Understanding the Old Testament Prophets Through the Lens of Covenant / People of Promise

When Will All of These Covenant Promises Happen

Acts 3, Zechariah 10, Romans 11, Revelation 16-19

November 13, 2022

I. Introduction:

A. We have learned in this series that God has joyfully bound himself

by means of covenants to carry out promises he made to Abraham,

David, and Israel. We also learned that we are heirs of these

covenant promises, because we also are the seed of Abraham

because we belong to Jesus.

B. What are all these covenant promises? Remember when I first

introduced this series I said that all the prophecies have their roots

in the covenants so when we make sense of the covenant promises

it will make sense of the prophecies as well.

1. Like a puzzle it simply takes a picture and cuts it in as many

pieces as they desire- could be 1,000 pieces could be 16

pieces. While the picture is still the same it is much easier to

figure out when we see the whole picture in just 20 pieces.

a. 1,000 piece puzzle

b. 16 piece puzzle

C. So what are these key pieces? The covenant promises that God

joyfully bound himself to do!

1. Abrahamic – God promised Abraham

a. A land forever

b. Innumerable descendants

c. Blessings

d. In his seed all the nations will be blessed

e. God will be their god forever

2. Deuteronic – God promised Israel in spite of their

disobedience and discipline that he would grant them

a. Future repentance of Israel

b. Restoration to the land

c. Regathered from dispersion

d. Nation converted

e. Israel’s enemies will be judged

f. Nation receive full blessings in the land

3. Davidic –God promised David that from his line would be a

a. King forever

b. Kingdom forever

c. Reign forever

4. New covenant – God promised Israel that for his own name

sake he would

a. Spiritual blessing – forgiven, new heart, the Holy

Spirit.

b. Abiding material blessings in the land

B. That is the literal 16 piece puzzle of prophecy which drives the

hundreds of verses on prophecy that describe in detail what these

things will be like.

1. The Bible teaches us that there are two main pieces of prophecy

puzzle.

a. 1 Peter 1:10-11

b. The two main pieces are:

1. Suffering of Christ

2. The glories to follow!

• So my question today is simple “when are these glories that follow

Jesus’ sufferings

II. When will all the covenant promises take place?

A. We learned in the new covenant that certain aspects of the

covenant – the part of being in fellowship with God – forgiven and a

new heart indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we already participate in but many

of the sixteen pieces we just saw are yet to be fulfilled!

B. We also know from the New Testament and Jesus’ words

that when it comes to his kingdom we are in a position of already

not yet.

1. Already means we are enjoying the first fruits of the kingdom

of God right now in a spiritual sense, a spiritual kingdom where

Jesus rules over the hearts of the children of God from the right

hand of the throne of God in heaven

2. But the not yet means our hope is found in the future when the

fullness of a literal earthly kingdom where all the promises of

the covenants will be fulfilled. Then Jesus will rule over the

entire earth from his throne where he will sit on it in

Jerusalem.

a. We, the church, during that time will reign with Jesus

in that kingdom.

b. The way we live our lives today determines just what

role we will have in the reign

C. So some aspects of the covenant promises and the kingdom

of God we are already experiencing much like the first fruits as a

guarantee of the rest to come in the future.

1. According to Ephesians 1, that is why we have been given the

Spirit, a pledge, down payment, a guarantee of our future

redemption and inheritance!

D. Let’s see in the Bible when all these things will happen!

1. We already learned there are two key categories to prophecy –

Jesus’ suffering and the glories to follow. Now look at what we

learn in Acts 3:17-21. Where we see the same two categories

but with a bit more detail! Turn

a. Read

b. Tells us that in Jesus’ first coming he fulfilled the Old

Testament prophecies concerning his sufferings

c. When he returns he will fulfill the Old Testament prophecies

concerning the restoration of all things. restoration = kingdom =

glories

2. At Jesus’ return is when he fully sets up his kingdom.

a. Key verses that shows Christ’s kingdom is in the future

1. Matthew 19:28 = regeneration equals restoration of Acts

3.

2. Matthew 25:31- says at Jesus’ return is the time he will

sit on his glorious throne!

3. Revelation 3:21 – Jesus speaking to the church in

Laodicea said, “In the future you will sit down on my

throne with me just as he is seated now on the Father’s

throne, at his right hand.”

b. He makes a distinction here between the Father’s throne now and

Jesus’ own throne in the future! I love to trace the place of Jesus on the

throne.

1. In Old Testament – Father and Son on throne

2. While Jesus was on earth – the Father

3. After Jesus ascended into heaven – right hand of the

Father

4. During future millennium – Jesus on his throne in

Jerusalem

5. Eternity – Father and Son on the throne

together! Revelation 22:3

3. Romans 9- 11 indicates that God still has a future plan for

Israel. Romans 11:11-15 – stumble = trip, fall = cease;

a. V16-17 – Gentiles grafted in with Israel, not in place of them.

b. V24 Israel will be grafted back in- key word “will”

c. V25-28 - Israel will enter back into God’s covenant program after

the fullness of the Gentiles have come in,

1. Note the words mystery and until

2. We see first that this is the time when Jesus returns – the

deliverer will come

3. It is at the time Israel sins will be forgiven. - We know

that is the new covenant.

4. So the new covenant goes into effect for Israel when

Jesus returns. When the new covenant goes into effect,

as the catalyst covenant, the covenant that activates all

the other covenants so they go into effect at the return of

Jesus.

4. Zechariah 12:1-3 – nations gathered for war against

Jerusalem and Judah

a. Revelation gives us the heavenly view of this war. Revelation

16:13-14,16; 17:12-14; 19:17-21 -

1. Satan and his demons against the Lamb and his chosen

ones

b. Zechariah teaches us the earthly human view of the

war - all the nations against Judah and Jerusalem

c. Zechariah 12:8-11 – Jesus returns to defend Israel, and

Israel repents when they see Jesus and new covenant

begins. Read

d. Zechariah 13:1-2 – forgiveness

e. Zechariah 13:8-9 – 2/3 of Israel is judged and 1/3 is

saved all Israel, 1/3 left at that time saved – read Romans

11:26

f. Zechariah 14:9, 16-17 – the outcomes of this war

F. We see all of these things come together in the future in four major

passages (Jeremiah 32:36-42 & Jeremiah 33:7-9, 14-26; Ezekiel

36:16-36 & Ezekiel 37:21-28)– I want to read just one of

them. Ezekiel 37:21-28

F. While the terms or promises of the new covenant were made in the

Old Testament during the time of Ezekiel, the new covenant was

ratified by Jesus through the shedding of his blood at the cross, but

the complete enactment, fulfillment of the new covenant will take

place at the return of Christ.

1. How does that make sense – work out a deal to buy a house and

you agreed upon the terms last week. But the contract will not

be signed until the end of next week, that is when it is ratified,

but you will not take possession of the house until the start of

next year.

III. Application

A. So what do we do right now while we are waiting for Jesus’

return? Suggest just two

1. Many Christians are trying to turn the 16 piece puzzle into a

1000 piece puzzle by trying to mix current events and Bible

prophecies so we can figure out who is who and when it will

happen? But that in not what God’s word tells us to do!

2. Let me suggest two things: First listen to 1 Peter 1:13

a. Fix your hope completely on the grace and glory yet to come at

Jesus’ second coming.

b. Do you have your hope fixed there or in your political party or

the rebound of the stock market?

3. Secondly, listen to Jesus’ counsel on how to operate while

waiting for his return and not knowing the exact time.

a. Read Matthew 24:42-47

b. More important than figuring out the puzzle is doing the will of

God for our lives!

c. Do you know what God’s will is for your life –

1. It is different than mine because your gifts, passion,

calling are all different than mine

2. If not read this book and talk to someone mature

3. If you do, then do it