A riddle is a statement or a question with a hidden meaning that forms a puzzle to be solved. Example: “Larry’s father has five sons who are named Ten, Twenty, Thirty, Forty, and ? What is the name of his fifth son?” Exploring riddles can be fun, it allows you to be a solving detective. For others, riddles can be downright exasperating. Solutions often hide behind the assumptions people make when the answer is in plain view. Such was the case in Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 15. Oh, the answer. The fifth son’s name was Larry…as in “Larry’s father.”
When Peter stood up at what is now called the “Council of Jerusalem” he used an inversion in making this statement: “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (Acts 15:8-11)
The subject was Gentile Christianity and some of the elders present wrongfully concluded that Gentiles must be circumcised like all Jews. In plain view, it was obvious that male circumcision was a non-factor in those Gentile conversions and Peter was very provocative now in his use of an inversion. In effect, he was saying, “We couldn’t live up to the Law, why should we place it on them (Gentiles)? We should believe, just as they do! In other words, if we play our cards right, we will be saved just like them.”
Verse 12 describes how Barnabas and Paul then stood up and bore witness to the “miracles and wonders” God had wrought through the Gentiles that they had shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. It says that the entire multitude went silent during their report.
There were two huge questions overhanging this important meeting, one was spoken, the other was unspoken. First, are the Gentile believers under the Law (i.e. male circumcision)? The Council of Jerusalem deals with this question profoundly and negates this presumption. The second but unspoken question was this: if Gentile believers only have to believe by faith, what about the promised Messianic Kingdom? What then will become of Israel?
After hearing the testimonies of Peter, Barnabas and Paul, it is here that James, the half-brother of Jesus, addresses this unspoken question, and makes possibly one of the most important declarations of the Dispensation of Grace anywhere in the Bible.
Filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized as the leader of the Jerusalem church, James addresses the audience by speaking the prophetic words of a “minor prophet” otherwise known as the “shepherd of Tekoa.” Who was this shepherd? And who were the “minor prophets?”
In the Bible there are twelve minor prophets and they wrote some of the most amazing prophecies for Israel and the world. They were not called “minor” because they were not important, but because each message was short. Their messages are not “allegorical” but play a major role in God’s great plan of the ages. Portions of their prophecies have been fulfilled but many others are in full development today
It is important to recall that the office of prophet was an exalted position directly related to a Divine calling. It is noteworthy that the first “minor” prophet in our Bible is Hosea whose name translates “Salvation of Jehovah.” In fact, his name is the root word from which we get the name Joshua in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. In Hebrew his name is pronounced “Yoshua.” Written 800 years before the birth of Christ, his name is a prophecy that reveals the very name of the Messiah-the Holy One of Israel.
But here, James quotes Amos, the “shepherd of Tekoa” and the third minor prophet. “Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon (Peter) hath declared how God at first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.” (Acts 15: 13b-17)
If you review the quote from Amos 9:11-12, James begins by saying “After this, I will return.” Who left and Who will return? Obviously, it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ who has now ascended to heaven and who has promised to return. Most importantly then, “after this” refers to the calling out of the Gentiles.
In addressing the unspoken question, James is quoting Amos and tying it to the future of Israel in terms of the eventual fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. Paul writes further in Ephesians 3:1-6 that the postponement of the Messianic Kingdom and the calling out of the Church is a “mystery” itself.
He amplifies this “calling out of the Gentiles” all the more in Romans 11 when he writes that a “blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” (verse 25) The “fullness of the Gentiles” denotes the end of the Church Age and the Rapture.
If we interpret the Bible literally, there are several stages that are clearly identified in a sequence:
1) “After this”, the “fullness of the Gentiles” having come in, results with
2) “blindness of Israel” being relieved, and
3) the return or Second Coming of Jesus Christ will follow commencing the Millennial Kingdom.
Why this may be important today is that in recent years there has been a growing excitement and anticipation among Orthodox Jews in Israel for the coming of their Messiah, and this is now accelerating. Many today are unaware the Sanhedrin was reconstituted in 2004 and its revival is another step in the rebuilding of a Jewish Temple. In fact, they have recently begun reenacting grain offerings and wine libations in accordance with the Aaronic priesthood practices and have obtained government permits required for the slaughter of animals to one day be reinstated in the Temple.
Over the past 20 years a variety of Orthodox Jewish groups have simultaneously emerged in Israel that are focused on the rebuilding of the Temple. One devotes its efforts to the architectural plans, another to the training of priests, a third to the development of incenses, and yet another to the breeding of a perfect red heifer. Much preparation has gone into plans to rebuild a Third Temple in the last 24 months and large sections of the Temple have been prefabbed or manufactured in advance. One high ranking official of the Temple Mount Faithful estimated that the new Jerusalem Temple could be rebuilt in just one year.
The recent relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem and its recognition by the United States and other countries as the “eternal capital of Israel” has accentuated this fervor. In addition, the recent deciphering of the Copper Scroll among the Dead Sea Scrolls has illumined a map or outline of many hidden Temple treasures that are secretly and currently being explored in Israel. Several high officials in Israel have stated that the location of the tabernacle of David is now known. You can research all of these news events online.
Without any speculation as to when the rebuilding of the Third Temple occurs or its consequences, is not the thrust of this article. We are heavily reminded that in our day we see Romans 1:18-32 and 2nd Timothy 3:1-9 being fulfilled, and literally, sadly even in recent hours.
The fact is, that if the construction of the Third Temple is so close that it is prepped and ready to go and the tabernacle of David is possibly about to be discovered, these passages should tell us how close we may be to the day that the “fullness of the Gentiles” has come in.
Regardless, if ever there is a day that the Church should be “full throttle” and not “business as usual” it is today, showing, demonstrating and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ…and there is no riddle involved.
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In order to address some recent inquiries regarding Carpenter Ministries,
I am no longer part of the Sons of Thunder Ministries organization as Donor Relations Manager in a fundraising capacity. As CEO Jerry Beall and I both agreed two months ago, I have been called to a ministry of the Word instead and which he encourages. However, considered still part of the “ministering family” at SOT, we remain in close contact and Jerry has invited me to visit Sons of Thunder in Zambia continually in support of the ministry there. However, I do not receive any compensation from SOT.
Thus, we have formed Carpenter Ministries, Inc. as a full-time ministry and inviting your prayerful and financial support as we embark on this mission that is better stated in the “About” page of the blog. You can make donations to Carpenter Ministries by hovering your cursor over “Contribute” and by selecting Carpenter Ministries you can elect one of three ways to fund the ministry. Your contributions will not only sustain this ministry but enable future mission trips to Africa and elsewhere. All donations are fully tax deductible as we are an approved 501(c)3 organization operating in Virginia.
By desire, I will continue to support Sons of Thunder in future articles and will continue to allow others to donate to Sons of Thunder directly through this blog.