Hi veteran,
I have been musing on your somewhat surprising responses to daq in various threads, and since I believe you and I have reasonable respect for one another, I dare to write in this vein.
I wonder whether you have forgotten something, or perhaps never quite clarified to yourself the usefulness of the key given us by the writer to the Hebrews when he says the following:
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Both the battle and the victory have been and are, spiritual. 'We wrestle not against flesh and blood'. Therefore, although we experience a degree of conflict between the desires of the flesh and the inclination of the heart towards God, once we have received the Holy Spirit, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' because 'In the world you will have trouble/tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I [Jesus Christ] have overcome the world' become a living reality. God's heart is not fixed upon an earthly kingdom. He is after a heavenly kingdom and constantly exhorts us to make the good choices which qualify us as sons who are ready to inherit our eternal portion in that kingdom.
I confess I am increasingly bemused by the doctrines of men which are nothing more than counterfeit in that they humanise and de-spiritualise all the the Lord sought to explain to His disciples through picture language. God knows we are children, and spiritually deaf and blind children until His word reaching us is mixed with faith. and we begin to hear His call, and see the qualities of another kingdom in a very far country - the kingdom in which He has prevailed through death.
Paul stated that in the last days, men would heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Isn't that because 'knowledge' is of this world, and 'truth' is of God Himself. How we deal with this ever-present choice of trees from which to eat, constantly tests whether a person is genuinely seeking God, or just seeking what they can get out of an association with the name of Jesus Christ on this earth while they are alive. The latter group cannot see anything heavenly, and this is partly because they have never heard Romans 6 expounded in its full Biblical context. The cross is always an offence to the natural man, let alone the man of sin each of us have to see dead beneath our feet in our own experience of God's grace working in us as we mortify the flesh with the help of the Holy Spirit. (Which would not be possible if Messiah had not crushed the serpent's head already, under His foot.)
Benjamin Friedman's eye witness testimony in his address at Willard Hotel is entirely relevant to understanding the battle between flesh and Spirit on this earth with regard to Israel. I can understand why he renounced his natural Jewishness to distance himself from all association with an earthly agenda, but I do believe it was unnecessary from a spiritual point of view, since these distinctions disappear in Christ through His Holy Spirit in us; and, the gospel is for all people, if they will turn from their idols and worship God their Father in Spirit and in truth, as He so desires from us all.
Many, many years ago, someone showed me that 'the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof' is another way of Him saying that He has redeemed us. He owns us. Our bodies are at His disposal. Paul exhorts us to offer them willingly, at the beginning of Romans 12. It's all the same picture. We are not our own. We are bought with a price we can never repay, and that's what gives God the right to bring to an end all who choose not to submit to His loving offer of eternal salvation.
There is no comparison between the doctrines of men who have their spiritual eyes fixed on an earthly fulfilment of prophecy for Israel outside their own lives; and what apostle Paul wrote most of Ephesicans 2 to show - how the purpose of the cross was to bring all men into 'the commonwealth of Israel', and give all men the same access by the Holy Spirit to their Father in heaven.
He followed his exposition up with this prayer - 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3.
The rod of iron, the (battleground/military) precision and discipline of the cross to which Jesus Christ willingly subjected Himself in order to bring the balm of healing to sin-sick souls, was the fulfilment of God's promise to Eve that one of her descendants would serve a fatal wound upon the serpent. Early believers (Israelites all of them.) understood this, and reference is made to the meaning of His death over and over and over in the New Testament, but who preaches on it. Who exhorts His people to present their bodies as living sacrifices - their 'reasonable service' - today? The Biblical focus on the work of the Spirit in the Christian has been edged out for an entirely worldly agenda, in which the desires of natural flesh are glorified and catered to, rather than on 'the adoption'. Romans 9:4
God intends that we should be to the praise of His glory. He will have a people who willingly love Him. Not because He is mean and self-serving, but because He created us in His image for a reason. Israel speaks to us of the natural man totally subdued to the will of God. Amen.
Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (Thy rod and staff, they comfort me!)
Genesis 50:2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. Galatians 4: 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free...'
What I 'see' is that God is after something completely different than the natural man can comprehend. That is why we all need the Holy Spirit to enlighten our understanding with God's wisdom and knoweldge, and by whom to be thoroughly renewed in the spirit of our minds (hearts).
I am not, in the foregoing, implying that you are completely lost and off track in all of your theses. I know you are strong on the rule of Christ in His kingdom. But therefore, I have no idea why you cannot see some of what I and some others see. So... I suspect there is a great lack of the functioning of the body of Christ amongst His members as He desires, because this world teaches us to be individualists - every man totally self-contained and able to do all things needful for himself in a competitive environment - but this is not the way of God, and it is not how the Spirit seeks to operate in His Church. Paul could say 'we have the mind of Christ' because he was in fellowship with others who were experiencing the same change of understanding and focus as He had experienced.
Please do not read into the foregoing more than I have said.
Rich blessings to you in Christ Jesus, brother. :)
