Prophecy Is For All Nations And Peoples
The
prophetic portions of God’s word give the nation of Israel a lot of
attention. Is He playing favorites? Is He ignoring all the other
nations and people on earth?
3,500
years back people believed gods were local. Such gods had
jurisdiction only over a particular territory or a particular race.
When you went to a different place you had better make an effort to
appease the god of that section of country to gain their favor. A
mindset that even Israel struggled with.
The
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the God of scripture) is the
Creator/Ruler/Father of ALL nations… not just Israel. He is the God
of all the earth, not just a patch of land in the middle east. The
prophecies He has caused to be recorded affect all nations and
peoples of the earth.
Exodus
22:21
Deuteronomy
10:17-19
Deuteronomy
27:19
Ezekiel
47:22
These
scriptures give us the mind of God on the matter. He loves those of
other nations and wants the people He has chosen to think and act the
same way. God judges each person by how they respond to His
instructions. Some have received a lot and some have received very
little.
Romans
9:4 Israel received a lot. In return God expects a lot from them.
The same equation is at work in the church, the spiritual nation, the
Israel of God. “to whom much is given, much is expected in
return”. Therefor this principel is at work for you and me
also.
In
the days of the Old Covenant God used Israel as a sort of middle-man.
He delivered His word directly to them… they were to take it to the
rest of the world, living it, speaking of it in their streets and
homes. The same equation is at work in the church, the spiritual
nation, the Israel of God… to speak, to teach, and to reach.
It
may be that Israel’s shortcomings kept their neighbors from seeing
the light of God’s commands. It may be that the shortcomings of the
church keep others from seeing the light of God’s truth. [woe unto
us if that be the case].
Israel is First in Line
The
physical descendants of Abraham may have been the first to received
the good things of God. They are also first in line to receive His
discipline and punishment.
Luke
21:20-24 when the Day of The Lord comes Christ will deal out
punishment and discipline to all the nations of the earth… Israel
is also to be punished and disciplined. But their punishment and
discipline comes even before the Christ’s return.
Before
Christ’s return there is a time of great tribulation. God will
punish Israel for their rebellion and rejection by allowing the
nations to have their way with Israel. The results won’t be pretty.
God
completely removes all protection from Israel, they are viciously
attacked by al the other nations with Satan goading them on. The
descendants of Abraham are killed in huge number and the rest are
taken as slaves. It is “the time of Jacob’s trouble’
Jeremiah 30:6-10.
Note:
Jesus uses same terminology [pain of childbirth, no time like it in
history] in His long prophecy in Matthew 24: 6-8 [painof childbirth],
21 [no time like it]. Very likely one of the prophetic writings He
was referring to was the time of Jacob’s trouble.
So…
the time of Jacob’s trouble comes right before the return of Christ
when He will forcefully discipline all nations, all cultures, and
people… but the process of punishment will have already begun with
Israel.
God
starts with Israel: He revealed Himself first to Israel, Israel is
punished and disciplined first, and Israel is the first nation and
people to be restored when the Kingdom of God and the 1,000 year rule
of Christ begin.
God Does Not Forget Rest of Humanity
Isaiah
66:18-23
Acts
10:34-35 The church began with a remnant of believers drawn out
of Israel, Peter, John, the 120 disciples, the 5,000 baptized on
Pentecost, Paul… and on that base God is drawing to Himself people
from all nations. The situation in this verse is referring
specifically to the church. But is also a template for how Christ
will operate during the 1,000 year rule.
2
Peter 3:9 God wants all people to come to Him.
Isaiah
56:1-8 God wants all people to come to the way of life He made
known to Israel all those centuries and millenia ago. The way that He
has made known to you through His word and the active power of the
Holy Spirit in you.
God Works With People Based On How They Respond
To
the eunuch or the nations who choose what is pleaing to Him… good
stuff.
An
example: God sent Jonah to Ninevah with a warning to repent or
die. They repented and God changed His intention based on how they
responded.
A
not-so-good example: Nebuchadnazzer Have you ever asked yourself
“why did God give Nebuchadnezzar the king of wicked Babylon dreams
of the future?”. People like Daniel, solomon, Isaiah make sense
but why Nebuchnazzer? He was bad.
After
Judah was finally destroyed for their rebellion against God. There
was no longer any model nation on the planet. Meanwhile, Babylon was
a huge player on the international scene... Influential, powerful,
with a sophisticated culture. Was God offering Babylon, through
Nebuchadnezzar, the opportunity to be a nation God could perform a
work through?
Daniel
4:19-26
Daniel
4:27 was God saying through Daniel “repent and be great
Nebuchadnezzar!”. What then was Nebuchadnezzar’s response?
Daniel
4:28-30 “I don’t need God. I’m already great!”
Compare
Nebuchadnezzar’s response to Abraham, who heard Gods voice and
obeyed, or even the people of Israel who heard the commandments from
God at Sinai. When God asked “will you live by these rules?”…
the people of Israel responded “yes, we want to go for it”.
Israel may have failed in the end… but at least they would try.
God
works with people based on how they respond... What is your response
to God?
Nebuchadnezzar’s
arrogance and vainty was a bad response. So lhe was was struck down
for 7 years as promised. Afterwards, he was willing to acknowledge
God’s awesome power, His authority over earth. But, as far as we
can tell he never changed his ways like Daniel advised.
God
has shown and human history has shown: Leaders, people’s, and
nations [Israel and all the rest] are unable to consistently follow
and obey Romans 3:9-12.
This
will remain the situation until Jesus Christ returns to bring the
rule of God to earth and the power of the Holy Spirit
is poured out upon the nations.
Only then will all nations, peoples and cultures be convinced of what
is right, and be committed to doing what is right. Only then
will righteousness, justice, mercy, love, peace, and the joy of
eternal life sweep over the face of the earth.
Beginning with Israel… but extending to everyone who is willing to
say YES to God and to Jesus Christ.
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