The Cross, the Blood, and the Resurrection in Kingdom and Grace

The Cross, the Blood, and the Resurrection in Kingdom and Grace

Introduction: One Event, Two Meanings

The death, the shedding of blood, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are the foundation of redemption. Yet the King James Bible shows that these same events carry two distinct meanings depending on whether they are applied to Israel under prophecy (the Kingdom program) or to the Body of Christ under mystery (the Grace program). To rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15), we must ask of every passage: Who is being addressed? Why is this truth given? When is it applied? For what reason? And what result follows?

The Cross of Christ

For Israel, the cross is national guilt. Peter declared to the nation: “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23). The cross is a stumbling stone to the Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23). Prophecy foretells that Israel will one day mourn over the pierced Messiah: “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him” (Zechariah 12:10). The purpose of the cross in this program is to expose national guilt so that Israel may repent and be restored. Acts 3:19–21 connects repentance to the times of restitution: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out… until the times of restitution of all things.” Hebrews frames Christ’s sacrifice in covenantal terms, showing how His offering relates to the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15; 10:29). Thus, for the Kingdom program the cross is historically true now but remedially applied corporately when Israel repents at Christ’s return.

(Part 2) Various questions concerning the difference between the ministries and doctrine of Peter and Paul

Various questions concerning the difference between the ministries and doctrine of Peter and Paul (Part 2)

See Part 1 here

Question #1

• In regard to Matthew 25:31–46, you assign that as before the 1000-year reign starts, but what about at the end of the 1000-year reign when for a small season, the devil will be released from the pit for a last rebellion? You do not think that reference may apply to that time as that would be when the Great White Throne Judgment is at when all the dead are raised up and judged by their works.

Matthew 25 does not reference the time that Jesus refers to as the Sheep and Goats judgement. This judgement is specifically enforced to determine which Gentiles will enter the Millennial kingdom. Without this judgement, no Gentiles will exist in the kingdom, which does not line up with prophecy which tells that the Jews will be the preeminent nation in the kingdom and that the Gentile nations will seek the counsel of the Jews and abide by the law administered by the Jews as the kings and priests in the kingdom.

As you rightly identify, the release of Satan will deceive many at the end of the Millennial reign and both Satan and those deceived will be quickly ended when God sends down fire from heaven. Both Satan’s captivity in the pit, and the Sheep and Goats judgement occur before the beginning of the 1000-years.

(Part 1) Various questions concerning the difference between the ministries and doctrine of Peter and Paul

Various questions concerning the difference between the ministries and doctrine of Peter and Paul (Part 1)

Question #1

• So, is Peter & the 11 were really preaching an earthly kingdom when Jesus wasn’t here?

The statement Jesus used in Lk.17:20 in answering the Pharisees is that the kingdom of God was ‘within’ Israel, or ‘amongst’ them at that moment. To those who could discern it, the King was there in their midst. At this time, during Jesus earthly ministry, the kingdom would not come in a physical way, as it would come at His second coming, and demand the attention of the world. The first advent of Jesus was not yet to physically save Israel, but rather to prophetically announce and prepare Israel for the imminency of the Kingdom and ratify the New Covenant. It was a work of faith.

After Jesus ascended, the early Acts church continued the work that Jesus started; to preach and prepare Israel for the imminency of their Kingdom. The physical kingdom had not yet arrived, but they were fully expecting it when Jesus came back. See Acts 1:6.

Question #2

• Below in regard to Matthew 25:34 in context, this reads like the event of the Great white Throne Judgment, because of verse 40 in relation to verse 31.

Matthew 25:31-46 is not the Great White throne judgement. This White throne judgement occurs after the 1000-year (Millennial) Kingdom of Christs rule. The judgement in Matt.25 is the “Sheep and Goats” judgement which is upon the Gentiles at the end of the 7-year Tribulation. After Jesus has destroyed the armies of the Antichrist in Armageddon, this judgement occurs to determine who of the Gentiles will enter the Millennial Kingdom. This Gentiles who supported Israel (Jews) during the tribulation would find justification to enter the Kingdom. Conversely, those Gentiles who did not support Israel in the tribulation would be cast into the fire. The description of support for Israel that Jesus uses in this passage is clear.