The Lion and Lamb Ministry Video Series on The Book of Revelation

The Lion and Lamb Ministry Video Series on The Book of Revelation

Here, below, is Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4

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The Churches, Section 1 of The Book of Revelation Video series

This is an examination of the "churches" of Revelation 2 and Revelation 3, and that in fact they are NOT the Body of Christ. But future assemblies of Jewish believers that will be HERE after The Harpazo, after the Church has been caught up to meet The LORD in the air. The letters to these assemblies, when read carefully, differ immensely from the Pauline epistles. The Revelation Epistles are addressed to servants and speak of works and judgment, while the Pauline Epistles are addressed to SONS and Daughters and speak of our standing IN Christ, as His Body, by GRACE. And it was to PAUL, not the 12 Apostles that the Mystery was shown and explained.

Therefore, The Ecclesia, The Church, is the BODY of Christ, and cannot be Israel, or the Wife, or The Bride. For we are part of the BrideGROOM. We are IN Christ. This is the MYSTERY that was withheld, and hid IN God, from ALL of the prophets, and revealed to Paul. We are even NOW forever connected to the GROOM, IN Christ and He in us.

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The Scroll with 7 Seals, Section 2 of The Book of Revelation Video series

The Seals, which we find in The Book of Revelation 5:1-8:6, we believe, based on the events resulting from the breaking of the sixth, Revelation 6:12, are a summary of ALL the Divine judgments which will usher in the Day of the LORD: including the whole of "The Tribulation," and leading up to the End — the last "seven years," and "the great day of His wrath." Therefore, they cover the whole period in broad outline.

Now this is very important. There is every reason to believe that "the Day of the LORD" will be a prolonged period. It must not be limited or confined to "seven years," as everyone thinks. As we went over EXTENSIVELY in our series: Section 1: the Churches. The time between the coming forth of the LORD to Snatch-up (Harpazo), and meet His Church IN THE AIR, and His coming unto the Earth WITH His Church, in power and great glory, we believe, could very well correspond to the thirty-three years between His coming forth at Bethlehem, as we read in Micah 5:2, and His coming unto Jerusalem as we read in Zechariah 9:9 . All the events between Micah 5:2 and Zechariah 9:9 we speak of as constituting His "first coming." In like manner, all the events described in The Book of Revelation, which take place between His coming "for" and His coming "with" His Church, we also can speak of as "His second coming" or "the Day of the LORD."

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7 Trumpets, 3 Woes, and 7 Vials, Section 3 of The Book of Revelation Video series

What I want you all to see is that the whole of this great judgment period, covered by the Trumpets and Vials, is given in two pairs of alternate Visions of events "in Heaven" and "on Earth." First we have the 2nd Vision "in Heaven" (Revelation 8:1-6) consisting of the Opening of the Seventh Seal. Then we have the 2nd Vision "on Earth" (Revelation 8:7-11:14) which shows the effects of this opening, which the scripture goes on to tell us are the first Six Trumpets.

Next we have the 3rd Vision "in Heaven" (Revelation 11:15-19) consisting of the Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet. Then the 3rd Vision "on Earth" (Revelation 11:19) consisting of the effects of this sounding.

Now follow me on this...we are then, in Revelation 12, taken back to a time prior to Revelation 4. At this point the sequence of the Trumpet and Vial judgments is broken in order to insert this parenthetical break, and give us the additional information. The Trumpet and Vial judgments are continuous once they begin. It is only the description of them which is interrupted, in order to allow the necessary information to be given which shows the necessity for them. This digression begins at Revelation 12:1 and is carried on to Revelation 15:8.

Then the description of the Vial Judgments is taken up and continued, giving the results "on Earth" of the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet. These Vial Judgments are then continuous from Revelation 16:1 through Revelation 18:24, which ends their mission, accomplishes their object, and issues in the Revelation of the LORD Jesus Christ, from Heaven in power and great Glory as we then see in Revelation 19.

We pray that this coming series will edify and richly bless you, as you grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

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The Great Conflict: The Woman and The Dragon, Section 4 of The Book of Revelation Video series

In "The Great Conflict: The Woman and The Dragon", Section 4 of The Book of Revelation Video Series, we come, not only to the great central subject of the whole Book of Revelation, but to the central pair of the Seven Visions, and to the actual literary center of the whole Book.

This shows us that we are on the threshold of a very important part of Scripture which relates to the actual Revelation or Unveiling of the glorious Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The whole section of Scripture that we cover in Section 4, Revelation 12-15, is not only episodal in subject and parenthetical in form, but is a good example of historical, or, rather, prophetic hysterologia (a form of hyperbaton by which the events, though written down later, took place earlier than those which immediately precede in historical narration). That is to say, that what we have in Revelation 12-15 is a prophetic record of events which will take place before Revelation 6, and will lead up to, and run parallel with, what is recorded in Revelation 6 onward.

We pray that this series will edify and richly bless you, as you grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our Great God, LORD, and Savior Jesus Christ.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread these video messages to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 2-27-2012, and, WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 3 of 3

First the Question: The RISEN LORD Jesus Christ had revealed to the Apostle Paul a distinct message for and concerning Gentile salvation, a message quite different from the Gentile salvation foretold in the Scriptures of Israel. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-25-2012

Question: In the Bible, Christians are instructed to establish denominations and sectarian churches. True or False?

Answer: Absolutely FALSE! Every member of the Body of Christ should see, and then help others, to see what is the Dispensation of the Mystery and endeavor to keep the unity mentioned in Ephesians 4:1-7. Christians are NOT instructed to establish that unity or to establish any sectarian church, to COMPETE with the Church of the LORD in this Dispensation of Grace, the Body of Christ! Now, out of the 763 responses we received to this question, 93.5% of you got it right! Terrific! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 3 of 3

THE CHURCH OF THE MYSTERY NOT PROPHESIED

There are many, many, prophecies in the Old Testament Scriptures, which will surely be fulfilled. We do have “a more sure Word of Prophecy.” Wonderful things are to take place on this earth after the King comes. The nation Israel is to undergo a great change, according to Ezekiel 36:20 to Ezekiel 37:30, Hebrews 8:7-11, Isaiah 62:1-5 and many other Scriptures. HOWEVER, these “Scripture” prophecies are NOT to be fulfilled during THIS parenthetical period, not until AFTER “the Church of the Mystery” has been completed and has come to that unity and perfection mentioned in Ephesians 4:13.

There will be many signs to indicate the coming of the Son of man to the earth. Luke 21:27-32. But the “Mystery” coming of Christ for His Body (1 Corinthians 15:51) is different and does not depend upon the doings of blood thirsty tyrants in Europe, Asia, or even Washington, D.C.. Members of the Body of Christ, during this Age of Grace, walk not by sight but by Faith. Yet, it seems next to impossible to teach Christians the difference between the “searchable” riches of Christ (Acts 17:11) and the “unsearchable” riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8).

When the nation Israel is redeemed after the close of the times of the Gentiles, spiritually, (Romans 11:25-28), that redeemed company will be saved under the guaranty of the NEW Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-35. They certainly will then be God’s “called-out.” The Greek word, translated, “Church” more than one hundred times in the New Testament Scriptures is the Greek word meaning “called-out.” The word “Church” is a form of the Greek word “Kurios,” meaning, “the Lord.” The Church is “of the Lord,” but the word “Church” (Ekklesia) means “called-out.” Three times in the closing verses of the nineteenth chapter of Acts this word is translated “assembly” and refers to some ungodly Ephesians gathered as an unlawful mob. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament Scriptures the word “ekklesia” is used, and is translated, “congregation.” Then we read of the “ekklesia in the wilderness.” (Acts 7:38). This has no reference to “the Church of the Mystery.” Then note Hebrews 2:12, “in the midst of the ‘ekklesia.’” This is quoted from Psalm 22:22, “in the midst of the congregation,” (Israelitish.) This Church then was a PROPHESIED Church and not the UN-PROPHESIED “Church of the Mystery”.

As we learn these facts we see how absurd it is to try to prove that “the Church of the Mystery” began before the Apostle Paul was converted, in Acts 9, because he said, “I persecuted the Church of God.” (Galatians 1:13, Philippians 3:6, and 1 Corinthians 15:9.) Paul persecuted a Jewish Church, NOT the Joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6. And, of course, certainly God had a Church BEFORE Pentecost. Matthew 18:17.

Thus we should know that the Body of Christ is the Church of God, but that the Church of God is not necessarily the Body of Christ. The Church of the Mystery is “The Body of Christ.” Note in Acts 2:16-21, Acts 2:27-32, and in Acts 3:21-26, that the Apostle Peter and the Eleven were presenting to Israel a Kingdom program, including the Kingdom communism (Acts 2:42-46), all prophesied by Joel, David, Moses, Samuel and others. Therefore, they were not members of the Church of the Mystery, the Joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6 and they were not making any one to see “the Dispensation of the Mystery.” Ephesians 3:9. They did not claim that the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles was committed unto them. They had the keys of the Kingdom of heaven quite different. There will yet, one day soon, be a wonderful New Testament Israelitish Church on this earth. But THAT Church will be different from the present “Church of the Mystery”

Every member of the Body of Christ should see, and then help others, to see what is “the Dispensation of the Mystery” and endeavor to keep the unity mentioned in Ephesians 4:1-7. Christians are not instructed to establish that unity or to establish any sectarian church, to compete with the Lord’s Church, the Body of Christ. You will remember the record in Genesis, that God created them male and female and called THEIR name “Adam.” Genesis 5:1-4. Then read the most interesting statement in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “So also is Christ.” Adam was a figure of Christ. Romans 5:14. The Body is to be the filling up of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23. They two shall be one flesh. Ephesians 5:31-32. God is making of the twain one new man. Ephesians 2:15. The filling-up of Christ will be the perfect man, the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13. So the Church of the Mystery is “Christ,” Body and Head, the perfect man.

To obey Ephesians 4:1-7 is to recognize that during this present economy of Grace, God has on this earth ONE and only ONE Church, which is NOT an organization, but an organism. God’s saints should gather with others of like precious faith in some regular meeting-place, but the phrase...“joining the Church” is not a Scriptural expression. The very moment the believing sinner is saved by the Grace of God, by the Faith in the perfect, finished, work of the perfect Christ, he, then and there becomes a member of the Body of Christ. The baptism in this operation of Faith is a Divine baptism, (not a water baptism). As Christ’s riches are the believer’s riches, so the baptism of Christ on Calvary (Luke 12:50) is the believer’s baptism and NO OTHER BAPTISM IS REQUIRED, as God’s Word plainly tells us “there is ONE baptism.” Ephesians 4:5. That is Christ’s death baptism.

Surely it would not be true to say that there is only one true Bible Church mentioned in the Scriptures; but it is true that there is only one true Bible Church in connection with “the Dispensation of the Grace of God.” Even so it would not be Scripturally correct to say that there is only one baptism in the Bible, for there are five or six in the Four Gospels and, the Book of Acts; but since the close of the Acts period, when signs and religion CEASED there has been one baptism. Members of Christ’s ONE Body cannot practice twelve different forms of water baptism and then contend for the Faith or keep the unity of the Spirit. We repeat that there is not one single Bible teacher who sees, or is making others to see, “the Dispensation of the Mystery” (Ephesians 3:9), if he teaches and practices water baptism. In Acts 15 it was turning from Christ and Calvary back to Moses and Sinai that caused the offense of the cross to cease. Today it is adding a tank of water to the finished work of Christ, with a number of explanations as to the why of the water ceremony.

Think of all that Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, suffered for us, that we might have this glorious truth. How very few appreciate it! If you obey Ephesians 3:9, you too will learn what religious persecution really is and you will experience such satanic pressure and opposition as you have not known. Are you willing? Read Ephesians 3:9, and obey it!

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 2-23-2012, and, WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 1 of 3

First the Question: Are you ashamed, as a result of your membership in a denomination, of the Apostle Paul, his Grace testimony, or of the Mystery of the Gospel, God’s ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST? Yes or No? Please answer with care.

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-21-2012

Question: There is in the Bible, the Gospel, or Good News, for the unsaved, AND, the Gospel for the saved. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Confused? Don't be! And, what IS the truth for saints in the Bible that transcends all other truth, grand and glorious? It is “The Mystery.” Take note, this is quite different from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, as wonderful as is the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised the third day. All of that good news, we are told in those verses, was “according to the Scriptures.” BUT, “the Mystery of the Gospel,” “the Mystery of God’s will,” was NOT “according to the Scriptures” (Old Testament prophecy), but “according to the ETERNAL purpose of God,” HID in God from BEFORE the foundation of the world. Ephesians 3: 9-11. And being that it was hid in God, Israel’s prophets said nothing and knew nothing about it. Now, out of the 732 responses we received to this question, ONLY 68.8% of you got it right! We have work to do on this. Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, part 1 of 3

Christians have erred exceedingly in trying to force and limit the meaning of the word “gospel” to fit into their theological thinking or some sectarian, or denominational church creed and program.

Every intelligent, spiritual student of the Scriptures knows the difference between “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” Compare Matthew 4:23 and Acts 20:24. So should every such student of the Scriptures know the difference between the saving gospel for sinners in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and the gospel for saints.

There is in the Bible, the Gospel, “good news”, for the unsaved, and the Gospel,“good news”, for the saved. Confused? Don't be! And, what is the truth for saints in the Bible that transcends all other truth, grand and glorious? It is “The Mystery.” Take note, this is quite different from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, as wonderful as is the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised the third day. All of that good news, we are told in those verses, was “according to the Scriptures.” BUT, “the Mystery of the Gospel,” “the Mystery of God’s will,” was NOT “according to the Scriptures” (Old Testament prophecy), but “according to the eternal purpose of God,” HID in God from before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 3:9-11. And being that it was hid in God, Israel’s prophets said nothing and knew nothing about it.

When Christ died at the hands of Israel and made His grave with the rich and was buried and was raised again, all was in fulfillment of the writings of Israel’s prophets. Acts 13:29-30. But what about the present place and ministry of Christ and His relationship to Gentiles and Jews saved by Grace, during this present economy, the Dispensation of Grace? What prophet foretold that during at least twenty centuries Christ would remain in heaven, while the Messianic earthly kingdom of Christ would be in abeyance, that He would be the unseen Head of the Church, Which is His Body, the filling-up of Christ? Who foretold that Christ would be seated far above all heavens and that believing Gentiles, without subjection to the kingdom nation, could be crucified, dead, buried, raised, risen and seated with Christ, in the heavenlies, and in Him and with Him blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, while waiting for Him to appear in glory when they shall appear with Him, because they were chosen in Christ before the world began? Who foretold it? No ONE! It was hid in God.

Apart from the violent and intense hatred of Satan for this grand and glorious truth, it is next to impossible to believe that any truly saved person would oppose and fight it. But, OH, how some Christians, including some of our leading Fundamentalists, do hate it! One reason is, that the Mystery is the death blow to all denominations and all sectarian, religious ceremonies, as it is the golden key to unlock the Scriptures and God’s curative for all the ills and isms with which the Body of Christ is afflicted, “that ye no longer be children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.” Think of a Bible teacher, who claims to be a steward of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-4), knowing not the first thing about the Body, as the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:19-23), “the one new man” (Ephesians 2:15), “the one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31-32), “the perfect man!” Ephesians 4:13.

ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE

There are different aspects and phases of “the Mystery,” “the Mystery of God’s Will,” “the Dispensation of the Mystery,” which has to do with principalities and powers in the heavenlies, the inseparable and eternal union of believers with Christ, the riches of God’s grace, the riches of God’s glory, the whole family in heaven and earth, God’s inheritance in the saints and His calling. But the Mystery might be defined as “God’s eternal purpose in Christ.”

In Ephesians 3:10 we learn one reason why God wants all saints to see what is the Mystery, that is, that by the Church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to principalities and powers in the heavenlies, ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST. This wisdom was ordained to the glory of members of the Body of Christ before the world began. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8. This wisdom, which was spoken to the perfect, in a Mystery, was too much for the carnal, sectarian Corinthians, who could not take the strong meat that was for the perfect (full-aged) (1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Hebrews 5:9-12). It seems to be too much for sectarian, denominational, Christians today. They seem to be unwilling to come out from under that ecclesiastical rubbish where the precious gem has been buried, lost, for so many centuries.

Members of the Body of Christ in 2012 should be instructed in the words of the Apostle Paul, recorded in 2 Timothy 1:8-11, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with a HOLY calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and Grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

“Whereunto,” or “whereby,” is used by Paul several times in this same connection, his Apostleship to the Gentiles with THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD, for which He was the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we have stated before in many messages on LLM, the mystery was revealed to the Apostle Paul ALONE, to pass on to others. It was NOT in Israel’s Scriptures. It was NOT revealed to the twelve Apostles. The Apostle Peter never preached it, so far as the Record goes. Paul got into serious trouble, because he claimed that he had received this special truth by special revelation, not made known to others. He could not prove it by the Scriptures, because it had been hid in God.

Now, as many were ashamed of the Apostle Paul in 64 A.D., so also, many Christians are ashamed today of the Lord’s servants who preach Grace plus nothing, for salvation, and who endeavor to obey Ephesians 3:9 and Ephesians 4:1-7, especially when they get to that one Body and one baptism. But Paul testified that this Grace and purpose of God was given believers in Christ before the world began. In 2 Timothy 1:9 and in Ephesians 2:7 the Apostle shows us the eternity of Grace; what God did, in Grace, before the ages began and what He is going to do, in grace, in the ages to come.

So the question: Are you ashamed of the Apostle Paul or his Grace testimony or of God’s ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST?

This eternal purpose is always linked with PREDESTINATION. Let’s read Ephesians 1:9-11, “Having made known unto us the Mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

Now let’s read Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Now let’s read Ephesians 1:4-5, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

Do you see why religious people in the year 64 A.D. were ashamed of this Mystery, AND, why the religious people of 2012 A.D. are ashamed of this Mystery? How many of even the leading spiritual Fundamentalists are praying for an open mouth and for open doors for the proclamation of the Mystery? Ephesians 6:19-20. Colossians 4:3-4. Most of them are helping to CLOSE every door in the country against this truth that is grand and glorious and they have succeeded in closing most mouths. So the few servants of the LORD, who are earnestly endeavoring to make known this wonderful truth, are being attacked from both sides.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 2-21-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 9 of 9

First the Question: There is in the Bible, the Gospel, or Good News, for the unsaved, AND, the Gospel for the saved. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-19-2012

Question: The LORD Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ. Therefore, the LORD Jesus Christ, and the members of His Body are, THE CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 12:12. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! The Apostle Paul did not preach, (AFTER Acts 13:16), that believing Jews were begotten into the HOPE of being planted in the land of Canaan under the reign of Christ as King and Messiah on the throne of David. This HOPE OF ISRAEL is going to be realized in fulfillment of many, many, prophesies; but NOT during the current period that Almighty God is baptizing Jews and Gentiles into the ONE BODY of 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, to make the ONE NEW MAN of Ephesians 2:15. God will yet have a NEW ISRAEL (Isaiah 62:1-4), but NOT until He has completed the ONE NEW MAN, the filling up of Him that filleth all in all...THE CHRIST of 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:21-23; Ephesians 4:13. Out of the 701 responses we received to this question, 68.2% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 9 of 9

THE HOPE OF ISRAEL

Some months after the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans he and the beloved physician Luke, after a very stormy and dangerous sea voyage, reached Rome. “And when we came to Rome.” (Acts 28:16). Paul was a prisoner. Paul called the chief of the Jews together, and said to them: “for THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28:20). BUT LOOK, a few years later the Apostle Paul wrote, in Ephesians 6:19-20 and Colossians 4:3-4, that he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ for Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-2) for the MYSTERY OF CHRIST.

Peter was a Jew and he wrote to other Jews, to Israelites who believed, that they had been begotten into a living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:1-6). Their inheritance was reserved in heaven for them. Some were promised a crown when Christ appears. (1 Peter 5:4). John, who had been associated with Peter, wrote that those saved under his ministry should not be ashamed before Christ at His coming: that at Christ’s appearing they would be like Him; and this was their HOPE. (1 John 2:28-3:4). The Apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 12:13, that believing Jews and believing Gentiles had been baptized into the Body of Christ, and told them of the ‘MYSTERY’ coming of Christ to change the bodies of the members of that BODY OF CHRIST to bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). To the Corinthians, Paul wrote that the resurrection of both Christ and Christians was their hope. (1 Corinthians 15:19-26). The resurrection of Christ was a part of the gospel by which they were saved. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

In 1 Corinthians 12:12 the Apostle Paul wrote that the LORD Jesus Christ, and the members of His Body were…THE CHRIST. Read that last sentence a few times, and let it really sink in!

The Jews at Jerusalem would not believe 1 Corinthians 15:4, that the LORD Jesus Christ rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; that is, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Moses and others. They rejected the sign of Jonah and Christ. (Matthew 12:40). Hear this plain, simple testimony of the Apostle Paul when he was arrested in Jerusalem, “of the HOPE and resurrection of the dead am I called in question.” (Acts 23:6). Again, in Acts 24:16, “And have HOPE toward God, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” And again in Acts 24:21, “Touching the resurrection I am called in question.” Note again Acts 26:6-8. When Paul uttered the words of Acts 26:22, “none other things,” he was NOT referring to the UNprophesied truth of Romans 11:30-31, Romans 11:25, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, and certainly Paul did not intend that Agrippa or any other person should believe that Moses and the prophets foretold that Jews and Gentiles would be baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, which was God’s program during Paul’s ‘ACTS’ ministry.

The Apostle Paul did not preach, after Acts 13:16, that believing Jews were begotten into the HOPE of being planted in the land of Canaan under the reign of Christ as King and Messiah on the throne of David. This HOPE OF ISRAEL is going to be realized in fulfillment of many, many prophesies; but NOT during the period that Almighty God is baptizing Jews and Gentiles into the ONE BODY of 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, to make the ONE NEW MAN of Ephesians 2:15. God will yet have a NEW ISRAEL (Isaiah 62:1-4), but NOT until He has completed the ONE NEW MAN, the filling up of Him that filleth all in all; ‘THE CHRIST’ of 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:21-23; Ephesians 4:13.

God postponed the program concerning the Prophesied kingdom HOPE OF ISRAEL before Barnabas and Paul were sent forth in Acts 13:2. Israel will remain the outcast nation until God has accomplished His eternal, UNprophesied purpose, which is the JOINT BODY of Ephesians 3:6, and the presentation of Ephesians 5:26-28: Christ and the Church ONE FLESH. (Ephesians 5:31-32). Then God will do all promised in Romans 11:26-29, and Luke 21:27-33, and Acts 3:19, and Amos 9:11-15, and Ezekiel 36:24-38. The fulfillment of these Scriptures will indeed be the HOPE OF ISRAEL. But the BLESSED HOPE of Titus 2:13 is even a greater hope, and any Jew or Gentile who will receive Christ, and meet God at Calvary’s cross may experience this HOPE. The Body of Christ is included in the overall ‘Kingdom of God’ (Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 5:5), but ISRAEL’s hope is a different Phase of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 21:27-33).

Surely we have in Acts 2:5 to Acts 7:60 something of the meaning of Christ’s words in Luke 19:12-14, “A certain Nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for Himself and to return…The citizens hated Him and sent a message after Him. saying, we will not have THIS MAN to reign over us.” The messages of Peter and the Eleven, and Stephen, were concerning the Nobleman. The Apostle Peter said, in Acts 5:29-32, that God RAISED UP Christ twice to be Israel’s Savior. In Acts 3:19-21 Peter told Israel that the heavens would receive Christ until the prophesied RESTITUTION. He called on Israel to repent. Peter told Israel why the Holy Spirit was sent: to witness that God has RAISED UP Christ in resurrection, to be Israel’s Prince and Savior to give them repentance and forgiveness of sins. This verse must be understood (Acts 5:32) to know God’s programs. Then, Stephen preached to Israel that he saw the Son of man standing in heaven; but that they were resisting the Holy Spirit at the time he was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:51-60). They stoned Stephen, as Israel would not receive the testimony of the twelve apostles or of Stephen or of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:31-32). They would not have THIS MAN to reign over them. They had already said, “we have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15). After Israel stoned Stephen to death, Israel was headed for the judgment of Matthew 22:7, in which, that awful destruction by Caesar’s army would be God’s army to kill the murderers of His Son.

The LORD Jesus Christ on the cross prayed for His murderers (Luke 23:34) and God was willing to charge their crime to ignorance, if they would repent. (Acts 3:12-21). Read Acts 3:17. But Israel added to their other sins, the sin of resisting and blaspheming the Holy Spirit and forbidding the Apostles to preach to Gentiles. The wrath of God came upon them unto the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16; Acts 13:45; Acts 18:5). It is interesting to compare the Apostle Peter’s message of Acts 3:19-21 to Israel, with the Apostle Paul’s message to Israel in Acts 13:39, complete justification by faith without the law, and then note why and when Israel stumbled and fell (Romans 9:29-33); and what Israel’s FALL, temporarily, meant for the rest of the world. (Romans 11:11-15).

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 2-19-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 8 of 9

First the Question: The LORD Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ. Therefore, the LORD Jesus Christ, and the members of His Body are, THE CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 12:12. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-17-2012

Question: The Apostle Paul never preached Acts 2:38, or for that matter Mark 16:14-18, Acts 3:19-21, and Acts 10:34-35, to Gentiles in the Gospel of Grace message. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! When the disciples left Jerusalem they preached to Jews only. (Acts 11:19). When Peter used the Kingdom key with the household of Cornelius, he was MORE than criticized by the Christian Jews in Judea. (Acts 11:1-5). Then seven or eight years AFTER Pentecost they acknowledged that God sent repentance unto life to Cornelius, a God fearing, Jew loving, alms giving, praying, worshipping Gentile, whose prayers went up to heaven as a memorial before God. But surely we should know that the Apostle Paul never preached Acts 2:38, or for that matter Mark 16:14-18, Acts 3:19-21, and Acts 10:34-35 to Gentiles in the Gospel of Grace message. Out of the 767 responses we received to this question, 88.2% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 8 of 9

Now, let me make this PERFECTLY clear, NO Bible teacher is obeying, or can obey Ephesians 3:9, or can prove that the Body of Christ will not be in the Great Tribulation, who teaches that this present, Age and Dispensation of Grace, began with Peter and his Kingdom keys, and that the Apostle Paul went right on continuing with the ‘Kingdom’ message and program which the LORD Jesus Christ gave to the twelve Apostles. PAY ATTENTION, if Mark 16:17-18 are the credentials of a Christian, there are no Christians.

To teach that the saints who were with Christ before He died were ‘Kingdom’ saints and that they did not become members of the Body of Christ until AFTER the resurrection of Christ, when they were transferred, is sound doctrine. HOWEVER, the difficult task is to define the Kingdom of Heaven; for there are different aspects and phases of this Kingdom. To say that the Kingdom of Heaven is the prophesied Kingdom which will be established on this earth when the King returns to earth and then the laws of heaven will govern the people on earth is only a part of the whole truth; for the LORD told His Apostles and disciples that their names were written in heaven, and that suffering on earth would mean great reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:12; Luke 10:20). They would be rewarded at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14). Now LISTEN, there are no tares in the Body of Christ, BUT, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a mixture of wheat and tares. (Matthew 13:24-30).

Ok, so, we should see that ‘the Kingdom of God,’ ‘the Kingdom of Heaven,’ and "the Church" (the Body of Christ) are all indefinite, and cannot be dogmatically taught to mean one particular group of people or program of God, with the Holy Spirit’s approval. ALSO, therefore, the anti-dispensationalists, who use Romans 2:28-29 and Romans 9:6-7 to support their teaching that the BODY OF CHRIST IS ISRAEL, wholly ignore Romans 11:25-33 and hundreds of other verses that refute their foolish theory, a lie from the Pit itself!

When the LORD directed the Apostle Paul to write that Christians, in this Age of Grace, should be of power and love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), he certainly stated a wonderful combination, which every Christian should desire and strive to maintain. The sound mind refers to sound doctrine and to rightly dividing the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 2:1; 2 Timothy 2:15). Those who claim to be members of the Body of Christ and that that Body is Israel might well apply to themselves Romans 11:25, even if they are not Jews. In this verse Israel is blind and Christians are entreated not to be ignorant.

Have you asked some of these confused ‘Israelites,’ to what redeemed company the antediluvian saints, from Abel to Noah, belonged? Surely they were not baptized into the Body of Christ, and will not be in that glorious presentation mentioned in Ephesians 5:26-32. Surely they were not promised all the land of Canaan, as were the descendants of Abraham.

How important it is that we get the over all picture of ‘THE KINGDOM OF GOD’ in the Bible, and see that the BODY OF CHRIST is a part, as is also ‘the Kingdom of the Heavens.’ How equally important it is to know that the keys of the Kingdom which The LORD Jesus Christ gave to the Apostle Peter were NOT to open the door to let Jews and Gentiles into the one joint-BODY of Christ, and because the Apostle Paul said he persecuted the Church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9; Philippians 3:6; Galatians 1:13), we are not to prove, contrary to sound doctrine, that Paul was persecuting the ONE BODY of Ephesians 4:4-5 and Romans 12:4-5. You all follow that? Saul persecuted Christian Jews saved BEFORE the risen LORD revealed God’s hidden secret purpose, before the FALL of Israel, at the time it was not lawful for the Apostles to go to Gentiles (except proselytes). (Acts 10:28, and Acts 2:10).

The LORD’s good pleasure was to give the Kingdom to the little flock. (Luke 12:32). The LORD would go into the far country to get the Kingdom and return; and Israel would send word, “we will not have This Man to reign over us.” (Luke 19:14). On the day of Pentecost God added to the Galileans, the one hundred and twenty of Acts 1:13-15, three thousand Jews and proselytes; devout Jews from every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:10, and Acts 2:5). Then they established a ‘Kingdom’ COMMUNISM. (Acts 2:44-45, and Acts 4:34-35). Even when the disciples left Jerusalem they preached to Jews only. (Acts 11:19). When Peter used the ‘Kingdom’ key with the household of Cornelius, he was MORE than criticized by the Christian Jews in Judea. (Acts 11:1-5). Then seven or eight years AFTER Pentecost they acknowledged that God sent repentance unto life to a God fearing, Jew loving, alms giving, praying, worshipping Gentile, whose prayers went up to heaven as a memorial before God. But surely we should know that the Apostle Paul never preached Acts 2:38, or for that matter Mark 16:14-18, Acts 3:19-21, and Acts 10:34-35 to Gentiles in the ‘Gospel of Grace’ message.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 2-17-2012: Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 7 of 9

First the Question: The Apostle Paul never preached Acts 2:38, or for that matter Mark 16:14-18, Acts 3:19-21, and Acts 10:34-35, to Gentiles in the Gospel of Grace message. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-15-2012

Question: This present Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery, began with the twelve apostles on the day of Pentecost. True or False?

Answer: FALSE! Now, let me make this PERFECTLY clear. No Bible teacher is obeying, or can obey Ephesians 3:9, or can prove that the Body of Christ will not be in the Great Tribulation, who teaches that this present, Age and Dispensation of Grace, began with Pentecost, Peter and his Kingdom keys, AND that the Apostle Paul went right on continuing with the Kingdom message and program which the LORD Jesus Christ gave to the twelve Apostles. PAY ATTENTION, if Mark 16:17-18 are the credentials of a Christian, there are NO Christians. OK, so, out of the 734 responses we received to this question, 76.2% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 7 of 9

The Study of the Bible, that is not Dispensational, is not in obedience to 2 Timothy 2:15.

We use the word ‘dispensational,’ not only for lack of a better word, but because the Apostle Paul, who wrote 2 Timothy 2:15, wrote that a dispensation was committed unto him. (1 Corinthians 9:15-17; Colossians 1:24-26; Colossians 3:1-3). In 2 Timothy 1:12 he called it ‘a deposit.’ The Apostle Paul wrote that God wants all to see ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery.’ (Ephesians 3:9). The Greek word translated ‘fellowship’ in this verse is the word translated ‘Dispensation’ in the other verses.

The Apostle Paul called himself the architect, or wise masterbuilder, who laid the foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:10). None of the twelve apostles mentioned the Mystery or the Body, so far as we have any Bible record. They were not in jail for the Mystery, as was Paul. (Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:7-9). They were not the prisoner of Jesus Christ for Gentiles, with the Dispensation of the Grace of God, as was Paul. (Ephesians 3:1-3). It was after the Apostle Paul’s missionary journey that the Jewish saints learned that God had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27).

The Apostle Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles, to which much scripture speaks. (Romans 11:13; Acts 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:4-7; Romans 16:15; Galatians 1:15-16, and Galatians 2:7-9). It was the Apostle Paul who said, “Lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46, and Acts 18:6). Not one of the twelve apostles preached Romans 11:30-31 or Romans 11:15, so far as we have any Biblical record.

Premillenialial Preachers, Pastors, and Teachers, for the most part, teach that the kingdom of heaven that was at hand in Matthew 10:5-8, teach that that kingdom is now in abeyance and will not be at hand until after God has accomplished His eternal purpose in this UN-prophesied parenthetical Age of Grace and Dispensation, during which God will complete the Body, or Church, of the Mystery, and to this I applaud them! HOWEVER, most of these Premillenialists THEN also teach that this present Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery, began with the 12 Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. In THIS, they make a BIG mistake, and greatly err, and on top of that they add to the utter confusion of members of the Body of Christ.

If what these Pastors and teachers teach is true, then ask them: Why Paul? If what they teach concerning the Day of Pentecost is true, the the Apostle Paul was presumptuous, deluded, or egotistical, if not all three, in the claims he made.

Now, let me make this PERFECTLY clear. No Bible teacher is obeying, or can obey Ephesians 3:9, or can prove that the Body of Christ will not be in the Great Tribulation, who teaches that this present, Age and Dispensation of Grace, began with Pentecost, Peter, and his Kingdom keys, AND that the Apostle Paul went right on continuing with the Kingdom message and program which the LORD Jesus Christ gave to the twelve Apostles. PAY ATTENTION, if Mark 16:17-18 are the credentials of a Christian, there are NO Christians.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 2-15-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 6 of 9

First the Question: This present Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery, began with the twelve apostles on the day of Pentecost. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-13-2012

Question: All of the prophesied New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-37, mentioned in Hebrews 8:9-12, is being literally fulfilled in the present Age and Dispensation of Grace, while the Nation of Israel is set aside, and in the disfavor of God. True or False?

Answer: FALSE! As God, at the time He gave Israel the Old Covenant, called Israel out of Egypt, so God, under the guarantee of the New Covenant, will surely fulfill Jeremiah 32:37-40, and call Israel out of ALL the countries where they now dwell. Not leaving a great majority of them in New York, Florida, and various other areas of the world! And according to the Scriptures, ALL Israel shall know the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:34). (Hebrews 8:9-12). Then, at that time, TRULY Israel will be The New Testament ‘CALLED OUT’, or Church. Out of the 717 responses we received to this question, only 61.5% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, for further study, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 6 of 9

Take a moment and read Romans 11:26-29, along with Jeremiah 31:31-37. As God, at the time He gave Israel the Old Covenant, called Israel out of Egypt, so God, under the guarantee of the New Covenant, will surely fulfill Jeremiah 32:37-40, and call Israel out of ALL the countries where they now dwell. Not leaving a great majority of them in New York and Florida! And according to the Scriptures, all Israel shall know the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:34). (Hebrews 8:9-12). Then, at that time, TRULY Israel will be The New Testament ‘CALLED OUT.’ But they will not be the ONE BODY, the JOINT-BODY of Christ of Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 4:4-5.

Surely every intelligent, spiritual, steward of the Mysteries of God must see that the joint-Body of Christ is ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD'. HOWEVER, in the Bible, ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD’ is not necessarily ‘THE BODY OF CHRIST’.

When we carefully study the Apostle Paul’s Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians we learn that we have Scriptural right to speak of the ‘ONE BODY,’ the JOINT BODY (Ephesians 3:6), as ‘THE CHURCH OF THE MYSTERY.’ (1 Timothy 3:15-16; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:9). Therefore, inasmuch as the NEW TESTAMENT was prophesied, and its fulfillment will NOT be the MYSTERY, we should NOT speak of the BODY OF CHRIST, as ‘the New Testament Church,’ without explaining 2 Cor. 3:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 11:25 and Hebrews 12:22-24.

Members of the Body of Christ are brought nigh to God by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13), and Christ declared that the blood He shed on the cross was the blood of the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28). Bible teachers who claim that ALL of the prophesied New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-37, mentioned in Hebrews 8:9-12, is being literally fulfilled in the Age and Dispensation of Grace, while the Nation of Israel is set aside and in God’s disfavor, do error greatly, not knowing the Scriptures according to 2 Timothy 2:15.

Then, on the other hand, some extremests explain the three Scriptures I mentioned along with Romans 15:27, Acts 26:22, and Acts 28:20, to support their theories that the Church of God of Acts 20:28, or for that matter any Church mentioned in the Book of Acts or in Paul’s Epistles written before he reached Rome at the close of Acts, was not ‘The Church Of The Mystery’; ‘THE ONE BODY’ of Ephesians and Colossians.

They teach that the Church up to the close of the Book of Acts was ‘The Prophesied New Testament Church,’ with a different hope and calling, and because the LORD’s Supper is mentioned in connection with the New Covenant, or Testament, that memorial has no place in the joint-Body of Christ, having passed away with water baptism, tongues and other signs after the Apostle Paul reached Rome and began a new ministry as recorded in his ‘prison’ Epistles. Especially Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Timothy.

According to this extremism, the Kingdom messages and programs proclaimed by the twelve Apostles, and by the Apostle Paul, up to the time of God’s pronouncement in Acts 28:25-28 concerning Israel’s blindness and the salvation of Gentiles, were in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and have no place in the ‘MYSTERY’ joint-BODY, in the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles, or in ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery,’ mentioned in Ephesians 3:1-9. (In Parts 7-9, of this series of messages on the Book of Acts, I will address ‘THE HOPE OF ISRAEL’, so no worries, sit tight).

But the answer to this extremism is Romans 16:25; Romans 11:30-31; and Romans 11:15, COMPARED with 2 Cor. 5:16-21, and the ‘THE CHRIST’ of 1 Corinthians 12:12. Surely it should require no profound Bible study to see that the Body of Romans 12:4-5 is the ‘JOINT BODY’ of Ephesians 3:6. The Epistle to the Romans was written before the pronouncement of Acts 28:25-28. The ‘SAME BODY’ of Ephesians 3:6 should read ‘THE JOINT BODY.’

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 2-13-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 5 of 9

First the Question: All of the prophesied New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-37, mentioned in Hebrews 8:9-12, is being literally fulfilled in the present Age and Dispensation of Grace, while the Nation of Israel is set aside, and in the disfavor of God. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-10-2012

Question: The Body of Christ is the Church of God, but, in the Bible, The Church of God is not necessarily the Body of Christ. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! In Psalm 22:22 we read, “I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.” In quoting this verse, the writer of the Hebrews wrote: “In the midst of the CHURCH will I sing praise unto Thee.” (Hebrews 2:12). In the light of Colossians 1:24-26, Ephesians 3:1-3, and Ephesians 3:6-11, we know that the ‘congregation’ of Psalm 22:22, and the ‘church’ of Hebrews 2:16, is NOT the CHURCH, Which is Christ’s joint-Body. (Ephesians 1:22-23). Out of the 763 responses we received to this question, only 78.9% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 5 of 9

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND THE CHURCH

In Psalm 22:22 we read, “I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.” In quoting this verse, the writer of the Hebrews wrote: “In the midst of the CHURCH will I sing praise unto Thee.” (Hebrews 2:12). In the light of Colossians 1:24-26, Ephesians 3:1-3, and Ephesians 3:6-11, we know that the ‘congregation’ of Psalm 22:22, and the ‘church’ of Hebrews 2:16, is NOT the CHURCH, Which is Christ’s joint-Body. (Ephesians 1:22-23).

We have the right to wonder how and when the theologians and Bible translators decided to use the word ‘CHURCH,’ translated from the Greek, ‘Ekklesia,’ meaning literally, ‘called out.’ (An etymology of the word "Church" is in order here). Using the word ‘CHURCH’ has added so much to the confusion, especially when it is a known fact that more than ninety percent of Christians call a meeting place, a stone, brick or wood building, ‘a church.’ And, God never called out stone, brick or wood.

Every time the word ‘CHURCH,’ either in the singular or plural, is used in the Scriptures the reference is to PEOPLE. The Greek word translated ‘churches’ in Acts 19:37, ‘robbers of churches,’ is the one exception; for the word should be translated ‘temples.’ However, it is quite interesting to note that in Acts 19:32, Acts 19:39-41, the word ‘ASSEMBLY,’ referring to a mob of heathen, is translated from the Greek ‘ekklesia: You may ask why is the word here translated ‘assembly’ and more than one hundred times, ‘CHURCH.’ It is thought that the word ‘CHURCH’ is a form of the word ‘KURIOS,’ meaning ‘The Lord.’ However, that proves out to be nonsense. The word "CHURCH" was used on purpose, but that's another story and message.

In Acts 7:38 we read of ‘THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS’ referring to God’s people whom God called out of Egypt, under the leadership of Moses, the mediator of the Old Covenant. Surely those Israelites were not baptized by the Holy Spirit into the joint-Body, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:13. The body of Moses for which Satan contended was not ‘THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS,’ but the body of Moses referred to in Deuteronomy 34:5-6. Take a moment and read Jude 9, and Hebrews 2:14-15.

In Matthew 18:17 the word ‘CHURCH’ appears twice. The Lord Jesus said, “tell it unto the Church!” The expression, ‘the kingdom of heaven’ is found about thirty times in the Book of Matthew. That Message is certainly a message concerning the King and the Kingdom. What ‘CHURCH’ the Lord referred to in Matthew 18:17 we may not know, but we do know that while the LORD Jesus was here on earth, the Minister of the Circumcision, with messages and a program fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Romans 15:8), sent only to Israel (Matthew 15:24; Matthew 10:5-8), Jews and Gentiles were not being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the UNPROPHESIED joint-Body of 1 Corinthians 12:13, and Ephesians 4:4-5. You got all this so far? Good!

Another interesting and all important fact is that the LORD Jesus Christ is coming to redeem Israel after the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled...‘Israel shall be saved’...(Romans 11:25-29). Why? Because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and because God said, “This is My covenant when I shall take away their sins.” Now, take a moment and read Romans 11:26-29, along with Jeremiah 31:31-37. As God, at the time He gave Israel the Old Covenant, called Israel out of Egypt, so God, under the guarantee of the New Covenant, will surely fulfill Jeremiah 32:37-40, and call Israel out of ALL the countries where they now dwell. Not leaving a great majority of them in New York and Florida! And according to the Scriptures, all Israel shall know the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:34). (Hebrews 8:9-12). Then, at that time, TRULY Israel will be The New Testament ‘CALLED OUT.’ But they will not be the ONE BODY, the JOINT-BODY of Christ of Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 4:4-5.

Surely every intelligent, spiritual, steward of the Mysteries of God must see that the joint-Body of Christ is ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD'. HOWEVER, in the Bible, ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD’ is not necessarily ‘THE BODY OF CHRIST’.

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 2-10-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 4 of 9

First the Question: The Body of Christ is the Church of God, but, in the Bible, The Church of God is not necessarily the Body of Christ. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-8-2012

Question: The Times of the Gentiles SPIRITUALLY will end by the MYSTERY appearing of Christ in the air to Rapture the Body of Christ. Titus 2:13. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! It is significant that after the Apostle Paul reached Rome as Caesar’s prisoner, Paul called himself “the prisoner of Jesus Christ", “for you Gentiles”, with the Dispensation of the Grace of God. (Ephesians 3:1 and Ephesians 4:1). The TIMES OF THE GENTILES politically, will end by the coming of the Son of man to earth; but SPIRITUALLY it will end by His MYSTERY appearing, for to Rapture His Body to Himself as it's Head. (Titus 2:13). Out of the 715 responses we received to this question, 77.8% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 4 of 9

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES

When the LORD Jesus Christ was here on earth in the midst of Israel He told the Jews that the seat of religious authority was Moses’ seat. (Matthew 23:1-3). Christ told His people that the seat of political authority was Rome and Caesar. (Matthew 22:21-22). Christ told HIS people that Jerusalem would be under Gentile authority and the Jews would be a scattered people until ‘THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES’ be fulfilled (Luke 21:24).

Note in 2 Kings 17:18 that God was very angry with Israel and sent them into captivity. Judah was left. Then later, because of the sin of Manasseh the king, God said, “I will remove Judah also out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city of Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house, of which I said, My name shall be there.” (2 Kings 23:27). So the Gentile king of Babylon came to remove Judah; and we find in 2 Kings 25:7 another blind Jew, Zedekiah. Now follow me on this, THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES, POLITICALLY began with a blind Jew (suggesting the blindness of Israel) about 600 B.C.

Christ was born in the times of the Gentiles, politically. (Luke 2:1). After Paul explained in Romans 11:11-15 and 11:25-31, how God had ushered in THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES, SPIRITUALLY, he reminded the LORD’s disciples that they were still living in THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES, POLITICALLY (Romans 13:1-7).

A little later Paul appealed to Caesar to save him from an unlawful death. (Acts 25:11). Caesar’s officers had already used hundreds of soldiers to protect Paul (Acts 23:23). But it is significant that after the Apostle Paul reached Rome as Caesar’s prisoner Paul called himself “the prisoner of Jesus Christ”…“for you Gentiles”, with the Dispensation of the Grace of God. (Ephesians 3:1 and Ephesians 4:1). The TIMES OF THE GENTILES politically, will end by the coming of the Son of man to earth; but SPIRITUALLY it will end by His MYSTERY appearing, for to Rapture His Body to Himself as it's Head. (Titus 2:13).

After reading Luke’s Gospel we can see why the disciples were so confused as to God’s program that they said, after Christ’s death AND resurrection, “we trusted it had been He that should have redeemed Israel.” (Luke 24:21). Are we not confused when we read God’s message, at the time Christ was born, “peace on earth” (Luke 2:14), and then read Christ’s own words when He spake of His death on the cross as His ‘baptism,’ and said “no peace on earth?” (Luke 12:47-50). Are we not confused when we read Luke 1:67-80, that God RAISED UP Christ to deliver Israel from Gentile domination and to fulfill His promises to permit them, once delivered from the hands of their enemies, to serve God without fear, and then to go on to read Luke 21:22-33, concerning the days of vengeance for Israel (the terrible judgment of Matthew 22:7) when Israel would suffer awful, cruel, murderous treatment from the hands of the Gentiles? Perhaps we get light upon these contrary Scriptures by the FALL and RISING of Israel in Luke 2:34.

Christ, in Luke 1:27-33, was born to fulfill Isaiah 9:6-7, to occupy the throne of David and reign over the house of Jacob. BUT in John 12:37-41 we learn that Isaiah 53 had to be fulfilled concerning Christ on the cross before Isaiah 9:6-7 could be fulfilled concerning The LORD Jesus Christ on David’s throne. Now we know that the suffering of Christ had to precede His Glory (1 Peter 1:11-12), and it would seem from Christ’s rebuke of Luke 24:24, “O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,” that Christ expected His disciples at that time to know 1 Peter 1:11. But the question of Acts 1:6, “wilt Thou AT THIS TIME restore again the kingdom to Israel,” PROVES that even the twelve Apostles were still foolish and slow of heart, AND that Acts 1:3 does not mean that Christ taught the Twelve ANYTHING concerning the truth of Romans 11:25-26. You get all that? Good!

THE SIGN OF JONAH

The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, but Israel repented not at the preaching of One greater than Jonah (Matthew 12:41). Christ left them one great sign “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40). The Son of man had to go as He went. (Matthew 26:24; John 3:14; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:24-29; Acts 13:29-30; Acts 3:18). Therefore Israel’s sin against the Son of man, when they killed the Prince of Life (Acts 3:14:15), WAS pardonable (Matthew 12:32); and it is significant that Luke was the one chosen by the Holy Spirit to record the prayer of Christ on the cross, Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” for Luke wrote the Gospel and the Book of Acts. Note the Holy Spirit’s message, through the Apostle Peter not many days thereafter, “I know that through ignorance you did it, as did your rulers. But those things which God before hath showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.” (Acts 3:17-18). Now grasp the significance of the THEREFORE in the next (Acts 3:19) verse, and learn the significance and efficacy of Christ’s prayer for Israel on the cross, which brought Divine amnesty for Israel because Christ’s suffering had to precede His Glory. Christ could not go to the THRONE of David, in fulfillment of Prophecy, until He went to the tree, in fulfillment of Prophecy. (Acts 3:18; Acts 13:29-30).

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 2-8-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 3 of 9

First the Question: The Times of the Gentiles SPIRITUALLY will end by the MYSTERY appearing of Christ in the air to Rapture the Body of Christ. Titus 2:13. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-6-2012

Question: Seven years after the commission of Matthew 28:19-20, the Apostles were busy preaching to Gentiles. True or False?

Answer: FALSE! Seven years after the commission of Matthew 28:19-20 it was not lawful for the Apostles to go to Gentiles (Acts 10:28). Also, the other apostles and disciples at Jerusalem contended with Peter for preaching to the household of Cornelius (Acts 11:1-5), and then the Christian Jews who left Jerusalem for some years preached to none but Jews. (Acts 11:19). We will explore these things later in this series of messages on the Book of Acts. Now, out of the 695 responses we received to this question, only 64.3% of you got it right! We have work to do in this area. Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 3 of 9

MORE FACTS TO UNDERSTAND ACTS

Later on in this series we will discuss the beloved physician Luke in detail, who wrote the Message generally called ‘THE THIRD GOSPEL’ and THE BOOK OF ACTS. The biography (mostly the autobiography) of this courageous, faithful, uncompromising servant of the LORD, true friend of the Apostle Paul, begins with Acts 16:10, in about 53 A.D. and ends with 2 Timothy 4:11, about 68 A.D.; “only Luke is with me” Note when Luke, the writer of Acts, joined the Apostle Paul, “WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia.” (Acts 16:10).

Several years later after that perilous, terrible, sea voyage on the stormy sea when the ship went all to pieces. Luke wrote, “when WE came to Rome.” (Acts 28:16). It will prove most interesting and instructive to trace the ministry of Luke by studying the ‘WE’ of Acts 16:11-15; Acts 20:6-15; and Acts 21:1-7. Now note Acts 21:8-10, that the Apostle Paul and Luke visited in the home of Philip, the evangelist, who was one of the 7 men of God chosen to receive and disburse the money in Israel’s ‘COMMUNISM’ of Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:34-35, and Acts 6:3-5. Stephen and Philip were among those chosen. Stephen was killed after a very short ministry. But how about that Philip! Still serving the risen Christ 25 years after Pentecost.

Then, also, note all of the WE’s of Acts 27:1-37, and Acts:28:10-14. Several years after the Apostle Paul and Luke reached Rome, Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Luke the beloved physician greets you.” (Colossians 4:14). Paul wrote to Philemon, whose home was in Colosse, “There salute you Mark and Luke.” (Philemon 1:24). Note carefully that here we have with the Apostle Paul, who was in prison for the MYSTERY (Ephesians 6:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:7-9, and Colossians 4:3-4), Mark, the writer of the so called ‘SECOND GOSPEL’ and Luke, the writer of the so called ‘THIRD GOSPEL.” Of course the Apostle Paul, Mark, and Luke were all members of the ONE BODY of 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 12:3-5 and Ephesians 4:4-5; and Mark and Luke were among the saints to whom God had made known the glorious truth; His ETERNAL PURPOSE. THE MYSTERY, which had been hid in God, hid from generations and ages. (Colossians 1:24-26, and Ephesians 3:9).

About the time Mark and Luke were with the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Peter wrote concerning “our beloved brother Paul, in all his Epistles, in which are some things hard to be understood.” (2 Peter 3:14-16). Some Bible "teachers" have deduced from statements in Peter’s two Epistles, and other Scriptures, that Peter was not one of the saints of Colossians 1:25-26, to whom the Holy Spirit had manifested the truth concerning THE MYSTERY. But this is more than a wild guess by these Bible "teachers". In 1 Peter 5:13 the Apostle Peter wrote of Mark as his son. From this it seems that Mark was saved hearing Peter’s preaching. We might believe that Luke was saved by Paul’s preaching, but positive proof is lacking.

Luke is the one writer of the earthly ministry of The LORD Jesus Christ, who tells us that Christ when He was dedicated as a little Child was in the arms of the devout, religious Jew who was waiting for the consolation of Israel; and that Christ after His death was likewise in the arms of such a Jew, waiting for the Kingdom of God. Compare Luke 2:25-35 and Luke 23:50-53, concerning Simeon and Joseph of Arimathea. Note these words of Simeon concerning Christ, “set for the FALL and RISING AGAIN of many in Israel.” (Luke 2:34). Luke is the one writer who wrote, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10). Note the statement of Christ immediately preceding this statement, “forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” Zacchaeus was a despised publican, but he was a Jew, and belonged to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Take a moment, now, to read Ezekiel 34:11-24; the prophecies that Jehovah will seek His sheep, Israel, and restore the kingdom to His sheep. However, lost, alienated Gentiles (Ephesians 4:18; Ephesians 2:11-12) were not called ‘sheep’ by the LORD. Christ called them, ‘dogs.’ (Matthew 15:26, and Mark 7:27). Note what the twelve apostles did when they had the opportunity to preach the Gospel to a Gentile while Christ was on earth. They said, “send her away.” (Matthew 15:23). We certainly ought to understand this when Christ told the twelve not to go in the way of Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6); that, The LORD Jesus Christ, He Himself, while He was here, was sent only to Jews (Matthew 15:24); but it is not so easy to understand why, seven years after the commission of Matthew 28:19-20 it was not lawful for the Apostles to go to Gentiles (Acts 10:28); or why the other apostles and disciples at Jerusalem contended with Peter for preaching to the household of Cornelius (Acts 11:1-5), or why the Christian Jews who left Jerusalem for some years preached to none but Jews. (Acts 11:19). We will explore these things later.

Moving on, in Luke 13:16 the LORD Jesus said that the afflicted woman should have been healed by Him on Israel’s Sabbath, because the woman was a daughter of Abraham. The Son of man came to seek and to save the sons and daughters of Abraham (ISRAEL). But Christ warned the sons of Abraham (ISRAEL) that, although they were the children, they would be cast out and Gentiles would sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. (Matthew 8:11-12). There is no record in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that the Son of man, Jesus Christ, went out to seek the Gentiles. He must needs go through Samaria; but the Samaritans were not Gentiles. (Matthew 10:5-8). We would be more than foolish to say how many or how few Gentiles were saved while Christ was in the midst of Israel as Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 2:22), the Minister of the Circumcision (Romans 15:8). BUT, we can say positively that two Gentiles are mentioned as having received the blessing of Christ on earth, one Greek woman of GREAT FAITH (Mark 7:24-29, and Matthew 15:21-27) and one Roman man of GREAT FAITH. (Matthew 8:10-12, and Luke 7:1-12). To the Greek, Christ said, “let the children (the sons and daughters of Abraham, meaning ISRAEL) FIRST be filled.” To the Roman, Christ said, “the children shall be cast into darkness.” We must keep these two statements in mind as we move through the study of the Book of Acts. Note the ‘FIRST’ of Acts 3:26; Acts 13:46; Romans 1:16. Then note that God’s ‘Grace’ Gospel of reconciliation was sent to Gentiles after the sons of Abraham (ISRAEL) were put in darkness by God. (Romans 11:1-15; Romans 11:25; Acts 13:7-15; and Acts 13:46).

Note, in addition to the GREAT FAITH of the Roman Gentile man, that that centurion loved the Jews and built them a synagogue and asked the sons of Abraham (ISRAEL) to go to the LORD Jesus to present his urgent appeal, because he thought himself unworthy. (Luke 7:4-9). These two Gentiles sought the Son of man: the Son of man did not seek them. He actually seemed to hide from the woman. (Mark 7:24).

It is more than difficult for us to find the record in the Book of Acts where the twelve apostles went out to seek and to save lost Gentiles. Peter preached to a company of SEEKING Gentiles, headed by a God fearing, Jew loving centurion (Acts 10:1-4, and Acts 10:22), so much like the centurion of Luke 7:1-10 that some believe (without positive Scriptural proof) that Luke 7 and Acts 10 speak of the same Roman official Cornelius. Note carefully, ‘my mouth’ in Acts 15:7. (Peter’s mouth preaching to Cornelius.) Note that the Gentile to whom Paul preached BEFORE he said that Israel had put God’s Word from them and he was turning to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46), that Gentile was SEEKING the LORD. (Acts 13:7-15). He, also, was a Roman official, a prudent man who desired to hear the Word of God. (Acts 13:7). His name was ‘PAULUS’ or ‘PAUL.’ So SAUL also became ‘PAULUS’ or ‘PAUL.’ (Acts 13:9). When God sent blindness for a season on the Jew, whose name ‘Barjesus’ means, ‘the child of Jehovah Saviour,’ the Gentile (Paulus) was astonished and believed. (Acts 13:10-12). This was God’s pattern for Israel’s blindness and the salvation of Gentiles as recorded in Romans 11:25.

Thus we see how ‘THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES, SPIRITUALLY,’ began. After the blindness of Barjesus and the blindness of Israel (Romans 11:5-11) God began to deal with Gentiles in Grace as He had never dealt with them before. The FALL and diminishing of the Jews (Israel) meant riches for the Gentiles. (Romans 11:12). God will again deal with Israel in a manner that He is not NOW dealing with Israel when the FULNESS of the Gentiles comes in (Romans 11:25). THEN God will take Israel’s blindness away and save them according to His covenant of promise, which is irrevocable. (Romans 11:26-29).

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 2-2-2012, and, Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 1 of 9

First the Question: A reference to some Old Testament Prophecy or Scripture does not necessarily mean its fulfillment. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 1-29-2012

Question: The LORD Jesus revealed nothing of the Dispensation of the Mystery, Ephesians 3:9, nothing of the Dispensation of the Grace of God, Ephesians 3:1-8, and nothing of the program of Romans 11:30-31 to His Apostles, while on earth in the flesh. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! With the facts presented in the Book of Acts, even the babe in Christ should know that the Lord Jesus revealed NOTHING of the Dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:9), nothing of the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Ephesians 3:1-8), and nothing of the program of Romans 11:30-31 to His apostles, when right before His ascension He spoke of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3). Acts 11:18 alone should convince even the most skeptical of this fact. Now, out of the 812 responses we received to this question, even better than last time, 86.1% of you got it right! Good!! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at the first part of our new series of messages,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 1 of 9

Every true messenger of The LORD Jesus Christ, is a faithful steward of the Mystery of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1-4. Many zealous, sincere, men and women, although they love the LORD, are unskillful in the Word of Righteousness, being babes, giving out the milk of the Word, but NOT the strong meat that belongeth to those who are perfect. Hebrews 5:12-6:2, and Ephesians 4:13-14. Therefore, with this in mind, we will explore and learn the meat of the Word of God contained in the Book of Acts.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” (John 3:14).

“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” (Matthew 12:38-41).

We have in these verses the plain statements of the Son of God; that He must be lifted up on the cross of Calvary; that He must remain in Joseph’s tomb for three days and three nights. These were ‘musts.’ The Gospel by which we are saved is stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5: “Christ died for our sins, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, He was buried, and He was raised the third day according to the Scriptures.” If our LORD was not raised from the dead, all our preaching and faith and good works are in vain, and we have NO hope. So it was in fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy that Christ was lifted up, and was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the big fish. (Acts 13:29-30). Strange language do we read in John 12:37-41, “though He (Christ) had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him...Therefore, they could not believe.”

The great signs God Performed by Jesus of Nazareth in the midst of Israel before He was lifted up and before He went to Joseph’s tomb (Acts 2:22, John 20:30-31) should have caused Israel to repent at the preaching of Christ as the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, for Christ was greater than Jonah, and the Israelites were God’s chosen people. Refusing to repent before Calvary was a serious matter. But Christ had to die as He died and when He died. (Hebrews 2:9; Acts 4:25-28; Acts 2:23; Acts 3:18; Acts 13:29-30; Matthew 26:24; Luke 24:25-26; Luke 24:46; and. Matthew 21:42). Therefore, Israel’s sin against the Son of man, lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent, could be forgiven (Matthew 12:30-32; Luke 23:34, and Acts 3:18).

But for Israel it was far more serious when they rejected the witness of the 12 Apostles and that of the Holy Spirit AFTER Christ came from the heart of the earth as Jonah came from the belly of the fish. (Acts 5:29-32). Undoubtedly that great miracle of Jonah in the fish for three days and three nights caused the men of Nineveh to repent. The great miracle, or sign of Matthew 12:40, referred to by the Apostle Peter in Acts 3:15 and Acts 5:31-32, should have caused Israel to grasp the meaning of the ‘THEREFORE’ in Acts 3:19, when Peter said, “Repent ‘THEREFORE’.” BUT, what happened? They put Peter in jail, stoned Stephen to death, and continued in their rejection and rebellion until God’s wrath unto the uttermost came upon them. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

FACTS TO UNDERSTAND THE BOOK OF ACTS

Every true messenger of Christ is a faithful steward of the Mystery of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1-4). Many zealous, sincere men and women, although they love the LORD, are unskillful in the Word of Righteousness, being babes, giving out the milk of the Word, but NOT the strong meat that belongeth to those who are perfect. (Hebrews 5:12-6:2, and Ephesians 4:13-14). Therefore, with this in mind, we begin this new multipart series of messages, through which we will explore and learn the meat of God's Word contained in the Book of Acts.

Every faithful steward of the Mystery of God knows that ‘ISRAEL’ and ‘CIRCUMCISION’ are two of the keys to the Scriptures.

Now, inasmuch as we find the word ‘ISRAEL’ in the Book of Acts about 20 times and the word ‘JEW’ or ‘JEWS’ about 80 times, and the word ‘CHRISTIAN’ 1 time and ‘CHRISTIANS’ 1 time, and inasmuch as Peter said, ‘TO THE JEWS FIRST’ in Acts 3:26, and Paul, about 12 years later said, ‘TO THE JEWS FIRST’ (Acts 13:46), perhaps we should approach the study of Acts with the words of Christ to the Greek in mind, “let the children (Israel) FIRST be filled.” (Mark 7:27). But of course, if we do not understand the Dispensational place of the Book of Acts, we surely wonder why, some twelve or thirteen years after Christ said to Israel, “your house is left unto you desolate” in Matthew 23:38, the Apostle Paul should warn Israel to ‘BEWARE’ in Acts 13:40, and then say ‘TO THE JEWS FIRST.’ in Acts 13:46. Why some eight years after Christ's unmerciful denunciation of Israel in Matthew 23:31-40, was it NOT lawful for Peter to go to Gentiles seen in Acts 10:28? Why did the Jewish messengers preach to no one but Jews only as seen in Acts 11:19? Why were the Apostles and elders in Judea displeased when Peter had preached to the household of Cornelius? (Acts 11:1-5). When the Apostle Paul, some years later, wrote ‘TO THE JEW FIRST,’ in Romans 1:16, he was not talking of the ‘then’ present, but of the ‘then’ past; for in that same Epistle to the Romans he wrote that there was no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, as we read in Romans 3:22 and Romans 10:12, and that God had set Israel aside, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. (Romans 11:25). Now, just think of the blunder of those who preach today ‘to the Jew first’ after reading Romans 11:7-11 and Acts 28:25-28!

In Jeremiah 31:35-36 we read that, "when there shall no more be a sun, and stars and the moon, there shall no more be a nation Israel." So when you behold the planets, keep your eyes on Israel. Israel is now the TAIL of Deuteronomy 28:44; but Israel will yet be the HEAD of Deuteronomy 28:13. Spiritually speaking, the Christian Gentiles are rich because Israel, during this parenthetical period, (The Age of of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery), is poor. (Romans 11:12, and Romans 11:30).

In Acts 3:12-18, the Apostle Peter plainly told Israel of their ‘PARDONABLE’ sin, their sin against the Son of man, the Prophet like unto Moses. (Acts 3:22). In Acts 7:51-60 Stephen plainly told Israel of their ‘PARDONABLE’ sin, against the Son of man, their ‘UNPARDONABLE’ sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:30-32; Acts 5:30-31), and concerning Christ the Prophet like unto Moses. (Acts 7:37). Then, Israel said, in a sense, to Stephen, concerning the certain Nobleman of Luke 19:14, “we will not have THIS MAN to reign over us.”

In Isaiah 5:7 we read that ‘the VINEYARD OF THE LORD IS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.’ Read the other PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD in Matthew 21:33-46. Now, follow me here, then read with these two Parables in Isaiah and Matthew, Stephen’s great message to Israel in Acts 7, Paul’s great message to Israel in Acts 13:16-46. And with these four messages I want you to read Psalm 78, and Psalm 106. ONCE, you do this, you will have a real knowledge of the general history of Israel, and you will understand better the question Christ put to Israel, in Isaiah 5:4, “what could have been done more to MY VINEYARD (ISRAEL), that I have not done in it?” Then read Romans 9:29-33, and 11:1-11, and answer this most thought provoking, and most important question, “how long was Israel’s ‘ALL-DAY-LONG,’ referred to in Romans 10:21?” God stretched forth His hands to Israel ‘ALL-DAY-LONG.’

Again as we begin to study Acts we should remember the words of the disciples of Christ after His resurrection, “we trusted it had been Christ Which should have redeemed Israel” (Luke 24:21), and the question of his apostles, in Acts 1:6, “wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” And with these quotations remember Matthew 10:23, that Christ’s apostles may not go over the cities of Israel before the Son of man come: and Matthew 19:27-28, that Christ promised the twelve apostles that they would sit on twelve thrones and judge Israel. With these thoughts, keep in mind, that the Gospel of Matthew, we have from the best authorities, was written within six years after the death of the LORD Jesus Christ, before Cornelius, the first Gentile was saved, because at the time it was not lawful for Matthew or any of his fellow apostles to go to Gentiles. (Acts 10:28). Matthew wrote after Saul (Paul) was converted, after Saul went in and out among the apostles in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:27-28). At that time Saul knew no more about Ephesians 3:9 than did Matthew. The Mystery had not yet been revealed! This is a Very Important point!

From these facts, even the babe in Christ should know that the Lord Jesus revealed NOTHING of the Dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:9), nothing of the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Ephesians 3:1-8), and nothing of the program of Romans 11:30-31 to His apostles, when right before His ascension He spoke of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3). Acts 11:18 should convince even the most skeptical of this fact.

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook