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I have included a Special message at the end of this article. I hope you will read it and take it to heart.
Jesus Christ, as presented in the New Testament (NT), is the exact same Jesus Christ as presented in the Old Testament (OT).
There is no difference. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He is the incarnate Word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Emphasis added.
In Jesus own words: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).
I do not believe it is possible to understand the true Glory and Righteousness of the Savior without the full revelation of Truth provided by God in both of His written works (OT/NT) of the revelation of Himself: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
There is a revelation of the same Truth in each. In purpose, they are one book.
The entirety of the OT, both “major and minor” prophetic works, is affirmed by the NT.
This is by God’s design because He wants us to read ALL of the Books of both New and Old Testaments in order for us to be led into all of His truth.
The Scriptures. The Word of God. Truth. Life.
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). Emphasis added.
It is never too late to read both OT and NT so the Holy Spirit can “lead you into all Truth” and disclose to you the fullness of Jesus Christ in ALL His glory and the true extent of His Love and of His plan to bring all things to completion. His completion, not man’s.
Many of these “things to come” are disclosed in the OT prophecies, and much of it includes the judgments that will be executed by Jesus at His second advent when He returns, not as the sacrificial Lamb as in His first advent, but in judgment as the Lion of Judah.
“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals’” (Revelation 5:5). Emphasis added.
Jesus has not yet appeared as the “Lion of Judah,” so this NT verse speaks of the future execution of His judgments.
“A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8, OT)
The apparent difference between the OT record and Jesus’ Grace-filled teachings in the NT is that the NT is a new dispensation (The Age of Grace), in which God appeals to mankind to receive His Mercy by the shed blood of Jesus and His payment of the consequences of OUR sins, by sincere repentance, humility and confession.
Since the day of Pentecost, the Age of Grace has been in effect and will remain so until the Rapture. The Rapture ends the Dispensation of Grace (also referred to as the Church Age), when the Holy Spirit will no longer indwell those who receive Jesus in Spirit and in Truth, yet will still be actively drawing people to repentance and salvation.
While salvation will still be possible, it will engender a far different set of circumstances to survive, both physically and spiritually, during the 7 years of hell on earth commonly referred to as “The Tribulation, The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, or The Seventieth Week of Daniel.” Many will not survive, but those who endure in worship of Jesus will still be redeemed (Revelation 7:9-14).
This block of time (the Seventy Weeks of Daniel’s prophecy) is described in the Book of Daniel within the verses (9:24-27), specifically (9:27):
“And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him” (Daniel 9:27). Emphasis added.
“One Week” in this context denotes a 7-year period of time (in real time).
The events that will constitute the judgments Jesus must execute on the world are described in detail in the book of Revelation 6:1-20:14.
Upon completion of that 7-year period, the righteous judgement of the world of unbelievers (including Jewish unbelievers), the rescue of surviving Gentile believers, and those who become believing Israel (the remnant) will then be accomplished by Jesus’ return as the Lion of Judah, “Mighty to Save.”
The Word of God makes it clear as to who the judge of all the earth is:
“Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
“and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:27).
“And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42).
This OT prophecy describes Jesus as He returns in His second advent as the Lion.
“Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength?
‘It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.’
Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?
‘I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.
For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come. I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one assisted.
So My arm brought Me salvation, and My own wrath upheld Me.
I trampled the nations in My anger; in My wrath I made them drunk and poured out their blood on the ground’” (Isaiah 63:1-6).
“The Lord is at Your right hand: He will crush kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead; He will crush the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore He will lift up His head” (Psalm 110:5-7).
There can be no doubt as to who is being referred to in the above verses (Emphasis added).
All that is needed to understand this plan of God in its entirety has been available in the Bible for 2000+/- years, and world events have only served to confirm their validity.
“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10). Emphasis added.
Jesus made it clear that all aspects of the Word of God (OT + NT), and all that it embodies, and that He died and rose again for, would be fulfilled:
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). Emphasis added.
We know that heaven and earth will indeed pass away upon the completion of the Millennium (see Revelation 20:1-6).
“And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7). Emphasis added.
Revelation reveals the end from the beginning and Jesus in all His Glory as He truly is and always has been, and the OT, along with the NT, is the key to knowing Him and His sacrifice in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus is the epitome of Love in action. God’s Glory.
There are many who believe the OT is all “doom and gloom,” but that is far from true. One small example may be found in the Book of Isaiah. Read and rejoice in it!
“You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow,
and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up;
this will make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed” (Isaiah 55:12-13). Emphasis added.
This then is the real Jesus. Both loving Sacrificial Lamb and righteous Lion of Judah, Judge of all the earth, and the entire Word of God from Genesis to Revelation is entirely about Him.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no real hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
This is what leads one to the Spiritual Rebirth that Jesus requires (John 3:3).
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. They are incapable of it. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God. The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: [email protected]
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