Arguments Against Mid-Acts

Click to Read the Opposing Arguments to Mid-Acts from huckleberry2012

Reference Material: https://huckleberry2012.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/more-mid-acts-and-hyper-dis-errors/

More mid acts and hyper dispensationalist errors

More mid acts RD errors: this is NOT an all inclusive list, and not all agree on all these, but these are the type things you will hear from them at one time or another. I have heard so many weird doctrines, I can’t remember them all, so I am going to start a running list and address them all in one blog.

• That there was “an offer of the Kingdom” which was refused by Israel. Peter said the promise was to “all the Lord would call”. In Acts 2.

• That Paul was the first grace saint , the first in the body of Christ. A doctrine built on misunderstanding “in me first”.

• That Paul preached ONLY to, and solely to the Gentile. See Acts 13, Paul preaches the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to “ye men of Israel”.

• That Peter did not preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Lie. Read Acts 2. also see my blog post “Peter’s gospel, Just what did he preach?”.

• That the resurrection of Jesus was a “mystery” up to the cross. Read Peter’s Acts 2 message “David spake of the resurrection of Christ” referencing psalms 16:10.

• That Peter and the 12 preached only to the Jew. Read Acts 1:8. This is Jesus final instructions to the Apostles. They were to wait for the spirit in Jerusalem, and then go to Judea, Samaria (gentiles), and the “ends of the earth”. Now read Acts 15:7 Peter says “that BY MY MOUTH the gospel will go out to the Gentiles”.

• That The 12 preached only to Israel. See above, and Acts 1:8.

• That the nation Israel is the Bride of Christ. The Bride is a gentile, part of the “same body” as the Jew. Eph 3:6. The story of Naomi and Ruth is the pattern for to explain this relationship. Most Madrs and hypers only clue about our destiny is that we will be in heaven during the mellinial reign. There are too many scriptures to get around for that to be true. The OT and Paul say Jesus returns “with all his saints” and 1 thess 4:17 says “so shall we ever be with the Lord” where he goes, WE GO.

• That Paul did not write the Book of Hebrews. They place their own pet doctrine and interpretation of the scriptures above the translators of the First edition KJV . The translators say Paul wrote Hebrews. They also said Moses wrote Exodus. I’ve no reason to doubt either. The reason they reject Pauline authorship because it goes against the narrative. That being the false “two programs” doctrine. By their errant doctrine, the Hebrews were in “the kingdom program” or Peter’s gospel. They place Paul in “the mystery” program. The scriptures are clear that Paul was saved just like the Jew at Pentecost. He believed unto salvation, and was baptised to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost a few days later. See my two other blogs about Paul’s authorship of Hebrews.

• That Paul had not ever saw or met Jesus prior to the Damascus road. See my post “this fellow named Paul”. Paul and Jesus were 5-10 years apart in age. Paul grew up in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. Jesus was a rabbi and teacher in the temple. Go figure.

• That Paul was from Tarsus, and just sorta “drove up” after Jesus Resurrection. Paul GREW UP in Jerusalem.

• That there are “two programs”, kingdom and “mystery”. Wrong. And downright weird. Read Eph. 3:6-8.

• That God revealed “mysteries” SOLELY and ONLY to Paul. Wrong. Eph. 3:5 says these “mysterious” were revealed to the prophets and apostles. Matthew 12:17 And he shall shew judgment to the gentiles. Matt 17:21, Isaiah 11:10. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. So this so called “mystery” was no mystery. The prophets and apostles knew it before Paul did.

• That the non Pauline Epistles are not “to us”, and were written to the Jew. Pigeonholed doctrine excluding 3/4 of the Bible. No wonder they lack understanding. ALL of it applys to us, and is for our learning, especially the prophecies and the kingdom.

• That only 13 books of the Bible apply to us, Romans through Philemon. Wrong. Read revelation 5:10 “thou hast redeemed us by thy blood out of all nations and peoples and kindreds and tongues, and has made us kings and priests unto God, and we shall reign on earth” many other places also include the Gentiles.

• That the seven churches of Revelation are Jewish, and John and Peter did not write to the Gentiles. The Ephesus church for one was founded by Paul. Revelation was written AFTER 92AD. Internal proof is provided by the Lord himself in Revelation 2:13. Antipas was killed in 92AD, a time Israel did not exist, and had ceased to exist some 20 years prior.

• That the Jews won’t be resurrected until Jesus second coming. Read matt. 27:52 “and the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints that slept arose” Paul affirms David had been resurrected in Acts 13 also. See my other blog post that explains the “First resurrection”, the harvest of the saints.

• That the Gentile is “hid in Christ” and will have no role or part in the melliniel reign of Christ. Ridiculous. Made up doctrine to explain what they do not understand. Again, Read rev 5. Rev 19. Rev 21. Also see my blog post “rev 21 the New Jerusalem” and “who is the Bride”.

• Cannot account for David’s role in the Kingdom since they believe “the body of Christ” started with Paul. Read Ezekial 34, and ch 37. David will rule over Israel as a prince king.

• That there are “two bodies” of Christ. More doctrinal gymnastics to prop us a house of cards, by definition ridiculous.

• That there are “two churches” “the body” and “the little flock”. Wrong. One is part of the other. Naomi and Ruth is the church.

• That works had something to do with salvation in times past. Never has, never will. This is the MAJOR DOCTRINAL ERROR of all these “right divider” groups.

• That Paul infers “works” did save in times past in Eph 2;9. Wrong. Works never had anything to do with grace. Never has, never will.

• That grace through faith came through Paul alone. Wrong. You’ll find grace through faith throughout the Old Testament and the New.

• That Paul was the first to be saved by grace through faith. Wrong again. Paul says there were others in Christ before him. Read rom 4 and Romans 16.

• That Jeremiah 31 is to the Nation Israel, not us. I’ll explain. As part of the “same body” it applies to us also.

• That the church started in Acts 2, 9, or mid acts, or Acts 28. The church started long before this. The first ones into his body were the saints in paradise at Jesus resurrection.

• That Jesus message was different than Paul’s and was strictly for Israel. “Believe” is the heart of any of the gospel.

• That the book of James is doctrinally different than Paul’s epistles. There is no contradiction except in their own interpretation. The two are in complete harmony.

• That Grace through faith didn’t apply to OT saints. Works had to go with it. Dead wrong. Never had never will. Paul makes that clear in Romans and Hebrews.

• That Peter preached “works”. Wrong. Acts 15:7 shows Peter saying “by his mouth” the gospel would go to the gentiles. He did not preach works to either the Jew or the Gentile.

• That Jesus didn’t preach the cross. Wrong. (see Luke 24, and other places)

• That Eph. 5 is an allegory, not a literal description of the Bride. Another ridiculous assumption.

• That the believers after the cross up to the rapture are not included in Rev 5;9-10. “Hid in Christ”. Again, ridiculous. Jesus returns with ALL his saints. ALL believers up to that time will rule and reign with Christ in the 1000 year reign.

• That Paul preached “the kingdom” only to Gentiles that blessed Israel in Acts, and his doctrine and message changed later on. Acts 28 shows Paul in Rome preaching “the kingdom” to Gentiles and Jews alike, near the end of his ministry.

• That the 12 preached to gentiles that blessed Israel, no other Gentiles. Again, Read Acts 15:7.

• That there was “an offer of the Kingdom” that was refused by the nation Israel. I’ve not found it yet.

• That the “revelation of the Mystery” was solely to Paul. Paul says himself that the prophets and apostles knew it. Eph. 3:1-8.

• That none of the 12 ever preached the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Read Acts 2 again.

• That the resurrection was “a mystery” until Pentecost. Wrong. In Acts 2, Peter preached it referencing David speaking of the resurrection 1000 years before in psalms 16:10.

• That God “postponed the Kingdom program” after Israel rejected him. Huh?

• That Christ’s death was “a mystery” until Paul. Ridiculous.

• That the church “body of Christ” began with Paul in Acts 9. The body began on the day of the resurrection. Read Matthew 27:52.

A Point-by-Point Response to Common Objections

Thank you for compiling this extensive list. It helpfully catalogs many common points of confusion that arise when God's distinct programs for Israel (Prophecy) and the Body of Christ (Mystery) are blended together. By "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), these apparent "errors" can be resolved.

Let's address each point individually.

That there was “an offer of the Kingdom” which was refused by Israel.

Response: This is a foundational biblical truth. Peter made a direct, conditional offer to the nation in Acts 3: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted... That the times of refreshing may come... And he shall send Jesus Christ..." (Acts 3:19-21). This was a genuine offer of the prophesied earthly Kingdom, which the nation's leadership continued to reject, culminating in the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.

That Paul was the first grace saint, the first in the body of Christ.

Response: This is correct, based on Paul's own testimony. He states God saved him to be the prototype for all believers in this age: "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting" (1 Timothy 1:16). If others were saved into the Body of Christ before him, he could not be the first, the pattern.

That Paul preached ONLY to, and solely to the Gentile.

Response: This is a misrepresentation. No serious Mid-Acts teacher claims this. Paul's God-given strategy was "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). His practice, seen throughout Acts, was to begin his ministry in the Jewish synagogue in each new city (Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1-2).

That Peter did not preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Response: Another misrepresentation. Peter absolutely preached the DBR (Acts 2:23-24). The vital distinction is *why* he preached it. Peter preached the resurrection as proof that Jesus was Israel's Messiah King. Paul preached the resurrection as the means of personal salvation and justification by faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 4:25).

That the resurrection of Jesus was a “mystery” up to the cross.

Response: This is false, and not what Mid-Acts teaches. The resurrection was prophesied, as Peter himself declared by quoting Psalm 16 (Acts 2:25-31). What was a mystery was the formation of the Body of Christ through the full reconciling significance of the cross.

That Peter and the 12 preached only to the Jew.

Response: Their primary, God-given commission was to Israel. Jesus commanded them, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles... But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:5-6). Paul confirms their apostleship was to "the circumcision" (Galatians 2:8). Acts 1:8 outlines Israel's *potential* prophetic witness to the world, which they did not fulfill due to national unbelief.

That The 12 preached only to Israel.

Response: This is a repeat of the previous point, and the same answer applies. Their apostleship was to Israel.

That the nation Israel is the Bride of Christ.

Response: This is correct. The Old Testament consistently portrays Israel as the wife of Jehovah, who was unfaithful but will be restored (Hosea 2:19-20; Jeremiah 3:14). The Body of Christ is never called the Bride; it is the Body, a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The verse "so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess 4:17) does not negate our heavenly position; we are with Him where He is, reigning from our seat in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).

That Paul did not write the Book of Hebrews.

Response: Some Mid-Acts teachers conclude this based on internal evidence. The audience, theme (a better priesthood and covenant for Hebrews), and introduction (Hebrews 1:1-2) are starkly different from Paul’s mystery epistles. Historically, the general consensus has always been that Paul is the author of Hebrews. The debate is about authority because if Paul wrote it then the question is does it apply to the body of Christ. It is entirely possible that Paul wrote it and didn't mention authorship. Paul may not have wanted his name associated with the letter.

That Paul had not ever saw or met Jesus prior to the Damascus road.

Response: There is no scriptural evidence that he did. Paul's testimony emphasizes his encounter with the glorified Christ from heaven as the starting point of his knowledge (Galatians 1:12, 15-17).

That Paul was from Tarsus, and just sorta “drove up” after Jesus Resurrection.

Response: Paul himself stated, "I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus... yet brought up in this city [Jerusalem] at the feet of Gamaliel" (Acts 22:3). This is a non-issue; both are true.

That there are “two programs”, kingdom and “mystery”.

Response: This is the core truth of rightly dividing. Paul defines the "mystery" as that which was "kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25) and "hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9). By definition, a secret program is distinct from the prophesied kingdom program for Israel.

That God revealed “mysteries” SOLELY and ONLY to Paul.

Response: Paul was the primary steward and apostle of the mystery. He states the dispensation was "given to me for you" (Ephesians 3:2). When he says it was "now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets" (Ephesians 3:5), he is referring to the apostles and prophets of the new dispensation (like Timothy, Silas, etc.), not the OT prophets or the Twelve.

That the non Pauline Epistles are not “to us”.

Response: The distinction is crucial: All Scripture is FOR us (2 Timothy 3:16), but not all is doctrinally TO or ABOUT us. The epistles of Peter, James, and John are addressed to the "twelve tribes scattered abroad" (James 1:1) and deal with their prophetic program of trial and endurance. Our doctrine for faith and practice comes from our apostle, Paul.

That only 13 books of the Bible apply to us, Romans through Philemon.

Response: This is a mischaracterization. These 13 books contain our specific doctrine as members of the Body of Christ. The rest of the Bible is God's Word for our learning and background, but it is not our direct "marching orders." Revelation 5:10 ("reign on the earth") is a promise to redeemed Israel, not the Body of Christ, whose position is heavenly.

That the seven churches of Revelation are Jewish...

Response: This is correct. The context of Revelation is the fulfillment of Israel's prophetic timeline. The messages to these literal, historical churches contain instructions ("overcome") and promises (ruling with a rod of iron, eating from the tree of life) that are specific to Israel's earthly kingdom hope, not the Body of Christ's completed heavenly position.

That the Jews won’t be resurrected until Jesus second coming.

Response: The general resurrection of OT saints occurs in line with Israel's prophetic timeline. The resurrection in Matthew 27:52 was a special, miraculous "firstfruits" sign. Long after this, Peter confirms that King David "is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day" (Acts 2:29), proving he had not yet been resurrected.

That the Gentile is “hid in Christ” and will have no role or part in the melliniel reign of Christ.

Response: This is a straw man. The Body of Christ, made of believing Jews and Gentiles, is "hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3) and absolutely will reign with Christ from its "seated...in heavenly places" position (Ephesians 2:6).

Cannot account for David’s role in the Kingdom since they believe “the body of Christ” started with Paul.

Response: This is false. Mid-Acts theology fully affirms Ezekiel's prophecy that David will be a prince under the Messiah in the earthly kingdom (Ezekiel 37:24). This is a key part of Israel's program.

That there are “two bodies” of Christ. or “two churches”

Response: This is a misrepresentation. There is one Body of Christ today (Ephesians 4:4). Israel is a separate entity, God's chosen nation, also called an assembly or "church" (Acts 7:38). They are two distinct peoples of God with two distinct destinies.

That works had something to do with salvation in times past.

Response: Salvation has always been by grace through faith. However, the expression of that faith has changed. Under Law, faith was expressed through works of obedience (sacrifices, rituals, etc.). Under grace, faith alone is the sole condition. Paul contrasts this in Ephesians 2:8-9 ("For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works...").

That Paul infers “works” did save in times past in Eph 2;9. Wrong.

Response: Paul does the opposite. He uses "not of works" to clearly distinguish the current dispensation of grace from the previous program where specific acts (works of the law) were the required expression of faith.

That grace through faith came through Paul alone.

Response: The dispensation of the grace of God (Ephesians 3:2), the specific gospel for the Body of Christ, was committed to Paul. Others, like Abraham, were saved by faith (Romans 4), but that was under a different dispensation and was not the gospel of the grace of God revealed to Paul.

That Paul was the first to be saved by grace through faith.

Response: Paul was the first to be saved under the dispensation of grace as the pattern for the Body of Christ (1 Timothy 1:16). Others before him were saved by faith, but not into this new creature, the Body of Christ. The men mentioned in Romans 16:7 ("in Christ before me") were Jewish believers saved during the Acts transition.

That Jeremiah 31 is to the Nation Israel, not us.

Response: This is correct. The text is explicit: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31). Claiming this promise is to misappropriate Israel's specific covenant.

That the church started in Acts 2, 9, or mid acts, or Acts 28.

Response: The Body of Christ, the central feature of the "mystery" hid in God, began with its apostle and pattern, Paul. His conversion in Acts 9 marks the beginning of this new program.

That Jesus message was different than Paul’s and was strictly for Israel.

Response: Correct. Jesus's earthly ministry was to confirm the promises to Israel (Romans 15:8). His gospel message was, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:7). Paul's gospel was about justification by faith in Christ's finished work for all people (Romans 3:21-26).

That the book of James is doctrinally different than Paul’s epistles.

Response: This is correct, and they are not contradictory when rightly divided. James says, "by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24) to the twelve tribes under a kingdom program that required works as evidence of faith. Paul says a man is "justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28). Both are correct for their intended audiences.

That Grace through faith didn’t apply to OT saints. Works had to go with it.

Response: This is a poor way of stating it. OT saints were saved by grace through faith, but that faith was expressed through the God-ordained works/obedience of their dispensation (e.g., Abel's sacrifice, Abraham's circumcision). Today, no such works are attached to saving faith.

That Peter preached “works”.

Response: Peter preached the requirements of the Kingdom Gospel for Israel, which included the "work" of water baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). He did not preach "works" in the sense of earning salvation through merit.

That Jesus didn’t preach the cross.

Response: Jesus prophesied His death, but He did not preach faith in His death, burial, and resurrection as the means of salvation. His own disciples did not understand it until after the fact (Luke 18:34).

That Eph. 5 is an allegory, not a literal description of the Bride.

Response: Correct. Paul uses the husband-wife relationship as a comparison or illustration to explain Christ's relationship to the Church, the Body. He does not state that the Body is the Bride.

That the believers after the cross up to the rapture are not included in Rev 5;9-10.

Response: Correct. The group in Revelation 5 is redeemed Israel, who are made "kings and priests" and "shall reign on the earth." The Body of Christ is not mentioned because our destiny and reign are heavenly. We return "with him," but from our heavenly position.

That Paul preached “the kingdom” only to Gentiles that blessed Israel in Acts, and his doctrine and message changed later on.

Response: Paul preached the Kingdom of God, but from the perspective of the mystery, a spiritual kingdom we enter by faith (Colossians 1:13). In Acts 28:30-31, he was expounding on how all the OT scriptures ("the law of Moses, and out of the prophets") pointed to Jesus, but he was doing so in light of the new revelation of grace.

That the 12 preached to gentiles that blessed Israel, no other Gentiles.

Response: The Twelve's ministry was to Israel. Any Gentile interaction (like Cornelius) was on the basis of their relationship to Israel's prophetic program, not a free-standing Gentile ministry like Paul's.

That there was “an offer of the Kingdom” that was refused by the nation Israel. I’ve not found it yet.

Response: This is a repeat. See Acts 3:19-21 for the clearest offer and refusal.

That the “revelation of the Mystery” was solely to Paul.

Response: This is a repeat. He was the primary apostle and steward of the mystery (Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25-26).

That none of the 12 ever preached the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Response: This is a repeat and a misrepresentation. They did, but for a different purpose than Paul.

That the resurrection was “a mystery” until Pentecost.

Response: This is a repeat and false. It was prophesied.

That God “postponed the Kingdom program” after Israel rejected him.

Response: This is a good way of describing it. God temporarily set Israel aside in national blindness (Romans 11:25) and interrupted their prophetic program to usher in the current dispensation of grace.

That Christ’s death was “a mystery” until Paul.

Response: The fact of His death was prophesied (Isaiah 53). The full, reconciling significance of that death for all mankind apart from Israel, and its power to create the "one new man," was the mystery revealed to Paul (Ephesians 2:13-16).

That the church “body of Christ” began with Paul in Acts 9.

Response: This is a repeat. Since the Body of Christ is the core of the "mystery" revealed to Paul, it began with its pattern apostle. The resurrection in Matthew 27:52 was a sign related to Israel's program, not the start of the Body of Christ.