A New Heaven and A New Earth
Robert Browning an English noted poet, wrote the following words: “God’s in His heaven. All’s right with the word’s. Some commentator’s pointed that, he needed some drastic correction regarding his quotation. We all know that God is in heaven. But it is not true that all is well with the world As a matter of fact, in the public life, when we watch TV, study the news paper talking with our friend or reading a letter from our relatives, about some unhappy news or deaths we cannot say with confidence that all is right with the word. So, we have to realize that something is wrong somewhere in the society for the unrest of the people. Here are some points for our understanding.
1.The philosophies of the world are flowed.
2.The governments of the world are corrective.
3.The pleasures of the world are fleeing.
4.The glories of the world are fading.
5.And the destiny of the world is destruction. If we look at the society with our naked eye, we find only corruption, wickedness and perversion pervading. Some great people tried their best to set the world right but in vain people needed only wealth, power property etc to enjoy life. But they never think how the world is going on. In such circumstances, all is well with the world, will not applicable to the present day society. Here are some more quotations.
1.The ascetic who by self denial tries to resist the wicked currents of the
world.
2.The monk, who by solitude, tries to withdraw from the seductive
influence of the world.
3.The epicurean by indulgence tries to saturate, himself with the carnal
pleasures of the world. 115The Mysteries of the Mysterious God One thing is common in the world, people lose the battles but the world bears them every time. Let us study about one top most man in the Bible, His name was King Solomon, the richest and the wisest king with one thousand wives. Anything in this world is his. So to say, the world itself lavished on King Solomon. After enjoying everything in this world, he became a philosopher and wrote in his book of Ecclesiastes, “vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The words of the king can be translated in the following way. “Soap bubbles of soap bubbles, all is bubbles”. The soap bubble floats away leisurely as it is colorful and appealing. The soap bubble makes many promises. But before man tries to grasp something from it the beautiful bubble vanishes “that is the present position of the world without God. The world is really colorful, very attractive and magnetic with its promises. But when man tries to poses the things of the world, it will vanish. The son of God while speaking to His disciples said, “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and loose his own”. (Mark 8:30). We can put it in some other way, the soul of a man is worth more than the whole world. The word ‘world’ (cosmos in Greek) appears more than two hundred times in the New Testament. This world is described as both elevated from God and standing in opposition to God. That is really a bad thing. Jesus told His disciples “the world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil”. (John 7:7). Jesus, while speaking to corrupt religious teachers said, “ye are from beneath, I am from above, ye are of this world, I am not of this world” (John 8:23). Apostle Paul wrote For what man knoweth the things of a man saw the spirit of men which is in him even to the things of God knoweth. No man but the spirit which is of God. That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (I Corinthians 2:1 – 12) Secular writers define the world (cosmos) in a different way. One wrote the world (cosmos) is the orderly systematic universe. 116The Mysteries of the Mysterious God A second person wrote the world (cosmos) refers to a universe that is complicate, harmonious, an orderly system. And a third person wrote the world (cosmos) is the embodiment of order and as harmonious, as distinguished from chaos, a complete harmonious system. The outcome of those three writers is that the world is an orderly system which is headed by Satan. In the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the wilderness it is recorded as follows: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Matthew 4:8-9). The Satan did not have its world to give; there would have been no temptation of Christ. The Lord himself called Satan the “prince of this world”. “Here after I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me”. (John 14:30). “In this world ye shall have Tribulation, (problems and pressure), but be of good cheer, I will overcome the world” (John 14:33). “But godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). And we know that we are of God, and the whole world is lieth in wickedness (or literally in the wicked one) (1 John 5:18). God is in His heaven, but all is not right with the world. It is like the true Christian is called upon to swim upstream against the powerful currents of this treacherous, riptide of this world until the Lord returns. The Christian must not be shocked when he faces some problems, sometimes sudden changes in the world; in the way of living he should not be perturbed because Satan is the prince. Christians, theologians have been punished by Satan through the spread of gospel; they can salvage the world, God never called the church to salvage a last world which has to come one day under divine judgment but to preach a saving gospel to last men. The truth behind is that the church cannot bring the everlasting Kingdom of God, but Christ will alone will accomplish that after His coming. 117The Mysteries of the Mysterious God The world in its original condition: The book of Genesis gives the complete picture of the creation of the world. God created it into existence out of nothing but regarding divine commentary on His creation was that, “ it was very good six times once for each of the six days of creation God said it was good (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25). And then the creation of the world summed up His creation with these words. “And God saw everything that He made, and behold it was very good. (Genesis 1:31). And so we are faced with the reality that on one hand the world God created was very good and on the other hand the world in which we live and breathe and have our being is exceedingly bad. What major event must have transformed, the world, which was very good once into the world which is very bad now. The world in its fallen state According to the return report in the Bible, man was created on the sixth day of His creation. He was created last in Him but first in importance and God created man in His own image, man was supposed to have domination in over everything that was created, and also to rule over the world as a vice regent under his sovereign Lord. That was called the theocracy rule by God through man. But God put one condition. Man should not eat the fruit of the tree that was in the middle of the Garden of Eden. For disobedience, a punishment would be physical and spiritual death. Lucifer the highest of all angelic beings, after he was thrown down to the earth tried to take revenge against God through the first human beings Adam and Eve. This Lucifer became Satan, after he was thrown down to the earth. He tempted the first parents to eat that forbidden fruit and caused them to commit sin. So, Adam and Eve brought sin into the world and planted the seed of death. Because of sin man forfeited the scepter of kingship, over the world; Satan usurped man’s right to the throne. So, Satan is now the God of this age and the prince of this world. As a result men became enslaved to the God of this world. As estimated the world of future is ultimate tragedies of human 118The Mysteries of the Mysterious God history. The fact is that Satan made man blind, so he is under the impression that the world is good and but after the fall the world has been, under the satanic influence. The Role of the Christian – The true Christian has been called, “Regenerated” or “Born again”, born from the above, “or saved”. It means that the believer had changed his citizenship. He is now through faith alone became a citizen of heaven living temporarily in a hostile environment. Therefore, those men no longer submit themselves to Satan. Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit of God should live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world. God is giving option to the believer, whether he should yield to Him or submit him-self to the world and unsaved. It is good that the believers are not to function in this evil world, or enjoy life, or the things which are not suitable for believers. Worldliness can be described as participating in this ordered world system headed by Satan. The believer must be “light” and “salt” in this world. We have to tell men that we are once beggars have found the one who is the bread of life. In reality it is only where the righteousness of Christ is manifested through believers. Coming of a New World – The beloved and aged Apostle John reached the final end of climatic section of the book of Revelation (Revelation 21:22) and in many respects, he wrote the apex of human history in that. “And I saw a new heaven and new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea” (Revelation 2:1). These New heaven and new earth John described were not new ones but presently they were cleansed completely regenerated, and absolutely made perfect. John beheld heaven and earth, in their pristine beauty Adam and Eve saw, in the Garden of Eden, before the advent of sin, and consequent curse upon all creation. He saw them with Satan the former prince of this world, and the God of this age in chains. (Revelation 20:2). 119The Mysteries of the Mysterious God When John speaks of the new heaven and new earth, he uses the Greek word (Kainos) and is emphasizing the qualities of the new heaven and new earth. It is the same heaven and the same earth, which will be purged during the day of the Lord the day of judgment of the earth during this end of the age. Henry Mories in his commentary “The Revelation records” said that the new Cosmos is not a novel cosmos (world). It is a renewed cosmos (world). It is just like the first except that all its age long ravages of decay have been expunged and it is fresh and new again. The present heaven and earth have not blotted out, nor swept into nothingness. But they are totally purged, cleansed and regenerated, all their old disorders and imperfections will be gone. Joseph Seises, in his commentary on Revelation, though it was written more than one hundred years ago spoke about new heaven and new earth. The words of Joseph Seises, which were beautiful and with insight, warned the believers to give a second reading with thoughtful meditation. It is nothing but a description of our future dwelling place. Obviously the illustration is not sufficient since we are sinful beings, our purging is not perfect when God purges the cosmos by fire and regenerated the earth planet, will be qualitatively perfect. It will be a new heaven and a new earth. The son of God, on the day of His crucificion, stood before Roman procurator Pontious Pilate. In the midst of questioning Jesus, Pilate asked “Art thou the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). For that question, the son of God answered, in the following words: “My kingdom is not of this world”. The fact is that the kingdom of Christ is the spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men and women but not a physical kingdom upon the earth”. The Bible readers totally misunderstood the teaching of Jesus Christ. He was not denying the physical visible literal kingdom the earth over which He will rule. When He said, “My kingdom is not of this world”, He was stating that, He will not rule over the present heaven and the present earth, which are totally defiled by Satan and sinful man, a world that was corrupt everywhere. The Lord himself spoke of that day, while he was conversing with His disciples, He taught them, “verify I say unto you that ye which, have followed me in the 120The Mysteries of the Mysterious God regeneration when the son of man sit in the throne of his glory shall also sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:20). The word regeneration means “new birth” and this is used by Apostle Paul to describe the believers “new birth” (Titus 3:5). Some people have suggested that the terms used by Apostle Peter describe the annihilation of the present heaven and earth, stating that the present heaven and earth cannot be associated with the new heaven and new earth. While speaking of the Noah flood, peter wrote, “whereby the world was being overflowed with water perished”. Peter also argued that similar fate to the world is in store to the earth. In the next time it is only through the judgment of God the earth may be ruined by fire but not by water. Due to the flood of Noah the world perished but the earth remained. The world perished, but eight souls, Noah, his wife, his three sons and three daughters in law survived. The world perished but the animals representing all species of life, - two by two, disembarked from the ark. Finally God blessed Noah and said “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth” (Genesis 9:1). It is quite clear the old heaven and earth remained after the world said to have been perished. Peter also spoke of the elements in heaven melting with fervent heat, and the works of earth (all of man’s accomplishments in every area of end over) being burned up (2 peter 3:10). The teaching of the word of God is due to the fall of man the present creation is the condition of captivity tied down bound (Romans 8:9-23). The dissolving of everything that is peter speaks, is not in the words of Joseph sees “the destruction of them” but the breaking of their bonds the housing of them, the setting of them free again to become what they were originally meant to be”; the “dissolving” of the present heaven and earth, is not their annihilation. It is that long anointed deliverance and loosing from the bonds of sin. To say briefly it is the resolution of all things. During His six day creation, on the second day God created the universe and on the third day he created earth. The divine commentary on all that God created is that God saw everything he had created and behold it was very 121The Mysteries of the Mysterious God good. But soon Adam and Eve disobeyed God and because of their disobedience curse was put on them (man) and the dominos of heaven, earth and see on which He was authorized to reign. The heaven and earth were created very good now became bad; why because our first parents Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden where there was no death, disease famine war natural catastrophe etc., that pledged man at least for six thousand years according to history. As a result of sin, under Satan’s reign man has polluted the oceans, rapid the earth, and poisoned the whole sphere that God committed to man to control it. If it is that really surprising then the present heaven and earth must be dissolved (that is purged by fire to lose it from the bondage of sin) to clear the way for a new heaven and earth. When the new world comes – For the people who are unsaved, a new heaven and new earth is a terrifying prospects; what all the unsaved people possess (including their lives) is associated with the present heaven and present earth; which will be one day burned up with fire in this context peter wrote:- “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are there in shall be burned up”. (2 Peter 3:10) It is wonder if they are able to understand the basic fact. For those people who are made righteous in Christ a new heaven and a new earth is a glorious prospect. For those righteous people in Christ everything that has brought sadness and tears, will be dissolved and completely replaced with joy and everlasting peace. When can we expect new heaven and new earth into force? Some great people who have strong faith on the pre-millennial return of Christ feel that the new heaven and new earth will commence at the end of the coming of the Lord for one thousand years reign. That reign is otherwise known as the messianic or millennial age. 122The Mysteries of the Mysterious God First of all those people who hold this view that John’s beholding of new heaven and new earth in his vision follow continually, on the heal of a discussion of the millennium for a reference in a the previous chapter. So all those teachers who sit for an argument must come to a favorable conclusion that the new heaven and the new earth, must occur at the end of the millennium. However, people need not follow the above said statement. John pointed out that Satan was bounded with chains for a thousand years duration. He wrote in the book of (Revelation Chapter 20:2) and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Whatever may happen to Satan at the end of the thousand years, it becomes naturally a crucial issue. And for that doubt also John gave the answer. He said that the Satan would be loosed for a season to deceive the nations and finally he would be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:3). And John calls the attention of the people to the fact, that the faithful martyrs of the great tribulation are going to be resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium as part of the first resurrection unto life. “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years”. (Revelation 20:4) It is the policy of the nation to nation to decide about the status of unfaithful, who have died before the Millennium. The impact of the resurrection upon the unfaithful is that they will participate in the second resurrection at the end of the millennium. Then they will be certainly consigned to hell at the great white throne judgment. With regard to Satan and the wicked died, their position at the end of the Millennium is given in Revelation 20:11; 14:15. The discussion about the new heaven and new earth is freely discussed in revelation chapter 21 can be quite natural. So it will focus more in the beginning of the Millennium but not 123The Mysteries of the Mysterious God on its end. The second point is that, it has been argued again and again and come to a conclusion regarding the new heaven and new earth, that there will be no sea. Apostle John also wrote in this connection. “For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea, but the Bible indicates that there will be a sea during Millennium (Ezekiel 47:1; 8:12). Basing on the above said information the elite are under the impression that the heaven and new earth must occur only after the Millennium, this will take its course. So, the only solution for this complicated issue is to have a closer look at Revelation 21st chapter. At the same time it is affirmed that there are so many people who say that there will be no sea in the new heaven and new earth. That means the heaven and earth passed away and the sea as part of man’s dominion must be also cleansed from defilement of sin to pass into the new age. The pouring out of second vial a bowl during the day of the Lord. It is written that the second angel poured out his vial (bowl) upon the sea and it became blood. Which is like that of a dead man and every living thing died in the sea at that time even the rivers must have purged of defilement. And the third angel poured out his vial (bowl) upon the rivers and foundations of waters and all became blood. The Day of the Lord will be
1.A time of destruction from the Almighty (Isaiah 13:6)
2.A time of Devine wrath and fierce anger (Isaiah 13:13)
3.A time when God ariseth to shake terribly the earth (Isaiah 2:19)
4.A time when God will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for
its inequity (Isaiah 13:11)
5.A time when God’s indignation and fury will be directed against the
nations (Isaiah 34:1-2)
6.A time when God’s vengeance will be resealed (Isaiah 34:8)
7.A time of darkness in the heavens (Isaiah 13:9)
8.A time of fire from the Lord (Joel 1:23) The above said verses are related to the judgment of the Lord, of the earth at His second coming before the commencement of the millennial reign. If the 124The Mysteries of the Mysterious God teaching of peter from 2nd and 3rd chapters are understood and placing the Day of the Lord out the end of the Millennium is impossible then they follow his logic in this important discourse.
1.In the last days there would be scoffers walking after their own lusts.
(V-3)
2.They would ridicule the promise of Christ’s return (V4a)
3.The reasoning of the false teachers was based on their presumption of
an unimparated of history. Things would continue as they always had
(V-4b)
4.Contrary to the philosophy of the scoffers, Peter noticed that God in
fact did intervene in the course of human events with judgment through
the Noahic flood (V-6)
5.The present heavens and the earth are reserved for the judgment once
again. The more time it will not be by water (flood) but by fire. (V-7)
6.Judgment has been withheld by a long suffering God, giving man the
opportunity to repent (V8,9)
7.The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night and the heavens
and the earth will be judged by fire (V10)
8.In the light of certain facts of the coming judgment men are to live holy
lives looking for the coming of Christ (V-11,12)
9.His coming will be followed by a new heaven and new earth (V-13) The entire argument of Peter revolves around the fact that God entered the flow of human history for judgment with Noahic flood. But now God will enter human history for judgment for the second time during the Day of the Lord. Then the Lords second coming and during that time only He will imprison Satan, execute the Anti Christ, purge the earth destroy the false religion, and judge he wicked and bring a thousand year messaianic age;; which cannot be seen as a devine intervention in history. We see clearly how peter linked here, the new Heaven and new earth with the Day of the Lord and since the day of the Lord, occurs in connection with the second coming of Christ, the new 125The Mysteries of the Mysterious God heaven and new earth must be associated with the beginning if the Millennium not the end. There are some additional facts from some writers that the new heaven and new earth will start at the beginning of the millennium but not at the end. A New World – In the life of man a new day will be coming. It would be really pitiable in the future of man’s life. Both heaven and earth are destined to be purged, cleansed and restored to the perfections that were there before the advent of sin. That new age will be really glorious, and the occupants of that new world will be abundantly blessed. But who are those blessed people? And who are going to occupy the renovated new heaven and new earth? Then the rapture of the church will take place. And that rapture will take place, immediately prior to the opening of the seventh seal. Then the wrath of God will commence. The wrath of God will be for the purpose of purging the cosmos (world) of everything that has been defiled by sin. Even then during that time the grace of God which continues to be manifested? In this connection there are two witnesses, who will continue to prophecy until the end of the seventieth week. (Revelation 11:3) The result of the prophecy is that there will be 1, 44,000 men from the twelve tribes scaled for protection in order to prove their fidelity to God. Next there will be an angelic being having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth (Revelation 14:6-7). As a result of the evidences there will be a gathering of the precious souls, at Christ’s physical appearance to the earth at the end of the seventieth week of Daniel. And the kingdoms of this world, become the kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 11:15). Among all those people who have survived physically will be designated as “sheep and goats”. And before him all the nations shall be gathered and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd (Matthew 25:32). Then the goats will be sent into everlasting punishment; and the sheep into eternal life. This later group still in mortal bodies, will be cleansed, through fact in Christ; will enter the new heaven and new earth. Keeping in mind the events that are mentioned in 126The Mysteries of the Mysterious God the book of Revelation, and the events, that are described in the article, we can make an assessment that only a small number of men and women from the earth about six billion people will survive the seventieth week. Those who are purged will be sheep and they enter the millennial kingdom. Those lucky people will have an extended life, with the absence of death, war, disease famine natural catastrophic incidents. A New Capital Apostle John not only saw a new heaven and new earth, but also he saw a new city Jerusalem the Holy city coming down from God out of heaven. She was prepared as a bride decorated for her husband. In the Bible the first reference to Jerusalem is the occasion when Abraham happened to meet the Melchizedec, who was also called king of Salem, upon his return from and restoring his nephew Lot. The name ‘Melchizedec’ literally means “king of righteousness”. He was a priest of El Elyon means ‘Most High God’ and ruler over the city of Salem. Which means (peace) and it became later Jerusalem which means (House of peace). The divinely appointed destiny of Jerusalem is seen in that very first mentioned city. Jerusalem will become one day a city of peace which was ruled by a royal priest, the king of righteousness and the priest of the “Most High God”. It was in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah came to sacrifice his only son, when God asked him to test his faith. It was Jerusalem to the same mount later called Jebus, to which king David came and deputed war like Jebusits and made their fortress his capital which was later called Jerusalem. It was the same mount Moriah in Jerusalem that king Solomon built a magnificent temple otherwise known as the house of God, to be a habitation for God on earth. It was the same Jerusalem, wherein the Lamb of God died on the cross for the sake of the sinners of the world. To this same Jerusalem Jesus will come for His coronation as the lion of the tribe of Judah, to become the king of kings and the place where Abraham Lord of Lords. 127The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Jerusalem is the center and the capital city of human history. New Jerusalem will be the center and capital of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. New Jerusalem is the city father Abraham looked for which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 4:16) New Jerusalem is a city built for the church the bride of Christ
(Revelation 21:9-10). New Jerusalem is a city which will descend out of heaven like a chandelier and rest upon the earth. (Revelation 3:12; 21:10) New Jerusalem is a city in which God himself will dwell
(Revelation 21:11; 22:23) New Jerusalem is a city constructed with the most precious material
(Revelation 21:18, 21) New Jerusalem is a city of safety and perpetual day (Revelation 21:25) New Jerusalem is a city, where nothing that defiles can enter
(Revelation 21:27) New Jerusalem is a city, whose inhabitants will know only good and endless life(Revelation 22:1) New Jerusalem is a city of unending abundance and provision
(Revelation 22:2) New Jerusalem is a city whose inhabitants have intimate access, to the Lamb
(Revelation 22:3-4) New Jerusalem is a city of spectacular dimension. It may be n the shape of pyramid or in the form of a great mountain. The Bible also describes that it must be 12000 furlongs in each direction an equivalent of 1,500 thousand miles wide, deep and high. It is compassed of floors at one side, intervals and there would be 1500 levels. There would be no other city comparable unto New Jerusalem. This will be the home of all those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God. There are two worlds that might collide, and from them only one will survive. The world that will survive has to be ruled by the son of God and savior of men and women for a thousand years in the new heaven and new earth. 128The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
1.The new heaven and new earth is the present heaven and earth; purged
by fire and made the people perfect through regeneration.
2.The new heaven and new earth commences from the beginning of the
Millennial, but not at the end.
3.After rapture of the church, those left on the earth, who survive the
“Day of the Lord” and exhibit faith in Christ after His return are the
“sheep” that will enter the new heaven and new earth.
4.The New Jerusalem, after it’s coming down from heaven, as the capital
city of New heaven and new earth and it will be the dwelling place of
the true Christ and the New Jerusalem shall be the bride of Jesus Christ. 129The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
Should Christians observe Mosaic Law?
It is said some believers of God have advised their fellow believers, to observe the principles of Mosaic Law. With the exception of animal sacrifice those laws are clearly mentioned in the first five books of the Old Testament called Pentateuch. The Evangelistic church members have been also trying to convince the other members, to follow the practice of Mosaic Law. In such case they must become more Jewish to practice like eating “Kosher” (clean food), observing Jewish Sabbath which requires to attend synagogue, or church, either on Friday night or Saturday before sunset, and doing circumcision, observing all those things means, one must become Jewish in everything. Under such circumstances, the believers may have to change the name of Jesus into Hebrew as “Joshua” and the anglisied names of both Joseph and Mary as Jesse and Miriam. In addition to that the believers have to observe two Jewish high holy Jewish holidays. They are ‘Rash Hosanah’ (the New Year) and you kipper (the Day of Atonement) One thing is more fascinating in the context. The teaching that Christians should follow Mosaic Law is being done by the Jewish believers of Jesus and also propagated by gentile believers. Such teaching was upheld by the Christian denominations with “seventh day Adventist”. The church members of this set, observe not only the Sabbath, (Jewish) but also Christians. “The Ten Commandments”. They are some more Adventist Churches also trying to live the life of Jewish. They totally oppose the teaching of New Testament Scripture. We have to question ourselves how far it is necessary to follow Mosaic Law. To understand this properly, it is better to look into some passages from the New Testament. It is true, there is nothing new about the issue of legalization of the church, because it was as old as the truth of church itself in the first century. So, whether to follow Mosaic law or not, became a burning issue among the members of the church of “Galatia” there is a common word is 130The Mysteries of the Mysterious God used for such people, who insist on observing the law, are called “Judaizares”. Some false teachers pollute the church and the congregation without peace. Thou this issue caused some conflict among the church Goirs, Apostle Paul taught them that salvation would come only thought faith but not through work. And to provide His salvation to all mankind Jesus came to this world. He declared that by His death, burial, resurrection and eventually ascendance. Paul wrote a letter to the church of Rome saying “But now righteousness of God without law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets” (Romans 3:21) Paul taught Mosaic Law was in sufficient to being men and women to God. What he wanted to say was instead of the Mosaic Law, the Death, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ would Suffice and follow the text of the law, for the acceptance of God; Paul further said, the permanent sacrifice of Christ for the sin of mankind would be sufficient atonement and acceptance of God and for eternity. In essence Christ became the fulfillment of the Mosaic Laws. So, what was going on in the church of Galalia was like a stinch in the nostril of Paul. He showed his disinclination toward the fowl teaching of some believers in the church. Here, Paul was referring to the false teaching of Judaizars you as another gospel. He condemned their teaching and said it was foreign to the truth upon which the church of Jewish was built. Added to that the Judaizars were misleading the church, and the gospel. Paul became antagonistic toward them and became dumbfounded at the congregation which was feasting on their foul teaching. He tried to bring them back and keep them on the correct track. He wrote to the believers of Galilia, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1). He appeared to be rude, and intolerant toward Judaizars, but it was wrong. He was frustrated at the attitude of them. He was like a loving father, whose son had gone astray. He used to grab the children of Galelia by them shoulders and shake them vigorously trying to awake them from their deep slumber. He 131The Mysteries of the Mysterious God tried to put them on the right track or on the correct the theological ground. He called them foolish Galations and passionately requested them to come to normal position from the Mosaic laws, which is nonsense. He politely asked them to think about the law reasonably and logically. Paul followed this with simple direct and without any argument. He wrote “Received ye the spirit by the works of the law or by hearing of faith”. The Galelions should have known the answer to this question. The answer is quite clear. “We are saved by faith through the spirit” Paul really loved Galatian church, and did not want to hurt them anymore. The only thing, he was surprised at their foolish thinking and disappointed at their lack of correct judgment. The impression about the Galatians was you are saved by the grace of God, a work of the Holy Spirit; how then can you turned around line out your salvation by your physical works successfully, the proclaiming of the Mosaic Law. He questioned them, Is circumcision going to save you? Is observing of Sabbath going to save you? Is eating of “Kosher” (clean food) going to save you? The answer is no. Paul called Galatians my beloved Galatian foolish Christians stop all that nonsense, and return to the basic teaching. Paul had strong faith that the Galatians would certainly abandon the Mosaic Law, and look for salvation. According to him if anyone would suggest the Mosaic Law the grace of salvation, it is deadly and curse. Paul said no man is justified by law in the sight of God, and it is really quite evident. “The justice shall live by faith”. He stressed more that salvation is through faith and it is unquestionable and undisputed faith. That is only through faith on Jesus salvation can be achieved but not through the observation of Mosaic Law. What must be the opinion of Jesus regarding Mosaic Law. Once Jesus was travelling in His ministry through towns and villages in the region of Galilee in Israel. He came to the area of mountains near Capernaum and sat on a higher place to preach the gospel of God. It was a customary for a Jewish Rabbi to sit as a higher place, before the audience or student. Jesus did the same before His disciples and others that gathered there. He had the wonderful 132The Mysteries of the Mysterious God attention of a group of Jewish humble fisher men silver smiths, farmers, bakers, shop keepers, carpenters and house wives etc. There were some Roman soldiers, also probably to maintain peace. The crowed had finally settled and all their attention was drawn toward Jesus Christ. Having understood the pulse of the audience, He began to speak. He addressed the gathering that those who were poor in Spirit would be blessed, for their is the kingdom of heaven. He said those who mourned, were assured of comfort. He promised the men that they would inherit the earth. He assured those who were seeking righteousness would certainly find it. He told the merciful that they would receive mercy in return. He said the faithful, who followed Him and suffered, for such people the earth would become hostile and heaven temporarily because the people always sinned and so this sacrifice was to continue. The permanent solution was found finally God himself provided a permanent alternative. He offered His only begotten son Jesus Christ, as He lived a flawless life with virgin birth and with sinless existence. Jesus possessed all the criteria to be humanity’s permanent sacrifice for sin. So we must accept Him as our savior and Lord as He pardoned our sins and assured eternal life. So from the time Jesus was sacrifices dead, buried and resurrected the sacrificial system. We have to remember one point in this context. God never declared regarding blood sacrifices were no longer required. As we see in the Bible this blood sacrifice had been continued from the time of Adam and Eve, till the coming of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Jesus by shedding His blood on the cross provided blood requirement for the sacrifice. Then the only required is that all men and women should accept, Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord. It is technical point and we must come into the moral value of the Mosaic Law, even though it was mentioned by Jesus Christ. The fact is Jesus Christ had fulfilled all the technical points of the laws, and asked us to stop the practice that the what are the salient points in the laws? They are sacrificial system, deadly laws, observing of Jewish holidays, undergoing of circumcision, 133The Mysteries of the Mysterious God eating of Kosher (clean food) etc. Though the Jews practiced law, they were far away, from love. Hence the law was like school mate that led the Jewish people to Christ, so that, they might be justified by faith. Jesus Christ foreed the humanity from the practice of the Mosaic Law, Principles. So, we are no way bound to keep the physical requirements, though the moral principles continue. For the fulfillment of things like the sacrifice, dietary system, holidays observances, Kosher food, circumcision, all those things are supposed to be followed. But they were all accomplished in the life sacrifice of Jesus Christ through His resurrection. By accepting Jesus as our savior and Lord as our final sacrifice for sin takes the place of practizied Mosaic Law. What Paul wrote in this regards, “for Christ is the end of law, for righteousness to everyone that beleiveth”. (Romans 10:4). The final result is that, the believers must forget about the Mosaic Law, because whatever was needed for salvation Jesus Christ fulfilled that. Regarding Sabbath day, observances there are still some believers who wanted to follow that, the correct time of the Sabbath was Friday after sunset, and Saturday before sunset. We have to study whether they were right in their thinking we have to look into the New Testament also, if it is encouraging to Christians to observe Sabbath day like Jews. Jesus in His ministry on the eve of His Sermon on the Mount happened to go into green fields with His disciples on Sabbath day. He plucked some green and ate. Some pharises saw that and accused. Jesus and His followers for breaking the Mosaic Law. They said, behold thy disciples for that which is not lawful to do on Sabbath day” (Matthew 12:2) If Jesus was unmindful of the situation and break the law of God, then we can say, he commits sin, and did not lead a perfect life. As a result Jesus would have been considered disqualified as a sacrifice for sin. Before concluding about the remarks of Pharises, let us for a while think about the period in which they lived. In those days, the Pharises evolved some laws of their own even without giving priority to the moral values. The Jews during 134The Mysteries of the Mysterious God the time of Jesus in Jerusalem had very peculiar traditions. For example, the Pharises said, the Jews should not carry any burden on the Sabbath day. The burden was like carrying pieces of paper, horse hairs, wax, a piece of broken earthen ware, animal food, dried fig etc. if any one of the Jews carry any one of those mentioned above, he would be treated as committed sin against the God of Israel. In addition to that the Israelites should eat, only food specially made for the Sabbath day. If a hen laid egg on Sabbath day, accidentally it should not be eaten by them. However, if the hen was kept for becoming fat then the egg of such hen might be eaten. Healing the person was permitted only when the patient was in life and death condition. But making of a disease on the Sabbath day caused Pharsies to attack Jesus. So every event like that made Pharises to attack Jesus. For eating the green also made them to attack Jesus. Then He made their mouths shut by telling the story of King David, which occurred about 1000 years ago. David ran from the presence of King Soul. He ate the Tabernacles and “shrew bread” which was meant for the priests. When he was disparately hungry. Jesus reminded the Pharises, how the priests in the temple Prothadeth Sabbath and are blameless. According to Jesus the priests Prothaned the temple works like, sacrifices lighting incense etc on the Sabbath day. Jesus then told the Pharises, that if ye had known what this meanth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice; ye would not have condemned the gentiles. Jesus addressed again in the Sermon on the Mount not about the artificial, physical aspect of the law fact concerned to the moral objections. The compassionate aspects of Mosaic Law in blindness they condemned the one who was even greater than the temple. Jesus affirmed His Lordship and fulfillment of the Mosaic laws assured the son of man is Lord even on the Sabbath day. To say more clearly, the Mosaic Law is nothing but the shadow of good things to come, but not the image of things. A shadow is as we see nothing but an image created by some object. 135The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Likewise, the Mosaic Law is only shadow of Jesus Christ. The shadow was real but not a permanent one. So this Mosaic Law was an indicator of the real objects and here coming savior Jesus. He came to this world and replaced the shadow and fulfilled His work. So giving away the life of Jesus means fulfilling the requirement of Sabbath. We can put this in some other way briefly. To trust in Christ means fulfilling the requirement to the Sabbath. This particular point might plunge the readers into another genuine doubt. How can a man trust in Jesus by observing the Sabbath? The seventh day of the weak was declared as Sabbath day by ancient Israelites. It was also the day of rest to God after the creation. He took rest on the seventh day after He completed the whole creation in six days. It means men and women have to rest from their regular work and devote their time to the work of their loving and gracious God, whether the work involves physical sense or meditation on Him. As a result there would be peace of soul and sharing of goodness, between the creator and His creation. For the conformation the writer of hebrew quoted the following words. There are maineth therefore you rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, He also hath cursed from His own works as God did from His own. What is the nature of the rest according to the writer? The writer was speaking about the rest to one needed theologically, by a searching soul continuously striving to find out acceptance from God. As soon as the striving soul reaches Jesus Christ the labour is over. Then Jesus would say “ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30) In fact no striving of soul is coming to Christ, also there are no works to be accomplished in order to secure the salvation of God. It is also said, Salvation is obtained by people in a very simple way. So, we confess with our mouths, then the Lord Jesus Christ will believe our heart that God had rescued Him 136The Mysteries of the Mysterious God from the dead, thou shall be saved. In the promise of salvation in Christ, there is rest for the soul. Since the body needed physical rest, from his labour, on the Sabbath day the soul would find spiritual Sabbath rest in Christ. In nut shall Christ is our Sabbath and Christ is our rest. The believers can understand now that Christ is their spiritual Sabbath, and satisfy all their requirements. Apostle Paul gave detailed explanation about the teaching of Christ regarding Sabbath. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of holiday or of a new moon or of the Sabbath day” (Colossians 2:16). What must have made Israel to say these words because the Judaisers were interested on the church members of Colossians who deserved some Mosaic Law practices like dieting requirements, holiday celebrations and the Sabbath? Paul attacked them boldly and said, Jesus by dying on the cross and raising from the dead blotted out the hand writing of the Mosaic Law. In other words the laws of Judaism and traditions that led to salvation according to them were dead and buried. So, the only thing we have to do is that we must have sincere faith in Christ. Since that was the outcome of the Mosaic Law, Christians need not observe, as Christ is the embodiment of Sabbath, and every day observances. About eating of Kosher – (clean food) – It is really unfortunate because many Christians wished to eat Kosher and observe dietary system, which was of ancient Israelites. Other believers used to think about those believers, who would never sustained their claim. They should question among themselves, whether the New Testament is demanding them to eat “Kosher” The phareses confronted with Jesus, again in Galilee when He ate with disciples. They went with some teachers of law to Jesus and questioned Him, why His disciples transgrassed the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. This washing of hands system was created by some rulers and in course of time. This washing rituals were extended to cups pitches and cattle’s. But Mark referred these practices, as probably the tradition of the elders. For a question of the Pharises concerning washing of hands, Jesus called them a lengthy question in the following lines. 137The Mysteries of the Mysterious God “Why do ye also transgrass the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded saying, However the father and mother and He that cursed father and mother let him die the death, but ye say who so ever shall say to his father or mother it is a gift by whose for them might be profited by neither or nor not his father or his mother, he shall be forced thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (3:6) Some of the Jewish leaders hatchel a plan to circumvent the law of God like the fifth commandment. “Honour thy father and Mother”. They declared a precious item as a dedication to the Lord and kept it in their houses instead of turning it over to their needy parents. Jesus confirmed this action as odious and hypocritical with this remark. Jesus took the Pharises to task. He contrasted the physical observance of the law and traditions with far more significant moral and compassioned necessaries of the laws. While the agreement was going on a good number of people gathered around and watched them. Then Jesus turned toward the mob and said. “Not that which goingth into the mouth defileth a man but that which cometh out of the mouth difileth a man”. (VII) Mark added to the above said statement “purging all meal or purging all foods” the modern version of the bible is, in this way Jesus declared all foods clean. Jesus seized this opportunity, and proclaimed that there were no unclean foods with abolishing the Mosaic Law, dietary system the meaning of Jesus was that food would not defile the human soul. To understand this clearly, whatever was eaten by anyone would not reflect ones character or spirit or soul, with all the explanation and quotation it became futile for the Jewish people of Jesus times, particularly promises to understand the revolutionary changes. The fanatic attitude of those people toward the Mosaic Law did not allow them for correct thinking, regarding the teaching of Jesus. The main reason was most of the ancient Israelites refused to know the true identity of Jesus Christ that He was the Messiah of Jews and the son of God. Anyway all the teachings of Jesus were recorded in the Bible, for the future guidance of the believers. They would become free from the future of dietary 138The Mysteries of the Mysterious God requirements of ancient Israelites. That was not the only occasion; God declared all the foods were clean. In the book of Acts chapter 10, the Bible readers can find the story of a vision Peter got. According to the vision Peter saw the heaven was opened and a big vessel distended toward him. It was a big sheet with four corners and full of different beasts and fouls. Then a voice came from heaven rise Peter “kill and eat”. As a Jew, Peter was a close observer of Mosaic Law. So, he replied “not so Lord I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” for that God replied what God hath cleansed that could not be common”. It is said the same vision was repeated two times to peter because; he could not comprehend the exact meaning of it. The vision of peter served two purposes. It was confirmed that Israelites dietary laws were stopped. The Jews were eating now freely from if plenty of God’s creation. They began to treat it gentiles equally and understand that they were in no way inferior to them with this kind of wonderful change, they became closer to God. And peter also made this point clear before some gentile believers. He confessed that God showed him not to look down upon others or calling anyone command unclean. Apostle Paul also confessed and declared all food clean for the people of God. He said this in the book of Romans. Paul humbly requested the believers not to judge one another because God is the judge of all. According to Him all are equal and foods are clean. All the words of Jesus touched the hearts of the believers. They began to eat whatever is available. They kept the Mosaic Law onside concern to Kosher. Regarding the meat sacrifices to the idols was also proved nul and void because the idols had no life and manmade objects. Paul was more concerned about the strong believers who might try to harm and check the weak believers in faith; if they eat in the name of Jesus Christ. The strong believers wanted to eat unkosher food. If the modern Christian believers insist on following Mosaic dietary laws then we can take it for granted they did not correctly understand the Bible and the teaching of Christ. 139The Mysteries of the Mysterious God The impact of circumcision – In Romans 2:28 Apostle Paul clearly pointed out that it is faith and obedience to god for the identification as the children of God; but not the Mosaic Law. Regarding the circumcision Paul said it was an act of spiritual purification. He quoted, for he is not a Jew, which is outward in flesh. That is thou a Jewish man is physically circumcised, that act would not make him believer in God, by faith and righteousness if a man under goes circumcision when he was only eight days old, it is no doubt the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, and this act would make him to identify himself as a Jew. But this act would not serve the purpose of salvation. Here Paul worked different types of circumcision, that is inside heart, called spiritual circumcision. Paul continued his idea in verse 29 about circumcision “But he is a Jew which is one invariably and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter”. He added it in Israelite was asked at the time of Jesus, he would have said, that a Jew was a physical descendant of first Patriarch Abraham an observer of Mosaic Law and circumcision. His opinion about a Jew was that he would have god and seek to obey Him in everything. He was a descendant of Abraham, circumcised like him spiritually purified, in heart, the seed of human emotion and conscience. Paul emphasized true circumcision was not concerned to the body but springs from the soul in faith love and obedience toward Almighty God. The outcome of this is man required only spiritual circumcision and physical action was not at all a requirement for salvation. He further said, circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping in mind and honoring the Ten Commandments of God. Both Jesus and Paul happened to preach about the moral and heart related aspects of the law and not the physical aspects. If the Jews still unable to understand the aspect of circumcision and Mosaic Law, Paul advised to such people to look into “Galatians 5:6”, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision, nor anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love”. If anybody thought of circumcision, even after salvation 140The Mysteries of the Mysterious God through Christ, it is nothing but lasting of the grace of God, an entangles in the Mosaic Law which has no power, to save such unfortunate souls. Paul somehow brought the topic of circumcision and; in his address to church members in and told them whether one was a Jew or gentile, God would live in everybody and people have everything they needed in Christ for salvation. This is what apostle Paul wanted to tell the believers. He further explained clearly that circumcision had a symbol of believers’ new spiritual birth and cleansing of the soul from sin and their entry into the eternal life with Christ. Conclusion – Paul put a very big question here to the believers of Galatian church. The question was whether they would get their salvation through the deeds they accomplished from the Mosaic Law, or through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ. The answer is crystal clear. All are saved through faith but not works. So, the law had nothing to do and no way concerned to the modern Christianity. Yet with all the pros and cones of the Mosaic Law had its own importance, because it was instituted by God Himself. It was meant for redemption of humanity from their sin. But this Mosaic Law would not provide salvation as people were enable to obey and practice it perfectly. So, Paul said But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.(Galatians 3:23-25) In the above said passage, the phrases like “kept under”, and “shut up” are used to describe the life of Mosaic Law. To its credit the law would work as our school master and as our road map to God. Now that god provided some means to redemption. As God showed some means there is no necessity of following the Mosaic Law which acted like school master. That was the appeal of Paul. The fact is that the law in the Old Testament or covenant, appeared to be good, understanding and it achieved the go faithfully and effectively. But the New covenant or Testament was replaced by the Grace of God. For detailed truth one can look into the book of Hebrews. 141The Mysteries of the Mysterious God There is one more point people have to look into on the law. On one occasion, Jesus was talking with pharisas and Sadducees. Just at that time a lawyer came, and asked Jesus, what the great commandment was in the law. The lawyer actually wanted to know what the greatest of the law was. The reply of Jesus was “Thou shalt love, the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind”. This is the first and great commandment. And there is “Thou shalt love their neighbor as thy self, and these two commandments hang all the laws and prophets. (v.v.30:40). This is the heart of the Mosaic Law and all should adhere to it. But Paul quoted a similar law bear ye one another burdens to fulfill the law of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 6:2).
All the believers must walk with Jesus with faith love, and humble submission to the Mosaic Law. By doing so, they would become closer to the law. Paul’s final answer to this controversial issue was mentioned in the book of Romans 8:3-4. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit”. 142The Mysteries of the Mysterious God