Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 34
God’s Plan for the Ages – Part 2
The Major and Minor Covenants
Introduction
In Lesson 33, we endeavored to introduce you to the meaning and sweep
of the covenants God made with man.
We displayed and reviewed them in relation to their dispensational
setting. We defined them and related their chief characteristics. We
then displayed
and identified the major purpose of each of the eight covenants.
Due to the details involved and the vast amount of scripture to be
studied, we limited our last lesson to five covenants: The Adamic, Edenic,
Noahic, Abrahamic,
and Mosaic. In this lesson we are covering the Palestinian, Davidic and New
Covenants.
Importance of this Lesson
- As stated previously, there can be no full
understanding of the Bible without an intelligent grasp of the covenants.
- It is vastly important to understand fully the revelation of His
will.
The Lesson
THE PALESTINIAN COVENANT
“
Israel’s Title Deed to Palestine”
I. THE SETTING
Israel was on the verge of entering the Promised Land. It was the land
promised to Abraham. Behind them was slavery in Egypt. Ahead of them
were many enemies occupying the land. They had many questions to ask:
- Was
the land still theirs?
- Did the conditional Mosaic Covenant set aside
the unconditional Palestinian?
- Would opposition stop them?
II. THE ASSURANCE
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 – This is the Palestinian Covenant. Here God
assures them and answers those questions.
III. THE IMPORTANCE
- It reaffirms Israel’s title deed to this land.
Unfaithfulness and unbelief did not abrogate this covenant.
- The conditional
Mosaic Covenant, under which they were then living, did not set aside,
or annul the earlier promise made to Abraham (Note
Galatians 3:17). Go back to Abraham and the land promised in Genesis
13 and 15.
- It is a confirmation and enlargement of the Abrahamic
Covenant. It amplifies the land features. Coming after disobedience
and unbelief,
it supports the fact that the promise made to Abraham was to be
fulfilled regardless.
IV. THE PROVISIONS
Seven, as follows:
- They would be removed from the land for unfaithfulness
(Deuteronomy 28:63-68).
- There will be a future repentance
of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:1-3).
- Their Messiah will return
(Deuteronomy 30:3-6).
- They will be restored to the land (Deuteronomy
30:5).
- They will be converted as a nation (Deuteronomy 30:4-8;
Romans 11:26-27; Acts 15:14-16).
- Israel’s enemies will be judged
(Deuteronomy 30:7).
- The nation will receive her full reward (Deuteronomy
30:9).
V. THE RECONFIRMATION
Ezekiel 16:1-62 – In verses 60-62, God said, “I will remember” and “I
will establish.” The text shows that the dispersion was not a final
rejection of Israel.
VI. THE CHARACTER
- It was unconditional. God said, “I will.”
- It was eternal
(Ezekiel 16:60).
VII. THE FUTURE
- Israel must be installed in her land.
- Israel must firmly possess the
land.
- Israel must witness the judgment of her enemies.
- Israel must receive
the material blessing promised.
- Since these things have never been
fulfilled, we must take them into consideration in our prophetic
program and vision.
VIII. THE AGREEMENT BY THE PROPHETS
- Isaiah 11:11-12; 14:1-3; 27:12-13;
49:8-16; 66:20-22
- Jeremiah 16:14-16; 23:3-8; 30:10-11; 31:8, 31-39
- Ezekiel 11:17-21;
20:33-38; 34:11-16; 39:25-29
- Hosea 1:10-11
- Joel 3:17-21
- Amos 9:11-15
- Micah 4:4-7
- Zephaniah 3:14-20
- Zechariah 8:4-8
THE DAVIDIC COVENANT
“
Christ on David’s Throne” I. WHERE?
2 Samuel 7:8-17
II. WHEN?
During David’s reign as King of Israel. Under LAW.
III. WITH WHOM?
David and his family.
IV. ITS MAJOR PURPOSE
- It established the perpetuity of the Davidic
family, fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:33).
- The perpetuity
of David’s Kingdom over Israel and over the
whole earth, to be fulfilled in Christ (Acts 15:14-17).
V. WHAT IT SPECIFICALLY PROMISED (2 Samuel 7:16)
- A PERPETUAL HOUSE
(verse 16) – This refers to David’s
lineage, his physical descendants or posterity. It refers to the SEED
of David. This was never to be cut off!
- An ETERNAL THRONE (verse 16) – This
refers to David’s
authority or right to rule. This sovereign right was never to be taken
from David and his SEED.
- An established EVERLASTING KINGDOM – This
meant an earthly, political kingdom. This is how David, Solomon, and
all the prophets understood
it (verse 16).
- Certainty of fulfillment (verse 16).
VI. THE PROBLEMS THAT MUST BE FACED
- Are these promises to be literally
fulfilled?
- Are we to spiritualize all of these promises and say
that:
- The Kingdom is the Church?
- The HOUSE is the “household
of faith” or all believers?
- That the Throne is the Father’s
throne at whose right hand Christ now sits?
- Was everything fulfilled
in Solomon historically?
- Will Israel yet have a King and a
Kingdom?
- Is the Kingdom present or future?
- How and when does Christ fulfill
these promises?
- Has there been complete historical fulfillment?
VII. THE PROBLEM OF SOLOMON AND HIS DESCENDANTS ( 2 Samuel 7:12-14)
- “I will set up thy seed after thee” (verse 12). Fulfilled.
- “I will establish his kingdom” (verse 12). Fulfilled.
- “He shall build an house” (verse 13). Fulfilled.
- “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (verse
13). This refers to his sovereign right or royal authority.
- Nothing
is said concerning the perpetuity of Solomon’s “house” or
seed.
- There is an amazing prophetic accuracy here!
- Solomon’s
throne or royal authority continued and is still in force.
- Solomon’s “SEED” or
house was cut off in King Coniah (Jeremiah 22:28-30).
- Christ was
born of Mary, who was NOT of Solomon’s lineage,
but was descended from David through Nathan! Joseph, Christ’s
legal father was descended from David through Solomon. This gave
Christ royal
and legal authority to the promised throne and guaranteed the continuance
of David’s SEED.
- So, this covenant was NOT fulfilled in Solomon.
VIII.THE ARGUMENTS OF THE A-MILLENIALIST AND THOSE WHO REJECT THE LITERAL
FULFILLMENT OF THIS COVENANT
- They say that this covenant is conditional
and temporary as to its natural and earthly application.
Answer: The plain language of scripture is just the opposite.
- They
claim that it was historically fulfilled in Solomon and his reign.
Answer: If so, how irrelevant and foolish are such later prophecies
as Jeremiah 33:15-17.
- They contend that this covenant has a spiritual
fulfillment only:
- The THRONE is the Father’s throne (Revelation
3:21; Hebrews 8:1; 10:12).
• Nowhere in scripture is the Father’s throne called
David’s
throne.
- The HOUSE is the “household of faith” (Galatians
6:10).
- The KINGDOM is the church.
- This view makes the church fulfill
the promise of a perpetual SEED and KINGDOM promised to David.
The Kingdom ceases to be earthly
and
David’s
rule becomes but a type of the spiritual reign of Christ.
• This demands extreme allegorizing and muddles language that is otherwise
perfectly clear.
IX. PROOFS OF THE UNCONDITIONAL AND LITERAL FULFILLMENT OF THIS COVENANT
It is called “Everlasting” (2 Samuel 7:16; 23:5; Isaiah 55:3).
Consequently, the fulfillment of these promises rests upon the sovereignty
and faithfulness of God.
- It merely amplifies the “SEED” aspect
of the earlier UNCONDITIONAL covenant made with Abraham.
- Note Psalm
89:
- David foresees the overthrow of his kingdom (verses 38-45),
before the fulfillment of that which was promised (verses 20-29).
- Yet, he fully anticipates the literal fulfillment of these promises
(verses 46-52).
- Note the “nevertheless” of (verses
30-34).
- There are 59 references to David in the New Testament.
He is NEVER associated with the Father’s throne. The inference
is clear.
- The “kingdom” offered by John, Jesus, the
twelve, and the seventy was a literal, earthly kingdom.
- The Jews
were perfectly justified in expecting Christ to restore the Kingdom
of David. The Jews always believed this Kingdom to
be Messianic, literal and earthly.
- If these promises to David
were not true in their obvious and common sense meaning, then the
most pious and God-fearing Jews
of many centuries
were deceived. In the face of Psalm 89:34 and Psalm 132:11,
it would have been sheer presumption for a godly Jew to expect
anything
but
a literal fulfillment.
- Even when “The Kingdom” was
rejected, Christ anticipated a literal earthly kingdom (Matthew
25:31).
- These promises have NOT had a historical fulfillment:
- Israel has
never permanently possessed the land promised to Abraham, which
constitutes the land of David’s Kingdom.
- Solomon extracted
taxes and service from some in certain areas but did not occupy
or possess the land (1 Kings 4:21).
- Hundreds of years AFTER Solomon,
scriptures abound in promises that the land will be possessed.
- The promises were to David’s Son “according to the
flesh.” The
throne and the kingdom were matters of promise and inheritance
and refer to the humanity of Christ!
• Christ LITERALLY is David’s Son (Luke 1:32; Romans 1:3).
The promises are to be literally fulfilled in Christ!
- There
is no Bible intimation or suggestion that this covenant is to be spiritualized.
It is pure inference to
do so.
- Partial LITERAL fulfillment requires future and
complete literal fulfillment.
- The New Testament never relates the kingdom
promised to David to the present or church age or to Christ’s
present ministry.
- On the contrary, it definitely states
WHEN Christ will establish David’s
throne and when Israel will be converted (Acts 15:14-17).
• This is a quote of the Greek version of Amos 9:11-12. James indicated “when” this
would be, “as in the days of old.”
- Romans
11:25-27 – “covenant” in
verse 27.
- “Tabernacle” – This refers to
the whole house of Israel in contrast to the Gentiles
(Acts
15:16).
- This is proof that Christ is NOT NOW on David’s
throne.
X. Concluding Thoughts
- This is The Church Age, NOT the Kingdom Age.
- Christ is on His
Father’s throne, NOT His own throne.
- Today, through the Holy
Spirit and the preaching of the Gospel, the Church is being formed.
This is the “mystery” form
of the Kingdom. (Romans 11:25; Ephesians 3:3)
- What we see today in Palestine is but a forerunner
of that which is to come.
- The return of Christ is:
- to the Church – A RAPTURE
- to the Jews – A
RESTORATION
- to the Gentile – A REIGN OF PEACE
- God and His Word
are eternal and immutable. On them we can stand.
- Christ is
yet to reign in righteousness over all the earth.
THE NEW COVENANT
“ A Covenant Sealed in Blood”
I. SOME KEY SCRIPTURES
Jeremiah 31:31-38; 32:37-41
Ezekiel 36:26-34; 37:21-28
Hebrews 8:8-12;
9:15; 10:16; 12:24
Matthew 26:28
1 Corinthians 11:25
II. WITH WHOM WAS THIS COVENANT MADE?
“The house of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8).
III. WHAT IS MEANT BY “THE NEW COVENANT”?
Jeremiah 31:32. In contrast to the Old Covenant of THE LAW.
IV. WHAT ARE ITS BASIC PROVISIONS?
- Guarantees Israel a NEW mind
and heart (Jeremiah 31:33).
- Promises to restore Israel to the favor
and blessing God (Hosea 2:19-20). “Betroth” means “to
woo a virgin.”
- Assures Israel the forgiveness of sin (Jeremiah
31:34).
- Promises them the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel
36:27).
- Promises material prosperity in the LAND (Ezekiel 36:33-35).
- Promises
a sanctuary in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 37:26-27).
- Promises the end
of war and universal peace (Isaiah 2:4).
- It is assured, sealed, and
guaranteed by the blood and sacrifice of Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews
9:11-22; 10:11-18).
V. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS NEW COVENANT?
- It is UNCONDITIONAL.
Based entirely upon God’s “I WILL.” Thus,
it is all of grace and looks to God alone.
- It is LITERAL. A literal
people, a literal land, a literal promise of forgiveness, cleansing,
and regeneration based upon a literal sacrifice.
- It is EVERLASTING
(Jeremiah 31:34; 32:40).
- Since it fully realized the third area of
the Abrahamic Covenant, THE BLESSING, it is simply an amplification
of another unconditional
covenant and cannot be changed.
VI. WHEN WILL THIS COVENANT BE FULFILLED?
- There are those who teach
that this covenant has been put into operation and is being fulfilled
in the church. Such a view:
- Denies any future for Israel.
- Denies that Christ will return
to reign on this earth as Israel’s
King.
- Spiritualizes and/or allegorizes all the parts of this great
covenant.
- Fails to see that the Church is NEVER called Israel.
- There
is general agreement among conservative scholars that:
- This covenant
can only be fully realized by the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 31;33-34;
Hebrews 8:8).
- This covenant was made with Israel alone.
- From the language
of the scriptures themselves.
- From the fact that it is contrasted
with the Old Covenant, THE LAW, which was made with these
same people only
(Leviticus 26:46;
Romans
2:14).
- The NEW covenant is linked with the perpetuity
of Israel as a nation and her restoration to
the land
(Jeremiah 32:41;
Ezekiel
36:34-35)
- The TIME is still in the future.
- It is always viewed as such
in the Old Testament.
- There is a definite sequence predicted:
Israel must be GATHERED, RESTORED, then REGENERATED (Jeremiah
32:37-41).
- History records NO such sequence.
- The Bible references show
that this covenant is realized during the millennium (Ezekiel
37:24-28).
- Christ must return first (Romans 11:26-27). The
covenant referred to here must be the NEW, since
it is the only one involving the forgiveness
of sins.
VII. CHRIST AND THE NEW COVENANT
- It must be remembered that Christ
is still Israel’s Messiah
as well as the Church’s Lord and Savior.
- The offering of the
gospel to the Gentiles and the instituting of the Church Age, does
not mean that God has forgotten or forsaken Israel
(Acts 15:14-16; Romans 11:25-27).
- The sacrifice of Christ
seals and assures this covenant. It involves forgiveness (Hebrews
9:11-22; 10:11-18, note verse 16)!
- He is the mediator of the covenant
(Hebrews 9:15).
- When will He put it into effect (Acts 15:14-17; Romans
11:26-27)?
VIII. THE CHURCH AND THE NEW COVENANT
The views of Darby, Chafer, and Scofield.
- Nowhere in scripture is it
stated that the NEW COVENANT promised to Israel is now in force.
- The believer and the Church share in its blessings and promises
through their relationship with the MEDIATOR.
- His sacrifice was for
ALL sins (Hebrews 10:12).
- The same blood secures our redemption
(Hebrews 9:12; Ephesians 1:7).
- The promise of the same Holy Spirit
and the same regeneration is made to all who believe (Acts 1:8; Ephesians
5:18; John
3:3; Titus
3:5-6).
- As in the Abrahamic Covenant, the Church shares in
the blessing without being under the covenant ephesians 2:11-19).
IX. ITS PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS
- Israel must be restored, preserved,
established and converted and be a NATION forever.
- Palestine must
be rebuilt and be a LAND forever.
- Christ must return and be their KING
forever.
- An everlasting THRONE must be set up.
- An everlasting KINGDOM must
be established.
- An everlasting COVENANT must be secured and fulfilled.
- Everlasting
BLESSINGS must be enjoyed.
• The difference between the hope of the church and the hope of Israel:
• The Church – saved and raptured
• Israel – saved and restored to the Land.
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