Thoughts on 'The Age Of Grace'

The twelve Jesus sent out, saying, "Do not go among the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel only. As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of God is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."

Not only did Jesus Himself walk among the Jews offering healing and working miracles, and being harassed by the Pharisees, He also sent out specially anointed apostles specifically to work 'Messianic' miracles to awaken the 'grassroots Hebrews' to a new awareness that something incredibly unusual was happening in their midst.

This was not something that was going on in one small corner of a country with limited means of communication, it was a message that was being carried into the highways and byways of Israel, with major miracles attending..., and it was STILL not met with awe and jubilation by those to whom the Messiah had been pronounced for centuries. They chose to go about their business and let Jesus and His followers go about theirs!

Not only that, but after only a brief rallying to His call on 'Palm Sunday,' the Jews actually turned against Him and called out to have Him crucified.

THAT was the fullness of the sin against God by the Jewish nation, and THAT is why God sent Christ's loyal followers to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth to preach the Good News of the gospel - and THAT is the significance of the Church Age, the Age of Grace.

That is also why the Age of Grace must come to an end so that the Jews may be given a 'second chance' to call out for, and earnestly seek their long-awaited Messiah. And the Rapture of the Church is the eye-opening event that will set off this sudden heartfelt cry for repentance, while at the same time removing the Holy Spirit from the role He has played during the Church Age. I believe He will still be present on earth, but in a different capacity.

Even so COME, Lord Jesus.

By Doris E. Howie, OHzone
October 12, 2005