up the ground? 10:13 "However, he that is Jesus answered and said to him, 10:19 that is to the Father, 10:20 'Sir, let it alone this year, 10:24 Jesus still had one year of ministry remaining, 10:27 let it along this year, 10:29 also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 10:34 And if it bears fruit well, 10:36 but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'" 10:42 So if in the last year, 10:44 that tree does not bear fruit, 10:45 the fig tree does not bear fruit, 10:47 cut it down. 10:49 The parable ends in suspense, 10:51 because you don't know 10:53 if the fig tree produced fruit or not. 10:55 It's kind of like the story of the prodigal son. 10:58 The story ends with the father trying to reason 11:01 with the prodigal son, 11:02 who by the way represented the Jews of Christ's day, 11:05 self-righteous. 11:06 You know, the older brother criticized his brother 11:12 for going out and sleeping with harlots 11:14 and spending all of his father's money, 11:17 ending up among the swine. 11:18 He was critical of him, 11:20 because his father called a party for him. 11:23 And he said, 11:24 you know, if anyone deserves a party, it's me. 11:26 So he represented 11:27 the arrogant Jewish nation of Christ's day. 11:32 But the story of the prodigal son 11:33 ends with a father trying to reason 11:35 with the older brother. 11:37 And, you know, 11:39 we don't know whether the older brother 11:42 actually accepted the rebuke of his father or not. 11:46 You know, when Jesus was crucified, 11:49 that He did, but when He told the story, no. 11:52 Now let's look at the third reference 11:55 to the tree. 11:57 This is at the very end of the final year 12:00 of Christ's ministry on earth. 12:03 We're going to find once again the same tree 12:05 that John the Baptist spoke about 12:07 and that Jesus spoke about in His parable. 12:10 Matthew 21:17-19, 12:13 "Then he left them 12:15 and went out of the city to Bethany, 12:17 and he lodged there. 12:19 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, 12:23 He was hungry." So Jesus was hungry for fruit. 12:27 Verse 19, 12:28 "And seeing a fig tree by the road, 12:31 He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, 12:36 and said to the fig tree, 12:40 'Let no fruit grow on you ever again.' 12:46 And immediately the fig tree withered away.'" 12:51 Now the Gospel of Mark adds an important detail 12:55 that we don't find in the story in Matthew. 12:59 This was not really the season for the fig trees 13:02 to produce figs. 13:04 Those who have orchards with fig trees know 13:09 that the fruit comes out first. 13:11 And then the leaves announced that the tree has fruit. 13:15 This fig tree was unusual, 13:19 because it had abundant leaves, 13:21 but it had absolutely no fruit. 13:24 Notice Mark 11:12-14, 13:27 where we have the parallel passage. 13:30 "Now the next day, 13:32 when they had come out from Bethany, 13:35 He was hungry. 13:36 And seeing from afar of fig tree having leaves." 13:40 If it had leaves, 13:42 he says this fig tree has to have fruit. 13:45 "So he saw the fig tree having leaves, 13:47 he went to see if perhaps he would find something on it. 13:51 And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves." 13:56 And here's a little detail. 13:58 "For it was not the season for figs. 14:02 In response Jesus said to it, 14:05 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' 14:09 And His disciples heard it.'" 14:12 Ellen White described 14:13 the ostentatious nature of this fig tree, 14:18 having an abundance of leaves, but being devoid of any fruit. 14:23 In Desire of Ages, page 581. 14:25 She wrote, 14:26 "It was not the season for ripe figs, 14:30 except in certain localities, 14:33 and on the highlands about Jerusalem, 14:36 it might truly be said, 'The time of figs was not yet.' 14:41 However, 14:43 in the orchard to which Jesus came, 14:45 one tree appeared to be in advance of all others," 14:50 just like God chose Israel 14:52 as a special people before all nations. 14:56 So once again, we find, 14:58 "However, in the orchard to which Jesus came, 15:00 one tree appeared to be in advance of all the others. 15:04 It was already covered with leaves. 15:06 It is the nature of the fig tree 15:08 that before the leaves open, 15:10 the growing fruit appears. 15:12 However, its appearance was deceptive. 15:15 Upon searching its branches 15:17 from the lowest bough to the topmost twig, 15:21 Jesus found nothing but leaves. 15:24 It was a mass of pretentious foliage, 15:27 nothing more." 15:30 In harmony with Scripture, 15:31 Ellen White interpreted this fig tree 15:33 as an acted parable that represented Israel. 15:37 I read from Desire of Ages, page 583, 15:41 "Jesus had come to the fig tree hungry to find food. 15:46 So He had come to Israel, 15:49 hungering to find in them the fruits of righteousness." 15:55 He had poured out abundant blessings 15:57 upon the nation of Israel. 15:59 In Desire of Ages, page 583, 16:02 we find these words. 16:04 "He had lavished on them His gifts," 16:08 with what purpose? 16:10 "That they might bear fruit for the blessing of the world. 16:16 Every opportunity and privilege had been granted them 16:20 and in return. 16:23 He sought their sympathy 16:25 and cooperation in His work of grace." 16:29 So notice God doesn't simply give blessings 16:31 so that we are blessed. 16:33 He gives us blessings, so that we can bless others. 16:36 Then she finishes the statement, 16:39 He that is Jesus, 16:40 longed to see in them 16:44 self-sacrifice and compassion, 16:47 zeal for God, 16:49 and a deep yearning of soul 16:51 for the salvation of their fellow men." 16:56 So you notice here 16:58 that God lavished Israel with blessings 17:00 so that they would then become a blessing of salvation 17:03 to the entire world. 17:05 And because the fig tree 17:07 had nothing but pretentious leaves, 17:10 Jesus cursed the fig tree, and it withered away. 17:14 The very next day when Jesus and the disciples 17:16 went by that particular place. 17:19 Mark 11-20 and 21 tells us 17:22 what had happened to that fig tree. 17:25 It says there, "Now in the morning, 17:28 as they passed by, 17:30 they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." 17:35 Now you know when a tree dries up by the roots, 17:38 that's it, folks. 17:39 It's dead. 17:41 There's no possibility of resurrecting it. 17:44 So once again 17:45 now in the morning as they passed by, 17:47 they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 17:49 "And Peter, remembering said to Him, 17:52 'Rabbi, look! 17:54 The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." 18:00 What did Jesus mean to teach when He cursed the fig tree 18:04 and it withered away drying up by the roots? 18:08 I want to read now 18:09 three statements that we find in the book, 18:11 The Desire of Ages. 18:13 Desire of Ages, 582 and 583. 18:16 "The cursing of the fig tree was an acted parable. 18:20 That barren tree, 18:22 flaunting its pretentious foliage 18:26 in the very face of Christ, 18:28 was a symbol of the Jewish nation. 18:31 The Savior desired to make plain to His disciples 18:33 the cause and the certainty of Israel's doom." 18:39 Another statement, 18:41 "Withered beneath the Savior's curse, 18:43 standing forth sere and blasted, 18:47 dried up by the roots, 18:49 the fig tree showed what the Jewish people would be 18:53 when the grace of God was removed from them. 18:57 Refusing to impart blessing, 18:59 They would no longer receive it." 19:03 And one final quotation, "All the trees in the fig 19:06 orchard were destitute of fruit, 19:08 but the leafless trees raised no expectation." 19:11 See, the leafless trees represented the Gentiles, 19:14 just like the stones 19:16 in the times of John the Baptist 19:17 represented the Gentiles. 19:19 So she says, "All the trees in the fig orchard 19:22 were destitute of fruit, 19:24 but the leafless trees raised no expectation, 19:27 and caused no disappointment. 19:30 These trees represented the Gentiles. 19:33 They were as destitute as were the Jews of godliness, 19:37 but they had not professed to serve God. 19:40 They made no boastful pretensions to goodness. 19:44 They were blind to the works and ways of God. 19:48 With them," 19:49 days where the trees represented the Gentiles. 19:52 "With them the time of figs 19:55 was not yet." 19:59 So John the Baptist had warned, 20:01 that if the Jewish tree did not produce fruit, 20:04 that God would cut it down and cast it into the fire. 20:08 This is what happened precisely with Jerusalem. 20:13 In the year 70, we're told in Matthew 22:1-14, 20:17 actually, verse 7 is a specific verse 20:20 that mentions that. 20:21 We're told that Jerusalem was destroyed, 20:25 and it was burnt with fire. 20:30 Now, there's another passage in the gospels 20:33 that describes a fig tree. 20:35 This passage is found 20:37 in John 1:43-48. 20:43 So let's read this passage 20:45 and then make a few remarks about it. 20:48 This is John 1:43, 20:51 "The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, 20:54 and He found Philip, and said to him, 'follow Me.' 20:58 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 21:03 Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, 21:06 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, 21:09 and also the prophets wrote, 21:11 Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 21:15 And Nathaniel said to him, 21:17 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' 21:21 Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' 21:24 And Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, 21:27 and said of him, 21:29 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, 21:33 in whom is no deceit!' 21:37 Nathaniel said to Him, 'How do you know me?' 21:40 Jesus answered and said to him, 21:42 'Before Philip called you, 21:44 when you were under the fig tree, 21:48 I saw you.'" 21:51 Now, if there are Israelites indeed, 21:54 then there must also be Israelites 21:57 not indeed. 21:59 In fact, the word indeed that is used here, 22:02 where Jesus says that Nathaniel was an Israelite indeed, 22:05 actually means genuine or real. 22:10 That's the reason why, 22:11 for example, the NIV translates the expression, 22:14 a true Israelite, 22:17 the correctness of the NIVV translation is proved 22:21 by the fact that verse 47 tells us 22:24 that in Nathaniel there was no deceit. 22:29 In other words, he was a true, genuine Israelite. 22:33 Why did Jesus single out Nathaniel 22:36 as an Israelite indeed? 22:39 Verse 49 provides the answer. 22:43 Verse 49, tells us 22:45 that Nathaniel confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, 22:50 the Messiah of Israel. 22:52 In other words, Nathaniel accepted Jesus Christ 22:56 as the Son of God, 22:58 he accepted Him as the Messiah. 23:00 That's what made him an Israelite indeed. 23:06 It appears significant that Nathaniel 23:08 was an Israelite indeed. 23:11 And he was under a fig tree that represented Israel. 23:15 Interesting. 23:16 So you have the symbol, which is the fig tree, 23:20 and that which the symbol 23:22 represented Nathaniel a true Israelite, together. 23:26 Thus, in the passage, we have a symbol 23:28 and what the symbol represents. 23:31 The Israelite indeed that sat under the fig tree 23:35 was a true Israelite, 23:37 because he recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah, 23:43 the Son of God. 23:45 Would that mean then that those who rejected the Messiah 23:48 as the Son of God 23:49 would be Israelites, but not indeed? 23:53 We'll come back to that in a little while. 23:56 Now let's go back to Matthew Chapter 24 23:59 to determine if the fig tree that is mentioned 24:03 in this chapter represents the Jewish nation. 24:06 You see, just because the fig tree 24:07 in some passages represents Israel 24:10 doesn't necessarily mean 24:12 that it represents Israel in every passage. 24:15 So the question is, 24:16 in Matthew 24:32-33, 24:19 does the fig tree represent Israel? 24:23 And does the budding of the fig tree 24:25 represent the reestablishment of the Jewish nation 24:29 as a nation in the year 1948? 24:34 Well, let's notice 24:35 Matthew 24:32-33. 24:40 Jesus said, 24:42 "As you see the fig tree bud, 24:45 it is a sign that the summer is near. 24:50 In the same way..." Now comes the comparison. 24:52 "In the same way when you see all these things," 24:58 not only the sprouting of the fig tree, 25:01 "but when you see all of these things 25:04 know that it is near, even at the doors." 25:08 Now, why do I mention this? 25:09 Because dispensationalists believe 25:12 that the reestablishment of Israel 25:14 as God's nation in 1948 25:17 is the sign that the second coming of Jesus 25:21 is imminent at any moment, even at the door. 25:25 So they take this one sign, and they say, 25:27 this is the sign of the soon coming of Jesus. 25:31 But we see here 25:32 that Jesus refers to all these things 25:36 indicate that the coming of Jesus is near, 25:39 not only the budding of the fig tree. 25:42 The parallel passage to Matthew is in Luke 21:29-31. 25:48 It gives us additional details. 25:50 So let's read those verses. 25:52 It says, "Then he spoke to them a parable: 25:56 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.'" 26:00 Notice it's not only the fig tree, 26:02 it's all of the trees. 26:04 "When they are already budding, 26:07 you see and know for yourselves 26:09 that summer is now near. 26:11 So you also, when you see these things." 26:16 It's not talking only about the fig tree in 1948. 26:21 It's saying, when you see these things happening. 26:25 That is all of the signs in Matthew 24, 26:27 "know that the kingdom of God is near." 26:32 In Luke, Jesus did not single out 26:34 the budding of the fig tree. 26:36 But He also said, all the trees, 26:40 so the fig tree is just one of many trees, 26:43 that when you see them bud, 26:45 that's symbolic of all of the signs 26:48 that point forward to the soon coming of Christ. 26:52 Now Israel is also spoken of as a vineyard 26:57 in the New Testament. 26:58 So let's go to 27:00 Matthew 21:33-46. 27:05 Matthew 21:33-40, 27:10 actually 45. 27:12 I'm going to interpret it as we go along. 27:14 "Hear another parable: 27:16 There was a certain land owner, that's God the Father, 27:20 who planted a vineyard, that's Israel, 27:23 and set a hedge around it, that's the law, 27:27 dug a winepress in it and built the tower, 27:30 that's the temple, 27:32 and he leased it to the vinedressers, 27:34 the Jewish leaders, 27:36 and went into a far country, heaven. 27:40 Now when the vintage-time drew near, 27:43 and he sent his servants to the vinedressers." 27:46 These servants that are sent 27:48 are the ones that are sent 27:49 before the Babylonian captivity, 27:51 the true prophets of God. 27:53 So once again, 27:54 "Now when vintage-time drew near, 27:56 he sent his servants to the vinedressers 27:58 that they might receive its fruit. 28:01 And the vinedressers took his servants, 28:03 beat one, killed another, and stoned another..." 28:06 Like they did with the prophets, 28:07 the true prophets in the Old Testament 28:09 before the Babylonian captivity. 28:11 So does God give up? No. 28:13 Verse 36, 28:15 "Again, he sent other servants," 28:17 this is after the Babylonian captivity, 28:20 "more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 28:24 Then last of all," this has finality to it. 28:27 Then last of all, he sent his son, 28:30 that's Jesus, the father sends His Son Jesus to them, 28:33 saying, 'They will respect my son.' 28:37 But when the vinedresser saw the son, 28:40 they said among themselves, 28:41 'This is the heir.'" 28:44 In other words, the one who is going to inherit 28:45 the promises, 28:47 Galatians 3:16. 28:50 "But when the vinedresser saw the son, 28:52 they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. 28:54 Come, let us kill him," 28:56 this is a death of Christ, "and seize his inheritance.' 29:00 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard," 29:03 Jesus died outside Jerusalem and killed Him. 29:07 And now Jesus asked, 29:08 "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, 29:10 what he will do to those vinedressers?" 29:13 They still hadn't understood that He was talking about them. 29:17 Verse 41, "They said to Him, 29:20 'He will destroy those wicked men miserably," 29:23 that's the destruction of Jerusalem by the way, 29:25 "and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers," 29:29 that's the Gentiles, 29:31 "who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." 29:35 And now Jesus is going to explain 29:36 what the parable means. 29:38 "Jesus said to them, 29:40 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: 29:42 the stone, that's Jesus, 29:43 which the builders, the Jewish nation rejected 29:46 has become the chief cornerstone. 29:49 This was the Lord's doing 29:51 and it is marvelous in our eyes?" 29:53 And then Jesus makes this prediction. 29:56 "Therefore I say to you, 29:58 the kingdom of God will be taken from you." 30:01 In other words, the kingdom no longer belongs 30:03 to literal Israel. 30:05 "Will be taken from you and given to a nation," 30:09 this is the Gentiles, the Greek word is Ethne, 30:13 "given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 30:17 And whoever falls on this stone, 30:19 speaking of himself, will be broken." 30:21 In other words, "Whoever received Jesus 30:23 as Christ and Savior will be converted, 30:26 but on whomever it falls, 30:28 it will grind him to powder." 30:31 In other words, a person who does not accept Jesus 30:33 will eventually end up destroyed. 30:36 Verse 45, "Now when the chief priests 30:38 and Pharisees heard his parables, 30:40 they perceived that He was speaking of them." 30:45 Last of all, He sent His Son. 30:49 There was no other recourse 30:50 that Jesus could take with the Jewish nation, 30:53 and the Jewish theocracy came to an end. 30:56 And now the gospel commission is fulfilled by another nation, 31:01 the Gentiles. 31:03 Now let's turn in our Bibles 31:04 to John 8:37-45. 31:10 Remember that we talked about individuals 31:12 who are genuine or true Jews, 31:15 and you have others who even though 31:18 they are descendants of Abraham, 31:20 they are counterfeit Jews. 31:22 They're Jews, but they're not. 31:24 Now you say that doesn't make any sense? 31:26 Well, then what I'm going to read 31:28 from the mouth of Jesus doesn't make any sense either. 31:31 John 8:37, 31:33 Jesus is speaking to a group of Jews there. 31:38 And He says, 31:39 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, 31:42 that is literally, but you seek to kill Me, 31:46 because My word has no place in you, 31:48 is what Jesus says. 31:50 I speak what I have seen with My Father, 31:53 and you do what you have seen with your father." 31:56 So Jesus says, I have a Father, 31:58 and you have a father as well. 32:00 He's working up to a point, 32:02 which is very, very, very politically incorrect. 32:06 Notice verse 39, 32:08 "They answered and said to Him, 32:11 'Abraham is our father.' 32:14 Jesus said to them, if, notice, this is conditional, 32:18 'If you were Abraham's children, 32:22 you would do the works of Abraham.'" 32:26 So Jesus is contesting 32:28 whether they are really children of Abraham. 32:30 He's saying, "If you were Abraham's children, 32:33 you would do the works of Abraham." 32:36 But now notice this, "But now you seek to kill Me, 32:42 a Man who has told you the truth 32:44 which I heard from God. 32:46 Abraham did not do this." 32:49 In other words, there's a disconnect 32:50 between you and Abraham. 32:52 Abraham loved me, you hate me. 32:54 So how can you say 32:56 that you are the children of Abraham? 32:59 It's not like father like children. 33:02 It continues in verse 41, 33:04 "You do the deeds of your father," 33:07 still, he hasn't identified who their father is, 33:09 "you do the deeds of your father. 33:12 Then they said to Him, 33:13 'We were not born of fornication, 33:15 we have one Father, God. 33:19 Jesus said to them," notice if again, 33:21 "if you, God were your father, 33:26 you would love Me, 33:28 for I proceeded forth and came from God, 33:31 nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me." 33:34 So what He's saying is My Father loves me, 33:37 and you despise Me. 33:40 So how can you say that God is your Father 33:42 if you say that you despise Me, 33:46 and the Father actually loves me? 33:48 There's a disconnect there. 33:50 Notice verse 43, 33:53 "Why do you not understand My speech? 33:56 Because you are not able to listen to My word." 33:59 And now he says this 34:02 very politically incorrect statement. 34:06 "You are of your father, the devil..." 34:09 Who hated Jesus and wanted to see Jesus dead? 34:12 The devil. 34:14 So did they have the same spirit of the devil? 34:16 Absolutely. 34:17 "So you are of your father, the devil, 34:20 and the desires of your father you want to do. 34:24 He was a murderer from the beginning, 34:26 and does not stand in the truth, 34:28 because there is no truth in him. 34:31 When he speaks a lie, 34:33 he speaks from his own resources, 34:35 for he is a liar and the father of it." 34:40 This reminds us of the passage about Nathaniel. 34:43 You remember that Nathaniel was a true, 34:47 genuine Israelite, 34:50 because he confessed the Messiah 34:51 and in him there was no deceit. 34:54 Well, in the last part of these verses, 34:56 we find an emphasis on the truth. 34:59 Jesus says, 35:01 "When Satan speaks a lie, 35:03 he speaks from his own resources, 35:05 for he is a liar and the father of it. 35:08 Now the amazing thing about this passage 35:11 is that the Jews were literally children of Abraham. 35:16 But spiritually, Jesus said, 35:19 you are not children of Abraham, 35:21 because you are children of the devil. 35:23 You want to do what the devil wants to do to Me. 35:27 In the physical sense of the word, 35:30 they were children of Abraham, 35:31 but in the spiritual sense, they were not. 35:36 Incidentally, the Apostle Paul repeatedly taught 35:39 the same truth. 35:41 Let's read several verses now 35:44 from the writings of the Apostle Paul, 35:46 where he taught the same truth 35:48 that to be a genuine Israelite 35:51 means to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 35:55 as the Messiah, as the Son of God. 35:58 We find in Romans 2:28-29, 36:02 that the Apostle Paul contrasts 36:05 those who are outwardly Jews 36:09 with those who are inwardly Jews. 36:12 This is how it reads, 36:13 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 36:18 nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh." 36:23 Because the Jews, they prided themselves 36:24 in circumcision. 36:26 They said, this is the sign of the covenant. 36:28 This is a sign that we are God's true people. 36:31 And yet Paul is saying, 36:33 he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 36:36 nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 36:40 But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly, 36:45 and circumcision is that of the heart, 36:48 in the Spirit, not in the letter 36:51 whose praise is not from men but from God." 36:55 So the Jews, they prided themselves 36:57 in obeying the law to the very letter, 36:59 but they lacked the Spirit. 37:01 The religion was not in their heart. 37:04 And their praise was the praise of men. 37:07 They prayed in public places, 37:09 they gave alms to be seen by men. 37:11 The Apostle Paul says, "No, no, no, no. 37:14 He is a Jew who is one inwardly, 37:16 circumcision is out of the heart, 37:19 in the spirit, not in the letter 37:21 whose praise is not from men but from God. 37:25 The Apostle Paul picks up on the same idea 37:27 in Romans 9:6-8, 37:30 "But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. 37:34 For they are not," listen to this statement. 37:37 "For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel." 37:41 So what if I said that 37:43 not all Israelites are Israelites? 37:45 You would say, "Pastor Bohr, 37:47 that is a ridiculous statement." 37:49 And yet the Apostle Paul is saying, 37:51 "For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 37:55 nor are they all children 37:58 because they are the seed of Abraham." 38:00 Not all the seed of Abraham are really children of Abraham, 38:03 is what the Apostle Paul is saying. 38:06 It continues. 38:07 "But in Isaac your seed shall be called." 38:11 Who came from Isaac? 38:12 The Messiah, folks. 38:14 "In Isaac your seed shall be called. 38:16 That is those who are the children of the flesh." 38:20 That means literal Jews, 38:22 descendants of Abraham by blood. 38:24 "That is those 38:26 who are the children of the flesh, 38:27 these are not the children of God, 38:30 but the children of the promise," 38:32 that is of the promise of the Messiah, 38:35 "are counted as the seed." 38:39 Let's notice also Galatians 3:26-29, 38:43 the Apostle Paul repeatedly makes this point 38:46 that a genuine, true Israelite or Jew 38:50 is one who has received Jesus Christ as Savior in Lord. 38:55 Galatians 3:26, reads as follows. 38:59 "For you are all sons of God 39:02 through faith in Christ Jesus." 39:06 So how are we sons of God? 39:08 We are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 39:11 Now, we're all sons of God in terms of creation, 39:15 but we are not all sons of God in terms of redemption. 39:19 We have to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 39:23 to be sons of God in terms of redemption. 39:26 For it says, 39:27 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." 39:31 Verse 27, 39:32 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ 39:37 have put on Christ. 39:40 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 39:42 there is neither slave nor free, 39:44 there is neither male nor female, 39:47 for you are all one in Christ Jesus." 39:50 And by the way, Ephesians 2 says 39:52 that Gentiles become one with the Jews, 39:56 they become one people according to Scripture. 39:59 And verse 29 says, 40:01 "And if you are Christ's, 40:05 then you are Abraham's seed 40:07 and heirs according to the promise." 40:10 So the question is, 40:11 what does it mean to be the seed of Abraham 40:14 in spiritual terms? 40:16 It means that if we are Christ's, 40:19 we are Abraham's seed. 40:21 Abraham's seed is not defined genetically or biologically, 40:27 it is defined by a spiritual relationship 40:30 with Jesus Christ. 40:33 Let's go to Philippians 3:3-8. 40:37 Philippians 3:3-8. 40:41 Here the Apostle Paul 40:42 is speaking about his conversion experience. 40:45 "For we are the circumcision, 40:49 who worship God in the Spirit, 40:52 rejoice in Christ Jesus 40:54 and have no confidence in the flesh." 40:57 Notice who is the circumcision? 40:59 Those who literally are circumcised Jews? No. 41:01 The Apostle Paul says, 41:02 "We are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, 41:06 rejoice in Christ Jesus 41:08 and have no confidence in the flesh." 41:10 And then he reminisces about his experience. 41:13 "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. 41:17 If anyone else thinks 41:19 he may have confidence in the flesh, 41:21 I more so: circumcise the eighth day, 41:26 of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 41:30 a Hebrew of Hebrews, 41:32 concerning the law, a Pharisee concerning zeal, 41:35 persecuting the church, 41:37 concerning the righteousness which is in the law, 41:40 blameless." 41:42 Oh, he's claiming a great heritage here. 41:45 But now notice what he says, 41:47 "However, what things were gain to me," 41:50 all this list that he's provided, 41:52 "these I have counted loss for Christ. 41:57 Yet, indeed, I also count all things loss 42:01 for the excellence of the knowledge 42:03 of Christ Jesus my Lord, 42:06 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 42:09 and count them as rubbish, 42:11 that I may gain Christ." 42:16 Hope you're understanding this. 42:18 So you say, "What does this have to do 42:20 with Matthew Chapter 24?" 42:22 Well, dispensationalists believe 42:24 that the budding of the fig tree 42:26 is the reestablishment of the nation of Israel 42:29 in disobedience, 42:30 because they still rejected the Messiah. 42:34 What I'm trying to show here from Scripture, 42:37 is that the budding of a big tree there, 42:39 and of all the trees, 42:42 all of the signs are signs of a coming of Christ. 42:45 In that sense, the fig tree 42:47 does not necessarily represent Israel. 42:49 Jesus is using it as an analogy 42:52 to show that when these signs take place, 42:55 the coming of Jesus is near. 42:58 So now let's ask the question. 43:01 Does the church replace Israel? 43:05 You know, there's this big debate 43:07 in the Christian world today among evangelicals, 43:09 whether Israel is replaced 43:12 or whether Israel continues, 43:14 whether God still has a plan for Israel? 43:18 Well, let's go to Genesis 49:28. 43:24 To answer the question, 43:25 does God replace Israel with the Gentiles? 43:29 Or do the Gentiles continue the legacy of Israel? 43:34 In Genesis 49:28, 43:37 we find that the Old Testament Church, 43:40 so to speak, 43:42 began with 12 patriarchs 43:44 that then multiplied into a great nation 43:48 composed of 12 tribes. 43:50 It says there in Genesis 49:28, 43:54 all these that is the sons of Jacob 43:56 because Jacob has listed his sons 43:58 in this chapter one by one. 44:00 "All these are the tribes, 44:03 are the twelve tribes of Israel, 44:06 and this is what their father spoke to them. 44:08 And he blessed them, he blessed each one 44:10 according to his own blessing." 44:12 So these 12 sons of Jacob 44:15 then multiplied, 44:17 and they became a single nation, 44:19 they became the 12 tribes of Israel 44:23 that multiplied greatly. 44:26 God then called Moses 44:29 to deliver his people from bondage. 44:32 When Moses was born, 44:34 the great dragon that Pharaoh was called 44:37 in Ezekiel 29:3, 44:40 was there attempting to kill him. 44:42 But Moses then delivered Israel from bondage, 44:46 and the sign of the release was the blood of the Lamb 44:50 placed on the doors of the faithful Israelites, 44:54 and then Moses organized 12 tribes, 44:59 organized 12 tribes 45:02 that then entered the Promised Land. 45:05 Now, this is very interesting. 45:08 So Israel begins 45:12 technically with 12 individuals 45:15 that grow into 12 tribes, 45:18 a huge nation composed of many people. 45:22 What was the mission that God had 45:24 for choosing Israel 45:26 and multiplying it into a nation? 45:30 The fact is that their only purpose 45:32 was to prepare the world 45:33 for the arrival of the Messiah. 45:36 If they failed in their mission, 45:38 they had absolutely no reason to exist. 45:41 Notice Isaiah 49:6, 45:43 and by the way, when I say no reason to exist, 45:46 I'm not saying that the state of Israel 45:47 has no reason to exist. 45:49 Of course, it has a reason to exist as a nation. 45:52 But what I'm saying is that it has no reason to exist 45:54 to fulfill the purpose of preparing the world 45:57 for the Messiah. 45:58 You know we're not here being anti-Semitic. 46:02 In fact, God has many faithful people 46:05 within Judaism, 46:07 many people that have not heard about the Messiah 46:10 that will come over to the Messiah side 46:12 when they hear the truth, as it's found in Scripture. 46:16 What was the mission of Israel? 46:17 Isaiah 49:6, 46:19 "Indeed, he says," speaking to his people, 46:23 "It is too small a thing 46:26 that You should be My Servant 46:27 to raise up the tribes of Jacob," 46:29 in other words, I haven't chosen you 46:30 only to raise up the tribes of Jacob, 46:33 "and to restore the preserved ones of Israel. 46:36 I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, 46:42 that You should be My Salvation to the ends of the earth." 46:48 In the Old Testament, it was God's plan 46:50 that Israel be so prosperous, 46:52 and that they were so faithful to God, 46:54 that all of the surrounding nations 46:56 would come and say, 46:57 what is the secret of your prosperity? 46:59 What is the secret of your peace 47:01 and your abundance? 47:02 And they would say, "We serve the Messiah." 47:05 They would prepare the world 47:07 for the coming of the Messiah to this world. 47:10 God called them to be a light to the Gentiles 47:13 that they should be God's salvation, 47:15 as it says here to the ends of the earth. 47:19 Unfortunately, 47:20 literal Israel failed in its commitment. 47:24 Before the Babylonian captivity, 47:26 it intermingled with the nations 47:28 and adopted their cultural practices 47:30 and religious practices and idolatry. 47:33 And after the Babylonian captivity, 47:37 Israel shut herself in a self-righteous armor, 47:41 isolating herself from the nations. 47:45 For this reason, 47:47 Jesus chose 12 faithful apostles, 47:51 all Jews, 47:53 to continue the legacy of Israel, 47:56 and to fulfill the mission 47:58 that the Hebrew theocracy had failed to fulfill. 48:02 The 12 then preached Jesus, 48:05 and as a result, 48:06 the church became a great nation, 48:08 so to speak. 48:10 Remember, Jesus said, 48:11 "The kingdom will be taken from you 48:12 and given to a nation 48:14 that produces the fruits thereof." 48:15 That's a word that refers to the Gentiles. 48:21 You see, the mission of the church 48:22 is the same mission as the Hebrew theocracy. 48:26 Only the Hebrew theocracy was to prepare the world 48:28 for the coming of the Messiah. 48:30 The church is to announce that the Messiah has come, 48:33 and that He is the Savior of the world. 48:35 I'm sure that you've read Matthew 28:18-20, 48:40 where you have the great commission 48:42 that Jesus gave to the disciples. 48:44 Let's read those verses. 48:46 Verse 18, "And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, 48:49 'All authority has been given to me 48:50 in heaven and on earth. 48:52 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 48:55 baptizing them in the name of the Father, 48:57 of the Son and the Holy Spirit, 48:59 teaching them to observe all things 49:01 that I have commanded you. 49:02 And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.'" 49:09 Interesting. 49:11 That was the purpose for God choosing 12 apostles 49:16 that then multiplied into a great nation, 49:19 so to speak. 49:22 Now, Revelation Chapter 12 is proof 49:26 that God has only one true Israel 49:30 with one mission. 49:33 Faithful Israel of the Old Testament, 49:36 as I was mentioning, 49:37 is one with the faithful New Testament Church. 49:42 If you go to Revelation Chapter 12, 49:45 you'll notice that a single woman 49:47 represents the Old Testament Church 49:50 and the New Testament Church. 49:51 God does not have two women. 49:54 That would be bigamy 49:55 by the way if God had two, two wives. 49:59 Really, God has only one woman in Revelation 12, 50:02 the woman that brings the Messiah into the world. 50:05 That's the Old Testament Church. 50:07 That's why the woman has a crown 50:09 with 12 stars on her head. 50:11 And then that woman flees to the wilderness 50:13 for 1260 years. 50:15 That's the New Testament Church. 50:17 That's why Jesus began 50:19 the Old Testament Church with 12 individuals 50:24 that multiplied into 12 tribes. 50:26 And that's the reason why He chose 12 Jewish apostles 50:30 that then multiplied and became a great Christian nation. 50:34 Ellen White wrote in Acts of the Apostles, 50:36 page 19, 50:38 "As in the Old Testament, 50:40 the 12 patriarchs stood as representatives of Israel." 50:44 So the 12 apostles stand as representatives 50:48 of the Gospel Church. 50:51 It is no coincidence, folks, 50:53 that we find in Revelation 50:57 that the foundations of the city 50:59 have the names of the 12 apostles, 51:02 and the gates of the city had the names of the 12 tribes. 51:06 It's only one city 51:08 with all of the redeemed from the Old and New Testament. 51:11 The church does not replace Israel, 51:14 the church continues the legacy of Israel 51:17 and fulfills the mission 51:18 that the theocracy failed to fulfill. 51:22 We're told in the Book 51:25 that Abraham looked for a heavenly city, 51:29 whose builder and maker is God. 51:32 The great heroes of Hebrews 11, 51:34 they understood 51:35 that the literal Jerusalem over the Middle East 51:39 is not the ultimate hope of the Christian. 51:42 The hope of the Christian is the heavenly city, 51:45 whose builder and maker is God. 51:47 In fact, all of the heroes of Chapter 11 of Hebrews 51:51 look for the heavenly Jerusalem, 51:53 not the earthly. 51:55 And these are the Old Testament saints 51:56 that are looking for the heavenly city. 51:59 Notice Hebrews 11:13-16. 52:03 Hebrews 11:13-16. 52:07 After mentioning several of these heroes, 52:09 it says, "These all died in faith, 52:12 not having received the promises, 52:15 but having seen them afar off were assured of them, 52:19 embraced them, 52:21 and confessed that they were strangers 52:23 and pilgrims on the earth. 52:25 For those who say such things declare plainly 52:29 that they seek a homeland." 52:32 In other words, they were seeking homeland. 52:34 What homeland were they seeking? 52:35 Literal Canaan, literal Jerusalem? 52:37 No. 52:39 Let's continue reading verse 15. 52:40 "And truly, 52:42 if they had called to mind that country 52:43 from which they had come out, 52:45 they would have had opportunity to return. 52:48 But now they desire a better." 52:49 These are the Old Testament saints, folks. 52:52 "But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. 52:57 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, 53:00 for He has prepared for them a city." 53:06 In 1948, 53:08 the Jewish nation was still rejecting the Messiah. 53:12 And therefore 1948 53:14 could not be a fulfillment of prophecy, 53:17 because the Bible says that God scattered Israel 53:20 at the destruction of Jerusalem 53:21 because they rejected the Messiah. 53:23 So why would He gather them in this obedience 53:26 while they are still rejecting the Messiah? 53:30 Ellen White wrote some very solemn things 53:32 about earthly Jerusalem. 53:35 In Review and Herald, February 25, 1896, he wrote, 53:40 "The curse rests upon Jerusalem. 53:43 The Lord has obliterated those things, 53:45 which men would worship in and about Jerusalem, 53:49 yet many hold in reverence literal objects in Palestine, 53:53 while they neglect to behold Jesus 53:55 as their advocate in the heaven of heavens. 53:59 In another statement that we find, 54:00 Review and Herald, June 1896, 54:03 it reads like this, 54:05 "How many there are 54:07 who feel that it would be a good thing 54:09 to tread the soil of old Jerusalem, 54:12 and that their faith would be greatly strengthened 54:15 by visiting the scenes of the Savior's life and death! 54:20 However, 54:21 old Jerusalem will never be a sacred place 54:25 until the refining fire from heaven cleanses it. 54:28 The darkest blot of guilt rests upon the city 54:32 that refused the light of Christ. 54:35 Do we want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? 54:38 We need not seek out the paths in Nazareth, 54:42 Bethany and Jerusalem. 54:44 We shall find the footprints of Jesus 54:46 by the sickbed, 54:48 by the side of suffering humanity, 54:51 in the hovels 54:52 of the poverty-stricken and distressed. 54:55 We may walk in these footsteps, comforting the suffering, 54:59 speaking words of hope and comfort to the despondent. 55:03 Doing as Jesus did when he was upon earth, 55:07 we shall walk in his blessed steps. 55:11 Jesus said, 'If any man will come after me, 55:14 let him deny himself 55:16 and take up his cross daily and follow me.' 55:19 When the sin-cursed earth 55:21 is purified from every stain of sin, 55:24 when the Mount of Olives is rent asunder, 55:27 and becomes an immense plain, 55:29 this is after the millennium, 55:31 when the Holy City of God descends upon it, 55:34 the land that is now called the Holy Land 55:37 will indeed become holy. 55:41 However, 55:42 God's cause and work will not be advanced 55:45 by making pilgrimages to Jerusalem. 55:48 The curse of God is upon Jerusalem 55:51 for the rejection and crucifixion 55:53 of his only begotten Son. 55:55 However, God will cleanse away the vile blot. 55:59 The prophet says, 56:00 'I saw a new heaven and a new earth: 56:02 for the first heaven and the first earth 56:05 are passed away, and the sea is no more. 56:08 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 56:11 coming down out of heaven from God, 56:13 made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." 56:16 I want to make clear 56:18 that we're talking about the Hebrew theocracy. 56:20 We're talking about Israel 56:22 as the nation to fulfill God's purpose 56:25 of taking the gospel to the world, 56:28 the gospel of the Messiah. 56:30 The Hebrew theocracy, literal Israel failed. 56:33 But the Christian church continues the legacy, 56:36 continues the mission and will finish the work. 56:40 We are not referring to individual Jews. 56:43 We're not referring 56:44 to the nation of Israel as such. 56:46 There are many sincere people among those literal Israelites. 56:51 They don't understand that Jesus is the Messiah 56:54 that they've been waiting for. 56:56 The seat that is left empty 56:59 is to be filled by Jesus Christ, 57:01 the Messiah of Israel, 57:03 who was rejected when Jesus came to this earth. 57:07 God has a passion and a love for the individual Jews 57:12 in the Jewish nation. 57:14 He wants to see them saved. 57:16 He wants them to see them accept the Messiah 57:20 as Savior and Lord, 57:22 So that they can experience 57:24 the salvation of God. 57:27 So may this be not only the experience 57:30 of the literal Jews, but also of us, 57:33 who are spiritual Jews accepting Jesus. |
Revised 2021-09-20