What is the difference between "Zion" and "Sion"?

What is the difference between "Zion" and "Sion"?

Brian Kelson of Acts 28.net responds:

Zion or Sion, same place, is a mountain upon which the Lord, after He descends at the last Trumpet, will rebuild the Millennial Temple and from where He will reign and the kings of the earth bring tribute to Him. When Hebrews was written those saints had "come" to wonderful things on 2 grounds.

1. The Hebrews were those who had drawn near to Christ by faith. This means they had drawn near to all the privileges those of faith enjoyed when they endured, kept going unto perfection. But they hadn't reached the end yet and Hebrews appeals to them to keep going.

They were thus members of the elect remnant which would share with Abraham in the inner portion of the Promised Land. Thus they had drawn near to (come to) all the privileges that company were given in Christ. They, not the entire nation, would be with Christ where Christ would dwell, on His holy Hill. They had drawn near to the very center of the earthly Kingdom. However, being justified by faith through grace was one thing and continuing in obedience to the end was the other, that is being perfected. Justification THEN the added perfection. Their participation in the glory written about in Hebrews 12 was theirs IF they continued. Only then would they share in that great festive assembly with the spirits of (other) just men made perfect. Hebrews 11 lists ones who were made righteous by faith AND who had kept going.  If they drew back however, gave up, then the Lord would have no pleasure in them and they would miss out on some things. Hebrews is about perfection or perdition or waste the two alternatives. So do you see how much the writer of Hebrews urged them to keep going? They had drawn near, or come to wonderful blessings, but turning back, giving up would be a costly mistake. No one in any dispensation serves the Lord for nought.

2. When Hebrews was written, the trumpet coming of the Lord had "come" that is, had drawn near.

When the Lord returns to the earth with all His angels accompanying Him, those believers (who kept going) would have been taken up to the air to a meeting in the clouds which is commonly called the rapture. They had the honor of going out to meet him like the wise virgins who watched and were ready in Matt.25.

Then they would descend with him to the earth, where a joyous festival gathering would take place on Mount Zion in which they and all those saints who had been perfected would participate.

So they would be on Mount Zion soon after the Lord descended for that marriage supper of the Lamb. They would judge the world and angels, they would be there when the Lord built the millennial Temple and (later) they would be privileged to enter the New Jerusalem which would descend to the same location.

All those things had drawn near when Hebrews was written but were postponed at Acts 28.

RELATED ARTICLE:
 
What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebrews 12 – and how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?

What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebrews 12 – and how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?

What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebrews 12? And how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?

Brian Kelson of Acts28.net responds:

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb.12:22-23 

Question:  

What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebs.12? And how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?

Answer:

When the Lord called Abraham out from his country into the one the Lord had prepared for him, it was designated, “a land I will show you”, Gen.12:1. When Abram arrived in the country it was said “to your seed I will give this land”, Gen.12:7. Then when Abram was invited to walk up and down in the Land it was said, “I will give it (the inner portion) unto you and your seed”, Gen.13:15, 17. Then when the blood was shed, and God made an oath by Himself, the Land was given to Abram’s seed, Gen.15:18. Thus the Land now belonged to Abram’s seed despite the fact the seed was not born and Abraham dwelt in the Land content to live in tents, purchasing only a burial place for his family.

All God’s promises are on resurrection ground. There is suffering to endure before glory and Abraham walked a life of faith and was rewarded because of it.

In our calling today, we have been raised and seated in the heavenly places where Christ is seated at the Father’s right;
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:4-8 

We have been raised and seated in our place of inheritance so far as God’s Word is concerned. There is nothing conditional about this, it is done so far as the Father is concerned and so inspired Paul to write. However, “are we there yet?” Of course not, Colossians tells us when the spiritual truths become a blessed reality;
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col 3:1, 4 

When our Lord appears, then the power already given us, will raise and seat us there just as it did our Lord. In this following passage, please note the power is associated with hope and inheritance;
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph 1:18-20 

To the malefactor it was said “I say unto you today, you shall be with me in paradise”. The malefactor was not instantly in paradise at his death, since the Lord was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, Matt.12:40 and after those three days had not ascended to the Father, see Jn.20:17. The malefactor will enjoy paradise of Revelation when he is resurrected and Revelation is about the coming of the Lord.

We find the context of Hebrews confirms the truth that hope is on resurrection ground. Context must include the immediate, the near and the remote. We must also consider other letters written about the same subjects, including Mount Zion, justification and spirit. Here is the immediate context;
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

We notice from verses 12 through 15 that the writer continues his encouragement thread which has woven its way from the beginning of the epistle. For those who like to compare Scripture, notice the possibility of failing of the grace of God and compare Gals.5:4. Failing of the grace may not be falling from it. To be defiled, v15 is a term associated with the Temple and its services. The lame man healed was able to enter the Temple, leaping and praising God. These things encouraged the Hebrews not to fail of the grace of God, to pick up weary feet and keep going.

This epistle is about leaving the basics and going onto perfection, about striving; enduring like the OT saints listed in chapter 11 and the Lord Himself in 12:1-2. See these verses for the encouragement and warning theme of Hebrews, Hebs.2:1-4, 3:1-2, 12-19. Note the IF and to the end here in 3:14. This was to partake of Christ and His very near glorification, this is not about initial salvation but maturity and being with Abraham in the heavenly city. Also remember 1Cor.10 where the same failures of the past are brought before the Corinthians.

This theme of going onwards with warnings continues in chapters 5:11-6:12, and look at all the encouragement given in chapter 10. The inspiration the list of overcomers gives in chapter 11 must have been a great source of such for these Israelite readers. The writer is encouraging his readers to keep going, to go on despite the obstacles. He then can’t assure them in chapter 12 that they had come to Mount Zion in the real sense or that others had already arrived there. Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem, the very city Abraham stretched forth in faith and saw, is what was in view for those Hebrew readers IF they endure to the end.

Chapter 4 is particularly helpful. Hebrews 4:3 assures them that they which have believed do enter into rest, but that rest had not arrived; it was in view as verse 11 says. So while Paul says they had believed and entered the rest, it was not yet upon them. See also, 4:14 and 16. They were to strive to enter that rest. Yes they had come to Mount Zion, this was their hope, but this was conditional upon their endurance to the end. They were to observe the faithfulness of the saints who had lived before them and the life of Messiah Himself. The final chapter declares Hebrews was a “word of exhortation” and that statement after the final appeal to consider the Lord Jesus, who suffered outside the camp, see 13:10-13.

So what was the end to which they labored and when was it realized? Did the end, the hope they eagerly expected, include Mt Zion, the heavenly City and the spirits of just men made perfect? Of course it did.

But these were not the only things they had “come to”. They had come to an innumerable company of angels, God the judge of all, to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant and the blood of sprinkling. All these things relate to the earthly purpose which was in operation during the Acts period and to these things they had come.

We have already seen in chapter 4 that they had not entered into rest despite the fact it was theirs by faith.

Mount Zion is a feature of the Acts period. Paul referred to Psalm.2 in Acts 13:33 and Ps.2 declares God has set His King on the holy hill of Zion. This was the hope of the Acts period as Roms.11:26 confirms. But when Hebrews and Romans were written, the Lord had not yet descended to sit upon that throne, but it was the hope then.

The New Jerusalem was another thing those Hebrews had come to, and the heavenly city is featured in Gals.4 where Paul wrote, it was the mother of them all. Hebrews writes of Abraham who looked for this same city, 11:10, but he and others had died in faith, not having received the promises. In Hebrews 13, the writer assured them they, like Abraham, had no continuing city but they sought one to come. In other words the New Jerusalem had not arrived but it was very near since the Lord was about to come.

All this is rather obvious, but it sets the stage for the other features in Hebs.12:22-23. Thus far we see in Hebrews that the rest had not been entered, the King was not yet upon His holy hill and the New Jerusalem was coming after He sat upon His throne.

Angels certainly ministered during the Gospel and Acts period, they had searched into the salvation of the Old Testament (1Pet.1:12) and the Lord would descend from heaven with thousands of them in train, 2Thess.1:7. Then these Hebrews would enjoy the company of an innumerable host of them. Just as angels were massed on Mt Sinai, so too they shall be there in a general festive assembly when the Lord washes away the filth of Zion and that marriage supper can take place. This was in view; it was also to this they had come because it too was very near.

The church of the firstborn is those who had been justified by faith and were not despising their firstborn’s position like Esau. Back in Hebrews 11 we read of many who died in faith, their spirits returning to God who gave them, but they would be there in that great general assembly of the heirs, the firstborn at the last Trumpet.

In Hebs.12:9 we see the Father of spirits chastising; correcting resulting in peaceable fruit unto righteousness of works and this results in the life, not of original faith, but life with Abraham in the glory of the Lord and his reign.

There are contrasts here in chapter 12. The Old Covenant and a mountain with a Trumpet descent of the Lord is contrasted to the Trumpet coming of the Lord and Mount Zion. The carnal men in the first incident trembled and could not endure the word spoken, but the writer encourages the Hebrews not neglect the Word spoke to them at that time, Hebs.1:1-2, 2:1-4. The author urges them to remain faithful to the saving of the soul and thus would not only touch Mt Zion but assemble there sharing the Lord’s glory. All of these things are in the “world to come”, Hebs2:5.

The Old Covenant was linked to a mountain and the New Covenant linked with another; Mount Zion. We know the New Covenant had not been initialized since the Old was waxing old and ready to vanish away, Hebs.8:13. So the Hebrews had not literally come to, the New Covenant.

The spirits of the just men made perfect were not on Mount Zion when Hebrews was written. But in resurrection, those of faith(fullness) would have those bodies of spirit as 1Cor.15 describes. First that which is natural but in resurrection, that which is spiritual. Thus the spirits of just men made perfect; mature would include those of faith of the past AND the Hebrews should they not draw back but go on to perfection, Hebs.6:1.

The Hebrews were reminded that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God because vengeance belongs to Him, Hebs.10:30-31, Roms.12:14. The Lord would have judged way back then at His return and through Acts the faithful were told not to judge before the time until the Lord come, 1Cor.4:5. Thus while they had come to the judgment of God, it was not yet upon them for the Lord had not come. So when was He to come when Hebrews, Corinthians, Thessalonians and Romans was written? In their lifetimes, the second coming had drawn very near.

Romans says that the night was far spent and the Day was at hand, 13:12. Corinthians says they would be confirmed to the end and not all die, 1Cor.1:4-8, 15:51. The Thessalonians would be those who would be alive and remain to the coming of the Lord, 1Thess.4:15, 17, Revelation declared things that would shortly come to pass and by the time Hebrews was written, the time was very short, in fact it was now only a little while;
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Heb 10:35-39 

Notice these readers were urged to have patience doing the will of God so that they might receive the promise? In the very next chapter many justified people of the OT endured, not having received them, but died in faith expecting them. These promises were on resurrection ground which would take place when the Lord returned and His return was in a little while, a very little as the original has it;
For, yet a very little while, and the One coming will come, "and will not delay." Heb 10:37 (Hab.2:3)

The coming of the Lord had indeed drawn very near when Hebrews was written and the Hebrews were not to draw back unto waste or perdition. They were to go onto perfection, and in faith they had come to Mount Zion. Hebrews records that Christ suffered at the end of the ages, 9:27 and at that Last Trumpet (anticipated in Ex.19 and recorded in Hebs.12:19), all those who had died in faith, would be raised and the Hebrews who kept going, would go with them to meet the Lord in the air.

The Hebrews were not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, 10:25, which means they were not to forsake that meeting in air when the Lord comes in the clouds to descend and sit on the throne of his father David. Those who were asleep would rise and be taken with them to shine as the stars, Dan.12, and that included all those of Hebs.11.

Here is something interesting, the word translated “come” in Hebrews 12:22 is also rendered “draw near” in 10:22. It is mostly come or came, but it does not always possess the sense of arriving, rather drawing near. The original word means to approach, literally come near and these Hebrews were drawing near in two ways. They were right there when the coming of the Lord had drawn very near and as such were very near Mount Zion, the City of the living God and they, as member of the church of the firstborn, were very near to joining with angels and the spirits of all just, perfected people in that great festive occasion at His arrival.

The Hebrews had not come to Mount Zion, they had drawn near to it. They had not come to the spirits of just men made perfect, they had drawn near to that wonderful time when they and the other men and women of faith would be raised to meet the Lord and descend with Him to Mount Zion. They would be also the spirits in that place at that day.

This is how they had come to these things, they had drawn near to them by their labors, and were living in the time when the events had drawn near.


RELATED ARTICLE: 

What is the difference between "Zion" and "Sion"?

APPEARING IN GLORY vs. SECOND COMING TO THE EARTH

A student of the word that calls himself, "Brother Mark," left a comment on my article,  DOES RICHARD JORDAN'S "DID PAUL BREAK HIS WORD?" REALLY REFUTE THE ACTS 28 POSITION?   

Deborah,
I have been on a similar journey. God led me on that journey to also test Mid-Acts position of rightly dividing...
But God showed me He has so much more for us waiting for us.... Just thought you would enjoy reading some of my similar journey ... Grace and peace and joy to all who love His manifestation and appearing and OURS in Glory..
 
My blog is appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com
 
P.S. What a wonderful truth that Mid-Acts misses is there is much more then rightly dividing Peter and Paul... But we see how rightly divide Paul and PAUL. We see Paul first went to the Jews. Then after Acts 28... He goes full tilt to Gentiles and the New Man.   God bless, your brother Mark

I spent a happy 40 minutes reading the article at the top of the page on his site and enjoyed the logical and straightforward way that Brother Mark teaches the differences between scriptures that describe the second coming of Israel's Messiah to this earth to set up their earthly kingdom, and those that deal with that aspect of the mystery that "from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9), our appearing with Christ in glory in the heavenly places far above the earth.

Giving up the idea of a "secret rapture" is made a lot easier when we realize that our hope is just as glorious and something we can await with excited eagerness!

Please take a moment and check out Brother Mark's site, won't you?

NEW YEAR'S EVE – TIME FOR REFLECTION, REGRET, RENEWAL

Dear Readers,

2013 is nearly over and it's time to take a deep breath and remember the wild, bumpy ride I've been on since right after the year began!

I had just retired in December of 2012 and was looking forward to devoting more time to learning Mid Acts doctrine and connecting with the many wonderful grace believers I know and love.  A thorny issue appeared, however, in an online Bible study I regularly attended, regarding whether the "mystery" Paul writes of in his letters is really "unsearchable" or kept secret in the Old Testament. (Read more here.)   In my determination to prove that it was "hid in God" as Paul claimed in Ephesians 3:9, I stumbled upon a website in which Brian Kelson explained the differences in ministries within Paul's letters.  (Here's Brian's new site:  Acts 28.net).   These differences held the answer to my dilemma, and I was forced to change my entire worldview!  

The logic of the Acts 28 position is inescapable, wherein when Israel's hope of the kingdom was temporarily set aside after Paul's declaration in Acts 28:25-28, his ministry of presenting their Messiah to Israel and of inviting the Gentiles to share in the kingdom Christ would usher in (when Israel had accepted that Messiah) came to an end.  Paul then declares the "revelation of the mystery" he received at that time in a circular letter to all the churches in Asia that is popularly titled, "Ephesians."   It is this "revelation of the mystery" – as opposed to the "revelation of the mystery" of Romans 16:25 that concerned the preaching of the gospel which, although kept secret since the world began, "now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets" (in other words, searchable) – that declares a new creation of God, the "one new man," the "church, the body of Christ, with a glorious heavenly hope (not an earthly kingdom hope) made possible when anyone anywhere trusts the Lord Jesus Christ and what he accomplished through his shed blood at Calvary.

This means that Paul's letters written during the Acts period were part of his ministry of proclaiming the attainability of the earthly kingdom to, first, Jews, and then Gentiles that might believe.  Finally!  I could read and understand the analogy of the olive tree in Romans 11!   It means just what it says!  What a refreshing concept!  And when Paul writes that he and his coworkers are "able ministers of the new testament" in 2 Corinthians 3:6, it's because they are!  No scripture wrangling necessary!   Paul quotes from the Old Testament in his Acts period letters because he was holding forth the hope OF the Old Testament!   The so-called “rapture” of his Acts period letters is a description of kingdom saints being resurrected and caught up to Christ as he descends to the earth in his second coming; it’s not about a pre-trib rescue for the body of Christ at all.

My biggest regret, apart from having proselytized fellow saints with Mid Acts error, is that for so many years I refused to apply God's forgiveness through his Son Jesus Christ to all that trusted him after he had paid the full penalty for all sins, including those of his chosen people!  2 Corinthians 5:18-20 was written while God was stretching forth his long suffering to his chosen nation in hopes they would believe and he could grant them their blessed hope, the kingdom on earth, so the fact that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them," is a fact that encompasses Israel as well as the Gentile nations during the Acts period when their kingdom was on offer, as well as the world today during the dispensation of the Grace of God when our heavenly hope is on offer!   Granted, there were and are Mid Acts teachers that proclaim the truth that Israel too was reconciled to God by the work of Christ (i. e., the late Keith Blades of Enjoy the Bible Ministries and Michael McDaniel of the Millennium Bible Institute); but I chose to believe Mid Acts teachers that insisted Israel had a law/works clause in their plan of salvation.   Yes, the Jews still possessed the Law of Moses; but obedience of it determined, not their salvation, but their position and inheritance in the coming kingdom – just as our works will determine our position and inheritance in the heavenly places!

Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am so thankful that even my sin of denying your grace to your chosen nation of whom Paul was inspired to write, "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" (Romans 11:26-27), is forgiven because I have trusted your Son!   Thank you for your servant, Brian Kelson, who gave so generously of his time in helping me understand your marvelous plans; and for those that have come along with me on this exciting journey!   I await the appearing of your Son Jesus Christ when we shall appear with him in glory; and I pray I can be of some use to you in declaring your marvelous all-encompassing grace to a lost world!

Happy new year to you all.  No matter where you stand on this issue, I love you and look forward to spending eternity with you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Deborah
 

Is the creation of 2Cor.5:17 and the new creature of Gals.6, the creation of the one new man found in Ephesians 2?

Is the creation of 2Cor.5:17 and the new creature of Gals.6, the creation of the one new man found in Ephesians 2? 

Brian Kelson answers:
 
Mid-Acts and Acts 28ers agree, there are many wonderful truths in Paul, but here is where we differ, not all of those truths are about us today.
Certainly the Jew and Gentile believers of Galatians were justified without the works of the Law for example. They were made righteous by grace through faith but those believers were not members of the church which is His Body, they were the seed of Abraham and to be blessed with faithful Abraham in the Promised Land as Gals.3 clearly says.
Having failed to test the things differing in Paul (Phils:1:9-10), Mid-Acts believe everything Paul wrote contains within it some unveiling of the mystery of Ephesians. They believe the Acts period was a transition; Paul had some progressive revelation which was finalized, or reached its ultimate revelations in Ephesians and Colossians. This we continue to find from Paul’s writings is indeed scripturally groundless on both points. The very subject matter of Paul’s letters negates this misplaced viewpoint and divides his letters into two distinct dispensational groups.
During the Acts period Paul was witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. He held embraced the hope of Israel, worshipped the God of Israel’s fathers, and had not offended the Jews in anything, Acts 24:14, 25:8, 26:6-7, 22, & 28:20. I’m certain if Paul had preached during Acts, the truth of Ephesians that the Jews
no longer held any dispensational advantage, he would have offended many.
Where Mid-Acts fail (and most other Christians for that matter), is in their inability to distinguish between redemptive truths common to all dispensations and dispensational truths unique to each one. Redemption through our Lord’s shed blood, faith and righteousness reckoned are not unique to our present calling, they can be found in type, shadow and prophesy from page one of the sacred Word. Certainly, some of these precious redemptive doctrines are highlighted and expounded in Paul’s Acts period letters but this fact does not demand or prove in any way that the nation of Israel had been set aside and/or our new calling was introduced or being unfolded.
Because of this failure to rightly divide continuing and discontinuing truths, many Mid-Acts (MAs) doctrines are supported with an eisogetical understanding of certain Scriptures. With their viewpoint firmly entrenched, they read into Paul’s Acts letters the later truths of Ephesians not actually there.
2Cor.5:17 is a case in point. Here the words “if any man” be IN CHRIST, he, that ONE, is a new creation. Without a thought to the context, many Mid-Acts brethren will unite this passage with Eph.2 which speaks of a new creation where God has made of Jew and Gentile one new man. In their minds, they believe this proves the Mystery was in Paul during Acts. They claim this creation of 2cor.5 is the new creation of Ephesians 2 but the context of Corinthians will not allow
this. Rather than note carefully the context, they are dragging back into Corinthians, truths which are impossible to fit there.

Ephs.2:11-17 says clearly that “in Christ” God has created of the both, (Jew and Gentile) one new man. This is not any man being a new creation in Christ; this
is two groups of believers being created one new group in Christ; the great church which is His Body. Corinthians is about an individual being a new creation in Christ which is not the Ephesians creation. This error of Mid-Acts has resulted from not dividing the things differing.
Now let us examine the context of Corinthians which forbids this Mid-Acts joining of things differing. In the very next chapter 2Cor.6:2, Paul encourages the Corinthians that they receive not the grace of God in vain and this is not the dispensation of the grace of God for he immediately quotes Is.49:8 thus;
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.[Is.49:8]) 2Co 6:1-2
Here is Isaiah 49:
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; Isa 49:8
Isn’t the Word of Truth amazing? 2Cor.6 is an inheritance on the earth as per the very OT passage Paul uses. This has already been confirmed with 1Cor.15 which we shall see shortly.
Is.49 is the very chapter in which the command to turn to the Gentiles is the one given Paul in Acts 13:
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth (Is.49:6). Act 13:46-47
Paul turned to the Gentiles according to a command of prophesy from Is.49 in Acts 13. Paul did not turn to the Gentiles because any revelation of the new creation of Ephesians 2 had been given him. It is Is.49 in Acts 13 and the encouragement for the Corinthians in 2Cor.6 is from Is.49, no change, nor progression, still none other things than the prophets and Moses did say should come. Despite these contextual restraints, MAs insist the creation of 2Cor.5 is that of Ephesians 2. Nope, not a right division chance of that.
2Cor.6 is the OT. The Gentiles saved in Acts 13 are included according to the same OT prophesies which are about the Israel and the Promised Land, not heavenly places. Is.49:7, 10, 13. Is.42:1, 6 are interesting and should be read here with Acts13:47, 26:23.
How can 2Cor.6 be the mystery of Ephesians? It can’t be. How can the creation of 2Cor.5 be the new creation of Jew and Gentile out of Eph.2? It can’t be, the context will not allow such a Mid-Acts convenience. Also of interest in 2Cor.6 is the fact that Paul uses the OT to establish the relationship between the Corinthians and God the Father
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living

God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Lev.26:12). Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (Numbs.16). 2Co 6:14-18
Those Acts period Corinthian believers had separated themselves from unrepentant Israel (Acts2:40), and were typified in those who had done the same back in Israel’s picture salvation. Unrepentant Israel was destined to experience God’s wrath which does not mean dispersion in the world and a new dispensation introduced.
God was their father, they were His sons and daughters and all based upon Lev.26:12 and Numbs.16. That is not the church which is His Body in 2Cor.6 and it is not the new creation of Ephesians in 2Cor.5.
These OT passages of Paul are the basis of hope for the Corinthians during Acts;
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved..... 2Co 7:1
What promises? The promises found in the very OT passages Paul had been using, not the promises given in a dispensation hidden away from previous ages and generations and hid in God.
Now here is another fascinating thing about 2Cor6 and verse 2. In it Paul uses “today” found in Is.49, and this same prophetic appeal is found in Hebrews albeit from another prophet. Notice in this Hebrew appeal Moses is in the house, but the Lord over the same house, which house the Hebrew and Corinthian believers constituted. This is not the church which is his Body since Moses was never a servant in our calling;
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Heb 3:5-9
Here is the Old Testament “today” warning of Hebrews 3:5-9;
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. Psa 95:7-11
This is a quote from Ps.95 as you can see, which Psalm speaks of the Lord as a great King in whose hands are the deep places of the earth and the strength of the hills. This is Hebrews, hardly heavenly places. Here is the hope given in Hebrews;
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto

mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb 12:18-23
In Hebrews the believers had come to Mt Zion, the church of the first born and an innumerable company of angels, where the Trumpet of the OT is featured along with the New Covenant, Hebs.12:18-24. Hebrews knows nothing of the present dispensation of the mystery where Zion, Angels, the New Covenant and the church of the firstborn have no place.
The Hebrews were warned with a look back to Israel’s typical salvation accompanied with the emphasis on “TODAY” and the things held in hope were the fulfillment of Israel’s greater salvation. But these things are also featured in Corinthians.
This "today" warning in Hebrews harmonizes with the today emphasis of Is.49 in 2Cor.6.
In 1Cor.10, Paul warns the Corinthians from the failures in the wilderness, just like Hebrews;
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1Co 10:1-10
The today warning in Corinthians is for those who were partakers of the earthly calling just as the today warning was for the Hebrews who would partake of that same earthly calling. The Corinthians were also waiting for the Trumpet and the resurrection to the earth. This is proven in 1Cor.15 which resurrection is Is.25 as follows;
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. Isa 25:6-10
Which mountain is it in Isaiah 25? The prophet has already written about it in an earlier chapter;
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up

to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. Isa 2:1-5
The Trumpet resurrection of Is.25 in 1Cor.15 is to Mt Zion. The Hebrews had come to Mount Zion and a Trumpet. Will we yet embrace the falsehood that the creation of 2Cor.5 is some isolated part of the mystery of Ephesians found among such an earthly setting? Impossible, the creation of 2Cor.5 must harmonize with the earthly calling in view.
2Cor.5 is about the new creation of an individual who is looking for that very resurrection to the earth. The ones who had believed into Christ at Corinth, were warned about “today”, and had been warned by a reference back to those who were without faith in the Exodus just as the Hebrews were warned.
Mid-Acts leave Hebrews out of Paul which is a convenient position for them. It would be so inconvenient if MAs included Hebrews in Paul because then they would need to acknowledge the dispensational harmony of Hebrews and Corinthians. Acts 28 recognizes that Hebrews and Corinthians were both written in the Acts period before the revelation of The Mystery of Ephesians.
Here are other dispensational features of the Acts period common to Corinthians and Hebrews.
In Corinthians, Paul declared those believers had been confirmed with supernatural gifts unto the Trumpet coming of the Lord which was near for not all of them would die;
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Co 1:4-8
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 1Co 7:29
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come. 1Co 10:11
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:51-52
Here are the same supernatural gifts, the ends of the ages and near return of the Lord as found in Hebrews where we have already seen the Trumpet and the assembling of the believers on Mt Zion;
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Heb 6:4-5
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Heb 9:26
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb 10:37

Can we see these clear and consistent dispensational things in both Hebrews and Corinthians? Notwithstanding the creation of 2Cor.5 is not the one of Ephesians, but suppose we imagined it to be so, could we force it into Hebrews? Absolutely not! Can we force it into Corinthians? Absolutely not!
Paul also refers to a new creature in Galatians 6, another letter written during the Acts period. Could this creature or creation, be that of Ephesians? Mid-Acts certainly think so but does the context allow this? Here is the passage;
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Gal 6:14-16
This context is equally contrary to the Mid-Acts view that this creation is that of Ephesians 2. Israel, nor the Israel of God have no place in our present dispensation of grace having been put aside at Acts 28. So what is this new creature? Paul had already written about the impotence of circumcision or not back in chapter 5 where faith is the key;
Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do all the Law, you who are justified by Law are deprived of all effect from Christ; you fell from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you that you do not obey the truth? Gal 5:2-7
Those who returned to seeking righteousness by works had fallen from grace, the grace faith brings. Paul has already expounded the righteousness apart from the law obtained by grace through faith, and faith is the key to this new creature. Faith brought sonship, the blessings of Abraham and an earthly inheritance;
Then He supplying the Spirit to you and working powerful works in you, is it by works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that those of faith, these are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations through faith, preached the gospel before to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all nations be blessed." So then those of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal 3:5-9
Abraham believed God, faith in Abraham was reckoned to him for righteousness and these Jews and Gentiles of the Acts period were the sons (heirs) of Abraham. In this regard Isaac, the heir given Abraham so long ago, typified these Acts period believers, Gals.4:29. The same faith which made them righteous, made them the seed of Abraham;
But before faith came, we were kept under Law, having been shut up to the faith about to be revealed. So that the Law has become a trainer of us until Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But faith coming, we are no longer under a trainer. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:23-29
Since Paul had already declared these justified Jewish and Gentile believers as the seed of Abraham by faith, it is contextually impossible for the new creature of the last chapter to be the new creation of Ephesians 2. The one new man is

not the seed of Abraham. Galatians knows nothing of the church which is His Body.
While in Galatians it is noteworthy to find the very same dispensational elements already found in Corinthians and Hebrews.
The Galatians were to enjoy the inheritance in the Promised Land, Gals.3:18, 29. They were endowed with supernatural gifts, Gals.3:1-5, 1Cor.1:4-8, Hebs6. The Galatians were anticipating the New Jerusalem referred to as their mother, Hebs.12. In Galatians, the New Jerusalem is inseparable from the prophet Isaiah;
But the Jerusalem from above is free, who is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice, barren one not bearing; break forth and shout, you not travailing; for more are the children of the desolate than she having the husband." (Is.54: But brothers, we, like Isaac, are children of promise. Gal 4:26-28
If our Apostle in Galatians 4, is inspired to turn to Isaiah 54 it would seem reasonable in our exegesis to do the same;
Rejoice, O unfruitful one that never bore; break out a song and shout, you who never travailed. For more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman, says Jehovah. Make the place of your tent larger, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes; for you shall break out on the right hand and on the left. And your seed shall inherit the nations, and people will inhabit ruined cities. Do not fear; for you shall not be ashamed, nor shall you blush; for you shall not be put to shame; for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your husband; Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. For Jehovah has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were rejected, says your God. Isa 54:1-6
I love the way the Lord is so emphatic at the close of the chapter;
.....This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from Me, says Jehovah. Isa 54:17
The prophet speaks of a wife, an inheritance of the nations and ruined cities and righteousness that is FROM Jehovah. This righteousness had already been proclaimed in Is.45:15-15 and chapter 52. This is so consistent with Paul’s Acts period redemptive and dispensational preaching. Paul preached about righteousness by faith through grace but directed every saint to the promises made to the fathers as their hope. Abraham was heir of the world in Roms.4 and the righteousness of the faithful was directly from the Lord. But I digress. In Galatians 4, Paul had linked the New Jerusalem with Isaiah and maybe the word wife is the key. The New Jerusalem is called the Bride, the Lamb’s wife in Rev.21:9 where the Lord makes all things new.
Those who love to rightly divide the Scriptures and compare spiritual with spiritual, will reject out of hand any imaginations that the creature of Gals.6 and the new creation of 2Cor.5 are the one new man of Ephesians 2. The dispensational contexts of Corinthians, Galatians and Hebrews are on the same page; they will not allow such a terrible eisogesis. Written during the Acts period, they know nothing of the present dispensation of the grace of God given by revelation to Paul after Israel was put to one side at Acts 28.

These consistent links in the Acts period letters soundly affirm that the dispensation in view is a continuation of that of Isaiah, Malachi and Matthew and Corinthians and Galatians are not speaking of the creation of Ephesians 2.

Does James 2:24 Teach Justification Unto Eternal Life by Works for Kingdom Saints?

James and Paul are on the same page, faith obedience has a crown in view.

Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Thus the salvation of their souls in this context is in regards to a crown of life, not life.

Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas 2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham was made righteous by faith in Gen.15 not in Gen.22. In Gen.22 Abraham was tried by God and the righteousness Abraham obtained was that of obedient faith, and thus Abraham is featured in Hebs. 11 as an over comer, one who is rewarded by God.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Without faith as a servant of GOD, it is impossible to please Him. This is not about initial salvation. Paul speaks of it here;

Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

How can Paul write of service unto righteousness? The righteous walk follows the faith into Christ. If the faith is not then expressed in the service unto righteousness, then no crown.

2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

James and Paul both speak of walking as believers, going onto perfection, trying of faith, enduring to please God.

Thus our mid-acts brothers are confusing initial salvation and the worthy walk that follows.

The Jews believed, THEN they had to be water baptised, then they kept the LAW. If we follow Peter's words, repent then be baptised in Acts 2, and follow Peter's gospel in Acts 3Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
we will never be trapped by this mixed arguing mid-acts keep stumbling upon and tripping others. Water baptism is not before Repentance, nor before the pricking in their hearts of the Holy Spirit. The laver in the tabernacle was placed AFTER the altar of sacrifice, being baptised into Moses (1Cor.10) was after the shed blood in Egypt.

James refutes the mid-acts arguments. James is about faith being followed by good works which is exactly what Paul says in Eph.2:8-10.

Stuart Allen's audio series on James A545 onwards on this page is rewarding, http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/allen4.htm

Blessings

Brian

What does 2 Cor. 5:16 (knowing Christ no longer in the flesh) mean to Paul's Acts ministry?

What does 2 Cor 5:16 mean with regard to believers no longer knowing Christ according to the flesh (according to His earthly ministry) if Paul was yet preaching Him as Messiah in the synagogues...preaching Him according to the flesh?

It's a long context, and we can't isolate this part, so here it is: 2Co 5:11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
2Co 5:12  For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
2Co 5:13  For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
2Co 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

I think, one died, then all were dead, and henceforth not living for ourselves, but unto Him that died and rose again are contextual defining elements. These are the things said before. Then Paul says, therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away. This is what is said after. Here is the central portion as it were;

2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Flesh and spirit are recurring themes in Paul. Living unto Christ meant he no longer knew any man after the flesh. Knowing Christ after the flesh could mean Paul knew Christ before being in Christ?

In Roms.7 he wanted to serve the Law in newness of spirit, but he was carnal (fleshly). Walking by the Spirit, in newness of life, Roms.8 was how he wanted to know Christ now, being lead by the Spirit and not the flesh, see also Gals. 5.

While this might not explain it fully, and to be sure, this is the best I can do off the top of my head, the passage/context removes any possibility for the unrelated view that this has to do with Christ's earthly ministry.

Stuart Allen's audio number A468 might be helpful, I can't remember its content. ON this page http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/allen4.htm