The Doctrine of the Pivot Part 4. The Relationship between
the Pivot of Believers toward the Jews and the Nation of Israel.
Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: the “Logos Reftagger” scripture links are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), when finished reading, hover your cursor off the scripture reference link. If the Reftagger pop-up doesn’t show all the verses, left click on the “More” button in the Reftagger pop-up window and it will take you to the online bible. If RefTagger pop-ups don’t work on your computer, that’s OK, try right clicking the link then open in new tab or window; or if that doesn’t work, you can always use your Bible to look up the verses. Word or Phrase definition links may not have a website that opens.
Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]; we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-15, 16, 17, 18, says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
The Doctrine of the Pivot Part 4. The Relationship between
the Pivot of Believers toward the Jews and the Nation of Israel.
We are now ready for Point 4 in our Doctrine of the Pivot.
Remember Point 1 dealt with the definition and description of the Pivot which is defined as the accumulation of mature or spiritually adult believers living in a client nation in a specific geographical location, Matt 5:13-14.
Point 2 in our doctrine dealt with the relationship of the Pivot with the Client Nation.
Point 3. dealt with what I call the importance of the three “P’s,” the Pivot, Prayer and Protection for Israel.
Even though we are a Client Nation to God, and even though we still have a pivot of spiritually adult believers, neither the United States nor any other nation can afford anti-Semitism. Israel has a guaranteed national future which no human or satanic scheming can destroy. This is the legacy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the challenge to the Jew in every generation. Jesus Christ is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To deny Him signifies rejection of the spiritual heritage of the Jewish people and constitutes the underlying cause of many catastrophes in Jewish history.
All of the events that are taken place throughout the world testify that the world is on the eve of the most dramatic event of all time: the personal, visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. Think of it, at the same United Nations podium from which Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the state of Palestine announced yesterday that he would no longer be bound by and accords or promises and treaties made with Israel.
Then the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Palestinian leader to begin immediate unconditional peace talks in a speech largely devoted to denouncing Iran for its threats to annihilate the Jewish State. And there was complete silence for 45 seconds and not one nation said a thing including the USA because our representative was given a written command not to attend the meeting. For President Barack Obama instructed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power to be absent from the U.N. General Assembly during the Prime Minister’s speech Thursday night. An outright manifestation of anti-Semitism from our very own nation.
When everything is going in the Middle East with Russia, Iraq, Iran, the USA, Israel and Syria, it just so happens we have a major distraction in Oregon to divert the attention that should have been given to the Middle East. All of these things present a personal challenge. We can live in the present with hope, or with fear. We can share the glory of Christ at his coming, or face the terror of World War III.
Christ prophesied that the last days will reveal “distress of nations, with perplexity… men’s hearts failing them for fear”, but told his disciples that “when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.” In Luk 21:25-28, although the interpretation if for the tribulation, the application could be just for us.
Luk 21:25-28, “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
It is obvious that the Middle East is crucial to the world’s future which is why the major powers are always concerned when trouble erupts in that area. And so, on Friday evening we noted the importance of praying for our nation and also the nation of Israel! We also noted this very vital principle that when America withdraws her support and defense of Israel, God could take His hand of blessing off of the U.S. Perhaps He has already begun to do so since relations with Israel have cooled off lately. In Gen 12:2-3 and also in Num 24:9 we read, Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
Why We Should Pray for Israel?
There are dozens of Scriptures where God says that we should pray for the peace of Israel. These are all clear signals that God is pleased that we pray for Israel’s peace and safety because God has not, is not, or will not give up on Israel. This is why the apostle Paul said in Rom 10:1, Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. Paul recognizes their need for salvation as well as the fact that God has not rejected His people, the Jews and the nation of Israel. And, if Paul is telling the church that his heart’s desire is to pray for Israel and that “they may be saved” that should clearly be our prayer for them also.
Rom 11:1-5, I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
Heb 13:5, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Now, is there anything God can’t do? Yes, there is or there are things God cannot do! For example, “God cannot lie,” Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18. God can never leave us or forsake us! These things are impossible for Him to do, not because He doesn’t have a free will to do it but because He considers it impossible for Him to be what He claims to be and then to lie about it. And God claims to be faithful.
God can never, no, not ever leave us or forsake us! In fact, in Matt 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Point 4. The Relationship between the Pivot of Believers toward The Jews And the Nation of Israel.
Because of Rom 15:4 and 1Co 10:6, which both point to the importance of learning from the Old Testament passages especially concerning the Jews as a people or race and Israel as a nation, What are some of the most important principles of doctrine we can learn from them? Well, first of all, you need to remember that Israel was founded on God’s word, dedicated to His will, and consecrated to His purposes. And God blessed it with prosperity, power, security, peace, and a place at the head of nations. But the people of Israel made a fatal mistake, in the midst of their blessings, they turned away from God. They began to remove Him from their lives. They began to do something we must always be ready not to do. They began to forget God!
It is a very sad indictment when we are not so wide awake to the wrongfulness of insufficient gratitude. We are all prone to let ourselves off too easily in this respect. Many times, we let our blessings take us away from our gratitude we should have toward God on a daily basis, which is manifested in our prayer life especially under the category of thankfulness in prayer. The memory of personal benefits to slip away when we fail to see our obligation for acts of unselfish service rendered to us by our Lord and even by our family and friends. Always remember the words of Solomon when he said in Ecc 4:9-12.
Ecc 4:9-12, Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
We forget sometimes the words of our Lord when He said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” We forget or willingly ignore certain passages like John 10:11 where our Lord said “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” We forget passage like Matt 25:40 “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
When it comes to the Relationship between the Pivot of Believers toward the Jews and the Nation of Israel, we need to be reminded of passages such as found in Rom 11:13.
Rom 11:13-16, But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles [that’s us]. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow, I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen [the Jews] and save some of them. For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? And if the root [Abraham] be holy, the branches are too [the descendants of Abraham who are believers].
In other words, if God rejected them temporarily and because of them being rejected the invitation went out to all the gentiles in the world, then think of the tremendous blessings that will take place when they recognize their acceptance with God.
Rom 11:17-19, But if some of the branches were broken off [some refers to those who would be cut off at that time and the time to follow, but not all because they, the Jews will eventually be grafted back in], and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant or boast toward or about the branches [don’t think that we’re something because God has accepted us]; but if you are arrogant or do boast, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
The first piece of dough is a reference to Abraham and the patriarchs and the lump refers to the nation of Israel. Ultimately this is a reference to Jews who have supported us. The Bible was basically written by Jews, both the Old and the New Testament. The main race in the Bible are the Jews.
The main nation in the Bible is Israel. The authors in the Bible are basically all Jews. And of course, most importantly, our Lord was a Jew. So, never underestimate the values of the Jews and the nation of Israel to us, not because of anything good about them inwardly but because they are God’s chosen people in GRACE.
Rom 11:19-21, You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
If we neglect God or reject Him, we won’t lose our salvation but we will be placed under divine discipline.
Rom 11:22-25, Behold then the kindness-the grace and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness or His grace; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
The church is completed and the rapture takes place.
Rom 11:26-32, and thus all Israel will be saved [that is true Israel]; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” And this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob etc.]; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
Now, the point is that the apostle Paul wants us to understand is that if God rejected the Jews for a period of time as His chosen people, it follows that He will do the same to those who have rejected Him as well. That’s why he says again in Rom 11:17-18, But if some of the branches were broken off [those who would be cut off at that time], and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
God is not a respecter of persons. He operates in justice and righteousness even before He operates in love. So, with all that as a reminder of what happens when a Client Nation rejects the Lord. Let’s identify the five cycles of discipline in a little more detail then we did last time, when we just read the passages.
And the only way we can that is to document what Moses taught concerning this principle under what we call the cycles of discipline which are basically divided into five parts according to Lev 26:14-38;
Deut 28:49-67. However, before we even do that, we need to identify the times in which we live as well as discern the historical trends that are taken place in our nation today.
Remember, one of our main passages that we have been noting in this doctrine of the pivot is found in Matt 16:3b when our Lord said, “Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” And along with this, need I remind you of the signs given in the last days before the Lord comes back or in the last days of a client nation to God, found in 2Ti 3:1-5, But realize this, that in the last days [that is of a client nation or just before the Lord comes back] difficult times will come. For men[Church-age believers] will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers or slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving [without virtue love], irreconcilable [unforgiving], malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of divine good, treacherous, reckless [thoughtless], conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness or living the spiritual life, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households or literally worm their way and captivate weak women or flaky females and wimpy males, weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the epignosis knowledge of the truth, And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses – that is they opposed the authority of Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith or regarding doctrine.
Jewish tradition says that Jannes and Jambres were the two chief magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron in Exo 7 when Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.” Later, these same sorcerers duplicated the changing of water into blood and the production of frogs (Exo 8:7). However, the sorcerers were powerless to duplicate the other.
According to one commentator, the two magicians left Egypt with the Israelites after the first Passover and were later instrumental in promoting the worship of the golden calf that Aaron made. In other words, they were constantly a thorn in Moses’ side and continued to exert a wicked influence on Israel until the time that Moses finally drove them out. Always remember Gal 5:9, A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. Sometime you just have to get rid of those who attack the one in authority over the people of God before it’s too late. As the apostle Paul said in 1Co 15:33, Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
In 1Ti 1:19-20, Paul said, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
Paul said in 2Ti 4:14, Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. So back in 2Ti 3, Paul’s intention was to use the wickedness of Jannes and Jambres, as presented in the Torah, as an illustration of a widespread, active rejection of the truth in the last days. Paul goes on to say 2Ti 3:9, But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be. Now, the point of this passage in 2Ti 3 is to remind us of the fact that we live in a day an age and in a time of human history in our nation that if born-again believers do not become a part of the pivot, which has been our subject, then there is absolutely no hope whatsoever for our nation to recover from its fallen state.
It has been said, “A nation that does not learn from history, is bound to repeat it.” As Hegel said, If we have learned anything from history, it is that we have learned nothing from history. In fact, Aldous Huxley said “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” “History repeats itself because no one was listening the first time.” “If we do not learn from the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat them.”
There are several absolutes which stand out in the 6,000 plus years of recorded history that are worthy to note: Let’s note some of them;
1. No nation has survived its greatness beyond 50 years once it lost its first war. By the way, we did not win in Korea or Vietnam! And although we have not been completely destroyed as a nation, we have definitely been on the road to losing our greatness.
2. Every nation that has neglected or refused to stand by and defend its allies has perished. This does not mean to interfere with their governments and to police the world. It does mean however to operate as trustworthy friends who can be trusted.
3. Every nation that has compromised with its enemies eventually finds itself conquered by or left at the mercy of its enemies.
4. Every nation that openly condoned sexual deviancy ended up on the dung heap of “has-been” empires.
5. Every nation that refused to execute its capital crime offenders succumbed to a lawless society before losing its sovereignty and status as a nation. They literally destroyed themselves from within.
Now, some of these facts may have changed a little but if they have, they have changed for the worse. It is a sad commentary on the United States of America today that every 6 seconds a major crime occurs:
Every 30 seconds a personal assault occurs.
Every 50 seconds a robbery occurs.
Every 6 minutes a person is raped.
Every 22 minutes a murder takes place.
We are literally destroying ourselves from within.
6. Without exception, when a nation’s people turn their back on morals, that nation always falls back into a state of slavery and tyranny.
7. Whenever a nation fails to support its military as a protector of national freedom, politicians always bring forth tyranny and use the military to enslave the nation’s citizens.
Abraham Lincoln gave fair warning of these facts of history when he confirmed that America would never fall by an overwhelming enemy invasion from without, unless the people from within, failed to maintain the strength, morals, and foundations this “republic” was founded upon. As a free people, Americans have forfeited their rights of “liberty” by permitting this nation to deteriorate and evolve from a Republic into a Democracy.
Professor Alexander Fraser Tytler wrote two hundred years ago when America was still 13 colonies: “A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government; it can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves gifts and benefits, such as welfare, out of the public treasury.”
It is interesting to note the conditions which existed in Rome around the year 200 AD just before the Roman Empire was about to crumble from within, just as America is today.
First of all, the Romans had become corrupted by their wealth, prosperity, and materialism, it being the criteria for their social and political status. This, of course, produced a society of spoiled little brats who were very unappreciative of what they had.
Secondly, the population of the cities, especially in Rome, was decreasing. People fled the big cities in favor of the country because of crime, inflation, and loss or lack of employment. Family life was in a shambles.
Thirdly, free farmer class had literally disappeared, due to Rome’s interference with trade and farm programs. Finally, all the food was being imported, even from some of Rome’s enemies. The provinces did their own manufacturing and farming and no longer needing to trade with Rome.
Fourth, the cost of living was sky high with inflation sweeping the land. The cost of government stole a major portion of the people’s prosperity and existence.
Fifth. Government promoted welfare programs, supported many thousands of people. Unemployment was rampant; as Rome perpetuated its welfare state. Poverty and deprivation rapidly increased.
Six, Government intrusion into the lives and privacy of the people accelerated as Rome sent hundreds of information gatherers and tax collectors, using the pretext that it was necessary in order to help the people.
Seventh, the economy was in constant upheaval. Since Rome had gone off the gold and silver standard, the money was unstable and continuously being devalued. Just like our dollar-becoming less and less valuable. Rome was heavily in debt.
Eighth, Manufacturing continued to decline, world trade dwindled. Imports far exceeded exports. Trade balances were critical.
Ninth, there came the time when the Roman government offered free land, if the people would only farm it. But the people preferred ‘the government handouts of “free bread and circuses.” Does any of this sound familiar? They had become totally dependent on government for their very existence.
Immorality, greed, and fear swept the land like wildfire, as crime of every category increased at a rapid pace. Perversions of every sort flourished. Taxation increased by leaps and bounds, along with the confiscation of property. Imprisonment and even death were the result of not being able to pay the taxes. Those who refused to conform were considered as political prisoners. Free speech and religion became criminal acts against the state.
As a result of all this, the barbarian tribes to the north and east of Rome saw that the Empire was weakening from internal turmoil and dissension. Therefore, they developed and pursued campaigns to capitalize on Rome’s weakness to their advantage. Rome was forced to fight many wars to keep her enemies from invading and entering the Empire. And these wars taxed and fatigued the Roman armies and brought about many desertions and lowering of the morale of the troops. Pacifism and cowardice became rampant. Many refused to serve Rome, while others cried for peace or outright surrender. Fear of the Barbarians overruled their nationalistic allegiance to Rome.
The Barbarians also saw that the frontier forts were not well manned or armed and the men poorly trained. Rome had refrained from supporting her allies in the time of need, which contributed to the loss of Rome’s outer perimeters of defense. Rome could no longer hold her defenses and continued to lose one war after another. The Roman senate began to appease and compromise with the Barbarians without success. The combination of internal strife with the onslaughts of the Barbarians ultimately toppled Rome. The Roman Empire ended in 476 AD.
It becomes obvious that the United States has been following the same path as Rome since the early 1900’s. Americans have failed to learn the lessons of history or to heed the warnings of their forefathers. And therefore, God gives us a warning of what he will do to a client nation that rejects Him and ends up on the road to self-destruction. Therefore, we are now ready for Lev 26 and the five cycles of discipline.
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
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