They Came To Elim
“And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters” (Exodus 15: 27).
The Old Testament history contains many precious types and lessons written for our learning. By studying these types, we gain insight into spiritual truths which may not always lie on the surface. Nevertheless, we must understand that the nation of Israel is given prominent position in God’s plan and purpose for the ages. This is seen again and again throughout the sacred record.
The above passage contains one of these types, which is expanded in the Apocalypse. It is a historical type which has prophetic significance. After Israel crossed the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s hosts were destroyed, the nation sang a song of deliverance (Exodus 15). This song proclaims Jehovah as a “Man of War” (Exodus 15: 3) the very thing affirmed of Jesus Christ in Revelation 19: 11. When the Lord returns from heaven at the repentance of His people (Zech. 12: 10; Acts 3: 19-21), He will turn transgression from Jacob and punish the heathen (Isaiah 59: 20; Micah 5: 15). This will be the true fulfillment of the type given in Exodus 14. The resultant song of deliverance is found in Isaiah 25: 1-5.
But let us look at the Old Testament type in more detail. After Israel was saved from Pharaoh’s hosts, they then came to a place called Elim, where twelve wells watered seventy palm trees. The typological significance of this resting-place may be seen by the discerning Bible student. The number twelve denotes governmental perfection, and has to do with the nation of Israel. The tribes are twelve in number, representing the nation in its corporate capacity.
On the other hand, Genesis 11 contains a list of the seventy nations that sprang from Noah’s posterity. From this it is clear that Israel was saved from Pharaoh’s hosts to become a blessing to the nations. The holy people, typified by the twelve palm trees, would water the nations of the world, and function in both a priestly and governmental character. It was Jehovah’s purpose to make them a “kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19: 6).
But, alas, fulfillment of Israel’s role was conditional upon obedience to the covenant. Israel never kept the law; and so the Gentile blessings never materialized, though Israel’s headship was foreshadowed by the reigns of David and Solomon. These kings were imperfect types, however, only sketching forth some of the perfections of Messiah, the True King. David represents Jesus Christ as “Man of War;” while Solomon pre-figures Him as the “Prince of Peace.”
Among the many nations of the world, there is only one which God has chosen to be the channel of blessing. That nation is Israel. To them pertains the adoption (Romans 9: 4); and though the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing, the kingdom will come to the daughter of Jerusalem (Micah 4: 8) after Israel is redeemed with a spiritual deliverance far greater than that by which Pharaoh and his hosts were subdued. In that day the horns of the Gentiles shall be cast out (Zech. 1: 18-21).
Israel will yet fulfill the type set forth by the 12 wells of water. In the New Jerusalem, there are four walls, and in each wall three gates (Rev. 21: 12-14). “And at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” This is descriptive of the eternal economy. However, even before the New Heaven and New Earth appear, Jerusalem will be a place of glory, and the administrative center of the tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 48: 30-35). The prophets abound with glowing visions of a yet-future era, when the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11: 9).
But what a long night this present economy has turned out to be! Men sometimes ask, does God’s silence imply that His work is finished? Has Israel ceased as a nation? The answer to both questions is no. God’s silence is merely indicative of the spiritual nature of this Dispensation. The church cannot hope to partake of Israel’s earthly blessings, so long as the nation is absent from the Divine program. As premier among the nations of the earth, Israel will brook no rival. But when God’s principles of administration are moved from the terrestrial to the celestial, then all national limitations vanish, and Jews, as well as Gentiles, are able to equally partake of spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1: 3). Such an administration, which fills the present period, is a secret which was only revealed to Paul (Eph. 3: 9; Col. 1: 26).
The time will come, of course, when even this dispensation must end. Then will begin the breaking of those seals and sounding of the trumpets, which tell of so much woe for earth’s inhabitants. When the Lamb comes forward to take the scroll from His Father’s hand (Rev. 5), the throne of grace will be exchanged for a throne of judgment; and the events which should have followed the crucifixion of Christ, will then commence as if the economy of grace had never happened at all.
Israel will play such an important part in God’s dealings with the world during the last of Daniel’s “sevens.” It will be a turbulent time for the nations at large, and one during which Israel will be severely tested, to bring them under the bonds of the New Covenant (Ezekiel 20: 35-38). But the result will be national and spiritual deliverance of a level which we can hardly imagine. And when Israel is redeemed from the hand of her enemies, and sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ at His parousia, she will at last have come to Elim.
How To Refute Preterism: Part 3: “The Forerunner of The Kingdom”
In Episode 3 of this new audio series, Brian Simmons continues to demonstrate the fundamental errors of Preterist theology. This time he takes a closer look at the necessary condition of Jewish national repentance, which will alone bring about the awaited parousia and consequent fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies. Also, the very important (and often overlooked) ministry of John the Baptist is discussed, in its particular bearing on the second coming of Christ and ”day of the Lord.”
Listen now: http://antipreterist.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/forerunner.mp3
The Two Phases Of Blood-Wrought Redemption
When presenting to Christian believers the truths concerning our high and holy calling, it is always essential that we make a distinction between two phases of Christ’s redemptive work. These two phases are marked by two time periods, known respectively as “since the foundation of the world” (Matt. 13: 34-36; 25: 34; Luke 11: 49-51; Heb. 4: 3; 9: 26; Rev. 13: 8; 17: 8) and “before the foundation of the world” (John 17: 24; 1 Peter 1: 19-20; Eph. 1: 3-4).
If we do not draw this distinction right away, confusion will necessarily follow, and we shall read truths that pertain to one calling into Scriptures which speak of another.
Concerning the various “callings,” the Bible mentions three. There is firstly, the calling of the “wife,” which is Israel according to the flesh. This calling is predominant throughout the Old Testament (see Isaiah 54: 4-6; 62: 4; Hosea 2: 16-19), but is largely absent from the New Testament writings — the most notable exception being the Book of Revelation, which places the wife’s redemption at the close of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 19: 7).
The second calling is that of the “Bride.” This calling is the subject of the apostolic epistles (those written by Peter, John, James, and Jude), and speaks of promises which pertain to spiritual Israel, and Gentiles grafted into the root and fatness of the covenant nation (Romans 11: 17). The Apocalypse represents those who constitute the “Bride” as being redeemed in two separate companies — a Jewish first-fruits offering of 144,000, as well as a great multitude of believers from all nations (Rev. 7). The marriage of the bride is consummated in the New Heavens and New Earth, whereas that of the wife takes place during the Millennium.
The third calling is the one that most concerns ourselves, and appertains to the “Body.” This calling, unlike those of the wife and bride (which date SINCE the foundation of the world), was hidden in God until the time of its disclosure was ripe (Eph. 3: 9; Col. 1: 26). Its connection is with the period of time designated “Before the foundation of the world.” Hence it is not the subject of Old Testament prophecy, which only concerns things predicted SINCE the age began (Acts 3: 21).
When Israel was temporarily set aside in Acts 28, consummation of the Millennial kingdom was put on hold, and a new phase of God’s purpose made known for the first time. With Israel absent and the “good olive tree” cut down, a new calling was needed to fill the interval. This calling involves Jews and Gentiles being made a “joint body” in Christ. This joint body is termed by Paul as “one new man” (Eph. 3: 15). The dispensational distinction which obtained between Jew and Gentile during the Acts Dispensation knows no place in the Administration of The Mystery. The middle-wall of partition has been taken down (Eph. 2: 14), and all ordinances cancelled by the blood of the cross (Col. 2: 14).
The inspired writings which deal with this third calling include: Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Titus, Philemon, and 1 & 2 Timothy. These were all written after Acts 28: 28. The other Pauline epistles, written during the Acts period, contain truths which are foundational to the Dispensation of the Mystery, but which yet preserve doctrines relative to the second calling — that of the “Bride.”
A distinction must therefore be made when reading Paul’s epistles, so that we do not read the Hope of Israel into the hope of the One Body. Israel’s hope is the parousia; while the hope of the One Body is a ”calling on high” (Phil. 3: 14), which will take place before the commencement of Daniel’s 70th week. The church of the one Body will then enter into its inheritance in the heavenly holiest of all (Col. 1: 12). When the Millennium is ended and the heavens and earth are purified by fire, the New Jerusalem will descend to earth (Rev. 21: 2), and the church of the one Body will have its administrative sphere in the “New heavens,” but will doubtless not be excluded from participation in the delights of a renewed and regenerated earth.
At that time, the Wife will have given place to the Bride, all Israel having been fully redeemed and sanctified. During the eternal administration, the holy nation shall bear a priestly role to the nations of the world (cf. Isaiah 61: 6). The inhabitants of the nations will enter the New Jerusalem, partake of the tree of life (Rev. 22: 14), and after fulfilling their destined purpose on earth, will ascend into those mansions above (John 14: 2), to make room for new generations. Thus there will be no end to Christ’s kingdom on earth, or in the heavens (cf. Isaiah 9: 7).
While many Christians today think that the church is under the New Covenant, we must remember that Christ’s blood covers all callings connected to the two time-periods noted above. As the covenants made with Israel date SINCE the foundation of the world, it is wrong to say that the church of the One Body, whose calling is related to the period BEFORE the foundation of the world (Eph. 1: 4), has any part or portion therein. While Israel remains absent from the Divine program, her covenants are in abeyance.
Notwithstanding, since all men are descended from Adam, and inherit the taint of sin, the work of the law is written in their hearts (Romans 2: 14), and bears witness to their condemnation when the Word of God is faithfully preached. Only the blood of Christ, which was shed SINCE the foundation of the world (Rev. 13: 8), but purposed BEFORE the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1: 20), can effectually redeem men and enable them to partake of that calling which concerns us today.
50 “Failed Predictions” For Fools Who Say Christ Returned In A.D. 70
1. The bodies and souls of the wicked were not thrown into Gehenna (Matt. 10: 23).2. The beast wasn’t taken alive at the destruction of Jerusalem (Rev. 19: 20). According to Prets, he committed suicide in A.D. 68.
3. 97,000 Jews got away scot free from Rev. 19: 21.
4. Paul didn’t remain alive until Christ’s coming. 1 Thess. 4: 15-17. (Notice he says “We,” including himself).
5. The saints never received “power over the nations” in A.D. 70 (Rev. 2: 26-27).
6. Jesus Christ was not judge of the quick and the dead, because (according to Preterists) He only judged the dead.
7. The “mortal bodies” of the saints were not quickened by the Holy Spirit in A.D. 70. Rom. 8: 11.
8. The saints were not delivered from “this body of death” (Romans 7: 24).
9. The 12 apostles didn’t see Jesus return in A.D. 70 (Acts 1: 8-11). (Most of them were dead by that time).
10. The Sanhedrin didn’t see Jesus at the right hand of God (compare Matthew 26: 64 with Acts 7: 55-57).
11. “We shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3: 2). Never happened in A.D. 70.
12. “We shall know, even as we are known” (1 Cor. 13: 12). Still not fulfilled — unless you redefine knowledge.
13. There is still sorrow and crying for people who inhabit the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21: 4.
14. Entire nations weren’t saved in A.D. 70. Rev. 21: 24.
15. The living nations were never gathered before Christ’s throne in A.D. 70. Matt. 25: 31-46; Joel 3.
16. “Behold, we shall not all sleep” (1 Cor. 15: 51-52). All of Paul’s original audience fell alseep! [note: sleep means physical death -- see 1 Cor. 15: 20].
17. All Christ’s enemies are still not destroyed. see 1 Cor. 15: 25-26.
18. Christians are still not delivered from this “present evil age” (Gal. 1: 4).
19. The apostles finished the cities of Israel before the Son of Man “came” (Matt. 10: 23; cf. Col. 1: 23).
20. The apostles have never sat on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel (Matt. 19: 28).
21. The New Covenant is still not established, because Christians need teaching. Jer. 31: 34.
22. The New Covenant is still not established, for the holy nation was (according to Prets — ATP) destroyed (Jer. 31: 35-37).
23. The New Covenant is still not established, for ATP the holy city was thrown down for ever (Jer. 31: 40).
24. The armies surrounding Jerusalem were not destroyed in A.D. 70. (see Zech. 14: 3).
25. Christ never returned the Mount of Olives from whence He ascended (Zech. 14: 4).
26. Christ returned in A.D. 70 (??), but ATP the literal cloud was missing (see Acts 1: 9; Matt. 24: 30; Rev. 1: 7).
27. Israel never repented in A.D. 70 (Acts 3: 19-21).
28. Christ said the nation won’t see Him until they repent. Matt. 23: 39. ATP “every eye saw Him” in A.D. 70.
29. The land was smitten with the curse. ATP John the Baptist failed. See Mal. 4: 5-6.
30. The living saints weren’t rewarded in A.D. 70. Matt. 16: 27-28. (ATP, they had to wait until death!).
31. The remnant of Israel still practices iniquity (Zeph. 3: 13).
32. The man of sin wasn’t destroyed by the “brightness of Christ’s parousia” the day the temple caught fire. See 2 Thess. 2: 8.
33. Desolations were not poured upon the desolator of the temple (Dan. 9: 27).
34. All nations still don’t keep the feast of tabernacles (Zech. 14: 16).
35. Nations who refuse to keep the feast of tabernacles are left unpunished (Zech. 14: 17-18).
36. Acording to Prets, all those left in Jerusalem were reckoned unholy. But see Isaiah 4: 3-4.
37. According to Prets, all nations may continue — except Israel (see Jer. 30: 11).
38. Idols are still worshipped by 75% of the world’s population (Isaiah 2: 18).
39. The kingdoms of this world are not governed by Jesus Christ (Rev. 11: 15).
40. James, Peter, Andrew, and John were already dead (??) before they got to see the abomination of desolation. See Matt. 24: 9, 15. (”Ye”/”You”).
41. The cities of the nations never fell in A.D. 70 (Rev. 16: 19).
42. Fishing in the Dead Sea is still off-limits (Ezekiel 47: 9-10).
43. A SINGLE wicked king did not persecute Israel from A.D. 67-70 (Dan. 11: 31-45).
44. Thyatira (nor the other Asian assemblies) went through “great tribulation” (Rev. 2: 22).
45. Many who sleep in the dust (aphar) of the ground (adamah) did not awake in A.D. 70 (Dan. 12: 2). [note: same Hebrew words are used in Gen. 3: 19].
46. Abraham still hasn’t inherited the land God promised him (Gen. 13: 15; Acts 7: 5).
47. Ezekiel’s Temple is still waiting to be built (Ezekiel 40-48).
48. The Redeemer never came back to turn transgression from Jacob (Romans 11: 26-27; Isaiah 59: 20).
49. Sudden destruction did not overtake the children of darkness (1 Thess. 5: 2-8).
50. Those who kept the Lord’s sayings tasted of death (John 8: 52).
It’s a Funny, Silly, Goofy Old World (That Hyper-Preterists Live In)
One of the favorite arguments that Hyper-Preterists employ to “win” an argument is the concept that they call “audience relevance.” This doctrine, as developed by Hyper-Preterists, is really a subtle perversion of the grammatical/historical/contextual mode of interpretation.
Hyper-Preterists will say that when a prophecy was addressed within a first-century time-frame, it had to be fulfilled THEN, or else the person making the prediction is a false prophet. Since no Christian will ever agree to such a proposition, Hyper-Preterists think they have a rock-solid argument for their view that the second advent happened in A.D. 70.
Before you get uptight and uncomfortable, or start to admit that Hyper-Preterists MAY have a valid point, let us show the silliness of the Hyper-Preterist view, which reveals “their world” as something quite different from that of ordinary Christians.
A good example of H.P.’s ”audience relevance” argument is found in the Olivet Discourse, where Christ says: “Then shall they deliver YOU up to be afflicted, and shall kill YOU; and YE shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24: 9).
The typical Hyper-Preterist will point to this verse, and insist that the personal pronoun “YOU” refers to the original hearers of the discourse. And of course, they are right.
But their interpretation is wrong for this very reason. For in verses 15-21, Christ says: “When YE therefore shall see the abomination of desolation… then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains… for then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Mark’s account of the same discourse informs us that the original hearers were Peter, James, John, and Andrew (see Mark 13: 3). So, according to Hyper-Preterists, if all of these men did not see the abomination of desolation, then Christ is a false prophet.
We must infer that either Christ or Hyper-Preterists are mistaken; since James (the brother of John) was killed by Herod several years before the outbreak of the Jewish war (see Acts 12: 1-2). Plus, there is no record that any of the other three apostles were in Jerusalem when the tribulation began. Therefore, by Hyper-Preterism’s own admission, our Lord was a false prophet. This is why Hyper-Preterists should not be considered as Christians.
Another example of the same argument may be culled from the epistles of Paul. Although 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5 is a much disputed passage (as to its precise interpretation by Preterists), all Hyper-Preterists agree that Paul is talking about the resurrection that will take place at the Lord’s second advent. A comparison of these verses with 1 Cor. 15: 51-54 will confirm this.
In both passages, however, Paul places himself among the number of those who hoped to be tranformed without dying. He uses the pronoun “WE” and “US.”
(1 Cor. 15: 51) “Behold, I show you a mystery; WE shall not all sleep, but WE shall be changed.”
(2 Cor. 5: 5) “Now He That hath wrought US for the selfsame thing [i.e., transformation without dying, as indicated by verse 4] is God, Who also hath given unto US the earnest of the Spirit.”
The question to ask Hyper-Preterists is this: Do the pronouns “we” and “us” include the apostle who is writing? If so – and who is so foolish as to say “no”? – then it is clear that a “remaining alive” unto the parousia of Christ was Paul’s expectation when he wrote.
Now, ask the Hyper-Preterist another question: Was Paul alive in A.D. 70? No, he was not. Paul died during the reign of Nero, in A.D. 68. Well, according to Hyper-Preterist reasoning, that fact makes Paul a false prophet. Again, since this is what Hyper-Preterists really believe, they should not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES be considered Christians.
It should be noted, that sometimes this flaky argument is used by Partial Preterists of an extreme mindset. Folks like Gary DeMar stress the use of personal pronouns in prophetic literature, and imply that since the prophecies were addressed to THEM, their fulfillment must be past. But how any Partial Preterist can hope to use this argument and remain standing on his/her two pegs, is a matter beyond our comprehension. It’s similar to a toddler trying to hoist a gallon of milk “all by himself.”
The fact is, that both Christ and Paul DID place the parousia in a first-century time frame. However, indications of a “near” parousia were never offered as peremptory declarations! The fulfillment of the parousia was (and still is) conditional on Jewish national repentance (Matt. 23: 39; Acts 3: 19-21; Hosea 5: 15). Since Israel never repented in the first century, the second advent never materialized; and thus it and all related prophecies await a future fulfillment. Because Hyper-Preterists wrongly view the time indicators as peremptory statements, their whole theology gets overthrown when we show that the original audience never saw fulfillment.
It happens these bloopers are common events, though, in the funny, silly, goofy, and irrelevant world that Hyper-Preterists choose to live in.
How To Refute Preterism: Part 2: “A-N Spells Conditional”
Brian Simmons has launched a brand new audio series entitled “How To Refute Preterism.” In this second episode, he talks about the use of conditional clauses in Preterist time-texts — placing particular emphasis on Matthew 10: 23, 16: 28, 23: 39, and 24: 34. This podcast will be found essential to a right understanding of what Christ and His inspired apostles meant when they placed the parousia in a first-century context.
Listen now: http://antipreterist.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/fouruntils.mp3
How To Refute Preterism: Part 1: “Smash Preterism Now”
Brian Simmons has launched a new audio series entitled “How To Refute Preterism,” in which he showcases the inconsistency and foolishness of Preterist eschatology. In this first episode of the series, Brian shows that an A.D. 70 parousia means an A.D. 70 resurrection — proving that Partial Preterism is wrong on timing, while Hyper-Preterism is wrong on nature. As these two systems of Preterism cancel each other out, the obvious conclusion is that the Futurist view of Christ’s coming is correct!
Listen now: http://antipreterist.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/smashpreterismnow.mp3
