How All Nations can Become the Israel of God Through the Plan and Purpose of God

Okay, the title today is How All Nations Can Become the Israel of God Through the Plan and Purpose of God. As we look at the world today, of course, we have so much unrest going on in the world. We see what's happening domestically as the president has been impeached by the House of Representatives, and this morning the Republicans began their defense, and that will continue for a couple of days or so. Then it will go from there. Who knows exactly what's going to happen there? And on the world scene, of course, Turkey had another severe earthquake with 22 dead and many injured. And then, great demonstrations in Iraq yesterday, demonstrating against the U.S. The U.S. get out of Iraq, and of course, if the U.S. gets out of Iraq, you remember that ISIS had already taken over much of the northern part of Iraq after the U.S. had withdrawn a lot of its troops. And then we find out that in this rebuttal attack that came from Iran after the death of Soleimani, that their rebuttal attack, indeed, injured. I read, I think it was yesterday, the headline, that 32 U.S. troops are suffering from rather severe brain damage. When you have an explosion like that near you, of course, it does things to your head. So on the world scene, the nations desperately need to become a part of the Israel of God, and there's so much more yet to go. Really, we are seeing the beginning of sorrows. This sermon on how all nations become the Israel of God through the plan and purpose of God could be one of the greatest learning experiences in your life, but it requires effort and attention and follow-up to do so. The reason I say this is because it will show you the unity of the Bible. The Bible is like a beautiful tapestry woven together like a beautiful Persian rug around a central theme. And what is that theme? The theme is God's awesome plan for bringing sons and daughters to glory in the family and the kingdom of God. You will see the principle of the Bible interpreting the Bible. I call that, in some cases, progressive revelation because a topic is introduced in the New Testament, and then it's further explained and expounded upon in the Old Testament. It's introduced and further expounded and expanded in the New Testament. You'll come to understand more clearly what prophecy is all about. You will see the principle focus of prophecy is the establishment of the kingdom of God.

And you will see that the kingdom of God begins with the Church of God. How often did Mr. Armstrong say, The Church of God is the kingdom of God in embryo. The theme of the Bible is the kingdom of God, the family of God, and how each person who has ever lived can enter the kingdom and become members of that family. Unfortunately, so many of our people were and are—I don't think it's as much as it used to be— are caught in the prophecies that deal with the enemies of the kingdom of God. For example, who is the beast, when will the beast arise, where will he come from, and that kind of thing.

As opposed to what the Bible is really about is bringing sons and daughters to glory in the kingdom of God. So have you lost your focus as to what the Word of God and prophecy is all about? Basically, all the prophetic timelines that the Church has ever set have failed.

We remember the booklet, 1975, in prophecy, and then some said, Oh, well, we didn't allow for the seven years of Nebuchadnezzar's madness, so it's 1982. And then sort of after 1982, sort of gave up. Before that, there were many things like the 19-year time cycles, the 2500 years of Israel's punishment, and so on. As we see what is developing today, which we briefly rehearsed there at the beginning, if we are wise and have discernment, we'll begin to realistically see the steps for the development of world government are rapidly falling into place.

So how will that end time begin, in which the mark of the beast will be enforced, and there will be world religion and world government? Will it come about through diplomatic channels in which the nations come together and agree some kind of peace treaty, or will it come out of a great worldwide war and conflagration that involves all nations, and then some kind of peace treaty coming out of that? I don't know for sure.

I doubt if anybody really knows for sure. In Daniel 12.10, and in the sermonette we heard about being wise as serpents, harmless as doves, the Bible speaks quite often about being wise. In Daniel 12.10, and Daniel 12 is a prophecy for the end times, and Daniel shows clearly how that after the abomination of desolation is placed, a countdown begins. And it says in Daniel 12.10 that only the wise shall understand what is really going on in this world. Are you abreast, or are you asleep? Have you buried your head in the sand, or are you aware?

Are you one of the wise, wise virgins that have their lamps filled with oil, and you continually, continually renew that on a daily basis? The promises to Abraham and to Israel, to a large degree, began with the calling out of Abraham in Genesis 12. To a large degree, how a person can enter the kingdom of God and become a part of the Israel of God, begins with the calling of Abraham in a very specific and systematic way. From that point on, there is a series of events that leads us to where we are today.

So let's go to Genesis 12 and verse 1. In Genesis 12 and verse 1, Abraham and his family were living in what is modern-day Iraq, or the Chaldees, as it was called in ancient times. He was told to get out of that country and go to a land that God would show him. So in Genesis 12 and verse 1, Now the Lord had said unto Abram, had said, at some point, and don't know exactly when, Get you out of your country and from your kindred and from your father's house unto a land that I will show you.

I shall make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. Of course, Abraham and his descendants, those who kept the commandments of God, were a blessing wherever they went. And of course, the descendants of Abraham were great colonizers, and many of the blessings followed them. But the key blessing of how all nations can become a part of the Israel of God.

See, the Israel of God is not by physical descent. It's not because your DNA has the same DNA as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Your DNA might have come from Ham. It may have come from Japheth. But it is for a different reason, as we shall see. I will bless them that bless you. And of course, the Jews, especially in their fundraising and also in the fundamentalists who fundraise for the Jews, use this verse all the time.

I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you, and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. And what we will see today is how all the families of the earth are blessed. These promises were passed on to Isaac. Look at Genesis 26. Remember that Abraham and Sarah were without child, and he had been promised many years before the birth of Isaac that they would have a son. In fact, as they were waiting, Sarah convinced Abraham that he should go into her handmaiden, Hagar, and have a child by her. And so he did, and that child's name was Ishmael.

You can read about Ishmael in the book of Genesis, that Ishmael says he was a wild man, and his hand shall be against every man. Eventually, Ishmael married into the family of Esau, and Esau is Edom. So, Edom and Esau have been deadly enemies of Israel and the promises from the time that Jacob and Rebekah deceived Isaac into giving the birthright to Jacob. But here we see that the promise is passed on to Isaac.

Genesis 26.1, there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham, and Isaac went onto Abimelech, king of the Philistines, into Girar. And the Lord appeared unto him and said, Go not down into Egypt, dwell in the land which I will tell you of. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you, for unto you and unto your seed will I give these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham your father. So hear that promise and oath that was made to Abraham in Genesis 12.3. It is passed on to Abraham. And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto your seed all these countries, and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Notice in verse 2, Go down into Egypt. See, when Jesus Christ was born, Herod put out a decree to kill all the babies two years younger. And an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told them to take the child, Joseph and Mary, into Egypt. Then after this, the promises were passed on to Jacob. So let's look at Genesis 32. We're bypassing 32 verse 22. We're bypassing the account. We have mentioned how Rebecca and Jacob plotted to have the birthright given to Esau. Esau was a harry man. He was a hunter. He was Isaac's favorite. And Jacob was Rebecca's favorite. And so, Rebecca and Jacob hatched a plot that they would deceive Isaac. His eyesight was failing. And so, he was tricked into giving, that is, Isaac was deceived into giving the birthright to Jacob. And Esau sold the birthright for a bowl of porridge or a bowl of soup. So here we are in Genesis 32.22. And he arose up that night and took his two wives and his two women servants and his eleven sons and passed over the forward jebok. This is talking about Jacob. And he took them and sent them over the brook and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint. So the hip joint, out of joint, oh, how much pain that must have been as he wrestled with him. And he said, let me go, for the day breaks. And he said, I will not let you go except you bless me. And he said unto him, what is your name? And he said, Jacob. Now, Jacob literally means supplanter. Jacob had supplanted his brother and had deceived Isaac in giving the birthright to Jacob. And he said, your name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel. For as a prince have you power with God and with men and have prevail. Notice it. This is the origin of the name Israel. Any name that ends in E-L in Hebrew, L-E-L is one of the primary names of God. So the literal meaning of Israel is prince of God or ruling with God. And Jacob asked him and said, tell me I pray you your name. And he said, wherefore is it that you do ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved. So evidently the one who became Jesus Christ was the one who wrestled with Jacob that night.

The Israel of God is going to rule and reign with God and Christ over the entire universe, age without end, forever and ever. There are two Israels. There is physical Israel and there is spiritual Israel. There are two Jerusalems. There is physical Jerusalem and there is spiritual Jerusalem. Let's notice now in Isaiah 54, verse 1, we shall see from Scripture what I have just said of two Israels and two Jerusalems. And here we begin to see how the Bible interprets the Bible, or you might call it progressive revelation, because you would be challenged to say dogmatically what Isaiah 54.1 is speaking of if you didn't have the New Testament. Sing, O barren, you that did not bear, of course Sarah was in that condition before the birth of Isaac. And by analogy, the church is in that condition until the saints are birthed at the resurrection. Sing, O barren, you that did not bear, break forth into singing and cry aloud, You that did not travail with child for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the Lord. Now we go to Galatians chapter 4, and we see how that is expounded upon, enlarged, and explained in the New Testament. Galatians chapter 4, and we'll be beginning in verse 22.

Here Paul rehearses the Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac story. He says that Hagar and Ishmael correspond to the old covenant because it was of the flesh. It was not by promise, it was not by faith. Whereas the birth of Isaac was by promise and by faith. So, verse 22, Galatians 4.

Just as there are two Israels and two Jerusalems.

And the physical Israel and the physical Jerusalem basically corresponds to the old covenant. The one from the Mount Sinai, and that's where the law was given, and Israel entered into the old covenant at Sinai. And you read about that in Exodus 24.

Which genders to bondage. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and answers to Jerusalem, which now is physical Jerusalem and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem that is above is free. In other words, spiritual Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all. And that's where we get the saying, and I believe it is a truism, that the church is our mother. That we are nourished, we are begotten, and in the embryonic stage in the womb of the mother, the church, until we are born at the resurrection into the family of God. For it is written, Rejoice you barren, that bear not.

Break forth and cry you that travail not, for the desolate has many more children than she which has and husband. Now, brethren, as Isaac was, you are the children of promise. You are the Israel of God. And the Israel of God, as we shall see and as we've already noted, is composed of all nations, all ethnic groups, all kindreds and tongues.

Now, we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. Why are we the children of promise? Because it is of faith. And so, by analogy, we are like Isaac, that we are to be born of promise and of faith.

So, we see that the promises began to be fulfilled in the church of God. We want to look at Galatians 6, 16. We go forward a page or two to Galatians 6, 16. Now, there are a few other places that refer to the church as a holy nation, but here is about the only place you're going to find it, just the Israel of God. In Galatians 6, and we'll read verse 15 as well, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, and that's what the Jews were circumcised under the whole covenant, nor uncircumcision, basically the Gentiles, were not circumcised, but a new creation. That's what counts, becoming a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy upon the Israel of God. Hence the title, How All Nations Become Members of, Part of, The Israel of God. The Old Covenant was a national covenant. It was made with all nations. The whole nations gathered there before Israel, before Moses, and they agreed to enter into the Old Covenant. The New Covenant is made on an individual basis, individually and specifically. You must come before God and Christ, humble yourself, repent, exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ, be baptized, symbolizing death in the old man, be raised in newness of life. One of the greatest difficulties in rightly dividing the word of truth centers on the ability to discern between that which applies physically and that which applies spiritually.

Historically, the Church of God, I'd say for the past 90 years, close to 100, has had difficulty in distinguishing between that which applies physically and that which applies spiritually. In my view, we have heard at times in emphasizing the physical over the spiritual. For example, we have emphasized that the promises to Abraham were that of, and we had a saying back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, race and grace, the promise of race. Actually, it was national blessing, not necessarily based on just race, even at that time. And so there's some truth to that that, of course, Abraham and his descendants were blessed when they obeyed God. But there have been very few examples in all of history, including ancient Israel and including the Church Age, which began Pentecost 31 A.D. to the present day in which a nation, a nation obeyed God. There were a few called-out ones who did. We have to remember that God is not a respecter of persons, and none of us is superior to anyone else based on our physical descent or our socioeconomic status. We might have been born to sharecroppers, as I was, in the poorest state in the Union, the bait between Mississippi and Arkansas. Or you may have been born in the lap of luxury in one of the fine millionaire's homes in the east in New England, or wherever it might have been. But with God, look at Romans 2.11, there is no respect of persons. It does not have to do with socioeconomic status or anything that is of the flesh. In Romans 2.11, short verse, glory, honor, and peace to every man that works good to the Jew first, also to the Gentile. For there is no respect of persons with God. God is very anxious for the Iranians, for the Iraqis, for the Chinese, for anybody to become a part of the Israel of God. Now, this virus that has attacked China in Huuan, the city of 11 million, they have locked down the city, and they've locked down a lot of the entire nation of China, with its 1.45 billion people or more. And this coronavirus is a deadly thing. It says people were dropping on the streets of Huuan like flies.

And now there are two cases that have been reported in France, one in the U.S., and it is very contagious. Some have even projected that worldwide 63 million people would die, but who knows about that? I don't. But I do know it's very serious. So it wouldn't matter what your lineage is, where you're from. No matter how misguided we might have been, or those of color might have been, I believe that one of the major reasons why the majority of our black brethren remain with the worldwide Church of God, even though the worldwide Church of God said that the law of God, the immutable spiritual law of God, no longer has to be obeyed, that the Sabbath can be any day of the week. I believe that the majority remain because of the continual emphasis on physical blessings that were come to certain peoples based solely on their physical descent. That is not what the Bible teaches. Some have approached the promise of national blessings as unconditional. However, we can look at numerous passages in the Old Testament, especially, and see that the blessings were conditional. Look at Leviticus 26. We oftentimes talk about the blessings and cursings chapters. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. What are the conditions for the blessings? Leviticus 26, verse 13. I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their bondmen, and I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you go upright. But if you will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments, and if you shall despise my statues, or if your soul abhors my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you break my covenant, I also will do this unto you. I will even appoint you terror, consumption, and the burning ague that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart, and you shall sow your seed in vain, or your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, you shall be slain before your enemies, they that hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. Oh yes, there are many admonitions to that effect in the Old Testament. The plan of salvation centers on how one can become a part of the Israel of God, how one can become a begotten and born member of the spiritual family of God, and inherit the promise made to Abraham, which promise is spiritual. Does the Bible confirm that? Let's look at Galatians chapter 3. Galatians chapter 3.

Galatians chapter 3, beginning in verse 14. Galatians chapter 4, beginning in verseeco, beginning in verse 6. Galatians chapter 3, beginning in verse 6. Galatians chapter 6, beginning in verse 6. No, that's not what it says. It says that the blessings of Abraham might come on the nations through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. It is not through the flesh. It is of faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a man's covenant. Yet if it be confirmed, no man dissinels or adds there, too. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said, Not as two seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to your seed, which is Christ, and Christ can trace his lineage back to Abraham. And it is traced back to Abraham. But the blessing is through Christ. Now we pick it up in verse 26.

And if you be Christ, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Of course, we have had our identity groups, and there are identity groups still today. We've had some in this area. And if I were to call the name, you would immediately recognize the name. But I won't be doing that. We have identity groups, especially in Missouri, in Idaho, in different parts, who claim that the only way that you can be saved, you have to be a physical descendant of Abraham. Which, of course, I have gone over this with such people many times. And the Bible is so very clear on it. You know, with regard to the kingdom of God, we have to remember what the Scripture says. Let's look at John 3, verse 6. What is the state of your being when you enter into the kingdom of God?

In John 3, verse 6, Jesus is debating with some of the leaders of the day that came to him wanting to know about how to enter the kingdom of God.

In John 6, verse 3, Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples, and the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was at hand. And Jesus then lifted up his eyes, saw a great multitude come with him. He said unto Philip, Why did you come? I have reversed this. I want John 3, 6. In John 3, verse 6, He is born of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto you, You must be born again. And we can turn to 1 Corinthians 15, and verses 50, 51, especially 1 Corinthians 15, 50, which says flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So you have to be born of the Spirit. When are you born of the Spirit? At the resurrection. Now, with the laying out of hands, you do receive the earnest of the Spirit. Now look at John 1, 12. Once again, we'll start in verse 10, speaking of Jesus Christ. John 12, verse 10. He was in the world, the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own. Jesus came to the Jews. And his own received him not.

But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God. See, there are two classes of sons of God. They are sons of God by creation. Adam and Eve were sons and daughters of God through creation. And the reproductive process was set in motion. And they are born of the flesh, as we'll see. But there is another birth. Become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of men, but of God.

Born of God at the resurrection of the just. You know, the clear teaching of the Bible is that we are spiritual Jews. You look at Romans chapter 2. Back when I first came up here from Houston, we spent a good bit of time with Romans. I gave you a handout, probably in 2012, somewhere long in there, titled, Mastering the Book of Romans.

In chapter 1, Paul takes the Jews to task. In chapter 2, he takes the Gentiles to task. In chapter 3, he takes everyone to task. But in chapter 2, he shows us clearly who is a Jew in the spiritual sense, whether they be Jew, whether they be Gentile. In Romans chapter 2, verse 25, For circumcision barely profits if you keep the law, but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Therefore, if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision. You see, even here in this verse, it is saying, look, you're not superior just because you are of a certain physical descent. Verse 28, For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh, 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.

In my view, we cannot overemphasize the importance of how we can become spiritual Jews. The true recipients of God's mercy are those who have been called, they have repented of their sins, exercised faith in the sacrifice of Christ, been baptized, and received the Holy Spirit in the laying out of hands. That is the process whereby our hearts can begin the spiritual circumcision. God's forgiveness and mercy can be extended to anyone who allows the word of God and the spirit of God to circumcise their hearts and be recipients of God's forgiveness, and to have their sins blotted out and receive the spirit of God in their minds and hearts.

God will save those who are true recipients of His mercy. Spiritually, they are spiritually circumcised Jews, regardless of physical, ethnic, or any other parameter we might want to give. One of the things that people ask, and I used to be asked this time, all the time in classes at Ambassador, why did God begin with the Jews? Why Israel?

Israel, as a nation, was called out of Egypt and delivered from slavery way back in the days of Joseph. So why Israel? There were only 70 families that went down into Egypt from the land of promise during the famine. So when did God choose Israel? In Egypt, there was already a great civilization. There were already other cultures of prominence, the extent in the ancient world. Even some in Africa, other than Egypt, Egypt is in Africa, in Asia, and other parts. Look at Ezekiel 16. Ezekiel 16 describes what Israel was like when God came along and called them and blessed them that they might be a model nation. They would serve as a type. And what was to be their goal? Their goal was to be the same as our goal. Their goal was to bring all nations into a relationship with God. What is the goal of the Israel of God? It's to bring all nations into a relationship with God. In Ezekiel 16, verse 1, Again, in the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Better take a drink of water I am running out of gas and fluid.

Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say, Thus says the Lord God unto Jerusalem. And so this is like a satire, taking them back. Oh, you think you're so great now? Look, let's go back and rehearse what you were really like when I took you under my wing. You know, the old saying goes, You know, make a dog prosperous and he will not bite you. Make a man prosperous and watch out. And say, Thus says the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Your birth and nativity is of the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. Say, Abraham came from over the Galdes. And as for your nativity in the day that you were born, your navel was not cut. Say, you were still like a newborn. You were an ugly mess.

Your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to supple you. You were not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None I pitted you to do any of these unto you to have compassion upon you, but you were cast out in the open field to the loathing of your person in the day that you were born. You were slaves down in Egypt. I called you out. I made you a great nation. What did you do? You played the harlot. And when I passed by you and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said unto you, When you were in your blood, live. Yes, I said unto you, When you were in your blood, live. I've caused you to multiply as the bud of the field, and you increased and waxed great. You are come to excellent ornaments, your breast or fashion, and your hair has grown, whereas you were naked and bare. Now when I passed you and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love. And I spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness. Of course, nakedness can also be symbolic of sin. Yes, I swear unto you and entered into covenant with you, says the Lord God, and you became mine. And he goes on talking about what he did with them. He washed them. He anointed them with oil.

So it came to the point that in the days of Solomon, it was one of the greatest kingdoms on the face of the earth. In fact, here comes the queen of Ethiopia, Sheba. Queen Sheba comes up to visit Solomon, to see of his great splendor and his riches. And she says something like, the half is not yet been told of the glory of the splendor. But of course, Solomon, a thousand women, three hundred wives, seven hundred concubines, or it might be seven hundred concubines, three hundred wives, one or the other. And then you look at verse 15. Well, let's read 14. And you're renowned among the heathen, the nations, for your beauty, for it was perfect through my commonness, which I had put up when you said, the Lord God. So who would bless you and made you that way? God did. He was with them. But you did trust in your own beauty, played the harlot, because of your renown, poured out your fornications, and everyone that passed by, his it was. And of your garments you did take and decked your high places with different colors, and played the harlot thereupon, high places where they worshiped the pagan gods. The like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.

And it goes on describing more and more.

The book of Hosea, if you would turn there, is an allegory showing how Israel went astray, as we just read here from Ezekiel.

There are some important parts to consider here with regard to understanding certain things in the New Testament. Hosea, right after Daniel.

The word of the Lord came unto Hosea. Hosea means salvation. Hosea is a type of Christ in a sense. The son of Bari, in the days of Usya, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, king of Israel. The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea, and the Lord said to Hosea, Go take you a wife of Hordim's and children of Hordim's. So Hosea is depicting what Israel had become. We read from Ezekiel 16 what God had made Israel into. A great nation. He cleaned them up and all of that. Now they had become this nation of Hordim's.

For the land had committed great Hordim's, and I'm sure there was physical, but it's mainly talking about spiritual, departing from the Lord. So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblium. Diblium literally means double cake of figs, which is symbolic of sensual pleasure. Gomer, the daughter of Diblium, which conceived and bear him a son.

And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel. Now understanding the name of Jezreel is important, because Jezreel literally means God sows. God can sow destruction or he can sow restoration. In almost all of the minor prophets, what it shows at first is the sins of the people, God sowing destruction, and then the plan and promise of restoration. So here, first of all, it's destruction. Call his name Jezreel for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. And will cause and cease the kingdom of the house of Jezreel.

So the northern ten tribes, the kingdom, ceased to exist. And eventually the Assyrians came and took them captive. They became known as the lost ten tribes of Jezreel. And it shall come to pass that day that I will break the bow, and bow is symbolic of military strength and might. I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. Now, the valley of Jezreel is a big plain that begins up somewhere around Samaria, shaped like a funnel, brought up at the top, and then comes down and narrows into Jerusalem.

A lot of great battles have been fought on the plains and the valley of Jezreel. And she's conceived again and bear a daughter. And God said, call her name, Lo Ruhama. Now, in Hebrew, when lo proceeds a noun, it means not. So, ruhama means mercy. So, this literally means call her name, not having received mercy, as we shall see in the next verse. For I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away.

And we're going to see how this is fulfilled by the church in just a few minutes. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah. So Judah continued another 120 years and will save them by the Lord their God. At the end of the age, as described in Zechariah 12, Israel, modern day Israel, will be surrounded by armies.

And eventually God will deliver them and destroy the enemies. Will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horse, nor by horseman, but ally. God will save them supernaturally. Now, the narrative about Hosea's children, Gomer's children. Now, when she had weaned lo ruhama, she conceived and bear a son. Then God said, call his name Lo Ami, not my people. Ami means my people.

For you are not my people, and I will not be your God. So if you want to mark that, Hosea, too, will come back there later. Now we'll go to 2 Peter 1. So exciting to see the beautiful way that the Bible is woven together. The Bible interpreting the Bible, the progressive explanation and expounding of the promises of God in the New Testament. And we'll see two things here.

In Isaiah 16, verse 28, it talks about laying a stone in Zion, a rock of a fence and a stone of stumbling. And that is Christ. In 1 Peter 2, verse 3, If so, you also have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living stone, and that living stone is Christ.

Upon this rock I will build my church, Jesus said, Big Rock, Petra, whom coming as unto a living stone, this lad indeed a man, a chosen of God and precious. You also, as living stones, that you and I, if we have God's Spirit, are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, and this is Isaiah 28, 16, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, erect, elect, precious, and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. And of course, that is Christ. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious, but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same has become the head of the corner. And Jesus Christ, of course, is the head of the church. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, he came to his own, his own received him not, as we read from John 1, verse 10. A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. But you, and this would apply to you, ye, specific, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. See, the Israel of God, a holy nation. Peter is writing to the people in Babylon, mainly the Gentiles. Of course, there were some Jews left after the Nebuchadnezzar took the Jews captive in 604 to 585 B.C.

But mainly writing to Gentiles, They purchased people that ye should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now, verses 10 and 11, remember what it said in Hosea 1, call her Lo-ruhama, call her Lo-ami. She's not obtained mercy. She's not my people.

Now, look at verse 10, Which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God, Ami, which have not obtained mercy, but have obtained mercy, Lo-ruhama. And so you see how that is fulfilled with the church. Now, we go to Romans, Chapter 9. Romans, Chapter 9, remember what we said, Romans 1 takes the Jews to task, Romans 2 takes the Gentiles to task. We talked about becoming a spiritual Jew. Romans 3, 23 says, All of sin comes short of the glory of God. Now we go to Romans, Chapter 9. Verse 3, For I could wish myself, or a curse from Christ, For my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh, Who are Israelites, that is, Israelites according to the flesh, Who are Israelites to whom pertains the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises, Whose are the fathers? And of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, Christ came from fleshly Israel in the physical sense, Who is over all God blessed forever. Amen. Not as though the word of God had taken a non-effect, For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. It sounds like a contradiction. But in Isaac shall your seed be called. Why in Isaac? Because Isaac was born of promise and of faith, and so is the church of God. Born of promise and of faith. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, they are not the children of God. Brethren, this is the word of God. It is not Don Ward 101. It is the word of God. But the children of promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And we have covered that. Now we look at verse 25. And he said also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people, Ami, and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said, unto them you are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God. You see the beauty of the unity of the Bible. Now we go back to Hosea chapter 1. We left off after reading verse 9. This wonderful promise here. Brethren, I, of course, see your body language. I see every facing and movement about. I know those who are with it. I know those who are really concerned about learning, mastering the Word of God and those who are not. Brethren, I urge you at this critical, crucial time in human history that you become zealous for the Word of God.

In verse 10, Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea. How? Through the Israel of God. You see, we just read from 1 Peter 2, from Romans 9, where they were not my people. They are now called the people of the living God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea. This will also apply physically, because God will also restore physical Israel. And bless them upon their repentance, which cannot be measured nor numbered, and it shall come to pass in a place where it was set into them, you are not my people. There shall it be set into them. You are the sons of the living God. We just read it from 1 Peter 2 and Romans 9. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves, O King James. The translation should read, And they shall recognize one head, who will that head be? Jesus Christ. And they shall come up out of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel, God sows what? He now sows restoration. Sows them back into the land. Look at chapter 2, verse 16. And it shall be at that day, that day is a prophetic utterance that means at the beginning of the millennium, At that day, says the Lord, You shall call me Ishe, and shall call me no more Baeli. For I will take away the names of Baelim out of her mouth, and they no more be remembered by their name. And in that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, similar to the covenant in Isaiah 11, which was the lamb and the lion, and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground. And I will break the bow of the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betrothe you unto me forever. Yes, I will betrothe you unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness. I will even betrothe you unto me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord. How beautiful is the Word of God! The promise is what Amos talks about. So we go forward a few pages to the last chapter of Amos, Amos chapter 9. What did I say? I said the Church of God is the kingdom of God in embryo.

The promise here that Amos makes. Do you know where in the New Testament this is explained? As we shall see, it's explained at the Acts 15 conference. Showing that, the promise here begins with the Church.

In Amos chapter 9 verse 11, In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that has fallen. See, the tabernacle of David. The tabernacle is where God placed His presence. And close up the breaches thereof, and I will raise up its ruins. And I will build it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom. Now, there's controversy about Edom and Adam, and whether this should be of Adam or Edom. But either way, it's the same. And all the nations, because of this next phrase, All the nations which are called by My Name, says the Eternal, that does this. Now quickly to Acts 15. The much talked about Acts 15 conference, which you almost never hear about this part of it. Because when James gets up after the much disputing over whether or not one had to be circumcised in order to be justified, James pronounces what they must do.

Verse 13, Acts 15, 13.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren hearken unto me, listen to me. Simon had declared how God had the first to visit the Gentiles. Remember that Peter went to the house of Cornelius, and the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and it was made known that God has also made the Holy Spirit available to the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets as it is written. Now guess what he quotes, what I just read from Amos 9.

After this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up that the residue of men might seek after the eternal, and all the nations, the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord God, who does all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Brethren, we've only scratched the surface of the wonder and the beauty of the Word of God, and what God expects us to do in the times like this, to become a real student of the Bible, to really understand what the Bible is about. God is calling all peoples and all nations into a relationship with Him, and just as physical Israel was called out to do that initially and failed, He has called out the church, as we read from 1 Peter 2, for us, and commissioned the church to take this message to the uttermost parts of the earth. Brethren, I hope that we all get on board, that we all see the big picture and realize who we are, what we are, and what we need to do.