Commentaries:
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Isaiah 66:7-8
The New Testament shows that God has not broken His pattern. A new Israel is being formed—a people from all ethnic backgrounds. The Kingdom of God is expanding through the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16)! This ties directly into Revelation 19 and the Marriage of the Lamb, because it is this Israel—the Israel of God—the spiritual organism consisting of people of all nations, that will marry Christ, the Lamb.
We can see a progression. First, there is one man—Jacob—whose name was changed to Israel. He was chosen by God, even though his brother was firstborn. Next, the descendants of Israel were chosen from the nations of the world, even though other nations were larger, greater, and stronger. Then, as God's plan takes off with the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the giving of the Holy Spirit, God first chooses from among the Israelites and then from all ethnic groups, choosing and putting them into the Body of Christ, though He says the members of His church are foolish, weak, and base.
So the Israel of God is formed to marry Jesus Christ. This is why Gentiles have to become Israelites. In fact, all of us have to become real Israelites—spiritual Israelites—even though we may be genetically "of Israel."
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eleven)Related Topics: Begettal of Holy Spirit | Begettal of the Holy Spirit | Church as Body of Christ | Church as Bride of Christ | Church as Organism | Church as Spiritual Organism | Church as the Israel of God | Holy Spirit, Begettal of | Israel of God | Israelite, Spiritual | Marriage of the Lamb | Marriage Supper of the Lamb | Spiritual Israelite | Spiritual JewOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing Isaiah 66:7:
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