GordonSlocum

Amen

Jasher

Dear John,
Ro 4:13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.

Ga 3:16 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.


Abraham is the heir of the whole world through Christ, When you talk in terms of numbers described as sand of the sea and stars in the sky you are into numbers far far in excess of the total population of Israel. As you say it has to be the eternal kingdom of God at the end of time. It doesn't seem to fit anywhere else. The answer, I think, is linked into the covenants of God. Unfortunately I have never studied the Covenants so I can't offer an intelligent response. Perhaps some of the others have – I don't know.

I did hear an introductory tape once a long time ago on Covenants. As I recall the land given to Israel was a part of one of the Covenants. Covenants are conditional and God tore up that Covenant because of their wickedness. When the Israelites came back from exile in Babylon, you never heard any more about the land and the tribes again like you did before. All you hear is the general term “Jew.” Well I'm just babbling and don't know what I'm talking about. So I'll leave this to others.

Thanks for showing me this area of study that I somehow skipped over. I already bought a book on it written by Malcolm Smith who is a premiere writer on the Covenants of God.

PreciousMessage

Hi Jasher,

You're on to something, the inheritance is heavenly, not earthly as the mass populist will not let go, and it is linked to the "covenants" of God.

Firstly, its important to to note that The Old Testament sheds light upon the New, and the New upon the Old. Each is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Both present truths that will continually reveal new depths of meaning to the earnest seeker.

Therefore, what is a covenant?

The covenant and promise of God are one and the same! This is clearly seen from Galatians 3:17, where Paul states that to disannul the covenant would to make void the promise. In Genesis 17 we read that God made a covenant with Abraham to give him the land of Cannaan for an everlasting possession. Galatians 3:18 says that God gave it to him by promise.

The covenant, that is, the promise of God is to give men the whole earth made new after having made them free from the curse. "For all promises of God find their Yes in Him."

Going onto to "TWO COVENANTS" described in Galatians 4:21-31.

The apostle Paul speaks of Hagar and Sarah: "These women are two covenants," and they both exist today! The two covenants are NOT matters of time, but a condition of the heart. They are experiential.

The difference is between a "free woman" and a "salve." In the covenant from Sinai we ourselves have to do with the law alone, while in the covenant from above we have the law IN CHRIST. There are two cities and earthly Jerusalem refers to the Old covenant, which is in bondage, that is not the inheritance no matter how many pro literal land Israel books are written.

The "new covenant" is free and is the "heavenly Jerusalem," which "God prepared" as described in Hebrews. It is the city for which Abraham looked, the "city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. 11:10.

There are a great many who build great hopes, all their hopes, on the present Jerusalem. Even Satan himself may have hand in the late 1940's and 60's. When people look to earthly Jerusalem, "to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted." 2 Cor. 3:14.

In reality they are looking to Mount Sinai, described in Galatians 4:21-31, and the old covenant for salvation. It's not found there. "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; ... but ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY Jerusalem" Hebrews 12:18-24.

Whoever, according to the clear teaching of the covenant (promsie), looks to the present Jerusalem for blessings is looking to the old covenant to Mount Sinai, to slavery. "Jerusalem above is free." .... That would be free from sin.

I have studied the covenant question for years and which and pray for people to look to the Bible for the answers on the covenant question, it will save a lot despair.

Hence, when Mt. Zion is talked of in the OLD TESTAMENT, when going to the NEW TESTAMENT it is referring to the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, not the EARTHLY according to the progressive and continual revelation of scripture.

I could speak on this subject for hundreds of emails, but I hope it became a little clearer, any questions, disagreements feel free, covenant-promise@comcast.net

John

Jasher

I overlooked your question. I live in semi beautiful North East Ohio. The area is extremely Democrat, catholic, Unionized, Socialistic, and depressed. (Is there a connection?) The unemployment rate is now 7 percent almost double the national average of around 4.5 percent. This has been a place of heavy industry over the past 70 years or so. A lot of the steel mills went out of business in the 70's and 80's. In 04 the price of steel almost doubled because of world demand - especially China. This gave the steel mills a boost and WCI steel in Warren recovered from bankrupcy and Copperweld Steel reopened this past year on a reduced capacity. I think Sharon Steel reopened but I'm not sure.

So industry has recovered to some degree. GM has a huge plant in Lordstown, but has dropped from about 10,000 employees over the past 15 years to about 5 or 6,000 I think. Their existance is in jeopardy. Delphi which sprang off of GM is in bankrupcy and are renegotiating with the unions for lower wages. They may survive. The cost of living is fairly reasonable here compared to the East and West coasts.

And now you know far more than you ever wanted to know.

Nathi

I AM THE TRUE ISRAELITE IN HEART by Holy Spirit
The other day I was at a place without form and void; Darkness was all over the place.
And I was thrown there without the removal of my navel cord; blood of my birth was all over me.
No one had compassion for me. But God Almighty passed by me,
And He looked at me and said "Let there be Light" in my Life.
The Light has come: It is great! Now I am the true Israelite in heart because “I AM” had mercy on me.
And He washed me and made me clean with the blood of Jesus Christ.
He covered my nakedness with His glory.

Today I am the true Israelite in heart,
Since I have been circumcised in heart and He has poured His spirit on me.
Now I am called Reuben by Him because I am His son.
He has said I am his might and the beginning of strength,
I am excellent dignity and excellent power of the Living God,
Although I was unstable as water, He has said to me "Reuben! Live and don't die!"

I am the true Israelite in heart,
Because He has heard my cries in a desolate place and named me Simeon:
He has said "I've heard your cries, so I will be attracted to you forever";
He has said "You shall be called Levi, since I let my perfection and light be with you;
And you shall put incense and burnt offerings before Me;
With your heart, soul and Spirit you shall serve me and Worship Me"

I am the true Israelite in heart,
And I’ve got no doubt about it, as now I live by His spirit:
When I wrestled with troops that raided my territory – He has told me I shall be called Gad;
A troop that God Almighty has made to prevail and I am going to administer His justice;
He has told me that I am Naphtali; I shall be satisfied with His favor and full of His blessings.

I am the true Israelite in heart,
Since He has removed my burden and given me a true rest;
He has said "You are Issachar, because I've paid your wages of sin and have given you Salvation";
He has told me that I shall be called Zebulun because I dwell in Him and He is in me;
He is a place of safety and peace – He has said I shall rejoice in going out, because I shall call people to the Mountain of the Living God – Zion. And I'll offer sacrifice of righteousness,
By pursuing righteousness and living a righteous Life before Him.

I am the true Israelite in heart,
I no longer live but I live because He lives in me;
I am covered with His glory all day long and that is why He has said:
"You shall be called Dan – a Judge". It’s not because I am worthy to judge people, but because He lives in me.
So when people see me they see Him and submit to Him:
It’s not me who judges them but He judges them with my righteous living.
O Lord! I've waited for your Salvation – It's priceless and I thank you for the great Love You have poured on me.

I am the true Israelite in heart,
I am called Manasseh because He has made me forget all my toil;
And also I am Ephraim because He has made me fruitful in the Land of my affliction.
He has named me Joseph since He adds to me blessings;
And because I am a fruitful bough which runs over the wall;

He has made me strong with His great, mighty and awesome Hand; And He has blessed me with precious things from heaven above and of the earth and its fullness.

Yeah, I am the true Israelite in heart,
Since His spirit lives in me, I have joy and happiness.
That is why He has said I shall be called Asher –
Because I will be rich and yield royal dainties; and because my strength will be like iron and bronze, as Eternal God who has saved me is my refuge and I am underneath His everlasting arms.
He will thrust enemies before me and say them "Destroy". My battles are His ones.

........................................Continues. ...........................................

__________________
To God I trust and Love be Glory and Dominion Forever

Nathi

I am the true Israelite in heart,
He has called me Judah for I shall offer praise to Him;
And He deserves praise as I am in Him and I dwell safely in Him;
He has called me Benjamin for He shelters me all day long and I dwell in His shoulders – I am the son of the right Hand,

If you touch me you touch the eye of the Living God.

I am the true Israelite in heart,
Because I've wrestled with Him and have seen His face and He has called me Israel 'Prince with God',

because I have struggled with God and men and I have prevailed since He prevailed over me – When He conquers I also conquer.
I am Israel, the descendant of faith – By faith I live, by faith I move Mountains.
I am the true Israelite because I live by His grace, not by Luck;
By His grace I have been preserved, sanctified and made righteous.
Now I am transformed, made new and living by pursuing righteousness of Him (Who Was, Who Is and Who Is to Come).

I am the Christian - a true Israelite at heart since I pursue Christ.

He said "Happy are you O Israel, who is like you - People saved by Lord";
Lord who is shield of my help and sword of my majesty – My enemies shall submit to Him.

I am the true Israelite built on the rock- Rock of my salvation- Jesus Christ.
I am the true Israelite at heart -A heart offered to me by Him who Loved Me; Now I am on a Journey to eternity – a place where there shall be no more death, no sorrow, no crying, no more pain for former things would have passed.

WORTHY IS GOD ALMIGHTY AND WORTHY IS THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FROM NAZARETH

__________________
To God I trust and Love be Glory and Dominion Forever

Dusty

Nathi..... Thanks again and can I copy these two.? I have a friend who is studying to witness to the Jewish people and I know she would be blessed by this.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Dusty

Value in Doing Business with Israel
Reports at Israel’s foremost economic policy meeting last month, the 15th Annual Economic Policy Forum convened by the Israel Democracy Institute, told a story of unusual economic resilience and growth in 2006-2007. Despite last summer’s war in Lebanon and an ongoing struggle against terrorism, participants at the meeting, also known as the Caesarea Forum, spoke of a thriving Israeli economy.

In 2007, Israel has seen rapid increases in both GDP and international trade. Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate that Israel’s real GDP growth for the coming year could reach 6% and remain at that rate through (Globes Online, July 18, 2007). Somehow the country’s economy rallied through the war and continues to grow.

In spite of Hamas’s rise to political leadership and recent violent takeover of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s report to the conference highlighted a significant drop in the national debt. Fighting and instability did not stop the country from paying off its loans.

And despite Hizbullah rockets being aimed at Israeli cities, unemployment in Israel has been dropping consistently. Estimates by the Bank of Israel see unemployment rates falling to 7.5% by the end of 2007. Although over one million Israelis live within rocket range of a terrorist militia, Israelis work more and are providing for their families.

In blatant disregard for international boycotts, investors continue to look to Israel as fertile and stable ground for factories, offices, and research facilities. Last year, mega-investor Warren Buffett sought out and agreed to a US $4 billion investment in the Israeli economy with the purchase of Israel-based Iscar Ltd. Divestment campaigns stand no chance against the economic opportunities perceived by the international community.

While Iran issues frequent calls for Israel’s destruction, the leading countries of the world make strides toward raising Israel’s economic stature. In his address to the Caesarea Forum, Governor of the Bank of Israel Professor Stanley Fischer noted that as of 2007 the “State of Israel has been accepted as a candidate to join the OECD.”

Inclusion in the prestigious Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development would place Israel in the company of the 30 most advanced countries promoting democracy and market economy. Ahmadinejad, by contrast, leads a country with decreasing economic freedom (Index of Economic Freedom 2007).

Even with the continuing security challenges and a significant share of imperfections, the world continues to recognize the value of doing business with Israel. Despite the trials, the Israeli people persist in hard work, invest eagerly in their future, and are succeeding in strengthening and stabilizing the economy. Overcoming the damage of recent global economic tremors may take time, but there is every indication that the Israeli economy is up to the challenge.

(Excerpts of an article by Barak Cohen, ISRAEL21c, August 26, 2007)

Prayer Focus
In spite of all Israel’s faults, God is blessing her. Praise God for this positive report. Pray that Israel will recognize that every good gift comes from Him.

Scripture
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Nathi

Yeah, what I post in this forum, its for all the saints, because its from Him, the God we serve Amen

I Love you Mom

__________________
To God I trust and Love be Glory and Dominion Forever

Dusty

God bless you Nathi and I love you too son. Thanks I will copy them for her.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian