Simchat Torah and Soteriology*

Simchat Torah is the eighth day celebration of the Torah that comes at the end of the seven day Feast of Tabernacles. It celebrates the end of the readings of Moses, and the renewed cycle of Torah readings, starting back at the beginning with Genesis. It is considered a day of "new beginnings". Before we begin, however, we must take a moment to first pray for Jerusalem and Israel as they have come under attack, as the Word commands, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem...". This present outbreak of war comes fifty years to the day when Israel was last at war with her neighbors. This is a deadly sibling rivalry over the covenant made by God regarding the land, and the people of His inheritance. However, God also promised to bless all of the seed of Abraham. Other nations, like Persia/Iran, and even Russia, interfere in this situation for their own agendas. Soteriology, as mentioned in the title of today's message, is the study of beliefs and doctrines concerning salvation. Salvation cannot be relegated to a study, however, because salvation is based upon a relationship with God. The Bible is not like any other book. The Word of God is prophetic, and it is prophetic concerning these current events. The prophet Amos brought the Word of the LORD to the whole family of God's (aleph-tav) children whom He brought up out of Egypt: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities...Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:1-2, 7-8). Amos 9, which you can read for homework, says that the LORD will bring His people back to the land from all over the world, even those who do not know that they are part of Israel! We have seen this in our lifetime. Through His prophet Ezekiel, the LORD again says that He will bring His people back to their own land from among the heathen. After doing so, God promised that He will do a miraculous spiritual work within them: "...I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you...and cause you to walk in my statutes...keep my judgments...and do them. And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." (Ezek. 36:24-28). The LORD also promises to multiply all of the fruit and produce of the fields of their land which had been desolate. All of these things would cause Israel to repent for their iniquities and abominations, and "the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. (v. 29-36). We have seen this return to Israel, and we have seen Israel become a garden in the middle of a desert, as the LORD kept these promises. He did these things not for the sake of Israel, but for the sake of keeping His prophetic Word, even above His own name. Ezekiel again prophesied the Word of the LORD regarding Israel as Israel appeared to be dried bones, without hope. The LORD then said: "Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD...and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD...And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant...and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever." (Ezek. 37:11-14, 25). This is not up to debate - the command will stand forever. Other nations and other gods have no claim to this land. God has made a covenant of peace with those who have been given this land, an everlasting covenant. God's sanctuary and tabernacle will be placed in their midst. Again the LORD commanded that by these things, "...I will be their God, and they shall be my people...the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore." (v. 26-28). God said it, and will do it. Ezekiel also prophesied that "in the latter years", certain nations would be compelled to attack Israel after its people had been brought back to the land, and were living peacefully. These attacking nations will include Russia (Magog, Meshech, Tubal), and the spiritual power that rules it, Gog, and the nations of Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, Lybia, Gomer, and Togarmah from the north. Other nations ask these invading nations in that day, "Have you come to take a spoil?" (Ezek. 38:1-13). Where will the United States be among the nations regarding Israel? Many believe that the U.S. is indicated in scripture in Isa. 18. Zephaniah wrote that the LORD's indignation and the fire of His jealousy will be poured out upon and devour the kingdoms of the earth: "For then to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent...The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth...and none shall make them afraid. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem...The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing...At that time, will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD." (Zeph. 3:8-17, 20). The jealous fire poured out from the LORD that devours the earth sounds very similar to a nuclear war. After the nation of Israel was re-established, the spoken Hebrew language was also resurrected after two thousand years: the pure language God prophesied. We are living in a time when we can see these prophecies come to pass! The prophet Zechariah also wrote regarding the nations that would lay seige against Jerusalem and Judah. Those nations in turn would be cut to pieces themselves by the "burdensome stone" of Jerusalem..."and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem." (Zech. 12:3-6). Other nations and people may desire Jerusalem for themselves and for the throne of their gods, but the LORD has spoken. In that day, this is the promise of the LORD: "The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first...In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them...I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." (v. 7-9). As the other prophets mentioned above, not on;ly will this be a physical defeat of the enemies of Israel and God, but the LORD will also pour out His spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David and Jerusalem, "and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (v. 10). The Messiah Himself shall be revealed to Jerusalem, and they shall know Him by his piercings. Isaiah says that they will see His marred form, and the prophet then asked, "Who will believe our report...?". Jesus has not been accepted by the Jewish people, except for those who, in this last generation especially, have had Jesus revealed to them. Now, all will see and know. One way that the pierced and marred Messiah, Jesus, may be revealed is by the Shroud of Turin. Several times, fire has tried to destroy this burial cloth that testifies to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Many times, scoffers have tried to discredit the authenticity of the Shroud, including the use of false carbon dating, but have been unsuccessful when confronted by the true facts. The apostle Paul wrote in the New Testament about the fact that, while the Jewish people seek to fulfill their own righteousness through the Law, salvation's righteousness is achieved through faith. Paul wrote that this righteousness by faith speaks, saying: "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Rom. 10:1-17, excerpt). Paul quotes Isaiah, to explain the prevailing unbelief: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" (v. 16). As Paul also pointed out, and as we read earlier, the LORD will not leave His people in unbelief, but will do an inner work of cleansing in their hearts: "God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew...Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace...blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 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...as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom. 11:1-5, 25-29). Presently, there is a remnant, but God has promised that all Israel shall be saved. No one knows of whom all of Israel is comprised, but God knows. The gifts and election of God are eternal, not learned. As we see the destruction of our nation, and the planet, our prayer and cry should be, "Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus!" America, I am again calling you to repentance. *Based upon the 10/8/23 message of Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. to the Church. To hear the full message, look for Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. You can contact this ministry at PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705.