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Pentecost and Ekklesia
buildontherock
2015-06-212021-01-01

God has shown us that there are three spiritual harvests. The process starts with Passover but the first reaping is Christ at the first omer. He is the first of the firstfruits and is represented by the wave sheaf at Unleavened Bread. Next is Pentecost the firstfruits which includes Christ again but now as husband. There are two loaves waved at Pentecost. These represent Christ and the Church. The Feast of Tabernacles and The Last Great Day are the final harvest. God Called Israel out of Egypt and gave us a Pattern for Life from their example. They were never intended to spend so long in the wilderness but to start as they did with the example under Joshua. We have no Physical Temple or Tabernacle or priesthood but the meaning of those loaves is even more powerful today. We have to compensate with spiritual understanding to make it really a part of our Pentecost service since we have no physical harvest or High Priest either.

What is a Church?

If we try to determine the meaning of the word from its Greek etymology then we could completely misunderstand the word. Etymology is defined as the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

In the New Testament, the word church is typically translated from either of two greek words, ekklesia or kuriakos. The English word Church actually comes from the Anglo Saxon word circe which is derived from the Greek noun kuriakon and relates to the adjective kuriakos which means belonging to the Lord. If we therefore limit our search to translating back to the Greek then we will thoroughly mislead ourselves.

The Church in the wilderness

The Bible clearly shows us that the meaning of a building is not what God is referring to when He is talking about Church as found in the English Bible. There was a Church in the Old Testament long before Greek society existed. The First Church that we know of is the entire nation of Israel.

Acts 7:37-39(KJV)This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

The definitions that are given in this document are taken from Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries unless otherwise indicated. The word itself tells us part of the story.

G1577 ... ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah) n.

1. (properly) a "calling out"

2. (concretely) a called out assembly of

3. (specifically, of Christ) the community of the Redeemed of Christ whether being on earth or in heaven or both

{used only of people, not a location, structure, etc. Of Christ, used only of the Redeemed, not of the unredeemed in their midst}

The emphasis above is mine. Then we can see from the extract what made them God's Church: they were given the oracles of God. The first of the oracles that they were given were the commandments. In accepting the commandments and making them a part of who they were they became the people of God. The commandments, along with some of the other information that they received to live by, is also called the Law.

Ekklesia

The other word translated church is ekklesia. As we just covered, the first Pentecost was an assembly of Old Testament Israel. The link between the Old testament Church and the New Testament Church is explained in the Book of Romans especially chapter 11. It focuses on the fact that the present Church came out of Israel, and gentiles are grafted into Old Testament Israel, as is indicated by the nationality of original members including Christ. Chapter 10 shows that Jews and gentiles are the same in Christ, i.e. in the Church. It is therefore a continuation with some modifications.

Church is then like the word Bible in the sense that, if it is not qualified by the context, it has a secular meaning. We have already looked at Acts 7:38 so let us look at some other texts. The section in Acts 19 from verse 21 to 41 is talking about Demetrius, a silversmith raising a protest against Paul.

Acts 19:32 (KJV)Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

Acts 19:39 (KJV) But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

Acts 19:41 (KJV)And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

The word 'assembly' is the same word translated as Church. In one case it was talking about the protesters and in another about a type of court. Christ goes on to show that the 'assembly' is one built and maintained by Him.

Matthew 16:18 (KJV)And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Paul further corroborates this as he links the Old and New Testaments as a part of a continuous programme.

In talking to the present Church he quotes what the Old Testament said to Israel.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16And 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.17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Isaiah 52:11-12 (KJV) 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.12For 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.

So Paul shows that what Isaiah said to the Old Testament Church was also meant for the New.

Deception

The Church is told to come out but from what? The threat to the Church has always been deception leading to corruption and violent oppression to gain power. We can trace the deception to its roots.

Nimrod

It began with Nimrod. Nimrod appropriated power to himself because of his physical prowess. He was the son of Cush, grandson of Ham, and great-grandson of Noah.

Genesis 10:8-14 (KJV) And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.9He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.11Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,12And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.13And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,14And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

1 Chronicles 1:8-10 (KJV) The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.[9]And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.[10]And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.

Nimrod is repeatedly said to be a mighty hunter but before the Lord is added. Let us look at one other place where this word is used.

Genesis 6:11-12 (KJV) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Verse 12 says that God then looked so verse 11 cannot mean that He was looking at it all along. We therefore have to look for meanings other than those which require being in one's line of vision, because these are the only ones that could possibly satisfy the meaning in verse 11. Preceeding does not make sense because there is none before God. Presented for examination as to a judge is one meaning that satisfies these criteria. The earth, like Nimrod, was constantly being raised for one reason or another therefore He carefully examined the real situation up close for Himself. This is probably what was occurring with Nimrod. Every five minutes there was another issue with Nimrod. Why would hunting be so important that they would constantly have to raise it with God? It could be that the wrong thing was being hunted; people, probably tyrants as he, Nimrod, saw them. Nimrod represented himself as one who gives peace and prosperity. He assumed God's authority to decide who lives or dies. He deceived them into believing that he was their saviour. His system persists and was identified by Micah as existing at his time.

Micah 5:6 (KJV) And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

In that verse God links Nimrod's system and legacy with Assyria. What is being described? A nation that hunts, kills and subjugates people such that they need to be delivered.

Genesis 10:10-11 quoted above, connects Nimrod to Asshur who's name is the source of the word Assyria. Ninevah is mentioned as a key city even way back then. Ashur is the god who is the head of the Assyrian pantheon in Mesopotamian religion. He is also associated with the sun in worship. Nimrod's system and the Assyrian system are one and the same. Nimrod became known as Baal, meaning LORD (the word can also mean husband) and under this title was worshipped by the Babylonians as the sun god. It is believed that this could be the origin of going to heaven at death to be with the the Lord or Baal. The key issue is a system that hunts and destroys other people in order to gain dominance and control over the lives of others; hence dog eat dog.

Mysteries

It appears as though Nimrod was the first king and Babel was his headquarters. We read in Genesis 10:10 above And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

The beginning of his kingdom was probably his headquarters. In Genesis 11:6-8, God showed His displeasure with Nimrod and his system by destroying the tower of Babel and scattering the people that Nimrod had herded together. Somebody was able to regroup people into kingdoms for the purpose of war and dominance. This fact is evident in the history of nations like Egypt and it is there that the method of perpetuating the system can be found. Somebody was able to perpetuate the system through corrupt mysterious religious tenets.

Horus in Egypt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, May 27,2015; we have

Horus and the pharaoh

Pyramid texts ca. 2400-2300 BC[5] describe the nature of the Pharaoh in different characters as both Horus and Osiris. The Pharaoh as Horus in life became the Pharaoh as Osiris in death, where he was united with the rest of the gods. New incarnations of Horus succeeded the deceased pharaoh on earth in the form of new Pharaohs...

Origin mythology

Horus was born to the goddess Isis after she retrieved all the dismembered body parts of her murdered husband Osiris, except his penis which was thrown into the Nile and eaten by a catfish,[7][8] or sometimes by a crab, and according to Plutarch's account (see Osiris) used her magic powers to resurrect Osiris and fashion a golden phallus[9] to conceive her son (older Egyptian accounts have the penis of Osiris surviving).

Once Isis knew she was pregnant with Horus, she fled to the Nile Delta marshlands to hide from her brother Set who jealously killed Osiris and who she knew would want to kill their son.[10] There Isis bore a divine son, Horus.

WikipediaHorus and the pharaohWikipediaWEBMay 27,2015

What appears in the lives of the Egyptians show that corrupt mysterious religion took over where Nimrod left off and perpetuated the system in the pharaohs. The gist of the story is that Osiris (who is identified as Nimrod) died leaving a wife. The wife claims to have born a child to Osiris long after his death and that son was heir to the throne and vested powers in his descendants, the pharaohs. From my perspective it can be reasoned that a woman who was used to power because of a physically mighty man lost all of her livelihood at his death. Neither the wife nor her descendants had the physical prowess of Nimrod. Being a crafty woman she reasoned that if she could somehow bring him back then she would once again enjoy the benefits of power. She brought him back through mysteries which corrupt the truth and explain his reincarnation through her child. These mysteries, including things like the trinity, continue in mainstream religion until today.

Baal in Canaan or Syria-Palestine

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, May 27,2015; also says:

Hadad in Ugarit

...Prior to the discovery of the Ugaritic texts it was supposed that 'the Baals' referred to distinct and local Canaanite deities. However, according to John Day, in Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan, these texts have revealed that these are simply local manifestations of one great, cosmic deity named Hadad

WikipediaHadad in UgaritWikipediaWEBMay 27,2015

Then under the general topic of 'Canaanite religion' we find

Mythology

In the Baal cycle, Ba'al Hadad is challenged by and defeats Yam, using two magical weapons (called "Driver" and "Chaser") made for him by Kothar-wa-Khasis. Afterward, with the help of Athirat and Anat, Ba'al persuades El to allow him a palace. El approves, and the palace is built by Kothar-wa-Khasis. After the palace is constructed, Ba'al gives forth a thunderous roar out of the palace window and challenges Mot. Mot enters through the window and swallows Ba'al, sending him to the Underworld. With no one to give rain, there is a terrible drought in Ba'al's absence. The other deities, especially El and Anat, are distraught that Ba'al has been taken to the Underworld. Anat goes to the Underworld, attacks Mot with a knife, grinds him up into pieces, and scatters him far and wide. With Mot defeated, Ba'al is able to return and refresh the Earth with rain

WikipediaHadad in UgaritWikipediaWEBMay 27,2015

Then under the general heading Asherah pole

An Asherah pole is a sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the Ugaritic mother-goddess Asherah, consort of El.[1] The relation of the literary references to an asherah and archaeological finds of Judaean pillar-figurines has engendered a literature of debate.

The asherim were also cult objects related to the worship of the fertility goddess Asherah, the consort of either Ba'al or, as inscriptions from Kuntillet ?Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qom attest, Yahweh,[3] and thus objects of contention among competing cults. The insertion of "pole" begs the question by setting up unwarranted expectations for such a wooden object: "we are never told exactly what it was", observes John Day...

WikipediaHadad in UgaritWikipediaWEBMay 27,2015

The asherim were also cult objects related to the worship of the fertility goddess Asherah, the consort of either Ba'al or, as inscriptions from Kuntillet ?Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qom attest, Yahweh,[3] and thus objects of contention among competing cults. The insertion of "pole" begs the question by setting up unwarranted expectations for such a wooden object: "we are never told exactly what it was", observes John Day...

The similarities between the Egyptian and Canaanite mysteries are striking and in my opinion support my earlier hypothesis that these mysteries have a common origin and the origin was Nimrod's wife attempting to procure power. These corrupt mysteries became associated with the true God will continue until Christ comes,

Revelation 17:5 (KJV)
, And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Called out

God has never liked the idea of men having kings. He scattered the people at Babel to protect us from it and He warned Israel in 1 Samuel 8 that this was not a good way to live. He showed them that it produces oppression but Israel insisted and that is our heritage.

1 Samuel 8:11-18 (KJV) And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

God has always called His church out from this type of life. He brought Israel our from the land of bondage in Egypt and gave them freedom but they enslaved themselves again as we saw in Samuel. God again tells His people of all eras to come away from that system (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Isaiah 52:11-12).

When we look around and wonder if the world is crazy we are absolutely correct. That system of faith in men to save them drives nations mad.

Jeremiah 51:6-7 (KJV) Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.7Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

God's Church will always be required to be separate from that insane system.

Revelation 18:4-8 (KJV) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.8Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

How are we Separated

If God is so concerned for us to avoid that system then He must have made some intervention to at least give mankind a fighting chance. Actually He did more than that. He showed us a process and gave each of us the means to escape. It began with the Law.

The Law

God's first stage in separating a people came at mount Sinai as we showed concerning the church in Acts 7:37-39 and that was at Pentecost. It involved an agreement based on the Ten Commandments and included the entire Law of Moses.

Exodus 19:1-8 (KJV) In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

God went on in Exodus 20 to spell out the basis of the relationship founded on the Ten Commandments. Moses goes on to record the requirements with greater and greater granularity as events unfolded throughout his life. That record is called The Law and it was perfect.

Psalms 19:7-8(KJV) The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Although the law was perfect there was a problem, a problem with their hearts.

Deuteronomy 5:28-29 (KJV) And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.[29]O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

The Spirit

The second stage had to do with altering their minds. God knew that they could not do it without the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-9 (KJV) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

That law that they agreed to would kill them without the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

God had always planned to fix the problem in Christ the first of the firstfruits. Their hearts are blind but when they are truly able to turn they will change.

2 Corinthians 3:14-18
(NET Bible) says , But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away.[15]But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,[16]but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.[17]Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.[18]And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

God shows that the Glow on Moses' face indicated an internal change. The veil shall be taken away! He had planned it from the beginning.

1 Peter 1:19-23 (KJV) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

The present Church (beginning at Pentecost) is the first to benefit although it was from the beginning.

Ephesians 1:3-5 (KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

As would have been hinted at in those readings, the solution had to do with Christ as our Passover but the vital element was changing our hearts.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 (KJV) And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:20That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (KJV) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.[26]A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.[27]And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Notice, and it will CAUSE them to follow His law.

Firstfruits

The objective of both Pentecosts is to begin to bring people out of the Babylonian system unto the living God. In the New testament God tells us why He has given us various gifts by His Spirit. It is to perfect whom He calls.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

God has His work cut out for Him in the future and we are now gaining experience to help Him. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and God will still make that happen. The Israel in the millennium will be the seat of the resurrected saints. The wave loaves show that we will join Christ and continue with Him always.

Leviticus 23:15-18 (KJV) And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:16Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.17Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

They are called wave loaves because they were presented to God by waving them in the air. They only belong to God if they meet in the air. As you can see the loaves are the same. There are various credible reasons for why there are two. One approach is that one loaf represents Christ, who is the sum total of all the people that make up the second loaf. The bible shows that they will meet in the air. Another is that on represents the ones from the grave and the other represents the ones that are alive. There is also the possibility that one represents the Jews and the other the Gentiles. I believe that one represents Christ and the other His Church.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Christ will be Chief of all but He will make the firstfruits kings to help Him transform the world.

Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The final phase

The job of the firstfruits will be to bring about the third phase when the whole world will be transformed both inside and out. The transformation begins with Israel. At this point some people switch off because they see racism. Wrong! God has not raised any colour people above another. I'll get to that. God sets about to transform their hearts so that they can live by love and reject the corruption, violence and deception. The law of love will be written in their hearts.

Hebrews 8:10-11 (KJV) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

People will live only one way and that is according to love.

Jeremiah 32:38-39 (KJV) And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:39And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

We read in Ezekiel 36:25-27 that God would clean their hearts. We see here that Israel will go on to be the example and kingdom of priests that God intended from the beginning.

Ezekiel 36:33-38 (KJV) Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.34And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.35And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.36Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.37Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.38As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Because of Israel the world will know and admire God and not Nimrod.

Ezekiel 37:26-28 (KJV) Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.28And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

God is not only concerned with Israel but all of the gentiles will also be blessed by the work of the firstfruits. Egypt is symbolic of the land of bondage.

Isaiah 19:18-25 (KJV) In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.19In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.20And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.21And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.22And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.23In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:25Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

I mentioned Assyria and Egypt as key places perpetuating the mysteries now they are partnering in support of the true God. After the great destruction of the wicked of all the earth God will set about to make it an astonishingly beautiful place to live as we find in Isaiah 11:1-9. God is not going to do all of this alone. We read in

1 Thessalonians 4:17
, Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. So the firstfruits will be with Christ when He is doing all of this work.

Racist Dogma

Are some races and colours not inferior to Israel, the promised birthright nation? Does the Church even have the right to consider itself Israel considering...? God is not racist and I will prove it. Please hear me out. We know that the Church is Abraham's seed but does it go any further? The disciples were sent to lost tribes. They could not go to Gentiles.

Matthew 10:5-6 (KJV) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The twelve tribes were scattered at that time but the apostles knew where they were.

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

Christ was sent to Israel not to the Gentiles

Matthew 15:24 (KJV) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

It was Paul that was sent to Gentiles, and kings, and finally the children of Israel. This might explain why he was so eager to finish his course, because he loved Israel and they were last on the list, or it could be that Paul knew something that most people don't.

Acts 9:15 (KJV) 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:

Many years ago I read an article by Doctor Herman Hoeh, "Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?" from "The Plain Truth" magazine, May, 1964 and that along with "Truth Triumphant" by Benjamin George Wilkinson framed my early understanding of what happened to the original church. Dr. Hoeh wrote that to identify where the lost tribes were we need to refer to James.

James 4:1 (KJV) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

He points out that since James was addressed to Israel (James 1:1) then the among you here must mean the lost tribes. Combining that with the act that the wars fought against the Romans at that time (around 60 A.D just before James was martyred) were with the British Isles and the Parthian Empire then they must have hosted part of Israel. The article was written before my time but since reading it I have never found any evidence to contradict that and it has become my conviction.

Peter identified others

1 Peter 1:1 (KJV) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Israelites lived as strangers (resident foreigners) in these lands. Paul avoided those locations because he did not want to labour on another mans foundation.

Galatians 2:8 (KJV) (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Romans 15:20 (KJV) Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

When Paul attempted to breach his boundaries he was turned back

Acts 16:6 (KJV) Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

Other apostles are identified to have gone to various areas but I will not cover that here. The point is that ALL ISRAEL had a chance to receive the invitation and ALL rejected it. It was instead preserved by the church, Abrahams spiritual seed and therefore spiritual Israel. Paul in writing to Rome referred to our father Abraham.

Romans 4:12-16 (KJV) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

God was never racist?

There is a lot of nonsense spoken about the pure white/black/green whatever colour you want of Israel. That is unbiblical just like the theory of British Israelism. I will cover the surface of the topic here. Israel was never any particular colour. Abraham started out by trying to preserve the nationality of his line but only because of the ungodly practices of the surrounding nations not their colour. This behavior continued with the other founding fathers but by the time Israel went into captivity racist behavior was purposely discredited by God.

Joseph

The birthright and the blessing was preserved in Joseph who started a half-breed (I wish there as a nicer ways to state the fact) lineage, his children Ephraim and Manasseh, were half-Egyptian. 

Genesis 41:45 [KJV] And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath–paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti–pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 46:20 [KJV] And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti–pherah priest of On bare unto him.

People nowadays think of the early Egyptians and white people encouraged by things like the portrayal of Cleopatra by Elizabeth Taylor. Is that accurate? Is the colour of the people in Egyptian hieroglyphics white? Is Cleopatra an Egyptian by descent? What do you see when you look at a sarcophagus. Are their lips thin? Are all their noses narrow and high? When you look at the sphinx with the broken off nose what nose fits the space? Of course paleness and casts seems to have been a perennial problem because people who spend their lives as workers in the sun are dark while people who live in castles are pale. Add a little pride and envy and you have casts.

Moses

Moses' wife was a cushite.

Numbers 12:1 [KJV] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Racists try to incite hatred by claiming that this was not Ziporrah but it is obvious that it was. I will not bother to go into any long argument because if you harbor that kind of hatred it will not matter. You will still find a way to believe what you want to.

Moses had children by Zipporah. Ziporrah's father was Jethro and that should tell you something about the Midianite society. The main point that I want to make however, is that Zipporah bore Moses children which were Israelites.

Exodus 4:24-26 KJV And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.  25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.  26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
Exodus 18:2-4 KJV Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,  3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:  4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

Moses was a Levite and hence there were black Levites, i.e. of the priestly line. Up to the time when Ezra et. al. wrote Chronicles following the captivity, this was a well known fact.

I Chronicles 23:16-17 KJV Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.  17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

Rehabiah produced lots of black Levites.

Miriam

Israel was not a racist society. God stamped that out with Miriam early O'clock. Miriam might have been fair er that most having been raised in the royal palace taking care of Moses. She had royal colour and thought that paleness was important to God. God showed that He wanted no part of it. God shows a bit of sarcasm with Miriam: so you want to be white well now you are white.

Numbers 12:1-10 KJV And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.  2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.  3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)  4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.  5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.  6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.  7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.  8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?  9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.  10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Gods Holy nation Israel was always mixed

You could never tell an Israelite by colour or ethnicity. From the beginning of the nation God showed His love for diversity in colour and ethnicity.

Exodus 12:37-38 (KJV) And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

You never hear this mixed multitude referred to again as a separate group. They became part of the twelve tribes. He did not say a mixed few. Over time whole groups like the Kenites (Mosess in-laws) might have been integrated into Israel. The key person Christ and other important persons came through Rahab who was a Caananite because she lived in the entrance to Canaan at Jericho. She was a whore and the ra in her name comes from Ra the sun god. This also points to the fact that from the beginning God was not so much concerned about background as a heart that honoured Him. Your colour or other elements of your background was not a primary issue.

What was it that God was doing that he was not focused on physical characteristics? In spite of all the ethnic diversity this is what He said His intention was:

Exodus 19:6 (KJV) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

From the beginning Israel was defined as kings and priests not black or white or red or yellow. What are kings and priests? Kings rule and priests intercede on the behalf of mortals with God. If there are no mortals then there are no priests. If you do not have a heart to empathise with peoples suffering then you can't be a priest. Priests have to reach out to and be accessible to people on behalf of the true God not a false god. These are the people that have always made up Israel and that is why the tabernacle was moved from the midst of Israel. They were no longer priests and lost their intended designation after the golden calf incident. Only Levi was chosen to preserve it. Israel never fulfilled their role and was rejected. They never became a nation that interceded between mortals and God. They became obsessed with their physical lineage.

John 8:37-44 (KJV) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 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. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 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.

God created a group of people who would fulfill His intended purpose and it is called the Church. Israel was the Church in the wilderness. That Church, black, white, green whatever, is now scattered but will be redeemed. Now there is another Church but God has not changed His attitude to ethnicity. The relationship that Israel had depended on the katuba and died when her husband did. At Christs death His relationship with Israel as a husband was severed and at His resurrection His relationship with the new Church began but his promises to Abraham still holds. The new Church is built on the apostles and prophets who were Israelites and some of them (like Simon the Canaanite) were black. You cannot tell an Israelite by colour just as you cannot tell who is a Christian by colour.  They marry Christ and remain with him as coregent. They are the twelve tribes of the New Jerusalem. Step back for a minute to how one became a part of Israel. Paul sums it up in Acts 7. The key was circumcision.

Acts 7:8 (KJV) And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

But they never understood. Circumcision was a covenant that indicated producing more seed for God not just multiplying. The seed was to be the kings and priests that God originally intended but Israel focussed on the physical. The job of Kings and priests no longer rests with physical Israel. Black and white they rejected it. Pentecost is talking about this new group that fulfills the role of Israel.

Romans 2 picks up where Acts leaves off. The only way that you can produce seed for God, kings and priests is if you circumcise the heart.

Romans 2:29 (KJV) 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.

So the true children of Israel in the book of Revelation are those people who have circumcised the heart. When you become an Israelite you become identified with a tribe and have all of the privileges of that tribe. The only way to become an Israelite is to be in a tribe. All of Israel was divided among the tribes. In the millennium the only way to enter Jerusalem and keep the Passover will be to become a Jew (actually an Israelite but most people consider it as the same thing).

Exodus 12:43-50 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. 50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

Countries will have to attend the Feasts but only those who have their sins covered by Christs blood will enter the Kingdom of God. Only Israel will enter the Kingdom of God. Whatever nation you are from originally you will have to become an Israelite and therefore be identified with a tribe. In the original arrangement of the tribes in the wilderness the only way to reach the tent of meeting was to go through a tribe. God will restore that. You have to go through a path or way or gate that is identified with a tribe. There is of course a lot more that I could write and I have deliberately avoided Revelation. God was never a racist and whatever background we are from He loves us just the same and has not placed ANY colour as an impediment to us. Anybody who does that is of Satan.

Christ was mixed

The people who talk all this pure white stuff must not have read the genealogy of Christ written by Luke. An cursory reading of Luke gives teh impression that the ancestry is through Joseph just like Matthew but in Luke it should be the son in law of Joseph.

Luke 3:23-32 KJV And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,  24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,  25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,  26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,  27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,  28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,  29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,  30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,  31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,  32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

Rahab was Canaanite woman from Jericho who made a deal with the Israelite spies in Joshua chapter 2. Rahab married Salmon and Boaz was their child.

So now back to the main point. The bride is the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the core of Israel and the place where God placed his name (Mrs. God, like a husband gives the wife his name). Jerusalem is the core of Israel and represents all of the tribes and their contact with God and the seat of rule or kingship. It is the kings and priests or priest-kings. Is it the church? Whatever colour or race we can be there. Is that not something to count down to?

Conclusion

Pentecost is about people working with God to bring about change. Babylon uses mysteries and oppression to convince people that it can save them and bring them prosperity but it can't. God will use His spirit to bring true salvation and prosperity and Pentecost is where it starts.