THE CHURCHES IN REVELATION ARE ISRAEL, NOT THE BODY OF CHRIST

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Doug

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The book of Revelation focuses on Israel, not the body of Christ. The churches addressed in chapters 2 and 3 are churches of God, composed of the believing remnant of Israel. The gospel preached is not the gospel of grace, but the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14). The gospel of the kingdom preaches Jesus as Christ, the Son of God, and his coming to establish his kingdom on earth. Israel will reign in the kingdom as kings and priests (John 20:31 Isaiah 2:2-3 Exodus 19:5-6 Revelation 1:6 Revelation 5:10).

The following verses reflect that the remnant of Israel is being addressed.

Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Israel was instructed to wait patiently for the Lord in Psalm 37:7.

Israel, and the disciples were told to have patience in Luke 21:19.

To receive their promises, Israel had to be patient in Hebrews 10:36.

Israel was to be patient unto the coming of the Lord in James 5:7-8.

Jesus spoke in parable that Israel should not faint in Luke 18:1

Israel was not to faint when chastened in Hebrews 12:5.

2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Israel removed itself far from God in Jeremiah 2:5.

Jesus spoke to Israel, that the love of many would grow cold in Matthew 24:12.

2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The believing remnant of Israel that do the commandments, will have right to the tree of life, and will enter into the city of God, as read in Revelation 22:14.

2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 3:9 says as well, that those who say they are Jews, but are not, are the synagogue of Satan.

2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

The crown of life is given to those who love the Lord according to James 1:12, which was written to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus, in Matthew 25:21, speaking of the kingdom of heaven, promised Israel that those who are faithful, will be made rulers over many things.

2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

1 John 5:5 says it is those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who overcome. Israel was to believe on the name of Jesus as Christ, the Son of God in John 20:31.

The second death has no power over the remnant of Israel that will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years in the kingdom on earth according to Revelation 20:6.

Revelation 2:26 says the remnant overcomers will have power over the nations in the kingdom on earth.

Revelation 3:12 says the remnant overcomers will have the name of the new Jerusalem written upon them.

2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Revelation 3:8 commended those of Israel, who have not denied the name of Christ.

In Matthew 24:9, Jesus told the disciples they would be hated of all nations for his name's sake.

In Luke 21:17 Jesus told the disciples they would be hated for his name's sake.

2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

In Isaiah 62:2, Israel will be called by a new name.

2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Believing Israel had to endure til the end of the tribulation and the coming of Christ to be saved and delivered physically to enter the kingdom on earth according to Matthew 10:22 and Matthew 24:13.

Believing Israel would be given the heathen and the earth according to Psalm 2:8.

Believing Israel will eat the riches of the Gentiles according to Isaiah 61:6.

Believing Israel, who overcome (1 John 5:5), will inherit all things according to Revelation 21:7.

Believing Israel, who keep the word, bring forth fruit, as seen in Luke 8:15.

The disciples were told they are appointed the kingdom on earth, and would sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel in Luke 22:29-30.

3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

In the tribulation, believing Israel will be purified, tried, and made white in Daniel 12:10

Speaking to the twelve disciples of Israel, Jesus said whosoever would confess him before men, would be confessed before the Father and the angels in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8.

3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Those 144,000 from the tribes of Israel will have the name of the Father in their foreheads according to Revelation 14:1.

In the holy city, the new Jerusalem, the believing of Israel will have the name of God and the lamb in their foreheads in Revelation 22:4.

3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Israel was to consider that the Lord would chasten them in Deuteronomy 8:5.

Israel would be chastened for correction as a father the son in Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:5-11.

3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Israel was to wait for the Lord, and when he knocks on the door, open it immediately, and sup with him in Luke 12:36-7.

Israel was to open the door in Song of Songs 5:2.

3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The remnant of Israel will be made kings and priests according to Revelation 1:6.

The disciples will sit on twelve thrones in the kingdom on earth, judging the twelve tribes of Israel in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30.
 

HARK!

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Israel, not the body of Christ.

What's the difference?

Yahshua was commissioned only for Israel.

YHWH's covenant is with Israel.

(CLV) Hb 8:10
"For this is the covenant which I shall be covenanting with the house of Israel after those days," the Lord is saying: "Imparting My laws to their comprehension, On their hearts, also, shall I be inscribing them, And I shall be to them for a God, And they shall be to Me for a people.

(CLV) Mt 15:24
Now He, [Yahshua] answering, said, "I was not commissioned except for the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
 

BARNEY BRIGHT

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I believe the true Israel of God to be made up of Jews and gentiles. The scriptures show that just because a person is circumcised or not isn't what makes a person the true Israel of God. It's always been about faith in God, not whether you are circumcised or not.

The seven stars in revelation mean the angels of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands mean seven congregations.” (Rev. 1:19, 20) These congregations picture the entire congregation on earth today of the spirit-begotten, anointed followers of Jesus Christ, all joint heirs with him of the kingdom of the heavens. In the Revelation the promises made to them are incorruptibility and freedom from the “second death,” a crown of rulership and authority over the nations to dash them to pieces at Armageddon, a position in the heavenly temple and in the New Jerusalem and a seat with Jesus Christ on his heavenly throne. (Rev. 2:7, 10, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 6, 11, 12, 21) Each of the seven lampstands pictures a congregation of these members of the “little flock” to whom the heavenly Father has approved of giving the kingdom.—Luke 12:32.

As the number seven is used in the Bible to symbolize what is spiritually perfect, the seven lampstands would picture all the congregations of these Kingdom heirs, or all those Kingdom heirs yet on earth who are viewed as but one indivisible congregation, with Jesus Christ as their spiritual Head. So his walking in the midst of the seven candlesticks would signify how today he is invisibly present with his entire congregation on earth and walking among them, inspecting them and expressing his judgment. With this congregation of his Kingdom heirs yet remaining on earth there is now associated a “great crowd” of other sheep, whom the Right Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has been gathering since the summer of 1931. This “great crowd” was pictured at Revelation 7:9-17.

But what is it that the glorified Jesus has in his right hand? Seven “stars.” These have a relationship to the seven lampstands. As the seven lampstands picture the seven congregations of the anointed remnant of Kingdom heirs, so the seven stars stand for the “angels of the seven congregations.” Who, then, are these angels of the seven congregations? Unseen spiritual angels in heaven, who accompany Jesus Christ when he, the glorified Son of man, comes in the glory of his heavenly kingdom? Not at all. We are not to understand that each earthly congregation of the anointed remnant has its own angel in heaven who shines down upon it. No; for were that the case, Jesus up in heaven could give his messages directly to them concerning the seven congregations. To the contrary of this, Jesus commands the apostle John to write to each angel of each congregation about its condition. John on earth could not write to unseen spirit angels in heaven. How would John know which one was the star of which congregation? How would he deliver or send the message from Jesus to each star and to the proper one.

It is reasonably clear, to me, that all seven stars in Jesus’ right hand picture the entire body or complete number of overseers of the entire congregation yet on earth of the remnant of anointed Kingdom heirs. Each star pictures the overseer or group of overseers placed in charge of each congregation of the anointed remnant. No particular person of such and such a name is pictured in the case of any star, because the individual in the position of overseer may change in the course of time by reason of death or other circumstances. But the office of overseer, not vacant but actually filled by some individual who meets the requirements, is pictured by each star. The stars picture spirit-anointed overseers who, like their congregations, are joint heirs of the heavenly kingdom with Jesus. It was first some years after the Right Shepherd Jesus Christ began gathering his “other sheep” that some of these, according to the needs of the situation, were put in positions of overseer by the “faithful and discreet slave” class.

As I said before, since the number seven is used in the Bible to symbolize what is spiritually perfect, the seven lampstands would picture all the congregations of these Kingdom heirs, or all those Kingdom heirs yet on earth who are viewed as but one indivisible congregation, with Jesus Christ as their spiritual Head. So since these scriptures are talking about the anointed who will be resurrected into heaven, having a resurrection like Jesus being rewarded with immortality and inheriting incorruption these seven congregations do represent the body of Christ.

The spiritual Christian Israelites who are in the new covenant should be undivided in their worship and service of Jehovah both individually and as a congregation. That is why, after speaking of the cup and loaf of the Lord’s evening meal, the apostle says to such ones: “Because there is one loaf, we, although many, are one body, for we are all partaking [eating] of that one loaf.” (1 Cor. 10:17, NW) To which body does Paul here refer by the words “one body”? Not to the personal, fleshly body of Jesus which is symbolized by the loaf of unleavened bread. No, but to the entire congregation of spiritual Israelites of which Jesus Christ is the spiritual Head. This congregation under him is later spoken of in this same letter of Paul as Christ’s body: “Now you are Christ’s body, and members individually. And God has set the respective ones in the congregation.”—1 Cor. 12:27, 28, NW.



In the first three chapters of this letter Paul shows that the congregation, Christ’s body, should be undivided in its thinking and acting. It must therefore be undivided in its stand toward the Lord’s evening meal and toward all that it obligates a member of the congregation to be and to do. If all members partake of the Lord’s evening meal, then they should stick together and be one body. When setting up the Lord’s evening meal Jesus used just the one loaf, and he did so to indicate that those partaking of the loaf or Jesus’ body of flesh were just “one body” under him their Head. Those spiritual Israelites in the new covenant who partake of the one unleavened loaf are having a meal together in common. By this they picture that they are “one body,” partaking of the same benefits and privileges, eating at the same spiritual table. No matter how many they are, still they are “one body,” for they are “all partaking [eating] of that one loaf.” Jehovah God is not sharing with them in this “one body,” for he is not a member of it. Jesus Christ is the Head of that “one body,” but is under Jehovah. “The head of the Christ is God.” (1 Cor. 11:3, NW) As Head, Jehovah accepted Jesus’ sacrifice.

In itself the one unleavened loaf does not symbolize this “one body” under Jesus. That loaf symbolizes the human body that Jesus sacrificed. The act of eating that loaf in common participation is what indicates that all the eaters are “one body,” “Christ’s body.” By partaking of the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ they have all received justification from God or have been declared righteous. This justification of them in the flesh has not been an end in itself. That is, the matter did not stop there, but this justification or declaring them righteous was given them for a special purpose. What? To serve as a stepping-stone toward their being sacrificed with Christ and then being begotten by Jehovah God to become his spiritual children, a “holy nation, a people for special possession,” in a new covenant with him. (Rom. 5:1, 2, 9;8:15-17; Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 2:9) Then as his spiritual children with a hope of heavenly life Jehovah God anointed them with his spirit, to make them members of Christ’s body. By this he brought them into the covenant for the heavenly kingdom, the covenant that Jesus mentioned right after the Lord’s evening meal, saying to his faithful apostles: “You are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”—Luke 22:28-30, NW.
 
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HARK!

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The OP is simply based on a false premise, see Ephesians 3:6.

(CLV) Eph 3:6
the nations are to be joint enjoyers of an allotment, and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the evangel

Future tense.

Once they cross over; they become part if Israel.

Yahshua was commissioned only for Israel.

YHWH's covenant is with Israel.
 

justbyfaith

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Eph 3:6, That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

@HARK! I'm afraid for you because you are using a faulty translation.