Jemidon2004 postedIsrael was set aside long before the stoning of Stephen. This is evidenced in the fact that Israel was no longer a nation. God's taking Israel out of being a nation is punishment and the casting aside...The time when they are cast aside i believe, is when the Shekinah Glory left the Temple of Solomon around 395-393 b.c. Notice it went from the Temple to the gates, from the gates to the mount of Olives, then from the mount of Olives up into heaven. So thus when God saw that they were not going to pay any attention to the Glory of the Lord, or turn back to Him, He withdrew His presence from the Temple...and it hasn't been there since. Even when Herod's temple was being built, God's Glory did NOT dwell there. Why? Because He had already blinded Israel to the fact that they needed a Savior and had already cast them aside.
BigD:
Jesus said in Matthew 15:24 "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Paul says in Romans 15:8 "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the fathers."
The promises to the Jewish fathers were for Israel
as a nation.The Law was given to the nation of Israel. Jesus fulfilled the Law. If Isreal was set aside as far back as you say, there would have been no law to fulfill.
Jemidon2004 postedWhy else would God allow the Pharisees and the Sadduccees to rule as a religious order claiming to talk to God. Simply because Israel had already been cast aside.
BigD:
Matthew 23:1 "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do, but do not after their works; for they say, and do not."
Why would Jesus
COMMAND the people and disciples to
"observe and do" what the scribes and Pharisees required?
Jemidon2004 postedThere is no Scriptural evidence to support Israel being cast aside at the stoning of Stephen, i simply do not see it in Scripture anywhere. It had already happened when the Glory of the Lord left the Temple in Jerusalem and the fall of Israel as a nation. I discuss this in further detail with my study on Israel: Still God's Nation or Completely without Hope"
BigD:
Back in Genesis 11, at the Tower of Babel, God set the Gentiles aside. Then God raised up a people unto himself (Israel). To Israel God gave them their instructions in righteousness through the Civil, Moral and Ceremonial Laws of Moses.
There was a "middle wall of partition" between the Jew and Gentile. If a Gentile one wanted to follow the true and living God, that Gentile one had to become a Jew (proselyte) and place themselves under the Law.
In Matthew 10, we find that Jesus chose His 12 disciples. In vers 5 He
commands them "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. 6.
BUT GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.When Jesus Himself goes only to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," and commands His disciples to
go only to them, it surely doesn't look like Israel is in a "set aside" condition. Looks to me like the Gentiles are still "our side the gate." Jesus Himself refers to the Syrophenician woman (a Gentile) as a "dog."
Paul says of the Jews, in Romans 3:2 "...that unto them were committed the oracles of God." However, they, as a nation, rejected God the Father when they went "about to establish their own righteousness." They rejected God the Son when they
demanded that He be crucified. They rejected God the Holy Spirit when they stoned Stephen, in Act 7, who was filled with the Holy Ghost.
It was after Isreal's rejection of the Third Person of the Trinity that God set Israel aside. God then raised up Saul/Paul, in Acts 9, to usher in the the dispensation of grace. Then God shows Peter in Acts 10 that the Gentile is no longer to be considered unclean. Why, because they are now on the same level as the set aside Gentiles. Paul in Romans 11:32 says: "For God hath concluded them all (Jews and Gentiles) in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all."
Jemidon2004 postedAnother thing. You need to notice that there IS a gap between the 69th and 70th week. Notice that 69 weeks will occur and they will finish at Christ's Crucifixion. However, it shows that next the "people of the prince" shall come and the city will be destroyed and a flood will come. Many Biblical scholars and Historians will agree that this happened in 70 a.d. So it does show a gap between the 69th and 70th week. The timeline just doesn't line up. You have a gap between the Crucifixion of Christ and the covenant made by Anti-christ. According to what you're saying, the Tribulation started close to Christ's crucifixion and was interrupted...however if you say it was interrupted at Stephen's stoning, again the timeline doesn't line up. Also Peter is using Joel's prophecy as an EXAMPLE as to what was happening. He's not saying that the Tribulation period has occurred. Also, you have to distinguish what Peter is talking about. Is He talking about the Last days in reference to Israel, or the Last days in reference to the Church. Again, where does Stephen's stoning come into play. It seems that you are standing on one set of Scriptures in Acts. That's what it seems to me as the issue with Stephen is concerned. Sorry if my thoughts seem to be scattered. I'm trying to remember word for word what i wrote out last night, seeing as i'm at the library and I don't have my materials with me. Hope this is making any sense...i'll get back to you guys when i have my materials in front of me.
BigD:
Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finist the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophesy, and to anoint the most Holy."
"upon they people and upon thy holy city," It is upon the Jewish people and upon the city of Jerusalem; "to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins." It is the Jewish transgression and their sin of rejection that is to be brought to an end; " and to make reconciliation for iniquity," it is not the crucifixion of Christ that is the reconciliation, but rather the means by which the reconciliation was made. At His glorious appearing, at the end of the 70th week, our Lord, on the basis of His sacrifice at Calvary will "reconcile" his chosen people (Israel) unto Himself. (From the book "REVELATION" for the Advanced Student, by Jack D. Hastings.
The 70th week started at Pentecost (Acts 2:15-20). It was interrupted with the setting aside of Israel after the stoning of Stephen. Being I have posted a great deal on this, I don't thing I have to go through it again.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!