Job’s character was phenomenal. No wonder he was singled out with Daniel and Noah in the Book of Ezekiel as being a very unusual person! When we think of our character development compared to that of Job, we wonder how we would have reacted in his place. We do not know to what extent our character development has progressed or what we are capable of. Thank God for the promise that He will not allow us to be tested above what we are able (1 Cor. 10:13)—and that He knows the point of no return, where it would be to our utter disadvantage as new creatures to be tested further.

“Without descent” means without record, without a recorded lineage. For Melchisedec to literally have “neither beginning of days, nor end of life,” he would have to be God Himself, for only His existence is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psa. 90:2). Therefore, Melchisedec had to be a created being but without record of descent. Moreover, Melchisedec was not Jesus, for Jesus stated, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore” (Rev. 1:18). Clearly then, these phrases have to be taken in an idiomatic or somewhat symbolic sense. To try to make them literal would contradict at least one of these terms.

The “middle wall of partition,” the barrier between Jew and Gentile, was figuratively eliminated through Christ. God’s exclusive dealing with Israel ended in AD 36. From then on, there has been no more barrier, for all are one in Christ. Stated another way, the spiritual “middle wall of partition” was broken down in AD 36, when Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, was begotten by the Holy Spirit.

From one standpoint, Gentile Christians were proselytes to the new religion of Christ, which had originated among the Jews. In the Ephesian class were Jews according to the flesh who had accepted Christ. However, there was a “barrier” tendency—the attitude that something was different between a Gentile Christian and a Jewish Christian. The sensitivity to this imagined difference had to be eliminated. The faith structure of both had to be based on Scripture. Paul spoke strongly with statements such as “The wall is broken down” and “There is no male or female, Jew or Greek … in the body of Christ” (Gal. 3:28 paraphrase). Paul could speak boldly because he was sure he was right from a scriptural standpoint.

Paul knew that he would not have an instantaneous resurrection. Henceforth a “crown of righteousness” was laid up for him, to be given “at that day [in the future]” and “unto all them also that love his [Jesus’] appearing.” Those who are truly and honestly looking forward to the appearing of the Lord in connection with his Kingdom, those who are true in conscience and spirit, will probably be especially those of the Little Flock class.

John used the same reasoning in 1 John 3:3, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Those who really look forward to seeing Jesus will purify themselves. Paul described this attitude, the hope of seeing Jesus, as those who “love his appearing.”

As we examine the Book of Hebrews, we see more and more that it was addressed primarily to Jewish Christians. In early chapters, almost from the beginning, Paul warned how easy it is to go out of the truth by letting things slip or by forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Now, near the end of the book, he reverted back to his concern for converted Jews and the problems in maintaining their faith and in resisting sin in others as well as in their own fallen nature. Our three enemies are categorized as the world, the flesh, and the devil.

We continue with the chapter of Matthew 24, explaining the verses which the Lord described the End of the Age (World), Time of the End. We are warned to flee (Mystic Babylon) and take none of her baggage with us. He explains the deceptions and “Lying Signs and Wonders” that Satan will use to ensnare the “Elect” if it were possible. Jesus gives us signs to watch for (One being the restoration of Israel). He describes the Tribulation, “Time of Trouble” that was never since the world began, likening it to the Time period that Noah and even Lot lived, and how God delivered the righteous. Finally we end up with the binding of Satan for the thousand years.

The suggestion is that earth’s development was perfectly timed. Christ died here, on this small planet. And although earth’s development occurred relatively late in the physical creation, yet as far as human creation is concerned, it is the beginning of creation.

God has been very active not only with the earth but also elsewhere. Then He stopped His physical work, and we are in an interim period until earth’s society is brought into complete harmony with the Lord.