Kingdom Deferred and Events Adjusted
God sent His Son to become Israel’s Messiah (Christ) and establish the Kingdom of God (Millennium), yet they rejected Him and had Him crucified. The kingdom is again offered to Israel in the book of Acts. Jerusalem seals its refusal of Messiah by the stoning of Stephen, the beheading of James and the imprisonment of Peter and John.
The apostles were given the job of indicating that the people of Israel had rejected Jesus Christ who was to be their promised King, but that they could repent and be forgiven. During this time, Israel was being given another opportunity to accept Jesus as their Christ, the Son of God. However, the majority of the nation still rejected Him.
Luke 19:14 (KJV) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
The gospel for the circumcision waned weaker and weaker throughout the Acts period. The time had come for the Apostle Paul to preach a gospel designed for the gentiles since the Israelites had rejected the kingdom offer.
In the early chapters of Acts, we find the message of the Kingdom of God proclaimed to Israel. It is proclaimed in the power of the holy spirit, accompanied by gifts, which are a prelude to the powerful deeds that will occur in the Millennium (Heb. 6:5). We don’t get far in that book before we discover that- Israel’s heart has not softened toward God and His Son. They were blind to the truth.
Just like the immediate effect of the preaching of Christ and the miracles He performed was encouraging but soon the rulers and the bulk of the nation reject the message, so too with the apostles after Christ’s resurrection. Peter and John are taken before the council and commanded not to speak in His name. The opposition grows. Stephen is dragged before them and is stoned to death, calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Herod kills John’s brother James and imprisons Peter, who is released by divine intervention.
Time after time the preached gospel of the kingdom of God was rejected by the people of the nation of Israel and their leaders. The result would be that the kingdom would be set aside for a future time.
The Millennium would have been brought about if the people of Israel and its leaders would have accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah. This did not happen and they killed the Messiah. God in His goodness brought about another opportunity for the Millennium to be set up as described in the first part of the book of Acts. This adjustment faired no better than before. They again refused to accept the re-offer in the Pentecostal Administration of the book of Acts, so a "readjustment" was necessary.
Many attempts were made to preach the Kingdom gospel, but with less and less success. This gospel waned weaker and weaker throughout the Acts period. Time after time the preached gospel of the Kingdom of God was rejected by the people of the nation of Israel and their leaders. The result would be that the Kingdom would be set aside for a future time. It would be deferred.
" href="secret.html" click here gospel preached by Jesus and the twelve Apostles eventually led Christ from Heaven to call Saul (Paul) to proclaim a gospel which was distinctive. This required a readjustment of the time line in God’s plan in dealing with the nations of the world.
Readjustment Commences
As the Kingdom of God gospel for the people of Israel waned weaker and weaker throughout the Acts period, the time had come for God to reveal a plan which would now include both believing Gentiles and Jews into a relationship with Him which was concealed since the world began. This was put into effect because the Israelites had rejected the Kingdom offer. Thereupon, God would call a man who would disclose this hidden secret.
Romans11:25 (KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
Israel became blind as a result of their continued rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Him as King of the Millennium Kingdom. This condition persists unto this day.
Now a radical change occurred in God’s dealing with His chosen nation, the house of Israel. Now He becomes directly involved with the other nations (Gentiles). The continued rejection of the gospel preached by Jesus and the twelve Apostles eventually led Christ from Heaven to call Saul (Paul) to proclaim a gospel which was different. This resulted in a readjustment of the sequence of events in the progress of the plan of God.
God did not have to change His mind, plan, or purpose because of Israel's rejection of their Messiah. Their apostasy and rejection of the kingdom was divinely structured that the Scriptures might be fulfilled (John 12:37-40), and prepare the way for carrying out His secret, pre-determined purpose, which, until Paul's imprisonment at the close of the book of Acts, was concealed long, long ago in Himself (Eph.3:9). It was due time, in God's purpose, to bring forth this "secret... designated from the foundation of the world for our glory" (1 Corinthians2:7).
Ephesians 3:9 (KJV) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 3:9 (Concordant Literal Version) and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the eons in God, Who creates all,
The commission of Jesus Christ and His twelve disciples were separate and distinct from the commission given to apostle Paul. This may seem doubtful at first thought, but it becomes clear when an overview is taken of the entire New Testament in its proper chronological order. And yet most well-known teachers and preachers force-fit the two commissions into one and the whole thing becomes jumbled confusion. Paul’s description of the place and effect of the law was different than that of the other scriptural writers. Close examination of the writings of the New Testament will reveal that the gospel of Jesus and the 12 apostles were intended for the circumcision whereas the teaching of Paul was for the uncircumcision (the gentiles). It became more and more evident through the Acts account that the Jews (circumcised) rejected Jesus Christ as the Savior and the coming Messiah. This rejection led God to set them aside for a period of time and raise up Saul (Paul) to offer salvation in Jesus Christ to non-Jews, the gentiles.
Hidden Secret Revealed Go To revealed Page click here