Messianic Perspectives

Liz Aiello: Today, the eyes of the world are on the Middle East as world leaders try to jump-start the stalled peace process. What does the future hold for this troubled part of the world? We'll find out today as Pastor Albert Runge talks about Jerusalem, the focus of prophecy, right here on Messianic Perspectives.

Shalom and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the Scriptures from a distinctive first-century Jewish point of view. I'm Liz Aiello. Today, we'll be hearing from Associate Bible Teacher Albert Runge as he talks about Jerusalem, the focus of prophecy. I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer, so have your pencil and paper ready. But first, with today's study, here is Al Runge.

Albert Runge: Thank you for allowing me to come into your home and to share with you a wonderful message of Jesus, our Jewish Messiah. I'm continuing my messages on Jerusalem, the focus of prophecy. In our previous messages on this subject, we looked at the prophecy of Jesus when He prophesied the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled in 70 AD.

The reason God allowed the temple to be destroyed was because He had provided a superior sacrifice for the atonement of mankind. Hebrews 9:12 tells us about this: not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, Jesus entered the most holy place in the heavenly temple once for all, having obtained eternal salvation.

Well, then we looked at the anti-Semitism against the Jews around the world for over 1,900 years, and we saw Satan's hand behind that. The scripture predicts the day is coming that he will try to destroy Israel completely in the Battle of Armageddon, but he will fail because Jesus Himself, the Messiah of Israel, the King, will return and He will reveal Himself to the survivors in Israel in order to bring them to redemption.

And they'll recognize that Jesus is the Messiah because they saw Him come down from heaven, as the scripture predicted. They watched Him as He defeated their superior enemies. And then one will say to Him, according to the Jewish prophet Zechariah in 13:6, "What are these wounds in thy hands?" And then He will answer, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends." And they'll recognize this is the very one that they have rejected for so many centuries.

Now after Jesus redeems Israel, He will establish the kingdom of God on the earth in Jerusalem as the capital of the world. And in the end, Satan will not get his way against Israel. Zechariah 3:1-3, there is a wonderful prophecy here: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! For the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not Jerusalem a brand plucked from the fire?'"

It isn't it interesting that the high priest of that day of Zechariah was called Joshua, or in the Hebrew, it would be Yeshua, or in the English, Jesus? And Satan will be rebuked and he will have to be eliminated for a thousand years, set aside, put in prison. Revelation 20:1-3 predicts this: "Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and he cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up, and set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished."

For a thousand years, the father of lies will not be around to deceive people. There will be no tempter to draw people into sin and away from God, and the destroyer of souls will be locked up in his own prison called the bottomless pit. Then Jesus will establish His kingdom, the kingdom of God on the earth. It will be a wonderful time for that thousand years of His reign.

In Micah 4:2, we're told about this time to come: "Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.' He shall judge between many peoples and rebuke strong nations afar off. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." What a wonderful time that's going to be for the whole world.

Now, the questions are this: Why is the millennium necessary? Why doesn't God just destroy this world of sin when Jesus comes back? And why does God put up with mankind for an additional thousand years? There are three good reasons. First, God wants to save as many people as He can possibly save. Secondly, God wants to give humanity every chance possible to love and trust Him. And finally, God will put mankind to the test.

Now, people generally believe that they are made by society, by their environment. They complain it's because the environment is evil that we're evil. Now, if society is perfect, mankind will be perfect. And so God is going to provide a perfect environment, a just society during the millennium. If He did not do that, the lost could complain, "If only You, Lord, had come down out of heaven and You had taken over our government, if You had only demonstrated every day Your kindness and justice, we would have loved and served You." Mankind will not be able to accuse God of that.

Mankind will have the opportunity but fail the test. At the end of the millennium, the scripture tells us that this old Satan is released for a short season and allowed to try man. He will come, he will tempt mankind. And unfortunately, the majority of mankind who lived under this perfect environment will believe Satan and rebel against the Lord, the King of kings. Revelation 20:7-10 predicts this unfortunate situation.

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations. And here's what we're told is going to happen: They are going to gather themselves together, they shall go up and surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city of Jerusalem, and they're going to rebel and at that time, fire shall come down out of heaven and consume them and devour them. You see, at that point, God gives up on mankind because nothing that He can do can persuade man to serve Him.

Second Peter chapter 3, verse 12 and 13 tells us, "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat." You see, that's what's going to happen to this old world. But God said, "Behold, I will make all things new." Now just before God creates a new heaven and a new earth for His children, all the wicked dead will be resurrected to face judgment.

In Revelation 20, verse 11 to 13, we are told this: "And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books." So there are two sets of books: the book of your life and your deeds, and the Book of Life, the Lamb's Book of Life.

And God revealed to Daniel the Jewish prophet in Daniel 12, verse 2 to 3, that there will be two different resurrections. Listen: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." So there are two different resurrections.

Now, I want to focus into the resurrection of the wicked. In Revelation 20, verse 13 to 15 tells us that there is a second death, and this is the second death: anyone not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Now after the judgment, a new heaven and a new earth is created by God. And then John said that he saw a New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, verse 1 to 6: "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, and I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with man, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' And He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'" This is what God intends to do and it's going to happen because God is faithful to His word.

Now, God has issued a universal invitation for all people, and we are living in the day of salvation where the possibility of redemption can happen at this point in your life. And here is what the Spirit and the church or the bride say: "Come. And let him who hears say, 'Come.' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." And Jesus right now is offering to you the water of life so you'll never thirst again.

Right at this time, you are at a crossroads between heaven and hell, and you must make a decision. If you're wise, you will accept the sacrifice of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. Let Him bear in His own body your sins. That's what He did, and He rose from the dead. He's sitting at the right hand of God His Father, and He's coming back again. And all that I have said to you about the future will be fulfilled because it was predicted by Moses and the prophets and the apostles. I trust that you will allow the Holy Spirit to make this real to you and that you will accept Jesus as your Savior now. God bless you as you consider this.

Liz Aiello: Thank you, Pastor Runge. And thank you, listening friend, for tuning in today. You've been listening to Albert Runge, our Associate Bible Teacher here on Messianic Perspectives, and his discussion on Jerusalem, the focus of prophecy. In this fascinating series of studies, Pastor Al Runge explains the pivotal role the city of Jerusalem plays in Bible prophecy. He says it's no accident that this ancient city is the focal point of world attention in our generation.

If you enjoyed today's study, you'll be glad to know that our special offer this week is the CD of this current series of studies on Jerusalem, the focus of prophecy. And you can have this set shipped right to your door for a gift of only $12. Just visit our secure online store at messianicspecialties.com to place your order.

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I'm Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, for another edition of Messianic Perspectives. Messianic Perspectives is sponsored by CJF Ministries of San Antonio, Texas, and is made possible on this station by the freewill contributions of our listeners in this area.