"The peace we have
with God" in 'soul and body'.
Firstly, Romans is Pauline theology on the intricacies of justification by faith: A leads to B, B to C, C to D, etc etc. The mechanics of 'faith'. Similar to the Mosaic/judaic theology that is
cyclical according to the calendar (moedim), where events repeat and repeat for a lifetime. Each calendar event is a checkpoint for self, family, and nation. e.g. annual Rosh Hashanah = A Day of Judgment and a celebration of when God created the world.
Christ's assertion then that there will be a 'resurrection' was foreign to the theologians back then. Certain aspects of the Gospel was 'veiled' as others have said. Zoroastrianism and Eastern religions however already had this concept, as early as when Daniel was in Babylon, 605 BC. Which is perhaps
how God paved the way for the Gospel to be acceptable to Gentile/Goyim cultures.
Secondly, prophecies in Isaiah 9, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc, are often allegorical, poetic, cryptic, more 'magical' or supernatural in the way Daniel interpreted dreams, and less mechanical/logical/rational as seen in Greek/Roman/Western thought. The concepts are simple enough for a child yet unthinkably grand for adults. e.g. the height of the Persian or Chinese Empire is overwhelmingly enormous. When Esther was imported from the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the Persians ate on new gold/silver plates every day, billions in tax revenue from almost every nation in the known world. Their richness was intoxicating, materially and culturally.
e.g. The part about "Zebulun and Naphtali ... The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that
dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." These lost tribes were swallowed by Syria/Persia and disappeared somewhere into the Persian Empire and Central Asia, perhaps India, and China. And it's been discovered that many common 'Chinese' family names are in fact Hebrew names, translated from Hebrew meanings. To think that billions in China/India/Central Asia and perhaps the far far east has a genealogy back to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, is mind-boggling. Only God knows.
So IMO, the above prophecy refers to the human condition, i.e the doctrine of depravity, why life is hard, why work is exhausting and futile, "meaningless meaningless", why people move and migrate, which contrasts the sabbatical promise, and the Adamic and Edenic covenant pre-exile. But you see, mankind
is 'the prodigal son' who'd opted to leave Father's house, to be exploited by outsiders. 'Rest' is returning (repenting) to the Father's kingdom, where all is in order and provided for,
by God. Hence, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." (Mt 23:9) as we are born not to serve parents, employers, kings, etc, but ultimately to "serve God" our true father.
"Rest" is captured in the 'pilgrim' imagery, 'journeying from one place to a final destination or 'resting place'. To 'pack light' and turn out backs on our families and cities, to pursue Christ. At resurrection it will be literal, not metaphorical.
The Calvinist view says that 'regeneration' precedes faith, except:
"Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the
regeneration (παλιγγενεσία palingenesía) when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And
every one that hath forsaken houses, or
brethren, or
sisters, or
father, or
mother, or
wife, or
children, or
lands,
for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." (Mt 19:28-29) --- For Christ
“There is no man that hath
left house, or
brethren, or
sisters, or
father, or
mother, or
wife, or
children, or
lands,
for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mk 10:29-30) — For Christ and Gospel
"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath
left house, or
parents, or
brethren, or
wife, or
children,
for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." (Lk 18:29-30) --- For Kingdom
'Rest in Christ' is 3-fold, triply fortuitous: Christ + Gospel + Kingdom. Calvinism and many Calvinists I know seem oblivious to this. Calvinism (at least Scottish branches of Calvinism) are very much pro-capitalism and gain, personal achievement, self-glory, etc.
But Christ is clear that: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will
lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Mt 16:25)
About peace: 'Peace' (salem שָׁלֵם) is "
the place of which Melchizedek was king" (See Gesenius for details,
H8004 - šālēm - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)). It is both physical
and spiritual, for 'body and soul'.
When Jerusalem is restored the world will be restored, without the curse of 'thorns and thistles', death, disease, mutation, shortage, famine, war, etc.--If 'faith' is understood
quantitatively, e.g. "great is thy faith", in relation to 'reward in heaven', then it seems to be a economical system: A 'faith economy'. A supernatural way of life.
"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and
it shall remove; and
nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Mt 17:20) Also, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and
it should obey you." (Lk 17:6)
Blessings to all
