Grace Bible Church of Rolling Meadows

Oct 20, 2024

Presented by John Klasen


Throughout the book of Hebrews, we see repeated exhortations to the little flock of true believers within the nation of Israel to stand fast in the doctrines which they have been given by Christ and His apostles.

The role of Christ as Israel's Apostle and High priest are set forth in chapters 3‑10, and then the little flock of true believers are given encouragements to enable them to stand fast in those doctrines in light of escalating persecutions against them from the apostate religious element within the nation.


Hebrews



So this is part six in our dispensational overview of the Bible. And today we're going to be looking into the Book of Hebrews. In part five part five , we finished looking at the 13 epistles from our apostle Paul, those 13 letters written by Paul, where we find all of the doctrines and instructions for believers today in this present dispensation of Grace, doctrines explaining how we can be given eternal life and how we are supposed to go about living the Christian life. And I left off having given you some introductory information on the book of Hebrews. And the first thing that needed to be understood is that in the book of Hebrews we will now be going back into Israel's prophetic kingdom program, which had been cut off in Acts chapter seven.

In the book of Hebrews, God's program for us as members of the Body of Christ today is over. It's done. It's finished. The fullness of the Gentiles will have come in, as Paul states it in Romans chapter eleven, verse 25, a verse that we looked at in the last session. And the focus reverts back to everything having to do with the completion of Israel's prophetic kingdom program.

Now, we looked at how some of the circumstances and situations which the little flock of believers will be in when their prophetic program resumes, how that those circumstances and situations will parallel those situations which the Messianic Church of believers were in when their prophetic program was cut off in Acts chapter seven. I also pointed out to you and our listeners how that the Book of Hebrews is one of the three important transitional books in our Bibles, the other two of those being Matthew's Gospel account and the Book of Acts. And I began to explain how that the reason that these transitional books are of particular importance is that probably 99% of the various cults and isms and heresies and misconceptions about what God is doing today and what God is not doing today. Those are almost always based on proof texts from these three transitional books by people who fail to acknowledge the dispensational context of those verses and who fail to recognize who those doctrines and instructions have been written to. Now, what types of things am I referring to here?

Things like when the church began. If you think the church began in Acts two at Pentecost, well, you're going to run into some problems that you're not going to be able to resolve.

The role of water baptism. Is there a role of water baptism today or is there not? Well, we know there's not any role for water baptism today.

Appropriate prayer. What is going to be appropriate prayer for the nation Israel? What's going to be appropriate prayer for the Body of Christ?

Prosperity gospel. Where do you get that? You get that from the gospel accounts.

Physical healing for today. Can we expect God to do physical healings for us today?

What the gospel message is for today? You can hardly turn to Christian media and find an accurate, concise gospel message which has the power to save a person today.

You can lose your salvation. That's another one. Where does that come from? Well, you'll see as we go through Hebrews, a major place where that comes from, and the list can go on and on. So confusion in all these areas come primarily from misinterpretations of verses in these three transitional books.

Okay then, now, from a practical standpoint for the Jew of the future, the Book of Hebrews will function much like the Book of Romans functions for evangelism today. The Book of Hebrews is going to be used by believing Jews to witness to their unsaved colleagues how that Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah, because there are going to be Jews in Israel in the future who are not going to be willing to recognize Christ as their messiah, just as they refuse to do so in early Acts. In other words, that spirit of Antichrist will be functioning as we defined it in our last session. That spirit of Antichrist will be present. And now I'm going to give you a broad outline, and this should be on your note sheets of Hebrews according to four main sections.

Chapters one and two are going to provide a basic reorientation of doctrines pertaining to the resumption of Israel's program. Chapters three and four are going to establish and emphasize the role of Christ as Israel's apostle. Chapters five through ten, six chapters there are going to establish and emphasize the role of Christ as Israel's high priest. And then finally, chapters eleven through thirteen will focus on exhortations and encouragements to the little flock in view of escalating seductions and persecutions which the little flock will be receiving from the Antichrist and from Israel's vain, apostate religious system. So if you will turn in your Bibles to Hebrews.

And here begins the orientation of the little flock in Israel to the fact that their prophetic kingdom program has now resumed. And in many ways, this first chapter in the Book of Hebrews is reminiscent of the introduction of the Book of Matthew. What's the first thing that was documented in Matthew's gospel account? It was the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was critically important to verify the genealogy of Jesus Christ as the prophesied Christ.

It was critically important to establish the relationship of the prophesied Christ back to David and back to Abraham. So that was the first thing Matthew documented in his account. Now here in the Book of Hebrews, we see how that the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because of what Christ accomplished at that first coming, that he is now qualified to take Israel's prophetic kingdom program onto its complete fulfillment because he is the Son and because he is the heir of everything pertaining to the Davidic covenant, and because this son has a legal right to be that heir and to take that inheritance. Now, in this first chapter in the Book of Hebrews, we're going to see references to the five mandates of the Davidic covenant as part of this reorientation process. Now, the five mandates of the Davidic covenant are those five functions which the messiah will execute as he accomplishes the redemption of the nation and the fulfillment of Israel's prophetic kingdom program.

Just as a review, do you remember what those five mandates, what those five functions were? Well, according to the Davidic covenant, the messiah is going to function as Israel's redeemer, then as Israel's deliverer, then as Israel's avenger, Israel's king, and finally Israel's blesser, he'll be blessing them. And do you recall how each of those five books within the entire book of Psalms focused on one of those five functions, those five books within the Book of Psalms? And we're going to see that here in this first chapter of Hebrews. So let's begin reading in verse one.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in timepast 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, who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. So these first three verses are essentially reviewing the fact that Christ has already fulfilled his first function, that first mandate as Israel's redeemer. That has already been accomplished. And it was accomplished, of course, through Christ's redemptive work on the cross. And that was followed by his ascension back up into the third heaven, where he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. That's verse three here.

So in this first chapter of Hebrews, we're going to see references, as I said, and you can kind of do that on your own. If you've got any references in your columns in the Bible, you'll see references from all five of the individual books of the Psalms pertaining to Christ as Israel's Redeemer, Deliverer, Avenger, King, and Blesser. Now, verse two says his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. So ChrIst is the rightful heir of all things.

And this is what we read about in John's great vision in the book of the Revelation. So keep a marker here in Hebrews all morning. We'll be just going through it. But go over to Revelation, chapter five, verse one.

And here's what John saw in this tremendous vision. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof. And no man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

All right, so what is this book that is being referred to here? Well, this book is the title deed to the entire universe, verse four. And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, weep not. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.

So the lion of the tribe of Judah in verse five, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. He has prevailed, and he is the only one who is worthy to receive the title deed for all of the universe. And that's what the writer of Hebrews is speaking of in Hebrews chapter one, verse two. Where we saw that he was the appointed heir of all things.

Verse six. And I beheld. And lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And again, the lamb which had been slain, of course, is Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah. Continue on.

Verse seven. And he came and took the book out of the hand of him that sat on the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. So verse six says, thou wast slain and has redeemed us to God.

Here again is that first mandate of the Davidic covenant, the Messiah as Israel's redeemer. It's been accomplished. The lamb which had been slain, referred to in verse six, is the fulfillment of that first mandate of the Davidic covenant. And now the lamb is ready to fulfill the remaining four mandates. So we'll go back to Hebrews chapter one again, and I want to read verse three again.

Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. Verse three says, when he had by himself purged our sins. So here it is again. In the Book of Hebrews, Christ functioned as Israel's redeemer, already accomplished as we saw in Revelation chapter five. And the issue now becomes the fulfilling of the remaining four mandates of that Davidic covenant, which is to say that Christ is getting ready to take his inheritance.

He is now ready and in a rightful position to be able to fulfill those four remaining mandates of the Davidic covenant. Now one thing that needs to be understood here is that Christ was in a position to do exactly that way back in Acts. Here in verse three, we see how that after accomplishing that first mandate as Israel's redeemer, Christ sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Now in Acts chapter seven you can read how that Christ had actually stood up from that position and was ready to come back down to fulfill those four remaining mandates until Israel's prophetic kingdom program was temporarily cut off for the introduction of this current dispensation of Grace. And that's how things have been for over 2000 years so far.

But now Israel's program has resumed continuing on. In verse four, this is speaking of Christ, now being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he, at any time, thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee, and again I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. Verse five says, thou art my son. This day have I begotten thee.

Well, when was Christ the Son officially begotten by the Father? Well, this was a result of his resurrection. Turn over into the book of Acts, chapter 13.

We're going to look at two verses here beginning in verse 32, And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the second psalm, thou art my son. This day have I begotten thee. So the Lord Jesus Christ was officially declared the begotten son by virtue of his resurrection. At his resurrection.

That is the time at which Christ was officially allowed to take his inheritance. But he never took it, did he? No, he didn't. Positionally, it was his to take at any time that he wanted to take it following his resurrection, but he didn't take it. Now more along these lines go to Psalms, chapter two.

He didn't take his inheritance when he could have. Verse seven says, I will declare the decree.

Well, who's going to declare the decree? Well, that's going to be Christ who's going to declare the decree. Because as he says here, the Lord hath said unto me, thou art my son. This day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Verse eight says that all Christ needed to do was to ask, and it was his. But he didn't ask. The rightful heir to all of this delays in taking his inheritance so that he can allow the dispensation of Grace to intervene for our benefit. Thank you, Lord, for that. Back to Hebrews, chapter one and verse six.

And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the son he saith, thy throne, o God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. So of course, the kingdom being referred to here in verse eight is the everlasting Davidic covenant and kingdom. So the first issue in this reorientation of the Jew to the resumption of Israel's prophetic kingdom program here in Hebrews is this very important issue, that Jesus of Nazareth, who has already been here once, that he is the Messiah, he is the rightful heir, and he is the son.

Now we're going to move into chapter two and look at verse one. It says, therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Now, the verse starts off by saying therefore. And it's an interesting thing that if you scan through the entire book of Hebrews, the first verse in every chapter is going to contain a therefore or a wherefore or some similar speech denoting a logical progression of doctrine as we're moving through the book. And here, because of everything that was pointed out in chapter one, the verse says we.

And that is referring to the little flock of the future, we ought to give the more earnest heed to things which we have heard. And it says, don't let them slip. Don't forget about these things because they're really important. This is the first exhortation in the Book of Hebrews, emphasizing that there are going to be things which the little flock must understand and remember and hold fast unto. Well, what are these things which are so important that they need to remember and hold fast?

Verse two. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience receive a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? Well, verse two speaks of the word spoken by angels. Now, what would this be referring to? And this is an interesting phrase.

First of all, what is an angel? One of the primary definitions of an angel is that an angel is a messenger. The angels referred to here can actually go all the way back to God's messengers, who delivered the law covenant to the nation Israel. Now, you don't have to go there. But Galatians 3:19 says that the law was ordained by angels through the hand of a mediator.

Now, moments before Israel finally and officially rejected their messiah with the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter seven, Stephen condemned the Jewish leaders as betrayers and murderers of their messiah and as those who had received the disposition of angels but had not kept it. Let's look at that in Acts chapter seven.

And we're going to look at verses 52 and 53, where Steven says, which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them, which showed before the coming of the just one of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it so. Israel had historically rejected God's messengers. Verse 53 refers to the disposition of angels. Now, the new King James version actually provides a more clear understanding of what this word disposition means.

It actually means direction. Disposition is a direction. Israel rejected the prophets, they rejected John the Baptist, they rejected Christ, and they rejected the twelve apostles. Israel refused to accept the direction which these messengers were providing to the nation Israel. And this is the same sense in which Stephen was an angel. He was a messenger attempting to direct Israel on what the nation needed to do. Turn back to Acts, chapter six.

And there's this interesting verse at the end of chapter six where Stephen was sitting before the hierarchical council. And it says that all that sat in the council looking steadfastly on him, saw his face, saw Stephen's face as it had been the face of an angel. The verse says that Stephen's face was that of an angel, and Stephen was the last messenger that the nation was going to get before the nation was to be cut off. Now back to Hebrews chapter two.

And verse two again. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. We need to break this down a little bit. Verse two says, for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, now this is one of those scriptural contexts where the word if literally means since, and steadfast means to be absolutely true and certain. So since the words spoken by all those messengers was absolutely true and certain, and they were. And since every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, and it did, what just recompense of reward did the transgressions and disobedience receive? Well, it wasn't something good. It was eternal damnation is what it was. Those who rejected God's messengers the first time around at Christ's first coming, and then on into early Acts, through Acts chapter seven, those folks are eternally lost. They messed up big time, having committed the unpardonable sin that Christ spoke about in Matthew chapter twelve. And it would be worth taking a look at that in Matthew twelve.

In Matthew twelve and verse 31, and following, Christ says, wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men. But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

So, as we saw in part four of the series, those people who spoke against the Holy Ghost were those people who ultimately rejected the ministry. They rejected the direction of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost who was empowering Peter and the apostles who were ministering under the power of the Holy Ghost in Acts chapters two through seven. Now back to Hebrews two.

Then verse three goes on to say, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Now, the salvation referred to here is the deliverance through the seven years of tribulation into the prophesied prophetic kingdom. That seven year tribulation, that 70th week of Daniel, and the reality of the kingdom which will follow is now just around the corner. And the writer of Hebrews is warning the Jew here that their fate will be no different than those who rejected their messiah at his first coming. If they fail to heed the message, if they fail to heed the direction which those messengers had preached back then, the Jew in the future is going to have to abandon the temptation to go back into Israel's vain, apostate religious system, or they will receive their just recompense of reward, which will be eternal damnation.

So in verse three, the salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord. Well, that was what Christ was preaching at the beginning of his ministry to the nation of Israel. What was Christ preaching in Matthew, chapter four, verse 17? That's where it started. It says, Christ began to preach and to say, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

That was the message which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, the gospel of the kingdom. And now Israel's prophetic program is up and running again. Well, what else is true about that message? Verse three says that that message was confirmed unto us by them that hurt him. That message was confirmed unto the nation of Israel by Peter and the apostles, that this Jesus whom they had killed, was indeed their long awaited for Messiah.

That was Peter's presentation on the day of Pentecost. These are the things which they had heard, which are referred to in verse one. Now continuing on in verse four, God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will.

So the gifts of the Holy Ghost is a direct reference to the ministry of the Holy Ghost and to the signs and the miracles which were wrought by the twelve apostles and which the nation ended up rejecting and finally blaspheming in Acts chapter seven. Now, I hope that you can see how all of this is taking the little flock of the future right back to early Acts so that they would be able to pick up right where their kingdom program had been cut off in Acts chapter seven. Continuing on in verse five here, for unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak. So here, the context of angels now refers back to the original angelic community. And as powerful as any single angel may be, or as powerful as the entire angelic community may be collectively, angels are not going to be running the show in this age to come.

The role of God's angelic host is described actually back in chapter one. If you turn back there for a moment and look at verses 13 and 14. Verse 13 says, but to which of the angels saith he at any time sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Well, the answer to that question is that God never said that to any of the angels. Continuing on in verse 14, here's their role. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? So the heirs of salvation is that little flock of true believers within the nation of Israel. The role of the angels is going to be to carry out God's judgments during the tribulation. It will be God who will be calling the shots and directing those angels as they minister on behalf of the nation. Back into chapter two.

Verse six says, but one in a certain place testifies, saying, what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him? Well, the one who testified of these things in a certain place, of course, was David, and this is a reference to Psalm, chapter eight. Then who is the son of man here? Well, that's Christ, as we see from the verses which follow, verse seven, thou madest him a little lower than the angels. Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.

The verse says, thou madest him a little lower than the angels. Now, what is the sense in which Christ would have to be made a little lower than the angels? Well, angels don't die, and Christ had to die in order to accomplish what he accomplished. And we'll see that as we move on through the next couple verses. Verse eight, thou has put all things in subjection under his feet, for in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him, but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man. So Jesus had to die. Why? So that he could taste death for every man.

This is interesting because there's no reason at all why the writer of Hebrews could not have been looking back at this previous dispensation of Grace, and including us in there when he made this statement, which will then be history. But when the Jew reads these words in the future, drop down to verse 14, forasmuch then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetimes subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. So since Christ was going to die as a substitute for all those who are flesh and blood, he had to be made flesh and blood himself. And verse 17, wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins the people.

So then everything in Hebrews chapters one and two is a reorientation review of where Israel's prophetic program had been at that point in time when Israel's program was cut off in Acts chapter seven, and the Book of Hebrews will then go on to give the Jews of the future all of the information and the doctrines which they will need as their prophetic program resumes in the future. And verse 17 says that he might be a merciful and faithful priest in all things pertaining to God. And that then takes us into the second major section of the Book of Hebrews, and that is where the writer attempts to establish and emphasize the role of Christ as Israel's apostle.

So now we'll move into chapter three and verse one. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. So here we have Christ Jesus as the apostle and high priest of Israel. Now chapter two and most of chapter three will be dealing with Christ's role as Israel's apostle. Continuing on in verse two, who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house. So here we see that Christ was faithful to him that appointed him. Well, who appointed Christ? God the Father appointed Christ, and Christ faithfully executed the will of the father who sent his son on behalf of the nation Israel.

And you could, for your notes, put down Romans 15:8. It's a very important verse that kind of summarizes what you have right here. And after the cutting off of Israel's prophetic program in Acts chapter seven, we then come to learn through the apostle Paul that Christ's faithfulness also provided everything that was needed for any individual, even those individuals outside of the nation Israel, as part of what God referred to through Paul as the mystery. And by that thought you can put down Romans 15:16. Those two verses, Romans 15:8 and 15:16 are great verses to consider when we're looking at the things we're looking at here.

And that faithfulness of Christ in fulfilling the Father's will both for Israel and for us as members of the Body of Christ today, is actually expressed seven times in Paul's letters as the faith of Christ, not faith in Christ. A lot of your newer Bibles are going to translate it that way. But that's incorrect. It's the faith of Christ and that's Christ's faithfulness in doing everything that had to be done on behalf of both Israel and for us as members of the Body of Christ.

Getting back to verse two here, the role of Christ is likened to the role of Moses in time past for the nation Israel. They were both faithful to him that appointed them. Now the role of an apostle is someone who is sent out with a mission, and faithfulness is the first responsibility of an apostle. And if you read through John's gospel account, you see over and over again how that Christ repeatedly said that he was saying and that he was doing everything the father had sent him to say and do.

Verse two again. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

So in verses two through six here you see a reference to a house in every verse, and the house is the people of God. It's the Israel of God under Moses. That house would have been that collective body of Jews who by faith did what God had instructed them to do in the book of Leviticus and other places, in order to remain in fellowship and in a right standing with him in the gospel accounts and in early Acts. That house would have been the messianic kingdom church referred to in Matthew chapter 16, consisting of all those Jews who recognized and accepted Jesus for who and what he was, and who separated themselves from Israel's vain, apostate religious system and became part of the little flock through water baptism. Acts 2:38.

Now for the Jews in the future, who the writer of Hebrews is addressing, that house will consist of all those Jews who will be recognizing and accepting that Jesus came and did what he did, and who will then be part of the little flock of believers who have likewise separated themselves from Israel's vain, apostate religious system in the future. And notice that verse six says, whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm unto the end. So here is the second of many exhortations throughout the book of Hebrews for members of the little flock to hold fast to the doctrines of their apostle, the Lord Jesus Christ, continuing on in verse seven, wherefore, as the holy ghost saith today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. Well, what is this day of provocation? The day of provocation in the wilderness referred to here is going to be defined for us in the verses which which follow, right now.

So verse nine, when your fathers tempted me, proved me and saw my works 40 years, wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said, they do alway err in their heart, and they have not known my ways, so I swear in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest. So the Lord's rest was the promised land which they refused to go into. They didn't have the faith that they were supposed to have, that the Lord would provide everything that they would need in order to be able to go in and take that land. That refusal to rely on the Lord grieved and provoked the Lord and resulted in 40 years of wandering around in the wilderness. And the Lord is going to say, don't make that same faithless mistake again.

And here's how the Lord says it. Verse twelve. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But exhort one another today while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.

So in verse 14, we see another exhortation to hold steadfast unto the end. Now, can you see from verses like this how easy it would be to be caught up in the idea that we can lose our salvation if we think that these doctrines and instructions are written to us? That's where this stuff comes from.

Verse 15. While it is said today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation. And so here the exhortation is to hear what the Lord is saying. Now harden your hearts and make the same kind of faithless mistake you made when you refused to enter the Lord's rest, when you refused to enter into the promised land when you were supposed to.

Verse 16. For some, when they had heard, did provoke howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. And of course, that's a reference there to men like Joshua and Caleb. But with whom? With whom was he grieved 40 years? Was it not with them that had sinned? The answer is yes.

Whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? So here the Lord reviews the fact that Israel was made to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years, until all those faithless Jews who refused to enter into the promised land had completely died off the scene. So their lack of faith in the Lord to deliver them into his rest was a sin of unbelief. Now, chapter four continues, addressing the same context, basically, and gives us warnings like we've been looking at. But we'll look at just a couple more verses in chapter four because a couple things are mentioned there that could be misinterpreted by some folks.

So chapter four and verse one. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left of us entering into his rest, any of you seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them. But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them, that hurt it. So we have some references here to the gospel, actually to two gospels.

And what I want to point out here is for the benefit largely of those folks who would like to believe that there is only one gospel in the word of God. In verse two, we see the gospel that was preached unto us. Who are the us here? Well, they would be the little flock of believers who were preaching the gospel of the kingdom, which at the first was spoken by the Lord back in Hebrews, chapter one, verse three. And which was confirmed by them who heard him and performed signs, wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost.

In chapter two, verses three and four, the apostles. And then in verse two, we see the gospel that was preached unto them. Who is the them? They are those who were under Moses and all of Moses' house at the time. The gospel they received was basically that the promised land was theirs for the taking. But because of their lack of faith and their unbelief, they refuse to go in and take it.

Now, as I said, this issue of entering into God's rest, that is, the kingdom, by remaining steadfast in the doctrines which they are now being given. It continues on through chapter four until we come to verse 14, where the writer of Hebrews introduces the third major section of the book, which is the issue of Jesus Christ as Israel's high priest. And this is a huge, huge issue for the Jew. The next six chapters are going to be related to this issue. This is where we see the tremendous contrasts between the former Aaronic Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Christ.

The priesthood of Christ, which proves to be infinitely better than the previous Levitical priesthood. Now, this superior priesthood of Christ is a concept that Israel's vain, apostate religious system will be vehemently rejecting. Israel's vain, apostate religious system and its leaders will be all wrapped up in the old sacrificial system, and they will be putting great pressure on the little flock to come back into that system. And this is going to be one of the greatest temptations that the little flock will face. And this is probably, probably what Hebrews chapter twelve, verse one, refers to as the sin which doth so easily beset us. We'll have more to say about that when we get there.

Now, the superiority of Christ's priesthood begins to be explained in chapter five and runs through a little section there to verse ten, chapter five, verse ten. Then in verse eleven of chapter five, through all of chapter six, is sort of a parenthetical section which distinguishes two groups of people, those Jews who are accepting and responding to Christ's apostleship and priesthood in an appropriate manner, those Jews who are not. Now you can follow what is being said about these two groups of Jews by paying close attention to the pronouns that the writer is using as you go down through the passages, pronouns like we and us versus they and them. So then this parenthetical section is like another warning to those who are drifting away from the doctrines that they need to heed.

They're drifting back into Israel's vain, apostate religious system. Then the doctrines pertaining to Christ's superior priesthood pick up again in chapter seven and continue on through chapter ten. In chapter seven, the writer begins to illustrate the revolutionary nature of Christ's priesthood compared to the priests who were descendants of Aaron down through the centuries, and that Christ will be the only priest that Israel will ever need from this day henceforth. So turn with me to Hebrews chapter seven.

And we're going to begin in verse 23, which says, and they truly were many priests. This is speaking of the priesthood in the Old Testament, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death. But this man, because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily as those priests, to offer up sacrifices first for his own sins and then for the people's. For this he did once when he offered up himself. So here you see the beginning of the superiority of Christ's priesthood compared to the former levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. In chapter eight, the writer introduces the concept that everything having to do with the sacrifices in the earthly tabernacle, those were merely a picture of what Christ will do once to perfection in the heavenly tabernacle.

Verse chapter eight and verse one. Now, of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum. It's going to give us a summary. Here we have such a high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man. So those priests who were functioning during the earthly Aaronic Levitical priesthood in the tabernacle down here on the earth were merely a prophetic picture of what Christ's priesthood is going to be in the real tabernacle which God has made in heaven. And then we see the tremendous contrast between the old covenant, that's the law covenant, which the former priests were mediators of and the new covenant, which Christ will be the mediator of.

Verse six. But now hath he that's Christ obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them, he saith, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord. I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them of God, and they shall be to me a people, and they shall not teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for all shall know me from the least to the greatest.

Okay, that's straight from the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 31 through 34, where we were first introduced to the new covenant that's coming now. Let's continue on here in verse twelve. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities. I will remember no more, in that he saith a new covenant he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

It hasn't vanished away yet, but it's ready. This is what the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and the new covenant will enable God to be able to do for the nation Israel.

Now in chapter nine, the writer continues to illustrate the superiority of Christ's priesthood for the nation Israel. So let's go into chapter nine and look at verse eleven. It says, but Christ being an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goat, goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. So again, this illustrates the superiority of Christ's sacrificing of himself. This is Christ as Israel's redeemer.

This has already been accomplished. Verse 13. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of a new testament, that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance

Drop down to verse 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. So the sacrificial blood of Christ himself was so far superior to the blood of bulls and goats that was able to do something that the animal sacrifices could never do. Verses 13 and 14, there all those sacrifices under the old law covenant were a prophetic picture of what Christ's blood would be able to do once and for all in the future.

Now then, how is all of this doctrine supposed to stimulate the minds and the actions of the Jews who are receiving it? We're going to see that in chapter ten. So turn over to chapter ten, and well break in there at verse 21. And having an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more. As you see the day approaching. As you see the day approaching, what is that day? Well, that's the day of the Lord's wrath. It's approaching.

It's getting closer. The little flock will see it and they will go through it. And the little flock is supposed to understand that they now have this high priest who has done everything for them which the law could never do, and that the death of that high priest, that the death of Christ was the basis on which they will be able to appropriate the new covenant. The little flock is supposed to hold these doctrines in full assurance and faith. That's verse 22 here, without wavering, so that they can stand fast to the end or they're standing fast again.

The little flock is supposed to continue on in love and good works. That's verse 24 here. And the members of the little flock are supposed to gather together in order to continue to encourage one another to stand fast, to stand fast in the doctrines which they have been told to stand fast in. That's verse 25.

Here then, in the verses which follow, we see God's perspective on those Jews who are going to refuse to disassociate themselves from Israel's vain, apostate religious system. And we'll begin there in verse 26, which says, for if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sore punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy. Who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despot unto the spirit of grace. That is some pretty heavy condemnation, folks, on those who are going to reject the savior. Verse 29 says, those who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath accounted the blood of the covenant unholy thing. This speaks of those Jews who are not going to take heed of these doctrines pertaining to Christ as Israel's high priest and what he did for the nation. No appreciation, no acceptance of what Christ has done for them. This is not our savior. We will not have him rule over us. This speaks of those Jews who are not going to heed any of these doctrines pertaining to Christ and Israel's high priest and what he did under the protection of the Antichrist. In the future, they will be clinging to the futility of the old sacrificial system. And if you wanted to look into that a little further, a great passage for that would be Isaiah, chapter 66, verses one through four.

Remember, Israel's vain, apostate religious system and its leaders will be all wrapped up in the old sacrificial system and will be putting constant pressure on the little flock to come back into that system. As I said earlier, the temptation to go back under that old religious sacrificial system will be one of the greatest temptations that the little flock will be faced with, and it will be the first phase of the Satanic policy of evil, which will cause some members of the little flock to fail to endure to the end. But in the end, this apostate element within the nation is going to be thoroughly purged out of the nation through Christ's baptism of fire, which we first learned about in Matthew, chapter three, verses eleven and twelve. That's the fiery indignation that you see here in verse 27. And those who are clinging to Israel's vain, apostate religious system are the adversaries that you see here in verse 27. They're going to be devoured in fiery indignation.

Then the writer of Hebrews continues to give the little flock more encouragements, and the exhortations are repeated again. Look at verse 35. Cast not away, therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward, for ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise for yet a little while. And he that shall come will come, and will not tarry now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. So drawing back into perdition, of course, is, as we mentioned numerous times, being tempted back into Israel's vain, apostate religious system.

And that then transitions us into chapter eleven and following, which is the fourth and final section of the Book of Hebrews. And this section will focus on further exhortations and encouragements to the little flock in view of escalating seductions and persecutions. That's going to be the Satanic policy of evil phases two and three, which the little flock will be receiving from Israel's vain, apostate religious system and from the Antichrist. And what could be more encouraging at this point than to review all of those who in the past have demonstrated the kind of faith which these Jews of the future are being encouraged to hold fast to? And what could be more encouraging than what is found in chapter eleven? So beginning in chapter eleven with Abel, in verse four through verse 32, there are 16 individuals named who are encouraging examples of faith for the little flock.

And then the remainder of the chapter points out additional groups of unspecified saints who in time past were also tremendous examples of faith. And we'll get into that in a little more detail in the next part of the series.