I. Israel’s National Promises. II. Messianic Prophecies In The Psalms. III. Judgments At The End Of The Age.

I. Israel’s National Promises.

 A. The Old Testament made certain promises to the nation Israel. The vast majority of the promises of future blessing and glory were given, not to individuals to buoy their hope, but were given to the nation as the basis of their confidence and expectation. These promises rest on the eternal and unconditional covenants which God made with the nation and which find their fulfillment by the nation itself. The Abrahamic covenant, as originally stated in Genesis 12:1-3, and reiterated in Genesis 13:14-17; 15:1-21 and 17:1-18, while it included certain individual promises to Abraham, concerned itself with a posterity in the line of Abraham and their possession of the land given to Abraham by promise. All subsequent covenant promises are reiterations, enlargements, and clarifications of parts of this original covenant made through Abraham with the nation and establish certain national promises and hopes. The Davidic covenant, stated in 2 Samuel 7:4-17, and reiterated in Psalm 89, takes the promises concerning the seed in the original Abrahamic covenant and makes that seed the subject of an enlarged promise, as a kingdom, a house, and a throne is promised to the seed. While this promise is made to David and includes certain individual blessings to him, yet the fulfillment of this promise is found in the nation itself, not in individuals from that nation.  

B. The Land covenant, first stated in Deuteronomy 30:1-10, takes the promises in the Abrahamic covenant which are concerned with the land and enlarges on that portion of the covenant. This is a promise of possession of and blessing in the land that was given to the nation as a whole. Deuteronomy 30:6, which says “The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed,” shows clearly that the promises stated therein were national. The new covenant, stated in Jeremiah 31:31-34, takes the promises of blessing found in the original Abrahamic covenant and makes those promises the subject of enlargement. The New Testament makes it clear that this promise is to be fulfilled only by the conversion of the nation at the second advent of Christ. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins [Rom. 11:26-27]. Thus it will be observed that all Israel’s hopes were based on the four determinative covenants which God made with them, that these covenants confirmed certain national hopes and blessings and necessitate the preservation, continuity, and restoration of the nation if they are to be fulfilled literally.   

C.  The kingdom Scriptures of the Old Testament are occupied largely with the character and glory of Messiah’s reign, the promises to Israel of restoration and earthly glory, the universal blessings to Gentiles, and the deliverance of creation itself. There is little revealed in the Old Testament Scripture concerning the responsibility of the individual in the kingdom; it is rather a message to the nation as a whole. Evidently the details concerning individual responsibility were, in the mind of the Spirit, reserved for the personal teaching of the King, at the time when the kingdom would be “at hand.” 2 Thus we see that the Old Testament was occupied with national promises and programs and not primarily individual expectation.

II. Messianic Prophies In The Psalms (got questions.org)

A. The book of Psalms is a collection of inspired songs used in worship of God, and many of them foretell the coming of the Messiah and predict events that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ. In total, twenty-five different psalms (one out of every six psalms) include at least one messianic prophecy. Messianic psalms are quoted in eleven New Testament books, especially the gospels and the book of Acts. Below are nearly seventy specific references to Christ in the Psalms fulfilled in the New Testament. Some scholars see additional allusions, but we’ve only included those with the clearest connections to Jesus. The following list provides the reference(s) in Psalms where each prophecy is found and the New Testament fulfillment. Concerning the Messiah’s birth:

1. The Messiah will come from the lineage of David (Psalm 89:3–4, 29–36; 132:11–17; Matthew 1:1).
2. The Messiah will come for all people (Psalm 18:49; Ephesians 3:4–6).
3. The Messiah will know His Father from childhood (Psalm 22:9; Luke 2:40).
4. The Messiah will be called by God while still in the womb (Psalm 22:10; Luke 1:30–33).

B. Psalm 147:15-20 (New Life Version).

15 He sends His Word to the earth. And His Word runs fast. 16 He gives snow like wool. He spreads ice like ashes. 17 He throws down His ice as hail stones. Who can stand before His cold? 18 He sends out His Word and melts them. He makes His wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He speaks His Word to Jacob, and His Law to Israel. 20 He has not done this with any other nation. They do not know His Law. Praise the Lord!

1. The psalmist acknowledges God’s unique election of Israel from among all the nations (Gen 12:1-3; Ex 19:5-6; Dt 7:6-8; 14:2; 26:18, 19; 2 Sam 7:23-24; Ezek 16:1-7) MacArthur Study Bible.

2. His Word commands the forces of nature (vv 15-18), but particularly communicated His laws to Israel, thus distinguishing her from all other nations (vv 19-20). The book of Psalms was the hymnal for the Jewish people (Ryrie Study Bible).

3. The greatest display of grace from this great and powerful God to Israel, was that He gave His word, His revelation, to her and to no other nation (The Bible Knowledge Commentary). 

4. Scofield Study Bible, the 147th Psalm: God praised for regathering Israel. 

III. Judgments At The End Of The Age, Matthew 25:1-13. 

A. The familiar illustration of the ten virgins, as presented in Matthew 25, is a further effort by Messiah to drive home the necessity of watchfulness and preparation for His second coming. An oriental wedding had three stages: first, the legal marriage arranged by the parents of the bridegroom and the bride; second, the traditional ceremony, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his friends, would proceed from his home to the home of the bride and claim her as his own; third, the marriage feast held at the home of the bridegroom.

2. The illustration presumes that the legal marriage has already taken place and can reasonably be identified with the marriage of Christ and the church, already consummated following the rapture. When Christ returns at His second coming, He will bring His bride with Him. The five virgins who bring oil in their vessels illustrate those that are ready for His return. The five foolish maidens, although outwardly prepared, are not really ready. When the time comes for the marriage feast, they are not prepared to enter into the procession and join the feast.

3. Although interpretation is not given in this passage, oil may be taken here as representative of the Holy Spirit and His work of salvation. When Christ comes to earth with His bride, only those prepared by new birth, on the earth, will enter into the wedding feast, which is fulfilled in the millennial kingdom age. Some commentators desire to apply the ten virgins to the church in the present age. The fact that the word then is used in 25:1 seems to refer to the second coming of Christ to the earth.

a. It is preferable to interpret the above, strictly in the context of the second coming of Christ. Actually, the bride, the church, is not in view waiting for anything to happen. Although the Syriac and Vulgate versions of verse 1 read that they “went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride;” Christ will bring His bride with Him. The important point here, as in the preceding illustration, is that preparation should precede the second coming of Christ and that it will be too late when He comes.

b. What is true of the second coming is, of course, also true of the rapture, and believers today can derive a secondary application of this passage for their own need. In our modern world, where superficial religion is all too evident, this passage reminds us once again that apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the oil, no one is ready for the coming of the Lord.

c. The imagery of the “wedding feast” is used to represent the Kingdom of God (which is also known as the millennium), indicating that it is a celebration to which all are invited, but especially those who might not be considered worthy by societal standards or personal history. Messiah teaches that the Kingdom of God subverts worldly expectations and values, emphasizing humility, grace, and the joyous celebration that awaits those who respond to God’s gracious call. It’s a powerful reminder of the transformative nature of God’s love and the inclusive community that He is building. In the following order, the second coming of Christ takes place at the end of the Tribulation; the judgments of Messiah follow for those whom have survived the Tribulation.  Following the judgments, those whom are judged to be righteous (believe in Messiah) enter the earthly millennial Kingdom Age (Kingdom Of God) (Mt 25:34). Those whom are judged to be unrighteous (not believe in Messiah) are taken “in death” (Mt 25:41) to eternal punishment (Rev 20:11-15) which takes place at the end of the kingdom age. Mt 25:45-46 describes the unrighteous and righteous Gentile judgments. Mt 24:40-41 describes the judgment upon Jews, being taken in judgment to punishment, and those being left behind to enter the kingdom age. Mt 24:40-41 is the fulfillment of Ezek 20:36-38 (from vs 33-44), where Yahweh tells Israel of 593 B.C. that they will pass under the rod of judgment at the end of the Tribulation. 

B. Events leading to the Wedding Feast.

1. John 14:1-3 (The rapture of the church). Yeshua also states in John 14:6 that He is the only way that we can travel to heaven, which makes this verse 1-6 context more than one of belief. Two other rapture examples are found in 1 Thes 4:13-18 and 1 Cor 15:50-58. As has been mentioned before in these articles, “catching up” is the teaching for rapture (English); rapio (Latin); harpazo (Greek). Harpazo also relates to a harpoon effect of being snatched up. 

2. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (The bema judgment; judgment seat of Christ; for rewards, not a place to determine salvation, and is only for believers in Christ.) One’s eternal destiny is by faith in Christ (Jn 3:16; Eph 2:8-9) but deeds issuing from that faith (1 Thes 1:3) will be evaluated). This event takes place in heaven, after the rapture takes place. In this verse (10) “bad” means “worthless.” 

3. Revelation 19:7-8 (The Marriage Of The Lamb). Continuing the praise of the Lord their God, the great multitude in heaven now announce a major feature of the Lord’s reign upon earth, namely, His marriage to His bride. In verse 7, the great multitude express their joy that the marriage of the Lamb has come and that His wife has made herself ready. The marriage of the Lamb occurs in heaven. 

4. Revelation 19: 11-21. The second coming of Messiah. The return of Christ to earth with His saints at the end of the Tribulation (Zech 14:1-4, 9; Matt 24:29-30), precedes the Wedding Feast, which takes place on earth. 

John 3:1-21 (UASV)

Conversation with Nicodemus

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one is able to perform these signs that you perform unless God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter into the womb of his mother for the second time and be born, can he?”

A Physical and Natural Illustration

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born from water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ The one having been born from the flesh is flesh, and the one having been born from the spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘It is necessary for you to be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it wants, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone having been born from the spirit.”

The Humbling of Nicodemus

⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ Truly, truly I say to you, we speak what we know, and we bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony! ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe; how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ And no one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of man. ¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone believing in him will have eternal life.”

Summary of Salvation and Judgment

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, in order that whoever believes in him will not be destroyed but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ The one who believes in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their works were wicked. ²⁰ For the one who practices wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be exposed. ²¹ But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, in order that his works may be revealed that they are accomplished in God.

John 2:18-25 (UASV)

Ignorance of the Jewish Leaders

¹⁸ So the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered  and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰ Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. ²² When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Insincerity of the Jewish People

²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus himself was not entrusting himself to them, because he knew all men ²⁵ and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

John 1:19-34

The Testimony of John

¹⁹ This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

²⁴ Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵ They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. ²⁷ It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹ The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ³¹ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” ³² John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. ³³ I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:6-13

The Witness John

⁶ There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

⁹ There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:1-5

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. ⁵ The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.