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Bible Prophecy Begins and Ends With Israel
Harbingers Daily ^ | 12/27/23 | Dr. Robert Jeffress

Posted on 12/28/2023 6:12:14 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal

Imagine you open to the middle of John Grisham’s latest best-seller. Immediately you face unfamiliar names and locations. To make sense of the story you flip to the end. But the ending seems more confusing than the middle. You slam the book shut in disgust. Grisham has really lost his touch, you conclude.

This analogy is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. But it illustrates why so many people have trouble with Bible prophecy. To understand prophecy, we should not start in the middle of the Book—with Ezekiel and Daniel—or at the end with Revelation. No, we should begin at the beginning—with Genesis.

It’s there, in Genesis 12:1-3, that God makes a startling promise to a man named Abraham. All prophecy hangs on this promise, or “covenant.” To better understand this covenant, and how it relates to prophecy, let’s look at the contents of the covenant, the character of the covenant, and the consequences of the covenant.

Content of the Covenant

The first thing God promised Abraham was Land. Abraham was born in the idolatrous city of Ur, around 2166 BC. In His sovereign grace, God called Abraham out of this lifestyle.

In Genesis 12:1 God says, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” At the age of 75, Abraham uprooted his family and possessions and moved to a distant country he had never seen. It was only later, after Abraham had acted, that God provided the details of that land in Genesis 15:18-21.

God also promised Abraham a lineage to fill the land. Genesis 12:2 states, “And I will make you a great nation.” Genesis 22:17 adds, “I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore.” Remember, God made this promise to Abraham when he was 75 years old. Not only this, but his wife, Sarah, was barren. Yet God fulfilled this promise, giving them physical and spiritual descendants beyond number.

In addition to a land and a seed, God also promised to make Abraham a lasting blessing. Genesis 12:3 states, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” In this climax of the covenant, God was saying, “Through you Abraham, I will bring a Savior who will redeem the world.” How do we get a Savior from Genesis 12:3? From the New Testament.

Galatians 3:8 states, “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, ‘All the nations will be blessed in you.’” God preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Abraham. And Abraham was saved by it.

Galatians 3:6 tells us, “Even so, Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” People in the Old Testament were saved the same way we are: by God’s grace through faith. Abraham looked forward to Christ for salvation, and we look back to Him.

Character of the Covenant

We have seen that God promised Abraham a land, a lineage, and a lasting blessing. But were these promises symbolic? Were they temporary? Could they be lost? How we answer these questions determines how we view Bible prophecy. Thankfully, God’s Word gives us some answers.

First, God’s covenant with Abraham was literal. We see this from Abraham’s response. In Genesis 12:4-5 we read, “[Abraham] went forth as the Lord had spoken to him… and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.” If Abraham thought Canaan was only symbolic of Heaven, why did he go through all the trouble of moving to Canaan? Certainly, he was looking for Heaven as well, as Hebrews 11:10 states. But he was also looking for an earthly home. In addition to being literal, the covenant was eternal. Genesis 13:15 states, “All the land which you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever.” God placed no expiration date on the promise.

Finally, God’s covenant was unconditional. In Abraham’s day, kings would establish contracts by taking animals, splitting them in two, and placing the halves in two lines. The parties would then walk side-by-side through the animal pieces, holding a torch. This signified that the covenant was dependent upon each party keeping his end of the bargain. But when God ratified the agreement with Abraham in Genesis 15:9-21, only God passed between the pieces. This signified that the promise had nothing to do with Abraham’s obedience. It had everything to do with God’s faithfulness.

Genesis 13:15 states, “All the land which you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever.” God placed no expiration date on the promise.

Consequences of the Covenant

So what does this have to do with prophecy? Since 1948, Israel has possessed the Promised Land—but not all of it. True, God sent a blessing to all the world through Jesus Christ. He rules right now in the hearts of believers. But he’s not yet sitting on the throne of David in Jerusalem. That prophecy will still be literally fulfilled.

You may say, “I’m not Jewish. Why should I care?” Just as God made unconditional promises to believing Jews, He has made promises to you and me.

In John 10:28 Jesus said, “I give eternal life to them and no man shall snatch them out of my hands.” The God who can be trusted to keep His promises to Israel, is the same God we can depend on to keep His promises to us. We’ve seen that God’s promise to Abraham includes land, a lineage, and a lasting blessing. We’ve noted that the covenant was literal, eternal, and unconditional.

We know that part of it has not yet been fulfilled. And we know that God’s faithfulness to complete it demonstrates how faithful He will be to us.

We now know how the story begins. We are ready to dive into the middle and the end. And because of God’s faithfulness, we know it will have a perfect ending.


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: endtimes; israel; lastdays; prophecy
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1 posted on 12/28/2023 6:12:14 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal
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To: Roman_War_Criminal; telescope115; Halls; Mrs.Z; ConjunctionJunction; Library Lady; patriot torch; ..

End Times Ping

Please FReemail me if you wish to be added or removed from The End Times Ping List.

Maranatha!


2 posted on 12/28/2023 6:12:51 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

.


3 posted on 12/28/2023 6:15:16 PM PST by sauropod (The obedient always think of themselves as virtuous rather than cowardly.)
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To: Roman_War_Criminal
World War III seems to be what Satan has in store - just posted on another thread.

There are Manchurian Candidates installed in various governments around the world 🌎🌍

The missiles are flying!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!


4 posted on 12/28/2023 6:16:31 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

Bookmark and bump.


5 posted on 12/28/2023 6:17:00 PM PST by rdl6989 ( )
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To: SaveFerris

Most people in this “realm” have no idea how much of a razor’s edge their life hangs on.

2024 is going to be quite interesting.

Even the deep state players are vomiting soft disclosure comments about it in interviews and posts.


6 posted on 12/28/2023 6:18:45 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

Ezekiel 38 may be unfolding before our eyes


7 posted on 12/28/2023 6:24:16 PM PST by realcleanguy (quickly things are falling apart, now that the )
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

the perfect ending was the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was the main event, not a side event. Let’s not try to diminish that.


8 posted on 12/28/2023 6:26:57 PM PST by MNDude
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

When they annihilate Damascus, game over.


9 posted on 12/28/2023 6:36:02 PM PST by roving (Deplorable Listless Vessel Trumpist With Trumpitis)
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To: MNDude

Trolling seems to be a hobby of yours.

God will fulfill His Eternal Promises to Israel.

Why don’t you try not to diminish that?


10 posted on 12/28/2023 6:36:56 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: realcleanguy

It is certainly coming together nicely.


11 posted on 12/28/2023 6:37:33 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Roman_War_Criminal; Red Badger

 

To understand prophecy, we should not start in the middle of the Book -- with Ezekiel and Daniel -- or at the end with Revelation. No, we should begin at the beginning-- with Genesis.

Time runs around a wheel for us mere mortals. I jump in and out wherever I see something, whatever topic presents itself. Never boring, always surprising. It all comes around full circle eventiually, so no problem.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

It's not for everybody, because there's no sliding back.


12 posted on 12/28/2023 6:55:02 PM PST by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with Mars ♂️, aka every man)
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To: MNDude

>> the perfect ending was the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was the main event, not a side event.

Respectfully —

As you say, Jesus CHRIST is THE “main thing”. Genesis to Revelation, the Word of GOD is all about Him. In fact, He IS the Word of GOD.

But the WORD tells us that His resurrection is in no way the “perfect ending”. He is the FIRSTborn of a great harvest of GOD’s children. GOD wants a big family!

And Jesus WILL come again to bring his brothers and sisters home. THAT’s the “perfect ending”.

In conjunction with that glorious Advent the Close of the Age must occur, as prophesied, and that unfolding of the final chronology of GOD’s Plan absolutely concerns Israel as well as the Body of CHRIST.


13 posted on 12/28/2023 6:55:03 PM PST by Nervous Tick ("First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people...": ISLAM is the problem!)
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

——>God will fulfill His Eternal Promises to Israel.

Already clearly explained to you that the end has nothing to do with literal Israel. The kingdom was taken from them (corporately) and given to another (those in Christ). God is no respecter of persons.


14 posted on 12/28/2023 6:57:59 PM PST by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: Philsworld

Israel will be redeemed in the Tribulation with the sealing of the 144000 and the two witnesses


15 posted on 12/28/2023 7:04:56 PM PST by LukeL
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

Bible prophecy begins and ends with Christ Jesus. Goofy Robert Jeffress pushes the false teaching of Dispensationalism and should be ignored.


16 posted on 12/28/2023 7:06:41 PM PST by DSH
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To: LukeL

Not according to Christ.

Matthew 21:43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.


17 posted on 12/28/2023 7:09:55 PM PST by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

>> Most people in this “realm” have no idea how much of a razor’s edge their life hangs on.

Ain’t that the truth.

>> Even the deep state players are vomiting soft disclosure comments about it in interviews and posts.

I saw this, attributed to Elon Musk, where it actually came from I do not know: “You don’t have to read BETWEEN the lines, you simply have to read the lines.” Musk was talking about Hamas, but it’s true also of the deep state, WEF, climatistas, etc.


18 posted on 12/28/2023 7:10:55 PM PST by Nervous Tick ("First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people...": ISLAM is the problem!)
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

(Most people in this “realm” have no idea how much of a razor’s edge their life hangs on.

2024 is going to be quite interesting.)

Yep.

and

Yep.

✝️🙏🛐


19 posted on 12/28/2023 7:21:59 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: realcleanguy

I agree. It certainly fits.

Time will tell.


20 posted on 12/28/2023 7:23:49 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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