Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 157

Hello again,

S. Spencer.

I understand that we think differently on this topic. You were not very specific on how you differ from my thoughts and I take that as an indication that you do not wish to further this discussion. I respect that. God's blessings to you, too, this evening.

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but theysmell not:"They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat." Hello mate

Hi Gigi

I have that slightly different but that's ok.

Thanks for responding and God bless you.

Hello S. Spencer.

I agree that in the first 20 years of church life, the believers were almost entirely Jews.

I believe that God set everything in motion for the church to become mostly Gentiles by the time Peter wrote his epistle and Paul wrote Romans around 60 A.D. God was bringing about what Paul speaks about in Romans 10-11 in the decades after the council of Jerusalem, that is that there will be a blindness placed upon the Jews until the fullness of Gentiles are brought into the church and then the blindness will be lifted and the Jews will come to salvation.

As Paul worked diligently in his mission work he always started with preaching in the synagogue before he went into the city to preach to Gentiles. As time went on, it can be noted that he met with increasing hostility by the Jews in both Jerusalem and in the dispersion until he realized that God had brought to fruition what God had revealed to him would happen with the Jews and he recorded it in the book of Romans 10-11.

By the 50's and 60's where Acts record this blinding of the Jews and the eager reception of the gospel by the Gentiles, the Jews who were eager to receive the gospel in the first 20 years were still in the church. However, the numbers of new Jewish converts dwindled in the second 20 years. This led to many of the Jewish Christians to leave the synagogues as their place of worship and teaching and create house churches.

By the time of Paul and Peter's deaths, the church was primarily Gentiles and has been for 1900 years due to the blinding of the Jews until the fullness of the Gentiles were saved.

So, when I read Peter, I am aware that he is speaking to Jewish believers. However, unlike dispensationalism, I do think that what is recorded in the gospels, Acts and Epistles is as much for us as it is for Jewish believers. As gentile believers we are to be wise as to the errors of the Jews and to stay strong in the face of doubt and trials so that we, too, are not blinded.

Dear Fellow Christian,

I will pray for you to have a safe flight and travels. No matter how we feel about traveling we should always commit our plans to God in prayer.

2 Co.5.16 "in the flesh"

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

"wherefore"- The reason is set down in the first two verses. The building of God is built in the heavens but our spiritual body we have built to our size from Christ, so abiding in Christ is vital while we are in the flesh. For this reason we walk not by sight but by faith. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." This spiritual body built to size has one single measurement and it is patterned after Christ who is a sign in heaven as well as in our heart a spiritual space. This knowledge of Christ, 2 Cor.4.6 gas to grow from glory to glory and it is here the significance of the firmament plays its vital role.' The firmament 'sheweth his handywork'

James in his epistle makes clear, "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass/ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was./But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (Jas.1.23-26) Faith with works is required if one is committed to abide by the everlasting Covenant. His blessing does no come, no matter what imposter churches may teach, once saved is always saved' but by following the perfect law of liberty so you may be sons of God.(Ro.8.14) The Parable of the Wedding Guest is about a man who was naked because he dared to enter into wedding banquet with out putting on the dress issued free by the House. Without abiding i me can do nothing. The nations cast into the outer darkness must have followed the heresies peddled by imposter churches." For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon

Luke 19:10

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

blessings

Col.1.19 "Fulness of God"

God named the firmament Heaven, which serves the sign while the Word was God is a sound. God set the tree of life which is a sign. What does the voice of the Lord do? "The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon." (Ps.29.5) It is thus in Christ all three principles, they are the rule of Three are reconciled. Parables of Jesus brought the natural world and the world framed by the word of God in him found resolution. The kingdom of heaven is like a net which when drawn up shall cast all offending nations to fire. "And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?"(Isa.40.16-18) The earth abides forever because the saints redeemed from the earth are counted and elected according to the book of life and of the Lamb.(Eccle.1.4) Principle of Association also meets him since the tree of life bears leaves, "the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."(Rev.22.1-3) 12 manner of fruits refer to the gospel and the pure water of life is pure because of the blood shed by Jesus Christ. Also significance is the river from Eden is signified by the firmament.

A principle is the ultimate basis for the work of God, so the above principles when completed shall come down from heaven and rest in mid-air. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Rev.21.1-3)."The Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light., and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" ( Col. 1.12-13).

Once again, thank you Jesse. I have a question that I hope you don't mind answering. How does someone like me who only knows the English language truly understand the Scripture. It seems like if you know Hebrew and Greek, the meaning of certain words takes on a whole knew meaning. That's why I love your posts. You have clarified some of the Scripture for me. I am fascinated by the meaning of certain words in the Hebrew and Greek languages. Thank you once again!

Mt.13.41 "Mahanaim" (2 of 2)

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity."

The Son of man came into his own but he was rejected because it was -your hour'. His rejection by the Jewish nation was engineered by Satan,' but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.' (Lk.22.53). The nation was offending his kingdom so cleansing of the temple was not simply a protest but declaration of the kingdom of 'his dear Son'. Zeal for His holiness drove him to act and it was sign that shall come to pass. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity".(2 Tim.2.19)

Parable of the dragnet tells us of a word-wide web that we can conclude from the manner the living creatures went about in accordance with the Word which was God. God named the firmament Heaven and it is a sign for Christ that declares His handiwork. The work of God is that the world believe in the Son whom He sent. By rejecting him the wrath of God is revealed from heaven.(Rom.1.17; Jn 6..28-29) The four living creatures made a grid of sorts, " When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went."(Ezek.1.17) Think of the Lord's host representing the Mahanaim experience for Jacob must work with as well, is it not?

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:/Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away./ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,/And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." After this parable the Spirit asks us, "Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord."

Gen.32.1-2 "Mahanaim" (1 of 2)

"And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him./And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim."

This encounter is continuation of the vision he saw of angels, behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."(28.10-12). He was on the way to Haran. Now he is returning from the house of Laban. The name Mahanaim refers to the Lord's host. Micaiah, the prophet of Israel can help us with it. "And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left."( 1 kgs 22.19) This illustrates the verse,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Simply put these are the overspreading eagle wings, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust."(Ps.91.1-4) In the vision of the ladder Jacob saw " And, behold, the Lord stood above it," (28.13). The angels descending and ascending recalls the four living creatures in the vision of Ezekiel. The Similitude of a ladder sets heaven and earth reconciled in Jesus Christ who said, "I am the Way" This does not change even in death. Stephen saw "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God," And he slept.( Acts 7.56).

The firmament is a sign and it shows the handiwork of God. It is thus Christ dwells in us by faith and when Jesus claimed 12 legions of angels, he spoke the truth."Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"(Mt.26.53) Does not man have free will? He could have saved himself but his obedience to the Word came first. " But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

Amen Brother Jesse.

I was focusing on the recipient of the word elect, EKLEKTOS, in 1 Peter. "a specific designation for Jewish people. The elect of God.

I read that and never put much emphasis on it "from that particular verse" I did on others but not that one. It's like I just passed over verse 2!

That's why I said, "Sometimes we forget to consider that, and factor that in when we read these scriptures".

I carry that on over to Matthews 24 and other places.

Thanks, and God bless.

Hi again Gigi.

Another look at the early Church in Acts 11.

Acts 11:19-21. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word TO NONE BUT UNTO THE JEWS ONLY.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Thats all I have for tonight Gigi.

Goodnight and God bless.

Hi Gigi.

I said I suppose Peter is speaking to Jewish believers being that the early church started out with mostly "if not all Jews.

Here's why.

The early Church began in Jerusalem. Not at 1 Peter.

Many Jews turned to Christ after His death upon the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

We see the rapid growth of the Church in Acts 2 "in Jerusalem" where they started! The Lord added to the Church daily.

Multitudes of priests turned to Christ! They were all Jewish!

By the time you get to the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 the Church "IN JERUSEALEM was all Jews, and 16-18 years passed between the events in Acts 2 (the day of Pentecost) and the Council of Jerusalem described in Acts 15.

The council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 was roughly around 50 AD. Roughly around 20 years after Christ death on the cross.

1 Peter was written around 63 AD and he wrote to the DIASPORA! He addressed them that way in 1 Peter 1:1. Roughly around 30 years after Christ death on the cross. Peter opened the doors for the Gentiles, but his primary message was to the Jews.

The Gentiles eventually grew in numbers due to the Churches Paul set up on his journey but due to slow travel and Paul's often imprisonment we have no way of knowing the numbers before Paul was martyred around 67 AD.

In 70, the local Christians all left Jerusalem and went to Pella, on the other side of the Jordan, where they disappeared. Jerusalem had prestige and was the spiritual center of the Church, but Pella was just one small town out of many!

Antioch became the closest thing to the center of Christianity after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Paul also spent time bearing the Lord's name before Jews also.

In Acts 9:15 we see that Paul was a chosen vessel to bear the Lord's name before the children of Israel as well.

"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL"

God bless.

(1 Peter Part 7):

1 Peter 2:4 - To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

To whom (Christ), coming, and please notice that this is a Present Participle, coming. To whom continually coming, as unto a living stone (the living stone is Christ), disallowed, or rejected of men, but chosen of God, and precious.

He's now introduced as a living stone. This is the word LETHOS. It's not the word PETROS, or PETRA. It's the word LETHOS which is a medium size stone. It's larger than a PETROS, but not as big as a Petra. So, He was rejected by men, but by God He is elect and precious.

1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

You also, as lively stones, and the word lively is an Old English word for living. It's the same word for Jesus Christ, and it's the same wording, LETHOS, only it's plural.

1 Peter 2:6 - Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

He says wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, (from Isaiah 28:16), Behold, I lay in Sion, or Zion. You'll hear Jewish people call it Sion also. I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, that's a LETHOS, elect, and precious: and he that believes upon Him shall not be confounded.

And the word confounded means embarrassed, or to withdraw yourself. The bible tells us that when Christ comes, the non-believers are going to look for places to hide, whereas the believer is going to run out because their Lord has come.

Interesting that even in the Hebrew scriptures, God said a chief cornerstone is going to come who's elect and precious, and the that believes upon Him shall not be embarrassed, or withdrawn. The word (not) by the way is Double Negative, shall never be confounded, or ashamed, or withdrawn.

(1 Peter Part 6):

1 Peter 2:3 - If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

So, if indeed you have received Christ, if indeed you have been feeding off of His truth, and found that He is gracious, he says keep going. If you've been born of the seed of God, the word of God, then continue to grow by feeding on His word that feeds your reasoning process.

There are two words that I want to share that I think is absolutely necessary to know to be able to fit in and understand the Jewish Literature section of the bible. There are two words in Hebrew, one represents good, and the other represents bad or evil. The Hebrew word for good is the word TOV. The Hebrew word for bad or evil is RAH.

Now here's how it works in Hebrew:

In creation, you'll remember that after the various days of creation, it said God looked at what He had created and saw that it was good, everything was good. Well, the Hebrew word for good TOV) means it is serving the purpose for which it is created. Now Rah is the opposite. If something is bad or evil, it's basically functioning in a way that it was not created to function.

And that really puts into proper focus about sin, about doing good, about doing bad, doing evil, is that as a sinner, I function in a way that God did not design for me to function. It's not according to my purpose that He has for me.

I wanted to share this now because it says in the last line of Verse 3, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. In the Greek text, it says the Lord is useful. The corresponding Hebrew word is TOV. If you have tasted that the Lord is functioning in a way that He is meant to function, then continue on.

If you have tasted from Christ and found Him to be true, and found Him to be the Messiah, and found Him to be the Savior, then continue on. The Lord is useful in the way that He functions and in His relationship to us.

(1 Peter Part 5b):

1 Peter 2:2 Continued

Now the word for "word," you would think that it would be the word for the word of God or for scripture, but it isn't. It is the word LOGIKOS, and it pertains to the reasoning process of man. We get our English word logical from this term. And so, it's not milk of the word. It's milk for the reasoning process. It's milk to feed your mind. And it is without duplicity. It has no double meaning.

The only other place where LOGIKOS is found is in Romans Chapter 12 Verse 1. It's the word reasonable, except is doesn't mean your logical service. It means your service is coming out of your reasoning process. You serve the Lord with thinking things out and making your decisions to obey Christ.

So, what Peter is saying is that as newborn babes, desire the sincere, that is, it means what it says, milk of the reasoning process. It's the milk that feeds the reasoning process. And the purpose clause: in order that you might grow in it.

(1 Peter Part 5a):

1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

After having done this, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:

Well, wouldn't you know it, the text is not as easy as it sounds. As newborn babes, there are different phases of growth in the Christian life. Both Paul and Peter mentioned milk as being the food for young Christians, infants, people who have just come to know the Lord.

Peter here, and then Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, he said when I first ministered to you, I fed you with milk. Now you should be able to eat solid food but you're still not able, and you're still drinking milk. And that was a five-year period that he said you should be able to start eating solid food. But milk is for infants, babes, newborn Christians. There's nothing wrong with that.

There's no problem, until you've known the Lord for 10 to 20 years and you're still drinking milk. That's a problem!

But desire the sincere milk. The word sincere is the negative form of the word guile. It's without deception, or literally without duplicity, and it literally means no double meaning. That's what deception is. You say one thing, but you mean another. Well, with the milk that you're fed with, you don't have to worry about it tricking you or not saying what it says. It is without duplicity. It has no double meaning. It means what it says, the intent of the inspiration of the writer as he wrote it.

Brother Spencer,

We do know that Peter was the apostle to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles, and that Peter wrote both his letters to the diaspora. However, I am unable to speak one way or another on the number of Jewish and Gentile believers there were in the early church as this is not something that I have considered in the past. I wish I had some information to share with you, but I have nothing, sorry! I would be interested if anyone has any factual knowledge to share, perhaps with numbers and references. But yes, I do agree with you in that in our studies, it is beneficial to take into consideration who the writers are speaking to.

Blessings to you!

Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

Blessings

God bless you

bless yall keep reading and understanding

The excellence of Christ's priesthood above that of Aaron is shown. (1-6) The great excellence of the new covenant above the former. (7-13)1-6 The substance, or summary, of what had been declared was, that Christians had such a High Priest as they needed. He took upon himself human nature, appeared on earth, and there gave himself as a sacrifice to God for the sins of his people. We must not dare to approach God, or to present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his merits and mediation; for we are accepted only in the Beloved. In all obedience and worship, we should keep close to God's word, which is the only and perfect standard. Christ is the substance and end of the law of righteousness. But the covenant here referred to, was that made with Israel as a nation, securing temporal benefits to them. The promises of all spiritual blessings, and of eternal life, revealed in the gospel, and made sure through Christ, are of infinitely greater value. Let us bless God that we have a High Priest that suits our helpless condition.

7-13 The superior excellence of the priesthood of Christ, above that of Aaron, is shown from that covenant of grace, of which Christ was Mediator. The law not only made all subject to it, liable to be condemned for the guilt of sin, but also was unable to remove that guilt, and clear the conscience from the sense and terror of it. Whereas, by the blood of Christ, a full remission of sins was provided, so that God would remember them no more. God once wrote his laws to his people, now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them, courage to profess them, and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the Spirit of God will

The excellence of Christ's priesthood above that of Aaron is shown. (1-6) The great excellence of the new covenant above the former. (7-13)1-6 The substance, or summary, of what had been declared was, that Christians had such a High Priest as they needed. He took upon himself human nature, appeared on earth, and there gave himself as a sacrifice to God for the sins of his people. We must not dare to approach God, or to present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his merits and mediation; for we are accepted only in the Beloved. In all obedience and worship, we should keep close to God's word, which is the only and perfect standard. Christ is the substance and end of the law of righteousness. But the covenant here referred to, was that made with Israel as a nation, securing temporal benefits to them. The promises of all spiritual blessings, and of eternal life, revealed in the gospel, and made sure through Christ, are of infinitely greater value. Let us bless God that we have a High Priest that suits our helpless condition.

7-13 The superior excellence of the priesthood of Christ, above that of Aaron, is shown from that covenant of grace, of which Christ was Mediator. The law not only made all subject to it, liable to be condemned for the guilt of sin, but also was unable to remove that guilt, and clear the conscience from the sense and terror of it. Whereas, by the blood of Christ, a full remission of sins was provided, so that God would remember them no more. God once wrote his laws to his people, now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them, courage to profess them, and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the Spirit of God will

Ecclesiastes 8:1

"Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed."hi

Hello S. Spencer,

I do think that Peter had the Jewish believers dispersed around the known world by the time He wrote these epistles. But also, by the time that most of the apostles met their martyrdom, most of the church would be Gentile due not only to the outreach of Paul to the Gentiles, but of Peter ( Acts 10), Phillip (and the eunich), Thomas is said to have gone to India, and the others who followed Jesus; command to bring the gospel to the whole world beginning in Jerusalem, then spreading out through Samaria and all of Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and elsewhere soon after Paul met with the apostles in Jerusalem in Acts 15.

If God intended for the gospel to spread throughout the Mediterranean area, He would provide the call and means for the apostles and the other disciples (such as the 120 in the upper room) to take the gospel well outside of Jerusalem, thus reaching dispersed Jews along with Gentiles. It is clear from history that Gentiles greatly outnumbered dispersed Jews and the gospel spread speedily among the Gentiles. Romans 10 and 11 speak of this fact that the Gentiles where receptive to the gospel, while Jews, in general were not.

We do not know much of where Peter preached and travelled although we know he was in Rome before his martyrdom. As for the other apostles, the Scriptures do not tell us about their evangelization. We know John was active in Asia Minor and Antioch, appointing bishops until he was exiled to Patmos in the 90's.

I am wondering why you say that most believers were Jewish when Peter wrote his letters. What information can you give me.

Dear Kimberly,

I am so sorry that you have not been in contact with your living one or your grandson this past year. And it is so hard to lose a child, so I will pray for you and this distressing situation. May God lift from you the grief you are encountering and bring you peace despite the things that are so hard to bear. May God bring your son and grandson to you soon and may He bless these relationships in great ways that lift all of you out of the disconnect that exists.

Amy,

I will lift up prayer for Foxxy. I hope she is breathing better soon.

Ezek.9.1

""He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." (Ezek.9.1)

Last in the series we began with Ezekiel ch.9 and having discussed the significance of the number 6 we have in v.1: God sends group of six men with slaughter weapons, and they have charge over Jerusalem. Considering four angels presiding over the course of the river from the garden (Gen.2.10), it is certain that these six form only a minuscule of the angelic host attendant upon the Lord of Sabaoth. We have a number "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Mt.26.53). Each legion consists of 6000 angels and 12 as a number informs us that it is pressed into service so the word sent forth shall always prosper and never return to him in void. As the word become flesh it is his prerogative if need be, but as Son of man he would not. In truth he was the Word which 'was with God'. " and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side."(v.2) Thus according to the principle of Similitude the presence of the Angel of the Lord with six having their weapons in hand represent the word of God.

"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?/ And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so." ( Joshua 5.13-15) God insists upon holiness from man. No nation is exempt.

Eph.2 14 "Christ the Mediator"

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us"

The great divide as we covered in a series of posts is to create a state where God may be all in all. The world framed by the word has the great divide between what is holy and what is not. North south divide sets judgment weed out the nations between light and darkness. Inheitance of saints in light allows no middle wall of partition. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."Gal.3.28). Imposter churches build up on partitions so congregation on white and ethnic minorities goes contrary to the voice of God. The beast the populist leader preaches 'vox dei vox populi' but coming out of the sea his authority arises from the devil (Rev.13.1). Saul erred because he feared the voice of the people and went against the voice of the Lord. This made his sin symptomatic of the nation of Israe. In rejecting the Son the nation of Israel was judged. Speaking of Saul we have the Spirit giving him the tag Six to show he was the son of perdition, "And the people that were with him were about six hundred men." The angel in the vision of Ezekiel uses the measure, 'a measuring reed of six cubits long,' (the warning,'and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee'-Ezek.40.4-5) At the end of the book the total volume of the city is 18,000 (6x6x6x1000). " It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there."(Ezek.48.35) This city is the outer darkness while New Jerusalem is lit by the light of the Lamb, and the volume is 12x12x1000. God called the firmament Heaven where the great divide between the heaven and earth framed by the word of God. In this ministry of reconciliation the nation of Israel per se has no inheritance. The Lord is there so is the tabernacle of God among men.(Rev.21.1-3)