Originally posted by Hoonbaba
Again, I mentioned I look at Revelation depicting the end of the old covenant and the establishment of the new covenant.
There is NO evidence that the book of Revelations is about the "end of the old covenant and the establishment of the new covenant."
On the contrary, the book of Revelation is about "the things which you (talking to John) have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place AFTER this" (Rev. 1:19).
The destruction of Jerusalem is just one of those things that was predicted by Daniel and John to happen in the future. And we know that this has happened to show that the word of God is TRUE.
Paul mentioned several times that the gospel went out to all the world (col 1:23, Col 1:6, Rom 10:18)
That was the "world" that Paul knew existed at his time.
Keep in mind Matt 24:14 says this:
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matt 24:14, KJV)
The greek word for world is 'Oikoumene' which clearly refers to the Roman empire/world. Compare Matt 24:14 with Luke 2:1:
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (KJV)
I highly doubt it was referring to Japan, America, South Africa, Australia, etc...Nor do I believe that Cyrus was literally given all the kingdoms of the world (2 Chr 36:23).
Jesus' USE of "the world" referring to the preaching of the gospel, is DIFFERENT from the bible authors' USE of "the world" rreferring to the collection of taxes and establishment of kingdoms.
To Jesus, "the world" refers to ALL whom God WILL call, not only the Jews and their children but also to those who are afar off (Acts 2:38). I will expound on this later.
To bible writers, "the world" refers to nations, tribes and clans that were evident to them or they were familiar with during their time.
And I doubt an earthquake literally struck the entire world (Acts 11:28)
Again, this refers to nations, tribes or clans that were evident to the writer during his time. The verse says, this prediction came true when Claudius was emperor.
As for the Bible being relevant for us, I'm sure anyone can say the same thing about Joshua. Are we to think that we're supposed to carry 7 trumpets and march around the city of Jericho 7 times on the seventh day?
This account of Joshua is HISTORY. We know that HISTORY serves as a lesson to guide future generations.
Or are we supposed to believe that Rahab still lives to this very day? (Joshua 6:25) I highly doubt it.
Why do you have doubt that Rahab NO LONGER lives today. Of course, Rahab is DEAD. But the bible account regarding Rahab serves as a guide for future generations of God's people to follow. The
Today's English Version renders Joshua 6:25 as follows: "... (Her descendants have lived in Israel to this day)."
So how is the bible relevant? It continues to speak truth about God's eternal love, grace, and all the other wonderful things about God .
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24:14? He SAID: "And the GOSPEL of the kingdom will be preached in ALL the world as a witness to ALL the nations, and then the END will come."
You say, "the world" refers to the Roman Empire. This is FALSE!
I say, "the world" refers to ALL whom God WILL call, not only the Jews and their children but also to those who are afar off (Acts 2:38).
Jesus SAID that no one can come to him UNLESS the Father draws him (John 6:44). Thus, as apostle Peter said, God CALLS people, even those who are afar off, (Acts 2:38) and BRINGS them to Christ.
Has God STOPPED calling people to BRING them to Christ? The answer is NO! God is still CALLING people because the "world" has NOT ended and Jesus Christ has NOT come to SAVE people from God's wrath.
How does God CALL people in order that they may be brought to Christ? God CALLS people
by the GOSPEL! Apostle Paul wrote: "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning
chose you for salvation THROUGH sanctification by the Spirit and BELIEF in the truth,
to which He CALLED you BY our GOSPEL, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 2:13-14).
God CALLS people
for SALVATION by the GOSPEL. And God's CALLING of people to SALVATION
by the GOSPEL will NOT stop UNTIL "the day of judgment and the perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7) because God is "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come o repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
The END of the Old Covenant Age and the BEGINNING of the New Covenant Age is NOT dependent on the preaching of the GOSPEL.
As Hebrews 8:13 teaches, the
Old Covenant BECAME obsolete when God SAID in Jer. 31:31 that "He will MAKE a
New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah."
And as Hebrews 10:5-7 teaches, when Jesus CAME into the world (Gal. 4:4), he came to "do God's WILL. HE takes away the FIRST that he may establish the SECOND (Hebrews 10:9).
As I said earlier, the Book of Revelation is NOT about the END of the Old Covenant Age. The Old Covenant ENDED when Jesus CAME into the world (born of a woman) to ESTABLISH the New Covenant.
Ed