Oh, Ancient Israel
Yes, there once was a mighty nation — in fact, a theocracy;
That is, God himself ruled it directly, wisely and lovingly.
But that theocracy ended when the leaders of Israel said,
“We have no king but Caesar,” and thereby, God was no more their head.
You see, God’s promises to Israel were always conditional,
And finally, due to their constant rebellion, probational.
But foolishly, apostasy in Israel once again prevailed,
And to the point where Jesus Christ was placed on a cross and nailed.
Some Christians point to this old nation in defence of Church and State,
But it was a theocracy, and its rebellion sealed its fate.
Now, God no longer rules directly, like He did that old nation,
Thus such rule clearly ending around the close of its probation.
Almost from the beginning this nation demanded its own way,
Saying, “We want a king
to govern us,” much to the Lord's dismay.
Instead of the solid “Rock” — Jesus — they wanted a man of clay,
Which was reluctantly granted, knowing that a high price they’d pay.
However, despite their earthly kings, God continued as their head,
Up until that day when they effectively chose Caesar instead.
And then Stephen’s stoning finally sealed ancient Israel’s sad fate;
AD 34 (to be precise) was that particular date.
Oh, ancient Israel, what a tragic mistake you foolishly made,
And ever since that time your people such a heavy price have paid.
Yes, God’s chosen people no more, because of your apostasy,
That finally brought an end to your privileged theocracy.
And therefore, the Christian Church has now taken ancient Israel’s
place,
Though even in the Christian church, apostasy too, we can trace.
It seems that we humans seldom learn, and the past thereby repeat,
And hence why we’re told that the antichrist within the Church we’ll
meet.
Yes, isn’t that like the devil to be working from within,
For he knows that that’s the best way of ensuring that wrong gets in.
Yes, he uses some within the church, because they’re less suspected
Of introducing the error that he doesn’t want detected.
Therefore, there’s a need for Christians to examine what they are told,
Just in case it may be contrary to what Christians should uphold.
For so often it has been leaders who have led the flock astray,
Which is why Scripture says to check out what leaders do and
say.
We have been warned that false prophets and messiahs will lead astray;
And such ones even the apostles experienced in their day.
Therefore, let's watch that crafty devil who works miracles and signs
Around those ones that he’s using to gain control of hearts and minds.
By Lance Landall
The Misapplying Of Ezekiel
Many read this and that into Ezekiel, but it’s all about the past,
Disobedience, captivity and restoration, an era that passed.
Ancient Israel since divorced, and Christ having done it all, once and for all,
And thus no more sacrifices, no more temples, because such would be a gall.
Just as king after king led Israel into even greater apostasy,
So too today, as church leader after church leader multiplies heresy.
Some of them gaining the ears of those in power, steering them incorrectly,
Misinterpreting biblical passages, or some specific prophecy.
Things God promised were often conditional, and hence why He might change His mind,
Israel’s constant erring seeing them suffer and miss out, they acting blind.
And yet, they not without knowledge, and hence God’s warnings, and then captivity,
Their later restoration but undone, Christ rejected, nailed on Calvary.
And then it all over for them as a nation, yet some thinking otherwise,
They predicting this or that in the future, but with Scripture, such hardly ties.
And nor that meddling in politics that leads to Church and State scenarios,
And from which another “beast” power will be seen to spring, but that’s how it goes.
The truth is,
Israel will be destroyed along with all the other nations at Christ’s return;
And this being something that both in Daniel and Revelation one can learn.
The New Jerusalem descending, a millennium having passed in Heaven,
The saved then returning from having viewed Heaven’s record books, and gone is sin.
Yes, we looking at a renewed Earth then, nothing left standing at Christ’s return,
A mighty earthquake having seen to that, and why for their Saviour Christians yearn.
No hope found here, but in that rescue that’s coming for those who’re faithful and true,
It but an individual thing, every nation having gone askew.
But once again,
To offer more sacrifices, be they in Heaven or on Earth, via God or men,
Wouldn’t make sense of what Christ has done, and just throws doubt on the inspired pen.
Another temple hardly needed, bulls and goats unable to remove sin,
And why all interpretations must gel with Calvary — so mind, dear Christian.
By Lance Landall
"Then
He added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the
first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had
offered for all time a
single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God,
waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a
footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Heb 9-14, ESV).
Boasters Of Their Heritage
There’re those who boast of their heritage, they bragging of whom they’re connected to,
When we should only boast of Christ-cum-not be ashamed; we humble through and through.
But no, some mention Napoleon say, or some king or queen — all made of clay,
Then there’re those Christians who boast of their Jewish heritage and thus with pride play.
Yes, they harking back to ancient Israel, a God-ruled theocracy long gone,
And such no wonder given their constant apostasy-cum-their goings-on.
In fact, at one stage there being only seven thousand who hadn’t bowed to Baal,
Hence their sad fate come their cruel stoning of Stephen, and don't forget that torn veil.
In other words, they’re no longer God’s chosen people-cum-set apart nation,
And oh, how since that time many Jews and Israel have suffered tribulation.
Yes, some of it they have brought on themselves, but whatever, such needn’t have been,
And how spiritual Israel — all who’ve accepted Christ — appeared on the scene.
In other words, there’s no longer some special nation but folk from everywhere,
Whose witness should bear testimony, and that of Jews who same conversion share.
And why when it comes to one’s heritage I wouldn’t brag of Adam either,
For when it comes to something to be very proud of, such is found in neither.
By Lance Landall
A comment made in the first poem above can be seen in an enhanced form under my poem:
‘Christ’s Coming
Kingdom’.
Also check out:
The
Sanctuary Parallels
Israel’s Probationary Period
Note:
In Bible prophecy a day
stands for a year (Ezek 4:6; Num 14:34). Further amplification of this is found under my poem "Those Beasts".
"Seventy
weeks [490 years] are decreed [allotted] for your people [the Jewish
nation] and your holy city: to finish the transgression [stop
rebelling], to put an end to sin [Christ that is, via His death], and
to atone for iniquity [Christ that is], to bring in everlasting
righteousness [Christ that is], to seal both vision and prophet, and to
anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand: from the time
that the word went out [the decree] to restore and
rebuild Jerusalem until the time of an anointed
prince [the baptism of Christ], there shall be seven
weeks [49 years]; and for sixty-two weeks
[434 years] it shall be built again with streets and moat, but in a
troubled time. After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut
off [Jesus Christ would die on the cross] and shall have nothing, and
the troops [Roman soldiers] of the prince [Titus] who is to come shall
destroy the city and the sanctuary [this occurred in AD 70]. Its end
shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war.
Desolation’s are decreed. He shall make a strong covenant [extra
opportunity] with many for one week [7 years], and for half of the week
[3 and a half years – the middle of the 7 years] he [Christ the
Messiah] shall make sacrifice and offering cease; and in their place
shall be an abomination that desolates [Rome], until the decreed end is
poured out upon the desolator” (Dan 9:24-27).
Christ is the central figure in all this.
He was baptized and anointed in AD 27.
So all we have to do then, is to take the following decree dates, and
then find out which decree best fits in with the time
span and Christ’s anointing date.
“…there shall be seven weeks [49
years]; and for sixty-two weeks [434
years]…” (Dan 9:25)
49 + 434 = 483
years. 483 years takes us from 457 BC to AD 27.
1) The decree of Cyrus the Great. This decree is dated 537
B.C.
537 BC – 483 = 54 BC.
Christ was not yet born, therefore this decree is not the right decree.
2) The decree of Darius I Hystaspes. This decree is dated 519
B.C.
519 BC – 483 = 36 BC.
Likewise, Christ was not yet born, therefore this decree is also not
the right decree.
3) The decree of Artaxerxes I Longimanus. This decree is dated
457 BC.
457 BC – 483 = AD 27.
In AD 27, John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Matt 3:13-17), therefore
this is the correct decree, and starting
point.
