ÿWPC! c°P‘bR,ññš~ôsœk’ýœyˆÃ‰<”ˆß¯Fã˜$cŒø°äå÷“tAß»7”"ðlÈZõàÝ”àÊŠ¬sv†=ß—‰fÂãOè}¾éÅ<*$þŒ†ºÅX™_â$i;©](éì%äé¥$¾šÔ[…Ún¨¾)_lÀ7”'ΞtÂxˆ´ó·Iw,øßO×âŸZƒ•'MÏ¿âƒ}3É8X¿Sý×C´p‘Ñ9¸²”M½?R·ŽÕ*8|¡xó÷TâzX”æçî£É¾ ßSxÉïš¹¡#¨óâöîË2p0M}íêðsw«w÷ !–…ÿçþ†7 ZÞì ™H°Ç²ÆÖj÷z‹¸*yQÌx‚Ï.?¸­¬?Qw1íR¨q7R’ èxa¤×*~§ØÂÖçÿd`ãÅ„P¸h1@)áWv”NèZ|˜!làr2B—7–âeó¤u_Ûri¨QDÍ-á‹ùu³ãˆ -„y¬ Cë¦ø}û@ ˜JBk$™j&É.¾)S­dŸ:XNJóX±õsQ³J BÖZ%[ñGc0Tßfþ¹·®$Þ¤ÚÄüátQx#•àÑ.îð. Ü'ÚÊõÿ±{¦¦Ÿ§á£©¿'#É"U Në %9 0:?^ yw…4‰¬ m®® 0UÅ 0Ý 0¿÷ 0¹¶ 0³o 0­" 0§Ï 0¡v 0› 0¿² 0Ëq 0­< 0§é 0¡ 0›1 0•Ì 0a 0‡ð 0¼w 0È3 0ªû 0¤¥ 0žI 0˜ç 0’ 0Œ 0„˜Canon PIXMA iP4000Œî.**.Œî0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô™7  I!‘7ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ*+ ÿÿ(_26Ô2ÔÔ3  Ôà..à*D+D ÿÿ(_25Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*5+5 ÿÿ(_24Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÓ  Ó*2+2 ÿÿ(_23Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó*/+/ ÿÿ(_22Ó ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÓ ¸ Ó*,+, ÿÿ(_21Ó  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÓ  Ó*)+) ÿÿ(_20Ó h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓDDœôL¤ÓÓ h Ó*&+& ÿÿ(_19Ó À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓœœôL¤ÓÓ À Ó*#+# ÿÿ(_18Ó  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ ôôL¤ÓÓ  Ó*>> ÿÿ(_17Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ  Ó*DD ÿÿ(_16Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*55 ÿÿ(_15Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÓ  Ó*22 ÿÿ(_14Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó*// ÿÿ(_13Ó ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÓ ¸ Ó*,, ÿÿ(_12Ó  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó ììDœôL¤ ÓÓ  Ó*)) ÿÿ(_11Ó h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓDDœôL¤ÓÓ h Ó*&& ÿÿ(_10Ó À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓœœôL¤ÓÓ À Ó(## ÿÿ&_9Ó  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó ôôL¤ÓÓ  Ó(>> ÿÿ&_8Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ  Ó(DD ÿÿ&_7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó(55 ÿÿ&_6Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÓ  Ó(22 ÿÿ&_5Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó(// ÿÿ&_4Ó ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÓ ¸ Ó(,, ÿÿ&_3Ó  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÓ  Ó()) ÿÿ&_2Ó h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓDDœôL¤ÓÓ h Ó(&& ÿÿ&_1Ó À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓœœôL¤ÓÓ À Ó&## ÿÿ$_Ó  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ ôôL¤ÓÓ  ÓÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÓ  ÓÔ‡„‚u„XXÔISRAEL€„€AND€END€TIME€PROPHECYÔ#†Xú¨X„„‚uL#Ôó óÐ ° ÐÓ@ÓÓ*°,X°ƒ,–X°œX*ÓÔ€&öë%XXú¨ÔÌò òPART€ONE:€INTRODUCTIONó óÐ è8 ÐÓ  ÓÌò òReplacement€Theologyó óÐ ˜è ÐÌThese€two€words€summarize€a€view€of€ð ðThe€Churchðð€as€the€replacement€for€ð ðIsrael.ðð€€Israelððs€last€survivingÐ H ˜ Ðtribe€„€Judah€„€rejected€her€Messiah.€€Therefore€God€òòhas€left€Israel€to€her€fateóó,€and€has€turned€to€the€GentilesÐ  p Ðto€carry€forward€His€plan€of€salvation€for€as€many€a€will€believe€in€Jesus€Christ.€€The€Jews€are€no€longer€theÐ ø H Ðð ðchosen€people,ðð€according€to€this€teaching.€The€New€Testament€Church€is€the€new€Israel,€a€ð ðspiritual€IsraelððÐ Ð   Ðwith€a€ð ðNew€Covenant.ðð€Ð ¨ ø  Ѐ€€€Ð €Ð  Ðò òÔ_ÔDispensationalismÔ_Ôó óÐ X¨  ÐÌAnother€view,€which€I€will€try€to€summarize,€retains€Israel€as€a€people€of€God,€but€sets€Israel€aside€for€theÐ X  Ðð ðage€of€the€Gentiles.ðð€€Evangelicals€in€Great€Britain€founded€a€group€called€The€Plymouth€Brethren€aroundÐ à0  Ð1830.€One€of€their€most€gifted€teachers€was€John€Nelson€Darby,€who€developed€a€€new€€variety€ofÐ ¸ ÐÔ_ÔpremillennialismÔ_Ô€(the€teaching€that€Jesus€will€return€before€the€Ô_ÔmilleniumÔ_Ô).€€This€new€teaching€was€calledÐ à Ðð ðÔ_ÔdispensationalismÔ_Ô.ðð€Darby€taught€that€Godððs€method€of€dealing€with€mankind€was€different€during€differentÐ h¸ Ðð ðeras,ðð€or€ð ðages,ðð€of€human€history.€€His€method€of€dealing€with€the€Israel€was€different€from€His€way€ofÐ @ Ðdealing€with€the€Gentiles.€òòIsrael€and€The€Church€are€two€distinct€and€absolutely€separate€peoples€of€Godóó.€Ð h ÐÌThe€prophecies€of€Daniel€7„9,€allotted€70€ð ðsevensðð€to€Israel.€€Darby€reasoned€that€Jesus€was€put€to€death€atÐ È Ðthe€end€of€the€69òòthóó€ð ðweekðð€of€years.€By€that€reckoning€Jesus€should€return€7€years€later,€to€set€up€His€kingdomÐ  ð Ðon€earth.€To€explain€why€Jesus€did€not€return€at€that€time,€òòDarby€said€that€the€70òòthóó€week€was€delayedóó.€€ThisÐ xÈ Ðwas€called€ò òthe€ð ðpostponement€theoryó ó.ðð€€When€the€Jews€rejected€their€Messiah,€òòJesus€suspended€theÐ P  Ðprophetic€timetableóó,€and€turned€to€the€Gentiles.€€The€ð ðChurch€Ageðð€had€begun,€during€which€Christ€wouldÐ ,| Ðbuild€up€His€ð ðheavenly€people.ðð€€This€long€age€of€Gentile€domination€Darby€called€ð ðthe€times€of€theÐ T ÐGentilesðð€(Luke€21:24).Ð Ü, ÐÌAccording€to€Darby,€at€the€end€of€the€ð ðchurch€ageðð€Christ€will€remove€His€ð ðheavenly€peopleðð€from€thisÐ ŒÜ Ðworld,€and€resume€His€dealing€with€Israel.€€òòThe€70òòthóó€week€(7€years)€of€Danielððs€prophecy€begins€when€theÐ d´ Ðchurch€is€removed€from€the€world€to€heavenóó.€€After€the€church€is€ð ðrapturedðð€to€heaven,€the€Ô_ÔAntichristÔ_Ô€comesÐ < Œ  Ðto€power.€He€deceives€the€Jewish€people€for€the€first€half€of€the€7€years,€then€becomes€a€dictator€whoÐ !d! Ðdemands€worship€during€the€last€half€of€the€7€years€„€called€the€ð ðtribulation,ðð€or€the€ð ðtime€of€trouble.ðð€€GodÐ ì!<" Ðpunishes€those€who€have€persecuted€His€people€by€pouring€out€great€plagues.€€Finally,€at€the€end€of€the€7Ð Ä"# Ðyears,€Christ€returns€to€set€up€His€earthly€kingdom,€when€He€will€reign€in€peace€for€1000€years.€€Ð œ#ì$ ÐÌLater€Ô_ÔC.I.Ô_Ô€Ô_ÔScofieldÔ_Ô,€an€American€follower€of€Darby,€published€the€ð ðÔ_ÔScofieldÔ_Ô€Reference€Bibleðð€whichÐ L%œ & Ðcontained€the€Ô_ÔdispensationalÔ_Ô€views.€€Ô_ÔScofieldÔ_Ôððs€commentary€was€printed€on€the€lower€half€of€each€page€ofÐ $&t!' Ðthe€Bible.€€Ô_ÔScofieldÔ_Ôððs€views€were€widely€accepted,€and€to€this€day,€are€deeply€held€belief€by€many€evangelicalÐ ü&L"( Ðdenominations.€€(ð ðLiving€in€the€Shadow€of€the€Second€Comingðð€by€Timothy€P.€Weber€1979)Ð Ô'$#) ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ¼- )0 Їò òPART€TWO:€A€BRIEF€STATEMENT€OF€OUR€BELIEFSó óÐ ° ÐÌò òFirstó ó:€We€believe€that€Godððs€method€of€saving€individuals€from€sin,€and€Satanððs€domination,€has€always€beenÐ `° Ðà0 Ü àthe€same.€€The€study€at€this€web€site€titled€ð ðGrace€and€the€Lawðð€explains€why€we€believe€this€is€so.Ð<ŒÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌò òSecondó ó:€We€believe€that€Gentiles€who€come€to€faith€in€Christ€as€Messiah,€are€òògrafted€into€Israel€óó(see€RomansÐ ì< Ðà0 Ü àchapter€11,€and€Ephesians€chapter€2).€€òòTrue€Israel€and€the€church€(or€the€congregation)€are€one€and€theÐ È  Ðsameóó.€€This€study€will€explain€in€detail€why€we€believe€this€is€so.Р ðÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌò òà0 Ü àà ° àThirdó ó:€We€believe€that€the€70€ð ðsevensððof€Daniel€chapter€9€will€be€70€literal€weeks€without€any€interruption,Ð P    Ðat€ð ðthe€time€of€the€end.ðð€€This€also,€will€be€discussed€in€another€study.€€Ð, | Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌò òà0 Ü àà ° àFourthó ó:€We€believe€that€Christ€returns€for€all€of€His€people€on€the€same€day,€following€ð ðthree€and€a€partÐ Ü,  Ðyearsðð€of€terrible€persecution.и Ü(#Ü(# Ѐ€Ð à  Ðò òFifthó ó:€We€do€believe€that€Christ€will€remove€His€people€from€this€earth€before€the€seven€last€plagues.Ð h¸  ÐÌò òà0 Ü àà ° àSixó ó:€Ô_ÔWeÔ_Ô€believe€that€the€ð ðtrumpetsðð€of€Revelation€are€the€result€of€God€letting€go€the€restraint€which€He€hasÐ l Ðmaintained€on€Satan€and€his€demonic€forces.€€The€ð ðseven€vialsðð€of€Revelation€are€the€result€of€GodÐ øH Ðwithdrawing€His€spirit€from€the€earth.€€This€belief€is€explained€in€detail€in€the€study€titled€ð ðThe€WrathÐ Ð  Ðof€Godðð€at€this€web€site.€Ð¨øÜ(#Ü(# ÐÔ‡¼¾¤»%&öëÔÓ  ÓTHE€ISRAEL€OF€GODÔ#†&öë%»¼¾¤š#ÔÐ €Ð ÐÓ¹ÓÌò òPART€THREE:€ð ðADOPTEDðð€AND€ð ðGRAFTED€INððó óÐ jº ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° àROMANS€11:13€ð ðFor€I€speak€to€you€Gentiles;€inasmuch€as€I€[Paul]€am€an€apostle€to€the€Gentiles€...€v.17„24Ð j Ðð ðAnd€if€some€of€the€branches€were€broken€off,€and€òòyou,€being€a€wild€olive€tree,€were€grafted€in€amongÐ òB Ðthemóó,€and€with€them€became€a€partaker€of€the€root€and€fatness€of€the€olive€tree,€...You€will€say€then,Ð Ê ÐððBranches€were€broken€off€that€I€might€be€grafted€in.ðð€Well€said.€Because€of€unbelief€they€were€brokenÐ ¢ò Ðoff,€and€you€stand€by€faith.€Do€not€be€haughty,€but€fear.€€For€if€God€did€not€spare€the€natural€branches,Ð zÊ ÐHe€may€not€spare€you€either.€...€€And€they€also,€if€òòthey€do€not€continue€in€unbelief,€will€be€grafted€inóó,€forÐ R¢ ÐGod€is€able€to€graft€them€in€again.€For€if€you€were€cut€out€of€the€olive€tree€which€is€wild€by€nature,Ð *z Ð[Gentiles]€and€were€grafted€contrary€to€nature€into€a€cultivated€olive€tree€[Israel],€how€much€more€willÐ  R  Ðthese,€[Jews]€who€are€natural€branches,€be€grafted€into€their€own€olive€tree?ððÐÚ *!Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€Paul€makes€it€clear€that€Gentiles€who€have€come€to€belief€in€Christ,€ARE€GRAFTEDÐ Š"Ú# ÐINTO€THE€OLIVE€TREE.€€These€are€Israelites.€€They€have€been€made€Israelites€by€God.€€They€areÐ b#²$ Ðgrafted€into€the€tree.€[Words€in€brackets€are€added€by€this€author.]Ð:$Š%Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌJEREMIAH€11:16„17€ð ðòòThe€LORD€called€your€name,€Green€Olive€Treeóó,€Lovely€and€of€Good€Fruit,€with€Ð ê%:!' Ðà0 Ü àthe€noise€of€a€great€tumult€He€has€kindled€fire€on€it,€and€òòits€branches€are€brokenóó.€For€the€LORD€of€hosts,Ð Â&"( Ðwho€planted€you,€has€pronounced€doom€against€you€for€the€evil€of€òòthe€house€of€Israel€and€of€the€houseÐ š'ê") Ðof€Judahóó,€which€they€have€done€against€themselves€to€provoke€Me€to€anger€in€offering€incense€to€Baal.ððÐ r(Â#* Ð(See€also,€Jeremiah€5:10„11.)ÐJ)š$+Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€In€referring€to€Israel€as€the€Olive€Tree,€Paul€is€referring€back€to€this€passage€written€byÐ ú*J&- ÐJeremiah€the€prophet,€just€before€the€Babylonians€conquered€Judah.€€ÐÒ+"'.Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌÐ ‚-Ò(0 Ðà0 Ü àà ° àEPHESIANS€2:11„22€ð ðTherefore€remember€that€òòyou,€once€Gentiles€óóin€the€flesh€...€that€at€that€time€you€wereÐ ° Ðwithout€Christ,€being€òòaliens€from€the€commonwealth€of€Israel€óóand€òòstrangers€from€the€covenants€ofÐ ˆØ Ðpromiseóó,€having€no€hope€and€without€God€in€the€world.€€But€now€in€Christ€Jesus€you€who€once€were€farÐ `° Ðoff€have€been€made€near€by€the€blood€of€Christ.€€For€He€Himself€is€our€peace,€òòwho€has€made€both€oneóó,Ð 8ˆ Ðand€has€broken€down€the€middle€wall€of€division€between€us,€having€abolished€in€His€flesh€the€enmity,Ð ` Ðthat€is,€the€law€of€commandments€contained€in€ordinances,€so€as€to€create€in€himself€one€new€man€fromÐ è8 Ðthe€two,€thus€making€peace,€and€that€He€might€òòreconcile€them€both€to€God€in€one€body€through€the€crossóó,Ð À  Ðthereby€putting€to€death€the€enmity.€...€For€through€Him€we€both€have€access€by€one€Spirit€to€the€Father.€Ð ˜ è ÐNow,€therefore,€òòyou€are€no€longer€strangers€and€foreigners,€but€fellow€citizens€with€the€saints€andÐ p À Ðmembers€of€the€household€of€Godóó,€having€been€built€on€the€apostles€and€prophets,€Jesus€Christ€HimselfÐ H ˜  Ðbeing€the€chief€cornerstone,€in€whom€the€whole€building€being€joined€together,€grows€into€a€holy€templeÐ  p  Ðin€the€Lord,€in€whom€you€also€are€being€built€together€for€a€habitation€of€God€in€the€Spirit.ðð€€Ðø H Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° àEPHESIANS€3:6€...€ð ðthat€òòthe€Gentiles€should€be€fellow€heirs,€of€the€same€bodyóó,€and€partakers€of€His€promiseÐ ¨ø  Ðin€Christ€through€the€gospel...ððЀРÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌà Ü àCOMMENT:€Before€Christ,€there€were€only€two€kinds€of€people,€so€far€as€the€Jews€were€concerned€Ð 0€  Ðà0 Ü àð!ð€Jews€and€non„Jews,€Jews€and€Gentiles,€Israelites€and€aliens,€Israelites€and€strangers.€€(See€Lev.Ð X Ð17:8,10,13;€Deut.€24:14;€2Chron€2:17;€Joel€3:17;€Jer.€9:16,€10:2,€10:25)€Now,€in€Christ,€the€ð ðstrangersÐ à0 Ðand€foreignersðð€are€made€ð ðfellow€citizensðð€of€ð ðthe€commonwealth€of€Israel.ðð€€Ð¸Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€Notice€that€no€mention€is€made€in€any€text,€of€bloodline,€or€parentage.€€The€Gentiles€whoÐ h¸ Ðwould€be€grafted€in,€were€not€necessarily€related€by€blood€to€descendants€of€Jacob.Ð@Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€ð ðThe€law€of€commandments€contained€in€ordinancesðð€which€was€ð ðabolishedðð€is€the€lawÐ ð@ Ðwhich€forbade€Israelites€to€keep€any€company€with€Gentiles,€or€allow€daughters€or€sons€to€marry€€withÐ È Ðthem.€€(See€Acts€10:28,€Ô_ÔExoÔ_Ô.€23:32,€34:12;€Ezra€9:12;€Neh.€13:25;€John€4:9,€18:28)€Ð ðÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌ1PETER€2:9„10€ð ðBut€you€are€a€chosen€generation,€a€€royal€priesthood,€a€holy€nation,€His€own€special€people,€Ð P  Ðà0 Ü àthat€you€may€proclaim€the€praises€of€Him€who€òòcalled€you€out€of€darkness€óóinto€His€marvelous€light;€òòwhoÐ (x Ðonce€were€not€a€peopleóó,€òòbut€are€now€the€people€of€Godóó,€who€had€not€obtained€mercy€but€now€haveÐ P Ðobtained€mercy.ðð€òò(This€passage€was€definitely€written€to€Gentile€believers.)€óó(To€read€these€promises€asÐ Ø( Ðthey€were€given€to€Israel€read:€Isa.€43:20;€Deut€10:15€chosen;€Isa.€61:6€ð ðPriests€of€the€Lordðð,€Isa.€66:21;Ð °  ÐÔ_ÔExoÔ_Ô.€19:5„6;€Deut€4:20;€Deut€14:2;€Titus€2:14;€Hosea€1:9„10;€2:23).Ј Ø!Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€The€ð ðtwenty„four€eldersðð€(Rev.€5:8„10)€are€ð ðkings€and€priestsðð€of€God.€€Yet€in€their€ð ðsongððÐ 8"ˆ# Ðthey€proclaim€that€they€were€redeemed€to€God€ð ðòòout€of€every€tribe€and€tongue€and€people€and€nationóó.ðð€Ð #`$ ÐTherefore€they€cannot€all€be€biological€descendants€of€Jacob.€€Ðè#8%Ü(#Ü(# ЀÌÌÌstudy€continues€on€the€next€pageÐ H'˜") ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ .X)1 Їò òTHE€ð ðUNCLEANðð€MADE€ð ðCLEANððó óÐ ° ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° àACTS€10„11€Cornelius,€a€Gentile€who€believes€in€the€God€of€Israel,€has€a€vision.€€He€is€told€to€send€for€aÐ `° Ðman€named€Peter.€€Just€as€the€messengers€from€Cornelius€approach€the€house€where€Peter€is€staying,Ð 8ˆ ÐPeter€himself€has€a€vision.€€Peter€is€on€the€roof,€and€he€sees€a€sheet,€let€down€from€heaven,€containingÐ ` Ðall€kinds€of€unclean€animals.€€He€has€never€eaten€anything€forbidden€(Leviticus€Ô_ÔchaptÔ_Ô€11).€€In€the€vision,Ð è8 ÐPeter€is€told€to€ð ðarise,€kill,€and€eat.ðð€€Peter€is€appalled.€He€protests.€€The€voice€from€heaven€speaks€againÐ À  Ðsaying,€ð ðWhat€God€has€cleansed€you€must€not€call€common€(or€unclean).ðð€€This€was€done€three€times.€Ð ˜ è ÐÐ Ü(#Ü(# Ðà0 Ü àPeter€awoke€from€his€vision€just€as€the€messengers€from€Cornelius€were€knocking€at€the€door.€€The€SpiritÐ H ˜  Ðsaid€to€Peter,€ð ðgo€with€them,€doubting€nothing;€for€I€have€sent€them.ðð€€After€Peter€had€preached€the€newsÐ  p  Ðof€Christ€to€Cornelius€and€his€household,€while€he€was€still€speaking,€ð ðthe€Holy€Spirit€fell€upon€all€thoseÐ ø H  Ðwho€heard€the€word.ðð€€The€Jews€who€had€accompanied€Peter€on€this€trip,€were€astonished€ð ðbecause€theÐ Ð  Ðgift€of€the€Holy€Spirit€had€been€poured€out€on€the€Gentiles€also.ðð€€These€Gentiles€were€immediatelyÐ ¨ø  Ðbaptized€with€water.€€Later€in€Jerusalem,€Peter€had€to€defend€this€baptism€of€Gentiles€saying,€ð ðThen€GodÐ €Ð  Ðhas€also€granted€to€the€Gentiles€repentance€to€life.ðð€€ÐX¨ Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€Peter€gives€no€hint€that€God€has€turned€from€Israel.€€Peter€IS€a€Jew€after€all,€as€are€all€ofÐ X Ðthe€apostles.€€His€news,€is€that€God€has€brought€the€believing€Gentiles€into€what€was€once€an€exclusivelyÐ à0 ÐJewish€club.€€€€Ð¸Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌò òPART€FOUR:€THE€PROMISESÐ h¸ ÐÌó óà0 Ü àROMANS€9:4€(Paul€speaking)€ð ðwho€are€Israelites,€to€whom€pertain€the€adoption,€the€glory,€the€à0@v!Ü(#Ü(#àÐ h Ðcovenants,€the€giving€of€the€law,€the€service€of€God,€and€the€promises€...ððÐð@Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€It€might€be€well€to€point€out€that€ð ðthe€covenantðð,€including€each€and€every€covenantÐ  ð Ðpromise,€including€the€ð ðnew€covenant,ðð€was€made€with€Abraham€or€with€his€chosen€descendants.€ÐxÈÜ(#Ü(# Ðà Ü àÌò òó óTO€ABRAHAMÐ (x ÐÌà0 Ü àGENESIS€12:2„3€ð ðI€will€make€you€a€great€nation;€I€will€bless€you€and€make€your€name€great;€and€you€Ð Ø( Ðà0Ü(#Ü(#àshall€be€a€blessing.€€I€will€bless€those€who€bless€you€and€I€will€curse€him€who€curses€you;€and€òòin€youÐ °  Ðall€the€families€of€the€earth€shall€be€blessed.óóðð€€v.7€ð ðTo€your€descendants€I€will€give€this€land.ððЈ Ø!(#(# ÐÌà Ü àGENESIS€13:15„16€Land€for€all€descendants€of€Abraham.Ð 8"ˆ# ÐÌà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àà Ü àGENESIS€15:18€ð ðTo€your€descendants€I€have€given€this€land,€from€the€river€of€Egypt€to€the€great€river,Ð è#8% Ðthe€River€EuphratesÔ_Ô„„Ô_Ô€€ÐÀ$ &(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€Abraham€had€sons€by€Ô_ÔHagarÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔIshmaelÔ_Ô)€and€by€a€second€wife,€Ô_ÔKeturahÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔZimranÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔJokshanÔ_Ô,Ð p&À!( ÐÔ_ÔMedanÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔMidianÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔIshbakÔ_Ô,€and€Ô_ÔShuahÔ_Ô).€€He€gave€gifts€to€these€sons,€and€then€sent€them€eastward€(to€theÐ H'˜") ÐArabian€peninsula)€away€from€the€land€promised€to€Isaac.€€Descendants€of€these€sons€have€become€theÐ  (p#* Ðgreat€enemies€of€Israel.€€Paul€explains€that€these€were€not€ð ðthe€children€of€Godðð€or€ð ðchildren€of€promiseððÐ ø(H$+ Ð(Romans€9:6„8).€€ÐÐ) %,Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà Ü àGENESIS€17:2„22€Abraham€to€be€the€ð ðfather€of€many€nationsðð€(v.4).€The€ð ðland€of€Canaan,ðð€promised€Ð €+Ð&. Ѐà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àð ðas€an€everlasting€possession;ðð€to€Abrahamððs€descendants,€ð ðand€I€will€be€their€Godðð€(Ô_Ôv8Ô_Ô).€The€signÐ X,¨'/ Ðof€the€covenant€would€be€male€circumcision€at€eight€days€of€age€(v10).€Ð0-€(0(#(# ÐÐ .X)1 Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àà Ü àGENESIS€22:17„22€ð ðI€will€multiply€your€descendants€as€the€stars€of€the€heaven...€and€òòin€your€seed€allÐ ° Ðthe€nations€of€the€earth€shall€be€blessedóó,€because€you€have€obeyed€My€voice.ððЈØ(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€The€covenant€promise€was€continued€to€Isaac,€to€Jacob,€and€to€the€12€tribes€of€IsraelÐ 8ˆ Ð(descended€from€Jacob).€€Specific€promises€were€made€to€King€David€of€the€tribe€of€Judah,€that€a€sonÐ ` Ðof€his€would€reign€over€Israel€forever€(1Chron.€17:4„15;€1Chron.€17:4„15;€2Sam.€7:4„17;€Psalms€89:3,4,Ð è8 Ð34,€35„37;€1Kings€9:4„9;€2Chron.€7:€12„22).ÐÀ Ü(#Ü(# Ðò òÌó óTHE€PROMISE€WAS€TO€CHRISTÐ p À ÐÌà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àà Ü àÔ_ÔGALATIANSÔ_Ô€3:16€ð ðNow€to€Abraham€and€his€Seed€were€the€promises€made.€€He€does€not€say,€ððAnd€toÐ  p  Ðseeds,ðð€as€of€many,€but€as€of€one,€ððAnd€to€your€Seed,ðð€who€is€Christ.ððÐø H (#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€Here€Paul€makes€it€clear,€that€the€promises€made€to€Abraham€were€actually€made€to€Christ.€Ð ¨ø  Ðà  àÐ Ü(#Ü(# Ðà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€Christ€fulfilled€the€conditions€of€the€first€covenant,€the€very€first€covenant€„€made€in€Eden,Ð X¨  Ðwith€Adam.€€That€covenant€said,€ð ðObey€and€live€„€disobey€and€die.ðð€€He€therefore€has€a€right€to€theÐ 0€  Ðdominion€of€earth,€which€Adam€lost€through€disobedience.€€Christ€also€fulfilled€the€conditions€of€theÐ X ÐMosaic€covenant€„€He€obeyed€the€Law€of€Moses€perfectly.€Ðà0Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌWHO€ARE€THE€CHILDREN€OF€PROMISE,€€THE€DESCENDANTS€OF€ABRAHAM?Ð à ÐÌà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àà Ü àÔ_ÔGALATIANSÔ_Ô€3:7,€9,€14€ð ðOnly€those€who€are€of€faith€are€sons€of€Abraham.ðð...€ð ðSo€then€those€who€areÐ @ Ðof€faith€are€blessed€with€believing€Abraham.ðð€...ð ðThat€the€blessing€of€Abraham€might€come€upon€theÐ h ÐGentiles€in€Christ€Jesus...ððÐð@(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àÔ_ÔGALATIANSÔ_Ô€3:26„29€ð ðFor€you€are€all€sons€of€God€through€faith€in€Christ€Jesus.€€For€as€many€of€you€Ð  ð Ðà0Ü(#Ü(#àas€were€baptized€into€Christ€have€put€on€Christ.€€There€is€neither€Jew€nor€Greek€(Gentile),€there€isÐ xÈ Ðneither€slave€nor€free,€there€is€neither€male€nor€female;€for€you€are€all€one€in€Christ€Jesus.€€òòAnd€ifÐ P  Ðyou€are€Christððs,€then€you€ARE€Abrahamððs€seed,€and€heirs€according€to€the€promiseóó.ðð€Ð(x(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àÔ_ÔGALATIANSÔ_Ô€4:26„29€ð ðBut€the€Jerusalem€above€is€free;€she€is€our€mother.€For€it€is€written,€ÐØ(Ü(#Ü(# Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àððRejoice,€barren€woman€who€does€not€bear;€break€forth€and€shout,€you€who€are€not€in€labor;€for€moreÐ °  Ðare€the€children€of€the€desolate€than€of€the€one€who€ha€a€husband.ðð€ò òAnd€you€brethren,€like€Isaac,Ð ˆ Ø! Ðare€children€of€promiseó ó.ððÐd!´"(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àROMANS€4:9„12€Abraham€is€called€the€ð ðfather€of€all€those€who€believe,ðð€whether€circumcised€or€not.Ð#h$Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àROMANS€4:13„16€ð ðFor€ò òòòthe€promise€that€he€would€be€the€heir€of€the€world€óóó ówas€not€to€Abraham€or€Ð È$ & Ðà0Ü(#Ü(#àto€his€seed€through€the€law,€but€through€the€righteousness€of€faith.€...Therefore€it€is€of€faith€that€itÐ ¤%ô ' Ðmight€be€according€to€grace,€so€that€the€promise€might€be€sure€to€all€the€seed,€not€only€to€those€whoÐ |&Ì!( Ðare€of€the€law,€but€also€to€those€who€are€of€the€faith€of€òòAbraham,€who€is€the€father€of€us€allóó.ððÐT'¤")(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àCOMMENT:€First:€Remember€that€the€letters€to€the€churches€in€Ô_ÔGalatiaÔ_Ô,€and€to€the€Romans€were€writtenÐ )T$+ Ðà0Ü(#Ü(#àto€Gentiles.€€Second:€Consider€the€promise€that€Christ,€the€Seed€of€Abraham,€would€be€heir€of€theÐ Ü),%, Ðworld,€and€we€with€Him€(Psalm€37:9;€Matt€5:5).д*&-(#(# ÐÌÌÐ <-Œ(0 ÐWHO€IS€A€JEW?Ð ° ÐÌà0 Ü àDEFINITIONSÐ`°Ü(#Ü(# Ðà Ü àà  àA.€€Descendant€of€Judah.Ð 8ˆ Ðà Ü à€€€€€€B.€€€Member€of€the€tribe€of€Judah.Ð ` Ðà Ü à€€€€€€C.€€The€southern€kingdom€after€the€division.Ð è8 Ðà0 Ü à€€€€€€€€à  àD.€€After€the€captivity€the€term€was€extended€to€all€national€descendants€of€Abraham,€contrasted€with€Ð À  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€Gentiles.€€For€example„Saul,€although€a€Ô_ÔBenjamiteÔ_Ô,€claimed€to€be€a€Jew.€(Acts€21:39;€22:3).И èÜ(#Ü(# Ðà Ü à€€€€€€E.€€An€adherent€to€the€Jewish€faith€as€distinguished€from€the€Christian€faith.€€(I€Cor.€9:20).Ð p À Ðà Ü àà  àF.€€A€true€believer,€who€lives€by€faith€in€Messiah.€Ð H ˜  ÐÌòòò òÓ  Óó óThree€groups€identified€:€1Corinthians€10:32€€€€Ð ø H  Ðà @Ü àà @ àJews€(race€and€culture)ó󀀄€òòGentiles€(race,€varied€cultures)ó󀀄€òòChurch€of€GodóóÐ Ð  ÐÓ[ÓÌà Ü àà  àò òó óòòNote:€It€is€very€important€to€determine€the€meaning€of€the€term€Jew€in€the€context.Ð €Ð  ÐóóÌROMANS€2:28„29ò ò€€ó ó(Paul€wrote)€ð ð...For€he€is€not€a€Jew€who€is€one€outwardly;€neither€is€circumcision€that€Ð 0€  Ðà0 Ü àwhich€is€outward€in€the€flesh.€€€But€òòò òhe€is€a€Jew€who€is€one€inwardly;€and€circumcision€is€that€whichÐ  \ Ðis€of€the€heart,€by€the€Spiritóó,€ò ònot€by€the€letteró óó ó;€and€his€praise€is€not€from€men,€but€from€Godò ò.ó óÐè8Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° àÔ_ÔCOLOSSIANSÔ_Ô€2:11€ð ðIn€Him€you€(Gentile€believers)€were€also€circumcised€with€òòthe€circumcision€madeÐ œì Ðwithout€handsóó,€by€putting€off€the€body€of€the€sins€of€the€flesh,€ò òòòby€the€circumcision€of€Christóóó ó,ÐtÄÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àÐ Ü(#Ü(# ÐGENTILESà0  àà 4 àò òÐP(#(# Ðó óà0 Ü àA.€€Non„Jews€(Gentiles€in€the€flesh,€meaning€not€circumcised).€ÐØ(Ü(#Ü(# Ðà0 Ü àB.€€One€who€has€no€knowledge€of€or€loyalty€towards€the€true€God.€One€separated€from€God.аÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àEphesians€4:17,18€€This€I€say€therefore,€and€affirm€together€with€the€Lord,€that€you€walk€no€longerÐ `° Ðjust€òòas€the€Gentiles€óóalso€walk,€in€the€futility€of€their€mind,€€being€òòdarkened€in€their€understandingóó,Ð 8ˆ Ðòòexcluded€from€the€life€of€Godóó,€because€of€the€ignorance€that€is€in€them,€because€of€the€hardness€ofÐ ` Ðtheir€heart;Ðè8(#(# ÐÌà Ü àà0  àCOMMENT:€When€we€study€the€prophecies,€especially€those€by€Old€Testamentòòóó€writers,€we€mustÐ ˜ è! Ðstudy€the€context€carefully.€€The€term€ð ðGentilesðð€may€refer€to€non„Israelites€by€blood,€who€come€toÐ p!À" Ðfaith€in€Messiah.€€It€may€refer€to€those€evil€persons€who€will€attempt€to€destroy€the€people€of€God,Ð H"˜# Ðand€who€will€be€destroyed€by€God.€€The€term€ð ðIsraelðð€may€refer€to€biological€descendants€of€Jacob,Ð  #p$ Ðor€to€true€believers€who€walk€by€faith.€€Especially€as€used€in€the€Revelation€to€John,€the€term€ð ðIsraelððÐ ø#H% Ðmay€refer€to€Godððs€remnant€of€the€faithful.€€ÐÐ$ &(#(# ÐÌòòóóà0 Ü àòòóóISAIAH€44:1„5€But€hear,€now,€O€Jacob€My€servant,€Israel€whom€I€have€chosen!Ѐ&Ð!(Ü(#Ü(# Ðà Ü àà  àThus€said€the€Lord,€your€Maker,€Your€Creator€who€has€helped€you€since€birth:Ð X'¨") Ðà Ü àà  àFear€not,€My€servant€Jacob,€Ô_ÔJeshurunÔ_Ô€whom€I€have€chosen,Ð 0(€#* Ðà Ü àà  àEven€as€I€pour€water€on€thirsty€soil,€And€rain€upon€dry€ground,Ð )X$+ Ðà Ü àà  àSo€will€I€pour€My€spirit€on€your€offspring,€My€blessing€upon€your€posterity.Ð à)0%, Ðà Ü àà  àAnd€they€shall€sprout€like€grass,€€Like€willows€by€watercourses.Ð ¸*&- Ðà Ü àà  àOne€shall€say,€ð ðI€am€the€Lordððs,ðð€Another€shall€use€the€name€of€ð ðJacob,ððÐ +à&. Ðà Ü àà  àAnother€shall€mark€his€arm€ð ðof€the€LORDððÐ h,¸'/ Ðà Ü àà  àòòò òAnd€adopt€the€name€of€ð ð€Israeló óóó.ðð€€Ô_ÔTANAKHÔ_ÔÐ @-(0 Їà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àòòCOMMENT:€Jacob€is€a€type€of€the€Messiah€in€this€passage.€€His€name€meant€supplanter€„€one€whoÐ ° Ðtakes€the€place€of€another,€one€who€supercedes€another.€€Did€not€Christ€come€to€take€the€place€ofÐ ˆØ ÐSatan,€who€was€here€first€(just€as€Ô_ÔEsauÔ_Ô€was€born€before€Jacob.€€Ô_ÔEsauÔ_Ô€had€the€Ô_ÔbirthriteÔ_Ô€of€supremacy.€Ð `° ÐYet€Jacob€supplanted€him€because€Jacobððs€heart€was€towards€God€„€just€as€Christ€supplanted€Satan.€Ð 8ˆ ÐJacob€then€became€Israel€„€a€Prince€of€God.€€Is€not€Christ€THE€Prince€of€God€„€His€own€son.€€óóÐ`(#(# ÐÌà Ü àHOSEA€1:10€€€ò òYet€the€number€of€òòthe€sons€of€Israelóó€(Christ)€will€be€ò òlike€the€sand€of€the€seaó ó,€Which€Ð À  Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àcannot€be€measured€or€numbered;€And€it€will€come€about€that,€in€the€place€Where€òòit€is€saidÐ œ ì Ðto€themóó,€"You€are€not€òòMy€peopleóó,"€It€will€be€said€to€them,€"You€are€the€sons€of€the€livingÐ t Ä ÐGod."ó ó€NASÐL œ (#(# ÐÌà Ü àROMANS€9:24„27€ð ðeven€us,€òòwhom€He€also€calledóó,€òònot€from€among€Jews€only,€but€also€from€among€Ð P  Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àGentilesóó.€€As€He€says€also€in€Hosea€(1:10,€2:19),€ððòòI€will€call€those€who€were€not€My€people,€MyÐ Ø(  Ðpeopleóó,€and€her€who€was€not€beloved,€Beloved.€€And€it€shall€be€that€in€the€place€òòwhere€it€was€saidÐ °  Ðto€them,€ððYou€are€Not€My€people,ðð€ððthere€they€shall€be€called€sons€of€the€living€Godóó.ðð€And€IsaiahÐ ˆØ  Ðcries€out€concerning€Israel,€ððThough€the€number€of€the€sons€of€Israel€be€as€the€sand€of€the€sea,€it€isÐ `°  Ðthe€remnant€that€will€be€saved.ðð€Ð8ˆ (#(# ÐÌTHE€BRIDE€OF€CHRISTÐ è8 ÐÌà Ü àHOSEA€2:16€ð ðAnd€it€shall€be,€in€that€day,€says€the€Lord,€That€you€will€call€Me€ððMy€husband.ðð€...€v.19€Ð ˜è Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àð ðI€will€betroth€you€to€Me€forever;€Yes,€I€will€betroth€you€to€Me€in€righteousness€and€justice,€inÐ pÀ ÐÔ_ÔlovingkindnessÔ_Ô€and€mercy;€I€will€betroth€you€to€Me€in€faithfulness,€and€you€shall€know€the€LORD.Ð H˜ Ð...€v23€€Then€I€will€sow€her€for€Myself€in€the€earth,€and€òòI€will€have€mercy€on€her€who€had€notÐ  p Ðobtained€mercy.€Then€I€will€say€to€those€who€were€not€My€people,€ððYou€are€My€people!ðð€€And€theyÐ øH Ðshall€say,€ððYou€are€my€God!óóððððòòÐÐ (#(# ÐóóÌà0 Ü àREVELATION€21:9„10€ð ðððCome,€I€will€show€€you€the€bride,€the€Lambððs€wife.ðð€...€ð ðAnd€he€....€showed€Ð €Ð Ðà0Ü(#Ü(#àme€the€great€city,€the€holy€Jerusalem,€descending€out€of€heaven€from€God.ðð€21:2€ð ðThen€I,€John€sawÐ X¨ Ðthe€holy€city,€New€Jerusalem,€coming€down€out€of€heaven€from€God,€prepared€as€a€bride€adornedÐ 0€ Ðfor€her€husband.ðð€€€ÐX(#(# ÐÌà Ü àREVELATION€19:7„9€Let€us€be€glad€and€rejoice,€and€give€Ô_ÔhonourÔ_Ô€to€him:€for€ò òthe€marriage€of€the€Ð ¸  Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àLamb€ó óis€come,€and€ò òhis€wife€hath€made€herself€readyó ó.€€And€to€her€was€granted€that€she€should€beÐ ” ä! Ðarrayed€in€fine€linen,€clean€and€white:€for€the€fine€linen€is€the€righteousness€of€saints.Ðp!À"(#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àò òà04(#(#àà  àCOMMENT:€€Ô‡Xú¨X%&öëÔThere€is€no13th€gate€into€the€Holy€City,€Ð #p$4(#4(# Ðà Ü àà  àà 4 àà  àà h àwith€a€sign€saying,€"Gentiles€enter€here."€ó óÔ#†&öë%XXú¨'x#ÔÐ  $\% Ðà Ü àÔ‡Xú¨X%&öëÔCOMMENT:€Yes,€I€believe€that€God€chose€the€nation€of€Israel€through€which€to€carry€out€His€Ð ø$H & Ðà0 Ü àwill,€in€preserving€the€writings,€prophecies,€covenants,€and€a€physical€means€of€bringing€MessiahÐ ä%4!' Ðinto€the€world.€€But€I€believe€His€plan€continued€on€-€to€bring€in€the€Gentiles,€into€that€sameÐ Ð& "( Ðbody.€€Not€to€create€another€body€of€believers€in€God.м' #)Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àJesus€is€our€High€Priest.€€How€many€stones€are€in€His€breastplate?€€12€-€right?€€There€is€no€13thÐ ”)ä$+ Ðstone,€for€all€the€Gentiles.€€If€we€gentiles€are€represented€as€being€carried€on€the€heart€of€ChristÐ €*Ð%, Ðin€heaven,€it€has€to€be€as€part€of€the€12€tribes.€€There€was€no13th€loaf€of€bread-as€food€forÐ l+¼&- Ð"everyone€else."€ÐX,¨'.Ü(#Ü(# ÐÐ D-”(/ ЇPART€FIVE:€THE€CHURCHÐ ° ÐÌÌÔ#†&öë%XXú¨€law€<08451>€shall€be€to€him€that€is€homeborn€<0249>,€and€unto€the€strangerÐ è#8% Ð<ò ò01616>ó ó€that€sojourneth€<01481>€(08802)€among€<08432>€you.Ð À$ & ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€16:29€"€òòThis€óóshall€be€a€statute€forever€for€you:€In€the€seventh€month,€on€the€tenth€òòday€óóof€theÐ t&Ä!( Ðmonth,€you€shall€afflict€your€souls,€and€do€no€work€at€all,€òòwhether€óóa€native€of€your€own€country€or€a€strangerÐ L'œ") Ðwho€dwells€among€you.Ð $(t#* ÐÌÌNKJ€Leviticus€17:8€"Also€you€shall€say€to€them:€'Whatever€man€of€the€house€of€Israel,€or€of€the€strangersÐ ¬*ü%- Ðwho€dwell€among€you,€who€offers€a€burnt€offering€or€sacrifice,NKJ€Ð „+Ô&. ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€17:15€"€And€every€person€who€eats€what€died€òònaturally€óóor€what€was€torn€òòby€beasts,€whetherÐ 4-„(0 Ðhe€is€óóa€native€of€your€own€country€or€a€stranger,€he€shall€both€wash€his€clothes€and€bathe€in€water,€and€beÐ ° Ðunclean€until€evening.€Then€he€shall€be€clean.Ð ˆØ ÐÌLeviticus€17:10€'€And€whatever€man€of€the€house€of€Israel,€or€of€the€strangers€who€dwell€among€you,€whoÐ 8ˆ Ðeats€any€blood,€I€will€set€My€face€against€that€person€who€eats€blood,€and€will€cut€him€off€from€among€hisÐ ` Ðpeople.Ð è8 ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€19:34€'The€stranger€who€dwells€among€you€shall€be€to€you€as€one€born€among€you,€and€youÐ ˜ è Ðshall€love€him€as€yourself;€for€you€were€strangers€in€the€land€of€Egypt:€I€òòam€óóthe€LORD€your€God.Ð p À ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€20:2€"Again,€you€shall€say€to€the€children€of€Israel:€'Whoever€of€the€children€of€Israel,€or€ofÐ  p  Ðthe€strangers€who€dwell€in€Israel,€who€gives€òòany€óóof€his€descendants€to€Molech,€he€shall€surely€be€put€to€death.Ð ø H  ÐThe€people€of€the€land€shall€stone€him€with€stones.Ð Ð  ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€22:18€"Speak€to€Aaron€and€his€sons,€and€to€all€the€children€of€Israel,€and€say€to€them:Ð €Ð  Ð'Whatever€man€of€the€house€of€Israel,€or€of€the€strangers€in€Israel,€who€offers€his€sacrifice€for€any€of€his€vowsÐ X¨  Ðor€for€any€of€his€freewill€offerings,€which€they€offer€to€the€LORD€as€a€burnt€offering€„„Ð 0€  ÐÌÌNKJ€Leviticus€24:16€'And€whoever€blasphemes€the€name€of€the€LORD€shall€surely€be€put€to€death.€All€theÐ ¸ Ðcongregation€shall€certainly€stone€him,€the€stranger€as€well€as€him€who€is€born€in€the€land.€When€heÐ à Ðblasphemes€the€name€òòof€the€Lord,€óóhe€shall€be€put€to€death.Ð h¸ ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€24:22€'You€shall€have€the€same€law€for€the€stranger€and€for€one€from€your€own€country;€forÐ h ÐI€òòam€óóthe€LORD€your€God.'€"Ð ð@ ÐÌNKJ€Leviticus€25:23€'€The€land€shall€not€be€sold€permanently,€for€the€land€òòis€óóMine;€for€you€òòare€óóstrangers€andÐ  ð Ðsojourners€with€Me.Ð xÈ ÐÌ[Note:€€Here€the€Israelites€are€called€strangers€and€sojourners.]Ð (x ÐÌNKJ€Numbers€15:15€'One€ordinance€òòshall€be€óófor€you€of€the€assembly€and€for€the€stranger€who€dwells€òòwithÐ Ø( Ðyou,€óóan€ordinance€forever€throughout€your€generations;€as€you€are,€so€shall€the€stranger€be€before€the€LORD.Ð °  ÐÌNKJ€Numbers€15:16€'One€law€and€one€custom€shall€be€for€you€and€for€the€stranger€who€dwells€with€you.'Ð `!°" Ð"Ð 8"ˆ# ÐÌNKJ€Numbers€15:26€'It€shall€be€forgiven€the€whole€congregation€of€the€children€of€Israel€and€the€strangerÐ è#8% Ðwho€dwells€among€them,€because€all€the€people€òòdid€it€óóunintentionally.Ð À$ & ÐÌNKJ€Numbers€15:29€'You€shall€have€one€law€for€him€who€sins€unintentionally,€òòfor€óóhim€who€is€native„bornÐ p&À!( Ðamong€the€children€of€Israel€and€for€the€stranger€who€dwells€among€them.Ð H'˜") ÐÌNKJ€Numbers€15:30€'€But€the€person€who€does€òòanything€óópresumptuously,€òòwhether€he€is€óónative„born€or€aÐ ø(H$+ Ðstranger,€that€one€brings€reproach€on€the€LORD,€and€he€shall€be€cut€off€from€among€his€people.Ð Ð) %, ÐÌ[Note:€€The€stranger€is€considered€to€be€a€part€of€"his€people."Ð €+Ð&. ÐÌNKJ€Numbers€19:10€'And€the€one€who€gathers€the€ashes€of€the€heifer€shall€wash€his€clothes,€and€be€uncleanÐ 0-€(0 Ðuntil€evening.€It€shall€be€a€statute€forever€to€the€children€of€Israel€and€to€the€stranger€who€dwells€among€them.Ð .X)1 ЇNKJ€Numbers€35:15€'These€six€cities€shall€be€for€refuge€for€the€children€of€Israel,€for€the€stranger,€and€forÐ ° Ðthe€sojourner€among€them,€that€anyone€who€kills€a€person€accidentally€may€flee€there.Ð ˆØ ÐÌNKJ€Deuteronomy€10:19€"Therefore€love€the€stranger,€for€you€were€strangers€in€the€land€of€Egypt.Ð 8ˆ ÐÌNKJ€Deuteronomy€14:21€"€You€shall€not€eat€anything€that€dies€òòof€itself;€óóyou€may€give€it€to€the€alien€who€òòisÐ è8 Ðóówithin€your€gates,€that€he€may€eat€it,€or€you€may€sell€it€to€a€foreigner;€for€you€òòare€óóa€holy€people€to€the€LORDÐ À  Ðyour€God.€You€shall€not€boil€a€young€goat€in€its€mother's€milk.Ð ˜ è ÐÌNKJ€Deuteronomy€28:43€"The€alien€who€òòis€óóamong€you€shall€rise€higher€and€higher€above€you,€and€you€shallÐ H ˜  Ðcome€down€lower€and€lower.Ð  p  ÐÌ{Daut.€28:15„68€€The€curses€for€disobedience.Ð Ð  ÐÌNKJ€Joshua€8:33€Then€all€Israel,€with€their€elders€and€officers€and€judges,€stood€on€either€side€of€the€arkÐ €Ð  Ðbefore€the€priests,€the€Levites,€who€bore€the€ark€of€the€covenant€of€the€LORD,€the€stranger€as€well€as€he€whoÐ X¨  Ðwas€born€among€them.€Half€of€them€òòwere€óóin€front€of€Mount€Gerizim€and€half€of€them€in€front€of€Mount€Ebal,Ð 0€  Ðas€Moses€the€servant€of€the€LORD€had€commanded€before,€that€they€should€bless€the€people€of€Israel.Ð X ÐÌNKJ€2€Chronicles€2:17€Then€Solomon€numbered€all€the€aliens€who€òòwere€óóin€the€land€of€Israel,€after€the€censusÐ ¸ Ðin€which€David€his€father€had€numbered€them;€and€there€were€found€to€be€one€hundred€and€fifty„threeÐ à Ðthousand€six€hundred.Ð h¸ ÐÌNKJ€Isaiah€14:1€For€the€LORD€will€have€mercy€on€Jacob,€and€will€still€choose€Israel,€and€settle€them€in€theirÐ h Ðown€land.€ò òThe€strangers€will€be€joined€with€them,€and€they€will€cling€to€the€house€of€Jacobó ó.Ð ð@ ÐÌNKJ€Isaiah€56:1„8€Keep€justice,€and€do€righteousness,€for€My€salvation€is€about€to€come,€and€MyÐ ¤ô Ðrighteousness€to€be€revealed.€€2Blessed€is€the€man€who€does€this,€and€the€son€of€man€who€lays€hold€on€it;Ð |Ì Ðwho€keeps€from€defiling€the€Sabbath,€and€keeps€his€hand€from€doing€any€evil.€€3Do€not€let€the€son€of€theÐ T¤ Ðforeigner€who€has€joined€himself€to€the€LORD€speak,€saying,€ð ðThe€Lord€has€utterly€separated€me€from€HisÐ ,| Ðpeopleðððð€Nor€let€the€eunuch€say,€ð ðHere€I€am,€a€dry€tree.ðð€€4For€thus€say€the€Lord:€ð ðTo€the€eunuchs€who€keepÐ T ÐMy€Sabbaths,€and€choose€what€pleases€Me,€and€hold€fast€My€covenant,€5Even€to€them€I€will€give€in€MyÐ Ü, Ðhouse€and€within€My€walls€a€place€and€a€name€better€than€that€of€sons€and€daughters;€I€will€give€them€anÐ ´  Ðeverlasting€name€that€shall€not€be€cut€off.€6Also€the€sons€of€the€foreigner€who€join€themselves€to€the€Lord,Ð Œ Ü! Ðto€serve€Him,€and€to€love€the€name€of€the€Lord,€to€be€His€servants„„everyone€who€keeps€from€defiling€theÐ d!´" ÐSabbath,€and€holds€fast€My€covenant„„7even€them€I€will€bring€to€My€holy€mountain,€and€make€them€joyfulÐ <"Œ# Ðin€My€house€of€prayer.€€Their€burnt€offerings€and€their€sacrifices€will€be€accepted€on€My€alter;€for€My€houseÐ #d$ Ðshall€be€called€a€house€of€prayer€for€all€nations.ðð€€8The€Lord€God,€who€gathers€the€outcasts€of€Israel,€says,Ð ì#<% Ðð ðYet€I€will€gather€to€him€others€besides€those€who€are€gathered€to€him.ððÐ Ä$ & ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° à1.€€Members€of€other€nations€who€came€to€live€among€the€Israelites€had€been€excluded€from€worship,€at€leastÐ t&Ä!( Ðfor€several€generations€(see€Exo.€12:43;€Deut.€23:3,7„8).ÐL'œ")Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° à2.€€Eunuchs€were€also€excluded€from€ð ðthe€congregation.ðð€(See€Deut.€23:1).€€The€work€of€ð ðthe€Servantðð€wouldÐ ü(L$+ Ðchange€this€(see€Acts€8:27„39).ÐÔ)$%,Ü(#Ü(# ÐÌ3.€€The€Sabbath,€like€circumcision,€was€a€sign€of€the€whole€covenant.Ð „+Ô&. ÐÌà0 Ü àà ° à4.€€Even€the€eunuch,€once€banned€from€the€congregation,€would€have€€ð ða€nameðð€and€ð ða€memorialðð€within€theÐ 4-„(0 ÐTemple€walls.€€All€this€would€be€brought€about€by€the€work€of€ð ðthe€Servant,ðð€Israelððs€hope.€€IsaiahÐ ° Ðprophecies€of€this€righteous€Servant€who€will€come,€in€chapter€50:1„11;€52:13„53:12.ЈØÜ(#Ü(# ÐÌNKJ€Ephesians€2:11€Therefore€remember€that€òòyou,€once€Gentiles€in€the€fleshó󀄄€who€are€calledÐ 8ˆ ÐUncircumcision€by€what€is€called€the€Circumcision€made€in€the€flesh€by€hands€„„€12€that€at€that€time€youÐ ` Ðwere€without€Christ,€being€ò òaliens€from€the€commonwealth€of€Israeló ó€and€ò òò òstrangersó ó€from€the€covenantsÐ è8 Ðof€promiseó ó,€having€no€hope€and€without€God€in€the€world.€13€But€now€in€Christ€Jesus€òòyou€who€once€wereÐ Ä  Ðfar€off€have€been€brought€nearóó€by€the€blood€of€Christ.€14€For€He€Himself€is€our€peace,€who€has€ò òmade€bothÐ   ð Ðone,€and€has€broken€down€the€middle€wall€of€separationó ó,€15€having€abolished€in€His€flesh€the€enmity,€thatÐ | Ì Ðis,€the€law€of€commandments€contained€in€ordinances,€so€as€to€create€in€Himself€òòone€new€man€from€the€twoóó,Ð X ¨  Ðthus€making€peace,€16€and€that€He€might€reconcile€them€both€to€God€òòin€one€bodyóó€through€the€cross,€therebyÐ 0 €  Ðputting€to€death€the€enmity.€17€And€He€came€and€preached€peace€to€you€who€were€afar€off€and€to€those€whoÐ X  Ðwere€near.€18€For€through€Him€we€both€have€access€by€one€Spirit€to€the€Father.€19€Now,€therefore,€òòò òyou€areÐ à0  Ðno€longer€strangers€and€foreigners,€but€fellow€citizensó óóó€with€the€saints€and€members€of€the€household€ofÐ ¼  ÐGod,€20€having€been€built€on€the€foundation€of€the€apostles€and€prophets,€Jesus€Christ€Himself€being€theÐ ˜è  Ðchief€cornerstone,€21€in€whom€the€whole€building,€being€joined€together,€grows€into€a€holy€temple€in€theÐ pÀ  ÐLord,€22€in€whom€you€also€are€being€built€together€for€a€dwelling€place€of€God€in€the€Spirit.Ð H˜  ÐÌEzekiel€36:16„38€Renewal€of€Israel.€€Verses€24„29€New€Covenant€Promise.€€Chapter€37€Dry€bones€live.€Ð øH ÐVerse€11„14€ð ðThen€He€said€to€me,€ððSon€of€man,€these€bones€are€the€whole€house€of€Israel.€€They€indeed€Ô_Ôsay,Ð Ð  ÐððOur€bones€are€dry,€our€hope€is€lost,€and€we€ourselves€are€cut€off!ðð€€Therefore€Ô_ÔprophecsyÔ_Ô€and€say€them,€ððThusÐ ¨ø Ðsays€the€Lord€GOD:€ððBehold,€O€My€people€I€will€open€your€graves€and€cause€you€to€come€up€from€yourÐ €Ð Ðgraves,€and€bring€you€into€the€land€of€Israel.€€Then€you€shall€know€that€I€am€the€LORD,€when€I€have€openedÐ X¨ Ðyour€graves,€O€My€people,€and€brought€you€up€from€your€graves.€I€will€put€My€Spirit€in€you,€and€you€shallÐ 0€ Ðlive,€and€I€will€place€you€in€your€own€land.€€Then€yo€shall€know€that€I,€the€LORD,€have€spoken€it€andÐ X Ðperformed€it,ðð€says€the€LORD.ðð€€V.21„22€Then€say€to€them,€ððThus€says€the€Lord€GOD:€ððSurely€I€will€takeÐ à0 Ðthe€children€of€Israel€from€among€the€nations,€wherever€they€have€gone,€and€will€gather€them€from€every€sideÐ ¸ Ðand€bring€them€into€their€own€land;€and€I€will€make€them€one€nation€in€the€land,€on€the€mountains€of€Israel;Ð à Ðand€one€king€shall€be€king€over€them€all;€they€shall€no€longer€be€two€nations,€nor€shall€they€ever€be€dividedÐ h¸ Ðinto€two€kingdoms€again.ðð€€€37:24€David€My€servant€shall€be€king€over€them,€and€they€shall€all€have€oneÐ @ Ðshepherd;€they€shall€also€walk€in€My€judgments€and€observe€My€statutes,€and€do€them.€25€Then€they€shallÐ h Ðdwell€in€the€land€that€I€have€given€to€Jacob€My€servant,€where€your€fathers€dwelt;€and€they€shall€dwell€there,Ð ð@ Ðthey,€their€children,€and€their€children's€children,€forever;€and€My€servant€David€shall€be€their€prince€forever.Ð È  Ð26€Moreover€I€will€make€a€covenant€of€peace€with€them,€and€it€shall€be€an€everlasting€covenant€with€them;Ð   ð! ÐI€will€establish€them€and€multiply€them,€and€I€will€set€My€sanctuary€in€their€midst€forevermore.€27€MyÐ x!È" Ðtabernacle€also€shall€be€with€them;€indeed€I€will€be€their€God,€and€they€shall€be€My€people.€28€The€nationsÐ P" # Ðalso€will€know€that€I,€the€LORD,€sanctify€Israel,€when€My€sanctuary€is€in€their€midst€forevermore.ðð€€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_ÔÐ (#x$ Ð38€The€last€terrible€battle€with€the€enemies€of€Israel.€Divine€intervention.€€Fire€from€heaven.€€Ô_ÔExekielÔ_Ô€40Ð $P% ÐGiven€a€vision€of€a€new€Temple€on€Godððs€high€mountain.€€Temple€is€described€in€detail.€€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€44€WhoÐ Ø$( & Ðmay€enter€this€TemÔ_ÔpleÔ_Ô.€€V.7„9€When€you€brought€in€foreigners,€òòÔ_ÔuncircumcisedÔ_Ô€in€heartóó€and€Ô_ÔuncircumcisedÔ_ÔÐ °%!' Ðin€flesh,€to€be€in€My€sanctuary€to€defile€it€„„€ò òMy€houseó ó„„and€when€you€offered€My€food,€the€fat€and€the€blood,Ð ˆ&Ø!( Ðthen€they€broke€My€covenant€because€of€all€your€abominations.€€And€you€have€not€kept€charge€of€My€holyÐ d'´") Ðthings,€but€you€have€set€others€to€keep€charge€of€ò òMy€sanctuaryó ó€for€you.€Thus€says€the€Lord€GOD:€ò òNoÐ <(Œ#* Ðforeigner,€Ô_ÔuncircumcisedÔ_Ô€in€€heart€or€Ô_ÔuncircumcisedÔ_Ô€in€flesh,€shall€enter€My€sanctuary,€including€anyÐ )h$+ Ðforeigner€who€is€among€the€children€of€Israel.€€ó óÐ ð)@%, ÐÌÔ_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€44:10„31€Laws€governing€priests.€45:1„25€A€portion€of€land€around€the€Temple€as€Holy€Ground.Ð  +ð&. Ð46:1„24€€€Manner€of€worship,€how€offerings€prepared.€€All€of€this€Ô_ÔapplysÔ_Ô€to€an€earthly€Temple€for€theÐ x,È'/ Ðreturned€exiles€from€Babylon.Ð P- (0 ЇÔ_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€47:€The€river€of€life€flowing€from€under€the€right€side€of€the€Temple.€€V.8„9€This€river€flows€downÐ ° Ðto€the€dead€sea,€and€the€waters€are€healed€and€now€abound€with€life.€€V.€13„20€Borders€of€the€land.€ThenÐ ˆØ Ðchapter€48€„€the€division€of€the€land€among€all€the€Tribes,€including€Ô_ÔEphraimÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔManassehÔ_Ô.€Finally€in€v30„Ð `° Ð35€Twelve€gates€are€named€after€the€12€sons€of€Jacob.€(€Joseph€instead€of€Ô_ÔEphraimÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔManassehÔ_Ô.)Ð 8ˆ ÐÌI€would€understand€this€to€be€a€duel€prophecy,€first€of€the€Temple€to€be€rebuilt€after€the€return€of€the€exilesÐ è8 Ðfrom€Babylon,€and€second€of€the€Temple€of€the€LORD€in€the€earth€made€new.Ð À  ÐÌEspecially€to€be€noted€is€the€division€of€the€land:Ð p À ÐÌÔ_ÔNKJÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€47:22€"It€shall€be€that€you€will€divide€it€by€lot€as€an€inheritance€for€yourselves,€ò òand€for€theÐ  p  Ðstrangers€who€dwell€among€you€and€who€bear€children€among€you.€They€shall€be€to€you€as€native„bornÐ ü L  Ðamong€the€children€of€Israel;€they€shall€have€an€inheritance€with€you€among€the€tribes€of€Israel.ó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌÔ_ÔNKJÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€47:23€"And€it€shall€be€that€in€whatever€tribe€the€stranger€dwells,€there€you€shall€give€him€hisÐ „Ô  Ðinheritance,"€says€the€Lord€GOD.Ð \¬  ÐÌInheritance€for€Ô_ÔZadokÔ_Ô€in€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€47:€€Ô_ÔZakokÔ_Ô€was€descended€from€Aaron.€€Was€High€Priest€in€Jerusalem€asÐ  \ Ðwas€faithful€to€David,€during€the€rebellion€of€Absalom,€along€with€another€priest€named€Ô_ÔAbiatharÔ_Ô.€€Ô_ÔAbiatharÔ_ÔÐ ä4 Ðsided€with€Absalom€and€was€banished€from€Jerusalem,€leaving€Ô_ÔZadokÔ_Ô€the€sole€High€Priest.€€His€line€servedÐ ¼  Ðuntil€the€reign€of€Ô_ÔAniochusÔ_Ô€IV€Ô_ÔEpiphanesÔ_Ô€(175„164BC).€€Fulfilled€the€prophecy€1Sam.€2:35)€€"I€will€raise€upÐ ”ä Ðfor€myself€a€faithful€priest,€who€shall€do€according€to€what€is€in€my€heart€and€in€my€mind."€Ð l¼ ÐÌÔ_ÔNKJÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€48:11€"It€shall€be€for€the€priests€of€the€sons€of€Ô_ÔZadokÔ_Ô,€who€are€sanctified,€who€have€kept€MyÐ l Ðcharge,€who€did€not€go€astray€when€the€children€of€Israel€went€astray,€as€the€Levites€went€astray.Ð ôD ÐÌÔ_ÔNKJÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMalachiÔ_Ô€3:5€And€I€will€come€near€you€for€judgment;€I€will€be€a€swift€witness€Against€sorcerers,€AgainstÐ ¤ô Ðadulterers,€Against€perjurers,€Against€those€who€exploit€wage€earners€and€widows€and€orphans,€ò òAnd€againstÐ |Ì Ðthose€who€turn€away€an€alienó 󀄄€Because€they€do€not€fear€Me,"€Says€the€LORD€of€hosts.Ð X¨ ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌIn€the€Old€Testament€the€command€concerning€Passover€is€everlasting€„€Ô_ÔExoÔ_Ô.€12:14,€Lev€23:21,€Lev€23:31,Ð D"”# ÐLev€23:41.€€The€observance€of€the€Festivals€continues€after€entering€the€promised€land€„€what€does€that€say?Ð #l$ ÐAnyone€Jew€or€Gentile€may€keep€the€Passover,€if€they€have€been€circumcised.€€Paul€and€the€Acts€15Ð ô#D% Ðcommittee€changed€that€to€ð ðcircumcision€of€the€heart.ððÐ Ì$ & ÐÌThe€committee€didnððt€address€most€of€the€Ten€Commandments€„€only€the€sexual€immorality.€€They€didnððtÐ |&Ì!( Ðtalk€about€whether€it€was€necessary€to€keep€the€Sabbath.€€We€say€it€was€because€those€things€were€so€obviousÐ T'¤") Ðthey€could€go€without€saying.€€But€were€not€the€Festivals€the€same.€€Leviticus€23:2€says€ð ðSpeak€to€theÐ ,(|#* Ðchildren€of€Israel,€and€say€to€them;€ððThe€feasts€of€the€Lord,€which€you€shall€proclaim€to€be€holyÐ )T$+ Ðconvocations,€these€are€My€feasts.ðððð€And€the€list€of€feasts€starts€with€the€7òòthóó€day€Sabbath.€Ð Ü),%, ÐÌAt€the€end€of€the€discussion€in€Jerusalem,€after€the€list€of€prohibitions,€it€was€said,€ð ðFor€Moses€has€hadÐ Œ+Ü&. Ðthroughout€many€generations€those€who€preach€him€in€every€city,€being€read€in€the€synagogues€everyÐ d,´'/ ÐSabbath.ðð€Acts€15:21.€€Ð <-Œ(0 ЇIt€was€assumed€that€the€people€would€learn€the€rest€of€the€Scriptural€requirements€from€its€reading€in€theÐ ° ÐSynagogue€ð ðevery€Sabbath.ðð€€The€committee€dealt€with€those€things€which€were€especially€repugnant€toÐ ˆØ ÐJews,€those€things€which€were€threatening€to€split€the€church.€€Ð `° ÐÌMy€feeling€is€that€if€God€expects€Jews€to€keep€the€Festivals€and€not€Gentiles,€then€the€body€of€Christ€is€stillÐ ` Ðsplit€into€two€camps.€€God€then€has€two€wives.€€In€the€Old€Testament€Israel€was€the€wife€of€Yahweh.€€In€theÐ è8 ÐNew€Testament€the€Church€is€the€Bride€of€Christ.€€Ð À  ÐÌIt€is€my€belief€that€Gentile€believers€come€in€to€the€true€Israel€of€God€through€the€Messiah€who€has€extendedÐ p À ÐHis€covenant€to€them.€€Ð H ˜  ÐÌà Ü àð ðTherefore€remember€that€you,€once€Gentiles€in€the€fleshð!ðwho€are€called€Ô_ÔUncircumcisionÔ_Ô€by€what€isÐ ø H  Ðcalled€the€Circumcision€made€in€the€flesh€by€hands„„Ð Ð  Ðà Ü àthat€at€that€time€you€were€without€Christ,€ò òbeing€aliens€from€the€commonwealth€of€Israeló ó€and€ò òstrangersÐ ¨ø  Ðfrom€the€covenantsó ó€of€promise,€having€no€hope€and€without€God€in€the€world.Ð „Ô  Ðà Ü àBut€now€in€Christ€Jesus€you€who€once€were€far€off€have€been€made€near€by€the€blood€of€Christ.€€Ð `°  Ðà Ü àð ðFor€He€Himself€is€our€peace,€who€has€òòmade€both€oneóó,€and€has€òòbroken€down€the€middle€wall€of€divisionÐ 8ˆ  Ðbetween€usóó,€.€.€.€that€He€might€reconcile€them€both€to€God€in€òòone€bodyóó€through€the€cross€.€.€.€.€Ð ` Ðà Ü àNow,€therefore,€ò òyou€are€no€longer€strangers€and€foreigners,€but€fellow€citizensó ó€with€the€saints€andÐ è8 Ðmembers€of€the€household€of€God.ðð€€Ephesians€2:11„19.Ð Ä ÐÌTry€looking€at€all€of€the€texts€through€the€Ô_ÔOTÔ_Ô€concerning€aliens€and€strangers.€€In€this€passage€Paul€bringsÐ tÄ Ðthe€Gentiles€in€to€the€commonwealth€of€Israel,€not€the€Jews€in€to€a€new€body€of€Christ€called€the€Church.€€Ð Lœ ÐÌÌIn€Romans€11,€all€of€the€branches€were€not€broken€off€the€tree.€€The€tree€still€retained€branches.€The€tree€didÐ Ô$ Ðnot€die.€€Spiritual€Israel€remained€a€viable€entity.€€God€did€not€abandon€plan€A,€and€move€on€to€plan€B.€€HeÐ ¬ü Ðis€not€like€that.€€He€made€a€New€Covenant€(renewed€the€covenant)€òòwith€Israelóó€(not€with€a€mixed€group€calledÐ „Ô Ðthe€church.)€€Gentiles€who€believe€come€in€to€this€covenant,€becoming€citizens€of€this€Israel€who€receivedÐ \¬ Ðthe€New€Covenant.€€Ð 4„ ÐÌThere€was€a€literal€ð ðfleshlyðð€nation€of€Israel,€and€there€were€individuals€in€that€nation€who€remained€true€toÐ ä4 ÐGod€(who€constituted€the€true€Israel.)€€It€is€this€true€Israel€into€which€we€Gentile€believers€come.€€ð ðThey€areÐ ¼   Ðnot€all€Israel€who€are€of€Israel.ðð€Rom€9:6.Ð ” ä! ÐÌSo,€Iððm€not€an€alien€or€a€stranger,€but€rather€a€citizen,€and€therefore€an€Israelite.€€As€an€Israelite€I€will€keepÐ D"”# Ðthe€festivals,€not€with€animal€sacrifices,€but€in€a€new€way€centered€upon€Christ.€€Ð #l$ ÐÌÌò òThe€Sealed€of€Israeló óÐ ¤%ô ' ÐÌRevelation€7:1„8€The€four€winds€are€about€to€blow.€€The€ð ðother€angel€ascending€from€the€east,€having€theÐ T'¤") Ðseal€of€the€living€Godðð€(this€is€probably€Christ)€cries€with€a€loud€voice€to€whom€it€was€granted€to€take€peaceÐ ,(|#* Ðfrom€the€earth,€saying€ð ðDo€not€harm€the€earth,€the€sea,€or€the€trees€till€we€have€sealed€the€servants€of€our€GodÐ )T$+ Ðon€their€foreheads.€€Ð Ü),%, ÐÌThis€says€that€the€sealing€is€not€yet€completed.€€The€time€of€great€trouble€is€about€to€begin.€€In€9:4€òòthe€demonsÐ Œ+Ü&. Ðare€given€authority€to€hurt€only€those€men€who€do€not€have€the€sealóó.€€So€the€sealing€must€be€complete€beforeÐ d,´'/ Ðthe€trumpet€judgments€begin.€€And€there€are€men€on€the€earth€during€the€time€of€the€judgments,€who€haveÐ <-Œ(0 Ðthe€seal€of€God.€Ð ° ÐÌFirst:€The€144,000€is€a€symbolic€group.€€They€are€from€every€tribe€of€Israel€„€yet€10€of€those€tribes€no€longerÐ `° Ðexist€and€cannot€be€traced.€€7:8€says€ð ðof€the€tribe€of€Josephðð€„€there€was€no€tribe€of€Joseph.€€The€tribe€ofÐ 8ˆ ÐÔ_ÔManassehÔ_Ô€is€listed€„€yet€Ô_ÔManassehÔ_Ô€was€a€€son€of€Joseph.€[The€ð ðtribe€of€Josephðð€should€comprise€bothÐ ` ÐÔ_ÔEphriamÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔManassehÔ_Ô.]€€€€In€Revelation€14:1„5,€the€144,000€are€described€as€ð ðvirgins.ðð€€I€do€not€believe€weÐ è8 Ðare€talking€about€144,000€Jewish€males€who€have€never€had€sex.€€This€is€symbolism€for€their€pure€faith.€TheyÐ À  Ðalso€sing€a€song€which€no€one€else€can€learn.€€This€would€seem€to€say€that€they€share€an€experience€whichÐ ˜ è Ðno€other€human€beings€have€ever€endured.€€Ð p À ÐÌThey€are€called€ð ðfirst€fruits.ðð€€I€have€heard€the€explanation€that€these€are€those€people€who€were€raised€byÐ  p  ÐChrist€after€His€resurrection,€those€who€were€presented€by€Christ€to€His€Father€as€ð ðfirst€fruitsðð€of€the€harvestÐ ø H  Ðof€the€earth.€€But€why€would€those€who€lived€before€Christ,€have€an€experience€which€no€one€else€has€everÐ Ð  Ðhad.€€My€personal€feeling€is€that€these€will€be€the€first€human€beings€to€receive€the€fullness€of€the€Spirit€ofÐ ¨ø  ÐGod,€the€New€Covenant,€which€still€living€on€the€earth,€in€mortal€bodies.€€This€Ô_ÔinfillingÔ_Ô€of€the€Spirit€willÐ €Ð  Ðbring€them€to€a€perfect€state€of€oneness€with€God€„€the€sealing.€€This€outpouring€of€the€Spirit€will€take€placeÐ X¨  Ðat€the€conclusion€of€the€judgment€in€Heaven€[Daniel€7]€when€the€number€of€those€listed€in€the€Lambððs€BookÐ 0€  Ðof€Life€is€made€up.€Ð X ÐÌÌÌÌò òThe€New€Covenant€PromiseÐ @ ÐÌó óHebrews€8:8„12,€10:16„17,€Jer.€31:31„33,€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€36:22„29€[Israel],€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€11:16„20Ð ð@ ÐÌPromise€spoken€to€Israel€and€Judah.€€Promise€to€Ô_ÔregatherÔ_Ô,€bring€into€land€and€bless.€€Promise€to€put€His€spiritÐ  ð Ðwithin,€and€cause€to€walk€in€His€law.€€Israel€has€not€received€the€promise€because€their€hearts€are€not€rightÐ xÈ Ðtowards€God.€€They€depend€on€armies,€not€on€God.€Ð P  ÐÌThis€promise€is€also€to€Gentiles€because€they€partake€of€all€the€covenant€promises,€in€Messiah.€€Do€they€notÐ P Ðalso€receive€of€the€Spirit?€€Are€they€not€also€brought€into€the€promised€land€(new€earth)?Ð Ø( ÐÌChrist€said,€ð ðThe€first€shall€be€last.ðð€€The€Jews€were€never€evangelistic.€€They€kept€it€all€to€themselves.€€TheyÐ ˆ Ø! Ðclaimed€to€the€first,€best,€only.€€So€they€will€be€last?€€Ð `!°" ÐÌÌNOTE:Ð è#8% ÐÌMatthew€19:28Ð ˜%è ' ÐLuke€22:30Ð p&À!( ÐÌDisciples€to€sit€on€12€thrones€judging€the€12€tribes€of€Israel.€€Yet€they€are€not€from€each€of€the€12€tribes.Ð  (p#* ÐWhy€would€man€from€Judah€judge€tribe€of€Dan,€or€Levi,€or€Ruben?Ð ø(H$+ ÐÌÔ‡Xú¨X%&öëÔISRAEL€„€THE€PEOPLE€OF€GODÐ ¨*ø%- ÐÌGenesis€9:16;€17:7,8;€17:13;€17:19;€24:8;€Ð €,Ð'/ Ð2Samuel€24:5Ð l-¼(0 Ð1Chron€16:17Ð ° ÐPsalm€105:10Ð œì ÐIsa€24:5Ð ˆØ ÐIsa€55:3;€61:8Ð tÄ ÐJer€32:40Ð `° ÐÔ_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€16:60;€37:26Ð L œ ÐHebrews€13:20Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÌÔ_ÔBoazÔ_Ô€„€the€kinsman€redeemer€„€took€a€Gentile€bride€„€RuthÐ ü L  ÐJoseph€„€also€a€type€of€Christ€„€married€a€GentileÐ è 8  Ðso€also€did€MosesÐ Ô$  ÐÌÌSame€Covenant€to€Abraham,€Isaac,€Jacob,€Israel€„€Psalm€105:8„12Ð ˜è  ÐÌÔ_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€3:7€„€We€are€sons€of€AbrahamÐ pÀ ÐRomans€4:13,€16Ð \¬ ÐÌÌHUSBAND€TO€GENTILES:Ð  p ÐHosea€2:16,€Ð  \ Ð2:19„20Ð øH Ð2:10„11Ð ä4 ÐÌ2Samuel€7:24€You€have€made€Your€people€Israel€Your€very€own€people€forever.ððÐ ¼  ÐÌWho€or€what€is€the€"holy€nation"€in€1Peter€2:5.€€My€Rabi€says€this€refers€to€Messianic€Jews.€TheÐ ”ä Ð"Ô_ÔdisporiaÔ_Ô."€€I'm€not€so€sure€about€that.Ð €Ð ÐÌò òRevelation€20:6€says€that€all€those€who€come€forth€in€the€first€resurrection€will€be€"PRIESTSÐ X ¨ Ðof€God€and€of€Christ,€and€shall€reign€with€him€a€thousand€years."€€Now€I€plan€to€be€one€whoÐ D!” Ðcomes€forth€in€the€first€resurrection.€€So€that€would€mean€I€would€be€included€in€those€"priestsÐ 0"€  Ðof€God"€-€right?Ð #l! Ðó óÌThe€24€Elders€„€redeemed€from€every€nation,€Ô_ÔkindrenÔ_Ô,€tongue,€people€„€are€not€all€Jews,€yet€functionÐ ô$D # Ðas€priests.€€Revelation€5:10€the€group€sing,€"hast€made€us€unto€our€God€kings€and€priests;€and€weÐ à%0!$ ÐÔ_Ôshall€reign€on€the€earth."€€Who€are€the€ones€signing€this?Ð Ì&"% ÐÌò òIf€Christ€is€the€"High€Priest"€over€the€"house€of€God,"€(Hebrews€10:21)€and€1Peter€2:5€speaksÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€a€group€who€"are€being€built€up€a€spiritual€house,€an€holy€priesthood,€to€offer€up€spiritualÐ )à$( Ðsacrifices,€acceptable€to€God€by€Jesus€Christ,"€who€is€Peter€speaking€to?€€Who€make€up€thisÐ |*Ì%) Ð"spiritual€house."€€Are€we€not€included,€because€we€are€not€Jewish?€€I€can't€believe€that!Ð h+¸&* Ðó óÌHebrews€7:12€says€that€the€priesthood€was€changed.€€Now€of€course€the€author€of€Hebrews€wasÐ @-(, Ðspeaking€of€Christ€not€being€from€the€tribe€of€Levi,€but€I€think€it€could€also€be€applied€to€the€otherÐ ° Ðpriesthood,€of€all€believers.€€Ð œì ÐÌI€do€not€believe€that€the€144,000€are€literal€Jews,€unless€they€are€also€literal€"virgins."€€Ð tÄ ÐÌRight€now€I€believe€that€the€borders€of€Israel€have€been€enlarged.€€The€Gentiles€have€"come€in."Ð L œ Ð(Romans€11:25.€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌI€believe€the€tree€is€Israel,€and€some€of€the€natural€branches€(non-believing€Jews)€were€broken€off,Ð  ` Ðso€that€believing€gentiles€could€be€grafted€on.Ð ü L  ÐÌEphesians€2;11€€(paraphrased)€you€Gentiles,€before€you€came€to€believe€in€God€and€His€SonÐ Ô$  ÐÌ€12€That€at€that€time€ye€were€without€Christ,€being€aliens€from€the€commonwealth€of€Israel,€andÐ ¬ü  Ðstrangers€from€the€covenants€of€promise,€having€no€hope,€and€without€God€in€the€world:€Ð ˜è  Ð(You€were€foreigners€from€Israel,€were€outside€the€covenants)Ð „Ô  ÐÌÌ€13€But€now€in€Christ€Jesus€ye€who€sometimes€were€far€off€are€made€nigh€by€the€blood€of€Christ.Ð H˜ ÐÌ€14€For€he€is€our€peace,€who€hath€made€both€one,€and€hath€broken€down€the€middle€wall€of€partitionÐ  p Ðbetween€us;€€Ð  \ ÐÌ(the€wall€of€partition€kept€Gentiles€out,€of€places€leading€to€God.€€Now€Gentiles€can€enter€into€everyÐ ä4 Ðplace€which€was€once€the€domain€only€of€Jews,€including,€in€to€Israel€itself)Ð Ð  ÐÌ15€Having€abolished€in€his€flesh€the€enmity,€even€the€law€of€commandments€contained€inÐ ¨ø Ðordinances;€for€to€make€in€himself€of€twain€one€new€man,€so€making€peace;Ð ”ä ÐÌ(We€are€all€citizens€of€the€one€"holy€nation"€now.€€I€believe€the€"holy€nation"€is€called€Israel€-€thoseÐ l¼ Ðwho€strive€with€God€and€prevail)Ð X ¨ ÐÌ€16€And€that€he€might€reconcile€both€unto€God€in€one€body€by€the€cross,€having€slain€the€enmityÐ 0"€  Ðthereby:Ð #l! ÐÌ(one€body€-€what€shall€we€call€it?€Calling€it€the€"body€of€Christ"€is€good.€€But€the€body€of€Christ€isÐ ô$D # Ð"the€church"€and€the€Messianic€Jews€I€know€say€that€the€Church€is€Gentile€and€Israel€is€Ô_ÔJewish).Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ€17€And€came€and€preached€peace€to€you€which€were€afar€off,€and€to€them€that€were€nigh.Ð ¸'#& Ѐ18€For€through€him€we€both€have€access€by€one€Spirit€unto€the€Father.€€(In€other€words€-€we€are€allÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpriests.)Ð )à$( ÐÌ€19€Now€therefore€ye€are€no€more€strangers€and€foreigners,€but€ò òfellow€citizens€with€the€saintsó ó,€andÐ h+¸&* Ðò òof€the€householdó ó€of€God;Ð X,¨'+ Ð(There's€that€word€"house"€again.€One€house€-€one€nation,€fellow€citizens.€In€the€Old€Testament,€youÐ H-˜(, Ðwere€either€an€Israelite€or€a€foreigner/stranger,€one€or€the€other.€€But€the€same€law€applied€to€both.€Ð ° ÐNow€we€are€all€Israelites.)Ð œì Ѐ̀20€And€are€built€upon€the€foundation€of€the€apostles€and€prophets,€Ð tÄ ÐJesus€Christ€himself€being€the€chief€corner€stone;Ð `° Ѐ21€In€whom€all€the€building€fitly€framed€together€Ô_ÔgrowethÔ_Ô€unto€an€holy€temple€in€the€Lord:Ð L œ Ѐ22€In€whom€ye€also€are€Ô_ÔbuildedÔ_Ô€together€for€an€habitation€of€God€through€the€Spirit.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ(The€"house"€with€Christ€as€the€foundation,€becomes€a€Temple€-€with€priests).Ð  ` ÐÌÌEphesians€3:5€Which€in€other€ages€was€not€made€known€unto€the€sons€of€men,€as€it€is€now€revealedÐ Ô$  Ðunto€his€holy€apostles€and€prophets€by€the€Spirit;Ð À  Ѐ6€That€the€Gentiles€should€be€ò òÔ_ÔfellowheirsÔ_Ô,€and€of€the€same€bodyó ó,€and€partakers€of€his€promise€inÐ ¬ü  ÐChrist€by€the€gospel:Ð œì  ÐÌ("of€the€same€body"€-€but€what€I€hear€from€the€Ô_ÔMessianicsÔ_Ô€is€that€there€are€two€distinct€groups€withinÐ tÄ Ðthe€body,€Jews€and€Gentiles.€€They€believe€that€only€Jewish€believers€in€Messiah€will€reign€withÐ `° ÐChrist€as€instructors€to€the€rest€of€the€world,€during€the€Ô_ÔmilleniumÔ_Ô.€€They€convey€in€a€very€subtleÐ Lœ Ðway,€"Everyone€is€special,€but€we€are€a€little€more€special."€€Everyone€is€chosen,€but€we€are€THEÐ 8ˆ Ðchosen.€It€is€divisive€and€corrosive.€€It€divides€the€body€of€Christ.€€They€are€doing€the€very€sameÐ $t Ðthing€that€they€did€before€Christ€came.€€Saying€ð ðwe€are€more€special€to€God,€because€weððve€beenÐ ` Ðchosen€for€something€that€you€were€not€chosen€for.ððI€don't€buy€it.€Ð üL ÐÌÌÌÌÌHUSBAND€TO€ISRAEL€AND€JUDAHÐ „Ô ÐÌÔ_ÔNRSÔ_Ô€Jeremiah€31:31€The€days€are€surely€coming,€says€the€LORD,€when€I€will€make€a€new€covenantÐ \ ¬ Ðwith€the€house€of€Israel€and€the€house€of€Judah.€32€It€will€not€be€like€the€covenant€that€I€made€withÐ H!˜ Ðòòtheir€ancestors€when€I€took€them€by€the€hand€to€bring€them€out€of€the€land€of€Egyptóó„„€a€covenant€thatÐ 4"„  Ðthey€broke,€ò òthough€I€was€their€husbandó ó,€says€the€LORD.€33€But€this€is€the€covenant€that€I€willÐ  #p! Ðmake€with€the€house€of€Israel€after€those€days,€says€the€LORD:€I€will€put€my€law€within€them,€andÐ $`" ÐI€will€write€it€on€their€hearts;€and€I€will€be€their€God,€and€they€shall€be€my€people.€34€No€longer€shallÐ ü$L # Ðthey€teach€one€another,€or€say€to€each€other,€"Know€the€LORD,"€for€they€shall€all€know€me,€fromÐ è%8!$ Ðthe€least€of€them€to€the€greatest,€says€the€LORD;€for€I€will€forgive€their€iniquity,€and€remember€theirÐ Ô&$"% Ðsin€no€more.Ð À'#& ÐÌÔ#†&öë%XXú¨ j#Ô____________________________________________________________________________________Ð ˜)è$( ÐÌIsaiah€66:18€For€I€know€their€works€and€their€thoughts:€it€shall€come,€that€òòI€will€gather€all€nations€and€Ð H+˜&* Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àtongues;€and€they€shall€come,€and€see€my€gloryóó.€19€And€I€will€set€a€sign€among€them,€and€òòI€will€sendÐ  ,p'+ Ðthose€that€escape€of€them€unto€the€nationsóó,€òòto€óóÔ_ÔTarshishÔ_Ô,€Pul,€and€Ô_ÔLudÔ_Ô,€that€draw€the€bow,€òòto€óóTubal,Ð ø,H(, Ðand€Ô_ÔJavanÔ_Ô,€òòto€óóthe€isles€afar€off,€that€have€not€heard€my€fame,€neither€have€seen€my€glory;€and€òòtheyÐ Ð- )- Ðshall€declare€my€glory€among€the€Gentilesóó.€20€And€ò òthey€shall€bring€all€your€brethren€for€anÐ ° Ðoffering€unto€the€LORD€out€of€all€nationsó ó€upon€horses,€and€in€chariots,€and€in€litters,€and€uponÐ ŒÜ Ðmules,€and€upon€swift€beasts,€to€my€holy€mountain€Jerusalem,€saith€the€LORD,€as€the€children€ofÐ h¸ ÐIsrael€bring€an€offering€in€a€clean€vessel€into€the€house€of€the€LORD.€21€And€òòò òò òI€will€also€take€ofÐ @ Ðthem€for€priests€and€for€Levites,€saith€the€LORDó óó óóó.€22€For€as€the€new€heavens€and€the€new€earth,Ð l Ðwhich€I€will€make,€shall€remain€before€me,€saith€the€LORD,€so€shall€your€seed€and€your€nameÐ øH Ðremain.€23€And€it€shall€come€to€pass,€that€from€one€new€moon€to€another,€and€from€one€Ô_ÔsabbathÔ_Ô€toÐ Ð  Ðanother,€shall€all€flesh€come€to€worship€before€me,€saith€the€LORD.Ш ø(#(# ÐÌà Ü àIsaiah€44:1€Yet€now€hear,€O€Jacob€my€servant;€and€Israel,€whom€I€have€chosen:€€2€Thus€saith€the€Ð X ¨  Ðà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àLORD€that€made€thee,€and€formed€thee€from€the€womb,€which€will€help€thee;€Fear€not,€O€Jacob,€myÐ 0 €  Ðservant;€and€thou,€Ô_ÔJesurunÔ_Ô,€whom€I€have€chosen.€3ò ò€For€I€will€pour€water€upon€him€that€is€thirsty,Ð X  Ðand€floods€upon€the€dry€ground:€I€will€pour€my€spirit€upon€thy€seed,€and€my€blessing€uponÐ ä4  Ðthine€offspring:€4€And€they€shall€spring€up€as€among€the€grass,€as€willows€by€the€waterÐ ¼  Ðcourses.€5€One€shall€say,€I€am€the€LORD'S;€and€another€shall€call€himself€by€the€name€ofÐ ”ä  ÐJacob;€and€another€shall€subscribe€with€his€hand€unto€the€LORD,€and€surname€himself€by€theÐ l¼  Ðname€of€Israel.ó ó€€Ô_ÔKJVÔ_ÔÐD” (#(# ÐÌà0 Ü àà0Ü(#Ü(#àòòNote:€Outpouring€of€the€Holy€Spirit€came€after€Christððs€ascension.€€The€water€(Holy€Sprit)€wasÐ øH Ðpoured€upon€the€dry€ground.€€This€passage€would€be€a€prophecy€of€the€time€after€Christððs€sacrificeóó