THE ENDING OF THE ACTS

The Bible is mostly about God’s dealings with His chosen nation of Israel. The time span from Genesis to Revelation is about seven thousand years. Not much is written about the first two thousand years; only the first ten chapters of Genesis. Most of the Bible is concerned with the second two-thousand-year period and only about seventy years of the third two-thousand-year period which is our present two thousand years. There are many prophesies and visions concerning the seventh period of one thousand years.

|        2000 years               |            2000 years           |        ?   2000 years   ?        | 1000 years  |

                                        Past                                B.C. || A.D.     Present                     Future

The Bible is virtually silent about the majority of our present period except for a hidden secret revealed to the Apostle Paul near the end of his life for which he penned a second set of seven epistles.

Some have noticed that the book of The Acts in the Bible seems to have an abrupt ending. It seems like God abruptly suspends his dealings with Israel followed by His silence. But like wisdom crying aloud in the streets for attention, what God revealed to Paul has been, for centuries, crying for the attention of believers. A major change took place at the end of The Acts of which traditional Christianity has been completely unaware. For some reason the early saints were turned away from this revelation even before Paul died (2 Tim 1:15). Men therefore had to believe that Israel’s promises and hopes were merely extended to Gentiles until a so-called rapture, after which God will resume His dealings with Israel. What if modern Christian doctrine is on the wrong track? Who would want to derail Christianity?

In spite of all the types and shadows and prophesies and miracles during the eighteen hundred years before Jesus’ ministry, the Jews (Israel) still could not see how that a carpenter’s son, who perfectly met all the criteria, could be their promised Messiah. (For simplicity we will use the terms Jew and Israel interchangeably). Likewise, the believers in Christ for over eighteen hundred years have not seen the special gospel revealed to the Apostle Paul intended for us Gentiles in this present age. If Israel could be blind after eighteen hundred years, is it possible for Christians to be blind for the same amount of time? The Jews were given only thirty-eight years to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ before they were set aside by God so that He could accomplish His blessings for the Gentiles. How long will God give Gentile believers to acknowledge His blessings for them until He resumes His dealings with Israel?

Unless we understand what happened at the end of The Acts, we will not fully and rightly understand the Bible or even true Christianity.

Only the Holy Spirit through the word of truth can enlighten the eyes of our understanding and renew the spirit of our mind. So grab your Bible and check out what is about to be set before you.

Remember the prayer of Jesus while on the cross “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)? The Jews were given a reprieve of about 35 more years to acknowledge the risen Jesus Christ as their Lord and promised Messiah. This period of time is recorded as “The Acts” in the Bible.

The Jews were not set aside or cut off when Jesus died on the cross. Not until the end of The Acts, when the Jews in Rome rejected Paul’s day-long testimony of Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah, did God set aside the kingdom promises and hope for Israel. God did not extend these kingdom promises and hope to the Gentiles for today. He only extended the salvation of God to all men alike; including Jews. The kingdom gospel was temporarily suspended at the end of The Acts and a new gospel was put forth.

After the end of The Acts, Paul was given a new gospel for the believers in Christ that most Christians have never heard. For those that have heard it, it has drastically affected their understanding of the Bible. It has made clear God’s overall plan for the ages and how we fit into that plan. It has revealed that God is dealing with different groups of people in different ways. Also, conflicts in Scripture seem to disappear.

Unseen to the natural eye was a major paradigm shift at the end of The Acts in God’s administration and doctrine to His redeemed. He invited all nations to salvation and eternal life in Christ. For those faithful to the truth, God revealed a more excellent calling and hope into a called-out assembly seated far above the heavens called the Body of Christ with Christ as the Head. This was never written of any other people. This is entirely different from the promises and hopes and blessings intended for Israel on the earth.

Trying to mix this Gentile gospel with Israel’s kingdom gospel creates a lot of confusion. Perhaps that is why there are so many “Christian” denominations today. Traditional Christian teaching still claims all the Bible pertains to everybody and they are all tied to Israel. Consider the fact that every book in the Bible was written by an Israelite. The Bible is mostly about God’s dealing with Israel in the past and in the future. The entire Bible is for us to know; but not all the Bible is to us or about us today.  Only a small part of the Bible pertains directly to us Gentiles in the present age as explained in this commentary. Only the Holy Spirit can give us an understanding of the Word of truth by seeking the deep things of God.

The Acts

The first chapter of The Acts begins with a query of the risen Lord by his disciples about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). The final chapter of The Acts records the same hope of Israel (Acts 28:20). Consider these facts as “bookends”. It is evident that throughout the Acts period of about 35 years the apostles anticipated the eminent return of Christ to restore their kingdom on earth in their lifetime. After all, Jesus told his disciples that in His kingdom they would sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. So the mission of the apostles was to convince and convert all the Jews to Christ so that Christ would return to restore their kingdom on earth. As prophesied in the Old Testament that would have happened had Israel, as a nation, acknowledged Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah.

During the Acts period the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The seven epistles of Peter, James, Jude and John were written. Paul wrote seven of his epistles during this time as listed later. John wrote Revelation during this period. All these had the imminent return of Christ and the Millennial Kingdom in view.

Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven (not the church) by Jesus in Matthew 16:19. The early chapters of The Acts focus on Peter’s ministry to open the kingdom of heaven to the Jews on Pentecost in Chapter 2 and to the Gentiles through Cornelius at Caesarea in Chapter 10. After the kingdom was opened to the Gentiles, Paul enters the scene and Peter fades off the pages.

A majority of the Book of The Acts in the Bible (16 of 28 chapters) is about the life and works of Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul is first introduced in Chapter 7 of The Acts by his Hebrew name Saul. Saul was a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin, a zealous Pharisee, a student of Hebrew lawyer Gamaliel, a Roman citizen by birth, and could speak both Greek and Hebrew. Paul was chosen in a different way than the twelve disciples of Jesus and was not one of the Twelve Apostles. Paul’s name will not appear on the twelve foundations (Rev 21:14) of the holy city New Jerusalem, called the bride, the Lamb’s wife in Rev 21:9. Paul was the only apostle ever designated in the Scriptures as the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul was chosen for a different ministry: in fact, a two-part ministry as we will see.

According to Acts 7:58 and 8:1 and his own testimony in Acts 22:20 he was standing by and consenting to the stoning to death the disciple Stephen. Saul began persecuting the disciples of the Lord until he was converted by the risen Lord on the way to Damascus (Acts 9). Saul was separated by the Holy Spirit in Acts 13:2 to a work that he was called to do. His Roman name, Paul, was used after Acts 13:9. Without going into all the details, the Apostle Paul conducted three missionary journeys recorded from Acts 13 to Acts 21 converting mostly Jews and some Gentiles to Christianity. This was Paul’s inner-Acts ministry.

Paul wrote seven epistles during his Acts missionary work:

Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans

Paul’s gospel of the grace of God was to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. The Jews and some proselytes were called the “Circumcision”. (Proselytes were Gentiles that became converted to Judaism and were circumcised.) All other people (nations) were called Gentiles and referred to as the “Uncircumcision”. The Jews were prohibited by law from associating with Gentiles, so they despised them. Whenever Paul said the word “Gentiles”, the Jews went berserk.

During the Acts period the Gentile was allowed to share in the salvation and blessings of the Jew. Late in the Acts period Paul explained in his epistle to the saints in Rome that believing Gentiles (wild branch) could be grafted in to the natural olive tree (believing Jews) and partake of the fatness (kingdom hopes and promises) of the root (Christ). The reason for this was to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom 11:11); but even that did not work. This “grafting in” was a temporary position for that time period and is not applicable in the present age because of what happened to the olive tree at the end of The Acts.

On Paul’s third return to Jerusalem he was arrested in the Temple (Acts 21:28) being accused by the Jews of the same things Stephen was accused. Paul was accused of teaching Jews to forsake the laws of Moses and defiling the Temple by bringing a Gentile into the Temple. Since Paul was a Roman citizen he was taken to the Roman city Caesarea for questioning and held there two years by the Roman governor Felix. After Paul appealed to Caesar, he was sent to Rome by the new governor Festus for trial in Nero’s court (Acts 21 to Acts 28). The Romans could not find Paul guilty of breaking any Roman laws, so after two years under house arrest in Rome, Paul was set free.

As we go back and pick up Luke’s account of Paul’s arrival at Rome in Acts 28, Paul is separated from the other prisoners and was permitted to live by himself chained to a guard. He immediately called for a meeting with the chief of the Jews in Rome because the Jews still had priority in the dealings of God.

The reader should now turn to Acts 28:16 and read the remainder of Chapter 28.

Acts 28:24-25 is Israel’s final refusal to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah; in spite of being given 35 additional years after the prayer of Jesus on the cross. It appears that at this point that Satan gained a victory: he kept Israel, as a nation, from acknowledging Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah. It appeared that Satan had successfully thwarted God’s plan for Israel. But not so fast.

The word translated “departed” in Acts 28:25 is the Greek form apoluo which means “divorced”, or “put away as a spouse”. Notice in verse 29 the word “departed” is used again when the Jews physically departed. This is a different Greek form in the original (aperchomai).This divorce meant that a major change was about to happen in the way God would deal with mankind. At this point God put away Israel and suspended all aspects of His dealings with the nation of Israel with a big “time-out” called Lo-ammi.

The proclamation of Acts 28:25-28 is the fulfillment of Lo-Ammi prophesies of Hosea 1:9, 3:4 and 6:2; which will last about two thousand years (two days).

Hos 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

Hos 3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Hos 6: 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

The Lo-Ammi condition was pronounced on Israel. God essentially put Israel in a “big time-out”. This two-thousand-year separation between God and Israel was not a mystery because it was prophesied. But what God was going to do during these two thousand years was a mystery: a secret that God kept from man and Satan since before the foundation of the world (Eph 3:9 and Col 1:26).

The quotation in Acts 28:26-27 from Isaiah 6:9-10 is the third occasion. God spoke it through Isaiah to Israel, Jesus quoted it to the Jews (see Matt 13:14-15, John 12:40), and the Holy Spirit quoted it through Paul to these Jews in Rome. This proves that “three strikes and you’re out” did not come from baseball.

Acts 28:28…The Dividing Line

Be it known therefore unto you that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles and that they will hear it.

In Acts 26:16 Paul indicated that the Lord would reveal to him further things to come. Verse 28:28 represents a significant change in God’s administration. At this point all nations were deemed equal in the eyes of God. Prior to this, God’s salvation-bringing message was exclusive to the Jew, but is now inclusive to all men alike. Eternal life is now granted to “whosoever that believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. But, without Israel and their kingdom, to what hope would they look for?

By necessity this change would require a new dispensation and with a new doctrine separate from those given to Israel before they were cut off. It would also necessitate a new calling with a new hope.

The Lord revealed His new dispensation to the Apostle Paul after Acts 28:28 (His new way of dealing with His saints during this Lo-Ammi period for Israel). Paul wrote seven more epistles after Acts 28:28.

 1 Timothy, Titus, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, 2 Timothy.

The time, place, and order of these epistles are not given and are left to conjecture or tradition. We know that the first two listed were written while Paul was set free. The other five are called the Prison Epistles. After a period of freedom Paul was apprehended again and spent his final time in a Roman prison.

These seven Epistles are directed to the believers of this age: especially the three underlined in the middle. Most of the Bible is about God’s dealings with Israel in the past and Israel in the future. This small portion of the Bible is to us Gentiles and how we are to be blessed in the present age. They contain the believer’s doctrine for today.

Luke wrote The Acts shortly after that period ended. Only Paul wrote epistles after The Acts. The Gospel of John was also written to the world after The Acts and after Israel was set aside.

Without spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul’s seven post-Acts epistles are often taken out of context by traditional “Christianity”. They serve no purpose or application to the believer under the so-called kingdom-gospel preaching. In any kingdom-gospel doctrine these seven epistles could be omitted altogether from the Bible and there would still be a complete kingdom-gospel Bible. There’s only one problem: the kingdom gospel was suspended almost 2000 years ago.

The change at the ending of The Acts is the necessity for these seven latter epistles of Paul. These seven post-Acts epistles have a special purpose and a special message. They reveal God’s doctrine for the faithful in this present age, which is at variance with the doctrine of traditional or orthodox Christianity.

Paul records in Colossians 1:25 that his second ministry and these seven post-Acts epistles were “to fulfill the word of God”. God’s plan was not complete until this mystery was revealed and preached to all believers in Christ. This gospel is intended for the calling out of those chosen by God before the foundation of the world into the His elect assembly which He calls “the body of Christ, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all”. This is a superlative gospel that is subsequent to the salvation gospel.

What is written in these epistles, as well as what is silent, and also what has happened historically, tells us several things that occurred at Acts 28:28. This is a partial list:

·        God invoked the Lo-Ammi condition on Israel

·        God stopped His prophetic clock with Israel

·        God suspended all dealings with Israel in all aspects

·        The Jew no longer has priority status

·        The Jew is no longer recognized or mentioned

·        The kingdom of heaven is no longer mentioned

·        Israel’s promises and covenants were set aside

·        There are no more appeals to Moses and the Prophets

·        God withdrew the Spiritual gifts (signs) He bestowed upon the Apostles

·        He delayed the “great commission” of Matthew 28:19-20

·        The return of the Christ (as prophesied by Daniel) was postponed

·        The fulfillment of the New Covenant was delayed

·        The fulfillment of the Davidic covenant was delayed

·        The fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant was delayed

·        The kingdom gospel was suspended

·        Baptism in water is no longer mentioned

·        God created one new man by combining Jew and Gentile

·        God authorized a salvation  message to all nations apart from any attachment to Israel

·        God is calling His faithful to the word of truth into a new position in Christ

Historically it is a fact that:

·        Both Jerusalem and The Temple were destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70

·        Christ Jesus did not return in A.D. 85 to fulfill the prophecy by Daniel.

(or A.D. 40 [A D. 33+7] according to traditional teaching)

Christ will not return to this earth until Israel acknowledges Him as Messiah and Redeemer. Sometime yet in the future, after the appearing (epiphaneia) of Christ in the heavens with His called-out body of this age, Israel’s eyes will be opened and their New Covenant (the restoration and redemption of Israel) will be fulfilled. After a period of time, Christ will return (parousia) to earth for His people, Israel, after they go through the great tribulation.

Got Proof?

If Israel had accepted Christ as their Messiah, then neither you nor I would be here today; because the events of Revelation would have occurred, Christ would have returned to this earth, the Millennial Kingdom would be long ago over, the resurrections and judgements would have taken place, this earth would be gone, and by now there would be a new heaven and a new earth. The redeemed would be enjoying their paradise on earth. There would be no churches or Christians as we know them today.

There is living proof today that the foregoing is truth. If you look in a mirror, there you will see the living proof that Israel was indeed put in “time-out” since the end of The Acts and this significant change in God’s dispensation did occur. Because you are alive and here today, that is the living proof !

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW GOSPEL

The kingdom gospel and the hope of Israel were suspended almost 2000 years ago. So now, after the gospel of salvation is heard, what hope is being preached to the saved Gentiles today?

After Acts 28:28 Paul’s ministry and message changed.

ACTS 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

The overall kingdom of God now has this new “dispensation of the mystery” inserted within it whereby we are translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col 1:13). The things concerning Jesus (His earthly ministry) of verse 28:23 has changed to “those things which concern the (risen) Lord Jesus Christ (His heavenly ministry). Now the subject is no longer the kingdom with Jesus Christ as Messiah and King on earth, but the Body of Christ with Christ as the head seated in the heavenlies.

This begs the question: “why have I not heard of these things before?” The answer: Satan and his lies.

This is a divine purpose that God kept secret from both man and Satan since before the foundation of the world until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul in prison. From Genesis to the end of the Acts several aspects of the mystery of Christ were revealed. But the mystery of the body of Christ, which is the pinnacle or the capstone of the mystery of Christ, had not yet been revealed. This part of the mystery of Christ has a superlative place and purpose that was not offered to Israel.

Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Rom 11:33)

After Acts 28:28 Paul had to minister to the Gentile believers without any connection to Israel and their covenants and their promises and their kingdom. This began a new age: a post-Acts gospel for this present age from the end of The Acts to the manifestation (epiphaneia) of Christ in the heavens, filled full with His called-out Body (Col 3:4). This is the gospel of hope that should be preached to all who have heard John’s Gospel of salvation and have been granted eternal life in Christ. However, not all saved believers are automatically included in the body of Christ. They must hear and acknowledge this gospel.

In our English translation of the Scriptures Paul called this a “mystery”. In the original it is the Greek form “musterion”. Musterion in the New Testament denotes not the mysterious, but that which being outside the range of unassisted natural comprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and only by His Holy Spirit. In other words, hidden truth in the Bible is not revealed to just anyone. It’s similar to the parables Jesus used when speaking to His disciples. A mystery that has been revealed is no longer a mystery to whom it has been revealed; because it then becomes a truth. It remains a mystery only to whom it has not been revealed or to those who choose to reject it. To them it is still a mystery.

What was the thrust of Paul’s second and final ministry? His second ministry was to make known this hidden secret.

Eph3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the dispensation  of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church (called-out): 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

In order to be perfect in Christ, we must be faithful to the truth by believing and acknowledging the mystery of the body of Christ that is the blessing to the saved and faithful believers of this present age.

What was revealed to Paul after Acts 28:28 is a superlative gospel to believers in Christ under a new doctrine: a different calling and hope never before expressed anywhere in the Scriptures. There is now a concorporate body with Christ as the Head. This glorious gospel is separate from the previous gospel to Israel concerning a restored kingdom and a reigning Messiah as its King. This gospel is concerning a called-out Gentile body of Christ with Christ as the Head. This body is said to be the fulness of Him that filleth all in all and the fulness of the Godhead bodily. This is a different calling with a different hope than those presented during the Acts.

The doctrine of this gospel is expounded in Paul’s post-Acts Prison Epistles written to the saints and faithful in Ephesus and in Colosse having already heard something about it. This is present truth. This is the true gospel for the saved believer in this present age; not the kingdom gospel of the past age. Once a person becomes a believer in Christ, this is the true gospel they should hear; after which they must believe and acknowledge.

The Lie

If you have had trouble understanding the Bible; if you have trouble understanding religion; if you are unsure about God’s overall plan and how you fit in; if you question why there are so many different denominations who all claim to have the truth; if you are wondering why all of this matters; then maybe there is a reason that you have read this far in this commentary.

Most believers in Christ underestimate the power and deceit of the enemy of God. Satan will do everything in his limited power to keep believers from knowing all the truth. He will allow all kinds of religious ceremonies and doctrines and denominations, just as long as we never learn all the truth of God’s word. Remember, Satan counterfeits and perverts everything of God especially by using tradition and religion. Satan’s works are known as “The Lie” in the Scriptures.

Satan long ago hijacked Christianity and took it in another direction. Satan wanted to keep this mystery of the Body of Christ a mystery. As soon as he knew of this mystery he revived the kingdom gospel. He perverted doctrine. He invented religion and holidays. He perverted worship. He perverted the Word of God. He injected paganism, philosophy, and tradition. He persecuted believers. He destroyed bibles. He created division. He did all these things in very subtle and deceptive ways to the point where most who call themselves Christians adamantly defend what Satan has taught them to believe and to practice. He made religion so personal and binding that most would not repent even if they saw the truth.

Roman Catholicism dominated the world as “The Mother Church” for over a thousand years (A.D. 300 to 1500) until the Reformation Period. Only in the past 250 years has religious freedom existed thanks to America. Only in the past 100 years has this mystery been uncovered for us to see and acknowledge. By the will and grace of God the truth is being uncovered in these last days. But how many will be able to overcome religion and tradition to claim freedom in Christ? Satan hates freedom and he hates the truth.

The Truth

Before we die or before the end of this age, it becomes urgent to find out what God thinks is right.

In 1 Timothy 2:3-4 we have the two things that God desires in this present age:

            For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1.      Who will have all men to be saved, and

2.      To come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Being saved to eternal life in Christ is the first step. The second step is hearing, believing and acknowledging the superlative gospel; learning all truth to its full end and to our end of life (which is going on to perfection).

What “truth” does it mean here: not only “present truth”, but “all truth”?

Jesus said in John 16:13

13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:

“All truth” is not found in the Gospels; but in further revelations that were given subsequently within the Scriptures by the risen Lord. This is not an invented revelation outside of the Scriptures.

Peter would have never gone to the Gentile, Cornelius, without a revelation from the Lord. Paul progressively received many revelations from the Lord during his two ministries.

So to understand the context of Paul’s post-Acts gospel, we must understand the context of how this fits in all of the Scriptures given to us in the Bible. Having a basic knowledge of the whole Bible helps to see how and why this doctrine is true. This is emphasized by Paul in his last Epistle.

2Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

They key that unlocks the understanding of Scriptures is 2 Timothy 2:15

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

There is a significant, invisible dividing line at the end of The Acts that:

·        separates the gospel of the restored kingdom for Israel from the gospel of the Gentile body of Christ

·        separates the two ministries of the Apostle Paul

·        separates Acts doctrine from post-Acts doctrine for believers

·        separates past truth and present truth

·        separates Israel’s past and Israel’s future

God didn’t have to change his plan because of Israel’s failure. He had planned for this before the foundation of the world as is recorded in Ephesians.

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: (Eph 1:4)

The ending of The Acts is the beginning of a new gospel of a new calling and a new hope. Jesus implied that a new wine is best in a new wineskin. This new gospel is not an evolution of the former gospel; it is a new creation for the present age while Israel is temporarily set aside.

All of those who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ will have eternal life in one of three spheres of blessing. The meek shall inherit a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. There will be the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out from heaven to the new earth for the elect of Israel. The elect Body of Christ will be seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father far above all.

In the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him. (Eph 1:10)

This was not intended to be an in-depth study of this entire doctrine. We have just planted a seed of truth which over time may blossom into a full tree of knowledge. I hope and pray this brief dissertation will open your eyes to new way of looking at Scripture. This is a departure from traditional Christian doctrine and is meant only for God’s elect who are called out of tradition into His assembly, the body of Christ.

Begin by reading and acknowledging the gospel that is found in Ephesians and Colossians for the members of the Body of Christ who were chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). When Christ who is our life shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory (Col 3:4). That’s our hope.

It would be fitting to conclude with the prayers that Paul recorded for the believing saints to whom he ministers this superlative gospel:

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power (Eph 1:17-19)

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.(Eph 3:16-19)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;(Col 1:9-10)

There are many study resources and scattered independent Bible study groups that believe and teach this doctrine for the present age. If your heart is yearning for present truth, I encourage you to ask the person who gave you this commentary for more information.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)