What is faith? Even among unbelievers, faith is often discussed when life’s trials come. Biblically speaking, it is simply believing God and taking Him at His Word. However, if you ask this question to different people, you will receive many different answers. Someone’s definition of faith usually reveals what that person believes about God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and salvation. In religious circles, for example, you may hear a story like this: “At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith.

“ ‘I’m a millionaire,’ he said, ‘and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember that turning point in my faith. I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God’s work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today.’

He finished and there was an awed silence at his testimony as he moved toward his seat. As he sat down a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said to him: ‘I dare you to do it again.’ ”¹

The World’s Definition of Faith

Sad to say, that’s how many think faith works—give something to God, and He’ll pay you back. This idea comes from God’s “if-then” relationship with the nation of Israel under the law of Moses (Lev. 26; Deut. 28).

Still others have misplaced faith. For example, faith in evolution, believing it to be true, or faith in humanity, believing mankind will solve all problems without God.

However, those are fragile and false hopes that collapse under scrutiny when examined in light of the Word of God. Sometimes when hard times or tragedy come about, you’ll hear well-meaning people say, “Everything will work out for good.” They simply have “faith” that everything will work out for the best. The problem with that statement? It’s undefined and vague, not rooted in anything of substance. In news programs, sometimes you’ll hear the anchor say, “He’s a man of faith,” or “She’s a woman of faith.” Again, another undefined and vague statement, meaning that individual is religious but not necessarily a believer.

On a less serious note, I may say, “I have faith that the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series this year!” Does that mean they WILL win the World Series? Of course not. In fact, most years they won’t! I can believe it all I want, but my “faith” is obviously misplaced. All these examples show the problem with the world’s definition of faith. Not only is it undefined and vague, but faith is treated as a feeling, a blind leap, a positive attitude, a generic spirituality, or a wish that things be true. Worldly faith is belief without a promise, and that’s foolishness according to the Word of God. The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor. 3:19a).

Faith in the Bible

In God’s Word, faith is written of in three primary ways. First, Paul writes about “the faith” or body of doctrine for the dispensation of grace (Eph. 3:1-12 cf. Rom. 16:25-26). He told Timothy to hold “the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” (1 Tim. 3:9). Paul had done this throughout his ministry and by the end of his life he could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

Second, Paul also wrote about “the faith of God” or His faithfulness. Romans 3:3 says, “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” Also, 1 Corinthians 1:9 begins by simply saying, “God is faithful.” These two passages, as well as many others in Scripture, speak of the faithfulness of God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (see also Deut. 7:9; Psa. 36:5; 89:8; Lam. 3:22-23; Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16; 1 Thes. 5:24; 2 Thes. 3:3). It is abundantly clear throughout the Bible that God is faithful. He can be believed; He can be trusted!

Third, the Bible also speaks of “our faith” (1 John 5:4) or “faith in” Christ (Gal. 3:26). In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles, after Peter reminded Him of the fig tree He cursed, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The Lord also told a blind man, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 18:42). It’s clear that faith was required, but always remember, under the prophetic program, faith had to be expressed, such as confessing Jesus as the Messiah, believing in the name of the Son of God, doing the works of the law, and being water baptized (Matt. 16:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).

Paul, in his letters, also wrote about “faith in” Christ. He explained to the church at Rome that God set forth the Lord Jesus Christ as a full payment for our sins and we’re saved “through faith in His blood… To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:25-26). He told the saints in Ephesus, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus” (Eph. 1:15), and the believers in Galatia, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). The believer today must have “faith in” Christ to be saved, but it’s only possible because of His faithfulness to us!

Faith in the Prophetic Program

Abraham is considered to be one of the greatest examples of faith in the Scriptures. The reason is that he is used by both Paul and James as an example. After Paul wrote, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28), he went on to explain how Abraham was justified by faith only, apart from works (4:2-3,17-18). James, however, paints a different picture. In his epistle to the twelve scattered tribes (James 1:1), we read,

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

“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

“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.

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:21-24).

Why the difference? Under the prophetic program, faith was expressed by doing what God said to do—in other words, taking Him at His Word. For example, water baptism was a required expression of faith as seen in Acts 2:38. Water baptism itself didn’t save anyone, as was demonstrated by the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39- 43). However, it was a required cleansing under the law of Moses and was to be administered when possible.

Though written directly to the nation of Israel, Hebrews 11 gives an excellent definition of faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).

There are two key phrases in this verse: 1. “Substance of things hoped for.” The substance of faith is the confidence and assurance of God’s future promises. In this context, it has to do with God’s promise of eternal life, with the Lord returning to establish His Kingdom on the earth (Heb. 10:36-39 cf. Hab. 2:3-4). 2. “Evidence of things not seen.” Faith believes God’s Word, even when the promise cannot be seen. Using the example of Abraham again, we read,

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).

As a board member of Things To Come Mission, when we send out missionaries, we assign them to a field, and they then know to what country they’re going. Abraham, however, did not know where he was going when he left the land of the Chaldeans (Acts 7:2-4). Nevertheless, he still believed God and looked for a city “whose builder and maker is God.”

The life of Abraham could be summed up with the following statement—Abraham lived as a pilgrim because he was fully convinced that God’s promise of a future inheritance was true. Where did Abraham’s faith come from? It came from the Word of God! He believed God and took Him at His Word, though the kingdom was still not seen. The same could be said for all the saints in the “Faith Hall of Fame” of Hebrews 11. They simply believed God and expressed that faith in whatever way God required.

Faith in the Mystery Program

Today, faith still responds to God. As it’s always been, faith is simply believing God and taking Him at His Word. We do this by taking Him at His Word about the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and adding nothing to it for eternal salvation. Sadly, many add works to try to have a relationship with Him. People add water baptism, sacraments, the law of Moses, or other religious rituals. None of those things can bridge the gap between sinful man and a holy God. Only Christ can bridge that gap, and today, biblical faith responds to God by believing the gospel of the grace of God revealed in this dispensation.

Carl Lewis was a famous track and field star from the 1980s. In the long jump, he could jump around 27-28 feet, and his record was a little bit over 29 feet. Suppose the “gap” between God and man was 30 feet, and anyone who jumped and missed fell into hell? Carl Lewis would come closer than most people, but he would still fall short. This example illustrates that no matter how many good works someone does, that person still falls short of God’s perfect standard and cannot earn eternal life.

So, how does faith (believing God) lead to eternal salvation? It begins with understanding one’s sinful condition and need for a Savior. Lost sinners can choose to believe the gospel, but first they must hear it. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Therefore, lost sinners must hear the gospel before they can believe it. This means that YOU, as an ambassador for Christ, need to bring the message of reconciliation to them (2 Cor. 5:18-20).

The Bible does contain some bad news for mankind, but it’s necessary to proclaim it and it must be understood by the unsaved. The bad news is that all have sinned, and all of us fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).

No one can meet God’s righteous standard (vv. 10-12). Thankfully, God provided a remedy for this problem.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s wonderful news! By simply believing the good news of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—anyone can have eternal life in Christ and a home in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Faith adds no works (Eph. 2:8-9) to this wonderful gift of salvation. Once you’ve trusted Christ, you can believe God when He says:

“And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power:“In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead.

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:10-15).

Believers should walk by faith. Do we respond in faith to the commands God’s Word gives us? Colossians 2:6 tells believers, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” Since believers received the Lord by faith, we are also commanded to walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). So what does this look like? Here are a few examples.

Are we thankful? Paul wrote to the saints in Thessalonica, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thes. 5:18). This is a command from the Spirit of God, through the written Word. Even in the trials and tribulations of life, are we thankful for all He has provided, not only in material things, but more importantly, for all the spiritual blessings we already possess in Christ (Eph. 1:3)?

Do we rejoice in the Lord daily? Paul commanded the saints in Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). Do we believe it and always rejoice in the Lord, even in tough times? Or do we grumble and complain? Paul wrote in that same letter, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Phil. 2:14). We should always ask ourselves, “Am I doing things without complaining and arguing?” If you can answer “yes” to that question, then you’re walking in the Spirit, just as we’re commanded to do in Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). It’s important to know how to define faith, not only for eternal salvation but also for the believer’s walk in Christ. Following the definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1, we could say—today, members of the Body of Christ believe the gospel of God’s grace (“substance”) because they are fully convinced by the Word of God (“evidence”) that their salvation, blessings, hope, and inheritance in Christ are true.

The question for each of us is simple: Will we believe God and take Him at His Word?

^{1. The Millionaire, accessed August 26, 2026, http://jokes.christiansunite.com/Hypocrites/The_Millionaire.shtml.}

“There was once a handyman who had a dog named Mace. Mace was a great dog except he had one weird habit: he liked to eat grass—not just a little bit, but in quantities that would make a lawnmower blush. And nothing, it seemed, could cure him of it.

“One day, the handyman lost his wrench in the tall grass while he was working outside. He looked and looked, but it was nowhere to be found. As it was getting dark, he gave up for the night and decided to look the next morning.

“When he awoke, he went outside and saw that his dog had eaten all the grass in the area, around where he had been working, and his wrench now lay in plain sight, glinting in the sun.

“Going out to get his wrench, he called the dog over to him and said, ‘A grazing Mace, how sweet the hound, that saved a wrench for me.’”¹

Currently, we live in the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2). This dispensation is all about God’s amazing grace that He is showing to the world today and revealing through the Church.

The dispensation of grace is what God is doing in “time present.” By looking at the Scriptures through the framework of time past, time present, and time future, we can gain clarity in understanding its overall structure and God’s current dealings with mankind.

Sequence Signals

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
“…Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:11-13,19).

In these verses, you find time words: “In time past,” “But now,” and “Now.” Paul is teaching about how it was for Gentiles, or people of the nations, in “time past” under the program of prophecy with Israel. And it wasn’t good! We Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Then, Paul says, “But now.” Ephesians 2:11-12 explain how it was for Gentiles in time past, while verses 13 and 19 show how it is in time present. In time present, under grace, we learn that we, who were far off from God, are made near to Him by the shed blood of Christ. Now we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens in the household, or family, of God.

God has turned from Israel to the Gentile nations to have a program with us, and we learn through the Apostle Paul about our up-to-date position before God and the amazing opportunity that is ours under grace.

Scriptures

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

All of the Bible is “for us.” 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” We believe all the Bible. It is all God’s Word. We find teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness for us from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.

Paul tells us that the “things…written aforetime were written for our learning,” but notice that Paul does not say that they were written for our obedience. That’s because they are not always for our obedience; many things under the law do not apply under grace, such as its sacrificial system, feast days, Sabbath, and tithing. These things were required under the law, but they are not for our obedience under grace. All the Bible is for us and for our learning, but not all the Bible is written directly to us and for our obedience.

When you look at the Bible through this time lens, we find that the Scriptures for time past are Genesis through John. The Book of Acts is a transitional book, recording the change from time past into time present. Now, in time present, our Scriptures are Romans through Philemon. In time future, the most relevant Scriptures will be primarily Hebrews through Revelation.

God has two major programs, one with Israel concerning the earth and one with the Church, the Body of Christ, concerning the heavens. In time past, God dealt with Israel. In time present, God is dealing with the Body of Christ, Jew and Gentile alike in one Body. In time future, God will resume where He left off in His dealings with Israel.

In time past, the Scriptures were about prophecy for Israel. God gave prophecies and fulfilled prophecies during that time. The prophetic message concerned Israel, the nation, and her land, her Messiah, and her kingdom. From Genesis 12 through the Gospel of John, the message is consistently about these things for Israel.

However, when Israel fell due to her unbelief in her Messiah, God turned to the nations and ushered in a dispensation of grace that had never been made known anywhere in prophecy nor anytime in time past. The current dispensation, with its Church—the Body of Christ—and our hope of heaven, was made known in what Paul calls “the revelation of the mystery” (Rom. 16:25). The Scriptures of time present, Romans through Philemon, have to do with the revelation of the mystery, not prophecy.

The mystery is much more than Jew and Gentile alike in one Body. It is “the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13; Col. 2:7) for this dispensation, the whole message of grace truth that was kept hidden by God in time past (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26), and was first made known to Paul. It is now fully revealed, made manifest, in Romans to Philemon.

These books of your Bible are written directly to the Church today and apply expressly to us today. The Scriptures of time past and time future—Genesis to John and Hebrews to Revelation—are all for us. They are all for our learning, and are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. However, Romans to Philemon are Christ’s “time present” Scriptures, message, and will for His Church, the Body of Christ, under grace.

God revealed within the mystery that this age will close with the pre-tribulational Rapture of the Church. When the Church is caught up from this earth before the Tribulation begins, God will then return to His dealings with Israel. That is when the Scriptures of Hebrews through Revelation will directly apply and must be obeyed in faith.

Many prophecies given to Israel in time past in Genesis to Malachi and Matthew to John, will also find their fulfillment during the Tribulation, and those who are on earth at that time will use and need those “time past” Scriptures to navigate the future Day of the Lord. But it is Hebrews to Revelation that will primarily guide believers in that day.

Just the fact that Hebrews to Revelation are in God’s Word shows that there will be believers during the Tribulation. Many will be saved after the Rapture through the testimonies of the two witnesses and the 144,000. Revelation makes it very clear that many will be saved and be martyrs for Christ in time future, “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Rev. 7:9).

In the future time to come, believers will be challenged and commanded through the teachings of Hebrews to Revelation to persevere, overcome, live out the love of God, prove their faith by their works, confess their sins, keep the commandments of God, and believe in Jesus as the Messiah and God’s Son. And the Book of Revelation is actually a guidebook for kingdom believers to live by, day by day, month by month, and year by year through the Tribulation.

Spokesmen

“(For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” (Gal. 2:8).

There were different spokesmen, leaders, and key figures for each of the periods of time past, time present, and time future in Scripture.

In time past, in Genesis through Malachi, God worked through three prominent patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—beginning by giving Abraham the promise of a great nation in a great land. Later, God raised up Moses to deliver Israel from her bondage in Egypt and to dispense His law to Israel at Mount Sinai. King David was given a covenant of an everlasting throne and kingdom through his seed (2 Sam. 7:12-17). In time past, the prophets who were raised up and sent by God to Israel all prophesied of that kingdom and called Israel back to God’s law.

Also in time past, in Matthew to John, John the Baptist came on the scene baptizing, preparing the nation for her Messiah, calling on her to repent, and preaching that the kingdom was at hand (Matt. 3:1-6). The Lord Jesus raised up twelve apostles, who will one day judge the twelve tribes of Israel in the kingdom (Matt. 19:28).

The kingdom church in time past was built on the foundation of Christ, according to Peter’s confession of Christ’s identity: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). That is the rock upon which the kingdom church was built and what people needed to believe to be saved in time past and become a part of the kingdom church.

Israel crucified her Messiah, though, and persisted in her rejection of Him as demonstrated by the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), and thus Israel fell (Rom. 11:11). Instead of bringing in the prophesied Tribulation at that time, God turned to the Gentiles—the nations—with a program of grace that was never previously revealed.

In accord with this purpose, when Israel fell in Acts 7, God raised up a new man in Acts 9—Saul of Tarsus—saving him and calling him to be the apostle of the Gentiles. For time present, the Apostle Paul is God’s spokesman, leader, and apostle (Rom. 11:13; 2 Tim. 1:11). Paul laid the foundation of Christ for the Church under grace, the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-11), according to what Christ is doing today, that “Christ is the Head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the Body” (Eph. 5:23).

After the Rapture of the Church, God’s plan reverts back to His dealings with Israel, meaning that the apostles—primarily the Apostle Peter—will once again be God’s spokesman, leader, and apostle that Israel needs to follow in time future. Peter’s apostleship and writings (1 and 2 Peter), along with the writings of John (1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation), are what will primarily guide Israel in time future.

Savior

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

Time past, time present, and time future in Scripture are all about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit authored the Book that is all about the Lord, and it gives Him honor, glory, and praise.

In time past, the Holy Spirit made known the office of Christ as Israel’s Savior, as well as her Prophet, Priest, and King. When Christ came to this world, He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and to seek and to save that which was lost (Matt. 15:24; Luke 19:10). He ministered to Israel and powerfully demonstrated by His teachings and miracles that He is her Messiah and the Son of God.

Ministering under the law and prophecy, Christ kept the law perfectly and fulfilled prophecy completely concerning Himself and His ministry. The Lord also prepared Israel for the Tribulation and His earthly kingdom. As Paul wrote of the Lord’s earthly ministry, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision [the Jews] for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (Rom. 15:8).

Of course, we know that Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, rose again, and ascended to the Father. After Christ ascended, the Holy Spirit was sent to Israel at Pentecost in fulfillment of prophecy (John 15:26; Acts 2:4,14-18). When Israel continued in her rejection of Christ, concluding in the stoning of Stephen, she “stumbled at that Stumblingstone” (Rom. 9:32). God temporarily set Israel aside in unbelief, and His program with her was put on hold for a time.

God then raised up a new man, the Apostle Paul, “to bear My [Christ’s] name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). In time present, the Holy Spirit revealed to Paul that Christ is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). This is the office Christ is currently carrying out today in heaven at the Father’s right hand.

Today, in exaltation, Christ Jesus ministers to and through the Body of Christ. He gives His Church grace, wisdom, and power as we serve Him as His ambassadors and representatives in this world (2 Cor. 5:18-20; Col. 2:19), and He makes intercession for us at God’s right hand (Rom. 8:34). Christ is offering the world grace and peace in this dispensation, and is saving any person who, by faith alone, trusts Him and receives His free gift of salvation (Rom. 10:13; Eph. 1:12-14).

This program with the Gentiles began with an unexpected appearance of Christ from heaven on the road to Damascus, and it will close with another appearance of Christ from heaven, when He will descend into the clouds to catch the Body of Christ up to meet Him in the air and to take us to heaven to be with Him forever (1 Thes. 4:17).

Then, in time future, Christ will return to His office as Israel’s Prophet, Priest, and King. In time future, the primary ones in view are the Antichrist and Jesus Christ.

The Antichrist will come to the forefront and rise in power after the Rapture. His “coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thes. 2:9). During the Tribulation, he will perform mighty miracles to deceive and convince most of the world that he is the Messiah.

After the Antichrist is assassinated at the midpoint of the Tribulation (Rev. 13:3), he will rise again (17:8) and declare himself to be God in the flesh (2 Thes. 2:4), and the false prophet will require worldwide worship of the Antichrist (Rev. 13:12).

The Gospel records from “time past,” Matthew through John, will be what the Spirit uses during the Tribulation to show that Jesus Christ truly is the Messiah and the Son of God. That is their purpose, because salvation under the gospel of the kingdom is tied to faith in Christ’s identity. As John 20:31 states, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”

After the Antichrist rises from the dead, the world will be required to worship his image and take his mark (Rev. 13:15-18). At that point, people MUST make a decision. If they worship the image of the beast and take his mark, believing in the Antichrist as the Messiah, they are going to hell (14:9-11). If, however, they show their loyalty to Jesus Christ by refusing to worship the beast’s image or take his mark, they will be hunted, persecuted, and killed by the Antichrist (13:5-7).

It’s in that day that Scriptures like Matthew 10:28 will apply directly: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The true Messiah will be revealed when Christ returns in glory and power on a white horse at the end of the Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21). At that time, the Lord “shall consume” the Antichrist “with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy [him] with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thes. 2:8), and the beast will be cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 19:20; 20:10).

Israel’s true Messiah and King will then establish His kingdom on earth and fulfill all that He promised to Israel, because He is faithful.

Looking at Scripture with a time past, time present, time future framework can aid our understanding of God’s Word. It’s important that we recognize what God is doing in time present, so that we do not misapply Scripture meant for Israel in time past or time future, or blend or mix the truths that are unique to the two programs of God. In doing this, we will be “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

^{1. “My Loving Dog Mace,” Jokes of the Day, accessed August 6, 2026, https://jokesoftheday.net/tag/dog/.}