God's Final Solution to Evil - Part 03

Liz Aiello: God is not going to allow evil to corrupt his creation forever. What is God's final solution to evil? We'll find out today, right here on Messianic Perspectives. Shalom, and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinctly first-century Jewish point of view. I'm Liz Aiello. Today, Pastor Al Runge answers the question, "What is God's final solution to evil?" with a study from Daniel 9. I'll be back at the close of the program to tell you about our special offer. Now, with today's installment, here is Al Runge.
Al Runge: Thank you for allowing me to come into your homes again and continue to share with you this wonderful message of God's salvation. I've begun a new series of studies on Daniel 9, verses 24 to 27, which I am calling, "God's Final Solution to Evil." I want to read to you the entire scripture of our series again. I want it to get into your mind and heart so that you understand it. It is found in Daniel 9, verses 24 to 27. Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city Jerusalem, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. After the 62 weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and until the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall he make it desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. In Daniel 9:24-27, there is a list of five periods of prophetic time. First, it begins with the conclusion of the 70 weeks of years when evil will be abolished forever. The first seven weeks refer to the building of the second temple in Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah during times of trouble for the builders. The third period is 62 weeks, or 434 years, added to the 49 years of the seven weeks for the rebuilding of the second temple and city, when the Messiah will come for the first time and be cut off, but not for himself. The fourth period is after the atoning death of the Messiah. The second city and the temple will be destroyed. The prophetic clock will stop for Israel for an undetermined amount of time. That is as far as we know, but the prophecy is that there is a determined amount of years for the desolation of the nation of Israel, but only God knows that time. The fifth period, the prophetic clock begins again for the last week of seven years when the Antichrist makes his appearance on the world scene. He makes a covenant with Israel, allowing them to rebuild their temple and to start sacrifices again. Three and a half years later, he breaks his covenant with Israel and by force enters into the temple, sits there, and demands worship from the world. Now, before we go on to the other periods of time, we want to emphasize the importance of Israel to this prophecy of the 70 weeks of years. In Daniel 9:24, we read, "Seventy years are determined for your people, Daniel, which are the Jews, and for your holy city, which is Jerusalem." Unfortunately, there are some Christian theologians who believe that God is finished with the nation of Israel forever, and now all the blessings of Israel belong to the church, but all their sorrows and lamentations stay with them. Their theology tries to rob Israel of its blessings and divine promises, but they are not successful. Listen to what God, who cannot lie, promised Israel by the Jewish prophet Jeremiah 31, verses 31 to 35: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, says the Lord." "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law in their hearts, and I will write it on their hearts and minds, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquities, and I will remember their sin no more." The promise is for the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It is reconfirmed in the New Testament in Hebrews 8:8. The old covenant on Mount Sinai was broken by Israel and therefore is not in effect anymore. It is helpful for us to understand the history of how Rabbinic Judaism developed after the destruction of the second temple. Rabbinic Judaism is built on a false presumption. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but this is a fact that they themselves agree. They don't consider it a false presumption, but here is what they claim: that on Mount Sinai, God gave a written law and an oral law. The oral law was passed down by mouth for over a thousand years, 2,000 years, until the year 135 AD. After Jesus ascended to be with God, the head of the Sanhedrin, Judah HaNasi, gathered as many oral traditions from the rabbis that he could find. He wrote them in a book; he called the book the Mishnah, which became the basis of the Talmud, which is the source of Judaism today. There are two facts that nullify this presumption. First, there never was an oral law given to Moses. In fact, Moses commanded in Deuteronomy 12:32, "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; and you shall not add to it or take away from it." The second fact is that the old Sinai covenant, according to the Jewish prophecy of Jeremiah, is now replaced with a new and better covenant as promised by God. As we get closer to the end time, something wonderful is happening in Israel. First and foremost, I was astounded to discover that in many of the Israeli schools, the New Testament is studied for its history only. It gives Israeli children an opportunity to get to know Jesus as a person, a good Jewish person. Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 23, verse 39: "For I say to you," and he said this to the city of Jerusalem, to Israel, "you shall see me no more till you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" It's interesting that many rabbis are now talking well of Jesus as a person. The word of God says Israel will not see Jesus, their Messiah, until they say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." One day we shall see that. All over the world, there are Messianic assemblies, hundreds upon hundreds springing up, of Jews who believe that Jesus is the Messiah. I believe God is still working there. My wife and I went to Israel with a tour group after the United States Department of State warned Americans to stay away from the Middle East and from Israel. We were the only tour group in Israel, at least it seemed that way. Everywhere we traveled, Israelis told us, "All of our friends have abandoned us. Thank you for coming." We see how precarious the existence of Israel is in the world. Israel's survival is threatened. An American military study just came out that claims Israel could not repel an all-out attack by the Arab nations because, the report said, Israeli parents will not sacrifice their children in another war. Also, the United States has now equipped the Saudi Arabians and Egyptians with an air force as good and as equal to the Israeli Air Force. The latest and the best equipment has been given to them. All the surrounding Arab nations have spent billions of dollars in the latest military equipment, including medium-range missiles with germ and chemical weapon possibilities. Anyway, Israel's secret army, however, is made of invisible angelic legions that even Israel is unaware of today. God is not going to let Israel perish. The restoration of Israel as a nation has always been an impossibility by human standards. Some Christian theologians predicted years ago that it would never happen, but here it is. It's a reality. Our Israeli tour guide, David, is not a Messianic believer, but he admits that God brought Israel into being, that it was an impossibility in 1948. He served as a major in the Israeli Army. He saw combat and did not want his daughters, who are in the Israeli Army, to go to war. David is a good man married to a good woman, and I pray for them. On the last days, he told our group, "I believe in God. I believe in miracles." He said a little while ago he was taking a tour group of evangelicals in Israel. "I told the group that Israel needed rain, that we had a drought. The pastor of the group said, 'Stop the bus. We're going to get out and go pray for rain in Jesus' name.' The evangelicals were praying out loud and the Jewish bus driver asked the guide, 'What's going on?' He said, 'Don't worry. They're Christians. They're praying for rain.' The driver said, 'If it rains, I'm going to become a Christian.'" That night it poured. The next day, the rain was so heavy it washed out a bridge. I don't know if the driver became a believer, but David hasn't yet. Jesus wants Israel to know him. That is why he said to his Jewish disciples in John 16:23-24, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." I believe we can say to our Jewish neighbors, "Listen, have you ever prayed in the name of Jesus for something that's legitimate to pray for, that's certainly according to the will of God? If not, why don't you do it?" Because Jesus said, "Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name. Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." God wants us to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He wants us to understand that God is not finished yet with the children of Israel. Way back in the very beginning of the five periods of prophetic time, God said that the second temple, the second city of Jerusalem, would be rebuilt in troublesome times. Israel has always had troublesome times. But listen, they have the God of Israel who has made promises, who will keep those promises because God cannot lie. I think God wants every true believer to love Israel and to pray for them, to give to their ministry, to help them come to know that Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach, is truly their Messiah. Let's remember to pray for them today. God bless you.
Liz Aiello: Thank you, Pastor Runge. Thank you, listening friend, for tuning in today. It's always good to have you with us as we look into God's word together. We've been listening to Pastor Al Runge teach on "God's Final Solution to Evil." If you would like to have your own copy of this series, or perhaps you'd like to share it with a friend, you will be glad to know that it's available on two convenient compact discs. Just ask for ART-8, "God's Final Solution to Evil." It's available for a contribution of just $12. Visit our secure online store at MessianicSpecialties.com to place your order. If you would prefer to order by mail, just address your request to Messianic Perspectives, PO Box 345, San Antonio, Texas, 78292. To order by phone, use our toll-free order line. The number is 1-800-926-5397. As always, when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. I'm Liz Aiello. Join us next time as Pastor Al Runge continues our series of studies on "God's Final Solution to Evil" right here on Messianic Perspectives. Messianic Perspectives is sponsored by CJF Ministries of San Antonio, Texas, and is made possible on this station by the freewill contributions of our listeners in this area.