the Word of God - A Survey of the Bible - Part Sixteen - O Jul 28, 2019 by: John Herbert | Series: The Word of God - A Survey of the Bible Audio Study Notes PDF https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T003_20190728.mp3 Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Today we will begin to look at the antitype for these events. The full text of the message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday July 28th 2019 The Word of God A Survey of the Bible – Lesson 16 O ‘Let Us Go On’ 1). Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. We had seen last time how these three verses take us to the final events at the conclusion of Man’s Day – from Israel’s resurrection at the end of the Tribulation to a time immediately preceding the Millennial Kingdom. a). And although the destruction of Egypt in the Red Sea and the destruction of Jericho picture the complete overthrow of Gentile world power which will be climaxed in the battle, we have come to call Armageddon – Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. This battle really marks the terminal point of the overthrow of Gentile world power. The final act of a process that will begin at the start of the Tribulation and will be brought to completion during the final 3 ½ years of the ‘Great Tribulation’. b). We saw Pharaoh’s army consumed in the waters of the Red Sea, but his kingdom had already been utterly decimated through the 10 plagues that led to Israel’s departure following the death of the firstborn at Passover. c). And because of what is set out in Exodus we must be careful not to separate the final act of the destruction of Egypt seen at the Red Sea from what had gone before through the 10 plagues. d). And if we turn to the destruction of Jericho we will find a parallel process leading to Jericho’s destruction – Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. With Israel passing through the Red Sea and the destruction of the 2 kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, who were on the ‘other side of the Jordan’ we see the events that led to the complete overthrow of Jericho. And through Rahab’s recorded words it is clear that we cannot separate what happened at the Red Sea and to Sihon and Og from what then took place at Jericho - Jos 2:11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. It is the 10 plagues that concluded with Egypt dead in the Red Sea in Exodus and that death at the Red Sea in conjunction with the overthrow of the kings of the Amorites that concluded with the destruction of Jericho in Joshua. Both pointing to the future destruction of Antichrist’s kingdom. And the words that God spoke to Pharaoh are most apposite here – Ex 9:16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Also, on the 7th Day of the encirclement of Jericho, 7 trumpets were sounded, and a great shout given that precipitated the walls of Jericho falling down that brought the destruction of Jericho to its conclusion – Jos 6:16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!.................. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. As we then go to the antitype of these events prophetically portrayed in the Book of the Revelation, the opening of the 7 seals on the 7 sealed scroll, which contains the terms of the redemption of the inheritance, bring catastrophic judgments upon the kingdom of Antichrist that parallel the 10 plagues in Egypt – Rev 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. With the opening of the 7th seal judgments are revealed through the sounding of 7 trumpets and the pouring out of 7 bowls – a triad of 7s which bring God’s judgment upon the earth to completion, fulfilling the terms for the redemption of the inheritance and leaving Antichrist’s kingdom in utter desolation – Rev 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Rev 16:17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” The utter devastation of Antichrist’s kingdom, foreshadowed through 10 plagues on Pharaoh’s kingdom, is concluded at Armageddon, finishing the ‘mystery of God’. e). And if we return to Revelation 10:7 for a moment we will realize that really the process that comes to conclusion at Armageddon, called the mystery of God which ‘He declared to His servants the prophets’, began on the first day in Genesis Chapter 1 when the light shone out of the darkness. f). And we will remember that the redemptive process seen in Genesis Chapter 1 provides the foundational type for the 6 days of work and the 7th Day of rest, concluding at the same place as that foreshadowed through Israel delivered from Egypt and Joshua at Jericho. g). That which is prophetically revealed in the Book of the Revelation will soon become historical fact – the day is rapidly approaching when the voice will come ‘out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”’ h). And in that Day, God’s 3 firstborn sons will rule from the heavens and upon the earth just as God has said. 2). At Kadesh Barnea we will remember, God had commanded Moses to send 12 spies, one man from each tribe, to spy out the land of Canaan. And at Jericho Joshua sent 2 spies into the land to do the same thing, with a particular focus on Jericho. a). As well as 2 being the number of witness, perhaps the 2 spies who brought a faithful report parallel Joshua and Caleb at Kadesh Barnea – Jos 2:24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.” b). At Kadesh Barnea each of the 12 spies is identified by name and tribe, but we know neither the names nor the tribes of the 2 spies at Jericho. c). At Kadesh Barnea the spies go into the land, but there is no record of any interaction with the inhabitants of the Land, whereas the 2 spies at Jericho interact with one of Jericho’s inhabitants, Rahab the harlot. And this interaction becomes the focus of their mission. d). And what we see in this is not a contradiction but rather two facets of the same picture. e). And so, if we take this into the antitype as seen in the Book of the Revelation, we would expect to see the same scenario. f). At both Kadesh Barnea and Jericho, the specific historical focus is the land of Canaan – the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And although Israel will be returned to this land and will once again occupy Jerusalem, the rulership they will exert in that Day along with their Messiah will be over the whole earth. g). So then, if the antitype follows the type, which it must, we will see ‘spies’ sent into Antichrist’s Kingdom who will interact with the inhabitants of that kingdom, preceding the overthrow of Gentile world power, once Israel is back in the Land, and prior to the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. 3). Mt 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” In order to see the antitype correctly we need to begin in Matthew Chapter 24 with the question the disciples asked Jesus, ‘And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ Their question is in relation to the same timeframe foreshadowed by the events at Jericho and the foundation in Exodus, the timeframe we are looking at. a). Because of this the Lord’s answer to their question provides the information we are looking for; an answer that occupies 2 complete chapters in Matthew’s Gospel – 24 and 25. b). And in these chapters, His answer deals with 3 groups - Jews, Christians and Gentiles, all in relation to the end of the age, the coming Millennial Kingdom. c). The Jewish section of His answer begins in v1 of Chapter 24, dealing with the Temple in Jerusalem, and concludes with the days of Noah in v37-39. And it is within the Jewish section that we find this – Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. And we will note particularly that it is ‘this gospel of the Kingdom’ that will be preached. And it will be preached ‘in all the world, as a witness to all nations’ and this will happen immediately prior to the end of the age. d). So, the time period in which this will take place is the 7 years of the Tribulation and more specifically to the last 3 ½ years, as the Scripture that precedes v14 makes clear – Mt 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows [Lit the pains of childbirth].9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. So, let’s note – firstly, the ‘good news’ that will be preached is said specifically to be ‘of the Kingdom’, not the Gospel of grace. And secondly, given the time period in which this preaching will take place it can have nothing to do with the church and therefore nothing to do with evangelizing the unsaved people groups with which many are preoccupied. e). So, if not the church, then who will be the bearers of this good news of the Kingdom? f). Well if we think about it the answer is very simple. There is only one nation brought into existence to be God’s witness to the Gentile world – Isa 43:8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.” 10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior. 12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” The nation of Israel was brought into existence to be God’s witnesses throughout the earth, but as seen through the type of Jonah they are yet to fulfill this calling. But if we follow the type of Jonah to its conclusion, the day will come, following repentance and resurrection, when Israel will fulfill their calling to be God’s witnesses during the Millennial kingdom – Jon 3:1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. g). But as the Gospel of the Kingdom seen in Matthew 24:14 is to be preached during the Tribulation, before the end of the age, national Israel cannot possibly be in view because national repentance and resurrection will not take place until the 7 years of the Tribulation have come to an end. h). Nevertheless, those who preach this Gospel of the Kingdom must be Jews, but not the entire nation. i). It would be good to make the distinction here between the Gospel of the Kingdom given to Israel and the message concerning the Kingdom given to the Church as this will help clarify that ‘this gospel of the Kingdom’ will be preached by Jewish evangelists only. j). The Gospel of the Kingdom began to be preached by John the Baptist and then by Jesus following John’s imprisonment – a simple message – Mt 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And this was a message that was exclusively Jewish in its proclamation and audience – Mt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ However, the message eternally saved Christians are to receive during this dispensation is not referred to as ‘the Gospel of the Kingdom’, but the ‘Gospel of the Glory of Christ’ – the good news concerning the coming Day of His glory which is not now ‘at hand’ - 2 Cor 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 1 Tim 1:11 according to the glorious gospel [Lit. the gospel of the glory] of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. And this Gospel of the glory of Christ has to do with ‘the mystery’ that was revealed to Paul – the Gospel that Paul called – Ro 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Ro 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began And as we have just seen in 2 Corinthians 4:3 – ‘our gospel’. And it is only in the Gospel of the Glory of Christ committed to Paul that we find – Eph 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel……………..8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, And what we will also want to take note of in connection with this is that Paul was taken into Heaven to be given this Gospel of the Glory personally by the Lord Himself, before returning to the earth to preach it – Eph 3:2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 2 Cor 12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. Ga 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. And this distinction between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of the Glory of Christ should help us see that the Gospel of the Kingdom to be preached before the end of the age is the same Gospel committed to the Jews at the Lord’s first advent and will only be proclaimed by Jews as the Kingdom will once again be ‘at hand’. k). And all of this we will keep in mind as we continue. 4). Rev 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown [Stephanos] of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. We might remember that the Book of the Revelation makes extensive use of figurative language and metaphors to convey its meaning. And such is the case here in Chapter 12. a). The woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under here feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars is a metaphor for Israel, the nation that has been adopted as God’s firstborn son for the purpose of rulership. Israel seen in this image is wearing a ‘stephanos’ showing that she is not ruling yet, but in a position where she will be able to. b). And the imagery in this picture takes us back to Joseph and his dreams – Ge 37:9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” And back to the foundation – Ge 1:16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. And the description of the woman crying ‘out in labor and in pain to give birth’ echoes ‘the beginning of sorrows’ of Matthew 24:8 which references the period of time that takes us to the mid-point in the Tribulation when the male child is born. c). The other sign that appeared in heaven, ‘a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads’ is a metaphor for Satan and the kingdom of his son, the Antichrist, over which he rules, as seen through the use of the word ‘diadems’, and the numbers 7 and 10. d). And we see from the verses in Revelation Chapter 12 that the dragon is ready to devour the woman’s child as soon as it was born, but the child once it was born ‘was caught up to God and His throne’. e). Now, your Bible, like mine, may well have the word ‘Child’ with a capitalized ‘C’ suggesting this is a reference to Christ, probably because this male child is ‘to rule the nations with a rod of iron’, something specifically said of Christ in Psalms 2:9 and Revelation 19:15. But we will also find this same phrase used in the overcomers’ promise in Revelation Chapter 2 – Rev 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; So, overcoming Christians will also rule the nations with a rod of iron, which they must do, because as joint heirs with Christ this couldn’t happen any other way. f). And likewise, as Israel rules with Christ on the earth they can only rule after the same fashion that He will rule – with a rod of iron. g). Also, the timing for this event cannot possibly allow it to be a reference to Christ as we see the male child born at the mid-point in the Tribulation, over 2000 years after Christ’s incarnation. h). So, neither the text nor the context would allow this male child to be the Christ. But given that the male child’s mother is Israel, he cannot be anything other than Jewish. i). Who then is this male child? And how can Israel be said to give birth to him? And what is the purpose for his birth? Well, to answer these questions we will need to continue next time – if the Lord is willing. the Word of God - A Survey of the Bible - Part Sixteen - O Jul 28, 2019 Speaker: John Herbert Series: The Word of God - A Survey of the Bible Category: Sunday Morning https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T003_20190728.mp3 Download Audio x
Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Today we will begin to look at the antitype for these events. The full text of the message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday July 28th 2019 The Word of God A Survey of the Bible – Lesson 16 O ‘Let Us Go On’ 1). Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. We had seen last time how these three verses take us to the final events at the conclusion of Man’s Day – from Israel’s resurrection at the end of the Tribulation to a time immediately preceding the Millennial Kingdom. a). And although the destruction of Egypt in the Red Sea and the destruction of Jericho picture the complete overthrow of Gentile world power which will be climaxed in the battle, we have come to call Armageddon – Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. This battle really marks the terminal point of the overthrow of Gentile world power. The final act of a process that will begin at the start of the Tribulation and will be brought to completion during the final 3 ½ years of the ‘Great Tribulation’. b). We saw Pharaoh’s army consumed in the waters of the Red Sea, but his kingdom had already been utterly decimated through the 10 plagues that led to Israel’s departure following the death of the firstborn at Passover. c). And because of what is set out in Exodus we must be careful not to separate the final act of the destruction of Egypt seen at the Red Sea from what had gone before through the 10 plagues. d). And if we turn to the destruction of Jericho we will find a parallel process leading to Jericho’s destruction – Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. With Israel passing through the Red Sea and the destruction of the 2 kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, who were on the ‘other side of the Jordan’ we see the events that led to the complete overthrow of Jericho. And through Rahab’s recorded words it is clear that we cannot separate what happened at the Red Sea and to Sihon and Og from what then took place at Jericho - Jos 2:11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. It is the 10 plagues that concluded with Egypt dead in the Red Sea in Exodus and that death at the Red Sea in conjunction with the overthrow of the kings of the Amorites that concluded with the destruction of Jericho in Joshua. Both pointing to the future destruction of Antichrist’s kingdom. And the words that God spoke to Pharaoh are most apposite here – Ex 9:16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Also, on the 7th Day of the encirclement of Jericho, 7 trumpets were sounded, and a great shout given that precipitated the walls of Jericho falling down that brought the destruction of Jericho to its conclusion – Jos 6:16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!.................. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. As we then go to the antitype of these events prophetically portrayed in the Book of the Revelation, the opening of the 7 seals on the 7 sealed scroll, which contains the terms of the redemption of the inheritance, bring catastrophic judgments upon the kingdom of Antichrist that parallel the 10 plagues in Egypt – Rev 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. With the opening of the 7th seal judgments are revealed through the sounding of 7 trumpets and the pouring out of 7 bowls – a triad of 7s which bring God’s judgment upon the earth to completion, fulfilling the terms for the redemption of the inheritance and leaving Antichrist’s kingdom in utter desolation – Rev 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Rev 16:17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” The utter devastation of Antichrist’s kingdom, foreshadowed through 10 plagues on Pharaoh’s kingdom, is concluded at Armageddon, finishing the ‘mystery of God’. e). And if we return to Revelation 10:7 for a moment we will realize that really the process that comes to conclusion at Armageddon, called the mystery of God which ‘He declared to His servants the prophets’, began on the first day in Genesis Chapter 1 when the light shone out of the darkness. f). And we will remember that the redemptive process seen in Genesis Chapter 1 provides the foundational type for the 6 days of work and the 7th Day of rest, concluding at the same place as that foreshadowed through Israel delivered from Egypt and Joshua at Jericho. g). That which is prophetically revealed in the Book of the Revelation will soon become historical fact – the day is rapidly approaching when the voice will come ‘out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”’ h). And in that Day, God’s 3 firstborn sons will rule from the heavens and upon the earth just as God has said. 2). At Kadesh Barnea we will remember, God had commanded Moses to send 12 spies, one man from each tribe, to spy out the land of Canaan. And at Jericho Joshua sent 2 spies into the land to do the same thing, with a particular focus on Jericho. a). As well as 2 being the number of witness, perhaps the 2 spies who brought a faithful report parallel Joshua and Caleb at Kadesh Barnea – Jos 2:24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.” b). At Kadesh Barnea each of the 12 spies is identified by name and tribe, but we know neither the names nor the tribes of the 2 spies at Jericho. c). At Kadesh Barnea the spies go into the land, but there is no record of any interaction with the inhabitants of the Land, whereas the 2 spies at Jericho interact with one of Jericho’s inhabitants, Rahab the harlot. And this interaction becomes the focus of their mission. d). And what we see in this is not a contradiction but rather two facets of the same picture. e). And so, if we take this into the antitype as seen in the Book of the Revelation, we would expect to see the same scenario. f). At both Kadesh Barnea and Jericho, the specific historical focus is the land of Canaan – the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And although Israel will be returned to this land and will once again occupy Jerusalem, the rulership they will exert in that Day along with their Messiah will be over the whole earth. g). So then, if the antitype follows the type, which it must, we will see ‘spies’ sent into Antichrist’s Kingdom who will interact with the inhabitants of that kingdom, preceding the overthrow of Gentile world power, once Israel is back in the Land, and prior to the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. 3). Mt 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” In order to see the antitype correctly we need to begin in Matthew Chapter 24 with the question the disciples asked Jesus, ‘And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ Their question is in relation to the same timeframe foreshadowed by the events at Jericho and the foundation in Exodus, the timeframe we are looking at. a). Because of this the Lord’s answer to their question provides the information we are looking for; an answer that occupies 2 complete chapters in Matthew’s Gospel – 24 and 25. b). And in these chapters, His answer deals with 3 groups - Jews, Christians and Gentiles, all in relation to the end of the age, the coming Millennial Kingdom. c). The Jewish section of His answer begins in v1 of Chapter 24, dealing with the Temple in Jerusalem, and concludes with the days of Noah in v37-39. And it is within the Jewish section that we find this – Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. And we will note particularly that it is ‘this gospel of the Kingdom’ that will be preached. And it will be preached ‘in all the world, as a witness to all nations’ and this will happen immediately prior to the end of the age. d). So, the time period in which this will take place is the 7 years of the Tribulation and more specifically to the last 3 ½ years, as the Scripture that precedes v14 makes clear – Mt 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows [Lit the pains of childbirth].9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. So, let’s note – firstly, the ‘good news’ that will be preached is said specifically to be ‘of the Kingdom’, not the Gospel of grace. And secondly, given the time period in which this preaching will take place it can have nothing to do with the church and therefore nothing to do with evangelizing the unsaved people groups with which many are preoccupied. e). So, if not the church, then who will be the bearers of this good news of the Kingdom? f). Well if we think about it the answer is very simple. There is only one nation brought into existence to be God’s witness to the Gentile world – Isa 43:8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.” 10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior. 12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” The nation of Israel was brought into existence to be God’s witnesses throughout the earth, but as seen through the type of Jonah they are yet to fulfill this calling. But if we follow the type of Jonah to its conclusion, the day will come, following repentance and resurrection, when Israel will fulfill their calling to be God’s witnesses during the Millennial kingdom – Jon 3:1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. g). But as the Gospel of the Kingdom seen in Matthew 24:14 is to be preached during the Tribulation, before the end of the age, national Israel cannot possibly be in view because national repentance and resurrection will not take place until the 7 years of the Tribulation have come to an end. h). Nevertheless, those who preach this Gospel of the Kingdom must be Jews, but not the entire nation. i). It would be good to make the distinction here between the Gospel of the Kingdom given to Israel and the message concerning the Kingdom given to the Church as this will help clarify that ‘this gospel of the Kingdom’ will be preached by Jewish evangelists only. j). The Gospel of the Kingdom began to be preached by John the Baptist and then by Jesus following John’s imprisonment – a simple message – Mt 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And this was a message that was exclusively Jewish in its proclamation and audience – Mt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ However, the message eternally saved Christians are to receive during this dispensation is not referred to as ‘the Gospel of the Kingdom’, but the ‘Gospel of the Glory of Christ’ – the good news concerning the coming Day of His glory which is not now ‘at hand’ - 2 Cor 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 1 Tim 1:11 according to the glorious gospel [Lit. the gospel of the glory] of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. And this Gospel of the glory of Christ has to do with ‘the mystery’ that was revealed to Paul – the Gospel that Paul called – Ro 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Ro 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began And as we have just seen in 2 Corinthians 4:3 – ‘our gospel’. And it is only in the Gospel of the Glory of Christ committed to Paul that we find – Eph 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel……………..8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, And what we will also want to take note of in connection with this is that Paul was taken into Heaven to be given this Gospel of the Glory personally by the Lord Himself, before returning to the earth to preach it – Eph 3:2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 2 Cor 12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. Ga 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. And this distinction between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of the Glory of Christ should help us see that the Gospel of the Kingdom to be preached before the end of the age is the same Gospel committed to the Jews at the Lord’s first advent and will only be proclaimed by Jews as the Kingdom will once again be ‘at hand’. k). And all of this we will keep in mind as we continue. 4). Rev 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown [Stephanos] of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. We might remember that the Book of the Revelation makes extensive use of figurative language and metaphors to convey its meaning. And such is the case here in Chapter 12. a). The woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under here feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars is a metaphor for Israel, the nation that has been adopted as God’s firstborn son for the purpose of rulership. Israel seen in this image is wearing a ‘stephanos’ showing that she is not ruling yet, but in a position where she will be able to. b). And the imagery in this picture takes us back to Joseph and his dreams – Ge 37:9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” And back to the foundation – Ge 1:16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. And the description of the woman crying ‘out in labor and in pain to give birth’ echoes ‘the beginning of sorrows’ of Matthew 24:8 which references the period of time that takes us to the mid-point in the Tribulation when the male child is born. c). The other sign that appeared in heaven, ‘a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads’ is a metaphor for Satan and the kingdom of his son, the Antichrist, over which he rules, as seen through the use of the word ‘diadems’, and the numbers 7 and 10. d). And we see from the verses in Revelation Chapter 12 that the dragon is ready to devour the woman’s child as soon as it was born, but the child once it was born ‘was caught up to God and His throne’. e). Now, your Bible, like mine, may well have the word ‘Child’ with a capitalized ‘C’ suggesting this is a reference to Christ, probably because this male child is ‘to rule the nations with a rod of iron’, something specifically said of Christ in Psalms 2:9 and Revelation 19:15. But we will also find this same phrase used in the overcomers’ promise in Revelation Chapter 2 – Rev 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; So, overcoming Christians will also rule the nations with a rod of iron, which they must do, because as joint heirs with Christ this couldn’t happen any other way. f). And likewise, as Israel rules with Christ on the earth they can only rule after the same fashion that He will rule – with a rod of iron. g). Also, the timing for this event cannot possibly allow it to be a reference to Christ as we see the male child born at the mid-point in the Tribulation, over 2000 years after Christ’s incarnation. h). So, neither the text nor the context would allow this male child to be the Christ. But given that the male child’s mother is Israel, he cannot be anything other than Jewish. i). Who then is this male child? And how can Israel be said to give birth to him? And what is the purpose for his birth? Well, to answer these questions we will need to continue next time – if the Lord is willing.