A dangerous misconception persists among Christian community: the belief that Christians has replaced the Israelites. While the belief is satisfying to hold, a more careful review of the New Testament reveals Jesus Christ never said that Christians has replaced the Israelites.
In the Book of Acts, before Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, the
disciples asked him:
“Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
To this, Jesus responded:
“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesess unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.” (Acts 1:7–8)
Here you see that Jesus Christ answered the apostles “He doesn’t know when the kingdom will be given back to the Israelites. Only the Father knows.”
Jesus never said that the “real” Israelites had already been set aside or removed from God’s purposes.
Jesus then added, “But you have to preach the gospel starting Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth”.
The apostles were instructed to preach to the ends of the Earth, not
solely for the purpose of preaching, but primarily because the intention of
Jesus Christ was to reach the Israelites who had been scattered across the four
corners of the world.
Then this prophecy of Jesus Christ where the Israelites will be “restored” will be fulfilled in Revelation 7 where the 144000 Israelites (by blood) were sealed in the forehead before the 7-year tribulation.
Revelation 7:4–8, kai ekousa ton arithmon tōn esphragismeñōn hekaton tesserakonta tessares chiliades esphragismenoi ek pasēs phylis huiōn Israel ek phylēs Iouda dōdeka chiliades esphragismenoi ek phylēs Rhoubēn dōdeka chiliades ek phyēs Gad dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Asēr dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Nephthalim dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Manassē dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Symeōn dōdeke chiliades ek phylēs Leui dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Issachar dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Iōsēph dōdeka chiliades ek phylēs Benjamin dōdeka chiliades esphragismenoi
(And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Iouda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Rhoubēn were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Asēr were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manassē were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Symeōn were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Leui were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zaboulōn were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Iōsēph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.)
Opposing the commonly accepted account, the 144000 is not the overall number of believers. Instead, the 144000 are the literal numbers of Israelites by blood. If the 144000 represents everyone, then God should have not said “12000 from each tribe”. The fact that Jesus Christ mention “12000 from each tribe of Israel” strongly suggests he is direct and he meant literal number of 12000 from each tribe of Israel.
Let’s be fair: The 144000 were “sealed” because they were special group of God’s people.
THE FACT THAT MANY CHRISTIANS TEND TO IGNORE
After the gathering, the Book of Revelation reveals to us that the saints were taken to Mt. Zion in heaven, where it becomes clear that it was only the 144000 Israelites by blood who were:
·
Singing a new
song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders. No one
knows the songs other than the 144000.
·
They were only
the ones described as “pure and virgins”. The Book of Revelation did not use
the term “pure and virgins” to refer to the whole number of believers, only to
the 144000 Israelites by blood.
·
The 144000 are
the only ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. The Book of Revelation
never said every saints follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
· The 144000 were referred as the “aparché”, the beginning of sacrifice. The first portion of harvest that was set apart and offered to God.
Revelation 14, “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. 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: 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. 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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
From here, we can strictly conclude that starting the “initial resurrection” the higher authority is clearly vested in the 144,000 Israelites by lineage.
By contrast, other believers were simply standing in the heavenly court, gathered in the center facing the throne where the 144,000 and Jesus Christ were. They were only described as:
·
Great
multitude from all nations who were saved.
· They were not called first-fruits and most importantly, nothing in the Book of Revelation suggests they were called “pure and virgins”. Or they follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
Revelation 7:9-17, “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; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 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, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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. 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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 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.”
As these things unfolding in Mt. Zion, the unbelievers were left behind on Earth to undergo the 7 vials of God’s anger.
Then after the 7 vials of God’s anger comes the Armageddon. Jesus Christ along with angels and the saints will come down to Earth to battle against the AntiChrist and the false teachers. Jesus Christ will defeat them, then will eventually cast them into the “lake of fire”.
Revelation 19:19-21, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”
Then the Millennium Period begins, during which Satan is imprisoned in the Abyss for one thousand years. After this, Jesus Christ will reign with the saints.
Revelation 20:1-6, “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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. 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.”
From here, it was clear that the “saints” will rule with Jesus Christ during the Millenium Period. At the same time, the Bible also maintain that the “sons of foreigners” will help the “Israelites” build their walls. These “foreigners” are none other than the Christians or other believers.
Isaiah 60, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.”
WHERE DID THE IDEA THAT THE ISRAELITES WERE ALREADY REMOVED FROM GOD’S PURPOSES?
The idea that the Israelites were forgotten or replaced emerged only
after the Second Temple’s destruction. Christians could not help but think:
since the 10 Lost Tribes were scattered first and the Jews were later dispersed
across the world, then maybe their role in God’s plan was finished. So, early
Christians like Barnabas (statement located in Epistle of Barnabas ch.13) and
Justin Martyr (statement located in Dialogue with Trypho ch.135) already
“assumed” that the covenant of Yahweh to the Israelites was dissolved. They
were simply ignoring Revelation 7.
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