Speaker 1: 0:01

Hello and welcome to the Waking Up to Grace podcast, where we celebrate and explore the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Tune in to the Waking Up to Grace podcast on every major platform. You can also listen to our episodes and read our full transcripts at wakinguptogracecom. And now here's Lenny.

Speaker 2: 0:22

Welcome back to the podcast. Everyone Happy to be back. Missed you guys. In our Romans passage for today, we see that tribulation and distress would be for the Jew first, and also the Greek. Our ESV translation uses the word Greek, but the contextual meaning is the same as Gentile For those that are newer to the language of Scripture. A Gentile is everyone other than those of the ancient Jewish race that Yahweh chose to be his people. Our Romans passage for today reads that's Romans 2, verses 9-11. In our last study, we discussed the tribulation and distress that would come on the Jew first. This great tribulation, known as the Day of the Lord, more properly called the Day of Yahweh, would fall upon the nation of Israel in the first century AD. Today, I'll be digging into how the Day of Yahweh would apply to Gentiles, also known as all human beings that were not Jews. I'll also be displaying how the return of Christ Yeshua is directly tied to the Day of the Lord and why it's incredibly important to understand that this already took place.

Speaker 2: 1:45

There are several passages in scripture that tie the Day of the Lord with the second coming and why it's incredibly important to understand that this already took place. There are several passages in Scripture that tie the day of the Lord with the second coming of Christ in context. But in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians we see that Paul directly connects these two events and he doesn't separate them by thousands of years the way we do today. We read Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2, 3-4. Then in chapter 2, verse 8, we read Are you able to see the connection here? When the rebellion comes, christ Yeshua will make his return, won't he?

Speaker 2: 2:44

Yeshua himself spoke of the day that would come, saying that's Luke 21, 5-6. Then Yeshua further explains but when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains and let those who are inside the city depart and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance to fulfill all that is written. Luke 21, 20. What desolation does he speak of here. It's the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple. We went over many of the prophecies connected with this event in my last message, number 58. We also see a warning here for those who are listening that might have found themselves in Jerusalem at this time, basically saying, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, get out of there and if you're outside, don't go in. But how would anyone get out of there if the city was surrounded? Have you ever thought about that? Evidently Yahweh did. About the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the historian Josephus, who was himself a Jew, claims that for no apparent reason at all, when the armies first surrounded Jerusalem, they ended up leaving for a time and then coming back. This allowed the Christians to flee to the mountains. Do you believe this was a coincidence? I don't.

Speaker 2: 4:22

In Matthew's Gospel account, yeshua is quoted again speaking of this event. So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. That's Matthew 24, 15. Christ Yeshua here supports the prophet Daniel who wrote and after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed, and he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week and for half of the week he shall put an end to the sacrifice and offering and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. That's Daniel 9, 26-27. And of this same event Paul wrote and then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth. And of this same event Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians 2.8.

Speaker 2: 5:35

Paul claims this event will be synonymous with the second coming of Christ Yeshua. Doesn't he? Can you think of another figure in scripture that does the same thing? Christ Yeshua himself makes the same claim. He says of the Son of man. And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he'll send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they'll gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other Matthew 24, 29.

Speaker 2: 6:20

If the second coming of Christ Yeshua would end the world, then it certainly already ended. But Yeshua does not place his return 2,000 years into the future. What he says is immediately after the tribulation of those days. Do you think that Christ Yeshua knew what immediately meant? I don't know about you, but 2,000 years later doesn't equal immediate by any standard I have ever known. In context of what we have already looked at in Scripture, it seems that we can certainly understand immediately as a literal thing. Here it must mean exactly what it sounds like it means. If we understand that the return of Christ would come at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, as is written, we would want to understand what the purpose of the second coming was. I know most of us think we know this, but I'm going to bet that for most people the views they hold to are not exactly in line with what the scriptures teach.

Speaker 2: 7:15

Let's break down the elements of the return of Christ Yeshua based on this Matthew 24 passage. Shall we? Christ Yeshua would be coming in judgment. All the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of man. Shall we, from one end of heaven to the other? In my first point, we see the Son of man coming in the clouds. This was judgment, and according to the Gospel of Christ Yeshua, what will happen to the saints at judgment? Those who were faithful? They would be raised to everlasting life. Right, we read Truly truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him, who sent me, has eternal life.

Speaker 2: 8:05

He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you an hour is coming and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself and he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. That's John 5.24.

Speaker 2: 8:47

Let's pause a minute to take in who is doing the judging. Here we see it clearly said that Yahweh, the Father, has given the Son of man, christ Yeshua, authority to execute judgment. Yeshua is not only bringing life to those who are his, the elect saints, but he's executing judgment on the sinners, those who have done evil as well. As we know from our studies so far in Romans, those who are called sinner, those who do evil, are those who reject Messiah and reject the word of Yahweh. It's not about their literal behavior, but is rather about faith. The unfaithful would face a dreadful judgment on the day of the Lord.

Speaker 2: 9:28

John the Baptist speaks of this final judgment that would soon take place. In Matthew 3.12 we read His winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his weed into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. We see it written in Revelation as well, and I heard a voice from heaven saying write this blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit. That they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them. Then I looked and behold a white cloud and seated on the cloud, one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand, and another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe. So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe. So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city and blood flowed from the winepress as high as a horse's bridle.

Speaker 2: 11:07

We see a picture here of a gruesome final judgment, don't we? And who is executing the judgment? It's Christ Yeshua. And what two things do we see happening here in this one event the judgment and the resurrection of the saints. Do you see a 2,000-year gap anywhere between these two events? They're one and the same, aren't they? The final judgment and resurrection are not revealed in Scripture as separate events. Partial preterism teaches that this judgment is separate from the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ. But we see that Scripture does not agree with their views. Scripture teaches us that the return of Christ came alongside the destruction of Jerusalem and the final judgment on national Israel.

Speaker 2: 11:56

Let's reflect back on a Romans passage for a moment. Romans 2, 9-11 reads there will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek, for God shows no partiality. Now think about this statement for a moment. We already know that Christ Yeshua, the anointed one, indwelled first in the Jewish believers at Pentecost. They were the first to receive reconciliation. They were the first to be made right with Yahweh, which was to receive from him glory, honor and peace. They received the Spirit of the Lord. They were made right by and peace. They received the Spirit of the Lord. They were made right by the blood of Christ and received the promise of salvation. But hold that thought for a moment about the promise of salvation. We'll talk more about why it was the promise of salvation after we talk about the tribulation and distress that would be for the Jew first and also the Greek.

Speaker 2: 12:55

We know that Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 7. It's documented history that prophecy was fulfilled. But how did that affect the Greeks, the Gentiles, how can Paul say the Jew first and also the Greek, when all we see in history is a great tribulation for the Christ-rejecting nation of Israel? And on top of that, we never hear of Christ coming to earth and dead people coming out of the ground, etc.

Speaker 2: 13:23

Well, we have to understand that there is an unseen realm. We have to believe in what Scripture tells us was happening alongside the final judgment of Israel. There are many instances in Scripture where we are told of the unseen, but we see an excellent example of the unseen realms when Elisha prays for a young man's eyes to be opened to see the spiritual realms. In 2 Kings, chapter 6, verse 16, we read he said Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Then Elisha prayed and said O Yahweh, please open his eyes that he may see. So Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man and he saw and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Speaker 2: 14:10

So is the tribulation that was also for the Greek to be seen or unseen? Would it take place in the unseen, spiritual realm, or the realm of that which is seen by mankind? Is the glory, honor and peace given to the faithful something that we can see? We can ask the same question about the resurrection of the dead. Was mankind to see physical earthly bodies coming out of the ground, or would the resurrection be of a spiritual nature and the bodies be one's fit for the heavenly realms? In his letter to the Corinthians, paul writes there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind and the glory of the earthly is of another.

Speaker 2: 14:52

1 Corinthians 15.40. Then in 1 Corinthians 15.42 we read so is it with the resurrection of the dead, what is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. Then in verse 44, it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. And then in verse 50, I tell you this brothers, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And then in verse 50, it's kind of funny how we imagine the resurrection of the dead.

Speaker 2: 15:29

When you really ponder it, we all imagine that we'll be raised from the dead, like Christ Yeshua in a physical body. But have you considered that he did that for those who followed him to believe? Do you think he ascended into the heavenly realms to forever have those marks of suffering on his body that he displayed to Thomas, who was doubting If we need our current bodies for any reason at all? What can we say of all the saints who were burned alive for holding to faith in their Lord and Savior? Ashes and ashes, dust to dust?

Speaker 2: 16:01

The final judgment in AD 70 was physical and spiritual. That's why it was for the Jew first, and also the Greek. When Christ returned, it was to judge those who rejected and killed him and to gather the saints and bring them with him into. Let's take a look at what is written about the final judgment for those in Sheol and see if it sounds like tribulation and distress From his presence, earth and sky fled away and no place was found for them. Sounds like tribulation and distress? What was written in the books? According to what they had done? And the sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation of John, 20, 11.

Speaker 2: 17:20

I don't know what you're thinking, but being thrown into a lake of fire sounds a lot like distress to me. We should, however, understand that we are not immortal beings. Immortality is given through Christ Yeshua. The gift of God is eternal life. A mortal being thrown into a lake of fire is going to burn and die. That's why it's called the second death. I go over those details in message number 15 and 16.

Speaker 2: 17:46

When Christ made his appearance at the second coming, the dead were raised from their sleep in Sheol to face Yahweh, whom they rejected. So you have Jerusalem and their temple burning to the ground in the earthly realms and the wicked who rejected Christ, who rejected Yahweh, being thrown into the fire for a second death. The fiery judgment for the Jew happened in AD 70, and also the fiery judgment for the Greek and the Gentiles. The author of Hebrews wrote of Christ Yeshua's finished work on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. When Christ ascended to heaven to be with his Father, it is written. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting for that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. Hebrews 10, 12-13. Most today will tell you the work of Christ Yeshua was finished at the cross and resurrection, and this is true when it comes to dealing with sin. But those same people will tell you that Christ is coming soon.

Speaker 2: 18:51

What I'm about to say may shock you, but study it out before you make your final judgment. Hear me out and check the scriptures to be certain of what you believe. Salvation did not come until the return of Christ. If Christ did not come in that first century, like he clearly told us, then we only have a promise of salvation, a hope of salvation. Nobody has gone to heaven yet. All of our loved ones and all of the saints and apostles are in Sheol, sleeping and waiting the final judgment and resurrection of the dead. They're still waiting for their salvation and entry into heaven to be with the Lord forever.

Speaker 2: 19:28

We see all over scripture that salvation was promised and would certainly come, but it was still being hoped for. Ephesians 1.13,. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 1 Thessalonians 5,. But since the next verse of Thessalonians 5, 2 Timothy 2.10. Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. And then Hebrews, chapter 1, we read Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? And in case we're still trying to play on these words to fit our own views, peter says it in a way that we cannot argue about the timeline.

Speaker 2: 20:41

In 1 Peter 1.5 we read who, by God's power, are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. And then to Timothy, paul wrote for I'm already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who loved his appearing. I see this passage as proof that Paul did not expect any reward until the day of the Lord, when Christ made his appearance. Notice, the translators capitalize the word day in the passage. This is a reference to the day of the Lord that we've been studying.

Speaker 2: 21:30

We already saw that the last time, or the day of Yahweh, would be when the resurrection of the dead would take place. Without the resurrection of the dead, salvation has not come to those who. Can you accept a doctrine that teaches that we're still awaiting a salvation? We would all have to accept that if Christ Yeshua did not show up when he said he would. I believe that Yeshua is not only seated at the right hand of the Father, but reclining in his seat because his enemies were made a footstool for his feet. I believe that Christ Yeshua has finished all of his work and his kingdom has been fully established. I believe this because the scripture teaches it. There is only one coming in the clouds that would be made by Christ Yeshua, and there will not be another one.

Speaker 2: 22:22

Coming in the clouds was known by the ancient Hebrews to be judgment. When Yahweh came in the clouds, it was not good. In Psalm 104, we read he lays the beams of his chambers on the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He rides on the wings of the wind. In Jeremiah 4, we see this same concept being used to describe the prophesied final judgment all over the place.

Speaker 2: 22:58

But here are a few instances Ezekiel 30, ezekiel 30, for the day is near. The day of Yahweh is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. Daniel 7 I saw in the night visions and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. Joel 2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. And in Joel, chapter 2,.

Speaker 2: 23:34

Then, as we read earlier from Christ Yeshua in Matthew, 24, 30, 24, 30, then will appear in heaven the sign of the son of man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. John writes of this event in revelation, saying behold, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so, amen. Who pierced Christ Yeshua? But the Jews, whose tribes would wail? But those of Israel who rejected their Messiah and who did Christ himself say, would see him coming in on the clouds?

Speaker 2: 24:16

In Mark 14, verse 61, we read but he remained silent and made no answer. Again, the high priest asked him Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said I am, and you will see the Son of man, seated at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven. And the high priest tore his garments and said what further witness do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision? And they all condemned him as deserving death. Are you following what is going on here?

Speaker 2: 24:49

Most of us can clearly see that Yeshua declares himself to be the Christ. He tells them very clearly I am the anointed one, I am the Messiah. But he doesn't stop there. As they're mistreating him and quote, getting away with it. He tells them they will see him coming in the clouds. He declares himself as lord and messiah and proclaims that he will be coming in judgment and that they will see it coming. If we translate these words into our own terms today, we might hear our lord saying I hope you guys are enjoying yourselves right now because you're going to get everything that's coming to you and more. You can try and kill me, but I'll be back and I'm coming for you. Would you expect anything less from a God of justice? I mean, come on, this is better than anything you see in Hollywood. This is justice at its best.

Speaker 2: 25:38

Most people don't even realize that those who pierced Yeshua were brought to justice. Most don't even know that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in AD 70 and that the whole city went up in great flames of judgment. And then those who do learn of these things pull the coming of Christ apart from this event. Just the same way, people pull our fellowship with Yahweh apart from salvation and then make rules for us to stay reconciled to God. While Christ Yeshua is reclining with his footstool, we keep proclaiming that he's coming soon. What is he coming to do? That hasn't been done, paul writes, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the. This pairs perfectly with our Romans passage the final judgment would come upon the Jew first and also the Greek, for God shows no partiality. The final judgment would come upon the Jew first and also the Greek. The day of the Lord was the Bema Seat judgment that everyone today says is coming soon.

Speaker 2: 26:52

The day of the Lord occurred in AD 70, when the Lord destroyed Jerusalem and wiped out the Old Covenant temple. Worship forever, whoever we believe the man of lawlessness to be. He existed in the first century and was destroyed in the temple that also existed in the first century, which was operated by the ancient Levites, who had the required proven lineage for priestly duties that we read of in Ezra and Nehemiah. The destruction of Jerusalem occurred 40 years after the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost. For this reason, many scholars refer to the event as the second exodus. The first exodus was an old covenant shadow of what would come in the new covenant at the second exodus.

Speaker 2: 27:35

We think of all kinds of things today when we hear the word Pentecost, namely people babbling and words that nobody can understand. But the key point that we should take from this event was that it was the birth of the church. The church of Christ Yeshua was born on Pentecost and marked the beginning of the New Covenant age. But was the church in the New Covenant age fully established at that time? The church was born, but had it come to full maturity? Was there work left to be done?

Speaker 2: 28:06

The same question could be asked regarding Israel's exodus out of Egyptian bondage. Did Israel enter right into the promised land upon being led out of Egypt and spared from their bondage? They didn't, did they. Did the apostles and their churches believe that they had entered into the kingdom of God right after being released from the bondage of the law? If we read their writings, they didn't believe that the new covenant age began at Pentecost and was fully established at the return of Christ, when the old covenant and its temple worship were destroyed forever. In Hebrews 9 we read by this the Holy Spirit indicates that the age that was to come and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of Reformation. We now live in the new covenant age. The age that was to come. The time of Reformation took place in AD 70, when judgment came upon the Jew first, and also the Greek.

Speaker 2: 29:15

Most are not willing to accept that we live on the new earth. It is much overlooked that in Paul's analogy of Hagar and Sarah, he refers to the Jerusalem above as the new earth. It is much overlooked that in Paul's analogy of Hagar and Sarah, he refers to the Jerusalem above, as the new covenant, galatians 4.26, reads but the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother. This seems like a direct parallel to the language used in John's revelation regarding the new heaven and new earth. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation of John 21.

Speaker 2: 29:49

There's much to be said of the symbolic imagery we have about the new heaven and earth in Revelation. We gain much insight when we see these things as representing the new covenant age in Christ. A key point we should take from this writing would be this and I saw no temple in the city Covenant Age in Christ. A key point we should take from this writing would be this and I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord, god the Almighty and the Lamb.

Speaker 2: 30:10

Revelation of John 21, verse 22 A physical temple of worship would no longer be needed in the New Covenant Age, christ Yeshua is the true Israel of Yahweh, as I discuss in message number 6. We'll study Paul's explanation on the true Israel further as we dive deeper into Paul's letter to the Romans. So stay tuned to the Waking Up to Grace podcast. I look forward to publishing my next message in a couple weeks. I hope you guys gained some insight today and be sure to study this out for yourself to be certain that it is true. Grace and peace to you until the next time.

Speaker 1: 30:46

Thank you for listening to the Waking Up To Grace podcast brought to you by the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you enjoyed today's episode, we would love to hear from you. You can send encouragement our way right from our episodes and transcripts page or reach Lenny privately from the contact form at wakinguptogracecom.