THE REDEMPTION PLAN OF GOD
By
Sundara Rao Tsappidi
PHILIPS PUBLICATIONS
D.No. 47-2-7, Lourdunagar, Gunadala
VIJAYAWADA - 520004
A.P., India. Ph. 0866-2451783
THE REDEMPTION PLAN OF GOD
Sundara Rao Ts.
First Edition - November 2011
(C) The author
Price : Rs.50/-
Published by :
PHILIPS PUBLICATIONS
D.No. 47-2-7, Lourdunagar, Gunadala, Vijayawada - 520004. A.P., India. Ph : 0866 - 2451783. Printed at :
Arunodaya Notebook Mfrs. Pvt. Ltd.,
# 35-5-9, Papaiah Street, Seetharampuram, VIJAYAWADA - 520002 A.P., India. Phone : 0866 - 2431422.
United Evangelical
Christian Fellowship
Foreword
We rejoice in the Lord as Mr. Sundara Rao Tsappidi brings one more book to the series of Christian book publications. We praise God for his zeal, commitment and dedication to bring new articles with the knowledge of historic events gained by studying many books and visiting Israel and Turkey in person.
We marvel at his steadfast dedication and increased faith even with 60% eye sight while sustaining the pain of losing a beloved son in the family, he is bringing this fourth book to the believers of Christ. His previous books ‘The Legacy of God’s People & The Holy Land Tour’, ‘Quest for the Living God’ and ‘Offsprings from the Tabernacle’ touched so many people world wide through the book publications and also published online at www.uecf.net.
We praise God for the love and encouragement he receives from his dear wife Mrs. Grace Vijaya who is a humble servant of God and a virtuous woman who composed the testimonies of so many living witnesses of Christian believers through her many books.
It’s our prayer that God will richly bless his family and use him in the expansion of His kingdom. Best Regards, Joshua(Phani) Pilli, President, United Evangelical Christian Fellowship(UECF)
INTRODUCTION
In the series of books I have written so far this is the
fourth one with the title “Redemption plan of God.”
The first one is “Legacy of Gods People”. Second one is
“Quest for the Living God” and the third one is “Off
springs from the Tabernacle.” The fourth book I am
going to pen is with some historical facts connected to
the Bible. Then regarding collection of material I
depended upon the books that I have been receiving from the library for the blind in large print in New Jersey USA and to some extent upon the writers who have been the regular contributors to the monthly magazine called “Zion’s Fire” and the names of those writers I already mentioned in my previous books.
I am thankful to all of them individually for their zeal to spread the word of God to the unknown and unreached in the world. And now I have been walking on their footprints for the same purpose as one of the laborers in Gods vine yard. I had to face some ups and downs regarding my health while preparing for this book because of my old age. But still God is protecting and guiding me in my venture to contribute what I could for the spreading of His word as far as possible and reap the harvest. Whoever is interested to look into my books they are welcome. My books can be seen in the computer through internet Pdf file. May God bless them abundantly. I am immensely thankful to our omnipotent God for giving me this gift of writing and I wish to glorify Him whole heartedly.
Thanking you
Yours in Christ
SUNDAR RAO T S
CONTENTS
సాక్ష్యం 1. The Three Heavens1
2.The Home of Your Heart12
3.Faith Conquers27
4.Zacchaeus Climbing Sycamore Tree 35
5.The Garden Tomb of Jesus43
6.Was Jesus Born to Virgin Mary?53
7.Genealogy of The King of Kings62
8.The Four Covenants of God71
9.Different Biblical Sacrifices87
10.The Holy Garments97
11.Seven Jewish Holidays – Part I108
12.Seven Jewish Holidays – Part II121
13.Location of Solomon’s Temple129
14.Messiah- The Cornerstone141
15.The Importance of Psalm 23150
16.The Church History of The First Sixteen Centuries159
17.Replacement Theology168
18.Enemies to Christian Faith178 CHAPTER : 1
THE THREE HEAVENS
The blessed hope of the church is the second coming of Christ. (Titus 2:13)
The 21st chapter of the book of Revelation is very important for we must sincerely respect the “Divine” author, St John, to grant all readers of that chapter - special wisdom and enlightenment, to comprehend his message to the best of our ability. And, the young readers and believers in the faith need not be disappointed or dismayed if they fail truly and positively comprehend and understand this message of John. I strongly believe that for our teachings, preachings and writings, we all honestly require spiritual guidance.
It is undoubtedly the wrath of God but not the persecution of anti-Christ from which Israel would be delivered. The day of The Lord will come for a short period of time. And during that short time, the seven trumpets would be blown and seven bowls, would be poured out while interpreting the importance of the
st 21 chapter from the Book of Revelation. We may find different views or opinions as many of the Bible readers do. At the same time we must remember the valuable saying “Do not rush in, where angles fear to tread”.
St John wrote this chapter with the following words. “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation21:1-2).
Keeping in mind, “Noah’s flood” where the waters rose high above the tallest mountains on the earth, we may not have observed such events in our practical life to compare with Noah’s deluge. But to think in terms of new heavens and new earth, we must dramatically elevate our understanding correctly. Therefore, with strong belief, we require strong and unfailing faith in God and His Word, and our faith should grow similar to a little sapling evolving into a mighty oak tree.
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The Three Heavens According to statements of many reputable scientists, the heavens are infinite. As there is no beginning, there is no end, border or termination point. These scientists sometimes spoke about three heavens:
1) Atmospheric Heaven:
Where the birds fly above the earth.
సాక్ష్యం 2. Terrestrial Heaven:
Where the heavenly bodies, the Sun, Moon, Stars, and the nine planets perform their respective duties. Regarding our planet Earth, it is massive in its dimensions, with a circumference of 24,902 miles and 7, 926 miles in diameter at the equator.
3) Celestial Heaven:
It is the throne of God. God, who created heaven and earth and everything therein, if so chose to destroy them, He can do so in no time, with a simple word from His mouth. It may not be His intention to wipe out His own creation however. What John saw in his vision would be brought into existence following the passing away of the existing heaven and earth. We cannot say whether God wants to destroy the existing heaven and earth, and recreate new heaven and earth or renovate the present ones. We cannot comprehend with our limited knowledge and understanding, of what God has in His mind.
We can believe that the new heaven and new earth John saw were not necessarily new with regard to their origin, but with respect to their quality. This is to say that John was beholding the present heaven and earth completely cleansed and totally regenerated, and with all that they became absolutely perfect. John was beholding the heavens and the earth in all their pristine beauty as Adam and Eve saw in the “Garden of Eden” before the advent of sin and its consequential curse upon the entire creation.
In the Greek Bible, there are 2 words used for the word “new” - “Neos” and “Kainos”. So when the Bible speaks about the new wine, it seeks the word “Neos” about this year’s crop, new in regard to time. The second word “Kainos” is used in case of substance and quality superior to the old one. The Lord proposed a new (Kainos) covenant far superior in quality to the previous covenant of Moses. (1Corinthians 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:8).
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The Redemption Plan of God
Apostle Paul also clearly explained that a believer of Christ was a new (Kainos) creation. For the purpose of clarity, the believer was the same person as he was before he became a believer. But after his change, he became qualitatively superior to what he was in his un-generated condition in Adam. He was called born again and thus a new creation.
When John spoke about new heavens and earth in his vision, he used the word “Kainos” and emphasized quality of the new heavens and earth, not in time or origin. John clearly pointed out that it was not the same heavens and earth, but cleansed and regenerated from the consequences of “Sin”. They were qualitatively superior to the old one’s, and thus the old one’s were to be purged. During the “Day of The Lord” when the Master’s hand passes towards both of them, they became the new heavens and earth.
Dr Henry Morris, a popular commentator in his work, “The Revelation Record” commented on Revelation 21:1 stating that - “The new cosmos (world) is not a novel cosmos, but a renewed cosmos(world). It is similar to the old one except that all its aging ravages of decay have been expunged, and it is fresh and new again”.
According to this wonderful statement, the present heavens and earth are not blotted out, or swift away into nothingness; but retouched, changed, renovated, cleansed, brightened up and regenerated from all their disorders and imperfections.
Joseph Seiss, another noted commentator pointed out on Revelation in a more classic manner. The words he used while describing new heavens and new earth are more wonderful that they would fill our minds with inspiration. Although his words were more than a hundred years old, they were talked about continuously with eloquence and considerable insight.
Therefore this regeneration of the earth is no longer in proper position because it is under the curse of Sin. An earth which needs no more to be torn with hooks and iron instruments, used for yielding fruits on earth, where thorns
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The Three Heavens and thistles no longer infest the ground. There will be no serpents to hiss among the flowers, and earth whose soil is never moist with tears or saturated with human blood. An earth, whose fields are never subjected to unprofitable seasons, whose atmosphere never gives wings to the seeds of plague and death. Whose ways and means are never linked with funeral processions or trodden upon with armed men on their way to war, an earth whose hills ever flow with salvation and whose valleys know only the sweetness of Jehovah’s smiles. An earth from end to end and from center, to utmost Virge, clothed with the eternal blessedness of paradise restored.
All of nature awaits that day with anticipation, so that it may be freed from the curse of sin (Romans 8:19-22). Apostle Paul probably in his first sermon (linked with Christ’s return and called restitution of all things) wrote that the Lord Himself spoke on that day while He was conversing with His disciples. He taught them “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel”(Matthew 19:28).
The meaning of the word “regeneration “ is “new birth”. Apostle Paul used this word particularly for the believers as “new birth”. Other commentators have suggested, that old heavens and old earth said to pass away but the present heavens and earth cannot be the new heavens and the new earth. Some critics seemed to have overlooked the fact that the Greek verb translated into pass away came from the root word “Parerchomai” which may be referred in (Matthew 5:18) with the meaning of “to come, come forth, go, pass, passover” etc.
Peter also spoke about the elements in heaven melting with fervent heat, and the works of earth being burnt up (2 Peter3:10). The teaching of God’s word is that by the reason of fall of man, the present creation is in a sense of captivity. The descending of heavens and earth are not their annihilation but their long awaited deliverance from curse of sin.
God completed His creation of the universe in six days. On the second day He created the heavens, and created earth on the third day. The divine
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The Redemption Plan of God commentary on all that what God created was “And God saw everything He made and behold it was very good”(Genesis:1:31). But within a short time Adam and Eve, the first parents disobeyed the commandment of God and that disobediencecaused a curse upon man, domain, heaven and earth and sea over which He was authorized to reign.
The heavens and the earth which were created “very good” before the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden now became “very bad”. And before their sin, there was no death, disease, war, famine, natural calamities, corruption, hate, rape, pollution and thousand other ills that had plagued men for more than six thousand years according to history. It is really strange that the present heavens and earth are to be dissolved -to be purged by fire during the days of the Lord in order to lose it from the consequences of sin. God would make a way for a new and perfect heaven and earth.
The new heavens and the new earth are a terrible prospect for the un- saved people of the world for all things they posses, including their lives, associated with the present heavens and earth, which are going to be burnt one day (2 Peter 2:10). But for those believers who are made righteous in Christ, the new heavens and the new earth are a glorious prospect. All their sadness and tears will be dissolved, and peace, joy, love, surprise, creativity and adventure would.
In regard to this situation, we may have genuine doubts as to when the new heavens and new eartheventually come. According to the viewsand opinions of some literary giants and elite, those who have faith in the pre-millennial return of Christ can understand that new heavens and the new earth will start at the end of the Lord’s thousand year millennial reign. So those scholars who have gone through the Book of Revelation (20th chapter) suggest that St John’s new heavens and new earth will follow contextually after a brief discussion of the millennium. Therefore, the new heavens and the new earth must occur at the end of millennium. St John also wanted to draw our attention to the fact that, during anti-Christ three and one half years of satanic empowerment, those living as un-saved people and those who missed the resurrection and rapture of the
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The Three Heavens church would become martyrs. They will be resurrected at the beginning of the millennium as part of the first resurrection unto life.
Then another question arises concerning those people whohave rejected God’s provision for sin through out the ages in regard to their outcomes. St John had an appropriate explanation for them, stating confidently that they would remain in the graves and then rise at the end of the millennium (Revelation20:5). According to the great white throne judgment, all of them will be mercilessly and eternally consigned to the “lake of fire”.
Apostle Peter, writing about the “day of The Lord” clearly linked that day of the Lord, to the new heavens and new earth. He pointed out in an understandable way that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. And at that time the heavens shall pass away with loud noise and the elements shall melt in the fervent of heat. Then the earth and the worlds that are therein shall be burnt.
The blessed hope of any church is the second coming of Christ. He will resurrect those who have died in faith through out the ages and rapture, in one generation of believers. The day of the Lord has been defended by a noted scholar “E.E. Bruce” as the day, which “Yahweh (the Lord) will reveal Himself and will be:
1)The time when God arises to shake the earth terribly(Isaiah 19:21)
2)A time of destruction from the Almighty (Isaiah 13:6)
సాక్ష్యం 3. The time of divine wrath and fierce anger(Isaiah 13:13)
4)A time when God will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for
their inequity(Isaiah 13:11)
5)The time when God’s indignation and fury will be directed against the
nations(Isaiah34:1)
6)The time of the fire from The Lord (Joel 3:18, 23:5)
7)There will be darkness at that time in heavens(Isaiah 39:10, Joel 2:31)
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The Redemption Plan of God
According to widespread teachings, the new heavens and new earth which Peter warned the believers to look into, occurs a thousand years after the second coming which is like a bridge too far leading to nowhere and without Biblical basis. The whole argument of Peter revolves around the fact that God entered the flow of human history for judgment withNoah’s flood. And God will enter into human history for the second time during the “day of the Lord”.
As indicated by Peter, the day of The Lord occurs at the end of the millennium, with absolute requirement for new heavens and the new earth. Then the Lord’s second coming during which time, He will resurrect the dead in Christ’s rapture with the living believers and that Satan would remain at the bottomless pit, and the anti-Christ and false prophets to the lake of fire. Then the earth will be purged.
Prophet Isaiah as God’s spokesperson wrote “For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind (Isaiah65:17).
Following the creation of new heavens and new earth, a practical listing of millennial blessings are given. Jerusalem shall be restored and blessed. Life would be expanded. Men would build houses and inhabit them. They might plant vineyards and eat fruits that come out of them.
The wolf and lamb shall feed together in the fields. Above all the lion shall eat straws like the bullocks (Oxes). All these surprising things may happen in the millennial kingdom. The new heaven and new earth that prophet Isaiah speaks about are renovated heavens and earth, which commence at the beginning of the millennium but not at the end.
John, while describing new heaven and new earth said “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation21:9). The seven angels were standing around a thousand years after pouring out their vials and the judgments were still identified as the seven angels with seven vials.
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The Three Heavens Still, the case might be such if the new heavens and new earth occur after the millennium.
The new age is really a glorious one, which is a blessing to the occupants in the sight of God, who finally inhabit the new heavens and new earth. The opening of the seventh seal indicates God’s wrath that commences. The main purpose of the seal is to purge the cosmos(world), which has been defiled by sin. And during that period, God’s grace and mercy would continue. Then there will be two more witnesses who are very powerful and who can prophecy for three and a half years, till the end of the seventeenth week.
In addition to this, there will be 1,44,000 witnesses, twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were sealed in order to protect them during the day of The Lord. And finally an angel will be there with a gospel in hand to preach to those who dwell on the earth. Among those who have surprised the earth physically till the end of Daniel’s seventy weeks, God our Lord will designate them as “sheep” and “goats”. They will be separated as sheep and goats by the Shepherd. After that decision, sheep will be sent to the eternal life, and goats to everlasting punishment, that is eternal damnation.
But the sheep remain there as mortals, until they are blessed through faith in Christ. Then they will be permitted to enter the new heavens and new earth. This may be done depending upon cataclysmic (catastrophic) events that are mentioned in the book of Revelation. Basing on the information so far, we can assumethere are limited number of men and women with a place in the new heavens and new earth. It is also pointed out that only 7 billion people will survive the seventy weeks.
The people judged as sheep, will enter the millennial kingdom with prolonged life and childbearing years. They are allowed to beget children, grand children and great grand children. They will have the privilege of multiplying the population as long as no disease or catastrophic events enter into their lives. But we cannot presume anything at this juncture.
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The Redemption Plan of God
What happens to those who will be resurrected or raptured at the time of the second coming of Christ, and who possess glorified immortal bodies? We cannot also say whether those people who have immortal bodies can have any relationship with new heavens and new earth. St John saw in his vision, new heavens and new earth and also the holy city - the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, fully decorated as a bride to meet her husband The Lamb(Christ). Why this new Jerusalem, is called the Holy city, because it will be the capital city of Christ’s millennial reign and also the place of His throne. The new Jerusalem appears to be a chandelier city as it is coming down out of heaven and from God.
The city rests upon new earth. This gives us the understanding that the new Jerusalem must be hanging in space like a chandelier (large round frame with side branches, hung to the ceiling for decoration purposes).
The new Jerusalem is the fulfillment of God’s promise. As mentioned by John, this city is really a pre-existing city, purposely built for this moment in time. Jesus comforted His disciples by saying these words. “I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again to receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).
This is the same new Jerusalem that Jesus promised. He would prepare the way before going to His Father. The new place will be revealed at His second coming. This attractive and a wonderful Jerusalem city will have strong foundations, and built by God Himself, well decorated as a bride to her husband. And the bride appeared to be more beautiful than any other lady on her wedding day, because the decoration is perfect.
The angel told John, that the new city of Jerusalem was enormous in size, measured after construction with a reed and was twelve thousand furlongs, with equal measurement from all sides, about 1380 miles each way. If we imagine this holy city with all the floors with one-mile intervals, we may have to understand there must be 1380 levels in the new Jerusalem.And each level contains 1,904,400
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The Three Heavens sq miles. In contrast, surface area of the whole earth including those parts under water is 196,950,000 sq miles. With this scenario, the surface area of new Jerusalem is thirteen times more than the surface area of the earth, measuring 2,628,072,000 sq miles, and thus, not an ordinary city.
In this context two thoughts come to our minds. First, in the city, glorified immortals and incorruptible souls must reside there. Second, as the city is immeasurably large in size, it can accommodate a huge multitude of people. So, who are these lucky people that will become residents or the citizens of that new Jerusalem which is supposed to be the most beautiful city to call it their sanctified home.
The new Jerusalem is a city well planned and designed by the Son of God for His bride. John said “and there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven seals full of the seven plagues and talked with me saying come hither I will show thee the bride, the wife of The Lamb. And he carried me away in the spirit to a high and great mountain and showed me the great holy city Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven.
The new Jerusalem city has twelve gates on each side, with each gate bearing the name of one of the tribes of Israel. This shows that a great number of the Old Testament believers who were justified by faith, like the patriarch Abraham, are brought into the limelight. The angel also told Johnthat “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in the foundations, the names of the twelve disciples justified by their faith. The disciples were also called the believers of the New Testament during the new age.
The new Jerusalem will become the “home” of all believers, starting from Abraham until the second coming of Christ. This huge city will have a permanent entrance, first for the sheep that survived the seventieth week of Daniel. The second entry, is for the resurrected believers who had died in Christ through the ages, and also who are living and raptured at Christ’s second coming.They were glorified and became immortals. They would have ultimate joy and privilege to become the citizens of the new Jerusalem.
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The Redemption Plan of God
This new Jerusalem is built with most precious ornaments for the decoration of the bride, a diamond ring, a gold wedding band and pearls studded necklace were brought. The foundations of the city were garnished (decorated) with precious stones. The first stone listed here is Jasper, literally meaning a diamond and the whole city was decorated with gold. In new Jerusalem God’s promise and accessibility were there to all people that reside there. And John said there was no temple in that new Jerusalem, but the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the substitute for the temple. The city need not have the light of the sun or the moon because the glory of God is the light to the new holy city of Jerusalem.
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