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Author	: Bill Kochman
Publish	: Nov. 5, 2007
Update	: Jul. 8, 2025
Parts	: 07

Synopsis:



Continuing our discussion from part six, and hoping to not be overly redundant, let me emphasize again that the reason why God chose to take this particular course of action, is simply because the majority of Jews have stubbornly refused to acknowledge Jesus Christ as God's only begotten Son, as well as His chosen manner of Salvation for the entire world. Sadly, as we all know, while a small number of Jewish people have come to Christ, with the vast majority of them, their attitude just hasn't changed in the last two thousand years. They remain as recalcitrant and as obstinate as ever.

Being a well-versed Pharisee who had been taught by Gamaliel, who himself was a respected teacher and interpreter of the Mosaic Law, the Apostle Paul was obviously familiar with the prophecies of Isaiah regarding the coming Messiah. Therefore, we can assume that he must have also known how the Gentiles would be won to the Kingdom of God, even if he did reject the idea prior to God calling him into ministry in a very direct fashion in Acts chapter nine. Thus, it should come as little surprise that when Paul and Barnabas were again rejected by the antichrist Jews in Antioch, Paul simply turned his back on them, embraced the Gentiles, and again appears to make an indirect reference to the prophecies of Isaiah, as we see in the following group of verses:

"And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium."


As I explain in other articles, the above scene is typical of the reaction that Paul and his companions received when they tried to share the Christian Gospel with their fellow Jews. So again, precisely as Jesus prophesied, this is why God chose to take the Kingdom from the unbelieving Jews, and give it to another nation instead. That is, to a New Nation of Gentile Believers which was founded upon the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Earlier, we discussed how the Apostle Peter told the brethren that in God's eyes, they were "an holy nation". Some people may be tempted to erroneously argue that being as Peter was a Jew himself, his words were addressed to his Jewish brethren, and that this "holy nation" of which he spoke was the Jewish nation. However, this is most definitely not the case. As we saw with the previous groups of verses, the Koine Greek word that is used in Peter's Epistle is also "ethnos". So clearly, this "holy nation" is also comprised of Gentile believers. It is NOT just Jews to whom Peter is writing. Perhaps you recall how God very pointedly showed Peter that he must extend the Gift of Salvation to the Gentile world. In the Book of Acts, we find these particular incidents:

"On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."


"And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."


Let us return to my earlier comments regarding the Apostle Peter's letter. If it were true that these people to whom Peter was writing were Jews, I do not believe that it would make any sense that in verse ten, Peter would write to them, "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy". Why would Peter not write such a thing to his fellow Jews? Because the Jews have always considered themselves to be the chosen people of God, even to this very day.

In fact, as some of my readers will know, they have likewise craftily convinced a large part of modern Christendom, that they are still the Chosen People, in spite of the fact that most of them have rejected Christ for the past two thousand years. On the other hand, if the Apostle Peter was in fact writing to Gentile brethren -- as I am convinced that he was -- then it makes perfect sense that he would write in this manner, informing them that while before accepting Christ they were not recognized as the people of God, now they are.

To further validate this point, consider that the Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, made the exact same point regarding how the Gentiles had become the people of God through their faith in Jesus Christ. Please carefully note how Paul too was addressing the Gentile Christians in Ephesus, and NOT his own Jewish brethren:

"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles . . ."


To add some clarity to the previous verses, when Paul writes "the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands", he's referring to the Jews who have been circumcised as a matter of obeying the Mosaic Law. In fact, the Book of Acts informs us that at first, some of the Jewish Christians also believed that the Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to really be saved. However, Paul strongly resisted this requirement. That's why only two verses earlier he wrote the following in that same Epistle to the Ephesians:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."


As you may already know, it is those same two verses that got Martin Luther in trouble with the Roman Catholic hierarchy of his day. It seems clear that the "works" that Paul is talking about, is the act of being circumcised. That explains why he immediately begins discussing circumcision in the verses that immediately follow those two. He wants to assure the Gentile Christians that it isn't necessary to be circumcised in order to be saved. All that matters is faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Works of the flesh, such as circumcision, do NOT win us points with God, and we have no room to boast of our own supposed righteousness. As Paul also later wrote:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"


To emphasize again what Paul wrote, he spoke of only one new man and one new body, and not of two. Combined with what the Apostle Peter wrote, and what the Prophet Isaiah prophesied, there is only ONE New Nation, and NOT two. This New Nation is comprised of both Jews and Gentiles without distinction. The flesh and our biological heritage has no bearing in the New Nation whatsoever. All that matters is whether or not we have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God. Apostles Peter and Paul, and Jesus Himself all spoke and wrote about unity and oneness in the Body of Christ. Allow me to share a few additional verses with you which verify this important point:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS."


"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL."


"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be ONE FOLD, AND ONE SHEPHERD."


"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."


"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and HATH BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US;"


My friends, I have just shared with you the straight truth of the Scriptures without any private interpretation. I have put it right in front of your eyes so that you can see it. Sadly, in our modern day, there are certain misguided preachers and teachers who work against what the previous verses say. Just as some of the Futurists separate the final week -- or seven years -- from the first sixty-nine weeks of Daniel's amazing Seventy Weeks Prophecy, and bring it up to our current time, in a similar fashion, and in contradiction to the Scriptures, these preachers and teachers erroneously claim that God has two plans. That is to say, one for the Gentiles, and one for the Jews.

According to this devilish belief, God supposedly put His plan for the Jews on hold immediately following the Lord's Crucifixion, or at some undefined point after that. These people insist that for the last two thousand years during this "Age of Grace", God has only been concentrating on His plan for the Gentile nations. Now you are going to see how everything I have been saying throughout this series fits together and is all interrelated, and ties into Futurism.

As we have seen, according to the doctrine of Futurism, the creation of the political entity known as the state of Israel in 1948 served as a marker to initiate the countdown of the so-called "End Times". As we have also seen, according to the same doctrine, Jesus will return before this generation has come to its conclusion. That belief in itself creates a very serious problem, which I amply discuss in the article called "The Day I Am Waiting For".

At any rate, Futurism also teaches that the world is headed for a very dark period which Futurist-leaning Christians are convinced is the Great Tribulation. However, some -- but not all of them -- believe that Christian Believers will all be spared this terrible time, and will be raptured out of this world. This will supposedly conclude God's plan for Gentile and Jewish Believers, being as they are no longer in this world. According to the two-plan heresy, after two thousand years of the second plan being on hold, God will then turn His attention back to unbelieving Israel, who will suffer during the Great Tribulation. Futurists believe that these Jews are the 144,000 who we find mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

So that is basically what some of the Futurists believe in a nutshell. I may not have it all exactly right, but I think what I have stated is pretty close to how they understand it. Now let me ask you. Does that sound even close to what we read previously regarding there being one plan, one new man, one new nation, and one fold? Or does it really sound like those misguided preachers and teachers are putting up the wall of partition again, which Jesus already tore down when He willingly chose to die for us on the Cross?

Now do you see how those preachers and teachers are really dividing the Body of Christ with their false doctrine? Do you understand how the various points I have shared in this series fit together? Do you understand how very dangerous the doctrine of Futurism is? Do you see how it contradicts the Scriptures? The fact of the matter is that God does NOT have a second plan for the unbelieving Jews of Israel. He has NOT set them aside for a time as those preachers claim.

In the Book of Acts, the writer Luke told us exactly what really happened. They rejected Christ. It was THEIR choice. That is why Paul turned to the Gentiles. It was not because God had put the plan for Israel on hold. That is simply one foolish, man-made doctrine which was apparently created by the Futurists, because it fits into their so-called endtime scenario and misguided interpretation of the Scriptures.

As I have shared on previous occasions, the Bible makes it very clear that God is no respecter of persons. He does NOT favor one biological race over another. We are all sinners before His eyes, whether we are Jew or Gentile. We all need a Savior. God has only ONE plan for all of humanity, and the Lord told us exactly what it is in the following verse that we find in the Gospel of John:

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."


That's the plan, for EVERYONE, and it has been in effect for the past two thousand years. There is no need for a second plan for the Jews. They have had equal opportunity to accept Christ for the past two thousand years. If they have refused to take it, it's NOT God's fault. So regarding the so-called "chosen people", the ONLY way to be chosen is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Period. Doing so makes you one of His, a member of God's royal household, and also a citizen in His new nation which was founded on the Blood of Jesus Christ. Consider the following verse, taking note of the words I have placed in uppercase letters:

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."


With the last points, we have now covered a lot of territory. I have strived to present solid Scriptural evidence to prove to you that certain things you may have learned from some of the popular pastors and preachers, or perhaps even from the Jews themselves, are not necessarily true, and in fact, may be a deliberate deception, in order to convince you that it is your unfailing duty and responsibility as a Christian to support the nation of Israel. If you would like to read a separate series where I delve even more into this subject, please consider "Genesis 12:1-3 Deception: Exposed!". You will find it listed at the end of this same series. So let's recap some of the key points that we have discussed in this series:

First, if you accept my views and understanding, there is no scriptural evidence to suggest that Jesus wanted us to think that the Parable of the Fig Tree was a cryptic message that, rightfully interpreted, was a reference to Israel becoming a nation in 1948. As far as I can tell, this is a fabrication of certain misguided American preachers and Bible teachers, who believe that it is our duty to support Israel.

Second, there is likewise no Scriptural evidence that we are supposed to interpret a Biblical generation as being a period of exactly fifty-two years. This again was a number dreamed up by American Christians who apparently thought that finding an average number of years would solve their problem for them and convince their followers that Jesus would be returning in the year 2,000.

Third, nowhere does the Bible exhort us to add 1948 and 52, so that we can determine that Jesus would return in the year 2,000. Neither is there any Scriptural evidence that we were supposed to add seven years to 1993 -- the year in which the Oslo Accords were signed -- to arrive at the year 2,000. It should be obvious now that both of these schemes were major errors on the part of those same misguided preachers.

Fourth, there is convincing evidence in both the Old and New Testaments, which strongly suggests that Isaiah's prophecy was NOT about the birth of the nation of Israel in 1948, but rather about Christ's birth, and the new spiritual nation of Believers which resulted from His Crucifixion on the Cross, and His subsequent Resurrection from the dead. This nation was born at the moment of Christ's own Resurrection, when He became the Firstfruits -- or firstborn, -- of God's brand new nation. Anyone -- both Jews and Gentiles -- can now become a member of this new nation simply by accepting Jesus Christ.

Fifth, once we expose and tear down the misguided doctrine which claims that May 14, 1948 began the so-called "endtime countdown" to Jesus' Return, it totally destroys the rest of Futurist doctrine, because the 1948 doctrine is in fact the foundation for it all. Thus, the "at any moment" belief is totally false, and is harmful to our faith, because it give people false hope. Furthermore, the "at any moment" doctrine has failed for the past two hundred years, and it makes all Christians seem like complete idiots. It may even drive away potential believers from our Christian faith when these false predictions fail to materialize.

Sixth, contrary to the misguided position of some Christians, there is absolutely nothing that any of us can do, not even destroy the Dome of the Rock, in order to force God to speed up His plan. As we learned earlier, everything will occur in God's time, in His way, as He sees fit. It is His timetable and not ours to try to manipulate.

Seventh, there is only one Chosen People, and it is those people who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for their Salvation. It is only those people who are washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God who the Father recognizes as His children. Biological origin and national identity have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Before concluding this series, I would like to take a moment to address my Christian brethren who still embrace Futurism. My friends, first of all, I want you to know that I do not judge you or condemn you for your current beliefs. After all, it would be rather hypocritical for me to do so considering that I was likewise deceived by Futurism for forty years of my adult Christian life, until the Lord finally woke me up.

My goal in writing this series, as in everything that I have written over the years, is simply to share Scriptural truth as I have come to understand it. The truth is very important to me. I often pray that the Lord will not allow me to ever become deceived again, as I was for so many years. I also pray that He will continue to reveal more and more Biblical truth to me, as I continue to delve ever more deeply into His wonderful Word. As He does, it will continue to be my personal goal to share these truths with the world.

As a former Futurist myself, I know how you think. Some of the things you still believe today, I likewise believed for such a long time. I was completely convinced of them, and I fervently defended them and taught them. So I understand how deeply embedded such beliefs can become in a person's life, even if said beliefs are wrong. That is where the hard part enters the picture. It takes a lot of honesty and humility to be willing to admit to ourselves, to God, and likewise to our brethren, that we have been wrong, misguided, and a little off in our beliefs.

My friends, I have been down that road. After forty years of being a staunch Futurist, I had to admit that I had been misled, and that I had become quite deceived. Not only was I personally deceived, but I was unknowingly and ignorantly deceiving others as well due to the things that I taught. It was of course not done with malicious intent. I was simply convinced of those things which I taught, just as you still are today. However, once God began to reveal things to me back in 2011-2012, I simply could not resist the truth of the Scriptures. Thus, since that time, I have worked hard to correct, update and rewrite those articles and series where I know that I have been in error.

So, I want you to understand that the things which I write regarding Futurism, aren't an attack against you personally. They are an exposé of the false doctrines themselves. Simply put, I want you to know the truth. I want to give you a big opportunity to escape the deception of Futurism. However, it must be by your own choice. I can show you the evidence, but you alone must decide whether or not you want to believe it. I have done my job. The ball is now in your court. What will you do? I pray you make the right choice.

With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you've found it informative and enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the BBB Bible web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.

A Temple Veil, an Earthquake and a Centurion
Abomination of Desolation: Explained!
Are You Flexible?
As a Thief in the Night
Elijah: Where Are the True Prophets of God?
Fight Against Futurism
Genesis 12:1-3 Deception: Exposed!
He That Shall Endure Unto the End
Humility in Our Understanding of God's Word
In the Ages to Come
It Is Time to Wake Up!
Jesus Christ's Return: Have We Been Deceived?
Modern Deception: Shall a Nation Be Born at Once?
Modern Deceptions: Return to Israel, the Fig Tree and This Generation
Modern False Prophets and Worldly Ecumenism
My Evolving Theology
Nuclear States and the Israel-Iran War
Prophetic Comparisons: Moshiach, Mahdi and Messiah
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
Seventy Weeks Prophecy: What It Means
So, You Have Got It All Figured Out, Do You?
Study, Work, and Don't Be Ashamed!
The 70th Week of Daniel Error: Are You Guilty?
The Day I Am Waiting For
The Day of the Lord: What It Really Means
The Fruits of Disobedience
The Great Tribulation and the Rapture
The Last Seven Years Chart
The Misguided End of the World Predictions of Harold Camping
The Office of Prophets and Teachers
The Only Credentials You Need
The Triumphant Touchdown of Jesus Christ
The Woman in the Wilderness and the 144,000
Understanding the Bible in Context
When Was Satan Cast Out of Heaven?
Who Hindered the Antichrist?
Who is Babylon the Great?
Who is Moshiach ben David?

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