Dear friends and readers,
Would you agree that there is some very serious stuff happening in the world today? In fact I have been awed in recent weeks with things happening that could be right out of the book of Exodus and Pharaoh's rejection of God's authority.
But first, I want to make something abundantly clear. There are entire communities of conspiracy theorists including within both Judaism and Christianity. I am NOT one of those. I need to see some Biblical proof before I make exaggerated statements. For that reason, I do not believe that this virus is some kind of proclamation from on high.
Could God do something like this? Yes, after all He is God and He is all powerful. But I believe that this is really a repeat of many another plagues that have happened over millennia past. I do however suspect that China is complicit and that this thing would not have grown to the proportions we are seeing if the Government of China had acted responsibly. One man's opinion.
But as a writer of Biblical prophecy, I also cannot help but make connections with Matthew chapter 24. In this area of scripture Jesus is speaking to His disciples and telling them what to expect in the end times. I am sure you know the drill--false christs manifesting, wars and rumors of wears, but then He says "See that you are not troubled; For ALL these things must come too pass, but the end is not yet".
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places".
ALL THESE ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS"!
I see chapter 24 in two very different sections. As is the case with some other scriptures, Matthew 24 speaks of today and also tomorrow. 1). Verse 1 through 8 are clearly happening now. But at sometime in the possible foreseeable future, Christ will take His church out of this world (1 and 2 Thessalonians), and then AFTER WE ARE GONE---from this earth, Matthew chapter 24 verses 9-14 will begin. That is a time in which the anti-christ will be manifested and those left on earth (many of whom will see the gospel light and turn to the Lord) WILL be delivered up to tribulation and killed and all the remainder who are not killed, will be hated (by the nations) for the sake of the Name of Christ. Many (people of the world) will be offended, will betray one another and hate, on a scale never seen before---. In fact verse 12 puts earth in perspective during that time; "AND BECAUSE LAWLESSNESS WILL ABOUND, THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD".
Right now, because of this virus, some people are hoarding, some fighting over food and toilet paper. Back in the 60's and early 70's while I was in law enforcement, I often saw mankind at it's worst. Rioting, looting, extreme violence, union strikes with unimaginable violence. Can you imagine what will begin to happen after the rapture when billions of people suddenly disappear including partial governments, military and police personnel. Ambulance and fire? Doctors and nurses. And because the Holy Spirit will longer be "restraining" all pretense of a civilized society will come crashing down. It will be wholesale rape, robbery, pillaging and violence and murder, never before seen or even imagined.
NOTE: Taking precautions and stocking up reasonable is not the same as hoarding.
But continuing in chapter 24, it gives a promise (13) "BUT HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED". The Lord gives some hope to those who worship Him who are still on earth and who have not been killed by the anti-christ and his minions. While we could argue the point, I do not believe that in this context, the Lord is speaking about eternal salvation. No, at this juncture in time, He will be preparing to lead His army (previously raptured saints), back to earth and put a stop to the battle of Armageddon. So when He says SHALL BE SAVED, He is referring to being saved alive so they can enter into the thousand year millennial reign of Christ upon this earth. These people will continue to marry, procreate the human species and live normal lives only with a physical King on the throne in Jerusalem. The raptured church will be there as well but other than worshipping our Lord, scripture gives little information about what else we may be doing during that thousand years.
But that is a story for another time.
Right now the entire world (in my opinion) is smack dab in the middle of verse 8 "ALL THESE THINGS ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS"! This Covid 19 plague is one of those sorrows. Not to mention, many other things that I know you have heard of on the news; SWARMS of millions upon billions of locusts in several countries wiping entire agricultural areas off the map in a matter of hours. Earthquakes in places that have not previously seen them---I am going to write a very eye opening article about earthquakes in various places in a few days!
Weird weather patterns--cyclones, floods, massive forest fires, terrible hurricanes, twisters, rapidly developing huge sink holes that swallow entire houses.
And yes, the earth has seen these things before, in fact King Solomon states so specifically in Ecclesiastes chapter 1 "That which has been is what will be that which is done is what will be done, THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN"!
But there are other things that point to rapidly approaching worldwide devastation. During WWII we discovered the horror of Nazi hate when the extermination camps were liberated and it was discovered that over 6 million Jews were gassed to death including 1 million children. Nothing had EVER compared to that. But since that time an even greater Holocaust is being perpetrated as we speak. ABORTION! And a huge number of people in nearly every single country are hardened to this terrible evil and simply do not care.
Since Roe versus Wade in 1973, worldwide over 1 1/2 BILLION helpless human babies have been butchered in the womb. 63,000 babies have been killed worldwide just today as of 2 p.m. Since 1973 in the United States, 61,839,812 as of today. And the numbers are growing at an exponential rate. If that is not a Holocaust, I don't know what is.
Homosexuality and people claiming to alter their natural state of male/female to something else??? Is now being not only accepted but celebrated. Anyone remember Sodom and Gomorrah? Which is one of the reasons that I reject the notion that God has sent this plague of Covid 19 on the earth. Abraham was interceding for Sodom because his nephew LOT was living there. God would not destroy Sodom for the sake of 1 single righteous man living there. Lot was a bit slow on the uptake so the angels of God actually picked him up to get him out before utter and complete destruction hit.
Much of the reason for this complete destruction was the open practice of homosexuality among the populace. But it still remains true that for the sake of ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN, God stayed His hand. There are now a reported 2 1/2 BILLION Followers of Christ on earth. We could argue, I suppose about whether they are all serious believers but then again "JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED"? One way or another---even though none of us deserve the title, 2 Corinthians 5:21 labels followers of Christ as being "RIGHTEOUS"! "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (JESUS).
No, God is not going to destroy mankind through this plague because there are most certainly a lot more than one righteous person on this planet today.
But the fact remains that mankind today is seeing and feeling the effects of some very serious things happening on planet earth including every single one of the items and predictions that Christ made to His disciples in Matthew 24.
WE ARE IN MY OPINION SQUARELY IN VERSE 8---"ALL THESE THINGS ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROW"! But lest we forget, we are told to NOT BE TROUBLED because the end is not yet! However we can expect that if this is the BEGINNING of sorrows, more are surely to follow.
And speaking of "the end is not yet"; Scripturally speaking, "THE END" will not happen until the end of the thousand years that Christ rules the earth. So much for climate change, global warming and the end of planet earth during our life times. Just not going to happen!
So how do we as believers make it through this terrible time of uncertainty? 1). The scriptures are clear---we are to honor our governments. We may not think they are GOOD governments but that is not the point. If the government tells us to avoid other human contact and stay home we should do so to the best of our ability. 2). Remember always who is really in charge---JESUS, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! Nothing that is happening is a surprise to HIM! 3). Live our lives the best we can and be submissive and obedient to the Word of God---our Bibles. 4). Use this time to glorify the Lord by finding ways to accomplish the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20. Use your computer or cell phone to do so. Tell people about the Lord. NO FEAR OF REJECTION!!! Just do it.
YES, we are in the end times although we have no idea how long that will last or when our Lord is coming for us. In the meanwhile as far as this worldwide threat to life is concerned, as a follower of Christ---although we all get sick from time to time, Neither you nor I are leaving this planet until our time is up and the Lord rings our bell.
Have hope, be safe, love your family and friends and use common sense.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Sunday, February 23, 2020
PENTECOST? Just another day or fabulously important?
Dear friends and readers,
Is Pentecost really understood for it's PHENOMENAL SIGNIFICANCE???
Ministerially, I answer scriptural questions as they come to me and have found that some Biblical topics--that many of us take for granted---are not always understood within context---OR IMPORTANCE--by many believers! Also in todays church, few pastors are teaching anything about GODS APPOINTED TIMES such as Passover, Unleavened Bread, First fruits and Pentecost. Let alone the fall feasts and High Holy Days of repentance. Unfortunately, over the centuries a belief (among many---not all), seems to have developed that the term "OLD TESTAMENT" somehow means that it is obsolete or of no importance to believers today. As a result, many believers worldwide have been flatly cheated out of tremendous richness and spiritual lessons that have nothing whatsoever to do with legalism.
Separation also occurred between Jews and Gentile followers of Christ that I do not believe was ever intended by the Lord. There are lots of historical issues that happened along the way that exacerbated the whole issue of separation but I will not go into that today. The net result however is that many Jews have also been ripped off where the richness of their Messiah is concerned. Also many in both camps seem to believe that the OLD and the NEW are completely separate books. While in reality it is ONE BIBLE that progresses over the centuries from a requirement to observe the written law, to a New Covenant in which free salvation by grace is available to any and all human beings who breath air.
Bottom line: You can no more remove the Old Testament from God's plan of salvation---and the New Testament, than you could remove the foundation of the tallest building on earth and expect it to remain standing.
The process that God provided for moving mankind from the requirements of the written law---and moving into the dispensation of salvation by and through grace are what PENTECOST is all about.
PENTECOST is Phenomenally important; Remember Acts chapter 2? "When the day of PENTECOST had fully come, they (the disciples of the Lord) were all with one accord in one place"?
Obviously we are speaking of a time in which the fledgeling church was tiny in comparison to roughly 2 1/2 BILLION believers spread across the globe today. So, for the sake of todays article, being in "one place" is long past reality and so is being "with one accord"! Jesus of course is our uniting factor but with literally hundreds of Christian denominations scattered all around the world, "UNITY or ONE ACCORD" takes on an entirely different perspective.
Be that as it may, the real issue here is PENTECOST and what it really means.
So lets have a short quiz; Answer in your mind, the correct answer. True or false.
1). Pentecost is a New Testament phenomena.
2). The purpose for Pentecost was for the Lord to impart the Holy Spirit onto and into the new church (believers).
3). Pentecost signaled the beginning of individual gifts of the Spirit to individual believers.
4). Pentecost signaled the beginning of the New Covenant of grace and had nothing whatsoever to do with the Old Testament.
5). All of the above.
Hmmmmmmmm!
What if I told you that Pentecost was NOT a New Testament phenomena, and it most certainly did have lots to do with both Old and New Testaments? What if I told you that God's perfect plan for mankind (in general) came to full circle fulfillment exactly on the day of Pentecost?
But lets work backwards from the New Testament day listed in Acts chapter 2. REMEMBER THE PHRASE "when the day of Pentecost had FULLY COME"! Those two words--FULLY COME are literally pregnant with (for many) long lost understanding of the transition from THE LAW to GRACE as a means to spend eternity with GOD! SALVATION!
Now of course, many will say "Salvation from what"? And the answer to that lies in the following scriptural truth; Romans 3:23 "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD"! In other words, thanks to "original sin" which was perpetrated by mankind's ancient forefather's, Adam and Eve, NO ONE can measure up to God's standards. And without something happening that mankind cannot do for himself, we would ALL be lost.
GOD DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING FOR US, SO WE WOULD NOT BE LOST!
We know that without Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death and atonement for sin in our behalf, that (BEING ETERNALLY LOST) would still be true today. But God the Father had a two step process to bring mankind to the point of realizing that we needed some big time help!
We all know the story of God choosing the Jewish people as His own special people and He did that originally through Father Abraham. Who' son Isaac had a son named Jacob who became the progenitor of the 12 tribes of Israel. Time goes by and Israel as a people group find themselves as captives and slaves to Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. After 400 hundred years, God sent a man named Moses to free His chosen people from captivity. Not easy but with God's help, Moses pulls it off and leads well over 600,000 people from captivity (NOTE: Lots of argument over this number. Estimates run from 600,000 to well over one million). One way or another, After Moses led them to freedom, there were lots of folks who almost immediately began to snivel about EVERYTHING! Which led to the people sinning before God, which led to Moses being called up a mountain called Mount Sinai, by God Himself.
While on that mountain God gave Moses 10 Commandments for the people to obey and He did it by inscribing those commandments on stone with His finger. These commandments are known as "THE LAW" and in time were expanded to include the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These 5 books are still referred to today as the "TORAH". Or "THE LAW". The Old Testament actually includes a total of 39 books which many scholars refer to as the Hebrew Bible or the "Tenackh". Contrast that to the 27 books of the New Testament which in some circles is known as the "BRIT CHADASHAH".
So why all the history here? Because in order to fully understand PENTECOST, it is important to have a basic understanding of what God did and is still doing today.
First, Pentecost is NOT a New Testament creation. It goes all the way back to a Biblical Festival decreed by God in Leviticus 23:15-22. Pentecost was the original agricultural festival of "SHAVUOT" (Feast of Weeks) which was one of three PILGRIM feasts decreed by God. The other two are Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles. God instructed it to be observed also in Deuteronomy 16:16. And in terms of the exodus from Egypt, SHAVUOT occurs 50 days after "PESACH" (Passover). The Pentecost of Acts chapter 2 occurred 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ from the grave. Coincidence?
So we find ourselves back on Mt. Sinai with God and Moses to continue our adventure! NOTE: There is nothing in the Bible that specifically says that the day Moses received "THE LAW" on Mt. Sinai was the exact day as Pentecost of Acts chapter 2. But there is some very compelling evidence to support that possibility.
So who cares and why is it even relevant? It is immensely relevant if God did in fact give Moses the Law on the original day of Pentecost because doing so again through Christ in the New Testament signaled the end of the requirement to obey the law and began the NEW COVENANT to receive salvation by grace. Let me unpack that. If Moses received the law on Pentecost (by the way, throughout the Old Testament the LAW expanded to 613 laws that had to be obeyed--an impossible task for any human being), then it becomes overwhelmingly important if God chose exactly the same day thousands of years later to CHANGE the ability of mankind to approach His Throne---from the impossible task of obeying endless laws to simply accepting the FREE GIFT OF GRACE offered by HIMSELF--through blood atonement and death, in the Form of His Only begotten Son, Jesus of Nazareth. WOW! What a plan.
So the question is simple? Is there any evidence that both the covenant of the LAW and the covenant of GRACE were given on exactly the same day? PENTECOST? You decide--but here are a few things for you to consider;
Early on, ancient Rabbis determined that SHAVUOT (Pentecost) coincided with God giving the TORAH to Moses on Mt. Sinai. How did they come to that conclusion? I have no idea. While I certainly do not agree with all that some Rabbis have to say, we also cannot throw out the old baby with the bath water. These guys are serious Biblical students and scholars. Plus the Bible was trusted to their care by God. Otherwise we would not have it today. Accordingly, without proof to the contrary, I have no reason to doubt their conclusions about the timing of SHAVUOT.
But there are at least 12 other very provocative reasons that this is a strong possibility;
1). Both events occurred on a mountain (Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion), known as the "MOUNTAIN OF GOD" Exodus 24:13 and Isaiah 2:3.
2). Both events happened to a newly redeemed people. The Exodus marked the birth of the Israelite nation while the events of Pentecost, recorded in Acts chapter 2 marked the birth of Christianity---always remembering that "THE CHURCH" sprang from JUDAISM and Is made up of both Jew and gentile believers.
3). Both events involved God's people receiving a gift: TORAH on Sinai and later the SPIRIT of GOD on Zion!
4). In both events the gift given by God was done through fire. Mt. Sinai was on fire and divided tongues of fire sat upon each of those present at Pentecost.
5). According to many scholars, both events took place at the same time on the same month.
6). The Israelites left Egypt on Passover and 40 days later arrived at Sinai. Then Moses went up on the mountain with God. 10 days later Moses came down with the Torah tablets and discovered that the people had sinned--broken covenant with God--and 3000 people died as a result. That is a total of 50 days.
Jesus died on Passover and 40 days later went up on a mountain to see God (Mt. of Olives). 10 days after Jesus Ascended, the Holy Spirit came down and 3000 people were saved. That is 50 days between His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2.
7). More specifically---50 days after sacrificing the Passover lamb, the Israelites received a covenant from God--THE LAW. 50 days after Jesus self sacrifice, OUR PASSOVER LAMB---the true Lamb of God, believers received a new covenant of salvation by GRACE from GOD!
8). Both events had similar sounds and symbols; Wind, fire, smoke, voices! Reportedly the Hebrew word "KOLOT" (Strong's H6963) is the same as voices or languages. Think about that in the light of the Acts chapter 2 events.
9). The fire on Mt. Sinai was visible to all. The fire at Pentecost was individual fires settling on every person. At Sinai the people were kept away from the fire. At Pentecost the fire came to the people.
10). At both events there was what is called a "THEOPHANY"! God showed up! Apparently God the Father on Mt. Sinai and God the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
11). At Sinai God wrote His law on tablets of stone. At Pentecost He wrote His New Covenant on the hearts of new believers!
12). In both events a mixed multitude of people were represented (Exodus 12:38) and in Acts 2:5.
So friends, there is the evidence for you to think about! Were the events of God giving the LAW on Mt. Sinai and giving the New Covenant in Acts chapter 2---done on the very same day---centuries apart? On the day of SHAVUOT/PENTECOST?
Why is this so incredibly important? Remember at the beginning of this article, I said REMEMBER THE WORDING from Acts chapter 2. The specific words of importance here are, "When Pentecost had FULLY COME"!
In my opinion, at the very first Pentecost on Mt. Sinai, it was a PARTIAL fulfillment of what God long intended to bring the human race into fellowship with HIMSELF! That grand plan came full circle and "FULLY CAME" for all mankind who would accept salvation by grace through belief in Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel, and that full circle was complete in ACTS chapter 2.
I hope you find this article interesting but as always---you are free to decide for yourselves.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
Is Pentecost really understood for it's PHENOMENAL SIGNIFICANCE???
Ministerially, I answer scriptural questions as they come to me and have found that some Biblical topics--that many of us take for granted---are not always understood within context---OR IMPORTANCE--by many believers! Also in todays church, few pastors are teaching anything about GODS APPOINTED TIMES such as Passover, Unleavened Bread, First fruits and Pentecost. Let alone the fall feasts and High Holy Days of repentance. Unfortunately, over the centuries a belief (among many---not all), seems to have developed that the term "OLD TESTAMENT" somehow means that it is obsolete or of no importance to believers today. As a result, many believers worldwide have been flatly cheated out of tremendous richness and spiritual lessons that have nothing whatsoever to do with legalism.
Separation also occurred between Jews and Gentile followers of Christ that I do not believe was ever intended by the Lord. There are lots of historical issues that happened along the way that exacerbated the whole issue of separation but I will not go into that today. The net result however is that many Jews have also been ripped off where the richness of their Messiah is concerned. Also many in both camps seem to believe that the OLD and the NEW are completely separate books. While in reality it is ONE BIBLE that progresses over the centuries from a requirement to observe the written law, to a New Covenant in which free salvation by grace is available to any and all human beings who breath air.
Bottom line: You can no more remove the Old Testament from God's plan of salvation---and the New Testament, than you could remove the foundation of the tallest building on earth and expect it to remain standing.
The process that God provided for moving mankind from the requirements of the written law---and moving into the dispensation of salvation by and through grace are what PENTECOST is all about.
PENTECOST is Phenomenally important; Remember Acts chapter 2? "When the day of PENTECOST had fully come, they (the disciples of the Lord) were all with one accord in one place"?
Obviously we are speaking of a time in which the fledgeling church was tiny in comparison to roughly 2 1/2 BILLION believers spread across the globe today. So, for the sake of todays article, being in "one place" is long past reality and so is being "with one accord"! Jesus of course is our uniting factor but with literally hundreds of Christian denominations scattered all around the world, "UNITY or ONE ACCORD" takes on an entirely different perspective.
Be that as it may, the real issue here is PENTECOST and what it really means.
So lets have a short quiz; Answer in your mind, the correct answer. True or false.
1). Pentecost is a New Testament phenomena.
2). The purpose for Pentecost was for the Lord to impart the Holy Spirit onto and into the new church (believers).
3). Pentecost signaled the beginning of individual gifts of the Spirit to individual believers.
4). Pentecost signaled the beginning of the New Covenant of grace and had nothing whatsoever to do with the Old Testament.
5). All of the above.
Hmmmmmmmm!
What if I told you that Pentecost was NOT a New Testament phenomena, and it most certainly did have lots to do with both Old and New Testaments? What if I told you that God's perfect plan for mankind (in general) came to full circle fulfillment exactly on the day of Pentecost?
But lets work backwards from the New Testament day listed in Acts chapter 2. REMEMBER THE PHRASE "when the day of Pentecost had FULLY COME"! Those two words--FULLY COME are literally pregnant with (for many) long lost understanding of the transition from THE LAW to GRACE as a means to spend eternity with GOD! SALVATION!
Now of course, many will say "Salvation from what"? And the answer to that lies in the following scriptural truth; Romans 3:23 "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD"! In other words, thanks to "original sin" which was perpetrated by mankind's ancient forefather's, Adam and Eve, NO ONE can measure up to God's standards. And without something happening that mankind cannot do for himself, we would ALL be lost.
GOD DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING FOR US, SO WE WOULD NOT BE LOST!
We know that without Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death and atonement for sin in our behalf, that (BEING ETERNALLY LOST) would still be true today. But God the Father had a two step process to bring mankind to the point of realizing that we needed some big time help!
We all know the story of God choosing the Jewish people as His own special people and He did that originally through Father Abraham. Who' son Isaac had a son named Jacob who became the progenitor of the 12 tribes of Israel. Time goes by and Israel as a people group find themselves as captives and slaves to Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. After 400 hundred years, God sent a man named Moses to free His chosen people from captivity. Not easy but with God's help, Moses pulls it off and leads well over 600,000 people from captivity (NOTE: Lots of argument over this number. Estimates run from 600,000 to well over one million). One way or another, After Moses led them to freedom, there were lots of folks who almost immediately began to snivel about EVERYTHING! Which led to the people sinning before God, which led to Moses being called up a mountain called Mount Sinai, by God Himself.
While on that mountain God gave Moses 10 Commandments for the people to obey and He did it by inscribing those commandments on stone with His finger. These commandments are known as "THE LAW" and in time were expanded to include the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These 5 books are still referred to today as the "TORAH". Or "THE LAW". The Old Testament actually includes a total of 39 books which many scholars refer to as the Hebrew Bible or the "Tenackh". Contrast that to the 27 books of the New Testament which in some circles is known as the "BRIT CHADASHAH".
So why all the history here? Because in order to fully understand PENTECOST, it is important to have a basic understanding of what God did and is still doing today.
First, Pentecost is NOT a New Testament creation. It goes all the way back to a Biblical Festival decreed by God in Leviticus 23:15-22. Pentecost was the original agricultural festival of "SHAVUOT" (Feast of Weeks) which was one of three PILGRIM feasts decreed by God. The other two are Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles. God instructed it to be observed also in Deuteronomy 16:16. And in terms of the exodus from Egypt, SHAVUOT occurs 50 days after "PESACH" (Passover). The Pentecost of Acts chapter 2 occurred 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ from the grave. Coincidence?
So we find ourselves back on Mt. Sinai with God and Moses to continue our adventure! NOTE: There is nothing in the Bible that specifically says that the day Moses received "THE LAW" on Mt. Sinai was the exact day as Pentecost of Acts chapter 2. But there is some very compelling evidence to support that possibility.
So who cares and why is it even relevant? It is immensely relevant if God did in fact give Moses the Law on the original day of Pentecost because doing so again through Christ in the New Testament signaled the end of the requirement to obey the law and began the NEW COVENANT to receive salvation by grace. Let me unpack that. If Moses received the law on Pentecost (by the way, throughout the Old Testament the LAW expanded to 613 laws that had to be obeyed--an impossible task for any human being), then it becomes overwhelmingly important if God chose exactly the same day thousands of years later to CHANGE the ability of mankind to approach His Throne---from the impossible task of obeying endless laws to simply accepting the FREE GIFT OF GRACE offered by HIMSELF--through blood atonement and death, in the Form of His Only begotten Son, Jesus of Nazareth. WOW! What a plan.
So the question is simple? Is there any evidence that both the covenant of the LAW and the covenant of GRACE were given on exactly the same day? PENTECOST? You decide--but here are a few things for you to consider;
Early on, ancient Rabbis determined that SHAVUOT (Pentecost) coincided with God giving the TORAH to Moses on Mt. Sinai. How did they come to that conclusion? I have no idea. While I certainly do not agree with all that some Rabbis have to say, we also cannot throw out the old baby with the bath water. These guys are serious Biblical students and scholars. Plus the Bible was trusted to their care by God. Otherwise we would not have it today. Accordingly, without proof to the contrary, I have no reason to doubt their conclusions about the timing of SHAVUOT.
But there are at least 12 other very provocative reasons that this is a strong possibility;
1). Both events occurred on a mountain (Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion), known as the "MOUNTAIN OF GOD" Exodus 24:13 and Isaiah 2:3.
2). Both events happened to a newly redeemed people. The Exodus marked the birth of the Israelite nation while the events of Pentecost, recorded in Acts chapter 2 marked the birth of Christianity---always remembering that "THE CHURCH" sprang from JUDAISM and Is made up of both Jew and gentile believers.
3). Both events involved God's people receiving a gift: TORAH on Sinai and later the SPIRIT of GOD on Zion!
4). In both events the gift given by God was done through fire. Mt. Sinai was on fire and divided tongues of fire sat upon each of those present at Pentecost.
5). According to many scholars, both events took place at the same time on the same month.
6). The Israelites left Egypt on Passover and 40 days later arrived at Sinai. Then Moses went up on the mountain with God. 10 days later Moses came down with the Torah tablets and discovered that the people had sinned--broken covenant with God--and 3000 people died as a result. That is a total of 50 days.
Jesus died on Passover and 40 days later went up on a mountain to see God (Mt. of Olives). 10 days after Jesus Ascended, the Holy Spirit came down and 3000 people were saved. That is 50 days between His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2.
7). More specifically---50 days after sacrificing the Passover lamb, the Israelites received a covenant from God--THE LAW. 50 days after Jesus self sacrifice, OUR PASSOVER LAMB---the true Lamb of God, believers received a new covenant of salvation by GRACE from GOD!
8). Both events had similar sounds and symbols; Wind, fire, smoke, voices! Reportedly the Hebrew word "KOLOT" (Strong's H6963) is the same as voices or languages. Think about that in the light of the Acts chapter 2 events.
9). The fire on Mt. Sinai was visible to all. The fire at Pentecost was individual fires settling on every person. At Sinai the people were kept away from the fire. At Pentecost the fire came to the people.
10). At both events there was what is called a "THEOPHANY"! God showed up! Apparently God the Father on Mt. Sinai and God the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
11). At Sinai God wrote His law on tablets of stone. At Pentecost He wrote His New Covenant on the hearts of new believers!
12). In both events a mixed multitude of people were represented (Exodus 12:38) and in Acts 2:5.
So friends, there is the evidence for you to think about! Were the events of God giving the LAW on Mt. Sinai and giving the New Covenant in Acts chapter 2---done on the very same day---centuries apart? On the day of SHAVUOT/PENTECOST?
Why is this so incredibly important? Remember at the beginning of this article, I said REMEMBER THE WORDING from Acts chapter 2. The specific words of importance here are, "When Pentecost had FULLY COME"!
In my opinion, at the very first Pentecost on Mt. Sinai, it was a PARTIAL fulfillment of what God long intended to bring the human race into fellowship with HIMSELF! That grand plan came full circle and "FULLY CAME" for all mankind who would accept salvation by grace through belief in Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel, and that full circle was complete in ACTS chapter 2.
I hope you find this article interesting but as always---you are free to decide for yourselves.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.
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