• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

When will Elijah the prophet appear in the world?

ebedmelech

My dog Micah in the pic
Site Supporter
Jul 3, 2012
9,002
680
✟212,364.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
Wait...let me put on sunglasses to see if I can block the distracting bright colors. :cool:


Okay, now.....





I'm not going in circles...I have read the passage and...I UNDERSTAND THE PASSAGE!!!







I'm not in the mood for you and your color-code remarks.


Have a good day.
There was no malicious intent in using colored and enlarge fonts to emphasize my points, and if I had known it causes you any "eyestrain" I wouldn't have done that. Now that I know, I won't.

That said...I think this has gone as far as it needs too anyway. Peace!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Aug 29, 2012
61
1
✟22,671.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
I believe jesus also said elijah " shall" come which is future tense

Matthew 17:11

And Jesus answered and said to them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.


1. Shall come is future tense
2. Did John restore all things?

Part 1 of Reply

Yes! Let's try this for those who disagree with Jon Anon.

Let me say at this moment in time, "The Lord Jesus is coming, but the Lord Jesus was here."

Now many will quickly discern that the sentence has two tenses. One is future, and one is past. The first part if the sentence ("The Lord Jesus is coming") is future tense, "but" the last part of the sentence ("the Lord Jesus was here") is past tense. The last half of the sentence does not negate or cancel out the first half of the sentence.

This is no different than the statement made by the Lord almost 2000 years ago when He said, "11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist." (Matthew 17:11-13).

Some may discern that this passage has two tenses but some will reject it for it is not what they have been taught by their shepherds. One is future, and one is past. The first sentence in verse 11 ("Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.") is future tense, "but" the sentence in verse 12 ("But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished...”) is past tense.

Now the disciples discerned that "John" was the first Elijah (in the spirit and power thereof).

John was rejected. Then the Lord Jesus was rejected. Now restoration is needed. This is why the following was said:

Acts 3:17-21 (NKJV) - "17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."

So the Lord Jesus "must" sit at the right hand of the Father "until the times of restoration of all things" For this, a prophet is sent to "restore all things". For the Lord Himself said, "“Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things."

Following verse 21 comes verse 22 which corroborates this by stating that a prophet like Moses will be sent. The Lord Jesus did not say He was that prophet though He could have fulfilled it if they had listened to Him. But prophecy made it clear that He was going to be rejected. His rejection had to happen in order to fulfill other prophecies.

Acts 3:22-23 (NKJV) - "For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ "

A messenger/prophet named John came in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus but was rejected. Then the Lord Jesus was rejected. Restoration is now needed. Another messenger/prophet named "_____" will come in the spirit and power of Elijah to restore all things and lead the Second Exodus with another person thus making two witnesses. Then the Lord Jesus will return.

He is "hidden" away until called by the Lord just like John the Baptist was called out of the desert/wilderness. Luke 3:2-3 (NKJV) - "2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,"

Isaiah 49 speaks of this "hidden" prophet who comes to restore. This prophet will have a name that has been "mentioned" before.

THERE IS THE BIG HINT...A NAME THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE!

Isaiah 49:1-2 (NKJV) -
“Listen, O coastlands, to Me,
And take heed, you peoples from afar!
The Lord has called Me from the womb;
From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword;
In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,
And made Me a polished shaft;
In His quiver He has hidden Me.”

Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV) -
"6 Indeed He says,
‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

One of the name of the two witnesses has been given though some may not accept or receive it. His birth nation is even given in prophecy.

HINT: "Is it to small a thing...". "For who has despised the day of small things?"

Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV) - "For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Zerubbabel did not fulfill all that was spoken of him. He is dead. So this means it is yet to be fulfilled. Let us look at the name of Zerubbabel. The name of Zerubbabel means "seed of Babylon" referring to a child born and conceived in Babylon. Therefore, the one who fulfills the prophecy concerning Zerubbabel will be the child born and conceived in end-time Babylon. He is that prophet and is given great authority to fulfill his commission as spoken in Haggai 2 and Revelation 11.

Here comes that prophet, the "seed":

Haggai 2:19-23 (NKJV) - "19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’” 20 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:
‘I will shake heaven and earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;
I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.
I will overthrow the chariots
And those who ride in them;
The horses and their riders shall come down,
Every one by the sword of his brother.
23 ‘In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Revelation 11:3-6 (NKJV) - "3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire."

Jeremiah speaks of this prophet. He is the "chosen man" born in end-time Babylon (daughter of Babylon). He must deliver ("draw them out") the remnant (daughter of Zion) because she is to be utterly destroyed and be no more.

Jeremiah 50:44-46 (NKJV) -
"44 “Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the floodplain of the Jordan
Against the dwelling place of the strong;
But I will make them suddenly run away from her.
And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her?
For who is like Me?
Who will arraign Me?
And who is that shepherd
Who will withstand Me?”
45 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD that He has taken against Babylon,
And His purposes that He has proposed against the land of the Chaldeans:
Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out;
Surely He will make their dwelling place desolate with them.
46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon
The earth trembles,
And the cry is heard among the nations."

This "chosen man" is a prophet like John the Baptist who came out of the wilderness/desert into the Jordan. Luke 3:2-3 (NKJV) - "2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,"

Some say that the “chosen man” appointed by the LORD refers to the king of Babylon, but I say it refers to a prophet, one that is born in end-time Babylon. One of the questions in verse 44 is “For who is like Me?”. We know that “Me” is referring to God. Therefore, we can rephrase it to say “For who is like God?”.

How was the prophet Moses referred when he stood before Pharaoh? Exodus 7:1 (NKJV) - "So the LORD said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet." Now Moses was not God but rather His appointed authority, His signet ring, His rod.

Also, what does the name of the archangel Michael mean? Michael is a Hebrew male name that is derived from the question “Who is like God?” or “Who is like El?”. And we know the book of Daniel speaks of Michael coming for his people at the end of days. Daniel 12:1 (NKJV) - “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book."

Continued...
 
Upvote 0
Aug 29, 2012
61
1
✟22,671.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
Part 2 of Reply to Jon Anon

Now back to his name that has been "mentioned" before. What does this prophecy have to do with "Zerubbabel", "Elijah" and "John" and the "two witnesses" you ask? In Haggai 2:18-23, Zerubbabel is “chosen” to be like God's signet "in that day". This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Now we know that the Word does not return void. So, who will fulfill this prophecy? I would like to start by posing some questions.

1) Why is it that a man named “Zerubbabel” holds the measuring line for the temple in Zechariah 4:9-10, however it is a man named “John” who holds the measuring line for the temple in Revelation 11:1-2?

2) Why is it that a man named “Zerubbabel” is given authority before kings in Haggai 2:20-23, however it is a man named “John” who is given authority before kings in Revelation 10:11 ?

3) Why is it that a man named “Zerubbabel” is the person spoken to/of in Zechariah 4 where the two olive trees are mentioned, however it is a man named “John” who is spoken to/of in Revelation 11 where the two olive trees (two witnesses) are mentioned?

Same prophecy but different names! Why? More questions first.

4) Why did the angel Gabriel give the name of "Jesus" to Mary's child when Isaiah gave His name as "Immanuel", and why did Gabriel give the name "John" to Elizabeth's child when no one in the family had that name? (NOTE: We know that our Lord Jesus fulfilled the Immanuel (also spelled Emmanuel) prophecy though He wasn't named "Immanuel". The name of His flesh was Jesus (Joshua, Yeshua, or Yehoshua in other languages) but His spiritual name was Immanuel which describes who He was/is.)

5) In the prophecy of "Joshua and Zerubbabel" in Haggai and Zechariah, why is “Joshua” the high priest crowned BEFORE “Zerubbabel” who is to become God’s signet “IN THAT DAY”?

6) In John 21:20-25, why did the Lord say of “John”, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”? Unless a person believes our Lord said things just to be saying something, then there must be a deeper meaning in what He said and wants us to know something.

7) Why was “John” told to prophesy AGAIN in Revelation 10:11?

My questions above mentioned two different men with the same name of “John” (the Baptist and the Disciple). Why did the Lord Jesus keep pointing to the name “John”?

If you accept that the prophecy of "Joshua and Zerubbabel" was a symbolic prophecy in which Joshua and Zerubbabel where SYMBOLIC of two men who would come LATER in the future to fulfill the prophecies spoken of them, then it starts to make sense. The meaning of Zerubbabel’s name will help explain this. The one who fulfills the prophecy concerning "Zerubbabel" is a child born in END-TIME Babylon. His name will not be Zerubbabel or Elijah.

Matthew 11:13-15 (NKJV) - "13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

This was true then and it must be true at the end.

until - up to (a particular time); used to indicate the time when something will happen, become true, etc.

Since there are two more prophets in Revelation, that means one of them must be named __________. One name will make several prophecies come true.

The name of the child born in end-time Babylon is John!

Another man named “John” is chosen and comes in the spirit and power of Elijah at the end of the age. "John" will be born in end-time Babylon and will fulfill the unfulfilled prophecy concerning Zerubbabel. Not the same flesh as the John's (the Baptist, the Disciple) before him but the same Spirit. This "John" will be a physical being filled with the same Spirit, but he will not be a reincarnation of John the Baptist or John the Disciple. Did not Elisha receive a double portion of Elijah's Spirit even though Elisha himself was a physical being and died? Yes he did!

Don't forget what is spoken to the churches in Revelation! Listen carefully. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Numbers 11:17 (NKJV) - "Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone."

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV) - "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) - "6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts."

Revelation 1:9-10 (NKJV) - "9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,"

Furthermore, since John the Disciple was one of the three (Peter, James, and John) who saw and recognized Moses and Elijah with our Lord at the transfiguration (see Matthew 17), wouldn't John have identified the two witnesses in Revelation 11 as being Moses and Elijah if they are indeed to be the two witnesses? After all, John knew what Moses and Elijah looked like.

Matthew 11:13-15 (NKJV) - "13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Therefore, the prophecy concerning Zerubbabel is to be fulfilled by a “chosen man” named “John” born in end-time Babylon who was to come AFTER our Lord Jesus (Joshua) had ascended to His throne in Heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek crowned with authority, power, and majesty...WAITING FOR RESTORATION AND FOR HIS ENEMIES TO BE MADE INTO HIS FOOTSTOOL!

That is a big commission. "John" will need great authority to fulfill this commission. And how about some help just like Moses needed? Who did the Lord send to help Moses? His brother Aaron.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE WILL BE DONE AGAIN FOR THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN!

"John" will be the prophet like Moses who comes at the end of the age. "John" and his brother (two witnesses), just like Moses and Aaron, will lead the children back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and restore Israel and the covenant. Israel will be united and become the priestly nation that they were called to be so long ago.

Moses led the children out of Egypt.

"John" (in the spirit and power of Elijah) will lead the children out of Babylon. Moses was a deliverer. "John" will be a deliverer at the end of the age, at the fullness of the Gentiles. He will deliver the children of God (Zion) back to the Lord.

Romans 11:25-27 (NKJV) - "25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

Isaiah 59:20 (NKJV) - "20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD."

Notice that Isaiah 59:20 says "The Redeemer will come to Zion" but Romans 11:26 says "The Deliverer will come out of Zion".

Why? The Lord our Redeemer chooses the deliverer. Moses was a deliverer. The child born in end-time Babylon named "John" will be a deliverer!

Malachi 4:4-6 (NKJV) - "4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
6 And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Deuteronomy 5:2 (NKJV) - "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb."

Micah 7:15 (NKJV) - "15 “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders.”

Isaiah 11:11 (NKJV) - "11 It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea."

Jeremiah 16:14-15 (NKJV) - "14 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that it shall no more be said, ‘The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 15 but, ‘The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers."

And many of the children of Israel will "John" lead back to the Lord their God and the land promised to their fathers - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - in a Second Exodus and many wonders will be seen.

Here we go…AGAIN! A repeat of history. After all, there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 (NKJV) -
"9 That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which it may be said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been in ancient times before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come
By those who will come after."

Are you ready to see Horeb, the mountain of God, as did our forefathers? Are you ready to see many wonders?

It will be wise to listen to “John” (pronounced j-AH-n meaning "YHWH is gracious") for this will be the final call for repentance. He is not the Lord, and he cannot forgive sins. He is only the messenger of the Lord.

"And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Exodus 23:20-21 (NKJV) - "20 “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him."

Exodus 32:33-34 (NKJV) - "And the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34 Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.”

Revelation 22:6-7 (NKJV) - "6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:8-11 (NKJV) - "8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Revelation 22:16 (NKJV) - "16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Daniel 12:1 (NKJV) - "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book."

Let us pray to be counted worthy and to be a part of the remnant.

INTO EGYPT, ISRAEL WENT.
OUT OF EGYPT, ISRAEL WAS DELIVERED.
FOR THIS, A CHILD WAS BORN.
A CHILD BORN IN EGYPT.
HIS NAME WAS MOSES.

INTO BABYLON, ZION WENT.
OUT OF BABYLON, ZION SHALL BE DELIVERED.
FOR THIS, A CHILD IS BORN.
A CHILD BORN IN BABYLON.
HIS NAME IS JOHN.
 
Upvote 0

keras

Writer of studies on Bible prophecy
Feb 7, 2013
15,070
2,588
83
Thames, New Zealand
Visit site
✟342,665.00
Country
New Zealand
Gender
Male
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
Good posts, John Dom. Here is more about Elijah;

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-10 There arose Elijah, a prophet like fire, whose Word blazed like a torch. By the Word of the Lord, he shut up the sky and three times he called down fire from heaven. By the Word of the Most High, you raised a corpse from the dead. You sent kings and famous men to destruction, how glorious you were, Elijah, in your miracles! You were taken up to heaven in a chariot by a fiery whirlwind. Scripture records that you are to come at the appointed time, to allay the Divine wrath before it destroys us all, to reconcile father and son and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Reference: REB Apocrypha

1 Kings 18:37-38 Answer me, Lord, and let this people know that You are God in Israel and that is You who have brought them back to their allegiance. Then fire from heaven fell, consuming the whole offering, the wood, the stones, the earth and the water in the trench.

Malachi 4:5-6 Look, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible Day of the Lord comes. He will reconcile parents to their children, so as to avoid My curse on the Land.

Luke 1:17 John will go before Him as a forerunner, possessed by the power and spirit of Elijah, to reconcile father to child, to convert the rebellious to the ways of the righteous and to prepare a people that shall be fit for the Lord.
Ref: REB Abridged


Now, in 2014, as the great and terrible Day of the Lord approaches, we can soon expect that someone, somewhere will rise up in the spirit and power of Elijah. It may be that the man himself will appear, as he never died and it is probable that he is one of the two witnesses who preach in Jerusalem during the time of the Anti Christ.
Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven, maybe he will do so again when the Islamic nations and entities commence their attack on Israel.
It will be Elijah who will reconcile families, this mainly refers to the great reconciliation and rejoining of the House of Judah and the House of Israel. Ezekiel 37:15-28
This will lift the Divine curse off the Land and enable the restored tribes of Jacob [the Israelites] to return to their heritage. That is all that area promised so long ago to the Patriarchs, which will be cleared and cleansed by this forthcoming fire judgement.
 
Upvote 0

daq

Messianic
Jan 26, 2012
5,128
1,155
Devarim 11:21
Visit site
✟176,158.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Private
Also, what does the name of the archangel Michael mean? Michael is a Hebrew male name that is derived from the question “Who is like God?” or “Who is like El?”. And we know the book of Daniel speaks of Michael coming for his people at the end of days. Daniel 12:1 (NKJV) - “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book."

There be six thousand years from the creation of time, which commences with the close of the fourth day in Genesis 1:14-19, unto the ninth hour of Golgotha. I like what the Septuagint says of Miyka'el in the passage you have quoted, "ἀναστήσεται". :)
 
Upvote 0

Codger

Regular Member
Oct 23, 2003
1,066
144
83
N. E. Ohio
✟1,926.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Much nonsense here. Jesus made it very clear that John the Baptist was Elijah.

Wasn't there a caveat? - "If you can receive it." This is so cut-n-dried I don't know why it is even questioned.

New International Version
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

New Living Translation
And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.

English Standard Version
and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

New American Standard Bible
"And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

King James Bible
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
if you're willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.

International Standard Version
If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

NET Bible
And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if you will, he is Elijah who was to come.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you are willing to accept their message, John is the Elijah who was to come.

Jubilee Bible 2000
And if ye will receive it, this is that Elijah who was to come.

King James 2000 Bible
And if you will receive it, this is Elijah, who was to come.

American King James Version
And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

American Standard Version
And if ye are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, that is to come.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if you will receive it, he is Elias that is to come.

Darby Bible Translation
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, who is to come.

English Revised Version
And if ye are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, which is to come.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah who was to come.

Weymouth New Testament
And (if you are willing to receive it)

World English Bible
If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.

Young's Literal Translation
and if ye are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was about to come;
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

ebedmelech

My dog Micah in the pic
Site Supporter
Jul 3, 2012
9,002
680
✟212,364.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
Good work Codger...but for some reason I know it falls on deaf ears...for some, it's not what scripture says, NOR how it's said in scripture.

This is a point that is so plain, you have to struggle to miss it. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah...but oh well...:confused:
 
Upvote 0

keras

Writer of studies on Bible prophecy
Feb 7, 2013
15,070
2,588
83
Thames, New Zealand
Visit site
✟342,665.00
Country
New Zealand
Gender
Male
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
In no way does John the Baptist fulfil all the prophesies about the 'Elijah' promised in the last days. He may have done so, if the Jews of his day had received him and Jesus.
Did John B. reconcile families and lift the curse on the holy Land?
Did he convert the rebellious to the ways of righteousness and prepare a people that would be fit for the Lord?
Certainly not in the way that is prophesied to happen in the end time.
To think that that what John did, was all that the Elijah promised will do, is sheer preterist absurdity.
 
Upvote 0

ebedmelech

My dog Micah in the pic
Site Supporter
Jul 3, 2012
9,002
680
✟212,364.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
In no way does John the Baptist fulfil all the prophesies about the 'Elijah' promised in the last days. He may have done so, if the Jews of his day had received him and Jesus.
Did John B. reconcile families and lift the curse on the holy Land?
Did he convert the rebellious to the ways of righteousness and prepare a people that would be fit for the Lord?
Certainly not in the way that is prophesied to happen in the end time.
To think that that what John did, was all that the Elijah promised will do, is sheer preterist absurdity.
Keras...I'm curious, do you read your bible...or read at it? Read these verses:
Malachi 4:
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”


Now Luke 1:14-17:
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John the Baptist is in "the spirit and power" of Elijah...and the above passage from Luke 1, makes it VERY CLEAR...that's what Malachi 4:5, 6...is referring to. :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Jon Anon

Newbie
Oct 31, 2012
455
5
✟23,135.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Keras...I'm curious, do you read your bible...or read at it? Read these verses:
Malachi 5:
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”


Now Luke 1:14-17:
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John the Baptist is in "the spirit and power" of Elijah...and the above passage from Luke 1, makes it VERY CLEAR...that's what Malachi 5:5, 6...is referring to. :thumbsup:

apparently she reads more of you than you as she has read matthew 17:11
American King James Version
And Jesus answered and said to them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

future tense "shall come" and john in the spirit of elijah did not restore all things.
 
Upvote 0

ebedmelech

My dog Micah in the pic
Site Supporter
Jul 3, 2012
9,002
680
✟212,364.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
apparently she reads more of you than you as she has read matthew 17:11
American King James Version
And Jesus answered and said to them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

future tense "shall come" and john in the spirit of elijah did not restore all things.
Jon Anon...you may as well move on...you thought Elijah would come some time ago. WHen that failed..you disappeared.

As for Matthew 17:11...did you just stop there...OR did you include the rest of the passage:?
12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.


Is that registering?

When you take all the accounts of this...it's crystal clear this was John the Baptist...but when you only want to look at portions...and not look at everything...you end up with your nonsense...stargazing and "what not".
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Jon Anon

Newbie
Oct 31, 2012
455
5
✟23,135.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Jon Anon...you may as well move on...you thought Elijah would come some time ago. WHen that failed..you disappeared.

As for Matthew 17:11...did you just stop there...OR did you include the rest of the passage:?
12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.


Is that registering?

When you take all the accounts of this...it's crystal clear this was John the Baptist...but when you only want to look at portions...and not look at everything...you end up with your nonsense...stargazing and "what not".

John didn't restore all things....no getting past it
 
Upvote 0

ebedmelech

My dog Micah in the pic
Site Supporter
Jul 3, 2012
9,002
680
✟212,364.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
John didn't restore all things....no getting past it
First you have to understand what "restore all things" means...obviuosly you don't.

The reference is to Malachi 4 ( as I showed before)...in case you never read it that defines what restore all things means:
Malachi 4:5, 6
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

When you read scripture...you put these things toghther based on all the accounts. So the next move is to read Luke 1:13-17

You'll find Luke says the SAME thing Malcahi says...so when Jesus said "John would restore restore all things"...He's speaking of the heart...as Malachi and Luke are saying.

By the way...lets not forget Matthew 11:14 which Codjer pointed out before:
14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

There's also Mark 9:11-13:
11 They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13 But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”


No getting around it...John the Baptist is in the spirit and power of Elijah!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Jon Anon

Newbie
Oct 31, 2012
455
5
✟23,135.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
First you have to understand what "restore all things" means...obviuosly you don't.

The reference is to Malachi 4 ( as I showed before)...in case you never read it that defines what restore all things means:
Malachi 4:5, 6
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

When you read scripture...you put these things toghther based on all the accounts. So the next move is to read Luke 1:13-17

You'll find Luke says the SAME thing Malcahi says...so when Jesus said "John would restore restore all things"...He's speaking of the heart...as Malachi and Luke are saying.

By the way...lets not forget Matthew 11:14 which Codjer pointed out before:
14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

There's also Mark 9:11-13:
11 They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13 But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”


No getting around it...John the Baptist is in the spirit and power of Elijah!

all things being restored is not even close to being completed....has the lost 10 tribes joined the two that occupy geographical Israel today...has the levitic preisthood been re-establishished as ezekiel tells us will happen in the millenium...to restore all things is much bigger than just turning the hearts of the children to the father and the hearts of the fathers to the children:







Everything that is written has to be fulfilled before the new heaven and new earth come.....therefore david will have to rule in the 1000 year millenium as king even though Jesus is the higher KING and a levitic high priest will be in charge of the levitic priesthood even though Jeus is HIGH PRIEST after the order of MELCHELZEDEK Why does this have to happen because Jeremiah 33:17-19 states:
17 For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;

18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.


How long is this covenant in effect?(Jeremiah 33 tells us):

20 Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.


When the covenant of the sun and moon are broken then at that time there will be no need for the sacrifices and the davidic king and levitic priest because Jesus will then at that time after the 1000 year milleniuma and the new heaven and new earth are created will Jesus come and dwell with man because as Jesus' stated his kingdom is not of this earth but of the new heaven and new earth and as we see in revelation 21 Jesus is the light and there is no need for the sun and moon as a that covenant is broken with sun and moon....and david and joseph(the high priest) but david and joseph will sit on the left and right of Jesus as david(prince of kings) and joseph(prince of priests) for all eternity.


covenant of day and night broken:

Revelation 21:

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,[j] for the glory[k] of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved[l] shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.[m] 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).




Everything is done so that scripture can be fulfilled. God required animal sacrifice for thousands of years if he wants it to happen again for 1000 years then it's going to happen even if we don't understand why. But we do understand why and that is to fulfill scripture and covenants.
 
Upvote 0

Jon Anon

Newbie
Oct 31, 2012
455
5
✟23,135.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Notice the 7 dispensations(ages)









In the last dispensation Kingdom age (1000 year millenium) the other 6 dispensions will all be used again working all together so we will have all dispenstions combined

1. Innoncence

2. Conscience

3. Human Government

4. Promise

5. Law

6. Grace

working all together in unity


as part of the law dispenstion:

Zech. 14 tells us we will celebrate the feasts days along with the sacrifices, these will both be reinstituted in the millennium (Ez.44:1-46- 46:24)

Zech 14:16-18 “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”


Isa 66:23 "And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD. Isa. 66:23 teaches that we will keep the Sabbath, it also teaches we will keep the New Moon festival! This is on earth in the Millennium period- not in heaven."

If the Sabbath and feast days and the sacrifices are done away with in Christ how do we reconcile these two seemingly contradictory positions? How can there be a return to the sacrificial system without taking away from the meritorious sacrifice of Christ?

Millennial Israel will have at its center the Temple. Sacrifices (Ezek. 40:38-39), will continually be done during the Kingdom Age (Ezekiel 45:13 – 46:15)



The problem is easily solved if we view them as being COMMEMORATIVE rather than EFFICACIOUS


The sacrifices will be a memorial, just as animal sacrifice was a shadow of what was to come in the sacrifice Jesus made for salvation. Just as communion is practiced today looking back. They will not be propitiation, or effacacious (they will have no power to redeem) but are a reminder of what took place. The reason this will be instituted is because there will be many unbelievers born in the Millennial period, they will be sinners that will need to understand the sacrifice Christ did. Since his sacrifice is the final one, that cannot be repeated the types he fulfilled will be illustrative of his accomplishment.

the millennial sacrificial system will be instituted as a commemorative celebration of the completeness of the last and efficacious sacrifice of our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord and redeemer. The temple will truly become a house of prayer for all nations.

This temple will be replaced with God when the new heaven and new earth are created and God dwells with man after the 1000 year millenium...(Rev 21:22:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.


The two witnesses who were raised after 3.5 days of lying dead in the street after the 7 year tribulation will govern the millenial kingdom and will appoint kings and priests in hierarchical postions as to cover the human government dispensation as one of the 6 dispensations that will be combined in the 1000 year millenium.




The 1000 year millenium will be governed by the Levitic high priest(Joseph) and the Davidic king....the davidic king will also have the title of prince of kings and the levitic high priest will have the title prince of priests as the millenial kingdom is a kingdom of kings and priests!

Then satan is loosed and war comes once again until Jesus comes as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS and satan and death are cast into the lake of fire and the new heaven and new earth are created and Jesus reigns as KING AND PRIEST forever after the order of melchelzedek with the prince of kings(David) on his right and prince of priests(Joseph) on his left for all eternity

 
Upvote 0

ebedmelech

My dog Micah in the pic
Site Supporter
Jul 3, 2012
9,002
680
✟212,364.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
OK...I had my say, so whatever you think. Dispensational theology is not valid as I view scripture. I've said that earlier...so run with whatever you think. "The Day" will reveal it.

So think Elijah is coming...and when he doesn't...AND HE WON'T...think again.

There are NO lost tribes...that's NONSENSE...a creation of man's thinking.

There is no millennium...you're in the millennium now and have been since Christ was seated at God's right hand.

Dispensational theology/eschatology is not in accord with scripture.
 
Upvote 0

Jon Anon

Newbie
Oct 31, 2012
455
5
✟23,135.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
OK...I had my say, so whatever you think. Dispensational theology is not valid as I view scripture. I've said that earlier...so run with whatever you think. "The Day" will reveal it.

So think Elijah is coming...and when he doesn't...AND HE WON'T...think again.

There are NO lost tribes...that's NONSENSE...a creation of man's thinking.

There is no millennium...you're in the millennium now and have been since Christ was seated at God's right hand.

Dispensational theology/eschatology is not in accord with scripture.

What do you think Ezekiel 37 is talking about? Do you really think God is going to let the northern kingdom just be gone forever without joining it again to make Israel a complete house again? Of course not in the end the lost 10 tribes(joseph/ephraim) join back together with Judah and will be one kingdom again and all of Israel with be whole again:



Ezekiel 37:

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:

17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?

19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.

20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.

23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
 
Upvote 0
B

Bible2

Guest
ebedmelech said in post 698:

...you're in the millennium now and have been since Christ was seated at God's right hand.

Note that there are at least 8 scriptural reasons to read the 1,000 years of Revelation 20:2-6 as not beginning until after Jesus' (never fulfilled) 2nd coming in Revelation 19:7-21.

First, this is in accord with how the rest of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 are in chronological order, insofar as the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 will begin with the events of the 2nd through 6th seals, occurring in the order shown in Revelation 6:3-14. After the events of the 6th seal, Revelation 7 will occur. Then the 7th seal will be unsealed and out of it will come the tribulation's 7 trumpets (Revelation 8:1-6). Then the events of the first 6 trumpets in Revelation 8:7 to Revelation 9:21 will occur in the order shown there. Then Revelation 10 will occur. Then the literal 3.5 years of the Antichrist's worldwide reign will occur, which time period is shown from 4 different angles in Revelation chapters 11 to 14 (Revelation 11:2b-3, Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:5,7, Revelation 14:9-13).

Then the 7th trumpet will sound, announcing the legal end of the Antichrist's reign (Revelation 11:15). Out of the 7th trumpet's heavenly-temple opening will come the 7 plagues of the 7 vials (Revelation 11:19, Revelation 15:5 to 16:1), the tribulation's final stage. Then the events of the 7 vials will occur in the order shown in Revelation 16. Jesus will return right after the 7th vial (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21), and he will marry the church at that time (Revelation 19:7). Then he will defeat the world's armies (Revelation 19:11 to 20:3) and reign on the earth with the physically resurrected church for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 2:26-29; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Then the events of Revelation 20:7 to Revelation 22:5 will occur in the order shown there.

-

Second, the 1,000 years in Revelation 20:2-6 is when Satan will be literally bound with a chain, and cast into and locked within the literal bottomless pit, whereas currently he is walking about freely on the earth seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). So the 1,000 years can't have started yet. But their beginning after Jesus' 2nd coming makes perfect sense (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).

Third, during the 1,000 years, Satan won't be able to deceive the world (Revelation 20:3), while currently he is able to deceive the world (2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 11:3,14,15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:14, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10). So the 1,000 years can't have started yet.

Fourth, the defeat of Satan in Revelation 20:1-3 is in chronological accord with the immediately preceding defeat of the Antichrist (the individual man aspect of the beast), and the False Prophet, and the world's armies, at Jesus' 2nd coming (Revelation 19:19-21). Indeed, there is no chapter break between Revelation 19 and Revelation 20 in the original Greek manuscripts, so that Revelation 19:19 to 20:3 can be taken together as a unit, showing how every power of evil will be defeated at Jesus' 2nd coming.

Fifth, reading Revelation 20:4-6 as Jesus and the bodily resurrected church reigning first on the present (not the new) earth after his 2nd coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6) matches Jesus reigning first on the present (not the new) earth after his 2nd coming in Zechariah 14:3-21. For Zechariah 14:8-21 can't be referring to the new earth, because it refers to a temple building in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:20-21), whereas there will be no temple building in New Jerusalem on the new earth (Revelation 21:22). Also, Zechariah 14:8-21 can't be referring to the new earth because it refers to surviving, unsaved people from the present earth being forced to come up to worship the returned Jesus in Jerusalem during the millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19), whereas by the time of the new earth, all the unsaved people from the present earth will have already been cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15 to 21:8).

Sixth, reading the 1st resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 as the physical resurrection of the church at Jesus' 2nd coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6) matches other verses which show that the physical resurrection of the church will occur at Jesus' 2nd coming (1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16).

Seventh, reading the 1st resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 as the physical resurrection of the church at Jesus' 2nd coming is in line with Revelation 20:5, which must refer in its entirety to only physical resurrection. For not every dead person is going to be figuratively resurrected in the sense of becoming saved (Revelation 20:15). And Revelation 20:5 means that the rest of the dead (i.e. all the non-church dead of all times) will be resurrected in the same manner that the church will be resurrected in Revelation 20:4-6, but the rest of the dead won't be resurrected until sometime after the 1,000 years.

Eighth, reading the 1st resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 as the physical resurrection of the church at Jesus' 2nd coming is in line with Revelation 20:4, which shows that the people in the 1st resurrection will include those in the church who will have been beheaded by the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of the beast) for not worshipping him or his image, or receiving his mark on their hand or forehead. This refers back to the details of Revelation 13:4-18, which have never been fulfilled. So the 1st resurrection can't have happened yet. But its occurring at Jesus' 2nd coming, when he will defeat the Antichrist, makes perfect sense (Revelation 19:20 to 20:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9).

ebedmelech said in post 698:

Dispensational theology/eschatology is not in accord with scripture.

That's right.

But futurism per se should be distinguished from dispensationalism. For futurism per se is correct, because the tribulation and 2nd-coming prophecies of Revelation chapters 6 to 19 and Matthew 24 have never been fulfilled. But dispensationalism is mistaken, because it sets up a mutual exclusiveness between the church and Israel, while the Bible shows that just as the Gentile Ruth (a genetic forbear of Israel's Messiah: Matthew 1:5-16, Luke 3:23-32) could say to the Israelite Naomi "thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16), so Gentiles in the church have been grafted into Israel (Romans 11:17,24, Ephesians 2:12,19, Galatians 3:29).

That is, all genetic Jews in the church remain members of whichever tribe of Israel they were born into (Romans 11:1, Acts 4:36). And all genetic Gentiles in the church have been grafted into Israel (Romans 11:17,24, Ephesians 2:12,19, Galatians 3:29), and so have been grafted into its various tribes (cf. Ezekiel 47:21-23). So the entire church is the 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:9,12; 1 Peter 2:9-10). This is necessary, for all those in the church are saved only by the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 9:15), which is made only with Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 4:22b). John 10:16 refers to the "other sheep" of believers who are Gentiles being brought into "this fold" of Israel, which is the "one fold" of the church (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:4-6, Revelation 21:9,12). A genetic Gentile believer can pray and ask which tribe of Israel he has been grafted into, and he will receive an answer from God, if he asks in faith (cf. Matthew 21:22), without any wavering (cf. James 1:6-7).

Also, all those in the church, no matter whether they are genetic Jews (Acts 22:3) or genetic Gentiles (Romans 16:4b), have become spiritually-circumcised Jews, if they have undergone the spiritual circumcision of water-immersion (burial) baptism into Jesus (Romans 2:29, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11-13).

Also, note that the book of James is addressing "the twelve tribes" (James 1:1), which is the same as addressing people in the church (James 5:14), people with faith in Christ (James 2:1, James 1:3) (i.e. Christians), people who have been born again (James 1:18, cf. 1 Peter 1:23), who are waiting for Christ to return (James 5:7).

--

Also, dispensationalism is mistaken because it teaches a pre-tribulation rapture, while the Bible shows that Jesus won't come and gather together (rapture) the church until immediately after the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). That's why the marriage of the church doesn't happen until Revelation 19:7, in connection with Jesus' 2nd coming and the physical resurrection of the church at that time (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16). Matthew 24:30-31 refers to the same 2nd coming of Jesus and gathering together of the church as 2 Thessalonians 2:1, which refers to the same 2nd coming of Jesus when the catching up together (rapture) of the church will occur (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

Jesus won't return and gather together (rapture) the church until sometime after there is a falling away (an apostasy) in the church, and the Antichrist sits in a 3rd Jewish temple in Jerusalem and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Daniel 11:31,36, Revelation 11:1-2, Revelation 13:4-8), and the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the Antichrist) is set up in the holy place (the inner sanctum) of the 3rd Jewish temple (Matthew 24:15-31, Daniel 11:31). For when Jesus returns to gather together (and marry) the church, he will destroy the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1,8, Revelation 19:7,20). Before Jesus returns, the church will have to go through the future, literal 3.5 years of the Antichrist's worldwide reign (Revelation 13:5-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-31).

At Jesus' 2nd coming (1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Matthew 24:30), the church will be physically resurrected and caught up together/gathered together (raptured) (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Matthew 24:31), not to remove the church from the earth (Proverbs 10:30, John 17:15,20), but to take the church only as high as the clouds of the sky to hold a meeting in the air with the returned Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

At that meeting, Jesus will judge everyone in the church (Psalms 50:3-5, cf. Mark 13:27) by their works (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 2:6-8, Luke 12:45-48, Matthew 25:19-30). And then Jesus will marry in the clouds the obedient part of the church (Revelation 19:7-8, Matthew 25:1-12), those in the church (of all times) who "overcame" to the end (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 2:26). They will then mount white horses and come back down from the sky (the 1st heaven) with Jesus (Revelation 19:14) as he defeats the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") and the armies of the world (Revelation 19:15-21). Jesus will then make the marriage supper of Revelation 19:9 for the resurrected and married obedient part of the church in the earthly Jerusalem (Isaiah 25:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15:54). Jesus and the obedient part of the church will then reign on the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 2:26-29).
 
Upvote 0