Study of First Peter Lesson 10

Review:

<1:12> The Magnification of the Prophets ministry through present day teaching

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things

- What was revealed to them?

- that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things

Their ministry had a purpose beyond their own time frame.

They were giving some extensive revelation related to the first advent, coming of the Messiah but would not see it.

Prin: The details of the Prophetic word, prophecy found in the OT are important to us if we are to be adjusted advancing believer.

which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you

Through the agency of those who preached, euvaggeli,zw (vpamgm-p) this is the word that indicates they communicated the good news of the gospel, so it refers to those who initially evangelized these particular churches that Peter is writing.

The next phrase brings into view the ultimate teacher, the Holy Spirit's ministry.

by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - instrumental of means, en by means of the Holy Spirit

- The ministry of the Holy Spirit in view here is two fold, first to illuminate the message of truth to the ones who were the agents who communicated the gospel. [so illumination]

- Secondly, the ministry of conviction of the hearers of the gospel communicated.

The last phrase adds an interesting observation.

things into which angels long to look.

What about the angels? Who are they? Fallen or elect?

This longing, the desire to have a better more complete perspective says they had a holy curiosity to observe and delight in the glories of Christ and His ministry to the church, His bride.

They find a fuller realization, that is of what Christ is doing, as they observe the lives of growing and advancing believers throughout the history of the church. Eph 3:8-10

Rem: Angels rejoice when someone believes in Christ Lk 15:10

They also observed Christ's ministry very closely 1 Tim 3:16

Observations

1. These OT prophets through the message revealed to them that they taught and inscripturated under the guiding of God the Holy Spirit became aware that there was a gap, a time period between the sufferings and the glories of Christ and they desired to know its impact.

2. We noted in our study of Daniel that there was clearly prophesied about a time between the cutting off of the Messiah and the making of the covenant with Israel. Dan 9:26-27 also implied in Dan 2:40 - gap - 41-43;

3. This gap or delay between the sufferings and the glories was also pictured in the schedule of the feast days that they were to observe.

Feast Days Schedule overview (Lev. 23)

#1. Passover Lev. 23:4-5

- observed on the 14^th of Nisan - started their calendar year

- commemorates the redemption from Egypt, the provision of salvation by faith

#2. Unleavened Bread 23:6-8

- The bread speaks of fellowship, communion

- This feast is to demonstrate that as a believer our whole life is to be lived in fellowship with Christ (that's the objective, the provision is there) separated from sin!

#3. First fruits 23:9-14

- this takes place on the 16^th of Nisan right after Passover and the beginning of unleavened bread

- It typifies Christ in resurrection (1 Cor 15:23) and then those who are His at His coming.

#4. Pentecost - Feast of Weeks or harvest 23:15-22

- Pentecost foreshadows the church age that follows the age of Israel

- These 2 loaves of bread contained leaven (symbol of the corruption of the sin nature) and indicates that the nation Israel would be dominated by the sin nature, under the influence of evil during the time of the first advent.

#5. Trumpets 23:23-25

- Prefigures Israel's age ending regathering from world wide dispersion among the nations.

- This feast takes place on the first day of the 7^th month, Tishri

- The long interval between Pentecost and Trumpets depicts the gap we noted in Daniel, the time of the church age, not understood by the OT prophets.

#6. The Day of Atonement 23:26-32 (also Lev 16)

- the most solemn feast, observed on the 10^th of Tishri

- Importance of forgiveness and cleansing in preparation for the return of the Messiah

#7. Tabernacles of Booths 23:33-44

- this is the last and most joyous of the feasts

- Prospective in that it is looking ahead to the Israel's restoration and establishing of the millennial reign of Christ, their Messiah.

- It is retrospective since it also commemorated their redemption from Egypt as the people built booths of branches and lived in them for 7 days.

These feasts give a thumbnail sketch of Israel's history.

1. Passover - deliverance from bondage in Egypt - salvation

2. Unleavened bread - doctrine is the issue, living by the Word

3. First Fruits - pledge of provision - the coming harvest

4. Pentecost - the nation Israel would be dominated by the sin nature, under the influence of evil at the time of the first advent (leaven in the grain offerings)

5. Gap of time before the feast of Trumpets which points to the regathering of Israel points to the time of the church age.

6. Day of Atonement - preparation for the return of the Messiah.

7. Tabernacles or booths - remembers the deliverance from Egypt but also looks to the Millennial reign of the Messiah.

4. So from Moses the first prophet on through John the Baptist there was for the thinking types an awareness of this gap of time referred to but not explained.

5. So as Peter mentions in doing their job as a prophet they were ultimately serving the royal family believers in terms of 1^st and 2^nd Advents info.

6. Next came the apostles who served the church by explaining the present age in relationship to what the prophets had communicated related to the sufferings and the glories putting it all in the proper perspective.

7. We must not forget the important ministry of illumination of the truth by the Holy Spirit who was sent to lead us into all truth. John 16:13