Israel and the Church

Netchaplain said:

There is abundant Scripture to indicate that the present divine purpose must be the out calling of the Church from both Gentiles and Jews.

Seven figures are employed in the New Testament to set forth the relation which exists between Christ and the church. All seven are needed to the end that the whole revelation respecting this relationship may be disclosed. In connection with each figure and as its parallel there is a similar truth to be observed regarding Israel.

1. Christ is the shepherd and Christians are the sheep. Israel, too, was the flock of God and the sheep of His pasture.

2. Christ is the vine and the believers of today are the branches. Israel was Jehovah’s vineyard.

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You need to be more careful with your quotes of Christian writings because of obvious errors in them.

God's symbolic vineyard per The Old Testament is the "house of Israel" per Isaiah 5, and Judah His pleasant plant. The "house of Israel" after God split old Israel into two separate kingdoms only applies to the ten northern tribes of Israel whom God scattered out of the land first. The ten tribes were scattered among the Gentiles, as God had warned in Deut.4 and 28, and they lost their heritage as part of old Israel, and became as Gentiles, living among Gentiles. To this day the majority of them think they are Gentiles. These are who Jesus was referring to when He said He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the "house of Israel". It is not about the Jews, for the majority of the Jews have still kept their heritage as part of God's Israel today. And the majority of the Jews today still reject Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah. Thus the subject of the "nation" Jesus mentioned in His parable about the vineyard in Matthew 21 is about the ten lost tribes and believing Gentiles, together as one body making up Christ's Church.

Netchaplain said:

3. Christ is the chief Cornerstone and Christians are the building. Israel had a temple but the Church is a living temple for the habitation of God through the Spirit (interdependence; indwelling).

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Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2 that the Apostles AND PROPHETS make up the foundation of the temple of The Spirit, with Jesus as its Chief Cornerstone. Thus Paul was pointing to the Old Testament saints as being part of Christ's Church also. And that fact is easy, since the Promise by Faith was first given through Abraham 430 years prior to the giving of the law. Thus the above is trying... to create a non-existent separation between God's Israel and Christ's Church, which is from the Dispensationalist theories from men, and not written in God's Word.

Netchaplain said:

5. Christ is the Head of the Church which is His body. Israel was a commonwealth, an organized nation; the Church is an organism very much alive by reason of partaking of one Life and being related to its living Head.

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Per Ephesians 2 again, by Apostle Paul, the "commonwealth of Israel" Paul links directly to Christ's Church, and he shows the believing Gentiles have become nigh unto it, meaning become a part of it. Once again, the writer above is trying to draw a false separation between God's Israel and Christ's Church.

Netchaplain said:

6. Christ is the Head of a New Creation and Christians are with Him in that Creation as its vital members. Israel was of the old creation and attached to the earth; the Church is of the New Creation and related to heaven. (This figure dwells upon the believer’s marvels of position and standing since he is in Christ.)

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And yet a third... evidence of the writer attempting to separate God's Israel from Christ's Church.

God gave Jacob the new name 'ISRAEL' to represent His Salvation Plan through His Son Jesus Christ. At the end of John 8, Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see His day, and was glad. That because Jesus met... Abraham and offered Abraham "bread and wine" as Melchizedek. The Promise by Faith which Abraham believed, and it was counted to Abraham as righteousness, is The Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why Apostle Paul would say in Galatians 3 that those of FAITH have become "the children of Abraham."

The actual meaning of the word 'ISRAEL' reveals this point of it being directly related to Christ's Church. That word means to 'prevail with God's help'. It is about overcoming this world through Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter that the majority of the children of Israel rejected The Gospel which Abraham believed, because The Gospel still continued through the 'seed' of Promise, to Abraham's son Isaac, then to Isaac's son Jacob, then to Jacob's son Joseph, and then to to Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, where the Promise by Faith still dwells to this day through the ten tribes of Israel scattered mainly to the west which formed Christ's early Church in Asia Minor and Europe.

But the Biblically unlearned on these things instead err and try to create a separation between that word ISRAEL and Christ's Church.

Netchaplain said:

7. Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. Israel was the repudiated, yet to be restored wife of Jehovah; the Church is the espoused virgin Bride of Christ.

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Per Revelation 21, Jerusalem is shown to be the Bride. This is because God's parable in Isaiah 54 applies that concept to both Jerusalem that He married, and to His faithful saints.

Netchaplain said:

This relationship for Christians, foreseen in various types, is all of another sphere and figure (from Israel—NC).

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And there is yet a 4th attempt... to separate God's Israel from Christ's Church. That theory was first developed by John Nelson Darby as part of the false pre-trib rapture theory that he taught, called Dispensationalism. He taught that the Church is raptured prior to the tribulation while Israel is left behind and some Jews will convert to Christ during the trib, which they call 'tribulation saints.' But none of that is written of in God's Word. That is reason why pre-trib Dispensationalists try to separate Israel from Christ's Church.

Netchaplain said:

The crux concerning these two groups of God is that Israel will ever be the earthly witness, as was His purpose; and the Christians His Heavenly witness as priests and kings ruling with the Lord Jesus over Israel and the New Earth from the New Heaven.

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That might be what you have been taught by men, but it is not what God's Word declares about Christ's Church. I'll give you an example of how easily some brethren are deceived by men who don't know all their Bible...

John 14:2-3
2 In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
KJV

The above Scripture is often used to point to Christ's Church raptured to Heaven and reigning with Jesus there, in Heaven, up in the sky, or wherever, just not upon this earth.

HOWEVER... for one who studies ALL THEIR BIBLE, God described HIS HOUSE after Christ's future coming in the Book of Ezekiel. The last 9 Chapters of the Book of Ezekiel are all after Christ's future return.

ALSO, those who think the above means our future home will be away from this earth blatantly missinterpret that, "I will come again" statement by Lord Jesus, and the Zechariah 14 Testimony that shows Jesus' feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives on earth, bringing all His saints with Him there. The Mount of Olives is where Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven from per Acts 1, and that is where it is written that He will return at His future coming.

The Greek for "mansions" simply means 'residence, or abode'. Per Ezekiel 40 forward about the future "thousand years" temple on earth that Jesus will reign with His elect Church from, those "mansions" are the chambers of the priests in that future Millennial temple on earth.

Here is Ezekiel being shown a vision of the future about The Father's House in that future Millennial time after Jesus' return...

Ezek 47:1-14
47 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

That is about God's River of the Waters of Life shown in Genesis 2, and in Revelation 22. It will return to this earth, as shown in these Ezekiel 47 Scriptures.

6 And he said unto me, "Son of man, hast thou seen this?" Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

Those Waters flowing out from under the Altar in God's House flow outside to form that River. And wherever that River connects to other waters on earth, those waters will be healed. This is NOT UP IN THE SKY. This will happen ON THIS EARTH. God's River of the Waters of Life, and the Tree of Life, were once upon this earth, literally. That is what Genesis 2 revealed.

10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

The above points directly to locations in the middle east where God's River will originate from. THAT MEANS UPON THIS EARTH.

11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

That is the return of the Tree of Life back to this earth, along the sides and banks of God's River. It is shown again in Revelation 22.

13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.
14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.
KJV

There our Heavenly Father makes it VERY CLEAR that the children of Israel (the 12 tribes of Israel), are to INHERIT THAT LAND WHERE HIS RIVER ORIGINATES, ALONG WITH THAT TREE OF LIFE WITH IT.

But I thought Revelation 22 about the River of the Waters of Life is only for Christ's Church, right?? WRONG! Lord Jesus will be King of Israel, His 12 Apostles as the foundation of His Church will each sit upon a throne over the 12 tribes, and the believing Gentiles will be JOINED with them in the holy land. THAT... is what God's Word reveals, not what men reveal. This is why Apostle Paul taught in Galatians 3 that those of Faith inherit with faithful Abraham. We Gentiles, as part of Christ's Church, have come into the Promises and Covenants that God made with the seed of ISRAEL. Paul states this fact in Ephesians 2.

Thus thinking our future home will be up in the sky away from the earth is a MYTH BY MEN'S DOCTRINES who do not yet understand God's Promises about INHERITANCE in His future Kingdom on earth.

Some might ask, "why then do we hear preached that our true 'home' is in Heaven?"

Here's one example...

Gal 4:23-28
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband."
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
KJV

Apostle Paul points to the 'new Jerusalem' of Revelation 21:2 that is free...

Rev 21:2-3
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God."
KJV

God's new Jerusalem that is free, has NOT YET come down to this earth as prophesied there in that vision shown to Apostle John in Revelation. HOW... then, can some men CREATE a different doctrine that tries to say we go THERE in HEAVEN prior to the new Jerusalem coming to earth, with God coming to live with us, UPON THIS EARTH?

Christ's Church DOES NOT rapture to Heaven for this present world to that 'new Jerusalem' which is free, because it will ONLY manifest upon this earth when we INHERIT it along with Abraham, to whom The PROMISE was originally made!

Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4 did not include reference of the Zechariah 14 Scripture which reveals that we are gathered by Lord Jesus ON HIS WAY TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES EAST OF JERUSALEM, ON EARTH.

How then is Heaven meant about the time of Christ's gathering His faithful Church? Understanding that also means REMEMBERING WRITTEN BIBLE SCRIPTURE, like what
Apostle Paul taught about the "spiritual body" as the type body for the future resurrection, written in 1 Corinthians 15. HEAVEN WILL BE UPON THIS EARTH, the two dimensions joined together, as it was when our Heavenly Father's Garden of Eden (paradise per the Greek) was here on earth before Adam and Eve sinned.

Netchaplain said:

Hi Davy! I appreciate your replies, though we vary in understanding certain issues. It's my belief the Lord Jesus and the saints will rule from the old earth during the millennial kingdom (Ephesians 2:6; Revelation 5:10), then rule with Christ in the New Heaven after that. I say New Heaven because I'm certain that's where the Father will be, and the Lord Jesus will be at His side-and the saints with Them.

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Not really what God's Word in His Old Testament prophets point to. Per Zechariah 14, Lord Jesus returns to this earth at His 2nd coming, with all His faithful Church. And it is written that His feet will touch down upon the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem. That... is where Jesus and His elect will reign from for the coming "thousand years" Millennium, not up in Heaven while we reign on earth. Zechariah 6 also shows Jesus will build the temple, i.e., the future Millennial temple for His "thousand years" future reign. Matthew 19:28 is where He showed at His future coming is when He will sit in the throne of His Glory, which is His flesh father David's throne, an earthly throne.

The doctrine that we rapture to Heaven and spend the time of "great tribulation" there off this earth is a doctrine of men, not written in God's Word. The "camp of the saints" shown in Revelation 20 is on earth, as written, and is new Jerusalem. E.W. Bullinger did a nice layout of that future Millennial city and sanctuary per the Ezekiel 40 forward Chapters...