Clear divisions between the programs of prophecy and grace.

Clear divisions between the programs of prophecy and grace.

In order to understand the proper context of scripture, it is of critical importance to recognize the division between two programs which God predestined and is executing in His wisdom. These two programs will eventually be brought together in the fulness of the times, Eph 1:10. (Notice the word, ‘times’. It is plural, meaning there is more than one time, age, dispensation, program.)

The Bible is FULL of scriptures that indicate a division between Israel and the Body of Christ. This post will examine only one passage of scripture as an example. Please read the following passage below, which is part of Peters discourse to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 3. The bolded parts will be compared to what Paul writes to us today in this grace dispensation.

Act 3:18-21  But those things, which God before had SHEWED by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, WHEN the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  21  Whom the heaven must receive UNTIL the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets SINCE the world began.

This is a short passage, but it is FULL of content, that, when compared to what Paul writes to the Gentiles, shows the differences in programs. Let me know show you what Paul writes below, placing emphasis on the bolded sections in Peter’s discourse to the Jews, compared to instructions for us today, in the grace program.

Comparison #1:

… which God before had SHEWED by the mouth of all his prophets,…

God revealed the Kingdom program by proclaiming it all in great detail through the prophets. Nothing was left for us to guess what God would be doing through Christ and to Israel. However, Paul writes that the grace program was a mystery, hid in God, but only now revealed (in Paul’s day), by inspiration of the Spirit and written in Paul’s epistles.

Col 1:26  Even the MYSTERY which hath been HID from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Comparison #2:

… that your sins may be blotted out, WHEN the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; …

Israel had to rely on the blood of bulls and goats in sacrifice, to cover their sins, and would only receive forgiveness at the resurrection when Christ comes at His second coming. Just before He sets up His Millennial Kingdom, he completes the fulfillment of the second covenant and forgives Israel of their sins, blotting out their trespasses with His own blood. The ‘times of refreshing’ spoken by Peter is in reference to the Millennial Kingdom, when Christ will reveal Himself to Israel, and they will dwell again in His presence.

Contrast this to the fact that by the death and resurrection of Christ, we as grace believers today have full forgiveness of sins when we respond in faith to the grace gospel and get saved. Paul says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”, Rom 5:1.

In addition, the following verses all confirm that we already have forgiveness of sins. Note, it is ALREADY done. We do not have to wait for it as Israel does.

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Comparison #3:

… heaven must receive UNTIL the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets SINCE the world began.  …

Peter says an interesting thing in his discourse. The prophets have revealed the Kingdom program since the world began. This makes sense. The prophets have spoken about the earthly program ever since there were prophets to speak. Jesus Himself spoke the very first prophecy in the garden of Eden when He said,

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

This prophesied that a redeemer would destroy the works of Satan.

Now compare this to what Paul writes,

2Tim 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Notice that there is a program in God’s great redemption plan that was given BEFORE the world began. This is the heavenly program of the Body of Christ. The program that will fill the heavens with the glory of Christ, just like the Kingdom program will fill the earth with the glory of Christ.

It is also interesting to note the word, “UNTIL”. Heaven would receive Jesus UNTIL the restitution of all things. This means that Jesus would be in heaven until his second coming, when He comes to reveal Himself to Israel and forgive them. So, what was Jesus doing in heaven for all this time? Well, this is the time of his heavenly ministry to the Body of Christ. This is the period of time of the mystery, that was hid from ages and generations. This is the time when He revealed Himself to Paul and is setting up His Body, the church, the Body of Christ. Jesus is not idle in heaven. He is building His church and will soon come back to snatch it up to Himself before he comes in wrath and judgement on an unbelieving world and to save Israel.

It is clear that two programs make up Gods great redemption plan. In order to learn and understand the proper context of scripture, it is imperative to recognise the two programs and rightly divide them to avoid confusion and contradictions. I trust that this post, and the single example I used, will sow a seed of truth into you and that you will investigate the Word for yourself to confirm the truth.

God bless.