Appendix D – God Does Not Give Up
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Because God promised to give Abraham’s descendants the land of Canaan, God redefined the “heirs of Abraham” when Israel became a hopeless case.  “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed [Greek: sperma], and heirs according to the promise.”[19] At the end of the 1,000 years, the holy city, New Jerusalem, will descend from Heaven.  After God purifies Earth with fire, He will create a new Heaven and a new Earth.  God will give this new Canaan “that flows with milk and honey,” a new Canaan that is not defiled with sin, bloodshed, or death, to Abraham’s descendants forever.  “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”[20]

Today, the heirs of Abraham are believers in Christ.[21]  Plan B is built on a better set of promises and prophecies than Plan A.[22]  Many Christians are hopelessly confused when they study the Bible because they keep trying to make Plan A (Old Testament promises and prophecies) fit into Plan B (New Testament promises and prophecies) and the two cannot be mixed.  Over the years, many pastors and scholars have recognized this problem and one popular “solution” requires a combination of two false doctrines.  The first is a doctrine of dispensations.  This teaches that the terms and conditions for redemption change over time.  Each change is called a dispensation, that is, salvation is dispensed in a different way than it was previously. The second is the doctrine of a pretribulation rapture.  This doctrine teaches that God will remove Christians from Earth prior to the time the Great Tribulation begins so that God can fulfill His promises to Israel, who will not be raptured.

These two doctrines have deeper roots than most people realize.  The notion of being snatched from Earth prior to the Great Tribulation is a wonderful idea.  After all, no one wants to be on Earth when God’s horrific wrath is released.  Going to Heaven before God’s wrath breaks out is a sweet pill to swallow even though this cannot be substantiated biblically.  Be aware that sweet ideas (like Santa Claus) can travel far and wide on the merits of apparent goodness, even when the idea has no basis in fact.

A Serious Problem

When Bible students carefully identify and examine the promises and prophecies given to Israel in the Old Testament, a serious problem arises.  The problem is that Bible students cannot reconcile why God gave so many promises and prophecies concerning Israel that have not been fulfilled.  During the nineteenth century, a few Christians concluded that the pretribulation rapture theory could “solve” this problem.  They reasoned that if the church is taken to Heaven just before the Great Tribulation begins, and if 144,000 Jews suddenly become believers in Christ when they see the church taken to Heaven, then God could proceed to fulfill the promises and prophecies (Plan A) given to ancient Israel.  Unfortunately over time, this concept has gained traction among evangelicals because it sounds like a good idea to a thorny problem.  Moreover, when Israel was established in 1948 as a nation, many Christians rejoiced because they believed this development confirmed the idea that God would soon remove (rapture) the church so that His original plan (Plan A) for Israel could be fulfilled.

Unfortunately, there are huge problems with this scenario.  The Bible neither teaches a pretribulation rapture nor different dispensations for redemption.[23]  Actually, the Bible teaches that the saints will be on Earth during the Great Tribulation[24] and it also teaches that redemption has always come through faith in God![25]  A great day for Bible truth is coming soon.  The Great Tribulation is near.  When future events force millions of people to admit that there is no pre or mid tribulation rapture, many religious people will become very bitter toward their clergy and their church for being misled.

Of Course, God Has Perfect Foreknowledge

Some people argue, “God is omniscient, He has perfect foreknowledge, therefore, He cannot have a secondary plan.  From the beginning, He has had one plan and there is no room or need for another.”  This argument has no merit because it humanizes God.  There is a big difference between God’s foreknowledge and God’s love because they are not remotely connected!  God does not have a carnal nature.  He does not use His foreknowledge in the same way that sinners would use foreknowledge if they had access to it.  If sinners had foreknowledge, we would use it for personal benefit because the carnal nature always puts self first.  God, on the other hand, does not have a carnal nature.  He is not tempted to use His foreknowledge for personal benefit because He loves us more than He loves Himself.

Jesus’ death on the cross proves that God did not use His foreknowledge to save Jesus from death!  The Father foreknew that Jesus would die on the cross, but He did nothing to avoid it.  The Father foreknew that Adam and Eve would sin, but He gave them the power of choice and they chose to sin.  There is an infinite gap between God’s foreknowledge and His love for His children.  God will not use His foreknowledge to protect Himself from rebellion, insurrection, or death.  His love for us eclipses His foreknowledge.  The purpose of God’s foreknowledge is a component of infinite wisdom.  His wisdom cannot be limited, which means our Father always knows what is best.  Because His wisdom is infinite, God can be difficult to understand.  Knowing this explains why we must always have a non-negotiable faith in God.

Consider the contrast between God’s foreknowledge and His love.  As you read the following passage from Jeremiah, you will see that God’s heart is very sad.  Keep in mind that God has perfect foreknowledge:  “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!  For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices,  but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.  But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.  From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets.  But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers. When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.  Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.’ ”[26]

Obviously, there is a wide gulf between God’s foreknowledge and God’s love.  God foreknew from the beginning that Israel would become rebellious and when they did, it was heartbreaking for Him.  How could He be heartbroken if He foreknew this was going to happen before He chose Israel to be His trustees?  Please understand that God’s foreknowledge and God’s love do not cross over.  They serve different purposes.  One characteristic does not affect the other because God is pure in heart; He is love personified.

Plan B Means God Does Not Give Up

Under the “new” covenant, there is a “new” Israel.  A “new” sequence of prophetic events will culminate with a second advent.  The prophecies in Daniel and Revelation concern “Plan B.”  Mixing and/or merging different types of prophecies produces insurmountable confusion.  Prophecies belonging to Plan A will not mix with Plan B prophecies.  Plan B is a bigger and better plan.  Plan B contains a brighter set of promises and prophecies and unlike Plan A, Plan B is unconditional!  This time around, God will not wait for a group of people to get their act together and He will not depend on a particular religious body of people to accomplish the gospel commission.  At the appointed time, He will complete His work by hand picking 144,000 people from all over the world.  These trustees of God, having Abraham’s faith and love for Him, will accomplish all that God wants done in a mere 1,260 days!

God has done a very clever thing by creating Plan B using parallels from Plan A.  Remember that Plan A and Plan B cannot be mixed or merged.  However, to appreciate Plan B, it is very helpful to understand some of the building blocks in Plan A.  In this sense, the prophecies and promises in the Old Testament remain indispensable.  By studying the Old Testament carefully, we can understand God’s plans better because there are many parallels between Plan A and Plan B.

Many people have asked if I think the Jews will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem because the Old Testament indicates the temple would be rebuilt.  The Old Testament does indicate the temple would be rebuilt, but the Old Testament is not referring to a third temple.  Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the first temple (Solomon’s temple) in 586 B.C. and four decrees were issued to rebuild it.  The Romans completely destroyed the second temple in A.D. 70.  There is no prophecy in the Bible indicating that a third temple will be built.  The reason for this silence is because God abandoned the nation of Israel at the end of the seventy weeks.  He destroyed Jerusalem and the temple because He had installed a new covenant and created a new Israel.  God has no need for a third temple.

Jesus told the Jews, “Look, your house [your temple] is left to you desolate.  For I tell you, you will not see me again [I will not live among you] until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”[27]  These two sentences are easy to understand.  Jesus declared the temple of Israel, which was designed to be His dwelling place, would be left empty.  Jesus declared this benediction on the temple because Israel had rejected Him, and as a result, He then rejected Israel.  Second, Jesus made it perfectly clear in this text that He would never dwell in Israel again.  Israel will not see Jesus again until the Second Coming, and then the Jews will be forced to say, “Blessed is he [Jesus] who comes in the name of the Lord.”[27]

Historically speaking, the Roman army destroyed the second temple in A.D. 70.  Later, a Moslem mosque (the Dome of the Rock) was built on the temple mount in A.D. 684.  The presence of this mosque keeps the temple mount from Jewish control.  God gave the site to the Moslems so that a third Jewish temple could not be built.  Many Christians who do not understand Plan B are frustrated that a mosque now sits on the temple mount, but they should not be frustrated.  There will not be a third temple.  The temple that we should be focusing on and studying about is in Heaven![28]  That is where Jesus lives and intercedes for us.  Soon, Jesus will call for the seven trumpets of Revelation to begin![29]  When that day arrives, the present confusion over rebuilding a third temple in Jerusalem will vanish.

Plan B Sealed Up

Now that we have discussed Plan A and Plan B at some length, please consider two statements:

1. God foreknew that Plan B would be necessary from the beginning and He began preparing for Plan B during the Babylonian captivity. The book of Daniel contains visions that pertain to Plan B.
2. God loved Israel as much as any father could love a child. He desperately wanted His trustees to do the work that He had chosen them to do.  During the Babylonian captivity, God spoke to Ezekiel and Jeremiah.  Through them, He gave Israel many encouraging prophecies and promises that would come to pass if Israel would cooperate with Him during the seventy weeks (Plan A).  At the same time, God spoke to Daniel.  Even though God revealed Plan B to Daniel, the information He gave to Daniel was sealed until the end of the world.  If Israel had been faithful and Plan A was realized, the book of Daniel would not have been needed.

The Final Generation

The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation tell a story that covers many centuries.  It gradually builds in intensity until it reaches the time of the final generation.  This story contrasts the powers of sin and rebellion with the power of Jesus, revealing all who He really is.  God hid this story from previous generations by hiding four rules in the book of Daniel.  This process helped to keep prophetic matters a secret until the time arrives for fulfillment.[30]  God does this for two reasons.  First, when the time for fulfillment comes, those who love truth move forward.  They are spiritually renewed when they see God’s Word fulfilled with their own eyes, and in the process, those moving forward are separated from those who prefer darkness and tradition.  This response to truth explains why some people were overjoyed when Jesus was born and others were deeply offended by His ministry.  Second, as knowledge increases, man’s knowledge of God increases.  God reveals new information about Himself in an orderly way so that His children can spiritually mature.[31]  Jesus told His disciples, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them [unbelievers].”[32]  If being a part of the kingdom of Heaven is important to you, then the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven will be very important to you.  On the other hand, when people are spiritually dead, secrets about the kingdom of Heaven are not important.

From the beginning, God predetermined the number of days allotted to Earth’s existence.[33]  I believe the appointed time of the end has come because the book of Daniel has been unsealed.  The architecture that has been hidden for twenty-six centuries has been discovered and the intended meaning of Daniel and Revelation is now available!

References

1.   John 3:16 Return
2.   John 15:20-27 Return
3.   Luke 19:40; Matthew 3:9 Return
4.   Hosea 6:6,7 Return
5.   Exodus 19:4-8 Return
6.   John 8:39-45, italics and insertion mine Return
7.   Galatians 3:29 Return
8.   Isaiah 9:6,7; 2 Chronicles 6:16; Jeremiah 33:17-22; John 12:12-16; Matthew 3:1-3 Return
9.   Hosea 8:1-3; Daniel 9:26; Matthew 23:1-39 Return
10. Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:8-13 Return
11. Malachi 3:6-18 Return
12. Psalm 19:7-11 Return
13. Hebrews 8:1-5; 10:4-9 Return
14. Colossians 2:13-17 Return
15. Hebrews 7:12-22; Galatians 3:24 Return
16. Genesis 17:2-7 Return
17. Genesis 17:8 Return
18. Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:1-29; Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 10:1-29 Return
19. Galatians 3:29, insertion mine Return
20. Hebrews 11:8-10 Return
21. Romans 2:28,29; Galatians 3:28,29 Return
22. Hebrews 11:40 Return
23. For a comprehensive discussion on the topics of salvation, judgment, and the rapture, please read my book, Jesus: The Alpha and The Omega.  This book may be freely downloaded at this web address:  http://www.wake-up.org/Alpha/Subjindex.htm. Return
24. Revelation 13:7; 17:6; 18:24 Return
25. Hebrews 11 Return
26. Jeremiah 7:21-28 Return
27. Matthew 23:38,39 Return
28. Hebrews 8:1-5 Return
29. Revelation 8 and 9 Return
30. Acts 1:7; Ephesians 3:9 Return
31. Hebrews 1:1,2 Return
32. Matthew 13:11, insertion mine Return
33. Daniel 8:19; Revelation 9:15 Return

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