Bible Believers' Newsletter 383
"We focus on the present Truth – what Jesus is doing now. . ."
ISSN 1442-8660Christian greetings in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; we extend an especial welcome to our new subscribers.
In Matthew 10:16-20, 24-28, 32-34, Jesus said, "I will send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of Jews: for they will deliver you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues; and you shall be brought before governors and kings on My account, to testimony before them the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that same hour what you should say. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. . ."
"A disciple is not above his teacher or a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he is like his teacher and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household? Therefore do not fear them: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hidden that shall not be known."
"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in light: and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul: but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. . ."
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whosoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth: I did not come to bring peace, but a sword".
The world has always been ruled, at least from behind the scenes, by dynasties. Men die but dynasties continue through centuries and millennia, amassing power in order to defend and perpetuate themselves. Daniel and Jesus foretold how those dynasties that would rule in the days of Jesus will rule to the consummation (Daniel 2:40-45; 9:26-27; Luke 21:24; Revelation 17). They who slew the Son of man and His disciples then are now crucifying unto themselves afresh the Son of God and His children also. And after the midst of Daniel's Seventieth Week they will martyr the elect Israelites and the "saved" (Revelation 6:11; 12:17; 13:15).
As exposed by the Reece US Senate Select Committee Investigation into Subversive Activities of the Tax-Exempt Foundations, there is, internationally, an ordered form of power-sharing among the ruling dynasties whereby certain fundamental activities are franchised.
Pharisaism, now known as Judaism, exerts immense power through Rothschild's franchise on money and finance, and Rockefeller's franchise on education. They rule the (once) Protestant world via the 'City of London,' a nation of just one square mile inside (once) Great Britain. England has been their fiefdom since they invaded from Amsterdam in 1688. Whereas the 'Empire of the City,' better known as the British Empire, now the British Commonwealth of Nations, once exerted imperial power by a taxpayer-funded military force and chattel slavery, it nowadays controls that vast estate by terrors of usury, wage and tax slavery, treaties and agreements under international law. Gentile names and faces 'front' for this old non-Semitic 'Jewish' dynasty.
Likewise the great Gentile world power of Rome has changed her outward appearance. But whereas the Pharisees have taken a secular face, Rome's emperor, dressed in clerical purple, is Pontifex Maximus of a universal church empire governed from a nation whose sovereign domain is about one sixth of a square mile. Both of these powers had their genesis in the Babylonian mystery religious and banking system, and serve a common master.
While behind the scenes the Vatican has great influence over the European Community which is a revival of her Imperial Empire, the Pharisees have established the Communist Empire that is presently engaged in a "peace offensive" against the non-Communist world. There are commonalities of interest with cooperation as well as bitter enmities between these competing dynasties. As Daniel foretold, "they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay" (Daniel 2:43).
Both powers are at enmity with Christ and are presently cooperating to destroy the Christian Church. But before they can harm one hair of her head, Christ's Bride will be translated to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in the Sky, and they will vent their wrath on the "saved," the elect Israelites, and upon one another, resulting in the termination of life on earth.
Lucifer is employing the same tactics he used in the Garden of Eden, working in a different occupation and under another name as when he incarnate the Serpent to deceive Eve. Veiled behind the beast, his glib tongue persuaded her to yield to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Like their father the Devil, his children (David Icke's thinly veiled "shape-shifting" reptilians) choose not to work openly, but behind a false front of religion, politics, ethics, law, occupation or race, impersonating authentic decency and honor. They call to mind Batman's nemesis Matt Hagan, alias "Clayface," the man of 1,000 faces. While "we have such hope [and the hour is late], we use great plainness of speech" (II Corinthians 3:12).
Now let's welcome our "plain-speaking" guest contributor Brother Charles Provan a Historical Revisionist and enthusiastic advocate of free speech—letting all sides have their say. "The reason I say this is that the Scripture is said by itself to be the Word of God, so why do I need governmental support of its authority? And what good does government oppression do to damage its great power?" Brother Provan is the author of many theological articles and two books, "The Bible and Birth Control," and "The Church is Israel Now" upon which our main article is based.
As you compare the many Old and New Testament Scriptures Brother Provan quotes it will be apparent that natural Israel under the Old Covenant was a shadow and type of the elect Church in its pilgrimage under the New Covenant: that Christ and His Church is the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham whose name means, "father of the Gentiles;" and that God's promise called for the vicarious offering of the Life of Adam's kinsman Redeemer, our Messiah, before the New Testament could come into effect (Hebrews 9:16-17).
We live in the transition period between the close of the Gentile dispensation and Israel's Spiritual awakening, thus a number of renegade Jews have been visiting our Church Website. The prophet William Branham called them "renegades" because the Gospel was not written for Israel, as that nation will be born-again in one day—all 144,000 of them. Besides, no Jew obedient to his rabbi and his Talmud can visit our Church Website. But some, dissatisfied with dry, barren pastures and sincerely seeking God's Absolute, have become subscribers, while intolerant others, full of hate for Israel's Messiah and us Gentiles, post pornography, viruses and spam, or subscribe the Church address to inappropriate forums, send hate mail and make unwanted 'phone calls, mimicking Saul's attitude before his conversion. These irreligious Political Zionists whose enmity for Gentiles and Christ's Church knows no bounds care not that God has placed each individual without choice on the same basis as Adam and Eve: free moral agency; with the certainty of reward or punishment. They have not learned to mind their own business and pray for the peace of their host nations as God commanded by His prophet Jeremiah (29:7), and are blind to the prophecy of Zechariah 13:6.
Messiah's Church is made up of "whosoever will of Adam's race" (Genesis 12:3). Readers of our Newsletter and Website must "prove all things from Genesis to Revelation." What you do with these Words will make you Abraham's seed by the baptism with the Holy Ghost, or the enemy of God and man (Galatians 3:27). "God will bless them who bless us, and curse him who curses us" (Genesis 12:3).
This Newsletter serves those of like precious faith. Whosoever will receive the truth is welcome to feed their soul from the waters of the River of Life. Everything presented should be confirmed personally in your own Bible.Your brother in Christ,
Anthony Grigor-Scott
Is Italy still a Christian Country
Rome, June 24, 2005 — Muslims pray on the sidewalk next to the Islamic center of Milan (October 19, 2001, AP Photo/Luca Bruno). Italian judge Chiara Nobile has ordered the arrest of 13 CIA agents for allegedly helping to abduct the Egyptian-born imam of the center, Abu Omar, in February 2003, and fly him to Egypt as part of US anti-terrorism efforts, said an Italian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Full story: yahoo.com
Church urges Action over Israel
A top body in the Anglican Communion has urged its churches worldwide to put pressure on firms supporting Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Earlier in the week US and Canadian Churches were excluded.
The Anglican Consultative Council also urged action against firms supporting violence against "innocent Israelis". The move has been welcomed by the Palestinian Bishop, the Right Reverend Riah Hanna Abu El-Assal. . . Full story: news.bbc.co.uk
Globalism, Collectivism, and Stupidism
"We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness; only power, pure power. What pure power means you will learn presently" – George Orwell, "1984".
NewsWithViews author Phyllis Spivey confirms the season for the "squeeze" is at hand. Full story: newswithviews.com
A fever of fanatical intolerance for common sense and moderation certifies the incarceration of millions of dissidents, with eventual capital punishment. With malice aforesight, collectivist US Presidents have build over 600 internment camps, which is hardly surprising for the United States is the image to the Roman beast in the natural as the (once) Protestant churches are its image in the spiritual.
Comment: Christians and men of principle are being coerced into conflict and condemnation (Luke 11:46-48, 52-54). Hatred and intolerance is being legislated worldwide in the name of "love" and "tolerance," "human rights and equal opportunity." As an indication of the depths of apostasy into which the once Christian United States has submerged, the first two clauses of the US Joint Resolution designating March 26, 1991 as "Education Day, USA," declare that the United States of America was founded on "Seven Noahide Laws" which were the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization.
The second Noahide Law prohibits blasphemy and precludes worship of Jesus Christ who was once accused of this very crime by the Sanhedrin. "It is a mitzvah [religious duty], however, to eradicate Jewish traitors, minnim, and apikorsim, and to cause them to descend to the pit of destruction, since they cause difficulty to the Jews and sway the people away from God, as did Jesus of Nazareth and his students, and Tzadok, Baithos, and their students. May the name of the wicked rot" (Moses Maimonides' Mishnah Torah, Ch. 10).
According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin 57A): "Violation of any one of the seven laws subjects the Noahide to capital punishment by decapitation" (Revelation 20:4).
Under a new code of conduct prepared for the Victorian Government's taxi reform working party it has been suggested that St. Christopher Medals, Crucifixes and other religious icons and foreign flags, are to be banned from taxis and that drivers avoid discussing religion and politics. The Racial and Religious Tolerance Act is dividing our community and our courts are placed in the ludicrous and potentially dangerous situation of determining the worth or otherwise of religious debate . . . as intended by the enemy of God and man. Big Brother is watching his "lesser brethren".
The Politics of Social Destruction at the UN
At a meeting of the United Nations Population Fund, Jan Fransen told his surprised audience that to "increase mortality" was one way to limit population growth in Africa. Fransen then made the jocular comment that "AIDS was helping to do the work of population control in Africa". . .
Fem-socialists at the UN have come up with a diabolical strategy . . . "gender mainstreaming" is "the process of assessing implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs, in all areas and at all levels" Full story: newswithviews.com
Comment: A further example of how faith and the grace of God have been rejected and replaced by "law" as given to Israel on Mount Sinai as a curse on account of their unbelief in the revealed Word of God. Law is only able to condemn sin and imprison the sinner, but no power to remit sin. The Judaeo-Communist UN regulations described in this article repudiate God's unchanging Word of the Old and New Testaments.
In the United States, plans to limit population growth include the psychological certification of infants and pregnant women and Protocol 10:19, inoculation.
Basement Blast & injured Burn Victim blow 'Official 9/11 Story'
June 24, 2005 — A WTC janitor pulled a burn victim to safety after basement explosion rocked the north tower seconds before jetliner hit the top floors. Two other men trapped and drowning in a basement elevator shaft were pulled to safety from the underground explosion. . . Full story: arcticbeacon.com
The Church is Israel Now – Dispensational Dementia
By Charles D. Provan
During this century, Christians have been told over and over that "God has an unconditional love for Old Testament Israel" by which is meant that God's love is directed toward persons racially descended from Abraham, regardless of faith or obedience. Membership in Israel, therefore, is viewed as a matter of race, not faith.
"The Church is Israel Now" demonstrates that the Holy Bible totally repudiates this racialist viewpoint. Being a member of Israel in the Old Testament was dependent upon faith and obedience to God. When the Israelites obeyed God, God loved them. But when the Israelites turned from Him, He hated them, stripping them of their Israelite status. After centuries of Israelite rebellion against God, culminating in their rejection of Jesus the Messiah, the titles, attributes and blessings of Israel were transferred to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and to no one else, regardless of Abrahamic descent. The Church is Israel Now.
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the Jewish people: "I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it" (Matthew 21:43).
Jesus said to His disciples: "Fear not, little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
Old Testament Titles and Attributes of Natural Israel,
which in the New Testament refer to the Christian Church
THE BELOVED OF GOD
A) Israel is Beloved of God:
– "You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed: You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation" (Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 33:3; Ezra 3:11).
B) Disobedient Israel is not Beloved of God:
– "My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest; it cries out against Me: therefore have I hated it" (Jeremiah 12:8; Jeremiah 16:5; Hosea 9:15).
C) Christians are Beloved of God:
– "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world knows us not, because it does not know Him" (I John 3:1).
– "As God also said in Hosea, I will call Gentiles My people, who were not My people; and her who was not beloved, I will call My beloved, and in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there they will be called Sons of the living God" (Romans 9:25-96).
– "Therefore be imitators of God, as His beloved children" (Ephesians 5:1).
– "As God's chosen ones, set apart and beloved, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindliness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering" (Colossians 3:12).
THE CHILDREN OF GOD
A) Israel are the Children of God:
– "You shall say to Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, My firstborn" (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Isaiah 63:8).
B) Disobedient Israel are not the Children of God:
– "They have corrupted themselves; they are not His children, because of their blemish: a perverse and crooked generation." (Deuteronomy 32:5; Isaiah 1:1-2; John 8:39, 42, 44).
C) Christians are the Children of God:
– "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name" (John 1:12).
– "Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus' death was not for Israel only but for all the children of God scattered around the world" (John 11:52; Acts 2:39; Genesis 9:27).
– "For as many as are led by God's Spirit are the sons of God. . . This Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are God's children" (Romans 8:14, 16; II Corinthians 6:18).
– "We are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 3:26; 4:5, 6, 7; Philippians 2:15; I John 3:1).
THE FIELD OF GOD
A) Israel is the Field of God:
– "Many pastors have ruined My vineyard, they have trodden down My field; they have made My pleasant field a desolate wilderness" (Jeremiah 12:10).
B) Christians are the Field of God:
– "We are God's fellow-workers; you are God's field, God's building" (I Corinthians 3:9).
THE FLOCK OF GOD AND OF MESSIAH
A) Israel is the Flock of God and of Messiah:
– "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who leads Joseph like a flock; You who dwells between the cherubim shine forth" (Psalm 78:52; Isaiah 40:11; Zechariah 10:3).
B) Christians are the Flock of God and of Messiah:
– "I am the good shepherd, and know My own sheep, and they know Me. . . And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold: I must bring them also, and they will heed My Voice. So there shall be one flock with one Shepherd" (John 10:14, 16; Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 2:25; 5:2, 3).
THE HOUSE OF GOD
A) Israel is the House of God:
– "My servant Moses is faithful in all My house" (Numbers 12:7).
B) Christians are the House of God:
– "If I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (I Timothy 3:15).
– "Jesus Messiah was faithful to God who appointed Him, just as Moses was over the household of God . . . And Moses truly was faithful in God's house, but he was only a servant, and his work was mostly to illustrate and type those things that would take place afterward. But Christ, God's Son, is in complete charge over God's house. And we Christians are God's house—for He lives in us—if we firmly maintain the confidence and pride in our hope" (Hebrews 3:2, 5-6; 10:21).
– "The time has come for judgment, and it must begin first at the God's household, and if even we who are Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who do not obey the Gospel of God?" (I Peter 4:17).
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
God's Covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai was conditional upon obedience as servants.
A) Obedient Israel is the Kingdom of God:
– "If you will obey Me, and keep My covenant, then you will be above all nations My personal possession; for the whole earth is Mine: and you shall be a kingdom of priests to God, a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6; I Chronicles 17:14; 28:5).
B) Disobedient Israel is not the Kingdom of God:
– "God will cast Israel away, because they did not hearken to Him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations" (Hosea 9:17; Jeremiah 7:15; 15:1; Matthew 8:11-12; 21:43).
God's Covenant with Abraham's Seed is unconditional as Sons.
C) Christians are the Kingdom of God:
– "The kingdom of God is . . . righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17; I Corinthians 4:20). – "God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13; 4:11).
– "He has made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever" (Revelation 1:6).
THE PEOPLE OF GOD
A) Israelites are the People of God:
– "I will take you for My people, and I will be your God: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" (Exodus 6:7: Deuteronomy 27:9).
B) Disobedient Israelites are not the People of God:
– "God said, Call him Lo-ammi (meaning 'not mine'), for Israel is not My people and I am not her God" (Hosea 1:9; Jeremiah 5:10).
C) Christians are the People of God:
– "As God also said in Hosea, I will call Gentiles My people, who were not My people; and her who was not beloved, I will call My beloved, and in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there they will be called Sons of the living God" (Romans 9:25-26).
– "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God has said of us, I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (II Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 4:12; 5:3; II Thessalonians 1:10).
– "Our Saviour Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify for Himself a people all His own who are zealous to do good works" (Titus 2:14).
THE PRIESTS OF GOD
A) Obedient Israel are Priests of God:
– "If you will obey Me, and keep My covenant, then you will be above all nations My personal possession; for the whole earth is Mine: and you shall be a kingdom of priests to God, a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6).
B) Disobedient Israel are not Priests of God:
– "The Levites who abandoned Me when Israel went astray—who strayed after their idols - they bear their punishment. . . They shall not come near to serve Me as priests or to touch any of My sacred things in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame because of the abominations which they have committed" (Ezekiel 44:10, 13; I Samuel 2:28, 30; Hosea 4:6).
C) Christians are Priests of God:
– "Like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people; that you may show others the praises of God who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light" (I Peter 2:5, 9).
– "Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6).
– "Jesus Christ has made us a kingdom, and priests to our God and we shall reign over the earth" (Revelation 5:10).
THE VINEYARD OF GOD
A) Israel is the Vineyard of God:
– "And now, residents of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, please judge between Me and My vineyard. . . What more was there to do for My vineyard that I did not do in it? When I looked for it to produce grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? Now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down. . . For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His cherished planting: and He looked for justice, but beheld bloodshed! For righteousness, but cries of deep oppression met His ears" (Isaiah 5:3-5, 7; Jeremiah 12:10).
B) Christians are the Vineyard of God:
– "What do you suppose the Owner will do? He will come and kill these husbandmen, and rest the vineyard to others. . ." (Luke 20:16).
THE WIFE (OR BRIDE) OF GOD
A) Israel was the Wife (or Bride) of God:
– "For your Maker is your Husband; the Lord of hosts is His Name; He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you back from your grief—as a young woman refused and abandoned by her husband" (Isaiah 54:5-6; Jeremiah 2:2; Ezekiel 16:32; Hosea 1:2).
B) Disobedient Israel is not the Wife (or Bride) of God:
– "Judah saw that for all the adulteries faithless Israel had done, I had sent her away and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, she went and played the harlot also" (Jeremiah 3:8; Hosea 2:2).
C) Christians are the Wife (or Bride) of God:
– "I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to Christ, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to her one husband" (II Corinthians 11:2).
– "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:31-32).
THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM
A) Israelites are the Children of Abraham:
– "Aren't You our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this Land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever?" (II Chronicles 20:7; Psalm 105:6; Isaiah 41:8).
B) Disobedient Israelites are not the Children of Abraham:
– "The Pharisees answered Jesus and said, Abraham is our father. Jesus replied, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham" (John 8:39; Romans 9:6-7; Galatians 4:25, 30).
C) Christians are the Children of Abraham:
– "Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was yet uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all uncircumcised believers, that also to them righteousness might be accounted . . . This is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all of his seed—not only to the adherents of the Law but also top those who share the faith of Abraham; who is thus father of us all" (Romans 4:11, 16).
– "You know therefore that the real children of Abraham are those who are of the faith. . . And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:7, 29).
– "Abraham had two sons; he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh; but the son of the freewoman through promise. . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac, are children of the promise. . . So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free" (Galatians 4:22-23, 28, 31).
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
A) Israelites are the Chosen People:
– "The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the least of all people" (Deuteronomy 7:7; 10:15; 14:2; Isaiah 43:20-21).
B) Disobedient Israelites are not the Chosen People:
– "God . . . was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel" (Psalm 78:59; Deuteronomy 31:17; II Kings 17:20).
C) Christians are the Chosen People:
– "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, God's own people; so that you may declare the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light. Once you were no people but now you are the people of God: who once experienced no mercy, but now you have received mercy" (I Peter 2:9-10).
– "Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering . . ." (Colossians 3:12).
– "Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ, and to be sprinkled with His blood: Grace to you, and peace, in increasing measure" (I Peter 1:2).
THE CIRCUMCISED
A) Israelites are the Circumcised:
– "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you; every man child among you shall be circumcised" (Genesis 17:10; Judges 15:18).
B) Disobedient Israelites are not the Circumcised:
– "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit. Egypt, Judah, Edom, and the children of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert, that cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are circumcised, and unless all the house of Israel circumcise their hearts by loving Me to the exclusion of the world, your fleshly circumcision is a heathen rite like theirs" (Jeremiah 9:25-26; Romans 2:25,28; Philippians 3:2).
C) Christians are the Circumcised:
– "He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, a spiritual observance rather than a mere literal observation of the Law. His praise comes not from men but from God" (Romans 2:29).
– "For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in what Christ Jesus has done for us, and put no confidence in the flesh, for we cannot save ourselves" (Philippians 3:3).
– "In Christ you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in stripping the worldly nature and past sins of the old man from off your soul" (Colossians 2:11).
ISRAEL
A) Israel is Israel
Israel is an election to whom God has revealed His will. Initially it was drawn from a nation born of Abraham, through Isaac and through Jacob—individuals whose faith manifested the Light of God's revealed Word for their day. When the nation rejected that Light and killed the Light-bearer, God turned from that hereditary bloodline to call a people for His Name from an election whose flesh is born of the first Adam but whose soul is born by faith in the last Adam who is Abraham's Seed, Jesus Christ.
B) Disobedient Israelites are not Israel:
– "The soul, whether born in the land, or a foreigner, who reviles the Lord; and that person shall be destroyed from among His people" (Numbers 15:30-31; Acts 3:23; Romans 9:6).
C) Christians are Israel:
– "You do not consider that it is expedient for us, that one Man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish. Caiaphas did not speak of his own accord but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for Israel only, but that also He should gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad" (John 11:50-52; Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 49:6; 55:5; Malachi 1:11; Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 1:10).
– Considering the Israelites as the spiritual ancestors of we Christians, Paul says, "I would have you to know, brethren, that although our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea . . ." (I Corinthians 10:1).
– "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but a new creation. Peace and mercy upon all of you who live by this principle, upon the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:15-16; Hebrews 8:6, 8, 10).
– "At that time you were separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world . . . Now you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:12, 19).
JERUSALEM
A) Old Jerusalem was God's only provided Place of Worship for natural Israel
– "You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates, which the Lord your God has given you: but at the place which the Lord your God shall choose to place His Name in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came forth out of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 16:5-6).
B) New Jerusalem will be God's only provided Place of Worship for the "Saved"
– "The nations of the saved shall walk in the Light of New Jerusalem, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honour into it. Its gates will remain open for there will be no night there" (Revelation 21:24-26).
C) Heavenly Jerusalem is the Lamb's Book of Life, and mother of all of God's Elect
– "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26).
– "You have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven" (Hebrews 12:22-23).
– "I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2).
THE NEW COVENANT
A) The New Covenant is with Israel:
– "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. . . But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Law in their inward parts, and upon their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jeremiah 31:31,33; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 37:11-28).
B) The New Covenant is with Christians:
– "This cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20; I Corinthians 11:25).
– "God has qualified us to be ministers of the New Testament; not in a written Law, but in the Spirit: for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives Life" (II Corinthians 3:6).
– "Now Christ has obtained a ministry which is far superior to the old Laws as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is established upon better promises. . . Finding fault with them, God said, The days will come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah . . . This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts: and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Hebrews 8:6, 8, 10).
AN OLIVE TREE
A) Israel is an Olive Tree:
– "A green olive tree, fair, with goodly fruit, the Lord once called you; but at the roaring of the great tempest He will set fire to it and consume its branches" (Jeremiah 11:16; Hosea 14:6).
B) The Christians are an Olive Tree:
– "If you have been cut from a naturally wild olive tree and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, then how much more readily will these natural branches be grafted into their own original tree?" (Romans 11:24).
Old Testament Verses referring to Israel
quoted in the New Testament with reference to Christians– Leviticus 26:11-12; Ezekiel 37:27: "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (II Corinthians 6:16).
– Deuteronomy 30:12-19: "Righteousness based on faith says, do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or, who will descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But what does it say? The Word is near you, on your lips, and in your heart: (that is, the Word of faith, which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and is justified, and confesses with his lips and is saved. The scriptures say No one who believes in Him will be put to shame" (Romans 10:6-11).
– Deuteronomy 31:6: "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for God has said, I will never fail you, nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
– Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14: "We know Him who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will recompense. And again, The Lord will judge His people" (Hebrews 10:30).
– Psalm 22:22: "I will proclaim Your Name to my brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing Your praise" (Hebrews 2:12).
– Psalm 44:22: "As it is written, For Your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter" (Romans 8:36).
– Psalm 95:7-11: "Therefore, as the Holy Ghost says, Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness: when your fathers tested Me, proved Me, and saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They always go astray in their hearts; and did not learn My ways. As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest" (Hebrews 3:7-11).
– Psalm 130:8: "Jesus Messiah gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people all His own who are zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).
– Isaiah 28:16: "As the Scriptures express it, I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone of My Church, laid in Zion, and he who believes in Him will never be put to shame" (I Peter 2:6).
"You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20).
"Scripture says, Whosoever believes in Him shall never be ashamed" (Romans 10:11).
– Isaiah 49:8: "The Lord said, I have heard you at the acceptable time, and helped you on the day of salvation: behold, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2).
– Isaiah 52:7: "How can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad news of good things!" (Romans 10:15).
– Isaiah 54:1: "For it is written, Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear; break out with shouting, you who have no birthpangs: because more numerous are the children of the desolate woman than the one who has a husband" (Galatians 4:27).
– Jeremiah 31:31-34: "Finding fault with the Old Covenant, God said, The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the Covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not remain faithful to My Covenant. So I let them alone, says the Lord. For this is the Covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts: and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No longer shall each man teach his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, because they shall all know Me from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and their sins I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:8-12).
– Hosea 1:10; 2:23: "As God also said in Hosea, I will call Gentiles My people, who were not My people; and her who was not beloved, I will call My beloved, and in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there they will be called Sons of the living God" (Romans 9:25-26).
"In times past you Gentiles were not a people, but now you are God's people: once you had had not received mercy but now you have received mercy" (I Peter 2:10).
– Hosea 13:14: "O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" (I Corinthians 15:55).
– Joel 2:32: "Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
"The Church is Israel Now" may be purchased from Ross House Books (PO Box 67, Vallecito, Ca. 95251, USA) for US$8.00 plus US$3.00 air mail postage.
Revelation and Commentary
Leviticus 17:11, "The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul".
Innocent animal life was substituted before the Lord to atone and make restitution for the guilty soul of believing Israelites. This blood daubed on the lintels of their doors on the eve of their departure from Israel, and later on to the horns or poured out at the base of the altar, was the evidence or token that the life had been given.
However, mortal animal life can never atone for the spiritual life of a man's immortal soul and the Law requires satisfaction in kind: "life for life" (Exodus 21:22). God made provision for this vicarious restitution and atonement in the kinsman redeemer law of Leviticus 25:47-55, as demonstrated in the Book of Ruth, where Boaz acted out the part of Israel's Messiah and kinsman who had first to redeem Naomi, who signified Israel, before he could marry His beloved Gentile Bride, Ruth. A perfect type.
It is quite remarkable in light of these Scriptures that none of the learned elders of Zion has confessed before Israel the obvious lesson that these continual animal sacrifices of ancient time could never take away sin and were no more than a temporary covering and type to instruct and foreshadow the single all-time sacrifice for man's sins, past, present and future. And that animals are not kindred to Adam's race, and even if they were, once their mortal life has been given they are no more as they have no soul that can come back to regenerate the soul of man. From Ruth we learn that the Redeemer must be a close kinsman who is worthy, possessed of the means and willing to pay redemption's price.
Since the wages of sin is death (Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18; Romans 6:23), and as all are born in iniquity and conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23) our kinsman will need to be born of a woman as prophesied by Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6, but without intercourse to ensure He is God's "holy One" untainted by Eve's sin or the iniquity of the first Adam. In order to be an identical substitute, the last Adam must be the Logos spoken into flesh; the first God-man and "the beginning of God creating Himself part of creation" (Revelation 3:14). Consequently, His offspring, His Wife, is the continuation of the same Creation, made from the Holy Spirit taken from His side on Calvary as Eve was made from a rib taken from the side of the first Adam. We are not a creation apart from our Husband but the continuation or byproduct of the same creation (Isaiah 53:10; 65:23).
How is it these idol shepherds of Zion have not confessed that Israel has been without atonement for 2,000 years? That they are apostate and abhorrent to God because of their unbelief (Psalm 78:59). Why do these learned men who claim to know the Law ignore Moses and Daniel who foretold the hour, day, month and year Israel would fulfill the prophecies of David and Isaiah by sacrificing their Messiah in unbelief instead of receiving Him in faith? Have they been preoccupied with "the implements of an idol shepherd," crying "wolf" to perpetuate their dynasty through fear of imagined or staged anti-Semitism, and hatred toward non-Jews as cover for their own anti-Semitic disdain for the flock of Israel (Zechariah 11:15-17)?
In about 708BC Hosea prophesied that in three days God would revive apostate Israel and raise them up to live in His sight. We are now living well into the third day "Wherein Israel will look on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn for Messiah as one mourns bitterly for his firstborn."
In that day an election will be spiritually born into the kingdom of Israel in which "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond or free, male or female, for there we are all one in Christ Jesus," Israel's firstborn, her God and King (Zechariah 12:10). nl383.htm
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Brother Grigor-Scott is a non-denominational minister who has ministered full-time since 1981, primarily to other ministers and their congregations overseas. He pastors Bible Believers' tiny congregation, and is available to teach in your church.
Bible Believers' Church
Gunnedah NSW
Australia 2380e-mail Bible Believers URL Bible Believers' Website
PowerPoint presentation The Second Coming of Christ
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