Jesus is the Promised Land
Exodus 3:1-4 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire , and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside , and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush , and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. Revelation 1:10-13 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice , as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks ; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Exodus 19:16-18 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly . Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices : and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount , and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither , and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. Israel was bound in the slavery of Egypt when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The churches were suffering persecution when John saw a vision of Jesus in the burning candlesticks shaped like a tree. God wanted to take Israel into the Promised Land to be free of bondage. We are going to show you tonight that the Word of God teaches that the true Promised land is Jesus Christ. When we study the Finished Work of the Cross, there is something that begins to manifest very clearly in the Bible. The work is completed and God will do nothing else in this world besides that which He did to initiate the New Testament. Many are speaking about natural Israel returning to the Promised Land in the Middle East. I am going to show you that Jesus is the only Promised Land into which God will lead anybody! Let us go back to the Promises of God given to Moses while they were on their way into the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 11:13-14 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. Above we see God promising Moses that in the land of Promise He would send rain in due season as a blessing if the people heed His word. They would be blessed with corn and wine and oil. They would receive the early and the latter rain. Look at what we read about these things in Joel. Joel 2:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil , and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: It sounds a lot like the words to Moses. But as we continue to read, notice the language used. Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month . Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. This begins to sound a whole lot like New Testament talk! In fact, Peter said this was fulfilled in his day! Acts 2:16-18 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: This was fulfilled when the 120 in the upper room were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues! Peter was inspired by the Holy Ghost and said that Joel's prophecy was fulfilled in the day of Acts 2! The early and the latter rain is the Spirit of God poured out like rain in the upper room. Back to Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 11:15-17 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. These were blessings that would be experienced in the Promised Land. The grass would grow bountifully due to the rain. We already saw that the true rain is the downpour of the Holy Spirit. These words were contained in the books of Law. And Law pointed ahead to the time of Jesus. Jesus said, "Moses wrote of me." When Jesus came, the people who were meant to accept Him were to leave Law and continue onward with Him. Law was a schoolmaster to bring the Jews to Christ. And once they had Christ they would be no longer beneath a schoolmaster. Galatians 3:24-25 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. I declare to you today that the Church has the blessings that were foretold in Deuteronomy. We accepted Jesus. And many of the Jews in Christ's day rejected Him. These blessings are spiritual in nature. 1Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The true rain that God wanted to give is the Spirit. Deuteronomy 31:28-29 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves , and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days ; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. Moses was told that Israel would indeed reject God's word. This would occur in the "latter days." And God said that judgment would fall. Peter said that Joel's reference to the "last days" was speaking about that day in Acts 2. Acts 2:16-17 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days , Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds ; Hebrews also called those early church days "these last days." As God told Moses, Jesus came and they rejected His words. The days when Israel rejected Christ were "the last days" in the writings of the Apostles.

God gave Moses a song that would be sung in witness against
Israel when they finally would disobey God and reject Him.
Deuteronomy 31:30-32 And Moses spake in the ears of all
the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they
were ended. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and
hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall
drop as the rain , my speech shall distil as the dew , as the
small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon
the grass:



32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou
art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with
fatness ; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly
esteemed the Rock of his salvation .
This was foretelling the rejection of Jesus Christ!
In the latter days.
In that evil generation.
Deuteronomy 32:19-20 And when the LORD saw it , he abhorred
them , because of the provoking of his sons, and of his
daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see
what their end shall be : for they are a very froward generation,
children in whom is no faith.
This is the same thought as is "untoward generation," spoken by
Peter.
Notice the stress upon the lack of faith.
The New Testament is completely about faith.
Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that
which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their
vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are
not a people ; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Paul proves to us that this is speaking about the days of the
Church, and not far off in our future, when he quotes these words
and says they are already fulfilled.
Romans 11:11-14 I say then, Have they stumbled that they
should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to
jealousy . Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world,
and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how
much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles,
inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify
mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation
them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Paul is showing us that all of Deuteronomy is fulfilled.
The blessings that were promised are spiritual blessings of the
rain of doctrine and Spirit.
The curses would come upon Israel because they rejected
Christ.
Deuteronomy 32:28-29 For they are a nation void of counsel,
neither is there any understanding in them . O that they were
wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their
latter end !
Paul also referred to this state of ignorance in Israel.
Romans 10:2-3 For I bear them record that they have a zeal
of God, but not according to knowledge . For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God .
Notice that all the references in these words under Law are referred
to in the New Testament.
What is the knowledge that God is concerned with?
Isaiah 28:9-12 Whom shall he teach knowledge ? and whom
shall he make to understand doctrine ? them that are
weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For
precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line
upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For
with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to
this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye
may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet
they would not hear.
This speaks of the Holy Ghost!
Deuteronomy 30:1-3 And it shall come to pass, when all
these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the
curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them
to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God
hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD thy God,
and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command
thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and
with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy
captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return
and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy
God hath scattered thee .
So many propose that this is still yet in our future.
They say that Israel is destined to return to their land in
Palestine.
Everyone is watching the Middle East.
But if we keep reading, we find it was already fulfilled.
It all points to Jesus.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 For this commandment which I
command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it
far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall
go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it,
and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say,
Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we
may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in
thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it .
What is this particular commandment that would accomplish all of
this?
It would bring the blessings and the rain.
Paul refers to this very scripture as being fulfilled!
Romans 10:6-8 But the righteousness which is of faith
speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend
into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above Or, Who
shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again
from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even
in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which
we preach ;
Paul said that the commandment, or the word which Moses referred
to, was the word of faith that the Apostles preached!
This means that the commandment that God required them to
obey that He might bless the people with rain and return them
from captivity to gather them into the land of Promise!
And people have been putting this ahead into our future!
Let us look to see what the Promised Land really is, according to
this and other scriptures.
Isaiah 49:1-3 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye
people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb;
from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my
name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword ; in
the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a
polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto
me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be
glorified .
Who is this child who was called Israel?
Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou
shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob , and
to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a
light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto
the end of the earth .
He is the light to the gentiles!
He is salvation to the ends of the earth.
Acts 13:46-47 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said,
It was necessary that the word of God should first have been
spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying , I have
set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for
salvation unto the ends of the earth .
Paul said that this was fulfilled in the preaching of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 49:8-9 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time
have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped
thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant
of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the
desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners,
Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves.
They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in
all high places.
Paul put this in his day as being fulfilled also.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with him,
beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain . (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted,
and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold,
now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation. )
The Apostles say this referred to their day.
And it referred to the Lord being "Israel".
Let us return to Isaiah 49.
Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the
heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall
lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them .
Revelation refers to those days in symbolic speech as follows.
Revelation 7:15-17 Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth
on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes .
Back to Isaiah.
Isaiah 49:18-22 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold:
all these gather themselves together, and come to thee . As
I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with
them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a
bride doeth. For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the
land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by
reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up
shall be far away. The children which thou shalt have, after
thou hast lost the other , shall say again in thine ears, The
place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me
these, seeing I have lost my children , and am desolate, a
captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up
these ? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they
been ? Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine
hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people:
and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy
daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Notice we read that the people would gather to Jesus!
In these scriptures we see reference to the Gentiles coming in
after the Jews rejected Him
Jesus is the Promised Land!
The Middle East holds no place in God's plans for the future.
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a
lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him
shall the gathering of the people be.
God will not gather nor has gathered Israel to the Middle East.
He only said the He would do so if they hearkened to His word.
And the Jews in Palestine have not hearkened to God's Word.
Jesus is the Promised Land!
All the promises about a regathering to a land continue to read
about New Testament details.
John 12:32-33 And I , if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw
all men unto me . This he said, signifying what death he should
die.
It all points back to Christ and the cross.


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