In Matthew 21:42 Christ told Israel that He was to be the rejected Stone in fulfillment of the Scriptures. “It was the LORD’s doing,” (Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:25-29; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:18).
In Acts 3:19-21 we learn that Christ is coming back to EARTH for the restitution of all things, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. Samuel, and all of the prophets spoke of “these days.” (Acts 3:24).
Christ “came unto His own and His own” received Him not. (John 1:11). At the time Christ was dying, He prayed for Israel in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they KNOW NOT what they do.” How did that prayer change God’s attitude toward Israel? Well, take note of the LORD’s message of mercy and forgiveness after He accused IsraTel of “killing the Prince of Life.” (Acts 3:14-15). “‘And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath fulfilled.” (Act 3:17-18). AND THEN...The “therefore” and the RESTITUTION message of Acts 3:19-21.
Christ was delivered according to God’s determinate counsel and foreknowledge. He HAD to die WHEN He died and AS He died. (1 Peter 1:18-20;Matthew 26:24). Therefore, on the ground of the “KNOW NOT,” in Christ’s prayer, and the “IGNORANCE” of Acts 3:17, if Israel’s rulers, with Israel, would repent they would receive all the kingdom blessings of Joel Two, of which Acts was but a sample (Acts 2:16-20). Call this a second Kingdom chance, or what you will, but there was a new PROPOSITION from God to Israel. But this differed greatly from God’s new Dispensation of Grace given to and presented by the Apostle Paul. (Ephesians 3:1-4; Romans 11:30; Romans 11:11).
Israel was told, REPENT! and God will send Christ back to earth for the prophesied kingdom RESTITUTION. Christ will return to build again the tabernacle of David. (Acts 15:15-18). Israel did NOT repent and the RESTITUTION was postponed. The Kingdom was not restored to Israel. (Acts 1:6).
Therefore, God introduced a NEW program by a NEW apostle, concerning the NEW creation and the One NEW Man. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17; Ephesians 2:15). Christ was no longer known after the flesh. These new creatures could then say with the Apostle of the Gentiles, “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21). When Christ appears to do this, it will not be for the RESTITUTION of Acts 3:21.
The Apostle Paul did NOT say in his “Grace” Gospel, “repent, and God will send Christ back for the prophesied RESTITUTION,” which will come when Christ returns to build the tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11-15). No, Paul did NOT say THAT, but he DID say THIS...“believe and God will raise you up and make you sit with Christ in the heavenlies.” Note Ephesians 2:5-6, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace are ye saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.”
There is a great difference between Christ coming down here and our being raised up in the Heavenlies.
These new creatures will all be present when the RAPTURE of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 takes place. The Blessed Hope of Titus 2:13 will be realized when Christ comes for His Body.
Now, between the RAPTURE and the RESTITUTION there will come trouble on the earth. Read Luke 21:24-33. It is the time of Jacob’s trouble...and Jacob shall be saved. (Jeremiah 30:7-11).
The Body of Christ will be with it’s Head, the LORD Jesus Christ, in glory before Christ’s return for the prophesied RESTITUTION.
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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)
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