Kingdom Come

In the first century there was no “Christianity”, there was a minority sect of Judaism characterized by combining the confession of Jesus as Christ with continued observance of the Torah and adherence to Jewish traditions such as Sabbath observance, Jewish calendar, Jewish laws and customs, circumcision, kosher diet and synagogue attendance.

From Acts 5:

“all the church…were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch [of the temple]…And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women…There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem…they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.

But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel…Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us…when they had called the apostles, and beaten them they commanded [as Jews, subject to Jewish religious authority] that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.“ 

Understanding the New Testament church as the Israel of God under Melchisedec YHVH’s Savior is a fundamental truth, essential for understanding the whole story.

“my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:” (Romans 9:3-6)

“I am the good shepherd, and know [am united with] my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

This is – naturally – fulfillment of prophecy, not a last-minute change in plan.

“In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty,

1. unto the residue of his people [Messianic Judaism],
2. AND for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment [on what is right and wrong, i.e. seeks after righteousness],
3. and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate [take sides with the God of Righteousness against the forces of evil].” (Isaiah 28:5-16)

Speedy Peter was the first apostle to understand what we call the New Testament assembly of believers. 

“And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat [associate as equals] with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them…the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning…Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:1-18)

Jesus had given his apostles a heads-up on expecting this.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall…they shall speak with new tongues.” (Mark 16:15-18)

These miracles and wonders were the sign – an event predicted in advance as proof of God’s miraculous intervention, ergo presence – proving that the uncircumcised Gentiles could be indwelt with God’s presence and power like they were.

There were additional signs among the Gentiles – i.e. fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies – proving that YHVH’s savior had come not only to rule over Israel but to retake dominion over all the other peoples of the earth. Like prophecy in general, these are vague and can be argued to fit multiple interpretations. The Spirit of God who gave them is the only one who can accurately interpret them.

“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (I Corinthians 1:10-24)

“there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers…the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them…when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying,

Men and brethren…the Gentiles are turned to God:” (Act 15:12-19)

Can we not recognize the parallel between the uncircumcised Egyptians crowding into the homes of the children of Israel to eat the passover at the Exodus, to whom God granted repentance unto life? Without question, there is lots of scriptural precedence allowing a multicultural body of believers to be saved from damnation.

“in YHVH’s Chosen Savior / Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:15-16)

• “Let ALL the nations be gathered together,
  • AND let the people [of God] be assembled…
• Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD,
  • AND my servant whom I have chosen:
• that…I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 
• I even I, am the LORD / YHVH / I Am; and beside me there is no saviour…
• I will work, and who shall let /stop it?…
• Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…Behold, I will do a new thing…
• This people have I formed for myself. They shall shew forth my praise.

but thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel…Thy first fathers hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.” (Isaiah 43)

That doesn’t stop God from carrying out his plan for Israel.

^“Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings…Wherefore…I scattered them among the heathen, and they…profaned my holy name, when they said…These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.

But I had pity for mine holy name…And I will sanctify my great name…and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the LORD God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land…And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it…I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock…so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they [the heathen, circling back to the beginning of this pronouncement] shall know [personally] that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 36:17)

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles…without Messiah / Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Messiah Yeshua / Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah / Christ…that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby…For

1. 1. through him we both have access
   2. by one Spirit
   3. unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God…keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 2:11-19, 4:3-6)