Why was Jesus standing in Acts 7:56?
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HumbleBee said:
THANKS for your response.
Couldn't Jesus have done that from His sitting position? We don't seen that for any others that were martyred. Why Stephen the first and only one?
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!
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0
bold is my emphasis:
Stand=judgment=the Great Tribulation before the "...the times of refreshing..."(Acts 3:19 ) comes "...from the presence of the Lord..."(Acts 3:19), when God the Father "...shall send Jesus Christ..."(Acts 3:20)=Acts 1:6 restoration again. of the kingdom to Israel(not the body of Christ!).i
("times of refreshing":
Exodus 31:17-" It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."
Isaiah 28:12-"To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.")
"And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Acts 7:56
Psalms 7:6- "Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
Psalms 9:19- "Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight."
Psalms 10:12- "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble."
Psalms 74:22- "Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily."(context within this psalm is judgment)
Psalms 76:9- " When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah."
Psalms 82:8- "Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations."
Psalms 94:2- "Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud."
Isaiah 2:19- "And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth."
Isaiah 3:13- "The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people."
Isaiah 33:10- "Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself."(context is judgment within the chapter)
Rev. 5:6- "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."(context of the chapter is judgment)
__________
The Grace Journal
A Bible Study and News Periodical
Richard Jordan, Editor
Volume 18 Number 3 Sept./Oct. 2005
Three Pivotal Point
IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
BY: RICHARD JORDAN
There are three pivotal points, three critical milestones, in the Book of Acts which, if properly understood, shed light on the outworking of the purposes of God there recorded. First there is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, then there is the outbreak against Stephen (often overlooked but an event of tremendous significance), and finally the outgoing to the Gentiles through Paul's ministry. Consider each briefly:
THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT
Speaking "as the Spirit gave [him] utterance," Peter explained the events surrounding the day of Pentecost by saying:
"...Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
"And on my servants and on my handmaidens I WILL POUR OUT IN THOSE DAYS OF MY SPIRIT; and they shall prophesy:
"And I WILL SHEW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:14-21).
Notice carefully the two distinct"I will" statements:"I will pour out of my Spirit...I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath." In other words, God had promised to (1)pour out His Spirit and then (2)send His wrath.
Peter's message very clearly points out that this is exactly the program in place during early Acts. The Spirit of God had indeed been poured out to call the nation Israel to repentance and prepare them for their coming kingdom. Surely the wrath could not be far behind, coming, as it was, to "purge out the rebel" from the wayward nation (See Acts 3:19-24; Ezek. 20:33-38). Thus he exhorts them:
"Therefore BEING BY THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD EXALTED, AND HAVING RECEIVED OF THE FATHER THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY GHOST, HE HATH SHED FORTH THIS, WHICH YE NOW SEE AND HEAR" (Acts 2:33).
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was proof that the Lord Jesus had been exalted to the Father's right hand. Having there "received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." But there was more:
"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, SIT THOU ON MY RIGHT HAND,
"UNTIL I MAKE THY FOES THY FOOTSTOOL.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (vs. 34-36).
While the outpouring of the Spirit testified to the fact that the Lord Jesus was the Messiah seated at the Father's right hand, it is clear He sat there as a royal exile. But this was only to be temporary. Quoting Psalms 110:1, Peter points out that God the Father had, as it were, said to God the Son, "Come and sit at my right hand in the heavens until it is time for You to return in wrath and in judgment to make Your foes your footstool."
The prophetic order was clear: first the Spirit was to be poured out, then Christ was to return to pour out His wrath upon His enemies. Hence Peter's warning to Israel:
"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
"And it shall come to pass, that EVERY SOUL, WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE" (3:22,23).
Thus the Book of Acts begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to gather the "Little Flock," the believing remnant to whom the kingdom was to be given (Luke 12:32). This takes place against the backdrop of warning that God's wrath was on its way, as the stage was been fully set for the tribulation to begin. With this in mind, we move to the next pivotal event:
THE OUTBREAK AGAINST STEPHEN
As Stephen stood before the religious council of Israel, he accused them of resisting the witness of the outpoured Spirit so vividly on display in their midst:
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST: as your fathers did, so do ye" (7:51).
Their response was that of further resistance and rejection, going so far as to gather a "stoning committee" to silence Stephen's Spirit-filled witness against them. The events which follow are of special significance:
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
"And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD" (7:54-56).
Don't read over this too lightly, for a tremendous change has taken place: At Pentecost, Peter warns them that Christ had sat down in heaven at the Father's right hand until that time came for Him to return in wrath and destroy His enemies. In Acts 7 Stephen sees Christ standing---no longer seated, but now "standing on the right hand of God."
There is only one scriptural explanation for the change in His posture: the time for the outpouring of His wrath had arrived. Our Lord was standing to do what Psalm 110:1 warned He would do: "make His foes His footstool." In the words of Isaiah 3:13:
"THE LORD STANDETH UP TO PLEAD, AND STANDETH TO JUDGE THE PEOPLE."
But what happened at that critical juncture? Why wasn't the wrath poured out? Why even yet hasn't Christ returned to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom? These questions find their answers in Paul's subsequent ministry:
THE OUTGOING TO THE GENTILES
The explanation for the delay in the outpouring of God's wrath is found in Romans 5:20's declaration that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
At the very moment when the prophetic clock had reached the hour of judgment, God in His grace interrupted the prophetic program by ushering in an unprophesied program--a previously unknown purpose called "the mystery," a purpose which had been "kept secret since the world began" but which now was to be made known (Rom. 16:25,26, Eph. 3:1-9).
Thus, while in Acts 7 we see Christ standing at the Father's right hand ready to return in wrath and destroy His enemies, in Acts 9 we see Him reach down and save (rather than destroy) the very leader of the world's rebellion against Him. And more: not only does He save Saul of Tarsus by His grace but He then sends him forth--no longer to be Saul the opponent, but now to become Paul the Apostle. He thus says to Ananias:
"...HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO ME, TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE THE GENTILES, AND KINGS, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL" (Acts 9:15).
Paul's own account of His commission from Christ is equally clear:
"...And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I HAVE APPEARED UNTO THEE FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO MAKE THEE A MINISTER AND A WITNESS BOTH OF THESE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN, AND OF THOSE THINGS IN THE WHICH I WILL APPEAR UNTO THEE" (Acts 26:15,16).
Thus Paul goes forth as "the Apostle of the Gentiles"--a new apostle sent forth with a new revelation concerning a new program and a new dispensation, "the dispensation of the grace of God."
The prophetic program was based on salvation and blessing going to the Gentiles through redeemed Israel (Gen. 22:18, Isa. 59:20-60:3, Luke 24:47, Acts 3:25,26, etc.). We see Paul going to the Gentiles, however, not in fulfillment of the prophetic order, but in spite of Israel's rejection and unbelief.
Although Israel had rejected her Messiah both in His incarnation and resurrection, God had a secret purpose to accomplish through Christ which was then revealed to and through Paul. Just as the prophetic clouds of judgment lay heaviest on the horizon, God in His infinite grace and manifold wisdom interrupted prophecy--that which had been "spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began"--in order to usher in His secret purpose--"the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
Far from being the fulfillment of the prophesied Pentecostal program, the outgoing to the Gentiles under Paul's ministry was the result of the new, secret program revealed to and through him. Hence he writes:
"I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather THROUGH THEIR FALL SALVATION IS COME UNTO THE GENTILES, FOR TO PROVOKE THEM TO JEALOUSY.
"Now if the FALL OF THEM BE THE RICHES OF THE WORLD, AND THE DIMINISHING OF THEM THE RICHES OF THE GENTILES; how much more their fulness?
"FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES, INASMUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE" (Rom. 11:11-13).
CONCLUSION
These three pivotal events demonstrate Luke's purpose in the Acts record to present the fall of Israel and God's reason for sending salvation to the Gentiles through Paul and apart from Israel and her program.
Rather than setting forth, as is commonly supposed, a pattern for us to follow in the dispensation of grace, the Book of Acts explains why the program that was begun in its early chapters has passed away. It demonstrates how God interrupted that program just at the point when prophecy called for His wrath to be poured out by inaugurating a new program of "grace and peace." It confirms historically the declaration of the epistles of Paul that the fulfillment of prophecy has for the present given way to the unfolding of the secret purpose of God's grace--all revealed through the message committed to Paul by our ascended Lord from heaven's glory.
______________
George Williams has an excellent commentary on Acts 7. Should anyone like to see it, I will post.
In Christ,
John M. Whalen
Stand=judgment=the Great Tribulation before the "...the times of refreshing..."(Acts 3:19 ) comes "...from the presence of the Lord..."(Acts 3:19), when God the Father "...shall send Jesus Christ..."(Acts 3:20)=Acts 1:6 restoration again. of the kingdom to Israel(not the body of Christ!).i
("times of refreshing":
Exodus 31:17-" It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."
Isaiah 28:12-"To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.")
"And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Acts 7:56
Psalms 7:6- "Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
Psalms 9:19- "Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight."
Psalms 10:12- "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble."
Psalms 74:22- "Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily."(context within this psalm is judgment)
Psalms 76:9- " When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah."
Psalms 82:8- "Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations."
Psalms 94:2- "Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud."
Isaiah 2:19- "And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth."
Isaiah 3:13- "The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people."
Isaiah 33:10- "Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself."(context is judgment within the chapter)
Rev. 5:6- "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."(context of the chapter is judgment)
__________
The Grace Journal
A Bible Study and News Periodical
Richard Jordan, Editor
Volume 18 Number 3 Sept./Oct. 2005
Three Pivotal Point
IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
BY: RICHARD JORDAN
There are three pivotal points, three critical milestones, in the Book of Acts which, if properly understood, shed light on the outworking of the purposes of God there recorded. First there is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, then there is the outbreak against Stephen (often overlooked but an event of tremendous significance), and finally the outgoing to the Gentiles through Paul's ministry. Consider each briefly:
THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT
Speaking "as the Spirit gave [him] utterance," Peter explained the events surrounding the day of Pentecost by saying:
"...Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
"And on my servants and on my handmaidens I WILL POUR OUT IN THOSE DAYS OF MY SPIRIT; and they shall prophesy:
"And I WILL SHEW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:14-21).
Notice carefully the two distinct"I will" statements:"I will pour out of my Spirit...I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath." In other words, God had promised to (1)pour out His Spirit and then (2)send His wrath.
Peter's message very clearly points out that this is exactly the program in place during early Acts. The Spirit of God had indeed been poured out to call the nation Israel to repentance and prepare them for their coming kingdom. Surely the wrath could not be far behind, coming, as it was, to "purge out the rebel" from the wayward nation (See Acts 3:19-24; Ezek. 20:33-38). Thus he exhorts them:
"Therefore BEING BY THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD EXALTED, AND HAVING RECEIVED OF THE FATHER THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY GHOST, HE HATH SHED FORTH THIS, WHICH YE NOW SEE AND HEAR" (Acts 2:33).
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was proof that the Lord Jesus had been exalted to the Father's right hand. Having there "received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." But there was more:
"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, SIT THOU ON MY RIGHT HAND,
"UNTIL I MAKE THY FOES THY FOOTSTOOL.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (vs. 34-36).
While the outpouring of the Spirit testified to the fact that the Lord Jesus was the Messiah seated at the Father's right hand, it is clear He sat there as a royal exile. But this was only to be temporary. Quoting Psalms 110:1, Peter points out that God the Father had, as it were, said to God the Son, "Come and sit at my right hand in the heavens until it is time for You to return in wrath and in judgment to make Your foes your footstool."
The prophetic order was clear: first the Spirit was to be poured out, then Christ was to return to pour out His wrath upon His enemies. Hence Peter's warning to Israel:
"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
"And it shall come to pass, that EVERY SOUL, WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE" (3:22,23).
Thus the Book of Acts begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to gather the "Little Flock," the believing remnant to whom the kingdom was to be given (Luke 12:32). This takes place against the backdrop of warning that God's wrath was on its way, as the stage was been fully set for the tribulation to begin. With this in mind, we move to the next pivotal event:
THE OUTBREAK AGAINST STEPHEN
As Stephen stood before the religious council of Israel, he accused them of resisting the witness of the outpoured Spirit so vividly on display in their midst:
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST: as your fathers did, so do ye" (7:51).
Their response was that of further resistance and rejection, going so far as to gather a "stoning committee" to silence Stephen's Spirit-filled witness against them. The events which follow are of special significance:
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
"And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD" (7:54-56).
Don't read over this too lightly, for a tremendous change has taken place: At Pentecost, Peter warns them that Christ had sat down in heaven at the Father's right hand until that time came for Him to return in wrath and destroy His enemies. In Acts 7 Stephen sees Christ standing---no longer seated, but now "standing on the right hand of God."
There is only one scriptural explanation for the change in His posture: the time for the outpouring of His wrath had arrived. Our Lord was standing to do what Psalm 110:1 warned He would do: "make His foes His footstool." In the words of Isaiah 3:13:
"THE LORD STANDETH UP TO PLEAD, AND STANDETH TO JUDGE THE PEOPLE."
But what happened at that critical juncture? Why wasn't the wrath poured out? Why even yet hasn't Christ returned to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom? These questions find their answers in Paul's subsequent ministry:
THE OUTGOING TO THE GENTILES
The explanation for the delay in the outpouring of God's wrath is found in Romans 5:20's declaration that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
At the very moment when the prophetic clock had reached the hour of judgment, God in His grace interrupted the prophetic program by ushering in an unprophesied program--a previously unknown purpose called "the mystery," a purpose which had been "kept secret since the world began" but which now was to be made known (Rom. 16:25,26, Eph. 3:1-9).
Thus, while in Acts 7 we see Christ standing at the Father's right hand ready to return in wrath and destroy His enemies, in Acts 9 we see Him reach down and save (rather than destroy) the very leader of the world's rebellion against Him. And more: not only does He save Saul of Tarsus by His grace but He then sends him forth--no longer to be Saul the opponent, but now to become Paul the Apostle. He thus says to Ananias:
"...HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO ME, TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE THE GENTILES, AND KINGS, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL" (Acts 9:15).
Paul's own account of His commission from Christ is equally clear:
"...And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I HAVE APPEARED UNTO THEE FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO MAKE THEE A MINISTER AND A WITNESS BOTH OF THESE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN, AND OF THOSE THINGS IN THE WHICH I WILL APPEAR UNTO THEE" (Acts 26:15,16).
Thus Paul goes forth as "the Apostle of the Gentiles"--a new apostle sent forth with a new revelation concerning a new program and a new dispensation, "the dispensation of the grace of God."
The prophetic program was based on salvation and blessing going to the Gentiles through redeemed Israel (Gen. 22:18, Isa. 59:20-60:3, Luke 24:47, Acts 3:25,26, etc.). We see Paul going to the Gentiles, however, not in fulfillment of the prophetic order, but in spite of Israel's rejection and unbelief.
Although Israel had rejected her Messiah both in His incarnation and resurrection, God had a secret purpose to accomplish through Christ which was then revealed to and through Paul. Just as the prophetic clouds of judgment lay heaviest on the horizon, God in His infinite grace and manifold wisdom interrupted prophecy--that which had been "spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began"--in order to usher in His secret purpose--"the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
Far from being the fulfillment of the prophesied Pentecostal program, the outgoing to the Gentiles under Paul's ministry was the result of the new, secret program revealed to and through him. Hence he writes:
"I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather THROUGH THEIR FALL SALVATION IS COME UNTO THE GENTILES, FOR TO PROVOKE THEM TO JEALOUSY.
"Now if the FALL OF THEM BE THE RICHES OF THE WORLD, AND THE DIMINISHING OF THEM THE RICHES OF THE GENTILES; how much more their fulness?
"FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES, INASMUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE" (Rom. 11:11-13).
CONCLUSION
These three pivotal events demonstrate Luke's purpose in the Acts record to present the fall of Israel and God's reason for sending salvation to the Gentiles through Paul and apart from Israel and her program.
Rather than setting forth, as is commonly supposed, a pattern for us to follow in the dispensation of grace, the Book of Acts explains why the program that was begun in its early chapters has passed away. It demonstrates how God interrupted that program just at the point when prophecy called for His wrath to be poured out by inaugurating a new program of "grace and peace." It confirms historically the declaration of the epistles of Paul that the fulfillment of prophecy has for the present given way to the unfolding of the secret purpose of God's grace--all revealed through the message committed to Paul by our ascended Lord from heaven's glory.
______________
George Williams has an excellent commentary on Acts 7. Should anyone like to see it, I will post.
In Christ,
John M. Whalen
Upvote
0
eph3Nine
Mid Acts, Pauline, Dispy to the max!
Amen John...the ONLY reason to explain Christs change from sitting to standing IS the issue of JUDGEMENT/wrath. The ONLY thing that kept that segment of Israels history from occurring IS the parenthetical dispensation of the GRACE of God which was uniquely and specifically given to Paul.
The MYSTERY Program, NOT prophesied, is the ONLY reason for this interruption in what SHOULD HAVE BEEN the great Tribulation, or the time of Jacobs Trouble.
The funny thing is that the JEWS KNEW what was next on their calendar....they KNEW they had but ONE course of curses left on their prophetic timeclock...they are the ones who signed UP for the agreement with God and it was NO surprise to them what was next. It is we who are UNSTUDIED and ill informed by "religion" and "churchianity" who fail to see the significance of the MYSTERY and WHY Israels program was SET ASIDE TO usher in a NEW program that won't be found in ANY prophetic book , no matter how hard you look....When God has a SECRET, HE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP IT until due time...not one minute before or after.
The MYSTERY Program, NOT prophesied, is the ONLY reason for this interruption in what SHOULD HAVE BEEN the great Tribulation, or the time of Jacobs Trouble.
The funny thing is that the JEWS KNEW what was next on their calendar....they KNEW they had but ONE course of curses left on their prophetic timeclock...they are the ones who signed UP for the agreement with God and it was NO surprise to them what was next. It is we who are UNSTUDIED and ill informed by "religion" and "churchianity" who fail to see the significance of the MYSTERY and WHY Israels program was SET ASIDE TO usher in a NEW program that won't be found in ANY prophetic book , no matter how hard you look....When God has a SECRET, HE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP IT until due time...not one minute before or after.
Upvote
0
eph3Nine
Mid Acts, Pauline, Dispy to the max!
Amen John...the ONLY reason to explain Christs change from sitting to standing IS the issue of JUDGEMENT/wrath. The ONLY thing that kept that segment of Israels history from occurring IS the parenthetical dispensation of the GRACE of God which was uniquely and specifically given to Paul.
The MYSTERY Program, NOT prophesied, is the ONLY reason for this interruption in what SHOULD HAVE BEEN the great Tribulation, or the time of Jacobs Trouble.
The funny thing is that the JEWS KNEW what was next on their calendar....they KNEW they had but ONE course of curses left on their prophetic timeclock...they are the ones who signed UP for the agreement with God and it was NO surprise to them what was next. It is we who are UNSTUDIED and ill informed by "religion" and "churchianity" who fail to see the significance of the MYSTERY and WHY Israels program was SET ASIDE TO usher in a NEW program that won't be found in ANY prophetic book , no matter how hard you look....When God has a SECRET, HE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP IT until due time...not one minute before or after.
The MYSTERY Program, NOT prophesied, is the ONLY reason for this interruption in what SHOULD HAVE BEEN the great Tribulation, or the time of Jacobs Trouble.
The funny thing is that the JEWS KNEW what was next on their calendar....they KNEW they had but ONE course of curses left on their prophetic timeclock...they are the ones who signed UP for the agreement with God and it was NO surprise to them what was next. It is we who are UNSTUDIED and ill informed by "religion" and "churchianity" who fail to see the significance of the MYSTERY and WHY Israels program was SET ASIDE TO usher in a NEW program that won't be found in ANY prophetic book , no matter how hard you look....When God has a SECRET, HE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP IT until due time...not one minute before or after.
Upvote
0
- Jan 16, 2004
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THANK YOU John for printing that out. That article is one tough act to follow.
I have prepared my thought as to why I do believe that Jesus was standing at the stoning of Stephen, which are:
My personal belief is that Jesus is standing in Acts 7:56 because Jesus is preparing to come down to earth as a Righteous Judge.
In Psalms 110:1 David wrote "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand; until I make thine enemies thy footstool." That will happen at His 2nd coming. At the end of the Tribulation.
We know from OT Scripture the two things must happen before Jesus can establish His Kingdom here upon the earth. 1. He must suffer many things (Luke 17:25), and 2, that Israel must endure the Tribulation.
Contrary to what many people teach, Jesus never offered the kingdom to Israel during His earth ministry. He could not offer it because He had not yet suffered the many things, and the Tribulation was still future.
After Jesus was crucified, we know that He did suffer the "many things." Before He can return as the Righteous Judge, the Tribulation must still happen.
When we get to Acts 2:15-20 we read: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, (see Acts 21: 9) and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
Those "last days" that Peter is speaking of in verse 17 are the "time of Jacobs Troubles," the Tribulation. The signs were beginnint to appear.
Well, Lets see what Joel said: Joel 2:28-32 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (see Acts 21:9), your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Joel surely isn't talking about Pentecost. He is referring to the 70 week of Daniel chapter 9. That 70th week is the Tribulation period.
Peter, at Pentecost, knows exactly where he is at in the timetable of prophesy. We know from Luke 24:45 that prior to Jesus returning to heaven, He opened up the understanding of all the Scriptures to His disciples. They had to be to OT Scriptures because there weren't any NT Scriptures written yet. Not only that, Peter and the others were speaking "...as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4)
PLEASE don't tell me that Peter was mistaken, and didn't know what he was talking about. I won't believe it.
When we get to Acts 3:19-21, we find that Peter is offering the kingdom to Israel if they, as a nation, would only repent of the murder of Jesus. Doesn't he tell them that if they would repent, then Jesus would return, and restore all things? How can Peter do that if the Tribulation hadn't happened yet? If Jesus couldn't offer the kingdom until He suffered the many things, then How could Peter offer the kingdom and the return of Jesus if the Tribulation hadn't happened? Doesn't the same rule apply?
Ah, but the Tribulation has already started. Therefore, Israel as a nation had the opportunity to repent, endure the remainder of the Tribulation, and Jesus would have returned to make His enemies His footstool, and restore all things.
Being Israel, as a nation, failed to repent, and they rejected their King and His Kingdom, God interrupted the Tribulation, and the prophetic program, set the nation of Israel aside, and raised up Saul/Paul to usher in this dispensation of GRACE in which we now live. Also, Jesus sat back down at the right hand of God the Father, until the Tribulation resumes, AFTER the rapture of the Chruch, the Body of Christ.
added: Would love to read the article on Acts 7 that you mentioned.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!
I have prepared my thought as to why I do believe that Jesus was standing at the stoning of Stephen, which are:
My personal belief is that Jesus is standing in Acts 7:56 because Jesus is preparing to come down to earth as a Righteous Judge.
In Psalms 110:1 David wrote "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand; until I make thine enemies thy footstool." That will happen at His 2nd coming. At the end of the Tribulation.
We know from OT Scripture the two things must happen before Jesus can establish His Kingdom here upon the earth. 1. He must suffer many things (Luke 17:25), and 2, that Israel must endure the Tribulation.
Contrary to what many people teach, Jesus never offered the kingdom to Israel during His earth ministry. He could not offer it because He had not yet suffered the many things, and the Tribulation was still future.
After Jesus was crucified, we know that He did suffer the "many things." Before He can return as the Righteous Judge, the Tribulation must still happen.
When we get to Acts 2:15-20 we read: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, (see Acts 21: 9) and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
Those "last days" that Peter is speaking of in verse 17 are the "time of Jacobs Troubles," the Tribulation. The signs were beginnint to appear.
Well, Lets see what Joel said: Joel 2:28-32 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (see Acts 21:9), your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Joel surely isn't talking about Pentecost. He is referring to the 70 week of Daniel chapter 9. That 70th week is the Tribulation period.
Peter, at Pentecost, knows exactly where he is at in the timetable of prophesy. We know from Luke 24:45 that prior to Jesus returning to heaven, He opened up the understanding of all the Scriptures to His disciples. They had to be to OT Scriptures because there weren't any NT Scriptures written yet. Not only that, Peter and the others were speaking "...as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4)
PLEASE don't tell me that Peter was mistaken, and didn't know what he was talking about. I won't believe it.
When we get to Acts 3:19-21, we find that Peter is offering the kingdom to Israel if they, as a nation, would only repent of the murder of Jesus. Doesn't he tell them that if they would repent, then Jesus would return, and restore all things? How can Peter do that if the Tribulation hadn't happened yet? If Jesus couldn't offer the kingdom until He suffered the many things, then How could Peter offer the kingdom and the return of Jesus if the Tribulation hadn't happened? Doesn't the same rule apply?
Ah, but the Tribulation has already started. Therefore, Israel as a nation had the opportunity to repent, endure the remainder of the Tribulation, and Jesus would have returned to make His enemies His footstool, and restore all things.
Being Israel, as a nation, failed to repent, and they rejected their King and His Kingdom, God interrupted the Tribulation, and the prophetic program, set the nation of Israel aside, and raised up Saul/Paul to usher in this dispensation of GRACE in which we now live. Also, Jesus sat back down at the right hand of God the Father, until the Tribulation resumes, AFTER the rapture of the Chruch, the Body of Christ.
added: Would love to read the article on Acts 7 that you mentioned.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!
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kenneth558
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I believe Jesus rose to honor Stephen at his entry, then honored Stephen again as the only one to preview His rising to His feet. We know He was honoring Stephen with the vision, why do we not think He might honor him by standing as well?
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wELL LET'S LOOK AT THE TEXT SHALL WE
ISAIAH 61: 1-2
61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
LUKE 4:18
4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me(this is jesus speaking to confirm prophecy in Isaiah 61:1,2), because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him
Notice the scripture in Isaiah 61:2 " and the day of vengeance of our God;"The scripture was identical up into the point to and the day of vengeance of our God;" in Isaiah 61:2
why in Luke 4 :20 there is no mention of "and the day of vengeance of our God;" it only says right after verse 19 "And he(jesus) closed the book"The reason Jesus closed the book was it was not time for vengeance, He could only "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;"He could not bring vengeance at that time for at that time he didn't ascend to his heavenly place at the right hand of god, so he sat there waiting for to "make thine enemies thy footstool"
Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool
Luke 20:42 -43
And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
20:43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
What is the qualifier for him to be standing at the right hand of god? "Till I make thine enemies thy footstool" is the qualifier.
ISAIAH 61: 1-2
61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
LUKE 4:18
4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me(this is jesus speaking to confirm prophecy in Isaiah 61:1,2), because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him
Notice the scripture in Isaiah 61:2 " and the day of vengeance of our God;"The scripture was identical up into the point to and the day of vengeance of our God;" in Isaiah 61:2
why in Luke 4 :20 there is no mention of "and the day of vengeance of our God;" it only says right after verse 19 "And he(jesus) closed the book"The reason Jesus closed the book was it was not time for vengeance, He could only "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;"He could not bring vengeance at that time for at that time he didn't ascend to his heavenly place at the right hand of god, so he sat there waiting for to "make thine enemies thy footstool"
Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool
Luke 20:42 -43
And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
20:43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
What is the qualifier for him to be standing at the right hand of god? "Till I make thine enemies thy footstool" is the qualifier.
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Couldn't see that coming.. 
Stephen sees the Lord standing and all of the sudden they're in the GREAT TRIBULATION...
Perhaps the Lord forgot that He told His apostles that they should wait for the promise of the Father and that they would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, and Judaea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
Perhaps the Lord forgot that the wheat and the tares would grow up together until the harvest and decided to pull up the relative few who had been saved..?
Wow.. thank God for Paul coming along 'ey.. he saved everything ! AND just in time !
Paul must be like the FIRST member of the body of Christ or something.. naw.. that can't be right..
Stephen sees the Lord standing and all of the sudden they're in the GREAT TRIBULATION...
Perhaps the Lord forgot that He told His apostles that they should wait for the promise of the Father and that they would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, and Judaea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
Perhaps the Lord forgot that the wheat and the tares would grow up together until the harvest and decided to pull up the relative few who had been saved..?
Wow.. thank God for Paul coming along 'ey.. he saved everything ! AND just in time !
Paul must be like the FIRST member of the body of Christ or something.. naw.. that can't be right..
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kenneth558 said:
That is a very nice thought, and may or may not be ture. However, I find no Scriptural support for it.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!
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Im a little confused about Jesus mistakenly standing up in preparation for judgment. I would think that Jesus would have know that the time of judgment was not here yet. Whats he doing now, sitting or standing?
Billy <><
Billy <><
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..and if the judgment of Israel was the reason for His standing.. I wonder what He was doing in AD70 ? That was far worse in comparison.. and the GREAT TRIBULATION is said to be a time unparalleled in history..
It is an interesting topic though.. and it's tough to say..because reading through the chapter is a great history lesson pertaining to Israel.. so there's plenty of reason to look at it in that perspective.. especially with respect to their always resisting the Spirit.. although Stephen is the one seeing this.. so it could be looked at in light of his being persecuted...
Either way.. it should be obvious that the LORD knew perfectly well that He wasn't coming at that time..
It is an interesting topic though.. and it's tough to say..because reading through the chapter is a great history lesson pertaining to Israel.. so there's plenty of reason to look at it in that perspective.. especially with respect to their always resisting the Spirit.. although Stephen is the one seeing this.. so it could be looked at in light of his being persecuted...
Either way.. it should be obvious that the LORD knew perfectly well that He wasn't coming at that time..
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billychum said:
I fail to see that Jesus standing at the stoning of Stephen as a mistake, because He (Jesus) was to sit "until He made His enemies His footstool." That will happen at the end of the Tribulation. Well, according to Acts 2:15-20 the signs of Tribulation period were begining to appear, which means it had started. Therefore, being the Tribulation had already started at the time Stephen was martyred, Jesus would be standing in preperation of His return. However, where sin abound, grace did much more abound. God interrupted the Tribulation, along with the prophetic program to Israel, and raised up Saul/Paul to usher in this dispensation of grace. The Tribulation, and the prophetic program, will resume again after the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ.
With the interruption of the Tribulation, Jesus again sat down, and will remain seated until the resumption of the Tribulation.
Hope this is helpful.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!
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eph3Nine
Mid Acts, Pauline, Dispy to the max!
billychum said:
Israel already KNEW they were deserving of judgement. They were totally aware of their agreement with God and that there were five courses of curses to befall them for not living up to their end of the bargain. God wanted to deal with them in mercy but they wanted the LAW by which to be judged...God said "OK" and they said "whatever you tell us to do we shall do it..." what arrogance, and even after God had shown them over and over that NO< they COULDNT DO IT, and that He wanted them to throw themselves on His MERCY.
It is we gentiles who fail to understand the program that Israel signed up for. You can find it in great detail in Leviticus 26, and I believe that bible believer has the list of the five curses, if she would be so good as to post it, you will see that the four have already occurred and the ONE last course of curses will be fulfilled in the GREAT TRIBULATION known as Jacobs Trouble which will come AFTER we , the Body of Christ have been raptured.
Israel understands completely, because God told them what would happen...He was very concise and clear with them. If they obeyed, blessings. If they didnt, curses. Its a very interesting study actually...if anyone is interested , I have a CD with this study on it, that I will send for FREE. It really helped me to understand Israels program MUCH better, and Im sure it will YOU too.
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