Question-Comment: Hi Don Love,

I have been reading through your scripture studies. For the most part up to now I have found your studies to agree with my understanding which is quite comforting. However, I have not yet got into the meat of your studies. One or two points though up to now. The wrath of God does not start until the end of the sixth seal this is half way through the Great Tribulation is it not. It seems to me also that this seems to be the time of the Rapture as the Church (the bride) seems to be mentioned shortly after this and before the seventh seal is opened after which there is silence in heaven for half and hour. A mystifying period of time!

Matthews Gospel is for the Jews only is it not. So therefore there is things in there that mainly apply to them. Ie: that they as a nation are not a part of the Kingdom of God which is now. But only the future Kingdom of Heaven which for them is future!

The Wise men, they were from the distant land of Babylonia (Babylon) where Daniel was in charge of all the wise men in his time. These wise men where Astrologers were they not? This is how they saw the star of Jesus at the time of his birth through Astrology. They arrived two years after the birth of Jesus. It is no coincidence that two years were referred to in the Bible to Herod.

Just thought I would mention those few points.

Regards,

Dave P______, A brother in Christ Jesus who is searching for the truth.

DON WROTE:

Hey Dave:

You’ve touched on some interesting topics. For my understanding of the sixth seal, go to our home page and click on the link that takes you to our study of the Book of Revelation. As to when God’s wrath will start on the ungodly left after the Church goes up to be with the Lord (the event known as the Rapture), it seems to me that His wrath will actually begin the moment the Holy Spirit is taken up with the Church; for in so doing, He is leaving the world at the mercy of Satan, the father of lies, thievery, and murder.

From your WRAP it is evident that you are searching…this is good for Jesus said that if we would seek, we would find. You have brought up a wide range of topics and our comments would be too lengthy to put on a WRAP. So, rather than going into the subjects that you’ve commented on in this WRAP, let me send you back to our web site and the book THE CLOCK OF THE AGES (as well as our new study of REVELATION). Admittedly, prophecy is a deep subject, but we have used illustrations and charts that most find to be helpful. If you’ll study these out, I’m sure that you’ll add something new to your understanding. If you have any questions after going through our web site, don’t hesitate to send them to us. As you can see, we are a little slow in answering, but like the tortoise, we well eventually get it all done.

Love,

Don

B'ANN WROTE:

As to your question: "Matthews Gospel is for the Jews only is it not?"--the concept here needs to be qualified.

Remember, all the religious world as well as the heathen leaders were looking for Jesus around the time He was born. (The heathens feared He would take their thrones.) This could have only come about if some type of teaching was coming from the Temple. We have long believed that there was an absence of the Scriptures at this time; that the Israelites were not giving the Gospel to the world. But evidently some type of teaching was coming forth from the temples or the people near and far would not have been expecting the birth of a Messiah. What the Jews did expect and were teaching from the temples was that a King would be born who would help them take back, through religious domination, the lands and government they had thrown away. So, the temples of the day were publishing the Scriptures, but not one of a caring God. As I've said, they thought when Jesus came that He would use His power to reestablish their former glory. As we read the Scriptures, we can see how they could have come to this conclusion. They did not bother to stop and ponder the "suffering Messiah" written about by the prophets. This is why they so bitterly rejected the sacrificial Messiah that was trying to establish the spiritual Kingdom of God. They took a few Scriptures and formed a complete doctrine of "take over." How often do denominations of today take a few "pet" Scriptures and build a whole set of beliefs with it. May we learn to look at the entire picture presented by the Bible.

This brings up your point, "...they as a nation are not a part of the Kingdom of God which is now. But only the future Kingdom of Heaven which for them is future!" We've discussed these two kingdoms at length in several places on our web site. But for now, let's just note that the Kingdom of God is entered when one is born again according to John 3:16. But Jesus taught the Kingdom of Heaven to be like a net cast into the sea (the world at large) that catches good fish (those who hear the Word of God and do it) and trash fish (those who call Him Lord but do not what He says, having their own agenda). After Jesus' death on the cross, the Jew's misconception about God's plans for His Kingdom became a separation point for those who believe in God. No longer was a nation the Chosen people of God, i.e, God's Kingdom on earth. He now put out this call:

John 3:14-16
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Not being able to see the Kingdom of God (God had blinded their eyes because of the wickedness in their hearts), they had tried to keep their blood lineage pure so they could claim divine right to this "King of the Jews." This was the King that they planned to use to take back the world. They had shunned the world, did not share the love of God, had become clannish and selfish in order to remain "pure." But true "purity" was taught by Jesus in the Beatitudes where He said:

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

That they did not have this "purity" is evident for God was in their midst and they did not know Him.

John 14:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath see me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

This statement put the religious teachers of the day in righteous indignation.. However, there was one religious leader who was "man enough" to come and talk to Jesus face to face rather than just murmuring behind His back.

Matthew 19:16-21
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have
eternal life?
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

We are told that the man had much possessions and went away sorrowing. Was he sorry because he couldn't bear parting with his wealth? Apparently the man was very religious, so was he sorrowing because he had saved up much riches for the planned "take over" when the Promised One would come? Whatever the case, it was very evident that Jesus was not going to help the earthly-minded Jews overthrow the governing powers of that day. Cannot you just hear them? "But Lord, we have saved up money by selling things in the temple (having garage sales?), we have put forth much effort, we have long hoped and made careful plans for this day, and now you won't even help us." was probably the prevalent murmur. He kept saying, "Follow me!" They wanted Him to follow their plans. They never could grasp His message:

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Paraphrasing, He said, "Hello!" This is me, God. I have not come in the flesh to be your King. I am not going to follow you. You have to follow me!" (If the Lord's first visit to the earth was today, I wonder how He would fare in the board meetings of the average church?) Hopefully, this adds some insight to your comment that "Matthew's Gospel was for the Jews only was it not?" If this is not what you had in mind, let us know by return WRAP.

Thanks for letting me share. Good fishing!

B'Ann

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