From captivity to the promised land.

Acts 13:15-19

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” Acts 13:15

This was the common format for church services during those days. Scripture from the Old Testament was read, then others would have the opportunity to expound on what was read. If we are ever asked if we have a word to speak on the word of God, Old or New Testament, that is our opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.” Acts 13:16-19

In the days of the Apostles, the Old Testament was the Scriptures and from those scriptures the Gospel of Jesus Christ was presented. I wonder if they had any idea that their writings would be called Scriptures today to form the New Testament Bible? Paul, all of the Apostles, and those sharing about Jesus Christ in those days, all started with the Old Testament to show how Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy as the Christ and Savior of the world. This is known as the “scarlet cord” running through the Old Testament to point to Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. For us today, the Old and New Testament has become the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen…” The Jewish people, then and of today, are descendants from those of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament. Their fathers are particularly described as Jacob’s sons [Jacob’s name was changed to Israel in Genesis 32:28] from whom the twelve tribes of Israel are named after. The phrase, “…and you who fear God…” were non-Jewish people who adopted the guidance of the Jewish customs [laws of Judaism] and were referred to as “God-fearers”. The God of Israel is the same God of Jesus Christ and He chose the Jewish people as those who would bring birth to Jesus, a Jewish man from the tribe of Judah.

“The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.“. The Jewish people were exalted while in bondage in Egypt in that they started as 70 people in Egypt and grew to hundreds of thousands, Genesis 46:26-27. This exaltation of population growth came through the seed of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel. The followers of Jesus Christ began as zero when God sent Him to this earth, but since then, the members of His family have been exalted to global proportions. Our Lord lifted His hand and brought the Israelites out of bondage, in the same way that Jesus Christ brings us out of the bondage to sin and death to the eternal promised land.

 “… Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.” For forty years, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness due to their refusal to follow the word of God. In the same way, those of this world are not following God through Jesus Christ and are not able to find their way through the turbulent sin-plagued world. They are living in a spiritual desert where belief in God does not blossom, acknowledging the need for the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ does not blossom, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit does not blossom. Even so, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.” Our Lord brought the Israelites to the earthly promised land, destroyed their enemies, and distributed to each of the twelve tribes of Israel an allotment of land. God shows the refinement of those earthly allotments of land in Ezekiel 48. This symbolizes how God will destroy the nations of this earth to create a new heaven and earth where those who live for Jesus Christ will enter into the promised land of the New Jerusalem.

Paul is establishing the basis for revealing to the Jewish people that without Jesus Christ, they are those wandering in the wilderness. Without Jesus Christ, they are those being destroyed and the promised land of the New Jerusalem is for those who are obedient to the word of God through Jesus Christ. This is Paul’s final word at the finish of his preaching, “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

As seen on the image below, the earthly promised land that was given to the Israelites [image to the right] is a mirror image of the State of Israel [image to the left] given to the Jewish people of today [Except for the chunk of the west bank and the Gaza Strip that eats into it].

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1