Israel: Signs of the Fifth Cycle of Discipline

I. The prophecy of the gift of tongues - Isaiah 28:11. Tongues are only bona fide between Acts 2 and AD 70, or roughly 40 years. It was a warning that the 5th cycle of discipline was coming (evangelisation of Jews in Gentile languages). When the 5th cycle hit — no need for tongues, also no need because of the completed canon of scripture. 1 Corinthians 13:8.

II. The coming of Messiah was a sign of the nearness of the 5th cycle of discipline.

a) The virgin birth of Christ was a sign to the Jews — Isaiah 7:14.

b) Betrayal of Messiah by Judas Iscariot was a sign of the 5th cycle.

c) Uniqueness of the death of the Messiah: That Christ was crucified was not unique. Crucifixion was common in the Roman world. What was unique was Isaiah 53:9, “deaths." This is the intensive plural in the Hebrew. Christ died spiritually when He bore our sins, and died physically when His work was finished.

d) Resurrection of the Messiah: Isaiah 52:13; 53:10.

III. The 40 years of evangelism to Israel before the final blow of the fall of Jerusalem (30-70 AD). Compare Malachi 1:5 with the book of Acts.

IV. The book of Acts is an expansion of Malachi 1:5.

V. Warning and prophecy of the siege of Jerusalem and its fall by Jesus Christ — Luke 21:20-24.