OF BIBLICAL ESCHATOLOGY

Prophecy is a divine summons for the righteous or a warning of judgment for the wicked. Because of free choice, an evolutionary process occurs. This process and its dynamics becomes clear as we progress through prophetic history. The drama begins in approximately 1920 BC when God repeatedly promised Abram (later renamed Abraham) and his descendants a great inheritance:

Gen 12:1-5, 13:14-17, 15:5-8,12-16,18-19, 17:1-8,15,16, 22:17,18, 26:3-5, 28:12-14, 35:10-12, 46:2-4.

The many promises of the Abrahamic covenant appear to be everlasting and unconditional; Only a simple rite of circumcision was demanded (Gen 17:9-14). Based on this alone, the Jews in the time of Christ firmly believed they were entitled to the blessings of God simply because they were circumcised descendants of Abraham. Jesus and John the Baptist taught however that literal descent was meaningless and guaranteed no such thing (Mt 3:7-10, Jn 8:33,39).

GOD IS CHANGELESS
“God’s ultimate purpose never changes; but when those who have been called persistently refuse to cooperate, He changes the manner in which He will eventually carry His purpose forward to success, the precise time of its culmination, and the human instruments He will use. The Bible record is replete with instances of the reversal of promised blessings and threatened judgments, involving both nations and individuals” (Raymond Cottrell).

A DRAMATIC REVISION
History demonstrates a dramatic transition from literal Israel to a spiritual Israel, the Israel of flesh to the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16). The following self-explanatory texts prove this quite easily: Ro 2:28,29, 9:6-8, 10:12, Gal 3:7,28,29, Eph 2:11, Phil 3:3, 1 Pe 2:9,10, Rev 2:9, 3:9. The reason for this shift will be understood later. It will be clearly seen that a period of probation for the Jewish nation came to an end, and, among other things, that their rejection of Christ caused the promises and privileges God had originally given them to be transferred to the Christian church.

“THY WILL BE DONE”
“That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today.” — Prophets and Kings, p. 713.

HOW IT MIGHT HAVE WORKED OUT IN THE BEGINNING
Especially important are the promises of God enroute to the promised land: Exodus 3:1-8, 3:19-22, 6:2-8, 15:26, 19:5,6, 23:20-33, 34:10, Deuteronomy 4:5-8, 7:12-23, 11:22-25, Chapter 28. They tell of the beginnings of eschatology, more importantly, its dynamics.

CONDITIONALITY & MULTIPLICITY
The Sinai Covenant (Lev 26) given in 1450BC, together with its repeated version (Deu 28) forty years later, is rightfully called “The Constitution of Israel.” (Note: Deuteronomy means the law stated a second time). It clearly teaches that the outcome of history is conditional and gives the conditions. The terms of this covenant were frequently executed by God in the history of His people and is an ideal lesson in the principles and rules of prophecy. Perhaps the greatest principle of the covenant is that God is not limited to a single course of action. Did you notice all the ways God expressed His options in Deu 28?

A FEW HINDRANCES TO THE PLANS AND PURPOSES OF GOD
It was God’s purpose and intent to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt and take them immediately to the Promised Land. God’s words to this effect seemed unconditional (Ex 3:8, 6:6-8). Yet because of continued grumblings against the Lord, that generation did not enter the land of Canaan but was “cast down” (destroyed) by God in the wilderness (Num 14:22-35 cf. Ps 106:24-27).

THE IMPACT OF GOD’S MERCY ON THE OUTCOME OF EVENTS
On more than one occasion, God wanted to destroy all the Israelites and make of Moses a great nation. We are led to believe that had not Moses pleaded with the Lord to change His mind, God would have done just that (Ex 32:7-14, Num 14:1-20, Ps 106:23). This event tells us of the great power of intercessory prayer. Often, prayer or a change of heart will change previously stated pronouncements of God (1 Ki 21:17-29, 2 Ki 20:1-3,5,6 cf. Isa 38:1-5, Jonah 3). Also study 1 Sam 2:30,31 cf. 23:10-14.

THE POWER OF FREE CHOICE
Numbers 32:1-33 well illustrates a principle: Speaking to the Reubenites and Gadites, Moses said, “If you turn away from following Him, He will again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction” (Num 32:15). A powerful statement! The action of two tribes would affect the very existence of the entire nation. Fortunately, the two tribes were willing to make a few concessions (Num 32:16-33). Unfortunately, the nation was not always in harmony with His plans. Rebellion usually dominated events and thus the free will of man often cancelled the promises of God. History therefore took a different course, all according to God’s foreknowledge. In this case (as it is in most) God only revealed the immediate future (Deu 31:16-18 cf. Joshua 23:1—24:18, Judges 2).

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