Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15

King James AV1611

 
 

Mystery of The Ages
Mystery of The Ages© -is a book written by Dr. James Modlish
-reprinted here with the author's permission-




THE PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION

INTRODUCTION: This dispensation extended from the "call of Abraham" to the "Exodus," a period of 430 years, and is known as the dispensation of "the Family."

After the dispersion from Babel, the descendants of Noah and his sons became idolaters. No doubt God had His witnesses, but there is no record of any. Even Abraham's father was an idolater. So God decided to single out one family and start afresh. Abraham was chosen and he proved a mighty man of faith, but his righteousness waned in his descendants, Isaac was a good man, but not so good as his father, and Jacob, Isaac's son, who succeeded to the birthright, was still less so, and the twelve sons of Jacob, with the exception of Joseph, greatly degenerated from the parent stock, and that short dispensation of only 430 years ended with all of Abraham's descendants working as abject slaves in the brickyards of Egypt. There are three things that need to be pointed out about Abraham.


I. HIS CROWN

This man, Abraham, is called "The Friend of God" in (Ja. 2:23 and Isa. 41:8), and there is no doubt about his "kingship" whatsoever, for in the context of (Isa. 41) we read, "Who raised up the righteous man from the East, called him to His foot, gave the nations before him, and MADE HIM RULE OVER KINGS!?" (Isa. 41:2).

So Abraham ascends the throne much to the chagrin of the prince of the powers of the air. While time passes, ways and means are devised to overthrow this new king, but an unconditional covenant of grace has been given this king (in view of Noah's failure - Gen. 8:21), and this new king is going to be a hard one to overthrow (see Rom. 4:1-13). A king installed by grace is going to be hard to remove, for his Kingship is not dependent on his conduct!! 

II. HIS PROPERTY

Abraham is promised a literal, physical, visible, earthly domain given to him by God (Gen. 15:13- 21). This promise is also given to Abraham's SEED! The importance of this fact cannot be over- emphasized when studying the "Kingdom" for now Satan's hold is getting drastically reduced in regard to the Kingdom of Heaven. This time, the "King" has been installed by grace, with an unconditional promise and divine protection attending the promise; the promise is passed on automatically to Abraham's seed, because "he will command his children and his household after him!" (Gen. 18:19).

The spot picked for Abraham's earthly, literal, physical kingdom will then turn out to be the major battleground on this planet. The piece of land is picked (deliberately) to stand right smack in the middle of the three Continents given to Shem, Ham, and Japheth - Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is so picked and located that any man who sides with the Roman Catholic theory of the "Kingdom," will have to take a stand AGAINST the descendants of Abraham, to whom was given the Kingdom! The Roman Catholic Pope, himself, can state this fact better than anyone else, so let these words from the Catholic publication "The Tablet," do their own preaching.

"His Holiness (the speaker is Melchite Archbishop Gregorius Hakin of St. John of Akka, on his return from Rome after talking with Pope Pius XII) asked me to convey his great satisfaction and joy of the unity and the full collaboration shown by the Arabs of Palestine in protecting the Holy Land (!). The Pope has studied a protest against the Balfour Declaration made by his predecessor, Pope Pius XI... The policy of the Holy See toward this declaration has not changed. His Holiness, the Pope, cannot afford to help Zionism against the Arabs of Palestine... the Pope told me that he would not fail to support the Arabs - because THEY are the OWNERS of the Holy Land!!"

Again, the Bible can save the day (although no one will pay any attention to it) for here is found the Owner of the land, the Giver of the land, the Receiver of the land, and the Title deed to the land! (Study it in I Cor. 10:26,28; Isa. 45:18,19; 40:15-17; Ps. 8:3,4; 24:1; Gen. 15:18; Psalms 105:6-12; 2 Chr. 6:25,31,38). This land is not given to Ishmael - the Arabian (Gal. 4:25-28)! God Himself takes sides against "Geshem the Arabian" in Neh. 6:1; 4:7, when he appears professing to be the "chosen seed," to whom the promises were made. If the Bible is true, then every Turk, Moslem, Arabian, and European Crusader who ever died in the Crusades, died NEEDLESSLY to preserve a CATHOLIC fable, which God would not even bother to spit on. Can you see now why men hated the old Bible? It runs contrary to their political operations, as they "bring in the Kingdom". 

III. HIS SALVATION

Abraham's salvation came in two parts. He received imputed righteousness when he believed God (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3,20-22) but he was justified when he offered Isaac (Gen. 22; James 2:21-23). A church age saint realizes both of these transactions at the same time (Rom. 4:24,25).

Notice these truths concerning sacrifice:

A. Until God becomes the sacrifice Himself, the atonement is incomplete (Heb. 10:4).
B. Until God voluntarily offers Himself, He (God) cannot accept the sacrifice (Heb. 10:5-7; Lev. 1:3).
C. All sacrifices between (Gen. 3 and Matt. 27) are temporary expedients, which do not fully solve the problem of atonement (Heb. 10:11).
D. God provides a "Priest Class" for the nation of Israel, to offer sacrifices (I Chr. 15:14-16; Ex. 28:40-43; Lev. 9).
E. But there is no Priest Class before Num. 1-13, or after Acts 2 (see Matt. 27:51; Heb. 8:1; 9:24; I Pet. 2:9; Rev. 7:7!!).
F. Melchizedek does not offer a literal sacrifice of blood, but only a "memorial" (Gen. 14:18; I Cor. 10:16,17; 11:25).
G. The entire body of born-again believers are "priests," in the New Testament, and never offer literal sacrifices of blood. (I Peter 2:5; Heb. 13:15,16; I Cor. 10:16,17.)
H. God's provision will be accepted by the faithful man (Rom. 10:4).
I. Therefore, the faithful man, after Acts 2, will trust God's provision at Calvary, done once and forever (Heb. 10:8-12; 9:24-26).
J. The faithful man, between Exodus 20 and Matthew 27, will be trusting the provision which God made at the Temple in Jerusalem.
K. The unfaithful man will make provision for himself by inventing and installing a priesthood, AFTER MATTHEW 27, thereby actually rejecting God's provision (Gal. 5:4; Rom. 10:1-3).




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