Israel of God, Part 2

See that many of you are here today. We're not here last week, and we did Israel of God, Part 1, the True Inheritors, the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, in the first part today, we'll have a brief review and tell those of you who were here last week what you learned, whether you know it or not. In Part 1, we learned that the promises given to Abraham are ultimately to be given to the Israel of God. So, let's note from the Scriptures what I have just said in Genesis 12. In Genesis 12, remember, Abraham was called from Uru, the Chaldees. He crossed the Great River. The Tigers, Euphrates came into the Promised Land with his nephew Lot and his wife Sarai. In Genesis 12, in verse 3, let's read, too, I will make of you a great nation, will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.

Now, that did happen in the physical sense to some degree with Israel, and where the true culture of God, the true culture of Israel has been taken, the peoples have been blessed as a result. But the ultimate blessing is in verse 3, I will bless them that bless you, curse him that curses you, and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Now, all the families of the earth can be blessed, not in the physical sense, every last family on earth be blessed, as we talked about.

You look at Africa today, you look at India, you look at Bangladesh, you look at China, you look at so many parts of the world in which so much misery and suffering, you look at the crime, the misery, the distress, even in the United States of America, and you know that there must be something else to this. So we go to Galatians chapter 3. In Galatians chapter 3, the apostle Paul tells us what this is, that is, how all the nations of the earth, every last ethnic group, every last national group, regardless of race, color, regardless of any of that, regardless of social strata, how everyone can be blessed. Galatians 3 verse 14, that the blessings of Abraham might come on the nations through Jesus Christ, and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

It's not based on who your parents are. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man dissimoles or adds thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, he said, not unto seeds as of many, but as of one, and to your seed, which is Christ. So it is through Jesus Christ that all the nations of the earth are going to be blessed. It is through Jesus Christ that we are going to be heirs of God and join heirs with Jesus Christ, according to Romans 8, 17. Note further in this chapter, verse 26, For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. It is not based on genetic inheritance. It is based on faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of us as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek spiritually. Obviously, those national groups still exist. There is neither bond nor free. There is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. So we learned that last week. And forward into Galatians 6, verse 15, Remember the problem in Galatia had to do with Judaizers who were saying that you had to be circumcised according to the law of Moses in order to be justified.

And Paul painstakingly goes through Galatians and shows that that is not the case. That you don't have to be circumcised physically to be of the seed of Abraham. But of course, he shows in Romans how that you have to be circumcised in heart to be a Jew in the spiritual sense. In Galatians 6, 15, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace beyond them in mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Last week, we learned there is a physical Israel. And there is a spiritual Israel. Here we see spiritual Israel, the Israel of God, which is the Church of God. There is a physical Jerusalem and a spiritual Jerusalem, as we saw from Galatians 4, as Paul explained the allegory between the two covenants.

The Jerusalem that is physical is in bondage with their children, but the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all, that is the Church. We saw that there is a physical Zion, a place where David had pitched his tabernacle on Mount Zion after he had built it, and after Solomon built his temple.

Then the Ark of the Covenant was moved from David's tabernacle on Mount Zion into Solomon's temple. So there is a spiritual Zion. Now we go to Hebrews, please. Hebrews 12 and verse 19. Do you remember what we said about the book of Hebrews? That it compares and contrasts the elements of the Old Covenant with the elements of the New Covenant. There is an earthly calling. There is a physical calling. There is an Old Covenant. There's a New Covenant. There's a Levitical priesthood. There's a priesthood of Melchizedek. There are animal sacrifices. There's a sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is superior. There is an earthly temple, earthly tabernacle.

There is a spiritual temple or tabernacle, which is the Church. Paul somewhat summarizes this beginning in Hebrews 12 and verse 19. He harkens back to God speaking to Israel when he thundered the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai with what we should hear today. The contrast between the two. The sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which voice they heard, entreated that the words should not be spoken to them anymore. They didn't want God to talk to them. They wanted Moses to speak to them. For they cannot endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with the dark.

And so terrible was the scythe that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. Now, in contrast to that, where have you come today? That's verse 22. But you are come to Mount Zion, not the physical mount that's located there probably southeast of the temple Mount or Mount Moriah, where the temple was pitched by Solomon. But you are come to Mount Zion under the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels to the general assembly and church of the firstborn.

So all of these are equated, the heavenly Jerusalem, the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to Mount Zion, which are written in heaven and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. We learned last week that the name of Israel harkens back to when Jacob's name was changed. Jacob means supplanter, and Jacob supplanted his brother Esau and gained the birthright.

He and his mother, Rebecca, cooked up a scheme to deceive Isaac, and after wrestling with God, Jacob's name was changed to Israel, which means prince with God or ruling with God, something like that. We learned that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And we, from time to time, I think we place far too much emphasis on the physical.

Let's go to 1 Corinthians 15.50. 1 Corinthians 15.50 to see this, once again, plainly clearly what the Scripture says here. 1 Corinthians 15.50, Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. And, of course, Jesus Christ himself said in John 3, verse 6, that which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of spirit is spirit. So, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

But we know that in the millennium, that there will be physical beings living and that spirit beings will rule over them. Of course, obviously there will be physical leaders as well during that time. But the ultimate government will be administered by Christ and the saints over the whole earth.

We learned, let's go to Revelation 1, verse 5, we learned that resurrection can be equated with birth. And in Revelation 1, verse 5, we see that very clearly. Revelation 1.5. Let's read chapter, I mean not chapter, but verse 4 as well. Revelation 1.4, John to the seven churches which are in Asia, that's Asia Minor, Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, which was, which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne. Now, that's God's throne. Now, we see in verse 5, and, and in addition, and, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the prokotic host. The old King James has first begotten, new King James has firstborn, which is correct. The firstborn of the dead, and how did he, how was he raised? Well, it was through resurrection. The firstborn of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, and him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. We learned that the biblical definition of a Jew is one who is circumcised in heart. Let's go to Romans chapter 2. Romans chapter 2.

In Romans 2.28, where he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. In other words, it's not just cutting of the foreskin of the physical of a human being, because in this case, both men and women can be spiritually circumcised. Of course, there are many tribes in Africa, and one of the most brutal, horrible things that continues to this day is, quote, circumcision of women, girls, a horrible thing. 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 today, we're going now to trace the history of the two Israels and the two Covenants, and show how they are fulfilled by the Israel of God. We'll also see how restoration of the nations begins with the Church of God, and that is one of the most exciting things that you can possibly learn and understand. That is, once again, that the restoration of the nations, and especially Israel, begins with the Church of God.

We also saw last week how the promises that were made to Abraham that we read in Genesis 12, verses 2 and 3 were passed on to Isaac, and then passed on to Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons, which became the 12 tribes of Israel, and the 12 tribes eventually became that nation, the nation of Israel. The old covenant was a national covenant. If you go to Exodus, let's run there quickly. Run, turn, hasten to Exodus 24 by a national covenant. By that I mean that they collectively, at the same time, the whole nation entered into this covenant at one time. It was a national covenant in which the nation would be blessed with physical blessings if they obeyed God. It wasn't a case like it is today where each person individually is convicted by the Word and Spirit of God, and you make a commitment to God in Christ, and you enter into a covenant with God in Christ. Man baptizes you in water, but only God can baptize you, give you his Spirit. And it is through that Spirit, of course, that we can be circumcised in heart. But the old covenant was a national covenant, as we see here in Exodus 24 and verse 6. Moses took half the blood, put it in basins, half the blood he sprinkled on the altar, and he took the book of the covenant, which is really the law, and read in the audience of the people, and they said, all that the Eternal has said will we do. So this is where they said I do in that marriage ceremony. Remember this marriage ceremony. And one of the things to keep in mind about this marriage ceremony is when God entered into this covenant with Israel, he viewed them as righteous, as cleaned up, as pure in his sight. Notice verse 8, Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you concerning all these words. So the Old Covenant was a national covenant. The New Covenant is offered and made on an individual basis. Each person stands before the judgment seat of Christ, and it's an individual matter where you repent and you exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ, and baptize and receive the laying on of hands. Now let's go to the book of Hosea.

The book of Hosea is an allegory showing how Israel went astray, committed spiritual fornication, as described also in Ezekiel 16, and then how they will be restored upon repentance and acceptance of the Messiah. So Hosea chapter 1. The word Hosea means salvation. The theme of this prophecy is salvation through Jesus Christ. Hosea chapter 1 and verse 1. Once again, Hosea means salvation. To a large degree, here's an interesting point if you want to study the minor prophets. To a large degree, the meaning of the name of the prophet. To a large degree is what the book is about. So this book deals a great deal with salvation coming through Jesus Christ. And then, once again, the name itself, Hoshiah, meaning salvation. The word of the Eternal that came unto Hosea, the son of Bari, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, king of Israel. Now this is Jeroboam the second. This is not the Jeroboam, the first Jeroboam after the death of David. This is Jeroboam the second.

The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea, and the Lord said, Hosea, Go take unto you a wife of Hordim's and children of Hordim's, for the land hath committed great Hordim's departing from the eternal. So this wife that Hosea was to take depicted Israel in her state of idolatry and Hordim's, having departed from the living God, having broken the terms of covenant that we read about in Exodus 24.

So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblium. Diblium has an interesting meaning. Diblium really means double cake of figs. It represents sensual pleasure. So the meaning of Hosea's first wife here, Diblium, means sensual pleasure which conceived and bear him a son. Now there's controversy about who is the father of this son. Some of the commentators say that she got pregnant outside of wedlock, that Hosea is not the father. It's difficult to know that for sure in just reading this. Now verse 4, and the Eternal said in him, Call his name Jezreel. Now it's absolutely essential to understand the name of Jezreel. What the meaning of Jezreel. Jezreel literally means God Sows. S-O-W-S. God Sows. First of all, God sows destruction upon the nation of Israel. Not that they were totally destroyed, but they ceased being an identifiable kingdom when the Assyrians came and took them captive, 718-721. I reversed it 721-718 BC, counting down. God sows. Then the other part of this God Sows restoration. Basically in Hosea chapter 1, God is sowing destruction.

Basically in chapter 2 of Hosea, God is sowing restoration. So God Sows can have a dual meaning, that is, it can be sowing destruction, it can be sowing restoration. Notice what it says, Notice what it says, I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. This is the Word of God.

And it shall come to pass that that day that I will break the bow of Israel. Bow symbolizes military strength. I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. So here's where He sows the destruction. And there was a great battle there. And just as prophesied, that's what came to pass. And she is conceived again and bear a daughter.

Now before we go into the next two children and their meaning and also the explanation of what they really represent in the New Testament, we want to notice, if you want to hold your place there, please, let's notice Ezekiel 16. To show how God viewed Israel when He entered into that covenant with them, as we read in Exodus 24 verses 6 through 8. Ezekiel chapter 1. You know, one of the things that has bothered people, especially the non-Israelite nations through the centuries, has been this emphasis upon Israel. And I believe, to a large degree, and this is just me speaking, you know, people look at the United Church of God today, or they look at any of the, quote, splinter groups who still keep the Sabbath and basically adhere to some of the basic doctrines was taught by Mr. Armstrong in the Worldwide Church of God. But more importantly, that which is taught by the Bible, that you look at these churches today, and they are mainly white people. They're mainly Caucasians. There are a few Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Orientals, various other ethnic groups scattered, but not many, not like it used to be. There used to be thousands, thousands of black brethren in other ethnic groups in the Worldwide Church of God. And people ask, well, why didn't, you know, why didn't a proportionate percentage of them come along into the United Church of God or some of the others?

And I don't know for sure the answer, but it may be so much emphasis on Israel in the physical sense.

And you ask the question, well, when did God start with Israel? And my answer is, he had to start somewhere. So he chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Jacob's 12 sons, becomes the nation of Israel. But notice the condition that they were in when God first chose them. Was it because they were greater than any other people? Was it because they were better? Was it because of their might or anything like that? Let's read this. It'll show us.

Ezekiel 16.1, again, the word of the Lord came into me saying, Son of man caused Jerusalem to know her abominations. Now, here's a case in which Jerusalem is, in a generic sense, used for the whole of Israel. And this happens quite often in the Bible, the capital of the city. And say, thus says the Lord God unto Jerusalem, your birth and your nativity is of the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite. And as for your nativity in the day you were born, your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to supple you. You were not salted at all nor swaddled at all. And to see a newborn child, and that's what the analogy is, when the newborn child is first born, they are not all that beautiful before they are cleaned up. So that's the analogy between a newborn and what he did with Israel. Non-I pitted you to do any of these things to you, to have compassion upon you, but you were cut out in the open field to the loathing of your person in the day that you were born. I mean, you were not anything special at all. There were other great nations at that time, Egypt in particular, Assyria, Babylon. And when I passed by 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. You have increased and waxen great. You are come to excellent ornaments. Your breasts are fashioned. Your hair is grown. Whereas, you were naked and bare. Now, when I passed by and looked upon you, behold, the time was the time of love. And I spread my skirt over you, covered your nakedness when they entered into that covenant of marriage with him. Exodus 24, 6, 8, Yes, I swore unto you and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord God. And you became mine. Then washed I you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you. I anointed you with oil. I cleaned you up. You no longer look like the newborn with all the things that are on a newborn when they're first born.

I clothed you with bordered work, shied you with badger skin, girded you about with fine linen. I covered you with silk. I decked you with ornaments. I put bracelets upon your hands, a chain on your neck. I put a jewel on your forehead, earrings in your ears, a beautiful crown upon your head. Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your raiment was of fine linen, silk and broidered work. You did eat fine flour and honey and oil. And you were exceeding beautiful and you did prosper into a kingdom. And you're renowned with forth among the nations for your beauty. For it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon you, says the Lord God. But then from here on out, the rest of the chapter shows how they entered into the idolatry into the Hordim's. And now Hosea is acting this out. The rest of this chapter, he's acting this out through the marrying of these women and the children that are born. Verse 15, and then we'll go back to Hosea 1. But you did trust in your own beauty and you played the harlot because of your renown and poured out your fornications on everyone that passed by his it was. So spiritual fornication.

And in so many cases, physical fornication precedes spiritual fornication. They sort of go hand in glove. Now we're back to Hosea 1 in verse 6.

So we've seen that that first child named Jezreel represented God destroying them, cutting them off from being a kingdom in the valley of Jezreel. And now we note in verse 6 that Diblium conceives again and bears a daughter and God said, call her name Lo-ru-hama, for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel than I will utterly take them away. So God says that Israel as a kingdom, as a nation now, means Lo-ru-hama, that he is going to take them away.

As we've already mentioned that 721 to 718 BC, the Assyrians came and took the northern kingdom, the 10 tribes to the north, captive. And so they came to the end of the kingdom of Israel.

But the kingdom of Judah, as we'll see here in verse 7, was allowed to continue another 120 years.

But God broke the bow of Israel, the military strength and political power in the valley of Jezreel, and the Assyrians took them captive. So the word, the prefix here, Lo, in Hebrew means not. So Israel now having not received mercy. Now verse 7 is an inset, but I will have mercy upon the house of Judah. See, it was prophesied that the Messiah would come from the house of David, and David was from the house of Judah. So Judah went into captivity and was restored physically. I will have mercy upon the house of Judah and will save them by the Eternals of God, and will not save them by bow, by military power, nor by sword, nor by battle, or horses, or horsemen.

So we have that inset here, and there are three aspects here I will enumerate with regard to this Judah. The kingdom of Judah was able to continue, allowed to continue, for another 120 years or so. 604 to 585 BC Nebuchadnezzar sent waves of armies against Jerusalem and Judah, and Judah fell, and the temple was eventually burned to the ground, and many Jews were taken into captivity.

Now there were other representatives from the other tribes of Israel there as well. But Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

Now secondly, when Christ comes again and Judah is surrounded by armies and in dire straits and difficult times, God is going to save them and crush their enemies. And he does this by his spirit.

Hold your place there. Let's look briefly at Zechariah 12. Zechariah 12, verse 1.

Verses 1 and 2 of Zechariah 12, especially verse 1, God identifies who he is and the fact that he created the heavens and earth and formed the spirit of man within him. He has the power to do this. Verses 2 through 3, he's saying that he is going to make Jerusalem a trembling cup to all nations, and eventually he is going to intervene. Verse 10, I will pour upon the house of David upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications. And notice how they began their deliverance and their restoration. They shall look upon me, whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourned for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Haderimun in the valley of Magiddin. And the land shall mourn every family apart, the family of the house of David apart, their wives apart, Nathan apart, and their wives apart, the family of the houses of Levi apart, their wives apart, the family of Shimei apart, and their wives, and all the families that remain, every family apart and their wives apart. Then immediately goes into a restoration theme, and that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. So when Christ comes again and Jerusalem is surrounded by the enemies, it's through his power, his might, that he delivers them. And then spiritually we are called Jews by Paul, as we've already mentioned both last week and today, and salvation came from Jesus Christ, who was a Jew. Jesus was by descent a Jew. Hebrews 7.14 is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah.

Now under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, remember Jeremiah was one of the three people who were born in the flesh. You had the Holy Spirit from the womb. Let's notice Jeremiah 9.25. Jeremiah 9.25. Of course, Jeremiah comes on the scene before Israel went into captivity under the hands of the Babylonians. And basically, his word to Judah at that time was, don't resist the Babylonians because God has raised them up to be his instrument to teach you what you should have learned. And of course, he was accused of being a traitor, cast into the pit, and went through all kinds of suffering and difficulty. There are some very, very interesting prophecies concerning the nations, the day of the Lord, and many things in the book of Jeremiah. Notice this prophecy. Jeremiah 9.25. Behold, the days come, says the Eternal, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised, Egypt and Judah and Edom and the children of Ammon and Moam, and all that are in the uttermost corners that dwell in the wilderness, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart. How do you get circumcised in the heart? It's through acceptance of Jesus Christ and repentance and receiving the Holy Spirit. Now let's go back to Hosea 1.

In Hosea 1, we'll pick it up again in verse 8. So Judah obtained mercy, possible three aspects there. They were allowed to continue. When Christ comes again, He'll deliver them through His Spirit. We are to be spiritual Jews and become circumcised in heart.

The nations of the world are not circumcised in heart. We'll see that the Church of God is referred to as a holy nation in 1 Peter 2.

So in Hosea 1.8, now when He had weaned, or she had weaned, Lo Ruhama, she conceived and bare a son. Then said God, call His name Lo Ami, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

So how can we reconcile this? And what does this mean?

The Apostle Peter writing to the Gentiles, so let's go there 1 Peter 2.

The Apostle Peter writing to the Gentiles explains how many of the symbols and prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled by the Church of God, the Israel of God. 1 Peter 2.1.

So we've seen three main things. Well, maybe four main things. In summary here, let's summarize those again. 1. Hosea takes a wife of Hordim, symbolizing where Israel was at that time, had gone into Hordim's, and God put her away, gave her a bill of divorcement. 2. Then God sowed destruction on the house of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. Jezreel can mean God sows destruction or restoration.

We have seen that these two children born to Diblium, Lo Ruhama, not having obtained mercy at Lo Rami. So let's see how that applies now. We'll see other elements as well. In 1 Peter 2.1.

Wherefore, laying aside all malice and all guile and apocracies and envies and all evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby, if so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming, as unto a living stone, remember that I behold I lay in Zion a true, tried cornerstone, for Israel stumbled at that stone, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. 1. You also, as lively stoned, are built up in spiritual house. So here once again we see this spiritual Israel, the holy nation, the nation of God, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 2. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion, 1. A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. Now there's a difference between this cornerstone and the cornerstone we think of. For example, it shows in the pictures of the bulletin today that they're building this altar, and it shows them pouring tar in the corner for a cornerstone, and they went and got rocks out of the Dead Sea, and hopefully they say rocks that no human hand had ever touched before. And they put this in the corner and pour tar on it. Now this cornerstone that is being spoken of here is not down in the corner like that. This cornerstone is at the head, like in a pyramidal structure, if we shall see.

Verse 8, In a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient wherein also they were appointed. But in contrast, in contrast to those who have stumbled at this head of the corner, this rock, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. It's the only place I know of for sure in the Bible where the church is called a nation, a holy nation. Remember that holy things have God's active presence within them. A purchased people that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Now we get to Lo-ruhama and Lo-ami. Verse 10, wonderful, showing the beautiful unity of the Bible, which in times past were not a people. Remember we read from Jeremiah 9, 26, that all the nations of the world were uncircumcised in heart, which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which did not obtain mercy, Lo-ruhama, but now have obtained mercy, Ruhama. And that's you and I, brethren, if we are a part of this Israel of God. We are now the people of God, having obtained mercy as we see, which in times past were not a people, Lo-ami, but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, Lo-ruhama, but now have obtained mercy, Ruhama. So now we are Ami and Ruhama.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. Okay, in view of that, in view of that, what should we do? I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstained from fleshly lust, which war against the soul, having your conduct honest among the nations, that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation.

One of the things that the church did, and they did it to a large degree under the name of the Ambassador Foundation, was to establish projects in some of the Gentile nations.

Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, also in Thailand, and in Jordan, and in Israel. And there were other places, but those are the main places. And of course, Mr. Armstrong had a lot of contact with people in Japan, and he called some members of the Diet his Japanese sons.

I had the opportunity to visit projects in Thailand in Sri Lanka, Jordan, Israel, at one time.

But the project in Sri Lanka was the most inspiring. In Sri Lanka, our students went to a place called New Aurelia. It's a little city at about 6,000 feet, and it's overlooking tea plantations that are on these mountainsides with little screams running through. It's so beautiful. Ceylon, or Sri Lanka, has been called the Green Island.

And the English came in there and colonized, to a large degree, Sri Lanka. But most of the English are gone now. Many bloody wars have been fought, especially the Tamils to the north, trying to take over that area as an independent nation. It's only been in recent times, they fought for 20-30 years, that they surrendered. But anyhow, we went to this old tea plantation, and we carved out a mini-Ambassador of College on the top of that mountain.

And I went there one day after... We had a year program where they basically were taught what you're taught the freshman year at Ambassador.

I went there and delivered the commencement address, having been flown there by in the government helicopters. And it was pretty scary. You had these little fuzzy-faced 17-18-year-old guards with AK-47s guarding you. We did a false landing one place to throw off the possible terrace and land in the real place. But to see the joy and excitement of those about 100 graduates and their parents that day is beyond description. Now, there, as far as religion, they were basically Buddhists. And even after the project closed and worldwide, they didn't. So, on withdrew their funding, I received a note from a native person, a young man who had attended Ambassador, who was now ahead of this project. They continue the project even after church withdrew its funding. And he said, you'll be happy to know. You remember in that commencement address, you said an Ambassador College can be built from the green, lush island of Sri Lanka to the frozen tundra of the Great North. I'd be happy to report to you that this dream continues in Sri Lanka. That people are selling their inheritances for their child to attend there a year. You see, oftentimes, we in the church don't know what we have. And we don't appreciate it. And we take things for granted. And we become jealous. And we become over-concerned with that which we should not be so concerned about. Those projects and many other things, I'm quite sure when these people are actually visited and called in the day of their visitation, it says here, that they will be quick to respond. They'll be quick to respond. So, I learned quite a bit by visiting that and having experienced that.

You know, many of the people today and some of us seem to be more concerned with the destruction of Gentile kingdoms and with the restoration of all things through God and Christ and the resurrected saints. The Israel of God and the restoration of physical Israel now converted will participate in the restoration of all the nations. Not just Israel, not just any nation you want to name, not just the Russians or the Chinese or the people of India or the Koreans or the Japanese, but all nations. And also, the prophecies, as I've mentioned earlier, can be a bit confusing with regard to restoration. But if we keep in mind that the Church of God is the kingdom of God and embryo and that the restoration of all things begins in and through the Church, the Israel of God, the picture is much clearer. Now, in these two sermons, we have tried to show some of the most important prophecies concerning these saints. And we also need to remember that God is not going to truly restore Israel in the ultimate sense until they repent and they look on Him whom they pierced as we read from Zechariah 12 and verse 10. We have a lot of fundamentalist preachers today who are talking about this restoration of Israel at the present time. And to a large degree, Israel had to be restored to a certain extent in order for prophecy to be fulfilled if we understand that they're going to once again offer sacrifice and the sacrifice is going to be taken away in the abomination of desolation set up. Jerusalem is going to be divided and given over the nations. It says it clearly in Revelation 11. Now, we go back to Hosea chapter 1 and verse 10. So we've taken a trip now through Jezreel and Lo-ruhama and Lo-ami, showing that God is going to sow restoration through the Israel of God. We have seen that we are now Ami and Ruhama. We are God's people and we have obtained mercy. So notice Hosea 1.10. It almost seems like a contradiction to what we read in the first nine verses.

Remember, yet because in verse 6 he says you haven't obtained mercy in verse 8.

Verse 9, it says, you're not my people. Yet, in spite of that, the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered, and it shall come to pass, and in the place where it was set unto them, you are not my people. There it shall be set unto them. You are the sons of the living God. Now, notice how this is explained in the New Testament. Romans 9 verse 25. Where does that begin? Paul writing to Gentiles to the Romans. Remember the first part of Romans, which we read last week, which says, they are not all of Israel, which are of Israel, which seems like a contradiction. He went on to show that really the true Israelites in the spiritual sense are those who have by faith accepted Jesus Christ, repented of their sins, and received the Holy Spirit.

So, in Romans 9.25, Paul is quoting Hosea 1.10.

As he said also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people. In other words, from Lo Ami to Ami. And her beloved, which was not beloved, and it shall come to pass in the place where it was set unto them, you are not my people. There shall they be called the children of the living God.

Isaiah also cried concerning Israel, though the number of the children of Israel be as a sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. For he will finish the work, cut it short in righteousness, because a short worth will the Lord make upon the earth.

And as Isaiah said before, except the Lord of Sabooth had left us a seed, we shall be as Sodom and Gomorrah. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they sought it not by faith as it were by works of the law, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumble at the stumbling stone. See, it is only through Jesus Christ that we could be made righteous. You know, of all the so-called great religions of the world. You take Islam in particular. Islam has no method of redemption.

The way you're redeemed is, if you go out and you become a martyr for Allah and you blow yourself up, then I guess that's your redemption. But there's no one who died for your sins or paid for your sins. And Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Oriental religions, it's basically you're purified through going through various cycles of whatever source or type that they teach. See, it is only true Christianity that really teaches how a person can become righteous in the sight of God. And it is not possible, apart from Christ.

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed.

Now, when Israel repents in the Great Tribulation, go to Hosea 5. Hosea 5. Hosea 5 and verse 15. When Israel repents in the Great Tribulation at the beginning of the Millennium, Israel as a nation once again becomes Ruhama and Ami and be restored.

And this is a unified picture of prophecy of what is going on. But it begins with the Church, with the Israel of God, as we'll see more clearly.

Hosea 5.15. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense and seek my face. In their affliction, they will seek me early.

You know, when the Great Tribulation really hits the peoples of this world, the people that, as it says, you know, in the morning they'll wonder, how long is it till night? And night, they'll wonder how long it is till morning, and there will be a lot of M-O-U-R-E-N-I-N-G at that time. It should be no chapter break.

They'll seek my face early, saying, and I'm adding the saying, of course, but that's what they're doing. Come and let us return unto the Lord, for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He has smitten, He will bind us up. After two days, He will revive us. If a day for a year, and if the Great Tribulation lasts three and a half years, 1260 days is what it says, and the day of the Lord lasts a year. So in that last year, after two days, He revives us. And the third day, He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, He is going forth as prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain, and the latter and former rain. Remember my Pentecost sermon about the former and latter rain, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Brethren, we are recipients of that early rain, and a latter rain is going to come, of course, to all nations. Restoration begins with the Church of God. One of the most amazing prophecies, notice Amos chapter 9. Amos chapter 9.

You know, Amos chapter 8 talks about a famine of the hearing of the Word, where it talks about people running from east to west and north to south in search of hearing the Word of God, and they can't find it. I think that hearing has two aspects. One, people can become dull of hearing, even those who sit in services in the Church of God.

Yes, some take their Bibles with them. Some don't take their Bibles. Yes, some take their lamps. In the parable of the virgins, they all took their lamps, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Some had oil and some didn't. That hearing can be dull of hearing as well as I think it's just not being preached.

Amos 9 verse 8, Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth, saying that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord. I'm not going to totally destroy the people of Israel. For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth, evidently meaning that there will be retained some from all the tribes. All the centers of my people shall die by the sword, which say, the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. Of course, that's what many said before Israel was destroyed because they had the tabernacle pitched there in Shiloh in the land of Ephraim, and they were God's people, they thought, and they'd never be destroyed, but they were. Now, here are the two key verses.

Astounding to me when I discovered what this really means. Believe it or not, as we shall see, this ties in with a conference that was held in Acts 15. You know, in that conference, the great subject was that of circumcision, whether or not one had to be circumcised in order to be justified and to be a part of the Israel of God.

Here is the prophecy initially.

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that has fallen.

Now, that tabernacle, as we shall see from Acts, is not a physical tabernacle. God does not dwell in buildings today made by hand. 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 is great controversy here with regard to Edom, whether this should be translated Edom or Adam. In Acts 15, it is as if it were Adam, but whether it is Edom or Adam, the next phrase takes care of everybody, and all of the heathen, all of the Gentiles, or all of the nations, which are called by my name, says the Lord, that does this. Now, quickly to Acts 15. Remember this conference, often referred to in the Church of God, where Paul was summoned to headquarters to give an account for what he had been doing.

Paul spoke, Peter spoke, there was great disputing among them. And finally, James, the brother of the Lord, who was also an apostle and evidently the resident pastor there in Jerusalem, he rose up and spoke. Verse 13, Acts 15.13, and after they had held their peace, James entered, saying, men and brethren, listen to me. Simeon or Simeon or Peter had declared how God at first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets. Notice how Amos 9, 11, and 12 is applied. To this agree the words of the prophet, and now he is going to quote what I've just read from Amos, verses 11 and 12. 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, not just Edom, of course it says back there that it's Edom and all the nations, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord and all the nations upon whom my name is called, says the Lord who does all these things. So it began that raising up of the tabernacle of David, and the fact that salvation, it was made clear through Peter and his visit to the house of Cornelius, that it was also for the nations, not to Israel only. Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world, where unto my sentence is. And then he talks about what they were going to do, and they sent out letters. Now finally, let's go back to a few more very key points here in conclusion. Go back to Hosea 1, verse 11, because it sort of summarizes some of what we have said as well. Hosea 1, verse 11, remember verse 10, it says, where you were not my people and not having obtained mercy, you'll be the sons of the living God. Paul in Romans 9.25 to the end of the chapter shows that this also includes the nations. Then, when that happens, then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be together together, and the word appoint is a bad translation in the old King James. It should be recognized one head. Who would that head be? That head will be Jesus Christ, and they shall come up out of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel, God so's restoration. And then chapter 2, then talks about that restoration. Say unto your brethren, Ami, and to your sisters, Ruhama, because God is going to sow restoration. And they will recognize one head. Look at Luke 1, and verse 10. That head will be Jesus Christ. Luke 1, verse 10.

Remember Revelation 5.10 as you turn here, and has made us kings and priests with God and Christ, and we shall reign forever and ever. In Luke 1, I don't know what I said, verse 30. Luke 1.30, And the angel said unto her, that is, unto Mary, you have found favor with God, and behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, shall be called the Son of the highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Brethren, we are the Israel of God. Don't ever forget who you are.