FINDING OURSELVES IN SCRIPTURE

March 10, 2024
​Speaker Randy Meyer

Let's open in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for a time and place where we can worship and help us to open our hearts and open our minds to the message this morning as we study your word, rightly divided. May we bring honor and glory to your name as we pray, amen. 
Thank you. How many times have we heard, life is full of choices? Many of the messages we've heard through the years have been for application of scripture to our lives. Application of scripture is needed for all believers, but the one thing we need to understand is to apply scripture, you have to know what should be applied for this day and age. And that's where doctrine comes in. You don't have proper doctrine. What you're applying to your lives really doesn't matter. I am surprised to see as many people here this morning, seeing as how we had to turn the clocks ahead. I would imagine there was a little scuttling this morning trying to get here on time. And let's have a show of hands. How many of you here do not know if you're here yet? Well, don't catch up on your hours sleep during the service because Randy has a cattle prod this morning and if anybody falls asleep he will take care of that.
Based on that, I'm gonna get into a little story here. I grew up in a town in Manitowoc County. It was a sprawling metropolitan area called Grims. I don't even know if it's still on the map. But it was so large, they divided it into North and South Grims. But years ago in the early 1900s, it was a sprawling community. They had a railroad come through. They had cattle auctions. There was a dance hall on the north side of Grims, another dance hall on the south side of Grims. We had a one-room schoolhouse, which I attended for a few years. And in the middle of the school room was a stove. Around that stove is where the teacher held classes. It was grades one to six. She handled all of them. I don't think there were more than 25 or 30 kids in that school. We had to go out to get the water. They had a pump outside. They'd bring water in off the pump. And when the pump quit, at that point, we went to a neighbor, I believe it was Shands, and we got water from them for the school. So needless to say, things were a little backwards at that time. They even had lime kilns in the big city of Grims. So it was a thriving community. We got mail twice a day. Anybody remember that? The trains came through, they would drop the mail off, and it would be delivered twice a day. One of my grandfathers at that time lived about maybe seven miles away from Grims. He was a farmer and he could tell by the train whistle in the morning whether it was going to rain or not. When the train comes through twice a day you probably get a pretty good bearing on that. My other grandfather had a repair shop, a gas station, and a small farm. And he also worked construction. and my mother worked for the post office. When he passed away, we bought that home, a small farm, my dad worked construction. One Saturday, it was very rainy. We had between 10 and 12 milking cows. And we milked by hand back then. My job was to get the cows to the barn. This particular Saturday, it was pouring, raining cats and dogs. So my dad went down to the barn to open the doors for the cows to get in. And I was going to go out and get the cows. And my mother, bless her heart, stopped me. She was going to help me. She broke out a yellow-colored raincoat, which I had never seen before. It was an adult's raincoat which came down to my ankles. I was 12 years old at the time. It had a snap-on hood. Okay, Mike is nodding. Did she get it from you? I have to change my story here. Anyway, she was going to help me, so she dressed me up in this, what I'll call a Halloween costume, okay? I stepped out to get the cows. They were on the southeast corner of the house under a huge elm tree, Chinese elm tree. And they were hiding there trying to get out of the rain. I don't think I got three steps into the field. And those cows took one look at me and they headed for the barn. And I don't mean walking. They ran. All right, I never saw animals run that fast in my life. I never saw animals run that fast in my life. to this day I do not believe that cows are colorblind. They saw me in this yellow raincoat, my head covered. The only thing I was missing was the sickle. I looked like the green reaper. And I think that's who they thought I was. So by the time I got to the barn, my father was none too happy with his son. And he said, why were you chasing the cows? I said, Dad, I didn't chase the cows. I said, they just took off. He says, I don't believe that. He says, cows don't run like that unless they're chased. Well, there was no changing the story to my dad. He knew what he saw. And what I would like to have said was, Dad, that woman that you married, she gave me this outfit. And that we learned from Adam and Eve, right? Spread the blame. So the moral to that story is simply this. You can wear the proper clothing for the weather, but that clothing may not be fit for the task at hand, which in this case it certainly wasn't. Same thing is true with scripture. We don't have the proper scripture, we cannot apply what we need to our lives as believers. 
Few examples. Let's start with food. In the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 29 and 30. Genesis chapter one, I'm gonna read 29 and 30. And God said, behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in that which is fruit of a tree yielding seed to you, it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air and to everything that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for most and it was so. So at this point in time all life on the planet was vegetarians, including humans, including the lions, the tigers and the bears. That was the year approximately 4000 BC. You flip forward to chapter 9. We have gone about 1,600 years. And Genesis chapter 9, shortly after the flood. Start in verse one, it says, and God blessed Noah and his sons and said unto them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every fall of the air. Upon all that moveth upon the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you, even as the green herb that I have given you all. So at this point after the flood, they're told to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, and now everything in the world they can eat. Animals, plants, whatever they choose. We go forward to Leviticus chapter 11. We are now approximately at 1500 BC. Leviticus chapter 11 is part of the giving of the law to Moses and to the nation of Israel. Okay, verse one, the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, speak unto the children of Israel, saying, these are the beasts which you shall eat among all the beasts which are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that you shall eat. Nevertheless, these shall you not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean to you." So he's changing things here. Okay, certain animals they could eat. Flip over to verse 13. And these are they which you shall have in abomination among the falls. They shall not be eaten. They are an abomination. The eagle, the ossephrage, the osprey, the vulture, the kite, raven, the owl, the night hawk, the cuckoo, the hawk after his kind, the little owl, the kumarat, the great owl, the swan, pelican, gear eagle, the stork, the heron. So these are all animals they could not eat, birds they could not eat. So things have changed again with the nature, with the nation of Israel. That's 1500 BC. Flip forward to 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy chapter 4. First Timothy chapter four will read one through five. Now this is 65 AD approximately, and this is Paul speaking. Now the spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heat to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God in prayer. So at this point, Paul is telling people they can eat anything they want. We're back to that stage again. So as you can see, things have changed over the years. But the question is, based on these four items, what are we to follow today? We have to apply the proper scripture. What Paul wrote in Timothy was written in 65 AD, as I mentioned, this is our message for today. We are to follow Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. Another quick example would be Matthew 21. At the 21 and we'll read. Starting verse 18. Matthew 21 verse 18. Now in the morning as he returned, as Jesus returned into the city, he hungered. When he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it and found nothing on it, but leaves only. And he said to it, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying how soon is the fig tree withered away? Jesus answered and said to them, verily I say unto you, if you have faith and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto the mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. A quick question there, how is that working for you today? When was the last time you moved a mountain? When is the last time you prayed for anything you wanted and you received it? 
I don't mean just a little item, anything you want. That's not for us in this day and age. We flip forward to Philippians for a moment. Philippians chapter 4. Matthew 21 was written approximately, it was based on the year approximately 33 AD. Philippians was written approximately 30 years later in 64. This is what Paul has to say about prayer. Verse six, chapter four, verse six. It says, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And go down to verse nine, those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do, and the God of peace shall be with you. So Paul is telling you Pray, pray for your requests. That doesn't mean you're going to get what you ask for, but he will give you what you require and what he feels you need. Last example is the crucifixion. Let's go to Acts chapter four, pardon me, Acts chapter two. 
Now keep in one thing in mind here, in Acts chapter one, after the death burial of Christ, he was already resurrected in Acts chapter one. Peter, in Acts chapter two, Go down to verse 22, Acts chapter two, verse 22. Says, you men of Israel, so obviously he is talking to Israel. Hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know. Him being delivered by the determinant counsel and foreknowledge of God, you Israel have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. So what is Peter saying about the crucifixion? He's telling Israel, you killed him. That is not exactly good news, okay? He's blaming them for the death of Christ. Go over to verse 36, same chapter. And here he says, therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus who you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Verse 37, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what should we do? And Peter said to them, repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So at this point, Peter's not telling them the Lord Jesus Christ died for their sins. Okay? That would be good news. He's telling them to repent and be baptized for their sins. Which one are we supposed to follow? He was ascended into heaven in Acts chapter one. He already died for our sins. Why isn't Peter preaching that? Okay, why isn't Peter preaching that as good news? He died, he rose again for your sins. He's telling them they crucified Christ, repent and be baptized. There's one baptism in scripture and that's the body of Christ. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. Water baptism today accomplishes nothing. 
Go to Romans chapter three, if you would. Romans chapter 3 and we'll start, let's read a couple verses here. Start in 21, Romans chapter 3 verse 21. Says, but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. For there is no difference. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely. by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation, in other words, all that was required through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. Verse 28, therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. So he's telling you here that the blood of Christ, declares his righteousness for the remission of sins. So what should we follow? Should we follow Peter? Should we follow Paul? If Christ didn't die for the sins of the world, past, present, and future, he died in vain. And that is the message we are to retain. His shed blood saved us from our sins and will get us into heaven. Okay, to get proper application of scriptures, we need to start with a couple things. Number one, proper doctrine, which is instruction for this day and age. Second Timothy 2:15, which everybody knows, study to show thyself approved, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, excuse me, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. So first off, study, which means to give due diligence or make an effort. rightly dividing. Rightly means correctly, what is for us and what is not for us. Dividing the scriptures to make a straight cut, to dissect, to expound. So how do we accomplish this? How do we rightly divide the word of truth? First thing we need to do, I believe, is understand dispensational study. Dispensation is not a dirty word, it's in the scriptures four times. All of those are in Paul's epistles. First one is 1 Corinthians 9:17. Second one is Ephesians 1:10. The third one is Ephesians 3:2. And the fourth one is Colossians 1:25. In Ephesians 3:2. He's talking about the mystery. Okay, but he's giving some background. He says, for this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of you, excuse me, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. Paul always talks to believers as we know. He's the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles. If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which has given me to you. So he's telling them what his message is, the dispensation of the grace of God. That's the time period we are living in this day and age. Now, through the foreknowledge of God, he understood that man would change as time went on, okay? God himself doesn't change. He said Hebrews 13, eight says, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Dispensation or division of scripture is God making known his will or an offer to certain people. And the test is will the people accept that offer or reject that offer? And this goes on throughout the scriptures. What the dispensational teaching does is a number of things. Number one, it shows that scripture does not contradict itself. If you're taking from one time period to another time period and it doesn't agree with Paul's epistles, Romans through Philemon, better take a good look at it, because it's probably not for this day and age. It also helps us to properly apply the scripture, obviously. It gives us proper understanding of the age we live in, which is the age of grace. It shows us where we are in the history of the world. All of these teachings come from the writings of Paul. Second Timothy 3:15. Everybody probably knows this one also. I'll read it regardless. Second Timothy 3:15 says, all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Paul tells you in Romans 11:13 that he is the apostle of the Gentiles. 
In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse one, he says, follow me. as I follow Christ, okay? Follow me as I follow Christ. So he's not telling you to follow him. Follow him as he follows Christ. So we are following Christ, but we are following the risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, not the earthly Jesus. Okay, as far as dispensations, here we go. As far as dispensations are concerned, I think I pronounced it right that time. We'll start, there are, what I believe are eight dispensations, some people may tell you there's more, some people may tell you there are less, I won't argue with them, but let's concentrate on eight for the purposes of this study. First dispensation would be innocence. God created man in his image. Man was innocent. He placed him in a perfect environment in the Garden of Eden. He told them to abstain from the tree of good and evil, knowledge of good and evil. They failed when they ate the forbidden fruit. The judgment was they were expelled from the garden. So the earth inherited sin, sorrow, and death. Second dispensation, his conscience. At that point, Adam and Eve realized that they had the knowledge of good and evil. Cain and Abel were told to bring a blood sacrifice in Genesis chapter four. Cain disobeyed God. Through jealousy, he murdered his brother Abel. What did God tell Cain when he brought the wrong sacrifice? He told him, if thou will do well, will you not be accepted? In other words, Cain, do what you're supposed to and you will be accepted. He chose not to. God gave him a second chance. He still chose not to. Man makes a choice, and that's been all through history. Cain made his choice. Over the next 1500 years, the earth became corrupt and filled with violence. The judgment came, there was a flood. and all but eight people were killed. Conscience is the only dispensation in effect continually until we reach eternity. All man knows the difference between good and evil and that's what your conscience is as you know. The third dispensation, human government. When Noah got off the ark, he was told to replenish the earth, be fruitful and multiply. In Genesis chapter nine, They were to establish laws according to God's righteousness. 
And in Genesis 9:6, they instituted capital punishment, which maybe we should take another good look at in this nation. Nimrod became the leader of the people. They spoke one language. They journeyed east, it says, to the plain of Shinar, and they dwelt there. At that point, they were going to build a tower of Babel, which they were going to build supposedly to heaven, and they were going to build a city. They were to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. They chose not to do that. The Lord's judgment confounded their language. They could no longer communicate, and they were scattered. The second, excuse me, the fourth dispensation, dispensation of promise, Genesis 12:1. He took Abram out of the Gentiles. We had one people, one people basically at that point in time. But he took Abraham and promised his seed a nation, promised him a land, and that his seed would be multiplied by the stars of the sky. Circumcision was mandated. So Abram and his descendants were cut off from the Gentiles. So Gentiles are now set aside. They were given a land called Canaan. And they were told not to go to Egypt, because Egypt was full of idolatry. Abram, however, stopped in Haran instead of going to Canaan immediately, and he waited until his father, Terah, had passed away. Isaac his son. A famine came, and Isaac moved as close to Egypt as possible, a place called Gerar. Jacob stole the birthright. Jacob is Isaac's son. Name was later changed to Israel. Jacob stole the birthright from Esau. Under the permissive will of God, he was allowed to go to Egypt to visit his dying, excuse me, to visit Joseph before Jacob died. The judgment of Israel for going to Egypt was 400 years in slavery or in bondage. Fifth dispensation is the law. Moses led Israel out of Egypt, and he was given the law. The purpose was to give Israel the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20. The sin was in their. The commandments were given, 10 commandments were given. There's three parts to the law. One was moral, that's the 10 commandments. One was civil, that was the judgment between people in the nation of Israel. And the other was ceremonial, in other words, the atonement for their sins in Leviticus 16. They were responsible to keep all 613 laws. However, their failures were numerous. Three of them, idol worship in Exodus 32, unbelief in Numbers 13, fornication in the book of Numbers 25. They rejected their Messiah, John 19, verses 15 and 16. Judgment came upon Israel many times over 1,500 years. There was Assyrian captivity in Second Kings, Babylonian captivity in Second Chronicles, The setting aside of Israel came at the stoning of Stephen. Acts chapter 7. Let's flip to Acts chapter 7 for a moment. Acts chapter 7. Virtually the whole chapter is Stephen speaking about the history of the nation Israel. And we'll pick up at verse 51. He's just about reached the end of his rope here. He says, you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did so do you. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which have showed before of the coming of the just one, of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. Verse 54, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God in Jesus standing on the right hand of God. That's the key verse there, Jesus standing on the right hand of God. When Jesus stood in Old Testament times, it was judgment is coming.
 And the Jews understood that. Verse 36, and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. So when the Jews heard this, they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. They cast him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul, also known as Paul, and they stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. So Stephen is stoned here, and this is basically the last straw for Israel. They killed all the prophets, they crucified Christ, and now they stone Stephen. It's three strikes and you're out. For all practical purposes at this moment, God has set them aside. The dispensation of law overlaps with the dispensation of grace. But at this point in time, God is through dealing with Israel until, okay, keep that word in mind, until. But at this point, the next major thing that happens is Acts chapter nine, where Saul is saved on the road to Damascus. He becomes Paul. His name isn't changed. He was given two names at birth. The purpose of the grace message is to show that God wants all men to be saved. The Gentiles were set aside when Abram was chosen, and now the Jews are set aside. So you have the Jews and Gentiles apart from God. God's ministry is reconciliation. He's bringing them back together and forming what's called the body of Christ. 
Let's go to Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4, if I get there, then we can read. Ephesians chapter four. This is Maybe I shouldn't have gone here, but I'm gonna read this anyway, okay? These are the seven unities of the body of Christ. There is one body, one spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. Not the harp on it, but I'm gonna hit on it again, okay? It says one baptism, and that is important. It's the baptism. when we are saved and we are baptized into the body of Christ. We can't overstate that because if you do not see the one baptism, you're gonna get caught up in the rest of the scriptures. Baptism originated in the Old Testament. It was a cleansing for the priests, a physical cleansing for the priests. That's the origination of baptism. It's not John the Baptist coming on the scene introducing Christ. This water baptism started back in the Old Testament. And the baptism we have here is spiritual baptism. That is important. Thanks for watching! Colossians 2:14. What did the death of Christ? do at that point in time. Bernie read in Colossians this morning, which was an excellent way to move into the scriptures today. Colossians 2, verse 14. What did the... Cross of Christ accomplished. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. The law has been nailed to the cross. We cannot keep the law. We are not under the law. We are under grace. And our responsibility for this day and age is in Romans 16:25, which I'm sure everybody also knows. Romans 16:25. Once again, this is the Apostle Paul speaking. It says, now to him that is power to establish you according to my gospel, Paul calls it his gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, how according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, what is now made manifest by the scriptures and prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. This dispensation will end. Let's go to 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. I take that back. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Somebody, I'll have to find out who wrote number two down here. Hold him accountable. First Thessalonians chapter four. time we are living in the dispensation of grace will come to an end first that's lonely as chapter four let's restarted verse thirteen says but i would not have you to be ignorant brother and concerning those which are asleep or dead that you sorrow not even have up even as others which have no hope for if we believe that jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in jesus will god bring with him For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent or precede those which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. When Christ returns, he's not coming back to the earth at this point in time. He's gonna meet the believers in the air. And that is important because the kingdom, the law gospel will tell you that he's coming back. The second coming, he's coming to the earth. That's true. Through their dispensation, through ours, he's meeting us in the air. We're gonna be taken out of this world and we're gonna spend eternity with Christ in heaven. And this is called the Day of Christ. The unsaved left on this earth will go through the tribulation, the seven-year tribulation. And whether they make it through that tribulation is another thing, because so many people will perish during that time. 
The seventh dispensation is tribulation and the Millennium. The Millennium lasts 1,000 years. That's the kingdom that God will set up on this earth. Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem. This is called the Day of the Lord. God will dispense wrath upon the earth. The wrath of God is listed 12 times in the Book of Revelation. Read Revelation. A prophetic program will resume, and what's been predicted in scriptures will start. Prophecy clock, which ended with the stoning of Stephen, will start up again with the departure of the church. So the tribulation lasts seven years. It's called Jacob's Trouble. It's listed, and you'll find it in Isaiah 24, Matthew 24. And this will end with the second coming of Christ to Earth. Christ will set up his kingdom in Jerusalem. He will return to the Mount of Olives, the very place he left in the Book of Acts when he ascended up to heaven after his death. Zechariah 14:4 will tell you his feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, the very place where he ascended. From. Men will continue to sin against God during the millennium. Isaiah 65:20 will tell you that. There'll be rebellion at the end of the thousand years. Then judgment, the end of the age. Chastening of Israel is in Matthew 25. Punishing of the nations of the world is Matthew 25. All of the unsaved of all ages and dispensations will stand before the white throne judgment. and be condemned to spend eternity in the lake of fire. Dispensation eight is eternity. Ephesians 1:10 says that Christ will gather all things together. There'll be a renovation of heaven and earth. The Body of Christ will reign. and Christ will be in heaven, we will be with him. Ephesians 2:6, and 7. Those saved under the prophetic program, which is not the age of grace, will reign with Christ from Jerusalem on a renovated earth. Let's flip to Revelation 21:1. Through the tribulation period, the earth will be virtually destroyed. Heavens and the earth. I'm gonna sneak back here for a second. You don't have to turn there. Second Peter chapter three. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy citizenship and godliness? Look for in hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Let me flip to Revelation 21:1. John is speaking here and what does he see at the end of time? A new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. So there will be a new heaven, a new earth. That is a constant. They have been set apart since the beginning of time. Israel was never guaranteed heaven. They were guaranteed a kingdom on earth. We are guaranteed citizenship in heaven. At that time, I believe heaven and earth will be open to all saved people will be able to travel back and forth to both locations, but our citizenship is in heaven. At that point, there'll be no more failures, no more judgment, and no more tears. Let's finish up here. There's truth. The truth taught throughout scripture that apply to us, all God's promises are true, but not all God's promises are for you. If they contradict Paul's message, they're not for us in this age. The very first division in scripture is in Genesis 1:1, where it says in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. They were separated at that point in time, and they stayed separated until the end of time. That is a permanent division in scripture. Peter talks about restoring again the kingdom to Israel, the former earthly kingdom. Paul talks about, meet him in the clouds and we'll be forever with him. For by grace he is saved through faith, it is a gift of God. And I talked about early life before, about my early life. 
The sign on our side of the barn where we lived was built in 1878. That's two years after Custer died at the Little Big Horn. My father was born in 1927, two years before Wyatt Earp died. We're talking almost 100 years from that point, okay? Time waits for nobody. We don't have, we don't know how much time we have on this earth, okay? Scripture says now is the day of salvation. Not next year, not 10 years from now. We don't know when Christ will take out the body and the tribulation comes. So if you haven't, trust the Lord as your savior today. Time is short. 
Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy and grace that we simply need to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation. May we all come to that realization very, very soon. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.