August 10, 2007

Premillennial Nuggets - Acts 15:12-18
The Restoration of the Nation Israel

[The following is a selection taken from the Parousia #14 newsletter by Charles Cooper.]

And all the multitude kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God has done through them among the Gentiles. And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying “Brethren, listen to me. Simeon [Peter, the Apostle] has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, in order that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.” (Italics added)

Acts 15:12-18 is a very important text [...] concerning [the debate on] the future salvation of Israel (the nation). The text follows the first church council convened in Jerusalem to discuss Gentiles conversion and inclusion in the church. After Peter, Barnabas and Paul defended God’s work among the Gentiles, James offers a summary statement concerning God’s work and the church’s instructions to the new Gentile converts. The quoted passage above offers four very important insights. First, James understands God’s work among Gentiles as the taking of “a people for His name.” Second, the taking of “a people for His name,” is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. James specifically refers to Amos 9:11-12. The third insight James offers is that Jesus “will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David…” This refers to the restoration of Israel under Davidic rule which Jeremiah 30:9 promises. The fourth and final insight James offers concerns timing. Notice the beginning of verse 16 again. After these things is an alteration of In that day which occurs in the original passage in Amos 9:11. James, under the Holy Spirit’s direction instructs the church that David’s restoration will follow the “taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.”

The importance of Acts 15:12-18 must be seen in light of Acts 1:6-8. Instead of thinking that the kingdom would come immediately, the Apostles finally understood that God’s future program for Israel (the nation) would follow His program for the Gentiles. Thus, Luke is consistent in both his Gospel and the book of Acts. God in a future day is going to restore the fortunes of Israel.