Cannot Be Shaken

The Israelites wanted a king so they chose Saul according to his outward appearance. But the Lord had a different plan - the shepherd boy David because of his heart. So, the Lord anointed David as king yet David had to wait over 20 years to begin his rule. TWENTY years. During this time Saul's *obsolete* rule continued (and caused David quite a bit of grief). David and the people looked forward with anticipation to the *last days* of Saul's reign, for he was a terrible king - a king chosen by the people, not by the Lord.

This was a shadow of things to come.

About 1000 years later, Jesus Christ, from the line of David, was anointed King after His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father, where He sits on the eternal throne of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16). At that time, the Old Covenant law of Moses was rendered obsolete (Heb. 8:13), yet it continued day after day for another 40 years. FORTY years (and caused the Christians quite a bit of grief). Day after day bulls and goats continued to be sacrificed, in spite of the fact the perfect once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus had already been offered. This 40 year period was the period during which the entire New Testament was written. The writers of the New Testament looked forward with anticipation to the *last days* of the obsolete Mosaic covenant, for it was a terrible covenant - a covenant chosen by the people, not by the Lord (Deut. 5:27). It was a covenant concerning outward appearances, rather than heart. The prayers of the first Christians were finally answered in AD 70, with the destruction of Jerusalem and the entire Temple sacrificial system, including the Levitical priesthood and genealogical records which ensured the temple sacrificial system could never legitimately rise again.

While the Lord Jesus may have wonderful future events planned for us, the "last days" which the New Testament speaks of are behind us.

It was the period from 30AD to 70AD, when the New Testament was written, right before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. It was exactly 40 years, which happened to be considered one Jewish generation. 

Interestingly, in Matthew chapter 24 Jesus prophesied all of this would happen. In fact, He said, "This generation will not pass away until all these things have been fulfilled." The generation He was talking about was THAT generation - those living at 30AD when He spoke those words to them. Essentially He was saying to the people living in 30AD, "some of you standing here will see all this happen before you die."

And they did - in 70AD.

Do not fear. Jesus is on the throne, the New Covenant is an eternal covenant and "we live in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken."

"By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear." - Hebrews 8:13 (written in 65AD)