The Millennium

Quasar92 said:

What I teach comes directly from Jesus, His Apostles, the prophets and the Word of God, the Bible. Your assessment of what it is nothing but the figment of your imagination!

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Quasar92 said:

FYI, I will answer your above off subject post for your personal edification. I do not teach dispensationalism or futurism. But rather, from Jesus, His apostles and the prophets, directly from the Word of God, the Bible.


Quasar92

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Quasar92 said:

Yes, He will.

Quasar92

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Quasar92 said:

Your obsession with the man made terms of Bible interpretation are of no interest to me at all. The studies I have done and the conclusions arrived at, are the culmination of Biblical study and research, since 1937, 80 years ago. Together with the evaluation of every view from conventional Christian sources.

What I write comes directly from Jesus, His Apostles, the prophets and the Word of God, the Bible.

Your sideline parasite off subject remarks do not dignify any response from me at all, and is the last.


Quasar92

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Quasar92 said:

Show me proof Christ came to minister to anyone other than to Israel in His first advent, as recorded in Mt.15:24 and in 10:5-6!

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Quasar92 said:

There are two groups of people involved: One of them is Israel, who rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and are NON-BELIEVERS! The other group consists of Jews and Gentiles alik, all baptized by the Holy Spirit into the ONE BODY OF CHRIST, HIS CHURCH, who are all believers. Let me see you prove that statement to be false, genius!

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Quasar92 said:

It is tragic that most of the major denominations - Roman Catholic and Protestant - embrace an eschatology ("study of last things") that is amillennial : a view that does not envision a literal rule of Christ on the Throne of David on the Planet Earth.

While there are many different, yet defendable, views regarding many aspects of end-time prophecies, this basic divergence - denying a literal Millennium - is particularly dangerous in that it would appear to be an attack on the very character of God! It does violence to His numerous and explicit promises and commitments that pervade both the Old and New Testaments.

The Old Testament is replete with commitments for a literal Messiah ultimately ruling the world through Israel from His throne in Jerusalem. There are at least 1,845 references in the Old Testament and 17 books give prominence to the event. The ancient rabbinical aspirations were dominated by it. In fact, this obsession obscured their recognizing the Messiah when He made His initial appearance.

There are at least 318 references in 216 chapters of the New Testament and 23 of its 27 books give prominence to the event. The early church looked longingly for His promised return as their "Blessed Hope" to rid their desperate world of its evil rulers. How and where did this skepticism known as "Amillennialism" begin?

Origen

Pious, popular, and persuasive, Origen stands out as one of the great figures of the 3rd century church. Even at the age of 18, he stood out spectacularly well as a teacher in Alexandria. (In misguided obedience to Matthew 19:12, he emasculated himself, which he later regretted.) Later, as a prolific writer based in Caesarea, his De Principiis systematically laid out Christian doctrine in terms of Hellenic thinking and set the pattern for most subsequent theological thought for many years. His numerous sermons and commentaries, however, tragically also established an extreme pattern of allegorizing Scripture, which was to strongly influence Augustine in subsequent years.

Augustine

Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo (A.D. 354-430), was one of the most influential leaders of the Western church, living during the turbulent days of the disintegration of the Roman Empire.

He lived a sensuous, dissolute life, but following a dramatic conversion he experienced a total change of character. In 391 he was ordained as a priest in North Africa and four years later was elevated to the Bishop of Hippo. He embarked on a writing career and his extensive doctrinal writings deeply affected the Medieval Roman Catholic Church. Augustine's most elaborate writing, The City of God , was written as the Empire lay crumbling under a siege by half-civilized tribes. It portrayed the Church as a new civic order in the midst of the ruins of the Roman Empire. Augustine died while the Vandals were besieging the very gates of Hippo in A.D. 430.

Although his writings effectively defeated a number of heresies emerging in those turbulent times, the allegorizing influences of Origen left an amillennial eschatology in their wake. As the Church had increasingly become an instrument of the state, it wasn't politically expedient to look toward a literal return of Christ to rid the world of its evil rulers! The allegorical reposturing of those passages was more "politically correct." (This reminds me of the saying among the data processing profession: "If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything!")

The Reformation Shortfall

A thousand years later, under the influences of Martin Luther and others, the Reformation brought an intensive return to the authority of the Scriptures which, in turn, resulted in the subsequent reform in soteriology (the study of salvation) with its emphasis on salvation by faith alone. Many were willingly burned at the stake for their commitment to a Biblical perspective. However, one of the unfortunate shortcomings of the Reformation was that it failed to also reexamine the eschatology of the Medieval Church in the light of Scripture. Thus, the allegorizing alchemy of Origen, institutionalized by Augustine, left a denial of the Millennium that still continues to pervade the doctrines of most Protestant denominations today.

From Augustine to Auschwitz

One of the derivative aspects of an amillennial perspective is that it denies Israel's future role in God's plans. This also leads to a "replacement theology" in which the Church is viewed as replacing Israel in God's program for mankind. In addition to forcing an allegorization of many key passages of Scripture, this also led to the tragedy of the Holocaust in Europe. The responsibility for the six million Jews who were systematically murdered in the concentration camps has to include the silent pulpits who had embraced this heretical eschatology and its attendant anti-Semitism.

Reality of the Millennium

For anyone who takes the Bible seriously, the numerous explicit commitments of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that the Messiah would literally rule from Zion cannot be ignored or explained away. God's explicit and unconditional commitment of the land of Israel to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the very issue that is being challenged by the world today! And, the resurgence of amillennialism, and its attendant doctrines, are again setting the stage for the next holocaust.1

In the New Testament, these commitments are reconfirmed. Every Christmas we are reminded that Gabriel promised Mary that her son was destined to sit on the Throne of David (which did not exist during the days of His ministry).2 It is yet to be fulfilled. In fact, He taught us to pray specifically for it: "Thy Kingdom come...." What does that mean? The thousand-year reign, from which the Millennium takes its label, is detailed in numerous passages including Revelation 20, Isaiah 65, and Ezekiel 40-48, among others. Ezekiel's detailed tour of the Millennial Temple virtually defies any skeptic's attempt to treat it allegorically (see diagram). Encompassing a Temple area 50 miles on a side, substantially to the north of Jerusalem, as a source of a river that flows toward both the Mediterranean to the west and the Dead Sea to the east, Ezekiel's description implies a total change of topography, which is explicit in the Scripture. 3

However, the more we learn about the Millennium, the more questions it raises. It is not heaven: it is clearly distinctive in contrast to the eternal state which follows (Revelation 21). It will be characterized by a limited amount of evil, which Christ will judge perfectly and immediately. 4 Neither is it the "new earth" that God will yet create;5 for therein righteousness dwells, which is something not true of the Millennium.

Millennium Paradoxes

As an example of some of the ostensible paradoxes of the Millennium is the strange question of death. Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a dear friend and highly respected Messianic scholar, suggests that death in the Millennium will be for unbelievers only. Nowhere in the Bible does it speak of a resurrection of Millennial saints. This may be why the resurrection of the tribulation saints is said to complete the "first resurrection" (Rev 20:4-6).

From the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34, it would seem that there will be no Jewish unbelievers in the kingdom; all Jews born during the Millennium will accept the Messiah before their 100th year.6 Unbelief would thus be among the Gentiles only, and therefore, death would exist only among the Gentiles.7 [Jer 31:35-37 refutes "Reconstructionism" and similar heresies.] Another strange issue is the prominence of sacrifices in the Millennium. It would seem that they are memorials after the fact, just as the sacrifices in the Old Testament were memorials in advance.8

A Time to Study

As recent events have so dramatically emphasized to all of us, it is, indeed, a time to reexamine our perspectives, and to acknowledge in our personal priorities that history includes some shocking "non-linearities": even our most cherished presumptions are subject to cataclysmic challenges! It is time to refresh our understanding from the bedrock of Scripture and to recognize the urgency of the times. I believe we are rapidly being plunged into a period of time about which the Bible says more than it does about any other period of time in history - including the time that Jesus walked the shores of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea!

Are you ready? Maranatha!

Bu: Chuck Missler

Quasar92

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Quasar92 said:

The origin of Amillennialism:

The doctrine of amillennialism, or that there is no 1,000 years of literal reign upon the earth by Jesus Messieh, is a Catholic doctrine. The teaching that the eternal millennial kingdom of Jesus began in 70AD and there is no future 1,000 year earthy reign of Jesus is a false teach of Origen and Catholicism. These amillennial falsehoods were not preached or believed by the Apostles.

The amillennial heresy must pervert Scripture, spiritualize Scripture, and change the Scriptures, for it to even gain a remote possibility of being accepted as true. Everyone who is a Catholic amillennialist will have the wildest spiritualizing stories you have ever heard. And yet most of these do not like or believe several other Catholic doctrines, traditions, and heresies. Why then, do they hold on to this teaching?

The amillennial doctrine came into the Catholic Church by Origen via St. Augustine. He in turn got it from being associated with Manichaeanism. He may also have gotten it from contact with the teachings of Clement of Alexandria.

Alexandria, Egypt is also where the trinity doctrine was brought by Athanasius to Nicaea. The question here is: did any good doctrine come out of Egypt? It was here also that Monasteries were invented and where *Catholic-Nicolaitian* gnosticsim was incubated under Clement and Origen. Would it not then seem appropriate for amillennialism to come from that very place of apostasy? One thing is certain, ...neither the Catholics or those who teach this Catholic dogma can trace it to Jerusalem and the Apostles. Therefore, they must pervert what did come from Jerusalem and reinterpret the Scriptures of the Apostles, to make their heresy agree with Egypt. And to do this, they must spiritualize what came out of Jerusalem from the Apostles. So when, they get to the Jerusalem text of Revelation 20:1-10, they do the Egyptian trick on it and pervert it.

Amillennialist always persist in bringing up issues that have no bearing on the interpretation of Revelation 20:1-10. Such issues are the book is totally symbolic why not also the thousand years; cannot God own the cattle on 1001 hills; the wicked being all destroyed at the coming of Jesus; one taken and another left; fighting for the Kingdom; the Kingdom not of this world; where do the sinners come from who populate the earth in the millennial; why are their alleged animal sacrifices to Jesus during this time out of Ezekiel's temple; and confusing the end of the world and the final judgment with the coming of Messieh at the end of the judgments of the tribulation.

To make amillennialism work, they spiritualize the battle of Armageddon as being a spiritual fight between the Saints and the devil; they spiritualize the bottomless pit as the heart of a Saint or sinner (only a Saint could seal him up if that is true and in their heart? You figure that out); they spiritualize the mark of the beast as sin or the Roman numerals in the Pope's crown (and yet they claim they took the mark of sin and can still be saved); they spiritualize the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4), as either water baptism, or being born again by faith only, as passing from death to life (the alleged first resurrection); they spiritualize being beheaded (Rev. 20:4), as a person who takes off their head of sin and who puts on a head of Christ or Messieh; they spiritualize the thrones (Rev. 20:4), as being positions as Apostles in the New Testament Church; they spiritualize the 1,000 years of reigning with Messieh as this being a symbolic number to describe the entire Church age however long it will last.

Since they end the world at the second coming of Messieh, they don't know who those are mentioned: *But the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished*; they never answer who these dead are to be saved *after* the thousand years are finished, if all the dead are saved during the thousand years which they make the Church age?
These spiritualize that the devil is bound in the bottomless pit at Calvary. Some amillenialist claim that Jesus is really Michael the archangel. One famous amillennialist of the Presbyterians (William Cox), said when questioned if this was so, how is it that the devil is out of the pit and waring against the Saints, the Church, and the Apostles, and even has a seat in Pergamos? He replied that all he could figure out was that the devil must be out of the pit on some probation. But if the devil is bound for a thousand years and the thousand years is figurative of the whole Church age, would not the devil then be bound the whole Church age? What devil have these Pentecostals been casting out for the last hundred years? William Cox put his statement about the devil being out on probation in his book on *Amillennialism For Today.* The devil out on probation? What a hoot!

Amillennialist spiritualize the rapture. A real amillenialist does not believe in the rapture and against this they rail vehemently. Most amillennialist take the words *caught up together to meet the Lord in the air* as meaning caught up in euphoria, and the word *clouds* to mean glory. So they hate the so-called rapture doctrine and teach that when Jesus comes to earth every eye shall see him and being caught up in the euphoria of the moment they are ushered into the presence or glory of the Lord ON EARTH, not in the physical air. This scares me, because the antichrist will stir up euphoria and a fake glory and to this many millions will flock. Many spiritualize being changed from mortality to immortality as being filled with the Holy Ghost and that our bodies will not change to one that is spiritual, but be given back immortality.

Now, prior to the Church having existed a thousand years, such a heresy could have claimed this, but the rationality of claiming it now, borders on the insane. And those who lived early in this thousand years like Clement, Origen, Augustine, et al, could make all sorts of allegations but now in retrospect we know they were false and deceived.

And, please note, that in all of their writings, these never did spiritualize the 1,000 years into 2,000 years as done by amillennialist today. They quite expected the earth to last only that 1,000 years and come to an explosive end. But when it did not end in 1000AD, the whole doctrine needed revision. Then it was necessary to invent and correct Clement, Origen, and Augustine, about the millennial being spiritualized to cover the whole Church age.

Since this is just a simple web-site and a few pages on this issue, all of the heresy cannot be treated. And, it is customary for amillennialist that if you do not prove all of their doctrine is false in every aspect of their theory, they will take one or two issues not dealt with as proof the whole doctrine is still valid, and go BACK and take up those portions proven to be false. This proves their dishonesty in handling the Word of God. This demonstrates how slippery an amillennialist can be, and they are not ashamed or timid, to call anyone who exposes their Catholic heresy liars and false prophets. So, keep the e-mail coming folks, my hate mail will as usual be tremendous. Getting rid of Roman riddles seems to be a chore even among the Oneness Apostolic and Pentecostal Churches.

By Pastor G. Reckart

From: http://jesus-messiah.com/apologetics...ic/amill1.html


Quasar92

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Quasar92 said:

Your above views contradict the Scriptures that refute you:

MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST HERE ON EARTH

The Millennial Kingdom is derived from the Latin words (mile), meaning "one thousand" and annim, meaning "year". This kingdom takes place immediately following the physical return of the Messiah Jesus Christ to earth. We don't know very much about this time. If one follows a literal translation of the scripture, one can expect this time or age to last 1000 years.

Does this mean the Kingdom has to be exactly 1,000 years? There are instances in Scripture where large numbers like this were rounded off and used simply to designate a very, very long period of time (e.g., Psalms 90:4, 105:8).(6)

The Reshaping Of Israel:

One of the purposes of the 1000 year earthly kingdom of Christ will be to vindicate His chosen people Israel before the eyes of all nations. There will probably be another yet to be created temple. This would be the temple that Ezekiel envisioned in chapters 40-48. Although the size of this new temple will be much larger than any temple ever built, tribulation prophecies predict a reshaping of this geographical area with earthquakes and other events.

Consider Zechariah 14:4

And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.

Since the Messiah will rule as king over all the world it is not unreasonable to believe that Ezekiel's temple is a literal temple and the boarders and boundaries of Jerusalem will be greatly increased (to maybe 40 miles in circumference) under the kingship of Messiah.


Messiah As King:

We do know that Jesus will reign from Jerusalem as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His political authority will be respected (Daniel 2:35, Isaiah 11:4). At this time the kingdom of God will be fully realized on earth. Messiahs' Kingship will be characterized by righteousness and justice. The center of his government will be in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:3). Messiah as King was for told by Isaiah in one of the best known prophecies Unto Us A Child Is Born (Isaiah 9:6).

A Time Of Peace:

Israel will live in a time of unprecedented peace as the prophecy says in Isaiah 2:4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

Other bible verses that talk about the peace that this kingdom will bring include Isaiah 11:5-9, Isaiah 55:25 and Micah 4:3.

One of the names for the Messiah is The Prince Of Peace.

Other Characteristics Of Messiah's Millennial Kingdom.

Joy (Isa. 9-3-4), Glory (Isa. 24:23), Justice (Isa. 9:7), Full knowledge (Isa. 11:1-2), Instruction and learning (Isa. 2:2-3). Longevity of age (Isa. 65:20) and Harmony in the animal kingdom (Isa.11:6-9 and 65:25).

Also during this millennial kingdom the removal of the curse of the land along with the elimination of sickness can be expected. (Isa 11:6-9 and 33:24).

Scriptural Support For A Millennial Kingdom:

Old Testament

"I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a

Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.(Daniel 7:13-14)

Several traditional Jewish commentators including Rashi recognizes this as the Messiah and the beginning of the Messianic kingdom.

Zechariah 13:1 may describe the Millennial Kingdom.

Reference can also be found in Zechariah 14:20-21.

New Testament

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end. " (Luke 1:32-33)

Millennial Temple:

It is believed that the Messiah will build another temple, a Millennial Temple to allow worship including memorial sacrifices during this 1000 year kingdom.

Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.' (Zechariah 6:12-13) .

This may also be the temple that some believe is referenced indirectly in Isaiah 2:3.

Inhabitants Of The Kingdom:

Who will live during the Millennium Kingdom? Some believe that Daniel 12:1-2,13 offers support for the Old Testament Saints being resurrected and living during this time. This would agree with christian theology that teaches some will be resurrected at the time of The Rapture and return with Jesus. Although Christians believe that only those who knew Christ will take part in this resurrection, the bible makes it clear that several Old Testament Saints "looked forward" to a time when the Messiah would come. The prophets talked about it, Moses predicted it and I am sure at least part of Israel believed in it.

Along with the Old Testament Saints will be believers in Jesus who were raptured (also known as the church). The kingdom will also be made up of Tribulation Saints both Jew and Gentile. These saints are made up of those who put their faith in Messiah Jesus after the rapture, during the Tribulation Period.

The Law During The Millennial Kingdom:

What will be the ruling law during the Millennium? The covenant that will be in place is the same covenant that is already in place for believers in the Messiah. The New Covenant promised in Jer. 31:31. This covenant allows for the Messiah to be King of all Kings, with God's true purpose and desires for us to be written in our hearts, not on a scroll or in a book. It may include things that will pay tribute to the Messiah and all of His accomplishments. Will there be a sacrificial system instituted? Please read Will Animal Sacrifices Be Reinstated During The Millennial Kingdom?Our desire to do right over wrong will be the norm along with loving your neighbor as one loves themselves. Out of this genuine desire to do good will come a lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord, regardless of what it consists of.

Some biblical feast like the Feast of Tabernacles may still be celebrated, probably by looking back and appreciating the accomplishments of the Messiah, our redeemer. who will be dwelling with us during the Millennium. Many interpret Zech. 14:15-19 to teach that during the Millennial Kingdom reign of Messiah, any nation or family that fails to come to Jerusalem to observe Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) will receive no rain for their lands.

Cities of Refuge: Three New Cities of Refuge? There may be three cities of refuge established when the millennial Kingdom is here. This is based on the idea that Deut. 19-7-9 talk about these cities and expanded borders for Israel. Since Israels final borders have not been expanded yet it is believed that with these final borders these three cities of refuge will also be established.

Maimonides supports this view. (Hilkhot Rotze’ah u-Shmirat ha-Nefesh, 8.4)4)

Other Millennial Views:

There are three main views concerning the Millennial Kingdom.
PreMillennialism (supported by this page) PostMillennialism and Amillennialism.

End Of The Millennial Kingdom:

The Millennial Kingdom seem to come to an end with one large final battle known as the battle of Gog and Magog. Originally these were the names of ancient enemies of the Lord. Magog was the grandson of Noah (Gen:10:2) and founder of a kingdom North of the Black and Caspian Seas. Gog is apparently the leader of a rebel army known collectively as Magog. The battle described in Revelation 20:8-9 is similar to the one described by Ezekiel in his book around chapters 38 and 39.(1)

Nothing in this prophecy (battle of Gog and Magog) corresponds with the details of Israel’s invasion by either the Babylonians (586 B.C.) or the Romans (70 A.D. ). Therefore, any literal fulfillment of this prophecy must yet be in the future.(2)

At the close of the Millennium, there will be an immediate transition into the Eternal State - which is merely an extension of the King's temporal reign into timeless eternity, when references to numbers of years will be meaningless.(6)

Miscellaneous:

What Happens To The Devil During The 1000 Year Millennial Kingdom?

Praying for this time or kingdom to come is found in the example that Jesus taught us when He taught what is known as the Lords Prayer. (Thy Kingdom Come).

Some believe that this will be a fulfillment of Psalm 2:6-9ushering in the most incredible kingdom in all of human history. Fulfillment of this part od Psalm 2 finds the Messiah, the anointed king, having the nations for His inheritance.

Even with the Messiah ruling as king, some people will choose to violate his rulings causing admonition and judgment.

Some believe that this stage of prophetic time followed by the Great White Throne Judgment will immediately precede eternity.

The possibility exist that everyone will once again speak the same language. This idea comes from a loose interpretation of Zephaniah 3:9.

Some believe that King David will be resurrected and rule under Christ. Biblical references for this idea are (Ezek. 34:23-24 and Ezek. 37:24-25. Also Jer. 30:9 and Jer. 33:15-17).

At the end of the Millennial Kingdom is the Great White Throne Judgment.

Often Isaiah 11:1-10 and Psalm 72 1:19 are linked together. Psalm 72 Is A Messianic Psalm that looks forward to the

Millennial Kingdom.

Giving Jesus the title, "The Son of David" points to His Kingship.

On Passover the Seder Meal ends with "Next Year in Jerusalem." This is in direct reference to the Messiah coming and setting up His Kingdom there.

Because the Bible says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31), some believe the Messianic Age has already begun. The Messianic Age is often considered to be the period between Christ's first and second comings. Although it spans close to 2000 years it is still considered by some to be the last days.

The talmud teaches that even in the days of the Messianic Era there will still be poor people. The main difference will be Israel will no longer be subject to foreign powers. This is based on Deuteronomy 15:11. (5)

Source: http://www.jewishroots.net/library/end- ... ngdom.html


Quasar2

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Quasar92 said:

Tour confusion lies in the heretic belief the Church is Israel, contrary to the teachings found in the Bible. The basic difference between Israel and the Church, is very simple: The Church consists of all believers, both Jews and Gentiles alike, according to 1 Cor.12:12-13. On the other hand, Israel is a nation of non-believers and decreed by God to go through the tribulation because of it, according to Dan.9:27. Review the following facts:

IS THE CHURCH ISRAEL

We come now to something that is crucial and needs to be defined to understand the new covenant. Is the Church Israel? For if it is ,we are obligated to keep Sabbath day at least in a general sense. If the Church is not Israel then what sense would there be to keep the Sabbath. Scripturally we find the Church is not Israel the nation but a separate entity under an entirely new covenant. Israel is called the wife of Jehovah, while the Church is called the bride of Christ, showing distinctions in how God relates to each. The word Israel is always descriptive of the physical descendants of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. It was Jacob who’s name was changed to Israel and had 12 sons that became that nation.

Many transfer the promises and the covenants to Israel to the Church, but there is absolutely no reason to do this. The Church is not spiritual Israel. Look it up you’ll never find the term or concept in the Bible. There are only two verses that are used to validate this view, both are unsupported in their context.

Gal.3:29 says that those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed. The seed of Abraham does not mean one is Israel. It Means those who are justified by faith are spiritual descendants of Abraham but this does not make them descendants of Jacob who is Israel. They partake in the spiritual blessings that come through Israel. While there are two different groups of people who can be descendants of Abraham one of which is the Arabs, they do not share in the promises of Jacob. Only Israel is descended from the physical posterity of Jacob.

The other verse is Gal.6:16 where Paul is addressing both believing Jews and Gentiles in the church "As many as walk according to this rule (Gentile believers) and upon "the Israel of God." In its context this term means Jews who are believers, who believe salvation is by faith in Christ contrary to what the Judaizers were teaching that the law was needed also. Paul also addresses this in Rom.9:6-8 that there are two Israel's, one that consists of Jews and the elect, the true Israel which are the physical posterity and also have the faith of Abraham, they are the Israel of God mentioned in Gal.6. As Paul states, " for they are not all Israel who are of Israel." (Rom.9:6). There is also "Israel" after the flesh found in 1 Cor.10:18. The Church is never called spiritual Israel or is a new Israel replacing the old. Nor does it say believers become Jews. Both gentiles and Jews participate together in the New Covenant. as Eph 2 addresses the middle wall of partition being broken down and God makeing a new entity.

In the N.T we have three terms used alongside each other, Israel, Gentiles and the Church. The Church consists of both believing Gentiles and Jews while Israel as a nation is in unbelief as are the Gentiles. The Church and Israel are two distinct groups and God has a different program for each. Both are brought in make up the body of Christ. The name Israel is used 20 times and the church 19 times in the book of Acts, both are kept distinct While there is no difference in salvation for both, Gods plans are different for each. In the book of Acts Israel and the church exist alongside each other, nowhere is the church called the new or spiritual Israel.There are certain areas the differences of Jew and gentile are erased but in all areas.Such as we becoming one in Christ all the same way 1 Cor.12:13 , according to the NT a Jew is one that is not only outwardly by the flesh but inwardly,this obviously can't be for a gentile so for a gentile. there is no such thing as a spiritual Jew from the inside only, but there is such a thing as spiritual gentiles.

If you claim to be Israel then you were cut off according to Romans.11. And where the natural branch once was, God grafted in unnatural ones the Gentiles. It doesn't get any clearer. The teaching of God abandoning Israel the nation or replaced by the Church did quite well for almost 1,500 hundred years until he actually gave them back their land AND STARTED TO REGATHER THEM FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD. God said in Neh. 1:8 if you are unfaithful I will scatter you.' but he also said...

Jer.30:18, 31:8 "Behold I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the ends of the earth."

Isa.43:5 I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west...

It is a nation that is being gathered today for the tribulation, they are gathered first in unbelief until that fateful day where in Romans 11 Paul says they will all be saved after the fullness of the gentiles has come in. The Church is dealt with differently than the nation of Israel, God has a differnt plan for both.

Source: Let Us Reason


Quasar92

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