Can The Old Testament and the New Testament Be In Force At The Same Time?
February 21, 2020 2:49 pm PremillennialismPremillennialists teach that the Jews will be restored to Palestine and Jesus will reign in Jerusalem on the literal throne of David for one thousand years. The doctrine of Premillennialism affirms that the Jewish law will be restored, the temple and its worship will be restored, and the nation of Israel will be reconstituted. This means that the Old Testament will be restored while the New Testament is in force. How can this be?
Realized Eschatologists teach that from the time that the church was established on Pentecost (Acts 2:1) until 70 A.D., the Old Testament and the New Testament were in force at the same time. How can this be?
Paul’s Parallel Between Death’s Effect on Marriage and Death’s Effect on the Law of Moses
Paul writes, “Know ye not brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ: that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter” (Rom. 7:1-6). When a woman’s husband dies, she is freed from the law of her husband (the marriage vow which she made and which is binding by the law of Moses) and is able to marry another. The death of her husband releases her from the law. Paul makes a parallel to Christians (those who are in Christ). He affirms that they are dead to the law of Moses by the body of Christ (the death of Jesus upon the cross). The law of Moses was nailed to the cross. Paul states, “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” (Col. 2:14). The Holy Spirit declares, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:9-10). After the death of the Law of Moses, Jews are free to marry Christ. Here, marriage is a figure of the spiritual union formed between an obedient believer and Jesus Christ. Paul affirms, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (II Cor. 11:2). Spiritual union with Christ forbids two things. First, all idolatry. Second, marriage to the Law of Moses.
Christians Are Married to Christ
Christians are married to Christ, that is, they become united with Him at the time of their baptism. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26-28). This spiritual union with Christ must not be corrupted. You cannot be married to Christ and married to Moses at the same time. This is spiritual adultery. Premillennialists by their doctrine, demand spiritual adultery. Realized Eschatologists, by their doctrine, demand spiritual adultery. Any doctrine that implies a false doctrine is itself a false doctrine. The church of Jesus Christ is the bride of Christ.
Can The Old Testament and the New Testament Be In Force At The Same Time?
The biblical answer to this question is NO!