Church In The House

Returning to New Testament church practices

Church In The House header image 1

The Church is Now Isreal

April 19th, 2010 · 1 Comment

logo-pdf.jpgChurch-Is-Now-Isreal.pdf

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 marvellous 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 for ever 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 for ever?” (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 marvellous 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 fellowcitizens 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, To day 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 or 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”, with no association with Eve’s sin or the iniquity of the first Adam. In order to be an identical substitute, this the last Adam will be the Logos manifest in 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 an 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 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

→ 1 CommentTags: Who is God's Isreal

Anti Christ Government

March 30th, 2010 · No Comments

 Your denomination leaders

→ No CommentsTags: videos

Church Beyond Imagination prt3

September 24th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Restoring the Babylonian Captivity of the Church

→ 1 CommentTags: Audio Teaching

Church Beyond Imagination prt 2

August 28th, 2009 · 2 Comments

Worship is a holy life 24/7 not a religious show

→ 2 CommentsTags: Audio Teaching

Church Beyond Imagination prt1

August 28th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Prt1 Church Beyond Imagination       download article

Tithing, the law places you under the curse

→ 1 CommentTags: Audio Teaching

The Ark Of The Covenant

February 3rd, 2009 · 1 Comment

Spiritual Types

by Timothy Sauder

→ 1 CommentTags: The Unseen World

Coming out of Spiritual Captivity

July 2nd, 2008 · 1 Comment

Coming out of Spiritual Captivity                     

                                     Building Upon The Biblical Foundation

Ezra 3:10,12

by Tim Germain

 

                                   We are to follow the wise master builder.

 

 “As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” 1 Cor.3:10   “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” Eph.2:20  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Romans 5:2

 

The warning is given to take heed how he builds!!  The contrast is between gold silver and precious stone with wood, hay and stubble.  Precious metals speak of the quality of the divine life and inner sanctification of the Holy Spirit working in the life of a true follower of Christ, following in the footsteps of Jesus.  Wood , hay and stubble speak of mans ways characterized by flesh or carnality, mans traditions, personal gain, and self glory.  Those who seek the esteem of men Jesus said do not have the love of God in them.

                                                 The vision 

 

 

let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LordEzra 1:3

 

To go up to Jerusalem speaks to us of those in Christ that the testimony of Jesus Christ and His purposes be restored.  There is a call for us to return, to come up, to build the ruined walls (we are the living stones) and the burnt gates (God’s authority we have in Christ).

 

We must understand what the Apostles of Christ gave to the church and return to this biblical pattern that is forsaken by institutional churches.  Those patterns are:

 

  • Spiritual gifted functioning body/priesthood  1Cor.14:26  Rom.12:4-8
  • Lord’s Supper as a full fellowship meal.  1 Cor.11:20-22
  • House gatherings  Acts 20:20 Rom.16:5; 1 Cor. 16:16  Col.4:15
  • Qualified Plurality Elders-leaders  Act 14:26  1Tim.3:1-7

                                          Not holding the Head 

Guard against men that would spoil us through Philosophy, traditions of men, rudiments of the world, not after Christ.  Col.2:8

                                         Restoring What was Forfeited  

All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred.  All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. Ezra 1:11

 

All The divine qualities that the gold and silver represent are in a spiritual sense being brought back from the spiritual captivity that is so prevalent today and in the past.  Those qualities of the divine life of Christ and his righteousness imputed and imparted by the Holy Spirit of God working in the heart of the repentant and believing.  This righteousness is lived  out as we walk in the spirit and thus fulfill as it is written “walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” Gal.5:16  Note that all the vessels of gold and silver were brought up. The purity of heart and the sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit is the main experience of the restored saint of God on the earth.  For it is God who is working in us both to do and to will his good pleasure.  Phil.2:13

 Let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored and brought again unto the temple.  Ezra 6:5 And be found in Him not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.  Phil.3:9 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  1Thes.5:23 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  1Cor.6:11                                    Out of Captivity  

 All that God has given unto us is to be restored by those who come out of captivity. 

 

Ezra 2:1 “ …the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah every one unto his city;.”  Some examples of spiritual captivity are the following.

 

  • Religious programs of one man shows
  • Passive spectators pew sitters
  • Edifice complex mindset
  • Professional  showmanship such as musicians, dancers, choirs, celebrities
  • Humanistic Psychological counseling denying the sufficiency of the scriptures
  • Bondage to Old Testament commandments such as Tithing
  • Pulpits 
  • Hierarchical  leadership  3 John 1:9
  • Women preachers  1 Tim.2: 11,12  1 Cor.14:34,35
  • Making themselves a name (denominations) and thus divide the body of Christ
  • Contracting with Governments for legal fiction status
  • Spiritually dull of hearing  Heb.5:11

                                           One man-in-Christ  

Ezra 3:1  the people gathered themselves together as on man to Jerusalem.

 

Jesus prayed that his followers would be one, just as he is one with the father

John 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father , art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: That the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

This is a testimony in the earth of the unity of the faith and of the Spirit even as we are called in one hope.  We are to stand knit together in love and doing nothing for vain glory or selfish gain.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Phil. 2:3  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.  Rom.15:1-3

  

This is the life in the spirit as we gather around Christ and is the fruit of the Spirit walked out in obedience and faith.  Rom.1:5

                                              The Priesthood restored 

Ezra 3:10  And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord they set the priest in their apparel

 The functioning priesthood of all believers is being laid once again, for us to enter into our office of priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 1 Pet.2:9  But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood , and holy nation, a peculiar people. 1Pet.2:5  …a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. We are fully clothed in Christ having our mind renewed and the old man crucified with Christ as our experience not just a doctrine. Gal.2:20 I am crucified with Christ neverthe less I live ,yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live ,in the flesh  I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.  

 We enter into the full provisions in Christ and overcome as he overcame.  Not being hearer only deceiving our selves, but doers of the word.  James 1:22

  Ours is an open heaven. Eph.1:17-23  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power… 

Our faith believes God and enters into the rest spoken of in Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

                                               Hindrances to the Work Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.  And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus King of Persia…Ezra 4:4, 5  

The people who are earthly, earthy minded ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; who have a form of godliness but deny the power.  Our citizenship is in heaven and we set our affections of things above.  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.  Phil3:18, 19 these ones refuse to do God’s work,

God’s way, breeds divisions in making themselves names (denominations); and are wise in their own eyes. They believe it unimportant to follow Christ and the traditions that the Apostles left for us.  They are disobedient and work against the Headship of Jesus Christ.

  Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem.  So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius King of Persia.  Ezra 4:24 

They seek to stop the true work of God both in us, in others and in the kingdom.  Much of what has been done in the flesh, in the name of Christ, has brought the true work of the gospel to a standstill.  Building buildings, programs, separating families, unwise stewardship, unbiblical leadership.

                                             Prophetic role in Building Let the house of the Lord be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid:  Ezra 6:3 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews …Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,…and began to build the house of God…with them were the prophets of God helping them.  Ezra 5:1,2 

The prophetic role of unstopping the attack of the Lord’s work to once again begin to build the Lord’s house in key today.  We see the prophets in the book of Acts who traveled at times with the other apostles, each was key to unlock the spiritual house, so liberty and power can flow once again to God’s needy people.

 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.  And they built and finished it …Ezra 6:14                                                                                                  Anointed Teaching   And Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and teach in Israel statutes and judgments.  Ezra 7:10 But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus…Eph.4:21 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;..Eph4:11-13 

Many today are beginning to hear the call of the Lord to come out of these Sauls assemblies that usurp Christ’s headship and rob the body of its priestly function that was given them as their inheritance.  The giving of titles such as reverend to brothers smacks in the face of the Lord, when he is given the title of reverend and not a pastor.  The idea of calling men pastor is so foreign to the bible! 

 

We continue to call brothers out of the Babylonian confusion of institutional assemblies back to Christ and his body the church that gather around Him, giving him his right place among the saints in the assembly of God. 

  

→ 1 CommentTags: Articles

Rethinking Church Video

February 17th, 2008 · 3 Comments

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind and be delivered from the institutional mindset.

→ 3 CommentsTags: videos

The Clergy/Laity Church Lie Video

February 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

We have to get rid of this tradition that nullifies the word of God.  It divides the believing congregation of the Lord’s people.  In a nutshell it is wrong!!

→ 1 CommentTags: videos

House Church Video

February 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

House church

We are returning to what the Lord, gave for His followers through His Apostles, New Testament patterns for church practise.  The scriptures refers to this as the new wineskin.

If your desiring meaningful godly fellowship; building and experiencing the life of the Holy Spirit as a company of people walking together, this is the foundation of the new wineskin gathering together around Christ as His church. 

 We must leave spiritual captivity and return to what Christ gave to His people to follow.

→ 1 CommentTags: videos