THE LAST DAYS CALENDAR:
Understanding God's
Appointed Times
USE LINK TO ORDER ON LINE
or Call
1-360-226-3488
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST:
Understanding the Apocalypse
USE LINK TO ORDER ON LINE
or Call
1-360-226-3488
|
Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is Both Savior and Lord.
Today, millions of people who profess to be followers of Christ acknowledge that the babe found lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes1 was born king of the Jews2. Yet, far too few realize that the roots of their religious beliefs are, and will always be, Jewish3. Most Christians view their faith as a new Gentile religion founded by the apostles Paul and Peter. In actuality, Christianity is the acceptance of the Jewish Messiah as both Savior and Lord4. In fact, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious5.
Some may contend that we are living in an age of grace, and therefore the Jewish Festivals no longer hold significance for the believer. For many it does not matter whether we choose to celebrate Easter and ignore Passover, or hang Christmas ornaments and neglect the observation of the Feast of Tabernacles. Of course what one chooses to celebrate is not an essential salvation issue, but has the church forgotten that our Savior is the Holy One of Israel6?
A millennium before the birth of Christ, the mode of Israel's worship was ordained by the LORD. The tabernacle in the wilderness and the House of the LORD in Jerusalem were patterned after the heavenly temple7. When the Lord returns, He will rule the nations from Zion8 seated on His throne in His temple and the nations will go up each year to Jerusalem to worship the King9.
Not only did our Creator choose to incarnate as a Jewish baby and live his life as an observant Jew10 and rabbi, the King of the Jews11 was crucified and then gloriously resurrected as the eternal Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David12. When He returns, the LORD will be King over all the earth13.
For those who contend that there will not be a literal, earthly reign of King Messiah, please consider King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream found in the book of Daniel. The rock that was cut out, but not by human hands, smashed the great statue which represented literal, earthly empires. Then, that rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth14 (emphasis mine).
Jesus is coming back soon. When He returns all the nations will go up year after year to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles15. Don't be too disappointed, but when the God of Israel returns we probably won't be searching for Easter eggs or hanging up stockings for Santa.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
1Luke 2:12
2Matthew 2:2
3Romans 11:18
4Romans 10:9-10
5Romans 11:11
6Isaiah 43:3
7Exodus 25:40; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 9:11
8Psalm 2:6-8
9Zechariah 14:16
10Luke 4:16
11Luke 23:38
12Revelation 5:5
13Zechariah 14:9
14Daniel 2:35
15Zechariah 14:16
|