Ezekiel 26 Oriental Language And The Fall Of Tyre
By Joel Sexton
[Originally a comment to an FB post]
I promised myself I wouldn't get into these discussions on Eschatology anymore but had to same something here.
First, the structure and historical context of the book. [Eze 1-24] is all speaking about the coming siege of Jerusalem along with the captives taken into slavery which first began to happen around 605-597 BC, before the final fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. What is the point in bringing this up? Simple. Go read the first 24 ch. of Ezekiel and come back and say that 24 chapters on ONE judgment, with very graphic detail indeed. is to be taken wooden literal. The different imagery to portray, Judah, her sin and guilt, and Yahweh's wrath being poured out on a disobedient people is immensely figurative and poetic.
Second, the Genre of Ezekiel of mainly an "Apocalyptic." Much like the book of Revelation which borrows heavily from Ezekiel. This type of literature is full of "Oriental" language. The fact of the matter is this. All O.T. Hebraic scholars that study the Ancient Near East (ANE) recognize that this is, in fact, the case. Even Dispensationalist O.T. scholars admit this but obviously in a limited sense. But all non Full or Partial Preterist O.T. scholars and commentators recognize this fact. In Western Asia, at the time this was the way they spoke. Within the Prophets, we see "Prophetic" and "Apocalyptic" language. Most of the prophets spoke with ''Prophetic" speak which also carries this hyperbolic, poetic and oriental language.
Third. Eze 26 which speaks of Yahweh's coming judgment on Tyre has more of a "Prophetic" genre bent to it than earlier chapters but this is still poetic language. From beginning to end. Near the latter half of the chapter, the sea swallows up Tyre. "Spiritual." Yes.
Fourth and final point is a comparison of Eze 26 to Isa 13-14. Isa 13-14 is one unit within a broader context (Isa 13-24). The judgment of the nations. Same as Ezekiel. Isa 13 states Babylon (Iraq today) would never be inhabited again. But of course, it is! Ezekiel sees Tyre as a "Bare rock." (Literal eh). In other words, the judgment would be the same as Babylon, total desolation, not to be inhabited again.
The Language of Isa 13-14, by all means, is oriental, poetic language. "Hands will fall limp" [Isa 13:7] "Every man's heart will melt" [Isa 13:8), again hyperbole. And this is before the stars fly around while people are still alive (Isa 13:9f). Which is another post for another time
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Why Inclusivism Underminds And Negates The Gospel
Why Inclusivism Underminds And Negates The Gospel
By Joel Sexton
Inclusivism comes in many forms. And suggests that at least some of mankind will be saved without having believed the Gospel. There are two main branches of inclusivism. First, the one extreme being Universalism. But since Classic Universalism (not the new age universalism spawned by Full Preterist's and others) states that one must have faith to be saved. Albeit this is a post-mortem faith being exercised.
But the more widely accepted form among evangelicalism is the idea that those that openly reject the gospel will be lost but those who basically lived good lives and haven't had the opportunity to the hear the gospel will be saved anyways. A free pass. This is just as heinous as Universalism since it negates the very gospel message they claim to preach.
To assert that one can be saved without believing the gospel underminds, man's depravity, the holiness of God, the severity of the law, that without being pronounced righteous for the sake of Christ man is "at enmity with God" [Rom 8:5-9] and by "nature" is a child of "wrath" [Eph 2:4]. That without being "in Christ" i.e. Union with Christ one is still a unrepentent wretched sinner.
Without the foundational understanding that the one must "die to the law" [Rom 7:4; Gal 2:19-21], that is, that the law has broken the person in repentance and the Spirit works faith in the sinner's heart. Since all man is at enmity for breaking the law of God [Rom 8:5-9 cf. 3:19-26] they are under His wrath [Rom 1:18; Eph 4-6], thus condemned to hell in their sin. Unless the law does it's work there is nothing but wrath and condemnation, as without dying to the law one CANNOT exercise saving faith.
But at the end of the day, it is more about emotionalism than an actual interaction with scripture that wins the day for inclusivism and even more so for universalism.
By Joel Sexton
Inclusivism comes in many forms. And suggests that at least some of mankind will be saved without having believed the Gospel. There are two main branches of inclusivism. First, the one extreme being Universalism. But since Classic Universalism (not the new age universalism spawned by Full Preterist's and others) states that one must have faith to be saved. Albeit this is a post-mortem faith being exercised.
But the more widely accepted form among evangelicalism is the idea that those that openly reject the gospel will be lost but those who basically lived good lives and haven't had the opportunity to the hear the gospel will be saved anyways. A free pass. This is just as heinous as Universalism since it negates the very gospel message they claim to preach.
To assert that one can be saved without believing the gospel underminds, man's depravity, the holiness of God, the severity of the law, that without being pronounced righteous for the sake of Christ man is "at enmity with God" [Rom 8:5-9] and by "nature" is a child of "wrath" [Eph 2:4]. That without being "in Christ" i.e. Union with Christ one is still a unrepentent wretched sinner.
Without the foundational understanding that the one must "die to the law" [Rom 7:4; Gal 2:19-21], that is, that the law has broken the person in repentance and the Spirit works faith in the sinner's heart. Since all man is at enmity for breaking the law of God [Rom 8:5-9 cf. 3:19-26] they are under His wrath [Rom 1:18; Eph 4-6], thus condemned to hell in their sin. Unless the law does it's work there is nothing but wrath and condemnation, as without dying to the law one CANNOT exercise saving faith.
But at the end of the day, it is more about emotionalism than an actual interaction with scripture that wins the day for inclusivism and even more so for universalism.
Did Peter & Paul Preach Two Different Gospels? A Short Refutation Of Mid-Acts or Hyper-Dispensationalism
Did Peter & Paul Preach Two Different Gospels?
A Short Refutation Of Mid-Acts or Hyper-Dispensationalism
By Joel Sexton
In a nutshell, Mid-Acts (for short) broke off from the Classic Dispensationalism of Scofield in the 19th century. One early proponent was E. W. Bullinger.
There seem to be two basic premises of the Hyper, Mid Acts, or Ultra Dispensationalism.
1] The the church did not start in Acts 2 at Pentecost despite what previous Dispensational teachers and scholars had taught. But the "Jewish Church" began at Act 2, but the "Gentile Church" began with Paul in Acts 9; 13 or even Acts 28 per E. W. Bullinger. So what ends up happening is that many Mid-Acts believers reject all of the Bible with the exception of Paul's epistles! That's right. The gospels and Heb-Rev are not for us in the "body of Christ." A LOT go as far as stating that only Paul's prison epistles are for us today. So even Paul is cut down to seven letters!
2] That "Peter and the boys" as they word it taught a gospel of works, while Paul taught a gospel of grace. The Jewish believers get all the commands and demands while for the Hyper-Dispy, you can wallow in your sin all day, never produce a good work and you're on your way to glory!
Below we will touch very briefly on point number two. The Gospel Wars!
Below are three Pauline passages, ALL of which are Mid-Acts Dispensationalism or Hyper Dispensational favorite proof texts. But I discovered that these favorite's of the Hyper Dispy actually demolishes their whole main premise. That Peter and Paul taught two entirely different gospels. If you can go to a system's main passages and demonstrate that they actually teach the opposite, that should cause one to pause.
1] 1 Cor 15:3-11 Paul defines the gospel as the "death burial & resurrection" of Christ. He says whether I, or THEY (Cephas and the 12) preach and you believe
2] Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they were glorifying God because of me. [Gal 1:21-24}
Notice two things about this passage:
1) Paul says the churches in Judea were "in Christ" before Him! This means when Paul speaks about being "in Christ" (salvific) probably 100 x in his letters he is preaching the same Gospel as those that believed before Him
2)Those in Syria etc. were "glorifying God" because Paul who "who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy"
3] Also Gal 2:11f Paul is shocked to learn Peter who was a Jew but didn't live kosher, or according to the Torah could play the hypocrite. Why is Paul surprised that Peter was denying justification by faith alone if it was understood all this time there were two gospel's floating around?
Paul had a certain writing style and phraseology. Romans, for instance, was written in a particular historical and political context It is Paul's systematic presentation of the Gospel. Galatians, his vigorous defense. He wanted to make sure the Gentiles were firm in the gospel
A Short Refutation Of Mid-Acts or Hyper-Dispensationalism
By Joel Sexton
In a nutshell, Mid-Acts (for short) broke off from the Classic Dispensationalism of Scofield in the 19th century. One early proponent was E. W. Bullinger.
There seem to be two basic premises of the Hyper, Mid Acts, or Ultra Dispensationalism.
1] The the church did not start in Acts 2 at Pentecost despite what previous Dispensational teachers and scholars had taught. But the "Jewish Church" began at Act 2, but the "Gentile Church" began with Paul in Acts 9; 13 or even Acts 28 per E. W. Bullinger. So what ends up happening is that many Mid-Acts believers reject all of the Bible with the exception of Paul's epistles! That's right. The gospels and Heb-Rev are not for us in the "body of Christ." A LOT go as far as stating that only Paul's prison epistles are for us today. So even Paul is cut down to seven letters!
2] That "Peter and the boys" as they word it taught a gospel of works, while Paul taught a gospel of grace. The Jewish believers get all the commands and demands while for the Hyper-Dispy, you can wallow in your sin all day, never produce a good work and you're on your way to glory!
Below we will touch very briefly on point number two. The Gospel Wars!
Below are three Pauline passages, ALL of which are Mid-Acts Dispensationalism or Hyper Dispensational favorite proof texts. But I discovered that these favorite's of the Hyper Dispy actually demolishes their whole main premise. That Peter and Paul taught two entirely different gospels. If you can go to a system's main passages and demonstrate that they actually teach the opposite, that should cause one to pause.
1] 1 Cor 15:3-11 Paul defines the gospel as the "death burial & resurrection" of Christ. He says whether I, or THEY (Cephas and the 12) preach and you believe
2] Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they were glorifying God because of me. [Gal 1:21-24}
Notice two things about this passage:
1) Paul says the churches in Judea were "in Christ" before Him! This means when Paul speaks about being "in Christ" (salvific) probably 100 x in his letters he is preaching the same Gospel as those that believed before Him
2)Those in Syria etc. were "glorifying God" because Paul who "who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy"
3] Also Gal 2:11f Paul is shocked to learn Peter who was a Jew but didn't live kosher, or according to the Torah could play the hypocrite. Why is Paul surprised that Peter was denying justification by faith alone if it was understood all this time there were two gospel's floating around?
Paul had a certain writing style and phraseology. Romans, for instance, was written in a particular historical and political context It is Paul's systematic presentation of the Gospel. Galatians, his vigorous defense. He wanted to make sure the Gentiles were firm in the gospel
Did Jewish Unbelief Postpone the Kingdom? Dispensationalism's Desperation
Did Jewish Unbelief Postpone the Kingdom?
Dispensationalism's Desperation
By Joel Sexton
Dispensationalism asserts that because Israel rejected her king, therefore the kingdom was to be put on hold. God's prophetic clock has ceased ticking since then and won't begin again until after the rapture of the church. Jesus on the other hand states on more the one occasion that He would come in His kingdom DESPITE Jewish rejection!
While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ He *said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” [Lk 19:11-27]
Jesus goes to receive the kingdom and gives minas to the worker's and return. (He was returning to the same group of people). In vs. 14 we see the clear rejection of Christ by the Jewish nation. When we get to the end of the parable Christ comes in His kingdom and slays those who would not have Him reign over them.
We see the same idea in Mtt 21; Lk 20. The Husbandman. The Jews killed the prophets, then Christ. Yahweh didn't decide to postpone a thing! Jesus was made the chief cornerstone to the Messianic Tabernacle (Ps 118:22; Is 8:14). And after slaying Israel, the kingdom was taken from them and given to the faithful remnant of Israel and the Gentiles. i.e. the body of Christ.
This is similar to what Christ states concerning the sons cast out in [Mtt 8:11-12]
And finally, with the parables, we cannot forget [Mtt 22:1-14] which is in very much a similar vein. But it is not only the coming, in the kingdom but the time of the marriage. Everything is on God's plan
John the Baptist's message was one of harvest. Judgment/Salvation. He preached to the "vipers and snakes" the Pharisees and Scribes that the Kingdom had drawn near and the ax is already laid at the root. And Messiah's winnowing fork is already in his hand. The kingdom would come DESPITE their unbelief and rejection. Isn't this what the Psalmist spoke of?
Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” [Ps 2:1-6]
God would laugh at the rulers who would try to thwart His sovereign plan. And we see Ps 2:7 fulfilled in the enthronement of Christ and again when the kingdom came in A.D. 70
In [Rom 10] we see Paul in denounces National Israel for her blindness pulls out a litany of O.T. promises in stating that because of their unbelief the promises are STILL being fulfilled. He quotes from Deut 30 in vs 5 which even the dispensationalists admit [Deut 30-34] is Israel's latter days. [Deut 30] is repeated in vs 8. [Joel 2:32] which is Israel's full restoration he quotes in vs 13. [Is 52:7] which is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah which speaks of Zion being restored and the second exodus. [Deut 32:21] is quoted in vs 19. [Deut 32] The Song of Moses part of a bigger section [Deut 30-34]. Is first quoted by Peter in Acts 2:40 warning them of the coming judgment. It is also quoted in [Heb 10:25f] which is clearly the coming demise of Jerusalem, as well in [Rev 19:2] with the celebration of the saints over the fall of Babylon, i.e. Jerusalem
Lastly. In Hebrews as a whole, we see the kingdom is still on track despite what those suffering would have thought. We see the second exodus in [Heb 3:7-4:11; 10:25f; 12:22f; 13:12-14] They then were "receiving a kingdom"
''Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.'' [Heb 13:12-14]
Dispensationalism's Desperation
By Joel Sexton
Dispensationalism asserts that because Israel rejected her king, therefore the kingdom was to be put on hold. God's prophetic clock has ceased ticking since then and won't begin again until after the rapture of the church. Jesus on the other hand states on more the one occasion that He would come in His kingdom DESPITE Jewish rejection!
While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ He *said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” [Lk 19:11-27]
Jesus goes to receive the kingdom and gives minas to the worker's and return. (He was returning to the same group of people). In vs. 14 we see the clear rejection of Christ by the Jewish nation. When we get to the end of the parable Christ comes in His kingdom and slays those who would not have Him reign over them.
We see the same idea in Mtt 21; Lk 20. The Husbandman. The Jews killed the prophets, then Christ. Yahweh didn't decide to postpone a thing! Jesus was made the chief cornerstone to the Messianic Tabernacle (Ps 118:22; Is 8:14). And after slaying Israel, the kingdom was taken from them and given to the faithful remnant of Israel and the Gentiles. i.e. the body of Christ.
This is similar to what Christ states concerning the sons cast out in [Mtt 8:11-12]
And finally, with the parables, we cannot forget [Mtt 22:1-14] which is in very much a similar vein. But it is not only the coming, in the kingdom but the time of the marriage. Everything is on God's plan
John the Baptist's message was one of harvest. Judgment/Salvation. He preached to the "vipers and snakes" the Pharisees and Scribes that the Kingdom had drawn near and the ax is already laid at the root. And Messiah's winnowing fork is already in his hand. The kingdom would come DESPITE their unbelief and rejection. Isn't this what the Psalmist spoke of?
Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” [Ps 2:1-6]
God would laugh at the rulers who would try to thwart His sovereign plan. And we see Ps 2:7 fulfilled in the enthronement of Christ and again when the kingdom came in A.D. 70
In [Rom 10] we see Paul in denounces National Israel for her blindness pulls out a litany of O.T. promises in stating that because of their unbelief the promises are STILL being fulfilled. He quotes from Deut 30 in vs 5 which even the dispensationalists admit [Deut 30-34] is Israel's latter days. [Deut 30] is repeated in vs 8. [Joel 2:32] which is Israel's full restoration he quotes in vs 13. [Is 52:7] which is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah which speaks of Zion being restored and the second exodus. [Deut 32:21] is quoted in vs 19. [Deut 32] The Song of Moses part of a bigger section [Deut 30-34]. Is first quoted by Peter in Acts 2:40 warning them of the coming judgment. It is also quoted in [Heb 10:25f] which is clearly the coming demise of Jerusalem, as well in [Rev 19:2] with the celebration of the saints over the fall of Babylon, i.e. Jerusalem
Lastly. In Hebrews as a whole, we see the kingdom is still on track despite what those suffering would have thought. We see the second exodus in [Heb 3:7-4:11; 10:25f; 12:22f; 13:12-14] They then were "receiving a kingdom"
''Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.'' [Heb 13:12-14]
Refuting William Vincent's "Until" Article On [Acts 3:18-26]
Refuting William Vincent's "Until" Article On [Acts 3:18-26]
By Joel Sexton
I am never the least bit surprised when a Partial Preterist or Futurist runs to Acts 3:18-21 as if this passage is some silver bullet against Full Preterism. When actual exegetical work is done, and then contextual works by comparing with [Acts 2], we actually see a strong case for fulfillment in .A.D 70.
In William's article, he asserts the following concerning the kingdom.
"When we think about how the Kingdom is described by Christ, it is always progressive. A seed is planted, grows and reaches maturity. Leaven is added to meal until it is all leavened. Crops grow, the first blade, then stalk and finally mature plants. A mustard seed, He says, begins as the smallest of seeds, but becomes a great tree. Thus we have a beginning, maturation process, and a culminating event.
It should not be missed that the Kingdom and the “coming” are intertwined. Those described in the time-text who “would not taste of death” would see the “Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” But we must remember the nature of that Kingdom. It begins small, grows and finally reaches a point of maturity. One of the mistakes of the Preterism and Full Preterism, in particular, is reducing the “coming” to a singular and instantaneous event. I would contend that what “came” in the first century was something that grew, and grows, until." [1]
The kingdom did not reach full "maturity" in A.D. 70 of even yes today! Seems William has ignored two things. First, the established "already but not yet" N.T. hermeneutic. Within the world of Partial Preterism, there is the Already: (cross event a.d.33) then A.D. 70. then NOT YET AGAIN in the future! Yes, the kingdom was established at the cross [Col 1:14; 2:12-15), that is the "Already" . Not to say the parable to the Wicked Husbandman [Mtt 21 Lk] which clearly says when the Davidic kingdom would be consummated. When the sons of the kingdom, that killed the slaved and heir were cast out. That is A.D. 70. This is the "But But Not Yet" coming to its end. It's not the Already But Not Yet & NOT YET. That's Partial Preterism desperation.
Acts 3:18-26
But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him, you shall give heed to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” [Acts 3:18-26]
Even before vs. 18 we get the context even more focused. The crowd hearing Peter's sermon wasn't just a normal crowd. They had blood on their hands.
But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. [Acts 3:12-15]
This just wasn't any sermon. Like Pentecost, Peter is pleading to the crowd to not only repent of their sins. But their sin of murdering the "Prince of life." Because of their utter rejection and murder of Christ Peter warns the judgment that Christ spoke so often about was coming!
The "rulers" of the people are mentioned as well. Peter in calling down judgment again,
"And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." [Acts 3:18]
Peter is directly quoting Deut 18 which speaks of the prophet to come after Moses which the people were to adhere to. So those that wouldn't repent and turn to the ''prophet" i.e. Christ would be "destroyed from among the people." Not separate but with the other's that wouldn't repent. This is a clear reference to the impending judgment coming on Judea in A.D. 70.
The guilt of the people listening to Peter is apparent. Peter cries out, "Men of Israel" vs. 12. "The God of Abraham. Issac and Jacob, the God of our fathers...but you disowned the Holy and Righteous One..put to death the Prince of life" vs. 12-15. They are also called ''the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham" vs.25. They were heirs of the prophets and the Abrahamic covenant [Gen 12:8]
Clearly, this is the same generation that Christ warned many times would reject Him as Messiah, therefore wrath would come when Jerusalem, Judea etc. was destroyed. [Mtt 16:27-28; 21:33-43; 22:1-14; 23:29-25:46; Lk 11:49-51;13-21].
Now to a more positive note concerning [Acts 3:18-26], The "restoration of all things" vs. 21 and the promises of vs. 24-25,
''And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.''
First, "all the prophets...announced these days." Just some time ago Jesus defeated the grave in fulfillment of the enthronement when it comes to the Davidic covenant [2 Sam 7:7-14; Ps 2:2,7; 78; 89:4; 101:1,4; Isa 55:3; Jer 30:9; Eze 34:24; Hos 3:4; Amos 9:11-16; Zech 6:12-13]
Secondly. "all the prophets..announced these days" vs 24-25. This is easily attested to by a simple reading of the book of Acts. (More on this below) To add even more force to "these days" is that [Gen 12:8] is quoted and applied to the crowds if they repented of their evil. the land promise of [Gen 12:8] would become a reality and thus the Davidic Covenant. The Kingdom. And that is exactly what the Spirit through Peter meant when he uttered,
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time." [Acts 3:19-21]
The "restoration of all things" is particularly speaking of the full consummation of the Davidic Kingdom. The Kingdom saturates the pages of Acts. Dr. Robinson in his, Greek Lexicon To New Testament Lexicon states:
"Restoration, restitution, i. e. to a former state, Acts 3. 21 the time of the restoration of all things, i. e. the Messiah's future kingdom, v. 19" [2]
Acts 2:17-40
This is similar but what is even more explicit in the mentioning of the coming judgment is [Acts 2] which Peter did not preach long before the sermon in [Acts 3]. Like [Acts 3] we see that Christ was killed by the Jews, enthroned on David's seat, & a plea of repentance or face the "coming wrath" [Mtt 3:7] along with the offer of salvation, that is their restoration to the land and to the Davidic Kingdom if repentance was wrought. We see in [Joel 2] this even split of judgment for the wicked [Joe 2:1-11] and salvation for the faithful remnant [Joe 2:12-28] which is not an unusual Prophetic concept.
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. " [Acts 2:22-24]
In Acts [2:17-21] Peter quotes from [Joel 2] (which includes Israel's kingdom), states they were in the "last days" and were to see judgment in "Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke" [Acts 2:17]
But Peter gets even more explicit and urgently warns the Jews,
''And with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!" [Acts 2:40]
Peter is directly citing or alluding to [Deut 32:5]. The Song of Moses. A most critical section of Scripture in understanding the end times for mainly two reasons. First. [Deut 4:24f; 30-34] speaks of Israel's last days. Also her restoration [Deut 30] with of course judgment and the covenant cursings [Deut 28-32].
Even the Dispensationalist, like a broken clock, is right twice a day. Their works and theologians point out that [Deut 4; 30-34] refer to Israel's last days and restoration. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost in his standard work, "Things To Come" states,
"...God stated again His Covenant promise concerning Israel's possession of an inheritance in the land in Deuteronomy 30:1-10, which statement we call the Palestinian covenant because it answers the question of Israel's relation to the land promises of the Abrahamic covenant. [3]"
Dr. Rapture, Thomas Ice broadens the scope out even more.
"As significant as Deuteronomy 4 is in establishing the prophetic history of God’s elect people, an expanded narrative of Israel’s future history is provided in Deuteronomy 28-32. “The last seven chapter of Deuteronomy (28-34),” says David Larsen, “is really the matrix out of which the great prophecies of the Old Testament regarding Israel emerge [4].''
Secondly, contextually in the N.T. is highly suggestive how we are to understand the [Deut 32:5] citation.
The Song of Moses is found in the N.T. about half a dozen times. Four of these times are very significant, including our present passage of [Acts 2:40 cf. Rom 10:19; Heb 10:30; Rev 19:2]
Acts 2:40
Peter in drawing from [Deut 32], which was sure to get the Jews attention coupled with another last days prophecy in [Joel 2:28-32]. In the "last days" the Spirit of the Lord would be poured out. So far so good. Next comes the sun turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and glorious Day of the Lord shall come. This, of course, is [Mtt 24:29-30] which William I believe states was fulfilled in A.D. 70 .
But this is next on the list after Peter announces ''the last days" of Joel 2, the Spirit being poured out & The Great Day of the Lord. Going down in the chapter helps bolster our case for Acts 2 Day of the Lord being the same as the Parousia of [Mtt 24].
"And with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” [Acts 2:40]
Just before the Olivet Discourse, Christ states,
“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation'' [Mtt 23:34-36]
There can be little doubt as to the generation being spoken of by Jesus and Peter. Jesus is pronouncing judgment for Israel's bloody persecution. Peter on Pentecost states Israel killed their Messiah and judgment was coming in from the day of the Lord of [Joel 2], which is directed against Judah and Jerusalem. Also, Peter alluding to [Deut 32:5] which is accepted by all to be Israel's last day's, which Peter announces.
In [Mtt 24] we have the destruction of the temple for the reasonings listed in [Mtt 23]. For their guilt in killing the prophets, the disciples and Christ Himself. In [Mtt 21-22] we see specifically Judah's rejection and murder of the:"son" and "heir." Peter boldly proclaims from the temple that they nailed Jesus to a cross. [Acts 2:22-24].
Mtt 23-24 Acts 2
1} End of the age (3) 1)The Last Days (17)
2) Christ death to be vindicated (23:35) 2)Christ death to be vindicated (19-24, 40)
3)Gospel to be preached (14) 3)First Gospel message (2:1-13)
4)The Risen Christ (24:30-31; 26:64) 4)Christ Raised (31-36)
5)Davidic Kingdom (Lk 21:31) 5)Davidic Kingdom (30 Ps 132, 34 Ps 110:1)
6) Preaching from/near the temple (23-24) 6) Peter preaches from the temple (2:46; 3:2)
7)Signs on the earth, in the sky (Lk 21:25-27) 7) Signs in the sky, on the earth (2:19-21)
8)The Day of the Lord (23:39; 24:29-31) 8)The Day of The Lord (2:20-21)
9) All..in this generation (24:34) 9)Be saved of this perverse generation (2:40)
It should be noticed the most earnest way in which Peter pleads with his kinsmen, much like Paul later.
"And with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” [Acts 2:40]
Peter is exhorting them to repent and be baptized [Acts 2:37-39} and he "solemnly testified and kept exhorting them.." Wrath was coming upon the land and people. [Lk 21:23). And we see another reference to the coming siege and slaughter. Peter states, "And they began selling their property and possessions.." [Acts 2:45] We also see this in [Acts 4-5]
This shows that those in Jerusalem and Judea sold their possessions, land and lived in a community. This goes very well with warnings of judgment coming [ Acts 2:40; 3:23]. Nowhere else did they sell their lands. They knew it was time to get the gospel out while they could. They had no longer a lasting city [Heb 13:11-12].
Notes
[1] The Until Passages , Adapted from a larger work: They Shall Reign, By William L. Vincent, © 2018 All Rights Reserved
[2] Dr. Robinson's Greek Lexicon To New Testament Lexicon, George Bell, London, 186 Flet Street, 1851, pg 47
[3] Things To Come- A Study In Biblical Eschatology, pg.95, (Zondervan.1958, Reprinting 1964)
[4] Has All Bible Prophecy Been Fulfilled? Thomas Ice
By Joel Sexton
I am never the least bit surprised when a Partial Preterist or Futurist runs to Acts 3:18-21 as if this passage is some silver bullet against Full Preterism. When actual exegetical work is done, and then contextual works by comparing with [Acts 2], we actually see a strong case for fulfillment in .A.D 70.
In William's article, he asserts the following concerning the kingdom.
"When we think about how the Kingdom is described by Christ, it is always progressive. A seed is planted, grows and reaches maturity. Leaven is added to meal until it is all leavened. Crops grow, the first blade, then stalk and finally mature plants. A mustard seed, He says, begins as the smallest of seeds, but becomes a great tree. Thus we have a beginning, maturation process, and a culminating event.
It should not be missed that the Kingdom and the “coming” are intertwined. Those described in the time-text who “would not taste of death” would see the “Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” But we must remember the nature of that Kingdom. It begins small, grows and finally reaches a point of maturity. One of the mistakes of the Preterism and Full Preterism, in particular, is reducing the “coming” to a singular and instantaneous event. I would contend that what “came” in the first century was something that grew, and grows, until." [1]
The kingdom did not reach full "maturity" in A.D. 70 of even yes today! Seems William has ignored two things. First, the established "already but not yet" N.T. hermeneutic. Within the world of Partial Preterism, there is the Already: (cross event a.d.33) then A.D. 70. then NOT YET AGAIN in the future! Yes, the kingdom was established at the cross [Col 1:14; 2:12-15), that is the "Already" . Not to say the parable to the Wicked Husbandman [Mtt 21 Lk] which clearly says when the Davidic kingdom would be consummated. When the sons of the kingdom, that killed the slaved and heir were cast out. That is A.D. 70. This is the "But But Not Yet" coming to its end. It's not the Already But Not Yet & NOT YET. That's Partial Preterism desperation.
Acts 3:18-26
But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him, you shall give heed to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” [Acts 3:18-26]
Even before vs. 18 we get the context even more focused. The crowd hearing Peter's sermon wasn't just a normal crowd. They had blood on their hands.
But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. [Acts 3:12-15]
This just wasn't any sermon. Like Pentecost, Peter is pleading to the crowd to not only repent of their sins. But their sin of murdering the "Prince of life." Because of their utter rejection and murder of Christ Peter warns the judgment that Christ spoke so often about was coming!
The "rulers" of the people are mentioned as well. Peter in calling down judgment again,
"And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." [Acts 3:18]
Peter is directly quoting Deut 18 which speaks of the prophet to come after Moses which the people were to adhere to. So those that wouldn't repent and turn to the ''prophet" i.e. Christ would be "destroyed from among the people." Not separate but with the other's that wouldn't repent. This is a clear reference to the impending judgment coming on Judea in A.D. 70.
The guilt of the people listening to Peter is apparent. Peter cries out, "Men of Israel" vs. 12. "The God of Abraham. Issac and Jacob, the God of our fathers...but you disowned the Holy and Righteous One..put to death the Prince of life" vs. 12-15. They are also called ''the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham" vs.25. They were heirs of the prophets and the Abrahamic covenant [Gen 12:8]
Clearly, this is the same generation that Christ warned many times would reject Him as Messiah, therefore wrath would come when Jerusalem, Judea etc. was destroyed. [Mtt 16:27-28; 21:33-43; 22:1-14; 23:29-25:46; Lk 11:49-51;13-21].
Now to a more positive note concerning [Acts 3:18-26], The "restoration of all things" vs. 21 and the promises of vs. 24-25,
''And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.''
First, "all the prophets...announced these days." Just some time ago Jesus defeated the grave in fulfillment of the enthronement when it comes to the Davidic covenant [2 Sam 7:7-14; Ps 2:2,7; 78; 89:4; 101:1,4; Isa 55:3; Jer 30:9; Eze 34:24; Hos 3:4; Amos 9:11-16; Zech 6:12-13]
Secondly. "all the prophets..announced these days" vs 24-25. This is easily attested to by a simple reading of the book of Acts. (More on this below) To add even more force to "these days" is that [Gen 12:8] is quoted and applied to the crowds if they repented of their evil. the land promise of [Gen 12:8] would become a reality and thus the Davidic Covenant. The Kingdom. And that is exactly what the Spirit through Peter meant when he uttered,
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time." [Acts 3:19-21]
The "restoration of all things" is particularly speaking of the full consummation of the Davidic Kingdom. The Kingdom saturates the pages of Acts. Dr. Robinson in his, Greek Lexicon To New Testament Lexicon states:
"Restoration, restitution, i. e. to a former state, Acts 3. 21 the time of the restoration of all things, i. e. the Messiah's future kingdom, v. 19" [2]
Acts 2:17-40
This is similar but what is even more explicit in the mentioning of the coming judgment is [Acts 2] which Peter did not preach long before the sermon in [Acts 3]. Like [Acts 3] we see that Christ was killed by the Jews, enthroned on David's seat, & a plea of repentance or face the "coming wrath" [Mtt 3:7] along with the offer of salvation, that is their restoration to the land and to the Davidic Kingdom if repentance was wrought. We see in [Joel 2] this even split of judgment for the wicked [Joe 2:1-11] and salvation for the faithful remnant [Joe 2:12-28] which is not an unusual Prophetic concept.
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. " [Acts 2:22-24]
In Acts [2:17-21] Peter quotes from [Joel 2] (which includes Israel's kingdom), states they were in the "last days" and were to see judgment in "Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke" [Acts 2:17]
But Peter gets even more explicit and urgently warns the Jews,
''And with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!" [Acts 2:40]
Peter is directly citing or alluding to [Deut 32:5]. The Song of Moses. A most critical section of Scripture in understanding the end times for mainly two reasons. First. [Deut 4:24f; 30-34] speaks of Israel's last days. Also her restoration [Deut 30] with of course judgment and the covenant cursings [Deut 28-32].
Even the Dispensationalist, like a broken clock, is right twice a day. Their works and theologians point out that [Deut 4; 30-34] refer to Israel's last days and restoration. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost in his standard work, "Things To Come" states,
"...God stated again His Covenant promise concerning Israel's possession of an inheritance in the land in Deuteronomy 30:1-10, which statement we call the Palestinian covenant because it answers the question of Israel's relation to the land promises of the Abrahamic covenant. [3]"
Dr. Rapture, Thomas Ice broadens the scope out even more.
"As significant as Deuteronomy 4 is in establishing the prophetic history of God’s elect people, an expanded narrative of Israel’s future history is provided in Deuteronomy 28-32. “The last seven chapter of Deuteronomy (28-34),” says David Larsen, “is really the matrix out of which the great prophecies of the Old Testament regarding Israel emerge [4].''
Secondly, contextually in the N.T. is highly suggestive how we are to understand the [Deut 32:5] citation.
The Song of Moses is found in the N.T. about half a dozen times. Four of these times are very significant, including our present passage of [Acts 2:40 cf. Rom 10:19; Heb 10:30; Rev 19:2]
Acts 2:40
Peter in drawing from [Deut 32], which was sure to get the Jews attention coupled with another last days prophecy in [Joel 2:28-32]. In the "last days" the Spirit of the Lord would be poured out. So far so good. Next comes the sun turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and glorious Day of the Lord shall come. This, of course, is [Mtt 24:29-30] which William I believe states was fulfilled in A.D. 70 .
But this is next on the list after Peter announces ''the last days" of Joel 2, the Spirit being poured out & The Great Day of the Lord. Going down in the chapter helps bolster our case for Acts 2 Day of the Lord being the same as the Parousia of [Mtt 24].
"And with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” [Acts 2:40]
Just before the Olivet Discourse, Christ states,
“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation'' [Mtt 23:34-36]
There can be little doubt as to the generation being spoken of by Jesus and Peter. Jesus is pronouncing judgment for Israel's bloody persecution. Peter on Pentecost states Israel killed their Messiah and judgment was coming in from the day of the Lord of [Joel 2], which is directed against Judah and Jerusalem. Also, Peter alluding to [Deut 32:5] which is accepted by all to be Israel's last day's, which Peter announces.
In [Mtt 24] we have the destruction of the temple for the reasonings listed in [Mtt 23]. For their guilt in killing the prophets, the disciples and Christ Himself. In [Mtt 21-22] we see specifically Judah's rejection and murder of the:"son" and "heir." Peter boldly proclaims from the temple that they nailed Jesus to a cross. [Acts 2:22-24].
Mtt 23-24 Acts 2
1} End of the age (3) 1)The Last Days (17)
2) Christ death to be vindicated (23:35) 2)Christ death to be vindicated (19-24, 40)
3)Gospel to be preached (14) 3)First Gospel message (2:1-13)
4)The Risen Christ (24:30-31; 26:64) 4)Christ Raised (31-36)
5)Davidic Kingdom (Lk 21:31) 5)Davidic Kingdom (30 Ps 132, 34 Ps 110:1)
6) Preaching from/near the temple (23-24) 6) Peter preaches from the temple (2:46; 3:2)
7)Signs on the earth, in the sky (Lk 21:25-27) 7) Signs in the sky, on the earth (2:19-21)
8)The Day of the Lord (23:39; 24:29-31) 8)The Day of The Lord (2:20-21)
9) All..in this generation (24:34) 9)Be saved of this perverse generation (2:40)
It should be noticed the most earnest way in which Peter pleads with his kinsmen, much like Paul later.
"And with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” [Acts 2:40]
Peter is exhorting them to repent and be baptized [Acts 2:37-39} and he "solemnly testified and kept exhorting them.." Wrath was coming upon the land and people. [Lk 21:23). And we see another reference to the coming siege and slaughter. Peter states, "And they began selling their property and possessions.." [Acts 2:45] We also see this in [Acts 4-5]
This shows that those in Jerusalem and Judea sold their possessions, land and lived in a community. This goes very well with warnings of judgment coming [ Acts 2:40; 3:23]. Nowhere else did they sell their lands. They knew it was time to get the gospel out while they could. They had no longer a lasting city [Heb 13:11-12].
Notes
[1] The Until Passages , Adapted from a larger work: They Shall Reign, By William L. Vincent, © 2018 All Rights Reserved
[2] Dr. Robinson's Greek Lexicon To New Testament Lexicon, George Bell, London, 186 Flet Street, 1851, pg 47
[3] Things To Come- A Study In Biblical Eschatology, pg.95, (Zondervan.1958, Reprinting 1964)
[4] Has All Bible Prophecy Been Fulfilled? Thomas Ice
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