This study points toward the first and second comings of Jesus the Messiah. This message is often hidden in Old Testament types, shadows and prophecies. These great truths were not clear until the first coming of Jesus, when He and the Apostles explained their meaning in the GospelsThe nation of Israel is center stage in the Bible. Gentile nations are mentioned only as they had contact with the Chosen Nation. The Scriptures present Egypt in relation to Moses and the Exodus; the Canaanites as the object of the Conquest; Babylon as it figured in the destruction of the Temple and in the Captivity; Persia as it brought about the restoration of Jerusalem; and Rome as it had an impact on the New Testament scene.
For 2000 years Jesus the Messiah, who came first to Israel has become a stranger to most of His own Jewish people. Peculiarly, it is mostly Gentiles who worship Him on all the continents of the earth. Recently Jews by the millions have returned to the Land of Canaan, and Israel is once again a nation. There is also a resurgence of faith in Jesus as the Messiah among a minority of Israelis. ... . This is precisely what the prophets foretold would occur at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus: "Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, to which they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land" (Ezek. 37:21).
The New Testament teaches that the Church Age would end with the Rapture of the Church. Following that, the Lord would prepare Israel and the world for the Return of Jesus through the awesome days of the Tribulation, the 70th Week of Daniel. ... Today the focus of history is on Israel. We must now view all actions of all peoples from the vantage point of modern Israel. ... This is precisely how God views the world.
In recent years Christians began to re-discover the New Testament attitude of the early Christians toward Israel and to teach a very positive view about the future of Israel in God's plan. They believe that Israel will have a close relationship with Jesus the Messiah at His Second Coming.
Satan knows the biblical prophecy that the restoration of Israel sets the stage for the Second Coming of Jesus when Satan will be bound and incarcerated and ultimately cast into the Lake of Fire. Thus, with the restoration of Israel, Satan realizes that his days are numbered. and is busy mobilizing a corps of fanatics to gain political control and eradicate Israel.
"Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time." Rev. 12:12
After the Lord has removed the Church through the promised Rapture, He will resume His activities of judgment and intervention that have to do with the Tribulation and the establishment of His kingdom in Jerusalem, Israel and the world..... Even though the Church age has not yet ended, we are already seeing the transition to the beginning of the final restoration of Israel, and the preparation for the events of the Tribulation.
For many of us, our world revolves around our own affairs and we fail to see the big picture, The only things we notice are those things that directly affect us &emdash; our jobs, our homes, our finances, etc. If we are politically motivated, our world revolves around who wins and loses in the political arena. If we are spiritually oriented, our interests may spread no further than the events of our local church.
The called out Church is the highest entity the Lord has created, superior to all the angels, the nations, and Israel. Our Head, our Friend, is the Son of God Himself. We shall reign with Him when He rules the earth, and the 12 Apostles will rule over the 12 tribes of Israel. The angels themselves will study us forever as the greatest exhibit of God's grace, and we will actually judge angels. The Church's finest and most distinctive hour will be when Israel is restored nationally and spiritually at the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah. We will return from Heaven to rule with Him... . What more could we ask?
2 .... ..........................Start here.> Harmony of the Gospels
{1} Inasmuch as many others have written of those things which are most surely believed among us, {2} Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the Word; {3} It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, {4} That you might know the certainty of those things, wherein you have been instructed.
{1} In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} The same was in the beginning with God. (Jesus pre-existence in Eternity) {11} He came unto his own (people), and his own received him not. {12} But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: {13} Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. {14} And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. {15} John the Baptist bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. {16} And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. {17} For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus the Messiah. {18} No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made Him known (to us)