Messianic Perspectives

Liz Aiello: Shalom and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinctive first-century Jewish point of view. This is Liz Aiello.

Some of God's mysteries are meant to be understood, and others are not. In this series of messages, our Bible teacher, Pastor Al Runge, discusses the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer, so have your pencil and paper ready. And now, with today's message, here's Pastor Al Runge.

Al Runge: I have been speaking on the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. In my first message, I spoke on the mystery of the nation of Israel: its past, present, and future. The apostle Paul, in Romans 11, verse 1 and 2, said, "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew."

In my second message, I spoke on the mystery of the purpose of the church. The mystery of the church is to glorify God. He is glorified by our praises, and He is glorified by the demonstration of His power through a believing church. Look with me at Ephesians 3:20. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Some of us ask God for too little because our thoughts of God are inadequate.

In the last message, I spoke on the third mystery of the church, which is Christ dwelling within us. That is our hope of eternal glory. Now I want to talk to you about the mystery of the end of the church age. God has a plan. Listen to the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 46:9, and God is speaking directly from Him. "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none other. I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'"

Not only does God have foreknowledge, but He also has a definite plan and timetable. We can know some of what will happen because it's revealed in scripture, but we don't have the timetable. Look with me at Acts 1, verse 6. When the disciples were come together, they asked the resurrected Jesus saying, "Lord, will Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"

The disciples were Jewish. They believed that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. They believed He was the promised one who would restore the throne of David and bring redemption to their nation, as the prophets predicted. So it was natural to ask the question. The Lord did not rebuke them for asking this question.

Listen to what Jesus told them. "It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in His own power." The Lord has revealed many future events of His plan, but He's not given us the time of His return and for the restoration of Israel. It is foolish to set dates for prophetic events.

I remember a booklet that came in the mail in 1987. It was entitled *88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in 1988*. When the Lord did not return that year, the author claimed he made a slight mistake in his calculations and wrote another booklet, *89 Reasons Jesus Will Return in 1989*. And when the Lord did not return in 1989, he stopped writing his prophetic books.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Every generation of believers expected the Lord's imminent return. Notice our Lord did not say to His disciples, "Forget about Israel. The nation has had its opportunity and is rejected forever."

He did not say the church is now spiritual Israel. He did not say all the promises of Israel are now transferred to the church. The church is not Israel. Israel has its own future as the people of God. God will never break His promises.

The disciples did not fully understand the establishment of the church before Pentecost. Our Lord gave the church a special promise and a commission in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." The church must take the witness of Jesus to the world and leave the time of His return up to God.

The apostle Peter understood the fact that the return of our Lord might take a great deal of time. Look with me at 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 3, "Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'"

There are many theological scoffers today who deny that they believe in the literal return of the Lord for His church. They deny that He'll return seven years later to establish His kingdom on the earth for the millennium. We are creatures imprisoned by time, so we can get impatient.

But God is eternal, and time does not affect Him. Look with me at verses 8 and 9, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

You know, I'm glad that the Lord did not return a hundred years ago. He knew the day that I would be born. He knew the day you would be born. And He's waited for us. He's also waiting for others to come along and complete His church. Here is one good bit of news: no one has to wait more than one lifetime to see Jesus.

So whether it's in death or in the rapture of the church, we will see Jesus. Now, don't misunderstand me. There is a definite day for the coming of our Lord Jesus to gather us to Himself, and the Lord will not be late. God has a time plan to conclude the age of the church with the rapture of the church. Let's investigate the mystery of the end of the age of the church more fully by turning to Revelation 1:19.

Our Lord said to the apostle John, "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."

The original Greek word for mystery means it's a secret to outsiders, but something that can be understood by those initiated. Why were only the seven specific churches in Asia Minor chosen to describe a mystery? I will tell you why they were chosen. Each of those churches had the characteristics of a period of church history.

The church at Ephesus represented the post-apostolic period of history. That church left their first love for Jesus, and they left the love of making Him known. The sixth and seventh churches represent the end of the age of the church. The church in Philadelphia is the church of brotherly love, awakened by spiritual revivals. This church represents our period of time.

Look with me at Revelation 3:7, "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.'"

Notice Jesus comes quickly to this church to spare them the Great Tribulation, which will test the whole world. Now let us look at the seventh and last church, which is the church of the Laodiceans. This church period overlaps our present period of time.

The other six previous churches were identified by their city location. The seventh church is identified by its members: the church of the Laodiceans. The word Laodicean means "the rule of the people." No longer does the church belong to Jesus. The church of the Laodiceans is the left-behind church.

Look with me at Revelation 3, verse 14. "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.'"

This is a very descriptive way of explaining how the lukewarm church sickens the Lord of the church. In Revelation 3:20, we notice that the Lord is outside the church of Laodicea, and yet He is still knocking at the hearts of individuals during the Great Tribulation.

Listen to this: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." The rapture ends the church age. Look with me at Revelation 4:1. "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.'"

The rest of the book of the Revelation of our Lord is about what follows the age of the church. After this verse about the open door in heaven, the church is not mentioned again until there is a slight reference to the church in the last chapter of Revelation.

Look at Revelation 22, verse 17. "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him come and take the water of life freely." Respond now and drink of the water of life freely.

Remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10. He said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." Ask the Lord and He will give you the water of life. In my next message, I will be speaking about the mystery of the rapture. You don't want to miss it. Until then, may God really bless you.

Liz Aiello: Thank you, Pastor Runge. We've been listening to Pastor Al Runge teach on *The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God*. If you would like to have your own copy of this series, or perhaps you'd like to share it with a friend, you'll be glad to know that it's available on convenient compact disc. Just ask for ART-24, *The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God*.

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And as always, when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. This is Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, as Pastor Al Runge continues our series on *The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God* right here on Messianic Perspectives.