We begin this in (Genesis 12) with a man called Abram. We see where God instructs him to get out of his country and away from his people. At this time, we see no mention of his wife, Sarah. When Sarah is mentioned in (verse 5) we also can see something else. We see that he also takes his brother’s son (Lot) and all their substance. It also says that he took the souls that they had gathered as well.

The Bible tells us in (Verse 4) that Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed Haran. We also see that Abraham was one hundred years old when (Isaac) the son of promise was born.

(Genesis 17:17)

AND ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE, AND LAUGHED, AND SAID IN HIS HEART. SHALL A CHILD BE BORN UNTO HIM THAT IS AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD? AND SHALL SARAH, THAT IS NINETY YEARS OLD, BEAR?

Seeing that verse and seeing the doubt of Abraham, let’s also look at the very next verse before we begin this.

Genesis 17:18

AND ABRAHAM SAID UNTO GOD, O THAT ISHMAEL MIGHT LIVE BEFORE THEE!

In each segment we’ve looked into, I’ve tried to make the point that it appeared that each man we mentioned was blessed to have his wife submissive unto him. We see in the first few verses here that Abraham did in fact leave the place he was, being obedient to God the Father. However, he was not completely obedient, was he? We know that God spoke to Abraham, not Sarah. Wonder what kind of possessions Abraham had without taking Lot along with him? I’ll say up front that that no matter what the reason for Lot going with him, it was Abraham alone that was less than obedient to God.

As I seek to teach each time that God spoke to man in divers ways, it’s a lot to be seen as we move toward tribulation period. However, it’s very important to mention and see these spiritual things and to learn how each of them relate to our lives even today. The very fact that God spoke to Abraham, directing him created a situation that he then had to share God’s direction with his wife. Wonder how she received that word? Was she submissive to her husband or, did her doubt create a situation where Abraham took others and their belongings along with them for security, not completely trusting God? This is a question we can’t answer, can we? However, can you see how important it is to yield to God’s will even against the voice of other members of your family?

Let’s say just for the sake of argument that it was Sarah that influenced Abraham to take Lot and his belongings along with them. Can’t we also say that if Abraham would have stood his ground at that time, God could have also spoke to Sarah’s heart and brought about a yielding to her husband? Can we also argue that because of the lack of faith on the part of them both that it was twenty-five years before God kept his promise of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah?

As we move forward in the lives of both, Abraham and Sarah, we see spiritual growth in both of them. We can see many things that cause us to wonder about their faith but, after the birth of Isaac we see where God spoke to Abraham when Isaac was eight years old and instructed his to take him to a mountain and offer him for a sacrifice.

If you remember I showed, you a verse where Abraham desire for God to use Ishmael as pleasing to him. Now we see where the son of promise has been born, Isaac. In:

Genesis 22: 1-2

AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS, THAT GOD DID TEMPT ABRAHAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, ABRAHAM; AND HE SAID, BEHOLD, HERE AM I. (2) AND HE SAID, TAKE NOW THY SON, THINE ONLY SON ISAAC, WHOM THY LOVEST, AND GET THEE INTO THE LAND MORIAH, AND OFFER HIM THERE FOR A BURNT-OFFERING UPON ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS WHICH I WILL TELL THEE OF.

Now, let’s read this verse:

Hebrews 11:17-19

BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TRIED, OFFERED UP ISAAC: AND HE THAT HAS RECEIVED THE PROMISES OFFERED UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, (18) OF WHOM IT WAS SAID, THAT IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED: (19) ACCOUNTING THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE HIM UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD; FROM WHENCE ALSO HE RAISED HIM IN A FIGURE.

I simply point these things out to show you spiritual growth. In the beginning, whether it was just Abraham or Sarah that doubted God’s ability to take care of them, we see now that it is not even questioned.

As we move through the book of Genesis, we will see many aspects of the family that God created to bring about the Nation of Israel. However, we must remember that this whole book and even part of the book of Exodus is being lived still in the time of human government. Up until the law was given to Moses, it is completely left up to man to decide what is right or wrong according to the laws they create. At this time man cannot know the true heart of God because he hasn’t revealed himself to them in that light.

We could teach in the book of Genesis for a complete lifetime and still not be able to reveal all of the spiritual lessons that are seen in this one book. However, it has nothing to do with the timeline we are building towards tribulation. In essence, we see here a nation in its youth within one family. For the rest of the Old Testament God id dealing with, speaking to this family. In reality, there is no other people that matter.

I’ve tried to share with you that in all things God is seeking to tech or reveal to mankind the things that will not work as it relates to a true spiritual relationship with him. In this segment as we move forward, we will see God giving his law to this family, this nation, his chosen people. As we look at this picture, we can see the desire of God’s heart. His desire was for this family, nation, or people to completely submit to his total will and, as time moved forward, they would at some point in time cover the whole world as all others died out.

Remember, as you read and study through Genesis and the first part of Exodus there is no law to declare what is right or wrong other than the law that is created by a man or a nation. As we leave Genesis we see where the family that God created has taken one of their own and sells him to the Egyptians. (Genesis 38). After that there was a great famine in their land, and they went into Egypt seeking food.

As we get into Exodus, Israel is now slaves to that nation. As we read in this book we see where there is a man-made law that states that if the midwives see that a male child is born to kill him. But God seen to it that Moses was spared, you can read the account here in Exodus. This man Moses became the deliverer of Israel out of Egypt. As time move on, he also becomes the voice of God to the nation of Israel at least through the book of Exodus.

We see in the last chapter of Genesis that God created a nation to be his people. As we get into Exodus, we see that God gives his people a law to live by. He reveals this law to the man Moses. As we look at this and study Exodus, we see that Moses led the nation of Israel to freedom, on dry land across the Red Sea. Even in all that these people seen, once they were free, we see that their hearts were filled with unbelief as it related to the very God that created them and even freed them.

What I’m about to say will seem very harsh but none the less a fact. I stated that God created the nation of Israel that he might have a people that would be obedient to his very will. In that sense, every other person that was not a member of that nation was completely worthless as God seen them through his eyes. I also stated that if Israel completely yielded to God’s will, in time they would possess the whole world and not one other person would exist unless they were just as obedient to God as that nation.

God’s promise to Abraham was that (as far as his eye could see) it would be his. That is, no matter where he would be standing, as far as he could see was his to have. I’d like to go back here to the sons of Noah to make a point. Noah commanded that his sons, Japheth and Ham submit to the teaching, leadership of Shem and his Lord God. If Japheth and Ham refused to yield to that leadership then, who was to blame?

It’s the same picture here. If the nation of Israel, being totally submitted to God’s will moves into a country, they (Israel) being God’s people, if that country chooses to yield to their leadership, then that country would be spared. If not, they would be completely destroyed. or, we could say that if some of their people stood with Israel then those people would be spared.

Here, I’d like to show you some scripture to make the same spiritual point. First:

Matthew 15:26-27

BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S BREAD, AND TO CAST IT TO DOGS. (27) AND SHE SAID, TRUTH, LORD, YET THE DOGS EAT OF THE CRUMBS WHICH DALL FROM THEIR MASTER’S TABLE.

These verses and this whole Biblical story are a reference to what I’m speaking of. In the book of Matthew Jesus Christ is come to the nation of Israel. This woman is not a Jew therefore he is saying that it’s not right for him to give that which is Israel’s to her. At that time, she points out that even the unworthy dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. That’s what I’m saying about Israel and all other nations in the Old Testament. If Israel would have yielded to God’s will that’s exactly what would have happened.

We also see this in:

Romans 3:10-12

AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE: (11) THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD. (12) THEY HAVE ALL GONE AOUT OF THE WAY, THEY ARE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT ON.

In the sense of Israel in the Old Testament, God seen them as the spiritual body upon the face of this earth. From the time they were created up until the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that was to be the picture. Although Israel was, as a nation in their flesh as well, that complete nation was to be completely yielded to the will of God. In that respect, every other nation would have to yield to God’s people to exist.

Here, let’s make another spiritual point concerning Adam and Eve and also Shem and his Lord God. When we see Adam and Eve, we see that when they ate the fruit they didn’t die physically, it was a spiritual death. It’s the same way with both Japheth and Ham. When they chose not to submit to the leadership of Shem and the Lord his God, they then died a spiritual death and not a physical death at that time.

As we get to now, what we see as the nation of Israel; they are a product of the people of the Lord God of Shem. Japheth and Ham have formed their own nations and don’t recognize Shem’s Lord God therefore they have become (dogs) in the eyes of God. We, as individuals, if we simply yield to the desires of our flesh and forget the spiritual aspect of our lives then we are completely worthless to God without having his spirit within us to guide us.

I often say that it’s a great difference in the way the world see life and how God sees that same life. The world will protect the life of a person to the utmost. The world act as if (this life) is all it is. The world will even take a known murderer, rapist, even a serial killer and refuse to kill them, giving them the rest of their life to live in prison. Right on the other hand, God, in the days of the law would destroy complete cities because they didn’t worship him. The point is that if (flesh) doesn’t honor and worship God the to him it’s already dead.

Therefore, what has God proven to us as it relates to the nation of Israel? I think one of the best ways to show what he taught here is to use a verse of scripture we see in the New Testament.

Luke 14:26-27

IF ANY MAN COME TO ME, AND HATE NOT HIS FATHER, AND MOTHER, AND WIFE, AND CHILDREN, AND BRETHREN, AND SISTERS, YEA, AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. (27) AND WHOSOEVER DOTH NOT BEAR HIS CROSS, AND COME AFTER ME, CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

God formed a nation out of the loins of Abraham that it might glorify his name on this earth transforming every aspect of this world unto his glory. From Abraham to Jesus Christ, God used many different methods to try to cause Israel to hear his voice as a nation. The truth is that every man has his own mind, and it is impossible to get every man, woman, boy and girl to yield themselves to the will of God. Since Israel that is a proven fact.

However, there’s something we must understand; God promised that the nation of Israel would inherit this earth. Another point to be made and, we will do it time and time again, God knows the end from the beginning. All we see in scripture is for our instruction and spiritual education. Every nation, every person can make their own choices as designed by God, Israel was no exception. From the very beginning God’s desire has been for every person to (by choice) chose to walk with him, doing his will.

Within this time of law, we see where God determines a time of tribulation on his people. The time we call (tribulation) has nothing to do with any people other than the nation of Israel. Again, I make this statement, if any person that is, members of the nation of Israel or any Gentile is living and faces this time it will be because of the choices they made themselves. I said that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the end of the time of law. The next segment we get into will be a time of grace. During that time (whosoever will) can come to Jesus Christ and receive his saving grace. That is, Jews and Gentiles alike.

So, let’s look in :

Daniel 9;24

SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED UPON THY PEOPLE AND THY HOLY CITY, TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION, AND TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY, AND TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY, AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY.

As I seek to teach (tribulation) I feel impressed by the Spirit of God to say just a few things about this. First of all, when we see (seventy weeks) it’s referring to seventy periods of seven-year periods. That would end up being four hundred and ninety years. As you read through the next few verses, we see some defining times such as (shall Messiah be cut of but, not for himself). Now, in (verse 27) we see this: (And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week). This week (seven years) is the time of tribulation.

Let’s look at something Jesus Christ said to his Apostles. If we look in (Matthew 24:3) (Mark 13:4) and (Luke 21:7) we see his disciples asked him (when shall these things be)? Jesus, each time told them about some events that would transpire. However, look at what he told them in:

Matthew 25:13

WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YE KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR WHEREIN THE SON OF MAN COMETH.

Let’s look at one other scripture here:

John 14:1-4

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. (2) IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. (3) AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECIEVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO. (4) AND WHITHER I GO YE KNOW, AND THE WAY YE KNOW.

I simply point these things out to make a spiritual point. We see where Jesus Christ explains some of the events that will happen to his Apostles and disciples. He also tells them that no man knows the day nor the hour when the son of man will return. He lets them know he’s leaving to prepare a place for them and that he will return but they or we cannot say when.

We’ve now looked into four segments of time where God works with man in different ways. In each of these times we can see no way to tell how long that time will be, even here in the time of law, at least up until the verses in (Daniel 9) were revealed. Here, he clearly gives a reference point to when this time of law might be ending. We see that the angel Gabriel, sent from God revealed to Daniel that when the Messiah was cut off that would be the end of the sixty-nineth week.

When I make this point I always like to show people what was said about a man we see in;

Luke 2:25-26

AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON; AND THE SAME MAN WAS JUST AND DEVOUT, WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL; AND THE HOLY GHOST WAS UPON HIM. (26) AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST.

Can you see the significance of this verse? It’s very possible that this man had studied the Old Testament and the time frame to the point that he knew by events that the sixty-nineth week was upon them and that the Christ Child had to be born during that time. As you well know, I can’t prove that about him but, I can see that we do see a way to tell the time frame of this segment in time.

We can see it here and, as we get into the time of tribulation we also see and know that it will be (seven years). As we continue to move forward, we can also know that the millennial reign of Christ is seen as one thousand years. We’ll get to that later however, as we study all that we study, there is no way that the disciples or the Apostles of Jesus Christ could have seen the period of time between to death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the time we live in now. That period of time after the end of the law was just like the other segments, we can’t tell the length of time that they will last. We can call the period of time we live in now (grace period) or, the Church age.

Daniel prophesied the end of the period of time in which he lived. We can really get into some deep study here as it concerns a change from law to grace. I’ll just give you an example of one very important change we see as we see the end of the law. When God gave the law to Moses in the segment of time and instructed him in the building of the Tabernacle, we see that the only person that could go behind the veil and meet with God in the Holy of Holies was the high priest. He did that just once a year for the sins of God’s people, Israel. You can study this in (Exodus 20-29). Also, we see a good report of it in (Hebrews chapters 4-9). The most important point here is that (only the high priest) could go behind the veil.

As we come to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we see something happen. We see this in:

Matthew 27:50-51

JESUS, WHEN HE HAD CRIED AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE, YIELDED UP THE GHOST. (51) AND, BEHOLD, THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS RENT IN TWAIN FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM; AND THE EARTH DID QUAKE, AND THE ROCKS RENT;

This typically shows us something. All this time during the law, no person was allowed to see what was behind that veil. However, now it is wide open for all people to see. In essence, Jesus Christ became our high priest. Now, since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can boldly go right up to the throne of God’s grace without the need of an earthly man standing between people and God the father. Jesus Christ is our mediator.

Just by way of teaching and then continuing on to tribulation, I’ll give you some verses to reference.

1 Timothy 2:5

FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS.

Hebrews 8:1

NOW OF THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SPOKEN THIS IS THE SUM; WE HAVE SUCH AN HIGH PRIEST, WHO IS SET ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF THE MAJESTY IN THE HEAVENS;

We can read many things in Hebrews as it relates to Jesus Christ becoming our high priest and also how he is propitiation for our sin. Look at this verse:

1 John 2:2

AND HE IS THE PEOPITIATION FOR OUR SINS: AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY. BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

I feel that we must come to a resolve of what is being said here.

Romans 10:4 says this:

(FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH.

The word (propitiation) means to satisfy, in this sense, the will of God. As we study through the Old Testament and see in Hebrews, the blood of goats, sheep or any other animals could never satisfy to sin debt of people. And also, the law was never given to Israel with and expectation by God that they would keep that law. It’s not that God didn’t desire for them or us to live righteous lives; he does but, the law was given that we might know his heart and what he expected.

As we look behind the veil that we speak of we see that a high priest would take the blood of an animal and offer that blood for the sin of Israel each year. That had to be done every year. When it comes to Jesus Christ, when he died on his cross, he took his own blood behind that veil and offered it for the sins of the world. that blood propitiated God the Father’s need to cover the sin-debt of this world. Therefore, the veil could now be taken down because we all can walk straight up to the throne of God and offer our petitions of prayer through that perfect blood.

It’s something we need to see here. The blood of Jesus Christ was offered for the sins of the world, not just for the nation of Israel. We often forget that (the segment of) law is just one segment. Remember, we see three others before this one and none of the people that lived in that times were Jews, were they? I said that each segment of time is designed by God to teach us something. Can we say that we can even see that in every family? Just because a mother believes in Jesus Christ doesn’t mean her husband does nor her children.

I live in the United States of America. Just because we have a national slogan that says (one nation under God) doesn’t mean that ever person here believes in Jeus Christ does it? God taught us from the nation of Israel that you can’t expect unity from a whole nation, a whole family or any other institution.

Just by way of teaching, I’d like to share this with you again. When Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden, I stated that a lot of things remained the same all the way up to the flood of Noah. Also, after the flood settled by to dry land; and the things those eight people seen as a new earth remained the same, nothing changed up until the giving of the law and even all the way up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see that God called out a people and gave the law but as far as men were concerned nothing changed as fear as this world is concerned.

I make that statement to bring us up to the end we see of the law. The law ended when Jesus Christ died. However, as we get into the new segment, we can see fifty days exactly before the Spirit of God fell on the Day of Pentecost in (Acts 2). That fifty-day period of time is significant as it relates to teaching and why.

As we come to the end of this segment, I’d like to point out why these days are significant. During to period of time we call law, God gave Israel a number of (feasts) to observe each year. We see these feasts in (Levitus 23-24) If you’ll look in:

Levitus 23:16 we see this.

EVEN UNTO TOMORROW AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH SHALL YE NUMBER FIFTY DAYS; AND YE SHALL OFFER A NEWMEAT OFFERING UNTRO THE LORD.

This feast marks the beginning of the age of grace, the next segment. While this is true, all the feasts are strictly concerning Israel as time moves forward. If you will continue to read you will notice a long period of time between the feast of Pentecost and the next feast, Trumpets. this is the regathering of Israel after the grace period. I’ve also said that Israel could not see this time as it relates to grace or the existence of the Church. However, spiritual men of Israel such as the man Simeon, the man we mentioned studied and knew as much as possible about the coming events.

We, as born-again believers can clearly see these things today if we will study as inspired by God’s Spirit. I also believe that many of the people of Israel as they became spirit filled believers could see these things in the Old Testament as well.

As we leave the segment of law, I often tell people this. We can also relate it to (Hebrews 1:1) as well where we see that God spoke at sundry times and diver’s manners. We also see in (verse 2) that he tells us that in the last days he has spoken to us by his son. We only see two times in the gospels where God the Father speaks. One of those times he says (THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR YE HIM). The other time he says this: (THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED).

Jesus Christ is the keynote speaker in all four gospels. The four gospels are a period of time where Israel is still under the law. We can see in all four gospels where Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples after he was resurrected from the grave. What he said to them and the events around what he said can be a study in itself. Basically, he was telling them to go and preach the gospel into all the world. One point I’d like to make about the Apostles or disciples is that they, at that time were a lot like us. What they heard and how they reacted to what they heard could be seen as very child-like, just as we are vey often.

Often, what we think we know and what truth is can be seen in very different ways. We often move spiritually according to what we think we know more so that what the truth is. All of this is simply part of spiritual growth, we will see some of this in the next segment.

I mentioned the fact that God the Father only spoke twice in the gospels. Have you ever considered how often Jesus Christ; God’s Son spoke once we leave the gospels? Let’s use this thought to make a very powerful point as we leave this segment.

I’d like to point out that it’s a fact that God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit are all one in the same. It’s just a different way he presents himself to the people of this world. We’re looking at a timeline that will take us to the end of this world as we know it. Each event that happens as we move forward becomes more and more important to the people that are on this earth and in need of the free gift that God offers to every person. We see where God the Father only spoke twice in the Gospels. In both cases he was seeking to draw attention to his son as the mouthpiece that needed to be heard.

Now, as we look at the times that Jesus Christ spoke after the gospels, I believe it can be very telling. The first time he spoke after the gospels we see in (Acts 9). Here in Acts, we see that spoke to two different men. First he spoke to Saul. Saul, the man that later became the Apostle Paul was a man that went about both killing and putting those that believed in Jesus Christ in prison. Here, we see that Jesus Christ basically preaches to him, drawing Saul to himself with his saving grace. As we move on in Acts, we see a man called Ananias. Jesus Christ speaks to him, instructing him to help Saul. Ananias fears Saul because of his past life, Jesus Christ assures him that things are different now.

The fact that Jesus Christ takes the time to speak here is very significant because Saul is going to become the Apostle to the Church in the age of grace. His responsibility will be to teach people to hear the spirit of God as he speaks to their heart and to yield to that voice within them. We’ll see that in the next segment.

The next time we see Jesus Christ speak is in (Revelation). There he speaks multiple times. As we look at what he says, it’s always to the church. I’d like to show you a verse here before we leave this segment concerning the voice of all three members of the Godhead. As we continue to move forward towards what we know as tribulation, the importance of our ability to hear and yield to God’s spirit becomes more and more critical because, time is running out as it relates to God speaking to man.

I stated that God the father spoke twice in the gospels. We see in Acts nine that Jesus Christ spoke directly to the (soon to be) Apostle Paul and, in Revelation; Jesus Christ spoke directly to (the Church) warning them of complacency among other things.

Now, look at these verses:

Matthew 12:31-32

WHEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, ALL MANNER OF SIN AND BASPHEMY SHALL BE FORGIVEN UNTO MEN: BUT THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN UNTO MEN. (32) AND WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH A WORD AGAINST THE SON OF MAN, IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM: BUT WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN HIM, NEITHER IN THIS WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME.

It becomes very easy to simply read over these verses and never even consider what is being said. However, these verses are very telling as it relates to even what we know as (Tribulation). I want you to understand that here, Jesus Christ is speaking to Israel. Like in most cases it also can clearly relate to any individual as well. As believers, we know that God the Father was in the fleshly body of Jesus Christ. If you read this, we see where a Pharisee has just accused the God of the universe of doing the work of Satan, we can say that the Pharisee looked right into the eyes of Jesus Christ and made that statement. The fact that he was speaking to Israel means this. That nation has at this point rejected everything that God sought to do to have them follow him. Because of that, he sent his son, Jesus Christ in an effort to help them see and walk with him. We see here and also know that Israel rejects not only God the Father but now, God the Son. Look at this verse:

Matthew 27:25

THEN ANSWERED ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HIS BLOOD BE ON US, AND ON OUR CHILDREN.

Do you see there that it says ( then answered all the people)? What we see here is a nation, the nation that God chose to be his people rejecting him. What Jesus Christ is saying to this Pharisee is this. Through most of the Old Testament, you as a people have rejected my Father. Therefore, my father sent me in the flesh that you might see him in me, in the flesh. I have told you more than once ( if you have seen me, you have seen the father). What the Pharisee is accusing Jesus Christ of doing is exactly what he is doing. He is blaspheming or showing contempt for God and his Son.

I know we can define blaspheme in different ways, but the truth is that it simply means (to reject). We see that Israel at this time has now rejected God the Father and God the Son. Jesus Christ is telling them that they can be forgiven for that act. However, he tells them that if they blaspheme the Holy Ghost there is no forgiveness for that act, not in this world or the world to come.

As we leave this segment we’re calling law, we will be going into the next segment we will call grace. In that segment we will see the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. I’d like to say here that the art of knowing God in any one of the parts of the Godhead is within our willingness to seek him, to know. It’s been that way from the very beginning and, always as it relates to individuals, never a group of people. I say that to make to point that the people of Israel could have seen the fact that the third part of the Godhead was coming simply by seeking to know by studying the Old Testament. I wasn’t necessarily easy but, it could be seen.

What Jesus Christ is saying to the Pharisee and also to Israel is that the third part of the Godhead is coming. If you reject the drawing of that Spirit then there is not going to be anyone else sent to help you to be redeemed, that’s it!

As we look at the last verse, we read we see what the Nation of Israel cried as they placed Jesus Christ on his cross. Let his blood be upon us and our children. They were blinded by their own self-righteousness and self-will. After the crucifixion, we see the events that unfolded. We will get into those things in the next segment.

I’d like to say here again that God the Father proved another point. The point is that righteousness will never be gained by keeping the law nor will you find it in any given family. Just as we have seen in every segment, it has to do with individual people and a desire to walk in the spirit of God.

The next segment will be called (God’s Grace).

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

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