I TELL YOU A WONDERFUL
SECRET ABOUT ISRAEL &
THE "CHOSEN OF GOD" 

INTRODUCTION TO PART 1

If one is a "biblical literalist" - that is to say, if one believes that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" - then one has no choice but to echo the words of Charles Fuller when he said:

"... the basic premise of biblical literalism is TWO purposes of God expressed in the formation of TWO peoples [i.e., Israel and the church]  WHO MAINTAIN THEIR DISTINCTION THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.

NOTE: Charles Fuller was not a biblical literalist; Fuller was the founder of Fuller Theological Seminary in Southern California. This statement (see above), then, is a statement made by one of the great enemies of biblical literalism, and, thus, should be seen as a somewhat "irritable affirmation" of how seriously this concept (again, see above) must be taken by those who affirm the Bible as the "INSPIRED WORD OF GOD." It is not too much to say, then, that biblical literalism makes an intellectual demand that one must acknowledge the premise that "God is pursuing two purposes in the formation of two peoples who maintain their distinction throughout eternity."

Fuller Theological Seminary has been the "intellectual birthplace" of many of today's most aberrant movements in Christendom including the "Apostles and Prophets Movement" and the Vineyard Christian Fellowships. [Please see our article, "Today's Church: Making Zombies Out Of Christians - the Prophets and Apostles Movement;" please also see, "The House on 24^th Street" and "Bob Jones, John Wimber and the Vineyard Christian Fellowships."]

Arno Gaebelein, a friend of biblical literalism, put it this way:

"THIS [i.e., THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH] IS PROBABLY THE MOST BASIC THEOLOGICAL TEST OF WHETHER OR NOT A MAN IS A ... [BIBLICAL LITERALIST] AND IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST PRACTICAL AND CONCLUSIVE ..."

NOTE #1: Please be advised as to Antipas Ministries' Statement of Faith regarding the Word of God: "We believe that 'all Scripture is given by inspiration of God', by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God 'were moved by the Holy Spirit' to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings - historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical - as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is therefore WITHOUT ERROR.

As a result, "We believe that the Scriptures must be taken in their LITERAL, and COMMON SENSE meaning, unless such meaning is CLEARLY shown and/or stated to be allegorical or figurative. For example, "Israel" is to be understood as literal Israel and not something else - for instance the Church; with regard to any particular passage, the most simple sense - or that which most readily suggests itself to an attentive and intelligent reader, possessing competent knowledge - is in all probability the genuine sense or meaning. The Scriptures must be interpreted in the usual, natural, literal sense. (Mark 12:26,36; 13:11; Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2-3; 18:28 26:22-23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21.)

NOTE #2:  Arno Clemens Gaebelein (1861-1945) was a Methodist minister in the United States of America. He was also a teacher and a conference speaker. He was the editor of Our Hope, a Christian periodical, for a number of years, and was a close assistant to Dr. C. I. Scofield on his monumental work, the Scofield Reference Bible.

GOD IS PURSUING TWO DISTINCT PURPOSES

It is precisely this kind of thinking (see "Note #1" above) that led Lewis Sperry Chafer, the first President of Dallas Theological Seminary, to conclude from a positive standpoint what Fuller admitted to from a negative standpoint: that if one read the Bible LITERALLY (reading "Israel" as Israel in the prophetic Scriptures, and the "church" as the church) one would be led systematically and logically to the conclusion that -

"... throughout the ages God is pursuing two distinct purposes: one related to the earth with earthly people (i.e., the Jews) and earthly objectives ... while the other is related to heaven with heavenly people (i.e., the Christians) and heavenly objectives, which is Christianity ..." [Again, this pretty much parallels what Fuller had to say.]

NOTE: Lewis Sperry Chafer was ordained in 1900 by a Council of Congregational Ministers in the First Congregational Church in Buffalo, and in 1903 he ministered as an evangelist in the Presbytery of Troy in Massachusetts and became associated with the ministry of Cyrus Scofield, who became his mentor. Chafer received his Litt.D. from Dallas in 1924, D.D. from Wheaton in 1926, and Th.D. from the Aix-en-Province, France, Protestant Seminary in 1946. Chafer had a tremendous influence on the evangelical movement. Among his students were Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Life (as well as many of Young Life's first staff members), Ken Taylor, author of The Living Bible translation, and numerous future Christian educators and pastors, including Howard Hendricks, J. Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, R. B. Thieme, Jr. and John Walvoord, who succeeded him as president of DTS. Chafer was recognized among his friends and peers for his balanced, simple life. He was a well-spoken and relaxed leader. Chafer believed the basic truths for Christian living are found in Romans 5, a chapter which teaches about peace, Grace, weakness, hope, sacrifice, love, and joy.

Finally, it is important to note that the distinction between Israel and the church that a LITERAL interpretation of the Bible demands is not some kind of temporary "condition;" it is, as John Walvoord, past president of Dallas Theological Seminary says, a condition that is to be maintained "THROUGHOUT ETERNITY." In other words, even insofar as "eternity-future" is concerned, Israel is not to be swallowed up by the church; it is to remain a discrete entity, separate and distinct from the church. [Again, Walvoord's statement here parallels Fuller's statement insofar as the degree to which the distinction between Israel and the Church will be ultimately extended - that is to say, into eternity.]

NOTE: John F. Walvoord (May 1, 1910 - December 20, 2002) was a Christian theologian, pastor, and president of Dallas Theological Seminary from 1952 to 1986. He was the author of over 30 books, focusing primarily on eschatology, and was co-editor of The Bible Knowledge Commentary with Roy B. Zuck. He earned AB and DD degrees from Wheaton College, an AM degree from Texas Christian University in philosophy, a ThB, ThM, and ThD in Systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a LittD from Liberty Baptist Seminary.

ISRAEL'S PLACE IN ETERNITY IS BASED ON THE
IMMUTABILITY OF GOD'S COVENANTS WITH ISRAEL

This promise - i.e., the promise concerning Israel's separate and distinct standing in eternity - is, as Pentecost states, based upon the "IMMUTABILITY" of God's "COVENANT TO ABRAHAM" which was reinforced and expanded upon by the "PALESTINIAN COVENANT," the "DAVIDIC COVENANT," and the "NEW COVENANT." [Please see Part 1 ("A Commitment to Literalism") and Part 2 ("The Unconditional Covenants") of Chapter VI in the New Antipas Papers for a complete exposition on the "IMMUTABILITY" of God's Covenants with Israel.]

NOTE: J. Dwight Pentecost (born April 24, 1915) is a Christian theologian best known for his book Things to Come. He currently is Distinguished Professor of Bible Exposition, Emeritus, at Dallas Theological Seminary, one of only two so honored. He holds a B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College and Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary. During his academic career he has taught biblical subjects for nearly half a century (Philadelphia College of Bible, 1948-55; Dallas Theological Seminary, 1955-present). His nearly twenty books are written mostly for the general Christian reader. His pastoral career has continued through this period. He was ordained a minister at Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania (Presbyterian Church) in 1941; he later pastored churches in Devon, Pennsylvania (Saint John's Presbyterian Church) from 1946 to 1951 and in Dallas, Texas (Grace Bible Church) from 1958 to 1976.

William Lincoln defines the word "covenant" as follows:

"A divine covenant is (1) a sovereign disposition of God, whereby He establishes an UNCONDITIONAL or declarative compact with man, obligating Himself in grace, by the untrammeled formula, 'I WILL', to bring to pass of Himself definite blessings for the covenanted ones, or (2) a proposal of God, wherein He promises, in a CONDITIONAL or mutual compact with man, by the contingent formula 'IF YE WILL', to grant special blessings to man provided he (man) fulfills perfectly certain conditions, and to execute definite punishments in case of his (man's) failure." 

NOTE: William Lincoln was a 19^th century English theologian. His book, Lectures on the Book of Revelation, is considered by leading pre-millennial scholars today to be foundational insofar as evangelical thought is concerned.

Two additional points should be noted -

• First, God's covenants are simple and understandable; they are not to be understood as conveying a hidden or mystical meaning. G.N.H. Peters writes:

  "In all earthly transactions, when a promise, agreement, or a contract is entered into by which one party gives a promise of value to another, it is universally the custom to explain such a relationship and its promises by the well-known laws of language contained in our grammar or in common usage. It would be regarded absurd ... to view them in any other way ... The very nature of a covenant demands that it should be so worded, so plainly expressed, that it conveys a decisive meaning, and not a hidden or mystical one that requires many centuries to resolve in order to develop." 

  NOTE: G.N.H. Peters was a 19^th century Lutheran theologian. His work, The Theocratic Kingdom, is viewed as a masterpiece by leading pre-millennial scholars today.

• Second, no Gentile nation (including so-called "Christian" nations like America, Britain, France, etc.) has ever received a divine covenant from God; there is only one nation that God has ever covenanted with: Israel. Pentecost writes:

  "Finally, these covenants were made with a covenant people, Israel. In Romans 9:4 Paul states that the nation of Israel had received covenants from the Lord. In Ephesians 2:11-12 he states, conversely, that the Gentiles have not received any such covenants and consequently do not enjoy covenant relationships with God. These passages show us, negatively, that the Gentile (nations) were (and are) without covenant relationships (with God) and, positively, that God had entered into covenant relationships with Israel."

THE FIVE COVENANTS OF GOD WITH ISRAEL

The Scriptures refer to five major covenants with Israel, all of them made by God with the Jewish people. Four of these covenants answer to the first formula defined above and are UNCONDITIONAL; one of them answers to the second formula and is CONDITIONAL. Lincoln writes:

"The four UNCONDITIONAL covenants, with the formula 'I WILL', are found in (1) Genesis 12:1-3, where the formula is found either expressed or understood seven times; (2) Deuteronomy 30:1-10, where it is found either expressed or understood, twelve times; (3) II Samuel 7:10-16, where it is found seven times; and (4) Jeremiah 31:31, where it is found seven times. The CONDITIONAL covenant, (5) with the formula 'IF YE WILL', is found besides in Exodus 19:5 ff., also in Deuteronomy 28:1-68; verses 1-14, 'If thou shall hearken diligently ... blessings;' verses 15-68, 'If thou will not hearken ... cursings'."

Thus, it is to be observed that there are two kinds of covenants which God entered into with Israel: CONDITIONAL and UNCONDITIONAL.

1. In a CONDITIONAL covenant that which was covenanted depends for its fulfillment upon the RECIPIENT of the covenant (Israel), not upon the one making the covenant (God). Certain obligations or considerations must be fulfilled by the receiver of the covenant (Israel) before the Giver of the covenant (God) is obligated to fulfill that which was promised. It is a covenant with an "IF" attached to it. The MOSAIC COVENANT is such a covenant.

2. An UNCONDITIONAL covenant depends ALONE on the Giver of the covenant for its fulfillment. That which was promised is sovereignly given to the recipient of the covenant on the authority and integrity of the One making the covenant apart from the merit or response of the receiver. It is a covenant with no "IF" attached to it whatsoever.

In addition, it should be noted that the unconditional covenants made by God with the Jewish people are ETERNAL.

Lincoln writes:

"All of Israel's covenants are called eternal except the Mosaic Covenant which is declared to be temporal, i.e., it was to continue only until the ... (advent of a better covenant - the New Covenant). For this detail see as follows: (1) the Abrahamic Covenant is called 'eternal' in Genesis 17:7, 13, 19; I Chronicles 16:17; Psalm 105:10; (2) the Palestinian Covenant is called 'eternal' in Ezekiel 16:60; the Davidic Covenant is called 'eternal' in II Samuel 23:5; Isaiah 55:3; and Ezekiel 37:25; and (4) the New Covenant is called 'eternal' in Isaiah 24:5; 61:8; Jeremiah 32:40; 50:5; and Hebrews 13:20."

There can be no doubt, then, that all the covenants except the Mosaic Covenant are covenants of GRACE, having NOTHING to do with the righteousness of the Jewish people per se. [We URGE you read Chapter VI of the New Antipas Papers, "The Distinction between Israel and the Church."]

ISRAEL AS A LIVING EXAMPLE OF GOD'S GRACE

To this end, Israel serves as a living, PRESENT-DAY EXAMPLE of the GRACE of God for all the world to see and marvel at. What God is saying to us insofar as Israel is concerned, is that He is willing to do for us - indeed, for ALL mankind - what He has  done for Israel - even YOU! If God can save wretched Israel, than He can surely save you - and that without recourse to the Law.

And so now we begin to understand the words of the Prophet Jeremiah when he said:

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them out of the land of Egypt (i.e., the MOSAIC COVENANT); which covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I WILL make with THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; after those days (i.e., the "last days") saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I WILL forgive their iniquity, and I WILL remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

And isn't this EXACTLY the way of salvation that God is offering to ALL mankind? Of course it is! Indeed, the evidence that He can save us apart from the Law is ISRAEL. If God can fail with Israel, if He can renege on His promises in the Abrahamic Covenant, the Palestinian Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant - ALL of them covenants of Grace - than He can renege on the promise of salvation that He has made with us. But the Bible says:

"GOD FORBID: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar ..." (Romans 3:4)

In other words, let God be true to His word (i.e., His promises), though every man be found out to be a liar insofar as their words (i.e., their promises) are concerned.

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO ISRAEL IS A
CONFIRMATION OF HIS FAITHFULNESS TO US

To teach, as Covenant theologians do, that, "as a result of Israel's treatment of the Messiah ... God withdrew his presence from Israel as a nation ... that national Israel will never again be a fruitful nation," is to condemn all mankind to the fires of hell.

I say again, if God's promises can fail insofar as Israel is concerned - that is to say, if He can abrogate His four covenants of Grace to Israel as a result of their "heinous crimes against Him" - than the status of the church also stands in jeopardy, OR DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IS ANY BETTER THAN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL? It certainly is not!

NOTE:  Covenant Theology (see above) is precisely the theology taught at Fuller Theological Seminary and other similar institutions. Concerning the shallow and superficial nature of this particular theology, Chafer writes:

"The theological terms [so dear to the Covenant theologian], 'Covenant of Works' and 'Covenant of Grace', do not occur in the Sacred Text. If they are to be sustained it must be wholly apart from biblical authority ... Upon this human invention of two covenants ... [Covenant Theology (and Post-millennialism)] ... [have] largely been constructed. It sees the empirical truth that God can forgive sinners only by the freedom which is secured by the sacrifice of His Son - anticipated in the old order and realized in the new - but that theology utterly fails to discern the purposes of the ages; the [differing] ... relationships of God to the Jews ... and [of God to] the church, with the distinctive, consistent ... obligations which arise directly and unavoidably from the nature of each specific relationship to God. A theology which penetrates no further into Scripture than to discover that in all ages God is immutable in His grace towards penitent sinners [which He no doubt is] and constructs the idea of a universal church [in which Israel is swallowed up by the church] - a church continuing through the ages - on the one truth of immutable grace, is not only disregarding vast spheres of ... [Scripture] but is reaping the unavoidable confusion and misdirection which part-truth engenders."

INTRODUCTION TO PART 2

The question might now fairly be asked, If Israel is to maintain its separate identity throughout eternity, how is this identity to be expressed. The answer is given in two passages in the Book of Revelation (The Apocalypse):

1. Revelation 21:1-3, 9-12, 14 (see above)

2. Revelation 4:1-6 (see above)

These passages tie the destiny of Israel up with that great city, "New Jerusalem," the "Lamb's wife," and connect Israel to God's "Plan and Purpose in the Ages: Specifically, God's intention to bring BOTH (1) the earth and (2) the heavens under His righteous rule.

It is perhaps necessary at this point to inquire into the REALITY and, if I might use this term, the ACTUALITY of the New Jerusalem; and once again we find that a LITERAL interpretation of the Scriptures demands a LITERAL understanding of the "New Jerusalem" - that is to say, an understanding that "New Jerusalem" is a REAL city.

IN THE USAGE OF THE EAST ...

We begin by seeking to understand the figure of the LAMB "marrying" the city; and the comparison of the city to the "LAMB'S WIFE." (cf. Revelation 21:2)

Peters explains the use of these figures as follows:

• "In the usage of the east when a king entered his capitol to rule there from, or a prince ascended the throne, it was represented under the figure of a marriage, i.e., he was wedded, intimately and permanently united to the city, or throne, or people ... It designates the permanent union of a people with the land, as in Isa. 62 where in the Millennial description the land is called 'Beulah', that is 'married' ... When the last time does come ... there is no impropriety but rather eminent fitness that the union of the King of Kings with His capital city should be designated under the same figure, implying the most intimate and permanent relationships. Thus the figure of marriage, which to many is the main objection to the idea of a literal city, serves rather to indicate it.

• "For, the figure itself is explained in the description of the city in so significant a manner, and in such contrast to the use made of it formerly in reference to the earthly Jerusalem, that it cannot possibly be applied to any other than a literal city. It is expressly declared that 'the throne of God and the Lamb' is in this city.

• "The dwelling-place of God, the place where He tabernacled among men always, in former days (as in the tabernacle and temple) assumed a material form ... That dwelling-place which was once a tent, then a temple, now is exhibited as a city, but still designated 'the tabernacle of God' ...

• "The declaration (Rev. 21:22) that the city had no temple (such as earthly Jerusalem) ... can only be predicated of a material city."

Plainly, then, it is not that difficult to understand "NEW JERUSALEM" as a "material city" that unites in itself God's people (Israel and the church) with God Himself as ruler.

"NEW JERUSALEM" AS GOD'S
ETERNAL DWELLING PLACE

There can be no doubt, then, that God - as the ruler of all creation - intends to make "NEW JERUSALEM" His eternal dwelling place, and this is substantiated in the figure of marriage.

William Newall elaborates:

"Several considerations lead us toward the conclusion that "New Jerusalem" is God's ONE eternal resting place:

1. 'Immediately we see the new heaven and new earth, and the New Jerusalem descending to the new earth (Rev. 21:1-2), we are told, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men' ... The object of the new heaven and earth is to bring about this - that God shall ETERNALY HAVE HIS HOME in this capital city of the new creation'.

2. 'No other eternal habitation of God is seen than this of the New Creation's capital ...'

3. 'This heavenly city has the glory of God'. (21:11, 23, 22:5)

4. 'It also has the throne of God, and that 'service' of 22:3, properly called priestly service, or spiritual worship ...'

5. 'They shall see His face ... This, therefore, must be the place of God's rest forever'.

6. 'We need only to remember that the dwellers in the New Jerusalem 'shall reign unto the ages of ages; (22:5). This could not be written of others than the inhabitants of the capital of the new creation'."

Very obviously, then - as Newall suggests - "New Jerusalem" is to be,

"... the eternal dwelling place of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

NOTE: William Reed Newell was born May 22, 1868 and attended Wooster (Ohio) College, graduating in 1891. After studies at Princeton and Oberlin Seminaries, he pastored the Bethesda Congregational Church in Chicago until 1895, when Moody invited him to become the assistant superintendent of Moody Bible Institute under R.A. Torrey. In this position Newell demonstrated his extraordinary gift of Bible exposition. Great audiences in Chicago, St. Louis and Toronto flocked to hear his city-wide Bible classes, leading to the publication of his widely-known commentaries, especially Romans Verse-by-Verse, Hebrews Verse-by-Verse, and The Book of Revelation. During this period, Newell wrote the beloved Gospel hymn At Calvary. He was called into the presence of the One he gladly owned as his King on April 1, 1956. Few men have had a clearer grasp of the magnitude of God's grace in Christ or have been able to convey it with such lasting results.

"NEW JERUSALEM" AS THE DWELLING
PLACE OF THE "LAMB'S WIFE"

Newall continues:

"This city is not only the dwelling place of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - but is the dwelling place of the bride, the Lamb's wife (Rev, 21:9) as well."

Pentecost goes on to say:

"Without doubt, this is the same place the Lord had in mind when He said:

'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

'And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)

'For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come'." (Heb. 13:14)

IT IS IN THE STRUCTURE OF NEW JERUSALEM THAT WE CAN
BEGIN TO COMPREHEND ISRAEL'S PLACE IN ETERNITY

Now, note carefully how this city - "NEW JERUSALEM" - is described by the Scripture: It is portrayed as a city which has twelve gates, and on the gates the names of the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL; in addition, it is described as a city which has twelve foundations with the names of the TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB.

In other words, the city has the DISTINCT attributes of both Israel and the church; not just the church, but Israel as well! AND REMEMBER HERE! - IT IS "NEW JERUSALEM" (not just the church, but "New Jerusalem") THAT IS CALLED THE "LAMB'S BRIDE."

Now, that's strange! Why would the twelve tribes of Israel be given equal "billing" (as it were) with the twelve apostles of the Lamb IF in fact (according to "Covenant theologians") "As a result of Israel's heinous treatment of the Messiah ... God withdrew his presence from Israel as a nation ... that national Israel will never again be a fruitful nation?" The problem is obvious for "Covenant theologians:" IF Israel was merely a "type" or "shadow" of the church, when the reality appears, should not the "type" disappear, there being no further need of it? Why, then, does Israel appear to be given "equal" "billing" with the church in the structure of the "New Jerusalem?"

And there is something else: in Revelation 4:1-6, twenty-four elders are seen seated before the throne of God in the New Jerusalem; not twelve, but twenty-four, a number that signifies not just the church, but Israel as well.  Again, IF Israel is nothing more than a "type" or "shadow" of the church, why is Israel given equal "billing" with the church in the very throne room of God?

Very obviously - and contrary to what "Covenant theologians" preach - 

"GOD HATH NOT CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE (meaning Israel) which he foreknew ..." (Romans 11:2)

GOD HATH NOT CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE;
GOD IS ABLE TO GRAFT THEM IN AGAIN

Yes! - insofar as Christ's "First Coming" was concerned, Israel stumbled; but they did not stumble so far that they were out of reach of God's inestimable love - and it is on account of THIS love that we ALL are able to stand before God; not just Israel, but the church as well.

Paul continues:

"I say then, Have they (i.e., Israel) stumbled that they should fall? GOD FORBID: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?" (Romans 11:11-12)

Paul expands on this thought:

"For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? [cf. Ezekiel 37:1-14)

"For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches." (Romans 11:15-16)

Paul then goes on to breathlessly exclaim:

"... God is able to graft them in again." (Romans 11:23)

Paul elaborates:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery ... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:25)

And after the "fulness of the Gentiles be come in," Paul declares that -

"... ALL Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

"For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

"[Because] ... as touching the election, THEY ARE BELOVED FOR THE FATHER'S SAKE.

"FOR THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD ARE WITHOUT REPENTANCE." (Romans 11:26-29)

HOW UNSEARCHABLE ARE HIS JUDGMENTS

Paul concludes:

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

"Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

WHEN WILL ISRAEL BE FULLY RESTORED?

It now might fairly be asked, When will Israel's FULL restoration occur?

The Bible gives us a clear answer to this question: It shall occur at the END of the Tribulation Period - at the Battle of Armageddon. (cf. Zech. 12:11)

"In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem ...

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the SPIRIT OF GRACE (i.e., UNMERITED FAVOR) and of supplications: and THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED (very obviously the Lord), and they shall mourn for him (i.e., Jesus), as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness (i.e., great sorrow) for him (i.e., Christ, whom they rejected), as one that is in bitterness (i.e., great sorrow) for his firstborn.

 "In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon [where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought].

"And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

"The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

"All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart."

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

"And one shall say unto him, WHAT ARE THESE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS? Then he shall answer, THOSE WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS." (Please see Zech. 12:8-14, 13:1, 6)

How marvelous! How splendid! How wonderful! So now - at last - we begin to understand the words of the Apostle Paul:

"And so ALL Israel shall be saved." (Romans 11:26)

And we speak here not merely of the Jewish people as single individuals, but THE NATION OF ISRAEL as a WHOLE. [For those who desire a more complete picture of the events leading up to Israel's FULL restoration as a nation before God, please Chapter XV of the New Antipas Papers, "The Gog / Magog War;" please also see our article, "Israel: In That Day There Shall Stand Up A Root Of Jesse That Shall Be an Ensign For The People."]

NEW JERUSALEM: A CITY IN THE SKY

And now we come to something quite stunning! - and this "something" manifests itself in Revelation 21:16's description of the dimensions of "New Jerusalem:"

"The city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." (Revelation 21:16)

That's HUGE! Think about it! - One furlong equals 220 yards; there are 2,640,000 yards in 12,000 furlongs, or 7,920.000 feet divided by 5,280 (the number of feet in a mile) and we get the figure of 1,500 miles. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CITY IS 1,500 MILES LONG, 1,500 MILES WIDE, AND 1,500 MILES HIGH.

Very obviously, this city could not possible be located on the earth; it would throw the earth off its axis.  Pentecost writes:

"It is generally agreed by interpreters ... that the city seen in Revelation 21:10 is suspended over the earth." [More about this in later articles.]

A city in the sky! - halfway between heaven and earth: A city perfectly situated to have dominion over both the heavens and the earth; a city perfectly calculated to serve the interests of both Israel and the church.

AND SO NOW WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND ...

And so now we begin to understand how serious a thing anti-Semitism is - no matter how subtly it is presented, whether as the result of the "Illuminati Myth" or the so-called "Secular-Humanist Conspiracy." THE FACT IS, ANTI-SEMITISM STRIKES AT THE VERY HEART OF GOD'S "PLAN & PURPOSE IN THE AGES" - and, thus, it is not without reason that the Bible warns us that God will -

"Curse him that curseth thee (that is to say, Israel) ..." (Genesis 12:3)

IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND ...

It is with this in mind that we URGE all of you to acquaint yourselves with what the Prophetic Scriptures really teach.

The very real fact of the matter is, the serious study of the Prophetic Scriptures is very difficult to "come by" in today's church, the leaders of which are DRUNK (Rev. 14:8) with the love of this world and INTOXICATED (Rev. 14:8) with the wine of the American New World Order System. The Bible says:

"... they are swallowed up [with the] wine [of this world] ... [as a result]  THEY ERR IN VISION, THEY STUMBLE IN JUDGMENT.

"For all tables are full of [their] vomit [i.e., their false teachings] ... " (Isaiah 28:7-8)

They teach error for truth; and like Balaam's ass, they prophesy for money. Still, God's Word abides true, despite the false teachings of today's Apostate Church, and what it has to say continues to be AUTHORITATIVE and CONCLUSIVE; indeed, insofar as the Book of Revelation is concerned, the Bible says:

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." (Rev. 1:3)

No other book of the Bible contains such a promise. The fact is, God wants us to know what His "Plan and Purpose" in the "end of days" is so that we can prepare ourselves for those things "which must shortly come to pass." (Rev. 1:1) Specifically, the Bible says:

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND IN THAT EVIL DAY, and having done all, to stand.

"STAND THEREFORE HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH [THE] TRUTH [OF GOD'S WORD]  ..." (Eph. 13-14)

Concerning God's desire to bring us into His confidence in these "Last Days," J. Dwight Pentecost has written,

"God, the architect of the ages, has seen fit to take us into His confidence concerning His plan for the future [of mankind and planet earth] and has revealed His purpose in DETAIL in the Word [i.e., the Bible]. A greater body of Scripture is given to prophecy than any other subject, for approximately one-fourth of the Bible was prophetic at the time it was written. That portion is devoted to the unfolding of God's program [in the ages]."

It is PRECISELY for this reason that we URGE you -

1. To involve yourself in either our ALIYA training (for those of you who continue to reside WITHIN the borders of the United States) by -

   PRESSING HERE

   OR

2. For those of you who live OUTSIDE the borders of the United States, to involve yourself in raising up a TESTIMONY in the lands you are living. If you want to be a part of this great work, please -

   PRESS HERE

3. In addition, if you have not as yet ordered your FREE DVD, "Greed Is Good," we encourage you to do so now -

   PRESS HERE

4. Finally, we continue to need your financial help. We will, of course,  continue on whether we receive help or not, but if you can help and take some of the pressure off of us, please -

   PRESS HERE

   In connection with item #4 above, we pray that you will remember the Word of God:

   "IF WE HAVE SOWN UNTO YOU SPIRITUAL THINGS, IS IT A GREAT THING IF WE SHALL REAP YOUR CARNAL (MATERIAL) THINGS?" (1 Cor. 9:11)

God bless you all!

S.R. Shearer
Antipas Ministries

P.S. We URGE you to check out our ISRP website.

PS Have the courage of your convictions! Contribute to the ministry by making out a check to "Antipas Christian Ministry" and sending it to - Antipas Ministries 1112 Long Rd., #40 Centralia, WA 98531 Or donate through Paypal by clicking the Paypal image below: We DESPERATELY need your continued SACRIFICIAL financial help. Time is short - and we need to be about the Lord's business as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, please email us at staff@antipasministries.com.