“DIVINE ORDER OF THE CHURCH” Part 1, OCTOBER 2018

As a matter of practice, books, short essays, and bible study materials about the Early Church, usually begin in the Book of Acts and continue through the gospels and the Pauline epistles. The capstone and ultimate conclusion happen when Christ presents to himself a “Glorious Church.” As outlined in Ephesians 5. I would like to begin my talk about the Church, when it was only a blueprint as conceived in the mind of God; and articulated to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. As it stands today, a careful study of what we can call “the common salvation” has its roots in God before time began: so the practice of tracing our redemptive process before time began opens to us a vast area of understanding that originated in the mind of God, even before he said “Let The Be!” and there was. 

Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost had references to Old Testament times and prophecies. He began by saying: “These are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass (this was about the year B.C. 800?) in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2: 15-18.

Peter referred to his day as being the “last days.” For the most part, just about all of the immediate apostles of Jesus Christ, fostered the idea that Christ would return in their lifetime. With that mindset, it was appropriate for them to refer to Old Testament Scriptures that speak of the last days. But in a broader context, time before Christ died can be called “the former days” and time after Christ rose from the dead can be appropriately called “the latter days.” For me, the most profound and informative prophecies regarding “times and dispensations” can be found in Gabriel’s dialogue with the prophet Daniel. What is so unique about this encounter, is that unlike many other time prophecies, here, Gabriel gives a starting point from which we can begin to count the years.

Along with having a starting point, we are also given an outline of the Divine Order of events that would unfold over a certain passage of time. It is fine to begin our study in the Acts of the apostles; but going all the way back several hundreds of years to the royal palace in Shushan, and have an ordinance with the great prophet Daniel, we enter through a door that ushers us down the corridor of time to the reign of king Artaxerxes, and more crucial, is the year B.C. 457. There are variations in this, but a large number of theologians agree upon this pivotal year, that serves as the starting point in a study of the promised Messiah.

In Daniel’s own account of what transpired at this juncture in his life, is that he had read from books by Jeremiah that seventy years were the duration of what is generally called “The Babylonian Captivity.” Daniel himself was caught up in that captivity: but being prudent and a descendant from royalty he quickly found a place to serve at the royal palace in Shushan. Being burdened by what he read from the writings of the prophet Jeremiah, Daniel set himself to fast and pray for the sins of his people and for his own sins. Here is the prophet’s personal account of the earth-shaking events as they transpired. “Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel (also called the angel Gabriel) whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. (About 3 in the afternoon.)

Daniel had been contemplating and praying about the 70-year captivity that was drawing to its close. But this encounter with Gabriel brought earth shattering news for the prophet. He continued: And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. Daniel 9: 24. A prophetic week equals to SEVEN years in real time. The 70-year captivity was coming to a close, but now, Gabriel is saying that seventy weeks or 490 years are determined—cut off, or set aside, in which a vast number of events should happen. To learn that 490 years are set aside for specific events to happen involving the holy city and the people within that city, must have greatly impacted the prophet Daniel.

Here are more specifics as outlined by Gabriel. “know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (forty nine years) and threescore and two weeks  (434 years) plus forty nine years = 483 years; and we are left with one week, or 7 years which is generally referred to as “Daniel’s 70^th week. For an in-depth study of this amazing account of time and world events, visit my website at: https://godfire.net/kennedy.  Click on “When shall these things be?” and you will find a series of studies on the subject. Based upon Gabriel’s account, we begin to count when the events would unfold. We begin to count when the command to rebuild search for the starting point, when we should begin to count. Building the city and the temple would occupy 7 weeks or 49 years. Here is the Jews own account. “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building (but 49 years were set aside for the building of the temple and the walls of the city) and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”  So, the 7 weeks or 49 years unfolded exactly as Gabriel had outlined to Daniel. The next link takes us to 62 weeks at which point the Messiah would appear on the scene. These weeks amount to 435 years from the original command that was given in B.C.457. These events opened up the New Testament for us to examine and understand. Messiah is scheduled to appear on the scene in 62, plus 49 equal 483 years, meaning that Christ began his ministry at the 69^th year, with 1 the70th week remaining.

Many historians of scripture suggest that Christ was baptized in the Spring of A.D. 27. They determined that this year fully conforms to the beginning of the command in question B.C. 457. But according to Luke’s account, we read: “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.” Luke 3:23. How do we explain the term (began to be about thirty years old?) In our present culture, let us say that we have a big party to celebrate our twenty first birthday on the evening of our birthday. At that event, we express thanks to God for us arriving at our 21^st birthday. But in reality, at one minute past midnight, we are now beginning our 22^nd birthday (or birth year). When we celebrate a birthday, in reality, we have already lived the year in question—we actually celebrate the year we have already lived, so Jesus who began to be thirty years old, means that he has passed his 29^th birthday—and was then entering into his thirtieth year.

 Under the terms of the Old Testament, a priest had to be 30 years old and older before he can be accepted into the priesthood, and since Jesus came under the auspices of the Levitical Priesthood, he had to wait for his thirtieth birth year. What happened at his baptism? The Holy Ghost descended upon him and anointed him Messiah. Then, and only then, he became the anointed ONE, the Messiah. From thence, he went into the wilderness to be tempted forty days. Thus we read: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues.” Luke 4: 14, 15.

 We have another notable account of Christ’s ministry at the very beginning. “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand (at your hand’s length) repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1: 14, 15. Here are two major factors for us to consider! First of all, Jesus did not make his appearance while the ministry of John was still in effect. After John was put in prison (and Jesus knowing in advance that it was the end for John, he knew the path was now open for his ministry to take center stage.) He announced that the time is fulfilled! Many biblical experts have agreed that the only time being fulfilled then, to which Jesus alluded, were the 62 weeks of Daniel, accompanied by the 7 weeks or 49 years. This brings the total in weeks and in the regular years to 69 weeks of years or four hundred and eighty-three (483) years.

 Since Gabriel foretold that 490 years were set aside (cut off) for certain events that God had scheduled in his blue-print for Israel, the city of Jerusalem and the temple itself, we know at this juncture that there was left only one week (the 70^th week) for Jesus to finish his earthly ministry. The church at large continually and mistakenly teaches that the 69^th week will end with the emergence of the anti-Christ preceded by the event of the Rapture. They mistakenly ignore the fact that Jesus began his public ministry at the beginning of the 69^th week and was cut off in the middle of the week, (or 3 ½ years out of 7, leaving 3 ½ years) but not for himself.

As we have seen, Jesus began his ministry after his 29^th birthday –in about the year 30. He ministered for about 3 ½ years; and was cut off, or 3 ½ years (in the middle of the week) It is widely accepted that Jesus Christ was crucified some time in A. D. 33. According to the angel Gabriel, Messiah was to minister for one week (7 years) and in the middle of the week he would be cut off. The question becomes this! If the Messiah (not the anti-Christ) was to confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years) but was cut off in the middle of the week, how was he able to execute that task for one week or 7 years? He did it personally for 3 ½ years, and his immediately apostles finished the task themselves for the remaining 3 ½ years. Mark bore witness to this fact by writing: “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working WITH THEM, and confirming the word with signs following.” Mark 16: 20

 According to Gabriel, all of the listed tasks were to be finished in 490. This would run from 457 B. C. to the stoning of Stephen and the bringing in of the Gentiles to which the apostles in Jerusalem stood in amazement. Peter had to accounted for his ministry to those who were gathered into the house of a Gentile named Cornelius.  What has been constantly espoused by certain factions of the recognized church today, is that at the sounding of the trumpet, the church will be raptured, and the world left by it self to meet and obey the tyrannical reign of the anti-Christ.  In spite of the fact that Gabriel allotted 70 weeks (490 years) in God’s dealings with Israel, certain experts suggest in books, tapes, seminars, workshops, and vast television exposure, that when the Jews rejected Jesus as he rode into the city on what we now call “Palm Sunday” God stopped the time-clock for Israel.

 He then brought in the Gentile Church to fill the gap, (called the great parenthesis) which by itself is separate from the position of the Jews: and which entity the prophets of old knew nothing about. As a matter of fact, let us say that 2000 years of church history has been added to the equation. The result would be that instead of 490 years as foretold by Gabriel, we are left with 2,490 years to which the angel did not refer. These teachers and preachers suggest, that after the Gentile Church is raptured into the clouds, God will again start the time clock, which by then would occupy 490 years + 2018= 2508 years. (counting to our year 2018) But Gabriel said that 70 weeks or 490 years would be set aside to accomplish the details outlined in Daniel 9: 24. We do not live to our 69^th birthday, stop counting and live another 50 or 60 years before we see our 70^th birthday. (that is ludicrous)

 We are not given a scripture in support of this “stop-the-clock” idea to which Gabriel, Daniel, or any of the apostles lend their support. We can correctly calculate that Jesus began to preach in the 69^th year with 1 week (or 7 years) to go. In Mark 1: 15, Jesus announced openly and vigorously: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, or at your hand’s length—reach out and grab it! According to many other authors including myself, the only time that was fulfilled to which Jesus referred was the 69 weeks of Daniel. Thus, in reality, Jesus began his ministry at the 69^th week of the 70 weeks, with the 70^th week to go.

What are some of the things Christ was slated to accomplish in that time period, but to be cut off in the middle of the week? “He was to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins (by taking all sins in his body on the tree) thus making an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, (God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself) and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. Here is what mistaken identity will do across the vast realm of Christendom. Teachers abound who are still teaching that the person identified in this verse is the anti-Christ, who will make a covenant with the Jews and permit them to return to their temple in relevant peace to perform their sacrifices in their worship. This will continue for 3 ½ years and at that time (in the middle of the week or 3 ½ years) anti-Christ will break his promise, put the Jews in bandage by bringing on The Great Tribulation.

 But the verse did not say that he shall make a covenant: rather, it says that he will confirm or strengthen the covenant that is already in place, even the sure mercies of David. By offering himself a sacrifice to God, he erased the need for any future sacrifices. Paul puts it this way: “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10: 11-13. So, it is, that Christ’s coming to earth, in the short period of 3 ½ years accomplished all that the angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel away back in about B.C.538. The way was made wide open for His Church to blossom and navigate its way across the Roman Empire under severe persecutions and death to the apostles. But Paul wrote saying that His Body is that which fills all in all. Ephesians 1: 22, 23.

 Indeed, his body continues to grow and grow, that today it can be estimated that his word is being heard in every nation on earth. But as we said in previous writings, Jesus Christ, on his way into the clouds of heaven offered gifts to the church, which were meant to serve as the accepted order of the church. We call those gifts, the five ministerial gifts. The word “gifts” alluded to the fact that they are Divinely Bestowed upon members of the church by the working of the Holy Spirit, and cannot be engineered or manipulated by church officials.  These gifts are given and empowered by the Giver; who is the Lord himself, expressly for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ—the vehicle that will bring the entire Body unto perfection. Ephesians 4: 12, 13. We will say more about the Divine Order of the Church that Christ himself established for his people to live by and worship accordingly as the Holy Spirit inspires. Later, we will observe how the years had only a negligible effect upon God’s divine order for his church. We will see that God is faithful in his purpose among his redeemed people, and that his counsel shall stand throughout millenniums, just as he planned it. We simply need to tap into his schedule and understand from his word the out workings of his will.

To be continued...

Royce O. Kennedy