71 2 4 Through the Bible with Les Feldick Showing a break in the O.T. prophecy timeline: Joel 2

Ephesians 3:1 "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you (What?) Gentiles," Now that's not there just to fill space. That's what he was! He was the Apostle of the Gentiles, whereas Peter and the Eleven were Apostles of Israel. Two totally different programs—as different as daylight from dark. The Twelve were associated with Temple worship, the Law, the Old Testament promises, and the Nation of Israel. But Israel rejected everything, so now God's going to do something totally different. In fact, now this is the way I teach, I can't help it. Keep your hand in Ephesians. Come back with me to Matthew chapter 10. Now, for a lot of you, you're going to say, "Oh, yeah, we've seen this over and over and over." But for others, they've never seen it before at all. Because you won't find this in Sunday school quarterlies; you won't find preachers preaching on it. They just can't handle it. But here it is in black and white. Matthew 10 verse 5, the beginning of His earthly ministry. He has just chosen the twelve apostles, or the disciples. Now verse 5: Matthew 10:5 "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans (who were half-breed Jews) enter ye not; 6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Now, what's He saying? Have nothing to do with anybody who is not a Jew --go only to the house of Israel. So it was throughout His three years, with two exceptions. He had nothing to do with Gentiles. And the Twelve had nothing to do with Gentiles, because that was all based on the Old Testament promises. And the Old Testament promises had nothing to do with anybody but Israel. Once Israel comes into that place of privilege, yes, then Israel could evangelize the rest of the world. But Israel rejected everything.