Eagle Wings
Ministry
That Those of the Jewish Faith would be Saved
In the times before the current era (i.e., AD, or CE) the Scriptures given to Israel indicated that major events were the result of God’s sovereign will. With the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem the requirements of the Law could no longer be fulfilled. During those times the means of atonement of one’s sins was lost. Sacrifices for the forgiveness of the people were no longer available. All that was left was, and still is for those of Jewish faith, hope in God for a restoration of the basis of righteousness.
Indeed, since God is sovereign, especially in matters of righteousness and salvation, by denying the Temple, He must have a provided a different means for the individual to be justified. The era of the “Law” went into an intermission until the time of the restoration of all things.
Since the “Law” for righteousness has been put aside then God has reverted to that which preceded the Law and circumcision via the promise to Abraham. God’s promise to Abraham involved promise of a son and future inheritance of the earth. Abraham’s trust in God and obedience to offer his son was an illustration of what God himself would do. He would send His “servant” who was His Son who became the sacrifice to fulfill the requirements of the Law. The prophets declared this event in many ways.
Malachi 4:2 declares,
2 But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
The “Sun of Righteousness” is none other than God’s Son, the Messiah. The prophet also declared:
Mal 3:1-3
"Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,"
Says the Lord of hosts.
2 "But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner's fire
And like launderers' soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.
Indeed, God’s messenger did arrive with a message of repentance and renewal in baptism in the person of John the Baptist. Notice that God speaks of Himself through the prophet. The messenger "will prepare the way before Me and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple". Please note that the Hebrew word for "Lord" is the most holy and, for those of the Jewish faith, the unspoken name of God. In these modern times they refer to Him as Hashem which means "the name". This term does not apply to a mere human Messiah similar to King David that they were expecting. The Messiah, or anointed one, is also the one the prophet Isaiah identified as "Immanuel" meaning God with us. (Isaiah 7:14).
The messenger identified the Messiah, God's Son who did arrive suddenly to The Temple. And, the promise is that for “Those who fear my Name” The “Sun” “will arise” in their heart. They will experience the “healing” of their sins before God through faith in the sacrifice of His Son. They will receive the “righteousness” that comes through trusting in Jesus Christ, whose Hebrew name is Yeshua, meaning “God is Salvation”. The "offering in righteousness" is the result of being refined and renewed to understand the offer presented to Abraham. That is, to believe in and trust in the promise of God rather than to depend on religious works.
Kosher living may indeed be good for one’s health but doesn’t atone for one’s sins. Observing the Torah holy days and loving one’s neighbor as one’s self is honorable, yet, will not atone for one’s sins. Only the sacrifice that God provided will suffice.
With the closing of God’s Word (for the previous era, BC) with the writings of the prophet Malachi, the next event was to be the arrival of the Lord. He did arrive. He is described as the “Sun” because He was to be the “replacement of the temple” for atonement of sins in a new era. The gift of His righteousness is imparted to those who choose to believe in Him and His sacrifce to atone for mankind's sins. They enter into the new “Day” (era) of righteousness apart from the observance of the Law.
God’s holy Word comes with both blessings and warnings. God's word thru the prophet declares, those who reject the message will have neither “root or branch” in the future Kingdom of God.
[Note: It is important to understand that the Messiah first had to suffer and be sacrificed as the Lamb of God. Abraham prophetically declared, when Isacc asked him "where is the sacrifice", that "God Himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice", Gen 22:8. This was prophetic both in the near and far time frame. The Lord declared through Isaiah that this person would bear the sins of His people, Isa 53. It was revealed to King David that The Lord would not allow His "Holy One" to see corruption, Ps 16. This indicated the Messiah's ressurection from the dead. Thus, according to the Scriptures the Messiah will come the second time to ascend to David's throne. Zechariah prophesied concerning His first coming, as "lowly and riding on a donkey", Zec 8. And a second time later in history as King over the nations, Zec 14. And, in Zech 12:10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo." This mystery is declared in God's Word through the prophets and is unveiled to the minds of those who seek the Lord in repentance and sincerity of heart.]