Rev 8:1-6 Part 2 – Seven Trumpets

[Study Aired June 28, 2024]

Rev 8:1  And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Rev 8:5  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Rev 8:6  And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Introduction

As always we want to remember that the things written in this prophecy are all “signified” things which we are admonished to “read… hear… and keep” (Rev 1:1-3). In our studies in Revelation 7 on the 144,000 and the great multitude which no man could number, we took note that the assurances of universal salvation found in that chapter are strategically placed between the dire warnings of the sixth seal, where the whole world cries out to the rocks and mountains to “fall on us and hide us from the face and the wrath of the Lamb” and the dire judgments of the seven trumpets which are being introduced to us here in this eighth chapter.

Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

God’s wrath is His judgments. That wrath and judgment “first begins at [and comes upon] the house of God” within first, and later, “[when] the thousand years should be fulfilled” (Rev 20:3), “and when the thousand years are expired” (Rev 20:7) then judgment, the “great white throne… judgment”, will come upon all the rest of mankind “at the end of days” (Dan 12:13) in the “great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death”:

Dan 12:13  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

What do God’s judgments produce? Does judgment produce eternal, everlasting torment in literal flames of literal fire? Is that really what God’s judgments produce? No, of course judgment produces no such monstrous condemnation. This is what God’s judgments, including His final ‘great white throne judgment’, always produce:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

God’s judgments are expressed through His wrath against our sins and our self-righteous iniquities:

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

So the “great day of [God’s] wrath” against our transgressions and our iniquity is signified by these seven angels with seven trumpets. Before we get into the spiritual significance of these seven trumpet judgments, which reveal “the great day of His wrath” (Rev 6:17), and the destruction of the kingdom of our carnal-minded old man (Rev 11:15), the holy spirit has chosen this point to comfort and strengthen us with the assurance of universal salvation for all in Adam. That inevitable outcome for all mankind is signified by the two groups of Revelation 7. We found in chapter 7 that there is a very small number of all mankind who will be used by God to bring the “great multitude which no man could number” to Christ and His Father. That very small group is symbolized by the number 144,000; twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. On the other hand, the “great multitude which no man could number” is signified by “the dust of the earth.” That outward dispensational day of salvation for “all in Adam” (1Co 15:22) will not come until the sayings of the prophecy of this book have first been “read, heard and kept” within the hearts, minds and lives of God’s 144,000 witnesses, as we are told in the chapter dealing with His witnesses. The number ‘two’ simply signifies ‘witness’:

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The seventh trump is the seven last plagues, so this proclamation that “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” is actually the proclamation of the beginning of a process which will end in the stone hewn out of the mountain without hands becoming a mountain that will “fill the whole earth.”

Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

The process of the seventh trumpet will take all the time that is needed for the seven last plagues, of which this seventh trumpet consists, to be fulfilled within each of God’s elect. So, this statement that “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” is God “speaking of those things which are not as though they were” (Rom 4:17) just as Christ said His disciples “had kept His Words” only moments before they all denied Him and “left Him” to His fate on the cross.

Joh 17:6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

The disciples of Christ had not yet “kept His Words.” They weren’t even converted at this time, and immediately after Christ declares “they have kept thy word”, we are told this of the apostles of Christ:

Mar 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

Then we have this concerning this seventh trumpet, in chapter 10:

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

So these trumpets all represent a process that takes time in our lives, and before getting into the events in our lives, which are revealed to us in the sounding of these seven trumpets, the first question we need to ask and answer is…

What is the spiritual significance of blowing a trumpet?

Here is the very first mention of a trumpet in scripture. The sound of a trumpet announces the occasion of Israel preparing to meet their God at mount Sinai. That is the spiritual significance of the events at Sinai which are a type and shadow of the revelation of Jesus Christ in our lives. Notice that even here in Exodus ‘the sound of the trumpet’ is associated with “the third day”; the day of resurrection of our new man (Rom 6:4-5).

Exo 19:11  And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exo 19:12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: [“the ministration of death” (2Co 3:7-8, Heb 12:20)]
Exo 19:13  There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

“God answered [Moses] by a voice.” Moses here typifies those with whom Christ is communicating, and “God answers by a voice” those who are given ears to hear. However, this is what happens to the great multitude which no man can number.

Exo 20:18  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

Because the people did not want to die, in the end 3000 of them did die on this the first Pentecost observed by Israel in Exodus 20.

Exo 32:28  And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

On the other hand, this is what happens when Christ in us is willing die to the things of our flesh and the things of this world. This is what happened on the first Pentecost at the founding of the New Testament church.

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:40  And with many other words did he [Peter] testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

This account just proves the truth of these words of our Lord:

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Three thousand souls lost their physical lives at the first Pentecost at Mount Sinai, and three thousand found their spiritual lives at the first New Testament Pentecost.

Here now is…

The purpose and function of trumpets in scripture

Num 10:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:3  And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
Num 10:7  But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
Num 10:8  And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.
Num 10:9  And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

The only time Israel journeyed was when the Cloud they followed would move. When the Cloud moved, they moved, and that was accomplished by “blowing an alarm for your journeys.”

Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

The call “to war in your land” was also by the alarm of the trumpets. “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” That is what is taking place in the eighth chapter of Revelation. There is war in the land against the enemy that oppresses you.”

But…

Only “the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets.”

No one else but the priests, the sons of Aaron, is allowed to even touch these two silver trumpets. The fact there are “two trumpets” signifies the Lord’s witnesses are those He uses to call His people together and call them to war against their enemies. “You are His witnesses of these things:”

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isa 43:12  I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Isa 44:8  Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Act 10:41  Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Act 10:42  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

According to the shadows and types of the Old Testament, trumpets were to be blown only by the “seven priests”, and the seven priests, like the seven angels with the seven trumpets, are a type and a shadow of God’s elect.

Num 10:8  And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

These seven angels are those “who stand before God.”

Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

We saw that they “stand before God” because they are “in Christ’s right hand.”

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

These ‘seven angels’ are the same “seven angels” who are sent to the seven churches, and these seven angels are those to whom this entire prophecy is addressed.

Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 2:8  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Rev 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Rev 2:18  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

It is these same seven angels who tell us that they are our fellow servants and those who keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book. If we are God’s elect, we are these seven angels to the seven churches. It is these seven angels who are given the priesthood to “perform the service of God.” The promise of being kings and priests is not just to the leaders and elders  of the body of Christ. That promise is to the entire body of Christ:

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

We will stop here for today and finish part three of our study of these first six verses of Revelation 8 in our next study.

Rev 7:9-17 I Beheld, and, lo, a Great Multitude Which no man Could Number

[Study Aired June 21, 2024]

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev 7:16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Introduction

It is worth noting that the words ‘After this’ (according to all of the literal translations) should read “After these things” meaning that there is an orderly progression in the way we “keep the things which are written therein.” I noticed in my word search that this phrase appears eight times throughout the book of Revelation, and it is obvious that we all must be “carnal… babes in Christ” before we can grow to the point of enduring seven trumpet judgments followed by the seven last plagues of the seventh trump.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

The reverse application of Romans 12:3 is that we are never to “return to our vomit” or fail to “leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ.”

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

So ‘if God permits’ we will now ask, ‘Who is this “great multitude which no man could number? How do they differ from the 144,000 of all the tribes of Israel?” The Four beasts and the four and twenty elders, who tell us they are God’s elect, are also said to be ‘of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues.’

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

These four beasts and four and twenty elders of Revelation 5 are “kings and priests… and reign with Christ on the earth?” Is it possible that this “great multitude which no man can number” is simply another type and symbol of God’s few, chosen and faithful elect? After all, are we not told that this great multitude “came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb?” How can we know for certain this group which “came up out of great tribulation and have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb” are not the same as the 144,000?

The answer is that we have already gone into great depth to demonstrate that all who come to God “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” must first become the true spiritual circumcision, the true spiritual Jews and true spiritual Israelites. This is, was and will be true for all the ages of mankind. The Word of God “shall not pass away.”

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Being an Israelite is now no longer a physical matter. It is now a spiritual matter only, and a physical Jew “is not a Jew”, and a physical Israelite is now only “that which is called the circumcision.” What has the coming of Christ accomplished for all of mankind, both physical Jews and physical Gentiles who are “now in Christ Jesus?” Here is what Christ has accomplished. It cost Him His life, but He was willing to make that sacrifice.

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both [Jews and Gentiles] one [Jew, one Israelite], and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Both Jews and Gentiles are now one if they are in Christ, and there is nothing that separates us. It is of utmost importance that we realize all who come to God are now spiritual Jews, spiritual Israelites and must be spiritually circumcised in heart. What this proves is that, as we noted last week…

…The camp of Israel here represents the whole of mankind.

It is out “of all the tribes of Israel” that the very select group of 12,000 from every tribe is chosen and sealed. Yet anyone who ever comes to God at any time must do so through Christ, and the coming of Christ has necessitated that all who now come to God must first become spiritual Israelites. Here are the two verses from above which make this case.

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Physical Gentiles were “in time past” not a part of Israel, but now, in Christ, a physical Israelite is now no longer part of the true Israel unless he is in Christ’s “one body”.

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

We have demonstrated that all the promises in Christ are yes and amen for all who are in Christ, because all who are in Christ are now “counted for… Abraham’s seed” regardless of physical pedigree.

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

It is “by us” that all the promises “in Him are yes and Amen.” The reason that all the promises are surity “by us” is because it is “through our mercy” that all unbelievers, who are not yet “in Christ” and who therefore are not yet “counted for… Abraham’s seed… in Christ,” are yet to receive mercy and are all yet to become Abraham’s seed, through Christ, “by us.”

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these [all unbelievers] also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

All will come to be in Christ because there is no other way to God.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Christ is the only way to get to the Father, and if we are in Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Now we come to a part of God’s Word which is deeply hidden from even those of orthodox Christianity who consider themselves to be the spiritual seed of Abraham, and it was even hidden from those to whom Paul ministered, who considered themselves to be the spiritual seed of Abraham. What is so very hard for most all Christians to see or believe is that…

There are two very distinct seeds of Abraham.

Here is part of the promise made to Abraham. It gives us a clue as to who are “those who come up through great tribulation and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Gen 13:14  And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Gen 13:15  For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Gen 13:16  And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

As mentioned at the opening of this study, certain things have to happen before more revelation can be given. “After Lot was separated from Abraham” the above promise is given to Abraham. Later more revelation is given, and this promise is repeated to “the seed of Abraham” of whom very few are aware.

Gen 16:9  And the angel of the LORD said unto her [Hagar], Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Gen 16:10  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Hagar returns to her mistress, Sarai, and has a son whom Abraham names Ishmael. Ishmael is born when Abraham is 86 years old. Then about thirteen years later, Sarah has Isaac, and a few years after that, when Isaac is weaned, God tells this to Abraham concerning his son by the bondwoman:

Gen 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
Gen 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac.
Gen 21:11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
Gen 21:12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Gen 21:13  And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

The message here concerning Ishmael is the same message we see in the epistles of Paul and John. Those who go out from God’s elect are, and always have been, much more popular, and therefore a much greater populace, than are those who are faithful to the word of God.

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

2Co 11:12  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us… Satan’s ministers, false apostles… of your own selves.” This, too, is that part of Abraham’s seed, which “persecuted him that was born after the Spirit,” and this is that great multitude which no man can number of the tribes of Israel, which are the seed of Abraham by the bondwoman, and the rejected twin brother, seed of Abraham of Romans 9.

Rom 9:11  (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

“The election” are the 144,000 who will rule on this earth and will judge angels in the lake of fire. So, while the camp of Israel typifies all of mankind when speaking of learning how to worship God in the wilderness, the “son of the bondwoman” also typifies “the seed of Abraham” who is cast out but is yet acknowledged to be Abraham’s seed and is promised “I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. This “seed of Abraham is this great multitude who, at a later resurrection, “come up out of great tribulation and wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

So “Abraham’s seed,” even those who think of themselves as being “in Christ,” are, in reality, also of two kinds. The first is the seed of Abraham which is of the bondwoman, which “shall not be numbered for multitude.” This “son of the bondwoman… seed of Abraham,” is not and cannot at this time be “counted for the seed” even though they are the “seed of Abraham.”

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

There is also another “seed of Abraham” which is “counted for the seed.” In 1 Corinthians 15:22, Paul informs us that “as in Adam all die, so in Christ, will all be made alive.” In Galatians 4 he goes to great lengths to distinguish between Abraham’s seed as “the son of the bondwoman” and Abraham’s seed as the “son of the freewoman.” Both being “in Abraham” are thereby to be considered as Christians, and Paul is telling the Galatians that both are in the church at Galatia.

Gal 4:19  My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Gal 4:20  I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

Paul has already told us in Romans 2 and in Ephesians 2 that all who come to God must first become the spiritual seed of Abraham. Paul is very clear here in Galatians 4 that the son of the bondwoman seed of Abraham “answers to Jerusalem that now is and is in bondage with her children, [and] the son of the bondwoman will not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

“We are not of the bondwoman, but of the free?” Who is “we?” It certainly is not those who are the seed of Abraham whose seed “cannot be numbered for multitude.”

Gen 16:10  And the angel of the LORD said unto her [Hagar], I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

“We who as Isaac was, are the children of promise” are the “few chosen” out of all the tribes of Israel who can be and who are numbered. Christ spoke of these two groups when He said this:

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14  For many [cannot be numbered] are called, but few [12,000 of each of the tribes of Israel] are chosen.

The man without a wedding garment appears in the parable to be the minority, but the last verse of the parable reveals him to be of the “many” and of the “great multitude which no man could number.”

Mat 22:14 For many [those who “cannot be numbered for multitude”] are called, but few [12,000 of each of the tribes of Israel] are chosen.

So, as incredible as it may seem to the natural man, there is a “seed of Abraham” which believes in Christ, which is both “of your father the devil” and is also “the son of the bondwoman.”

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Let’s read it all again, and understand who it is whose seed is said to be “as the sand of the sea, and as the stars of heaven.” Here again is this mystery as it is first revealed to us in Genesis. We read this above, but let’s read it again.

Gen 21:13  And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

We all, just like Abraham, hate to let go of our own flesh.

Gen 17:18  And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
Gen 17:19  And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Gen 17:20  And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Gen 17:21  But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

The kingdoms of our flesh always mature before the kingdom of God within us. Therefore Ishmael and Esau, both Abraham’s seed “which could not be numbered for multitude”, had “twelve princes and twelve dukes” which were “fruitful and multiplied exceedingly” and had built cities and established kingdoms long before Israel even went down into Egypt as “seventy souls.”

Rev 7:4-8 – Part 1B, Who are the 144,000

[Study Aired June 9, 2024]

The multitudes who are “not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God’ are even now being deprived of gleaning any spiritual knowledge from outward words, outward physical healing and outward physical miracles. Even Christ’s miracles, like turning water into wine and feeding the multitudes, or even the physical raising from the dead which Christ performed on more than one occasion, are nothing more than a history lesson to those from whom is taken even what little spiritual understanding they once had. Such “carnal… babes” (1Co 3:1-4) can’t even discern that “he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly.” We have all first lived for many years in our outward natural state without the benefit of spiritual eyes and spiritual ears, and for most of “the multitudes” who come to Christ, that outward understanding is the way this entire life will be lived. “I will bless them that bless you, and I will curse them that curse you” will always apply to outward Jews and outward circumcision.

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Christ and Paul were both so called ‘replacement theologians’ who both taught that ‘neither at Jerusalem nor at Samaria would anyone worship God because God is seeking those who worship Him in spirit and in Truth’:

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Paul taught the same so-called ‘replacement theology’ with these words:

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Failure to understand and believe these words of Christ is why we see such humbling displays of spiritual blindness in theatrical religious productions such as the popular “Left Behind” series in which dramatic physical devastations and physical plagues upon the planet, and even physical fire coming out of the mouths of the two physical witnesses of Revelation 11, were portrayed. Truly “Even that [understanding] he hath shall be taken away from him.”

Luk 19:26  For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not [much spiritual understanding], even [what little] that he hath shall be taken away from him.
Luk 19:27  But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Luke 19:26  is just another way of saying “the flesh profits nothing.” Understanding God’s Words physically, profits nothing. That is the doctrine of Christ concerning how few are given spiritual understanding of the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” That is how few will ever really understand who these 144,000 firstfruit virgins are who follow Christ wherever He goes.

Whose are the Words of this Book?

Who happens to be the person who is “opening His mouth in parables” to give us this revelation of Jesus Christ? There is no need to speculate. This is:

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

There it is. This revelation is “the revelation of Jesus Christ… signified by His angel unto His servant John.” That being so; Christ being the author of this book, then this book, too, must be a book of signs and symbols, because:

Mat 13:34  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

We will not at this point explain all the symbolism involved in the revelation of Jesus Christ, but here is a rather extreme example of how this book is written, and how it must be understood. That includes these “144,000 of all the tribes of Israel.” Just look at the symbolism of these verses in chapter 17.

Rev 17:7  And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 17:9  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

“The mind that has wisdom” is being told how to see and understand this mystery, this secret… “I will tell you the mystery…” To “the mind that has wisdom” these verses are perfectly clear. “The mind that has wisdom” understands clearly what all the symbols are which are involved when it reads that “the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits… and there are seven kings.”  Here we have a parable within a parable, and the mind that has wisdom can see clearly what is being said because “the time has come” that Christ is no longer speaking in a parable to those who are now “being shown plainly of the Father” the spiritual significance of each of these symbols. He is now “speaking to us [all] plainly,” if we have been granted “eyes that see and ears that hear… the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

Joh 16:25  These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. [“I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns” (Rev 17:7)].

When would “the time come” for Christ to show His disciples “plainly of the Father?” Was that to happen only after the resurrection? If so, then which resurrection? Apparently Christ was speaking of His physical resurrection and after the coming of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost.  Spiritually He was speaking of the downpayment, “earnest of the spirit” form of being resurrected in Christ, because these are Christ’s own words:

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Christ’s yet unconverted disciples still could not comprehend how they “had seen Him” and said the same thing then that all of Christ’s yet unconverted disciples say to this very day.

Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

You and I have never seen the physical Christ, any more than Philip and the eleven other apostles had physically “seen the Father.” Until this very day, for most professing Christians, the ability to spiritually see the True Christ of scripture and to “hear His voice” is “not given.” Otherwise, any carnal mind could understand what ‘seven mountains’ are, and there would be no need in scripture for phrases like “whoso reads let him understand…let him that hath wisdom count…” and “here is the mind that hath wisdom…”

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Look at this verse in Matthew 13.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Those who are given to understand the parables of Christ understand the symbolism of each parable, and they understand that each parable means what it means and not what it says. If a parable meant what it said, then it would not be a ‘parable.’

To determine who the 144,000 “of all the tribes of Israel” are, we must remember what physical Israel itself symbolizes in scripture. Nevertheless the natural man within us all will still ask, if this is a spiritual group, then why is each individual tribe mentioned? In answer to that question, it is instructive to know that the spiritual significance of the number 12 is ‘foundational’ and ‘foundations.’

Ishmael had twelve princes as the foundation of all the nations which spring from him:

Gen 25:16  These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, also had twelve sons who became 12 foundational tribes of the physical nation of Israel:

Gen 49:28  All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

Why are “all the tribes of Israel” mentioned individually?

The reason why each tribe is mentioned individually is the same reason for any parable. It is designed to hide the true spiritual identity of these symbolic 144,000 “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” (Rev 14:4). The mention of each tribe keeps the carnal mind focused on the physical 12 tribes of Israel. It is very instructive to notice that while the tribe of Dan is not listed in Revelation 7, The tribe of Manasseh is listed, but the far more populous tribe of Ephraim is not mentioned and is replaced with the phrase “the tribe of Joseph.” The message has nothing to do with the names of the tribes as much as the fact that ‘the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb’ come out of every nation and tongue of mankind and are the very foundation upon which the entire family of God is built.

Could it possibly be that the fact that the tribes are listed individually means that the real Jew has to be descended ‘outwardly’ from Abraham before he can be one of these “12,000 firstfruits from all the [outward] tribes of Israel?” How irresistibly tempting it is for the natural man to revert to such reasoning. How quickly we all tend to forget that Paul has just told us that “they which are the [outward] children of the flesh, these are NOT the children of God, but the children of promise are counted for the seed?:

Rom 9:7  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Has not Ephesians 2:11-14 answered this question once and for all? Does not Ephesians 2 explain to us that being of Israel, and being of the entire commonwealth of all the 12 tribes of Israel, is now all a matter of spiritually being “in Christ?” Does not Ephesians 2, to this very day, explain to us that the true spiritual “commonwealth of Israel” now consists of both Jews and Gentiles who are “both… in Christ?” Does not Ephesians 2 tell us that Gentiles “in Christ” are no longer Gentiles? Let’s read those verses again, and if ever you tend to forget this, then go back and read them again.

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

“Who hath made both one…” The word ‘both’ refers to those who “were in times past Gentiles,” and “that which is called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.” The word ‘both’ refers to “the commonwealth of Israel” and “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.” What is God doing with these two groups according to the pen of the spirit here?

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

God is not making ‘of twain two new men.’ He is “making of twain ONE new man.” So much for the false ‘two administrations’ doctrine which is based upon a misunderstanding of the events of Acts 15 and the fact that all the events of Acts 15-Acts 21 were “the time of reformation”, during which the Jewish Christians were indeed temporarily retained under the law of Moses while the Gentiles were not.

Christ’s life in the flesh demonstrated for us that the days, months, times and years of Judaism, the priesthood of Judaism, the animal sacrifices of Judaism and the letter of the laws of Judaism, were all a wall of enmity which is now “abolished in His flesh” and in the example He has left for us to follow. Now we Gentiles are no longer Gentiles but part of the very commonwealth of the twelve tribes of Israel, and those who are “called circumcision” are now no more than Gentiles if they are not “in Christ Jesus.”

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off [Gentiles], and to them that were nigh [Jews].
Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners [From the commonwealth of Israel], but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Now Biblically, in Christ the Gentiles who are “His inheritance” (Eph 1:18) are a part of the 12-tribe commonwealth of Israel. Ephesians 2 means what it states when Paul says “that at one time [in the PAST] we WERE Gentiles in the flesh, who are CALLED uncircumcision by that which is CALLED the circumcision IN THE FLESH made by hands.” (Eph 2:11). “He IS NOT A JEW which is one outwardly” (Rom 2:28-29), cannot be twisted to mean that ‘outward Jews are now God’s physical chosen people’, as the whole world wants us to believe. That is a lie because the holy spirit clarifies and qualifies that statement in Romans 2:28-29 to mean that “He is making of twain one new man…” (Eph 2:15). This is The Truth and let “every man be a liar” (Rom 3:4):

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

The Lord is not making twain of twain. He has but “one body.” He is not “divided” into a Jewish body and a Gentile body. Yes, it is true, as Acts 15 demonstrates, that for decades after the day of Pentecost, the Jewish Christians continued to observe the law of Moses. Here is the reason they did that, and as you read these words realize that the Lord spoke these words to His apostles on the very night He was apprehended to be crucified:

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Christ’s “one body” will not call “circumcision in the flesh, made by hands” a spiritual Jew nor a spiritual Israelite. Rather, His ‘one body’ will always declare the Truth, which is… “he is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly, and circumcision is [now spiritually only] of the heart, in the spirit.” Paul repeats this same doctrine when writing to the Philippians:

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision [Gentile Philippians], which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Who is ‘the true circumcision?’ Who is ‘the true Jew?’ Who are ‘the true children of God?’ Who is ‘the commonwealth of Israel?’ There can be no doubt. According to the scriptures, they are only those “which worship God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.”

Let’s look at the verses of scripture which demonstrate who these 144,000… Virgins…are which follow the Lamb… being firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb (Rev 14:4).

As we pointed out at the beginning of this study, the 144,000 are mentioned once again in the book of Revelation in chapter 14. Here we read:

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Surely the Gentiles converts are never called virgins, are they? The answer to that question just happens to be, “Yes.” They are called virgins in 2 Corinthians 11.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

John tells us of this 144,000 “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth…” Do Gentiles in Christ follow Christ wherever He goes? Yes, Gentile converts are followers of Christ “wherever He goes.”

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am [a follower] of Christ.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after[Christ], if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

1Th 1:6  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1Th 2:14  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Finally, it is said of these 144,000 “of all the tribes of the children of Israel,” [that] “these were redeemed from among men being the FIRSTFRUITS unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev 14:4). Yes, once again Paul tells us that Gentile Roman converts of Christ, “ourselves also… have the firstfruits of the Spirit.”

Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

There is but one “firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”. There are not Roman, Gentile ‘firstfruits’ and a separate Jewish ‘firstfruit.’ The naming of the twelve thousand from each tribe is simply symbolic of the foundational function of these ‘blessed and holy… firstfruits’ (Rev 20:6).

James, who was well aware of these truths, despite what Martin Luther or any of our modern purveyors of that false ‘two administrations’ doctrine might say, tells us this:

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James was one of the apostles who heard Peter say these words:

Act 15:5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them [the Gentiles] to keep the law of Moses.
Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, EVEN AS THEY.

In spite of all men’s doctrines to the contrary, Peter was brought to believe that “we [Jews] shall be saved even as they [the Gentiles].” So when James addressed his epistle “to the twelve tribes scattered aboad”, James knew what he meant by that, whether we know that Christ “has made of twain, one new man” or not.

Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Those in Christ, are until this very day “scattered abroad.” Nevertheless, all who are “in Christ” are still to this very day “the commonwealth of Israel.”

Summary

Let’s review what we have seen in the scriptures today.

1) As always we reminded ourselves that these words are not words which man’s wisdom teaches, but they are words which the holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2) We saw a few of the many verses which demonstrate who it is who now, in Christ, constitutes a true Biblical ‘Jew’.

3) We saw the scriptures which show us who is now considered by God to be the true circumcised Israelite, and we saw that Paul considered himself, as a physical Benjamite, to be a spiritual Jew and a spiritual Israelite, and that he considered his physical heritage from Abraham to be nothing more than dung.

4) We saw that the listing of the names of the 12 tribes serves to draw the attention of the carnal mind to the carnal, physical nation of Israel and away from the fact that being “in Abraham” and bring in “the commonwealth of Israel” are no longer a matter of physical pedigree, but ‘Israel’ is now a spiritual commonwealth consisting of both physical Jews and Gentiles who are “in Christ.”

5) We saw that Romans 9:8 and Ephesians 2 reveal in great detail that the only requirement for being “counted for the seed of Abraham” is that we must simply be “in Christ Jesus.”

6) We considered whether the first two verses of Romans 3 contradict the last two verses of Romans 2, and we saw that Paul was simply explaining in the first two verses of Romans 3 that the advantages of being a circumcised spiritual Jew are the only advantages that matter. Both being circumcised and being Jewish are now “of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter.”

7) We saw that Paul’s doctrine concerning the transfer of all of the blessings of physical Israel to a new spiritual “Israel of God” is in complete accord with Christ’s own doctrine, as He Himself revealed it to the Samaritan woman at the well.

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the [spiritual] Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

8) We saw that it is through Christ’s symbolic spiritual words that “even [what] they have” is taken away from them” refers to those who are “not given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

9) Finally, we took note that “without a parable” Christ never spoke to the multitudes, and we applied that verse to this present study concerning who these 144,000 firstfruit virgins are who follow Christ wherever He goes.

There is much more we need to discuss concerning these firstfruit, virgin 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. We need to know why they are enumerated as they are with 12,000 being from each tribe. We need to consider why the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not even mentioned. We also need to know which of the promises made to Abraham apply to these spiritual 144,000, of all the tribes of Israel, and finally we need to know exactly when the scriptures actually teach that all of physical Israel will be saved. Lord willing, we will cover all of those questions and more, in our next study.

Jer 48:32-47  Yet Will I Bring Again the Captivity of Moab in the Latter Days

[Study Aired August 21, 2022]

Jer 48:32  O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
Jer 48:33  And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.
Jer 48:34  From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.
Jer 48:35  Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.
Jer 48:36  Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.
Jer 48:37  For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.
Jer 48:38  There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
Jer 48:39  They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
Jer 48:40  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
Jer 48:41  Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
Jer 48:42  And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
Jer 48:43  Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.
Jer 48:44  He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
Jer 48:45  They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
Jer 48:46  Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
Jer 48:47  Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.

Sibmah is an area of Moab known for its vineyards and for the treading of its grapes. Jazer is similar to Sibmah and has already been broken and destroyed by the Babylonians. “Thy plants” signify the people and doctrines of Sibmah which have held dominion over us for so long and are now being judged and destroyed by the spoiler.

Jer 48:32  O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.

As we saw with the stories of Abraham mourning the loss of Ishmael and King David mourning the death of King Saul, it is proper that we never rejoice when we see our enemy fall, and that we mourn with those who mourn.

Gen 17:18  And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

2Sa 1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
2Sa 1:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

The ‘summer fruits and…vintage’ of both Jazer and Sibmah are the fruits of her proud lies and false doctrines to which we have attached ourselves with so much pride that we of ourselves cannot humble ourselves to let go of their deadly affect upon us. Therefore:

Jer 48:33  And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.

“Their shouting shall be no more shouting” is the same as saying:

Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Luk 11:34  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Luk 11:35  Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

If we think that darkness within us is light, then our shouting will not be shouting. Rather it will be weeping and mourning for the loss of the kingdom of our old man. Our own wickedness will correct us:

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Moab within us claims he fears the Lord, yet he ignores the Lord’s word and the Lord’s ways.

As an example of light being darkness, anyone who thinks that the modern ‘Book of Jasher’ is anything but spurious heresy is in deep darkness while thinking they are in the light. When we read:

2Sa 1:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

“…It is written in the book of Jasher” should never be understood and meaning ‘…it is written in the modern, spurious ‘book of Jasher’. The same goes for the Book of Enoch which is not in our view at this moment. For any who think the book of Jasher is authentic just take the time to read chapters 53-54 which purport to give us the story of Joseph and his brothers. The book of Jasher chapters 51-54 retell the story of Joseph’s brothers appearing before him in Egypt, and in this retelling, these chapters add much to “that which is written” in the True written word of God.

Here is a short cut and paste from chapter 51:

“37 And Joseph went out from them and came into the chamber, and wept a great weeping, for his pity was excited for them, and he washed his face, and returned to them again, and he took Simeon from them and ordered him to be bound, but Simeon was not willing to be done so, for he was a very powerful man and they could not bind him.
38 And Joseph called unto his mighty men and seventy valiant men came before him with drawn swords in their hands, and the sons of Jacob were terrified at them.
39 And Joseph said unto them, Seize this man and confine him in prison until his brethren come to him, and Joseph’s valiant men hastened and they all laid hold of Simeon to bind him, and Simeon gave a loud and terrible shriek and the cry was heard at a distance.
40 And all the valiant men of Joseph were terrified at the sound of the shriek, that they fell upon their faces, and they were greatly afraid and fled.
41 And all the men that were with Joseph fled, for they were greatly afraid of their lives, and only Joseph and Manasseh his son remained there, and Manassah the son of Joseph saw the strength of Simeon, and he was exceedingly wroth.
42 And Manassah the son of Joseph rose up to Simeon, and Manassah smote Simeon a heavy blow with his fist against the back of his neck, and Simeon was stilled of his rage.
43 And Manassah laid hold of Simeon and he seized him violently and he bound him and brought him into the house of confinement, and all the sons of Jacob were astonished at the act of the youth.” (End Quote)

I do not believe that I am the only one who hears “the voice of a stranger” in these words of this obviously spurious ‘book of Jasher’. According to this book, Judah took a stone ‘the weight of 400 shekels’ (ten pounds) and threw it up in the air with one hand and caught it with the other hand and then sat upon it and crushed it to powder. Then Joseph had Manasseh his son to do the same trick. Then Judah and Simeon threaten to destroy all of Egypt. Here is verse 35 of chapter 54:

“And Joseph was greatly afraid at the words of his brethren lest they should destroy Egypt…” (End Quote)

It is a book of total fantasy wrapped up in many verses taken right out of the Bible and millions of nominal Christians are deceived by such spurious heresy. Equally false stories abound throughout this book and throughout the equally spurious Book of Enoch. The books mentioned in scripture are not those which have been invented by unprincipled men to masquerade as books of scripture. Christ’s sheep know His voice, and none of these books, regardless of their antiquity, have the voice of Christ within them:

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

As ‘proud Moab’ all our lying false doctrines are revealed for what they are, and yet it is proper that we mourn the death and destruction of Moab just as King David mourned the death of King Saul recounting King Saul’s many wonderful works:

2Sa 1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
2Sa 1:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
2Sa 1:19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
2Sa 1:20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
2Sa 1:21  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
2Sa 1:22  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
2Sa 1:23  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
2Sa 1:24  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
2Sa 1:25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
2Sa 1:26  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
2Sa 1:27  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Three times King David laments “How are the mighty fallen”, and he does so regarding the Lord’s rejected anointed.

King Saul has a closer relationship to Abraham’s seed than Moab has, nevertheless both are of Abraham’s family, and both must be judged. King Saul’s judgment will be more severe than Moab because he typifies those who were given more and therefore are expected to produce more:

Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

We have “all sinned and come short of the glory of God”, and His fiery words will try every man’s work of what sort they are:

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Jer 48:34  From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.

Isaiah 15 contains this same lamentation for Moab and Zoar:

Isa 15:5  My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.

Zoar is the very city to which Moab’s father Lot, and his mother, Lot’s oldest daughter, and her younger sister, Lot’s two daughters fled before leaving Zoar to live in a cave:

Gen 19:15  And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
Gen 19:16  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Gen 19:17  And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Gen 19:18  And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
Gen 19:19  Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
Gen 19:20  Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
Gen 19:21  And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
Gen 19:22  Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar [meaning ‘little’].

Isa 15:6  For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
Isa 15:7  Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
Isa 15:8  For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.
Isa 15:9  For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

“An heifer of three years old” is a mature cow with a strong voice, whose lowing can be heard by all who are anywhere near. The Lord Himself will bring ‘lions’ upon Moab in the form of the merciless Chaldeans.

Jer 48:35  Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

In terms to which we can relate, the Lord will cause all the holidays which were celebrated in the pagan ‘high places’ to no longer be tolerated, and the gods of the holidays of Moab will be destroyed. Chemosh will be destroyed and “caused to cease”.

Jer 48:36  Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.

Pipes were sounded at funerals and at times of great mourning, and Kirheres had been a very wealthy city which is now “perished” with all her riches. Our riches are our doctrines, and that is where our hearts are:

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jer 48:37  For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.

All these are rituals associated with a great mourning. Moab is so far from God that cuttings were common even though the Lord had told Israel:

Deu 14:1  Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Deu 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Jer 48:38  There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
Jer 48:39  They [You and I] shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him. [We come to loath our own shame (Eze 20:43)]
Jer 48:40  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
Jer 48:41  Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
Jer 48:42  And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
Jer 48:43  Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.
Jer 48:44  He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
Jer 48:45  They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

“Fire shall come forth out of Heshbon” is the same prophecy Gideon’s son made against his brother, Abimelech, who was of the city of Shechem and who had slain 70 of his brothers, the sons of Gideon:

Jdg 9:20  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

Jdg 9:23  Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Jer 48:46  Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.

Chemosh is the god of the Moabites. This is what we read earlier in this same chapter:

Jer 48:7  For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

Chemosh has been letting Moab down for many years, including many years before Israel came up out of Egypt. This is what Moses had to say of Chemosh and his people, Moab:

Num 21:25  And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
Num 21:26  For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.
Num 21:27  Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:
Num 21:28  For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
Num 21:29  Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.
Num 21:30  We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.

Chemosh is called “the abomination of the Moabites when listing the gods to whom King Solomon built temples in Jerusalem:

1Ki 11:7  Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
1Ki 11:8  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

The Lord had given King Solomon more than He had given the Moabites; more riches, more knowledge and more carnal wisdom, and yet we read:

1Ki 11:1  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
1Ki 11:2  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
1Ki 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
1Ki 11:6  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

Moab is our proud flesh which is being judged in this age. King Solomon in his old age typifies those who become the same as King Saul who was the Lord’s rejected anointed, for whom it will be worse ‘in that day’ than it will be for Sodom:

Luk 10:10  But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Luk 10:11  Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luk 10:12  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Here is the Lord’s conclusion after all this denunciation and destruction of Moab:

Jer 48:47  Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.

‘Bring Again The Captivity’

This phrase “bring again the captivity” is found in reference to several nations in scripture. It is most often mentioned in reference to Israel being brought back to their God, but it is also used in referring to other nations:

Jer 29:14  And I will be found of you [“captives from Jerusalem], saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jer 30:3  For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

Jer 30:18  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

Jer 31:23  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

Jer 33:11  The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

Jer 48:47  Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.

Jer 49:6  And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.

Jer 49:39  But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

Eze 16:53  When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

Eze 29:14  And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

Eze 39:25  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

Joe 3:1  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

Amo 9:14  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Zep 3:20  At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

Here we have 13 verses with the words ‘bring again the captivity’ in them. Of these 13 verses, 9 of them refer to the Lord’s people Israel. The remaining four refer to Moab, Ammon, Elam, and Egypt. Applying the principle of living by every word, we must acknowledge that Moab, Ammon, Elam, and Egypt are also within the first man Adam who is within every man, especially ourselves first and foremost. Like the seven churches with their various sins and transgressions, at the end of each admonition we are told:

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

‘Hearing’ and ‘seeing’ are two ways of saying the same thing:

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: )

We simply cannot understand unless we are given eyes that see and ears that hear the mysteries of the kingdom of God:

Mat 13:9  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

When Christ tells us “Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them”, He is telling us that all the prophets and righteous men of the Old Testament weren’t even ministering to themselves. Instead, they were all ministering to us, and they “have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them”.

It is given to the apostle Peter to place our salvation in the period following Christ’s coming to die for our sins. For that reason, salvation was completely unavailable to anyone in the Old Testament until they come up in the great white throne judgment:

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

The fact that the holy spirit tells us the Old Testament prophets prophesied of the grace that would come to us, “Not unto themselves, but unto us…” makes clear the primary meaning of that oft repeated phrase “bring again the captivity” refers first and primarily to those who are in Christ in this present time who will be revealed as “the manifestation of the sons of God” at the resurrection of life, which is also called “the… blessed and holy… first resurrection”, which “manner of time” is at the end of this dispensation of grace, and at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of “our Lord and His Christ… with a rod of iron”:

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

We live in faith those words are true, and we give our lives in service to the Truth of this promise:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

With all of this in mind it becomes clear that ‘bringing again the captivity of Moab’, yes, even ‘Moab’, applies primarily to the Lord’s elect first and foremost. It is our false God ‘Chemosh’, the man of sin within us, whom we worship, and who must be the first to die to himself. Through that death and destruction come forth unto life “more abundant” and not ‘bring again our captivity… with Sodom and her daughters’ (Eze 16:53) just to be “a base nation… there”.

Eze 29:14  And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

Therefore, in closing it is very important that we realize that ‘bringing again the captivity’ of some nations reveals the “manner of time”, and the glory of the particular resurrection which is under consideration (1Co 15:41-42).

1Co 15:41  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

If Sodom is brought back from her captivity and also Samaria, and we are told that ‘Jerusalem and her daughters’ are among those of Sodom and her daughters, then that is a qualifying statement which tells us that this ‘Jerusalem’ is the ‘Jerusalem’ which is now and is in bondage with her children and who answers to Hagar the bondwoman and to her son “the son of the bondwoman” who will “not be made heir with the son of the free woman”.

To state this as clearly as possible:

Eze 16:53  When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them: [“Thy captives” referring to “Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children… not… made heirs with the children of the free woman” (Gal 4:30-31)]

Both the 144,000 firstfruits unto God and the Lamb and the great multitude which no man can number are brought again from their captivity and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. However, the great multitude is not the firstfruits to God and the Lamb, and the great multitude which no man can number are instead “the rest of the dead” of:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them [144,000 firstfruits], and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [verse 4] is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Here is the earlier prophecy of those who will reign with Christ for a thousand years:

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh [in “this present time” Rom 8:18], and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

It is the “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” who will rule with Him a thousand years:

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

These “firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” are numbered as 144,000, to be contrasted with:

Rev 7:9  After this [After revealing to us the 144,000 firstfruits] I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation [the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death], and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Being “before the throne of God” and sitting with Christ in His throne are two very distinct rewards, and it is our hope to be with, and sit with Christ in His Father’s throne and not suffer the loss of that blessing, while still being saved through the fire of His Word:

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

We are the children of the freewoman, and those who are not the children of the freewoman will not be made heir of the kingdom of God which will reign over the kingdoms of the world for a thousand years and then “judge angels” in the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death.

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

[Posted February 24, 2020]

I was asked how to explain that we are not hurt of the second death, so I want to take this opportunity to do that with the scriptures which speak to the subject of “the lake of fire [which] is the second death”.

I have taken James Bernini’s email and added a lot more to it. This is long, but I tried to leave no stone unturned on this subject which has caused so much confusion to so many:

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

If we begin our discussion with a wrong premise, we will arrive at a wrong conclusion. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we have biblically sound definitions of every word. Revelation 20:14 tells us what the second death is. It tells us very plainly, “…the second death… is… death and hell [being] cast into the lake of fire.” Therefore death and hell being cast into the lake of fire “IS the second death”.

The Greek word for ‘hell’ here is ‘hades’. It is not Gehenna, which IS another Greek word referring exclusively to the lake of fire… the second death.

What is so very confusing about this subject for most people is their failure to understand the meaning of the word ‘death’ in the phrase “the lake of fire… this is the second death.”

The word ‘death’ here has nothing to do with physical death, which Christ did not even regard as death.

Mat 9:23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Joh 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Christ had to tell His disciples plainly “Lazarus is dead” because they, and we, do not just naturally think of death in the way Christ and His Father think of physical death. To Christ and His Father, physical death is merely taking a nap. Physical death is just a type of the death which is the real “wages of sin” (Rom 6:23). The death from which Christ saves us is being cast into “the lake of fire [which] is the second death”:

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire [second death].

What is the ‘fire’ of this small ‘lake’ into which all whose names were not in the book of life are cast to be “judged, every man according to his works”?

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened [Psa 139:16 ASV]: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If we can determine by the scriptures exactly what the lake of fire is, then we will, with the eyes of Christ, see that those who are judged first, in this present time, have already been judged through the same fire by the time of the fulfilling of this prophecy. We will see that they were judged first by the same ‘fire’, and because they were judged first, they are now incapable of being hurt of the second death. Such a blessing places those in the first resurrection in the position of being the judges in whose mouths is the same ‘fire’ which had earlier, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), judged them, and which same ‘fire’ will now accomplish the same burning up of all the false doctrines which are still in all who will be cast into ‘the lake of fire’.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

Those who are being judged in “this present time” (Rom 8:18) through the judgment which has even now “begun at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17), are beyond the scope of the work of the lake of fire/second death because they have no more need of being purified. The reason being that they, with Christ in them, ‘died daily’, overcame sin, and were judged in “this present time”, and as we will see, they are now promised in both the Old and New Testaments to never again be required to endure a second time that fiery judgment. Furthermore, they are also promised a kingdom, and a crown of life where they themselves will be the judges who are tasked with the work of judging and purifying through the “lake of fire/second death” the heavens of all men of all time who were not given to have a part in “the blessed and holy… first resurrection” (Rev 20:1-6).

Having our part in that first resurrection, and having already experienced the judgments of the fiery Word of God (Jer 5:14), places those few who died to sin in this life beyond the scope of the purifying flames of the second death.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word [in this age], behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them [in the lake of fire which we are, Isa 33:14-15].

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell [without being hurt – Rev 2:11] with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

If we are the first to be purified while living in these clay vessels, then we are the first to die to our carnal minds, and we are beyond the reach of the lake of fire, which is the second death of the carnal mind of those who were not the first to die to that ignorant and rebellious carnal mind. In other words, it is not possible for those who are the first to die to their carnal minds… for them to be hurt of the fires they now are administering to the second group who are destined to come up through great tribulation and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why there are two separate groups, distinguished from each other in Revelation 7. The first group is purified in this age, “this present time”, and is symbolized by the limited number of 144,000. In other words “the second death” is ordinal, not numeral, and has only to do with the order in which it occurs. “The first resurrection” is the resurrection of those who are the first to die to their carnal, rebellious mind – “The firstfruits unto God and the Lamb.” (Rev 14:4)

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel [“The Israel of God” of Gal 6:15-16].

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

One of the earliest writing posted on the IWWB website was Who Are The One Hundred Forty and Four Thousand? It is worth the read here.

The fact that the second death is called a mere “lake”, instead of ‘the sea’, tells us that those who comprise that ‘lake’ are very few, as compared to the waters of the seas which give up their dead to be cast into this little ‘lake’.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

It is the fire of that ‘lake’ which judges all who are cast into it, and this in accord with the words of Christ Himself when He tells us this:

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: [‘Fire’ indeed!]

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the [fiery] word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day [The lake of fire/second death].

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, [in this age] behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them [in the lake of fire which, according to Isaiah, we are].

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell [comfortably] with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

That is the little ‘lake’ which effectuates the death of the carnal mind of every man whose name was not written in the Lamb’s book of life at the time of the first resurrection, which resurrection takes place at the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ.

The Thousand Years Reign

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The Second Death Is Not The First Death

Speaking of things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17), Christ made this statement:

Luk 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luk 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Christ telling us “…the dead are raised… God… quickens [gives life to] the dead”, should make it clear that:

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Of course the fact is that “Christ… is risen from the dead” (Luk 24:6 and 34) and all men will, “each in his own order… pass from death unto life” (1Co 15:22-28). But “if Christ be not raised”, and until we all come to love all men, we all “abide in death”:

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

It is in that sense that Christ made this statement to a man who had hesitated to follow Him:

Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Loving our brother is defined as being obedient to God is these verses:

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

The first death and the second death are both spiritual in nature, not physical.

Satan and his angels, like all who will come up in the second resurrection, are spiritually dead by being created into this world with a carnal mind. However, this is not the death that will be experienced by those in both the first death and resurrection and the second death and resurrection. Both deaths are spiritual deaths to the carnal mind. The ‘sea’ of mankind, the vast majority of mankind, will die to their carnal mind along with Satan and his angels by being cast into “the lake of fire/second death” to be perfected at the hands of those who died first to their carnal minds.  The “second death” is an ordinal death. It is not a numeral death. “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27).

Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter [carnal minded]: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

There are only two ages that involve salvation

There is this age which started when the first spirit angel was created by Christ and ends when the fire comes down from heaven at the end of the symbolic 1,000 years. It is only after the coming of Christ that salvation was first made accessible to mankind. We know this is true because of these two New Testament witnesses. The first witness is Christ Himself.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

It is only from the death and resurrection of Christ, actually from the first Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Christ, that the spirit of Christ, which is the holy spirit, was made accessible to mankind. Those who are given the holy spirit in “this present time” (Rom 8:18) are given the opportunity to “overcome the wicked one” and all of the influences of “the wicked one” which he has been given to exercise over the nations of this present world.

1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The influence of the wicked one comes to a screeching halt at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ:

Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Overcoming the wicked one is no longer needed during the thousand-year reign of Christ and His elect because there is no “wicked one” to overcome:

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Couple that knowledge of a thousand-year reign of Christ and His elect over “the kingdoms of this world” with the fact that Christ Himself reveals to us there are just two resurrections, one at the beginning of the thousand year reign, “the resurrection to life”, and the other after the little season of rebellion which follows the thousand year reign. That second resurrection is called “the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment, the “great white throne… judgment”].  Therefore everyone who lives on this earth during the thousand-year reign will by default be destroyed by the fire that comes down from God out of heaven following the rebellion which follows the thousand-year reign and will come up in the great white throne judgment to be cast into the lake of fire/second death.

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment, “Great white throne judgment” – Rev 20:11].

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarers of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life [a thousand years earlier] was cast into the lake of fire.

The next age is from the beginning of the lake of fire and ends at the end of the lake of fire period of time.

It is at the end of that harvest (the end of the lake of fire period of time) when all those in the lake of fire are saved, which will be all at the same time and not one before the other. They are all the great multitude which come out of the great tribulation (the lake of fire period of time) at the same time together as Rev 7:9 -14 demonstrate:

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the [great white] throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation [the lake of fire/second death], and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Remember, these verses come immediately after the revealing of a group of people who can easily numbered as 144,000 (The symbol for the number of the few elect). It is this first group, this symbolic 144,000, who die to their carnal minds first, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), who are judged first, as Peter tells us… “[now] judgment must begin at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17). We, the elect, are the first to die to our carnal mind, and it is we who will rule with Christ a thousand years (Rev 20:1-6), who will dwell comfortably in the devouring fire and the everlasting burnings (Isa 33:14-15; Dan 3:25), and will “judge angels” in the lake fire (1Co 6:3) prepared for the devil and his angels (Mat 25:41). It is through the mercy of the symbolic 144,000 that the purification of the “great multitude which no man could number” will be accomplished. Aso, it is the purification of that “great multitude which no man can number” which will usher in the “all in all” (1Co 15:28):

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming [“A kind of firstfruits… the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” – Jas 1:18 and Rev 14:4].
1Co 15:24 Then [in the ordained “order” of verse 23] cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Here it is a second time! It is “the church which is His body [which shows His mercy to all the rest of mankind and is thereby] the fulness of Him that fill all in all”:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them [“The nations which are in the four quarters of the earth” – vs 8]

Rev 7:9 After this [After the numbering of the ‘firstfruits unto God and the Lamb’, 144,000, Rev 7:4 and 14:4] I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These [the ‘multitude which no man could number’] are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

We shall never see death

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Joh 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
Joh 8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

As pointed out earlier in this discussion, Christ does not consider Abraham, Isaac or Jacob to be dead. He considers them to be “asleep”, and is therefore speaking a language which the Jews cannot receive, as He told this in this very same chapter of John:

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

When Christ says in verse 51: “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” it is evident that He is speaking of the age to come. Christ is telling us who have ears that hear we shall never see death (the second death).

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

In John 11:26 it says “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”. Again it is evident that Christ is speaking of the age to come when we who have been the first to be “crucified with Christ [in] this present time” (Gal 2:20 and Rom 8:18-23) are raised up in the first resurrection. Then we shall never die (the second death).

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

In the first three gospels (Mat 16:28, Mar 9:1, and Luk 9:27) it is repeated three times, “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death.” Again it is evident that it is speaking outwardly of what happens in the very next verses of scripture, which happen to be in the next chapter:

Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

The word “and” at the beginning of all three of these verses connects what is about to be said to the preceding thought. Therefore verse one is connected to the thought of verse 28, the last verse of the preceding chapter, and we are being told in the outward sense that Peter, James and John, “some who were standing [there] saw Christ coming in His kingdom” in a vision “after six days”.

For those with spiritual eyes who can see both the positive and the negative message in Christ’s words, Christ had just lectured all twelve of His apostles about “denying himself, and taking up his cross and following [Christ]. He had just told them that they would have to lose their lives to find them and that it would profit them nothing to gain the world but lose their souls.

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Knowing that Judas would betray Him, He told them all that when He came He would “reward every man according to his works”.

In the negative sense “there be some standing here who shall not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” is a prophecy that Judas would not die to His carnal mind until He sees the Son of Man coming in His kingdom in the lake of fire.

What about, “It is appointed unto men once to die”? (Heb 9:27)

In Heb 9:25 it says “Nor yet that he should offer himself often”. While there is no denying that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were physical in nature, and that Christ Himself physically died, it is yet obvious that the death of Christ was much more than just a physical death. That is why Paul continues with the words, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world.” Instead of “often suffering since the foundation of the world” Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many [spiritually]” so all men can now be resurrected to spiritual life. The elect who happen to be standing here on this earth when Christ returns will still have to put off this physical body of fleah and blood and be “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” into a glorified spiritual body.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

It is a spiritual ‘death’ which God’s elect must suffer with Christ, who suffered the same spiritual death to His own fleshly mind. We know this is so because Peter tells us:

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If ‘judgment’ comes only after the “once… appointed” death, how is it possible that judgment has begun at the house of God?

Here is how that is possible:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul repeats this doctrine of us being a living sacrifice many times:

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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.

This ‘crucifixion with Christ’ is in the eyes of His Father just as much a ‘death’ as the crucifixion of Christ who in His own words was bearing His cross every day of His life:

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

That is how “judgment [can even now] begin at the house of God” after the “once… appointed” death we must all first know before we can begin to be judged in this age:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Matthew 25:31-40 explains all of this as the judgment we will endure in this life, at this present time, if we are granted to be in “the blessed and holy first resurrection” and be perfected and receive our reward of “a crown of life”:

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Anyone who is not in “the blessed and holy first resurrection” will be in the second resurrection and suffer the loss of ruling with Christ as kings and priests for a thousand years.

Every ‘king’ is given a crown, and our ‘crown’ is called “a crown of righteousness” or “a crown of life” or “a crown of glory” all of which are one and the same:

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

This is not promised to those who are not overcomers in this life.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

This promise is not made to those who do not “overcome the wicked one” in “this present time”.

1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

If “our old man is [the first to be] crucified with Christ” (Rom 6:6); If we are His “firstfruits… baptized into His death” (Rom 6:2) in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), then we are “groaning and travailing in pain together [with] the whole creation” (Rom 8:22), and we are the first to die (1Co 15:31), and we are the first to be judged in “this present time” (1Pe 4:17 and Rom 8:18). That is the doctrine of Christ which Paul made so clear:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [His firstfruits, Rom 8:23].
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the [firstfruit] sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Notice that word “firstfruits” in verse 23:

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

“The whole creation [is] waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body… ourselves… which have the firstfruits of the spirit”. It is the ‘firstfruits’ who are granted to show mercy to all the rest of mankind.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Our heavenly Father has a plan which requires His firstfruits to be the first to inherit life. The reason we “have the firstfruits of the spirit”, the reason we are called “a kind of firstfruits” and the reason for calling us “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” is that there are many others who will receive the spirit of God “through our mercy” (Rom 11:31) at the great white throne… judgment… the lake of fire [which] is the second death… the resurrection to judgment” (Joh 5:28-29).

It is called “the second death” for the same reason we are called “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”. Those who are in the great white throne judgment are paid last (Mat 20:10-11), and they are “hurt of the second death”, but “the second death… hath no power over” those who were paid first, who were the first to be judged after being the first to die with Christ in “this present time (Rom 8:18) for this purpose:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. [beginning at the first resurrection].

That is a promise we are given in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament. In both Testaments we are promised that we will never have to die a second time after being the first to die and being the first to be judged in “this present time”. It is all the rest of mankind who will “be hurt of the second death” and over whom the second death will “have… power”. But even that is but one death (Heb 9:27), “the second death”, those who get life last.

Here is that promise in the Old Testament:

Isa 54:4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
Isa 54:9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
Isa 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Not enduring the second death is a covenant the Lord has made with His elect, “as the waters of Noah”, which He  swore He would never again bring upon the whole earth. While God promised never to again destroy the earth by water, He did not say it would not be destroyed at some point.

2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Here is that same promise in the New Testament:

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Living by every Word of God requires that we believe those words, which include this promise to “He that overcometh [in] this present time” (Rom 8:18). Twisting those words to make them say ‘He that overcometh shall “experience the purifying fires of the second death”’ is a slap in the face of our Lord who tells us the exact opposite, and instead He contrasts the second death with ruling and reigning with Christ a thousand years:

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This is how the scriptures describe this “second death”, and this is when the second death does its work. No one is or will experience “the second death [in] this present time” (Rom 8:18):

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

“Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them… when the thousand years are expired” is the first step to the destruction of death. From this point on “there is no more sea”, meaning there is no more flesh:

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

“The sea is where the Lord has placed Leviathan to do His work in ‘the sea’. The lake of fire is Leviathan’s judgment:

Psa 104:26  There [in ‘the sea’] go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Isa 27:1  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea [within us].

The “fire that comes down from God out of heaven, devours… the nations in the four quarters of the earth”, and that is the very meaning of this statement:

Re 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

As repulsive a thought as that is to the flesh, it is a wonderful thought to all those in whom the “invisible… God” dwells (Joh 14:23). Without flesh and blood there will be no more babies being born in bodies of flesh and blood to continue to perpetrate death, day in and day out. The Lord Himself will bring that cycle to an end. Having “no more sea”, He is now in position to “judge… every man according to his works”:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [The Lord’s words in the mouths of His elect at the second death – Jer 5:14].

His elect believe these words and, having been judged in this life, are no longer themselves any of these things of this verse:

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Remember, there are only two resurrections, separated by a thousand years, where those in the resurrection to life are ruling and reigning with Christ over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15; Rev 20 1-6):

Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment, “the great white throne… judgment”].

It is in the judgment of damnation… “the lake of fire [which] is the second death” that all mankind who were not given to have a part in “the blessed and holy first resurrection” will then go through the process of being judged and being “chastened… to forsake ungodliness” (Tit 2:11-12), having to repeat all the ‘groaning and travailing of the whole creation’ (Rom 8:18-23) in Gehenna fire (Mat 18:7-9), which is the lake of fire/second death:

Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Mat 18:8  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting [Greek: aionios] fire.
Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell [Greek: Gehenna] fire.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

“The manifesting of the sons of God [are] the firstfruits of the spirit”. That “manifestation” is what is now taking place at this very moment in down payment form within the few “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”:

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, [into us] now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world [Greek: aion, “the present time”] hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation [as His firstfruits, to rule with Him a thousand years and then continue to rule with Him in the great white throne judgment till death is destroyed, and God is “all in all”, Isa 33:14-15, Rev 20:7-15 1Co 15:28].

Passed from death unto life

We the elect pass from death unto life:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. [And is not being judged in this life, 1Pe 4:17]

So it is very clear that we don’t die twice, once in this age and once in the age to come, we only die once in this age. The rest of the great multitude, which no man could number, has not yet died spiritually to their carnal mind and must do so in the age to come.

Again, I repeat, that is why they are waiting with great anticipation for us:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation

‘I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation’ is saying the exact same thing as “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”, but it “shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” which means the whole world, with the exception of the elect, will experience the second death.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Conclusion

Going back to “Let the dead bury their dead”, the world is not being judged in “this present time”, and therefore doesn’t complete the dying process of dying to their own carnal minds in this age. They need to die spiritually to their rebellious, carnal mind in the age to come. We, the elect, were dead without knowledge (or Holy Spirit) just as the world, but we received both the knowledge (true doctrines) and Holy Spirit to finish a singular (one) dying process in this one and only age for us. This explains why we are called, “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb.” It is because we are the first to begin and finish this one dying process in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), this one age. Our deadly wound is healed as we become entrenched in Babylonian doctrines, but then, because we were chosen from the foundation of the world, we receive the incurable wound (we die in this age only once as it all becomes a singular process for us of dying to our old man) that is what reveals us to be the called, chosen and faithful until the end “manifest sons of God. It is for these “manifest… sons of God”, who are given a part in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6), for whom “the creature”, all the rest of mankind, are waiting to dispense upon them the mercy we have been shown.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Your brothers seeking to lose anything that stands in the way of attaining unto Christ in this present time.

Mike

Video Links

Rev 7:4-8 – Who Are The 144,000? – Part 2

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:5  Of the tribe of Juda [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:6  Of the tribe of Aser [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:7  Of the tribe of Simeon [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:8  Of the tribe of Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.

Introduction

We have seen that the ‘144,000 virgins who are not defiled with men’ is a spiritual statement about a spiritual group who can be and are numbered. We saw what is and what is not a Jew, and we learned that a Jew is only a Jew if he “is one inwardly.” We saw that being a Benjamite of the stock of Israel is true only in a spiritual sense, and that being a physical Benjamite of the physical stock of Israel is to be counted as nothing more than dung. We have seen that it is only those who are in Christ who are now the children of promise and are counted for the seed of Abraham. We saw that those who can be counted are the same as the 144,000 who, in Christ, are counted for the seed of Abraham. We saw that Gentiles and Jews are now both part of the commonwealth of Israel, in Christ. We saw that Paul called the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Ephesians part of the commonwealth of Israel, in Christ. We saw that the “much in every way… advantage” held by being a circumcised Jew is only an advantage when one is a Jew inwardly and is circumcised of the heart, in the spirit. We saw that when Christ declared that “the flesh profits nothing”, He was teaching Paul and us that being an Israelite is no longer a physical matter, but is now a matter of the heart in the spirit.

We saw that all of Christ’s words were in parables for the purpose of taking away from those with an understanding according to man’s wisdom, even what they had with that outward understanding. We have seen that the words of this book of the revelation of Jesus Christ are words which have been spoken by Christ, and because of that they are spiritual words which man’s wisdom cannot discern or receive. We have seen that according to Christ, “If we have seen Christ, then we have seen the Father.” We have seen that the 144,000 of each of the twelve tribes are just as spiritual as are the spiritual tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which we have been told must be in Christ if they are to be counted as the 144,000 seed of Abraham.

Finally, we saw the verses of scripture which revealed that the ‘virgins which follow the Lamb… being firstfruits’ is a direct reference to those of both Jew and Gentiles who are said to be “a chaste virgin, espoused to Christ, who are “followers of Christ” and who are said to be “the firstfruits of the spirit… and a kind of firstfruits.”

So now, let us get this all straight:

1) The promises are made only to “one seed”, and that “one seed” is Christ.

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

2) If we are “in Christ”, Jews or Gentiles, only then are we “counted for the seed”.

Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

3) “WE are the circumcision…” There is no other ‘circumcision.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4) “WE… are the children of promise.” There are no other “children of promise.”

Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

5) “WE are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

6) “YE are… the children of God…”

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus..

7) We are “the Israel of God”.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

The one thing that should be clear to ‘him that hath wisdom’ is that the 144,000 are “the firstfruits unto God”, and the ‘firstfruits’ are “of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”  “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision [being physically circumcised or physically descended from Abraham] availeth anything, nor uncircumcision [those who are not physically descended from Abraham] but a new creature” [is all that counts], and “as many as walk according to this rule [that both are one, and a “new creature” is all that matters in Christ] peace be on them and on THE ISRAEL OF GOD.” Obviously the ‘Israel of God’ has nothing to do with physical descent or physical ‘outward’ circumcision. Those counted for the seed of Abraham and counted as the symbolic 144,000 are those who are “in Christ”, the “one seed” of Gal 3:16.

Here is Galatians 6:15-16 in the MSG Version:

Gal 6:15  Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do– submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!
Gal 6:16  All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God-– his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

Because it will always be the focus of the natural man, and because you and I will be persecuted for standing for this Truth, we will now consider what is the “promise made to Abraham” to which we are now heirs, and we will ask what are…

‘All the promises [which are] of God [are only] in Christ?”

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Remember, the only way to be an heir of the promise made to Abraham is to “be Christ’s”.

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Do “all the promises of God” mentioned by Paul to Gentile Corinthians, mean only the promises of God made to the Gentiles? If we believe what we have just been told, then the truth is that ‘in Christ we are Abraham’s ONE seed.’

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

If that is true, then how could there possibly be any ‘promises of God’ made to Gentiles? No, there are NO PROMISES made to “the bondwoman and her son”.

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

If you have any doubt about what promises Paul has in mind when he says ‘all the promises of God’, notice what he says on this same subject in this same book:

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Which promises are “these promises?” They are the three promises Paul had just quoted in the previous chapter.

To whomsoever these promises are made, it will once again reveal to us who Paul and the holy spirit consider to be “the Israel of God” to whom “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen.” Notice what these promises are and to whom they are made. Were they made to Israel, or were they made to these Corinthian Gentiles to whom Paul is writing? Let us see what the scriptures reveal. Here are the promises to which 2Corinthians 7:1 refer:

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

“I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  To whom was this promise made???

Lev 25:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,
Lev 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.
Lev 26:11  And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
Lev 26:12  And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Lev 26:13  I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them… And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” This promise is made only to Israel! And yet Paul says we are “the Israel of God”, and he applies this promise to the Gentile Corinthians who were ‘in Christ.’

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

To whom is this promise made?

Isa 52:9  Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

Isa 52:11  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
Isa 52:12  For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.

“Depart ye… go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord… The Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem … the God of Israel will be your rereward.” This promise is made only to “His people” Jerusalem and Israel. Yet Paul says that physical “Jerusalem that now is… is in bondage” and “Jerusalem which is above… is the mother of us all“, and he goes on to apply this promise also to the Gentile Corinthians.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Once again, let us ask, “To whom is this third promise made?”

Jer 31:1  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

Jer 31:9  They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Let me summarize these two verses like this: “I… will… be the God of all the FAMILIES OF ISRAEL, and THEY shall be my people… for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” Once again, this promise is made only to the families of Israel.’ Once again, Paul applies it to the Gentile converts.

Yes, if ever there was a “replacement theologian,” the apostle Paul was that theologian.

Does this mean we will inherit the land?

Yes, indeed it does, if one understands what is “the land”. While the whole orthodox Christian world understands Egypt to symbolize the world and all the things of this world; while the whole orthodox Christian world sees the coming out of Egypt as coming out of the world and beginning to serve God; while the whole world understands that the giants in the land symbolize the inward more spiritual struggles we face even after coming out of Egypt, that seems to be the limit of spiritual understanding for most orthodox Christians. Even those who do see beyond that point, seem to find it impossible to accept and apply the scriptural truth that “He is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly.” The truth of scripture is that “the land” is our bodies which we are commanded to present to Christ as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…” Physical land, like being a physical Jew, is no more than dung in the eyes of God.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things [of the flesh] but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Understanding what is “the land” makes these statements much more meaningful:

Deu 24:4  Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that [is] abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for] an inheritance.

Jer 3:9  And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

Why are the tribes of Ephraim and Dan not mentioned?

There are two revealing facts in this 31st chapter of Jeremiah:

1) This is the chapter in which it is revealed that God has divorced Israel “according to the flesh,”

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33  But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2) Here in Jeremiah 31 we are told “Ephraim is my firstborn.”

Jer 31:9  They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Yet in Revelation 7:1-8 in the enumeration of the symbolic 12 tribes, neither Ephraim nor Dan are mentioned. Ephraim was the name given to the entire northern nation, also known as Israel, after Solomon’s death. So in reality, only eleven of the twelve tribes are mentioned in Revelation 7. Dan is left out, and his name is replaced by “the tribe of Joseph.” Joseph, of course, was actually the father of both Ephraim and Manasseh. Yet Ephraim, the single largest tribe in Israel is not even mentioned. These facts simply point to the symbolism with which we are told up front, in the first verse of the first chapter, when we read this book is “SIGNified.”
While there are no doubt other reasons why the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are not mentioned, one purpose the omission of the names of these two tribes serves is to demonstrate that “144,000 of all the tribes of Israel” is not to be taken physically, but it is to be understood spiritually as all who are in Christ, chosen from before the world began to be His elect. These omissions demonstrate that this book is a book of signified symbols.

Now let’s look at the other Biblical listings of “all the tribes of Israel” and see what “the sum of God’s Word” on this subject can teach us “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” The first place we see all 12 tribes listed where all twelve are first mentioned in the order of their birth is Genesis 29-30 and Benjamin in chapter 35. The order of their birth is:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.

In Genesis 49, Jacob blesses all of his sons just prior to his death, and the order is different:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin.

In Numbers 13 Moses sends one man from each tribe to spy out the land:

Num 13:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 13:2  Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
Num 13:3  And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men [were] heads of the children of Israel.
Num 13:4  And these [were] their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
Num 13:5  Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
Num 13:6  Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
Num 13:7  Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
Num 13:8  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
Num 13:9  Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
Num 13:10  Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
Num 13:11  Of the tribe of Joseph, [ namely], of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
Num 13:12  Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
Num 13:13  Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
Num 13:14  Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
Num 13:15  Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
Num 13:16  These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Here is the order of this list:
Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Joseph of Manasseh, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, and Gad.

There is yet another order in the blessing of Moses on the twelve tribes in Deuteronomy 33. In this list Simeon is omitted, just as Dan is omitted in Revelation 7, but the names of Joseph and his two sons are all mentioned. If we take Joseph’s sons as the two tribes of Joseph, we again have twelve tribes. This is their order in this list:
Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Ephraim , Manasseh, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, Asher.

In the division of Canaan in Joshua 13–19, Levi is omitted, because Levi had no inheritance in the land.

Jos 13:14  Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

Jos 13:33  But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

In 1Chronicles 4-8 both Zebulun and Dan are omitted, and Manasseh is mentioned twice. Here is the order of that list
Judah, Simeon, Ruben, Gad, Manasseh, Levi, Issachar, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher, Benjamin.

In Ezekiel 48, there are two more lists of the twelve tribes. These two lists differ from each other, and they also differ from all the previous lists. In Ezekiel 48:31-34, Levi is reckoned as one, and Joseph is reckoned as only one. In Ezekiel 48:1-28, the subject is the division of the land, and Levi, who had no heritage in land, is omitted, while Ephraim and Manasseh are counted as two different tribes.

Eze 48:1  Now these [are] the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east [and] west; a [portion for] Dan.
Eze 48:2  And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Asher.
Eze 48:3  And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for] Naphtali.
Eze 48:4  And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Manasseh.
Eze 48:5  And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Ephraim.
Eze 48:6  And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for] Reuben.
Eze 48:7  And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a [ portion for] Judah.
Eze 48:8  And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand [reeds in] breadth, and [in] length as one of the [other] parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
Eze 48:9  The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD [shall be] of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.
Eze 48:10  And for them, [even] for the priests, shall be [this] holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand [in length], and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.
Eze 48:11  [It shall be] for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
Eze 48:12  And [this] oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.
Eze 48:13  And over against the border of the priests the Levites [shall have] five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length [shall be] five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
Eze 48:14  And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for [it is] holy unto the LORD.
Eze 48:15  And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane [place] for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
Eze 48:16  And these [shall be] the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
Eze 48:17  And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.
Eze 48:18  And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy [portion shall be] ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy [portion]; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
Eze 48:19  And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
Eze 48:20  All the oblation [shall be] five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.
Eze 48:21  And the residue [shall be] for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house [shall be] in the midst thereof.
Eze 48:22  Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, [being] in the midst [of that] which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
Eze 48:23  As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin [shall have] a [portion].
Eze 48:24  And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon [shall have] a [portion].
Eze 48:25  And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a [portion].
Eze 48:26  And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a [portion].
Eze 48:27  And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a [portion].
Eze 48:28  And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar [unto] the waters of strife [in] Kadesh, [and] to the river toward the great sea.
Eze 48:29  This [is] the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these [are] their portions, saith the Lord GOD.

Levi had a sanctuary “in the midst of… Judah,” but was not part of the inheritance in the land, and so is omitted. The order here is:
Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh. Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Gad

The second list in this chapter is the names of the twelve tribes on the twelve gates of the city.

Eze 48:30  And these [are] the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
Eze 48:31  And the gates of the city [shall be] after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
Eze 48:32  And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
Eze 48:33  And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.
Eze 48:34  At the west side four thousand and five hundred, [with] their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
Eze 48:35  [It was] round about eighteen thousand [measures]: and the name of the city from [that] day [shall be], The LORD [is] there.

The order here is:
Ruben, Judah, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.

Now let’s put all the listings together, and we will notice that the order and the names of the twelve tribes varies greatly:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin.

Rueben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Joseph of Manasseh, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, and Gad.

Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Ephraim , Manasseh, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, Asher.

Judah, Simeon, Ruben, Gad, Manasseh, Levi, Issachar, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher, Benjamin.

Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh. Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Gad

Ruben, Judah, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.

Not one single list is in the same order as any of the others, and the names of Levi, Simeon, Dan, and Zebulun are missing from some of our lists. It has long been speculated that the tribe of Dan was omitted here in Revelation 7 because they were given to idolatry at an early stage. However, if idolatry at an early stage was any reason for having one’s name blotted out, then none of the tribes of Israel would be mentioned, because they were all idolaters from the day that Rachel stole her father’s gods before going into Canaan with Jacob, until the golden calf at Sinai, to the setting up of the golden calf in Samaria in the days of Jeroboam. All Israel is equally guilty of early idolatry.

Jdg 18:30  And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

Exo 32:3  And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
Exo 32:4  And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5  A nd when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

Gen 31:17  Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
Gen 31:18  And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
Gen 31:19  And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

The one thing we should see from all these lists of the twelve tribes is that there are many different reasons for leaving out a name. It is clear that the symbolism of the names themselves is not always as important as the spiritual symbolism of the number twelve. Twelve is the number of spiritual foundation. It is the number twelve which represents “all the tribes of Israel.” This is the symbol of all of God’s elect whom He has called out of all the nations of the earth.

Deu 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

So the tribe of Judah is, for the first time in any listing of the twelve tribes, placed first. Levi, which had no inheritance with the tribes of Israel, is included in this list here in Revelation 7, the tribe of Dan is not even mentioned, while the tribe of Ephraim is called the tribe of Joseph. Scripture has a reason that goes beyond simply having no set order for listing the tribes of Israel, and the one thing we have established is that physical words, including these physical names of the twelve tribes of Israel, are spiritual symbols for those who will be the foundation of the government of the kingdom of God upon this earth. The symbol of spiritual foundation is the number twelve. That is far more important than the inclusion of the tribe of Dan in the listing of those who will be the kings and priests unto God and who are promised to “rule the nations with a rod of iron.” Ephesians 2 makes clear that the commonwealth of the twelve tribes of Israel, is no longer a physical commonwealth of physical Israelites, but a “one body” and a “one new man” of those who are “in Christ.”
Getting back to Ephesians 2, it is here that Paul explains why he appropriates ALL THESE PROMISES MADE TO ISRAEL TO HIS GENTILE CONVERTS:

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ [and what does being ‘without Christ’ mean?] BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, and strangers from the covenants of promise [not capable of being one of the 144,000] having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus, ye who we at one time afar off [ at one time in the past] are [NOW] made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Just what does “the blood of Christ” accomplish? It made Israel and the Gentiles “BOTH ONE”, one “inward Jew,” one “circumcision… of the heart, in the spirit,” and one “Israel of God”] for to make IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN [Israel and Gentiles] ONE NEW MAN… AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH [ISRAEL AND GENTILES] unto God IN ONE BODY…” (vs 12-16). What room is there in this statement for two Jews, two circumcisions or two Israels? “He is NOT A JEW WHICH IS ONE OUTWARDLY…” (Rom 2:28). “They Which are the children of the flesh, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: BUT THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED” (Rom 9:8). “We [Gentile Galatians] brethren, as Isaac ARE CHILDREN OF PROMISE” (Gal 4:28). It is ONLY “the children of promise” who receive the promises. Will the Physical twelve tribes be ruling with those who “as Isaac are children of promise?” What says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son [“Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” (vs 25)] FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN” (Gal 4:30). So who will be “heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29)? “Now WE, BRETHREN, as Isaac was, ARE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE” (Gal 4:28) “So then, brethren we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free” [and “heirs according to the promise”] (Gal 4:31). Apparently, so far as God is concerned, “THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING” (Joh 6:63).

We are told that Christ made one statement that caused “many of his disciples [to go] back and walk no more with him” (Joh 6:66). What was it that caused this? It was the statement we have just quoted – “the flesh profiteth NOTHING” (Joh 6:63). This statement is still causing “many of His disciples to [go] back [to the flesh] and walk no more with Him.” It is the “inward [spiritual] Jew”; it is “circumcision… that is of the heart IN THE SPIRIT” (Rom 2:29); and it is the spiritual “Israel of God” (Gal 6:15-16)] who “are counted for the seed” (Rom 9:8). Hence the symbol of “144,000… 12,000 from all the tribes of Israel” is the symbol of the true “Israel of God” (Gal 6:15-16).

The Singleness That is in Christ

Here is Paul’s concern for all of his converts.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity [Greek: singleness] that is in Christ.”

Are you beginning to see the singleness of our calling? We Gentiles ‘were’ in the past ‘aliens from the commonwealth of the twelve tribes, of Israel’, but now we are ‘made nigh by the blood of Christ.’ Just how close to the twelve tribe commonwealth are we now? “NOW THEREFORE YE [GENTILE EPHESIANS] ARE NO MORE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE [12,000 FROM EACH TRIBE] SAINTS. In other ages [this] was not made known… as it is now revealed… THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOW HEIRS [with the 144,000 of the ‘commonwealth of Israel’], and of the one man and of the same body, AND PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE in Christ by THE [ONE SINGULAR] gospel” (Eph 2:19 and 3:6).

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye [Gentile Ephesians] are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

When was this finally revealed to mankind?

Eph 3:5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

“We [Gentile Galatians] AS ISAAC are the children of promise” (Gal 4:28). “Jerusalem which now is… answers to Agar [Not Sarah, as the whole Christian world believes] and is IN BONDAGE WITH HER CHILDREN” (Gal 4:25).

What says the scripture? Here is what the scriptures say about who the 144,000 are and who they are not. Some Christians actually acknowledge that we Gentiles Christians are “the son of the freewoman.”

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

There is not one Christian in 1,000 who will acknowledge that Jerusalem that now is, is “the son of the bondwoman” and is likened to Hagar. “Cast out the bondwoman and her son.” When Paul quotes that verse out of the Old Testament, he is equating “Jerusalem that now is and is in bondage with her children” with Hagar, the bondwoman. Paul deliberately explains himself by continuing to quote: “For the son of the bondwoman [outward Israel] shall not be heir with the son of the free woman [Sarah, Gentiles who are “Jews inwardly”].

Here now is the truth. Can we accept the Truth?

WE [Gentile Galatians] ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF THE BONDWOMAN, BUT OF THE FREE [The “bondwoman,” Paul says is those who “are Jews outwardly” (Rom 2:28); “Agar… [is] Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” (Gal 4:25); “Which is called the circumcision” (Eph 2:11)],

The Gentile converts in Christ are the true ‘circumcision’ (Rom 2:29 and Php 3:3), the true ‘Jew’ (Rom 2:28-29), and the true ‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6:15-16)].”

Paul’s statement that there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ is not to be understood to mean that there is no Jew, but rather, “HE IS A JEW WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY” (Rom 2:29). “Circumcision availeth nothing” is not to be understood as there is no circumcision as “WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION” (Php 3:3). What Paul is saying is what Christ said: “THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING… [and] is but dung” (Joh 6:63; Php 3:7). 12,000 from each tribe is not to be understood as ‘outward’…’children of the flesh’ because we are plainly told “these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the [144,000 – 12,000 from each tribe of Israel] seed.” That is those who are “counted” as opposed to “a great innumerable multitude.”

Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted [144,000] for the seed.

“These are they which… are virgins” (Rev 14:4). Whom do the scriptures reveal these ‘virgins’ signify?

2Co 11:2 I have espoused YOU [Gentile CORINTHIANS] to one husband that I might PRESENT YOU AS A CHASTE VIRGIN UNTO CHRIST.

What Does 144,000 Symbolize?

To answer this question, we need to notice that the scripture declares that ‘God owns the cattle on 1,000 hills’.

Psa 50:10  For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Does this verse mean that He therefore does not own the cattle on hill 1001? Is that what the scripture is saying? Of course not. Neither are the “virgin…first fruits” limited to exactly a physical count of 144,000. No, the explanation of these symbolic “… An hundred and forty and four thousand… [is simply] that these were REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH… REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN, BEING THE FIRSTFRUITS UNTO GOD AND TO THE LAMB.”

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

The 144,000 “were redeemed from the earth… These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” It is clear from the revelations of Paul that those “IN CHRIST” are the “ONE SEED” to whom “ALL THE PROMISES” apply. So it is apparent that the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14, and the “one seed” of Galatians 3:16 are, in reality, one and the same. They are the “firstfruits.” They are those to whom “ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD IN HIM ARE YEA, AND IN HIM AMEN’, UNTO THE GLORY OF GOD.”

Why 12,000 from each tribe, you ask? Numbers are as symbolic as anything in scripture.  The number twelve symbolizes foundational government, whether of Ishmael, who is the symbol of Abraham’s, after-the-flesh, firstborn (Gen 25:16 and Gal 4:25), or physical Israel, whose twelve tribes symbolize the true “Israel of God” (Gal 5:15-16 and Gal 4:25-30). In reality, of course, we are told of physical Israel “these are NOT the children of God: but the children of promise are counted for the seed” (Rom 9:8 and Gal 3:16 and 26-29). The apostle Paul is not mentioned among the twelve foundations of “the wall of the city” (Rev 21: 14) simply because, as he himself put it, he was “as one born out of due time” (1Co 15:8), not ‘out of place’. The omission of the name of the apostle Paul in the names of the foundations of the New Jerusalem no more keeps the apostle Paul from being part of that foundation, than the omission of the name of the tribe of Dan keeps that tribe out of “all the tribes of Israel”. Twelve is symbolic of God’s foundational works, and the apostle Paul was certainly a part of that foundation, and the tribe of Dan is certainly one of “all the tribes of Israel.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Read The Spiritual Significance of the Number Twelve for more clarification on the meaning of this number in scripture.

When Physical Israel Will Be Saved

Someone is always going to point to Romans 11:29, “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,” and ask, “How does that verse fit into your replacement theology?” So let’s look at Romans 11 and see what it really says.

Rom 11:24  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27  For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28  As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Doesn’t this verse prove God will save Israel in spite of the fact they have rejected him? Indeed it does, but physical Jews, apart from Christ, are spiritual Gentiles, and physical Israel is simply typical of us before we came to know and be known of God:

 1Co 10:6 Now these things [that happened to Israel] became types of us…” (CLV)

So when will physical Israel be saved? Will physical Israel rule the nations of the earth during the thousand years? Paul speaks of “their [physical Israel’s] fullness:”

Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness”

Then in verse 25, he tells us when ‘their fullness’ will be:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

It will be AFTER the “fulness of the Gentiles be come in” that physical Israel will be saved.

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

When will all of this take place? Will it be during the millennium as the orthodox Christian world teaches? We are not left to speculate. We are given the exact timeline of these events. If only we would believe God’s plain spiritual words:

Eze 16:55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate

When will physical Israel be saved?

Eze 16:53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them.

Why does God do this in this manner?

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all [mankind] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all [mankind]”.

We come now to the function of the 144,000. Here is why they are called ” first fruits.” Here is the reason for their being chosen first.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Summary

We have seen that “all the tribes of Israel” represent all the tribes of this world, and that those 144,000 out of all the tribes of Israel, are the spiritual symbol of the few chosen out of the many called. See our study on The Tabernacle, The Court, and The Camp of Israel.

We know that “all the promises in Christ are yea” including the promises of the land, which is our bodies. We have seen that names of the twelve tribes are not as spiritually significant as the number twelve is itself, because twelve signifies the foundations of “all the tribes of Israel.” We have seen that there is “singleness that is in Christ” and in His Israel and in His seed and in His promises to His “one seed.” We have seen that the spiritual significance of 144,000 is the few who are numbered as opposed to the “great multitude which no man can number.” We have seen that these 144,000 out of all the tribes of Israel, are all those who are chosen out of all of the world to be Christ’s Christ, who will then be sent by Christ to be “saviors” upon mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau.”

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Finally, we actually saw the verses of scripture which reveal when all physical Israel will be saved, and we saw that it would happen “when Sodom and Samaria” are saved.

Next week, Lord willing, we will take a much closer look at what separates these 144,000 from the “great multitude which no man could number.”

Video Links

Rev 7:4-8 – Who Are  The 144,000? – Part 3
Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [ and there were] sealed an hundred [ and] forty [ and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:5  Of the tribe of Juda [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [ were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:6  Of the tribe of Aser [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [ were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:7  Of the tribe of Simeon [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [ were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:8  Of the tribe of Zabulon [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [ were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [ were] sealed twelve thousand.

Introduction

We have seen that the ‘144,000 virgins who are not defiled with men’, is a spiritual statement about a spiritual group who can be and are numbered. We saw what is and what is not a Jew, and we learned that a Jew is only a Jew if he “is one inwardly.” We saw that being a Benjamite of the stock of Israel is true only in a spiritual sense, and that being a physical Benjamite of the physical stock of Israel is to be counted as nothing more than dung. We have seen that it is only those who are in Christ who are now the children of promise and are counted for the seed of Abraham. We saw that those who can be counted are the same as the 144,000 who, in Christ, are counted for the seed of Abraham. We saw that Gentiles and Jews are now both part of the commonwealth of Israel in Christ. We saw that Paul called the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Ephesians part of the commonwealth of Israel, in Christ. We saw that the “much in every way… advantage” held by being a circumcised Jew is only an advantage when one is a Jew inwardly and is circumcised of the heart, in the spirit. We saw that when Christ declared that “the flesh profits nothing”, He was teaching Paul and us that being an Israelite is no longer a physical matter, but is now a matter of the heart in the spirit.
We saw that all of Christ’s words were in parables for the purpose of taking away from those with an understanding according to man’s wisdom, even what they had with that outward understanding. We have seen that the words of this book of the revelation of Jesus Christ are words which have been spoken by Christ, and because of that they are spiritual words which man’s wisdom cannot discern or receive. We have seen that according to Christ, “if we have seen Christ, then we have seen the Father”. We have seen that the 144,000 of each of the twelve tribes are just as spiritual as are the spiritual tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which we have been told must be in Christ if they are to be counted as the 144,000 seed of Abraham.
Finally, we saw the verses of scripture which revealed that the ‘virgins which follow the Lamb… being firstfruits’, is a direct reference to those of both Jew and Gentiles who are said to be “a chaste virgin, espoused to Christ, who are “followers of Christ,” and who are said to be “the firstfruits of the spirit… and a kind of firstfruits.”

  So now, let us get this all straight:

1) The promises are made only to “one seed”, and that “one seed” is Christ.

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

2) If we are “in Christ”, Jews or Gentiles, only then are we “counted for the seed”.

Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

3) “WE are the circumcision…” There is no other ‘circumcision.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

4) “WE… are the children of promise.” There are no other “children of promise.”

Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

5) “WE are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

6) “YE are… the children of God…”

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus..

7) We are “the Israel of God”.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 

The one thing that should be clear to ‘him that hath wisdom’ is that the 144,000 are “the firstfruits unto God”, and the ‘firstfruits’ are “of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”  “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision [ being physically circumcised or physically descended from Abraham] availeth anything, nor uncircumcision [ those who are not physically descended from Abraham] but a new creature [ is all that counts], and “as many as walk according to this rule [ that both are one, and a “new creature” is all that matters in Christ] peace be on them and on THE ISRAEL OF GOD.” Obviously the ‘Israel of God’ has nothing to do with physical descent or physical, ‘outward’ circumcision. Those counted for the seed of Abraham and counted as the symbolic144,000 are those who are “in Christ,” the “one seed” of Gal 3:16.

Here is Gal 6:15-16 in the MSG  Version:

Gal 6:15  Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do– submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!
Gal 6:16  All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God-– his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

Because it will always be the focus of the natural man, and because you and I will be persecuted for standing for this Truth, we will now consider what is the “promise made to Abraham” to which we are now heirs, and we will ask what are

‘All the promises [ which are] of God [ are only] in Christ?”

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Remember, the only way to be an heir of the promise made to Abraham is to “be Christ’s”

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Does “all the promises of God,” mentioned by Paul to Gentile Corinthians, mean only the promises of God  made to the Gentiles? If we believe what we have just been told, then the truth is that ‘in Christ we are Abraham’s ONE seed.’ 

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

If that is true then how could there possibly be any ‘promises of God’ made to Gentiles? No, there are NO PROMISES made to “the bondwoman and her son”

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

But, if you have any doubt about what promises Paul has in mind when he says ‘all the promises of God’, notice what he says on this same subject in this same book: 

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Which promises are “these promises?” They are the three promises Paul had just quoted, in the previous chapter.

To whoever these promises are made, it will once again reveal to us who Paul and the holy spirit consider to be “the Israel of God” to whom “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen.” Notice what these promises are and to whom they are made. Were they made to Israel, or were they made to these Corinthian Gentiles to whom Paul is writing? Let us see what the scriptures reveal. Here are the promises to which 2Co 7:1 refer:

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

“I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”  To whom was this promise made???

Lev 25:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,
Lev 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.
Lev 26:11  And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
Lev 26:12  And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Lev 26:13  I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them… And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” This promise is made only to Israel! And yet Paul says we are “the Israel of God,” and he applies this promise to the Gentile Corinthians who were ‘ in Christ.’

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

To whom is this promise made?

Isa 52:9  Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
Isa 52:11  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
Isa 52:12  For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.

“Depart ye… go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord… The Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem … the God of Israel will be your rereward.” This promise is made only to “His people” Jerusalem and Israel. Yet Paul says that physical “Jerusalem that now is… is in bondage” and “Jerusalem which is above… is the mother of us all,” and he goes on to apply this promise also to the Gentile Corinthians.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But J erusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Once again let us ask to whom is this third promise made?

Jer 31:1  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:9  They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Let me summarize these two verses like this: “I… will… be the God of all the FAMILIES OF ISRAEL, and THEY shall be my people… for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” Once again, this promise is made only to the families of Israel.’ Once again Paul applies it to the Gentile converts.
Yes, if ever there was a “replacement theologian,” the apostle Paul was that theologian.

Does this mean we will inherit the land?

Yes, indeed it does, if one understands what is “the land”. While the whole orthodox Christian world understands Egypt to symbolize the world and all the things of this world; while the whole orthodox Christian world sees the coming out of Egypt as coming out of the world and beginning to serve God; while the whole world understands that the giants in the land symbolize the inward more spiritual struggles we face even after coming out of Egypt, that seems to be the limit of spiritual understanding for most orthodox Christians. Even those who do see beyond that point, seem to find it impossible to accept and apply the scriptural truth that “He is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly.” But the truth of scripture is that “the land” is our bodies which we are commanded to present to Christ as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…” Physical land, like being a physical Jew, is no more than dung in the eyes of God.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things [ of the flesh] but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Understanding what is “the land” makes these statements much more meaningful:

Deu 24:4  Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that [ is] abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Jer 3:9  And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

Why are the tribes of Ephraim and Dan not mentioned?

There are two revealing facts in this 31st chapter of Jeremiah:
1) This is the chapter in which it is revealed that God has divorced Israel “according to the flesh,” 

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [ that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33  But this [ shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2) Here in Jer 31 we are told “Ephraim is my firstborn.” 

Jer 31:9  They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Yet in Rev 7:1-8 in the enumeration of the symbolic 12 tribes, neither Ephraim , nor Dan are mentioned. Ephraim was the name given to the entire northern nation also known as Israel after Solomon’s death. So in reality, only eleven of the twelve tribes are mentioned in Rev 7. Dan is left out and his name is replaced by “the tribe of Joseph.” Joseph, of course, was actually the father of both Ephraim and Manasseh. Yet Ephraim, the single largest tribe in Israel is not even mentioned. These facts simply point to the symbolism with which we are told up front, in the first verse of the first chapter, this book is “SIGNified.”
While there are no doubt other  reasons why the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are not mentioned, one purpose the omission of the names of these two tribes serves is to demonstrate that “144,000 of all the tribes of Israel”  is not to be taken physically, but it is to be understood spiritually as all who are in Christ, chosen from before the world began to be His elect. These omissions demonstrate that this book is a book of signified symbols.

Now let’s look at the other Biblical listings of “all the tribes of Israel” and see what “the sum of God’s Word” on this subject, can teach us “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” The first place we see all 12 tribes listed where all twelve are first mentioned in the order of their birth is Gen 29-30 and Benjamin in chapter 35. The order of their birth is:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.

In Gen 49, Jacob blesses all of his sons just prior to his death and the order is different:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin.

In Num 13 Moses sends one man from each tribe to spy out the land:

Num 13:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 13:2  Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
Num 13:3  And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men [ were] heads of the children of Israel.
Num 13:4  And these [ were] their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
Num 13:5  Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
Num 13:6  Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
Num 13:7  Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
Num 13:8  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
Num 13:9  Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
Num 13:10  Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
Num 13:11  Of the tribe of Joseph, [ namely], of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
Num 13:12  Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
Num 13:13  Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
Num 13:14  Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
Num 13:15  Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
Num 13:16  These [ are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Here is the order of this list:
Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Joseph of Manasseh, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, and Gad.

There is yet another order in the blessing of Moses on the twelve tribes in Deu 33. In this list Simeon is omitted, just as Dan is omitted in Rev 7. But the names of Joseph and his two sons are all mentioned. If we take Joseph’s sons as the two tribes of Joseph, we again have twelve tribes. This is their order in this list:
Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Ephraim , Manasseh, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, Asher.

In the division of Canaan in Jos 13–19, Levi is omitted, because Levi had no inheritance in the land.

Jos 13:14  Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Jos 13:33  But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

In 1Ch 4-8 both Zebulun and Dan are omitted, and Manasseh is mentioned twice. Here is the order of that list
Judah, Simeon, Ruben, Gad, Manasseh, Levi, Issachar, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher, Benjamin.

In Eze 48, there are two more lists of the twelve tribes. These two lists differ from each other, and they also differ from all the previous lists. In Eze 48:31-34, Levi is reckoned as one, and Joseph is reckoned as only one. In Eze 48:1-28, the subject is the division of the land, and Levi, who had no heritage in land, is omitted, while Ephraim and Manasseh are counted as two different tribes. 

Eze 48:1  Now these [ are] the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east [ and] west; a [ portion for] Dan.
Eze 48:2  And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a [ portion for] Asher.
Eze 48:3  And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a [ portion for] Naphtali.
Eze 48:4  And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a [ portion for] Manasseh.
Eze 48:5  And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a [ portion for] Ephraim.
Eze 48:6  And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a [ portion for] Reuben.
Eze 48:7  And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a [ portion for] Judah.
Eze 48:8  And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand [ reeds in] breadth, and [ in] length as one of the [ other] parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
Eze 48:9  The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD [ shall be] of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.
Eze 48:10  And for them, [ even] for the priests, shall be [ this] holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand [ in length], and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.
Eze 48:11  [ It shall be] for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
Eze 48:12  And [ this] oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.
Eze 48:13  And over against the border of the priests the Levites [ shall have] five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length [ shall be] five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
Eze 48:14  And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for [ it is] holy unto the LORD.
Eze 48:15  And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane [ place] for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
Eze 48:16  And these [ shall be] the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
Eze 48:17  And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.
Eze 48:18  And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy [ portion shall be] ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy [ portion]; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
Eze 48:19  And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
Eze 48:20  All the oblation [ shall be] five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.
Eze 48:21  And the residue [ shall be] for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house [ shall be] in the midst thereof.
Eze 48:22  Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, [ being] in the midst [ of that] which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
Eze 48:23  As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin [ shall have] a [ portion].
Eze 48:24  And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon [ shall have] a [ portion].
Eze 48:25  And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a [ portion].
Eze 48:26  And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a [ portion].
Eze 48:27  And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a [ portion].
Eze 48:28  And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar [ unto] the waters of strife [ in] Kadesh, [ and] to the river toward the great sea.
Eze 48:29  This [ is] the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these [ are] their portions, saith the Lord GOD.

Levi had a sanctuary “in the midst of… Judah,” but was not part of the inheritance in the land, and so is omitted. The order here is:
Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh. Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Gad
The second list in this chapter is the names of the twelve tribes on the twelve gates of the city.

Eze 48:30  And these [ are] the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
Eze 48:31  And the gates of the city [ shall be] after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
Eze 48:32  And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
Eze 48:33  And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of I ssachar, one gate of Zebulun.
Eze 48:34  At the west side four thousand and five hundred, [ with] their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
Eze 48:35  [ It was] round about eighteen thousand [ measures]: and the name of the city from [ that] day [ shall be], The LORD [ is] there.

The order here is:
Ruben, Judah, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.

Now let’s put all the listings together and we will notice that the order and the names of the twelve tribes varies greatly:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin.

Rueben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Joseph of Manasseh, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, and Gad.

Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Ephraim , Manasseh, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, Asher.
Judah, Simeon, Ruben, Gad, Manasseh, Levi, Issachar, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher, Benjamin.

Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh. Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Gad

Ruben, Judah, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.

Not one single list is in the same order as any of the others, and the names of Levi, Simeon, Dan, and Zebulun are missing from some of our lists. It has long been speculated that the tribe of Dan was omitted here in Rev 7 because it was given to idolatry at an early stage. But if idolatry at an early stage was any reason for having one’s name blotted out, then none of the tribes of Israel would be mentioned because they were all idolaters from the day that Rachel stole her father’s gods before going into Canaan with Jacob, the golden calf at Sinai, to the setting up of the golden calf in Samaria in the days of Jeroboam. All Israel is equally guilty of early idolatry.

Jdg 18:30  And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
Exo 32:3  And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
Exo 32:4  And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5  A nd when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Gen 31:17  Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
Gen 31:18  And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
Gen 31:19  And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

The one thing we should see from all these lists of the twelve tribes is that there are many different reasons for leaving out a name. It is clear that the symbolism of the names themselves is not always as important as the spiritual symbolism of the number twelve. Twelve is the number of spiritual foundations. It is the number twelve which represents “all the tribes of Israel.” This is the symbol of all of God’s elect whom He has called out of all the nations of the earth.

Deu 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

So the tribe of Judah is, for the first time in any listing of the twelve tribes. placed first. Levi, which had no inheritance with the tribes of Israel, is included in this list here in Rev 7, the tribe of Dan is not even mentioned, while the tribe of Ephraim is called the tribe of Joseph. Scripture has a reason that goes beyond simply having no set order for listing the tribes of Israel, and the one thing we have established is that physical words, including these physical names of the twelve tribes of Israel, are spiritual symbols for those who will be the foundation of the government of the kingdom of God upon this earth. The symbol of spiritual foundations is the number twelve. That is far more important than the inclusion of the tribe of Dan in the listing of those who will be the kings and priests unto God, and who are promised to “rule the nations with a rod of iron.” Eph 2 makes clear that the commonwealth of the twelve tribes of Israel, is no longer a physical commonwealth of physical Israelites, but a “one body” and a “one new man” of those who are “in Christ.”
Getting back to Eph 2, it is here that Paul explains why he appropriates ALL THESE PROMISES MADE TO ISRAEL TO HIS GENTILE CONVERTS:

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ [ and what does being ‘without Christ’ mean?] BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, and strangers from the covenants of promise [ not capable of being one of the 144,000] having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus, ye who we at one time afar off [ at one time in the past] are [ NOW] made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Just what does “the blood of Christ” accomplish? It made Israel and the Gentiles “BOTH ONE”, one “inward Jew,” one “circumcision… of the heart, in the spirit,” and one “Israel of God”] for to make IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN [ Israel and Gentiles] ONE NEW MAN… AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH [ ISRAEL AND GENTILES] unto God IN ONE BODY…” (vs.12-16). What room is there in this statement for two Jews, two circumcisions or two Israels? “He is NOT A JEW WHICH IS ONE OUTWARDLY…” (Rom 2:28). “They Which are the children of the flesh, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: BUT THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED” (Rom 9:8). “We [ Gentile Galatians] brethren, as Isaac ARE CHILDREN OF PROMISE” (Gal 4:28). It is ONLY “the children of promise” who receive the promises. Will the Physical twelve tribes be ruling with those who “as Isaac are children of promise?” “What saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son [“Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” (vs. 25)] FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN” (Gal 4:30). So who then, will be “heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29)?: “Now WE, BRETHREN, as Isaac was, ARE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE” (Gal 4:28) “So then, brethren we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free” [ and “heirs according to the promise”] (Gal 4:31). Apparently, so far as God is concerned, “THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING” (Joh 6:63).
We are told that Christ made one statement that caused “many of his disciples [ to go] back and walk no more with him” (Joh 6:66). What was it that caused this? It was the statement that we have just quoted “the flesh profiteth NOTHING” (Joh 6:63). This statement is still causing “many of His disciples to [ go] back [ to the flesh] and walk no more with Him.” It is the “inward [ spiritual] Jew;” it is “circumcision… that is of the heart IN THE SPIRIT” (Rom 2:29); and it is the spiritual “Israel of God” (Gal 6:15-16)], that “are counted for the seed”(Rom 9:8). Hence the symbol of “144,000… 12,000 from all the tribes of Israel” is the symbol of the true “Israel of God” (Gal 6:15-16).

The Singleness That Is In Christ

Here is Paul’s concern for all of his converts.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity [ Gk. – singleness] that is in Christ.”

Are you beginning to see the singleness of our calling? We Gentiles ‘were’ in the past ‘aliens from the commonwealth of the twelve tribes, of Israel’, but now we are ‘made nigh by the blood of Christ.’ Just how close to the twelve tribe commonwealth are we now? “NOW THEREFORE YE [ GENTILE EPHESIANS] ARE NO MORE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE [12,000 FROM EACH TRIBE] SAINTS. In other ages [ this] was not made known… as it is now revealed… THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOW HEIRS [ with the 144,000 of the ‘commonwealth of Israel’], and of the one man and of the same body, AND PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE in Christ by THE [ ONE SINGULAR] gospel” (Eph 2:19 and 3:6).

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye [ Gentile Ephesians] are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

When was this finally revealed to mankind?

Eph 3:5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

“We [ Gentile Galatians] AS ISAAC are the children of promise” (Gal 4:28). “Jerusalem which now is… answers to Agar [ Not Sarah, as the whole Christian world believes] and is IN BONDAGE WITH HER CHILDREN” (Gal 4:25).
What saith the scripture? Here is what the scriptures say about who the 144,000 are and who they are not. Some Christians actually acknowledge that we Gentiles Christians are “the son of the freewoman.”

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

But there is not one Christian in 1,000 who will acknowledge that Jerusalem that now is, is “the son of the bondwoman.” and is likened unto Hagar.
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son.” When Paul quotes that verse out of the Old Testament, he is equating “Jerusalem that now is and is in bondage with her children” with Hagar, the bondwoman. Paul deliberately explains himself by continuing to quote: “For the son of the bondwoman [ outward Israel] shall not be heir with the son of the free woman [ Sarah, Gentiles who are “Jews inwardly”].

Here now is the truth. Can we accept The Truth?

WE [ Gentile Galatians] ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF THE BONDWOMAN, BUT OF THE FREE [ The “bondwoman,” Paul says is those who “are Jews outwardly” (Rom 2:28); “Agar… [ is] Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” (Gal 4:25); “Which is called the circumcision” (Eph 2:11)], 
The Gentile converts in Christ are the true ‘circumcision’ (Rom 2:29 and Php 3:3), the true ‘Jew’ (Rom 2:28-29), and the true ‘Israel of God’ (Gal 6:15-16)].”
Paul’s statement that there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ is not to be understood to mean that there is no Jew, But rather,  “HE IS A JEW WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY” (Rom 2:29). “Circumcision availeth nothing” is not to be understood as there is no circumcision- “WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION” (Php 3:3). What Paul is saying is what Christ said: “THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING… [ and] is but dung” (Joh 6:63; Php 3:7). 12,000 from each tribe is not to be understood as ‘outward’, ‘children of the flesh,’ because we are plainly told “these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the [144,000 – 12,000 from each tribe of Israel] seed.” That is those who are “counted, as opposed to “a great innumerable multitude.”

Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [ are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted [144,000] for the seed.

“These are they which… are virgins” (Rev 14:4). Whom do the scriptures reveal these ‘virgins’ signify?

2Co 11:2 I have espoused YOU [ Gentile CORINTHIANS] to one husband that I might PRESENT YOU AS A CHASTE VIRGIN UNTO CHRIST.

What Does 144,000 Symbolize?

To answer this question we need to notice that the scripture declares that ‘God owns the cattle on 1,000 hills’.

Psa 50:10  For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Does this verse mean that He therefore does not own the cattle on hill 1001? Is that what the scripture is saying? Of course not. Neither are the “virgin” “first fruits,” limited to exactly a physical count of “144,000.” No, the explanation of these symbolic “… An hundred and forty and four thousand… [ is simply that these were REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH… REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN, BEING THE FIRSTFRUITS UNTO GOD AND TO THE LAMB”

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [ and] forty [ and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

The 144,000 “were redeemed from the earth… These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” It is clear from the revelations of Paul that those “IN CHRIST” are the “ONE SEED” to whom “ALL THE PROMISES” apply. So it is apparent that the 144,000 of Rev 7 and 14, and the “one seed” of Gal 3:16 are, in reality, one and the same. They are the “firstfruits.” They are those to whom “ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD IN HIM ARE YEA, AND IN HIM AMEN’, UNTO THE GLORY OF GOD” 
Why 12,000 from each tribe, you ask? Numbers are as symbolic as anything in scripture.  The number twelve symbolizes foundational government, whether of Ishmael, who is the symbol of Abraham’s, ‘after- the- flesh’, firstborn (Gen 25:16 and Gal 4:25), or physical Israel, whose twelve tribes symbolize the true “Israel of God” (Gal 5:15-16 and Gal 4:25-30). In reality, of course, we are told of physical Israel “these are NOT the children of God: but the children of promise are counted for the seed” (Rom 9:8 and Gal 3:16 and 26-29). The apostle Paul is not mentioned among the twelve foundations of “the wall of the city” (Rev 21: 14) simply because, as he himself put it, he was “as one born out of due time” (1Co 15:8), not ‘out of place’. The omission of the name of the apostle Paul in the names of the foundations of the New Jerusalem no more keeps the apostle Paul from being part of that foundation, than the omission of the name of the tribe of Dan keeps that tribe out of “all the tribes of Israel”. Twelve is symbolic of  God’s foundational works and the apostle Paul was certainly a part of that foundation, and the tribe of Dan is certainly one of “all the tribes of Israel”.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Read The Spiritual Significance of The Number Twelve on iswasandwillbe. com

When Physical Israel Will Be Saved

Someone is always going to point to Rom 11:29, “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,” and ask, “How does that verse fit into your replacement theology”? So let’s look at Rom 11 and see what it really says.

Rom 11:24  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27  For this [ is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28  As concerning the gospel, [ they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [ they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Doesn’t this verse prove that God will save Israel in spite of the fact that they have rejected him? Indeed it does, but physical Jews apart from Christ, are spiritual Gentiles, and physical Israel is simply typical of us before we came to know and be known of God:

 1Co 10:6 Now these things [ that happened to Israel] became types of us…” ( CLV ).

So when will physical Israel be saved? Will physical Israel rule the nations of the earth during the millennium? Paul speaks of “their [ physical Israel’s] fullness:”

Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness” 

Then in verse 25, he tells us when “their fulness” will be:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

It will be AFTER the “fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

So when will all of this take place? Will it be during the millennium as the orthodox Christian world teaches? We are not left to speculate. We are given the exact time line of these events. If only we would believe God’s plain spiritual words:

Eze 16:55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate

When will physical Israel be saved?

Eze 16:53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them.

Why does God do this in this manner?

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all[ mankind] in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all[ mankind]”.

So we come now to the function of the 144,000. Here is why they are called ” first fruits.” Here is the reason for their being chosen first.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Summary

We have seen that “all the tribes of Israel” represent all the tribes of this world, and that those 144,000 out of all the tribes of Israel, are the spiritual symbol of  the few chosen out of the many called. See our study on The Tabernacle, The Court, and The Camp of Israel.
We have seen that “all the promises in Christ are yea” including the promises of the land, which is our bodies. We have seen that names of the twelve tribes are not as spiritually significant as the number twelve is itself , because twelve signifies the foundations of “all the tribes of Israel.” We have seen that there is “singleness that is in Christ,” and in His Israel, and in His seed, and in His promises to His “one seed.” We have seen that the spiritual significance of 144,000 is the few who are numbered as opposed to the “great multitude which no man can number.” We have seen that these 144,000 out of all the tribes of Israel, are all those who are chosen out of all of the world to be Christ’s Christ, who will then be sent by Christ to be “saviors” upon mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau.”

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Finally, we actually saw the verses of scripture which reveal when all physical Israel will be saved, and we saw that it would happen  “when Sodom and Samaria” are saved.
Next week, Lord willing, we will take a much closer look at what separates these 144,000 from the “great multitude which no man could number.”