The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Convergence, #26

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (Genesis 48:19)

Whereas Manasseh is destined to be a people, Ephraim is destined to become a multitude of nations—not one nation but a multitude of nations.

Compare:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:9)

Ephraim speaks of those who at one time were Gentiles but now are of Israel.

And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. (Ezekiel 37:17)

While the joining of the two sticks may refer on a natural level to the reunion of Samaria with Jerusalem, we believe the deeper meaning is the union of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, the union of all that is of Christ.

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)

Until natural Israel becomes a part of Christ it possesses no incorruptible resurrection life. It remains in the bondage of the flesh. Physical Israel is Mount Sinai, Hagar, the slave woman.

Until natural Israel is joined to spiritual Israel, spiritual Israel has no physical expression in the earth, no city, no visible form through which the Glory of God can be brought to the waiting nations.

The promises of God concerning the Kingdom always are to Jerusalem. If we would reign on the earth we must enter Jerusalem and become part of Jerusalem. Those who would press forward in God today must become rightly related to Israel, for the promises of the Scripture are to Israel. The Lord Jesus is Ruler in Israel.

The day will come when Jerusalem is the Throne of God. In that day, Jerusalem on earth will be to men what Heaven is today. Jerusalem will become "heaven," and all of saved mankind will look toward Jerusalem and go to Jerusalem for the Presence and blessing of God.

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)

Do we wish to remain in Paradise in the spirit realm when our Lord Jesus is ruling from the Throne of David in Jerusalem?

And David my servant {shall be} king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:24)

"They all shall have one shepherd."

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 10:16)

"There shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

"That they all may be one." (from The Convergence)