Today's Sermon at our conservative evangelical Community Church, was a special Blessing. For the past few Months Dr. Gil has been teaching verse by verse through Revelation. His teaching style is very thorough, so he also shows how Prophecies of the Old Testament fit together with the Book of Revelation. So I picked up some special jewels of understanding today.
I have LONG personally believed that Old Testament Saints, and New Testament Saints are SAVED THE EXACT SAME WAY. Especially because of this Verse:
Malachi 3:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] "For I, the LORD, do not change;
therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
I know that many believe, and especially some here, that the Old Testament Saints were saved by keeping the law and the animal Sacrifices when they failed. I do NOT believe that; in fact I believe:
OT SAINTS were saved by believing GOD would provide a MESSIAH.
NT SAINTS were saved by believing GOD did provide a MESSIAH.
People want to argrue, claiming the Believers of the OT, did not have the Holy Spirit, therefore they were not born again, and never have been IN THE MESSIAH.
So here are a couple of jewels of wisdom that gleaned from today's sermon:
Ezekiel 2:2-5 (NASB)
[SUP]2 [/SUP] As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] Then He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] "I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'
[SUP]5 [/SUP] "As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Because of false belief that JEWS of the OT were saved by works of the LAW, most Christians today do not think OT Believers get Resurrected the Same Time as NT Believers.
Daniel 12:1-3 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
[SUP]2 [/SUP] "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] "Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
THAT PORTION OF SCRIPTURE, PARALLELS THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE:
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (CSBBible)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] Therefore encourage one another with these words.
NOW, I ask, SINCE OUR LORD GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, AND A FEW OT JEWS SERIOUSLY BELIEVED GOD WOULD SEND A MESSIAH TO REDEEM THEM FROM THEIR SINS; HOW CAN YOU SAY THOSE FEW ARE NOT IMMERSED INTO THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF MESSIAH?
Matthew 22:14 (ASV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] For many are called, but few chosen.
Matthew 7:13-14 (HCSB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
[SUP]14 [/SUP] How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Ezra 9:15 (ESV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.”
Isaiah 10:20-21 (HCSB)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who struck them, but they will faithfully depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.
I am CONVINCED by the Holy Spirit, those who had Genuinely BELIEVIED GOD WOULD SEND A MESSIAH, Will be Resurrected the same day as genuine Christians, and are co-equally the BRIDE OF CHRIST. Those who chose to believe they have to go through the TRIBULATION, you WILL GET TO DO EXACTLY THAT. As for the Rest of us, WE HAVE A WEDDING TO GO TO:
Revelation 19:7-8 (NCV)
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come, and the Lamb’s bride has made herself ready.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.“ (The fine linen means the good things done by God’s holy people.)
