“The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with the rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.”

1. Its Size Is Physically Impossible for a City

12,000 stadia = about 1,400–1,500 miles (depending on measurement).

That’s nearly the distance from Lagos to Cairo or New York to Dallas — a single “city” covering half a continent!

The text says its height is equal to its length and width, meaning a city 1,400 miles high. That’s over 600,000 stories tall!

No city on earth — even in the future — could physically exist with such dimensions.

2. It Matches the Shape of the Holy of Holies

The description of a perfect cube is significant:

1 Kings 6:20 describes the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple:

“The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high.”

This was the place of God’s intimate presence, where only the high priest entered once a year.

The New Jerusalem being a perfect cube symbolizes that God’s presence now fills the whole “city” (His people) — no longer confined to a small room in a temple.

This is consistent with Revelation 21:22:

“I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”

3. The Measurements Are Symbolic, Not Geographic

Numbers in Revelation are highly symbolic:

12 = fullness of God’s people (12 tribes, 12 apostles).

1,000 = completeness, vastness.

12,000 = symbolic of the fullness and perfection of God’s redeemed people.

Just like the 144,000 (12 × 12 × 1,000) is not a literal census but symbolic of God’s complete covenant people, so is the size of this city.

If we insist this city is literal, we must also believe its walls are made of jasper, its streets of literal gold, and that gates are made of single pearls; all clearly symbolic imagery pointing to value, purity, and beauty.

4. Its “Height” Is a Clue to Its Spiritual Nature

No literal city’s height is ever measured like its length and width but John’s vision includes height.

This shows we are not dealing with geography, but theology:

God’s presence is now vertically and horizontally everywhere among His people.

It represents the all-encompassing dwelling of God with man (Rev. 21:3).

5. Practical Problem of Literalism

If literal, this city would have to land somewhere on earth.

1,500 miles wide would cover multiple countries and oceans but Scripture gives no geographical location.

Instead, its description focuses on qualities (purity, holiness, light, no curse, no night) rather than navigation or placement on a map.

The sheer size and cube shape of the New Jerusalem are intentionally exaggerated to communicate a divine truth:

God’s people under the New Covenant have become the dwelling place of God.

His presence now fills them completely, length, breadth, and height.

It is a picture of perfection and completion, not a blueprint for future construction.

Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. 39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” (Numbers 15:37-41)

I decided to do a follow up post to assist people understand what the real issue is when it comes to the latest trend of using Prayer Shawls. It has further been made popular by recent gospel songs with dancers singing it as a prop.

The Tallit as it is called in Jewish communities is what we call the Jewish prayer shawl. It is the most authentic Jewish garment used during prayer that reminds the wearer of both God’s Covenant and His Commandments that the followers of the laws of Moses must follow.

During prayers, the custom is to wear a large rectangular garment with tzitzit (tallis gadol) and pray while wrapped in it. For the Jew, it was a visual “picture” that would cause them to remember all the (613) commandments of the Lord, and do them; so that they would not follow after their own heart and their own eyes!

In ancient Israel man wore a four cornered tunic, and these tassels were connected to that tunic. The tassels were tied to the four corners of their garment {Prayer-Shawl}. This outer garment eventually throughout history became known as a (Hebrew) “Talith” ! It eventually evolved into a more formal Prayer-Shawl, which is what most Jewish people wear in their Synagogue of congregation

On the shawl you will see what is known as Tassels. It was to remind each Jewish man of his responsibilities to fulfill all of the 613 commandments! The question are now: Are Christians under the laws of Moses for them to be reminded by it?

God knew that the Israelites would fail in keeping the laws and even forget them. So did Moses. After giving them the Ten Commandments and knowing that their heart was not right, God said, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Before Moses died God told him that He knew that Israel would forget His laws and Covenant in Deuteronomy 31:16. Moses also knew and warned them (Deuteronomy 31:29). So is it any wonder that God gave them some physical ways to remind themselves of His laws?

Let’s go further to understand it.

The fringe tassels themselves are called tzitzit. Their strings and knots are a physical representation of the Torah’s 613 do’s and don’ts. Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a corresponding numerical value. The numerical values of the five letters “צִיצִת -Tzitzis” that comprise the EHebrew word tzitzit add up to 600. Add the eight strings and five knots of each tassel, and the total is 613. That is a lot of detail to demonstrate submission to the law and bind a consciousness of it.

In modern times Israelis wear Western clothes, instead of Eastern clothes they keep this law by wearing a four corner garment as an undershirt. The little tassels are coming out of the four corners around their beltline, Why? For the Orthodox Jew, this is their way of honoring the commands given to them in the Book of Numbers. This modern day undergarment (an adaptation of the traditional Prayer Shawl) keeps them mindful and focused on the laws and ordinances of the old testament. So you can see that it is not just a fashion statement as some claim it to be.

Techelet (Blue Thread)

The Torah instcuted the Jews to include a blue (“techelet”) fringe among the tzitzit fringes. This fringe must be dyed blue with the blood of a shellfish called “chilazon.” This rare fish is a denizen of the Mediterranean Sea. After the Jewish people were exiled from Jerusalem in 70AD, the chilazon was no longer available.

For many centuries after Jews wore tzitzit without a techelet fringe.

During Jesus’ time on earth, people wore a prayer shawl with a tassel that was blue in color and referred to as the “tĕkeleth.” “Tĕkeleth” is from the root word “kālג,” which means “finished” and refers to Jesus’ finished work. When the woman with the issue of blood touched the tassel on Jesus’ prayer shawl (representing the finished work), her bleeding stopped.

In recent times, it has been discovered that the Jewish prayer shawls started being promoted and marketed quite heavily today in the Messianic and Hebrew Roots movements.

Now if you look carefully at the first century church which was initially composed of Jews, you will understand that the persecution they faced from their Jewish brethren was fundamental to everything relating to being Jewish both in worship and lifestyle.

It would interest you to note that the apostle Paul wrote indirectly when he was addressing the subject of authority in the home. He wrote:

“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head” (1 Corinthians 11:4).

1 Corinthians 11:7 adds, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God.” To demonstrate submission of the man to Christ, he used the covering of the head, which was the prayer shawl as an example.

New Covenant Fulfillment

Paul called these reminders a schoolmaster—. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith”(Galatians 3:24). The tutor has now brought us to Christ. We understand that we are to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), and have “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10).

I hear some Christians say that the new testament is not against the use of it. I believe it is a failure to read between the lines. In Galatians Paul teaches us that the ceremonial laws, given 430 years after the covenant with Abraham (which was based on his obedience to God’s commandments, laws, statutes, and charge—Genesis 26:5) did not change the covenant, but were added because of the record of disobedience of Israel, and would be binding on them until the coming of the Messiah.

In the book of Hebrews we see a list to determine just what laws we are talking about:

“It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—and concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances [physical rites] imposed until the time of reformation. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” (Hebrews 9:9-11).

As a result of Jesus Christ being seated at the right hand of the Father and sending the Holy Spirit to be our helper, we now are to have the laws and commandments of God in our heart and mind. This is the most consequential change made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and was prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-33), then reaffirmed by the author of Hebrews (Hebrews 8:8-10).

The instruction to make tassels to remind Israelites not to forget God’s law is now applied by worshipping God not just outwardly, but in spirit and truth. Jesus Christ told the woman at the well, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

I believe many people have forgotten in a hurry how Jesus denounced the scribes and Pharisees.

“They do all their works to be seen of men; for they make wide their phylacteries small cases enclosing certain Scripture passages, worn during prayer on the left arm and forehead) and make long their fringes [worn by all male Israelites, according to the command].” (Matthew 23:5) AMPC.

Jesus stood up to their stance of religious-looking things in order to be seen by others. Over and over again, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their approach to their worship—stating that it was hypocritical (Luke 12:1), and that they had made the law of God of no effect in their lives due to their traditions (Mark 7:7-8). Their worship was vanity because their motive was wrong.

In the new testament, we have a different order. It’s not about physical observation but a life driven by the Spirit. All the rites and ceremonies of the old were symbols and shadows of the finished work of Christ. We are now called to seek those things that are above, where the Christ reigns from on high (Colossians 2:20-3:1). We now have a “better covenant based on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).

This is not the time to pursue the vain religion of the Pharisees that seeks recognition from other people. Instead, let us pursue those things which edify the Body, joining and knitting it together by what every member supplies (Ephesians 4:16). We can only do this by following the pattern of the Spirit and not of the law.

I will just select a few places out of the many that actually posit a return of Jesus in the first century and the nature of his return. Now I realize that I am skipping a lot to do this, but I want to zero in on a particular conversation.

Now see what Paul tells them in chapter 5:

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV)

The “you” and “your” refer to the Thessalonians church living in the first century. This is a prayer that they would still be in their biological bodies when the Lord returned. Physical death separates the spirit and body. To be preserved completely is to still be alive at the Second Coming. This preservation might actually refer to their being alive since some of their members were being persecuted and killed for their faith.

After that first Epistle was written, there came a report to Paul about some doctrinal issues that arose in that church. So, he wrote a second letter to correct those misconceptions.

In the first chapter, Paul identified and wrote about their suffering—it was real, and they were hurting. With what doctrine does he comfort them? Let’s look at the text:

Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. THIS IS EVIDENCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-8 ESV (Emphasis Mine)

Paul considers their dilemma a righteous judgment of God. Think about that! What right did Paul have to say that? Jesus already spoke about this in his Olivet prophecy recorded in Matthew 24. The elect were chosen for that difficult route at the full manifestation of the kingdom of God that would eventually dethrone the age, dispensation and administration of the law.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. Matthew 24:9 ESV

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. Luke 21:12 ESV

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. – Acts 14:22 (KJV)

He comforts them with the teaching of the Lord’s Coming. Notice that he says, “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you.” Who were “those who afflict you”? 

It was the Jews! This was well captured in chapter 2.

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 ESV

Verse 7 says that God would give them relief from their suffering—when? 

“When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire.” Paul says that they will have relief from their suffering at the Second Coming.

Do you see that? Now, if the Second Coming is still in the future, then we already have an issue! It would seem that Paul was giving them false hope. If this was the case then how can we believe anything he says?

If Jesus did not come in the lifetime of those living first century Thessalonian Christians and give them relief from their persecution as promised by Paul, then Paul lied to them. This is exactly what we say Paul did when we look at that letter and speak about a future return of Jesus to take away people from the earth through the rapture.

We read that the scriptures have been for inspiration and instruction. This should give us an understanding of the relevance and importance of Time statements, Tenses and Relevant audience. In this way, we will be able to do justice with regards to Bible Prophecy. 

One of such is British Israelism, also known as Anglo-Israelism. It says that Ephesians 2:11-22 is talking about the reuniting of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their major thesis is that American believers, are part of the northern kingdom of Israel. British Israelism teaches that the “lost ten tribes” of Israel travelled to Europe and then to England. They believe that they became the primary ancestors of the British people and, also, the United States. The doctrine often includes the tenet that the British Royal Family is directly descended from the line of King David.

British Israelism was made popular by the Worldwide Church of God and Herbert Armstrong, but other groups have held the doctrine as well. The primary goal behind British Israelism is to claim that England and the United States have inherited the covenant promises God made to Israel.

The error here is connecting bloodline to the covenant instead of faith.

Notice what Paul says in:

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands. Ephesians 2:11 NASB

Paul is making a comparison here between Jews-the circumcised, and Gentiles-uncircumcised. A growing teaching maintains that “Gentiles” refers only to the northern kingdom of Israel.

This excludes us from the blessing spoken of in this passage unless you hold to British Israelism, then you are the northern kingdom of Israel and these blessing are yours.

Another view a from website about the Hebrew heritage says

“Yahshuah said he was not sent to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists etc. He was sent to the true Hebrews a.k.a. African Americans.” Notice that they don’t say he was sent to Africans, but African Americans. If Jesus was sent to African Americans, He came at the wrong time and to the wrong place.

“Israylite Heritage” goes on to say, “The same love you have for Yah and Yahshuah is the same love you must have for True Israel, so-called African Americans. You as a Gentile can be grafted into the family of Yah, and become part of the commonwealth of Israel. You must follow the laws Yah gave to Israel through the mouth of his servant Moses.”

This view emphasizes that we become part of Israel through Law keeping. Which I find very strange. In Ephesians 2 the Apostle Paul, who was a true Hebrew, says:

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 NASB

We are brought near, not by the keeping the Mosaic law, but by the blood of Christ.

The “Israylite Heritage” website also says, “There are Gentiles who KNOW AND PREACH THE NAMES OF YAH AND YAHSHUAH, THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FEAST DAYS AND KEEPING THE LAWS. BUT THEY DON’T KNOW AND EXCEPT THAT WE SO CALLED BLACKS ARE THE BIBLICAL ISRAELITES.” According to what was previously said, it is not just blacks that are Israel, but American blacks.

So we have British Israelism saying that white Europeans are the true Israel, and we have “Israylite Heritage” website saying that Blacks are the true Israel. Interesting how these teachings go to focus on men instead of the reality that is found in Christ.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— Ephesians 2:11 NASB

Paul describes the former condition from two very different perspectives. The first is from the point of view of the self-righteous Jew in verse 11.

The second is from the perspective of God Himself, and of His word verse 12.

“Therefore”—with this emphatic “therefore,” Paul connects what he has written to what he is about to say. Paul is saying, “In light of the fact that you have been brought from death to live by God’s grace, remember the place from which God brought you.”

“Remember”—this is not a suggestion as Paul is telling his Gentile readers to “remember” where they came from.

“That formerly you Gentiles”—the word “formerly” is the enclitic particle indicating time. It is indicating the same thing as we see in verse 12, “were at that time,” which are contrasted to the “now’ of verse 13. Paul is talking about their pre-conversion state.

“Gentiles”—the first 10 verses of chapter 2 speak to both Jews and Non-jews alike, but here Paul focuses on the Gentiles. Paul is writing these things to the Non-jews as a group. For 2,000 years, from Abraham to Christ, God chose to work almost exclusively with the Jews. If you were a Gentile, the only way that you could know the LORD, the one true God, was to be circumcised and follow the Jewish rituals and sacrificial system. Even then, the Jews considered you a second class citizen.

“Gentiles in the flesh”—the context here demands that “in the flesh” refers to circumcision, which was a sign in the flesh. These Non-jews were referred to by the Jews as the uncircumcision:

“Who are called ‘Uncircumcision'”— The word “uncircumcision” is from the Greek akrobustia, which means: “foreskin.” With contempt the Jews considered “the Gentiles in the flesh” as those with foreskins. This implied that they did not belong to the covenant people of God; they didn’t have the surgical sign that marked Israel as God’s covenant people. And in the lips of the Jews it was expressive of a self-righteous loathing of the Gentiles as unclean and profane.

You remember what David called Goliath?:

Then David spoke…For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 NASB

David is calling him an unclean pagan! One without covenant backing.

The Jews viewed Non-jews as unclean “dogs.” Jewish men prayed every morning, “Lord, thank You that You didn’t make me a Gentile or a woman.” The Jew said that the Non-jews were created by God to be fuel for the fires of Gehenna. The barrier between Jew and Non-jews was absolute. If a Jewish boy or girl married a Non-jews, they held a funeral because touching a Gentile in anyway physically like that is tantamount to death. It was not even lawful to render help to a Non-jews woman in childbirth, for that would be to bring another Non-jews into the world. The common motto for the Jew toward the Non-jews was this: “The best of the serpents—crush them, and the best of the Non-jews —kill them!”

Notice what Peter said to the Gentile Cornelius:

And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. Acts 10:28 NASB

Then when Peter got back to Jerusalem his fellow Jews give him a hard time about meeting with Cornelius:

And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Acts 11:2-3 NASB

In times past not only did the Jews hate the Gentiles, the Greeks hated the Jews. The Greeks saw themselves to be the peak of all humanity. They saw their culture and language as superior to all others. They called others, “Barbarians,” a term that made fun of the way that foreign languages sounded to the Greeks. As far they were concerned, they couldn’t even speak Greek, the language of the gods! Cicero once wrote, “As the Greeks say all men are divided into two classes, Greeks and Barbarians.”

Plato said that the Barbarians were their enemies by nature. It was said that the Greeks waged a truce-less war against people of other races—against the Barbarians.

The long history of animosity between the Jews and the Gentiles is well documented. In the Book of Acts (see Acts 10 and 11), we see the Jewish “believers” resistant to the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. And even when God’s purpose of saving the Non-jews was accepted, some insisted that the Gentile converts must become Jewish proselytes in order to be saved:

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1 NASB

The early Church was in danger of being split into separate Jewish and Gentile Churches. They easily could have maintained the split by saying, “We have different customs and preferences as Jews and Gentiles.” Paul fought so hard for them to be unity, to see themselves one in Christ.

To the Jews, circumcision was a sacred ceremony that marked out a man as a true son of the covenant. They believed that circumcision of all the rites and all the rituals was the most important. For them circumcision was what made a man acceptable to God.

In the Midrash it is said, “God swore to Abraham that no one who was circumcised should be sent to Gehenna.”

In the Jewish mind, circumcision was salvation. So the objection to Non-jews being saved by faith alone hit the streets early in the days of the First Missionary by the disciples.

The Judaizers said, “Believing the Gospel of Christ is not enough, you need to be circumcised or you will not make it to heaven.” The Jews couldn’t even conceive of an uncircumcised person being acceptable to God.

Notice what Paul says about them:

But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. Galatians 5:11-12 NASB

This is one of the strongest statements Paul ever made. The word Paul uses for “mutilate” is apokopto, it means: “to amputate or castrate.” Paul presses the matter: “if cutting off a little flesh is good, cutting off much flesh is even better. Why not be so pious as to castrate oneself?”

So the matter of circumcision played a very, very important role in the preaching of the Gospel to the Jews and to the Gentiles in New Testament times.

Now notice that Paul calls them the “So Called” Circumcision—Paul was pointing to the fact that though the nation of Israel had the outward sign of physical circumcision, they did not have the circumcision of the heart that God called for them to have.

This is a constant theme in the Scriptures, but Paul points out that for the most part, those “called the circumcision,” while being circumcised in the flesh, were obviously not circumcised in the heart.

Paul addressed this in Romans 2:

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. Romans 2:28 NASB

Here Paul makes a distinction between the outward/physical and the inward/spiritual.

Once the New Covenant arrived, the only true Jews were those who trusted in the Christ:

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. Romans 2:29 NASB

In this context, Paul uses “Jew” as the people of God, those chosen by Him, those shown God’s favor, and those in covenant with God. What Paul says here in Romans, he says throughout the New Testament.

It is very clear from these blogs that the scriptures do not favour an Israel-Only doctrine. With proper and objective reflection on the scripting of the scriptures, it is clear that God had a plan through Abraham to bring all the families of the earth into His divine will through Jesus Christ. He is the true Israel of God.

Let’s begin this with the letter of Paul to the church located in Ephesus.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands. Ephesians 2:11 NASB

Paul is making a comparison here between Jews-the circumcised, and Gentiles-uncircumcised. There are some that teach that the “Gentiles” refers only to the northern kingdom of Israel. To clear up the misperception the first thing we need to understand is, who are the Gentiles?

We know from the scriptures that Paul’s ministry was predominately to the Gentiles:

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; Acts 9:15 NASB

Here the term “Gentiles” is the Greek word ethnos.

First thing to note is that “Gentiles” is a bad translation. It is an English language substitution for the Hebrew words, “goy” (singular) and “goyim” (plural) and the Greek words, “ethne,” (singular) or “ethnos,” (plural).

This word is best translated as “nations,”. This sometimes represents the nation of Israel, sometimes the dispersed ten northern tribes, sometimes non-Israelites, and sometimes everybody, as in “all nations.”

We don’t see the word translated as non-Jew, but this is how it is often used:

‘It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’ Zechariah 8:13 NASB

Here the house of Israel was among the nations, the non-Israelites.

In order to understand who this term “nations” is referring to we really need to understand who the Jews are. The Bible often makes a distinction between Jews and Nations:

But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. Acts 13:45-46 NASB

Here we see a contrast between Jew and nations. When the Bible talks about Jews, who is it referring to? Most people believe that the Jews are the 12 tribes of Israel, God’s covenant people. According to the scriptures that is not correct!

The term “Jews” was first used in the Babylonian captivity. The Babylonians called them Jews because they were from the land of Judah. As at when the the New Testament was written in the reign of the Roman kingdom there were only two tribes in the Palestinian area; Judah and Benjamin. There were certain individuals from other tribes, but for the most part, it was only the two tribes. It was only those two tribes who were called “Jews”, or Judeans .

A look at the history of Israel will throw more light on this. Israel became a nation at Sinai when Yahweh gave them His law and entered into covenant with them. They were called the “house of Israel”.

For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel. Exodus 40:38 NASB

Here the term “house of Israel” refers to the 12 tribes, the nation Israel.

All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Ruth 4:11 NASB

Jacob married two sisters, Leah and Rachel. With these two women and their maids came 12 sons, who were the 12 tribes of Israel. They remained united until after the death of Solomon.

Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded. So the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. “Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. “However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:9-13 NASB

The text goes on to say:

It came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak; and both of them were alone in the field. Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes (but he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel)… ‘Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes; but I will take the kingdom from his son’s hand and give it to you, even ten tribes. 1 Kings 11:29-35 NASB

When Solomon died in 925 or 926 B.C., the northerners refused to recognize his successor Rehoboam. Subsequently, the north broke away and was ruled by the House of Omri. The northern kingdom of Israel flourished until it was completely destroyed, and its ten tribes sent into permanent exile by the Assyrians between 740 and 721 B.C.

So the house of Israel was split into two kingdoms. The 10 norther tribes were known as the House of Israel. And the 2 southern tribes were known as the Southern kingdom or Judah:

But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 1 Kings 12:17 NASB

Both of these kingdoms, Israel and Judah, became harlots and forsook the Lord:

“And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also. Jeremiah 3:8 NASB

They were both immoral and ungodly as they abandoned their covenant terms, but only Israel was divorced. Why was that? He did not divorce Judah, because it was through Judah that Messiah would come:

Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the days to come. Genesis 49:1 NASB

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Genesis 49:10 NASB

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2 NASB

In Ezekiel we learn more about the sin of these two nations:

The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; and they played the harlot in Egypt. They played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and there their virgin bosom was handled. “Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah. “Oholah played the harlot while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbors, Ezekiel 23:1-5 NASB

The Mother is the 12 tribe nation of Israel. The two daughters are the southern kingdom, Oholibah, and the northern kingdom, Oholah. These two kingdoms came out of Israel as a result of the two wives and two marriages of Jacob. The capital city of Judah was Jerusalem, and the capital of Israel was Samaria.

Yahweh was their husband until the divorce decree, which we can see that in Hosea. A divorce requires that the wife receive the bill of divorce, and then she was put out of the house. The house in this context is the land of Palestine, the bill of divorce is the book of Hosea, and the putting out of the house was taking Israel into the Assyrian captivity.

The word of the LORD which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.” So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. And the LORD said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. “On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.” Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. “But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the LORD their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen.” When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.” Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.” And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:1-11 NASB

“Jezreel” is from an agricultural term that refers to everything from the sowing to the harvest. So God refers to the first son as the sowing and harvest of Israel. He told Israel that He is going to sow them in the nations, but there will come a time when He will harvest them out again. He later tells us that the harvest will occur at the same time that the harvest of the house of Judah occurs. That harvest began with the Messiah and continued until the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

The second child, Lo-Ruhamah, demonstrates that they would be placed out there without the mercy of God. The third child demonstrates that they would be out there without the name of God. They would not be known as the “children of God”, which was the children of Israel. When they went into the Assyrian captivity, they were not known as the “children of Israel”. They were referred to as the “children of Omry”, who was a former king of Israel. So, when the northern tribes went into Assyrian captivity, they lost their identity as Israelites and thus became identifiable only as part of the nations.

Then the LORD said, “Thus will the sons of Israel eat their bread unclean among the nations where I will banish them.” Ezekiel 4:13 NASB

Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations Like a vessel in which no one delights. Hosea 8:8 NASB

As you can see here, Israel is among the nations, which here refers to the non-Israelites, she has been swallowed up. There is a clear distinction of both entities. But God promises that one day the two houses will be united:

The word of the LORD came again to me saying, “And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ “Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. “When the sons of your people speak to you saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’ say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”‘ Ezekiel 37:15-19 NASB

“Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the NATIONS where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. Ezekiel 37:21-22 NASB

Notice that verse 21 says, “I will take the sons of Israel from among the NATIONS.” This is a promise of restoration.

Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. 12 And He will lift up a standard for the nations, And will assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:11-12 NASB

The Assyrians had scattered them, but God had promised to regather them. Here He promises to gather Israel, the 10 northern tribes and Judah, the two southern tribes. Now watch the next verse:

Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, And those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, And Judah will not harass Ephraim. Isaiah 11:13 NASB

Ephraim is Samaria. There is going to be peace between Israel and Judah. Jesus is the peace that ends the conflict.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB

When Peter writes “To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”, he is writing to the house of Israel who were “pilgrims” – they weren’t living in the land of their birth. If you look at a map, you will see that the areas of “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” was the very area that the Tanakh tells us that the house of Israel was taken to in the Assyrian captivity.

Now they are identified as “nations or Gentiles”. Peter is writing to these nations, who have become believers, and he calls them a chosen (race) generation. He says to them, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 

This is a fulfillment of the promises that God made to the house of Israel through Hosea. The mission of taking the gospel to the nations is a fulfillment of the promises that He made in the Tanakh. Paul was a minister to the “nations”, which included the house of Israel.

Notice what Paul wrote the Corinthians:

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NASB

To this non-Jewish church he writes, “our fathers” – this is referring to the Israelites! This is because some of these Christians were from the northern 10 tribes of Israel.

If you look at Isaiah 60, you will see this is a Messianic prophecy. It concerns the restoration of Israel; the calling of the nations, and how the nations would view restored Israel:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth, And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you. 3 “And nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 “Lift up your eyes round about, and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms. 5 “Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you. Isaiah 60:1-5 NASB

Notice verse 5, “The wealth of the nations will come to you.” Who is the “you”? It is restored Israel. The prophecy said that when Israel was saved, the nations, non-Israelites, would also come to the light, and the nations, non-Israelites, would give their wealth to Israel.

These two groups hated each other, and the nations, non-Israelites, would have never wilfully given wealth to Israel. But in Christ they are now brothers. So out of love they do what they normally would never have done.

The northern kingdom of Israel is included in the term “nations or Gentiles” but it is not exclusive of it. We see in the Scripture that “nations” is used in distinction to Israel:

A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:32 NASB

Here we see that “nations or Gentiles” are distinct from Israel.

“For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Yeshua, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, Acts 4:27 NASB

Again the Gentiles are a distinct group from Israel. Here “Gentiles” is non-Israelites.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; Acts 9:15 NASB

Paul was to take the Gospel to the “nations” and to the sons of Israel.

and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. Acts 21:21 NASB

Here we have Jews who are among the “nations”, two separate gropes.

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 NASB

Here the LORD was going to use Jacob and Israel to be a light to the “nations.”

Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious. Isaiah 11:10 NASB

The “nations” non-Israelites, would then seek the Lord, when Ephraim and Judah were re-united:

And He will lift up a standard for the nations And assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:12 NASB

Again we see the re-gathered Israel and Judah being used to reach the nations.

Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.” Jeremiah 9:26 NASB

It is clear here that “nations” does not mean Israel.

‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. Ezekiel 28:25 NASB

“But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. Ezekiel 36:21 NASB

So “nations” and Israel are at times two distinct peoples. The “nations” include the house of Israel but also refer to the non-Israelites.

But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. Acts 14:2 NASB

The term “Gentile or nation” at times is used of non-Jews. But these non-Jews could be Israelites. The “nations”, non-Israelites coming to faith in Messiah was foretold by the prophets:

‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation, Deuteronomy 32:21 NASB

We see that the LORD would provoke His people, Israel, with a foolish nation, non-Israelites.

If Israelites were really a “no people” and could be declared “my people,” then non-Israelites, you and me, who were “no people” could be declared “my people.” We were no people. We had no covenant claims on God. But now based on what Jesus has accomplished and we are part of His covenant people, grafted into the family of God.

Our text in Ephesians 2 is referring to non-Israelites and Israelites being united to the Jews and becoming one people in Christ. The body of Christ is made up of the re-gathered twelve tribes of Israel and many non-Israelites who have been called of God and trusted in Jesus.

So who are the Gentiles?

It’s meaning must be determined by its context, which means we examine the text in his context and structure.

To be continued…

The parable of the 10 virgins is one that generated so much confusion as many have tried to fit it to our timeline and used it for today’s church and related it to a future coming rapture.

As I have previously written in a former post, read here, to understand the parable of the ten virgins given in Matthew 25 one must appreciate the fact that the parable does not stand out on its own. The eschatological discourse would be seen when you read in context from Matthew 22.

Jesus gives his audience important information that they needed to embrace as it would to events that were to happen in their time and age. These events would totally reshape their entire Jewish world and scope of life. These events when it occurred would make an undeniable impact on their state of affairs. The route to these things being fulfilled would involve the judgment of the Jewish religious leadership, Roman-Jewish conflict, persecution of Christ followers and subsequent destruction of the temple and land.

Matthew 24 is commonly recognized as the Olivet discourse that unveils the greatest prophecy given by Jesus that signaled the end of that (Jewish) age though it is wrongly translated as “world” in the KJV. This has caused many to make predictions of endless coming Antichrists, raptures, global tribulations etc. As I would like to call it, Matthew 24 is the obituary of the Old covenant world.

As Matthew 24 transitions in 25 it is very important to take note of the first verse;

“THEN the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,⁴ but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.”

Notice the word “Then”?

This suggests that the events given in the parable would follow that of the previous chapter;

After the destruction of the city in judgment comes the wedding feast.

The warning of the parable is not to be muddled by drawing too many spiritual deductions of symbolism of the oil, the sleep, the vessels, and the lamps. The essence of the parable is that of readiness for the bridegroom’s coming. The parable is not addressed to those who have made no preparation for the Lord’s coming but to those who have not made sufficient preparation.

Why were some virgins regarded as foolish? What was it that made them foolish? They were foolish because they were not prepared. The coming of the bridegroom was not to be in a separate generation from those virgins who expected his coming.  This clearly refers to those of the first century were unprepared for the Lord’s coming because they were turning back to the Jewish law system.

The persecution and trials in the first century was leading some to fall away from holding to the Apostles teaching. As they turned back to the Jewish system and were in danger of being destroyed in the Jewish war that was looming on them.

If the door was shut, it would look exactly like the story of Noah when the Ark’s door was closed. If they did not flee Jerusalem at the approach of the Roman army, they would all opportunity to escape.

The word used in Matthew 25 for foolish is the Greek word moros. It means dull or stupid. This same word is used in Titus 3.

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:9-11 NKJV

What is referred to as foolish here is the teachings of those who still upheld that circumcision was still relevant in the new covenant. These Judaizers were constantly demanding that the believers keep the Jewish law. Paul dealt much with this subject in the letter to the church Galatia. The Galatians were acting foolish in turning back to the law.

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Yeshua the Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:1-3 ESV

Jesus had told his disciples that he would come in their lifetime, but they did not know the day or hour, so they were to always be watching (Matthew 24 covers that). Those who were wise would be prepared for His coming and would escape the destruction of the city, thus avoid the judgment on that Old Covenant world. If they were foolish and not watching, they would not discern his presence as it be manifest unexpectedly and they would suffer great pain as the city was destroyed. Being foolish would cost them their lives.

You are not the foolish virgin in the direct application of that parable. This is the 21st century and this event has been fulfilled in the first century. The lesson to learn is to be watchful on the promises of God by being occupied with whatever he gives into your hands and not be entangled with anything that will cause you to walk with the former elements of the old covenant.

To be honest, I was quite shocked with some of the assertions written as most of it is just simply aimed at producing fear and uncertainty in the hearts of people and also get them prepared with moral works to earn and keep salvation.

Now I will post his statement and my rebuttal to every point he raised. I hope you enjoy this.

1. It is going to be the next greatest event that will shock all the continents of the world.

Response: The greatest expectation is the spread of the knowledge of the glory of God all over the earth. The conditions of earth fully mirrors that of heaven.

2. It is going to take place suddenly, abruptly, unexpectedly, without warning and without prior notice.

Response: The expansion of the kingdom is already on even beyond what we can fully measure as to its impact.

3. There shall be no second version of the event.

Response: There will also not be any first version of the future rapture.

4. A greater percentage of Christians may be taken unawares.

Response: A greater percentage of Christians have already been deceived expecting it to happen.

5. Careless Christians who miss the event will have no other similar gracious opportunity.

Response: The gracious opportunity of salvation is available for all living.

6. The event shall have no regard or respect for ecclesiastical titles or church leadership positions.

Response: The only thing that has no respect for such is the grace of God. All are grace mates.

7. It shall be a day when the sheep shall be separated from the goats.

Response: That judgment was between the Israel of the flesh and the Spiritual Israel in the ad70 destruction of Jerusalem in ad70.

8. The day shall differentiate between the Broad Way Christians from the Narrow Way Christians.

Response: The broad way that Jesus talked about was for the Jews who held on the law as against the few Jewish Christians who embraced Christianity.

9. The day shall separate sincerity from hypocrisy.

Response: None of them proves who is saved. Our sincerity was not good enough for our salvation.

10. The day shall differentiate between those who harbour secret sins from those who abhor secret sins.

Response: There is no Christian who understands how he received forgiveness in Christ through the grace of God who would enjoy living a sinful life.

11. The day shall separate those whose lives are hidden in Christ from those who are hiding in the church.

Response: Those whose lives are hidden in Christ is based on the finished work and not based on denomination or affiliation.

12. The day shall show a glaring, clear, conspicuous, demarcation between Christians who walk on the path of holiness from those who walk on the path of worldliness.

Response: Outward show of holiness or other forms of morality can still be achieved without knowing God.

13. It shall be a day of double emotion: joy for some and unimaginable, indescribable, uncontrollable regrets for others.

Response: Those moments will only surface when people make wrong decisions about their lives on earth.

14. It shall be a day of surprises- some “Big names” may miss the flight while some “Less known” may be on board.

Response: There’s no flight of such nature programed by God to distinguish status.

15. Another surprise may be that a man or woman who had faithfully served the Lord for many years may defile his or her garment a few minutes before the sound of that summoning trumpet and miss the flight while a notorious sinner may surrender his or her life to Jesus within the same time frame and go to heaven.

Response: How can anyone defile the free gift of righteousness when his/her “sinnerhood” could not stop the work of salvation.

16. This event may happen now, today, this week, this month, this year or next year!.

Response: Don’t bother speculating. It will never happen.

17. Wise Christians, like the five virgins that took extra oil, are expected to get ready, yes, to get prepared.

Response: The virgins were the Jews who were not prepared to enter the kingdom as they remained with their knowledge of the old covenant.

18. After the event, all those who are bitter against one another, malicious, unforgiving, jealous, arrogant, haters, hypocrites, drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, adulteresses, murderers with weapons and murderers with tongue etc, shall have enough time to continue in their trade.

Response: Sadly the scriptures never describe this to happen in the kingdom age. We are told that the kingdom will increase in glory and not gory.

19. When the event is over there shall be revival among those who have chosen to stay behind not because there will be a second chance, no, but because the reality of the event would have struck them like a thunderbolt. But they will have to pay with their own blood.

Response: If our blood has to be used to pay for our salvation then it means the new covenant will also be replaced still it wont be eternal. Oh wait! Hebrews says it is eternal.

20. When the event is over, those who are left behind shall no longer be safe to worship in their gigantic, fanciful and multi-billion Dollars/Cedis cathedrals. Instead they shall seek safety in caves, bushes and abandoned and dilapidated but hidden structures.

Response: The Jews were the ones who had to hide in caves when their city was leveled down by the Romans.

21. When this great event is over, each time those who will miss their flight manage to gather for worship, they will pay attention to only one sermon- whether they gather in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North or South America; the sermon will only centre on “How to Meet the Divine Standard and Join the Other Saints”.

Response: Jesus is no longer the focus of the message. This proves it to be a hogwash.

22. It is also worthy to note that those who will be left behind will never have any business with comedians at their altars anymore. No! There shall no longer be gatherings for entertainments. Whenever, they manage to gather, it shall always be for serious religious business only.

Response: If you have any problem with comedy then stay at home and pray.

23. The prayer pattern of those who will be left behind will also undergo a radical change. They will not be praying for things anymore. They will only be praying for strength to withstand the tortures of the Anti-Christ and die bravely to join the other saints. None will be praying for jobs, marriages, etc.

Response: The principles of prayer is centred on the relationship that we have with the Father who knows all our needs and through his grace has made everything available for us.

24. It is equally worthy of note that some of those who will miss their flight will not be able to endure the torture of the Anti Christ. They will receive the mark of the beast and thereby be doomed forever.

Response: I will spend more time here.

There is not even one scripture that describes the personality of a man known as the Antichrist. As for the mark of the beast, you should probably calculate and know that it is summed up in a man’s name. John the revelator used what is known as Gematria. Many scholars have recognized the consonants of “Neron Caesar” in Hebrew add up to 666. That is why he asks for wisdom on this.

To understand the term antichrist, we must first understand the context of John’s writings. During the time of the first century Church, there was a cult system called Gnosticism. They taught that the spirit was good and the physical/emotional realms were evil, therefore Jesus could not have come to earth in an actual physical body. They taught that Jesus came to earth only as an ethereal spirit being. This teaching is heretical because it negates the truth of Jesus shedding His human blood for the remission of sin. The Gnostics gained so many followers and was a threat to the foundation of the early church.

This why John writes;

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world (1 John 4:1-3).

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 1:7).

Any person who denies that Jesus came in the flesh, which is what the Gnostics of the first century were doing, is operating in the spirit of antichrist. The antichrist isn’t a person; it is a belief system, that is known as Gnosticism.

25. When the ready saints are gone, all our denominational walls of partition will collapse. The man or woman who use to worship in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, for instance, will hide in the same place with those who worship in Christ Embassy, Church of God Mission, Deeper Life. Assemblies of God, Word Aflame, Action Chapel, Winners Chapel, Lighthouse Chapel etc and nobody will remember to claim superiority anymore because then they will be facing a common enemy.

Response: The walls of denomination only fall away when the gospel of grace is embraced and we get to see each other through the unconditional love of the Father.

26. When this event is over, each time believers who will miss their flight manage to gather anywhere for worship, there will be an atmosphere of sobriety. This rowdiness we witness today shall be no more.

Response: Sincere worship is simply new testament worship. This is against the backdrop of the Old Testament where lambs were slain at the altar with an earthly priesthood.

27. There shall also be a radical change in the attitude of those who will miss their flight towards Bible study. What we have now is an attitude characterized by a high degree of nonchalance and indifference, but when the ready saints are gone, those who will be left behind will begin to take their bible study seriously.

Response: If the fear of death is the motivator towards Bible study what do you think people would learn when they sit down? Do you honestly think that they will learn how to be established in the grace of God then if it were to happen?

28. All the teens and youths who come to church to please their parents will repent after this great event; yes, they will begin to seek God for themselves.

Response: Actually they should learn to do so now. Many are already trapped because they cant find Jesus in the covens of religions where they find themselves.

29. When the event is over, all those who will do any form of business in the schools, hospitals, banks, etc, will have to bear the mark of beast (666) or be hunted down and killed like common criminals.

Response: The mark of the beast is the number of a man. It was a way of calculating his name that John was telling the church of the first century. This was fulfilled as there are numerous records to prove the severe persecution of the first church in the days of Emperor Nero that fits the description as given by John.

30. One of the gains of this reminder is that there may be someone reading this piece today who will take a firm decision to ensure that he/she gets on board that celestial flight travelling to glory.

Response: One of the positive for someone reading this is to rethink this man-made theory and go back to what God wants; For us to be established in the grace of God and present ourselves to our world as the lights shining in the darkness that surrounds them.

31. However, one of the greatest tragedies of this reminder is that there may be someone too who is reading this piece today but who will see no need to heed this warning. A tragedy indeed!

Response: Sadly there may also be someone who will read this and insist that the rapture must happen even without a clear scriptural stand on it. Hopefully someone else would consider if this piece is written in honesty and has challenged his/her thinking in this direction to rethink this “rapture” thing and rediscover the kingdom.

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Remember that this is a letter written to an actual church who needed to heed his warnings as at that time. The case for audience relevance cannot be overemphasized here.

The scripture above is a clear indicator of who could and could not be the “man of sin.

Whoever this person is, he would have to be a person who would have physically been able to stand in the Temple and proclaim himself God.

This would require a person to be alive before AD 70, when the temple was destroyed, because at no time since AD 70 has there been a Temple for the man of sin to stand in. There are those who have been proclaiming a rebuilt temple. It is quite unfortunate that there is no New Testament verse that predicts a rebuilt Jewish Temple.

It is necessary for a temple had to be standing for the man of lawlessness to stand in it. This helps us understand the timeframe.

One thing is certain, which is that this man would cause the destruction of the temple. Based on historical records, one man fits the bill. The main rebel who caused the destruction of Jerusalem was John Levi of Gischala.

Josephus The Jewish historian wrote of how John Levi was a selfish, unscrupulous man with persuasive powers who convinced many that he was sent by God to liberate them. Further, John Levi took over the Temple, set himself up in the Temple as the Jewish savior (as God), looted the vessels of the Temple for their gold, and caused the daily animal sacrifices to cease. He also plundered the people, even burning their storehouses of food and causing the great famine that starved tens of thousands to death, and he enlisted aid from the Idumeans, who killed 8,500 of the Jews, including the priests.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 speaks of counterfeit signs being performed by this man. It would interest you to know that John Levi declared that he was God and would deliver the people from the Romans. He commanded the storehouses of food to be burned in faith that He would miraculously deliver them from their enemies. Instead they starved to death because nothing spectacular happened.

Even when the Roman General Titus pleaded that John Levi leave the Temple, so that it wouldn’t be destroyed in battle, John completely refused. If not for this stubborn position the Temple might have been spared, as the Romans considered it as one of the wonders of the ancient world.

Paul goes on to explain more about the man of lawlessness:

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:5-7).

John was not only a rebel leader, but also a false messiah. He claimed godhood by taking over the temple, and the only person who stood in his way was the Jewish Chief Priest, Ananus. Ananus was known for his great diplomatic skills as he had been able to negotiate peace treaties with Rome many times before.

Ananus the high priest was literally able to restrain the full-scale rebellion that John Levi was aiming to accomplish. That is why Paul referred to the one who restrained, who must be taken out of the way.

Even Josephus noted that once Ananus the high priest (the one who restrains) was killed, then the destruction of Jerusalem began. The death of Ananus was the beginning of the destruction of the city and the ruin of her affairs.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8). 

When the “coming of the Lord” occurred with the destruction of Jerusalem, John Levi was finally dealt with. He was the cause of the rebellion, which led to the attack by the Romans. He also set up his militia in the Temple, murdered all the priests, and caused not only all of Jerusalem to be destroyed, but even the temple, which the Romans didn’t want to harm.

History proves the writers of the new testament texts to be true. From the prophecy of Jesus to all the apostles wrote about, there seems to be a very consistent narrative that played out in the judgment upon the old city that symbolized a world that was made obsolete by the cross.

It would be error of mighty proportions to take that same texts apply them to our timelines to justify doctrines that herald a rapture and revelation of an antichrist.

There are many teachings that suggests that the man of sin or lawlessness is the antichrist that would be revealed in our current dispensation. From comprehensive studies on prophetic texts, they fail to reach wholesome conclusions but what can only serve to justify a narrow perspective that seeks to bring the world to an end.

To understand the term antichrist as we used by John, we must first understand the context of his writings. During the time of the first century Church, there was a cult system called Gnosticism. They taught that the spirit was good and the physical/emotional realms were evil, therefore Jesus could not have come to earth in an actual physical body. They taught that Jesus came to earth only as an ethereal spirit being. This teaching negates the truth of Jesus shedding His human blood for the remission of sin. The Gnostics gained so many followers in the early Church (about a third of the first century Church) that John wrote his first epistle in response to their heresy.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1-3).

John was writing to prove, as an eyewitness, that Jesus was not a ghost, but a real physical person. John was the disciple who leaned his head upon Jesus’ chest, and he knew that Jesus was not merely a spirit. He even remarked in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

The apostle’s writings were targeted to those who had fallen into the first century Gnostic doctrine. John explained further in his epistle, to say that those who claimed Jesus didn’t have a physical body were actually antichrist.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world (1 John 4:1-3).

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 1:7).

Any person who denies that Jesus came in the flesh, which is what the Gnostics of the first century were doing, is operating in the spirit of antichrist. The antichrist isn’t a person; it is a belief system, specifically, Gnosticism.

John further mentions the antichrist spirit as something that the early believers had already heard of:

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming… (1 John 2:18 NASB).

First, it is important to note that certain Bible translations have inserted a word that is not in the Greek manuscripts; this has led to much confusion we see today. These translations capitalize the word antichrist in First John 2:18.

The reason for the capitalization is because the translators inserted the word the before the word antichrist, thus making antichrist into a proper noun, which requires capitalization.

The early Church had heard that antichrist (false teaching) was coming, but they had not heard that the Antichrist (a one-world ruler) was coming. The insertion of the and the capitalization of Antichrist was added 1500 years later by the translators.

So many teachings link this together and expect the so-called Antichrist to be revealed as the man of sin/lawlessness which coincide with the time of the rapture or physical return of Jesus to pick up the church.

None of these falls into the true narrative of the prophetic view of the early apostles who were expecting some events to happen in their time and among their contemporaries. Hence the need to write and admonish them to be prepared as the events playing out in their time was to herald a soon-coming judgement upon that old covenant world that was ready to pass away.

Now we live in the age of the increasing kingdom which will brighter and brighter in splendor and glory. This is where we are no matter what happens in our world today. Jesus has the victory and it will resound throughout the earth eventually.

It just doesn’t make sense that they would be suddenly changing topics mid-sentence to ask about something completely unrelated like the end of the world. Therefore, it only fits that the disciples were still asking questions about the current discourse. When they asked about the “end of the age,” they were not asking about the end of the world.

This is just a simple solution when you look at the from the original languages. In Greek, the word for “world” is kosmos, whereas the word for “age” is aion. The disciples asked Jesus about the end of the aion. They did not ask about the end of the kosmos.

It is clear from the context even through the parables that Jesus was going to come and bring destruction to Jerusalem and the Temple; therefore, if the Temple was destroyed, it would mean the end of sacrifice. With no temple there would be no more sacrifice, which would mean no more priesthood and rituals. This would be the end of an age which we might we might call, the end of an era. The disciples were asking when the end of the Age of Moses, which Jesus had just prophesied, would happen.

Because many have taught that Jesus was talking about the end of the world, the understanding of many other related verses has also been distorted. By appreciating that the disciples were asking about the end of the Age of Moses, we can clearly understand many verses that are scattered throughout the New Testament.

In that same Matthew 24 Jesus gave the timeline when the prophecy of the end of the age would be fulfilled.

Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matthew 24:34-35).

To the Jewish people, a generation is forty years, not 80 and 100 many have claimed. This is clearly seen in the fact that a “generation” died in the wilderness during the forty-year journey (Deut. 29:5 gives more details). Therefore, Jesus was saying that this prophecy would happen before forty years had gone by. Jesus said this in AD 30, and the entirety of His Matthew 24 prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70. The Jews wondering in the wilderness was a shadow of a coming reality in the advent of the New testament which was the true promised land in Jesus.

The New Testament is filled with exhortations that a near eschatological event was on the horizon for those living at that time. Here are some scriptures to prove that the end of the age was upon that first century church and not in our time:

“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12)

“But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none” (1 Corinthians 7:29).

“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:5).[5]

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Hebrews 1:2).

“[Jesus] would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26).

“[Let us not forsake] our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).
“For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37)

“Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! (James 5:3)

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door” (James 5:7–9)

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (I Peter 4:7)

“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18).

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John” (Rev. 1:1)

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Rev. 1:3).

“I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

“And [the angel] said to [John], ‘These words are faithful and true’; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place” (Rev. 22:6)

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev. 22:7)

“And [the angel] said to [John], ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.’” (Rev. 22:10)

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.” (Rev. 22:12)

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)

It’s is impossible to turn the above time indicators into an “any-moment rapture” or prolonged periods of prophetic history. This would be to arrogantly disregard the authority of scriptures and make it fit for us without context. The Kingdom of God is growing, and we are not looking for a future “falling away” of the Church. We are looking forward to the explosion of God’s grace upon the earth until His glory covers the earth.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels