Table of Contents
The Bible speaks of three types of Israel – physical Israel in the Old Testament, spiritual Israel in the New Testament, and new spiritual Israel in the book of Revelation. The name “Israel” means “one who overcomes” or “struggles with God and overcomes.” Physical Israel began with Jacob whose 12 sons became the 12 tribes, but they eventually broke God’s covenant. At his first coming, Jesus became the new “overcomer” or “Israel” and chose 12 disciples as his spiritual “sons” to start spiritual Israel consisting of those born again by believing in him. However, spiritual Israel also fell away and was conquered by the beast as prophesied. So at the Second Coming, Christ as the overcomer must establish a new spiritual Israel that will never end by harvesting the faithful from spiritual Israel and sealing the 144,000. The pattern repeats of the overcomer establishing 12 tribes as a new covenant people of God. Understanding these patterns is crucial to recognize what is happening in our current era as we strive to be part of the final, everlasting new spiritual Israel.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
Israel: One Who Overcomes, Chosen People
3 Types: Physical Israel, Spiritual Israel, New Spiritual Israel
Dark and Fall = Betrayal, losing position in Heaven
what is the standard for one to gain the title of Israel? They must be an overcomer, one who has overcome something. So we have one who overcomes. And from that overcomer, what must come
12 tribes.
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative 3 Types of Israel
As we go through this lesson, let’s keep a few important things in mind.
We need to understand the distinction between the physical and the spiritual. That’s the focus of our discussion today. It’s a crucial distinction regarding God’s people that we’ll be exploring.
Figurative Israel has two meanings. It represents those who overcome, and it also signifies the chosen people.
There are three types of Israel. There is physical Israel, which is the only one most people are aware of and discuss.
There is spiritual Israel, which was developed and formed at the first coming, and there is new spiritual Israel, which is developed at the second coming.
So we have physical Israel, spiritual Israel, and new spiritual Israel in the time of revelation.
Our hope is to belong to the 12 tribes of the new spiritual Israel at the second coming.
Today, we will delve deeply into this topic, and it is our hope that this will be an exciting lesson for us.
Beginning and end of the eras of Israel
Old Testament
1. The era of physical Israel or the chosen people of the Old Testament
We’ll examine the beginning of these groups and what it means that they came to an end. Let me explain what I mean by this.
When I say an era or a people comes to an end, that does not mean it’s impossible for them to receive salvation. That’s not what I’m referring to. Consider it on two levels.
There are the groups of people that are prophesied about. And then there are the individual people within those groups. There is always hope for individual people, no matter which group they belong to.
What we’re saying comes to an end is the standard or status of the group of people. Do you understand? So there’s a difference between, for example, a Jewish person today who believes in Jesus versus a Jewish person today who does not.
What I mean is that both, though they may have physically been part of the original covenant, the original covenant is no longer what makes them considered part of God’s people, because the standard has changed. But those individual people can decide, “I desire to believe in and follow Christ.” Then they become part of the next group of people.
So the physical lineage going forward is not what’s important. It’s about belief. And someone can enter and exit a group of chosen people at any time in the new eras.
This is the key point I’m discussing today. We’re not talking about individual people. Individual people always have a chance with God.
Keep that in mind. So physical Israel was the first era.
ONE. Beginning
So let’s first look at the beginning of physical Israel.
Genesis 32:22-30
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
How many of us knew that Israel was originally the name of Jacob?
Hopefully, most of us were aware of this, but for some, it might be new information. Israel is a title with two meanings. If we look at verse 28, it states, “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.'”
So, what is the standard for one to gain the title of Israel? They must be an overcomer, one who has overcome something. If you look at the footnote of your Bible, the meaning of Israel is only half correct. The footnote for verse 28 states that Israel means “he struggles with God.” Yes, he struggles with God, and then what? And then he overcomes.
Let’s be like Jacob. How was Jacob when he encountered the angel of God? He said, “I’m not letting you go until you bless me.” Wow. And so, God is saying, “My promise is starting to take place, and the key people I need for my mission to be fulfilled are coming into being and they’re maturing into the people I need them to be.” Because Jacob, whose father was Isaac, whose father was Abraham, had a promise to fulfill.
We know that Jacob went through a lot of drama in his life. His family’s story was basically like a telenovela, with the drama involving his brother Esau and his two wives. All this drama was necessary for God’s word to be fulfilled through him. Nothing is an accident in the Bible. So, let’s keep reading about how Jacob and his family became the physical Israel.
Genesis 35:22-26
22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.
Jacob had twelve sons:
23 The sons of Leah:Reuben the firstborn of Jacob,Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.
24 The sons of Rachel:Joseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah:Dan and Naphtali.
26 The sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah:Gad and Asher.
These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
The drama in Jacob’s life was not without purpose. All that he experienced was so that Jacob could have what he needed – 12 sons. It would have been challenging for one person to have 12 children, but it was important that Jacob ended up with 12 sons, and it was not an accident.
Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, meaning “overcomer” or “one who overcomes,” had 12 sons. Through his physical seed, he produced these 12 sons. And these 12 sons ended up becoming what?
Genesis 49:28
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.
Throughout the entire chapter 49, which I highly recommend you read, we see that Jacob’s 12 sons form the 12 tribes, each son having a tribe of his own, as they matured and their families grew.
So we have one who overcomes. And from that overcomer, what must come?
12 tribes.
That is the logic of God. From the overcomer must come 12 tribes. Keep that logic in mind.
We will see it again. From the overcomer comes 12 tribes. And the same family, do not forget, is also called the sun, moon, and stars, as we talked about last time.
Sun, moon, and stars, just like in Genesis 37.
Now these sun, moon, and stars receive something from God. After they have gone to Egypt, suffered in Egypt for 400 years, and now have escaped Egypt and are in the desert, several hundred years after this event.
During this time, God gives these chosen people, physical Israel, something special. And we are going to read now Exodus 19:5-6.
Hopefully, by now, you already have in your mind what we are about to read. Does anyone remember what Exodus 19:5-6 talks about? It is so important.
Something that God gives the people of Israel. The covenant.
Exodus 19:5-6
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
God always establishes a covenant with his chosen people. This is his pattern. The people of Israel are the descendants of Jacob. When we refer to the “people of Israel,” we are referring to the descendants of the man who was given the title “Israel.”
The country was named after the father who gave them birth. But the name “Israel” really means “the people of the original overcomer.”
From the people of Israel, God has chosen a people for this time. He gives them a covenant, and this covenant is conditional. The term “if” is used – if the covenant is kept, there will be blessings. They will become a holy nation, a kingdom of priests, and God’s treasured possession.
Things were going well at first, but then they started to struggle. Just a few chapters later in Exodus 32, when Moses was away on the mountain for a long time, the people grew restless and made an idol, the golden calf.
This went against the first covenant, which stated, “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me.” It is difficult to keep the covenant because there are always temptations, and Satan, the ultimate enemy, knows this and uses it to exploit the people. Eventually, God said, “No more.”
TWO. End
So we talked about the beginning, but now unfortunately we have to talk about the end.
1 Kings 11:7-13
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
In the past, we see that Solomon built temples to different gods, not outside of Israel, but inside. And the many wives he had from different nations pulled his heart away from God.
Solomon broke the covenant in a significant way. And remember, he was the king. So whatever the king does, the people of Israel would also do.
God was not happy with this. In verse 11, God said, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I have commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. But because David was a man after my own heart, I will not tear everything away from you, but I will leave you one tribe, Judah, the rest.”
We know what happened after this – Assyria took the North, and Babylon took the South for 70 years.
At this time, God started to speak to the prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. He told them to convey His message to His people who had become adulterers, idol worshipers, and rebels.
The prophets’ messages were clear – God’s people would come to an end, but a few survivors would be taken, and God would build something new with them.
In Luke 16:16, it is stated that “the law and the prophets were testified until John.” John the Baptist represented the end of that era, the end of physical Israel, as he was their representative.
In Matthew 11, we can see how Jesus described John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:11-12
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
Let’s delve a little deeper into this statement.
This is a profound statement, and it’s easy to misinterpret. In verse 11, it says, “I tell you the truth. Among those born of women” – meaning everyone, except for him, right?
Of those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. This means that until John the Baptist, he represents the pinnacle, the greatest. But then, what does Jesus say?
What does “yet” imply? “Yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is” what?
“Greater than he.” Hmm. What does Jesus mean by this?
Which heaven is he talking about here in verse 11? Which heaven is he discussing?
Remember, there are two types of physical heaven. Which type is he talking about in verse 11?
He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist. So let’s take a step back. What are the two physical heavens?
Think of Revelation 21. It describes both of them. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” For the “first heaven and the first earth” has passed away. So there’s a new heaven and a new earth, and the first heaven and first earth appear first and are then superseded by the new heaven and new earth.
This pattern has been repeating in the Bible. So John the Baptist and all of physical Israel represented the first heaven and the first earth, the first tabernacle of the chosen people.
So there are two heavens described in Matthew 11:11-12. The first one was Jesus’s heaven, the new heaven and a new earth. So let’s read the verse again with that understanding.
Verse 11 says, “I tell you the truth. Among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of the new heaven is greater than John because John never joined the new heaven. John never joined Jesus.”
He maintained his own disciples up until his death, which is strange, given that he knew who Jesus was. He said, “Look, the Lamb of God who has come to take the sins of the world,” and he baptized Jesus, seeing heaven open and a dove light on him. Yet, this same John the Baptist is now doubting Jesus.
And Jesus said, “He who is least in my kingdom is greater than John,” the greatest of all these people. Do we understand this now?
John the Baptist was their representative (Old Testament era), but he failed in the end. What did Jesus say about him in verse 12?
Let’s read about the first heaven and the first earth, and what happened to it.
Verse 12 states that from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven, the first heaven, has been forcefully advancing. And what happened? Forceful men have been laying hold of it.
Who were these forceful men? The Pharisees and the Sadducees. And they consumed his kingdom. Oh no!
Why? Because John was doing something new. He was like a lamp.
As Jesus said in John 5, it was total darkness at the first coming. There was no truth, no light. No one had the truth.
So when John appeared, just a little lamp, super bright, people took notice. There’s this guy in the desert baptizing people. Let’s go check it out.
And so the Pharisees showed up. “Who are you? What is your name? What do you do?” A lamp in the darkness is going to get noticed.
And so the Pharisees, like destroyers, came. Let’s turn to another example of what happened here. Let’s quickly go to a bit of a side tangent in Matthew 17, but it’s really important.
In Matthew 17:10, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. So what happened? The Pharisees invaded and destroyed him, causing him to doubt Jesus and filling his mind with foolishness.
Unfortunately, John the Baptist bought into it. This is why he asked the question in Matthew 11, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Someone who has no doubt will not ask such a question.
So John the Baptist represented the end of this era, and Jesus was telling the people what would happen to them because they refused to accept him.
Matthew 21:43
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Jesus is speaking to the people in rebuke, and what does he say? “Therefore, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”
This is referring to the people of Israel and the kingdom of God. The kingdom will be given to those who will produce fruit. And we know what it means to produce fruit, right? This is not talking about the fruits of the Spirit, although those are important – love, joy, peace, and so on.
No, what this means is those who will be fruitful and multiply, those who will bring others to hear the words of God, which come from Jesus, his words. Producing fruit means evangelism, as seen in John chapter 15.
This is really what it’s talking about here, because the Israelites were not actively going out and doing that kind of work, like the disciples did. The disciples went out, spreading the gospel to different countries and nations.
God and Jesus were saying that this is what needs to happen at this time, but the Israelites were not doing it. They had rejected the one who was sent, and were staying in their own country. God needed people who were willing to go out and tell others about him and his Son. This represented the end of physical Israel from God’s perspective.
So, we’ll look at the time of Jesus’s first coming, what he and his disciples represented, and how Jesus’s promises about a new Israel come about.
The First Coming
2. Spiritual Israel or the chosen people of the New Testament
ONE. Beginning
To understand their beginning, we need to first comprehend who was the one that overcame and gained the title of Israel.
Who overcame at the first coming? Jesus.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In this world, you will face troubles, but take heart, for I have overcome the world. Jesus overcame Satan and Satan’s world, becoming the overcomer.
If you’d like to see a glimpse of this, look at Hosea 11:1, which is referenced in the test for coming out of Egypt. Pay attention to how God refers to the one he calls out of Egypt. It says, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son.” This passage is then quoted in Matthew 2, referring to Joseph, Mary, and the young Jesus having to escape to Egypt until Herod’s death.
In that prophecy, God calls him Israel. So, Jesus overcame the world, gaining the title of the overcomer. What did he do then?
Did he simply stay by himself? No, when Jesus began his ministry, he said, “I need 12 sons.” He went out and found the 12 disciples, establishing each one of them as his sons. He even calls them his children at times.
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
This is a very important passage for understanding the origin of Christians. What is it saying?
The text indicates that the children are born not through human decision or a husband’s will. Instead, they are born not of natural descent, but they are born of God, which means their nature is now spiritual, rather than solely physical.
The standard is no longer based on bloodline or physical lineage. This is further emphasized in a crucial passage from Romans 2:28-29.
Romans 2:28-29
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.
This is a very important passage. It holds great significance.
The apostle Paul is discussing a crucial perspective here – not the outward, superficial one, but God’s perspective, the only one that truly matters.
God is looking down at the people to whom He originally gave the covenant, and He expresses His dissatisfaction: “I don’t like what I see.” So, He decides to start anew. Those who accept His Son will be born of God and become spiritual Jews, becoming part of His original promise to Abraham.
This is a deep topic, and we will discuss it further soon. This applies to you and me.
Glory to God! This refers to everyone who accepts Jesus as the Son of God, listens to, and understands His words. It is a vital matter.
Let us now consider how Jesus establishes spiritual Israel, as He must do many things similar to what Jacob did, but in a spiritual sense this time.
Let us turn to Matthew 13. As we do so, let us keep in mind what Jesus is doing in this chapter, which is very similar to what Jacob did all those years ago.
Matthew 13:24, 37
13 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. Seed.
Oh, interesting. What does the seed represent?
The word. The farmer who sowed good seed in his field. Why?
What did Jesus want to create? A new crop. A new people who were born of the word of God.
Of course. So not a physical seed that needed to be sown, but a spiritual seed. The word.
And those who accepted those words were then subsequently born of God’s seed and they became God’s children. And when Jesus did this, of course, he had workers in the field, right? Who were the workers that Jesus had established first?
The first to be born of God’s seed. Twelve disciples. And why did there have to be twelve?
Because Jacob had twelve sons. So Jesus’s spiritual seed, twelve disciples.
Because Jesus became Israel. Jesus became the one who overcomes. So he needed twelve sons. And guess what?
His twelve sons went out into the world to preach. And so if you happened to be in the area that, for example, Thaddeus went to, then you would have belonged to the tribe of Thaddeus, essentially. Or if you were in a place where Philip went to, then you would belong to the tribe of Philip or Thomas.
You would belong to the tribe of Thomas because Thomas was your spiritual father like that. Of course, Jesus is the father. But you heard that word through Thomas or Simon or Bartholomew.
These men would go out and testify the gospel that the Christ had come. And so you were listening to the words of even Paul, too. And you kind of belong to that tribe like that.
So it was very important that the word was delivered in this way. And that Jesus’s word was disseminating because some very important things had to happen. First, this had to come to an end and it’s not going to come to end on its own.
It needs to be judged. Right. So judgment took place at that time.
And Jesus, while he was on the mountain, Mount Zion, because he was called Zion and his 12 disciples. They testified the word, the word of testimony that the Old Testament has been fulfilled. They testified that to the people of Israel.
The goal was that people from Israel would come out and become part of the new spiritual Israel belonging to Jesus and even his 12 tribes that was established. So the word would go out and people would hear that word in the original Israel, physical Israel, and they would have a decision to make. Do I stay with what I’ve always known or do I testify or believe in what is being testified to me now and move over or cross over from death to life.
But not many people were willing to make this decision. Twelve initially and some after that, but of course, by God’s grace, this began to grow as the gospel began to go out. But even Jesus testified about the end of this era too.
TWO. End
I want to share something very important that we need to understand. Jesus sowed good seed in his field. And in verse 37, it states that the field represents the world, Jesus’s world.
This world, as we discussed earlier in the class, is his church, the realm of Christianity. That’s where Jesus sowed his word. However, we know that at the end times, the field must then be harvested, and the good seed must be taken out, while whatever remains, which are weeds, will be burned.
This means that the field is not the final destination. The barn is. So the destination for those who believe in Christ is not the field in which they grew up.
The goal is to be harvested. That’s the objective. So at the time of the second coming, Jesus promised that the sun, moon, and stars will go dark and fall.
When this takes place, Jesus and the angels will come and begin to harvest the elect. The sun, moon, and stars will go dark and fall. And when this happens, then there must be an extraction of the elect.
Let’s explore a bit more about how this unfolded.
Revelation 13:6-7
6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
A Terrible Event Unfolds
There is a tabernacle that is being referred to as heaven. This is one of the physical heavens, not the new heaven and new earth, but the first heaven and first earth. Unfortunately, at this place called heaven, a betrayal occurs.
Due to this betrayal, the beast that emerged from the sea is allowed to invade and destroy the inhabitants of this heavenly place. This is why the sun, moon, and stars became dark and fell, or at least part of the reason for their downfall. These people, like John the Baptist, were meant to be a light, but now they are being judged.
In Revelation 1:20, Jesus refers to these people as the seven stars, seven messengers, or the seven churches, indicating that their purpose was to shine light. Initially, they did so, but in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus calls them to repent, remember their former glory, and return to their initial works. He warns that if they do not, He will remove their lampstand from its place.
This prophecy is now being fulfilled, as described in Revelation 6:12-17, where the sun, moon, and stars go dark and fall. The representatives of spiritual Israel, who were meant to be a light in the darkness, have themselves fallen into darkness, and spiritual Israel has come to an end.
Now, the question arises: What must God and Jesus do, now that the place they had established has been snuffed out?
Make a new one.
The Second Coming
3. New spiritual Israel has no end
Glory to God. The chosen people of the second coming will have no end, and we’ll briefly discuss how they came about. Of course, we will be spending a lot of time on this in the days and classes to come. Let’s start by talking about their beginning.
ONE. Beginning
The appearance of an overcomer is necessary for the establishment of a new Israel. This is a crucial prerequisite before a new Israel can emerge.
Revelation 12:5, 9-11
5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
Pay close attention to what the overcomer receives. He is holding an iron scepter, the very same iron scepter we see in Revelation 2:27, which is given to the one who overcomes.
Revelation 2:26-27
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.
Just as I have received authority from my Father, the one who overcomes will also receive the same authority with the iron scepter. Therefore, the male child and the overcomer are the same person.
In the book of Revelation, the same person who fights and overcomes the dragon, the group of the dragon, and those that the dragon is working through, they go to war against each other. So, what do these people do after they defeat the dragon?
They must establish something new. And first, there must be the work of the harvest.
Revelation 14:14-16
14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
We see the fulfillment of the prophecy that Jesus gave 2,000 years ago. Jesus sowed the seed in the field, and now, 2,000 years later, an angel comes as Jesus promised to do the work of the harvest.
We know that the field represents the church, and the good seed produces wheat, which are the people with God’s word of truth within them. So the angel is coming to gather God’s true chosen people, taking them out of the field that will eventually be burned, so that they can be brought into the barn that was promised. All the prophecies are linked together.
They are not separate things; it’s talking about the same thing. So the angel comes and does the work of the harvest, and who are the ones that are harvested?
We’ll draw a mountain and 12 people under that mountain, each person representing a tribe. We’ll draw the one who overcomes at the top, and the one who overcomes must give a testimony, the word of testimony, the same one they overcame with by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, which is the New Testament fulfillment.
This testimony must go out to spiritual Israel, those who are in the field, who are hearing these words and need to come out. “Come out of her, my people.” They need to be harvested and they need to be sealed, as we looked at in Revelation chapter 7.
Those who come out of the field will become the new 12 tribes, and from those 12 tribes, 144,000 will be called and sealed to fulfill a particular purpose, an important purpose that we’ll explore in the classes to come. They become the new spiritual Israel, which will never end by God’s grace.
Do we understand the logic here? How God and Jesus repeat themselves and have been repeating themselves all this time? We just didn’t know it. Why didn’t we know it before? There were parables, and the parables had not yet been opened, which means they had not yet been fulfilled. What does that mean about our time now, about our time today? It means that things are taking place, things are happening.
So our desire should be, “God, let me be harvested.” That should be our desire, not, “God, let me stay in the place I currently am because it’s comfortable, because I know the people here.” Instead, our number one mission now should be, “I want that angel in Revelation 14 to get me too. I don’t want to be left in the field, which is going to be burned, as it says in Matthew 13.
Memorization
Revelation 7:4
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
Watching a Video
We’re going to be playing a video, and I’m going to explain the video before and after, and this will be in place of small group for tonight. Please watch the video carefully and note that this video is old.
We’ve been playing it for years, so it is not related to current events that are taking place. So please do not equate the two things. They are not related.
So they’re not related to the current things taking place. I’ll say that again. So if we can go ahead and play the video now, please watch it carefully and note the mindset of these people and note what this mindset means to God and Jesus.
Okay. So let’s go ahead and play that video, and then I’ll talk about after the video.
Video
Yakir, Tel Aviv
Street Person 1
[Interviewer]
Who is Jesus according to Judaism? What status does he have?
[ An Orthodox Jew]
Jesus was born to a Jewish mother, so in principle, he was a Jew. And the Christians took him as their leader. They claim he wasn’t born from a mother ….
[Interviewer]
You mean a father. They say his father was God. Her husband name was Joseph.
I assume they are asking because they want to know why we don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah.
Can you speak to that? That Jesus is the Messiah
[ An Orthodox Jew]
Why should we? Why would we believe? What is the explanation that he is the Messiah?
I don’t know. I am not Christian. I can’t tell you.
[Interviewer]
But what are the reasons he can’t be the Messiah? What needs to happen for him to be the Messiah?
[ An Orthodox Jew]
He is not the Messiah.
They say he is the Messiah, maybe because he wasn’t born from a father.
[Interviewer]
I know Jesus came from Bethlehem from the family of Jesse (King David’s family)
[ An Orthodox Jew]
But other than that I don’t know. But for Judaism, that is not the Messiah.
[Interviewer]
So who could be the Messiah?
[ An Orthodox Jew]
No one knows
[Interviewer]
What does that mean?
[ An Orthodox Jew]
He who knows, doesn’t say
[Interviewer]
But as Jew, I always thought there were signs …
That the Messiah has to be X, Y, Z …
[ An Orthodox Jew]
No. No one knows.
Street Person 2
[Interviewer]
Who is Jesus from the Jewish perspective?
[A Jewish Man]
There is a part of the Gmara about Jesus ??? That he was a student of the Rabbis but he was a heretic. He believed that the Messianic period had arrived. Even though the Messianic period has not arrived.
[Interviewer]
Anything to add? Why don’t Jews believe that Jesus is the Messiah?
[A Jewish Man]
Because the redemption hasn’t arrived. But Judaism says that we still need to fulfill the commandments because no one here lives in total joy, so it is clear the redemption hasn’t come yet.
Street Person 3
[Interviewer]
Who is Jesus for Jews?
[A Jewish Woman]
He is part of Christianity. He is not connected to us at all. He is not connected to us. We believe in the Torah. We have our own laws given to us. They live in a fantasy that he walked on water. He believed in the cross. We believe in the Torah that God gave us at Mount Sinai. We don’t believe in Jesus. He has nothing to do with us. We have no connection to Jesus. We have the Torah to believe in. The laws, everything is in the Torah.
End of the Video.
The importance of understanding the word properly is crucial. Christians also believe in the Torah, which encompasses the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy. They also believe in the promises of the Old Testament and the law established by God, just as Jesus did.
However, there is a misunderstanding about who Jesus was and what he did. Jesus did not become a Christian, nor did he believe in the cross. Christianity was formed from the belief in Jesus. It is truly unfortunate that even after 2,000 years of teaching about Jesus, people still misunderstand who he was and why he came.
If people understood what is being learned here, they would have a much more complex and deeper conversation. They would realize that the messianic period, which they claimed had already come, is actually about to come again. They are still waiting for the Messiah to come for the first time, and this wait will go on forever.
Instead of thinking of “those silly people,” we should look at ourselves and examine our own beliefs and expectations. What is the equivalent for us as Christians that may be causing us to wait forever for something that has already taken place? Do we truly understand the promises ourselves, or will we also be saying, “No, no, no, it hasn’t happened yet. It’s going to happen like this,” while ignoring the events that have already taken place?
We should use the example of those people to reflect on ourselves and avoid making the same mistakes in our time. This is not related to current events; the video is old, and these points should be considered separately from any recent occurrences.
Instructor Review
SUMMARY
We have learned about the three types of Israel in the Bible. Israel is primarily a title, which means “one who overcomes” or “one who struggles and overcomes.”
Jacob was the first to struggle and gain this title, and his 12 sons became the 12 tribes. God established a covenant with them, but unfortunately, they broke that covenant and came to an end. Even at the first coming of Jesus, they did not realize that they had reached the end.
Their great representative, Jesus, had to do something new. He became the overcomer, overcoming Satan, the world, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. He judged them all with the words of God and established a new people, those born not of physical descent, but of God’s spiritual seed, which is the word. Jesus sowed this good seed in his field, knowing that an enemy would come and sow weeds as well.
Jesus testified this word to the physical Israelites, hoping that many of them would come out of their captivity and become part of what he was building in their time. However, Jesus knew that this was only for a time and was not meant to be permanent.
This is why he prophesied about the sun, moon, and stars going dark and falling. When they went dark and fell, they were invaded by the beast. The people that Jesus and God had established as a lamp, shining in a time of darkness, were also snuffed out by the beast.
Jesus then said, “Now I need to build something new, new, something new, new at the time of the second coming.” He will establish a new overcomer in the time of the second coming, who Jesus and God will work through to fulfill the book of Revelation. These overcomers will overcome with the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, those that Satan is using. Working with heaven, they will do the work of a harvest, calling many people out of the field so that they can gather on the mountain where God and Jesus will be. This is the three types of Israel.
Let’s Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress …. Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Unveiling the Three Israels: A Journey Through Physical and Spiritual Lineages
I. Introduction: Physical vs. Spiritual
This exploration delves into the crucial distinction between physical and spiritual realities, focusing on the evolving concept of God’s chosen people, Israel.
II. The Three Israels
- Physical Israel: The commonly recognized group descended from Jacob.
- Spiritual Israel: The community formed at Jesus’s first coming, encompassing those who believed in him.
- New Spiritual Israel: A group emerging at the second coming, representing a culmination of spiritual lineage.
III. Review: Sun, Moon, and Stars
- Recalling the symbolism of the celestial bodies as representatives of spiritual authority and the chosen people.
- Sun: The pastor.
- Moon: Evangelists who spread the light of truth.
- Stars: The saints or congregation members.
- Examining instances of their darkening and falling, signifying betrayal and loss of spiritual position.
IV. The Representative and the New Era
- Understanding the representative figure of an era embodies the best of their people and foreshadows their fate.
- Identifying John the Baptist as the representative of physical Israel, marking the transition to a new era.
- Recognizing Jesus and his disciples as inaugurating the era of the Kingdom of God, a departure from previous teachings.
V. The Temple as a Metaphor for Spiritual Growth
- Exploring the analogy of a temple under construction to illustrate spiritual development.
- Blueprint: The Word of God.
- Bricks: Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding derived from the Word.
- Emphasizing the importance of consistently studying the Word to ensure a solid spiritual foundation.
VI. The Eras of Israel: Beginning and End
A. Physical Israel (Old Testament)
1. Beginning
- Genesis 32:22-30: Jacob wrestles with God and receives the name “Israel,” signifying an overcomer.
- Genesis 35:22-26: Jacob’s twelve sons form the twelve tribes of physical Israel.
- Genesis 49:28: Jacob blesses his sons, formally establishing the twelve tribes.
- Exodus 19:5-6: God establishes a conditional covenant with physical Israel, promising blessings for obedience.
2. End
- Exodus 32: The people’s idolatry with the golden calf marks the beginning of their struggle with the covenant.
- 1 Kings 11:7-13: Solomon’s idolatry leads to God’s judgment and the division of the kingdom.
- Prophets warn of the impending end of physical Israel due to disobedience.
- Luke 16:16: John the Baptist’s ministry signals the end of the era of physical Israel.
- Matthew 11:11-12: Jesus acknowledges John the Baptist’s greatness but points to a new era where even the least are greater, indicating a shift in spiritual authority.
- Matthew 21:43: Jesus declares the Kingdom of God will be given to those who bear fruit, signifying a shift towards those who actively spread the Word.
B. Spiritual Israel (New Testament)
1. Beginning
- John 16:33: Jesus declares victory over the world, establishing himself as the overcomer.
- Hosea 11:1 & Matthew 2: Jesus is identified as the “son called out of Egypt,” linking him to the prophetic figure of Israel.
- John 1:11-13: Believers in Jesus become children of God, marking a shift from physical lineage to spiritual rebirth.
- Romans 2:28-29: True Jewishness is defined by inward transformation through the Spirit, not physical lineage.
- Matthew 13:24, 37: Jesus sows the “good seed” of the Word, giving birth to a new spiritual Israel.
- Jesus chooses twelve disciples, mirroring Jacob’s twelve sons, to spread the Word and form the foundation of spiritual tribes.
2. End
- Revelation 13:6-7: The beast emerges and conquers the saints, signifying a betrayal within the church.
- Revelation 1:20 & Revelation 2-3: Jesus addresses the seven churches, warning of judgment if they fail to repent and maintain their light.
- Revelation 6:12-17: The sun, moon, and stars go dark and fall, symbolizing the downfall of spiritual Israel due to internal corruption.
C. New Spiritual Israel (Second Coming)
1. Beginning
- Revelation 12:5, 9-11: The male child, representing the overcomer, defeats the dragon and establishes God’s kingdom.
- Revelation 2:26-27: The overcomer is granted authority over the nations, wielding an iron scepter symbolic of power and judgment.
- Revelation 14:14-16: An angel gathers the harvest, separating the faithful from those who will face judgment.
- Revelation 7:4: The 144,000 sealed from the twelve tribes represent the new spiritual Israel.
- A new overcomer emerges and calls forth the new spiritual Israel, culminating in a faithful community gathered on the mountain with God.
VII. A Call to Reflection
- Recognizing the parallels between the rejection of Jesus by physical Israel and potential blind spots within Christianity.
- Emphasizing the need to actively seek understanding and avoid complacency in spiritual matters.
- Recognizing the urgency of the present time and the importance of being ready for the harvest.
VIII. Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Israel
- Understanding the concept of Israel transcends physical lineage and encompasses spiritual transformation and faithfulness.
- Recognizing the cyclical nature of God’s work, establishing and refining his chosen people throughout history.
- Embracing the hope of belonging to the new spiritual Israel, a community marked by unwavering faith and enduring purpose.
A Study Guide
Three Types of Israel: A Study Guide
Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences.
- What are the two meanings of the title “Israel”?
- Explain the difference between physical Israel and spiritual Israel.
- What event marks the beginning of spiritual Israel?
- How did the sun, moon, and stars “go dark and fall” during the era of physical Israel?
- How did the sun, moon, and stars “go dark and fall” during the era of spiritual Israel?
- What does it mean to “produce fruit” in the context of Matthew 21:43?
- Explain the significance of the number twelve in relation to the different eras of Israel.
- What is the “seed” that Jesus sows in Matthew 13, and what does it represent?
- Describe the “harvest” in Revelation 14, and what it signifies.
- What is the ultimate fate of the “field” where Jesus sowed his seed?
Short-Answer Quiz Answer Key
- “Israel” refers to both the individual who overcomes struggles with God and man and the chosen people descended from that overcomer.
- Physical Israel refers to the descendants of Jacob, bound by a physical covenant. Spiritual Israel refers to those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, forming a spiritual lineage.
- The beginning of spiritual Israel is marked by Jesus overcoming the world, becoming the “overcomer” and gathering his twelve disciples, his spiritual sons.
- The sun, moon, and stars of physical Israel “went dark and fall” when they broke God’s covenant through idolatry and disobedience, leading to their exile and loss of status as God’s chosen people.
- The sun, moon, and stars of spiritual Israel, represented by the seven churches, “went dark and fall” when they succumbed to complacency, false teachings, and worldliness, losing their position as a beacon of light.
- “Producing fruit” in Matthew 21:43 refers to bearing the fruit of evangelism, spreading the word of God and bringing others to believe in Jesus Christ.
- The number twelve symbolizes the completeness and foundation of God’s chosen people. Jacob had twelve sons who formed the twelve tribes, and Jesus chose twelve disciples as the foundation of spiritual Israel. This pattern is repeated in the new spiritual Israel, where twelve tribes are formed from those who are harvested.
- The “seed” that Jesus sows in Matthew 13 is the word of God. It represents the truth of the gospel that, when planted in receptive hearts, leads to spiritual life and growth.
- The “harvest” in Revelation 14 is the gathering of the elect from the “field” of the world, separating them from the wicked before judgment. This signifies the completion of God’s plan and the beginning of the new spiritual Israel.
- The “field” where Jesus sowed his seed, representing the world and the church, will ultimately be burned, symbolizing God’s judgment on the wicked and the purification of creation.
Additional Questions
1. What is the meaning of Israel?
– The one who overcomes / chosen people
2. What are the 3 kinds of Israel?
– Physical Israel
– Spiritual Israel
– New Spiritual Israel
3. Who establishes Israel on the Old Testament, First Coming and Second Coming?
– Old Testament: Jacob —-> 12 Sons
– First Coming: Jesus —> 12 disciples
– Second Coming: New John —> 12 tribes
4. What are the requirements of being Israel?
– One must overcome
– Establish 12 Tribes
5. Who should believers strive to be today?
New Spiritual Israel (Mount Zion)
Glossary of Key Terms
- Physical Israel: The descendants of Jacob (Israel), bound by a physical covenant with God and comprising the twelve tribes.
- Spiritual Israel: Those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, forming a spiritual lineage based on belief rather than physical descent.
- New Spiritual Israel: The chosen people of the second coming, formed through the “harvest” of believers from the world and established as the everlasting kingdom of God.
- Overcomer: An individual who struggles with God and man and ultimately triumphs, receiving God’s blessing and becoming the foundation of a new era.
- Covenant: A sacred agreement between God and his chosen people, outlining the terms of their relationship, including blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience.
- Sun, Moon, and Stars: Figurative representations of spiritual leadership and authority within God’s chosen people, often symbolizing pastors, evangelists, and saints.
- Going Dark and Falling: The loss of spiritual position and authority due to betrayal, unfaithfulness, and succumbing to worldly influences.
- Spiritual Seed: The word of God, which, when planted in receptive hearts, leads to spiritual life and growth.
- Born of God: Experiencing spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ, resulting in a transformed nature and inclusion in God’s family.
- Harvest: The gathering of the elect from the world, separating them from the wicked before judgment and ushering them into God’s eternal kingdom.
- Field: A symbolic representation of the world and the church, where the “seed” of God’s word is sown and where both wheat (believers) and weeds (unbelievers) grow together.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events in “Secrets of Heaven: Figurative 3 Types of Israel”
This timeline presents events both chronologically and in the order discussed in the lesson, as the text frequently jumps between different eras.
Old Testament Era (Physical Israel)
- Pre-History: God establishes a pattern of creating covenants with His chosen people.
- ~2000 BC: Jacob wrestles with God, overcomes, and is renamed Israel, becoming the figurative “overcomer.”
- ~2000 BC: Jacob/Israel has twelve sons who form the twelve tribes of Israel.
- ~1500 BC: God gives the Israelites a covenant at Mount Sinai, promising blessings if they obey.
- ~1500 BC: The Israelites break the covenant by worshipping the golden calf.
- ~1000 BC: King Solomon builds temples to other gods, breaking the covenant and leading to the division of the kingdom.
- ~722 BC: The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyria.
- ~586 BC: The southern kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon and the people are exiled for 70 years.
- ~6th-4th Century BC: Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel foretell the end of physical Israel and the coming of a new era.
New Testament Era (Spiritual Israel)
- 1st Century AD: John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Old Testament era, prepares the way for Jesus.
- ~30 AD: Jesus Christ, through his life, death, and resurrection, overcomes the world and becomes the new “overcomer,” fulfilling the title of Israel.
- ~30 AD: Jesus selects twelve disciples, forming a new spiritual Israel with Jesus as the head.
- ~30-70 AD: Jesus and his disciples preach the Gospel, calling people to become part of spiritual Israel.
- ~70 AD: The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem marks a significant judgment on physical Israel.
- 1st-4th Century AD: The Gospel spreads, and the early Church, representing spiritual Israel, grows.
End Times/Second Coming (New Spiritual Israel)
- Unspecified Future: The sun, moon, and stars go dark and fall, signifying the betrayal and judgment of spiritual Israel.
- Unspecified Future: The beast emerges and attacks those in the fallen “heaven,” representing the corrupt Church.
- Unspecified Future: A male child (the overcomer) appears, overcomes the dragon (Satan), and receives the iron scepter of authority.
- Unspecified Future: An angel conducts the harvest, gathering the elect (those with God’s word) from the “field” (the corrupt Church)
- Unspecified Future: The 144,000, representing the new twelve tribes of Israel, are sealed and gather on the mountain with God and Jesus.
Cast of Characters
Old Testament Figures:
- Jacob/Israel: Patriarch of the Israelites. He wrestled with God, overcame, and was renamed Israel. His twelve sons became the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- The Twelve Sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. They became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Moses: Led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the covenant from God at Mount Sinai.
- King Solomon: Initially a wise and righteous king, he later built temples to foreign gods, leading to the division of the kingdom and God’s judgment.
- Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos): Spoke God’s word, warning of judgment on Israel and foretelling the coming of a new era.
New Testament Figures:
- John the Baptist: The last prophet of the Old Testament era. He prepared the way for Jesus and represents the end of physical Israel’s dominance.
- Jesus Christ: The central figure of the Christian faith. He is the ultimate “overcomer,” defeating Satan and the world through his life, death, and resurrection. He establishes spiritual Israel, a new covenant open to all who believe in him.
- The Twelve Disciples: Chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers. They represent the new twelve tribes of spiritual Israel and spread the Gospel after Jesus’s ascension.
- Apostle Paul: A key figure in the early Church. He wrote many letters explaining the new covenant and the meaning of spiritual Israel, emphasizing belief over physical lineage.
End Times Figures:
- The Male Child/Overcomer: A mysterious figure who overcomes the dragon (Satan) and receives authority over the nations. Likely represents a group or individuals who are faithful to God during the end times.
- The Angel with the Sickle: Carries out the harvest, separating the faithful (“wheat”) from the unfaithful (“weeds”) in the “field” representing the corrupt Church.
Other Figures:
- The Beast: A symbolic representation of evil and the antichrist. It attacks those in the fallen “heaven” (corrupt Church).
- The Dragon/Satan: The ultimate source of evil. He is defeated by the male child/overcomer.
Note: The lesson emphasizes that the identity of the overcomer in the end times is not definitively revealed. It could be a single individual, a group of people, or even a symbolic representation of the faithful remnant.
Overview
Overview: Figurative 3 Types of Israel
Main Theme: This lesson explores the concept of Israel throughout the Bible, highlighting its evolution from physical lineage to a spiritual designation based on faith and overcoming. The lesson emphasizes three distinct eras of Israel: Physical Israel, Spiritual Israel, and New Spiritual Israel.
Key Ideas:
- Dual Meaning of Israel:
- “Israel” represents both the overcomer and the chosen people.
- This title was first given to Jacob after he wrestled with God and overcame.
- “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28)
- Each era of Israel features an overcomer who establishes a group of chosen people.
- Three Eras of Israel:
- Physical Israel (Old Testament): Descended from Jacob’s 12 sons, forming the 12 tribes. They were bound to God by a covenant promising blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. This era ended with their failure to keep the covenant and their rejection of Jesus.
- Spiritual Israel (New Testament): Established by Jesus, the overcomer who defeated Satan and the world. Membership is determined by faith in Jesus and being “born of God” through his word. This era is symbolized by the sowing of good seed in the field (the world/church).
- New Spiritual Israel (Second Coming): Characterized by the harvest of the good seed from the field, representing those who have remained faithful and accepted God’s word. This group will be led by a new overcomer, will overcome the forces of evil, and will never end.
- End of Eras and the Importance of Overcoming:
- Each era of Israel ends due to the failure of the chosen people to uphold the covenant or maintain their faith.
- The end of an era doesn’t preclude individual salvation; individual faith in Christ allows people to transition into the next era.
- A new era begins with a new overcomer who establishes a new group of chosen people.
- The Importance of Testimony and Right Company:
- Overcoming is achieved through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of their testimony (spreading the gospel).
- “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11)
- This highlights the importance of sharing one’s faith and actively engaging in evangelism.
- The lesson warns against bad company, emphasizing the importance of surrounding oneself with those who nurture faith and spiritual growth.
- Parallels between Eras:
- The lesson emphasizes the parallels between the eras of Israel: each begins with an overcomer, involves the establishment of 12 tribes, and requires the spreading of God’s word.
- This repetition emphasizes God’s consistent pattern throughout history and highlights the urgency for believers to recognize the signs of the times and prepare for the harvest.
- Application to the Present Day:
- The lesson urges believers to reflect on their own faith, avoid complacency, and actively seek to be part of the New Spiritual Israel.
- The video featuring interviews with Jewish individuals who misunderstand Jesus’s role and the concept of the Messiah serves as a cautionary tale. It warns against misinterpreting scripture and clinging to outdated beliefs, encouraging self-reflection and a renewed focus on understanding God’s word and plan.
Conclusion: The lesson urges believers to strive to be “harvested” into the New Spiritual Israel by actively engaging in their faith, spreading the gospel, and preparing for the second coming of Christ. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing God’s consistent pattern of establishing a chosen people through an overcomer and emphasizes the urgency of understanding and heeding his word in the present day.
Q&A
Q&A: The Three Israels
1. What are the two meanings of the term “Israel” in the Bible?
The term “Israel” holds a dual significance in the Bible:
- The Overcomer: It represents an individual who has wrestled with challenges, both spiritual and worldly, and emerged victorious. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel after his struggle with God, signifying this meaning.
- The Chosen People: It refers to the descendants of the overcomer, forming a distinct group chosen by God for a specific purpose. In Jacob’s case, his twelve sons became the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
2. What are the three types of Israel mentioned in these teachings?
The teachings outline three distinct eras of Israel:
- Physical Israel: This refers to the descendants of Jacob, who received the covenant at Mount Sinai. Their era spanned the Old Testament period, culminating in their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
- Spiritual Israel: This era began with Jesus, the ultimate overcomer, who established a new covenant based on faith and spiritual rebirth. It encompasses the New Testament period and the formation of the Christian Church.
- New Spiritual Israel: This future era will be inaugurated at the Second Coming. It will consist of those harvested from the corrupted “field” of the Church, who have remained true to God’s word and overcome the influence of the “beast.”
3. How did each era of Israel come to an end?
Each era faced a turning point that marked its conclusion:
- Physical Israel: Their repeated failure to uphold the covenant and their descent into idolatry led to their rejection by God. Their final rejection of Jesus as the Messiah sealed their fate.
- Spiritual Israel: Despite its promising beginning, spiritual Israel (the Church) gradually became corrupted by worldly influences and false teachings. This corruption paves the way for its judgment and the need for a new spiritual Israel.
4. What is the significance of the number twelve in relation to Israel?
The number twelve holds symbolic weight in the context of Israel, representing completeness and God’s divine order:
- Jacob’s twelve sons: They formed the foundation of the twelve tribes of physical Israel.
- Jesus’ twelve disciples: They represent the spiritual sons of Jesus, chosen to spread the Gospel and establish the foundations of spiritual Israel.
- The 144,000: In the new spiritual Israel, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes will be sealed and protected, signifying the completion of God’s chosen people.
5. What is the meaning of “overcoming” in the context of Israel?
“Overcoming” signifies more than just facing challenges; it implies a spiritual victory:
- Wrestling with God: Jacob’s wrestling with God represents the inner struggle to align oneself with God’s will and purpose.
- Overcoming the world: Jesus overcame the temptations of the world and the power of Satan, establishing himself as the ultimate victor and model for all believers.
- Enduring persecution: The new spiritual Israel will overcome the trials and persecutions of the end times, standing firm in their faith and testimony.
6. What is the significance of the “harvest” mentioned in Revelation 14?
The harvest imagery in Revelation 14 depicts a separation and judgment:
- The field: It symbolizes the world or the visible Church, where both true believers (wheat) and those who have rejected God (weeds) coexist.
- The harvest: It represents the Second Coming, where Jesus, as the harvester, will separate the true believers from the false, gathering them into God’s kingdom.
- The barn: It signifies the safe and eternal dwelling place prepared for those who have overcome and remained faithful.
7. What lesson can we learn from the Jewish people’s continued rejection of Jesus?
The Jewish people’s ongoing refusal to accept Jesus as the Messiah serves as a cautionary tale:
- Blindness to truth: It highlights the danger of clinging to tradition and rejecting new revelations, even when they fulfill prophecies.
- Self-reflection: It prompts us to examine our own beliefs and ensure we are not clinging to outdated interpretations or missing the signs of God’s present work.
- Urgency of the harvest: It emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing the truth in our time, so we are prepared for the coming harvest and judgment.
8. What is the ultimate hope for those who strive to be part of the new spiritual Israel?
Those who aspire to belong to the new spiritual Israel look forward to:
- Eternal life: They anticipate a future free from suffering and death, dwelling in the presence of God.
- Intimacy with God: They will experience a deeper relationship with God, based on understanding and obedience to His word.
- Reigning with Christ: They will share in Christ’s victory and authority, participating in the establishment of His eternal kingdom.