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CHAPTER NINE
A STUDY OF THE SPIRITUAL SITUATION
21 STEPS
FROM FLOOD TO FIRE
In terms of form, there are
4 CSs, 4 Rs, 4 Cs, 4 Rs, and 5 JBs
In terms of presentation, there are
21 Steps and 7 Terraces for the Steps
Often events are narrated concerning time segments in the Bible's record, and it seems that a brief outline of major chronology might be helpful; and so it is placed below. In this current volume itself, much has been given which involves a time line, so that this seems a fitting site for this overview. Details are so often presented, that here simple overview is given, with little comment.
This starts after the Flood (cf.
News 1), as a convenient point of departure,
following the universal judgment, and the creeping back, on the part of many,
and the arrestingly capacious words of God to the one called for channelling and
covenant.
21 STEPS
Here are the Four CSs.
1) Coming in Covenant
Abraham and Patriarchs
with dual conferments
a)
to one of that seed, a descendant in the flesh,
to bring blessing to all nations,
and
b)
the nation to have possession of the land accorded
with this land as terrestrial basis for Israel
(Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22).
2) Coverage in Prophecy
Israel to come as the continuing nation following Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
(Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 32 and the prophets)
with vast emphasis on the Messiah, the seed for international blessing
as from Genesis 3:15
Isreal, Gentiles, World
Gentiles as the coming
spread
(Jeremiah 16:19-21, Isaiah 11:10, 24:14ff., 42:6, 49:6,
60:1-3, 65:13-15, 66:18-21, Psalm 18:49, 67, 72, 100, 117,
Deuteronomy 32:43,
Jonah, Micah 5:8,
Malachi 1:11, Matthew 28:18-20)
3) Severance in Squalor
Israel (Micah 5:1-5, Zechariah 11:4-13)
Israel
4) Sojourn in Sorrow for Israel, the nation
(Micah 5, Romans 11, Deuteronomy 32, Leviticus 26)
and co-incident provision for Gentile or Jew
Direct Access to God in the Messiah
(Romans 11:1-26, Matthew 24, Revelation 11, 13, Acts 15:14-21,
Amos 9:11-15, with twofold perspective)
This includes the Gentile Era
(Romans 11:1-26,
Matthew 24, Revelation 11, 13, Acts 15:14-21,
Amos 9:11-15, with twofold perspective)
of many kingdoms,
corruptions and corrosions,
proceeds in manifold vagaries till the end
(Matthew 24, Luke 18,
21, Daniel 9, 11-12
cf. Answers to Questions Ch. 5, SMR
Chs. 3,
8 -
9, Ch. 4 Extension, With Heart
and Soul ... Ch. 4, Biblical Blessings
Ch. 2)
Israel and the Gentile Era
Now Come the Four Rs
5) Return to the Land of Israel
Israel (Ezekiel 36-37, Isaiah 42,49,Micah 7, Hosea in thrust)
6) Return to Capital Jerusalem
Israel
(Luke 21:24, Zechariah 12:6, Joel 2:32, 3:16, Ezekiel 38:8)
Gentiles ... End of Gentile Era
(Luke 21:24)
7) Resistance to International Buzz and Belligerence
Israel and Gentiles
( Zechariah 12)
5-7 relate to Israel and the Nations
8) Revelation of Christ crucified to Opened Hearts
(Zechariah 12:10-13:1, Romans 11:25)
Israel
Below are the Four Cs
9)
Conversion of the National Remnant
to that same Jesus Christ crucified
(Isaiah 59:20 with Matthew 19:28-29, Zechariah 3:6-10, 12:1 - 13:1, with !4:11ff., Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 37:1-14 with 38-39)
before crucial assault
Israel
10) Confrontation with the International Horde
directed to lead on to desolation of the latter by the direct power of God
(Zechariah 12, 14, Isaiah 66, Ezekiel 38-39)
Israel and the Nations
11) Complementarity of Jew and Gentile in the Kingdom of Heaven
(Ephesians 2:14-22, Isaiah 66 (initial, partial, reaching on),
Romans 11 (final, total), Revelation 14,
Galatians 3:26-28) now culminates
12) Call to Come to the Haven for the Heavenly Host -
Christ in Person in Heaven
(Revelation 19:8, 11:7-11 - cf. ,
I Cor. 15:42-58,
Matthew
24:29-51 - all the nations not equal
to one main division lacking)
All Believers
Following are the Second Four Rs
13) Resurrection at His Call
All Believers now come from the garb of mortality,
resurrected to that of immortality - another aspect of 12) above
See
Revelation 11:1-12 in application of Zechariah 4:8-13,
with the "Come up Here," of the
former,
as in Regal Rays from Revelation Ch. 7.
The entire Christian Church, all inclusive, the "two witnesses",
not excluding the vast new conversion segment of Israel,
as in 9) above: all resurrected as in
Matthew 24:31, Isaiah 26:19)
All Believers
14) Regality of Crusading Messiah
coming in restoration
from heaven (cf. Acts 3:19-21)
in International Overthrow
of assailing, invasive,
recklessly oppressive earth forces.
He comes
with thrusting judgment
on the Powers that Be,
leading to His rule on earth, in Terrestrial Majesty
(Isaiah 59, 66, Revelation 19:7-21, Micah 2, 7:15ff.,
Deuteronomy 32:39-43, Psalm 2)
coming with "all His saints"
(I Thessalonians 3:13, Zechariah 14:5, Revelation 19, Jude 14-15,
related to Ezekiel 38-39).Thus He comes, ruling the world, sovereign in Jerusalem,
the holy land restored ,
with many nations joined to the Lord
and all nations showing fealty to the Messiah
(Micah 2:7-13, Isaiah 2:1-4, Psalm 2),
none dominating, He in majesty (Isaiah 2:4,12-21, 19:13ff.),
regnant over all.
The Messiah and The Earth
15) Restoration of Place in Peace
(Joel 2:32, Ezekiel 39:12-16, Psalm 72,
Micah 4:1ff., Isaiah 2:1-4, Matthew 19:28,
Luke 22:28-30, Revelation 20:1-6),
both for Israel and for all others as the Lord has appointed
(cf. Messiah, Jesus Christ Ch. 8, )
He rules till victory and vindication long past
(Psalm 72, Isaiah 11, Revelation
20:1-10),
the final rush of innermost rebellion is stanched,
and there follows
the terminus,
in the reckless finale for folly.
The Messiah and the Earth
16) Removal of Heaven and Earth
(Isaiah 51:6, Matthew 24:35, Revelation 20:11, II Peter 3)
The Five JBs
17) Judgment respectively for the Spiritually Clothed and Unclothed
(cf. Matthew 22:1-14, Isaiah 61:10), by the Trinity, through Jesus the
Christ
(Revelation 20:11, Acts 17:31, Jude 12-23, II Peter 2)
18)
Justice and Mercy severally per Two Books,
those of Messianic Mercy where the Messiah is received by the believer,
and unalloyed Justice where darkness instead
is divinely discerned to be preferred by the person,
that great principle of final condemnation,
and first knowledge of the God of all mercy:
like water flowing to the lowest point,
grace flows where there is any place for it,
and it is God who knows, love which sends it down, joy which receives it.
ustice and Mercy severally per Two Books,
those of Messianic Mercy and those staring uncovered at unalloyed Justice
(Revelation 20:11-14, John 3:19, Revelation 22:17)
19) Jubilation Eternal in new Heavens and Earth
(Revelation 21:1-4)
20) Bodies Eternal
(as per No. 13, immortal, incorruptible - II Corinthians 5:1ff., I Corinthians 15:42ff., 57ff., Isaiah 26:19) - where no evil is (Revelation 21:4,8)
21) Blessedness Eternal
(Revelation 22:1-5, Psalm 145, Psalm 20, 22, 145,
Isaiah 51:11, 49:6, 42:6, 60 with
66,
II Timothy 1:8-12, Romans 8:29-39).
7 TERRACES FOR THE STEPS
1) A Messianic Message, starting with Abraham, from Israel to the
Nations
(Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22)
2) A Message from Jewish and Gentile Remnant to the World
(Isaiah 66, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 15, Galatians, Colossians 3:5-11)
3) A Coming of Christ both to, for and then with Both Remnants,
now one in Him
(Romans 11, I Thessalonians 3:13, Jude 14-15, Zechariah 14:5)
4) A Sudden Resurrection to format fit for Celestial
Congregation,
now Ensuing (Revelation 19:8, I Corinthians 15:57ff., II Corinthians 5, Isaiah
26:19, Psalm 2 and 22)
5) A Determinative Confrontation and the Kingdom in His Presence
on the earth (Revelation 19, Micah 7, Psalm 72, Isaiah 11, 32, 59),
till a final thrust erupting, fails (Revelation 20:7-10).
6) All being now resurrected (Acts 24:15, Revelation 20:5),
A Universal Judgment to Everlasting Joy or
Confirmed and Consequential Sorrow proceeds
(Revelation 20:11, 22:11, Isaiah 51:11, Revelation 22:1-4,11-17).
Here enduring opportunity at last becomes a finale, faith or not,
thirst quenched or not, grace or disgrace (Revelation .
7) A Post-World New Heavens and Earth for the Eternally Saved -
first in prospect sure
(II Timothy 1:8-12, Romans 8:29ff., Ephesians 1:4,11),
and then in retrospect of its advent
(I Cor. 15, II Cor. 5, Revelation 20):
this
is for all the people of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so for many (Revelation
7:14): for there is no difference in outcome (Galatians 3), only in income,
some from spiritual streams reaching
for many, as tributaries form from the one mountain,
to the one lake, for one Lord calling many to one Saviour and King in glory
(Isaiah 43:10-11, Acts 4:11-12, John 5:19-23).