We are continuing our study of difficult passages in the gospels, and how they are more clearly understood when viewed through the filter of right division. When we understand where we are in the dispensational timeline, being in the dispensation of the grace of God / the Mystery time period, we can clear up all supposed contradictions of scripture when we rightly divide it. We began looking at Daniel's 70 weeks in light of Matthew 24 and Romans 11, which we will complete next Sunday. Paul and Peter speak of the time of the end of the 70 weeks when Messiah King Jesus returns to establish his everlasting kingdom. Romans 11:26-27: And so 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. Acts 3:19-21: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. As we have observed before in the book of Acts, it is a book of the history of the first century church and how there is a definite transition from Jewish centered in Jerusalem to Gentile centered in Antioch. There are four distinct times in Acts where there is a definite break / transition from Jew to Gentile...from Peter to Paul: Acts 7:51-60 – God stops dealing with the Jews in Jerusalem Acts 13:45-49 – God stops dealing with the Jews in Asia Minor Acts 18:5-7 – God stops dealing with the Jews in Europe Acts 28:23-31 – God stops dealing with the Jews worldwide It is important to always keep in mind that in this dispensation of the grace of God, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. All must come to the saving grace of Christ the same way. Romans 10:12-13: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The weeks ahead will give us great insight to many truths in Matthew that will guide us in our understanding of the whole of scripture. Remember, the prophetic program concerning Israel is in “timeout” during this dispensation of the grace of God, aka the mystery program. The prophetic program will resume when the mystery period closes at the rapture of the Church Age saints.
