Free End Times Book (pdf).. - Rapture Notes

It is vitally important for the followers of Jesus in our age to understand the difference between Israel and the
church. Israel as a nation enjoys covenant relationships with God--other nations do not have such covenants with
God. God's covenants with the church do not include a plot of land, a temple, an earthly inheritance, etc. They are an
entirely different set of promises.
Grafted in temporarily - in Israel's place
In Romans 11, Paul, "the Apostle to the Gentiles" explains to Gentiles that Israel has not been rejected by God, but,
because of their hardness, they have suffered temporary spiritual blindness, and that Gentile believers have been
grafted in, in the place of some of them. Eventually, believing Israel will be grafted back in (Romans 11:17-25).
The description of Gentile believers as wild olive branches grafted into the true olive tree suggests that Gentiles
need to become more Jewish in their thinking and life styles as they grow spiritually. When we meet our Messiah
and Savior face to face we shall discover that He is Jewish and was raised in Jewish culture and taught the Hebrew
Scriptures. He was a devout and observant Jewish believer. Visits to Israel and cultivated friendships with Jewish
people are well worth the effort in freeing us from our own ghetto mentalities and the pagan, idolatrous roots from
which we have been freed as Gentiles.
Spiritual Heirs of the covenants
In Ephesians, chapter 2, the Apostle Paul reminds his Gentile readers that before Christ, they were excluded from
the covenants given to Israel, but now have been brought near through Christ's blood. The barrier between Jews and
Gentiles has been abolished. Both have been reconciled by the Cross, and both have access to the Father by one
Spirit. Consequently, Gentile believers in Christ have become fellow citizens with Israel (Ephesians 2:11-22).
In the church, Gentiles have also become fellow-heirs with Israel:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--Surely you have heard about the
administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as
I have already written briefly.
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made
known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body,
and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although
I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept
hidden in God, who created all things.
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers
and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (Ephesians 3:1-12)
Not to replace Israel
In Romans 11, Paul shows that the church has not replaced Israel:
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from
the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1)
The institution of the church was not meant by God to replace the earlier institution of Israel as His "chosen people."
In the next verse (v.2), he stated plainly, "God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew." And he used the wellknown
example of Elijah, when he thought he was the only believer, and the Lord told him that he had seven
thousand other true believers. Thus, Paul argues that there were many true believers in Israel.
"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." (Romans 11:5)
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done… 27