Question
In your book you show ‘Hallmark Blessings’ as healings and casting out devils. What about ‘release from captives’?”
Response
There are a great number of blessings that Israel will enjoy once the kingdom of heaven is established on the earth. Dozens upon dozens could be listed from the things spoken about by Isaiah alone. When I used the expression “hallmark blessings,” (which of course is an expression I coined; it isn’t found in the Bible), I did so because of what being sick and having Satan’s devils in the land was designed to mean to Israel. Those two issues, more than any of the other consequences of Israel’s failure to comply with the Law contract, should have indicated to them how apostate the nation was in God’s eyes. The curse of physical infirmities was part of the very first course of punishment that the Law covenant called for, and it began following Joshua’s days and continued unabated right on through to when Christ came to them. The curse of Satan’s devils being allowed to infiltrate and inundate the land began when they became Satan’s “lawful captive” at the beginning of the fifth course of punishment spoken about in the Law. And it too increased, until at the time when Christ came the devils were literally every place throughout the land of Israel. By these two “hallmark curses” Israel was to know the depth of their apostasy and that they were in a predicament from which they could not deliver themselves. For this reason deliverance from these two issues is talked about the most when it comes to describing the blessings of the kingdom. Therefore, I called them the “hallmark blessings” of the kingdom. And I believe this is justified not only on the basis of what I just pointed out, but especially because the signs of the kingdom spoken about in the Gospels are most of the time summarized as being these two issues. In fact, in connection with describing them to the rebellious Pharisees the Lord said, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” (Luke 11:20) There should have been “no doubt” regarding what these these two signs meant, especially the casting out of devils. They were highly significant to Israel, in view of the history of God’s dealings with them. They possessed a hallmark feature about them. (Note: Another fascinating issue to consider regarding these two blessings is that they were the first two signs ever given to the nation Israel by God. When God sent Moses into Egypt to deliver them, He gave him some signs to perform, of which the first two correspond to the two “hallmark blessings” of the kingdom.)
Both the issue of individual release from captivity and the issue of Israel’s national release from captivity will be blessings enjoyed once the kingdom is established. And this will be enjoyed along with all the rest of the hundreds of blessings promised Israel.
Keith R. Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries
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